 Soul music made it’s way north, east & west via the same train routes that carried rural Black workers from their homes in the south to the industrial north. As these "Blues people" made their way north, the music that they brought with them fused with the sophisticated urban sounds of jazz to create the sound first called "race music" and then later referred to as "rhythm & blues". As this music known as R&B began to gain acceptance among whites, it became split artificially and became known as "rock n’ roll" (for whites only) and "soul" (for Blacks only).As far as we are concerned it’s ALL Classic Soul !!! This web site will explore the past, present and future of the music that was the "soul" of the greatest freedom movement in the history of the United States. Hosted/Programmed By Soul-Patrol.com's Bob Davis  All day long, all night long all of the time PHILLY: CAMEO-PARKWAY RECORDS REUNION SHOW, feat: Charlie Gracie, Dee Dee Sharp, the Orlons and Tymes @ Cannstatter's Crystal Ballroom. Sat. February 13th 8:00pm - 11:30pm  Listen to the music of the 50 's &60 's with the songs like …Butterfly, 99 Ways, Mashed Potato, The Bird, The Wahtusi, South Street, So Much In Love, Wonderful, Wonderful, Miss Grace and all with live music from two incredible back-up bands @ Cannstatter's Crystal Ballroom. Sat. February 13th 8:00pm - 11:30pm (call 215-983-5200, for info)Charlie Gracie, Dee Dee Sharp, the Orlons and Tymes...all sold millions of discs in the late 1950s and early 60s-and all contributed to making the Cameo-Parkway label the nation's largest independent record company in the nation from--1957 through 1963. All of them continue to tour nationally and internationally and still enjoy a global fan base. Charlie Gracie's hits Butterfly (#1), Fabulous (#16), Ninety Nine Ways (#11) got the label off the ground in 1957 and '58. He had 5 titles reach the British Top 20 as well, including: Wandering Eyes, I Love You So Much It Hurts and Cool Baby. Charlie's new cd with guest artists--Graham Nash, Peter Noone, Al Kooper Keb Mo and others will be out in the spring of 2010. Dee Dee Sharp had 5 monster top 10's in the early 60s: Mashed Potato Time, Gravy, The Bird, Ride and Slow Twistin' with Chubby Checker. She also scored chart placings in the late 70s and early 80s when the Philly Soul sound ruled the airwaves. The Orlons and Stephen Caldwell carved up the Top 10 as well with The Wah Wahtusi, South Street, and Don't Hang Up. Other Top 20 hits followed: Crossfire and Not Me. The Tymes reached # 1 with So Much In Love and followed with Wonderful Wonderful (#7) , Somewhere (# 19), You Little Trust Maker (#12) and the British #1, Miss Grace JOIN US FOR THIS HISTORIC SHOW! Saturday Feb 13 th 8pm to 11:30pm Cannstatter 's - 9130 Academy Road - Philadelphia, PA 19114 Tickets $35.00 Each, All seats reserved, Meet & Greet 7:00pm to 7:45pm Tables can be reserved for 10 people Full Dinner is available from 5:30pm in the main dining room, Price is $15.00 (pay when you get there) For Tickets please send a check and a self addressed stamped envelope to: Digi - 3580 Progress Drive,Unit J -1 - Bensalem,PA 19020 DigiConcerts.Biz or 215-983-5200 Statement from Marshall Thompson of the Chi-Lites on the passing of Robert "Squirrel" Lester  Marshall Thompson, leader of The Chi-Lites, mourns the loss of his partner, Robert "Squirrel" Lester. Squirrel was an original member of The Chi-Lites. They have been sharing the stage together for the past 50 years and were about to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Today I am mourning the loss of my dear partner and friend, Robert "Squirrel" Lester. He and I have been performing together for the past 50 years and now I am facing the reality that my friend has left me behind. I pray for peace to his family, friends and to each of you. I also ask that you include me in your prayers as I attempt to accept his passing, knowing that after a short illness, he is no longer suffering and has made his final journey. He will remain in my heart and can never be replaced. Funeral arrangements for Squirrel are the following: His body will lie-in-state all day Wednesday, February 3, 2010 from 12:00 noon at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, 47th and King Drive, Chicago, IL. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010. The service will be as follows: Family hour - 11:00 a.m., funeral at 12:00 noon at Third Baptist Church of Chicago 1551 West 95th Street (95th and Ashland) Chicago, Illinois 60643. Phone (773) 445-8500. Fax (773) 445-2957. Interment to follow immediately after services. Repast to follow in the church ballroom. If you plan to attend either day, please advise as I am attempting to reserve seating for all artists/personalities and media staff. Flowers, cards and telegrams can be sent to Minor-Morris Funeral Home, 1018 West 79th Street, Joliet, IL 60433 - 815-723-1283. Please keep his family members and The Chi-Lites in prayer. Squirrel is survived by his wife, Louise; 9 children, his mother and 3 sisters. . --Marshall Thompson, leader of The Chi-Lites.  CHI-LITES LIVE: Are You My Woman, More Power To The People, Lonley Man, I Want To Pay You Back, Stoned Out Of My Mind, You Don't Know My Name, Letter To Myself, Oh Girl, Have You Seen Her, Low Key LOW KEY: Low Key, Still In My Head, Hold On To Your Dreams, Sly, Slick and Wicked  R.I.P - "Teddy Bear" March 26, 1950-January 13, 2010  The official public viewing will be held Friday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2800 West Cheltenham Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19150. The funeral will be held Saturday, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m., also at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. Internment will follow at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to The Joan & Teddy Pendergrass Memorial, P.O. Box 382, Gladwyne, PA 19035.. (bio from Wiki) Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass, Sr. (March 26, 1950 - January 13, 2010) was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Also known by the nicknames Teddy P, TP, or Teddy Bear, Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before embarking on a successful solo career at the end of the decade. Early life Teddy Pendergrass was born to Ida Geraldine Epps and the late Jesse Pendergrass (murdered in 1962), who left when Pendergrass was young and was not a part of his life. He was a student at the old Thomas Edison High School for Boys in Philadelphia. However, he dropped out[3] in the 11th grade to go into the music business. According to author Robert Ewell Greene, Pendergrass was ordained a minister as a youngster. Later he was to become a drummer for a band, and later lead singer. The church was his initiation for talent and eventual success. Career Pendergrass's career began when he was a drummer for The Cadillacs, which soon merged with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Melvin invited Pendergrass to become the lead singer after he jumped from the rear of a stage and started singing his heart out. Months later the group