Category Archives: Gospel
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JEANETTE JONES?
Whatever Happened To Jeanette Jones? The history of soul music is littered with artists who could’ve and should’ve gone on to greater things, but for whatever reason, commercial success and critical acclaim passed them by. That, sadly, was the case with Jeanette Jones. She had talent in abundance, and a voice that was a mixture …
SONIA AIMY-NIGERIAN SPIRIT.
Sonia Aimy-Nigerian Spirit. Label: Self-Released. Forty years ago, the only way most artists could release an album was if they were fortunate enough to be signed to a record label. As a result, a lot of talented artists and bands slipped under the musical radar, and their music never found the audience it deserved. However, …
RANKY TANKY-RANKY TANKY.
Ranky Tanky-Ranky Tanky. Label: Self-Released. When South Carolina natives Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Charlton Singleton and Clay Ross first met in 1998, they had just left university, and were wondering what the future held for them? The meeting proved to be a game-changer for the four musicians, and soon, they had formed what’s still remembered …
JERRY LEE LEWIS-TOGETHER, LIVE AT THE INTERNATIONAL LAS VEGAS, IN LOVING MEMORY:THE JERRY LEE LEWIS GOSPEL ALBUM AND KEEPS ROCKIN.
Jerry Lee Lewis-Together, Live At The International Las Vegas, In Loving Memory: The Jerry Lee Lewis Gospel Album and Keeps Rockin’. Label:BGO Records. Jerry Lee Lewis will always be remembered as one of music’s great survivors. He has enjoyed a long and chequered career, that although successful has often proved controversial. So much so, that …
CHARLEY PRIDE-DID YOU THINK TO PRAY/A SUNSHINE LOVE/SONGS OF LOVE/ SWEET COUNTRY.
CHARLEY PRIDE-DID YOU THINK TO PRAY/A SUNSHINE LOVE/SONGS OF LOVE/ SWEET COUNTRY. Growing up, in Sledge, Mississippi, Charley Pride had two loves. The first was baseball, the other was music. Music however, was just a hobby for Charley Pride. His mother bought him a guitar in 1950, when Charley was just fourteen. Soon, he had …
WOW, WOW, BABY! VOLUME 3-1950S R&B, BLUES AND GOSPEL FROM DOLPHIN’S OF HOLLYWOOD.
WOW, WOW, BABY! VOLUME 3-1950S R&B, BLUES AND GOSPEL FROM DOLPHIN’S OF HOLLYWOOD. By 1958, Fred Grayton Dolphin was living the American dream. The Toast of The Coast was a successful businessman, who owned a record shop and independent record label. Fred was also a record producer and political activist. He was well respected within …
LOS ANGELES SOUL-KENT-MODERN’S BLACK MUSIC LEGACY.
LOS ANGELES SOUL-KENT-MODERN’S BLACK MUSIC LEGACY. During the fifties, the Los Angeles’ based, Modern and Kent labels were two of the most successful independent record labels. Their star was definitely in the ascendancy. Modern and Kent signed some of the most successful soul, blues and R&B artists of the fifties, including John Lee Hooker, B.B. …
THE SOUL STIRRERS-JOY IN MY SOUL-THE COMPLETE S.A.R. RECORDINGS.
THE SOUL STIRRERS-JOY IN MY SOUL-THE COMPLETE S.A.R. RECORDINGS. The loss of a lead singer can prove fatal to even the most successful groups. Not The Soul Stirrers though. Despite the loss of Sam Cooke in 1957, it was business as usual for The Soul Stirrers. Johnnie Taylor was drafted in to replace Sam Cooke, …
THE VALENTINOS-LOOKIN’ FOR A LOVE-THE COMPLETE SAR RECORDINGS.
THE VALENTINOS-LOOKIN’ FOR A LOVE-THE COMPLETE SAR RECORDINGS. The story of The Valentinos began back in 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio. That’s when the Reverend Friendly Womack first heard his five sons sing. Before long, Friendly, Curtis, Bobby, Harry and Cecil had adopted the moniker The Womack Brothers. They then made their debut in their father’s …
BROTHERS AND SISTERS-DYLAN’S GOSPEL.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS-DYLAN’S GOSPEL. For too long, backing singers have been the forgotten heroes of music. That’s been the case since the sixties. Mostly, they were largely anonymous figures. Their raison d’être was to make the stars sound good. Backing singers, like session musicians, were hired guns. Every day, the found themselves working with different …
SIMBA AND MILTON GULLI-THE HEROES A TRIBUTE TO A TRIBE CALLED QUEST.
SIMBA AND MILTON GULLI-THE HEROES A TRIBUTE TO A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. In the history of hip hop, A Tribe Called Quest are one of the most innovative and influential bands ever. No ifs and no buts. The five albums they released between 1990 and 1998, featured a genre melting fusion of genres and influences. …
BEATING THE PETRILLO BAN-THE LATE DECEMBER 1947 MODERN SESSIONS.
BEATING THE PETRILLO BAN-THE LATE DECEMBER 1947 MODERN SESSIONS. It was in 1927 when the Automatic Music Instrument Company invented the first multi-selection jukebox. For owners of juke joints and bars, the jukebox was a boon. Not only did it attract customers, wanting to hear and dance to the latest music, but It was much …
GWEN MCCRAE-MELODY OF LIFE.
GWEN MCCRAE-MELODY OF LIFE. By 1979, Gwen McCrae’s career and private life were going through tough times. Her marriage to George McCrae was over. As for her music career, well, it seemed a long time since her number one US R&B single Rockin’ Chair. It was only four years. A lot had happened since then. …
ARETHA FRANKLIN-LADY SOUL.
ARETHA FRANKLIN-LADY SOUL. Commercial success and critical acclaim didn’t come easy for Aretha Franklin. She was no overnight star, if such a thing exists. Her recording career started back in 1956 and she’d released ten albums before signing to Atlantic Records. Until then, success had been a stranger to Aretha Franklin. However, signing to Atlantic …