GSGEDM Behind-the-Scenes

God Said Give 'Em A Podcast

Episode Summary

Reggie Dokes guides you behind-the-scenes of the film God Said Give 'Em Drum Machines: The Story of Detroit Techno for the first time! In this episode, the team reminisces on this summer’s groundbreaking Electric Unity Livestream supporting Black Lives Matter. They also go deep with conversations on the feature-length documentary (coming soon!), current Detroit events, an interview with John Sloan III (director of BLM Detroit), and the memory of Mike Huckaby. - Support the independent filmmaking process and get yourself some GSGEDM merch! http://www.gsgedm.com/shop - Stay updated with GSGEDM on Instagram and Facebook! https://www.instagram.com/GodSaidGiveEmDrumMachines/ https://www.facebook.com/GodSaidGiveEmDrumMachines/= - Learn more about topics covered in the film and Detroit culture in the Detroit Techno 101 https://www.musicorigins.org/detroit-techno-101/ - Check out The Music Origins Project: https://www.musicorigins.org/technomecca/ - Be sure to check out Output, to make all your music-making and sound designing dreams come true! https://output.com/ - Support Black Lives Matter Detroit: https://www.blmdetroit.com/ - Support Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/ - Listen to Reggie’s E1 Hot Picks! Bring Me Down - Alton Miller ft. Maurissa Rose // https://soundcloud.com/soundsignaturedetroit/sets/alton-miller-featuring-maurissa-rose-bring-me-down Rise ft. Lachi - Steve Crawford // https://stevecrawford.bandcamp.com/album/rise-the-single-feat-lachi Lights Down Low - Theo Parrish // https://soundsignature.net/product/theo-parrish-lights-down-low-12/ - Get your global soul, events and music with Fusicology: https://www.fusicology.com/

Episode Notes

Support the independent filmmaking process and get yourself some GSGEDM merch!

http://www.gsgedm.com/shop

Stay updated with GSGEDM on Instagram and Facebook!

https://www.instagram.com/GodSaidGiveEmDrumMachines/

https://www.facebook.com/GodSaidGiveEmDrumMachines/=

Learn more about topics covered in the film and Detroit culture in the Detroit Techno 101

https://www.musicorigins.org/detroit-techno-101/

Check out The Music Origins Project:

https://www.musicorigins.org/technomecca/

Be sure to check out Output, to make all your music-making and sound designing dreams come true!

https://output.com/

Support Black Lives Matter Detroit:

https://www.blmdetroit.com/

Support Black Lives Matter:

https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Listen to Reggie’s E1 Hot Picks!

Bring Me Down - Alton Miller ft. Maurissa Rose // https://soundcloud.com/soundsignaturedetroit/sets/alton-miller-featuring-maurissa-rose-bring-me-down

Rise ft. Lachi - Steve Crawford // https://stevecrawford.bandcamp.com/album/rise-the-single-feat-lachi

Lights Down Low - Theo Parrish // https://soundsignature.net/product/theo-parrish-lights-down-low-12/

Get your global soul, events and music with Fusicology:

https://www.fusicology.com/

Episode Transcription

Reggie Dokes 0:04

Hello world. What's up and welcome to our first show, called God Said Give 'Em a Podcast. Now you may say, God Said Give 'Em a podcast. What is that all about? Well, I'll tell you - it's basically a play on words of a highly anticipated documentary, right? Detroit Sound Project presents, God Said Give 'Em Drum Machines. This is the story of Detroit techno, and its creators. We started this podcast because we wanted to continue to keep in touch with all of those who have supported us on our journey up to this point of making this great documentary. We also want to expose you to the process of what an independent film production company has to go through, just to make a film like this, right? So we want you, our audience, in these uncertain times - right, at this COVID-19 changing market - we want you to come along and share in our journey, our struggles. And again, the impact that we've had thus far in our journey. In trying to get support, and expose people, to this great history of Detroit techno. But you know what, I did not do this alone. You know, you have that you have to be on a great team of creatives. And so they will be introduced to you later on in the show. Again, if I didn't say before, welcome. Thank you for joining in to our first show. So excited. This is your boy, Reggie Dokes. My small role was that of Composer - and we'll get into that as well, later on in the show. But anyway, let me stop talking. And let's get it poppin. This your boy Reggie Dokes. Welcome. Let's get it going.

