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Topic: Jerry LaCroix

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UK Dave
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Jerry LaCroix
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Joe recently started a thread concerning Peter Hoorelbeke and Wayne Baraks in which he said they were great frontmen. I'd love to hear comments on what Jerry LaCroix. I used to have the Edgar Winter's White Trash live album which featured him, plus of course Rare Earth's Midnight Lady and Back To Earth albums.


I know Jerry played sax, but what qualities did he bring to Rare Earth as a frontman and lead vocalist? His voice was not like Pete's. Did this make any difference when the old songs were performed live and was he accepted by the fans? I would imagine it was a difficult period because Reggie McBride and Barry Frost were also newcomers. It must have been quite a different Rare Earth during that period before the Willie Remembers line-up briefly re-united.


Understandably, every thread tends to focus on what we consider to be the true Rare Earth, but I'm still interested to read and hear about the many other musicians who passed through on their journey. For instance, did Paul Warren, Ron Fransen, Gabriel Katona or Daniel Ferguson ever go out on tour with the band or were they just appearing as session men?



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RICH
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SAW KATONA perform with RE @ MSG in NYC.

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JockoD
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You saw Katona preform with RE @ MSG? Could you tell us all here on the forum what year this concert took place and while your at it how about some names of the other RE band members at that show. Inquiring minds want to know. JockoD

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Rich
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Summer of 75 or 76;With WAR as headliners.Frosty the drummer was not there;so probably 76.Katona was there,Paul warren wasnt.Think McBride was there,not certain.LACROIX was incredible;great live performance,though......probably REs weakest performance I ever saw.Probably had some subpeonas awaitin......Olson was gone by then;

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RAY MONETTE
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AT THE POINT THAT JERRY,FROSTY,AND REGGIE JOINED US,WE HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH A VERY BAD BREAKUP.THE NAME WAS GIVEN TO US AND WE WANTED TO CARRY ON WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS WE COULD GET.


JERRY IS ONE OF THE MOST SOULFUL WHITE SINGERS I'VE EVER SEEN,AND A GREAT FRONT MAN.I THOUGHT HE SOUNDED LIKE, AND HAD THE SOUL OF RAY CHARLES.


FROSTY IS AN EXCELLENT DRUMMER,AND REGGIE IS IN THE CREME DA LA CREME OF BASS PLAYERS.HE WENT ON TO PLAY WITH STEVIE WONDER,AL JARREAU,AND MANY OTHERS.HE'S STILL OUT THERE TODAY PLAYING WITH TOP NAMES.


DID ANYBODY WATCH THE 1975 VIDEO ON YOU-TUBE?? IT'S EASY TO SEE WHAT EXCELLENT MUSICIANS THESE GUYS ARE.  BUT..........IT REALLY WASN'T RARE EARTH,JUST A VERY GOOD BAND.


THINK ABOUT THE BAND TODAY.......IT'S TOTALLY ACCEPTED BY THE FANS.IT WAS THE SAME BACK THEN.


EVEN WHEN RARE EARTH WAS IN IT'S HEYDAY,VERY FEW PEOPLE KNEW THE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS.IT REALLY WASN'T PUBLISIZED LIKE SO MANY OTHER BANDS WERE.


THAT'S PART OF THE REASON THAT MOST FANS ACCEPTED THE BAND IN IT'S MANY ,MANY FORMS.


PAUL WARREN ,AND GABE KATONA WERE ON THE ROAD WITH US FOR A SHORT PERIOD.


AFTER THAT,FRANK WESTBROOK WAS BROUGHT IN ON KEYS FOR MIDNIGHT LADY.OLLIE BROWN,AND FROSTY PLAYED DRUMS.


DURING THIS PERIOD,MARK OLSON WAS WITH JENNIFER WARNES TOURING EUROPE,AND A COUPLE OF OTHER COLLABORATIONS INCLUDING SNUFFY WALDEN WHO LATER WENT ON TO DO MANY TOP TV SCORES.


RON FRANSEN,AND DAN FERGUSON WERE BROUGHT INTO THE STUDIO ON THE RARE EARTH-RARE EARTH ALBUM.WE WERE HALF DONE WITH THAT ALBUM AND MARK AND I QUIT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LIKE WHAT WAS GOING ON.I DON'T THINK THEY EVER TOURED WITH THE BAND.


ANYWAY.....THAT'S SOME OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES INFO. HOPE IT ANSWERS SOME QUESTIONS.


RAY



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UK Dave
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Hi Ray


Its always great that you come here to answer our questions and fill in all the missing pieces. Your contributions are always of great interest.


With reference to you and Mark quitting during the Rarearth LP sessions, does that mean you did actually play on some of the tracks, or are all the guitar and key parts played by Dan Ferguson and Ron Fransen?


For those Rare Earth fans that were willing and able to follow Rare Earth through the mid to late 70s, they must have seen a different line-up each time they attended a concert. When the Willie Remembers line up reformed for Band Together and Grand Slam, did you tour again extensively? If so, was the old magic still there? Did you get a buzz or had too much water passed under the bridge by then?



