Family Tree (band)
| Family tree | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| origin | Munich , Germany |
| Genre (s) | pop music |
| founding | 1972 |
| resolution | 1975 |
| Founding members | |
| Timothy Touchton , Michelangelo , Günther Moll , John Coller, Tommy Roland , Monique Melsen , Millie Fennell, Marboo Whisnant, Schlumpfy, Enry David , July David | |
| Last occupation | |
| Timothy Touchton, Michelangelo, Günther Moll, John Coller, Tommy Roland, Millie Fennell, Lucy Neale , Donna Summer , Jodie Clarke, Mel Canady, Tony Gregory | |
| Live and session members | |
| Rainer Pietsch | |
| Keith Forsey | |
| Gary Unwin | |
| Paul Vincent Gunia | |
guitar |
Andy Marx |
guitar |
Max Loeffler |
| Bernie Prock | |
Percussion |
Hans Gaschwendner |
| Rainer Schnelle | |
Family Tree was a pop music singing ensemble from Munich that existed from 1972 to 1975 .
history
The formation was played by a DJ and music producer Gunter "Yogi" Lauke , who at that time in Rottach-Egern the label Finger Records (formerly Bella Phone finger ) as "A & R Manager" was working, at the request of SR -Hauptabteilungsleiters for television entertainment Albert Carl Weiland launched called. 150,000 German marks were made available for the entire project . Lauke's goal was that the group should be able to sing all genres from folk to jazz.
The self-titled debut album was recorded in 1971 in the Union-Studio in Munich. The original line-up of eleven consisted of the American Timothy Touchton , the Luxembourger Monique Melsen , the Jamaican Millie Fennell, the Liberian Marboo Whisnant, the Filipino sisters Enry David-Fascher and July David, Michelangelo , Günther Moll , John Coller, Tommy Roland and Schlumpfy . Family Tree was the first German pop group to have its own choreographer . This came from the Bavarian State Opera . Rainer Pietsch († 1997) , who was still unknown at the time, was brought in for the arrangement . The German press agency provided their photographer Kristian Steinbrücker to accompany the formation at all times. Steinbrücker also shot the cover photo of the first album as well as the photo for the Stern article "An international pop choir comes from Munich: A new elf is rising" in the 09/1972 issue.
The ensemble was then officially presented in September 1972 at the Polydor World Convention in the Berlin Hilton . The moderator of the event was Henning Venske . NDR director Sigmar Börner , who was somewhat disappointed by his standard background ensemble The Les Humphries Singers at the time, hired Family Tree for all issues of his series Hits a gogo produced in Studio Hamburg . Performances all over Europe followed. Mani Hildebrand and Toni Wachter immediately shot a portrait of the troupe with director Gianni Paggi from TV DRS with all twelve titles from the first album. The entrepreneur Yves Rocher found himself as sponsor . In 1973 a second album and a single appeared with Now , another in 1974. Lucy Neale , Donna Summer , Jodie Clarke, Mel Canady and Tony Gregory were part of the formation on the second album . Monique Melsen, Marboo Whisnant, Schlumpfy, Enry and July David were no longer there. 1975 accompanied the formation Ilja Richter in his show disco on Peter Igelhoff .
Family Tree broke up in the same year.
Members
- Timothy "Tim" Touchton (* 1946), an American musician, composer and record producer, previously toured as a drummer with Bobbie Gentry and came to Germany via the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar , where he played Love Generation .
- " Michelangelo ", bourgeois Rainer Limpert (* 1946), released several singles and stayed in the Dutch "Top 40" for two weeks in 1971 with his hit You are my love .
- Günther "Molly" Moll , published the solo single Melanie / Goodbye my Friend under the name "Peter Mayland" in 1972 , and became known as a lyricist, composer and producer.
- "John Coller", real name Klaus Lambert, singer of the cover band Starfighters , was aiming for a solo career in the mid-1970s, first calling himself "Kid Colbert" and then "John Coller". As a professional track announcer, he earned himself the nickname “The Voice of UHS-Divinol-Cup” for his fans at the Hockenheimring . Today he uses the pseudonym "Kolla" as a musician.
- "Tommy Roland", bourgeois Claus Dittmar (1947-2000), published in 1975 under the pseudonym "Eddie Foster" the single I go past the hit / my first band and others under his real name.
