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Memphis Soul
Attention might have been diverted from Memphis' black music community with the rise of rockabilly, but R&B would reassert itself as the dominant musical force in the city in the 1960s, principally due to the success of Stax Records, which embodied the earthiest aspects of southern soul. Like Sun, it was that rare independent that only made a huge impact upon the national market, but became virtually synonymous with a specific sound. Stax's pre-emminence in the Memphis soul scene was not absolute; smaller labels in the region, particularly Goldwax, also made some notable contributions to the 1960s, although their exposure was primarily confined to the R&B market or, after the 1960s, specialist collectors. That could not be said of Stax's principal competitor, Hi Records, which became a powerhouse in the 1970s, due mainly to the pioneering efforts of singer Al Green and producer Willie Mitchell. Memphis looked set to reign as an R&B capital for a long time, yet by the end of the 1970s it commercial clout and influence was drastically diminished, due primarily to the tragic collapse of the Stax empire.*
*Source ~ Music USA
The
Dramatics
Detroit
group first recorded for Wingate as the Dynamics in 1966. Members
in 1971; Ron Banks (lead singer), William Howard, Larry Demps, Willie Ford and
Elbert Wilkins. Howard and Wilkins replaced by L.J. Reynolds and Lenny
Mayes in 1973. Reynolds, formerly of Chocolate Syrup, began solo career
in 1981. Banks recorded solo in 1983. Ron Banks and
L.J. Reynolds both returned to the group in 1986. Drummer Carl Smalls
was a member of the Undisputed Truth and Sweat Band. William (Wee
Gee) passed away in 2000.
1) In The
Rain 2) Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get 3) By My Girl 4) Shake It
Well 5) Me and Mrs. Jones
The Mar-Keys
Instrumental group formed in Memphis in Memphis in 1958. Consisted of Charles Axton, Wayne Jackson, Don Nix, Jerry Lee "Smoochie" Smith, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck " Dunn and Terry Johnson. Staff musicians at Stax/Volt. Cropper and Dunn later joined Booker T. & The MG's. Jackson joined The Memphis Home. Axton later joined The Packers.
Rufus Thomas
Born on
3/26/17 in Cayce, Mississippi. Singer/songwriter/choreographer. Father
of singers Carla and Vanessa Thomas. First recorded for Talent in 1950.
DJ at WDIA-Memphis from 1953-74. Recorded for Alligator Records in
the late 1980s.
1) (Do
The) Push and Pull 2) The Breakdown 3) Bear Cat 4) The Funky
Chicken 5) Walking the Dog
Carla
Thomas
Born on
12/21/42 in Memphis. Daughter of Rufus Thomas; sister of Vanessa Thomas.
Sang with the Teentown Singers at age 10. First recorded with
Rufus for Satellite in 1960. Had several duets with Otis Redding.
1) Tramp
2) B-A-B-Y 3) Gee Whiz 4) Knock on Wood 5) Like What
You're Doing (To Me)
Otis
Redding
Born on
9/9/41 in Dawson, Georgia. Killed in plane crash in Lake Monona in
Madison, Wisconsin on 12/10/67. Singer/songwriter/producer/pianist.
First recorded with Johnny Jenkins & The Pinetoppers on Confederate
in 1960. Recorded as a duo with Carla Thomas. Own label,
Jotis. Plane crash also killed four members of the Bar-Kays. Inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
1) (Sittin'
On) The Dock of the Bay 2) I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
3) Tramp
4) Try a
Little Tenderness 5) Respect
Booker T.
& the MG's
Band
formed by sessionmen from Stax Records, Memphis, in 1962. Consisted of
Booker T., Jones keyboard; Steve Cropper, guitar; Donald "Duck"
Dunn, bass; and Al Jackson, drums. MG stands for Memphis Group. Jones
was in a band with classmate Maurice White of Earth, Wind & FIre. Cropper
and Dunn had been in the Mar-Keys. Much session work; recordings
included horns by Andrew Love. Wayne Jackson and Joe Arnold, plus Isaac
Hayes, piano. Group disbanded in 1971 and reorganized for a short time
in 1973. Cropper and Dunn joined the Blues Brothers. Jones
received music degree from Indiana University; married Priscilla Coolidge
(sister of Rita); and did production work for Rita Coolidge, Earl Klugh, Bill
Withers and Willie Nelson (his Stardust album). Group
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
1) Green
Onions 2) Hip Hug-Her 3) Soul-Limbo
Wilson
Pickett
Born on
3/18/41 in Prattville, Alabama. Singer/songwriter. Sang in local
gospel groups. To Detroit in 1955. With The Falcons, 1961-63.
