Clarence Burke Jr. Of The Five Stairsteps “You Waited Too Long” “Live” (R.I.P.)
Vložit
- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- Well, "We've Waited So Long". For all the fans that were wondering whatever happended to the 5 Stairsteps. . It was at the Key Club located on 58 Park Pl, Newark, NJ 07102 On March 12th 2010. It was a celebrity packed house. The Ladies of Sky, Touch of Class, Wendall Sawyer, of Blue Magic, Evan Wills of The Ultimate Persuaders were in the house as well as Bob Davis music/journalist and founder of Soul Patrol Website (R.I.P.) February 11, 2024. The venue was small and intimate. It felt to me, like a private show. Little did I know at the time the significance of this footage, I had taken. For not to long after, he had passed away on May 26, 2013. Thank you, Joe Marno his manager/Producer for making this extraordinary event happen. Video Courtesy of Ralph Vargas aka Da Phunky Drumma 🥁 exclusive. Clarence Burke Jr. Vocals/Guitar
Carl Lester Bass
Lance Dickerson Keyboards
Junnie Collins Drums
What a talanted man, him and those handsome brothers, and their beautiful sister.
@Ingrid Douglas: All that musical talent, and good looks to match !!!!
R.I.P Clarence Burke Jr. The person who helped his family become The First Family of Soul. We won't forget you and your heartfelt vocals.
No need to argue. They're both great and I enjoyed the Stairsteps, Jacksons, and the Sylvers. Its not a competition thing. Great music is great music.
The American Storyteller Also, DeBarge family
when you think that Curtis Mayfield produced them under his Curtone label and later Budda label where berry gordi produced Jacsons 5 and i think silvers was Qincy Jones production
How pure is this what a moment at its best doesn't get any better then the late Mr. Clarence Burke of the fabulous Five Staris Steps. 🎩🎵🎷📻📀💿🎙🌹💯💯💯💯💯
Correction Mr. Clearance Burke Jr. Of The Five Stairs Steps 🎩🌹🙏🏾
This is the song that started me on the Stairsteps and have been a huge fan ever since.RIP Clarence,you will be truly missed.
Another tree has fallen in this musical forest of mankind. Thank you so much, Clarence, for sharing your wonderful talent with us, for being the nucleus of the first family of soul. You will be missed so much! Someday, we'll walk in the rays of the beautiful sun.......someday......things will then be much better than they are now. RIP.....on your restful journey.
This is my Friend The Late Clarence Burke Jr., RIP Brother.
Your Friend still Scratches Souls ...
Growing up in South Chicago, I was (and still am) a big fan of the 5 Stairsteps. Their music and harmony were fantastic. I am extremely sad and hurt to hear that Clarence Burke Jr. passed away. RIP Clarence! You will be sorely missed!
Just stumbled onto this to find is gone, RIP Clarence. Heard him sing thing live in the 60's, he's still got it.
When I was a little girl, my cousins and I would stand outside in the freezing cold in front of the Capitol Theatre on 79th & Halsted in Chicago to see the Five Stairsteps. We always had free tickets because I grew up right down the streets from them. Their Daddy, Clarence Burke Sr and My Daddy were friends too.
My wife and I were driving down 79th & Halsted the other day and I mentioned to her that I saw the Temptations and The Chi Lites there back in the day. Good memories.
I am very very jealous of you lol
@@jbug45945 - I live in Hollywood California now for many years. I still see Keni Burke from time to time. He still performs.
@@nuskoololdschool
Thanks Brandy tell Keni Chicago still loves him.
I have the pleasure of working with Clarence back in 1980 just as he started recording the Invisible Man LP. Clarence and I worked alongside Steve Ferrone of the Average White Band and producer and ex Wailer Lee Jaffe anad many other great studio people. It was for an artist named Kwame. We had some really good sessions at Chelsea Studios NYC and I believe that somewhere in my belongings, I still have the rough mixes. Clarence was as real as real could get ... down to Earth - no BS - funny and a warm hearted human being. What a shame that we had just hooked up with each other on Facebook about a month before he passed away :-(
This slowed down version is sooo beautifully sung. My goodness!!! I love it. It should have been re-released. RIP Clarence Sr,. Clarence Jr., Cubie, and now James. This is the music of my youth. I was always so proud to have the same last name as them although not related. They were the BEST!!!
