Piece Description

STAIRSTEPS Stories! VOL. 2 (Part A):

The Untold Story of the Five Stairsteps with Rami

The second part of a three part series of interviews and discussion on the history of the “First Family of Soul” known as the Five Stairsteps. The group was started by Betty and Clarence Burke Sr. of Chicago in the early 1960s to raise money for their children’s school library. The original line-up was their children Aloha (Rami) Burke, Clarence Burke Jr., James Burke III, Dennis Burke and Kenneth Burke. The children were enrolled in local talent shows which they never lost.  They came to the attention of Fred Cash and Curtis Mayfield of the Impressions and soon they were under contact with Mayfield to record for him. The hits began to flow between 1966 and 1967. By 1968 the youngest sibling Cubie Burke was added to the group and the “Five Stairsteps & Cubie” continued to record and tour as a family in 1968 and in 1969. By 1970 they released their signature hit “Ooh Child” and by 1971 their stage show changed from pure R&B to black rock and funk. The last recording as the Stairsteps occurred on Buddah Records in 1972 with Rami leaving show business to pursue her own career and furthering her education. The four oldest brothers reunited in 1976 to record their last album to date called “Second Resurrection”. During this hour Rami tells her story and the story of her family “The First Family of Soul” THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS.

SEGMENT ONE: Rami discuss her early family life in Chicago and the introduction of Latin music to her family from her aunt from Puerto Rico.

SEGMENT TWO:  In this segment Rami talks about Curtis Mayfield, the Regal Theater, the Five Stairsteps early hits, the Otis Redding bus tours, The Bar-kays, the Impressions, her song "The Look of Love", their big hit "Ooh Child", days at the Apollo Theatre, with The Jackson Five at the Apollo theatre, the Sylvers, what happened after she left show business in 1972, and discussions on Star Trek, the Space Shuttle, and archeology.

SEGMENT THREE: Rami talks about her early song writing, a Stairsteps reunion at a recent family birthday party, the changing fashions of the group (in the 1970's), the "walk-on-bye" choreography, her trumpet playing, she mentions that there is a lot to ask of young kids to perform in show business,  reminiscing on my meeting the Stairsteps at Tads Streak House (NYC) in 1970 and her closing remarks.

Click on this link to get to Clarence Burke, Jr.'s official WEB page:
www.clarenceburkejr.com