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Like a shooting star, singer and songwriter Ewanya “Puff” Johnson came on to the soul music scene in the 1990s, pleasing with her keen sense of melody and a lovely voice. Born in Detroit in 1972, Puff Johnson’s musical journey was deeply rooted in her upbringing. She hailed from a musically inclined family, and her […]

The post Lost Gem: The too-short life of Puff Johnson gave great musical joy appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to Alexander O’Neal, born November 15, 1953. Alexander O’Neal had the distinction of being perhaps the best pure singer to come from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’ 80s production stable, and working with them released a number of memorable tracks that clearly bear the heavily synthesized sound of their era but still hold […]

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Happy birthday to Joseph Simmons of Run DMC, born November 14, 1966. Often called Reverend Run, Simmons was not only one of the founding members of hip hop pioneers Run–D.M.C., he is also a practicing minister. Simmons was born in Hollis, Queens, New York. He is also the brother Russell Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam […]

The post Celebrating Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons’ Birthday – A Hip-Hop Trailblazer appeared first on SoulTracks.

(November 12, 2025) “The Running Man,” the new single by UK Soul Man J Saint James, tells a story of a man who is compelled to stay on the move. Sometimes he’s chasing something. Other times he’s running away from something. However, this soul/pop ballad is more focused on what he leaves behind on his journeys. J Saint James’ character leaves someone […]

The post First Listen: J. Saint James slows it down on “The Running Man” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(November 11, 2025) We pride ourselves on hearing vast amounts of soul music artists, but we are still humbled by the amount of sheer talent around the world that we don’t hear. Today’s discovery is London-based five-piece band, The Foo Birds, who enter our consciousness with the bluesy new single, “Turnin’.” Consisting of keyboardist Alex Hill, guitarist Dan Abrahams, […]

The post First Listen: The Foo Birds have us “Turnin'” appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to Booker T. Jones, born November 12, 1944. Few musicians embody the heartbeat of soul music quite like Booker T. Jones. As the leader of Booker T. & the MG’s, he didn’t just help define the Stax Records sound of the 1960s—he was its core. His cool, organ-driven instrumental “Green Onions” became an […]

The post Happy Birthday to Stax music legend Booker T. Jones appeared first on SoulTracks.

Not every Lost Gem is decades old. Sometimes, they sneak up in newer releases that never quite get the public’s attention, and then they fade before really getting the shine they deserve. And that’s the case with our lastest SoulTracks Lost Gem. Just a few years ago, Smokey Robinson released his Time Flies album, which came and […]

The post Lost Gem: The beautiful Smokey Robinson and India.Arie duet that is so worth hearing appeared first on SoulTracks.

(November 10, 2025) We have been covering uber-talented singer and songwriter Teri Tobin for well over a decade, but one thing we haven’t done is write about holiday music from her. Happily, that ends now with the release of “Home For the Holidays,” the smile-inducing first single from her upcoming EP of the same name. Working with multi-instrumentalist Myron […]

The post First Listen: Teri Tobin brings us “Home for the Holidays” with joyous single appeared first on SoulTracks.

We wish a very happy birthday to the great Tevin Campbell, born November 12, 1976. Texas native Tevin Campbell burst onto the music scene in 1989 with his innocent, appealing vocal performance of the hopeful “Tomorrow” from Quincy Jones’ Grammy Award-winning album Back on the Block.  Then only 13, Campbell became a young heartthrob and a talent to watch.  […]

The post Happy Birthday to singing star Tevin Campbell appeared first on SoulTracks.

November 12, 1972 – Hall & Oates release their debut album, Whole Oats They are the most successful singing duo in history, and on this day in 1972, the world met the legendary twosome, Daryl Hall and John Oates. During the late 60s, as Detroit ruled the pop and soul airwaves, the seeds for the next […]

The post On This Day in 1972 : Hall & Oates begin historic recording career appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to R&B and jazz great Hubert Laws, born on November 10, 1939. There are few musicians who have shown themselves to be as versatile and compelling as the great as flutist Hubert Laws. Laws has made a career of deftly blending jazz, classical, R&B, and Latin music. Born in Houston, Texas, Laws grew up […]

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(November 8, 2025) It has arrived and we are all feeling it. There is an onslaught of music being released that is generated by artificial intelligence. Reportedly more than a quarter of new songs on streaming services are A.I. generated, creating both a threat to human artists and a challenge to websites like SoulTracks that […]

The post SoulTracks establishes policy on A.I.-generated music appeared first on SoulTracks.

Singer supreme Bri Babineaux has established quite a career with her unique fusion of gospel and R&B, delivering hot rhythms that support messages of faith, hope and love. With four #1 chart hits to her name, she is a modern giant in popular music. For her latest single, Bri again straddles the spiritual and the […]

The post Choice Cut: Bri Babineaux gives us “All” with great new single appeared first on SoulTracks.

November 10, 2006 – Gerald Levert’s death shocks the music world He was too young, too talented, too everything. Gerald Levert’s sudden, unexpected death pained the soul music world deeply, and still does. He passed in his sleep on November 10, of a fatal combination of prescription pain medications and over-the-counter drugs, along with pnuemonia. […]

The post On This Day in 2006: The tragic death of Gerald Levert appeared first on SoulTracks.

(November 7, 2025) We all need some encouragement every now and then, especially in these challenging times. And music has a special way of lifting us up through words and melody. Cornell CC Carter, an international singer/songwriter who is a SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Award winner, believes everyone has the ability to uplift others when they […]

The post First Listen: Cornell “CC” Carter inspires on “Lift It Up” appeared first on SoulTracks.

New York, NY (November 6, 2025) — Iconic hip-hop group De La Soul officially announces their highly anticipated 10th studio album, Cabin in the Sky, available November 21 via Mass Appeal as part of the label’s celebrated “Legend Has It” series. The first single, “The Package,” produced by Pete Rock, is available today across all streaming platforms, and the album is available for pre-sale […]

The post De La Soul releases new single; album coming appeared first on SoulTracks.

November 10, 1977 – The Temptations leave Motown The year was 1977 and The Temptations were a mess. Yes, THE Temptations, the act that nearly defined soul music in the 60s and early 70s. But the loss of Dennis Edwards and Eddie Kendricks, combined with a series of mediocre, uninspired albums on Motown in the […]

The post On This Day in 1977: The Temptations up and leave Motown appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to Gerald Alston of the Manhattans, born November 8, 1951. Recruited out of college to be the lead singer for the Manhattans, Gerald Alston’s Sam Cooke-influenced tenor voice became the signature for that group, providing the Manhattans with their first major crossover success via top ten hits “Kiss and Say Goodbye” and “Shining Star.”  Alston’s […]

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(November 6, 2025) “Working Out for Your Good,” the new song from gospel artist Deon Robertson, is a song of encouragement and the importance of keeping the faith. Robertson wants listeners to know that he can identify with their struggles and challenges, those bouts of doubt and the depths of griefs because he’s experienced all those things. […]

The post First Listen: Deon Robertson is “Working It Out For Your Good” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(November 5, 2025) Don’t let the familiar title fool you. This is not your father’s (or grandfather’s) Christmas song. The name “Winter Wunderland” may evoke memories of fanciful conversation with clerical snowmen, but this “Winter Wunderland” is not that “Winter Wonderland.” “Winter Wunderland,” one of the first contributions to the Christmas musical canon for 2025, is […]

The post First Listen: Frank McComb helps create a “Winter Wunderland” appeared first on SoulTracks.