DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Motown Treasures
HTML https://motowntreasures.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Devastating Affair
*****************************************************
#Post#: 8451--------------------------------------------------
1973 Touring with Diana Ross
By: MysterySinger Date: February 19, 2022, 4:38 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Notes from the tour programme...
Since Diana Ross began drawing record-breaking crowds to her
fabulous Las Vegas shows, she has been accompanied on stage not
only by a full orchestra and rhythm section, but also by a
remarkable singing group called The Devastating Affair. In
Diana's earlier shows, the group sang backup pn her songs,
performing one or two numbers on their own while Diana took a
break. But they have grown in strength and popularity with each
show, and this Summer as Diana makes her long awaited first tour
of Europe, The Devastating Affairwill open the show as a
separate act.
Devastating Affair are one of the newest groups to be signed by
Motown and look set to achieve the same kind of success that has
made the Motown stable of Artists some of the biggest of the
last decade. The Affair - Andrew Porter, Harold Johnston, Greg
Wright, Karin Patterson and Olivia Foster - came to Motown in
1971 when they met producer Hal Davis who brought them to the
company for an audition. They'd got together just a short time
before when they were all part of a performing arts workshop
that began operation in Harold;s garage, and their first
professional engagements included a concert with Roberta Flack
and benefit shows for several leading organisations. How did
they choose their name?
Andrew explains: "We heard a radio ad for some fantastic event,
and the announcer promised that it would be a :devastating
affair". So we decided that would be our name, because we often
feel like a fantastic event.
You really have to see the group to know exactly what they can
do, but in case you're reading this before you have the
opportunity, Greg describes their music like this:
Basically we're a blend of all kinds of music. Vibration-wise,
we're a good happening. It's a perfect situation, we're strong
and there are no hassles. Harold and I write most of the music,
and Karin and Olivia provide some beautiful lyrics. All of us
read and write music and take part in the arrangements. And
we're all lead vocalists. The group's versatility, along with
our diverse backgrounds, makes it pretty hard to describe the
sound. It's really just an incredible blend.
Having just completed tours of Japan and Australia with Diana
and putting in time at the Motown studio to complete their first
album, the group has little time to relax in the way they like
best - playing dominoes, or planning "Devastating Affair
Mountain".
In the meantime the group is building up a regular band of
followers, and if their current single "My Place" happens as it
should, then "Devastating Affair Mountain" shouldn't be too far
away.
The Devastating Affair - an affair to remember.
#Post#: 8453--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1973 Touring with Diana Ross
By: Snakepit Date: February 19, 2022, 5:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I attended the Manchester show at the Palace Theater.
I recall going to buy tickets, and all the Stalls had gone. I
was clearly upset about this, and then the booking clerk said
..." We do have some private boxes left".
So I snapped up a " Royal Box" and saw the show with The DA.
#Post#: 8455--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1973 Touring with Diana Ross
By: MysterySinger Date: February 19, 2022, 5:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
You lucky person. I was at The Palace as well and in the
stalls, my ticket having been bought by my sister for my
Birthday. The show was on 22nd September 1973.
#Post#: 8459--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1973 Touring with Diana Ross
By: humboldt Date: February 20, 2022, 3:03 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for posting about Devastating Affair who were another of
Motown's forgotten groups like Celebration. I've loved all that
I've heard which is sadly not a lot. I believe that there is
still a whole album's worth of material still in the vaults
which is never likely to see the light of day.
#Post#: 8461--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1973 Touring with Diana Ross
By: MysterySinger Date: February 20, 2022, 3:32 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I think there's an awful lot of unreleased songs from various
Mowest artists still in the vaults, there's still a lot to
discover. It's easy to forget how much Mowest vaulted material
has seen the light of day in recent years, from the likes of
Sister's Love and Bobby Darin for example. Many tracks on The
Rita Wright years were recorded at Mowest. As we know there's
several Thelma Houston and Devastating Affair tracks sitting
there and there will shortly be another 13 (at least) Frankie
Valli & The Four Seasons unreleased tracks seeing the light of
day.
#Post#: 8462--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1973 Touring with Diana Ross
By: humboldt Date: February 20, 2022, 3:36 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Blinky also recorded for Mowest but what and when I have no idea
as she seemed to be on many labels that the lines get blurred!
*****************************************************