Patrick Adams - Reflections On A Star!!!

Below are excerpts from a forthcoming book, "IN THE BUSH," by Patrick Adams scheduled for publishing in the summer of 1998. They appear here for the first time courtesy of Patrick Adams and © 1997 NVOBA Publishing Company, a division of Patrick Adams Associates, Inc, all rights reserved.

During the summer of 1967, my band the Sparks was doing a performance in a Harlem park as part of the New York City Broadway In The Streets Program. Larry Newkirk was trying to tell me about his vocal group. I could hardly hear him over the sounds of the Young Rascals. "You've got to come here us tonight," said Larry. "Yeah, Yeah, I'll be there, " I promised while trying to pack my guitar back in its frail case. Actually I was madly in love with his sister Gail and would have given anything for the chance to be in the same place at the same time with her. By the time I got settled that evening I could see I was going to miss my chance to go to Larry's place so I called hoping Gail might pick up the phone. I was disappointed when Larry picked up. In one short moment my life was changed forever.

Somewhere in the background I could just make out the sound of an Angelic Male voice. "Larry, what record is playing in the room?" " That’s not a record. That’s Leroy Burgess our lead singer," said Larry. For the next 6 months we worked 3 times a week on vocal harmonies and stage routines. It was at the Roosevelt High School talent show that the vision was realized. The show had to be stop midway to calm the screaming girls who had rushed the stage. I cried.

 To be continued…