Fortune Records
  "The Great Lost Label of Detroit"


"Fortune Records is the great secret record company in the history of Detroit rock 'n' roll"
Cub Koda

Fortune Records was an American family operated, independent record label located in Detroit, Michigan from 1946 to 1995. Fortune and had three subsidiary labels Hi-Q, Strate-8 and Rekown Records. The owners were  Jack (Jacob)  and Devora Brown. The label was a family affair, as Devora wrote many of the songs that appeared on the label and Jack recorded the songs. The company seemed to be operated as a hobby label for many years and was more active in some periods than others. Fortune specialized in R&B, blues, soul and doo-wop music, although the label also released pop, big band, hillbilly, gospel, rock 'n' roll, and polka records. The Browns recorded John Lee Hooker, Andre Williams, Eddie Kirkland, Dr. Ross, the Davis Sisters, Kenny Burrell, the 5 Dollars, Nathaniel Mayer, Skeets MacDonald, Johnny Powers and many others but the most successful act for Fortune was Nolan Strong and the Diablos.

Not much is known personally about Jack and Devora Brown other than she was an aspiring songwriter/lyrist and Jack, after receiving an accounting degree from Wayne University now known as Wayne State University became an accountant. Both were born about 1910, they lived at the Jewish 12th Street Community with a home at 11829 12th Street now known as Rosa Parks Boulevard. They had two children Sheldon who died in July 6, 2016 and Janice who died of cancer in 1981.

The Fortune Record story really begins with composer-lyricist, Devora Brown, who in the early 1940's, had written and published (in sheet music) many of her early songs, long before Rock 'N Roll blossomed in the mid 1950's. Originally from Cleveland Devora had first met Jack on a blind date, they would later marry. An aspiring songwriter and accomplished pianist Devora was looking to to have her songs published. The Browns would make several unsuccessful trips to Manhattan trying to break into Tin Pan Alley. Failing to find interest there they decided to establish their own record company with the main purpose to record Devora's songs. Jack always said that they could make a fortune with Devora's songs so they named the company Fortune Records. The Brown's with Devora's brother had also previously formed a publishing company called TRIanon Publications in 1943. Then with a $300 investment n the fall of 1946, Fortune Records was established. rn.

After a few trial and errors Jack hired Artie Fields's sixteen piece orchestra, rented studio time at Vogue Studios, and recorded  Jane (Sweet As A Summer Rain) and Texas Tess Down Mexico Way with Canadian singers Dorothy Deane and Russ Titus. rk Tin Pan Alley publishers. Then with a $300 investment they founded record company in the fall of 1947. Jack always said that they could make a fortune from Devora's songs so the record company was called Fortune Records. The publishing company founded in 1943 consisted of Jack, Devora and Devora's brother thus it was called TRIanon Publications. Brown's put it out themselves as Fortune 101. Jane (Sweet As A Summer Rain) and Texas Tess Down Mexico Way was the label's first  success.

Finding pop records too expensive to record they shifted to blues and country, recording out of their home on 11839 Twelfth Street. In 1951 they'd move to 11629 Linwood across the street from Detroit's Central High School. It had a office in the front with the recording studio in the back. The first songs were recorded on a Magnacord tape recorder. In 1953 they bought a Ampex 350 which was used to record the masters until the early 60s.

The Brown's moved the label here from 11629 Linwood Avenue to 3952 Second Street in the fall of 1956. Like the Linwood location, Fortune's new base of operations featured a  record shop in the front and a studio in back The shop was called the Hi-Q Record Mart and had it's own in house subsidiary label of the same name.Fortune would remain here until 1998. The building was demolished by a subsequent owner in late 2001, despite a last ditch effort to save it.

Thee Davis Sisters - Mary Pernick and Mary Davis.  Pernick would become known as Skeeter Davis

Their first record, Fortune 101) was Jane (Sweet as Summer Rain) by Russ Titus. It was a hit in Detroit. The elusive national hit record came in 1952 with "Jealous Love" by the Davis Sisters (Skeeter and the late Betty Jack Davis), and two years later "Adios My Desert Love" and "The Wind" by the Diablos. "The Wind" was a triumph in Black vocal group harmony. It featured the exquisite yet eerie vocalizing by Nolan Strong. With the help of these two classic hits, Fortune was firmly on it's feet. Jack Brown also ran the Hi-Q Record Mart, a one-stop record wholesale store at 3137 Woodward Avenue a few blocks from the studio.

