Have you ever had a childhood friend, classmate or someone you admired and you wondered, “Whatever happened to Earl?” Well, I am going to take the melody from that hit television series, “The Beverly Hillbillies,” to set up this story:

Come listen to a story ‘bout a man named Earl.

He left Detroit and traveled ‘round the world.

From South America to Budapest.

He’s a renowned musician and he’s one of the best…Earl that is!

For nearly 10 years “The Beverly Hillbillies” was a top rated show. The Earl Bostic story is just as much of a hit as that long running television series. The only difference is that this Detroit native’s story is not in syndication and the show is still running live, after 30 years in Berlin, Germany.

Let’s hop on the Memory Train and go back to 1965 when a young man, Earl Bostic, is finishing up a productive four years at Cass Technical High School. Earl is not only a good student but his major has been vocal music. By his senior year, Bostic had performed in Chile, Brazil and Uraguay. Many of his instructors and fellow classmates would eventually become successful and historic people.

After graduating, Earl was offered a scholarship to Wayne State University, unfortunately coming from a large poor family, the scholarship was not enough to accommodate his college career. So, he worked at the Ford Motor Co. Rouge Plant, and as a busboy in a restaurant and eventually he received grant money from various organizations to finally get his college career started.

Bostic joined the Wayne State Men’s Glee Club and became a very highly regarded first tenor. The group toured Europe where he had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with the legendary Eartha Kitt. After many successful tours and concerts he graduated in 1971. However, Earl found it very difficult to get a job.

He tried to get work at Motown and several other venues that were conducive to his talents. He was always told that he was over qualified. Finally, he was hired as an instructor at the legendary Metro Arts.

For those of you who are not familiar with Metro Arts, it was a music school for the underprivileged. The staff and the students were legendary. Imagine Harold Mckinney, Beans Bowles, Marcus Belgraves, Teddy Harris and future superstars of the music world in one building. That is a story within itself.

Disillusioned with singing, Bostic took up bass guitar. He bought his first bass amp from his friend Robert Lowe and this changed his musical life. He fell in love with the bass guitar and put his vocal talents on hiatus. As great as his voice was, he was able to find more work as a bass player.

Still having vivid memories of his travels to Europe. He bought a round-trip ticket to Berlin, which at that time cost $125. Having only $50 cash he began a journey that forever changed his life and his permanent address.

In Berlin he was fortunate enough to have a brother, Leroy, who lived there. He was in the Air Force and had living quarters in Germany. His brother was also an entertainer and had a soul band. Bostic eventually joined that band and that would be the beginning of a long career.

Bostic later joined the Leo Wright Jazz Quartet, a former alto sax player for Dizzy Gillespie, that he toured with until the late 1970s. He then reunited with Eartha Kitt and became her bass player. He was in constant demand as a bass player but even more so for the talents he learned at Wayne State; arranging, conducting, producing, writing and teaching.

His talents are so diverse you may see him playing trumpet in the Berlin Symphony Orchestra or performing with fellow Detroiter George Shirley in “Porgy & Bess” or maybe playing the bass licks to “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” at a music festival in Austria.

Earl is married to Maria, an occupational therapist and musician. He has two daughters, Celina, who has her own band, and Lila, who is still in high school but is showing all indication that she is also a talented musician.

He was recently in town visiting relatives and shared with me how much he missed Detroit, so he tries to visit as often as his schedule permits.

This Hastings Street product is doing well in Berlin but his heart and soul will always be in Motown.

Words of Wisdom: The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.

Until next time, I’ll plant U now and dig U later. Peace and chicken grease!

Contact Hugh Burrell at (313)872-3437, fax (313)872-7231, or e-mail him at hughburrell@aol.com.