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44-749: Reigning Sound was formed in 2001 by Memphis garage punk musician Greg Cartwright (vocals/guitar), who is also known for his bands the Compulsive Gamblers and the Oblivians . Originally, the Memphis-based band featured Cartwright, Jeremy Scott (bass), Greg Roberson (drums) and Alex Greene (keyboards and guitar). However, after Cartwright and his family re-located to Asheville, North Carolina in 2004, bassist David Wayne Gay, drummer Lance Wille, and keyboardist Dave Amels joined Cartwright until October 2011 with Amels continuing until 2019. Reigning Sound's debut

88-495: A '60s band called The Glass Sun (interpreted on the album as "Stick Up for Me"). In September 2010, Reigning Sound's cover of "Mind Over Matter", a '50s R&B cover, was featured on the compilation Daddy Rockin Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & The Diablos , an album of current garage-punk bands covering the late Nolan Strong . In October 2011, Reigning Sound released a digital "mini-LP" called Abdication ... For Your Love on

132-867: A European tour, and in this incarnation the band released the studio album Crystal Gazing Luck Amazing and the live album Live & Deadly: Memphis-Chicago , their final release before again disbanding. [5] Compulsive Gamblers I: (1991–1993, first three singles and "Gambling Days Are Over") Jack Yarber: guitar, vocals Greg Cartwright: guitar, vocals Bushrod Thomas: drums Fields Trimble: bass Greg Easterly: violin Compulsive Gamblers II: (after The Oblivians broke up, 1998, Bluff City LP/CD) Jack Yarber: guitar, vocals Greg Cartwright: guitar, vocals Bushrod Thomas: drums Compulsive Gamblers III: (Spring 1999 US Tour) Jack Yarber: guitar, vocals Greg Cartwright: guitar, vocals Jeff Meier: bass Bushrod Thomas: drums Compulsive Gamblers IV: (After

176-473: A Fool Out of Me", "You're My Happiness", "Village of Love", "For Old Times Sake", "My Heart Will Always Belong to You", and "Come Home Little Girl". On "Village of Love", Johnson also provided the bass on the original Fortune version by Nathaniel Mayer & the Fabulous Twilights. Also in late 1956, about the time Jay Johnson joined the group, Strong departed for a two-year stint in the army. While Nolan

220-426: A factor in many believing that Jay Johnson did not join the group until several years later. In fact, Johnson is heard on bass on more Diablos recordings than either Eubanks or Scott. Among these are: "Beside You", "Mind Over Matter", "Everything They Said Came True", "Welcome Baby to My Heart", "I Wanna Know", "If I Could Be With You", "Since You're Gone", "Harriet", "Harriette It's You", "I Am With You", "Are You Making

264-448: A portion of 2005 recording an album for George Soule with Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham , the band once again began recording with Mary Weiss (of the 60s band The Shangri-Las , widely known for their hit " Leader of the Pack "). Reigning Sound was the backing band on the first new Mary Weiss album in over three decades. Cartwright also co-produced the album with Billy Miller and wrote nine of

308-540: A set band, but by the following year the band's fortunes had started to turn. By 1992 the band had a concrete lineup and had begun to form a unique sound, however, just as the Gamblers luck seemed to be looking up the band began to drift apart. In 1993 Cartwright was offered a place to stay and record in New York with singer Casey Scott, which for a time he accepted. Cartwright played guitar on Casey Scott's "Creep City" album that

352-737: A unique sound, centered around the high lead tenor voice of Nolan Strong. Besides "The Wind", the Diablos were known for many songs, such as "Adios My Desert Love", "Can't We Talk This Over", "Mambo of Love", "If I", "Harriet", "I Am With You", "Goodbye Matilda", "I Wanna Know", "Beside You", "Mind Over Matter", and "The Way You Dog Me Around". The group formed at Central High School in Detroit around 1950 and originally consisted of Strong (lead tenor), Juan Gutierrez (tenor), Willie Hunter (baritone), Quentin Eubanks (bass), and Bob "Chico" Edwards (guitar). The Diablos name

396-574: A week on the Billboard R&;B chart, "The Way You Dog Me Around", which reached no. 12 in January 1956. The group was one of the more popular pre-Motown R&B acts in Detroit during the mid-1950s, through the early 1960s. Its original members were Nolan Strong, Juan Gutierrez, Willie Hunter, Quentin Eubanks, and Bob Edwards. The group recorded for Fortune Records , along with label-mates Andre Williams and Nathaniel Mayer . The Diablos recorded for

440-674: Is heard on these tapes but mostly as a background singer, although he did lead vocal on "Fools Rush In". More Velvet Angels material was released later through Gries on the Relic Best of Acapella series, as well as his Acappella Showcase Presents the Velvet Angels LP, also on Relic. The picture of the Velvet Angels that appeared on the Relic Velvet Angels album incorrectly identifies Johnson (third from left) as Strong. They disbanded

