The Spinners had a remarkable run of hit singles with lead singer Philippe Wynne and producer Thom Bell.
Ken Shane
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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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Ken Shane
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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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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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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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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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Ken Shane
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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.”
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Shelby Lynne has been out on the road promoting last year’s fine album “Revelation Road.” Ken Shane was there when the tour hit Fall River, MA.
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The Philly vocal group Blue Magic are best known for their huge 1974 hit “Sideshow,” but they sent hits up the R&B charts for several years in the 1970’s.
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Maxine Brown was one of the most respected soul singers of the ’60s. Then a fateful decision by her label left her in the lurch.
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Gladys Knight & the Pips were one of the biggest acts of the ’70s. They reached their Motown peak with a Jim Weatherly penned hit in 1973.
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Columbia Records released the debut album from Bob Dylan 50 years ago today. An appreciation from Ken Shane.
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Ken Shane
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Believe it or not, the Miracles only had one #1 hit while Smokey Robinson was their singer. Ken Shane recalls “The Tears of a Clown.”
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Ken Shane
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In the wake of Robbie McIntosh’s death the previous year, AWB had a tough time making their third album. Fortunately they persevered and completed Cut the Cake.
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Right in the middle of their epic hit making career, Earth, Wind & Fire delivered one of the most indelible singles of all time. Ken Shane remembers “September”