Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHNNY ADAMS.
The Life and Times of Johnny Adams. Johnny Adams’ recording career lasted exactly forty years. His career began in early 1958, when he released his first single ‘I Won’t Cry’ on Ric. It was a hit single in New Orleans and the Southern states. For the twenty-six year old soul man this was the start …
CULT CLASIC-REET HENDRIKSON-REET.
Cult Classic-Reet Hendrikson-Reet. Sadly, Estonian folksinger Reet Hendrikson only ever released one album during her carer. This was ‘Reet,’ which was released in 1969, on the Estonian-Canadian label Reindeer Records. However, this stunning album of folk and psych-folk failed to find the wider audience it deserved. Nowadays, though, Hendrikson’s music is starting to reach a …
SAMMI SMITH-THE “SOUTH’S OWN DUSTY SPRINGFIELD.”
Sammi Smith-The“South’s own Dusty Springfield.” Without doubt, country singer singer-songwriter Sammi Smith had a voice, the talent and potential to crossover and become a huge, mainstream star. Her records were cinematic, soul-baring confessionals where her inimitable husky voice veered between melancholy and full of hurt and heartache to sensuous. It sounded as if Sammi Smith …
CHRIS BANGS PRESENTS THE PLAYBOX.
CHRIS BANGS PRESENTS THE PLAYBOX. Chris Bangs Presents The Playbox. Label: BGP. Format: CD. Release Date: 30th May 2025. Initially, DJ Chris Bangs started off as a guitarist with space rockers the Mighty Om. However, he soon realised that his talents lay elsewhere. That came in 1982, after meeting Gilles Peterson, who was playing his …
SOUL HARMONY – SWEET SOUL VOCALS 1961-1984.
Soul Harmony-Sweet Soul Vocals 1961-1984. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. Between 1962 and the early seventies there was an increase in the popularity of soulful ballads in Southern California. These slow jams were played in the clubs and could be heard in the cars that cruised the streets of towns and cities throughout Southern California. …
HIT AND RUN! MORE MOTOWN GUYS.
Hit and Run! More Motown Guys. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. Just like many other record labels, the vaults at Motown contain hundreds of unreleased tracks. These tracks are part of the label’s rich and illustrious history. Many were recorded at the company’s headquarters at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit between 1961 and 1968. This …
PAUL WELLER PRESENTS THAT SWEET SWEET MUSIC.
Paul Weller Presents That Sweet Sweet Music. Label: Ace Format: CD. Release Date: 28th March 2025. From an early age, soul music has played an important part in Paul Weller’s life. He grew up listening to, and buying soul singles. This was just the start. Then during his ten years with The Jam, the group …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF GREGORY CARROLL.
The Life and Career Of Gregory Carroll. John Wayne Carroll a.k.a. Gregory Carroll was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 19th December 1929. He was one of six children born to Upsher and Sally Carroll. By the time he was a teenager at Frederick Douglass High School, he formed the vocal group, The Metronomes. They would …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF GRAHAM NASH.
The Life and Career Of Graham Nash. Singer, songwriter and musician Graham William Nash, was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. His mother was evacuated from her hometown of Salford, at the outbreak of World War II. Later, though, the Nash family returned to Salford. That was where Nash met Allan Clarke. They started singing together, …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF LANGSTON HUGHES.
The Life and Career Of Langston Hughes. Multitalented is the word that describes James Mercer Langston Hughes. He was a novelist, newspaper columnist, poet, playwright, social activist and songwriter. Hughes is also credited as being one of the founding fathers of jazz poetry. It’s almost an understatement to say he was a remarkable man. Hughes was …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ERIC GALE .
The Life and Career Of Eric Gale. Jazz guitarist, sideman, songwriter and producer Eric Gale was born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York, on September 20th, 1938. His grandfather was English and he also had relatives in Venezuela and Barbados. During the holidays, Gale spent time in Britain visiting family. This gave him a different worldview. …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER RON MILLER.
The Life and Career Of Songwriter and Producer Ron Miller. Ronald Norman Gould was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October, 5th, 1932, the only son of Sue and Harry. He lived with mother and two sisters. His parents had divorced when he was young, and life was tough for the Goulds who lived in poverty, …
MAKE MINE MONDO! 2.
Make Mine Mondo! 2. Label: Ace. Release Date: 28th November 2024 Format: CD. Usually, record labels spend a considerable part of their budget promoting their latest releases. However, that isn’t always the case. Many independent labels, both big and small have a rather chaotic approach to promoting an album. Some smaller independent labels have no budget …
HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.
Here, There and Everywhere. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Released: 29th November 2024. Over the years, there’s been many compilations of cover versions of songs by The Beatles. They’ve been a mixed bag, with the quality varying. They’re best described as the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Some are nothing more than exploitative cash-ins …
dereksmusicblog