484-409: Is said to have come from a book, El Niño Diablo (The Devil Child), that Strong was reading for a high-school book report. In late 1953, the Diablos went into Detroit's Fortune Record Studios to cut some demo sides, with the hopes of furthering their career. Their hopes were realized even more quickly than they expected. Those demos impressed Jack and Devora Brown, owners of Fortune, who immediately signed

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528-458: The Oblivians . Originally known as "The Painkillers", the band was founded in 1990 by future Oblivians frontmen Greg Cartwright and Jack Yarber, both of whom shared vocal and guitar duties. With the addition of bassist Fields Trimble, keyboardist Philip "Flipper" Tubb, drummer Rod "Bushrod" Thomas, and fiddler Greg Easterly, the band soon adopted the name the "Compulsive Gamblers", and set to work recording their first 7-inch, Joker . The album

572-507: The Scion Audio Visual label. The eight-song collection was released as a free digital download; however, some limited edition vinyl and promo CDs were also pressed. Five tracks from this EP were recorded and produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys . While some of the songs featured Cartwright alongside drummer Lance Wille and bassist David Wayne Gay, this would be the last recordings the two would appear on - Wille and Gay would leave

616-562: The 14 songs featured on the record. Norton Records released "Dangerous Game" in March 2007, receiving favorable reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone as well as performing with Weiss on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien . Reigning Sound released a new full-length album Love & Curses on In the Red Records in August 2009, featuring 14 songs and one cover, "Stick Over Me", originally recorded by

660-447: The Diablos group. In 1954, records showed "The Diablos Featuring Nolan Strong". Then billing changed to "Nolan Strong & the Diablos", and by 1962, when "Mind Over Matter" was climbing the charts, the label just read "Nolan Strong", although the Diablos were on the record, as prominent as ever. This lack of recognition along with financial inequities (lack of royalties and unequal pay to the group members versus Strong), inevitably lead to

704-698: The Mills Brothers and Ink Spots. The Velvet Angels performed at clubs around Detroit and across the border in Canada and soon traveled to New Jersey in search a deal and shows. Soon after setting up residence in Jersey City, New Jersey, they found an advertisement for a talent show in the local paper. They performed at the show and won. Frank Sheldon, the show sponsor and owner of the Tender Trap club in Fairview, New Jersey,

748-767: The Oblivians, resulting in the ultimate breakup of the first incarnation of the Gamblers. Label interest for the Compulsive Gamblers had always been fleeting, and the band was unable to garner much interest while the band was still together. As Yarber explained, the Compulsive Gamblers “did two 7-inches and recorded a bunch of songs on home recordings. We recorded in Easley (Recording studio), but we never really had an album...our CD came out after The Oblivians started playing.” [3] Eventually their 7" recordings were compiled in LP format under

792-690: The Record Industry). The album features slower, moodier alternate versions of tunes from "Too Much Guitar" along with some other unreleased tracks. Late in January 2006, Memphis based Goner Records released The Reigning Sound: Live at Goner Records , a daytime in-store performance recorded in June 2005. The album also hosts cover songs like "Black Sheep" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs , "Tennessee" by Carl Perkins and "Do Something" by The Swingin' Yo-Yo's. After spending

836-697: The Spring 1999 US Tour, Crystal Gazing, Luck Amazing LP/CD) Jack Yarber: guitar, vocals Greg Cartwright: guitar, vocals Jeff Meier: bass Brenden Lee Spengler: organ Dale Beavers: guitar Other former Members: Greg Roberson (also former member of Reigning Sound) played on the Live & Deadly LP (Sympathy). Nolan Strong Nolan Strong and the Diablos , also billed as The Diablos Featuring Nolan Strong , were an American, Detroit-based, R&B and doo-wop vocal group, best known for their songs " The Wind " and "Mind Over Matter". They had one record that spent

880-463: The band just before the release of Abdication. The band signed to Merge Records in September 2012 and released Shattered (2014) and A Little More Time with Reigning Sound (2021). In a June 8, 2022 message on the group's Facebook page, Cartwright formally announced the end of Reigning Sound. He wrote, "It was my intention with A Little More Time to come full circle, reunite the original lineup of

924-747: The band, and finish where we started. I thought we could support the album with some touring and go out on a high note, but Covid has proven to be a long-lasting concern and more difficult to navigate than anyone could have anticipated. Rather than compromise ourselves or our fans, I have decided this is the right time to dissolve the band." track: "As Long as You Come Home" track: "Straight Shooter" track: "Medication" track: "I'll Cry" track: "Drowning" track: "Mind Over Matter" Compulsive Gamblers Compulsive Gamblers were an American garage rock group formed in Memphis, Tennessee , in 1990 by Greg Cartwright and Jack Yarber , both future members of

