Jackie Neal(July 7,1967-March 10,2005) This Baton Rouge native was the daughter of Shirley Brooks Neal and Blues Legend Raful Neal.This talented singer attended Capitol High School in Baton Rogue,LA where she was the head of her majorette squad.In 1995,Jackie made her debut with her first album,"The Blues Won't Let You Go".Her 2004 CD,"Down In Da Club" which included my personal favorite "He Don't Love Me" swept across Louisiana,Mississippi, and Alabama and all the other surrounding states.I had the privilege of attending her next to last show in Greenwood,Mississippi.I took a picture with her after the show.We talked briefly and I left that show a big fan.Five days later Jackie was gone.To hear her music and look at our picture together always bring a smile to my face.I know I join thousands of her fans when I say I MISS JACKIE"JAZZY"NEAL.
O.B Buchana: Born in my home town of Mound Bayou,Mississippi, he spent his childhood in Clarksdale,Mississippi, a town that is rich with blues and southern soul roots.O.B. began his musical career at the age of eight singing in the gospel choir at his Baptist church.By the time he was a teenager the gospel group,The Mighty Suns Of God selected him to be their lead singer.In the early 1990's O.B. signed with the record label Blue River and he recorded his first hit single "Back Up Lover".After the sucess of Back Up Lover he signed with Suzie Q Records in Shreveport,LA. and recorded two cd's "It's Over" and "I Got Caught".Then in 2004 Ecko Records recognized this soulful recording artist and signed him to a record deal.His first cd for ecko records was Shake What You Got which included the hit singles "Thats My Bad" and "Shake What You Got".His next release was I Can't Stop Drinking which includes my favorite O.B. song to date"Stage In The Sky",his soulful tribute to his mentor and friend Tyrone Davis.O.B. Buchana is truly one of the most popular southern soul singers today.
Sir Charles Jones: Born in Akron,Ohio and raised in Birmingham,Alabama it was here that Sir Charles actually began his singing career.This self taught writer,arranger,producer and engineer has a genuine passion for music.His music style is a blend of jazz,blues and southern soul.With his versatile style and a wide range of vocal ability he has been crowned "The King Of Southern Soul".He has survived a near fatal car accident that brought about national attention and he had to overcome a difficult ordeal with many false releases of his own material(bootlegging).The last couple of years has saw him in a contract dispute with his former managment.It appears now that he has overcome all of these obstacles and now is ready to reclaim his throne as "The King Of Southern Soul".
Omar Cunningham: Was born and raised in Gadsen,Alabama,he developed a love for music at an early age.He began singing in the church choir at the age of 7.As a young kid he spent much of his time around music.His mother dated a bass player for The Commodores.He joined a local band named Daybreak and began touring with them on weekends.Following his years with Daybreak Omar moved on to the recording studio.He joined another group named Small Town Boys and they began to open for the funk group Cameo,he even played trumpet in Cameo's horn section.He soon left the group and went solo.He began opening up shows for B Angie B and Silk in the late 1990's.His debut album HELL AT THE HOUSE was the first time that a black artist had a blues cd to debut on the national chart(Billboard Magazine).He continues today to be one of the most popular southern soul artists around.Whenever I attend a show of his he always remember Big K9.
Willie Clayton: Born March 29,1955 in Indianola,Mississippi.As long as he's been recording(from 1969-present)people would think that he was an old geezer.He was just past the age of 40 when he had his biggest sucess with a couple of albums with ACE Records that sold well into the southern market.After his debut single "Thats The Way Daddy Did" failed he moved from Mississippi to Chicago.He ended up contracted to Hi Records in Memphis.He enjoyed a great deal of sucess with Endzone Records.In 2005 he signed with Malaco Records.He has been recording steady over the last twenty years. He has had numerous hits including "Three People Sleeping In My Bed","Equal Oppurtunity" ,Uncondtionally","If You Ever Get Lonely" and the ever so popular "I Love Me Some You".I've been following him close since 2003.I've seen his shows numerous times and I seem to enjoy them more and more.I think its great how he always pays tribute to the artists that have paved the way for him.He always have a way to warm up to his fans with his tributes.I've had the oppurtunity to talk to him personally and he always rememember me at his shows.He is truly one of my favorite recording artists.
