What's all the Kommotion about ?

What’s all the Kommotion about? That what we are trying to determine! Sometimes 1+1 does not equal 2 but rather 3. Again, I refer to Marvin Taylor’s comment, “If you remember the 60s, you weren’t there." Wayne Logiudice was there but in a conversation with him yesterday, he indicated that some of the items we had related on the blog were out of sequence and that he did not play drums on the session that produced “Yessiree, Yessirree.’ He said it was probably Tommy South, brother of Joe South but he was not positive. We are not sure how we came to the conclusion that Wayne played the drums on the Vee Jay recording by Ray Whitley but It was incorrect.


As to “Little Black Egg”, Wayne Logiudice and the Kommotions recorded their version in Atlanta at Lefevre Studios. It was produced by WQXI deejay Pat Hughes. It was engineered by Chips Moman and was released on the Bell label. At this time, we are not sure what participation Larry Utah had in the production but his name is also associated with the session, which took place on Ellsworth Industrial Drive in Atlanta, Georgia. This may have also been the same studio where several Bang releases were also recorded. Many Bell releases came out of Chip Moman’s American Studios in Memphis so the logical conclusion that the Kommotions’ ”Little Black Egg With the Little White Speck” engineered by Chips Moman and on the Bell label was recorded in Memphis proved not to be so logical.

It was C.J. Bryant, business manager and husband of Sarah Vaughn who first got Wayne & The Kommotions an audition at Amateur Night at The Apollo theatre in December of 1965 and a three day paying gig the following week on the Jackie Wilson Percy Sledge show at Pickens Theatre in Brooklyn. Then the next week, they were back at the Apollo on the Otis Redding show whose back up band at that time (pre Bar Kays) consisted of musicians who ultimately formed the Winstons.

1966 was a year of transformation for the Kommotions . Rick Bear, the drummer was drafted, Joe South drafted Emory Gordy Jr. to Lowery Music and Master Sound and John Ivey wandered off to Europe to play for Stevie Wonder,

So if you are still wondering what all the Kommotion is about, here’s the executive summary;

A band was formed in the early 60s in Atlanta, Georgia. It had a lead singer by the name of Wayne Logiudice who could sing, dance and do most all the microphone stand tricks made popular by Joe Tex. The musicians in the band were nonpareil. (That’s French for damn good) Many of the musicians that played as the Kommotions went on to play on world stages backing and playing with such acts as the King, Stevie Wonder, The Atlanta Rhythm Section and who knows whom else. This unique and talented band has remained under the radar screen long enough. Hopefully we can continue to update and add to the story that we tentatively title.” Lost Soul: The Story of Wayne Logiudice and The Kommotions.’ Wayne has promised photos so let’s hope that comes to fruition.

Here's a story too good not to pass on: During the first trip to New York, the band was parked outside Carnegie Hall with C.J Bryant. A man with longer hair and a ponytail stood alone outside on the sidewalk. "Hey, I know that guy, he's from Atlanta", Rick Bear remarked according to Wayne.
But he was not from Atlanta, he was from Wales, it was Tom Jones.