News & Updates — soul!

Here's a birthday shout-out to the singing mailman, King Floyd. "Groove Me" was the big hit for this New Orleans soul singer, produced by Wardell Quezerque (and recorded at the same session that yielded "Mr Big Stuff" by Jean Knight!). After writing and singing "Groove Me" (originally a b-side) and a few others for the Atlantic stable, he made some records for T.K., but was largely quiet. Still, the tune remains a much-loved classic soul hit. Born King Floyd III, he was childhood pals with Willie Tee and Earl King and started playing professionally in '61 with local blues shouter...

The "left reverend" Eugene "Gene" McDaniels is largely known for three contributions to the popular consciousness. The first is his 1961 song "100 Pounds of Clay" heard on oldies stations to this day (released as Gene McDaniels). The second is his notoriety as a chart-topping song-writer ("Feel Like Makin' Love", by Roberta Flack and "Compared to What", popularized by Les McCann & Eddie Harris). And the third is his rare grove LP Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse, controversial at the time for songs that deeply examine the elite power structure (and the attempted banning of the album by the White...

Happy birthday to the recently-passed keyboardist/songwriter/producer Leon Haywood, the man behind that G-Funk staple "I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You". He came from Houston and was playing piano as a young child. He put together his first professional band in the '50s, playing locally while also backing Guitar Slim. In the early '60s he moved to Los Angeles, where he played in a band with saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, and backing Sam Cooke in his band until Cooke's death. He continued working as a session musician with Dyke & The Blazers, among others. He had a few minor soul...

Curtis Ousley aka King Curtis, the versatile saxophonist/songwriter/arranger/producer, is a huge figure in '60s R&B. From Fort Worth TX, he was schoolmates with fellow saxophonist Ornette Coleman. He played early with Lionel Hampton and cut sessions with The Coasters, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Nat Adderley, LaVern Baker and others. In '65 he had his biggest hit "Memphis Soul Stew" and became musical director for Aretha Franklin. Later he recorded with John Lennon. His life was cut short in tragic fashion when he was stabbed to death on the steps to his apartment. (In the picture above you can see Jimi...

Happy born day to reggae's most enduring superstar and the global face of "third world" music, Robert Nesta Marley! Bob and the gang at the Santa Barbara County Bowl, 1979: Positive Vibration 00:00:00 Wake Up and Live 00:06:31 I Shot the Sheriff 00:11:49 Ambush in the Night 00:16:22 Concrete Jungle 00:20:15 Running Away >  00:25:13 Crazy Baldhead 00:28:55 Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) 00:33:22 The Heathen 00:36:46 Ride Natty Ride 00:41:19 Africa Unite 00:45:30 One Drop 00:50:00 Exodus 00:54:04 So Much Things to Say  01:00:14 Zimbabwe 01:03:44 Jamming 01:07:47 Is This Love? 01:12:46 Kinky Reggae 01:16:05 Stir It Up...