2:17

So now, I have the pleasure of introducing to you guys the team of this fine documentary. We have Jennifer Washington, who was Executive Producer on the project, had my brother Kristian Hill, who was Director, and David Grandison, who was a Producer on this great documentary. All right, team, I'll say hello.

Kristian Hill 2:43

Yo, what's up?

David Grandison 2:45

Whaddup?

Jennifer Washington 2:46

Hey!

Kristian Hill 2:49

I'm Kristian Hill. I am the visionary behind the film, God Said Give 'Em Drum Machines. Hahaha. I'm definitely the visionary director.

Reggie Dokes 3:01

Yes, yes. Up next, wonderful Jennifer Washington.

Jennifer Washington 3:05

And I'm Jennifer Washington, Executive Producer and Producer of God Said Give 'Em Durm Machines: The Story of Detroit Techno. I thought I was the visionary behind the whole project. But you know, other people also, you know, want to claim that they have vision - that's fine, too. I welcome everybody's expressions and ideas as day to day...

3:36

I guess, the "mommy" of the project, in terms of me having to do all this work, too. I know everybody thinks that Kristian is. That really, you know, he does - he is responsible for what we see on screen and the story as it moves and unravels. He has been doing an awesome job all of these years, working tirelessly, interviewing people from here to South Africa, and Tokyo, and Russia. Dave has also been a very important part of our team, as he is another Producer on this film. And he also brings a wealth of knowledge and history and enthusiasm that we just could not do without. David, can you tell us about your role in the project and the other work that you're doing with Music Origins?

David Grandison 4:36

Yeah, you know, we all linked up very early on. I had been documenting a lot of artists in Detroit and capturing their stories and you know, we teamed up early on in the proces. And large amount of, you know, the archive that I had accumulated we pulled into the project and is a part of what you know what the film is becoming. And I personally am a Producer, you know, almost, you know, 20 years. But I focus on education, and the work that I do, you know, kind of spans from games, apps, a DIY doc that I have that I created to create documentaries and teach people how to create short documentaries. And then Music Origins project, which is a way for young people to experience different parts of the world, through Google Street views and VR. And as a part of this project, I've documented every location that has been a part of this film, and allowed young people travel to those locations virtually, through through Google Street views so that they can experience places like Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, or Tokyo, where Derrick May plays a huge concert. And the team was there to film that. Or South Africa, where the Cape Town Electronic Music Festival happened and the film 'Electric Roots' was shot. And so through these various vehicles, you know, we're helping young people to to learn about stem skills, and to experience places that they may never be able to go. But it allows us to tell our story on various different platforms. You know that ultimately, what documentary films are, they're educational tools. And this is our way of kind of creating a, you know, Detroit Techno 101 platform that allows young people to experience the places that are part of the film, the founders of this music called Detroit techno, and ultimately, for us to leave a legacy that helps young people to learn about Detroit techno, because I think ultimately, all of us have that in our hearts - is we want that story to be told worldwide. And we're trying to create a platform to do that.

Jennifer Washington 7:09

And now Reggie. Oh, my gosh, we are so thrilled to have Reggie as part of our team, now. This score music that he is responsible for is, I think, is another character in the film. And without it, this film wouldn't be possible - we wouldn't be able to tell these stories in this way. So I'm from Detroit, Michigan, as is everyone else here. I - Detroit is my muse. I'm thrilled to be here. And this music, ever since I was growing up, has been a huge inspiration in my life. And this project is a labor of love. And today, we wanted to talk about a live stream that we did over the summer. Part of my work is to make sure that this information about Detroit being the birthplace of techno music, has been my constant effort for the past 10 years. And so we are working to build bridges with different institutions in Detroit to help spread this message even further, and for generations to come. And so we had this awesome virtual DJ live stream in July. And it was a successful event, we had all sorts of awesome DJs that performed. And we also raised money for Black Lives Matter Detroit, we were so thrilled to be able to raise $500 to support their work. And I was able to interview John Sloan III, who was one of the directors over their Black Lives Matter of Detroit. So we're going to go ahead and listen to that interview now.

