Minnie Riperton “Only When I’m Dreaming” (From the LP “Come Into My Garden,” 1970) Beneath that #1 hit from 1975, and her tragic death in 1979, Minnie Riperton is who I’d love to call The Prodigy of Soul. Studying Opera from childhood, and possessing a four octave range with a searing whistle register, it was almost…
Tag: Soulful Birthday
Eddie Holland “Leaving Here” (Motown 1052, R&B#27 Pop#76, 1963)
Eddie Holland “Leaving Here” (Motown 1052, R&B#27 Pop#76, 1963) Record-A-Day week comes to its penultimate day with my penultimate day of my 5 years of working the same job. It also functions as a early birthday tribute to the legendary Eddie Holland, one third of the Motown Mansion building team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. The trinkets that make…
Sissie Houston “World Of Broken Hearts” (Congress 268-B, 1966)
Sissie Houston “World Of Broken Hearts” (Congress 268-B, 1966) If there’s ever someone that’s been more “20 Feet From Stardom” than Darlene Love, It has to be Cissy Houston. Mother to Whitney Houston, Aunt to Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, this Matriarch of Soul celebrates her 82nd Birthday this September 30th. She’s been performing in…
Irene Reid “My Heart Said (Bossa Nova) (Verve 10286, 1963)
Irene Reid “My Heart Said (Bossa Nova) (Verve 10286, 1963) Back to Back Birthday celebrations of genre blurring babes happens this week as we move from Solstice to Equinox. Next up we have the delightful Irene Reid. Equally hitless and loved on stage as Marlena Shaw, she would have celebrated her 85th Birthday this September…
Marlena Shaw “Looking Thru The Eyes Of Love” (Cadet 5618, 1968)
Marlena Shaw “Looking Thru The Eyes Of Love” (Cadet 5618, 1968) You know her for extolling all of the virtues of the Soulfulness of California in so many commercials (now for Ram Trucks), but Marlena Shaw was so much more than that. This evening, we pour a strong cocktail and celebrate Shaw’s 73rd Birthday through…
Judy Clay “My Arms Aren’t Strong Enough” (Scepter 1273, 1964)
Judy Clay “My Arms Aren’t Strong Enough” (Scepter 1273, 1964) There’s such a strong legacy of women that came out of the “Drinkard Dynasty.” Not only do/should we know Dionne Warwick, her sister Dee Dee, her aunt Cissy and her little cousin Whitney. We should also know of many other supporting or shining stars that…
Dinah Washington “Relax Max” (Mercury 70968, 1956)
Dinah Washington “Relax Max” (Mercury 70968, 1956) She’s the most sited influence among soul singers of the 1960’s. Functioning as the bridge between Jazz, Gospel and the birth of Soul in a way that Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan don’t, I always worship at the altar of Dinah Washington. On her 91st Birthday,…
Valerie & Nick “Lonely Town” (Grover 3000-B, 1964)
Valerie & Nick “Lonely Town” (Grover 3000-B, 1964) A Virgo’s work is never done. Valerie Simpson should know, as we celebrate her 69th Birthday, we also celebrate her 52+ years as one of the premiere Singer/Songwriters of the Post War Era. Though we haven’t started looking at the compositions she did with late husband Nick…
Ray Pollard “The Drifter” (United Artists 916, 1965)
Ray Pollard “The Drifter” (United Artists 916, 1965) Welcome Virgo Season. We keep the Soul Birthday parties going in the harvest season with an R&B Giant you may not know. Ray Pollard would have turned 85 years old this August 25th. Getting his start more than 60 years ago, he was one of the most…
Maxine Brown “Seems You’ve Forsaken My Love” (Epic 5-10334, 1968)
Maxine Brown “Seems You’ve Forsaken My Love” (Epic 5-10334, 1968) We’re starting to wind down on the number of Lionesses of Sixties Soul with our Lady Leos. Today we sit down with my absolute favorite under the radiant sign, Maxine Brown. For nearly 60 years, Maxine Brown has blazed an under-appreciated path through soul music…
DJ Larsupreme 