MARCH 12,2006:
Hello blues and southern soul fans.Last night I attended a SOUL CONCERT sponsored by J.J.& K.J. PRODUCTION right here in Big K9's hometown of Cleveland,Mississippi.MR. LEE'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION was the theme and anybody familar with the Chicago music scene know about this awesome lineup that put on one hell of a show for us country folks last night.
The lineup included Mr. JoJo MURRAY & THE TOP FLIGHT BAND out of Chicago,Sydney Jo Qualls,the birthday boy himself Mr. Lee(who also was the mc)& Company with Bro. Shane and THE VERY SOULFUL STAN MOSLEY.I was joined on this night by Sylvia(fiance'),Zina & Dynitha(sister-in laws) and a host of other family and friends.The smaller the club the bigger the party and people WE COUNTRY FOLKS in Cleveland,Mississippi know how to party.
The Top Flight Band hit the stage first and got the party started.Tyrone Davis had the Platnium Band behind him and they ruled the Chicago music scene but The Top Flight Band can hold their on with anyone.If Chicago ever had a battle of the bands Platnium vs Top Flight people I would have to flip a coin but thats a story for another day.The band set the tone by opening up with Tyrone Davis's "Can I Change My Mind".There was no front man so when I heard a soulful voice floating through the building I had to go down by the stage to see what was really going on?The drummer, Mr. Lewis Powell was belting out Tyrone's soulful lyrics and it sounded oh so good.The packed house loved it.People jumped up and hit the dance floor and remember people this is just the band opening up the show.The talented Lewis Powell followed that with Z.Z. Hill's "Down Home Blues" and the crowd was completely into the show.This was one of the few times that I can ever remember seeing a band with no front man tearing up a show at the beginning.AWESOME is all that I can say.
The first performer on the night was Sydney Jo Qualls.I have to admit that I had no idea who this talented brother was.I found out on this night that this gifted soul singer is a 2006 version of Al Green.I know the people in Chicago already know about him but now the folks in the country know him very well also.He began his performance with Al Green's "Lets Get Married" and the house erupted.I love to see country folks having a good time.He left the stage and started moving through the audience.His voice was very soulful and the ladies in attendance were being swept off their feet.He followed that up with Clarence Carter's "Slip Away".I can go on all day talking about this gifted brother.His renditions of "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart","Someone Else Is Stepping In","Take It To The Rythm",and "Change Gonna Come" got huge ovations.He closed the show with McKinely Mitchell's "End Of The Rainbow" and I was joined on the dance floor by Sylvia (fiance').With his soulful voice and strong stagemanship I expect to see and hear big things from this young man in the very near future.He stole the show.
The next performer was the sensational Stan Mosley.I talked with Stan briefly before the show and he told me that the spotlight was not on him tonight and that he was there in a guest capacity.He said the night belong to JoJo Murray,Sydney Jo, and Mr. Lee.He told me that he would only do a limited number of selections.This was my first time seeing him perform so I was looking forward to his performance.Stan hit the stage and the country folks were ready.I didn't know Stan was so popular here.The crowd gave him a big ovation and the ladies were yelling his name and folks the man didn't disappoint.He opened the show with Johnnie Taylor's "Last Two Dollars" and his powerful voice captured the crowd immediately.I've listen to his songs on cd but his live vocals are amazing.SOULFUL is the word to describe his powerful voice.He followed that up with Bobby Womack's "Thats The Way I Feel About You" and he had the dance floor packed."Love & Happiness" and "Wall To Wall" kept the party jumping.Stan performed one of my favorite songs "Don't Make Me Creep" and it sounded just as good live as it do on cd.He closed his performance with "You're Gonna Make Me Cheat".I've seen a number of shows and one of the ways that I measure an artist performance is by their live vocals and the Soulful Stan Mosley is among the best that I've ever heard.It was a great performance by Stan The Man.
