DONNIE RAY: Donnie Ray was born in Texarkana, Texas on July 4, 1959 into a musical family that taught him to believe that his talents were a gift from God. By the time Donnie Ray was fifteen, he was performing in his father's band, Aldredge Brothers Band. He learned to play the guitar, and soon after a few lessons, Donnie Ray was not only a singer but an instrumentalist, as well. As with all talented entertainers, Donnie Ray understood the importance of versatility. He not only mastered lead and bass guitars, the keyboard, and drums, Donnie Ray branched out and began writing lyrics for recording studios. Inspired by the Motown Sound artists and such musical legends as Bobby "Blue" Bland, Tyrone Davis, and B. B. King, Donnie Ray has worked with such artists as Millie Jackson, Marvin Sease, and numerous others. Donnie Ray's first CD, Let's Go Dancing on the Suzy Q label, brought to the spotlight the song, Letter To My Baby, which was a hit. A couple of years later, Suzy Q released Are You Ready For Me. Donnie Ray signed with Ecko Records in 2005 and a few months later, I'll Be Good To You was released. Since 1974, Donnie Ray has only known one major thing, which is music. He has spent his life as an entertainer, and for him, there is no other choice. Always a southerner at heart, Donnie Ray lives in Montgomery, Alabama with his family.
Barbara Carr: Barbara Crosby was born on January 9, 1941 in St. Louis and began singing in church as a choir girl, eventually forming a family gospel group called The Crosby Sisters. She joined a singing/dancing troupe in grade school and went on to sing in the high school choir, around which time she also helped start a singing group called the Comest Combo that played popular material at local clubs. In 1963, she joined a locally popular group called The Petites and met Oliver Sain through her brother-in-law (she adopted her husband's last name, Carr) and successfully auditioned to join Sain's band. Carr signed a solo contract with Chess in 1966 and recorded soulful singles like "Don't Knock Love," "I Can't Stop Now," and "Think About It Baby" over the next few years. Without much success, she stopped recording for a period in the late '60s to raise her children, and then returned to Chess circa 1970, albeit still without much recognition. She left sain's band in 1972, and sang with a number of other, mostly short-lived groups around the St. Louis area. Carr recorded another single for Gateway in the late '70s, "Physical Love Affair," but again found little promotional support. She and her husband eventually formed their own label, Bar-Car, in 1982, and Carr issued a number of singles over the next few years, many recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama. This material helped form the basis for Carr's first full-length album, 1989's "Good Woman Go Bad", which was later reissued on Paula in 1994. A second collection, "Street Woman", was released on Bar-Car on cassette in 1992, then upgraded to CD in 1994. Word of Carr's recordings began to spread, and she wound up signing with the Ecko label in 1996, releasing her label debut, "Footprints On The Ceiling" in 1997.
Cicero Blake: Born on February 20th, 1938, in Jackson, Mississippi, Cicero moved to Chicago with his family in the early 1950s and settled on the west side. Blake singing career began in a church choir, then the Golden Tones while still in high school, and he performed in military shows in the Air Force. Cicero Blake's was the original lead singer of the group, who evolved into the Kool Gents, the group that sprung Dee Clark After leaving the group Blake made many solo recordings for small Chicago labels (Brainstorm, Renee, Success, etc.). When he got the chance to record for a major label-Brunswick Records in 1967--the two tracks he cut "You Got Me Walking," and "A Woman Needs To Be Love" were shelved for 20 years. He recorded his first album, "Don't Do This To Me" for Success Records in 1962; though he never charted, many of his R&B singles "Sad Feelings," and "If I Had My Way," found acceptance with Northern Soul lovers. "Love Is Like A Boomerang" received more attention then previous efforts. Blake continued working and recording throughout the 70's, 80's, and 90's while holding down a job working for Cook County as one of the Maywood Park Districts' commissioners.
