Soul Fixin'

remembering luther.
Tonight across the country, radio formats titled 'The Quiet Storm' are paying tribute to one of its' main ambassadors, Luther Ronzoni Vandross. A premiere balladeer. Today, April 20, happens to be Luther's birthday, he would have been a year shy of 60. It's been nearly 5 years since the world lost Luther. The music of Luther means so much to so many including myself. My early musical memories begin with the music of Luther. My grandmother loved herself "some Lutha.'" One of my many wishes is that both Luther and my grandmother were still alive, how wonderful it would be if I could accompany my grandmother to a Luther concert.
A student of the likes of Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Cissy Houston & The Supremes, Luther was pure genius. When Luther wrapped his silky, smooth vocals around a song it became magical. The proof is in the pudding. Listen to 'Here And Now' or 'Since I Lost My Baby' or 'If Only For One Night.' Luther's rendition of 'A House Is Not A Home' is nothing short of perfection. Luther stole Dionne's song and she knew it and loved it. Peep the video below.

Soul Tracks

The photo above was taken back in 1999 at the Rhythm & Blues Foundations 10th Annual Pioneer Awards. Dionne Warwick presented her younger sister Dee Dee with the foundation's Pioneer Award. Dionne thanked the foundation for paying homage to the "real singer in our family." High praise indeed, considering that Whitney Houston and Cissy Houston are members of the family. On that cold winter night Dionne was right by her younger sister's side, and three days ago Dionne was at her sister's side as she made her transition. The two sisters have never been far apart, sharing a bond that all sisters should share. The two talented sisters started singing gospel together and would go on to be the most in demand session singers of the early 60's. Dionne would go on to enjoy a successful solo career. Dee Dee possessed a more soulful sound and made a name for herself during the era of soul music. A 1968 recording session resulted in 'Foolish Fool,' today's Soul Track selection. In a 2001 interview, Dee Dee reflected on the song "...I didn't like it. I kept thinking, what is he talking about with this song? I just got very creative and once I got into, I could relate. Because at that time, people were giving me their opinions about my personal life and I was, to hell with it, I'm with who I'm with and that's my business." 'Foolish Fool' ranks as one of soul music's most impassioned performances, Dee Dee let it be known that no foolish fool was gonna steal her man. The Grammy's took notice and 'Foolish Fool' was nominated for a Grammy. Since the mid-'70s, she has done backup vocals for Dionne Warwick, and recorded sporadically on her own. Upon receiving the Pioneer Award, Dee Dee proclaimed, "I promise I'll see better days." Dee Dee's better days have come, she is now beyond the reach of pain and suffering, relaxing in paradise.

Video Soul

"a room is a still a room, even when there's nothin' there but gloom
but a room is not a house and a house is not a home
when the two of us are far apart
and one of us has a broken heart..."

Soul Heaven

Dee Dee Warwick (1945-2008)
Dee Dee Warwick has joined fellow soul singer Levi Stubbs on the highway to heaven. Delia Mae Warrick passed away Saturday at a nursing home in her native New Jersey. She was 63. Known to the world as Dee Dee Warwick, Delia Mae began her singing career began in 1950's New Jersey, singing gospel with her sister Dionne and aunt Cissy. She was a member of The Gospelaires, The Drinkard Singers (a gospel outfit that featured some of Warwicks' aunts and uncles and was managed by their mother), and The Sweet Inspirations before embarking on a solo career. Along with Dionne, Cissy, Doris Troy, and The Sweet Inspirations, she was one of New York's most in-demand session vocalists, contributing to numerous records by the likes of the Drifters, Aretha Franklin, Chuck Jackson, Garnet Mimms, Nina Simone, and Wilson Pickett. Unfortunately, Dee Dee would remain in the shadows of her famous sister, recording for various labels and garnering sporadic hits and very little support from her labels. However, Dee Dee was able to reach the top of the charts with a few hit songs such as "I Want to Be With You," "Foolish Fool," "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," and "She Didn't Know (She Kept On Talking)." Since the mid-'70s, she has done backup vocals for Dionne Warwick, and recorded sporadically on her own. More recently, she recorded "Family First" with sister Dionne, cousin Whitney, and aunt Cissy, for the soundtrack to the Tyler Perry movie Daddy's Little Girl. Earlier this year, Dee Dee joined her sister in Europe, providing background vocals for Dionne's one-woman autobiographical show, "My Music & Me," which played to sold-out crowds.

Soul Fixin'

Never Can Say Goodbye The past weekend proved to be a difficult set of days for Black America. We loss two artistic geniuses, comedian and actor Bernie Mac took his last breath Saturday morning and Isaac Hayes, the father of 12 and the grandfather of 14, went on to glory Sunday morning. I'm sure his soul comrades, Sam Cooke, David Ruffin, Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, James Brown --to name few, welcomed him with open arms. A homecoming celebration like no other. Even though the Memphis bred soul man created his own brand of soul music Isaac Hayes was more than just a soul singer, he was an enduring symbol of empowerment, he crystallized the strength and beauty of black manhood. Isaac Hayes fully embraced the beauty of his blackness as evident on many of his albums covers. He was black and proud. He may not have said it loud but it was written all over his face. The man known as Black Moses walked to sound of his own organ, he was bold, proud, confident, beautiful, cool, and possessed plenty of sex appeal.

