Chitlin Circuit Double-entendre -filled Soul 2004 (and onward) Theodis Ealey's "Stand Up In It" is a song of the year

I wrote about that Donnie Ray album in this roundup, actually.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-03-09/music/southern-soul-guide-sweet-angel-mel-waiters-and-luther-lackey/2/

Ah, so you did -- Ray's most sugar-sweet beach-soul hooks

Yep

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2015/05/mel_waiters_southern_soul_blue.html

Oh no, RIP Mel Waiters dead at 58 from cancer.

I interviewed him back in 2009 and enjoyed his live act too. A shame he never reached the broader audience that some of his music could have impressed.

Still bumming me out that he is gone. Plus, that xhuxk and I are the only ones here on ilx who knew any of his music.

My local Pacifica public radio station paid tribute to Mel Saturday. Also some stuff on twitter (including postings by young African-Americans who heard Waiters via their parents playing him)

Been listening to Mel's Poor Side of Town album. That track and "Pouring salt" are first-rate

RIP Mighty Sam Mcclain, 72. He had a stroke

http://www.wmur.com/entertainment/mighty-sam-mcclain-grammynominated-blues-singer-from-nh-dies/33610568

I liked him live with Iranian singer Mahsa vahdat, but he also toured and recorded with Hubert Sumlin I think. Was raised in Louisiana

Awww, another death to report:

Not seeing an obit yet, but Alligator Records is reporting that Wendell Holmes, soulful singer/guitarist of the the Holmes Brothers band has passed on at age 72.

http://touch.dailypress.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83793598/

Earlier this year, the group's drummer Popsy Dixon died.

Sherman Holmes, 75, said it has been a tough year for him emotionally.

"It has taken a toll on me," he said. "I miss them so much. I miss Popsy, and I miss being with my brother. It's not the same, even though I'll carry it on. It’s just that I feel lonely. When I go on the road without them there, it's very lonely."

I think only a couple of us here on ilx know of the greatness of the Holmes Brothers. RIP. Sherman's gonna keep going I think with a new group

Nellie Tiger Travis "Hey Mr Sexy Man" is lodged in my head and I keep repeating it

That solo Jerry Lawson with alt-country band album is growing on me. Lawson was also on that tv show Sing-Off after he left the Persuasions

Denise Lasalle turns 76 today.

I gotta catch up with Big Daddy Nice's fave songs

http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/corner2015.cfm

plus this Louisiana southern soul comp he likes:

VARIOUS ARTISTS: BEAT FLIPPA, I Got the Blues, Vol.1 (Music Access/Ross Music)

Five Stars ***** Can't Miss. Pure Southern Soul Heaven.

Lotsa cuts by Pokey, but Cupid (whose music I have heard) is on it too.

Read on FB that great southern soul singer Roy C. had a heart attack. Hope he's gonna be ok

He's doing better!

Saved by the bell!

Big southern soul shows near me at arenas always seem to get cancelled at the last minute, but it looks like the Millie Jackson, Clarence Carter, Latimore, Nellie Tiger Travis one is gonna happen at Showplace Arena Saturday night

Been digging some Carl Sims

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YITNOFZleo

and this Wilson Meadows is my '15 summer jam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iBlIiGKQpw

Just saw Wilson Meadows live, as he and his band substituted for Roy C on the bill with Millie Jackson, Clarence Carter, Latimore,& Nellie Tiger Travis. He was pretty good. Millie was foul-mouthed, soulful, and exciting with a big talented band. Clarence Carter did his hits fairly well, although he is getting old and starting to lose some of his vocal range and power. Latimore was uneven--hitting notes nicely at times, but on some songs he was too busy noodling indulgently on his keyboard.

http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/bernie/article_707e9226-3587-11e5-8890-57b1c19ae033.html

Old-school soul in St Louis tonight; plus they are honoring veteran radio djs

Some members of The Yahoo old-school Southern soul email group are excited about the below Are Records comp:

Back To The River: More Southern Soul Stories 1961-1978 Various Artists (A Southern Soul Story)

I haven't heard it yet

Ace Records not Are

Mobile, Alabama radio station list

WDLT's All Blues Saturday show with Nikki deMarks, Stormy, and Cathe B is awesome and worth listening to each week!!

