Biography
Born March 1, 1912, in Montgomery, Alabama, Detroit soul pioneer Robert West settled in the Motor City by 1935. The Soulful Detroit website records that he launched Silhouette Records in 1957 while simultaneously managing the Falcons, a local doo wop outfit that included his nephew Eddie Floyd and Mack Rice, both destined for solo careers. West also oversaw the Falcons’ “Sent Up,” easily the biggest seller among the eight singles Silhouette pressed before folding, alongside sides by lesser-known Detroit acts such as the Valdoros, Jan Wynn, the Vo-cals, and Jim Beasley & the Charmers. He next formed Kudo to issue the Falcons’ “This Heart of Mine” in mid-1958; the label also put out Marv Johnson’s “Baby-O.” When that single stalled, Johnson moved to Tamla/Motown, where “Come to Me” became the first release to carry the Motown imprint. Kudo lingered with scant-heard efforts including Nancy Peters’ “Cry-Baby Heart” and Barbara Tennant’s “Rock, Baby, Rock,” plus “Baby Won’t You Change Your Mind,” the debut of Detroit radio personality Joltin’ Joe Howard, who also wrote “Where’s the Joy, Nature Boy?,” the first single by Brian Holland, later renowned as one-third of Motown’s Holland/Dozier/Holland team.
Although West displayed a clear gift for spotting talent, Kudo proved as fleeting as Silhouette, prompting him to start Bumble Bee in 1959. Its first release, Little Joe & the Moroccos’ “Bubble Gum,” spotlighted Joe Harris, who would later join Motown’s the Undisputed Truth, followed by Leon James’ “Baby Let’s Rock.” Former Chess act the Tornados also appeared on Bumble Bee with “Love in Your Life” before the imprint collapsed. West then tried Flick, finally striking success when the Falcons’ “You’re So Fine” became a local smash; he licensed it to United Artists subsidiary UnArt, and the single climbed to the national pop Top 20 while reaching number two on the R&B charts in 1959. Flick next issued the Falcons’ “You Must Know I Love You” and Carrol Carter’s “Chains on My Heart.” After three consecutive singles by the Minor Chords, West closed Flick and opened Contour, whose name later inspired the Contours of “Do You Love Me?” fame. Early Contour releases featured Professor Hamilton & the Schoolboys’ “Juanita of Mexico” and the Fabulous Playboys’ “Sweet Pea.” After a few more sides he shut the label down, only to return in early 1962 with LuPine, the imprint that secured his place in Detroit soul history.
LuPine’s debut, the Falcons’ “I Found a Love,” scored locally and, through a national deal West arranged with Atlantic, rose to number six on the U.S. R&B charts, launching the career of the group’s new lead singer, Wilson Pickett. Another early LuPine release, “She’s My Heart’s Desire,” appeared under the name the Ohio Untouchables; a decade later its core members—vocalist Bernie McCain, saxophonist Clarence Satchell, and bassist Marshall Jones—reunited as the Ohio Players. The Falcons disbanded in early 1963, and Eddie Floyd made his solo bow on LuPine with “Will I Be the One?” West followed with “Tears of Sorrow,” a 1960 recording by the Primettes, now known as Motown’s the Supremes; because Berry Gordy owned the Supremes name, the single had to credit the Diana Ross-led group’s original moniker. Bettye Lavette’s “My Man, He’s a Lovin’ Man” became the next LuPine hit, again leased to Atlantic and again a Top Ten R&B success. Its follow-up, “You’ll Never Change,” failed, and after one last LuPine side, “Witchcraft in the Air,” Lavette moved to Calla and cut the cult favorite “Let Me Down Easy.” West then revisited the Contour roster, signing the Fabulous Playboys to record as the Falcons; their first LuPine single, “Has It Happened to You Yet?,” convinced no one, though the lineup later scored a local hit on Big Wheel with “Standing On Guard.” Mack Rice’s “The Whip” came next, and in late 1964 LuPine released its final single, the now-solo Bernie McCain’s “I Don’t Want No Part-Time Love.”
Details of West’s exit from Detroit are unclear; the sole confirmed fact is that an altercation with Motown footnote Herman Griffin, then married to Mary Wells, ended with Griffin shooting out West’s eye. West moved to Las Vegas, left the music business, and died January 8, 1983.
Although West displayed a clear gift for spotting talent, Kudo proved as fleeting as Silhouette, prompting him to start Bumble Bee in 1959. Its first release, Little Joe & the Moroccos’ “Bubble Gum,” spotlighted Joe Harris, who would later join Motown’s the Undisputed Truth, followed by Leon James’ “Baby Let’s Rock.” Former Chess act the Tornados also appeared on Bumble Bee with “Love in Your Life” before the imprint collapsed. West then tried Flick, finally striking success when the Falcons’ “You’re So Fine” became a local smash; he licensed it to United Artists subsidiary UnArt, and the single climbed to the national pop Top 20 while reaching number two on the R&B charts in 1959. Flick next issued the Falcons’ “You Must Know I Love You” and Carrol Carter’s “Chains on My Heart.” After three consecutive singles by the Minor Chords, West closed Flick and opened Contour, whose name later inspired the Contours of “Do You Love Me?” fame. Early Contour releases featured Professor Hamilton & the Schoolboys’ “Juanita of Mexico” and the Fabulous Playboys’ “Sweet Pea.” After a few more sides he shut the label down, only to return in early 1962 with LuPine, the imprint that secured his place in Detroit soul history.
LuPine’s debut, the Falcons’ “I Found a Love,” scored locally and, through a national deal West arranged with Atlantic, rose to number six on the U.S. R&B charts, launching the career of the group’s new lead singer, Wilson Pickett. Another early LuPine release, “She’s My Heart’s Desire,” appeared under the name the Ohio Untouchables; a decade later its core members—vocalist Bernie McCain, saxophonist Clarence Satchell, and bassist Marshall Jones—reunited as the Ohio Players. The Falcons disbanded in early 1963, and Eddie Floyd made his solo bow on LuPine with “Will I Be the One?” West followed with “Tears of Sorrow,” a 1960 recording by the Primettes, now known as Motown’s the Supremes; because Berry Gordy owned the Supremes name, the single had to credit the Diana Ross-led group’s original moniker. Bettye Lavette’s “My Man, He’s a Lovin’ Man” became the next LuPine hit, again leased to Atlantic and again a Top Ten R&B success. Its follow-up, “You’ll Never Change,” failed, and after one last LuPine side, “Witchcraft in the Air,” Lavette moved to Calla and cut the cult favorite “Let Me Down Easy.” West then revisited the Contour roster, signing the Fabulous Playboys to record as the Falcons; their first LuPine single, “Has It Happened to You Yet?,” convinced no one, though the lineup later scored a local hit on Big Wheel with “Standing On Guard.” Mack Rice’s “The Whip” came next, and in late 1964 LuPine released its final single, the now-solo Bernie McCain’s “I Don’t Want No Part-Time Love.”
Details of West’s exit from Detroit are unclear; the sole confirmed fact is that an altercation with Motown footnote Herman Griffin, then married to Mary Wells, ended with Griffin shooting out West’s eye. West moved to Las Vegas, left the music business, and died January 8, 1983.
Singles