News

11/01/2008
This Month in R&B History

NOVEMBER, 1967

Nowadays, one seldom sees “The 60’s” not modified by “Turbulent”. It’s a fair comment. There was a lot going on.

1967 was yet another one of those turbulent years. Continuing progress in the Civil Rights movement was accompanied at times by the violence that characterized opposition to the cause. U.S. involvement in Vietnam was increasing, as was the strength of the anti-war movement. In San Francisco, the Summer of Love galvanized as many of the young while it shocked and alienated what was then known as “the establishment”, and brought the “hippie” into the national consciousness.

Memphis wasn’t immune to the social change that was slowly changing the country. But in the midst of the turmoil, there was music being made in that city that would last for generations. Sam Moore & Dave Prater made some of the best.

Sam & Dave signed with Atlantic, and worked with Stax Records, releasing their first hit, “You Don’t Know Like I Know” in 1966. More success followed, and then, in November, “Soul Man” hit #1.

In retrospect, it’s not hard to see why there was such a string of great songs and performances from the duo. Individually, they had been singing in the gospel tradition they had both learned in church as young boys, and they formed the act in 1961, after meeting at a club in Miami. By the time they reached Stax, they were seasoned pros.

As fortune would have it, they were paired with a producing/songwriting team that was just hitting its stride. Isaac Hayes would go on to a highly successful career on his own, but during the 60’s he and partner David Porter created a hit factory to briefly rival Gamble/Huff and Motown. “Hold On, I’m Coming”, “You Got Me Hummin’”, and “I Thank You” all came from the collaboration between Isaac and David, and Sam and Dave.

Through the years, “Soul Man” has lasted, as a song, and as a statement, reflecting an attitude, and as a statement of pride and self-affirmation. Truly, it was a child of the 60’s, but the vibrancy lives on and on, even though it peaked in November, 1967.

It was a good month in R&B History.


10/17/2008
The Rhythm & Blues Foundation shares the sadness of family, friends, and fans in the passing of Levi Stubbs
Levi Stubbles (June 6, 1936 – October 17, 2008), best known by the stage name Levi Stubbs, was the lead vocalist of the legendary Motown R&B group The Four Tops.

Born in Detroit in 1936, Stubbs began his professional singing career with friends Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton, forming a singing group called The Four Aims in 1954. Two years later, after having signed with Chess Records, the group changed their name to the Four Tops - this was to avoid confusion with the then-popular Ames Brothers.

The group signed to Motown Records in 1963 and by the end of the decade, the Four Tops had over a dozen hits to their name. The most popular of the hits, all of which featured Stubbs on lead vocals, include "Baby I Need Your Loving", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", "It's the Same Old Song", "Reach Out I'll Be There", "Standing in the Shadows of Love", "Bernadette", "Still Water (Love)", and "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)".

The Four Tops were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and have sold over 50 million records worldwide (Information obtained from Wikipedia.com). The Foundation honors his memory, and mourns with you in his passing.


09/10/2008
The Nation Buzzes About The R&B Foundation's 20th Anniversary Gala, THE 2008 PIONEER AWARDS
In case you missed it, click the links below for a taste of some recent media coverage on the Pioneer Awards Gala and 20th Anniversary of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation:

*Much more coverage available throughout the web - Just input "R&B Foundation Pioneer Awards" into your choice search engine (Yahoo, AOL, Google, etc.)


08/20/2008
Remembering Pervis Jackson, original member of The Spinners
The soundtrack to the 70’s would have been a little dimmer, a little quieter, and a lot less fun if not for The Spinners. The Foundation extends its deepest sympathy to the friends and family of Pervis Jackson, a member of the Spinners throughout the decades. One of the founding members of the group, he was the solid, soulful bass that provided a foundation for the early hits “I’ll Always Love You” and “It’s A Shame” while the group was part of the Motown family. In 1972, The Spinners moved to Atlantic Records, and released the album that made them international stars. “I’ll Be Around”, “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” and "One of a Kind (Love Affair)” all were on their label debut, all held down by the smooth lines of Pervis Jackson. Later, on the hit single “Games People Play”, Pervis got his starring role with the simple lines “12:45” and “I took my time”, and they became his signature for years in live performances. Mr. Jackson is survived by his wife, Claudreen, four children, and eight grandchildren. But his music, and his memory, live on…