They were the best and amazing gifted people ❤
Rest in the Paradise of Peace, Dear Clarence🙏🏽🎼🙏🏽🎼
Oh How I love this music from the family!😍🎩🗝🙏🏼
Underrated..............The stairsteps were unique. Variation in artistic growth!!
oh i them stairsteps so much can't find the right words to say.
that dude had a set of pipes what a talent to loose soo soon RIP
This was a wonderful treat! Clarence Burke Jr and the Burke family have truly given us great songs and great memoriesover the years. After so many decades his voice and Guitar styling still hit home with the sound of 60's 70's Soul. I hope that in the near future the whole family is reunited on the stage for all of us classic soul fans.
We lost one of the greats of old school music
I've been listening, reminiscing & stepping (Chicago style) all day to The Five Stairsteps on youtube, then I had to buy their greatest hits off iTunes. Soon as my husband came n I played it and now I'm downloading to his Iphone WE ARE DIEHARD CHICAGO STEPPERS and grew up in the projects on the SouthSide! So, we are BIG BIG FANS of the group. I was telling how I was n Love w/Dennis and my gurl Reba w/Clarence and we saw EVERY show @The Regal, 47th SouthPk. Great memories! Love 2 c a reunion 2!
R.I.P Clarence jr. u may be gone but ur music lives on for ever
One of the baddest to ever create music,Rip and respect
A master showman! An outstanding performance, simply outstanding!
unsung why haven't you done the 5 stairsteps not right get on it
I REMEMBER The five Stairsteps when they came to the uptown theater in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, What A wonderful set of collected and find faction group of People Love you Much, very sad for the lost of Clarence Burke Jr., very inspiring,
Are thoughts are with you.
The Martin and Brooks Family
Yesssssss❤!!!! I was there at the Uptown too here in Philly in the third row from the front. I really enjoyed them back then in the 1960's that these songs still have an effect in my Soul today❤!!!
Yes, I was also at that Uptown show and I will never forget it. I may have been on fourth or fifth row center. Right then and there, they were up there with the Delphonics for me. I wish they could find a way to do an Unsung on them, especially since we’ve lost several of the members. Not sure why they never broke through with a mentor like Curtis Mayfield and a smash like Ooh, Child.
This takes me back to the 1960's at the Chicago Regal Theater.! Before the Jackson five times...!!!
He never lost his voice or his vocal skills. Grew up with his & his family's music. Lots of beautiful memories associated w/ the whole Burke family. RIP, Clarence.
I grew up right down the street from them in Chicago on 99th and King Drive. Keni, Dennis and I used to ride our bikes in the Driver's License Bureau parking lot on Saturdays. Great memories. I still see Keni sometimes.
That's a great memory to cherish! When I hear The Stairsteps, I think back to my youth, as I'm sure many people from my generation do... but YOU have a vivid recall, & GOOD memories of the PEOPLE who actually made the music. That's a Blessing. Snatch JOY!Brandy Sanders
Ooh, Child!. So fly and beautiful.
R.I.P Clarence Burke Jr.! Your legacy will forever live on
Outstanding. Saw him 2 times in the past few months. This guy is brilliant!!! He is so entertaining and engaging to his many fans. If you have not seen him you are really missing out!!!
I saw them perform several times at the Uptown Theater in Philly back in the 60's. I had the biggest crush on Kenny! All of their slow jams are still heartfelt. So sorry to hear that we lost Clarence. He was always the "glue" that held the group together. Wow, those were the days...
When I first saw your comment, I thought that I had written it & forgot about it:) I too remember the 5 Stairsteps at the Uptown Theater back in the 60's - along with Georgie Woods & WDAS Radio! Little did I know that years later (1976-77), I would be living in Johnson Hall (Temple U) - right down the street from the Uptown. I got a chance to see Clarence Burke, Jr. at a 70's Soul Show in the Poconos in 2011 - the audience still Screamed for him:) The first time I saw the Jackson 5 was at the Spectrum in 1971, but the First Family of Soul will always be the Mighty, Mighty 5 Stairsteps! And, my All-Time Favorite Song - "Ooh, Ooh, Child"(I never knew that sister, Alohe sings in the very beginning)! Peace!
I heard he had an illness don't know how true it seemed they didn't want it published to much wonder why?
When I came up in Brooklyn.....the 5 Stairsteps were literally GODS in my neighborhood! How the hell could kids that young sing AND dance sooo good?!!! (I still think Michael got that "leg kick" from Clarence! )We need an all out effort to find the footage of them on that TV show :SOUL". Or from the Apollo theater when they were UNTOUCHABLE!