Jennifer Washington 9:06

John, can you just start off by just introducing yourself and telling me your role?

John Sloan III 9:10

My name is John Sloan III, I am one of the Co-lead Organizers for the Detroit chapter of Black Lives Matter.

Jennifer Washington 9:16

Just tell me how long has BLM Detroit been around for?

John Sloan III 9:21

Yeah, so BLM Detroit's been around for a few years, about maybe four years at this point. there have been a couple different iterations of the chapter. Organizing work is hard, right? So like, none of us get paid to do this. So this is all a work that we put in on our own time. And we really do our best to make sure that we have a balance between the rapid response work which is necessary - so the work they're protesting in the streets and supporting people immediately - and then also trying to have an eye on the long term policy solutions and the long term organizing that we know we need to really get to a point where we can have Black liberation for all of our people.

Jennifer Washington 10:01

Tell me about your team. Who do you work with?

John Sloan III 10:03

Yeah, so my primary partner in crime is one woman, Curtis Renee. She's been working together with BLM for the past three, four years almost. And we do our best to try to balance out that work. So we work in a couple key impact areas, right? So we work in food, nutrition, justice. We work in educational advocacy. Obviously, as BLM, we organize around police brutality. And we also work to make sure that we can assist our community in areas of poverty. And so a lot of times it looks like housing, and there's legal foreclosures that have been happening in Detroit for a long time, and how we can progress support. And so Curtis and I really try to divide up those roles and those programming duties, and split those. And we've got a large team of supporters that are more general members, that show up to events, that hop on our virtual events, and some other partners and collaborators that we reach out to, from University of Michigan from Michigan State. But really a pretty large group of supporters in the 3000-4000 range of people just in Detroit.

Jennifer Washington 11:06

So, you know, we did want to bring you here to do this to officially give you this donation. A few weeks ago, we had a live stream of our own called Electric Unity. It was a DJ live stream, and we just felt like it was, you know, our responsibility to support your chapter of Black Lives Matter. And so we're honored today to be able to handle virtually handoff a check to you. And then hopefully you can get it receive it on the other side... Oh isn't so awesome!

That was crazy. It really means a lot to us, to know that we have family out there that are supporting us that are doing everything they can. We have a lot of programs that we try to run year round. And the past couple months have brought us a lot of attention. But we've already seen a decline, in donations and mailing lists. And so knowing that we have support from people like you, and artists and Detroiters You know, regardless of whether you live here, now, if you were born here and raised here, you're in Detroit for life! So we really appreciate that support. And this goes a long way people understand like this right here and can make sure that we get, you know, 10-20 kids outfitted with supplies for school with backpacks, make sure that we can feed, you know, some a few more families in our community. So that does a lot for us. And we really appreciate it.

How are people able to connect with you and get involved?

John Sloan III 12:38

Yes, so we have a couple key programs that we're working on right now, especially during this time of the pandemic. We recognize that a lot of the same forces that intersect to make police brutality and poverty so disproportionately affect our community, are the same forces that are intersecting to make COVID and the coronavirus disproportionately affect our community. And so we've been doing a virtual series of events. And they can go to our website, BLMdetroit.com, to look at that schedule and figure out when those are coming up. And we're also launching an immediate channel on YouTube, to be able to try to continue to get information out there. There's a lot of disinformation out there about BLM. There's a lot of misinformation, a lot of disinformation, right? That people put out there about our movement. So we're trying to do the best job that we can to clarify any points as necessary. But we also have a few different programs. Right now we're doing a Community Food Share program, where some of this money is going to go directly to urban farmers, Black farmers in Detroit, and we're paying them so they can keep their doors open. And they in turn are providing food to members of the community that have a need, right. And so in some cases, we're subsidizing. Some cases, we're being able to cover the costs completely. So that program lasts for eight weeks at a time. And that's something that that members of the community can sign up for. And then we're also doing right now have a backpack drive. So we're trying to prepare our youth for school coming up in the fall, we don't know what it's going to look like. And so our kids are going to need and writing different things that might need technology that might need just regular books and backpacks. And so those are the two major programs we're working on right now and trying to get up off the ground and running. And so you can do anything if you want to get involved, you can go to our website, you can shoot us an email, you can jump on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Obviously, money is always important. But that's not the only way you can tap in, right? We want to make sure that our movement is sustainable. And we do our best to not launch any program, if we don't feel like that's a program that we can sustain over time. We don't want to just parachute into a community and leave, right. So anything that we build out, we would really want to make sure it's something that we can sustain and becomes a pillar of offerings to the community.

