WHO'S THE GREATEST EVER SOUL SINGER

Over the Past Several Months I have been Featuring 11 Different Soul Singers in my "Who's The Greatest Soul Singer" Poll, there has been 335 Votes so Far, and if you are Not One of them Voter's, Please Vote Now! (over to your Right).

The Eleven Soul Singers are as Follows (Written in Order of the Poll, Top to Bottom), Press the Name's to see their Individual Post's I have Written on them, including Bio's and their Best Tracks:

Marvin Gaye
Al Green
Otis Redding
Curtis Mayfield
Luther Vandross
Sam Cooke
Teddy Pendergrass
Bobby Womack
Frankie Beverly
Ronald Isley
Eugene Record

My Favorite Top 3 Would be as Follows:

Al Green
Teddy Pendergrass
Marvin Gaye

Here's a Track from each of the Soul Singer's or their Band!

What a Fantastic Selection of Great Soul Music this is!

THE 190TH MIX FOR FSVB

Here's the 190th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called "Raw Soul & Flying Funk Mix"  its been Mixed by DJ Cman and it Features some Great Old Soul and Funk Tracks from Around the 60's and  70's  Including Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, The Rance Allen Group, Willie Hutch, Sly & the Family, Maceo Parker and George Benson, amongst Others!  

For Full Track Listing, see DJ Cmans Soundcloud Page! 

THE 173rd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 173rd Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called "Funky Ghetto Getdown!" and contains Various Soul Artists and Bands from the 60's & 70's, Its been Mixed by HeavySoulBrutha , and it Features some Great Tracks by amongst others: The Dramatics, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, Roy Ayers, Gil Scott-Heron, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson Sisters and William DeVaughan amongst others!

For a Full Track Listing and Download from HeavySoulBruthas Site Go Here!

Funky Ghetto Getdown! by Heavysoulbrutha on Mixcloud

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THE 172nd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 172nd Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, its a Christmas Special, its Called "Black Christmas Part 3"  Its been Mixed by Stevie G, and it Features some Great Christmas Tracks by amongst others: The Supremes, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Run Dmc, Bobby Womack,  Stevie Wonder and Candi Staton amongst others!

This is the third and Final Part of these Christmas Specials by Stevie G!

For a Full Track Listing and Download Go Here!

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THE 170th CHRISTMAS MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 170th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, its a Christmas Special, its Called "Black Christmas Part 1"  Its been Mixed by Stevie G, and it Features some Great Christmas Tracks by amongst others: James Brown, Kurtis Blow, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson, De La Soul, Run DMC and Marvin Gaye amongst others!

For a Full Track Listing and Download Go Here!

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THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME....FRANKIE BEVERLY

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist's who are in My "Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Month's now, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of "Top to Bottom" of the Poll!

ARTIST NUMBER 10..............FRANKIE BEVERLY

Frankie Beverly was Born on 6th December 1946 in the US City of Philadelphia PA.

As a Young Boy he Sung Gospel Music in his Local Church, and by the time he Reached his Teenage Years, He had Formed a Doo-Wop Group by the Name of "The Blenders"

The Group did not Last too long and by 1963, Frankie Beverly had Formed another Band by the name of "The Butlers"

During the Latter part of the 60's the Band caught the Attention of Kenny Gamble, and went on to Record with Gamble.

But during 1970 another Name Change Happened, this time they Changed it to "Raw Soul"

By 1971 it was Decided that the "Raw Soul" Sound didn't Suit the "Philly Sound" so Frankie Beverly and the Band Re-Located to California, where the Music was more Laid Back! 

As the 70's went by, the Band were soon Discovered by the Sister-in-law of Marvin Gaye, and soon after Marvin Gaye was using "Raw Soul" as his Opening Act while on the Road. 

Marvin Gaye Loved the band but did not Like their Name, so he Persuaded Frankie Beverly to have another Name Change, and this time it Worked and by 1976 "Maze" had Signed for Capitol Records!

By 1977, Maze Released their Debut Album on "Capitol Records" called Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, it was to Start a Run of Success that had 8 Studio Albums Released over about a 16 Year Period, and all of them Attained "Gold Status"

The Album had 2 Single Releases that were "While I'm Alone" which Reached Number 89 on the US Pop Chart and Number 21 on the US R&B Chart and followed by "Lady of Magic" which Reached Number 108 on US Pop Chart and Number 13 on the US R&B Chart.

Over their Period of Success, Maze only had 2 Number One's on the US R&B Chart, and they were "Back in Stride" in 1985 and "Cant Get Over You" in 1989.