signed with Gamble & Huff on the then CBS subsidiary Philadelphia International Records in 1972. The Blue Notes had hits such as "I Miss You," "Bad Luck," "Wake Up Everybody," the two million seller "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and many more. Following personality conflicts between Melvin and Pendergrass, Pendergrass launched a solo career and released hit singles like "The More I Get the More I Want," "Close the Door," "I Don't Love You Anymore," "Turn Off the Lights" and others. His first solo album was self titled Teddy Pendergrass (1977), followed by Life is a Song Worth Singing (1978), Live Coast to Coast and Teddy (1979), 1980's TP and the final Philadelphia International Records album It's Time for Love (1981). He also sang a duet with Whitney Houston on "Hold Me," from her self-titled debut album. Accident On March 18, 1982, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia on Lincoln Drive, Pendergrass was involved in an automobile accident when the brakes failed on his Rolls-Royce and he hit a tree. Pendergrass and his passenger, Tenika Watson, a transsexual nightclub performer with whom Pendergrass was casually acquainted, were trapped in the wreckage for 45 minutes. While Watson walked away from the accident with minor injuries, Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. In August 1982, PIR also released This One's for You, while Pendergrass was recovering from an automobile accident. In 1983, the album Heaven Only Knows was released. This was his last album containing his pre-accident recordings. Ten years after the accident, he recorded a version of "One Shining Moment," the theme for March Madness Basketball on CBS. After completing physical therapy, he returned to the studio to record the album Love Language, featuring the 1984 ballad "Hold Me", a duet with a then-unknown Whitney Houston. He also returned to the public for a performance on July 13, 1985 at the historic Live Aid concert in Philadelphia, then continued to record throughout the 1980s and 90s. Later career In 1996, he starred alongside Stephanie Mills in the touring production of the gospel musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God. In 1998, Pendergrass released his autobiography entitled, Truly Blessed. In 2006, Pendergrass announced his retirement from the music business. In 2007, he briefly returned to performing to participate in Teddy 25: A Celebration of Life, Hope & Possibilities, a 25th anniversary awards ceremony that marked Pendergrass' accident date, but also raised money for his charity, The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, and honored those who helped Pendergrass since his accident. Death In 2009, Pendergrass entered Bryn Mawr Hospital for treatment from a rare illness related to his paralysis condition. He died there on January 13, 2010, at age 59. Revisionist History - Rod Stewart - Soulbook, (The Greatest Soul Singer of All Time) (Soul)  WHO OWNS HISTORY?It is often said that one should never pick a fight with someone who "order's ink by the barrel." That is of course a reference to picking a fight with the press, because you simply can't win. They will overwhelm you with written documentation. The same concept can also be applied to individuals who would like to adjust their historical legacy in whatever way that would make their legacy somehow different for people who don't have first hand knowledge, than what the reality of the memories of the people who did have first hand knowledge of what that individual's actual legacy was. Individuals who control the written (including text, graphics, video, audio) documentation about their own historical legacy are in a position to frame that legacy in whatever manner they would like to. These individuals know that their written documentation will outlast the "opinions" of people who have firsthand knowledge of the truth. Thus they are in a position to create their own version of history with the full knowledge that 100 years after the fact, it will be their version of history that will be regarded as the factual truth as opposed to the "opinions" of other people, who are now dead. THOSE WHO TAKE THE TIME TO DOCUMENT IT I say all of this to let you know that is exactly what is occurring in the case of Rod Stewart and that it was predicted by Soul-Patrol many years ago, when we analyzed the 1 hour broadcast on VH-1 of "Rod Stewart: Behind the Music.".....(Commentary Continued Here) Concert Review- Eccentric Soul Review Starring Syl Johnson- Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York Friday Nov. 13  What do you get when you put together a passionate record company with great, often forgotten artists, and the young, hungry R&B loving musicians backing them? The triumph that is the Numero Records’ Eccentric Soul Revue. Rolling into the Music Hall of the very Bohemian hipster haven of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the tour finale opened with JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound who ultimately served as house band for all the acts Think Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and you get an idea of what this ultra tight, horn heavy band is. Vocalist JC Brooks is a young dynamo who may not have the steps of a James Brown or Jackie Wilson, but certainly has the energy and passion. He also served as host/MC of the show, bringing up the first guest in an unsung hero of Chicago soul, Renaldo Domino. Although he possesses a heavenly voice, he never was a big seller and quit the music business in the early 70s. With a sound as sweet as sugar, he wowed the appreciative and vocal crowd. Brooks and the boys returned to do two sizzling numbers (which they did between each set throughout the night). They then brought out early female rap pioneer Missy Dee, who also never got the mainstream exposure she deserved. Her two numbers were dazzling and this is coming from someone who is not the world’s biggest rap fan. The wonderful Notations were up next. This quartet was blessed by working with the brilliant Curtis Mayfield early in their careers and charted a few national hits. Exuding class and grace, their impeccable dress and choreographed steps reminded one of the legends still touring on the 70s Soul Jam. Although far less known than the Stylistics and other peers of that era, they were just wonderful, even doing breathtaking accapella. Their 30 minute set was a highlight of the evening. And then there was Syl Johnson. At 73 years old, my friend said to me with amazement, “He looks 50.” And he, in fact, had the energy of a man a fraction of his age. Whether singing, playing harmonica, or doing call and response, he remains as great a showman as you’ll see on any stage. He thanked the many, many rappers who sampled him and paid for his house. His 40 or so minute set was memorable, ending with his brilliant hit Take Me To The River that Al Green wrote for him. Simply put, what this man did was just magic. All the artists came on stage for two encores, finishing with Archie Bell’s classic Tighten Up. The crowd literally roared its