The Dealers: Then and Now (Official Press Release)

7/21/2013

(CLARKSVILLE, TN)---On July 19, 2013, Award-Winning Tennessee Journalist A.J. Dugger published his first book titled, "The Dealers: Then and Now." The book tells the true story about the popular funk & pop band from Memphis, TN, who regularly performed with music legends throughout The United States and Canada.

Here is the description on the back cover:

"They shared the stage with Kool and The Gang, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Pointer Sisters, Ray Charles, Teddy Pendergrass, The Eagles, Eddie Kendricks, The Supremes, Jerry Lee Lewis and other music legends. They recorded an album for CBS Records in 1985. They were label-mates with Michael Jackson. But why aren't they household names? Journalist A.J. Dugger tells the explosive story of this popular band from Memphis, Tennessee.

Brothers Stanley and Elton Johnson fell in love with music at a young age. Together with their younger sister, Meeky, their cousin Darrell Hunter and close friends Ricky Townes, Kenneth "B.C." Blackwell and George "Pieface" Wilburn, they became The Dealers, a Memphis funk band whose popularity soared outside of Tennessee to places such as New York and Canada. During the 1970s and '80s, The Dealers often shared the stage with many of the music legends they idolized.

But just as they touched the brink of worldwide fame, something happened... dreams were shattered, friendships were tested, and harsh lessons were learned. Personal rivalries and outside influences threatened to tear The Dealers apart forever. But the music never stopped. Through all the triumphs and tragedies, The Dealers never lost the beat."

Dugger's mother, Meeky, was the band's original lead singer. As a result, he spent a lot of time on the road with his mother and uncles as a young boy. "The Dealers have a gripping story," said Dugger. "In addition to having a candid view of their lives, you get to see how the record industry really worked back in those days. You'll also become a witness to music history and discover new details about many of the other performers they recorded or performed with, including Alabama, Marvin Gaye, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles and many others."

Dugger is available for interviews and appearances. For booking presentations, media appearances, interviews, and/or book-signings contact aj_dugger@yahoo.com or visit ajdugger.com. For more information on The Dealers, visit facebook.com/dealersband. You can preview two of their hit songs at the following links.

The Dealers: Then and Now Special

"The Dealers: Then and Now" is currently available on Paperback and Kindle!!

CLICK HERE FOR A FREE EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK!!

13 Comments

Roxanne

7/22/2013 11:31:31 am

GREAT BOOK!!!! In fact this is the best book I've read in a long time. The Dealers went through a lot of things both good and bad and throughout the book you run into their affiliations with so many other big music names like Jeffrey Osbourne, Chico Debarge and the like. It only took me a few days to read the book. It was so interesting and AJ has a way of painting pictures with his words. It was like I was there watching this stuff happen.

This book made me laugh a lot and it made me almost cry at several parts. The Dealers had great music. I love listening to their stuff but their story is phenomenal. I hope AJ writes another book.

A.J. Dugger III link

7/22/2013 04:20:40 pm

Thanks Roxanne. This is a story that was itching to be told and since I'm the journalist in the family, I feel that God tapped me to do it.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. My dad read the entire book in one day. He couldn't put it down. Thanks again for the review. Can you post one on the book's Amazon page? Thanks!!

MEMPHIS MUSIC

7/22/2013 12:15:59 pm

I grew up watching the Dealers. You just KNEW they were gonna make it real big. They certainly had the talent to go real far. Elton Johnson was a one of a kind type of dancer. You couldn't take your eyes off him and Meeky and Darrell could sing their asses off. I forgot about the skits they used to do on stage. This book brought back a LOT of memories. I saw them live on many occasions and always had a great time.

When I was reading the book I looked up some of the songs mentioned and on youtube I found "Counting on you" and "Bad breath" both songs are bumpin and would have been surefire hits! Does anyone know if their album will be rereleased? I have not heard it in years.

I finished the book today and now a lot of my questions were answered. I wondered why the Dealers didn't take off the way they should have. They were the biggest band in Memphis for the longest and then they kinda faded. I always wondered why but now I know. This is a great story and a good read. Strongly recommended.

A.J. Dugger link

12/10/2016 05:35:44 pm

Thanks for the feedback!! :) I'm not sure if their 1985 album will be re-released but it's possible. I'll check into that for you. But what I DO know is that they're working on a comeback album right now. Stay tuned!

Rock

7/22/2013 02:05:58 pm

LEGENDS!!!!!