- "Schlumpfy", real name Renate Bilsbury, née Stumpf (* 1950), sang according to Family Tree from 1974 to 1976 with the Les Humphries Singer. In 1976 she married Jimmy Bilsbury . The marriage was divorced in 1996. In 1982 she was again active with the Les Humphries Singers.
- Millie Fennell, born in Jamaica, was living in London even then . She released the solo single Reggae Roller / Heat of Jamaica in 1982 .
- Marboo Frederich Whisnant (1948-2013) was born in Monrovia as the son of Isaac Jonathan Whisnant, a senior officer in the Liberian Frontier Force , from which the Armed Forces of Liberia arose. He came to Germany in 1968. He himself released a number of solo singles in the 1970s. He toured various European countries and went to the United States in 1979, where he dedicated himself entirely to the service of the Church.
- Enry David-Fascher (* 1948), married to Horst Fascher , released two solo singles with Telefunken under the pseudonym "En Davy" and others in a duo with her sister July. Before joining Family Tree, she also sang with the Les Humphries Singers from 1970 to 1972 and later again from 1991 to 1993.
- July David (* 1952) sang in a duo with her sister Enry after leaving Family Tree, under the name Big Secret. She should not be confused with their common sister Myrna David (* 1941), who sang with Enry at the Les Humphries Singers from 1970 to 1972.
- Lucy Neale (* 1949), born in Cleveland , published in 1974 under the pseudonym "Lucy O'Day" the solo single Nur bei Träumen / Come home to me . She sang Love Generation from 1975 to 1978 and with the Hornettes from 1980 to 1985 . Together with Mel Canady, she later founded the Munich jazz formation "Ruby & The Mudflaps". She has also worked as a studio singer for numerous performers and now lives in San Diego .
- Donna Summer (1948–2012) became known as a singer and songwriter. In her autobiography Ordinary Girl , she described her time at Family Tree as a wonderful time.
- Mel Canady aka "Candy" from Alabama , later released several solo singles. Together with Lucy Neale he later played in the jointly founded band "Ruby & The Mudflaps". He is the singer and keyboard player of his Munich band “Chessboard” and choir director of the gospel choir “Gospels & more”. Among other things, he also works as a singing teacher for soul, jazz and gospel.
- Tony Gregory (* 1946) sang in Bertie King's Big Band and With Byron Lee and the Dragonaires , among others . He released solo albums and several singles. He lives and works in his native Jamaica as a producer.
- No information is currently available on Jodie Clarke.
Discography
Albums
- 1972: Family Tree ( Polydor )
- 1973: Now (Polydor)
Singles
- 1973: Europa Park / Sweet Music (Polydor)
- 1974: O lé lé / Come Back Billy Joe ( Warner Bros )
Compilations
- 1973: Reason for Love and Hey Brother, Come to Jerusalem zu Festival '73 (Polydor)
Web links
- Family Tree at Discogs (English)
- Photos on Flickr by Lauke Media (Gunter Lauke)
- Family Tree at Rate Your Music
- Family Tree , Gerd's Music Page
- Family Tree , Lucy Neale
Individual evidence
- ↑ Sketches Ilja Richter - Surprises on the Wonder Tree in Disco 1975 (YouTube video).
- ↑ Michelangelo - You are my love , Top40.nl.
- ↑ Peter Mayland at Discogs (English)
- ^ Günther Moll , Hitparade.ch.
- ↑ Günther Moll , charts.org.nz.
- ↑ Five Star Speaker - Klaus Lambert , Automobilsport.com, April 12, 2007.
- ↑ Eddie Foster - I always pass the hit , Hitparade.ch.
- ↑ Claus Dittmar at Discogs (English)
- ^ Rolf Kleinfeld, Wolfgang Koll: Front man Jimmy Bilsbury died ten years ago in Bonn , General-Anzeiger, March 11, 2013.
- ↑ Millie Fennell at Discogs (English)
- ↑ Marboo Whisnant at Discogs (English)
- ↑ Mr. Marboo Frederich Whisnant , Northwest Funeral Chapel.
- ↑ En Davy at Discogs (English)
- ↑ Big Secret at Discogs (English)
- ↑ Lucy O'Day - Only When Dreaming / Come Home to Me , Rate Your Music.
- ↑ Lucy Neale at Discogs (English)
- ↑ Mel Canady at Discogs (English)
- ^ Vita , Mel Canady.
- ↑ Tony Gregory at Discogs (English)
- ↑ Tony Gregory - 50 years of making beautiful music ( Memento of the original from September 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , The Jamaica Observer , February 13, 2011.