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968-488: The exception of Johnson, are also deceased. By the later part of 1963, as the Diablos were dissolving, the Velvet Angels were forming. The group included Diablos alumni Jay Johnson and Willie Hunter along with Bobby Calhoun (baritone) and Cy Iverson (tenor). Iverson had gone to high school with Johnson, and Bobby Calhoun had recorded with Johnson as part of Williams' "new" group on Fortune. They were inspired by groups like

1012-560: The fact. The tapes soon found their way to Eddie Gries, who issued some of the tunes as singles on his Medieval label. In 1964 "I'm in Love" b/w "Let Me Come Back" was issued as Medieval 201. Both sides highlighted the bass work of Johnson, with a bass lead on "Let Me Come Back", and the driving bass on "I'm in Love" (also released as Co-Op 201). Medieval credits "Strong" as the writer while the Co-Op version credits "Calhoun-Hunter-Johnson-Iverson". Strong

1056-489: The family-operated label in Detroit starting in 1954 until around 1964, with some of their records still being released through the 1970s. Nolan Strong was born in Scottsboro, Alabama on January 22, 1934, and moved to Detroit at a young age. He started singing soon after arriving in Detroit and formed his first Diablos group in 1950. Nolan was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1956 and was honorably discharged in 1958. Nolan Strong,

1100-612: The group about this time to join Hank Ballard & the Midnighters - and again the Diablos were in need of a bass. Jay Johnson, who was introduced to Strong through fellow Fortune artist Andre Williams. Although not quite 16 at the time, Jay Johnson was already a veteran singer, having sung bass with Williams' "new" group on "Bacon Fat", "Just Because of a Kiss", "Mean Jean", and "Bobby Jean". (Williams' "new" group consisted of Gino Parks, Bobby Calhoun, Steve Gaston, and Johnson.) Strong

1144-493: The group to record for their label. Their first recording for Fortune was the Devora Brown-penned "Adios My Desert Love", a cha-cha influenced tune. But it was their second Fortune record that established the group as R&B legends. Written by the group members, "The Wind" had a haunting sound, with the group chanting "blow wind" in harmony behind Strong's delicate tenor lead, and smooth and sexy talking bridge. Following

1188-535: The group's demise. Just as Strong had been influenced by Clyde McPhatter, he was influential to Smokey Robinson, who was not the only one at Motown to have an appreciation for Nolan Strong & the Diablos. Berry Gordy had wanted to bring the Diablos into his fast-growing Motown complex. The deal never was finalised. The group disbanded by 1964, with a few more record releases and reissues the following years. Jimmy Strong died on January 29, 1970, at age 34. Edwards died March 17, 2001, at age 63. All other members, with

1232-455: The group, rehearsing and appearing with them at the Tender Trap. Some of the rehearsal sessions at their hotel (the Madison Hotel in Jersey City, New Jersey) were recorded on a basic home tape recorder. Angelo Pompeo made the acquaintance of some of the group members and eventually purchased some of the rehearsal tapes. Johnson was not there at the time of the "deal", nor aware of it until after

1276-403: The lead vocalist, had a high tenor voice. Strong's smooth voice, influenced mainly by Clyde McPhatter was, in turn, a primary influence on a young Smokey Robinson . Nolan died on February 21, 1977, at the age of 43 in Detroit. Little is known about the last years of his life. The Diablos' 1954 song "The Wind" always has been regarded a classic among R&B and doo wop fans. The group had

1320-534: The loud fuzzy mix. An opening slot on a huge American tour with the Swedish garage band The Hives helped to promote the album shortly after its release. A misprint in the album credits gives the impression that founding member Alex Greene appeared on only one song. In fact, he played on half the album: "You Got Me Hummin'", "When You Touch Me," "Get It," "Drowning," "Uptight Tonight," "Let Yourself Go," and "Medication." Reigning Sound: Live at Maxwell's (Telstar/Spoonful)

1364-706: The originals on the album, Cartwright blended in cover songs like "Stormy Weather" and "Brown Paper Sack", producing them in the same recognizable sound the band had developed. Reigning Sound's third album Too Much Guitar (In the Red) was released in May 2004 with recording help from fellow Memphians Jay Reatard and Alicja Trout from the Lost Sounds ; with a noticeably louder and noisier sound than previous recordings. Songs laced with psych-pop, garage, soul, country and (of course) too-much guitar compete with Cartwright's vocals at times in

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1408-433: The release of "The Wind", Guitierrez and Eubanks left the group, to be replaced by Nolan's brother Jimmy on tenor and George Scott on bass. Over the next two years this configuration of Diablos turned out several records, including "Route 16", "Do You Remember What You Did", "Daddy Rockin' Strong", "The Way You Dog Me Around", "You Are", and "A Teardrop From Heaven". By late 1956, more changes occurred. Scott decided to leave

