Here’s a trivia question: What blue-eyed soul band refused to sign with Motown but found fame thanks to three of Motown’s greatest contributors?

Of course we’re talking about Detroit’s own Flaming Ember. They first recorded for Ric Tic Records in 1967, but when Berry Gordy, Jr. folded Ric Tic into Motown, The Flaming Embers, as they were then known, decided to explore other options.

The label that they ultimately chose was Hot Wax, the brain child of Motown creative geniuses  Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland, Jr.. They charted six times on Keener with “Mind, Body and Soul”, “Not My Brother’s Keeper”, “Westbound Number 9″,”Shades of Green” and  “Sunshine”. Many remember “Westbound Number 9” as their favorite Flaming Ember tune, but it was “Mind, Body and Soul” that was their only Keener Number 1.

As the 70’s came upon us, the Flaming Ember changed their name to Mind, Body and Soul, retreating to nightclub and bar gigs around Detroit for the better part of a decade.

Ironically, they earned a special footnote in history outside of R&B when they were inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1999. The Flaming Ember was last heard in 2004 when they reunited for the Tennessee Rockabilly Festival.