Career took off after recording in Memphis with guitarist/producer Steve
Cropper. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. Sentenced
to one year in jail for striking and injuring a pedestrian in New Jersey while
driving drunk in 1992. Pickett is the quintessential soul singer.
1)
634-5789 (Soulsville, USA) 2) In The Midnight Hour 3) Land
of 1000 Dances
4) Funky
Broadway 5) Don't Knock My Love
Sam and
Dave
Samuel
Moore (b:10/12/35, Miami) and David Prater (b:5/9/37, Ocilla, Georgia). Moore
had been with the Melionaires gospel group and Prater was a solo artist prior
to the duo's meeting in Miami in 1961. First recorded for Alston in
1962. Duo produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. Prater was
killed in a car crash on 4/9/88.
1) Soul
Man 2) Hold On! I'm Comin' 3) When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
Isaac
Hayes
Born on
8/20/42 in Covington, Tennessee. Singer/songwriter/producer/actor.
Session musician for Otis Redding and other artists on the Stax label.
Teamed with songwriter David Porter to compose "Soul Man",
"Hold On! I'm Comin'" and many others. Composed movie scores
for Shaft, Tough Guys, Truck Turner and Robin Hood: Men in Thighs.
Currently the voice of Chef on
television's South Park.
1) Theme
From Shaft 2) Do Your Thing 3) Never Can Say Goodbye 4)
Joy 5) Ike's Rap
Eddie
Floyd
Born on
6//25/35 in Montgomery, Alabama; raised in Detroit. Original member of
The Falcons 1955-1963. Eddie's uncle, Robert West, founded the Lu Pine
record label.
1) Knock
On Wood 2) I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) 3)
Bring It On Home To Me
The
Emotions
Female
trio from Chicago, consisting of sisters Wanda (lead), Sheila and Jeanette
Hutchinson. First worked as child gospel group called the Heavenly
Sunbeams. Left gospel, became The Emotions in 1968. Jeanette
replaced by cousin Theresa Davis in 1970 and later by sister Pamela. Jeanette
returned to the group in 1978.
1) Best of
My Love 2) Boogie Wonderland 3) So I Can Love You 4) Smile
5) Don't Ask My Neighbors
Johnnie
Taylor
Born on
5/5/38 in Crawfordsville, Arkansas. With gospel group the Highway QC's
in Chicago, early 1950s. In vocal group the Five Echoes, recorded for
Sabre in 1954. In the Soul Stirrers gospel group before going solo.
First solo recording for SAR in 1961. Known as The Soul
Philosopher. Died in 2000.
1) Disco
Lady 2) Who's Making Love 3) Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone 4)
Believe In You (You Believe In Me)
5) Cheaper
To Keep Her
The Staple
Singers
Family
group consisting of Roebuck "Pops" Staple born in Winoma,
Mississippi, with his son Pervis (who left in 1971) and daughters Cleotha,
Yvonne and lead singer Mavis Staples. Roebuck was a blues guitarist in
his teens, later with the Golden Trumpets gospel group. Moved to Chicago
in 1935. Formed own gospel group in the early 50s. First recorded
for United in 1953. Mavis began solo career in 1970. "Pops"
died in 2001.
1) I'll
Take You There 2) If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) 3) Let's Do It
Again 4) Respect Yourself
5) Touch A
Hand, Make A Friend
Al Green
Born on 4/13/46 in Forest City, Arkansas. Soul singer/songwriter. With gospel group the Greene Brothers. To Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1959. First recorded for Fargo in 1960. In group The Creations from 1964-67. Sang with his brother Robert Green and Lee Virgins in the group Soul Mates from 1967-68. Went solo in 1969. Wrote most of his songs. Returned to gospel music in 1980. Recorded for Hi Records in Memphis. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
1) Let's Stay Together 2) L-O-V-E (Love) 3) I'm Still in Love With You
4) Livin' For You 5) You Ought To Be With Me
