This is a must hear interview for any fan of great music. GFM is proud to bring you Pt.1 of our two-part interview with JoJo McDuffie the former lead singer of The Mary Jane Girls. In Pt. 1 we discuss JoJo’s new album Slightly Dangerous her beginnings in Buffalo, the fateful meeting with Rick James, the real deal behind The Mary Jane Girls and more!

Special thank you to Robert Funderburg for putting this interview together.

JoJo McDuffie Interview by GrownFolksMusic

Our song today comes from 1963 and was definitely an attempt to crossover Etta to a wider Pop audience. Written by Billy Davis(who was very important in the formation of Motown) and Tony Clarke the song reached #7 on the R&B and #25 on the Pop chart respectively.

From his work with Motown’s the corporation to productions with his brothers Larry and Rod, Fonce Mizell was a musical force to be reckoned with. Much more than any words that I could write, please set aside some time to view this video shot a few years ago at The Red Bull Music Academy in Melbourne, Australia. There is a historical context contained in this video that can only be gleaned from listening to the first hand accounts of the persons who were there. On a personal note, I would like to say how much I have been inspired by Mr. Mizell’s contributions to the world of music. May he rest in peace.

Great documentary released last year by the BBC on the cultural influences and forces that gave rise to the undisputed “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. Lots of great candid interviews are contained in this program and I feel that the producers did an excellent job in connecting the dots so that we could understand how this cultural phenomenon came to be. Enjoy!

From the 1976 Album I Want You a classic song from a classic album in the lexicon of GFM.

Part two of our three part in-depth interview with JoJo McDuffie former lead singer of The Mary Jane Girls. In this episode JoJo talks about the breakup of the group, what it felt like to have the #2 song in the country and no furniture in her apartment… driving a rental car, dealing with Rick James and his drug addictions, the return to her teaching career, brief reunion in the mid-90′s with The Mary Jane Girls and much more!

JoJo McDuffie(The Mary Jane Girls) Interview Pt.2 by GrownFolksMusic

Sometimes your own song that you record first becomes more closely identified with another artist such is the case with the 60′s classic “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”. Motown artist Brenda Holloway is not only the first to cut this classic but she is also one of the writers, which was an anomaly in that particular era of Motown where artists rarely wrote and performed their own material.

Then… a little group named Blood, Sweat & Tears came along and put their version out in 1968 and well, as they say the rest is history. But, the beauty in all of this is that because Brenda has a co-writer credit on the song the royalties on the song quite possibly have provided her with some happiness.

GFM fam we had to take a little time out today to pay homage to one of the greatest and most melodic bass players to ever record, none other than James Jamerson who died on this day in 1983. As one of the core members of Motown’s storied session musicians “The Funk Brothers” James Jamerson played on countless hit records and developed a personal style that is unmistakable from the first note.

Check out this great article from the early 1990′s that served as a catalyst for the outstanding documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown”.

James Jamerson left an incredible recorded musical legacy that should be treasured and honored for the artistry therein and its influence on countless musicians.

A must watch interview with Andre Harrell founder of Uptown Records. Sage advice, and truthfully, listening to Andre should give every indication as to why Uptown and his other ventures have been as successful as they have been.

20 years ago this week this song was #1 on The Billboard Charts. Definitely a song of the Summer of ’90. A fitting tribute to the J5.

Here’s the original from 1975 the last charted tune for The Jackson 5 on the Motown Label.