On May 9, 2020, Richard Wayne Penniman aka Little Richard died aged 87. He was singer, songwriter and musician (piano), one of the most important and influential persons in the popular music. His charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding back beat and raspy shouted vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll, but also had important role in formation of other music genres such as soul and funk. For his work Little Richard received numerous awards and was honored by many institutions. In 1986, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”; in 1993 he received “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”, he was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, received “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Recording Academy”; “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Rhythm and Blues Foundation”, and received a “Rhapsody & Rhythm Award” from the “National Museum of African American Music”. In 2012, his song “Tutti Frutti” was included in the “National Recording Registry” of the “Library of Congress”, stated that his “unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music”. Three of his songs “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille” and “Long Tall Sally” are inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Tag Archives: Soul
Isaac Hayes: Black Moses
In November 1971, “Stax” label released “Black Moses”, the fifth Isaac Hayes studio album. It was recorded March – October 1971, and was produced by Isaac Hayes.
Personnel:
- Isaac Hayes – lead and backing vocals, piano, electric piano, organ, vibraphone, arrangements
- Hot Buttered Soul – backing vocals
- The Bar-Kays – instrumentation:
- The Isaac Hayes Movement:
- Ronnie Hudson – bass
- Lester Snell – electric piano
- Charles “Skip” Pitts – guitar
- Sidney Kirk – piano
- Gary Jones – bongos, congas
- Willie Hall – drums, tambourine
- Johnny Allen, Dale Warren – arrangements
- Ron Capone, William Brown, Henry Bush, Eddie Marion, Dave Purple – engineer
- Ron Capone, Dave Purple, Isaac Hayes – remix engineer
Track listing:
- Never Can Say Goodbye – Clifton Davis
- (They Long to Be) Close to You – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- Nothing Takes the Place of You – Toussaint McCall, Alan Robinson
- Man’s Temptation – Curtis Mayfield
- Never Gonna Give You Up – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Jerry Butler
- Medley: Ike’s Rap II / Help Me Love – Isaac Hayes, Johnny Baylor, Mickey Gregory, Luther Ingram, Tommy Tate
- Need to Belong to Someone – Curtis Mayfield
- Good Love – Mickey Gregory, Isaac Hayes
- Medley: Ike’s Rap III / Your Love is So Doggone Good – Isaac Hayes, Difosco Ervin, Rudy Love
- For the Good Times – Kris Kristofferson
- I’ll Never Fall in Love Again – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- Part-Time Love – Clay Hammond
- Medley: Ike’s Rap IV / A Brand New Me – Isaac Hayes, Kenneth Gamble, Thom Bell, Jerry Butler
- Going in Circles – Jerry Peters, Anita Poree
Percy Sledge
On April 14, 2015, Percy Tyrone Sledge died aged 73. He was singer, best known for the song “When a Man Loves a Woman”. The song was awarded a million-selling, Gold-certified disc in US by “RIAA”. Sledge received the Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s Career Achievement Award and in 2005, he was inducted into the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame”.
Etta James
On January 20, 2012, Jamesetta Hawkins aka Etta James died aged 73. She was singer with powerful voice, performing blues, R&B, soul, jazz and gospel music She won six “Grammy Awards” and 17 “Blues Music Awards”; In 1993, she was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, in 1999 she was inducted in “Grammy Hall of Fame”, and in 2011 in the “Blues Hall of Fame”. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked Etta James at number 22 on its list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”.
Pops Staples
On December 19, 2000, Roebuck “Pops” Staples died aged 85. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, regarded as one of the key figures of the gospel, soul and R&B scene of the 60’ and 70’, and was best known as founder and leader of The Staple Singers. As leader he released three albums, and one posthumously released under his name.
Bobby Womack
On June 27, 2014, Robert Dwayne “Bobby” Womack died aged 70. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, with career spanned more than 60 years. He performed and composed in various music styles, rock and roll, doo-wop, gospel, and country, but he became famous for his R&B and soul period. He is also known as composer of the Rolling Stones’ first UK No. 1 hit, “It’s All Over Now”. As leader Womack released 23 albums.
Van Morrison: Keep It Simple
On March 17, 2008, “Exile Productions Ltd./Polydor” labels released “Keep It Simple”,the thirty-third Van Morrison solo album. It was recorded in 2007, and was produced by Van Morrison.
Personnel:
- Van Morrison – vocals, piano, alto saxophone, acoustic guitar, ukulele
- John Platania- guitar
- Mick Green– guitar
- Ned Edwards – guitar, harmonica, backing vocals
- Sarah Jory- steel guitar, banjo
- Cindy Cashdollar- steel guitar
- Paul Moore – bass
- David Hayes- bass
- Geraint Watkins- piano, accordion
- John Allair – organ
- Liam Bradley- percussion
- Tony Fitzgibbon – fiddle
- Neal Wilkinson – drums
- Crawford Bell – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Katie Kissoon- backing vocals
- Karen Hamill – backing vocals
- Margo Buchanan – backing vocals
- Stevie Lange – backing vocals
- Jerome Rimson – backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Van Morrison
- How Can a Poor Boy?
- School of Hard Knocks
- That’s Entrainment
- Don’t Go to Nightclubs Anymore
- Lover Come Back
- Keep It Simple
- End of the Land
- Song of Home
- No Thing
- Soul
- Behind the Ritual
Richard Street
On February 27, 2013, Richard Allen Street died aged 70. He was singer, best known as member of The Temptations (1971 to 1993).
Buffalo Springfield: Buffalo Springfield Again
On October 30, 1967, “Atco” label released “Buffalo Springfield Again” the second Buffalo Springfield album. It was recorded July – September 1967, and was produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Richie Furay, Jim Messina, Jack Nitzsche, Stephen Stills and Neil Young.
Personnel:
- Stephen Stills – vocals, organ, lead and rhythm guitar, piano, keyboard
- Neil Young – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
- Richie Furay – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Bruce Palmer – bass
- Dewey Martin – vocals, drums
- Chris Sarns – guitar
- Doug Hastings – guitar
- Russ Titelman– guitar
- James Burton – dobro, guitar
- Charlie Chin – banjo
- Jack Nitzsche- electric piano
- Don Randi – piano, harpsichord
- Jim Fielder– bass
- Carol Kaye– bass
- Harvey Newmark – bass
- Bobby West – bass
- Hal Blaine – drums
- Jim Gordon– drums
- Norris Badeaux – baritone saxophone
- Jim Horn– clarinet
- Merry Clayton– vocal
- Brenda Holloway – vocal
- Patrice Holloway – vocal
- Shirley Matthews – vocal
- Gracia Nitzsche – vocal
- Gloria Jones – vocal
- David Crosby- backing vocal
- Loring Eutemey – design
- Eve Babitz – illustrations
Track listing:
- Soul – Neil Young
- A Child’s Claim to Fame – Richie Furay
- Everydays – Stephen Stills
- Expecting to Fly – Neil Young
- Bluebird – Stephen Stills
- Hung Upside Down – Stephen Stills
- Sad Memory – Richie Furay
- Good Time Boy – Richie Furay
- Rock & Roll Woman – Stephen Stills
- Broken Arrow – Neil Young
Gil Scott Heron
On May 27, 2011, Gilbert “Gil” Scott-Heron died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards, guitar), singer, poet and songwriter, best known for his work as a spoken word performer in the 70’s and 80’s. His best albums “Pieces of a man” and “Winter in America” from the early 70’s and his best-known composition “The Revolution will not be televised” has influenced generations of contemporary musicians, especially hip hop and neo soul artists.
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