Better Soul

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 12: The Staple Singers

18 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul: Willie “Too Tall” Hall of Day 11’s The Bar Kays is known for backing several Stax artists. He was on the sticks for Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft”. One of the many Stax artists Hall backed was Day 13’s The Staple Singers.   Mavis, Cleotha, Yvonne & “Pops” make up the […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 11: The Bar Kays

17 February 2010

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 […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 10: The Impressions

10 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul: After leaving Motown, Day 9’s Four Tops scored a Top 20 hit with “Are You Man Enough”. That song was produced by Johnny Pate for his soundtrack of the film Shaft in Africa. Pate gained notoriety with his early work for Day 10’s The Impressions. Initially, Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 9: The Four Tops

10 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul: In 1985, Day 8’s The Commodores scored their 1st and only Grammy win with the tribute song “Nightshift”.  The song is in honor of Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, both passed in 1984. Wilson is the cousin of Levi Stubbs, who was the lead singer of Day 9’s The Four Tops. […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 8: The Commodores

9 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul: While Day 7’s The O’Jays was making hits in Philadelphia, another group was just starting out as the opening act for The Jackson 5. Before they left Tuskegee Institute to pursue their musical dreams they were known as The Jays. Since The O’Jays were a hit already, member William King randomly […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 7: The O’Jays

9 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul: “Lady Marmalade” a major hit for Day 6’s Labelle was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan. Crewe oversaw many projects during his career, some of them were for Dee Dee Sharp Gamble. The 1st Lady of Philadelphia International Records (PIR) was known for her single “Easy Money”. In 1977, Gamble […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 6: Labelle

9 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul: Before she replaced Florence Ballard of Day 5’s The Supremes; Cindy Birdsong replaced an original member of “The Ordettes”. After the inclusion of Birdsong, the group changed their name to The Bluebelles. Two years without a hit record the The Bluebelles said goodbye Ms. Birdsong and renamed themselves Labelle.   Sarah […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 5: The Supremes

5 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul: In 1970, Stevie Wonder & Syreeta Wright wrote and produced “It’s A Shame” for Day 5’s “The Spinners”. Before her solo career took off, Wright was slated to replace a rising solo star of an iconic Motown act. That star was Diana Ross and the group, Day 5’s The Supremes.   […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 4: The Spinners

4 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul: Before he became a legend with Parliament Funkadelic of Day 3, Bootsy Collins was in a Cincinnati based funk group, The Pacemakers. The band was comprised of Bootsy, his brother Phelps “Catfish” Collins, Kash Waddy & Philippe Wynne. After some success the band was picked up by James Brown as his […]

Black Music History “Group Session” – Day 3: Parliament Funkadelic (P-Funk)

3 February 2010

6 Degrees of Soul (or Funk in this case): The Main Ingredient from Day 2 had several songs written by Leon Ware. Before he wrote I Wanna Be Where You Are for Michael Jackson, Ware wrote songs for The Parliaments. This 60’s doo-wop group was spearheaded by Dr. Funkenstein. Also known as George Clinton who […]

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