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RICH
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Who played drums after FROSTY?BARRY FROST?It wasnt FROSTY @ msg......whatever happened to him?

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RAY MONETTE
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DAVE,


MARK AND I PLAYED ON SEVERAL OF THE TRACKS.I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT ALBUM SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KEPT OUR PARTS ,OR OVERDUBBED ON THE SONGS.


WE BROKE UP IN 1974,AND REFORMED IN 1978.DURING THAT TIME A FEW MEMBER CHANGES TOOK PLACE,BUT AFTER WE MOVED BACK TO DETROIT IN 1982 THERE WERE MANY CHANGES.I'M TALKING ABOUT FROM 82-03.IT'S HARD TO EVEN REMEMBER WHO ALL WE HAD IN THE BAND DURING THOSE YEARS.


THE "WILLIE" LINEUP DID DO A LOT OF TOURING WHEN WE GOT BACK TOGETHER.AND....THE BUZZ WAS STILL THERE.WE HAD A GOOD TIME.


THE "TIGHT AND HOT" ALBUM WE DID AFTER LEAVING MOTOWN WAS PRETTY MUCH THE END FOR THAT LINEUP.WE ALL HAD GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR THAT ALBUM WHEN WE WERE TRACKING,BUT THE PRODUCER RUINED THE WHOLE ALBUM,AND MADE US SOUND LIKE SOMETHING ELSE.WHEN RCA HEARD IT THEY WERE SHOCKED.


 


RICH,


THE DRUMMER AFTER FROSTY WAS CHET MCCRACKIN.HE WENT ON TO PLAY WITH THE DOOBIE BROTHERS FOR A FEW YEARS.WE DID A LOT OF SHOWS WITH THE DOOBIES,AND BECAME GOOD FRIENDS.EDDIE PLAYED ON ONE OF THEIR ALBUMS.


FROSTY MOVED TO AUSTIN AFTER HE LEFT US.WE SAW HIM AT ONE OF OUR  SHOWS DOWN THERE.THAT'S THE LAST TIME WE SAW HIM.HE WAS PLAYING LOCALLY,AND TRYING TO GET A RECORDING DEAL GOING.


RAY



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John
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Here is a quote from Jerry's website  www.jerrylacroix.com


I assume the concert is the same live 75 video on You Tube!


"I got a call from the manager of Rare Earth offering me a job. I always loved Rare Earth, so I said let me go out there and see what happens. I got there and my head was still swimming. We were going to be on Don Kirschner's Rock Concert. We hadn't even had a rehearsal. For national television. I stayed with them until we just kind of petered out. I had a great time with them. We did two albums, one with Norman Whitfield."



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Stuart CHICAGO
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Dave,


I've seen RARE EARTH numerous times starting from 1982 till the present.  I was luckey enough to see some of the last shows with the 72 line-up still in tact...and let me tell you--they were some of the best concerts I've seen...period.


Ray, I'm sure your remember such clubs in the Chicago area as Haymakers, the Thirsty Whale, Connally's, etc.  Your guys were unbelievable even though I think that was a bad time for you guys personally.  I remember soon Mike Urso left and was replaced by a young guy named Tim.  Then to my shock, in January, 1984, I saw you guys at Connally's, on the south side of Chicago,...and no Pete!!  I was too shocked to enjoy the show and was openly showing my disdain when, suddenly, Eddie signals me to come over.  I thought oh s**t, he's gonna really let me have it...but he ended up just asking me to go to the bar to refill his drink!!


Ray, it was around this time that I was working for a radio station and I interviewed Gil and Mark and also spoke to you.  At that time you guys were optomistic about getting you new music out.


Anyway, I've continued to see the band often to this day. I was at Ivan's first show with the band and just saw them this past summer in Bensenville, IL,  and it was one of the best RE shows ever.


Kudos to all RE members past and present for always bringing it every night!!



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UK Dave
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Stuart


Great story about Eddy. Did you end up paying for his refill? At least you were spared your initial fear of a visit to hospital with a timbale embedded in your skull


Nice to see another favourable comment about the current line-up. Ray's shoes were big ones to fill, but I like what I'm reading about Ivan and can't wait to hear the new CD next year.



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april
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ivan rocks!

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Stuart CHICAGO
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Hey UK Dave,


No, I managed to get out of the situation with Eddy with my skull and wallet intact. Although, when I interviewed Gil and Mark a few months later, Eddy really took a shine to my WVVX Radio Station jacket.  I came so close to giving it to him, but just couldn't part with it!


Eddy and Mark Olson seemed to be such sweet and humble guys. During the interview I found Mark even a bit shy, but certainly not aloof.  Funny, after the interview, we asked Mark and Gil to cut a couple of promos for our radio show.  Gil nailed them on the first take--it took Mark about 3 or 4 times to get it--good times.......


I've givin cassettee copies of that interview over the years to both Gil and Pete.  Pete commented how good it was to hear Mark's (speaking) voice again.



