Steve Fuji
During the years I worked as a recording engineer, it was a constant source of frustration that most of the work I did was for demo sessions that never got heard by the public.
That was especially true of these 2 songs by Prime Cut, because I felt that they were extremely good songs and also represented some of my best work as a recording engineer.
It’s very gratifying that now, after 45 years, they are finally being released and can be heard by music lovers. I hope you like these songs as much as I did when I recorded them in 1978.
Steve Fuji
Steve Richards
I WAS AT THE OF AGE OF 12 YEARS OLD WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER ASK ME IF WANTED TO TAKE PIANO LESSONS I SAID YES SO I STARTED TAKING LESSONS FROM A LADY WHO LIVED ON MY STREET UNTIL SHE GOT MARRIED SHE WAS 21 AT THAT TIME.
MY PASTOR’S SON WAS ALREADY PLAYING THE PIANO HE STARTED AT THE AGE OF 5 SO WHEN I STARTED PLAYING HE WAS 14 YEARS OLD AND YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THE SAME DAY MAY 8.
SO THE PASTOR’S SON STARTED GIVING ME LESSONS SO STARTED PLAYING IN THE CHURCH FIRST.
I WAS A MEMBER OF A BAND WHO PLAYED BACKUP MUSIC FOR THE GROUP PRIMECUT.
WE ALL MEET IN THE STUDIO LAYING THE TRACKS FOR THE SONGS THEY WERE WORKING ON.
IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE BAND I WAS WORKING WITH WOULD BE THE BAND FOR PRIME CUT.
SO WE PRACTICED AND PRACTICED AS BEGIN TO GET DATES TO PLAY WE PLAYED IN NIGHT CLUBS, AND FOR BOB HOPE’S N C O CLUBS MILITARILY CLUBS.
AND YES WE WENT TO JAPAN,
IT WAS THE SECOND TIME FOR PRIMECUT AND THE FIRST TIME FOR THE BAND.
SO THIS GROUP WAS ALREADY FORMED WHEN WE PLAYED BACKUP FOR THEM.
WE WERE ALWAYS IN THE STUDIO WORKING ON NEW MATERIAL.
I WOULD RIGHT SONGS WITH JAMES AND OTHERS WOULD RIGHT SONGS WITH JAMES ALSO, I
DON’T KNOW WHERE MY PICTURES ARE OF US AS A GROUP. WE WERE TOGETHER AS A GROUP FOR A ALONG TIME 1970’S UNTIL THE LATE 1980’S .
Steve Ricards
James David Cobbin
Mr. James David Cobbin was born September 17,1946 in Marvell Arkansas, the fifth child of Ozra and Wyomia Cobbin. The family moved to Flint, Michigan when James was 10 years old. He received his education in the Flint Public School District, graduating from Flint Northern High “Class of 1962”. James played semi-pro-football with the Flint Wildcats from 1967-1968. He was later employed at General Motors.
An early group he was a member of was called the 21st Generation, a group that also featured James Cobbin and Ron Murray. The group recorded a single, “I Need Love” / “Hey James” that was released in 1970 on the Tri-City label.
Fleming Williams It was arranged by alto saxophonist and arranger Willie “Face” Smith and produced by Choker Smith In the same year, he had his own composition “Poverty Child” released as the A side of a single released on the Better World record label
James loved singing, writing, and producing music.
So much so that in 1972 he along with Ron Murray, Wendall Count and Fleming Williams moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a singing career, the group was called, Prime Cut.
The group went on tour in Japan in 1976 where James met and married Tomiko Ishibashi. He later returned to Flint and begin working at K&G Department Store until his illness. James started performing with The Flint McCree Theater Group. He was in several plays with the group, namely: Rock the Boat-The Fleming Williams Story, Mr. Personality -The Lloyd Price Story, Sincerely (1,2, &3) Jack Legged Yuletide Jubilee and the last play that he performed in was Motown Stories. James and the PrimeCut appeared in two movies, Five on the Black Side and Hit Man. He had a profound sense of humor and loved spending time with family and friends and writing and producing music.
Age 71, James passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at his residence.
Fleming Williams
Fleming Williams (December 26, 1943 – 1992 or February 15, 1998) was an American singer known as a member of the group The Hues Corporation, lead singer on their hit “Rock the Boat” & Prime Cut.
Williams was a tenor from Flint, Michigan. An early group he was a member of was called the 21st Generation, a group that also featured James Cobbin and Ron Murray. The group recorded a single, “I Need Love” / “Hey James” that was released in 1970 on the Tri-City label. It was arranged by alto saxophonist and arranger Willie “Face” Smith and produced by Choker Smith.In the same year, he had his own composition “Poverty Child” released as the A side of a single released on the Better World record label. It was also arranged by Smith and produced by Campbell.
Williams wasn’t the original lead singer of the Hues Corporation. For the first years of existence the group had Karl Russell but after their participation in the Blacula-film project he was replaced by Williams.
Williams was actually discovered by Hues Corp member H. Ann Kelley.] The group had a no 1 hit with “Rock The Boat” which was the first disco hit to have that distinction.
According to fellow Hues Corp bandmate St. Clair Lee, Williams initially left the group after they recorded the first album, Freedom for the Stallion, which featured “Rock the Boat,” and was replaced by Tommy Brown. However, after things did not work out with Tommy, Williams was brought back on board. But around 1975, Karl Russell rejoined the band taking over the role of lead singer after Fleming Williams had left for good.[
Mr. Ronald L. Murray
MURRAY, Mr. Ronald L. – Age 74, passed away Monday, June 6, 2022
Ronald Murray was born November 3, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of George and Harriet Murray. Ronald was a resident of Flint and graduated from Flint Northern High School. He was employed at the Pickle Factory and was a Clerk at the Saginaw St. Dollar Store. Ronald was a Singer in the group Prime Cut and lived in Los Angeles, CA.
He enjoyed bowling and was an avid bowler and was a member of the Flint Blind Bowlers. Ronald served in the United States Military. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Ronald was also known as “Dink” by his neighbors and friends. He was also a member of the Flint Jeep Club for 7 years.
IN STOCK NOW.
Track Listing
A
| No. | Track | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | I Don't Wanna Be Without You |
B
| No. | Track | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | Angel |