love and approval at the end of the amazing event. Although I felt that Mr. Domino as well as Ms. Dee certainly deserved more stage time, this was as close to a flawless show as one is likely to see. I only hope that the harsh economics of touring somehow work for Numero’s Eccentric Soul Review. At a bargain $25 the great, great two hour gig had the packed hall rocking. But their Manhattan booking the night before was, in fact, cancelled. That any R&B fan within a hundred miles would pass on the rare opportunity to see a Syl Johnson live makes me scratch my head, but such is our couch potato society. Do anything you can to support this company and their live events. You certainly won’t regret it. Go here for more info: http://bit.ly/KZnpj --Evan Ginzburg --Bob Davis 609-351-0154 earthjuice@prodigy.net RIP JOHNNIE CARTER  I'm sorry to report that Dells tenor, Johnnie Carter has passed away. Johnnie is one of the few artists who have been inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame twice. I was in attendance both times. That simple fact however only tells part of the story... It seems to me that we can't possibly discuss the THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY DELLS enough, and we haven't used this space to talk about them in quite a while, so we are going to do so today. The Dells really are at the core of much of what has occured in Black music over the past 50 years. I realize that a whole bunch of yall don't want to belive me? However I have proof for you... Take a listen to the following internet radio brroadcast on the history of the THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY DELLS, where you will not only be able to listen to all of their greatest hits, but also listen to the commentary/analysis provided by our co-hosts ("nightrain" & "funkoverlord") which tells you exactly how THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY DELLS, are in fact what "connects the dots" of Black music history.  LISTEN TO: SOUL-PATROL'S TRIBUTE TO 2004 ROCK N' ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES - THE MIGHTY DELLS World Famous Nightrain Radio Program, featuring Soul-Patrol’s Tribute to the Mighty Dells. Introduced by Soul-Patroller and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer, Terry Johnson of the Flamingos. With commentary analysis and perspective on the 50 year career of black music legends Mighty Dells from nightrain and tha Funkoverlord, connecting the dots between the Mighty, Mighty Dells, Chicago Soul, Charles Stephany, EWF, Minnie Riperton, Temptations, Vee Jay, Chess, Willie Dixon, Robert Townsand, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, Sun Ra, P-Funk, and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. Featuring music from the Dells Anthology (HIP-O Records): Dreams of Contentment, Oh, What a Night, Oh What a Nite, Pain In My Heart, There Is, Stay In My Corner, Sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue, Love Is So Simple, Always Together, Open Up My Heart, Glory Of Love, Standing Ovation, Heart Is a Home For Love... Be sure that when you listen, that you share it with your children I have :) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN! While you are listening, click on the following link. It will take you to over 3,000 listings that we have stored in our data base about the MIGHTY, MIGHTY DELLS. We have discussed the MIGHTY, MIGHTY DELLS here on Soul-Patrol.com more than any other artist  The Mighty Dells in the Soul-Patrol.com Data Base My reflections on Micheal Jackson (RIP 1958 - 2009)  I was just interviewed and asked to give my reflections on Michael Jackson.Here is what I said, I dunno if this is how they will run it... "Michael Jackson was a cultural icon that surpassed all others that you might be tempted to compare him to. Unlike others such as Elvis, the Beatles or others, the legacy created by the Jackson's was totally ORIGINAL. They truly created something out of nothing and Michael Jackson was the star of that something. Although that might be considered to be an amazing thing, Black Americans have been creating something out of nothing since the beginning of time. Michael Jackson became the most famous person on the face of the earth because of his role in creating something that ultimately he found a way to eclipse. So in effect he first created a star for his family and then created an even bigger star for himself. I don't think that anyone else has come close to accomplishing that." --Bob Davis For more on Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five check out the following link: http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/jackson5.htm RIP - Randy Cain of The Delfonics  PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Randy Cain, a founding member of the soul group the Delfonics, which had such hits as "La La Means I Love You," has died. He was 63. Cain's death Thursday at his home in Maple Shade, N.J., was confirmed by investigator Rob O'Neal of the Burlington County medical examiner's office, who declined to release other details. Brothers William and Wilbert Hart and Cain formed the group while attending Philadelphia's Overbrook High in the 1960s. The group, one of the earliest to define the smooth, soulful "Philadelphia sound," won an R&B Grammy in 1970 for their song "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time." Cain left the group in 1971 but returned for a later version of the group. That is what the "mainstream media" has to say about Randy Cain. However as all of you who are reading this know, that is just the tip of the iceberg. The passing of Randy Cain is a milestone in the history of Black music. The Delfonics (or Delphonics) were the "creame de la creame" of the genre of "slow jams." The fact that the original group can never perform again, is a serious milestone. Randy Cain was someone that I got to know only over the course of the past few years, thanks to our friend Wilbert Hart, here in NJ. He was a heck of a nice man. I met with Randy many times inside of the home of Wilbert Hart. He was genuinely excited at being a part of Soul-Patrol. When the Delfonics were honored at the R&B Foundation Awards a few years ago with a Pioneer Award (see picture where I got to be a "delphonic" for 30 seconds, Randy Cain is on the far left), I can tell you that Randy was on top of the world. Beyond the award itself, the thing that he seemed to be most happy about was the fact that ALL THREE ORIGINAL DELFONICS were finally re-united in what was certainly a positive public setting. But it seemed to me that he was a "troubled soul." My hope is that Randy Cain is now at peace with himself. I just spoke with Wilbert Hart via telephone and he tells me that Randy Cain's funeral arrangements are currently pending and I'll post more details as I get them... Here is a tribute to Randy Cain/Delfonics By our friend ELP... Anything that even remotely has anything to do with the Delphonics gets my interest. It should come as no surprise then that I am deeply saddened by the loss of Randy Cain. There was nothing like