Pat Brown: Was born and raised in Meridian,Mississippi,she had connections to the music industry at an early age.Her former babysitters were Al Wilson(Show & Tell),David Ruffin(The Temptations) and Jimmy Ruffin(David's brother and motown recording artist.)While attending Jr. College in Meridian she joined the singing group The Dynamics who later became The Commordores.She has toured all over the United States and Internationally visiting such places as Helsinki Finland and Amsterdam Holland.She has opened for such artists as B.B. King,Percy Sledge,Tyrone Davis,Bobby Rush,Al Green,Johnny Taylor and her good friend Willie Clayton.Their duet "I'm Going To Your Wife" is a personal favorite of mine.She is truly one of our most Soulful Divas today.
Peggy Scott Adams: Toured with Ben E. King as a teenager and hit the Top 40 three times("Lover's Holiday,"Soul Shake" and"I Want To Love You Baby") as a duet act with Jo Jo Benson in the 1960's.She was out of the music business for nearly two decades until a career resurgence.In 1990 she dueted with Ray Charles on his album I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.Ray Charles friend,Jimmy Lewis(singer,song-writer and producer)took Peggy Scott Adams into the recording studio to record the album HELP YOURSELF in 1996.The album produce the hit single "Bill" which garnered major national attention.Since then she has released a half dozen more albums and enjoys status as one of southern soul biggest stars.
J. Blackfoot: Born John Colbert in 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee J. Blackfoot is a nickname that he picked up during his early years due to his habit of walking barefoot on the tarred sidewalks in Memphis.Blackfoot is the former lead singer for The Soul Children(1968-1978) which produce such hits as"I'll Be The Other Woman","Hearsay" and"Don't Take My Kindness For Weakness".He went solo in 1978 and scored a mega hit with the single "Taxi" in 1983.He is one of my favorite recording artists today."After The Tone","Just One Lifetime""May The Best Man Win"with Lynn White,and "Last One On Your List" are personal favorites of mine.
Shirley Brown: Born January 6,1947 in West Memphis,Arkansas,she earned a reputation in gospel circles throughout the city for delivering powerful solos.In her late teens she began singing secular music and started peforming with many of the city soul singers.Albert King became her manager and he helped her sign a record deal with Stax Records in Memphis,Tennessee.She had the last hit for Stax records and it was also her biggest hit."Woman To Woman" topped the R&B chart for two weeks and gained Shirley national fanfare.None of her other songs equaled the sucess of Woman To Woman but she continued to record many hit singles over the next two decades.Her best sucess came when she signed with Malaco Records in 1989.I got the oppurtunity to see her perform in August 2005 for the first time.She is still one our beloved soulful divas today.
Theodis Ealey: This Natchez,Mississippi native first picked up an instrument when his older YZ Ealey taught him how to play at age 4.Ten years later, Theodis on bass was playing at his first gig with brothers YZ and Melvin Ealey in a group called YZ Ealey and the Merrymakers.One year later Theodis traded his bass for a guitar and began performing with another local group called Eugene Butler and The Rocking Royals.It was here that Theodis sharpened his guitar skills while hitting the local circuit.Ichiban Records signed him to a deal in 1991.He had four sucessful albums over a six year period with Ichiban before the company folded.Theodis stared his own record company IFGAM(I FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF) Records.In 2004 he released the hit single "Stand Up In It" which was number one for six months on the southern soul charts and was number one in sales on Billboards R&B charts.Once a well respected bluesman he is now a major player in the southern soul game.
