Day 7 of 28 Days of My Family History - LTG Exchange and my Uncle Melvin

Day 7 of 28 Days of My Family History - My Uncle Melvin and LTG Exchange..So i'm changing it up a bit and introducing you all to one of my favorite uncles Melvin, born to my grandparents, John and Mary Barton and is one of my dads brothers.  Doc, as he is called by those close to him ...is pure walking music. If anyone has ever seen my uncle play the guitar or the keyboard, you know its a remarkable experience. Everything about him says music and it radiates from him and you cant help but tap your feet, bop your head and get caught up in his playing. My uncle was part of a group called LTG Exchange back in the 70s. 

The LTG Exchange: the percussionist Bruce Slade (Blue), the drummer Victor Santos (Toast), the guitarist Kevin Beverly (Gongo), the piano-keyboardist Walter Chiles (Wart) and Melvin (Doc) Barton on bass.

The LTG Exchange -- a seminal group in the early days of disco, one who blended together elements of funk, Latin, jazz and up tempo soul, into a groove that was one of the hippest on the New York scene of the mid 70s. Their first CD includes full-length versions of such dance floor stormers as "Waterbed" (in both vocal and instrumental versions), "Tsen Si Yen Yen", "Corazon", "I Like What I Like", "Give It Love", and an unreleased track called "A Young Mother's Love". As to the sound of the LTG Exchange, one listen will highlight the various influences of the day from Funk to Salsa with R’n’ B’/Jazz into 70's DISCO. This group was honored in Puerto Rico as being one of only two recording groups that were invited to play at the opening of The Roberto Clemente Memorial Coliseum” in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The other group, “The Fania All-stars”, was composed of the most famous and influential Latin musicians of that day (Ray Baretto, Mongo Santamaria, etc.). Their first CD, opening with the very popular Disco Hit "WATERBED" (which was later covered and put on the charts again by jazz musician Herbie Mann) followed by Carol King’s CORAZON, is a rare groove which also enjoyed huge club audience response. Available for the first time on CD in the U S. Special attention to the LTG versions of "I Like what I Like" and their metropolitan sound of The Beatles "My Love" which are textured exhibits of the virtuosity of their musical changes in mood and party. Their very danceable "Huddle" is considered one of the best of the bunch from this group, and was released as an early promo-only 12" on Atlantic records. Their most important work was the world’s only Black Rock Operetta “Susie Heartbreaker” released on RCA in 1975 that included the hits “Money Mad”, “Sky High”, “Stone Broke” and the street-smooth Latin tune “Dinero”.

My uncle Melvin is still playing the guitar and the keyboard with the same zest he always had that I remember throughout my entire life. Skip on over to youtube one day and you can find music by LTG Exchange, like Corozon and Waterbed and sign that even now his music from back then, like now, still touches everyone.  Here is a link to Corazon on youtube..take a listen.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iy2-1Ogjtw   Here is a link to the song Waterbed by LTG exchange, found on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P5awBqg0_Y 

I asked him recently about some childhood memories and a few other questions and here is what he shared with me. 

1.  What are some of your great childhood memories?

Waiting for the birth of Bone (George),  Neck (Vanessa) and Da Boy (Raymond). I remember when Pop came back from the hospital when Bay (short for baby boy) was born ... he said  "...you're mother had a boy". And when they brought him home we asked "Is that da boy" ... Pop said "yeah" ... since that moment he's been Da Boy.

2.  What are some of the places where you have traveled and what did you see and experience?

 Puerto Rico (The Roberto Clemente Colliseum) and Venezula (A thoroughbred race track) are a couple that I can mention. In both cases my band was a part of the featured entertainment.  We also were a part of the National Telethon that raised money for Black Colleges. There I met Sammy Davis Jr. and was his guest and on his show at the National Republican Convention held in Miami.

3.  What do you wish for your daughter in her future?

I pray that she is always happy and has everything that she needs in abundance.

4.  What would you like people to remember most about you in 100 years?

 Mr. Happy Man. Loved his family. Loved his God. Loved his work.

 

Day 6 of 28 Days of My Family History - Andrea Denise Gentry - My Cousin

Andrea Denise Gentry, March 4, 1964 - October 2, 2007.   My cousin was definitely that sister I never had. "Denise" was the daughter of the late Aubrey Gentry, Sr. and Octavia Gentry. She was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System and we attended Wes...tern High School together, she graduating a year before me in 1982. It was because of her that I joined her as a member of the Western High School Drill team. She attended Elon College in NC where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and was given the line name, "Evil-ize". After studying at Elon, she furthered her education by attending Johns Hopkins School of Radiology obtaining a Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree. Denise enjoyed family gatherings and she loved spending time with her children always exposing them to the finer things in life and keeping thhem very active in sporting activities. While Denise was at Elon, we would write letters to each other almost weekly as we had began to get as close as two sisters. We loved sharing our trials and tribulations and the wonderful experiences of raising our children who were close in age. She and I traveled to Tampa Florida one year to our first "Woman Thou Art Loosed" conference and took that time to reflect on life; our past and where we wanted our futures to go. That conference was an awakening for us both. I remember times when I moved into my first apartment and she would come home from school break and we would sit up in my apartment all night long just talking and catching up. She always gave me great advice for various situations, like a sister would and I miss her dearly.  Denise also loved music, especially gospel music and I remember that one of her favorite songs was "I Surrender All." 

