News
For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
70’S FUNK ARTIST, GEORGE QUEZERGUE PASSES
Jackson, MS. July 23, 2008-George Quezergue, son of Wardell Quezergue (dubbed the ‘Creole Beethoven’ by Allen Toussaint), passed away on July 14, 2008 in Antioch, TN. Born in Fort Dix, N.J. October 1, 1952, Quezergue served in the army during Vietnam and spent most of his life as a resident of New Orleans until he was forced to evacuate during hurricane Katrina, which landed him in Antioch, TN. Quezergue his survived by his parents, children and a very large extended family.
During his lifetime, George Quezergue was known as the tambourine man on two of Malaco Records biggest hits, “Mr. Big Stuff” sung by Jean Knight and “Groove Me” by King Floyd. Quezergue was also the inexhaustible, invaluable right hand man at his father’s side, keeping track of all charts and documentation required to put together numerous projects simultaneously.
Quezergue was a member of the seventies funk group The Unemployed, produced by his father Wardell and appearing on Atlantic Records. He also became a staple at the Malaco studios singing background and performing percussion on a multitude of tracks. In fact, after the resounding success of “Groove Me” and “Mr. Big Stuff,” Atlantic Records sent four young newcomers to Malaco studios for Quezergue senior to produce. Gerald “Wolf” Stephenson, Vice President of Malaco Records recounts the story this way:
“Atlantic Records sent four young ladies, teenagers all and sisters, from San Francisco to Malaco for Wardell to produce. It would be their very first recording session ever, but certainly not their last. We recorded the tracks while Wardell produced and George accompanied our studio guys on his tambourine and cowbell and the sisters sang with a talent we thought to be very impressive. George, then only a couple years older than the girls, struck up a jovial friendship with them and made them feel much more “at home” in the studio. These recordings helped open the door for the singing sisters to, just a few years later, go on to become major superstars worldwide. Their name? The Pointer Sisters.”
Wardell Sr. produced a staggering number of hits for artists in every genre from Willie Nelson to Fats Domino. In the waning years of the millennium, Wardell, always a close knit member of the Malaco Records family, would often call up to chat, discuss arrangements for one song or another, or reminisce about the carefree, early days when Malaco was a fledgling record company. At his side was always found his talented son, George. The pair’s camaraderie as well as musical gifts are tightly woven threads in the fabric of Malaco history.
Stephenson adds that one of George’s standard requests in these last several years whenever they spoke or visited was for him to send some Red Rose Smoked Sausage, a Mississippi brand he loved, but could not readily find in Louisiana.
“ ‘Red Rose’ was obviously one of George’s ‘secret ingredients’ for his frequent New Orleans ‘wang-dang-doodles,” where he would invite his cadre of close friends, fire up the grill and crank up the music,” mentions Stephenson. “In all our visits over the nearly forty years I knew him, he was always the first with a smile and his standard New Orleans greetings to friends, “Hi-Ya, Buck!” He will be sorely missed.”
George Quezergue and his father, Wardell, brought a decidedly New Orleans flavor to the music they played and produced. The funky style of the seventies originating from New Orleans became a foundation for much of the music that followed and plays an important part of music’s historical roots. George will be missed not only by his father who continues to impress; “I’m not finished yet,” said Wardell after winning the 2008 Offbeat Lifetime Achievement Award, but also by his friends at Malaco Records, the industry and community alike.
For more information on George Quezergue, visit: www.malaco.com, creolemass.com, offbeat.com, unionsquaremusic.co.uk.
The funeral and interment were held on Monday, July 14, 2008 in Madison, TN, however guests may still register comments at:
Guest book: crawfordservices.com.
CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER,
2930 Murfreesboro Pike, Antioch, TN
(615) 399-1115
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THE WRIGHT FAMILY
FINALIZES HOMEGOING SERVICES
for CO-PASTOR BETTY JEAN WRIGHT
AND
DANIEL (DJ) WRIGHT JR.
Roosevelt, NY. July 17, 2008- The Homegoing services for Co-Pastor Betty
Wright and grandson Daniel (DJ) Wright Jr. are finalized announced son David
Wright. The plans are as follows:
WAKE / VIEWING: SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2008 12 NOON UNTIL~
GRACE TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN CENTER
1745 PACIFIC STREET
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11213
HOMEGOING CELEBRATION: MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008 11:00 AM
WASHINGTON TEMPLE C.O.G.I.C.
