Ady Of Newark

54 years after their first recording, LA Soul legends The Whispers are back with a poignant piece of social commentary in their brand new release "How Long" Here Wallace, Walter and Leaveil reminisce on a career that began in talent shows, on to their association with Sly Stone and Dick Griffey right up to their thoughts on the current tension in America that was the inspiration behind their latest work. You can listen to the chat here: https://www.shinyl.co.uk/the-whispers/

Chris Clark began her career with Motown in 1963. Tall, tanned, blue-eyed and bluesey-sounding, Chris was signed as a recording artist and soon moved on to writing music for herself and other Motown artists. She also extended her talents to include photography and scriptwriting, contributing much to the screenplay for the 1972 film Lady Sings The Blues for which she received an academy award nomination. Here she recounts her life as a white girl immersed in black culture at a time of hard segregation, her experiences as part of the Motown music and film phenomenon and that photoshoot with an elephant and a donkey! https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/10/01/chris-clark/

Patrinell Staten Wright, recording under her maiden name, took Seattle by storm with her self-penned ‘Little Love Affair’. Widely considered to be one of the truly ‘holy grail’ tracks on the UK soul scene, her roots and calling was in the world of gospel music. In 1973 she formed a youth choir called The Total Experience Gospel Choir who disbanded an impressive 45 years later, in October 2018 Here Patrinell chats with Ady about her life in music, travelling the world with her youth choir, meeting the President (having helped him win his election campaign) and her efforts to assist disaster relief. You can hear their chat here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/09/04/patrinell-staten-wright/

Thelma Jones burst onto the NYC scene with a smash hit Never Leave Me which launched her career with Barry records before moving to Muscle Shoals after Barry records’ demise. Salty Tears brought Thelma to the attention of the mighty Columbia records where she released her eponymous LP including tracks written by Leon Ware, Sam Dees and Harold Payne amongst others https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/09/05/thelma-jones/

Candi Staton is an American singer/songwriter who’s long career has produced hits like Nights On Broadway, Stand By Your Man, You Got The Love and of course, Young Hearts Run Free Candi has been inducted into several Hall’s of Fame and is a four time Grammy nominee Here she chats to Ady about her life in music, her latest album, overcoming cancer and her forthcoming UK tour: https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/08/24/candi-staton/

Soul music is many things to Ben Pirani: It’s positive and it’s hopeful. It’s a soundtrack for struggle, which is where soul music came from in the first place. That the struggle has been happening largely in the black community is not lost on Pirani, who is white — it’s something he thinks about a lot. “I feel really strongly that soul music is precious and must be treated with care and respect,” he says. “Anything less is colonizing the funk.” Ben chats with Ady about his musical career thus far and his brand new LP ‘How Do I Talk To My Brother’ https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/01/14/ben-pirani/

Singer/songwriter and member of the legendary Patrick Adams collective in the 70s alongside Luther Vandross, Jocelyn Brown, Christine Wiltshire, Leroy Burgess and Donna McGhee, who wrote the massive hit ‘Girls’ for the Moments and Whatnaughts and who’s solo hit Night Rider became an anthem on the disco scene, chats about her life in disco music and beyond You can hear our chat here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/11/01/venus-dodson/

Gloria Scott’s is a name synonymous with Northern Soul, with her Barry White produced anthem (a case of) Too Much Lovemaking continuing to pack dancefloors across Europe. Her first venture into the recording studio was with Sly Stone in 1964. Gloria then auditioned for Ike & Tina Turner who signed her on the spot and took her to LA the same night. Soon after, she auditioned for Barry White. He instantly gave her a 7 year record deal and released the seminal LP ‘What Am I Gonna Do’ in 1974. Gloria was certainly set for stardom, however, Barry’s own career was about to take off….. Now it’s 2019 and she’s about to make her debut appearance in the UK, in London’s iconic 100 Club on October 11th. She also speaks about the forthcoming release of her long-awaited 1974 follow-up LP produced by HB Barnum. You can hear Gloria’s story here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/06/13/gloria-scott/