Bobby Rush: Born as Emmit Ellis Jr. in Homer,Louisiana,Bobby Rush has become a blues legend with a signature sound he calls "Folk Funk".While initially a Chicago blues singer he eventually broke through with his funkified,soul-blues subject matters.In 1971 he scored big on the R&B chart with the hit single"Chicken Heads",and follwed that up with hit singles "Its Alright","Bow-Legged Woman,Knock Kneed Man", and "She's A Good'un".Bobby began crafting a unique style that included blues,funk and folk.Bobby has recorded with several record companies the last three decades including Jewel,Warner Brothers,Philadelphia International Records,LaJam Records and finally in 1995 with Malaco's Waldoxy Label.At Waldoxy,he released "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"which was nominated for two W.C. Handy awards.The Living Blues Critics Poll named him Best Live Performer in 1995.In 1996 and 1997 he captured The Real Blues Magazine Award for Best Soul/R&B Live Performer.I've seen Bobby Rush perform since I was young teen.He continues to perform frequently in my area and nationwide.He ia truly A LIVING LEGEND.
Marvin Sease: Born Feb. 16,1946 in South Carolina,Mr. Sease got his start by joining a gospel group in nearby Charleston,South Carolina called Five Gospel Singers and later when he was 20 he sang with the Gospel Crowns.But soon his heart was in R&B and he put together the group Sease which included his three brothers.When this went nowhere,Sease himself put out several 45's and eventually got a regular gig at a Brooklyn nightclub called the Casablanca.Sease recred a self-titled LP in 1986 that featured one of his most popular songs "Ghetto Man".He began working the south's so called chitlin circuit of ghetto bars,rural juke joint and blues festivals.Sease signed a deal with Polygram records who re-released his self-titled album with an additional newly recorded ten minute track "Candy Licker"."Candy Licker became an underground sucess on jukeboxes across the south,it was to explicit for radio airplay,but audiences especially female ones flocked to see Sease in concerts.He fashioned himself as a smooth X-Rated ladies man but he sings soul blues and gospel drenched soul with salacious lyrics that appeal to male fans of southern soul.He has recorded hit songs such as "Don't Forget To Tell On You","I Can't Believe",I Can't Afford To Be Caught","Please Take Me","Dreaming" and my personal favorite "Thanks For Loving Me". I've seen Marvin Sease perform a few times the last couple of years and I have had the oppurtunity to meet,talk and take photos with him.The thing that is really great he always remember Big K9.
Mel Waiters: Southern soul star Mel Waiters was born and raised in San Antonio,Texas,where in 1974 he began his performing career at local teen clubs after a stint as a radio DJ.Debuting in 1995 with the album "I'm Serious" featured the hit singles "Hit It And Quit It" and "Lets Do Each Other".In 1997 "Suki-Suki Man" was released with the singles "Teddy Bear" and "Mind On Me".He followed up with the album "Woman In Need" which produce the hit single"Got My Whiskey".It was his next album that made Mel really blow up."Material Things" included the smash hit "Hole In The Wall".People all over the country was able to relate to this classic hit.It stayed on the national charts for months.Mel shows today are very popular with the female audiences.He is a strong presence on the blues and southern soul circuit today.