Randy, Poog and Wilbur doin their thang at the Uptown back in the day. As a student of Delphonics music, it has only been in the last 10 or 15 years that I realized the importance of the Delphonics, Thom Bell and their overall contribution to the vaunted 'Sound Of Philadelphia'. The term 'sexy soul' was coined and subsequently owned by these cats. Think about it. Thom Bell was a flat out genius to surround these cats with the lush orchestrations that he did but it was the trademark soaring tenor of William 'Poogie' Hart along with the seductive moaning-almost-weeping backgrounds of Randy Cain and Wilbert Hart that mesmerized. Let's see you had the french horn opening of Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The french horn....hmmm...where did we hear that sort of sound? In the movies in all of those period flicks. Hunting music. Robin Hood music. Gladiator music. Hunting music...that's all of that nostril-flaring-heavy-breathing-breasts-heaving-ruby-red-lipstick-mouth-agape sort of music. Basically ALL of the Delphonics music is like that. Ready Or Not, Walk Right Up To The Sun, La La, Break Your Promise (sexy-as-HELL guitar line), Somebody Loves You. You name one, there's more. Each and every one of em had that thing that made both men and women swoon, roll their eyes around in their heads and proceed to invoke those virile passions of unspent youth. Y'all know what I'm talkin about. Ike and Barry and even Loofah were sexy but not like this. This was no sweetly lyrical Smokey or metro-man accommodating Prince or Babyface. This was all brash If You Think You're Lonely Now sort of declarations. Sweet and nasty but pulling no punches about anything. Eric Benet brings this to the table now. In another era these cats would be smoking jacket and ascot clad lounge lizard cad types. That was then. At any rate as you can see, I LOVE the Delphonics. I always hope for a reunion. I never thought any of em would be dying so soon. At least not Randy. Que sera sera. --ELP --Bob Davis 609-351-0154 earthjuice@prodigy.net Will a (cultural) Change Actually Come??? (Check Out Gerald Alston's New Music Video "A Change Is Gonna Come")  According to the "experts", if the election were held today, Senator Obama would win. Many of those experts are suggesting that a "generational shift" is occurring. History has proven that when "generational shifts" occur, it means big changes for the culture.If we accept those three things as a fact for just a moment...Lets play pretend...and ask ourselves the question, once the "newness" wears off... What cultural changes would you predict are actually going to occur, if we were to look back at the past, 4 years from now? --Music --Film --TV --Internet --Youth Culture --General Behavior & Attitudes --Would the mere presence of Senator Obama in the White House cause these changes to occur? (or does he have to "do something specific" in order to kick start things, and what would that specific thing have to be?) --Would the deepening financial crisis cause any potential cultural changes that might occur to not occur? (will people be too consumed with issues of financial survival and "having fun" will simply be pushed to the "back burner?") --Or will there really be little "cultural change" at all, and we will look back 4 years from now and things will be relatively the "same" as they are today? While you are pondering this, watch & listen to Gerald Alston's great new video of the classic "A Change Is Gonna Come", dedicated to Senator Obama! WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS??? (send me an email and let me know what's on your mind) --Bob Davis 609-351-0154 earthjuice@prodigy.net PHILLY: R&B FOUNDATION 20th ANNIVERSARY PIONEER AWARDS (9/9/2008)  Well this event is done and I wanted to do a quick brain dump. We have tons of pictures, audio/text interviews. Kevin Amos, T.Watts and I worked our be-hinds off documenting all of this and although we are tired, we are smiling. We are smiling because this was a fantastic three days that have made me extremely proud to be a Black American. More often than not I find myself writing about how ashamed I am of how "mah people" treat their own culture and treat each other. However what we observed and documented at the 2008 R&B Foundation Pioneer Awards, provided a very clear picture over the past 3 days of what things could/should be like. I watched with pride as a massive, complex & multi venue event, managed by Black folks come off with few hitches. Another aspect to this pride that I felt was that these very same Black folks, although clearly in charge, did not forget that there are many white artists & others who stand as major contributors to the legacy of R&B music. We saw people like Teena Marie, Bob Babbitt, Dennis Coffy, Steve Cropper, Philly's own Butterball & Jerry Blavat and others get major props during the festivities as well. The 2008 Pioneer Awards Honorees are: Lifetime Achievement - CHAKA KHAN Individual Artist Awards - TEENA MARIE, BILL WITHERS and SUGAR PIE DESANTO Group Awards - KOOL & THE GANG and THE WHISPERS Sidemen Award - THE FUNK BROTHERS Legacy Award - DONNY HATHAWAY Leadership Award - AL BELL of STAX RECORDS The evening's hosts include: DIONNE WARWICK BONNIE RAITT JERRY BUTLER WAYNE BRADY In addtion to performances by this year's honorees and hosts, the 2008 Pioneer Awards will feature appearances by: WILLIAM BELL, JERRY BLAVAT, GARY US BONDS, G C CAMERON, STEVE CROPPER, VIVIAN GREEN, ANTHONY HAMILTON, MABEL JOHN, KINDRED THE FAMILY SOUL, KENNY LATTIMORE, JOHN OATES, JAGUAR WRIGHT BETTY WRIGHT Well this event is done and I wanted to do a quick brain dump. We have tons of pictures, audio/text interviews. Kevin Amos, T.Watts and I worked our be-hinds off documenting all of this and although we are tired, we are smiling. We are smiling because this was a fantastic three days that have made me extremely proud to be a Black American.... Click here to check out more of Soul-Patrol's coverage of R&B Foundation Pioneer Awards Report From The Blues and Spirit Symposium at Domenican University L-R: Bob Davis, Bob Jones (Legendary Chicago Blues Songwriter, Bruce Iglar of Alligator Records)  I had planed to put report of my visit to Chicago to participate in the Blues and Spirit Symposium at Domenican University, but it slipped away from me. Two recent events reminded me that I needed to get this out to yall ASAP. --Janice Monti, the organizer of the Blues and Spirit Symposium at Domenican University in Chicago, was given the Sister Mary Clemente Davlin Diversity Leadership Award. --I attended the Keb Mo/Robert Cray show last week @ the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia. Please read the articles as well as the summaries of the topics (How to Represent Black Music in 2008, the future of record labels, tips for indy artists, etc) that I spoke on at the Blues and Spirit Symposium at Domenican University in May/2008. Also, listen to the broadcast that we did from WHPK - Chicago with brotha Gary Tyson while I was out there. And there are a few more surprises... It's all posted on the web at