08/15/2008
The Rhythm & Blues Foundation shares the sadness of family, friends, and fans in the passing of Jerry Wexler
Gerald "Jerry" Wexler (January 10, 1917 – August 15, 2008) was a music journalist turned music producer, and was regarded as one of the major record industry players behind music from the 1950s through the 1980s. He coined the term "rhythm and blues", and was integral in signing and/or producing many of the biggest acts of the last 50 years, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield and Bob Dylan. Wexler was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. During his time as an editor, reporter, and writer for Billboard Magazine, Wexler coined the term "rhythm and blues." He became a partner in Atlantic Records in 1953. There followed classic recordings with Ray Charles, the Drifters and Ruth Brown. With Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegün, he built up Atlantic Records into a major force. In 1967 he was named Record Executive of the Year for turning Aretha Franklin's career around. He also cultivated a tight relationship with Stax Records, was an enormous proponent of the then-developing Muscle Shoals Sound and founded the fortunes of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. His work in this decade put Atlantic at the forefront of soul music. (From Wikipedia.com) The Foundation honors his memory, and mourns with you in his passing.


08/11/2008
The Rhythm & Blues Foundation shares the sadness of family, friends, and fans in the passing of Isaac Hayes
If you only knew Isaac Hayes as a radio personality, and the voice of “Chef” in “South Park”, you didn’t know half of the talent and history that was lost yesterday when he passed, too young, at the age of 65. A talented musician and composer, Isaac Hayes was an accomplished hitmaker even before he won multiple Grammies and an Oscar for his seminal soundtrack to “Shaft” in 1972. He had already teamed with co-writer David Porter to write songs that stand today among the greatest to come from the era, among them “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’”. And, as a solo artist, he had already become a major success with his LP, “Hot Buttered Soul”, which featured an 18-minute version of Jimmy Webb’s “By The Time I Get to Phoenix” that became known for Isaac’s extended “rap”. “Phoenix” became a late-night staple of the free-form FM radio that had become popular in the late 60’s, and this underground hit launched a solo career that would span 40 years. Truly a Pioneer, Isaac Hayes was honored as such by the Foundation in 1999. We, along with all of you, honor his memory and mourn his passing.


08/11/2008
MEDIA ONLY: 2008 Pioneer Awards


06/03/2008
The Rhythm & Blues Foundation shares the sadness of family, friends, and fans in the passing of Bo Diddley
R&B legend Bo Diddley left us yesterday, June 2, 2008 at the age of 79. A true innovator, he was the creator of a rhythm and a sound that inspired the development of generations of musicians. Honored by NARAS with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bo Diddley was also a R&B Foundation Pioneer Award recipient, honored in 1996. His work inspired the entire spectrum of rhythm-based music, and his early fans included The Beatles and The Rolling Stones; his signature groove remained the backbeat of hundreds of hit recordings, used by artists ranging in styles and eras from Buddy Holly to George Michael. And none of us may live long enough to see his influence diminish, so strongly is his imprint woven into the fabric of the music. The Foundation honors his memory, and mourns in his passing.


04/23/2008
In the beginning...
…there was The Groove. It came up from the earth, and from the heart, and in the souls and the voices and the rhythm and the blues. And it was good. And there was Ruth Brown, and there was Solomon Burke. And there was Jackie Wilson and there was Otis Redding and there was Laverne Baker and there was Ben E. King. And it was very good. And there was Aretha Franklin and there was James Brown and there was Little Richard. And it was BAD… in a good way. And the people danced and forgot their troubles, thanks to The Groove and the artists that brought it to life...


03/19/2008
R&B Foundation newsletter


03/03/2008
R&B Foundation receives generous donation from the Argus Fund!
Thanks to the efforts of Board Member Judy Tint, the R&B Foundation received a generous $100,000 donation from The Argus Fund! The funds will be used to support the foundation’s operations, replenish the Doc Pomus Fund and renew Performance Grant opportunities.