Eloise Laws who is also known as “El” is an inspiring artist, Broadway actress, author, songwriter, and a singer who has managed to mesmerize the music world of today with her resonating voice and vibrant personality. Eloise Laws holds more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry and has been widely acclaimed for her harmonious Jazz, soul, and Rhythm & Blues music. A household name in the soul world through the success of Love Factory, and the long and impressive career in music that followed, Eloise is still writing and recording and the new singles of Eloise Laws “Can’t Let Myself, Hurt Myself” and “Don’t Move, Don’t Blink” have attracted wide acclamations and positive reviews. In the first of the two singles, Eloise majorly emphasizes upon the spirit of women and the song is a demonstration of power and independence that the women spirit holds within. The latter is a powerful composition which is filled with an inspirational aura that shows the advocacy of love and romance and delivers a message of self-belief. You can hear our chat here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/10/20/eloise-laws/

Mentored by Wayne Henderson, the group Pleasure infused soul, funk and fusion becoming a cult group on the underground black music scene of the late 70s in the UK and the US. They’re now back in the studio! Hear band members Michael Hepburn and Nate Phillips recount their career and talk about their exciting new record deal. https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/06/10/michael-hepburn-nate-phillips-of-pleasure/

Lovers of Detroit soul have long rhapsodised about The Fantastic Four, one of the Motor City’s most admired vocal groups of the 60s and 70s. They came to prominence at Ric Tic records, Motown’s main rival in Detroit and before the Motown takeover, The Fantastic Four were the Ric Tic label’s biggest selling act, outselling Edwin Starr in the USA 50 years on and the guys are still making great music https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/07/25/the-fantastic-four/

Samm Culley’s career began as a keyboard player for Tiny Tim & The Hits where he met fellow singers Tom Price and Bill Collier. The trio soon left Tiny Tim and along with Irvin Waters formed The Diplomats who went on onto record as the Skullsnaps. You can hear his chat with Ady here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/05/27/samm-culley-skullsnaps-diplomats-fatback-and-more/

Barbara Jean English is an artist synonymous with the UK soul scene providing us with ever popular northern soul tunes ‘I’m Living A Lie’ and ‘(you got me) Sittin’ In The Corner’. She began her performing career in New Jersey leading The Clickettes, and then briefly The Fashions, before going solo during which time she released two lushly produced soul LPs with a concentration on sensual ballads. In the late 70s she moved into the disco scene and later in the Hi-NRG scene Barbara chats to Ady about her interesting career and the music that she continues to make. You can hear their conversation here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/11/11/barbara-jean-english/

Lorraine Silver secured a recording contract with UK label PYE aged just 13 and went on to record the Wigan Casino favourite ‘Lost Summer Love’ Still performing to an enthusiastic crowd, Lorraine tells Ady about her brand new release and her upcoming UK tour You can hear their chat here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/12/31/lorraine-silver/ You can buy her merchandise here: https://lorrainesilver.com/ See her LIVE in 2019: SATURDAY 15 JUNE 2019, THE PLATFORM, MORECAMBE SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2019, YEADON TOWN HALL, LEEDS FRIDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 2019, BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY

Joe Harris cut his first 45 as a schoolboy with Little Joe & The Moroccos and went on to lead the Fabulous Peps and sing with the Ohio Players before Norman Whitfield took him to Motown records where he formed The Undisputed Truth. The band are back together and have released their first LP in 40 years. You can hear his journey here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/05/08/joe-pep-harris-of-the-fabulous-peps-and-the-undisputed-truth/ You can buy the new album and more here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-Gon-Set-You-Free/dp/B07NHRCFVZ/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1H5CRIQ6HBNWO&keywords=undisputed+truth&qid=1557325027&s=music&sprefix=undisputed+truth%2Cpopular%2C193&sr=1-6