,,,,,Yep!
Great Post! I'm just seeing this for the first time! He still sounds fabulous! Would love to see him perform. Appreciate it.
Beautiful voice. Beautiful song.
simply amazing
Shoot! OMIGOD! Clarence sounds AND looks so good.......Thanks for posting this rare genius at work! ..... Allright! Clarence, Dennis, James, Keni, and Aloha.....C'mon now; enough of the hiatus. We've waited toooooo long! Let's go: REUNION, REUNION, REUNION! TODAY, TODAY, TODAY!
I have always respected their talent I hope every thing is well
Rest in peace Mr Burke. You've given many people some good memories, including myself
😢...We're scared of the future...I am not...Love your family deeply.
Stan Vincent & I were hanging at Elaine's...She asked who I was, or else ya wouldn't be here.
I told her, subtle but powerfully " I an NOBODY" Stan the Man smiled...Our women were "friends"...I saw her treat an innocent couple rudely minutes before.
Stan & I walked out & hung on the streets...Broken Hearts are lonely souls.
I think your Family Band was THE BEST...PERIOD.
David Anthony Connolly Jr. 😊
I enjoyed everyone's post. I saw him and the family performed at the Apollo back in the day. Though I was young, they made an impact on me as of being a dedicated family guy.
I too had the awesome fortune of seeing them at The Apollo in the Summer of 1969 I was all of 11 and loved them❤️
R.I.P Clarence🌹
I Miss This Music So Much!!!!!!!
Wonderful talent. Soulful sound.
Motown didn't pass up the Stairsteps, the father turned Motown down, big difference. I don't think J5 had anything to do with why The Five Stairsteps faded, I believe their personal problems are the reason why they faded. I mean the music business is a big business where there's rooms for many groups. J5 and The Steps had different styles, so why all the comparison. Without MJ the Jackson Five weren't special, I feel the same about Clarence, without him The Steps wouldn't have been special
I agree with much of what you said except that I think the overall talent of the Five Stair Steps surpassed that of the Jackson 5. They wrote a lot of their own songs and their voices,overall were better. Their harmonies were superb. Also Clarence and Keni went on to work in producing music for a number of other artists.
beautiful version
This is a beautiful thing to see this brother who brought love together in the 60's & 70's still going strong and sounding this good, what a true blessing!!!! Thanks for the upload!!!!!
Man ! I wish I could sing like that!!!
R.I.P. Clarence Burke Jr. You Will Be Missed
One of my favorite songs, Clarence, go get your Crown baby!
SSSWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!
RIP BURKE CHILD
OLD GOLD
GO BOY!!
I heard Tupac's song on the radio today "Keep Your Head Up" with a sample of "Ooo Child Things Are Gonna Get Easier" on it. Started listening to Five Stairsteps tonight. Such wonderful harmonies in all their songs. Takes me back. Alot of their songs are classics. Wish they would get the recognition they deserve. Would love to see them perform again.
'O-o-h Child' by The Five Stairsteps is a great song.
Clarence and Joe Marno came to Fayetteville for the Shaniya Speajs Day. They are probably the most humble musicians you will ever meet. It was an honor to perform with Clarence!
the 5 stairsteps was one of the baddest singing groups in the 60's OMG,,,,,,, we went crazy every time the stair steps would come to DC, what a show they would give,
Now that was singing back in da day
The Five StairSteps was the Baddest group out no one I mean no one can ever copy them you are missed Clarence!!!! I remember when they perform at the RKO Bushwich in Bklyn what a nice Show!!!
very encouraging to see Clarence Jr. back on the set! Now get the rest of the fam . . . .
Heaven was missing an Angel
RIH Clarence Jr.
It's so sad a reunion will never happen, could never happened now without him.. Fan's let it go
How do you know so much about their supposed problems? Whether or not they do a reunion, we should appreciate that at least Clarence Jr. is back, after all he was the voice. I think they went their separate ways, but still love music, you don't have to actually be performing to still love music. If some of them don't want to perform, we need to accept them, and lets just enjoy the legacy that they left. I've seen some reunions that went bad, some singers lose their voices or don't have the spark
good music is gone, my gen. don't know love, or that feel good that just hmm touches you, man I'm thankful for parents who raised me off this , yess, slow dancing in the living room lights down low, kids in bed...well supposed to be !!!!!
