Queen Diva of Soul Aretha Franklin (March 25, 1942 - August 16, 2018)

This past week has been a rough one for the music world. We have lost one of the greatest vocalists of our time. Aretha Louise Franklin born in Memphis, Tennessee was one of the most recognized soul singers of this modern era. Growing up singing in the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan where her father C.L. Franklin ministered, Aretha wowed the congregation with her beautiful voice.

Aretha started singing gospel music at age 12, traveling with her father as he went on his ministry to various churches. Her father helped her to sign here first record deal in 1956 with J.V.B Records.
She made the switch from gospel to secular music in 1960 at age 18 signing with Columbia Records. Her first secular album was released in 1961. From 1961 to 1966, Aretha recorded with Columbia then decided to sign to Atlantic Records. She recorded with Atlantic from 1967 to 1979 where she recorded hits such as "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" , "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and the number 1 R&B chart topper "Something He Can Feel". Aretha left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980 where she recorded a duet with one of my favorite guitarist George Benson "Love All the Hurt Away". She was with Arista until 2007.

With for decades of music, there is no denying that this woman was and is the Queen Diva of Soul. This angel has impacted the world with her sultry voice. We are all blessed with the archives of music she has left for us. I have been listening to her music a lot lately. I am so thankful for this amazing woman. Peace and love to you all.

Parliament - Give up the Funk

This is the music I came up on. I love good old school funk!!!

Eddie Holman

Eddie was well known for the song "Hey there Lonely Girl". He was a age ten when he preformed at the Apollo Theater. From there he made his why to Broadway and Carnegie Hall. So after his mother enrolled him in Victoria School of Music in Harlem. In 1962 he made his first record. While in college at Cheyney State University he recorded is first hit record. He also sang with 2 very famous groups the Delphonics and the Stylistics. Now Holman owns his own label (Agape Records).

Johnny "Guitar" Watson

Johnny "Guitar" Watson was born February 3, 1935 in Houston, Texas. His father was a pianist who taught his son how to play piano at a young age. Young Johnny was given a guitar at the age of 11. The guitar was given to him by his grandfather who told Johnny not to play the blues. The first first thing he played was the blues. He and his family moved to the L.A. area in the early 1950's where Johnny played in various bands as a sideman playing piano and guitar. One of his earliest recorded hit songs was a song named "Space Jam" which defined his style of play. The song utilized reverb and feedback guitar effects which were not common in that day and age. He acquired his nickname in 1954 after seeing the film Johnny Guitar. Before 1954 he was known as Young John Watson.
Throughout the 1960's he toured with the likes of Little Richard and Larry Williams. During the 1970's Johnny signed with a couple of labels and had many successful works. He was coined as a blues player but during the 70's he created his own style using his knowledge of blues and merging it with new found funk. He signed to a British label and released Ain't That a Bitch (1976) and A Real Mother For Ya (1977). He continued to make music all the way into the 1990's. He died of a heart attack while on tour in Japan in 1996. He was 61 years old.
Some of his most popular works are "Mercy Mercy Mercy" with Larry Williams and "Gangster of Love" which was covered by the Steve Miller Band. Some of my personal favorite songs are "Superman Lover", "Booty Ooty", and "I Want To Ta-Ta You Baby". Check him out.

Bobby Womack

Bobby Womack was born March 4 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio. As a youngster he and his brothers performed Gospel music throughout the mid-west. Bobby began performing Soul and R&B music in the late 1950's. He befriended Sam Cooke who was also a Gospel artist. Cooke invited Womack to join his rhythm and blues band as a back up guitarist in 1960. Womack accepted and dropped out of school to pursue his carreer. In 1962, Bobby's brothers joined him and Cooke forming a group called the Valentinos. They had a hit song called "It's All Over Now" which was picked up and performed by the Rolling Stones.
After the sudden death of Sam Cooke in 1964, Bobby and his brothers had a hard time making hit songs. Bobby went on as a solo artist and worked with artists like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. He became one of Wilson Pickett's favorite songwriters providing some of his best materials. In the late 60's and early 70's, Womack worked with the likes of Janis Joplin, the J. Geils Band, and Sly and the Family Stone. Some of his hit songs include "Daylight", "A Woman's Gotta Have It", "Fly Me to the Moon", "California Dreamin'" and "That's the Way I Feel About 'Cha".
Bobby Womack divorced his wife in 1970. His brother was murdered by a jealous girlfriend in 1974. Falling upon hard times he turned to drug use and took some time away from the music business. He bounced back in 1982 with a single called "If You Think You're Lonely Now". He also did a duet wit Mick Jagger called "Harlem Shuffle" in 1986. He continued to make music into the 1990's. He is truly a "Soul Man".