New York Soul  
New York is rarely mentioned in rock histories as a noteworthy soul town; most of the ink is set aside for Detroit, Memphis, Philadelphia and Chicago.  That's partly because New York 1960s soul does not project immediately recognizable traits, and partly because New York production and performers favored an "uptown" style -- with poppish song writing, slick dramatic arrangements and a theatrical melodic flair -- that has never been as in with soul critics as earthier attacks.  Yet there were quite a few singers of merit here that projected a persona just as distinctive as the stars from elsewhere, often complimenting the suave production nicely rather than getting subsumed by it.
 * *Source : Music USA


Ruth Brown
 Born Ruth Weston on 1/30/28 in Portsmouth, Virginia.   Married singer/trumpeter Jimmy Brown in 1945.  In late
1946, sang for one month with Larry Millinder's band, then  fired.  Later heard by Duke Ellington, who alerted Herb
 Abramson of the new-then Atlantic Records.  Abramson signed her to a contract.  Became Atlantic Records' top-selling  artist of the 1950s.  Married for a time to Willis Jackson.  In later years, had acting roles in the TV shows Hello, Larry and Checking In, plus several Broadway and Las Vegas musicals.  Appeared in the  movies Under the Rainbow (1981) and Hairspray (1988).  Starred  in the 1988 musical Black and Blue.  
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
 1) TEARDROPS FROM MY EYES  2) OH WHAT A DREAM   3) 5--10-15 HOURS
 4) (MAMA) HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN  5)  MAMBO BABY


Lavern Baker  

Born Delores Williams on 11/11/29 in Chicago.  Recorded as "Little Miss Share Cropper" and "Bea Baker".  After working the Todd Rhodes Orchestra, 1052-53, toured Europe, solo.  Returned to work for Atlantic Records and became one of the most popular R&B singers in the early rock era.  Backing group; The Gliders.  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Fall of Fame in 1991.  Lost both legs to diabetes by 1996.    
1) JIM DANDY  2)  CRIED A TEAR  3) PLAY IT FAIR  4) BOP-TING-A-LING  5) TWEEDLE-DEE


Ray Charles  

Born Ray Charles Robinson on 9/23/30 in Albany, Georgia.  To Greenville, Florida, while still an infant.  Partially blind at age five, completely blind at seven (glaucoma).  Studied classical piano and clarinet at State School for Deaf and Blind Children, St. Augustine, Florida, 1937-45.   With local Florida bands; moved to Seattle in 1948.  Formed the McSon Trio (also known as The Maxin Trio with G.D. McKee (guitar) and Milton Garrett (bass).  First recordings were very much in the King Cole Trio style.  Formed own bqnd in 1954.  The 1950s female vocal group, The Cookies, became his backing group, The Raeletts.  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.  Won Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987.  Popular performer with many TV and movie appearances.  
 1) CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU  2) HIT THE ROAD JACK  3) YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE  
4) DROWN IN MY OWN TEARS   5) UNCHAIN MY HEART


Chuck Willis  

Born on 1/31/28 in Atlanta.  Died on 4/10/58 (perforated ulcer).  Singer/songwriter.  First recorded for Columbia in 1951.   Wrote "The Door is Still Open", "Close Your Eyes", "Oh What a Dream" and many others.  Known as the "Sheik of the Blues" for the turban he wore while performing.
 1) C.C. RIDER  2) WHAT AM I LIVING FOR  3) MY STORY


Mickey and Sylvia  

McHouston "Mickey" Baker and Sylvia Vanderpool.  Baker (b:10/15/25, Louisville) was a profilic session man on guitar for Atlantic, Savoy, King, Aladdin and many others.  Vanderpool (b: 3/6/36, New York City), owner of Sugar Hill Records, first recorded as "Little Sylvia" with Hot Lips Page for Columbia in 1950.  Began her solo career in 1973, recorded as Sylvia.


The Drifters  
Vocal group formed to showcase lead singer Clyde McPhatter (former lead singer  of The Dominoes) on Atlantic in 1953.  Included Gerhart and Andrew Thrasher, Bill Pinkney and McPhatter (who went solo in 1955).  Group continued with various lead singers until 1958.  In 1958, manager George Treadwell disbanded the group and brought in The Five Crowns and renamed the Drifters.  The majority of the Drifters' Pop hits were sung by three different lead singers:  Ben E. King (1959-60), Rudy Lewis (1961-63) and Johnny Moore (1957, 1964-66).  Lewis died of a heart attack on 5/20/64 (age 27).  Many personal changes throughout career and several groups have used the name in later years.   Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.  
1) MONEY HONEY  2) HONEY LOVE  3) THERE GOES MY BABY  
4) SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME  5) ADORABLE


