Golden World Records Owner Ed Wingate Dies!
One of the key figures in 1960s Detroit music died last weekend in Las Vegas.
Ed Wingate was the larger-than-life owner of Golden World Records, a name that has faded with time, although Detroit music buffs recall it with great reverence.
Some of the records released by Wingate and his wife, Joanne Jackson, include the Reflections' "Just Like Romeo and Juliet," Edwin Starr's "Agent Double-O Soul" and "S.O.S. (Stop Her On Sight)," and J.J. Barnes' "Real Humdinger."
One of Motown chief Berry Gordy's enduring headaches was trying to stop the Funk Brothers, his house band, from moonlighting for Wingate. He only stopped it by buying Golden World in 1968, including the large recording studio at 3246 W. Davison Ave., which became Motown Studio B.
A week ago, when Gordy was in East Lansing to give the commencement speech at Michigan State, he brought up Golden World out of the blue, telling a reporter that Joanne Jackson didn't make him sign a contract to buy Golden World, "even though many people wanted to buy it," but trusted his word over the phone.
Although Wingate and Jackson had been living in Las Vegas for years, he wasn't completely retired. Detroit entertainment lawyer Mike Novak said he was working with Wingate on a project just before he died.
A memorial service for Wingate, 86, who died last Sunday, will be held at 11 a.m. today at New Bethel Baptist Church, with funeral services following at noon. Wingate is also survived by son Charles Wingate and brother James Wingate.
By: Susan Whitall / The Detroit News
Ed Wingate was the larger-than-life owner of Golden World Records, a name that has faded with time, although Detroit music buffs recall it with great reverence.
Some of the records released by Wingate and his wife, Joanne Jackson, include the Reflections' "Just Like Romeo and Juliet," Edwin Starr's "Agent Double-O Soul" and "S.O.S. (Stop Her On Sight)," and J.J. Barnes' "Real Humdinger."
One of Motown chief Berry Gordy's enduring headaches was trying to stop the Funk Brothers, his house band, from moonlighting for Wingate. He only stopped it by buying Golden World in 1968, including the large recording studio at 3246 W. Davison Ave., which became Motown Studio B.
A week ago, when Gordy was in East Lansing to give the commencement speech at Michigan State, he brought up Golden World out of the blue, telling a reporter that Joanne Jackson didn't make him sign a contract to buy Golden World, "even though many people wanted to buy it," but trusted his word over the phone.
Although Wingate and Jackson had been living in Las Vegas for years, he wasn't completely retired. Detroit entertainment lawyer Mike Novak said he was working with Wingate on a project just before he died.
A memorial service for Wingate, 86, who died last Sunday, will be held at 11 a.m. today at New Bethel Baptist Church, with funeral services following at noon. Wingate is also survived by son Charles Wingate and brother James Wingate.
By: Susan Whitall / The Detroit News