Jennifer Washington 14:42

Can you tell our audience how they can reach you on social media?

John Sloan III 14:47

Yeah, use our Instagram, our Twitter, our Facebook. It's @DetroitBLM and just hit us up. You go to BLM detroit.com and shoot us an email. We will do our best to get back to you as quickly as possible. If that's not within the first two days, just bear with us. We try to triage, right. So when somebody comes through and says, 'Hey, I need you to help me with this crisis,' they immediately jump towards the top of our list. So we ask for your patience, but we also appreciate your enthusiasm. And I just want to thank both of you, I had the privilege of seeing a screening of your piece of the FREEP Film Festival a couple years ago. I didn't know I was watching your piece, until Jennifer and I spoke earlier. And like the work that you are doing is a blessing to the artists community and to the city. So I just wanted to make sure I had an opportunity to say that to you. Thank you.

Jennifer Washington 15:33

Thank you, John. This was awesome!

Reggie Dokes 15:36

Jennifer, I hear you. I really do. But first let's get into the Detroit Hot Picks. Three from your boy. Okay. Let's do that. So this first one is by my boy, Steve Crawford.

This record is called 'Rise' featuring Lachi. Think this came out in 2017. Highly underrated record, highly underrated. Steve Crawford is my homie from the D. He is actually, professionally, an attorney. So he is no attorney by day. And by night, he is this awesome DJ, producer, and musician. Super talented brother, my man Steve Crawford. Rise.

Jennifer Washington 17:34

So now if we can hear Kristian, David. We'd like to hear from you now to what is your take away from our events that we had in July, the Electric Unity Livestream.

David Grandison 17:47

You know, Electric Unity was powerful, because, you know... we, you know, we were able to want to touch our fans again, you know. We all really love to embrace the people who aresupporting this project. And so this, this allowed us to touch the fans. We hadn't done anything substantial in a while. And so we had the love of the people who are supporting this film, they were able to come out, they were able to actually see some of the people who were part of the project, and they were able to obviously speak to the team, you know, Jennifer and Kristian, you know, who can share their love. And so I think Unity was - it was a powerful, powerful event. And then we were able to touch the people who are now carrying the torch. And so we, you know, we had DJs and young up and coming DJs who are able to, you know, to bless us. And hopefully we were able to create a platform to actually allow them to be seen, and to be a part of the industry. So I think we all really, really were blessed by the event. And we were really happy to be able to give back to Black Lives Matter, which is, you know... again, hope you know, they're holding the torch on the social justice side of things.

Jennifer Washington 18:59

Right, and thank you for being a part of our event as well. We couldn't do anything that we do without our village of producers and composers. And now I'd like to hear from our director, Kristian Hill.

Kristian Hill 19:16

I loved Electric Unity, I loved how this community of DJs around the world kind of can come together and form. And come together at any moment, and kind of aid people by just giving them this feeling, this feel-good music, and kind of sharing the camaraderie and things that we need in order to get over these tough moments. So just to be able to get this team of DJs together to come play some music for people and people could feel good enough to donate some money, and donate to our cause, and come to our film, and buy some merch. I mean now that was an amazing feeling and amazing power. And DJs from Ann Arbor, MEMCO, They stood out. of course, our boys in South Africa always show up and show out. You know, we have Ivan, and Bruno. And of course, we had my favorite, Niskerone. So just the power in how we were able to, in the moment of kind of real need, be a source of inspiration for people to come together and feel good. So that's what I took away from Electric Unity, that it had like a real positive vibration on the community.