Denise Lasalle: Was born July 16,1939 in Belzoni,Mississippi.She began singing at an early age in local churches around Leflore Conuty.Lasalle's early influences were Ruth Brown,Dinah Washington, and Lavern Baker.She moved to Chicago in her early twenties and became familar with the Chicago blues singers and began giving them her music to listen to.She signed with Westbound Records and in 1971 recorded her first hit single "Trapped By A Thing Called Love".In 1982 she signed with Malaco Records and recorded 11 albums including Lady In The Street(1983),Right Place,Right Time(1984),Love Talkin'(1985),Hittin' Where It Hurts(1989),Still Trapped(1990),Still Bad(1994), and Smokin' In Bed(1997).I've seen Denise Lasalle perform since I was a youngster back in Mound Bayou,Mississippi.She is one of my favorite female recording artists. Bill Coday: Was born May 10,1942 in Coldwater,MS,Coday began his singing career as a teenager,performing in Blytheville,AK with a band that included guitarist Son Seals.In 1961 he relocated to Chicaco and became known as Chicago Willie.While performing at a Chicago club he was discovered by Denise Lasalle,she teamed him with Memphis icon Willie Mitchell.Coday signed with Crajon Productions who produced the hit singles "Sixty Minute Te
O.B Buchana: Born in my home town of Mound Bayou,Mississippi, he spent his childhood in Clarksdale,Mississippi, a town that is rich with blues and southern soul roots.O.B. began his musical career at the age of eight singing in the gospel choir at his Baptist church.By the time he was a teenager the gospel group,The Mighty Suns Of God selected him to be their lead singer.In the early 1990's O.B. signed with the record label Blue River and he recorded his first hit single "Back Up Lover".After the sucess of Back Up Lover he signed with Suzie Q Records in Shreveport,LA. and recorded two cd's "It's Over" and "I Got Caught".Then in 2004 Ecko Records recognized this soulful recording artist and signed him to a record deal.His first cd for ecko records was Shake What You Got which included the hit singles "Thats My Bad" and "Shake What You Got".His next release was I Can't Stop Drinking which includes my favorite O.B. song to date"Stage In The Sky",his soulful tribute to his mentor and friend Tyrone Davis.O.B. Buchana is truly one of the most popular southern soul singers today.
Sir Charles Jones: Born in Akron,Ohio and raised in Birmingham,Alabama it was here that Sir Charles actually began his singing career.This self taught writer,arranger,producer and engineer has a genuine passion for music.His music style is a blend of jazz,blues and southern soul.With his versatile style and a wide range of vocal ability he has been crowned "The King Of Southern Soul".He has survived a near fatal car accident that brought about national attention and he had to overcome a difficult ordeal with many false releases of his own material(bootlegging).The last couple of years has saw him in a contract dispute with his former managment.It appears now that he has overcome all of these obstacles and now is ready to reclaim his throne as "The King Of Southern Soul".
Omar Cunningham: Was born and raised in Gadsen,Alabama,he developed a love for music at an early age.He began singing in the church choir at the age of 7.As a young kid he spent much of his time around music.His mother dated a bass player for The Commodores.He joined a local band named Daybreak and began touring with them on weekends.Following his years with Daybreak Omar moved on to the recording studio.He joined another group named Small Town Boys and they began to open for the funk group Cameo,he even played trumpet in Cameo's horn section.He soon left the group and went solo.He began opening up shows for B Angie B and Silk in the late 1990's.His debut album HELL AT THE HOUSE was the first time that a black artist had a blues cd to debut on the national chart(Billboard Magazine).He continues today to be one of the most popular southern soul artists around.Whenever I attend a show of his he always remember Big K9.
Willie Clayton: Born March 29,1955 in Indianola,Mississippi.As long as he's been recording(from 1969-present)people would think that he was an old geezer.He was just past the age of 40 when he had his biggest sucess with a couple of albums with ACE Records that sold well into the southern market.After his debut single "Thats The Way Daddy Did" failed he moved from Mississippi to Chicago.He ended up contracted to Hi Records in Memphis.He enjoyed a great deal of sucess with Endzone Records.In 2005 he signed with Malaco Records.He has been recording steady over the last twenty years. He has had numerous hits including "Three People Sleeping In My Bed","Equal Oppurtunity" ,Uncondtionally","If You Ever Get Lonely" and the ever so popular "I Love Me Some You".I've been following him close since 2003.I've seen his shows numerous times and I seem to enjoy them more and more.I think its great how he always pays tribute to the artists that have paved the way for him.He always have a way to warm up to his fans with his tributes.I've had the oppurtunity to talk to him personally and he always rememember me at his shows.He is truly one of my favorite recording artists.