the following link as well: http://www.soul-patrol.com/dominican_blues_spirit_2008.htm Check it all out and let us know what cha think? Thanks in advance... --Bob Davis 609-351-0154 earthjuice@prodigy.net It's a Shame... (Pervis Jackson of the Spinners Passes)  ...That Pervis Jackson the bass singer of the Spinners passed away this week.In his honor I played both the Spinners version of "It's a Shame", as well as Monie Love's version today here at the crib. I realize that a few of yall will consider Monie Love's version to be a "sacrilege." However you shouldn't. It actually has more "juice" sung from a female perspective, considering what the song is actually about (not to mention the kick azz sax solo in this version). So don't sleep on her version!!! Later I think that I will play both versions for my daughter. I wonder if she will like either one? After listening to Monie Love's version, I then put on the Spinners version... It was a pleasure to listen to the Spinners version as well. I hadn't listened in a while and I listened to it about 10 times straight (hitting the repeat button on the CD player). I remember when it first came out and how much I dug the song, back in 1970 (I think?). I remember that I wanted to actually buy the 45, but I was too cheap to buy it. That's because seemed like "It's a Shame" was then playing on EVERY single radio station in NYC at that time, and at the age of 13 years old, with my limited record buying budget, I didn't see the need in parting with 59 cents to buy the 45 :-) ....(continued here) Album Review: Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (Classic Soul)  OTIS BLUE: OTIS REDDING SINGS SOUL----THE COLLECTORS EDITION is an expanded package of Otis Redding's 3rd Album done back in 1965. It's a 2 CD set containing the original Mono and the original Stereo mixes. These two versions ALONE would be worth having as a "Collector" of the music timeline of the development of Soul on the American Pop Music scene. HOWEVER.....this package goes NOT "A" step further....NOT 2 steps further.....but....a THIRD and a FOURTH step further!!!!!We have all gotten used to the "Bonus Tracks" on these re-releases. That's just that "A" step further. "I'M DEPENDING ON YOU"("B" side to "I've Been Loving You Too Long") and "ANY OLE WAY"( "B" side to "Satisfaction") serve as the "Bonus Track" we are accustomed to that weren't a part of the Original release. What they have done as a "Second" step further is doing a Mono Mix of the Stereo versions of "I've Been Loving You To Long", "Respect" and "Ole Man Trouble". They have also a 1967 version of "Respect" and a recorded Mono Mix Live version of "Shake". That's the Second step. Now the value of these are relative to what your "ears" perceive as "quality". The good news is they are ALL done very well. If you're of the persnickety or you are "techno-savvy" and convert these tracks to your mobile vehicle of choice, iPod or MP3 Player, you have choices of Mixes to convert (although converting this entire package to MP3 wouldn't be a bad thing).....Review continued here --Earl Gregory Album Review: The Sound of Philadelphia - Gamble and Huff’s Greatest Hits (Classic Soul/Funk)  Sometimes I think that as music fans we get too sophisticated for our own good. Many people would see an album like this featuring: The O'Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, The 3 Degrees, People's Choice, The Intruders and Billy Paul and pass it by, with the idea that either they already have these songs or that they have heard them all before. On one level they would be correct, however I do think that it's useful to be able to go back and listen to a compilation like this, because the whole is indeed larger than the sum of it's parts. And one of the things that makes it so is the contribution of MFSB underneath of it all (but more on them later). Here is my track by track review...(continued here....) --Bob Davis Look for these all of these songs playing on Classic RnB @ RadioIO.com Album Review: Cracked Ice - Soul Noir (Classic Soul)  Real quick, if you look at the artist name, the title and the album cover you might think that this album was made by some "downtown neo-soul heads." Well not only would you be wrong, but you would also be presently surprised by the music contained. This is a brand new album containing a very strong/dated 1960's R&B kinda sound. In fact it's the very same sound that just won 5 Grammy Awards. It's Stevie Ray Vaughn meets Wilson Pickett meets Dusty Springfield meets Clarence Carter for those of you over the age of 45. For those of you who are under 45 it's Doyle Braham II meets Amy Winehouse meets Ryan Shaw meets the Dapkings. It's the music of the past and the music of the future at the same time. And right now it seems that 1960's based R&B music has suddenly become the hippest music on the planet. Don't let the title, the name of the artist fool you, you would be making a mistake if you glossed over this album. It's a brand new album of Classic Soul plain and simple. It's got saxophones, trumpets, piano's, drums, guitars and human beings singing alone and singing with each other. I could see this album being big in the "heartland", but ignored by New York and Los Angeles. But when New York and Los Angeles "discover" it they will get on the train also. They won't have any choice, it's the same train that Obama is the conductor of. This album is already a huge hit on the Beach Music charts!!!Find out more about this album at: Cracked Ice - Soul Noir Look for these songs to appear "heavy rotation" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Teeny Tucker - Two Big M's (Blues/Soul/Rock n' Roll)  This is a fun album by Teeny Tucker, daughter of Tommy Tucker ("Hi HeelSneakers".) It's tribute album to Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thorton. You have heard all of these songs before and if you are a fan of either artist you will love the "Two Big M's". Big Mama Thornton is the originator of the classic song "Hound Dog", that most people think was an original tune by Elvis Presley. Big Mama Thorton was paid a flat $500.00 for "Hound Dog" and three years later Elvis Presley made it a hit and got paid millions. On the other hand, Big Maybelle was the original singer of "Whole Lotta Shaken Going On" and later made a hit by Jerry Lee Lewis. She also got paid pennies and died broke while Jerry Lee Lewis made millions. Big Mama Thornton was a songwriter in her own right. She wrote the classic song "Ball & Chain" which Janis Joplin made into hit. However if you are "culture bandit", you will want to skip the one original song on the album, the title track entitled "Two Big M's". I don't think that Teeny would mind me mentioning a portion of the lyrics: "You were pioneers with a crossover style Your presence and power would make folks bow "Hound Dog", "Rockhouse" and all the great tunes were cool They only became hits when someone stole them from you" Overall this album is a powerful presentation of classic songs, originated by two Black women that today few Blacks know anything about whatsoever. However students of the history of Rock n' Roll know all about Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thorton, they know their history. http://www.teenytucker.