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(October 8, 2026) – Few couples in music have enjoyed the longevity and success of Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. From their days as part of the legendary 5th Dimension to their decades as a duo, the Grammy-winning singers have created a musical legacy built on great songs, beautiful harmonies and an enduring love […]

The post Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. return with loving cover of a Bill Withers classic in new collection appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 8, 2026) Despite American Idol’s popularity, those who never reach the big recording contract finish line consider that hard earned opportunity as just another steppingstone in pursuing further musical career avenues. With her memorable take on Aretha’s “Chain of Fools,” Tania Kelley, AKA Nia Renée, qualified for the Top 40 during Season 19, but […]

The post First Listen: Newcomer Nia Renée wins us over with “Friends” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 7, 2026) We are sad to report the passing of Verne Allison, a founding member and longtime second tenor of legendary soul group The Dells. Allison was 90. While lead singers Marvin Junior and Johnny Carter understandably received much of the spotlight during the Dells’ remarkable career, Allison was an essential part of the […]

The post R.I.P. Verne Allison, founding member of the legendary R&B act The Dells appeared first on SoulTracks.

Back in 2021, when The Isley Brothers and Earth Wind & Fire teamed on the television and web show Versuz, they posted on social media to some fanfare that they would be going into the studio together. Then fans waited for a big release announcement that never happened. The recording finally – and quietly – came out a year […]

The post Lost Gem: The time that The Isley Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire and El DeBarge quietly teamed on a classic appeared first on SoulTracks.

Last summer, my wife and I went to Chicago to visit my oldest daughter. She was living in Hyde Park at the time and when we went there I had to make a stop at Hyde Park Records. If you’re looking for some classic, long lost vinyl, you’ll find it at Hyde Park Records. I […]

The post Lost Gem: “Emotion” had two beautiful lives in the 80s appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 7, 2026) More than three decades after her passing, the remarkable voice of Eva Cassidy continues to find new audiences. Now, Blix Street Records is preparing a new collection, JAZZED, bringing together some of Cassidy’s most memorable excursions into jazz. Set for release November 13, the 10-song album spans recordings made between 1987 and […]

The post Eva Cassidy jazz legacy mined in upcoming collection appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy Birthday to Airrion Love, co-founder of the Stylistics, born October 8, 1949. Love has been with the Stylistics since the beginning, his rich baritone gracing such songs as “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” and his leadership keeping the group in the public eye for five decades. At their peak, the Stylistics were perhaps the most […]

The post Celebrating Airrion Love’s Birthday – A Stylistics Legend appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 7, 2026) Since 2018, Italian producer-arranger Stefano Colombo has been giving a second life to Change, the concept studio group created in 1980. Backed by an esteemed cadre of soul and funk musicians, then-future vocal legends including Luther Vandross, Jocelyn Brown, and James Robinson, shined on R&B-disco nuggets like “The Glow of Love,” “A […]

The post First Listen: Change returns with another groove-filled winner appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 6, 2026) This has been a sad year for soul music fans, one in which so many great artists have died. But some passings have additional weight, and feel like the end of an era. This is one of those. We are extremely sad to inform readers that R&B great Freddie Jackson has died, […]

The post R&B legend Freddie Jackson dies appeared first on SoulTracks.

A very Happy Birthday to the incredible Teddy Riley, born Edward Theodore Riley on October 8, 1967, in Harlem, New York. It is difficult to look at popular music in the late 1980s and through the 1990s without marveling at the visionary work of Teddy Riley. As a songwriter and producer, he was pivotal in […]

The post Celebrating Teddy Riley’s Birthday – The King of New Jack Swing appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 6, 2026) No matter who he or she is, or was, it’s happened to you before: a chance meeting, mutual chemistry and an instant connection that turned a building relationship into a fiery romance. Chats or calls that brightened your days and moments that heated your nights…until. Maybe it was a misunderstanding, too many […]

The post First Listen: Will Downing is ready to “Fight For Love” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 5, 2026) Well, it’s that time of year again!  We’re beginning to plan our 2025 SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards, the world’s leading award dedicated to independent soul music. The awards will be coming in December, but we will be getting ready and voting long before then. And we need your help!  From now until October 19, we will […]

The post Now Accepting Nominations – SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 5, 2026) Back in early 2025, Taiwanese soul singer Yufu first grabbed our attention with the track release of “When?” after a SoulTracks First Listen feature highlighted his rising portfolio of soulful self-produced music. Since then, he’s released the full-length album, Heal Me Good, and made considerable noise with his brand of nostalgic funky […]

The post World Premiere: Hot newcomer Yufu returns with “Side Effects” appeared first on SoulTracks.

October 6, 1982 – Lionel Richie goes solo with debut album He was on top of the world as the lead singer and principal songwriter for The Commodores, but on this day in 1982, Lionel Richie completed a much anticipated career move, becoming a solo artist and issuing a massive selling self-titled solo debut album. It […]

The post On This Day in 1982: Lionel Richie leaves the Commodores to go solo appeared first on SoulTracks.

Back in 2017, Memphis singer Porcelan arrived on the scene with about as strong an endorsement as a young soul artist could have: legendary songwriter and producer David Porter serving as executive producer of her debut project. Porter, a SoulTracks Lifetime Achievement Award winner, had long since secured his place in music history through his […]

The post Lost Gem: Legendary Stax man David Porter helped Porcelan find the “Real Thing” appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to the late, great Richard Street of The Temptations, born on October 5, 1942. Street was a mainstay in the Temptations during the 1970s and 80s and was the lead vocalist on several major hits. Born in Detroit, he was a child prodigy, talented both as a pianist and as a singer. His […]

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday to Richard Street of the Temptations appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to singer supreme Heather Headley, born October 5, 1974. She is a star of stage and radio whose talent seems to know no bounds. Heather Headley, the enchanting songstress, has carved her name into the annals of soul music with a voice that resonates with passion and authenticity. Born on October 5, 1974, in […]

The post Happy Birthday to R&B and stage star Heather Headley appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 3, 2026) — Contemporary jazz favorite Brian Culbertson is marking a major career milestone with the announcement of his 30th album, The Midnight Tapes, due February 5, 2027. For the new project, Culbertson took a decidedly hands-on approach, playing every instrument himself — 44 in all — including piano, bass, drums, guitar, trumpet, trombone, […]

The post Jazz great Brian Culbertson to release 30th album appeared first on SoulTracks.

(October 3, 2026) Another high-profile music copyright dispute has reached the courts, this time involving one of the most recognizable songs of the past half-century. Mattie Music Group, representing rights in the Bill Withers catalog, has filed suit in federal court in California, alleging that Grammy Award winner Olivia Dean’s 2025 song “I’ve Seen It” […]

The post Lawsuit claims Grammy winner Olivia Dean copied a classic Bill Withers song appeared first on SoulTracks.

There weren’t many soul music acts that were bigger in the 1970s than The Spinners. The quintet, working with master producer Thom Bell, issued a series of charttopping albums and one hit after another — songs that are revered now as much as they were back then. But amid all of the hits was a song that […]

The post SoulTracks Lost Gem: The Spinners teamed with the NBA’s Dr. J for a basketball music rarity appeared first on SoulTracks.