Otis Clay: Was born Febuary 11, 1942,in Waxhaw, Mississippi, USA. Clay was introduced to music as a member of his family's gospel quintet, the Morning Glories. From there he joined the Voices Of Hope and the Christian Travellers. Upon moving to Chicago's West Side in 1957 he sang with several groups including the Golden Jubilaires, the Blue Jays and the Pilgrim Harmonizers. However, it was with the Gospel Songbirds that he first recorded in 1964 with Jesus I Love To Call His Name. Soon after its release, Otis accepted an offer to join the renowned Sensational Nightingales, with whom he toured until mid-1965. Clay then decided to cross into the R&B field and signed with the One-derful label. That's How It Is (When You're In Love), took the singer into the R&B chart in 1967. The follow-up, Lasting Love, was also a hit, but Clay's contract was latterly sold to Cotillion Records as One-derful faced bankruptcy. His releases there included She's About A Mover and Do Right WomanóDo Right Man (both of which were recorded at Muscle Shoals), as well as a searing version of Pouring Water On A Drowning Man. The marriage between southern soul and Chicago grit was never so inspired. Is It Over (1971) was the artist's first session with Willie Mitchell and anticipated his subsequent move to Hi Records. Clay's most productive period then followed, the highlights of which included the emotive Trying To Live My Life Without You (1972), Home Is Where The Heart Is (1971) and If I Could Reach Out (1973). Although fiercely popular in the southern states, such releases failed to kindle a national interest, and Otis was dropped from Hi's roster in 1974. When disco and funk swept America in the mid-70's, Clay's style fell out of favor with radio programmers. While most soul singers were following the disco trend, Clay vehemently remained a standard bearer of the raw, emotion-packed ideals of deep soul. In 1975 Clay started his own record company, Echo Records, giving him the freedom to record and produce his own gospel and soul records, including the first version of Z.Z. Hill's smash "Cheatin' In The Next Room." Other successful Echo releases were "Messing With My Mind," "Victim of Circumstances," and "If I Could Open Up My Heart." He recorded a version of the Tyrone Davis hit, Turn Back The Hands Of Time for the equally short-lived Elka. Clay also reformed the Gospel Songbirds for one release and made further singles for the labels Glades and Kayvette. Like several soul singers he remained highly popular in Japan and LIVE OTIS CLAY documents his 1978 tour there.
Rick Lawson: Tyrone Davis-inspired singer Rick Lawson began his singing career at the age of four as the lead vocalist for "The W&W Jr. Spirituals" of Raymond, Mississippi. At age ten, he joined "The Baptist Brothers," also of Raymond, MS and recorded his first single. At the age of sixteen, Rick formed a group called "The Gospel Carriers" of Jackson, MS and recorded his first album entitled, "Look Where He Brought Us." By the time he reached the age of twenty, Rick Lawson was singing R&B with "The Mighty Upsetters Dance Band" of Jackson, MS. With this band, he gained valuable experience singing "blues" music. On July 18, 1994, the Jackson Music Awards presented him with an award as the "Most Outstanding New artist of the Year." Rick Lawson has opened and shared the stage with major acts such as B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Taylor, Tyrone Davis, and many others. Due to his age and growing popularity, he earned the stage title "The Baby of the Blues." In July 1997, at the age of twenty-six, he recorded his first R&B album under the Nu Wave Records label, entitled, "Check Your Heart Out." He signed with Ecko Records in 2000 and has released a string of Southern Soul discs.
