Little Woo Woo / the Jet Set
Dayton, 1967-68
Litte Woo Woo, the stage name for Dayton's Edward Early III, had been the singer for the Morroccos in the early 1960s. Sammy Dobson had been the group's organ player during that time. In 1966/7, Dobson former his own group, the Jet Set, and brought Little Woo Woo on board as a featured singer.
The Jet Set, primarily Dobson, a drummer, and the singers, played engagements at Dayton area clubs such as the Outrigger and the Showbar Club. The group had a few other singers who were billed with the group, including Leroy Rogers and Vi August
Sometime in 1967 the group recorded an LP, somewhat similar to the lounge band souvenier LPS that were big in the 1970s. They recorded a bunch of covers and a couple original songs, "I Can Feel It" and "Out Rigger". "Outrigger" was Sammy Dobson's theme song for the namesake club. All the recordings seem to have been done at Mega-City.
They released a 45 with a unique and pounding version of "Harlem Shuffle" backed with "Out Rigger". A few months later, an LP was released with the two 45 sides, "I Can Feel It" and the cover songs. The 45 is fairly rare, but the LP hardly ever turns up.
Rare album makes the airwaves on Dayton's soul station, January 1968
There is one mystery regarding the records, they are on the Heat label that lists Birmingham, Alabama as the source. There's nothing we could find that makes any connection between the Jet Set, Little Woo Woo, or Sammy Dobson with Birmingham. Most likely it was a stunt to make the group seem well travelled.
Billy Vance is credtied as the drummer. he was playing at Jerry's Bar in early 1967 as the Billy Vance Duo, so he probably joined the Jet Set a few months before the LP. Other credits on the LP are Connie Lawson, a former singer with Dobson, and Leatha Early, Woo Woo's sister.
By mid 1968 the Jet Set was no more and Sammy Dobson was playing with other musicians. Woo Woo's name disappeared from the Dayton papers until 1975-6 when he was listed singing with a different organ/drum group. He was seen again around 2003 singing with a reformed Morroccos.
Discography:
Harlem Shuffle /Outrigger - Heat No #, Aug 1967
LP - Everything Is Gonna Be All Right" - Heat 501 (Rite masters 20835/6) Dec 1967
