Artist:Shorty Long
Song:Here Comes the Judge
Album:Here Comes...Shorty Long: The Complete Motown Stereo Masters
Here Comes the Judge was a top ten hit in 1968. It was the only big hit for Frederick "Shorty" Long after recording for Motown for a few years. It was unusual because Motown rarely produced novelty records. This song was based on a popular comedy routine. Long was born May 20, 1940 in Birmingham, AL. The Shorty nickname was because Long was five feet tall. Long learned to play various instruments and he sang. So he played local clubs until he moved to Detroit in 1959. Former The Moonglows leader Harvey Fuqua heard him. After Long recorded a couple of singles for Fuqua's Tri-Phi label, Fuqua sold out to Berry Gordy and joined Motown as an executive. Fuqua was married to Gordy's sister Gwen. Long came with him. He recorded for the Soul label. Long began releasing singles in 1964. But he had little success until Here Comes the Judge reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. Long wrote the song with Motown employees Billie Jean Brown and Suzanne DePasse. It was based on a comedy routine by Pigmeat Markham popularized on Rowan & Martin's Laugh In and The Flip Wilson Show. Long recorded an album which he produced himself. Other than Smokey Robinson, he was the only Motown artist allowed to produce himself. Sadly, Long and friend Oscar Williams died in a boating accident on the Detroit River on June 29, 1969. Long was 29 years old. Stevie Wonder played harmonica at his funeral and then placed it on his casket. Motown released the album The Prime of Shorty Long after his death. This Kent Records comp has all of Long's recordings. Check him out because he was pretty funky. Here's a video for Here Comes the Judge by Shorty Long.
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