The Royalettes were the first to record a classic that was a bigger hit for others.
Ken Shane
844 Articles
Ken Shane lives in Narragansett, R.I. He is a freelance writer and far and away the oldest Popdose writer. In fact, he may be the oldest writer, period. He wants you to know that he generally does not share his colleagues' love for the music of the '80s, and he does not forgive them for loving it. (Ken passed away in November 2022. R.I.P. —Ed.)
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Jazz legend Donald Byrd assembled his best students to create the Blackbyrds
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Ken Shane
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Another week, another one-hit-wonder. But what a hit.
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Ken Shane
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Walter Jackson overcame a childhood tragedy to become a star on the R&B charts
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Ken Shane
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The Bar-Kays refused to let tragedy silence them
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Ken Shane
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Eddie Holman is primarily remembered for one song, but what a song it was
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Hank Ballard had a number of hits, but someone else scored bigger with one of his songs.
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Ken Shane
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New Orleans came to Newport for opening night of this year’s Jazz Festival
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Ken Shane
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Carla Thomas had a stellar career that began with a ballad she wrote at age 15.
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Ken Shane
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Newport Folk Festival 2012 was highly anticipated, and did not disappoint.
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Ken Shane
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The Spinners had a remarkable run of hit singles with lead singer Philippe Wynne and producer Thom Bell.
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Ken Shane
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Archie Bell & the Drells weren’t shy about telling you where they were from. Their highly influential hit “Tighten Up” was released in 1968.
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In 1964 Joe Hinton broke out with his hit cover of a Willie Nelson song. Four years later he was gone in the prime of his career.
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We lost Funk Brother Bob Babbitt this week, He played on countless Motown hits, including this Stevie Wonder classic.
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In 1965 the Righteous Brothers had a year that has seldom been equaled in the annals of popular music.
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Ken Shane
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The competition for the first single by the Famous Flames was fierce. Federal Records prevailed.
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Over 100 classic soul tracks informed by Ken Shane’s weekly Soul Serenade column.
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The O’Jays are best known as a hit-making trio, but they started as a quintet, and had one of their earliest hits as a quartet.
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James Carr was one of soul music’s most brilliant talents, but his career was derailed by mental illness.
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Ken Shane
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David Ruffin’s final single as lead vocalist with the Temptations featured one of his finest performances.
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Ken Shane
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The Three Degrees had been around for more than ten years by the time they hit it big in 1974.
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Ken Shane
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The Delfonics left us with many indelible hits, but it’s a more obscure B-side that Ken Shane recalls as he celebrates the second birthday of Soul Serenade.
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Ken Shane
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Barry White was a big star in every way in the ’70s. His songs remain part of our lives to this day.
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Ken Shane
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Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967 and started their own label. One of their best signings was singer Freda Payne.
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Ken Shane
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Out of the ashes of the Hi_Fis rose two classic vocal groups; the 5th Dimension, and the Friends of Distinction.
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Ken Shane
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Chuck Willis died while at the top of his game, but he left behind some classic records.
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The Main Ingredient turned tragedy into triumph and left behind some of the most indelible singles of the ’70s.
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A new setting for some classic songs makes for one of the finest concert films in recent memory.
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Jackie Wilson was a superstar in the ’50s and ’60s. His signature song was the the 1958 smash “Lonely Teardrops.”