John Lee Hooker

Five Dollars

(L-R) James Drayton, Lonnie Herd, Charles Evans, Eddie Hart and Andre Williams
Photo courtesy Cap Wortman Collection

The business.was progressing quite well by the mid 50's, but dissention had invaded the ranks on quiet Linwood Avenue. The neighbors didn't exactly share their enthusiasm for the music they were recording. They called it loud noise, but the Brown's called it beautiful. Jack and Devora sought a more suitable location for their business.

Fortune building at 3942 Third Street
Photo courtesy Charles Auringer

A 18 x 40 studio in back saved on recording costs and consisted of a few microphones and an upright piano. The control room was very small with a makeshift audio mixer and on Ampex 350. full track tape machine. Furthermore, the studio in the back saved on session costs, although some artists, not too surprisingly, continued to record at United Sound so in the Fall of '56 they moved the Fortune Headquarters to a  location on Third Avenue. Their son Sheldon purchased the sound equipment, an Ampex 350 recorder on which most of their oldies were recorded. Devora remembers: "The first recording that was made there was that of our then teenage daughter, Janice. She had composed and artfully played a classic composition of hers on our mellow sounding old upright piano Andre Williams great hit 'Bacon Fat'.  

     Nolan Strong and the Diablos

(L to R) Juan Guiterrez, Willie Hunter, Quentin Eubanks, Nolan Strong and Bob "Chico" Edwards
Photo Courtesy Cap Wortman

Members:
     Nolan Strong - Lead
     Willie Hunter - baritone
     Quentin Eubanks - bass replaced by George Scott replaced by Jay Johnson
     Juan Guttieriez - tenor - Jimmy Strong (Nolan's younger brother)
     Bob "Chico" Edwards - guitarist

In late 1953 Nolan Strong with his group came to the Linwood studio to record a demo. They were all classmates at  Detroit Central High School which was across the street from the studio.  In the back of the building was a studio where they sang one their favorite Dominoes tunes. Mrs. Brown was mostly impressed, especially with Strong's angelic tones. Nolan explained to Brown that they had no money to pay for the session, it didn't matter.

The group took their name from a book Nolan was reading El Nino Diablo. The Diablos were signed to an exclusive contract with Fortune in February, 1954

The group's first single was Adios, My Summer Love/I Want An Old Fashioned Girl. Both written by Devora were released April 24, 1954. The record was good seller and local hit. In the summer of 1954 the group recorded The Wind. The song was inspired during a drive on Detroit's Belle Isle a Detroit Island Park.

The Diablos first step up to big time was when the appeared at the Flame Show bar, a black and tan club in Detroit.. Next the Diablos appeared three weeks at Detroit's Madison Ballroom. In January they did a week at the Garden Theater.

Their next release was  Route 16/Hold Me Until Eternity. In the Spring, 1955 they went from  ballad/jump pairing to two rockers  Daddy Rockin' Strong/Do You Remember What You Did. In 1955 they were part of  Chicago R&B revue hosted by disc jockey Al Benson. In August they had their third hit The Way You Dog Me Around/Jump, Shake And Move

"Nolan Strong is the effective lead singer in the R&B ballad. Midway there's a deep voiced recitation a la the old Ink Spots."
Billboard Magazine

Next came a ballad The Way You Dog Me Around that led to a Ohio and Pennsylvania tour. The record went to number one in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville R&B charts.

Andre Williams

When Strong was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1956 he turned the Diablos over to Andre Williams. Williams wasn't Nolan's first choice, as he strongly considered asking Smoky Robinson. During Strong's absence the Diablo's lineup was constantly changing. Strong  was honorably discharged charged 1958 and rejoined the Diablos in the end of the year. It was during this time that Nolan began heavy drinking and developed a strong dependence on pills. The result was no Diablo releases between1960 and 1962.