Jennifer Washington 20:37

Yeah, that's awesome. Let's not forget, shout out to Stacey Hotwaxx Hale and Whodat, and Reg! Reg was on the lineup, too.

Kristian Hill 20:48

Yeah.

Jennifer Washington 20:48

Yeah. We can't forget that.

Reggie Dokes 20:52

Yes, yes.

Jennifer Washington 20:53

You did your thing. Kristian, would you please tell me what you do? And where you are right now in the process of the film? What's going on with you behind the scenes?

Kristian Hill 21:05

There's a few different questions there. Yeah, right. I'll just take them to take them one at a time. In your first one was, like, what am I doing now, like, so I jump off there. Like, now, as we try to really wrangle the story and read - go through like rewrites, or re-edits... it's like finding those, those voices and those kind of like stories that connect the legacy of his music and its impact, you know, around the world, and beyond the borders of Detroit, you know. So spend just like, clicking around, of course, on the internet. But I started running across a lot of kind of literature, books, and articles that kind of really point to the history of this music. So you know, that's really how I've been kind of spending my time, reading this 'Machine Soul' by John Savage, which was like a Village Voice piece from 1993. You know, going back reading Dan Sicko's book, 'Techno Rebels'. Which is, I want to say, the definitive kind of literature on Detroit dance music and the history of how this music, kind of, where it where it starts, and where it is now. And so kind of going through those tunes, and kind of just getting ready for interviews that we've had, These makeup interviews, you know, which really are going to help the story. So, you know, in addition to reading, you know, it's just been kind of reformulating the story, and just making it more of an emotional, character-driven piece, as opposed to like a information-oriented doc, you know. I'm just making that leap into, I want to say, like, filmmaking, you know.

23:14

Cause yes, the doc we had and we've been working on was that, but over this course - you know, as you have and everyone who's associated with the film, we've all kind of grown and come into our own as, you know, producers and filmmakers. So as that evolution happens, luckily, the story gets the benefit from everybody's kind of, I guess, growth, you know. So, you know, just in addition to that, we had an interview with a gentleman by the name of Norman Anderson. He, Norman Anderson, goes by, is professionally known by the name of Normski. And Normski, was the guy who took the photo - he took the photo that made it onto the Record Mirror magazine, that was the first cover photo of this music. You know, back in the 80s. There used to be a lot of fanzines and magazines kind of used to help sell this culture in America. It'd be like Word Up! magazine or Ebony Jr!. Like those magazines just, kind of were on the newsstand and they gave you information about your favorite artists. Well, in England in 1987-88, there was in a fanzine called Record Mirror. And on that, that is where the picture of what we like to call the techno 6, Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Eddie Fowlkes, Santonio Echols, Blake Baxter and Kevin Saunderson. That photo is the first photo of techno artists from Detroit being kind of marketed overseas. And this gentleman Norman Anderson took the photo. The great thing about him was he was a 21 year old kid from North London, you know.

25:13

He was a black kid from London. So, it was kind of cultures connecting and colliding. And with that, you know, they were surprised one of them - were really surprised that the magazine was sent a Black guy over to take their picture, because they had never really seen somebody, a brother with a camera, out here taking pictures. And Norm was surprised that the makers of this music that he he had heard about, he had only heard about it on the trip, that the makers of his music look like his brothers or his cousins, and his family members. And that was one of the things he really took away from Detroit, was the familial bond. And how this music kind of really connected him to a sound that he had learned was electro, but he didn't really know that it was kind of born out of Juan Atkins in Detroit. And he holds great reverence for Juan and the Detroit sound. So it was a great interview, to just get him on tape talking about this stuff, you know.