Pat Brown: Was born and raised in Meridian,Mississippi,she had connections to the music industry at an early age.Her former babysitters were Al Wilson(Show & Tell),David Ruffin(The Temptations) and Jimmy Ruffin(David's brother and motown recording artist.)While attending Jr. College in Meridian she joined the singing group The Dynamics who later became The Commordores.She has toured all over the United States and Internationally visiting such places as Helsinki Finland and Amsterdam Holland.She has opened for such artists as B.B. King,Percy Sledge,Tyrone Davis,Bobby Rush,Al Green,Johnny Taylor and her good friend Willie Clayton.Their duet "I'm Going To Your Wife" is a personal favorite of mine.She is truly one of our most Soulful Divas today.
Peggy Scott Adams: Toured with Ben E. King as a teenager and hit the Top 40 three times("Lover's Holiday,"Soul Shake" and"I Want To Love You Baby") as a duet act with Jo Jo Benson in the 1960's.She was out of the music business for nearly two decades until a career resurgence.In 1990 she dueted with Ray Charles on his album I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.Ray Charles friend,Jimmy Lewis(singer,song-writer and producer)took Peggy Scott Adams into the recording studio to record the album HELP YOURSELF in 1996.The album produce the hit single "Bill" which garnered major national attention.Since then she has released a half dozen more albums and enjoys status as one of southern soul biggest stars.
J. Blackfoot: Born John Colbert in 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee J. Blackfoot is a nickname that he picked up during his early years due to his habit of walking barefoot on the tarred sidewalks in Memphis.Blackfoot is the former lead singer for The Soul Children(1968-1978) which produce such hits as"I'll Be The Other Woman","Hearsay" and"Don't Take My Kindness For Weakness".He went solo in 1978 and scored a mega hit with the single "Taxi" in 1983.He is one of my favorite recording artists today."After The Tone","Just One Lifetime""May The Best Man Win"with Lynn White,and "Last One On Your List" are personal favorites of mine.
Shirley Brown: Born January 6,1947 in West Memphis,Arkansas,she earned a reputation in gospel circles throughout the city for delivering powerful solos.In her late teens she began singing secular music and started peforming with many of the city soul singers.Albert King became her manager and he helped her sign a record deal with Stax Records in Memphis,Tennessee.She had the last hit for Stax records and it was also her biggest hit."Woman To Woman" topped the R&B chart for two weeks and gained Shirley national fanfare.None of her other songs equaled the sucess of Woman To Woman but she continued to record many hit singles over the next two decades.Her best sucess came when she signed with Malaco Records in 1989.I got the oppurtunity to see her perform in August 2005 for the first time.She is still one our beloved soulful divas today.
Theodis Ealey: This Natchez,Mississippi native first picked up an instrument when his older YZ Ealey taught him how to play at age 4.Ten years later, Theodis on bass was playing at his first gig with brothers YZ and Melvin Ealey in a group called YZ Ealey and the Merrymakers.One year later Theodis traded his bass for a guitar and began performing with another local group called Eugene Butler and The Rocking Royals.It was here that Theodis sharpened his guitar skills while hitting the local circuit.Ichiban Records signed him to a deal in 1991.He had four sucessful albums over a six year period with Ichiban before the company folded.Theodis stared his own record company IFGAM(I FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF) Records.In 2004 he released the hit single "Stand Up In It" which was number one for six months on the southern soul charts and was number one in sales on Billboards R&B charts.Once a well respected bluesman he is now a major player in the southern soul game.
