R.I.P. Double Exposure and Trammps lead singer Jimmy Williams
He was not on the list.
(October 31, 2016) We are sad to inform SoulTrackers of the death of a longtime favorite soul singer, Jimmy Williams, who died this morning from after a battle with an aggressive cancer. Williams was best known to soul music fans as a co-founder and lead singer for Double Exposure, and he later took over the lead for a reconstituted version of The Trammps.
One of the stalwart acts of the Salsoul music label in the 70s, Double Exposure was a fixture in the clubs with a bevy of well performed, melodic tunes that bore the classic Philly Soul sound and hot dance beats. Originally formed in the mid-60s as United Image, Williams, Leonard Davis, Chuck Whittington, and Joe Harris originally cut some forgotten tracks for the legendary Stax label before changing their name to Double Exposure and working with Philly’s top musicians, such as Bobbi Eli, Baker/Harris/Young, Larry Goldon and Bunny Sigler, on the Salsoul label. They issued a trio of albums in the late 70s that didn’t burn up the pop or R&B charts, but provided two number one Disco hits (“Everyman” and “Ten Percent”) and another top 5 charter (“My Love Is Free”).
The group split in the 80s, and Williams joined the Trammps for several years, following the departure of Trammps lead singer Jimmy Ellis. However, the original four Double Exposure members reunited in 2010 and began performing shows again. In 2012 the group recorded a new single, “Lady.”
Williams continued to perform with Double Exposure as well as sporadically working with Stanley Wade’s version of The Trammps until he recently became too ill to perform. Friends and family recently created a GoFundMe page to help pay for anticipated funeral expenses, and sadly this morning he succumbed.
Williams was a major part of the great Philly music of the 1970s and will be remembered for his contribution to the emerging disco and funk sounds of that decade. He was a great singer who was part of a memorable generation of singers in that incredibly musical town.
On December 11, 1975 at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia,
Pa ,Double Exposure began recording what would become one of the most
successful albums ever to come out of the Philly music empire. This empire
already contained artist such as the O'JAYS, Billy Paul, Harold Melvin and the
Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, The Spinners, Blue Magic, Delphonics, The
Tramps, Stylistics, the list goes on and on. This album was entitled "Ten
Percent" with the title cut having tremendous success first as a disco
hit, then reaching the" R&B" charts and also having surprising
success on the "POP" charts. The second single from that album
"My Love is Free" was also a smash on all three charts putting Double
Exposure over the top. The results, two gold singles, one gold album.
For Jimmy Williams, Charles Whittington, Leonard (Butch)
Davis, and Joe Harris, this was their first taste of real success in the
recording business but definitely not their first experience. Formerly known as
United Image they have been singing together since Jr. High School.
After High School and military service they reunited and
began their quest toward a life long dream of becoming successful entertainers
and recording artist. It was not easy but they believed in their God given
talents and they just simply loved to sing. They worked hard doing four shows a
night (40mim on 20min off) sometimes five and six nights a week. There were
times when club owners claimed that they didn't make any money and couldn't pay
or just told the guys that they weren't going to get paid. One night a blazing
gun battle almost erupted but miraculously the club owner came to his senses.
This was all part of working in what was called the chittlin circuit where you
paid heavy dues but you honed your craft by really learning how to entertain an
audience under the most adverse conditions.
Upon recommendation of some DJ's United Image was introduced
to recording executive Lebaron Taylor who signed them to Stax Records. They
released a single(Loves Creeping Up On Me) and at least half an album was
completed in Philadelphia with Bunny Sigler co-producing, but the project was
shelved, apparently due to internal problems at Stax. In addition to three
songs from Bunny Sigler(Stick Like Glue, Lavada, Keep A Light Burning In The
Window)there was one from Norman Harris and Alan Felder(I Forgot To Come Into
Your Heart)who in the early 70's were fast becoming a hot writing team. After
the Stax project fell apart they hooked up with local producer Jesse James on
Branding Iron Records who had some recent success with Fantastic Johnny C
"Boogaloo Down Broadway" and Cliff Nobles & Co "Hitch It To
The Horse". They released a dance tune "The African Bump" backed
with "Hit Man. Despite their rather contrived titles the recordings aren't
bad at all.
United Image had numerous disappointments but they
persevered, working day jobs while rehearsing and performing at night. One day
Joe was shopping in down town Philadelphia when suddenly heard his name called
aloud. He turned around and saw Norman Harris (who was emerging from a business
luncheon at a restaurant Joe had just walked by)walking toward him with a big
smile on his face. Norman was an old friend and guitar player from those
chittlin circuit days who along with Ronnie Baker and Earl Young had left
Gamble & Huff to form Baker-Harris-Young Productions. Norman said to Joe,
I've been trying to find you guys. Nobody knew how to get in touch with you.
I've got a deal for you. Be at my office tomorrow to audition for a record
company. That record company turned out to be SAL-SOUL which was represented by
vice president Ken Cayre. Also at the audition were many of the staff writers
and producers such as Alan Felder and T.G. Conway who wrote Ten Percent and My
Love Is Free, Bunny Sigler,(who had hits on the O'jays) Bruce Hawes(who had
hits on The Spinners) Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey,(who was a great
arranger and had played keyboards with United Image) Vince Montana,(leader of
the Sal-Soul Orchestra),and Bruce Gray(First Choice & The Tramps. Needless
to say the audition went well. It had been previously suggested that the group
name be changed to something more modern. Some band members had been joking
about some pictures somebody had taken saying it looked like a double exposure.
Well, the name stuck.
