Northern Soul U.S. Sportspeople

[Kenb]

I'm always surprised by the number of Sportspeople connected to Northern 45's. Either artists, writers, arrangers or publishers. Mostly men, and often College Football, Basketball, etc.

Just recently bought Don Ray Samson to find out he was a good american football player at San Bernadino Valley College (SBVC). A top pass receiver-pro prospect signing for the Montreal Allouettes 1965, etc). Jimmy Webb (writer of Don's 'Baby Come Back') also went to SBVC at the same time.

There must be 100's? some obvious - some not so

Put them up...perhaps leave out the obvious ( avoid swamping)

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by Kenb
clarification

[Owd Codger]

Roosevelt Grier

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosey_Grier

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D4ppmTQnC3g

Edited September 15, 2022 by Owd Codger

[Owd Codger]

Joe Frazier

 

[Owd Codger]

Cassius Clay

 

[Godzilla]

Jackie Wilson was a Golden Gloves boxing champion aged 16.

Edited September 15, 2022 by Godzilla

[Owd Codger]

Berry Gordy jnr was also an amateur boxer of course. Not sure of his 'status' in the ring.

Edited September 15, 2022 by Owd Codger

[Robbk]

Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain, a dominating basketball centre for The Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors, and The L.A. Lakers, had a 45 out on George Goldner's End Records in 1960.  I doubt that most of you would consider it Northern Soul, or, even "Soul" music, - or, really, even "music", as the bloke couldn't really sing.  But, I just thought I'd throw this in.

Arthur Lee Maye (Lee Maye) was a great R&B singer, whose later career edged a little into the Soul Music period.  I think that one or two of his last recordings perhaps edged into borderline NS interest. He had a 10 year + career as a US Major league Baseball player, as a borderline all star outfielder with The Milwaukee Braves, Houston Astros, and Cleveland Indians.  He was an above .300 hitter most of his time with The Braves, and led The National League in doubles one year.  I met him several times at batting practise before games in Milwaukee  and Chicago during  1958-64.  

Not only did US Pro Football's greatest running back, Cleveland Browns' Jim Brown own a couple '60s Soul record labels, but, if I remember correctly, he also had at least one 45 record out.  Of course you all know he was an actor in action films, as well.  And, ironically, much to my chagrin, he's probably a LOT more well known by Americans today for THAT than being possibly the greatest American football player ever.

I probably have 30-40 R&B and Soul records recorded by professional sports stars, alone.  If you'd add in those that were university/college athletic stars, they'd certainly go over 100 (but, I probably wouldn't have known most of them were stars in college because I never paid much attention to college sports, other than my own time at university).

For African-American boys during the 1950s and 1960s, most of the best ways to earn a halfway decent living were as singers or professional sports players.  So, MOST of the boys were good at sports, a long way up the chain towards competing for professional jobs in that field.  So, I'm sure that hundreds and hundreds of males who recorded Soul 45s were sports stars, at least on the college level.  Most of any sports stars WE could discover, would likely have had to have at least a short time as a professional.  The professional sports players who played enough to get on Baseball, Football, Hockey, and Basketball cards, would on the backs of the cards have a short bio - often with a cartoon highlight.  Whenever the player was also a professional recording artist, THAT would show up in the cartoon (as did Lee Maye, and a few others, but who the others were escapes my old memory right now.

I DO remember that there were a few more pro boxers who couldn't sing, also had one-off records out during the early mid '60s, other than Joe Frazier.  So, I hope to add them later.  It seems to me that there were many, many ex-collegiate sports stars in R&B groups.  But, that's not really related to NS.

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by Robbk

[Steve M]

Apollo Creed !  

[Kenb]

here's a couple more...

Carl Holmes (& The Commanders) had a brief fling with Pro Baseball & Football (Full Back & Guard for Willow Grove Athletic Club)

Diamond Jim Riley - Pro Boxer.

[Paul Royle]

Ernie Wheelwright

 

[Roburt]

In more modern times, NFL player Ed 'Too Tall' Jones cut records .... https://www.discogs.com/artist/1686139-Ed-Too-Tall-Jones

 

Big Jim Records was funded by NFL legend Jim Brown & he was also a group manager (Friends of Distinction & more). He was also an actor & had a record released about his role in the movie 'Slaughter's Big Rip Off'.

Lots more too but can't recall them off the top of my head.

Edited September 18, 2022 by Roburt

[Robbk]

On 15/09/2022 at 09:22, Owd Codger said:

Berry Gordy jnr was also an amateur boxer of course. Not sure of his 'status' in the ring.

And Berry knew Marv Johnson from boxing, too; which is why Marv was able to get the helper job at Berry's Jazz record shop.  I think that their mutual friend, Jackie Wilson's old boxing coach, who ran a boxing gym, discovered Marv.  And Joanne Bratton (Ed Wingate's ladyfriend, and partner in Golden World) was previously married to a champion professional boxer, Johnny "Honey Boy" Bratton (from Chicago).

Edited September 18, 2022 by Robbk

[The Yank]

According to the liner notes of an early album (Epic #3294), Roy Hamilton had a brief career as an amateur boxer with a 6 win, 1 loss record.

    Walter Payton and William "The Fridge"  Perry of the Chicago Bears made a Rap single in 1986- 

[Tlscapital]

James Taylor parted from the T.S.U. Tornadoes to later go into fooitball with the Houston 'Oilers'...