Natalie Cole experienced immediate success with her 1975 debut album Inseparable, featuring the wedding staples “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” and the title track. When her sophomore album Natalie was released in April of 1976, many wondered if Nat King Cole’s daughter could strike gold again or was that first…
Labelle was a girl group slightly ahead of their time with their flashy outfits and fused styles of R&B, Rock, Soul and Funk. By the summer of 1976, they had gone their separate ways following the release of their album Chameleon, and the showstopper was a ballad that lives in…
Peabo Bryson will always be remembered as your favorite singer’s favorite singer. The legendary balladeer, who died June 2 due to stroke complications, was the consummate performer, singer and artist who wrote and produced much of his material. He could also deliver lyrics written by someone else as well. For…
Dyana Williams was there at the beginning. With her then-partner, Philadelphia International Records leader Kenny Gamble, and several other luminaries in the Black Music Association, she laid the groundwork for what would become Black Music Month, as declared by then-President Jimmy Carter on June 7, 1979. We had the honor…
Prince was an established hitmaker thanks to 1982’s 1999, but a fictional biopic and companion album felt very audacious, especially when Michael Jackson was running the world with Thriller. Never short on audacity or confidence, Prince soldiered on and made one of the 80s’ most memorable films (and movie soundtracks)…
Candi Staton was 36 years old, a mother of five children, and trapped in an abusive marriage when songwriter David Crawford penned a tune that would save her life, as well as those of countless other women. “Young Hearts Run Free” was recorded in the disco style of the times…
Marcus Chapman is one of the most knowledgeable people regarding music that you can come across and he’s sharing that knowledge with the world in relaunching his two-part book series, “The Coolest Music Book Ever Made a.k.a The MC 500.” Chapman, a regular contributor to TV One’s award-winning “Unsung” series,…
Jacques Fred Petrus’ story began at 15 when he left his homeland of Guadeloupe to become an engineer but ended tragically (depending on who you ask) back at home. In between, he, along Mauro Malavasi and other talented songwriters, producers and musicians, brought Italo disco to the United States via…
Leon Ware had a distinguished and long career in R&B, writing songs for Motown in the 60s, creating a classic with Marvin Gaye in the 70s and penning a hit for Maxwell in the 90s. He also created several underrated albums in the 70s and 80s, displaying his cool lyricism…
Chuck Brown mastered the sound known as Go Go years before 1986’s “Go Go Swing Live” was recorded but the live album served to be a true representation of the Latin-infused jazz funk hybrid Chuck and his band the Soul Searchers created. The spirit of the party is evident with…