Day 5 of 28 Days of my Family History - my grandmother, Mary Etta Barton

My grandmother, who was a very special lady to me, was born on June 22, 1921 and passed on to glory suddenly on June 12, 2003. My grandmother was born in Meridian, MS, the oldest child of 11 born to Jeremiah and Octavia (Shumate) Cockrell. She married John Aaron Barton, Sr. on Sept. 30, 1941 and had been married 49 years when he passed in 1991. Seven children were born from this union, the oldest being my dad. She was educated in the public school system in Meridian, MS and while at T.J. Harris high school, she met and later married the love of her life my grandfather.  My grandmother worked several jobs while also taking care of her growing family.  She worked at Sinai hospital, then as a secretary at Booker T. Washington Junior High then later at Lake Clifton Senior High School where she later retired from.  She began her early walk with God after being baptized at the St. John Baptist Church in Meridian, MS.  She joined United Baptist Church in 1944 and remained a faithful member until her passing. She loved gospel music and she not only sang (and she sang!!!!) but she also played the organ and the piano for numerous churches and choirs throughout the community and served as organist at United Baptist Church for 27 years. She was one of the organizers of the Gospel Chorus, a member of the United Echoes, which was a choir formed of several members of hher church.  She also sang on a family choir called the "Family Tree" which consisted of her children and sisters and other family members.  She was a Sunday School teacher and for a time served as Sunday School Superintendent.  Sheh was a member of the Deaconess Board where she served as President for many years.  Shhe was also a member of the Pastor's Aide Ministry.  She lived a very active life. She had been a Grand Worthy Matron of the Order of Easter Star, she was a notary public and a Chief Judge for thhe Maryland Board of Elections. She was also an active member of the Coldstream Homestead Montebello Community Association. Some of my grandmother's happiest times were spent with her husband and children traveling to Rochester, New York and Niagara Falls.  I was more than happy to continue with that tradition after my grandfather's passing by continuing to drive her up to Rochester and Niagara falls several times.  She loved family gatherings and she loved to cook. I learned so many of my cooking skills from my grandmother and i'm still trying to master her recipe for cornbread stuffing from scratch. She loved her children very much and would do anything for them. One of her passions was shopping and she was known for being a great dresser from head to toe, especially her many hats and tons of shoes.  She was 81 and still wearing healed shoes.  One Christmas holiday while enjoying a family tree trimming party she was asked what was her hope for her children.  Her response was "not necessarily a long life, but a quality life...you can have a long life and not enjoy that long life.  I also hope for them to look to some of the things their ancestors have gone through and done and try to top it.  Live close to God.  When you dont have anyone to talk to, talk to the Lord." I miss her very much. She was a great lady.

Day 4 of 28 Days of My Family History - Joseph Jennings - My Great Grandfather

Joseph Jennings, July 20, 1893 - March 20, 1974. He was married to Annie McLearin and they were the parents of Theodore, James, Charles, Joseph and Doris.  My great-grandfather and two of his sisters married and sister and two brothers.  How often do you see that.   He served in the military as a mechanic and served in World War I. My great grandfather raised my mother after her father passed when she was a young child. My brothers and I affectionately called ...him "Downdaddy". Odd name right? I know. The story is, when we were kids, we would often go to his house in the 1000 block of Durham Street, which is no longer there. My mom would tell us, "lets go down daddys." We heard it so much that we grew to call him "down daddy" from my mom saying lets go down daddys. Funny I know but we loved our name for him. I didnt live long enough to see us become adults but he would be very proud of the my mother and the life she has led and the three children she had that he loved so much!!!

