Isley Brothers - The Image That Made Me Weep
by Roy Moller
published: 10 / 4 / 2020
intro
As part of our new series 'The Image That Made Me Weep', we are inviting a different guest with each edition to write of a music photograph that has had an impact on them. Scottish singer-songwriter Roy Moller writes of a 1960 photo of the Isley Brothers which also features his photographer father.
The venue is Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, January 22nd,1960. The gentlemen onstage are playing a show with Frankie Avalon, Clyde McPhatter, Johnny & the Hurricanes and, says the poster, “Cliff Richards”. These guys are Isley Brothers, soul perennials. When I was twenty I bought a cassette of their 'Forever Gold', which turned me on to the courtly funk of 'That Lady', 'Summer Breeze' and 'Harvest For The World'. Later I discovered 'Behind A Painted Smile' (magnificent, frenetic), 'Your Old Lady' (utterly demented) and 'Love The One You’re With'. Speaking of which... The fellow with the camera is my late father, Jim Kennedy, on assignment for 'The Toronto Telegram'. An affair with a reporter, Carol Hoffman, would result in pregnancy. Carol gave birth to me in Edinburgh, where I was adopted - her trip probably financed by Jim’s brother Roy, a car dealer who made it big. I’d learned my father was a photographer but didn’t discover his identity until a few years ago. It was intriguing to find online images he'd taken such as Sly Stone stomping on the Gardens stage - and a joy to at last be in touch with family. When Roy’s son Rob sent me this photo I felt proud to see Jim working. My sister Loretta tells me the dad we share met Elvis, presumably when covering his Toronto show in 1957. The King, Jim would say, was great to be with. I never met the Isleys, Elvis or my father but they all rock my soul.
Also In The Image That Made Me Weep
Billie Holiday (2020)
Black Sabbath (2020)
Clash (2020)
Dave Grohl (2021)
David Bowie (2020)
Deep Purple (2022)
Band Links:-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothersmost viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Elliott Murphy - Interview
Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Wreckless Eric - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
John Mayall - 1933-2024
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPIn Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #5 - ‘We all have good intentions/ But all with strings attached’: Music and Mental Health Part 2
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Nerve - Interview
One Thousand Violins - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Marianne Faithfull - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesJules Winchester - The Journey
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Deep Purple - =1
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Popstar - Obscene
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart