Grand Rapids Native And University of Michigan Graduate Makes Obscure Record In 1972

[Ben Zonia]

David Cole Idema made records which referenced Michigan road signs. One of his first bands was The Fredric, from a sign on I-75 near Gaylord.

Then he did this song from an exit on I-75 in Northern Oakland County, Exit 98. It was HB on several Michigan radio stations in 1972.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ8GNWw ... rA&index=1

Later he travelled on a road called Geddes Road in Washtenaw County on his way commuting to Law School in Detroit. He then made Geddes his stage name, David Geddes. His hit "Run Joey Run" hit #1 on Cash Box and #4 Hot 100 in 1975.

[matt1]

David Geddes was born in Ann Arbor, MI on July 1, 1950. The song went to # 116 (Cashbox) on Buddah Records in May of 1972. Producer Ralph Murphy also produced April Wine "On Record" (which was self - titled album when it was released on Big Tree Records in October of 1972 & a different cover) their 2nd album which has the song "You Could Have Been A Lady" (went to # 32 in May of 1972 on Billboard Hot 100) & the remake of Elton John "Bad Side Of The Moon" (went to # 106 on Billboard Bubbling Under in July 1972). Also former rock station WWCK (105.5 FM) in Flint played "You Could Have Been A Lady" as the first U.S. station to play that song & correct me if I'm wrong?? David Geddes did another song called "The Last Game Of The Season (A Blind Man In The Bleachers)" that went to # 18 on Billboard Hot 100 & # 42 (Billboard Adult Contemporary) in December of 1975 but that was it. The David Geddes album did NOT charted in Billboard Top 200 Album Charts in 1975.

[matt1]

Rare 1975 music video for "Run Joey Run": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT2LGv- ... l=Kaceukin

[matt1]

The "Glee" cast did the remake of "Run Joey Run" back in May 22, 2010 that went to # 61 (1 week on Billboard Hot 100 Charts) (featuring Lea Michele) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af6EiX5 ... rformances

[matt1]

"Run Joey Run" went to # 4 on October 4, 1975 on Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

[matt1]

The late Dick Clark "American Bandstand" interview with David Geddes (late 1975 or early 1976) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCPwUF4 ... howNetwork

[Ben Zonia]

While it IS possible that he was born in Ann Arbor, like an extreme MSU fan I know, whose father was going to UM when she was born, David's roots are in Grand Rapids. Idema is a Dutch surname, possibly shortened from Zuidema or something similar. DJs pronounced his name like "edema", which is probably another reason for changing it.

http://www.surnameweb.org/Idema/surname-origin.htm

Bob Seger is sometimes reported to have been born in Ann Arbor, but he was actually born in Dearborn, where his father worked for Ford. Bob graduated from what is now Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, in the Class of 1963, in the same class as Radio Archivist Art Vuolo.

[Ben Zonia]

About the Fredric.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/1631433-The-Fredric

The writer and producer of "House on Holly Road", Ralph Murphy, indeed produced and wrote for April Wine, and according to a lecture found online, spent time in Detroit. He may have seen the sign traveling up to WWCK Rock 105 on I-75, as it was along the way, and was preceded by "Could Have Been A Lady".

While there are charts on line showing airplay at WFDF and WTAC, there are none showing "Could Have Been A Lady" on WWCK. Maybe WWCK Music Director at the time, Bill Pierson, is hoarding them?

[matt1]

This is the B 45 side "Dream Weaver" (NOT the 1975 Gary Wright song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUoXurG ... %27sBSides