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MDF
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THIS ONE IS FOR RAY.........


RUMOR HAS IT THAT NORMAN WHITFIELD WAS A DIFFICULT MAN TO PLEASE........WANTING EVERY THING PERFECT........PETER SAID IN HIS BOOK THAT  HE BUSTED HIS ASS TO PLEASE NORMAN  ONLY TO DO THE VOCALS OVER AND OVER...........I GUESS MAY QUESTION IS......WAS HE THAT HARD ON JERRY AS WELL??


ON YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ON NORMAN........PERFECTIONIST??.........EGO TRIPPING???


 


MY THOUGHTS ON THE BANDS PERFORMANCE ON THE MA ALBUM WAS TOP NOTCH.......


THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS......


MDF



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RAY MONETTE
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MDF,


NORMAN WAS A DIFFICULT MAN TO PLEASE,BECAUSE HE IS A PERFECTIONIST.BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ALL HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM,AND BENT OVER BACKWARD TO DO OUR BEST.


HE WAS DIFFERENT AS A PRODUCER,WITH US ,AND AT MOTOWN IN THE SNAKEPIT.
HE WOULD COME OUT INTO THE STUDIO(INSTEAD OF SITTING IN THE CONTROL ROOM)AND WORK WITH US MAN TO MAN.HE TRIED TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN EACH OF US.EVEN DURING THE ACTUAL RECORDING,HE WOULD GO AROUND TO EACH OF US,MAYBE HUMMING A MELODY OR RHYTHM FOR YOU TO PLAY.YOU WANTED TO DO A GOOD JOB FOR HIM.


WITH THE LEAD VOCALS HE WAS REALLY A STICKLER...BUT....LOOK AT HIS TRACK RECORD.I REMEMBER WATCHING PETER DO LEADS ON THE "MA" ALBUM LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.ONE LINE OVER,AND OVER,AND OVER,UNTIL YOU WERE READY TO SCREAM!!! I THOUGHT HIM AND PETE WERE GOING TO COME TO BLOWS A COUPLE OF TIMES.I DON'T KNOW HOW PETE MADE IT THROUGH.I GIVE HIM A LOT OF CREDIT.


IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE


I DIDN'T STAY TO SEE JERRY DO HIS LEADS,BUT I'M SURE IT WENT THE SAME WAY.AND I'M SURE THE OTHERE MOTOWN ARTISTS THAT NORMAN PRODUCED GOT A NICE TASTE OF IT TOO.


ACTUALLY....I'M SURE THAT THE OTHER MOTOWN PRODUCERS WERE JUST AS STICKY ABOUT THE LEADS AS NORMAN WAS.THAT'S PART OF THE REASON THAT PEOPLE STILL LOVE MOTOWN MUSIC TO THIS DAY.


RAY



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AL from Canada
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While goofing off this afternoon on the net I went on the Jerry Lacroix website.I checked out cds available and three cds of old music are for sale.

Jerry LaCroix's Early Trash,  La Croix,  Mean Ole World(released originally as Second Coming).

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UK Dave
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I thoroughly enjoyed re-visiting this thread (Thanks for raising it Al). Firstly it highlights that for fans in the UK and other places where RE never played live, there's a big gap in knowledge of some of the members who joined and left in the 80s and 90s. Chet McCrackin, Tim Johnson(have I got that wrong?) etc. I'd love to see a proper family tree drawn up like Pete Frame used to do for rock bands in the 70s / 80s.

Secondly, although I love Peter to bits and was delighted he returned for two albums, I'd love to see Jerry visit this forum and post his thoughts on his years with Rare Earth. Same goes for Paul Warren, Gabe Katona and others. Reggie McBride came to the band from Wonderlove, Stevie's band. As Ray said, he is a real talented musician. I wonder if he visits this site?

As for the Ma album, it arrived in the UK about 6 months after the Willie album. It was so different (band songs v Whitfield songs, production etc) that it left me very confused. Almost like a different band except it wasn't. Despite being so different I love both albums but the release of Ma hot on the heels of Willie smacks of Motown going into panic mode. Did it feel the same way to US fans? Its only in recent years that I've grown to appreciate Ma whereas I've always loved Willie Remembers.

Anyway, who's keen on the family tree idea? We'd need to rely on members of the band to fill in the blanks of course. Ray and Gil would know most of the comings and goings but it seems there were many changes over a short time.At least the current line up appears to be quite stable.

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AL from Canada
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Dave   The RE family tree not a bad idea, it would be neat to see that.As for Jerry LaCroix, I was on his site and tried to leave a message but it wouldnot go through, it could be something I screwed up ,I don't know.When I was on the site there was an email address jlacr22277@aol.com.When I clicked it went to a message board with this address jerbear297@aol.com.If someone else tries maybe they will have better luck,and if enough of us email Jerry we may get him to drop us a line.What ya think?



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AL from Canada
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I just sent a email to Jerry LaCroix using jerbear297@aol.com, asking him if he could drop by and that we would like to hear from him,here's hopin'.

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