140w104 was right!!! If you guys got back together, I'd pay anything to see yall. For it's not just the music you brought but the fact that there is no more like you. The Five Stairsteps were and are a legacy, an institution, a true unrecognized jewel that did not get the recognition all of you justly deserved. Come Back!!! Don't have your fans Wait too Long. Pleeeaaassseee!!!!!!!!
Much Gratitude
I went every five stair steps concert in philly. Cuba sang this song.
Your SOUL will live on!
..RIP Clarence ..x
Awesome taste OP. FF Fan and fav.already.
Thanx
erie
Yes indeed the five stair steps brother. He got it going on now. I remember him as a young boy. And Cubie. The five stairsteps singing at the Uptown in Philadelphia big time. Cubie sang play girls love right off the bat
Wow! Stairsteps still singing! Love them
HELL Yeah !!!!!!!!!! OMG Clarence, Clarence, Clarence I was soooooo in love with this dude I would scream my voice away at any show the Stairsteps were at LOL I loved me some Clarence Thank you Thank you for this post please keep me informed...........
Wow, I remember the first time I saw the family perform at the Apollo Theater, in 1967! I was an avid fan since 1966, as I knew of them before I saw the Jackson 5 during Apollo Theater talent show in 1968! But I have always loved them both! :)
The sound track of my teen years. Saw them at the Uptown as well.
Wow! The way he's singing! Just sooo beautiful. I need to find some of his music. I love, love, love old soul music. I was looking up "Ooo Child" because that song is so haunting and beautiful. For some reason it makes me cry and cry. Does anyone else experience that?
From what I heard from people who seen The Five Stairsteps perform live, many have said they could blow J5 away with their choreography. One DJ compared them to the Nicholas Brothers. Maybe the night J5 supposedly outdid them, maybe The Steps weren't on their game, but they were known to be very good and could bring down a house. If you believe them, they say they stepped away from the business because they wanted a private life. When they switched to rock, that was hurtful to their career.
I don't remember any rock from the 5 Stair steps. MY sis was in class with Aloah at Burnside Elementary and Harlan HS. Their steps were great, and voices.
Well Clarence you popped into my head tonight. Might be that I have to do some painting LOL. You are missed as a singer but much more so as the person that you are. Rest my friend....rest.
Wow!!! Still amazing!!! Thanks for posting!!!!!
AWESOME!
SMOOTH R&B SOUL SINGING.
Stairsteps made beautiful music 🎵🎶 so underrated
@Terrence Smith: This group was NOT "unsung" or "underrated." They worked with the powerhouse Curtis Mayfield, on the "Windy C" imprint.....they were BIG in Chicago !!! The late DJ Herb Kent played A LOT of Stairsteps songs ...we loved them in our city; never unsung.
@@michellekirkendall818 Tell the truth you know that once the Jackson 5 came out everyone forgot about the 5 Stairsteps
@@terrencesmith1333 No, not so. Each group is different. The Five Stairsteps had more slow songs, and represent the "Chicago Sound." They had the sound of Curtis Mayfield (as songwriter) The Impressions, Gene Chandler, Major Lance, etc. You have to be a CHICAGOAN to understand it. The Jackson Five, from Gary, Indiana, had a "Midwestern-Chicago Sound," which became the Los Angeles version of "The Detroit Sound." The Stairsteps had recorded four years with the "Windy C" imprint, before The Jackson Five began recording for Motown Records. The Five Stairsteps had a more mature sound, The Jackson Five was removed from their r&b groove, into polished "bubblegum." No. I like the Jackson Five, but they're not better than The Stairsteps. And they were not crossover; they were strictly r&b, their guitar work was MUCH BETTER than Tito's lead and Jermaine's bass.
@@terrencesmith1333 There's a sad part, too. "O-O-H Child" which was a "B" side, became The Stairsteps ONLY million seller; and their first crossover hit. They were previously played on black radio. After this song, they disappeared. They returned in 1976 and 1980 with some pretty good songs.
@@terrencesmith1333 When I play back "Don't Waste Your Time," "Playgirl's Love," "The Shadow Of Your Love," "We Must Be In Love," all by The Stairsteps (only a few named) I hear great music, there are great memories....no way, never unsung, never underrated. Three of the group members have since died. In my book, they will never be forgotten.
