Archive for the Palm Memorial Park Northwest Category

Pete Moore

Posted in Palm Memorial Park Northwest with tags , , , on May 19, 2025 by Cade

November 19, 1938 – November 19, 2017

When Motown records was founded in 1959, there was the Miracles.

The 5 Detroit performers were the first to catch producer Berry Gordy’s eye and convince him to start his own label. Founded by childhood friends, Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White and Pete Moore, the Miracles would become the prototype for all successful Motown acts to follow.

In addition to providing bass vocals for the group, Warren “Pete” Moore served as one of the talented songwriters for, not only the group, but also many of Motown’s biggest stars. Moore wrote the Miracles’ multi-platinum megahit, 1965’s “Tracks of My Tears” as well as their post-Smokey disco anthem, “Love Machine.” Over Moore’s prolific writing career, his songs were recorded by countless legends including Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations and the Rolling Stones.

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Rudi Maugeri

Posted in Palm Memorial Park Northwest with tags , on May 12, 2025 by Cade

January 27, 1931 – May 7, 2004

Rudi Maugeri was a co-founder and lead/baritone singer for the Canadian doo-wop group, the Crew Cuts. Formed in school in Toronto, Rudi and his bandmates originally performed as the Candelaires around Ontario and New York. While appearing on a Cleveland radio program, the disc jockey referred to them as “the Crew Cuts” – citing their distinctive and uniform hairstyle – and the name stuck.

Maugeri wrote a number of songs for the Crew Cuts, including their first minor hit “Crazy ‘Bout You, Baby” which was later featured in the Off-Broadway hit, Forever Plaid. But, the Cuts’ biggest success came from pop covers of R&B songs like “Earth Angel” and “Sh-Boom”.  The latter becoming their biggest hit.

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Jimmy Ruffin

Posted in Palm Memorial Park Northwest with tags , , on April 28, 2025 by Cade

May 07, 1936 – November 17, 2014

Jimmy Ruffin was an R&B and soul singer who performed from a young age alongside his little brother, David. By the time he was 25, Jimmy found himself in Detroit and was a session singer in the Motown hit machine. He recorded his own stuff, too, though he was unable to find a hit. After a stint in the U.S. Army, Jimmy returned to Motown and was briefly considered as a replacement for the vacant lead singer role for the Temptations. That job eventually went to his brother, but Jimmy forged ahead as a solo artist.

In 1966, he recorded what would become his biggest hit. “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” became a Top 10 hit on both the R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts. It would remain his enduring signature song for decades.

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