Soul Tracks

I was introduced to Baby Huey and The Babysitters a few days ago after discovering John Legend & The Roots have released a cover of the band's Curtis Mayfield penned 'Hard Times.' I had to dig a little deeper. Surprisingly, the short-lived band was signed to Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records, thanks largely to Donny Hathaway. The band's 400 pound front-man James Ramey, also known as Baby Huey, died of a heart attack shortly before the release of the band's debut album, The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend, which somehow slipped through the cracks of soul music. (After Ramey's death, The Babysitters briefly employed a young Chaka Khan as their lead singer before disbanding). Following in the footsteps of Sly & The Family Stone, the band's sound was rooted in psychedelic soul. Baby Huey possessed a howling, wailing, voice that was as tender & sentimental as it was rough. The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend featured several Curtis Mayfield compositions, as well as a brilliant cover of Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come.' Baby Huey & The Babysitters turned Cooke's enduring anthem into a psychedelic fueled soul sermon that combined rock, soul & gospel. Nine minutes and thirty one seconds later, Baby Huey & The Babysitters turn you into a believer.

Soul Fixin'

Soul Sister Portraits

It's been difficult to find any non-Michael Jackson related content since his early departure last week. However, I was able to come across the beautiful tributes of one artist to some of our beloved soul sisters. Artist Steve Lopez created marvelous paintings of Aretha Franklin, Minnie Riperton, Tina Turner, Sade, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan and India.Arie. Each painting features the lyrics of a particular song in the foreground. If I could afford it, I would buy all of them. A video accompanies the making of each painting. Check out a few of the videos below.

Soul Fixin'

The Show Must Go On

The video above is the unofficial video of the day in the black blogsphere. The reincarnation of the Ruffin brothers, K-Ci and JoJo, are seen performing in Sydney, Australia when JoJo suddenly passes out. K-Ci Hailey, Mary's former lover, keeps on sanging like nothing is wrong. It's obvious drugs and singing don't mix, just ask Chaka Khan. Peep Chaka singing 'Precious Lord Take My Hand' with Etta James and Gladys Knight.

Soul Fixin'

One On One with Chaka

Chaka Khan sits down with TV One founder Cathy Hughes and dicusses her "roller coaster career; son's legal drama and more." The hour long show, "TV One On One," airs Sunday, July 13 at 10pm on TV One.

Speaking of tough times and life altering events, Chaka says "I’ve grown. I am in present time [now] at all times. And not afraid. More fearless because I am trusting in my higher powers. I still get my usual butterflies, but I think what we’re referring to here is just a fear of feeling, a fear of feeling any pain; a fear of experiencing anything unpleasant. Fear of life. I didn’t want to experience it, and so I hibernated and medicated."

Chaka also opens up about the 2004 shooting of a family friend at her home by her son Damien, who was acquitted of charges in 2006. “I got shaken out of that with the ordeal with my son. But I took that as an opportunity…I was being spoken to in a profound way. It was definitely a lesson – a life lesson and a message. I had to be there. I had to sit up and show up [at the trial] every morning. But it’s not just that. I had to carry the Holy Spirit with me everywhere I went and stay in a constant state of prayer and surrender to God. That’s when I really learned what it means when people so flippantly say, ‘Give it to God.’”

Chaka Khan is joined by longtime friend Betty Wright during the last segments of the show and the two reminisce about the early days of their careers.

Soul Fixin'

Perfect Combination.....Chaka Khan and Chrisette Michele

R&B veteran Chaka Khan and Grammy nominee Chrisette Michele will headline the 3rd Annual Jazz in The Garden Festival at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, FL on March 15 and 16. They will be joined by The O'Jays, George Benson, Nancy Wilson, KEM, and Wyclef Jean, among others. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the Dolphins box office.