NEWS photo Mits Wakefield

IT WAS North Vancouver music man Bobby Taylor who ‘discovered’
the Jackson Five, years ago. Still in the limelight, Taylor hopes next
year to be part ef a worldwide Motor City tour featuring top Motown

SAIL INTO HORSESHOE BAY
DINNER FOR TWO ‘17”

31 - Wednesday, November 15, 1989 - North Shore News

Making money from
music can be harder
than writing ABC

C >: BONE of contentiori among people in the music

biz is who discovered the

Jackson Five — the

group that pop superstar Michael Jackson grew up
in, which brought us such hits as ABC and I'll Be There.

Contrary to one of the more
popular beliefs, it wasn't Diana
Ross. Nope. The answer lies closer
to home — North Vancouver, in
fact.

Years ago, the Jacksons opened
for former rhythm and blues hit-
maker Bobby Taylor and his group
the Vancouvers at Chicago's Rega!
Theatre. Taylor, who recently
moved to North Vancouver,
reminisces about that fateful night.

“After the first show Michael
and Marlen (Jackson) used to go to
sleep on my and Tommy Chong’s
{the latter of Cheech and Chong)
lap,” he recalls.

Taylor and the Vancouvers were
discovered by Diana Ross and the
Supremes at the famed Cave on
Hornby Street. Their rise to fame
came when Ross introduced the
group to illustrious Motown chief
Berry Gordy, who was so im-
pressed with their sound that he
had them signing a contract the
same night he met them.

The group became the first Ca-
nadian band and the first inter-
tacia! group to sign with Motown
Records in 1966. They moved to
Detroit and Taylor began oroduc-
ing records for people like Stevie
Wonder and Gladys Knight.

“We felt great,’ Taylor recalls
of those early days, until he found
out what Motown was really all
about — “‘ncthing,’’ according to

him.

After a number of bad experi-
ences (Taylor produced the
Jacksons’ first five records and has
yet to be paid for it) Taylor today is
still bitter about Motown. He says,
“I've yet to be paid for anything
lve done for the Jackson Five. I'm
still in court over it. | wrote ABC, |
Want You Back, I’ll Be There and
didn’t receive a dime for it.”’

EVELYN
JACOB

spotlight feature

Taylor, one of 23 brothers and
sisters, was born in Washivigton
D.C. In high school he and Marvin
Gaye used to sing on street cor-
ners together. While completing
his MA in music at Berkeley he
met Tommy Chong and the two
moved to Vancouver.

In 1963 the two formed the
Vancouvers with another notable
musician — soon-to-be guitar vir-
tuoso Jimi Hendrix, whom Taylor
eventualiy fired because he com-

lained that Hendrix played too
loud.

“We were doing the Impres-
sions and Temptations’ early hits,
and Jimi used to play so loud that
we couldn't hear ourselves play,’’
he says laughing.

After a 1977 tour with Gaye,
Taylor had an experience which
changed his life. He was diagnos-
ed with throat cancer, and for 10
years he taiked in a mere whisper
—~ it almost ruined his career and
cost him his life.

“1 stayed with my mother in
Columbus, Ohio. The doctors
gave me a year and a half to live. !
was by myseif the whole time,” he
says.

The Temptations heard about
Taylor’s condition and banded
together with members from the
Four Tops to pay for treatment. In
1987 Taylor was back singing
again.

Today Taylor again finds himself
working with some of his earty
colleagues — he and two original
rnembers of the Vancouvers
played Richard’s on Richards
three times last month, and earlier
this year he starred in a new
Tommy Chong movie called The
Far Out Man — waich, he says,
due to a disagreement among
producers has gone from a com-
edy to a meledrama.

In one scene (if it hasn’t been
edited out), Taylor appears in hot
pink rollers, smoking marijuana,
with smoke coming out of his ears.

Next year he hopes to be part of
a worldwide Motor City special
tour, featuring all the top Motown
names.

SANTA CLAUS
IS COMING TO
CAPILANO MAIL
THIS. SATURDAY

* BRING THE WHOLE
FAMILY TO THE MALL

THIS SATURDAY AT
1Oam & WATCH OUR.
FABULOUS INDOOR

Santa Parade!

For only $17.95 you and your
quest may choose any two entrees
up to a regular price of $13.95,
saving up to $9.95.
Each dinner includes Fresh
Vegetables & Potato, Rice or
Pasta.
Present coupon before ordering.
One coupon per couple.
Not valid with any other promotion (Pizza not included)
Monday to Thursday offer ends Dec. 10/89
Reservation recommended

THE PARADE BEGINS AT 10am. AND

WILL FEATURE CLOWNS, MARCHING
BANDS, BALLOONS FOR THE KIDS,
SANTA CLAUS & MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Featuring Prime Rib Fri., Sat. and Sun.

Bock now for Christmas & New Years Eve Parties ;

921-8184
6332 Bay St., West Van., Horseshoe Bay

OPEN: Mon.-Wed. & ~
Sat. 9:30-5:30pm
Thure-Fri, 9:30-9:00pm
Sun. Noon to $:00pm

935 Marine Dr.
North Van
980-8561