Welcome to Soul Sundays, today's selection is "Double Dutch Bus" By Frankie Smith. I never realized this song was behind a big scandal. Here, is a history lesson in the small role that Frankie Smith played in uncoveringthe “Yuppie Conspiracy” (dubbed as such by Federal authorities) ran by the LarryLavin scandal West Philly dentist and $5M/175 lbs.-of-cocaine-per-month.From1978-1984, Larry Lavin masterminded his huge cocaine-distribution ring whichincluded 3 graduates of UPenn dental, two lawyers, four stockbrokers, an airplanepilot, a high school English teacher, an elementary school principal, record companyexecutives, accountants, a New Jersey state auditor, a psychologist, a registerednurse, and a variety of businessmen. Now, for the Double Dutch Connection: While still in dental school, Lavin was rakingin millions of dollars and needed outlets to dump this money in without arousingsuspicion. One such investment, proposed through friend and co-conspirator MarkStewart, was WMOT-TEC Records (which was situated in the Wellington Building on 19thSt., right off Rittenhouse Square). WMOT-TEC, which had distribution through CBSRecords, released Frankie Smith’s “Double Dutch Bus” in 1981; upon release, thetrack’s popularity grew steadily on the Billboard soul charts. In his 2000 bookDoctor Dealer. Mark Bowden writes, “Months later, Larry found out that Mark hadincurred fabulous expenses in L.A., mostly in rental costs… not the least of whichwas leasing himself a new Ferrari… CBS meanwhile, reporting substantial sales from‘Double Dutch Bus,’ was charging so much for pressings, promotion, and distributionthat the net profit on sales, Larry’s one source of return on all these investments,was close to zero.” Frankie Smith was owed about $30,000 in royalties, and he sanghis complaints like a canary. Frankie Smith reported Lavin to the IRS, which setLavin’s ultimate fate, you will pardon the pun, snowballing.While Frankie Smith wasn’t getting paid, Stewart was enjoying the high life. OnSeptember 4, 1986, Lavin pled guilty to operating a continuing criminal enterprise,conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, tax evasion, and other charges andwas sentenced to consecutive prisons terms totaling to 42 years. According to hisWikipedia page, Frankie Smith “is currently working as a delivery driver for ACReproductions in Philadelphia, PA.” We can assume he never got and continues to notreceive his royalties. Sorry Frankie that you never made a penny off this song. Dr.Larry Lavin took all the profits off this song and became the biggest coke dealer inPhilly. Damn this track is still hot. White hot. HAHA. This song always played atparties I went to and The one line that stuck with me was Give me a Ho if you gotyour funky bus Fare. And everyone at that party always shouted HO, HO. That songwas a jam & always had everyone on their feet. Hope you like my selection, Thanksfor Tooning in!
Mrs.Toons