My Favorite 2 Album's by "Maze & Frankie Beverly" were "We Are One" in 1983 and "Cant Stop The Love" from 1985.

Maze were not a Big Recording Band, in fact they only ever Released 10 Albums and 2 of them were Live Recordings!
but they were by Far one of the Best Loved Bands, Especially in the U.K!

MAZE DISCOGRAPHY

8... STUDIO ALBUMS                             

2... LIVE ALBUMS

5... COMPILATIONS

30... SINGLES

For a More In-Depth look into Frankie Beverly & Maze Check out these Previous Posts, in 5 Parts: Starting Here

Checkout The Best of Frankie Beverly & MazE

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THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME....MARVIN GAYE

Marvin Gaye in 1973 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist's who are in My "Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Couple of Weeks now, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of "Top to Bottom" of the Poll!

ARTIST NUMBER 2..................MARVIN GAYE 

Marvin Pentz Gay Jr was Born on April 2, 1939 in Washington DC, He was One of Four Children, His Father was a Minister and his Mother was a School Teacher.

He was Multi Talented being a Singer, Songwriter, Composer, Record Producer and a Multi Instrument Musician, including Keyboards, Drums, Percussion, Clavinet, Piano and Synthesizers. 

He only ever Recorded for 2 Record Labels, Motown and Columbia.

He started His Musical Career in the Late 50's, when He joined a Doo Wop Group Called "the Moonglows"

The Moonglows Disbanded in 1960, and Marvin Gay's Solo Career Started when He Joined "Motown" the same Year as a Session Drummer!


Marvin Gay's Early Singing Efforts were either Standard's and Jazz Recording's, the Opposite of Most of the Motown Act's of that Era, who Sang R&B.

Even at this Early stage Marvin Gay had plenty of Run-ins and Argument's with Motown Founder and Owner "Berry Gordy"


One of His First Professional Jobs for Motown was as a Drummer for "The Miracles" this is where MG struck up his Life Long Friendship with "Smokey Robinson"


Marvin Gay added an "E" to His Surname to coincide with His Debut Single Release in May 1961, the Track was called "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide" it Flopped in the US apart from the Mid West!


His Second Single also Flopped in Early 1962, that was Called "Sandman" and the Debut Album Released the Previous Year also flopped, that was Called "The Soulful Moods Of Marvin Gaye"


Around this Period "Marvin Gaye" was having more Success behind the Scenes, Session Drumming for the likes of: Mary Wells, Contours, The Marvellettes, Supremes, Martha Reeves and Little Stevie Wonder!

Three of Motown Hits around this time, Featured Marvin Gaye on the Drums, they were: Fingertips by Little Stevie Wonder, Please Mr Postman by The Marvellettes and Dancing In The Street by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas!


In 62 and 63 Marvin Gaye was part of "The Motortown Revue Show" this meant He was nearly certain to have His First Hit with His 4th Single Release in the Spring of 63, which was called "Pride & Joy" it Reached Number 10 on the US Hot 100 Chart.


Later that Same Year He had his Second Hit Single with "Can I Get A Witness" and more "Hits" were to follow over the next few Years!

In Early 1967 His First Duet Hit happened with "Kim Weston" it was called "It Takes Two" by Late 67 MG had teamed up with "Tammi Terrell" and Several Hit Duets were shortly to follow.


By 1970 Marvin Gaye has Released 10 Album's, all on the Motown/Tamla Record Label, but in 1971 He became the First Black Artist to Release an "Concept Album" it was called "What's Going On" most of the Tracks Segued into the next, and the Subject matter of the Album, was War, Drug Abuse, Polictics, Enviroment and Poverty. 

The Album was Marvin Gaye's First Number 1 on the US R&B Chart.


He would Release 6 more Albums Before His Untimely Death on 1st April 1984, he was Fatally Wounded by a Bullet, Shot by His Father!


His Last Studio Recorded Album was "Midnight Love" on the Columbia Record Label, 3 more Albums were Released after His Death, 2 on Columbia and 1 on Motown Record Label.


Throughout His Life, He had a Constant Battle with Depression, Money and Drugs, these all seemed to come together and were the Probable Cause of his Early Death.

Marvin Gaye's Complete Discography:

19  Studio Albums

7  Duet Albums

4  Live Albums

24  Compilation Albums

83  Single Releases.

Checkout my More In-Depth Post's concerning Marvin Gaye's Personal and Musical Life:  Press Here

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