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Ashford & Simpson- The Warner Bros. Years. Hits, Remixes and Rarities (Warner Bros/RHINO R2 347964)  WELL NOW~~!!!This is SPECIAL. This is a 2-CD Dance themed overview of the CLASSIC Warner Bros output of NICHOLAS ASHFORD and VALERIE SIMPSON. Disc One is fairly straight. In the early "disco" days there were special mixes of the hit songs that only the radio guys and the disc jockeys got. Disc One has all of those rare versions that were hard to get THEN, and impossible to get (unless you want to get in a bidding war with some UK or Japanese cat for 3-500 dollars for "One More Try" as one example) now. All of those great tracks are on Disc One. If that excites you, realize they went one step MORE. They got some back-in-the-day remixers. The GOOD ones. The names you remember from your 12-inch vinyl collection: Tom Moulton. Paul Simpson. John Morales. Tommy Musto. And then, they brought some of the best of the new guys: Joe Claussell. Joey Negro. Dimitri From Paris. And they turned them loose on some of the same tracks on disc one to redo them on Disc Two. STOP.....STOP right there. Too many of you just threw up your hands and screamed "Leave Well Enough Alone". That's only because you don't realize that version of "Bad Luck" or "I'll Always Love My Mama" that you used to jam to WAS REMIXED...back THEN. Did I hit the mental RESET BUTTON HARD enough? Good....review continued here --DONALD CLEVELAND Ike Turner - R.I.P. - by Phil Arnold - artist administrator, manager, agent for Ike Turner 1999 - 2007 (Southern Soul/Blues)  Most of yall don't know the name of Phil Arnold.He is a good friend of Soul-Patrol. The fact that you don't know his name isn't really important. What is important is that he is also a good friend to all of you, even if you never realized it till just this moment. Take a look at what Phil has to say about Ike Turner and his relationship with him and please consider Phil's words, the next time that you read something in the "mainstream press" about Ike Turner.... ------------- California - April 4, 2008 Ike Turner - R.I.P. by Phil Arnold - artist administrator, manager, agent for Ike Turner 1999 - 2007 I have procrastinated commenting about his passing. In vain disbelief I refused to acknowledge the loss. It is as if I was trying to convince myself that the longer I waited, the less Ike Turner was dead. I was not alone in denial; nor was I alone in concealing my fears and suspicions about what caused his death. I often told him "it was a privilege to work with you, and even more of an honor to know you; and if you had been a blue-collar worker I would still be just as proud to know you." I knew Ike Turner, the man, as well as the myth. After kicking his drug habit in jail, Ike stayed clean for about 16 years, which is a fact. He was proud of that. When he spoke at LA-area high schools in 2004-05 for "Blues Schools" his quote was "Stay in school, stay off drugs, don't make the same mistakes I did, respect yourself, and others will follow." He was not a hypocrite. After prison, Ike was noted for helping others turn away from drugs. The successes should remain anonymous - and so should the failures; you know who you are. Honor his sacrifice by helping yourself. Get help. He actually fell backward reaching out to help someone else.......Continued at the following link....http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/iketurner.htm Album Review: The Dells Sing Dionne Warwicke's Greatest Hits (Revolutionary Pop)  1. I'll Never Fall In Love Again 2. Walk On By 3. This Guy's In Love With You 4. Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head 5. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself 6. Close To You 7. Trains & Boats & Planes 8. A House Is Not a Home 9. I Say a Little Prayer 10. Alfie 11. Wives & Lovers This album is technically a Chess records reissue, originally released in 1972, back when I was in 11th grade and wouldn't have paid it any mind because this album doesn't have anything to do with pushing any teenaged girls up against a basement wall in the dark. I don't think that anyone else paid any attention to it either, so for all practical purposes, it's a brand new album. However if you are a little older than an 11th grader, you will find quite a bit here to enjoy and savor with your significant other, who should also be a bit beyond the 11th grade as well. If you are looking for outakes from the "70's Soul Jam", just keep on steppin. Because if you dare to stick THIS album into your CD player, ger ready instead for some "revolutionary pop music." There are those times when it becomes a requirement to listen to an album in the manner that an album was meant to be listened to. Especially when it comes to listening to a blast from the past, that embodies all that I thought that I knew, but in reality never really knew, until this particular moment in time. An album in my opinion was meant to be listened to as if it was an event. Back in the day, the mere purchase of an album was cause in and of itself to be a celebration. It meant that you would at some point in time, shortly after making the purchase allocate a period of time to do nothing else but just listen to that album, preferably with headphones on. So when you listen to this album, don't do what I did, instead create an event for yourself to experience all that is going on here, so that you don't miss anything....(continued here) Look for these songs to appear as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Various Artists - Soulsville Sings Hitsville (Classic Soul)  On the surface, this is an album that you might consider to be "hokey", but ya gotta actually listen to it. First of all it contains several GREAT songs that if you are a Classic Soul fan, you no doubt already own. Hearing the Staples Singers "You've Got To Earn It", written by Smokey Robinson, which in fact reached #9 on the R&B charts back in 1971 is a real treat if you haven't heard it in a while. It contains strong horns & bass along with a muted blues harp all brought together by the beautiful voice of Mavis Staples. Hearing Isaac Hayes cover the Jackson Five's "Never Can Say Goodbye", which reached #5 on the R&B charts back in 1971 as well reminds us of just how powerful Isaac Hayes was and just how much of a "Midas touch" he had during that time. There are a few surprises here as well. For example there is "OH BE MY LOVE", a song originally done by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, that is one of my favorite Miracles songs. To my ears it's a song that should never be touched by anyone else....lol. However Barbara Lewis turns in a surprisingly good cover version of it. Another example is John Gary Williams cover of the Four Tops "Just Ask The Lonely", in which he turns the up-tempo Motown classic into a MONSTER SLOW JAM. Yet another is the Soul Children's deconstruction of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" into another MONSTER SLOW JAM. This is far from being an essential album to own, but if you are a hardcore Soul music fan you will want to have this album, just on "GP." And when you listen to it, you are gonna smile a whole lot more than you thought that you would.Find out more about this album at: Soulsville Sings Hitsville Look for these songs to appear "in rotation" on CLASSIC RnB @ RadioIo.com --Bob Davis ALBUM REVIEW - Will Downing: "After Tonight" 
