The second person that I jointly dedicate my song today is the father of my Facebook friend, Kitty Hite, from California. Kitty’s father is called Edie and today he celebrates his 90th birthday. Have a happy birthday, Edie. I don't know what you've been doing to reach this grand old age, but whatever it is, keep doing it!
My song today is ‘When Will I See You Again’. ‘When Will I See You Again’ was released in 1974 by the American soul group, ‘The Three Degrees’, from their third album ‘The Three Degrees’. The song was written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The strings were arranged by Belford ‘Sinky’ Hendricks, who also arranged songs for many top-flight groups and recording artists. Sheila Ferguson sang the lead, accompanied by Fayette Pinkney and Valerie Holiday. Billboard named the song Number 67 on their list of ‘100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time’.
Sheila Ferguson recalled that "the song was played to me by Kenny Gamble at the piano in 1973 and I threw a tantrum. I screamed and yelled and said I would never sing it. I thought it was ridiculously insulting to be given such a simple song and that it took no talent to sing it. We did do it and several million copies later, I realized that he knew more than me." She would later have a Number 60 hit with a solo remake of the track in 1994.
‘The Three Degrees’ performed the song at Prince Charles' 30th birthday party at Buckingham Palace in 1978. They were always a favourite of Prince Charles, especially the lead singer, Sheila Ferguson, with whom the ‘closest of bonds’ was formed. ‘The Three Degrees’ appeared for Prince Charles 30th birthday, during which Prince Charles and Sheila Ferguson danced together. It was reported in the ‘Daily Express’ a few days ago (March 16th, 2020) that Sheila Ferguson quoted, “My association with Prince Charles more than 40 years ago still sours my love life today.”
Sheila and the royal Prince started corresponding by letters regularly after his birthday bash of 1978. The divorced Philadelphian-born singer who is now aged 72 years, told the ‘Daily Express’ that she has tried numerous dating sites on the internet and the most common response she receives back is “I can’t date you-you’re Prince Charles’s favourite’. Sheila Ferguson said, “Men don’t want to take on this baggage!” The lead singer also went on to tell the Daily Express reporter that she will end the speculation and reveal all about her relationship with Prince Charles in a forthcoming biography ‘when the time is right’.
I'd wager that poor Camilla cannot wait to learn about her husband’s dark and murky secrets, especially as Prince Charles was seemingly cheating with Camilla and Sheila Ferguson while he was courting Diana, two years before he and Diana wed in 1981 when he was 32 years old. It all goes on whether it’s upstairs or downstairs, doesn’t it?
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When I was a romantic teenager, I would fall in love with every young woman I dated. Although I'd only stay in love with them for about a month maximum, as soon as I changed them for another young woman, the 'falling in love' process would start all over again.
I wanted to travel to America at the age of 21, to see the wondrous sights on offer and 'the entrance to the Grand Canyon' before I married and settled down to a life of domesticity. Having been awarded a sizable sum in compensation for a traffic accident I incurred at the age of 11 years, I knew that when I attained the age of majority (21), I'd have the financial means to do so.
In the early 1960s, young men and women would usually be married by the age of 21 years and be expected to parent their second child before they were 24 years old. I'd no intention of following this national trend and vowed that I'd be walking down no church aisle with my bride before I was 30. I'd simply too much wander lust to kick off my feet.
Consequently, an ideal dating partner for me would be different to the usual young woman on the dating scene. I wanted a young woman who was beautiful in look, confident in mannerism, wild in nature and someone who believed that life was meant for having fun, not having babies; and not forgetting that they must be a good dancer!
What I didn't want was a young woman, eager to become a wife and mother, who after three dates would immediately rush off to the nearest tattoo artist to get the statement, 'SOON TO BE MARRIED' emblazoned across her forehead.
Between the ages of 18-21, I found my mind and my body in a continuous confrontation in a war of mind over matter. Whether it was my brain or balls that won the inevitable battle to the death, I knew that one way or another (realistically or symbolically) I'd gain entrance to the Grand Canyon. So, for the most part, heavy petting, lots of dancing and changing partners every month of the year seemed to be the easiest answer to my dilemma of remaining single beyond the age of 21 years; free to travel abroad.
Yet, I must confess that each time I dated a beautiful young woman for the first time, the only thought that preoccupied my working days and sleeping hours for the following week was, 'When will I see you again'.
Love and peace Bill xxxx