Joe Bataan was born Bataan Nitollano in 1942 to African-American/Filipino parents in Spanish Harlem where he briefly led the Dragons, a local Puerto Rican street gang, before being sent to the Coxsackie Correctional Facility to serve time for a stolen car charge and that's when he turned his life around. Joe learned piano and music theory during his 5 years inside and emerged onto the New York boogaloo scene like a butterfly, becoming the flagship act for Fania records before starting SalSoul records. During the 80/90s/00s he became a social worker working with kids from his own humble and vulnerable beginnings, serving as a role model to inspire them away from the darker side of life. Joe returned to recording in 2005 and continues to perform You can hear his chat with Ady here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/05/10/joe-bataan/

The Originals, often called “Motown’s best-kept secret,” were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the late 1960s and the 1970s, most notable for the hits “Baby I’m For Real” and the disco classic “Down To Love Town” Hank Dixon is the only surviving member of The Originals and chats to Ady about his career in music. You can hear their chat here: https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/08/24/hank-dixon-of-the-originals/

Californian Oliver C Brown went to Miami to seek his fortune and certainly found it. His talent soon brought him to the attention of Henry Stone of TK Records who employed him as the label’s house percussionist, recording with Betty Wright, George & Gwen McCrae, KC and The Sunshine Band and many more artists. It was a part of KC and The Sunshine Band that he gained international recognition and Oliver moved to the west coast going on to record with The Supremes, Terry Callier, Cher, Taka Boom, The Originals and others. Here he met the extremely talented duo Clydene Jackson and Harold Payne and completed the trio that now record and perform as Gravity 180 https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/05/01/oliver-c-brown-tk-records-house-percussionist/

Nolan Porter is an American singer / songwriter who recorded 2 albums in the early 1970s. His best known songs Keep On Keepin’ On and If I Could Only Be Sure which continue to pack dancefloors across the UK Nolan looks back on his career and talks about his exciting new release https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/07/12/nolan-porter/

American singer, songwriter and producer born in Ocilla, Georgia but generally connected to the NY/NJ area. He sang lead for Little Anthony & The Imperials prior to learning production from Raynoma Gordy. Kerr wrote for and/or produced soul artists including Linda Jones, The Whatnauts, The Moments, Manhattans, Lonnie Youngblood, The Escorts, Phyllis Hyman,, Eddie Fisher and especially for the roster of Sylvia Robinson’s All Platinum label. Click the link below to hear the interview conducted on February 19th 2018 https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/07/07/george-kerr-motown-staff-writer-solo-artist-songwriter-producer/

Harold ‘Bobby’ Hutton began singing at the age of five. His professional career began In Detroit, Michigan after he won a talent show at the 20 Grand club and was invited to Motown by Mickey Stevenson where he was paired as a songwriter with Raynoma Gordy, however things didn’t go to plan and success came from a different city – Chicago Here Bobby recounts his life in music and looks forward to his forthcoming live performance at the 4th Benidorm International Soul Fiesta in May https://shinyl.co.uk/2019/04/27/bobby-hutton/

Thanks

Have you heard Eleanore Mills' latest release HIgher Ground yet? Eleanore Mills’ recording career began with the release of what has become a very collectable LP issued on All Platinum’s subsidiary label Astroscope. Her seductive powerful sound caught the attention of Norman Connors and Roberta Flack who were both keen to work with her. Throughout her career Eleanore has continued to experiment and adapt, both embracing and driving changing music tastes and is still writing and recording. https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/07/26/eleanore-mills/

US singer / songwriter from New Jersey, Billy was a member of The Broadways, The Moments and Ray, Goodman & Brown, and was also a staff writer at Sylvia Robinson’s All Platinum label. Billy is currently recording, assisted by the legendary George Kerr https://shinyl.co.uk/2018/07/07/billy-brown-ex-moments-and-ray-goodman-brown/