Thursday, September 10, 2009
Crickets / Chicagoland / Music / News Earliest Known Jackson Five Studio Recording Found
Posted by Philip Montoro on 09.10.09 at 02:23 PM
- From the collection of Gilles Petard
Personally my favorite angle concerns guitarist Larry Blasingaine, who played guitar on the newly discovered recording, cut at the studio of One-derful Records in July 1967. At One-derful the Jacksons recorded "Big Boy," and their first single, released by Steeltown in early 1968, also included "Big Boy," but from a different session that Blasingaine didn't know about—for all this time, in other words, he's mistakenly believed that he appeared on the first Jackson Five record. Though it was heartbreaking to imagine how he must've felt when he learned the truth, it was at least as heartwarming to imagine how he must've felt when he learned that the tape he actually did play on had been discovered after all this time.
No one's had the chance to actually hear the music on the tape yet—as you might imagine, certain precautions must be taken with an artifact like this—but you can be sure the Reader will stay on top of the story.
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I was sitting patiently in a waiting room looking around for something to read, in the seat next to me were some shuffled papers, bits and piece of other papers. Fully intact was this issue Sept 9, 2009, vol 38, #51, what a treat.
Everyone that I know, grew up listening to and loving the Jackson family of entertainers and to see rarely ever seen pictures made this find special, you would think that it couldn't couldn't get any better but it did. I saw a dear friend and classmate from my past that warmed my heart.
Larry Blasingaine and I were art buddies "smile" we both loved to draw, I think that it was mostly comic book hero's and villains. We would sit in our class sometimes and draw while talk-in about the comic that we liked. Larry was an excellent artist, Larry was always quiet, til you got to know him, he liked to laugh and could be silly for a minute. For the most part he was always well contained little soldier.
This might be an odd way of describing Larry but for me it's what I thought best fit. Larry had a sorta "Jesus Christ" persona, only difference is that he wasn't preaching anything, there was just this good natured flow from him all the time. Him showing excitement was like watching the coolness of a beatnik snapping his fingers say-in yeah cool man. Larry was always so quiet and soft spoken, I had no idea that he was interested in music, he never talked about it. I saw him try to get angry once, funniest thing that you ever wanted to see, he'd breath some type of funny way, it only lasted a second, Larry was on a mission.
Even back then he explained himself like an instructor. He was good and could've actually taught guitar back then. I remember visiting him on 18Th street, they lived at the end of the block. We were drawing and I think that it was his dad say, "Larry, you have a guitar lesson shortly", I looked at you with my eyes bucked and asked if Larry played. He quietly responded "yes I've been taking lessons" and nothing was ever said about it.
That same summer Larry sprang another surprise on me, one that sparked a life long interest and "hobby", music. There was a talent show at our neighborhood elementary school "William Penn", located right there on 16Th and Avers. Everybody in the neighborhood would attend them. It was a great talent show I must say. All sorts of act's, all of the kids were very very talented. The curtains opened and I saw my buddy Larry and 3 or 4 other young teens, my jaw dropped, I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. They played a simple little tune but it was polished, they played like pros. Larry had long fingers especially for a kid, they just swelled up over the neck of his guitar.
As I look back and think I'd like to tell you what I saw and heard. Larry was only 14 or 15 years old but he played the level of a young George Benson type. Larry was good, there was no question about it and I must say, he was one of the most soft spoken people that I have ever met in my life. He must be one of them most gifted teachers/instructors to ever live. He can only make master guitar players. I remember their drummer Glen, we called him Foxx, he had thunder in his sticks and he to was only just a kid. Talking about thunder, Foxx would've given Buddy Rich hell and again, Foxx was just a kid.
That following year I formed a band and did a talent show and enjoyed that wonderful feeling of performing on stage. Thank you Larry, we lost contact like kids and friends do, but I'd just like for you to know that I still think of you, you are a part of my fondest memories of my past, you had a positive impact my live and it has stayed with me and it is still with me and to say to your parents they sowed a marvelous seed of spirit and that they should be ever so proud.
In his day Larry has taught many many guitar students and I'm sure that he will teach many many more but if he's not doing this as of right now, then what I would like to suggest is that Larry looks into teaching other teachers what it is he does in his teaching methods. The method is the key to receiving the gift of learning, and Larry has that in abundance.
Your old school mate,
John A. Brown aka ChiTownJab
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