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Don Talty

 


Don Talty was a construction engineer who took over the operation of Formal Records of Chicago in 1959.

Robert Pruter’s "Chicago Soul" notes that Talty was born on 16th August 1911 and had his own excavating business. He gave up the construction company and became a full time record producer, producing mainly rhythm and blues music, which he was keenly interested in.

His production of Willie Mabon’s “Got to have some” was released on Sue WI 320. Other acts he promoted and recorded included Jan Bradley, whose output was released on Chess, The Masquerades, Guitar Red and Chuck Colbert, then a member of a group called The Trinidads. Phil Upchurch’s “You can’t sit down” is another of his productions, which was issued on Sue WI 4005.

Talty was associated with Curtis Mayfield and arranged for Mayfield to work with Jan Bradley, notably on “Mama didn’t lie”.

Talty became a central figure in the 1960s Chicago soul music scene but his contribution seems to be somewhat overlooked. The book “Doowop: The Chicago Scene”by Robert Pruter notes that Mr Talty died in 1979.

Image: Jan Bradley and DonTalty: Soul HQ

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