Hugh Masekela topped the charts with his 1968 hit but had a life and career that reached far beyond that hit
Ken Shane’s Soul Serenade
When funk was in its ascendency BT Express set the charts on fire with their first two singles
Bill Medley wrote a moderate hit for the Righteous Brothers in 1963. Three years later, Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels made it a smash.
Barbara Lynn’s debut single was a smash but she never managed to equal that success
Bobby Womack encapsulates the New Year’s Eve spirit on his 1978 release
This oft-covered Christmas hit had its origins in the late 1940s
The Majors scored with a Jerry Ragavoy-produced hit in 1962
Barbara George’s 1961 smash was her only hit but it was a monster
The Detroit Emeralds ran a string of hits up the charts in the early ’70s
Barbara Lewis scored some massive hits but her 1968 non-hit is right for today
The Formations never had a hit but their records paved the way for the Sound of Philadelphia
The Poets were classic one-hit wonders but what a hit it was
Fats Domino’s storied career began with a 1950 hit
In 1965 the Toys scored with a song that had an 18th-century melody
But let me tell you something The sisters are not going for that no more ‘Cause we realize two things That you aren’t doing anything for us We can better…
Two classic versions of one classic song. Which is your favorite?
Big Mama Thornton was a seminal figure in the development of rock and roll but she’s never gotten her due
In 1969 two of Motown’s greatest groups teamed up for a smash single
In the last couple of years, we have had powerful returns to form from classic soul men William Bell and Don Bryant. Now we can add Lloyd Price, whose new…
What was the first rock and roll song? It depends on who you talk to and to some extent how you define rock and roll. Some would say it was…
Benny Spellman came from Florida but became a legend in New Orleans
Dinah Washington and Brook Benton teamed up for two smash hits in 1960
The Radiants were a Chicago group that deserved more success than they had
Bob Kuban & the In-Men were on the verge of major success when fate intervened.
In 1964 Little Anthony & the Imperials began a run of four straight hit singles
Richard Berry wrote and recorded the original version of rock’s most legendary song
The muscular Tempts or the slow-burning Al Green. Which version is your favorite?
He had never had much commercial success but Young Jessie released one of the coolest records ever in 1955
Ruby and the Romantics set the charts on fire with a bossa nova flavored hit in 1963
The Tams released a Carolina beach music classic in 1968