Mark Sorbitol

7/22/2013 05:03:59 pm

Someone needs to call Hollywood and make a film out of this book. Someone mentioned in an earlier post that AJ Dugger creates scenes with his words and that is absolutely true. I normally get bored with books but not this one. It flowed so well and you never know whats gonna happen next. This book needs to be adapted into a motion picture.

7/23/2013 10:35:08 am

A movie would be the bizzness. Who would play Elton? Chris Tucker maybe? Holly Robinson-Pete needs to play Meeky because they look JUST ALIKE!! I ain't jokin. I'd like to see a movie based on this book as well. We need to push for that.

Jessica

7/23/2013 10:40:26 am

I haven't finished it yet so please don't spoil anything for me but I'm absolutely loving it so far. I'm on chapter 9, "You need to eat. You too skinny!" lol. There are funny chapter titles. I love Elton Johnson so far. I hope AJ Dugger can write a book about my life and make it this interesting.

Pametra Dugger link

7/22/2013 05:33:40 pm

This is a great book ..very interesting. .I love it..great job AJ Dugger! !!!!

Shawty

7/24/2013 08:14:44 am

I'm still reading it myself and I have to agree that it's a hard book to put down. Those cliff hangers at the end of each chapter leave you thirsty for more! You just can't prepare for the things that happen to these guys next. Great writing by AJ Dugger. Such a story.

I'd like to see a movie of this book too. Based off the character descriptions, I'd like to see a cast like this.

Michael Beach as Stanley
Chris Tucker or Bernie Mac as Elton
Holly Robinson Pete as Meeky
Charles Malik Whitfield as Pieface
Cuba Gooding Jr or Eddie Murphy as Darrell
Flex Alexander as Durrell

I don't know the Dealers personally but this is who I could imagine playing these roles. But I have to give credit..this book was worth every penny and I recommened it to err' body.

7/24/2013 02:39:36 pm

Man oh Man oh Man. I finished the book tonight and wow. Just wow. No words really do it. Everyone buy this book. Just when you think things won't become more chaotic they do. There was one event that shook up everyone in the story and had me tearing up. AJ's powerful words made it really hit home. I'm not going to spoil anything but people, you gotta buy this book!! It will keep your attention and before you know it you're finished with it.

Funk Man

8/8/2013 09:46:26 am

Such a great collection of stories. It's hard to pick a favorite but the one about Elton knocking everyone out with the flag pole stands out. lol. Wish I could have met him. I saw the Dealers perform many years ago. They were one of the best entertainment groups EVER! You knew they were going places. Nice to see them brought back to life in this book. They more than deserve it. And the author, AJ, had a front row seat and was the perfect storyteller for this book.
Great book and I HIGHLY recommend it.

-Lester

Eric

8/26/2013 03:52:16 pm

I had never heard of the Dealers. In fact I only heard of this book when the author talked it up on a forum site I frequent. When he said they were on the same record label as MICHAEL JACKSON at the height of his fame, I became intrigued. When he mentioned the names of other musicians they opened for like Larry Graham, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, The Supremes, Ray Charles and all those others, I got curious. I then listened to some of their tracks on youtube and omg I was hooked! Those damn tracks were tight and most of them should have been number ones!!

So I bought the book and it was a great story. It's centered around the Johnson siblings, Stanley, Elton and Meeky. They had a rough upbringing with a single mom and music was their escape. Their cousin Darrell joins them and eventually others are recruited and they become a really popular band that found themselves touring the country and opening for many of their music idols.

The Dealers had their share of success and heartache. You really feel for these characters. The ones who touched me the most were Stanley and Elton, the Johnson brothers. Stanley was the level headed one that started the band and did his damnest to keep everything together. He was a perfectionist and a terrific songwriter, musician and producer. If the Dealers had made it big, he would have been another Quincy Jones. This is not a light statement. Listen to the Dealers' songs and you'll see what I'm talking about. Stanley was a genius writer and producer with a distinctive sound.

The heart of the story is Elton. When the book begins, he's locking his siblings out of the house and pulling pranks on them. He was the one that kept everyone laughing throughout the years, even beating people with flag poles and scaring his pregnant wife with a scary mask in the dark. (I'm serious. Those things really happened).

By the end of the book, he's dead and you'll witness everyone (especially Stanley) grieving and attempting to move on. The love between the characters is something that you FEEL as you read this.

Needless to say, I'm now a fan of the book's writer (a reporter named AJ Dugger, whose mother was in the band) and The Dealers themselves. I await AJ's next book and look forward to hearing from The Dealers in the future.

Do yourself a favor and buy this book! It's a great read and a story that touches you. The Dealers are a talented family.

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