Dr. Feelgood" Potts: Robert Potts was born into a large family in Greenwood, MS. In 1967, he moved to Memphis to start his career in music. His first stop was an audition at Stax Recording and Hi Records. . In, 1970 he penned and recorded his first 45 single entitled, "Funky Postman" and "Under Your Spell." These releases lead to him appearing on local television, The Talent Party and Swing Shift. In the 1980's he landed a recording contract with 8th Street Records. Several singles were released including "Lost In The County Jail", "Seven Years Blues", and several cover tunes. The recordings were jukebox favorites. He also is a successful songwriter penning the tune "Don't Make Me Late," by Johnnie Taylor, which he co-wrote with George Jackson. In 1995 Dr. "Feelgood" started his own Record label, RLP Records. He released a single in 1996 and a full length CD in 1997. The CD, entitled "Love Starved," consisted of ten songs, {a combination of blues, soul, and a harmonica instrumental.} In January of 2000,he released a second RLP CD entitled "Blues Me 4 U LOSE ME." But his real break came when he signed with Ecko Records where he has released two discs. His biggest hit so far has been "Make It Talk". Potts is the father of singer Sheba Potts-Wright.
Sheba Potts-Wright: Ms. Sheba Delight Potts was born the 30th day of January and lived her younger days in Chicago, Il, Detroit, MI and Greenwood, MS. She now resides in Memphis, TN. During high school, Sheba joined a singing group named the 21st Century Band under the direction of Mr. Russell Baxter. They traveled all over the Mid-south doing opening acts for various artist. She moved further and started performing with her father, Mr. Robert "Dr. Feelgood" Potts who has been recording since 1970. With him, she opened and shared the stage with artist such as Willie Clayton, Pat Brown, Vickie Baker, Jessie Grahman, Shirley Brown, and Marvin Sease. There after, she started performing with Quinn Golden of Memphis, TN. Sheba can proudly say that she met with Wolf Stevenson in 1987 and was able to do some voice backgrounds with Harrison Calloway at Malaco Studio for the late great Johnnie Taylor. She signed in her contract with Ecko Records and has released three Southern Soul/dance cds thus far with hits like "Slow Roll It", "I Can Bagg It Up" and "I Can Hear Your Macaroni".
Carl Sims: Carl Sims began performing when he was sixteen years old singer for the Original Bar-Kays back in the mid-60s. The Bar-Kays took Arthur Conley's place as opening act for the Otis Redding Revue. A plane crash in Milwaukee, Wi. in 1967 killed Otis and several of the Bar-Kays. Carl along with James Alexander the Bass Player for the group luckily took a commercial flight out of Cleveland, OH to join the group in Milwaukee, because there was no room on Otis's private plane. Carl remembers, having to identify the bodies of the Band members. After returning to Memphis along with the surviving members Ben Cauley (Trumpet player) and James Alexander what was left of the Bar-Kays went there separate ways. Carl began his solo career with a couple of Hits "Trapped" and "17 Days of Loving", on Paula-Jewel Records. From there he went to Malaco Records for two albums, one for Entune and now he is with Ecko Records.
Kenne' Wayne: Kenne Wayne (Landry) was born September 3, 1966. He realized he wanted to sing at an early age. As a teenager, he began forming bands and entering talent shows in his hometown of Crowley, LA. In his late teens, he became a member of a popular local band that played around the state of Louisiana. After years in the local 'chitlin' circuit, Kenne' decided that he wanted more out of music than just performing locally. In 1995, he signed with MTE Records and released his first album, "Old Fashion Love". Not only did this album introduce Kenne' as an artist, it also gave way to his talents as a producer and songwriter. He has co-produced and co-wrote each CD
Barbara Carr: Barbara Crosby was born on January 9, 1941 in St. Louis and began singing in church as a choir girl, eventually forming a family gospel group called The Crosby Sisters. She joined a singing/dancing troupe in grade school and went on to sing in the high school choir, around which time she also helped start a singing group called the Comest Combo that played popular material at local clubs. In 1963, she joined a locally popular group called The Petites and met Oliver Sain through her brother-in-law (she adopted her husband's last name, Carr) and successfully auditioned to join Sain's band. Carr signed a solo contract with Chess in 1966 and recorded soulful singles like "Don't Knock Love," "I Can't Stop Now," and "Think About It Baby" over the next few years. Without much success, she stopped recording for a period in the late '60s to raise her children, and then returned to Chess circa 1970, albeit still without much recognition. She left sain's band in 1972, and sang with a number of other, mostly short-lived groups around the St. Louis area. Carr recorded another single for Gateway in the late '70s, "Physical Love Affair," but again found little promotional support. She and her husband eventually formed their own label, Bar-Car, in 1982, and Carr issued a number of singles over the next few years, many recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama. This material helped form the basis for Carr's first full-length album, 1989's "Good Woman Go Bad", which was later reissued on Paula in 1994. A second collection, "Street Woman", was released on Bar-Car on cassette in 1992, then upgraded to CD in 1994. Word of Carr's recordings began to spread, and she wound up signing with the Ecko label in 1996, releasing her label debut, "Footprints On The Ceiling" in 1997.
