In the 1960’s, William "Hoss" Allen was one of the most powerful men in the rhythm and blues music industry. He was disc jockey at WLAC Radio in Nashville, the highest wattage clear channel R&B station in the country. He was also a music publisher, record label owner and record promotion man. In 1965 he started a new label, Hermitage Records and the ROGANA Production Company. ROGANA was designed to licence Allen’s productions to other labels. The idea being that he had access to more artists than Hermitage could handle. He held sessions at the recording studios of Starday/ King Records in Nashville on Dickerson Road. These sessions were held every weekend with Johnny Jones and the Imperial Seven, as the studio band. The band featured the cream of Nashville R&B musicians and in addition to Johnny on guitar there was Billy Cox on the bass, Freeman Brown on drums, Harrison Calloway and Aron Varnell on horns, Larry Lee on rhythm guitar and several keyboard players, including Skippy Brooks and Ray Valentine. Hoss also took some of his artists to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record. Fame studio had a unique sound and the Rodge Martin sides in particular bare the indelible stamp of that legendary studio. In 1966, Hoss broadened his palette and became the host of the nationally syndicated television show The !!!! Beat. It was the first nationwide black music TV show and the house band was Johnny Jones and the Imperial Seven (now called The Beat Boys) with Frank Howard and the Commanders as vocalists and many of the artists appearing on the show had direct connections to Allen. In 1972 Allen retreated from the music business of recording but stayed on at WLAC Radio through the early 1990’s, hosting their gospel music programming. Hoss Allen passed away in 1997 but left a legacy of a life lived in the rhythm & blues firmament. The music remains richer for his participation. I did post a few episodes of "The Beat!!!!" on the old blog so i might dig them out for sunday reviews when the Detroit Interiew series is finalised. As ive always said a thin line between Blues & Soul if it ever existed. This is long deleted and a cracking album!
AMM
**********REQUEST**********
Those Rare Northern Tasters!
35 comments:
This looks and sounds interesting yes please AMM
This CD is a total discovery for me. Despite my good knowledge, we learn something every day.
Thanks AMM
Yves
Never heard of this company - looks very interesting. Thanks for review, P.
Thanks for another rare soul review MM.
cheers,ELtel
Thanks for the review
I certainly did not have this. Thank you!
This is new to me also,thanks for this review
Bigger Thanks For This Nice Treat,AMM!
I don't know this and it sounds really interesting, thanks for the review AMM
Tasters sound great , thanks AMM .
Very interesting story about William Allen and Roganna. It makes one more eager to delve into the review. Thanks, AMM!
This looks like a keeper
Thanks AMM for a rare review
Thanks for the great review mate
Thank you, AMM. The soul keeps on a comin'!
Thanks AMM for the review.
Another cracking compilation... many thanks for this AMM
BigD
Thanks AMM for the Rogana story and hopefully The Beat will appear some Sunday down the road
I'm crazy about you, baby!
Thanks, AMM!
Thank you AMM fantastic review
Thank you so much for this sir
Nice review AMM thank you
This is a different comp from the one I have. Yes, please.
Hoss was the Boss! Much info here..Thanks!
Thanks for the review AMM
Uuhweee, AMM got a goodie again, thx for that ;) ✌🏻☀️
thank you for the great review. I will check out the hoss collection. Thank you AMM.
This is a very good comp from a man with vision or maybe good taste.
Thanks for review and great write up on the label
Another review to make my day,thanks AMM
Thanks for the Rogana collection AMM, looks interesting!
Hoss knew his stuff. Thanks for thinking of me, AMM.
Thanks for reviewing more rare obscure Soul gems.
Thanks for this great set from Rogana records few big stars in there cant wait great review AMM
Cheers Pedro
Yeah Looks Great More Soul Goodness
Cheers
Tel
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