Reggie Dokes 26:49

Guys, let me get into this next Detroit Hot Picks 3. Okay. Sound signature, y'all. Come on one of the deepest and most prolific labels from Detroit, my man Theo Parrish. Now, Theo may have been born and raised in Chicago. But when he moved to the D, and making music in his young adulthood, it's best to say that Detroit claimed him as their own. And it's safe to say that, you know, once Theo started traveling as a DJ that he represented the D heart and still does to this day, my man, Sound Signature, Theo Parrish, Lights Down Low.

Jennifer Washington 27:51

You know, being from Detroit, you know, there's this - it's like a language we have with other people. I really, if people aren't from Detroit or Michigan, I really kind of don't like them as much. You know, I really, haha... honestly, I think I might just be a little discriminatory against people that aren't from the D. I really... there's always something that puts a smile on my face when some, you know, good news comes out of the D, or just anything that's artsy or creative. There's this - it's not only a city of resilient people, but it's the city of creative people and people that have this, like, other, you know, it's like confidence on another level. And today, my cup, shout out to Glenn Washington on Snap Judgment podcast. He sent me a text. Did you get it that Dave?

David Grandison 28:53

Yeah, yeah, I got it okay.

Jennifer Washington 28:55

So he sent me a text about some news piece that happened in Detroit and I want to share it with everybody. Now if you can share it, Dave. That'd be great.

David Grandison 29:04

There we go.

Oh, you know, I had seen this this bubbling earlier today and it blew my mind, that somebody in Detroit has actually tried to jump the drawbridge over the River Rouge River. Okay, that's some, that's some Detroit.... you want to play it?=

News Anchor 1 29:29

On the news tonight at 11 o'clock, a man is arrested after jumping his car over a rising drawbridge on Detroit's West Side. Tim Pamplin is on the scene with the nightcam. Tim.

News Anchor, Tim Pamplin 29:40

We are down in Sugar Island. There's the Fort St. Bridge. Normally the arms are up, allowing cars to push through. Well tonight one arm is down, completely smashed to bits as the driver faces himself as a bit of a daredevil. Best bridge operator, Andre, says he couldn't believe his eyes while the driver is in the back of a police car. There's his vehicle, smashed in. Officers tell me he's full of Whippits. Whip it to say, yeah, that's a whipped cream dispenser. Apparently youngsters nowadays, could sniff the gas and get high. Here's Andre again.

Bridge Operator, Andre 30:11

I hit the emergency stop and the bridge jammed.

News Anchor, Tim Pamplin 30:14

Detroit Police putting out the unusual call this evening.

Police call-in 30:23

...blew out all four of his tires, and then he crashed into another gate over there...

David Grandison 30:38

So, we have we have stories that come out of Detroit that never cease to amaze. Because of the things that happen in the D, you know, and that's a Detroit story. Well, y'all think about that.

Reggie Dokes 30:50

Oh my god, only in the D, man. Only in the D, man. That's a first, brother.

David Grandison 30:59

All about cars. You know, Cosmic Cars. Remember, Detroit techno. Cosmic Cars... Leave like the mothership.

Jennifer Washington 31:12

You know, I think that was so inspirational. Like that alone, I think is worth its own spot on the podcast - only in the D. Only in the D room. You see somebody jump in the bridge like with like the general Leon Dukes of Hazzard?

Reggie Dokes 31:29

Yes.

David Grandison 31:32

Gotta give me, that's Cosmic Cars, man. That's right man, that's Juan. Juan wrote about that before he did this. Right.

Jennifer Washington 31:39

Yeah, that's this techno, right?

Reggie Dokes 31:41

Yeah, hahaha, there you go. There you go.

David Grandison 31:42

driving in my car.

Reggie Dokes 31:46

Foot on the gas.

Kristian Hill 31:50

While we pulling up articles, do we pull up the other article that came up this week?

David Grandison 31:58

Bring it out. Bring it out. You know, I think that you know, it's all about, you know. We want to talk about the now and we want to talk about where we are, where we came from. So it's all good.

Kristian Hill 32:11

Let me see, can I share?

David Grandison 32:16

Wow, I hadn't even heard about that.

