"Helena Marker, Where Are You?"

This webpage is in memory of the late Tommy Bankhead and also (presumably alive) Helena Marker who brought Tommy Bankhead into Premier Film & Recording in 1982 to capture him and his band with the few dollars her late father had left her. Then she disappeared off the face of the Earth [possibly to Brooklyn]. As executive producer of Hot Dam Productions, she called me to ask "Could you record him?" ["Yes, of course"]. "Then meet me and Tommy at Miss B's Lounge on Vandeventer in an hour."

Miss B's meeting. Chemistry good, polite and focused. We drank gin straight up and scheduled a recording date for Premier's sound stage.

Premier. To my surprise Tommy and the Blues Eldorados lay down 80% of the tracks in one take. We finish on time, on budget. Consumate professionals.

Years later.To my knowledge, no one is still alive except Tommy's son, whom I met at his home a few weeks later while delivering Tommy his newly pressed records. To Ms. Marker, wherever she is, today I would say, "Maybe if we find more money we can release the "Live From The Soundstage" sessions with the other tracks", now just a 16 track 2-inch master. Although Premier is gone, several songs still wait to be released. [Hint: "Helena, where are you?"]

The 45's Two versions of the 45 (with "Making Love Is Good For You" and "Is You Ever Seen A One-Eyed Woman Cry?") have been released from these recording sessions, first as a monaural pressing and second, remastered in stereo [Prem. 7-19220]. The original mono version had liner notes with credits in blue ink.

That still leaves 5 unreleased titles. A possible "Live From The Soundstage" album has been discussed but awaits funding.