1372 BEDFORD AVENUE
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11213
Internment: Greenfield Cemetary, Uniondale, NY
In lieu of floral tributes, to absorb the costs, please consider financial
tributes to be sent directly to:
Rev. Timothy Wright - 15 Meyer St, Roosevelt, New York 11575
The family would like to thank you for your expressions of prayer and
concern. Rev. Timothy Wright had a successful surgery and is responding well
to treatment and therapies. There is still a long road yet to be traveled.
We all must continue to pray. In addition, please keep Danny, his wife and
sons in prayer for the loss of their son and brother.
Please allow the family a moment to deal with the days ahead by holding your
phone calls and e-mails to a bare minimum. Thank you for your understanding
during this time of bereavement!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOSPEL LEGEND AND SAVOY RECORDS' PRODUCER
REV. LAWRENCE C. ROBERTS
PASSES AWAY
Many of you may have already been informed that Gospel Legend, Savoy
Records' producer, Rev. Lawrence C. Roberts passed away on July 14, 2008 at
5:22 pm. We were advised by his granddaughter, Dawn Miles that Rev. Roberts
was with his family at the kitchen table when he was stricken with a massive
heart attack.
Rev. Roberts is credited with changing the course of Gospel music history by
being the first to perfect the "Live" recording experience in the Gospel
genre with The King Of Gospel Rev. James Cleveland's "Volume I". In a
conversation with Rev. Roberts, he shared with me how he met with Rev. James
Cleveland and advised him that he wanted to record him "live," in church, in
service and just let the machine run. He stated, "no one at that time could
see how that could work because the industry was only use to studio
recordings; take one, take two, go back and clean it up and if you have to
clean up a song too much you lose some of the fervor that the original
interpretation may have had."
That historic recording took place in October, 1960. Rev. Roberts went on to
produced 14 albums for The King Of Gospel, Rev. James Cleveland, which
included the classics "Peace Be Still", "I Stood On The Banks Of Jordan",
"Christ Is The Answer" and the list goes on and on.
Rev. Lawrence C. Roberts' legendary career came full circle just as he and
Malaco began to reestablish a working relationship before his untimely
death.
In memory of Rev. Lawrence C. Roberts, The Malaco Music Group will release
his final contribution to this historic label, a compilation he entitled,
"Bridging The Past, Blessing The Present In Song."
Friday, February 27, 2008
Ira Tucker of The Dixie Hummingbirds funeral will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at The Met, 858 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19130. Corner Broad & Poplar; renamed Dixie Hummingbird Way.
The viewing will be conducted from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM. The funeral will proceed immediately following.
The funeral arrangements are being handled by Yarborough Rocke Funeral Home, 1001 N. 63rd St. Philadelphia, PA 19151.
Phone: (215)-473-5100
Please send cards and flowers to the funeral home.
Faxed condolences should be sent to: 215-879-3145
E-mail: lrocke2188@aol.com
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:25 PM
Ira Tucker Of The Dixie Hummingbirds Passes
The Malaco Music Group regrets to announce that Gospel Quartet legend, Ira Tucker of the world famous Dixie Hummingbirds passed away earlier today at approximately 1:00 p.m.
Ira Tucker & The Dixie Hummingbirds recorded 6 albums including a "Best Of" for Atlanta International Records. (A subsidiary of The Malaco Music Group)
Mr. Tucker also appears on one of the album covers with Kirk Franklin and performed on the widely successful direct marketing campaign infomercial for the three CD, three DVD Gospel Legends project (Malaco Records).
D.A. Johnson met and interviewed Mr. Tucker during the taping for the Gospel Legends series, gaining a wealth of knowledge on gospel music history as well as the journey of the Hummingbirds throughout their career.
"I listened to Tucker share his experiences about the sacrifices gospel artists made in order for all us to do what we do today in the Gospel
industry and it just sent chills up my spine. He will be missed; sadly we have lost another legend!!!" States D.A. Johnson, Director of the gospel division of Malaco Records.
To listen to clips of this Gospel Legend, visit <http://www.malaco.com/>
www.malaco.com