Double Exposure was signed to Sal-Soul records and began
rehearsing new songs
for their up coming album. Along with Ten Percent and My
Love Is Free, Every Man
(has to carry his own weight)was another big dance hit.
There was a superb update
of the Four Tops(Baby I Need Your Loving) along with three
ballads "Give My Love Away"
written and produced by Bruce Hawes, "Just Can't Say
Hello" produced by Vince Montana,
and "Pick Me" a bluesy tune written and produced
by T.G. Conway. This album gave Double Exposure world wide exposure. They were
a hit not only in the United States but also Canada, South America, England,
South Africa, and Kenya. Sal-Soul records did not do a good job
getting them R&B radio air play but through their own
efforts they still got a lot of work and
sold a lot of records.
By the end of 1977, Double Exposure was on top of the world
benefiting from two smash singles off of a very strong album. They had also
gained a reputation of having a very strong, polished, and energetic stage show
which was backed up by excellent musicians. This was the experience gained
during those chittlin circuit days finally coming to light. Then they uncovered
some very disturbing information. They discovered that their manager had stolen
thousands of dollars from them by pocketing monies allocated for certain
business expenses, making off the top deals with their booking agency, and a
host of other improprieties. Double Exposure immediately took steps to correct
this matter. They had already begun recording their second album but Sal-Soul
records did not want to proceed with any further recording until this matter
was resolved. This explains the large gap of time between their first album
"Ten Percent" and their second "Four Play". All of the
momentum gained with "Ten Percent" was lost because there had simply
been too much time between albums. Double Exposure could have continued
recording if they had been willing to try and work things out with their
manager but he had stolen too much money and could never be trusted again. The
time gap really was Sal-Soul's fault because they assisted in making the
deal(buying out the manager)exactly the way Double Exposure wanted it, only
they wasted valuable time by making the deal one year later. All was not lost
because during all of this the guys were still performing and making a living.
Around the spring of 1978 the "Four Play" album was released. There
were none of Alan Felder's up tempo dance tunes like "Ten Percent"
,My Love Is Free", and "Every Man" but there were some good
songs. Two were produced by Ron Tyson(currently with the Temptations),there was
a remake of First Choice's "Newsy Neighbors" ,but the strongest song
on the album was a ballad called "Perfect Lover" written by Akins,
Bellman, Drayton, &Turner known as The Corner Boys. (Don't Let the Green
Grass Full You)( by Wilson Pickett)."Perfect Lover" was arranged and
produced by old friend Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey who had also arranged
"My Love Is Free" and "Baby I Need Your Loving.
"Perfect Lover" was a hit getting heavy air play
from the album on R&B stations around the country but Sal-Soul would not
release it as a single. They had become one track mined pushing only disco
dance music and not caring about R&B which was Double Exposure's roots to
which they were dying to return but they had two years left on their contract
and Sal-Soul would not release them from it. They also found out later why
there were no Alan Felder songs presented for the "Four Play" album.
Alan and Norman Harris, who was responsible for producing Double Exposure for
Sal-Soul Records, had a disagreement and as a result Norman wouldn’t use Alan
on anymore of his projects. Double Exposure flipped out. They were seeing
something so petty effecting their career and there wasn't a thing they could
do about it and Sal-Soul wouldn’t intervene. So again they had to persevere.
New life came again in October 1978.The international
representative for Sal-Soul Records called to inform them that "My Love Is
Free" and the "Ten Percent" album had both went gold in South
Africa and that international promoters wanted to book them for some tour
dates. There first reaction was no because of the apartheid, but after speaking
with the South African reps, it was learned that black South Africans were
mostly responsible for the record sales and they were dying to see Double
Exposure. Well, with all the hell they're catching and they can still find time
and money to buy our records
,said Joe Harris, we've got to go. So on the night of
October 5th, 1978, Double Exposure landed at Johannesburg International Airport
and the party started and it would last for a month. That tour was one of the
most thrilling, educational, and outright partying experiences of Double
Exposures' career.
After returning to the states and going into 1979 things had started to slow down. The group hadn't had a hit single in two years. Gigs were fewer and money was less but there was another brain storm brewing. In preparing for their next album, it was decided to do a athletic theme because the Olympics were coming in1980 and with proper planning they could get some mileage out of it. In December of1979 Double Exposure again found themselves in Africa this time in Nairobi, Kenya. They were bringing in the New Year and were very upbeat about their upcoming project. Ideas had been sent to the Olympic Committee and their response was very positive. Everything was a go until the Russians invaded Afghanistan. Then later President Carter boycotted the Olympics. That was the end of Double Exposures' plan and some of the guys had to take a break. They never declared the group broken up but other ways of making a living had to be established. In July of1980 Joe returned to his trade as an electrician. Butch opened a small but successful pluming business. Charlie became a machinist but later went to medical school and became a P.A. Jimmy found another group to sing with. The Trammps lead singer (Jimmy Ellis) had left and they needed a second tenor. Jimmy Williams' voice was a perfect fit but Double Exposure vowing never to call it quits was at it again in 1981.Produced by Lionel Job and under the controlling eye of Cecil Holmes, they released a single "After All This Time "backed with "Yes I’m In Love With You" on Marv Stuart's Chicago based Gold Coast label. Stuart was previously with Curtis Mayfield at Curtom Records. After All This Time (an up tempo tune) reached the R&B charts and began making some noise but it was said that Gold Coast developed financial problems and could not continue. Again Jimmy Williams returned to the Tramps and everyone else to their other ventures. Thanks to Toby Walker for the bio .
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