There will never be another Barry White. There will never be another Luther or Lucian. Isaac is still around but not "really" active in a contemporary sense. We are left with the likes of WILL DOWNING....but with the album "AFTER TONIGHT"...that is NOT a bad thing.Perhaps it is unfair to use such legendary artists as the measuring tool for the efforts of their successors. Yet, at the same time, they have established a demand on those successors to, at the very least, follow the clear path they blazed to success and greatness, and in the end, isn't that what we want to hear? This isn't an "easy listen". It is a "Soulful Listen". You get that right away with "Will's Groove". From track to track and at times with the help of some other gifted performers, this album runs the gamete from "Pure Soul" to NuSoul and "just a hint of Jazz" throughout. Click hear to read more on Will Downing and his new album.... NEW RELEASE: Angie Stone - The Art of Love and War  One of the things that I will usually get done in the car is to listen to albums that have been submitted for review by artists and other entities to Soul-Patrol for review. As is my custom last night as I took a supply of albums with me to listen to my 3 hour (round trip) drive to and from NYC. This of course can be a good or a bad thing. 1. If I am listening to an album during the first part of the trip, it can be better for the artist, simply because I am in a better mood. 2. If I am listening to an album during the return part of my trip, it could potentially be devastating for the artist, simply because I am in a bad mood (I mean, who really wants to be out driving around NJ at 2am?) Coming back home from the Family Stand show in NYC of course I had a supply of albums with me to listen to during the trip. About halfway back home, I reached for the new Angie Stone album alled "The Art of Love and War" (on STAX), which is scheduled for release in late October. Now I gotta be honest with you, that is the worst possible time for me to reach for an album that I haven't heard before. I was at around exit 8a of the NJ Turnpike and really tired. The chances of me out right rejecting an album, calling it a piece of crap and throwing it into the "never to be listened to again pile" are actually quite high. If it bores me in any way, even for 30 second's it's coming right out of the CD player and I will be replacing it with James Brown, Miles Davis or Jimi Hendrix. Well I gotta tell you, this new Angie Stone album is off the chain. In fact I didn't finish listening to it because I kept hitting the repeat button for songs 9 & 10 ("My People" and "Sit Down") Sit Down is quite "hypnotic/erotic" and I wanted to listen over and over again. "My People" is destined to become an anthem much in the same manner as "Aint No Stopping Us Now". It's great to listen to a robust album, that is full of passionate songs once again and I have no problem whatsoever highly recommending this one. I mean, what can be higher recommended that an album full of great songs that has the power to revive the senses at 2am on the NJ Turnpike? --Bob Davis Album Liner Notes: Billy Jones - "My Hometown" (Blues/Soul/Funk/Southern Soul/Urban)  "Sometimes It Takes The Rest of the World a While To Catch Up To That Which We Already Know…"I am an unabashed and unapologetic fan of Billy Jones Bluz. And I have been for quite a long time. IMHO his music along with just a handful of others represents the future of the entire genre. Of course there aren't many who would agree with that opinion. In fact it's my opinion that many of those same people would in fact like to see the genre called "Blues" disappear anyhow. Those people would like to see the "Blues" continue to "morph" into something that is completely disconnected from it's creators. The music & philosophy of Billy Jones is diametricly opposed to the desires of those people. That is why I was extremely honored earlier this year to be asked by the Black & Tan Record Label to write the liner notes for Billy's latest album, entitled "My Hometown". What higher honor can there possibly be for a music fan than to be actually made an official part of a great album by an artist that he truly loves? You can read my liner notes for the album Billy Jones - "My Hometown" right at the very top of Soul-Patrol.com's Southern Soul & Blues portal at the following link: http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/south.htm I haven't said much about this new album, but certainly not because I don't think that it's any good. It is an excellent album that features great great original music, featuring Billy Jones and his continuing quest to make the Blues genre relevant to the modern day concerns of it's originators. I am personally conflicted in providing commentary on an album in which I am an "official" part of. And that keeps me from providing commentary on the album itself. "Bluez From The Ancient To The Future" Click here to read the liner notes.... http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/south.htm --Bob Davis Album Review: Ledisi - Lost & Found (Nu Soul)  This is the one we have all been waiting for. This album is on the level of the great female artists of the past. No need to make any comparisons to the Erykah Badu's or Jill Scott's of the world this time. Now it's time to compare Ledisi to the great female song stylists of the past. In no way is this "retro" or "throwback" in any respect whatsoever except for the fact that it's thoroughly listenable from start to finish. In fact to illustrate that point the album is designed much like the book Ulysses, the end of the album puts you right back at the beginning of the album. In other words we finally have an album that tells a coherent story from end to end, just like great albums are supposed to. There aren't any "throwaway" or "filler" tracks here. If you buy the album, you won't feel cheated (like with most Neo Soul" albums) or feel like instead of paying 15 dollars, you should have paid only three dollars because there are only 3 good songs on it. It's actually a great and fully realized concept album full of fresh original songs that will grab you the very first time that you listen. These songs stand alone. They also stand as a collection of artistic gems that link together the full range of female emotions over the course of up's & downs of modern relationships. All of this is anchored by the classic voice and tone of the best and top Indy artists of this century. Ledisi is ready to become a household name and if this album doesn't do it for her, then Black