SDC OmniMedia Group Magazine

Ms. Kay Saunders-Palmer, the lady born in Philadelphia and came to Hollywood in the early 1950’s as a recording artist for Capitol Records. The day started out ok. She was a little ill, but she was going to “suck-it uo” and lay down the recording. As she started with the second vocal part, Kay was suddenly on the floor of the studio and ill with a bad kidney and off to the hospital she went, where she was in-bed for over a month. There were three backup singers in the session also, one by the name of Margaret Whiting who went on to finish the session and found herself months later on the top of the Pop Charts with the song that Kay had started.

Not to be lost on the music scene, Kay did recover and later found a job at a new company that handled artists. She was the first secretary, agent and publicist for this up and coming company called Associated Booking Corporation. The company was started on a handshake between Joe Glaser, who owned Associated Booking Corporation and Louis Armstrong sometime back in 1940’s. Glazer decided to open a second office in Hollywood/Beverly Hills and kay was his first employee. Kay is credited for designing the first “Artist Press-Kit” for Duke Ellington which became the stanard for the business.

In addition there are “press kits” developed by Associated Booking Corporation publicizing the Orchestra’s performance. These kits often include brief instructions and suggestions for advertising; photographs; punch lines; lists of famous songs and recordings; brief histories of the band, its musicians, and its peak performances; and short essays about Ellington and his contributions to music and society. The records document various publicity formats used by the Ellington organization to advertise domestic and foreign performances and recordings of the Duke Ellington Orchestra between 1935 and 1974.

We called her “Mama Kay”. because she new the entertainment industry better than anyone. She could have ran any of the motion picture studios or even the recording business. Kay’s many gentlemen callers included Lee J.Cobb, U.S. Ambassodor John Gavin, Little Richard and Louie Bellson to name a very few.

Mama Kay had power, and she put together many deals for Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Shirely Bassey, and lots of unknown artist. Kay’s influence stretched all over the world. Kay also produced several album including the Merrell Fankhauser “Dr. Fankhauser” album; including during “voice-overs’ for many films. Kay even produced several motion pictures in her lifetime.

Truly a genious in the entertainment industry — Kay Saunders-Palmer, a legend in Hollywod.

 

Kenny Smith’s 40 years in the music business is along time for a veteran who started out in Rosamond California.  This year celebrates Smith’s early days as a poineer in the business of independent record production.  By looking at the label, one gets to look at history in the days when independent producers did not exsist.  Along with a young trumphet player and promotions person, A&M produced one of their first productions.  It’s a classic tale of moving from in-front of the microphone to the front desk of the record business.  Smith’s new release is entitled “Contents Under Pressure”, featuring the lyrics of Linda Lou Kestin.

                                                                                           

 

In 1982, MPL Communications purchased Claridge Records from Frank Slay who had the rights to distribute Lee Rogers’ artist Cardela DeMilo.  Through Rogers, he secured a distribution deal for Coleman Kestin Smith Productions.  The closing deal was when Rogers acquired the master tapes from MPL of DeMilo’s production and then placed this release on the new re-activated D-Town Records.  All publishing from this project was still under the ownership of MPL.

On Claridge Records, this single managed to break into  Billboard’s R&B Top 100.

As D-Town Records continues to implement its’ lost musical treasures from many years ago, it brings to the forth front, Jena Johnson, whose “New York City” spawn many great new artists and songs from the 1980’s.  Platinum Sound Studios has discovered among it’s relics - a lost practice idea tape containing over twenty songs from this legendary Toledo, Ohio rocker.

Johnson’s “punk rock” approach to this new music on the 1980’s placed her and D-Town Records as early poineers of a new music and style that she would open its doors.  It will take a couple of months to generate a “nice” reproduction” of these songs, as they are still as fresh and challenaging today as it was in 1980.

Sandra Williams has been involved with women, children and families in crisis for over 20 years. “I am concerned with the future of the families that I have encountered, Williams continues. It is my desire to show families that there are positive strategies they can learn to manage their angers and frustrations without resorting to violence.

“I believe that it’s never too late to make an impact on the life of a hurting family. I offer information and educational services with materials. I teach social effectiveness training, so that individuals can learn to take care of themselves, says Williams.

“Some of the areas I specialize in are: Parenting Strong-Willed Children with Out of Control Behaviors; Walking in Step Series – Building Lasting Relationships; Life Coaching – mentoring One on One; Distressed But Not Destroyed – A study of Victimization; Christian Women’s Job Corp.

“I am employed by the Contra Costa County Probation Department. I serve as a Probation Counselor in the Diversion Unit. I had the opportunity to help children involved with Probation to stay with their parents instead of going to juvenile hall. I help their parents locate resources such as counseling, parenting classes, educational resources, food and shelter. I have worked with the Probation Department for over five years. I have an Associates Degree in General Studies and various certifications including: Conflict Resolution; Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior; SBDC New Ventures program; Advanced Training Effective Leadership.

Ministry Work

“I have had the pleasure to be involved in Women’s Ministries for over 22 years. I have worked with various churches throughout the State of
California. For the past eleven (11) years, I have trained and directed the Women’s Missionary Union/Women’s Ministries in our church, Second Baptist Church of Martinez, under the direction of Keith B. Williams, Sr.

“For the past two years, I have worked as the African American WMU Consultant for the CSBC Fresno. We have made it our mandate to equip the men, women and children for deployment in service to the Lord. We host and provide leadership training, enrichment classes, Missions Education and Mission involvement projects. We have worked together with the Southern Baptist Convention for over 10 years.

“The North American Mission Board appointed us as Home Missionaries in 1999. We were assigned to California Southern Baptist Convention – Black Church Extension out of Fresno, California. Our man responsibility is to plant new churches, help to restart churches in trouble and to offer counseling, encouragement and resources to the churches and Pastors. I work with my husband to supply information and training for implementing Mission Education and Women’s Ministries.”

To contact Counselor Williams, please use this email address - twosisterschat@sbcglobal.net .

We lost our father’s baby sister this past week.  Aunt Vera was over 77 years old, with lots of children, grand children and great grand children.  Living in the San Diego, CA area for the past 20 years, my aunt was the prettiest woman you could ever meet. She rised a great bunch of children — all champions and winners.   I will miss you.