You got this clarence burke
Just saw Clarence do his show at the SOUL PATROL convention in Philly.All i got to say is you had to be there.As a die hard Stairstep fan,just maybe this is the first step in a reunion.
He and his family came along, when ALL Black people strove for EXCELLENCE.
STAIRSTEPS were under the guidance of CURTIS MAYFIELD....ENOUGH SAID!!
@Mikal Alexander: FACTS !!!!
WONDERFUL!
Hello Clarence. Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, here in Washington, DC. Still wanting to get you a gig here in the Nation's Capitol. I still love you and the Burke Family. Hope to talk with Jeff Blount soon. We're over due for a conversation. Love the video!
I saw the Five Stairsteps at the uptown theater in Philadelphia. Cubby was the lead singer. He was about 10 years old and sang “it jus a playgirls love” like a grown man! Cubie maybe it was.
No. Clarence was the lead singer. Cubie was their baby brother.
I'm just wondering what small intimate club in N.J. and when? I have always admired the Stairsteps, but I really don't expect to see a "reunion". But it is nice to see Clarence performing again! Thanks for posting this!!
Soul Music ya'll..................
RIP BROTHER
What a heart beat
I did not know that he passed, I have just begun to revisit his & five stairsteps music. w
R.I.P. Clarence Burke!
Well Clarence Burke Jr. and Hopefully some other original members will be part of the 5th Annual Classic R&B Weekend in The Poconos (Pa.) along with The Dramatics, Atlantic Starr, Blue Magic, Slave, and D-Train for the big concert portion on Saturday November 12, 2011. On friday there is a salute to Black Ivory and Cliff Perkins of Soul generation. A full weekend of adult entertainment!
He looks good.
Yeah there is a need to argue when the truth needs to be told. I don't care who you enjoy. Competition breeds champions and if you want to be the best you have to compete. I don't really care for the other family groups you named. Everyone has a right to who they like and I favor the 5 Stairsteps, the trust first family of soul!
What hurt the Burke family's career is they didn't go with Motown, if they had went with Motown, might not have been a Jackson Five, and The Five Stairsteps wouldn't be unsung. Motown would have promoted them and gave them great tv and magazine exposure, they didn't have that with the label they went with. I believe the family should do Unsung, it would tell their story and bring them out of obscurity, but if they don't want to do it, that's their right, I think they like being mysterious
RIP Clarence Jr. you were a bad man, I thought the group harmonies were the tightest of tall the family groups and they were first.
Oh!! and the supposed problem's as you say!!! you don't become UNsung unless you have them, I live in CHICAGO on the same block as the Burke's did(Five Stairsteps).
Don't just be a fan-from-a-far, History has let us see, when YOU! want to stand the JACKSON5 up along side the Five stairsteps and say MAYBE-If this and that, look at the talent and the TIME who did what!!! Clarence is coming out to be what he always was a Voice!! he could always sing. the Burke's have their place in history.
You waited too long. The day we parted we were so broken hearted. I seen the five stairsteps in person at the Uptown in Philadelphia. Bad ass group in the 60$. Nobody could go up against the 5 stairsteps. Nobody.
There's many besides me who want to know what happened to the Five Stairsteps, don't you read the many comments on youtube and all over the internet and the interviews. If you don't like The Burke family, why are you here? They may not have done choreography that night with J5, but many have said they had great choreography who have seen them. Listen to the interview Clarence and his parents gave on the funk show, the host compared them to The Nicholas Brothers when he saw them at the Apollo.
Damn he sounded good
💜🎶💜🎶💜🎶💜🎶🔥🔥🔥🔥
R.I.P daddy!!!
The Stairsteps were incredible back in their heyday. Does anybody have any information on Clarence's performance schedule? I would love to see him. Franklin K. Lane High, Class of '70. Peace.
Once the Jackson 5 came on the scene, people quickly forgot about the 5 Stairsteps, unfortunately
@PetePeterkin REUNION! STAIRSTEPS REUNION! I'm willing to pay top $ to see them perform again! Can ya' try to convince 'em my brother?
pop could sing as well as the kids
@freein2339 That's one reason; a nice chuck o' change and then some to such deserving souls.. But just to see them all together again....Now that would be AWESOME! Heck, tell Papa Burke too! I'm "AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG"!!!!!! (lol I know; the Temptations; but I'm beggin' here! Somebody tell 'em something!
Rip