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(December 14, 2025) He was a talented singer who created two timeless songs of very different styles – the smash hits “Everlasting Love” and “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked).” Tonight we are sad to report the passing of the great Carl Carlton at the age of 72. Carlton’s death comes six years […]

The post “Everlasting Love” and “Bad Mama Jama” singer Carl Carlton dies at 72 appeared first on SoulTracks.

(December 15, 2025) A  compelling case can be made that the Buckeye state is the funk capitol of the world. James Brown is a native of Georgia, but his record label, King, was based in Cincinnati. Cincy is also the home of the Isley Brothers and Bootsy Collins, who played for The Hardest Working Man […]

The post First Listen: Soundoctrine pays tribute to Ohio Funk on “Sho Nuff” appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to the late Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations, born December 17, 1939.  Eddie Kendricks was a cornerstone of soul music and an integral member of the legendary Temptations. Known for his unmistakable falsetto, Kendricks helped shape the sound of Motown and influenced generations of artists and fans alike. Today, we honor his legacy […]

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(December 13, 2025) A party will ensue whenever members of the collective known as The Foreign Exchange enter the studio. That’s the case whether the entire band is together, one of them is working on a solo project, or two or three of them connect to make some musical magic. If you’re a fan of […]

The post Sy Smith, Zo! & Tall Black Guy are “Satisfied” on new single appeared first on SoulTracks.

Today we wish a very happy birthday to Lalah Hathaway, born December 16, 1968. Lalah Hathaway burst onto the soul and jazz scene in 1990 with an auspicious self-titled debut album. The disc displayed a young artist who clearly had the pipes, but was also a developing song stylist, able to interpret both modern R&B […]

The post Happy Birthday to singer supreme, Lalah Hathaway appeared first on SoulTracks.

In the 60s, Smokey Robinson virtually reinvented the sweet soul ballad and paved the way for a number of groups that would make the early 70s a ballad lovers dream era. And no act epitomized that genre more than this hard working group from Chicago with an underappreciated musical genius at the helm. See our […]

The post SoulTracks Lost Gem: The Chi-Lites got us dancing on “Stop What You’re Doing” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(December 12, 2025) The song “Invisible” is a dreamy, mid-tempo R&B tune that explores that not always seen ways that forces such as love impact our lives and influence our actions. The artist, 1Farshad, is a Paris born, Los Angeles based producer and independent artist, who says this about the tune and the album, Soul […]

The post First Listen: 1Farshad is “Invisible” appeared first on SoulTracks.

Today we are wishing a Happy birthday to Morris Day of the Time, born December 13, 1957. The Time arose from Prince’s shadow to become one of the most popular funk outfits of the 80s and spawned one of the most successful songwriting/production teams of the past two decades, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The band […]

The post Happy Birthday to The Time lead singer Morris Day appeared first on SoulTracks.

(December 11, 2025) While the familiar expression “born for this” can be an over the top cliché, some musicians were ready for their lifetime assignment from the cradle.  Jason Nelson broke into a durable family ministry with his father, James D. Nelson, Sr., who pastored at Greater Bethlehem Temple Church in Baltimore, Maryland for 3 […]

The post First Listen: Jason Nelson gifts us with “Shepherd’s Song” appeared first on SoulTracks.

The surviving members of the legendary R&B vocal group, The Whispers, known for classic Billboard No. 1 R&B hits such as “Rock Steady” and “And the Beat Goes On,” are reissuing their beloved 2010 gospel album, Thankful, as Thankful : The Compilation (Kingdom Records / Virgin Music Group), on all digital music platforms on December 12, 2025. The 16-track set has […]

The post The Whispers reissue Gospel album with unreleased material appeared first on SoulTracks.

(December 10, 2025) R&B star Montell Jordan has gone to social media to update fans about his health and his work. In his post, he references the upcoming documentary Sustain, an intimate portrait of Jordan as he deals with the diagnosis of prostate cancer – a difficult turn for one of the most fascinating R&B […]

The post 90’s R&B star Montell Jordan updates fans on cancer journey appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to Sheila E, born December 12, 1957. Sheila E was already a noted percussionist when she was thrust into the limelight by the The Purple One, Prince. Her work with him, including the bit hit “The Glamorous Life,” made her a household name in soul music circles. Decades later, she is still highly regarded […]

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Jesse Powell was extremely gifted as a singer who had times in his too short career where he really broke breaking through. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Powell spent his childhood and teen years singing in his local church with his musical family (his sisters Tamara and Trina later recorded for Sony Records).  He […]

The post SoulTracks Lost Gem: Jesse Powell looked for “Something In the Past” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(December 10, 2025) Over the past couple of years, singer Heidi Tann has leaped onto soul and jazz charts around the world with a series of tasty singles aimed at music-loving (and often radio fatigued) fans looking for melodic, well-performed songs for adults. She has connected with those fans, and should continue that love affair with her […]

The post First Listen: Heidi Tann “Spreads Love This Christmas” on jazzy single appeared first on SoulTracks.

We’re wishing a very happy birthday to Jermaine Jackson, born December 11, 1954, a key member of perhaps the greatest family soul group ever, and an artist who also created an enviable solo career beyond his work with The Jackson 5. For the period, 1970-74, there was no Soul group – in fact no musical act in […]

The post Happy Birthday Jermaine Jackson appeared first on SoulTracks.

(December 9, 2025) We’ve been following singer, songwriter and guitarist Son of Pearl for years, and the SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Award nominee always delivers his own distinctive brand of what he calls “Mellowfunkism.” For his latest, SOP has released a cool duet with Pearl Culliver for the Christmas season, with “Happy Holidays Pt. 2.” A […]

The post Son of Pearl jams up Christmas with “Happy Holidays” appeared first on SoulTracks.

December 10, 1967: Otis Redding dies in plane crash It is incredible to think that more a half century has passed since one of the greatest tragedies to hit the world of soul music, but it was on this day in 1967 that the legendary Otis Redding died in a tragic plane crash, along with […]

The post Today in Music History (Dec 10, 1967): We lost the great Otis Redding appeared first on SoulTracks.

Once upon a time, releasing a holiday album was an opportunity reserved for the most talented and successful artists of the day. Over the past couple of decades, however, the concept has been milked to the extreme, resulting in an overcrowded marketplace with countless acts presenting their interpretations of Christmas standards (and sometimes questionable originals) […]

The post Lost Christmas Gem: Stephanie Mills “Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas”…Without You appeared first on SoulTracks.

(December 8, 2025, 8:00pm EST) The time is here! After months of preparations and ballots going out to tens of thousands of SoulTrackers, we’re happy to announce the winners of the 2025 SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards, the world’s leading awards dedicated to independent soul music.  Many thanks to you, SoulTrackers, for participating and voting for your favorites. […]

The post See the Winners! 2025 SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to Walter “Clyde” Orange of the Commodores, born December 9, 1946. Formed by a bunch of funk-loving friends at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute, the Commodores became one of the major crossover acts of the 70s and launched the career of the biggest male solo star of the 80s. At the early end of the […]

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