Despite the alcohol and drug problem, Fortune's lack of promotion, and competition from local artists, his new single Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine) went to number one in Detroit. Attempts by Devora to promote the song nationally in cities like New York where DJ copies were sent out. Payola was still on at that time  DJs were paid, but not the right ones.

1964 Lee Allan

The Browns did get the Diablos booked wildly popular Detroit DJ Lee Alan Walled Lake Casino dance. In getting Nolan booked the Browns thought they had hit the jackpot. The only problem was Nolan never showed up. This incident stands as the worst mistake of Strong's career from which he never recovered

Velvet Angels

R-L: Bobby Calhoun, Cy Iverson, Jay Johnson, Willie Hunter

The early 60s had been a frustrating time for the Diablos. The Browns seemed to more interested in spotlighting Strong than promoting the group, while Strong was losing interest in his musical career. That's when Jay Johnson and Willie Hunter decided to form their own group. They went out and got Bobby Calhoun of the Five Dollars and Pershing High School classmate Cy Iverson and formed the Velvet Angels. Strong would join the Velvet Angels but never become an official member.

Strong continued to record but the releases became fewer and fewer. Strong stopped coming to Fortune in 68 or 69, but returned in 1972 to record a demo Wild About My Baby. That year he also appeared at the 7th Nostalgic Rock and Roll Record Revival Show starring Johnny Maestro and the Crest, the Schoolboys, the Turbans, the Shangri-Las, the Ronettes, the Moonglows, the Mystics, the Students, Buddy Knox, The Tokens and The Diamonds. MCed by disc jockey Gus Gossert the show was held at the Academy Of Music in Manhattan. Despite the stellar line-up, Gossert surmised something was missing the Diablos. After much negotiating with the Browns a deal was signed. When the show began there was only Nolan and one Diablo.

Nolan Strong passed away February 27,1977, official cause of death fatty liver.

Royal Jokers/Seranaders

(L-R) Willie Jones, Norman Thrasher, Ted Green,Thearon Hill, Noah Powell

1954 Members:
     Noah Powell - baritone/bass
     Norman Thrasher - baritone replaced by Billy Lyons
     Ike Reese - bass replaced by Ted Green
     Henry Booth - tenor - replaced by Thearon Hill -replaced by Willie Jones

Originally the Seranaders; the Royal Jokers first came together when they were attending Garfield Intermediate School. "polishing  their harmonies at their favorite hangout, the Forest Bowling Alley, they were soon attending Northeastern High School. Booth would leave the group and was replaced by Thearon Hill.

In early 1952. the Seranaders recorded a remake of Lonnie Johnson's Last Night. on the J-V-B  label. They release a number of other tunes on a variety of other labels under a number of different names. It was at the Flame Show Bar where Al Green first heard them with their new lineup. Impressed Green became their manager. The Jokers recorded three singles on Atlantic Records Taco subsidiary.

Mickey Shorr

In January, 1956  they played WJBK disc jockey Mickey Shorr's   rock 'n' roll show at the Fox Theater.In 1957 the Jokers recorded their first Fortune record a remake of September In The Rain followed in April by Sweet Little Angel. The group's last release  in 1966 on Wingate Records was Love Game (From A to Zee).

By the end of the 60s things were getting tougher in Detroit with the 1967 riots.While many were moving out of Detroit the Brown's moved from their house on Lawrence two miles to Palmer Park just north of Highland Park. Fortune sputtered to it's end with its last release in 1972. On March 8, 1973, the Browns were crossing a street when when both were hit by a car. Jack would remain partially crippled for the rest of his life and would die in his apartment of  infection complications April 7 1980. Devora spent her last years in a nursing home passing away January 1, 1996.

Fortune sputter through the decades getting closer to closing but never quite doing so. Finally after one too many break-ins Fortune closed. Devora sold and vacated the building in 1996. It stood empty until it was demolished prior to Devil's Night October 27 2001.

Sheldon Brown 1998

The Diablos

The Velvet Angels

The Five Dollars

Andre Williams

Fortune Records Discography