News & Updates — soul/funk

One of the infamous Beale Streeters of Memphis (along with BB King, Johnny Ace, Junior Parker and others), Bobby "Blue" Bland was an incredible singer dubbed "The Sinatra of the Blues". As he never went to school and never learned how to read, his illiteracy found him signing contracts at cut-rate royalty deals early in his career. Nevertheless he found great chart success in the late 50s/early 60s with "Farther Up The Road", "I Pity The Fool", "Cry Cry Cry" and "Turn On Your Lovelight". He had a nice comeback during the 70s with His California Album and Dreamer. Despite...

The much loved R&B icon Etta James sang classics like "Tell Mama", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "At Last", "Seven Day Fool", the funky "All The Way Down" and many more. A Los Angeles native, she started singing in the church as a child. She got an early jump when Johnny Otis helped nurture her young career before she signed with Chess in 1960, her label for many years. She dated BB King, sang with Chuck Berry, toured with the Rolling Stones and her music covered doo-wop, gospel, ballads, R&B, blues, jazz, soul, funk & rock. Dig one of my faves...

Here is the brand new video for Ray Lugo's "Now". 'Now" is a meditation on the importance of the present moment and redirecting the mind away from a past we cannot change or a future we seldom control. SHARE if you recognize and let's go forward with clear thoughts. Featuring some frequent collaborators with Ray (Terrificos, Kokolo, Boogaloo Destroyers, L.E.S. Express): "Big respect to the talented artists who worked on this tune and made it shine: Ian Toole: Guitar, Keys, Casey Howard: Saxophone, Andy Averbuch: Guitar Jake Fader: Guitar Mixed by: Dusty Mastered by:Adam Boose. All blessings to you, fellas."...

It's always legit to have Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears back on the scene with new music and a tour. The veteran Austin TX-based band has several raucous records and are an entertaining live act. Boozy & garagey, they mix R&B, punk & blues with Daptone-esque horns, a concoction that is groovy and nasty. Taken from their forthcoming fifth LP Backlash, produced by Stewart Sikes (Loretta Lynn, Cat Power) and out Feb 10, "PTP" (Power to the Pussy) is a sexually charged romp of a song that sounds like Stax-gone-garage. They've made a fun animated video for the tune...

If you have ever wanted to scope the gear that the P-Funk posse used on their magical Afro-futuristic jams, well Christopher DeArcangelis of Reverb magazine did the work. Check out the fascinating original article with a look at some specific gear favored by Bernie, Bootsy, Eddie and the boys. https://reverb.com/news/the-essential-gear-of-parliament-slash-funkadelic And while we're at it... https://reverb.com/