Bobby Rush: Born as Emmit Ellis Jr. in Homer,Louisiana,Bobby Rush has become a blues legend with a signature sound he calls "Folk Funk".While initially a Chicago blues singer he eventually broke through with his funkified,soul-blues subject matters.In 1971 he scored big on the R&B chart with the hit single"Chicken Heads",and follwed that up with hit singles "Its Alright","Bow-Legged Woman,Knock Kneed Man", and "She's A Good'un".Bobby began crafting a unique style that included blues,funk and folk.Bobby has recorded with several record companies the last three decades including Jewel,Warner Brothers,Philadelphia International Records,LaJam Records and finally in 1995 with Malaco's Waldoxy Label.At Waldoxy,he released "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"which was nominated for two W.C. Handy awards.The Living Blues Critics Poll named him Best Live Performer in 1995.In 1996 and 1997 he captured The Real Blues Magazine Award for Best Soul/R&B Live Performer.I've seen Bobby Rush perform since I was young teen.He continues to perform frequently in my area and nationwide.He ia truly A LIVING LEGEND.
Marvin Sease: Born Feb. 16,1946 in South Carolina,Mr. Sease got his start by joining a gospel group in nearby Charleston,South Carolina called Five Gospel Singers and later when he was 20 he sang with the Gospel Crowns.But soon his heart was in R&B and he put together the group Sease which included his three brothers.When this went nowhere,Sease himself put out several 45's and eventually got a regular gig at a Brooklyn nightclub called the Casablanca.Sease recred a self-titled LP in 1986 that featured one of his most popular songs "Ghetto Man".He began working the south's so called chitlin circuit of ghetto bars,rural juke joint and blues festivals.Sease signed a deal with Polygram records who re-released his self-titled album with an additional newly recorded ten minute track "Candy Licker"."Candy Licker became an underground sucess on jukeboxes across the south,it was to explicit for radio airplay,but audiences especially female ones flocked to see Sease in concerts.He fashioned himself as a smooth X-Rated ladies man but he sings soul blues and gospel drenched soul with salacious lyrics that appeal to male fans of southern soul.He has recorded hit songs such as "Don't Forget To Tell On You","I Can't Believe",I Can't Afford To Be Caught","Please Take Me","Dreaming" and my personal favorite "Thanks For Loving Me". I've seen Marvin Sease perform a few times the last couple of years and I have had the oppurtunity to meet,talk and take photos with him.The thing that is really great he always remember Big K9.
Mel Waiters: Southern soul star Mel Waiters was born and raised in San Antonio,Texas,where in 1974 he began his performing career at local teen clubs after a stint as a radio DJ.Debuting in 1995 with the album "I'm Serious" featured the hit singles "Hit It And Quit It" and "Lets Do Each Other".In 1997 "Suki-Suki Man" was released with the singles "Teddy Bear" and "Mind On Me".He followed up with the album "Woman In Need" which produce the hit single"Got My Whiskey".It was his next album that made Mel really blow up."Material Things" included the smash hit "Hole In The Wall".People all over the country was able to relate to this classic hit.It stayed on the national charts for months.Mel shows today are very popular with the female audiences.He is a strong presence on the blues and southern soul circuit today.
Denise Lasalle: Was born July 16,1939 in Belzoni,Mississippi.She began singing at an early age in local churches around Leflore Conuty.Lasalle's early influences were Ruth Brown,Dinah Washington, and Lavern Baker.She moved to Chicago in her early twenties and became familar with the Chicago blues singers and began giving them her music to listen to.She signed with Westbound Records and in 1971 recorded her first hit single "Trapped By A Thing Called Love".In 1982 she signed with Malaco Records and recorded 11 albums including Lady In The Street(1983),Right Place,Right Time(1984),Love Talkin'(1985),Hittin' Where It Hurts(1989),Still Trapped(1990),Still Bad(1994), and Smokin' In Bed(1997).I've seen Denise Lasalle perform since I was a youngster back in Mound Bayou,Mississippi.She is one of my favorite female recording artists. Bill Coday: Was born May 10,1942 in Coldwater,MS,Coday began his singing career as a teenager,performing in Blytheville,AK with a band that included guitarist Son Seals.In 1961 he relocated to Chicaco and became known as Chicago Willie.While performing at a Chicago club he was discovered by Denise Lasalle,she teamed him with Memphis icon Willie Mitchell.Coday signed with Crajon Productions who produced the hit singles "Sixty Minute Te