After Stan's performance the birthday boy Mr. Lee who by the way turned 64 went into a number of fast paced,electrifying dance moves.Anybody that know Mr. Lee know that SOUL is his middle name.He and Don Cornelius started SOUL TRAIN back in 1971.His dance moves are rivaled only by the GODFATHER OF SOUL JAMES BROWN.He was joined on stage by his good friend Bro. Shane and folks they began to rip the stage up.Bro. Shane began belting out James Brown "I Feel Good" and the dynamic Mr. Lee got those magical feet moving.The ladies sitting by the stage couldn't have been prepared for what was coming next.The Top Flight Band kept a funky music beat going and Bro.Shane and Mr.Lee got x-rated.Marvin Sease eat your heart out.These old school cats displayed tongues that could wrap around a 20ft telephone pole.Grown folks stuff and the crowd in attendance loved it.Two women sitting in the front row even got a male lap dance,only in the country.Mr. Lee went into a series of flips(including a dive and a couple of rolls) and he topped it off by standing on his head and wagging his tail.Enough said.
The last performer was Mr. JoJo Murray and he began his performance with a bang.His rendition of Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love To Your Old Lady" got the dance floor jumping again.Following that song he began talking about the friendship the he has shared with Mr.Lee and Stan Mosley, a friendship that has spanned nearly four decades.I know the people of Chicago are greatful to have them on the music scene.He performed a rendition of Bobby "Blue" Bland's "You Got To Hurt Before You Can Heal" and once again me and Sylvia hit the dance floor.She enjoys the blues and southern soul but she doesn't attend a lot of shows but after last night I believe thats about to change.She was really enjoying herself and I was glad to be joined by her on this night.He performed "Its Too Late To Turn Back Now" and it sounded so damn good.The dance floor was packed and the country folks were still having a good time.He closed the show with Tyrone Davis"Banging The Headboard". After the show we all took some pictures and talked briefly.I told them how much I enjoyed their show and I hope that the rest of the country will soon hear about this great music machine.Chicago finest take a bow.One hell of a show.
Big K9
Hello blues and southern soul fans.Last night I attended a SOUL CONCERT sponsored by J.J.& K.J. PRODUCTION right here in Big K9's hometown of Cleveland,Mississippi.MR. LEE'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION was the theme and anybody familar with the Chicago music scene know about this awesome lineup that put on one hell of a show for us country folks last night.
The lineup included Mr. JoJo MURRAY & THE TOP FLIGHT BAND out of Chicago,Sydney Jo Qualls,the birthday boy himself Mr. Lee(who also was the mc)& Company with Bro. Shane and THE VERY SOULFUL STAN MOSLEY.I was joined on this night by Sylvia(fiance'),Zina & Dynitha(sister-in laws) and a host of other family and friends.The smaller the club the bigger the party and people WE COUNTRY FOLKS in Cleveland,Mississippi know how to party.
The Top Flight Band hit the stage first and got the party started.Tyrone Davis had the Platnium Band behind him and they ruled the Chicago music scene but The Top Flight Band can hold their on with anyone.If Chicago ever had a battle of the bands Platnium vs Top Flight people I would have to flip a coin but thats a story for another day.The band set the tone by opening up with Tyrone Davis's "Can I Change My Mind".There was no front man so when I heard a soulful voice floating through the building I had to go down by the stage to see what was really going on?The drummer, Mr. Lewis Powell was belting out Tyrone's soulful lyrics and it sounded oh so good.The packed house loved it.People jumped up and hit the dance floor and remember people this is just the band opening up the show.The talented Lewis Powell followed that with Z.Z. Hill's "Down Home Blues" and the crowd was completely into the show.This was one of the few times that I can ever remember seeing a band with no front man tearing up a show at the beginning.AWESOME is all that I can say.