1452-456: The same year their singles were released. Calhoun indicates he went south and did some work with Stax Records . Iverson and Hunter returned to Detroit. Jay Johnson stayed on for a time in New Jersey, continuing to perform solo at the Tender Trap, but also found his way back to Detroit. Upon his return, he joined Detroit's Five Monarchs, but did not record with them. In the late 1960s Johnson formed

1496-634: The soul group the Four Sonics , releasing two singles in 1968 on Detroit's Sport label. The group recorded through the mid-1970s. Strong has also been an influence on rock and roll bands. In December 2009, Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground told Rolling Stone editor David Fricke: "If I could really sing, I'd be Nolan Strong" during an interview at the New York Public Library. In a 2008 interview with Goldmine, Smokey Robinson said: "There

1540-460: The title Gambling Days are Over and released by Sympathy for the Record Industry . [4] After the breakup of the Oblivians, Cartwright and Yarber reformed the Compulsive Gamblers, this time as a three-piece with Rod Thomas back on drums. With this lineup they released the album Bluff City in 1999. Bassist Jeff Meier and keyboardist Brendan Lee Spengler were added to the lineup following

1584-542: Was Two Sides to Every Man , a three-song 7", released in May 2001; one month later came their first full-length album Break Up, Break Down ( Sympathy for the Record Industry ). With its country-folk melodies, the first album was to be an early blueprint of where Cartwright's songwriting was headed. Time Bomb High School ( In the Red ) was released in August 2002, and is known for its polished sound, pop hooks and delicate balance of classic R&B and rock & roll. Aside from

1628-630: Was a guy who lived in Detroit and had a group called the Diablos. His name was Nolan Strong. They were my favorite vocalists at that time." The Diablos were inducted into the United In Group Harmony Hall of Fame in 2003. In March 2008 the group was inducted into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame of America. In 2007, the Metro Times listed "The Wind" at #11 in The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs list, which

1672-450: Was impressed and the Diablos had their new bassman. Jay Johnson's first session with the Diablos was on "Can't We Talk It Over" and "Mambo of Love", recorded in late 1956 and released in 1957. By the time the first Fortune of Hits album came out, Jay Johnson had already replaced Scott with the group. Unfortunately, the picture on the album cover did not reflect this change, and shows the group with Scott instead of Johnson. This oversight may be

1716-416: Was in the service, the Diablos released one single without him, "Harriet", backed with "Come Home Little Girl", featuring Hunter on lead. Without Strong, the Diablos' magic seemed to be missing and the record received little fanfare. After Strong returned from the service, the group recorded "Harriette It's You", but there were many changes to come. Fortune was focusing more of their attention on Strong, and not

1760-510: Was looking for this type of group. The Velvet Angels were talented and versatile doing a mix of R&B, pop, gospel, and soul music, and doing them all a cappella. Things were starting to happen for the Velvet Angels; they were hired to do commercials for Lionel Trains, but their manager became ill and that deal fell apart. Nolan Strong had remained on good terms with Hunter and Johnson and had talked about reuniting with them. Sometime during 1963, Strong came to New Jersey and spent some time with

1804-576: Was released a year later, and was followed by two further 7-inch recordings, Church Goin' and Goodtime Gamblers . According to Cartwright, one of the themes of the Church Goin' 7-inch, and of the Compulsive Gamblers in general, was "the self destructive gambler, these people who just can't fix their lives and just fuck up at every turn. They need to do something. So that was the idea for "Church Goin'", but it wasn't fully realized..." [1] The band struggled through 1990 and 1991 without any major gigs or

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1848-548: Was released in July 2005. The notorious end of the gig features Cartwright (with no back-up set) breaking all but three guitar strings but still finishing the show for the rowdy crowd. This rough-sounding live album is the only record featuring the Sam Cooke cover track "I Need You Now," as a homage by Cartwright to one of his favorite singers. In September 2005, The Reigning Sound released a rarities comp. Home for Orphans (Sympathy for

1892-492: Was released on Capitol Records in 1993. Around this time the other members of the band began to venture off on their own as well, leaving only Yarber and Easterly to try to keep the band afloat. Upon Cartwright's return to Memphis in the summer of 1993, he and Yarber decided to split their time between the Gamblers and a side project called the Oblivians . [2] By 1995, Thomas and Easterly had relocated to New Orleans, and Cartwright and Yarber focused their creative efforts solely on

1936-552: Was the November 11 cover story. In September 2010 Daddy Rockin' Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & the Diablos , an LP, was released by The Wind Records, with distribution by Norton Records . The album features 13 new Diablos covers by a cast of rock and roll, punk and garage rock bands. It features the Dirtbombs , Reigning Sound , Demon's Claws , Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby and Mark Sultan , among others. Jay Johnson,

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