music fans should be ashamed of themselves, because it truly means that they are in a "catatonic state." Ledisi - "Lost & Found" is an album that you will not only want to rush out and purchase immediately (release date 8/28), but you will also immediately want to encourage your friends to buy it as well. Ask yourself honestly, when was the last time that you felt like that about an album?Check out Lost and Found Commentary - A Real Blues Artist and Innovator (by Chick Willis) ("Blacks & Blues")  Intro: I find this letter to be both disheartening and yet inspirational to me on a personal level at the same time.You see I always try to learn something from those who have come before me, since they have seen more and done more, they usually have something of value to offer to me. Although it is usually not possible to right the wrongs of the past, it doesn't mean that we can't change our current behavior in order to effect change in the future. That is something that we have absolute control over and our failure to change our own behavior may in some cases be just as bad as was the original injustice. My hope is that people read this piece, absorb what Chick Willis is saying and figure out for themselves if there is any modification of behavior that they can do on an individual basis in order to influence the future. And even if upon some reflection, you find that there is nothing that you can personally do within your own behavior that can effect any changes, one of the things that I know that you can do is to circulate this email to other people who might be willing/able to challenge themselves to change their behavior in an attempt to make the future just a little bit better? --Bob Davis ....(click here to read the rest of the Chick Willis's commentary) --Bob Davis earthjuice@prodigy.net Concert Review: The Blues Is Alright Tour 2007 - Marvin Candy Licker Sease, Mel Waiters, Shirley Brown, Bobby Blue Bland, Floyd Taylor, Johnnie Taylor Revue (March 2, 2007 ~ Columbus, Ohio)  The Blues Is Alright Tour 2007 arrived in Columbus stop number 10 on a scheduled 19 city tour ended in Columbus, Ga, March 25Th loaded with the veterans of soul to set Columbus and the Palace Theatre on fire. Mission accomplished and we've not seen the end of the noise yet. Young entrepreneur Julius C. Lewis (my maiden name-no relation) hooked this lineup up so it is alive and jumping right out the shoot. Chatting with him briefly afterwards he is a young black man on a mission. I certainly intend to keep close tabs on this brother to encourage him to draw close to Professor Bob Davis and the international Soul-Patrol community. Those of you who know anything about me know I'm about being about it and doing it on a win win premise. Anyway: It do be about the show. Believe it or not everything was on time, tight, polished, professional and off the enjoyment scale. Opener was the ever young and athletic Bobby Rush. Bobby treated the men to eye candy with singer/dancers who gave got it so hot up in there the management had to put on the air condition. Next came Theodis Ealey who did his thing. Handsome, sexy Latimore told the young men to do it right "so you don't have to be all up in there all night!" Then came young Floyd Taylor and his Johnnie Taylor Revue), Floyd paid homage to his dad and his dad's best friend Tyrone Davis. Floyd did a medley of both men's famous hits and entertained us with some of his own. I personally had the pleasure of meeting Johnny in Harlem years ago so it was a double pleasure for me to see and hear his lookalike son. And yes-- Floyd got his daddy's pipes if y'all wondering. The man can "sang." The entire lineup was a phenomenal treat. Marvin "Candy Licker" Sease, Mel Waiters, Shirley Brown and the incomparable Bobby "Blue" Bland. All the favorites, all the juke jumpin, stompin in the middle of the building show stoppers. Folks got to feeling good after a few libations and were hand dancing in the aisles, men and women cried, laughed, shouted, got up out they seats and moved--some of 'em got to running! Hands stayed up in the air applause broke out unexpectedly, men shouted and women swooned. It was truly a sight to be seen. Sometimes it was hard to tell if I was at a blues convention or Sunday night at church....(click here to read the rest of the review) Whatever Happened To Archie Bell (Music, Interviews, Concert Reviews and more) 
On the morning 8/20/2006I woke up early on a Sunday morning despite having been out late the night before attending the Hil St. Soul show in Philly. That's because I had the honor of interviewing the legendary...MR. ARCHIE BELL (from Houston Texas) at an "undisclosed location" in NYC earlier today. Actually it's less of an "interview" and more of a "conversation" that also included Mrs. Juanita Bell (Archie's wife)and Soul-Patrol's NYC Coordinator Cheryl Russell. Our "conversation" lasted about 1.5 hours and included the following topics... - The TRUE story of "Tighten Up". - Former NFL great Ricky Bell (Archie's Brother) - Archie's Years @ Atlantic Records - Archie's Years @ Philadelphia International Records - Archie's Years @ TK Records - Legendary Houston DJ/Manager Skipper Lee Frazier - Artist Rip-offs (then and now) - The effects of Hurricane Katrina on Houston Texas - MFSB - What's a "Drell"? - Texas FUNK - FAKE versions of Archie Bell and the Drells - The book "House on Fire" (the story of Philadelphia Soul) - The past, present and future legacy of Black Music - and more As you can imagine this 1.5 hour "conversation" was not only a whole lotta fun, but quite educational as well. Thanks Cheryl for helping out. So listen, learn and let us know what cha think??? Bob Davis: earthjuice@prodigy.net  A great vocalist and stylist, he moved black music into the mainstream and was also one of the earliest singer/songwriters working in the soul tradition - to that extent, he was a prime early mover in the Black artist's struggle to begin to control his own destiny.
Listen to the performance of his own 'A Change Is Gonna Come' and fail to be moved by it and it probably means you shouldn't really be reading anything about soul or blues music - you can't be interested!! We would like to take this moment in time to not only pay homage to the musical genius of Sam Cooke, but also to introduce to you a brand new book entitled"Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story From His Family's Perspective" , recently published by one of our Soul-Patrol members, named Erik Greene. Erik is the nephew of Sam Cooke and his book gives us for the very fist time the perspective of Sam Cooke's family on his life, career and death (still one of the great unsolved mysteries of the 20th Century).As you read, please take a moment to click on the links about the book and check out the online chapter that Erik has provided for us. --Bob Davis earthjuice@prodigy.net  WILL WHEATON - OLD SCHOOL SOUL Featuring Our Resident Love Man WILL WHEATON. Some SERIOUS '3am FUNK' in the tradition of Isaac Hayes, Teddy P, Chuck Jackson, Barry White.
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