As I sit here and reflect on the life and music of Isaac Hayes, I realize so many soul singers have left us and so few are still around. I dread the day when Aretha, Gladys, Stevie, Al Green, Mavis Staples, Patti LaBelle, Sam Moore, Smokey Robinson and others join God's choir. These are our heroes and sheroes, the voices of a people, they translated our trials and tribulations, joy and pain, and heartache and sorrow into music. Soul music is the soundtrack of our lives, it helped us get through tryin' times and helped us celebrate the good times. Curtis Mayfield once proudly proclaimed "you know to talk about the 60's almost brings tears to my eyes. What we did. What we all did. We changed the world- me,us Smokey, Jerry Butler, The Temptations, Aretha, Otis, Gladys Knight, James Brown. We really did. Barriers broke down for us and for all black musicians afterwards. I mean, to have lived through that and to have been apart of that, is more than anyone can ask." We are deeply indebted to the pioneering artists of soul music, men and women who were agents of social change. Today, we pay homage to Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. Till we meet again...never can say goodbye.

Soul Fixin'

UNCF Salutes Ms. PattiA list of who's who in R&B will take the stage in Hollywood at The Kodak Theater to pay homage to soul songstress Patti LaBelle. Anita Baker, Dionne Warwick, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Joss Stone, Yolanda Adams and others will serenade Ms. Patti at next month's UNCF Evening of Stars. The two hour tribute will be taped September 4 and air sometime in January. Past honorees include soul legends Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson and Lou Rawls. I will definitely be tuned in even though a Patti LaBelle tribute isn't complete without Luther Vandross or Gerald LeVert.

Payin' Homage

The Sweet Inspirations had no peer. No girl group could match the sheer soulfulness, vocal harmony, emotional honesty, or vocal intensity of the group. The Sweet Inspirations,consisted of gospel bred singers Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell and Estelle Brown, and at one point included at different times Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, Doris Troy and Judy Clay. The sweet harmonies of The Sweet Inspirations can be heard on the records of such artists as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Jimi Hendrix, Esther Phillips, The Drifters, Elvis Presley and others. The Sweet Inspirations sang backup for numerous Atlantic Record artists virtually becoming house singers at the label. Atlantic Records is were The Sweet Inspirations released their 1967 self titled debut album, a Top 20 R&B best seller, yielding the hit song 'Sweet Inspiration.' The Sweet Inspirations included recordings of soul nuggets 'Do Right Woman - Do Right Man,' 'Don't Let Me Lose This Dream,' and 'Why Am I Treated So Bad.' Riding the waves of success, the group began working on a second album in the spring of '68. Songs of Faith & Inspiration, a gospel LP, was released in the summer of '68 and included gospel standards 'What A Friend' and 'Down By The Riverside' and the Cissy Houston penned 'Without A Doubt,' 'I Shall Know Him' and 'Looking On The Bright Side.' The group went on to record What The World Needs Now, Sweets For My Sweet, Sweet Sweet Soul for Atlantic and perform occasionally with Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley. In 1969 Cissy Houston left the group and embarked on a solo career. The remaining members released an album, Estelle, Myrna, and Sylvia on Stax Records in 1973. Hit play, sit back and enjoy 'Without A Doubt' from Songs Of Faith & Inspiration, 'Sweet Inspiration' taken from the groups' debut album, 'Why Marry' and 'You Roam When You Don't Get It At Home' off the Stax album Estelle, Myrna, and Sylvia.

Under The Covers

Legend has it that 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' was composed in a Buffalo, NY hotel room occupied by soul legends Otis Redding and Jerry Butler. The two were hanging out after a gig when Butler sang pieces of a song he had been working on. With the help of Otis, 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' was born. It became Redding's first Top Forty hit and was featured on his third album, 1965's Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul. In the late 60's pop darling Dionne Warwick, who was the virtual embodiment of the Bacharach/David songbook, went down to Memphis and cut a soul album along with producer Chips Moman. Among other soul classics, Dionne recorded a tender version of 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' for the '69 album titled Soulful. In the liner notes Dionne writes "I hope you will enjoy experiencing with me the joy and excitement I felt in recording Rhythm and Blues — my way." Sit back and experience the apparent soul of Otis Redding and the hidden soul of Dionne Warwick.

Under The Covers

The names Hal David and Burt Bacharach may sound unfamiliar. Hal David and Burth Bacharach are synonymous with superb songwriting. Believe it or not, we've been singing the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David for over 40 years. In 1964, we heard Dionne Warwick's voice soar on the Bacharach/David penned "A House Is Not A Home," 17 years later Luther Vandross wrapped his smooth vocals around the song and recorded the definitive version. The Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald duet "Own My Own" was written and composed by Burt Bacharach. Songs such as "Anyone Who Had A Heart," "That's What Friends Are For," "I Say A Little Prayer," and "Don't Make Me Over" were all written and or composed by Bacharach and David. In 1963, Dionne Warwick, who has sang countless Bacharach/David gems, recorded "Walk On By" for her Make Way for Dionne Warwick album. "Walk On By" became a hit, it was an international million seller and landed at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the years that followed, Aretha, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Gloria Gaynor and George Benson took a stab at the classic song. Isaac Hayes recorded a memorable version of the song. "Walk On By" was included on Hayes' groundbreaking album Hot Buttered Soul. Isaac Hayes turn the pop classic into a Memphis infused slow burning 12 minute soul classic. In 1988, "Walk On By" was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame. The RIAA chose it as one of the Songs of the Century. In 2004, it was ranked #70 on Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."