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(September 14, 2026) Incognito wrote several chapters in the acid jazz era that hit its stride in the eighties.  Besides these historic achievements encompassing several crossover albums on the U.K Jazz and U.S. R&B charts, Incognito and co-founder Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick are ambassadors in how mixing genres from soul to jazz and beyond have touched […]

The post Incognito leader Bluey fights Parkinson’s with hot new music appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to Musiq Soulchild born September 16, 1977. Born Taalib Johnson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Musiq Soulchild is a pioneering figure in the neo-soul movement. His music seamlessly blends elements of R&B, jazz, funk, and hip-hop, resulting in a sound that is both innovative and deeply rooted in the traditions of classic soul. Musiq burst […]

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Happy birthday to the late Amy Winehouse, born September 14, 1983. Talented but troubled, Amy Winehouse established a new appreciation for classic soul sounds in her native UK in the first decade of the 21st century, opening the door for artists ranging from James Morrison to Duffy to Adele.  She won critical acclaim for he […]

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Another of a seemingly endless string of quality soul groups to come out of Philadelphia in the late 60s and early 70s, The Futures never rose to the upper echelon of Soul Music artists, but nonetheless created a number of fine releases. Consisting of Kenny Crew, James King, John King, Harry McGilberry and Frank Washington, […]

The post SoulTracks Lost Gem: Philadelphia’s The Futures saw love in “Silhouettes” appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy heavenly birthday to the late, great Ali Ollie Woodson, who was born on September 12, 1951. He was, quite simply, the Voice. The name Ali Ollie Woodson may not be familiar to large numbers of readers, but to those in the Soul music business he was known as one of the greatest singers of […]

The post Happy Heavenly birthday to legendary Temptations lead singer Ali Woodson appeared first on SoulTracks.

September 13, 1972 – Billy Paul releases “Me and Mrs. Jones” Billy Paul had quite a career as a jazz and soul singer in his 81 years of life, but nothing defined his place in soul music history quite like his incredible performance on this day in 1972, when he released the quintessential adult soul […]

The post On This Day in 1972: Billy Paul released the iconic “Me and Mrs. Jones” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(September 11, 2026) We are saddened to report the passing of singer Ray D. Rowe, an early member of The Gap Band, back in the group’s nascent days in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 90. His passing was first reported by KOTV Channel 6 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A longtime part of the Tulsa music scene, Rowe […]

The post Ray D. Rowe, early member of The Gap Band, dies appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to the late, great Barry White, born September 12, 1944. It is fitting that Barry White’s 1994 comeback album was called The Icon Is Love, because to a generation of Soul Music fans, Barry White was an icon who represented the sensual side of love. His deep, sexy voice was mimicked but never matched by any other […]

The post Celebrating Barry White’s Birthday – The Icon of Soul appeared first on SoulTracks.

(September 11, 2026) It would be an understatement to call Matt Smith a guitar teacher. He can teach artists how to play the guitar. However, the Austin, Texas-based Smith is much more than that. He runs the 6 String Ranch, a place where artists receive mentoring in every aspect of musicianship – from technique to […]

The post First Listen: Matt Smith delivers bluesy “World Is A Wheel” appeared first on SoulTracks.

September 12, 1981 – Rick James hits #1 with “Super Freak” Rick James had been a big time hitmaker for several years, but his star status hit a new peak on this date in 1981, when his punk-funk opus, “Super Freak” hit #1. Co-written with James and Alonzo Miller, the song was the first single […]

The post On This Day in 1981: Rick James hits #1 with “Super Freak” appeared first on SoulTracks.

(September 10, 2026) It’s amazing that Chicago-based singer/songwriter Terisa Griffin has been part of our lives for two decades. And all these years later, she is more anachronistic than ever. A modern singer whose embrace of the glamor and soulfulness of yore is both authentic and convincing, she remains an artist who is virtually timeless. Griffin has […]

The post First Listen: Terisa Griffin shines again appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday Jennifer Hudson, born September 12, 1981. Chicago native Jennifer Hudson first came to the attention of the world as a talented, sassy finalist in the third season of American Idol.  Her big voice and excellent phrasing won for her a sizeable audience among the Idol faithful, while her bit of attitude toward the often irrelevant criticism by judge Simon […]

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I never would have put Michael Franks and Valerie Simpson together performing a duet on an album. On the surface, they appear so different. Franks, the wry, cool vocalist out of the jazz school. Simpson was co-writer of some of the great soul song while at Motown for artists like Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell […]

The post SoulTracks Lost Gem: Valerie Simpson helped Michael Franks shine on cool ballad appeared first on SoulTracks.

Today we wish a very happy birthday to the great Paul Riser Sr., one of the key architects of the “Motown Sound.” Mr. Riser was born on Sept. 11, 1943. Though not a household name, Paul Riser was an integral part of the revered “Motown Sound” and has contributed to many of the great songs […]

The post Happy Birthday to legendary Motown hitmaker Paul Riser, Sr. appeared first on SoulTracks.

Happy birthday to the late, great Roy Ayers, born September 10, 1940! Roy Ayers was, without doubt, one of the seminal artists of the past century who helped define both R&B and jazz, The Los Angeles born vibraphonist began his love of music as a child, likely inspired by his parents: his mother was a […]

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(September 8, 2026) We know R&B man Tank as a sexy soul man, but not necessarily as a dance master. But the performer, born Durrell Artaza Babbs, takes a different direction on his new single, and brings hot Detroit DJ MK and music legend Charlie Wilson along with him. “Highlight” is an out and out dance jam, with a four-on-the-floor beat, […]

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Happy birthday to the late, great Otis Redding, born September 9, 1941. Known the world over as “Big O,” Otis Redding remains one of music’s most influential and important voices, resonating through the almost four decades since his untimely passing at the age of 26 in a 1967 tragic plane crash. Coupling his passionate, emotive, raw and […]

The post Happy Birthday to legendary R&B man, Otis Redding appeared first on SoulTracks.

(September 7, 2026) For more than five decades, Shirley Jones has been part of one of soul music’s most enduring family stories. The lead vocalist and last surviving member of The Jones Girls, she is telling that story in her own words, while also giving fans some new music. Jones has released her new autobiography, […]

The post Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls issues autobiography and new song appeared first on SoulTracks.

(September 7, 2026) Butch Tavares has been a favorite of soul music fans for over a half century. As the falsetto lead vocalist and choreographer of the iconic family group Tavares, Butch played a key role in a decade of top hits – and made Tavares the first act we ever covered on SoulTracks. The past few […]

The post First Listen: Butch Tavares is smooth on solo single appeared first on SoulTracks.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, James “D-Train” Williams was steeped in gospel before studying music at Columbia University, where he met keyboardist and producer Hubert Eaves III. The partnership became the duo D-Train, and in 1981 they stormed the clubs with “You’re the One for Me,” a sleek, synth-driven anthem that helped define the post-disco […]

The post SoulTracks Lost Gem: The time D-Train reimagined a pop classic appeared first on SoulTracks.