27 Jul Site 7 The Tamla/Motown Appreciation Society
The below letter outlines some of the problems Ritchie had in trying to get African-American music onto Australian radio during the 1950’s and 60’s
I have just received from Mrs Emily Dunn, of the International Department of Motown Records, the first 3 copies of your very fine magazine, Hitsville U.S.A. Actually, I am quite astonished at the rapid fashion in which your club has established itself, and the formidable threat it represents in England, in the battle of the purists versus the “ignorant”. All I can say to you, and your club execs. and members, is congratulations on a job mighty well done!!
But let me tell you a little about my reasons for writing. I have been an ardent (and there wouldn’t be too many MORE ardent than myself) fan of the Detroit brand of Rhythm and Blues for a long, long time. I have always been a supporter of R&B, because to me, it is the only music that justifies itself. It means something …. and in this world, that’s something hard to find.
But the Tamla/Motown/Gordy music has always had a very special meaning to me.
It was for, and because of Detroit R & B, that I have continued to fight in a battle that appears will never be decided – the battle of myself against every disk jockey, radio station and Program Director in Australia. You see, I am (or I was) a disk jockey. I started out in the business at 18 (3 years ago) when I commenced compering a half hour teenage TV show here in Brisbane (a city of close on 600,000). In this show, called “Teen Tops”, I featured prominently the sounds of Hitsville U.S.A., which Mr Gordy Jr. so kindly sent to me. At this stage (as you can readily imagine) disk jockeys laughed at me — I mean a guying playing Rhythm and Blues, and saying it’s good – how ridiculous ! “Why, that’s music for black people – rubbish”. The kids were so amazed when I used to tell them that Mary Wells (like, who was she to them) outsold all and any femme vocalists in the world. But I plugged on, and if it hadn’t been for strong pressure from a record company that I embarrassed by playing records they didn’t want played, I may have still been going. So my TV career playing Detroit R & B came to an end, but I certainly didn’t. At that time, I was writing feature stories for the TV Week magazine here, and much of my material was syndicated nationally, thus reaching 1 million Australians. Being an ardent R&B fan, I did all I could in the circumstances to push R&B through TV Week. I am still doing this, even now, and I’ve enclosed a few examples of my efforts in the past for your perusal. Unfortunately, in my Hits of the Year survey, my Editor won’t let me be restricted to R&B so I have to include some of the trash and junk, which so many ignorant people buy/and waste their money. However, I did the best I could. September last year, I left the TV station, and joined up with a radio station very near here. In 4 weeks at the station, I managed to get YOU LOST THE SWEETEST BOY, I GOTTA DANCE TO KEEP FROM CRYING, FINGERTIPS, and DO YOU LOVE ME into their Top 40. In fact, the Contours’ smash became the station’s most requested record of all time, in 34 years of programming. I was pleased! However, the other jocks on the station decided to gang up on me (the music was making me too popular)/and that ended that.
The Tamla/Motown Appreciation Society graduation photo 1966
Ritchie Yorke (above, second row up, on the far right)
By this stage, I was earning somewhat of a reputation as a rebel – purely because I wanted to play the records that were top selling hits in the U.S.A. And just because of the fact that R&B predominantly featured in America’s top sellers, I was a rebel playing “negro music”. You see, out here the jocks don’t recognise R&B hits as worthwhile as programming, despite the fact that they may sell hundreds of thousands in the U.S., and to a combined audience.
It took me some time, but I eventually found another job – this time in a station 380 miles south of Brisbane – Tamworth. Well, I really plugged the R&B there, and I lasted 5 months (surprisingly). Believe me, Mary Wells was the biggest thing they ever saw in Tamworth. But, after many warnings not to touch music “that other stations don’t play” they put me on a fast rocket out of town.
So, then I made a tour of the entire country with a whole stack of R&B records, and big ideas for an exclusive R&B show, but it wound up where it started – nowhere. So, as it is now, no radio station in the country will give me a job, because they know of my R&B preferences. I’m not a fanatic in the real sense of the word – but I am very determined to bring R&B to this country. I am, right at this moment, trying to get into a new TV station on the publicity side of things. In the meantime, I keep working on my favourite “hobby” – songwriting. Also writing for Music Business of N.Y.
When I saw your magazines, I was absolutely knocked out. I decided that I must write right away, and inform you that I was so pleased you are doing so well. I only wish I could say the same for the R & B cause in Australia.
I know about a dozen really keen fans of the music (real soul music) and there’s probably hundreds (as no doubt is the case in your country) who dig some, like the Supremes. I’ll enclose a chart from the top radio station in this city to give you an idea of what’s happening. Too much trash, and most of it comes from those woeful English groups (I trust you won’t mind my knocking them). Perhaps in the future, you may let me contribute an article for “Hitsville U.S.A.” It could be something different! Let me know what you think.
By the way, have you people seen how good Music Business is as a trade magazine? Their policy leans toward R&B (they have a full page report each week from their R&B editor on what is happening), and they also run tremendous articles on the R&B business (e.g. Sue’s current story, a big spread on Jerry Butler, Alvin Cash and the Crawlers etc.). They have twice as large a circulation as the Cashbox, and I sincerely believe they are much better than the Billboard as well. Why not recommend to your members that they write and get a sample copy – address is 225 West 57th Street, New York City. I’m certain they’ll be glad to send any and everyone a copy. After that, they’ll be convinced that Music Business is by far the best for R&B coverage. They’re real gone on the Supremes – it’s a pity that the other trades weren’t the same.
Well, I guess I’ve said all that was on my mind. However, I would like to wish you all the very, very best for continued success, and achievement of your eventual gains. I would like to hear from you when you get a chance – perhaps you’d be good enough to send me copies of your magazines from time to time. I’d love to read them. Hope to meet you all one day.
