I was waiting to have a little time before writing you with an update of most of the groups mentioned. I had experience in one form or another with most groups mentioned. Huncie and the entertainers was originally a show band that was one of the first groups other than Jay Bush to play on the east side I spent quite a bit of time with Jay Bush and the House Rockers in one of their early lineups since Ronnie Calloway (Nelson's younger brother) also a bass player and I played in several local bands together. We spent a lot of time with them and would occasionally get to play a song or two. During this time Bootsy Neal a left handed guitar player who played upside down was lead guitar. Bootsy also played with Issac Hayes before returning to Dayton. The rest of the lineup was Jay Bush, Nelson Calloway, Blatsoe, Chuck Wade and Darryl T Strong. Bootsy's neighbor was Stevie Schockley of Lakeside. I would often see Stevie at Bootsy's house. Huncie (deceased) fronted the Entertainers a truly dynamic group of musicians. They featured several acts "Little" Lee Williams was a solo singer, Floyd Weatherspoon, Tommy Owens, and Thomas Shelby of Lakeside were a singing group known as the persuasions, John "Herkie" Early (deceased) solo singer. The band was Fred Peets on drums, Herman "Tootie White" on bass, and Skip McDonald on guitar. Skip is now known as Little Axe and has a huge European following. He is based in London. He records on Peter Gabriel's label and just released a new cd Champagne and Grits. The horn section was Peter Carusoe on trumpet (deceased), Dave (Black Bart) Carusoe (Peter's cousin - deceased) on trombone; Otha Stokes (deceased) on Tenor Sax. In a later reincarnation I heard the band without any singers except Lee Williams and Herkie, the band was Skip, Tootie, Peter, Otha, Greg Woods on drums and Larry Woods on percussion they were going by the name of the Ohio Hustlers. Tootie asked me to play with them, and I quit the London Fogg the same night (I played trombone)! We toured for many years eventually including the singing group the Four Corners. After the first year Dana Meyers and Jerome Johnson replaced Harold Bryant and Eli Williams in the four corners. I will be happy to provide you with more information some other time. Thanks for your emails and musician updates
