6 Degrees of Soul: The “Ice Man”, Jerry Butler was the original lead singer of Day 10’s The Impressions. Butler with fellow soul legend, Otis Redding, co-wrote “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”. Redding’s backing band was Day 11’s The Bar Kays.
The Bar Kays is truly a story of the phoenix rising from its ashes. Struck by tragedy when majority of the band died in the plane crash, also claimed the life of Otis Redding. Sole survivor of the crash, Ben Cauley regrouped and continued to place The Bar Kays in the Pantheon of Funk. In 1969, they were the session musicians for Isaac Hayes’ landmark album Hot Buttered Soul. In the 70’s, the band would branch out to make a name for themselves and a new brand of funk.
…“Soul Finger” was the 1967 hit featuring the original Bar Kays…
…tearing WattStax a new one with… “The Son of Shaft”…
…my favorite Bar Kay track… “Attitudes”…
…check them out as session players for Isaac’s “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic”…
more funk and soul to come!
– dre’ of onustees.com
