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Tighten Up: The Autobiography of a Houston Disc Jockey

by Skipper Lee Frazier

200 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #01-0192; ISBN 1-55212-792-3; US$21.50, C$24.50, EUR18.00, £12.50

How did this record become a hit? The life of a man who always worked for what he wanted.

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about the book      about the author      excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book The man who brought a mountain of soul to Houston, Texas. The man who brought and promoted many Houston rhythm and blues performers. The man who brought and promoted many comedy shows including Amos &Andy. The man who watched the church he is a member of grow from 25 members to over 14,000 members.

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About the Author My life on the farm in the country; my life in the city; my life as a disc jockey; my life as a record producer; my life as a patient in the hospital; my life as a funeral home owner; my life as a christian; my life as a gentelman and businessman.

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Sample Excerpt

Many artists wanted to come to Houston because the city was known for being a good promotional town, one of the greatest entertainment centers in the country for blacks. At one time Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Houston shared this reputation, but in time it settled down to Dallas and Houston as the only two cities left in Texas with this sort of standing.

I look back now and recall the artists whom I have helped develop their following and their income in Houston. There were certain artists whose music I was really into and played their records frequently on my radio show. You can see pictures of many of these artists in this book and as you turn the pages, I'm sure you will have a lot of memories of them, just as I do.

The first of these artists is my good friend, James Brown, who was popular all over the world and who always made a lot of money in Houston. Another was Lou Rawls, whose records I played often on my radio show. Lou was a very talented individual who started out singing gospel music. I always did what I could to further his career in Houston. While Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five became famous worldwide, I want to thank them for allowing me to help their careers as I did. Other famous names were ZZ Top, whose manager, Bill Hemm, I always admired. Bill used to come around with the group's records and ask radio stations to play them; and I always did.

Gladys Knight and the Pips had a record, "Everybody Needs Love," that I almost wore out playing it so much over the air. Another artist that I helped whenever he came to Houston was Johnnie Taylor. We were always together just like Bobby Bland and B.B. King, who spent a lot of time with me when they hit town.

I promoted many other shows throughout Texas and Louisiana with artists like The O'Jays, Millie Jackson, Tyrone Davis, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions. And it wasn't only recording artists who participated in my programs; there were many politicians as well - people I admired and worked with over the years whose pictures are included in this book.

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Catalogue Information

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