Day 3 of 28 Days of My Family History - Colonel Paul James Cockrell - My Uncle

Pressing forward and here we are at day 3 of my family history.  I tell you this research has been eye opening.  As i'm contacting family members, even they are getting excited about who or whats next and its bringing to their minds, great family memories and stories to tell.  Stories i'm hoping they will share as comments on the various blog posts.  I want to know it all and keep all of our family members fresh in our minds.  Uncle PJ was quite memorable.  He was a funny dude.  Uncle PJ was my grandmother's brother, and to me he was her twin.  I am was amazed when I started pulling out pictures how much he and my grandmother looked alike.  They walked a lot alike also.  They were also very close.  Colonel Paul James Cockrell was born Aug. 11, 1926 to Jeremiah and Octavia (Shumate) Cockrell.  He went on to glory, suddenly on Aug. 12, 1989. He spent his early years in Meridian, Mississippi, where the Cockrell family is from.  He was a member of St. John Baptist Church in Meridian and I remember visiting that very church as a child.   Like most of the Cockrell children, Uncle PJ was a musician who often assisted in services while living and growing up in Meridian, MS. Uncle PJ was very active in the community after moving to Maryland. Fol...lowing his time spent in the military and completing college, earning a Juris Doctor Degree, hhe established the Associated Civic Democratic Club, worked as an NAACP lawyer and joined the Hiram Grand Lodge as a free mason. His military record was so notable that he was honored by having it made a part of the Congressional Record at the time of his retirement. Uncle PJ enjoyed history, military strategy and studying languages which led to his being considered for an Ambassadorship and appointed to a Congressional Advisory Board.  My most notable rememberence is that all the kids use to call Uncle PJ a penquin because he stood and walked like a penguin. He would laugh and smile with us every time we would say it. He had a big, kind heart and loved his family very much!!See More

Day 2 of 28 Days of my Family History - Joseph Jennings - My Uncle

So now i'm at day 2 and Im very excited about sharing my family with everyone and getting to know more and more about family that I didnt know.  I was asked what happens after 28 days, especially if you still have family left?  Well then it simply continues.  This has started something in me that I can't tame.  Im on a mission to learn as much as I can about my family and I hope to be able to record all this history for generations to come to know about and never forget.  Hopefully one day, someone else will pick this up and never let it die.  So for my second day Im sharing with you my uncle, Joseph Jennings.  I will start off by saying I miss him very much.  Uncle Joe was my mom's oldest brother,born Dec. 19, 1941, passing from this earth on Oct. 10, 1994. He was the first child of Doris Jennings and Joseph F. Jennings.  He was educated in the Baltimore City School system and continued his education at the Community College of Baltimore obtaining an Associate of Arts Degree in 1975.  In 1959 he joined the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1965 with the rank of Sergeant. He joined the Baltimore City Police Dept in 1969 and retired in 1993 as a Detective Sergeant.  One of his proudest moments was when both of his sons joined him as officers with the Baltimore Police department.   He loved fishing and made sure that he was always available to family and friends whenever he was needed.  My fondest memory is that my uncle was they type who always made sure we always had money in our pockets. Whenever he would see my brothers and I he would secretly give us money to stash in our pockets. We had many great times at his house at family cookouts and functioins and had fun times hanging with our cousins. I miss you uncle Joe!!!

Day 1 of 28 Days of My Family History - Vanessa Octavia Barton - My Aunt

February 2011 has officially started and we are at yet another start to Black History month.  I noticed on another site quite a few friends were going to be posting, as they did last year, daily posts about famous events or famous people who had an impact on the history of African Americans. I wanted to do something different.  I decided to give an account of my own family history for 28 days.  I started by calling and interviewing various family members on people and events they remember and I hope at the end of 28 days, I learn a lot more about my family and others will learn more about them as well. 

For Day 1, my spotlight is on my aunt Vanessa Octavia Barton, my dads youngest sister, born May 13, 1955.  She departed this life after a lengthy illness on June 21, 1987.  Vanessa was the youngest daughter of John and Mary Barton and was sister to 6 brothers and sisters whom she loved very very much.  My family had a few fondly nick names for Vanessa.  She was called "Nessa" by some, and "Neck" by others.  I used both intermittenly.  My fondest memories of Nessa were of those times rollerskating.  She more than loved rollerskating.  I think it was something in the family.  I remember years after she had passed, finding her rollerskates in a closet at my grandmother's house.  Her love for rollerskating carried over to all of her nieces and nephews.  Even today, you can find my own rollerskates either in my garage or in the back of my truck, ready to hit to roller rink.  I dont rollerskate as much as I used to but i'm on my way back to that.  I remember how much fun it was and how much Vanessa loved skating and talking about skating.  Vanessa also loved McDonald's food.  She worked for many years at Kmart and as far back as I can remember, she always worked retail.  She also loved to sing.  And she could sing!!!  She loved singing in church and even sang on the women's choir at United Baptist Church that was named after her mother, "The Mary E Barton Women's Chorus.  Vanessa was also very athletic.  She loved sports and loved playing volleyball and softball.  Vanessa is missed everyday by my family.  She had the prettiest eyes, the brightest smile and the largest heart.