Detroit Federation of Musicians Union Hall, Schafer and Seven Mile Rd., Detroit, Mi.
Stan Mitchell and the People's Choice auditioned there, for "The June Brown Show". This lady was a columnist for the Detroit News, and had a Saturday afternoon talk show on channel 4. Pre-Oprah.
There were five other acts auditioning. When we started playing, the ladies working in the kitchen, came out into the hall, dancing and clapping their hands. Apparently, that influenced the four guys in suits, sitting at a table facing us. We got the job.
So, it was off to Channel 4 T.V. Studios. Nothing noteworthy, except we had to play at a low volume, and there were a lot of guys with headphones. June Brown called us, "Harold Mitchell and the People's Choice".
Twenty Grand Night Club, 14th Street, Detroit.
In the fifties, sixties, and seventies, 20 Grand was the hippest club in Detroit Black Society.
The hall of fame list of performers include, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson,Jackie Wilson, Temptations, Edwin Starr, Stevie Wonder, Supremes, Four Topps, James Jamerson, on and on.
We played there one night. Our lead singer, Stan, channeled his inner Frank Sinatra. One of two songs we did was, "Best Things In Life are Free", up tempo. The stage was piano shaped, with well dressed patrons sitting all around us.This was out of character for us, but we loved it.
The Twenty Grand, like so many other Detroit venerable institutions, was a victim of the wreaking ball. It should never be forgotten.
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