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(May 16, 2025) The resume of Broadway star Brandon Victor Dixon reads thick. He left an indelible mark on some of Broadway’s biggest musicals, playing Harpo in The Color Purple, Berry Gordy, Jr. in Motown the Musical, emerging as Aaron Burr in Hamilton and Eubie Blake in Shuffle Along while also showing up in acclaimed […]

The post First Listen: Grammy Winner Brandon Victor Dixon wows us with “Maybe” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(May 15, 2025) While the state of Colorado is known for its landmark Rocky Mountains, cities such as Denver have cultivated a vibrant soul/R&B music scene for several years. Singer/songwriter Jeanette Cooper, known as Sista Soul, is a fine representative of this. With roots in Gospel singing and R&B work throughout the years, Sista Soul issued her […]

The post First Listen: Sista Soul wants to be “With You” appeared first on SoulTracks.

May 18, 1982 – Jeffrey Osborne releases releases his solo debut album Love Togetherness and Devotion (later shortened to L.T.D.) was one the best and most popular self-contained Soul groups of the 70s.  Formed in 1968 at Greensboro, North Carolina, the group was “super-sized” by the time it signed with A&M Records in 1973, with […]

The post On This Day in 1982: The day Jeffrey Osborne went solo appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy Birthday to Ralph Tresvant, the tenor lead singer of the legendary New Edition, born May 16, 1968. Though introduced to the world as a not-so-inspired Jackson Five ripoff, New Edition emerged into one of the most important groups of its generation and its members became the royalty of New Jack movement of the late […]

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No matter what season it is, memories of a less chaotic childhood awakened thoughts of the now-defunct six-member OH. funk band, Dayton, and their most recognizable hit, a sly (pun intended) and languorous remake of Sly and the Family Stone’s “Hot Fun in the Summertime.” Recalling the glory of lazy mornings, sunlit afternoons and nights that […]

The post SoulTracks Lost Gem: Dayton gave us “Hot Fun” on Sly remake appeared first on SoulTracks.

(May 14, 2025) Singer James “Petawane” Burris can say that he won over the toughest crowd in America, and perhaps the world. Petawane went into the famed Apollo Theater on Amateur Night, and not only managed not to get booed and swept off the floor by The Sandman, the native New Yorker brought the house […]

The post First Listen: Petawane loves that “Down South Woman” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(May 13, 2025) “Dreaming” by soul newcomer Taylor Williams will give listeners the feel of a basement house party when the party organizers turn on the blue light. The blue light is the signal for the fellas to seek out the young lady that they have been dying to get close to. The moment that […]

The post First Listen: Taylor Williams has us “Dreaming” on old school ballad appeared first on SoulTracks.

(May 13, 2025) The American Music Awards have just announced that legendary singer Janet Jackson will receive its ICON Award at the 51st AMAs, to be held on May 26. Jackson will also perform at the show. Jackson will be only the third recipient of the ICON Award, following Lionel Richie and Rihanna. Jackson, who […]

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Happy birthday to legendary hitmaker, Janet Jackson, born May 16, 1966. The younger sister of the famous Jackson brothers, Janet paved her own way to become arguably the family’s biggest star.  Working with hit producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis over a 20+ year period, she scored influential hit after hit.  Janet burst onto the scene […]

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(May 12, 2025) In the early 2000s, few performers were burning up the R&B airwaves as consistently as Tank and Aaliyah. The “Force of Nature” and “Baby Girl” were nearly inescapable, his earnest croon and her street, yet sweet persona dominating the charts with hits like “Maybe I Deserve,” “Please Don’t Go,” “We Need a […]

The post First Listen: Tank releases posthumous duet with Aaliyah appeared first on SoulTracks.

(May 11, 2025) We are sad to report today the ending of an era, with the passing of the great John Edwards, the former lead singer of The Spinners and the last living connection to the group’s Atlantic Records hitmaking days. Edwards was 80, and had been in poor health since a stroke forced his retirement from […]

The post John Edwards, lead singer of the Spinners, dies at 80 appeared first on SoulTracks.

(May 12, 2025) Leela James’ music entered into my listening radar beginning with the blazing funky dance track, “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” from the 2012 release, Loving You More…In the Spirit of Etta James.  While the Etta tribute took some liberties in the arrangements from the original versions, Leela successfully channeled one of […]

The post First Listen: Leela James is “Right On Time” with new single appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy Birthday to Stevie Wonder, born on May 13, 1950! It’s almost impossible to single out the defining moment in a career as rich and varied as Stevie Wonder’s.  Starting out as the beloved and exasperating mascot of “Hitsville U.S.A.” (a.k.a. Motown), Wonder matured with his generation and towered over the music of the 1970s with […]

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For a brief time in the 1980s, Stevie Woods had a real moment.  The smooth vocalist signed with Cotillion Records and released Take Me To Your Heaven in 1981.  Take Me boasted an A-Team of backing musicians, including Ray Parker, Toto’s Steve Lukather and Chicago’s Bill Champlin, with German producer Jack White at the helm.  White had a talent for gathering […]

The post Lost Gem: Stevie Woods slowed it down with “Misty” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(May 10, 2025) Back in the mid-70s the legendary group The Spinners created the ultimate soulful Mother’s Day song. “Sadie,” written by the Philly soul mainstay team of Simmons, Hawes and Jefferson, told the story of a faithful, strong mother who guided her family through both good and challenging times with grace. It remains a […]

The post ST Mother’s Day Special: The Chestnut Brothers pay new homage to “Sadie” appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy Birthday to Norman Whitfield, the deceased Motown hitmaker, who brought an irresistible funk sound to artists like the Temptations, Rose Royce and the Undisputed Truth. He was born on May 12, 1940. Norman Whitfield stands as one of the most influential figures in the Motown music era, renowned for his innovative production techniques and […]

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(May 9, 2025) DC-based singer Setoria has been making a name for herself both for her original music and her interpretations of hit songs of the past few decades. And she has been a regular on SoulTracks for nearly a decade, with one tasty single after another. On her newest release, “Love You More,” Setoria delivers a […]

The post First Listen: Setoria wants to “Love You More” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(May 8, 2025) Claus Seest spent the better part of a decade lending his vocal talents to international releases before competing on Denmark’s edition of X Factor and independently releasing a Danish-language soul album of his own. In the time since, he has continued to collaborate with a number of acts, notably writing and featuring […]

The post Cool Million and Seest team on tasty “One of a Kind” appeared first on SoulTracks.

He is best known for a single song, but it was a song that both capitalized on and created an international sensation. Carl Douglas was the singer behind the #1 song “Kung Fu Fighting,” and the world has never been the same since. Born Carlton George Douglas on May 10, 1942 in Kingston, Jamaica and […]

The post A birthday celebration of “Kung Fu Fighting” hitmaker Carl Douglas appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy Birthday to the late Henry Fambrough,  the legendary smooth-voiced baritone of the Spinners, who was born on May 10, 1938 and died on February 7, 2024. Fambrough was the lead singer on such great songs as “Ghetto Child” and “I Don’t Want to Lose You.” The history of The Spinners is that of a […]

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