Episode 004 — Soul, Solar, and the Stories Nobody Told You with Carolyn Griffey (Part 1)
FRIENDS AND LEGENDS WITH SKIP MARTINShow Notes
A conversation with Carolyn Griffey — daughter of Dick Griffey, the first Black concert promoter in Los Angeles and co-founder of Solar Records — on what it really took to build one of the most important Black-owned labels in history, the battles nobody talks about, and why you can't know where you're going if you don't know where you came from. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Carolyn Griffey grew up at the centre of music industry history — and most people have no idea. Her father Dick Griffey started as a club owner, became Don Cornelius's booking agent for Soul Train, and then co-founded Solar Records — the Sound of Los Angeles Records — the label that gave the world the Whispers, Shalamar, and Carrie Lucas. Carolyn traces the lineage, the legal battles to protect it, the Grammy moment nobody tells right, the "yahoo" that became a global signature, Faith Evans holding vocal class in an LA living room, and a world most people have never heard of — Black cowboys, Bill Pickett rodeos, and Hollywood riders hiding in plain sight. Main Topics: ● How Dick Griffey went from Guys and Dolls to booking Soul Train to co-founding Soul Train Records with Don Cornelius ● What SOLAR stands for — and why it was called the Motown of the 70s and 80s ● The legal fight against Viacom to protect the Solar trademark — and the team that won it ● Dick Griffey's philosophy — the saying he lived by that cost him and defined him ● The Grammy tie with Earth Wind and Fire — and walking over the chairs to get to the stage ● How producer Reggie Andrews pulled "yahoo" out of thin air and made it a signature heard around the world ● Faith Evans in LA before anyone knew who she was ● The Black cowboy world and why representation at the National Finals Rodeo still isn't there Intriguing Quotes: "I'm not gonna let them sit me on my ass — I ain't nobody's nail on nobody's book." — Dick Griffey "He said, give me anything. I said anything? He said yeah. A little horns went up in my forehead. I'm gonna make a big fat funny joke with this. I said the most stupid thing. Yahoo. He said, that's it." "Less is more — and I learned that earlier than most." "You don't know where you're going if you don't know where you came from." "I'm not trying to get anybody's favour. I'm not trying to kiss anybody's ass. I just want to share the stories authentically." Key Moments: ● [00:45] Carolyn traces the full lineage — Guys and Dolls, Soul Train, Don Cornelius, Dick Griffey, and the birth of Solar Records. SOLAR stands for Sound of Los Angeles Records. Most people never knew that. ● [04:30] Don Cornelius steps back. Dick Griffey buys him out. Soul Train Records becomes Solar Records — and then comes the fight against Viacom to keep it. ● [10:00] The philosophy Dick Griffey lived by — and the one saying that captured everything. He would not submit to protocol. That independence cost the label. Carolyn is still proud of it. ● [16:00] The Grammy Awards. The Dazz Band mid-conversation in the audience when someone says — you guys won. They walk over the chairs to the stage. Then they hear it's a tie with Earth Wind and Fire. ● [19:30] Reggie Andrews tells Carolyn to give him anything on a blank spot. She decides to make a joke. Out comes "yahoo." He stops the session. That's the one. Notable Resources: ● Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — billpickettrodeo.com ● Country Soul Magazine — founded by Rodney Allen Rippey ● Solar Records — Solar UK label currently active Connect with Carolyn Griffey: ● Search Carolyn Griffey on social platforms for Solar Records and Black Cowboys project updates Connect with Skip Martin: ● Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ ● Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic ● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ ● Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic ● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of persona
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