July 6, 2020 — The UK’s Michael Kiwanuka is back with a new visual for the single “Light” off his latest album Kiwanuka.  

The song is indeed light, airy, and melodious, but the accompanying visuals are  decidedly serious and timely. The director gracefully weaves in beautiful illustrations of the ongoing protest movement and otherwise captures the determined spirit of this era.  Enjoy.

By Robb Patryk

(July 5, 2020) We are very sad to report tonight the death of another soul music warrior, the great Sharon Paige, who came to fame as a singer who worked with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, particularly on the memorable ballad, “I Hope That We Can Be Together Soon.” While not a member of the Blue Notes, Paige was a frequent collaborator who took on a larger role after the departure of lead singer Teddy Pendergrass.

(July 5, 2020) We first heard the music of London-based chanteuse Rachel Huggins last year as she began giving sneak peeks of her upcoming EP, Keep Dreaming. And while “Take Control” was a blast-from-the-past disco number, it was clear she is a talent who can sing many styles.

That versatility comes through in her newest single, a gentle midtempo that reminds of the kinds of number that Avery Sunshine might release. The song is a joyful celebration of love, and her bright vocals work just right.

(July 5, 2020) Tomi Jenkins created a Hall of Fame career as a singing and songwriting member of one of the greatest funk bands of the past half century, Cameo. But for the past few years, he has been using his talent as a solo artist, and he has brought his many fans with him.

(July 5, 2020) A few weeks ago, we introduced SoulTrackers to new Temptations lead singer, Mario Corbino, who brings the quintet back to…well…a quintet as they embark on their 60^th Anniversary tour.

(July 3, 2020) The early 1970s brought a series of wonderful male vocal groups fronted by falsetto lead singers. There were giants like The Stylistics and Blue Magic, but one of the unheralded but consistently charming acts of the time was Baltimore’s The Softones, led by the incredible falsetto of J. Marvin Brown. We are sad to report the death of Mr. Brown at age 66, causes undisclosed.

Today we say a sad goodbye to singer and Side Effect co-founder Louie Patton (Louis Sanford Patton, Sr.), who died on June 16, 2020. Side Effect was one of the most consistently enjoyable bands of the 70s and early 80s, with a generally upbeat catalog of hits and sunny approach to its music.

Patton was born in South L.A., and began playing piano at age five. A prodigious performer at a young age, he expanded to other instruments as he grew (clarinet, saxophone, bassoon), even as he became a high school track star.

(July 3, 2020) He’s one of the top songwriters and producers in the world of Gospel music, he’s a member of iconic band Maroon 5, and he is one of the most awarded artists in the history of the SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards. Of course, we’re talking about PJ Morton, soul music’s Renaissance Man, who continues to surprise us with new music and new musical directions.

(July 3, 2020) For a generation of soul music fans, Ralph Tresvant is musical royalty. As a lead singer for the iconic group New Edition, he played a major role in several decades of our lives, beginning when he was just a kid himself.

Tresvant has been rather silent in the recording studio over the past few years, appearing occasionally as a guest vocalist on songs by other artists, including last year’s Johnny Gill single, “Perfect.”

(July 2, 2020) Pianist Michael Silverman may be one of the most popular musicians that you may – or may not have – heard of. He’s definitely among the busiest. His music has been heard on television shows and he’s one of the world’s most streamed and downloaded artists. His has more than 6 billion streams on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon. Silverman and his brother Rob Silverman founded Autumn Hill Records in 2007 and that label streams over 3 million songs daily in a variety of instrumental styles ranging from new age to classical.