The Clovers  
Group from Washington, D.C.  Formed as a trio at Washington High School in 1946.  By 1949, lineup included John "Buddy" Bailey (lead), Matthew McQuater (tenor), Harold Lucas (baritone) Harold Winley (bass) and Bill Harris (guitar).  First recorded for Rainbow Records in 1950, joined Atlantic six months later.  Toured with The Drifters, Ruth Brown and Joe Turner.  In 1954, appeared on the first Alan Freed Show and in Showtime at the Apollo TV series.  Bailey entered the U.S. Army in 1952, replaced by Billy Mitchell.  Upon Bailey's return, Mitchell stayed in the group.  Harris died of pancreatic cancer on 12/10/88 (age 63).  A Clovers unit with Lucas performed until 1992.  Lucas died of cancer on 1/6/94 (age 61).  
1) FOOL, FOOL, FOOL  2) DON'T YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU  3) TING-A-LING  
4) LOVEY-DOVEY  5) GOOD LOVIN'


The Coasters  
Group formed in Los Angeles in late 1955 from elements of The Robins.  Originally consisted of Carl Gardner (ex-Robins; lead), Leon Hughes (tenor), Billy Guy (baritone lead), Bobby Nunn (ex-Robins; bass) and Adolph Jacobs (guitar).  Noted for serio-comic recordings, primarily of Leiber & Stoller songs.  Corneilius Gunter (early member of The Flairs, brother of Shirley Gunter) joined in 1957, left in 1961.  Will "Dub" Jones (ex-Cadets) replaced Nunn in late 1958 and is heard on "Charlie Brown" and "Along Came Jones".  Earl "Speedo" Carroll (ex-Cadillacs) joined group in 1961.  Bobby Nunn died of a heart attack on 11/5/86 (age 61).  Gunter was shot to death on 2/26/90 (age 51).  Today there are two or three "Coasters" groups still working, some of which containor or two original members.  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.  
1) SEARCHIN'  2) YAKETY YAK  3) POISON IVY


Clyde McPhatter  
Born Clyde lensley McPhatter on 11/15/32 in Durham, North Carolina.  Died on 6/13/72 in New York City (heart attack).  Signed by Billy Ward for The Dominoes in 1950.  Left The Dominoes in June 1953 to form own group, The Drifters.  Drafted in 1954, returned to sing solo.  One of the most influential and distinctive male voices of the R&B era.   Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.  
1) A LOVER'S QUESTION  2) TREASURE OF LOVE  3) LONG LONELY NIGHTS


Ben E. King  
Born Benjamin Earl Nelson on 9/23/38 in Henderson, North Carolina.  To New York in 1947.  Worked with The Moonglows for six months while still in high school.  Joined the Five Crowns in 1957, which became the new Drifters in 1959.  Wrote lyrics to "There Goes My Baby", his first lead performance with the Drifters.  Went solo in May 1960.  
1) STAND BY ME  2) SUPERNATURAL THING  3) DON'T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED)  
4) DO IT IN THE NAME OF LOVE  5) AMOR


Solomon Burke  
Born in 1936 in Philadelphia.  Soul Singer.  Preached and broadcast from own church, "Solomon's Temple", in Philadelphia from 1945-55 as the "Wonder Boy Preacher".  Church was founded for him by his grandmother.  First recorded for Apollo in 1954.  Left music to attend mortuary school, returned in 1960.   Inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame 2001  
1) GOT TO GET YOU OFF MY MIND  2) IF YOU NEED ME  3) TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT  4) CRY TO ME  
5) JUST OUT OF REACH (OF MY TWO OPEN ARMS)


Aretha Franklin  
Born on 3/25/42 in Memphis; raised in Buffalo and Detroit.  The all-time Queen of Soul Music.  Daughter of Rev. Cecil L. Franklin, pastor of New Bethel Church in Detroit.  Taught to sing gospel at age 9 by Rev. James Cleveland.  First recorded for JVB/Battle in 1956.  Signed to Columbia Records in 1960 by John Hammond, then dramatic turn in style and success after signing with Atlantic and working with producer Jerry Wexler.  Appeared in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.  Winner of 15 Grammy Awards.  In 1987, became the first woman to be inductted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.   Won Grammy's Living Legends Award in 1990.  
 1) RESPECT  2) NEVER LOVED A MAN (THE WAY I LOVE YOU)  3) FREEWAY OF LOVE
4) SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME  5) SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL


Chuck Jackson  
Born on 7/22/37 in Latta, South Carolina. Cousin of singer Ann Sexton.  Moved to Pittsburgh as a child.  Left college in 1957 to work with the Raspberry Singers gospel group.  With the Dell-Vikings from 1957-59.  First recorded solo as Charles Jackson for Clock in 1959.  
1) ANY DAY NOW (MY WILD BEAUTIFUL BIRD)  2) DON'T WANT TO CRY  3) SOMETHING GOT YOU  
4) TELL HIM I'M NOT HOME  5) WAKE UP CRYING


Garnet Mimms  
Born Garnett Mimms on 11/16/33 in Ashland, West Virginia.  Sang in gospel groups in the Evening Starts, Norfolk Four, Harmonizing Four.  Formed group The Gainors in 1958.  
1) CRY BABY  2) I'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU  3) FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE