Tahoe Onstage photo by Kurt Johnson
It’s been a long and winding road for the Spinners, from the doo-wop days in Detroit to the lush seductive sound of Philly soul to a returning march on Motown. That road leads to the Carson Valley Inn on July 8, when the Spinners will perform in TJ’s Corral.
It is the third band announced for the summer outdoor series. Wynonna and the Big Noise opens the series on April 29. Marshall Tucker plays July 28.
The legendary group, which transformed doo-wop into R&B and soul, began in 1954, but took the name, the Spinners in 1961. Members came up with the handle because of Detroit hubcaps, not spinning vinyl.
Lead singer Bobby Smith died on March 16, 2013, leaving just one original member, Henry Fambrough. The modern-day spinners include Charlton Washington, Jessie Peck, Marvin Taylor and the newest member, Ronnie Moss.
Here’s a list of some of the Spinners’ greatest hits: “Rubberband Man,” “One of a Kind (Love Affair) ,” “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” “It’s a Shame,” “Ghetto Child,” “Mighty Love,” “Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl,” “I Don’t Want to Lose You,” Sadie,” “I’ll Always Love You,” “So Far Away,” “Then Came You,” “I Love the Music,” “I Just Want to Be With You,” “Games People Play,” and “Cupid.”
Tahoe Onstage photographer Kurt Johnson attended the Spinners’ show at Lake Tahoe in 2014.
“I must say it was a challenge trying to get these photos of the Spinners in focus while they were doing all of these dance moves,” Johnson said. “The Spinners haven’t missed a step. It was very nostalgic to see and hear them. It was an older crowd but that didn’t stop them from dancing in the aisles. I was bumped to so many times I felt like I was in a mosh pit.”