1. Sweet It Be - Wilson Meadows
2. Let's Party - Lebrado
3. I Will - J-Redd featuring Black Diamond
4. Touch Your Spot - Tucka
5. I Ain't Gone Lie This Time - Ms. Jody
6. Mr. Wrong - Lacee
7. Groove It How You Move It - Veronica Ra'elle ft Tyree Neal
8. My Sidepiece - Louisiana Blues Brothers
9. One Big Party - Solomon Thompson
10. Blues & BBQ - Bigg Robb featuring Denise LaSalle

A few of those are on this playlist I just put together last week:

http://www.rhapsody.com/blog/post/southern-soul-blues-summer-2015

My favorites so far; more or less this order:

Lady Ebony – Food Stamps
D. Saunders – Leave Your Loving With Me
Big Cynthia – I’m Here For You Baby
Charles Wilson – Good Ole Monday
Calvin Richardson – Dark Side Of Love
Jaye Hammer feat. Donnie Ray – Is She Waiting On You?
Jeter Jones – Cold Pepsi
Willie Hill – I Gotta Get My Groove On
Stevie J Blues – Another Jody Song
Veronica Raelle feat. Adrian Bagher – Let’s Do It
Louisiana Soul Brothers feat. Pokey and Major Clark Jr. – My Sidepiece
Carl Marshall – Cheating Town

The new Ms. Jody album has some impressive melodies and grooves. I still have to catch up on most of the rest listed there

movie doc "Syl Johnson: Any Way The Wind Blows" to world premiere at Chicago International Film Festival

For some reason, Yo La Tengo was hired to do the score for this effort about that Chicago soul singer.

I'm liking the Louisiana Blues Brothers

Forgot to mention that Millie Jackson in addition to doing a country cover, also did Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me."

http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/09/15/440363012/a-rational-conversation-do-we-need-new-old-soul-music

Sigh...Another writer who seems to have never heard of the synths and cheating lyric southern soul discussed in this thread

I think current chitlin circuit southern soul artists with their use of keyboards and synths are more modern than say old country singers at Branson. But Scott S's theory is nonetheless interesting

Saw Hardway Connection yesterday and they have added a conga percussionist. Sounded great. "Southern soul Rompin'"

I have so much catching up to do. Haven't even been reading Big Daddy Nice's updates,let alone listening online to radio stations that play this stuff.

from the Boogie Report:

It Is With Deep Regret That We Report The Passing Of 'James Hot Dog Lewis " Who Past In His Sleep Thursday Night At his Jackson Mississippi Home.

Hot Dog ,An Outstanding Session Musician has played with almost everybody in the Southern Soul Blues Genre

Bluesman Zac Harmon Posted On His Facebook Page

"I just want to pay tribute to one of the most incredible musicians that I have every known that went to be with God today. James Lewis better known as "Hot Dog" was a part of the Jackson music scene when music was everywhere and the clubs were hot. I first met Hot Dog playing with the Mid South Soul Revue then LSD. It was never a surprise to see Hot Dog performing on various instruments cause he was just as good on drums, keys, and horns. He later played with Sho Nuff, Wyndchymes, Bobby Rush, and was a longtime member of the Mo Money Band. He will really be missed. RIP Dog!"

Preston Lauterbach, who wrote the great book on the history of the old-school Chitlin Circuit, is doing some book tour dates for his latest book on the history of Beale Street in Memphis. He's gonna be at Busboys & Poets in DC Nov. 23rd. I saw him interview Memphis drummer Howard Grimes at the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans. He knows his Memphis stuff

Not exactly the circuit, but...

New Orleans Dj Soul Sister is posting on Instagram that guitarist Marlo Henderson who played with Patti Labelle,Minnie Ripperton, Teena Marie, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and many more, has passed away.

http://marlohenderson.com/about_marlo

Jeff Floyd has such a great gritty southern soul voice.

Am excited that I can hopefully see him (Jeff Floyd) Friday night with J. Red (the nephew) and the Hardway Connection at Lamont's in Pomonkey.

J. Red who has some good tunes too (more line dance r'n'b funky with a less bluesy-soulful voice)is Theotis Ealey's nephew

It was a fun gig. Hardway were great. Jeff Floyd and J. Red both sang over tracks (promoter couldn't afford to bring their bands) but they both sounded great--especially Jeff Floyd.

I'm still behind in listening to 2015 southern soul releases

I'm a dilettante in this style and really only follow Daddy B Nice's page, but was quite pleased with "Blues Mix 17 Dirty Soul Blues" a couple months back.

Will add that comp to my list...

Been listening to Johnny Rawls, Mississippi singer/guitarist who once led O.V. Wright's band. His sound is kinda like O.V.'s. Dude has been quietly putting out albums every few years since the 90s and touring the US and Europe constantly. He's got that gritty but passionate & melodic vocal style I love

Gonna see Rawls tonight. Still woefully behind in listening to Daddy B Nice suggestions on his blog, or in listening to online southern soul radio programs.

How was it?

Its later tonight. He was in a little Falls Church, VA bar last night but I didn't go. He won't have a horn section I don't think, and is touring with his own bass player but adding local guitarist and drummer who have been giving practice music lists and such...

given

Rawls played a bunch of funk covers at the gig I went to--Parliament, Ohio Players... Not too much of his own stuff. Well known soul and blues songs too. He apparently chose more obscure soul and blues covers on his gig the night before (plus more of his own songs). I think he gauges the audience and decides from there.

"Blues Mix 17 Dirty Soul Blues" a

SOme great tunes here by Denise Lasalle, Ms Jody and others