The Gems - I'll Be There

This is another performance filmed for my now legendary documentary, "The Strange World Of Northern Soul". The Gems were a New York girl group in the 1960s, led by original lead singer Louise Bethune. She did a fabulous job getting the group back together with two originals and one replacement girl. This song, "I'll Be There", on Riverside Records, was a huge record at Blackpool Mecca. Contrary to what Kev Roberts said in his book, Northern Soul's Top 500", the Gems on Chess records, led by Minnie Ripperton, were a totally separate group, and these girls never recorded outside of New York. I filmed and interviewed over three hundred people and 131 artists performing their Northern Soul classic songs, for a six disc DVD box set extravaganza, called "The Strange World Of Northern Soul", with twenty four hours of footage, including some rare footage of the Motorcity reunion. The project started in 1997, was released on VHS tape and premiered to 1300 people at the King George's Hall in Blackburn in July 1999, then took four more years to refine and re-edit into its DVD release in 2003. A life's labour of love

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Motorcity
• Blackpool-Mecca
• Sixties-Soul
• Disco
• Diva
• Girl-Groups
• Wigan-Casino

[eevissa]

Why does no-one play this amazing track?

[IanLevine]

@eevissa - It was HUGE at Blackpool Mecca in 1973 and 1974.

[DaYuMu6ft7]

I thought the Late Great "Minnie Riperton" was apart of this girl group, befor she went on to bigger and better things....

[IanLevine]

There were two different Gems. She sang with the Chicago group on Chess Records. This is the New York group, fronted by Louise Bethune, on Riverside Records.

[gary922003]

Louise Bethune is some great singer..I have known her for years, from back in the day when she was a ,,,,SHIRELLE! after and before Micki died..she was always in the group when needed,.. Louise still sings today!gary

[IanLevine]

Please tell her that if she's ever visiting England on vacation, that I would LOVE to cut a new track with her.

[eevissa]

Fan-tas-tic!!!!

Never heard this one before but what a stomper! Just noticed there's a copy for sale on ebay but they want $75

[speedwaysamuel]

Louise Bethune take a bow also Mr Levine,thanks Ian you are the man

[jelboysvw]

Louise Bethune is awesome we all agree

[allwayssoul]

absolute brilliant classic, so many memories come flooding back, Mr Ms sigh !!!!! xx Many Thanks Ian for making my day xx

[kiddysoulgirl99]

god ive got so many favourites faster the better

[g4zz1]

CASINO NIGHTS oh ye babe i was there ^ and 'BABY THATS THAT'-Instigations-Don't even want to talk about it,don't even want to discuss it ***-JUST WANNA DREAM I'M THERE TONIGHT ^ ^ ^

[dagnabit1]

What was Louise's position in The Shirelles? I new she sang with Bev and Doris after Mickie died, but who did she replace before that? I also heard that she was a Crystal in the early 70's.

[wufwufwufwuf]

go gals