The first performer on the night was Sydney Jo Qualls.I have to admit that I had no idea who this talented brother was.I found out on this night that this gifted soul singer is a 2006 version of Al Green.I know the people in Chicago already know about him but now the folks in the country know him very well also.He began his performance with Al Green's "Lets Get Married" and the house erupted.I love to see country folks having a good time.He left the stage and started moving through the audience.His voice was very soulful and the ladies in attendance were being swept off their feet.He followed that up with Clarence Carter's "Slip Away".I can go on all day talking about this gifted brother.His renditions of "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart","Someone Else Is Stepping In","Take It To The Rythm",and "Change Gonna Come" got huge ovations.He closed the show with McKinely Mitchell's "End Of The Rainbow" and I was joined on the dance floor by Sylvia (fiance').With his soulful voice and strong stagemanship I expect to see and hear big things from this young man in the very near future.He stole the show.
The next performer was the sensational Stan Mosley.I talked with Stan briefly before the show and he told me that the spotlight was not on him tonight and that he was there in a guest capacity.He said the night belong to JoJo Murray,Sydney Jo, and Mr. Lee.He told me that he would only do a limited number of selections.This was my first time seeing him perform so I was looking forward to his performance.Stan hit the stage and the country folks were ready.I didn't know Stan was so popular here.The crowd gave him a big ovation and the ladies were yelling his name and folks the man didn't disappoint.He opened the show with Johnnie Taylor's "Last Two Dollars" and his powerful voice captured the crowd immediately.I've listen to his songs on cd but his live vocals are amazing.SOULFUL is the word to describe his powerful voice.He followed that up with Bobby Womack's "Thats The Way I Feel About You" and he had the dance floor packed."Love & Happiness" and "Wall To Wall" kept the party jumping.Stan performed one of my favorite songs "Don't Make Me Creep" and it sounded just as good live as it do on cd.He closed his performance with "You're Gonna Make Me Cheat".I've seen a number of shows and one of the ways that I measure an artist performance is by their live vocals and the Soulful Stan Mosley is among the best that I've ever heard.It was a great performance by Stan The Man.
After Stan's performance the birthday boy Mr. Lee who by the way turned 64 went into a number of fast paced,electrifying dance moves.Anybody that know Mr. Lee know that SOUL is his middle name.He and Don Cornelius started SOUL TRAIN back in 1971.His dance moves are rivaled only by the GODFATHER OF SOUL JAMES BROWN.He was joined on stage by his good friend Bro. Shane and folks they began to rip the stage up.Bro. Shane began belting out James Brown "I Feel Good" and the dynamic Mr. Lee got those magical feet moving.The ladies sitting by the stage couldn't have been prepared for what was coming next.The Top Flight Band kept a funky music beat going and Bro.Shane and Mr.Lee got x-rated.Marvin Sease eat your heart out.These old school cats displayed tongues that could wrap around a 20ft telephone pole.Grown folks stuff and the crowd in attendance loved it.Two women sitting in the front row even got a male lap dance,only in the country.Mr. Lee went into a series of flips(including a dive and a couple of rolls) and he topped it off by standing on his head and wagging his tail.Enough said.
The last performer was Mr. JoJo Murray and he began his performance with a bang.His rendition of Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love To Your Old Lady" got the dance floor jumping again.Following that song he began talking about the friendship the he has shared with Mr.Lee and Stan Mosley, a friendship that has spanned nearly four decades.I know the people of Chicago are greatful to have them on the music scene.He performed a rendition of Bobby "Blue" Bland's "You Got To Hurt Before You Can Heal" and once again me and Sylvia hit the dance floor.She enjoys the blues and southern soul but she doesn't attend a lot of shows but after last night I believe thats about to change.She was really enjoying herself and I was glad to be joined by her on this night.He performed "Its Too Late To Turn Back Now" and it sounded so damn good.The dance floor was packed and the country folks were still having a good time.He closed the show with Tyrone Davis"Banging The Headboard". After the show we all took some pictures and talked briefly.I told them how much I enjoyed their show and I hope that the rest of the country will soon hear about this great music machine.Chicago finest take a bow.One hell of a show.
Big K9