History
The History of LPM Productions
How LPM Productions Got Started
LPM Productions started in the year 1972 on the Southside of Chicago in a neighborhood known as “South Chicago” on a
street called “Burley Avenue.” The organization was originally started by Charles Lewis and a group of kids from the
neighborhood. The original members of LPM Productions were also members of the neighborhood community organization
called “SCOPE” (South Chicago Organized for Peoples Efforts). SCOPE was the place (community center) where all
young people went to after school and on Saturday mornings.
In the spring of 1972 “J.N. Thorp,” the local elementary school in the neighborhood, opened its doors
to the SCOPE organization and allowed it to run an afterschool program inside the school. Each day
after school the members of SCOPE would stay at the school to participate in afterschool activities.
Some of the students went to the gym and some of them went to the school’s auditorium. Charles
Lewis, (a musician) who was also a member of SCOPE started a little singing ensemble in the school’s
auditorium. Charles would gather the kids around the piano and started teaching them little simple
songs, just to get them started singing. Like any other project, Charles noticed that some of the kids
were interested in the singing and some (most of them) were not. Charles carefully watched to see
which kids were really interested in singing. After a few weeks Charles asked the interested kids did they want to go a little
further with their singing. He expressed to them that they could learn songs and start performing at neighbor events such
as, talent shows, church events, outdoor events and various activities in the schools. Some of the kids that could sing a
little, expressed that they were interested in going further.
Charles started rehearsing the kids day and night, they rehearsed during SCOPE's normal business
hours and even after the center closed. As part of the documented history it must be noted that in
the beginning Charles had to use a little psychology on the kids to get them to come to rehearsals. It
was mainly the girls who needed a little push. Even though the girls agreed to learn how to sing,
their real interest was in “dancing.” Sometime Charles would come to the playground to pick up the
girls for rehearsal . . . and they would ask Charles, “are we going to rehearse on singing or
dancing?” Naturally Charles would say, “we’re going to SCOPE to practice dancing.” As soon as he
would get them SCOPE, he would let them practice dancing for a few minutes, then he would pull
the “sheet music” out.
Creating Individual Vocal Groups
After weeks of rehearsing songs as a large ensemble, it became time to break the kids up into separate vocal groups.
Charles begin to separate the kids into groups, based on their singing abilities, those that were close friends with each
other, those who worked well together and those who were similar in physical appearance. The separation process was a
joint effort between Charles and the kids. There was much discussion, a little arguing, and some voting. Finally, the groups
were formed and they all came up with individual names. The band however, did not really have a name. The first group
out of the ensemble was a group of six boys, four of the members formed a vocal group called, “The Movements.” The
other two boys became musicians and played with the band. The girl groups came up with names like, The Sylvetts, The
Love Lites, The Dianetts and The Illusions. Now, at this point LPM Productions had five vocal groups and a band with
no name.
Some Positive Attributes Within LPM Productions
From the very beginning “LPM” had some positive attributes that existed within the organization. For example, there were
four sisters, the “Johnson sisters” (Diane, Bonnie, Bay-Bay and Noonie) that had already dance professionally prior to
joining LPM Productions. Then there was the “McDonald family” (Doris, Collins (“Boo”), and Derrick) who were church
choir members that had natural musical talent, and some of the girls (Cheryl Sledge, Loretta Hall, Lineda “Lynn”
Jackson and Diane Johnson) had natural vocal abilities, these girls became the lead vocalists of the various groups.
It should be noted that prior to starting LPM Productions, all of the kids involved were part of the SCOPE’s "Drill Team."
The boys were in the marching drill team and the girls were members of the marching
cheerleaders, which meant they all had some
experience in performing before audiences.
Press the STOP button to stop / mute themusic
The History of LPM Productions
How LPM Productions Got Started
LPM Productions started in the year 1972 on the Southside of Chicago in a neighborhood known as “South Chicago” on a
street called “Burley Avenue.” The organization was originally started by Charles Lewis and a group of kids from the
neighborhood. The original members of LPM Productions were also members of the neighborhood community organization
called “SCOPE” (South Chicago Organized for Peoples Efforts). SCOPE was the place (community center) where all
young people went to after school and on Saturday mornings.
In the spring of 1972 “J.N. Thorp,” the local elementary school in the neighborhood, opened its doors
to the SCOPE organization and allowed it to run an afterschool program inside the school. Each day
after school the members of SCOPE would stay at the school to participate in afterschool activities.
Some of the students went to the gym and some of them went to the school’s auditorium. Charles
Lewis, (a musician) who was also a member of SCOPE started a little singing ensemble in the school’s
auditorium. Charles would gather the kids around the piano and started teaching them little simple
songs, just to get them started singing. Like any other project, Charles noticed that some of the kids
were interested in the singing and some (most of them) were not. Charles carefully watched to see
which kids were really interested in singing. After a few weeks Charles asked the interested kids did they want to go a little
further with their singing. He expressed to them that they could learn songs and start performing at neighbor events such
as, talent shows, church events, outdoor events and various activities in the schools. Some of the kids that could sing a
little, expressed that they were interested in going further.
Charles started rehearsing the kids day and night, they rehearsed during SCOPE's normal business
hours and even after the center closed. As part of the documented history it must be noted that in
the beginning Charles had to use a little psychology on the kids to get them to come to rehearsals. It
was mainly the girls who needed a little push. Even though the girls agreed to learn how to sing,
their real interest was in “dancing.” Sometime Charles would come to the playground to pick up the
girls for rehearsal . . . and they would ask Charles, “are we going to rehearse on singing or
dancing?” Naturally Charles would say, “we’re going to SCOPE to practice dancing.” As soon as he
would get them SCOPE, he would let them practice dancing for a few minutes, then he would pull
the “sheet music” out.
Creating Individual Vocal Groups
After weeks of rehearsing songs as a large ensemble, it became time to break the kids up into separate vocal groups.
Charles begin to separate the kids into groups, based on their singing abilities, those that were close friends with each
other, those who worked well together and those who were similar in physical appearance. The separation process was a
joint effort between Charles and the kids. There was much discussion, a little arguing, and some voting. Finally, the groups
were formed and they all came up with individual names. The band however, did not really have a name. The first group
out of the ensemble was a group of six boys, four of the members formed a vocal group called, “The Movements.” The
other two boys became musicians and played with the band. The girl groups came up with names like, The Sylvetts, The
Love Lites, The Dianetts and The Illusions. Now, at this point LPM Productions had five vocal groups and a band with
no name.
Some Positive Attributes Within LPM Productions
From the very beginning “LPM” had some positive attributes that existed within the organization. For example, there were
four sisters, the “Johnson sisters” (Diane, Bonnie, Bay-Bay and Noonie) that had already dance professionally prior to
joining LPM Productions. Then there was the “McDonald family” (Doris, Collins (“Boo”), and Derrick) who were church
choir members that had natural musical talent, and some of the girls (Cheryl Sledge, Loretta Hall, Lineda “Lynn”
Jackson and Diane Johnson) had natural vocal abilities, these girls became the lead vocalists of the various groups.
It should be noted that prior to starting LPM Productions, all of the kids involved were part of the SCOPE’s "Drill Team."
The boys were in the marching drill team and the girls were members of the marching
cheerleaders, which meant they all had some
experience in performing before audiences.
Press the STOP button to stop / mute themusic