Reggie Dokes 32:20

Okay, this is what you're talking about? Yeah,

Kristian Hill 32:22

Yeah. This is what I'm talking about. And I guess if, you know, on some level, I do, since we've done articles about what's happening in Detroit right now. This is definitely something is happening to Detroit, who love techno music and in real time, their feelings about these accusations? You know, wow.

Jennifer Washington 32:46

So, can Kristian in a nutshell, can you talk about what this Deadline article says?

Kristian Hill 32:55

I mean, the Deadline article points to accusations made against Derrick, some 30 years ago, and a few other additional accusations of him being sexually inappropriate. So I'm just bringing this article to the fore, because at some point, hopefully, you know, Derrick can get his name, kind of his reputation back, if this is not true. However, if it's true, it's unfortunate. And, you know, one man's actions, you know, hopefully don't shine poorly on the whole scene, you know, what I mean?

David Grandison 33:42

You know I would say, and you know I want to be PC, and I want to make sure, you know, that I'm that I'm being, you know, sensitive. But you know, again, I, we have challenges. I think the captain... when we're dealing with artists, and many times, you know, artists do things that may not always be seen in the best light. We've had this happen with Michael Jackson, you know. We've had things like this happen, you know, with with many of our icons. And so I think that the challenge that I always have is, do we separate the art from the person? Can we separate the art from the person? And that's, I think that's going to be as long as we have artists, we're always going to run into challenges, you know, with their life with their lifestyles. But Jennifer, what are your thoughts on that? You know, because again, I'm speaking from my perspective,

Jennifer Washington 34:40

it's happened. We see it with Ellen, we're, you know, we're seeing this type of thing with Elon too, again. Like, you know, the thing with Derrick after, you know, we've been following this saga. And yes, women have been coming forward and they've been sharing their stories, too.

Reggie Dokes 35:02

So, you know, I, first off, you know - you hate seeing this kind of thing, especially when you know the person personally, you know. For me, it's hard because, you know, I like to think that Derrick helped me significantly, you know, when I was first trying to become this traveling DJ. And, you know, I spoke to him the other day just to check in on him, see how he was doing. And he said that, you know, he's remaining strong and that he's a fighter, his exact words. He's a fighter and, and that he's going to fight this. So, you know, at the end of the day, you know, yes, they are allegations, you know. I think we all want to see how, you know, how this plays out and, you know it's something that we have to talk about, something we can't skirt around. Because, you know, he's one of our major key components in this documentary. So, I just really hope there's a positive ending to this, you know.

Kristian Hill 36:31

That's all that's why I brought it up, just because we'd be remiss if we sat here and then made fun of the video of the car going over the bridge, and not really dealt with the, the real kind of issue that this impacting one of the people who helped us get to this point in making this film, and inspired all of us on some level to bring our best to the storytelling.

Reggie Dokes 37:08

Okay y'all, this last one, I gotta get this last one in, please. We gon' keep it in the Sound Signature family, okay, but it's not Theo Parrish. This time, it's my boy Alton Miller. Yes, from the D, Alton Miller.

This one is called 'Bring Me Down', one of my favorite tracks to run on the Sound Signature label. 'Bring Me Down', produced by Alton Miller, featuring the homie, miss Maurissa Rose.

37:29

Listen, then Theo moved to Detroit, he was living in this basement apartment in downtown Detroit. And I remember going to his spot often. You know, just getting those words of wisdom, trying to submit music on his label, just really trying to be in a brother's presence and he was always so gracious and giving. You know, one thing I did notice, when Theo was putting on music, a lot of people, it's probably safe to say, weren't connecting with what he was doing. And one of the things that I respect about Theo is that he kept at it, he didn't let the naysayers, you know, keep him from producing the music that he wanted to produce, you know. So again, much respect to Theo. I am so honored that I was there in the beginning, to see his career go from 1 to 10 through hard work, perseverance. So much love to Theo Parrish. This one is called 'Bring Me Down', produced by Alvin Miller featuring Maurissa Rose.

