Today's featured songwriter is likely lesser known than our last subject, but those in the know, will surely recognize Tony Hester as one of the great hidden gems of Detroit's hey day. Though he never signed to the mighty label, Hester spent considerable time hanging out at the Hitsville studio during the mid 60s, watching Holland-Dozier-Holland produce records. Mowtown tried to sign Hester after his first recorded song, "A Little Bit Of Sympathy", by The Marvelettes gained traction in D-Town, but he refused. Most sources say Hester was only 14 then, but most of the same sources have his birthday as July 7, 1946 so there's some bad math somewhere there I suspect. More likely he was about 17/18. Golden World Records also wanted to sign Hester to contract but again Hester refused. Shortly after that, Ed Wingate, the owner of Golden World/Ric Tic Records, sold the companies to Motown. Detroit had groups galore and Hester sang with lots of them. He sang on a Holidays' recording but soon lost interest in groups because of the constant hassles. He then recorded a solo record, "Just Can't Leave You" b/w "Watch Your Step", issued on Karate Records in 1966. Following this Hester hooked up with Detroit's funk legend, Richard 'Popcorn' Wylie, with whom he co-wrote a wide breadth of material for a wide array of labels. Artists such as The Platters, Steve Mancha, Jimmy Delphs, Jimmy 'Soul' Clark, Mary Wells, Bettye LaVette, Deon Jackson and many others benefited from this collaboration. Hester's real big break came via producer, Don Davis in 1970, when he paired Hester with The Dramatics, recording for Stax subsidiary, Volt Records. Hester penned the entirety of their first two albums, recorded for the label in 1971 and 1973 respectively. They were the first to cut Hester's "In The Rain", which remains to be one of the most popular, enduring, and recorded R&B tunes of all time. Hester continued to contribute to further albums by The Dramatics, as well as writing material for The Dells, Jeanie Reynolds, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr, among others. However, Hester had developed quite a serious drug addiction by the mid 70s and was working less and less as the decade came to a close. Tragically, in the summer of 1980, he was found shot to death in a drug related robbery on the streets of Detroit. Fortunately, his music live's on to this day and Hester is remembered fondly by those who were close to him.
VA - In The Rain (Selections From The Songbook Of Tony Hester)
PART 1:
101 - The Dramatics - 1971 - In The Rain (Volt LP VOS-6018)
102 - Jeannie Reynolds - 1974 - You Ain't The Only Man (God Created) (Chess 2150)
103 - Johnny Sayles - 1972 - Good Golly (Brunswick 55473)
104 - Tony Hester - 19?? - Nothing Can Stop Me From Loving You (Originally Unissued)
105 - The Perfections - 19?? - Just Can't Leave You (Originally Unissued) [mono]
106 - Betty Boo - 196? - My Man Flint (Originally Unissued)
107 - The Grandells - 197? - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get (Grandeur LPS-1005)
108 - 5° Farenheit - 1970 - Vibrations (Abet 9441)
109 - Jimmy 'Soul' Clark - 1968 - I Blew A Good Thing (Karen 106) [mono]
110 - The Dramatics - 1974 - Door To Your Heart (Cadet 5704) (Cadet LP CA-60027)
111 - Roz Ryan - 1970 - You're My Only Temptation (Volt VOA-4040)
112 - Stanley Mitchell - 1967 - Quit Twistin' My Arm (Dynamo 111) [mono]
113 - Minnie Epperson - 1968 - Grab Your Clothes (And Get On Out) (Peacock 1960) [mono]
114 - Larry Wright - 1966 - Sweet Sweet Kisses (A-Go-Go 345) [mono]
115 - Jimmy Delphs - 1968 - Don't Sign The Paper (I Want You Back) (Karen 1538)
116 - Mary Wells - 1966 - Hands Off My Baby (Originally Unissued Atco)
117 - Pat Lewis - 19?? - Watch Out (Originally Unissued) [mono]
118 - Tommy Neal - 1966 - Going To A Happening (Pameline 100) [mono]
119 - The Platters - 1967 - Washed Ashore (On A Lonely Island In The Sea) (Musicor 1251)
120 - The Dramatics - 1973 - Now You Got Me Loving You (Volt LP VOS-6019)
121 - The Dells - 1973 - I Hear Voices (Cadet LP CA-50046)
PART 2:
201 - The Dramatics - 1977 - Music Is Forever (ABC LP AB-1010)
202 - The Intellects - 1979 - Fell For You (Private Press 790611)
203 - Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - 1976 - Nothing Can Stop Me (ABC LP ABCD-952)
204 - Mighty Lovers - 1968 - Ain't Gonna Run No More (Soulhawk 1007) [mono]
205 - Belita Woods - 1969 - You Do Your Thing (Moira 107)
206 - Jay Davis - 1967 - What Words Do I Use? (Mello 001)
207 - Arthur Prysock - 1974 - In The Rain (Old Town LP OT-73-12001)
208 - Cold T. - 1976 - Fall In Love Lady Love (Loretta LO-X-1951H)
209 - Deon Jackson - 1968 - I Need The Love Like Yours (Carla 1900)
210 - Jimmy 'Soul' Clark - 1968 - Tell Her (Moira 104)
211 - Bettye LaVette - 1968 - Get Away (Karen 1544)
212 - Johnnie Taylor - 1971 - Hijackin' Love (Stax STA-0096) [mono]
213 - Tony Hester - 1966 - Just Can't Leave You (Giant 707) (Karate 523)
214 - New Holidays - 1969 - If Only Knew Then (Soulhawk 1008) [mono]
215 - The Dramatics - 1971 - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get (Volt LP VOS-6018)
216 - Jeanie Reynolds - 1976 - You Want To Get Your Hands On A Woman (Casablanca NBLP-7029)
217 - Chuck Cissel - 1982 - Love Is Missing From Our Lives (Arista LP AL-9581)
218 - Brandye - 1978 - Curiosity (Kayvette LP K-804)
219 - Wee Gee - 1983 - In The Rain (Earwax 701)
220 - Cissy Houston - 1975 - Nothing Can Stop Me (Janus 255)
221 - The Dramatics - 1976 - Say The Word (ABC LP ABCD-955)
