The Satintones are an R & B vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
The original members consisted of:
Robert Bateman (b. 1936, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. d. 12th October 2016, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles County, California, U.S.A.)
Charles 'Chico' Leverette
James Ellis
and
Sonny Sanders (b. William Nelson Sanders, 6th August 1939, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 12th October 2016, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)
The Satintones all came together in 1957 and can claim to fame that they were the first group to be signed to the Motown set-up.
The Satintones in the Sixties
Signed to one of Berry Gordy's labels, 'Going To The Hop' was issued on Tamla in 1959, followed by the first single on Motown Records, 'Sugar Daddy'.
After three further singles for Motown the group disbanded, with Robert Bateman becoming a producer for the label.
in cleveland in 1960: l to r: billy johnson, al abrams, johnny j.j. jones, berry gordy, jackie wilson and robert bateman
Robert worked on the Marvelettes' hit single 'Please Mr. Postman' in 1962, before leaving Motown and setting up as an independent producer in Detroit.
with Duke Fakir and Berry Gordy
In 1967, Bateman produced the solo recordings by the former Supreme, Florence Ballad.
Sonny Sanders had the most impressive post Satintones career, working as an arranger, producer and bandleader in Detroit and later Chicago.
In Detroit, he arranged and produced several big hits for Ric Tic, notably Edwin Starr's 'Stop Her On Sight' and the Reflections' 'Just Like Romeo And Juliet'.
In Chicago, working under producer Carl Davis, he arranged such hits as Mary Wells's 'Dear Lover', the Artistics-I'm Gonna. Miss You', Barbara Acklin's 'Love Makes A Woman' (co writer additionally), and Gene Chandler's 'The Girl Don't Care'.
Sanders was one of the key backroom talents in the success of the Brunswick label during the late 60's and early 70's.
Sonny was, also, instrumental in the career of Sydney Joe Qualls, producing most of Sydneys 70's output.
In 1990, The Satintones recorded on Ian Levine's Motorcity imprint in the U.K.
The Satintones are known, not so much for their recordings, but for their early association with the famed Motown organization, and for producing future talents in the Detroit recording scene.
Sonny Sanders passed away in 2016.
The Satintones
The Satintones Sing (Motown-602 1961 unissued)