Reggie Dokes 40:04

Want to move on next to the I think we all feel this way, the inspiration behind this great documentary, the title for that matter, the great, rest in peace, Mike Huckaby, who was a true inspiration to all of us. And I think Kristian said it, that, you know, he was the inspiration behind the title, you know, of this great documentary. You know, Huckaby touched a lot of us, and so many great ways. And so, you know, we want to share that with you. So we'll start with Jennifer. Jen, what's your thoughts and feelings about Huckabee and his impact on our journey so far, and making this this great piece?

Jennifer Washington 40:56

Well, I have to say that, honestly, I didn't know my growing up, and like many of you did. But when I did meet him, I knew that he was somebody special. And he was such a genuine spirit and honest person, and who was selfless. And he was, out of all the people that we've interviewed for this project, I really felt like he really did have a genuine concern for the youth in Detroit, and others. And so he was a beautiful spirit that wanted, wanted to, I guess, focus on education. And he - that's something that not... most of our subjects didn't have that to offer. And so it was fresh. And it was exciting to hear his perspective when we first interviewed him all those years ago at the standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. And when we sat down to speak with him, I knew very little but when he started to talk about how he had a dream, so to speak one day, about how God and the angels were sitting around trying to figure out what to do with Detroit. And because it was at its at this time, Detroit was going through a bankruptcy and but you know, growing up in Detroit, it's always been sort of...

42:39

On the economic decline. And this was something that kind of always haunted me. And I think others too, that are on the Zoom today, can also can relate to. And like Norman Anderson put it yesterday, was bombed out when he first saw it. And so, Mike had this dream, so to speak, between it was God and the angels speaking about what can we do with what should we do about the people of Detroit, they're starving. And God said, "give drum machines." And so Mike shared this story with us and right then and there, we knew that that was going to be the new title of our film. So we are forever in debt to his heart in his spirit. And he continues to inspire and motivate us to get to the finish line.

Reggie Dokes 43:32

Absolutely, absolutely. So that was great. That was great. Thank you. David. David grandison. What's up, man? Tell us your feelings about Huckaby.

David Grandison 43:45

It makes me you choked me up, you know, really, really, you know, talking about Huck. Because Huck just had such a pivotal role in the development of dance music in Detroit.

Reggie Dokes 43:56

Absolutely.

David Grandison 43:57

You know, Mike Huckaby influenced a generation of artists between 1990 and 2000. Working - I'm not sure which, which of those years he was working at Record Rime - but when he was at Record Time, he was the guy to go to when you can't when you were a DJ in the city, and he was touching artists. He was you know, there were just so many artists who came through the door and then he went on to start producing his own music. He became a sound designer. He's one of the only sound - you know one of the first sound designers to actually you know, create and engineer sounds for you know, many of the the drum machine companies Okay, so his influence was felt around the world not only in Detroit... but people were making beats with his with his clips, they were using his songs so you know. Mike Huckaby is a you know, was the - is a legend in the D, as far as I'm concerned. And, you know, I feel like we're blessed to use his quote, you know, as as part of the title for this film.

David Grandison 45:03

And you know, he will be missed. And, you know, again, I wrote a tribute to him about Record Time and him, you know, on the site, you know, MusicOrigins.org if you want to learn a little bit more about his time at Record Time. But yeah, Mike was big.

Kristian Hill 45:18

Yeah.

David Grandison 45:19

But you know, can I add one thing to what I said? We got to remember, Mike was an educator too. You know, Mike was teaching young people at Youthville. Mike is responsible for cats like Kyle Hall, and a number of other artists that learn beat making from him. So, again, we're educating, and Mike was an educator. So you know, that's love. We can't... we gotta talk about that aspect of his legacy.

Reggie Dokes 45:51

Yeah, absolutely. Thank you. Thank you for sharing. All right. Kristian Hill, we'll end it with him. On Huckaby and his influence on this documentary. Yeah. And on you. Oh, hey, bro.

Kristian Hill 46:05

Thank you, you know, we go back, it's like... but... it's like that, those my earliest memories, and hanging with Huck, is what - is like the stuff I was leaning on when I asked him for the interviews and stuff like that, you know. Cause I hadn't talked to him in years. But you know, when we was in high school we used to hang and DJ together and stuff like that.