Cicero Blake: Born on February 20th, 1938, in Jackson, Mississippi, Cicero moved to Chicago with his family in the early 1950s and settled on the west side. Blake singing career began in a church choir, then the Golden Tones while still in high school, and he performed in military shows in the Air Force. Cicero Blake's was the original lead singer of the group, who evolved into the Kool Gents, the group that sprung Dee Clark After leaving the group Blake made many solo recordings for small Chicago labels (Brainstorm, Renee, Success, etc.). When he got the chance to record for a major label-Brunswick Records in 1967--the two tracks he cut "You Got Me Walking," and "A Woman Needs To Be Love" were shelved for 20 years. He recorded his first album, "Don't Do This To Me" for Success Records in 1962; though he never charted, many of his R&B singles "Sad Feelings," and "If I Had My Way," found acceptance with Northern Soul lovers. "Love Is Like A Boomerang" received more attention then previous efforts. Blake continued working and recording throughout the 70's, 80's, and 90's while holding down a job working for Cook County as one of the Maywood Park Districts' commissioners.
Otis Clay: Was born Febuary 11, 1942,in Waxhaw, Mississippi, USA. Clay was introduced to music as a member of his family's gospel quintet, the Morning Glories. From there he joined the Voices Of Hope and the Christian Travellers. Upon moving to Chicago's West Side in 1957 he sang with several groups including the Golden Jubilaires, the Blue Jays and the Pilgrim Harmonizers. However, it was with the Gospel Songbirds that he first recorded in 1964 with Jesus I Love To Call His Name. Soon after its release, Otis accepted an offer to join the renowned Sensational Nightingales, with whom he toured until mid-1965. Clay then decided to cross into the R&B field and signed with the One-derful label. That's How It Is (When You're In Love), took the singer into the R&B chart in 1967. The follow-up, Lasting Love, was also a hit, but Clay's contract was latterly sold to Cotillion Records as One-derful faced bankruptcy. His releases there included She's About A Mover and Do Right WomanóDo Right Man (both of which were recorded at Muscle Shoals), as well as a searing version of Pouring Water On A Drowning Man. The marriage between southern soul and Chicago grit was never so inspired. Is It Over (1971) was the artist's first session with Willie Mitchell and anticipated his subsequent move to Hi Records. Clay's most productive period then followed, the highlights of which included the emotive Trying To Live My Life Without You (1972), Home Is Where The Heart Is (1971) and If I Could Reach Out (1973). Although fiercely popular in the southern states, such releases failed to kindle a national interest, and Otis was dropped from Hi's roster in 1974. When disco and funk swept America in the mid-70's, Clay's style fell out of favor with radio programmers. While most soul singers were following the disco trend, Clay vehemently remained a standard bearer of the raw, emotion-packed ideals of deep soul. In 1975 Clay started his own record company, Echo Records, giving him the freedom to record and produce his own gospel and soul records, including the first version of Z.Z. Hill's smash "Cheatin' In The Next Room." Other successful Echo releases were "Messing With My Mind," "Victim of Circumstances," and "If I Could Open Up My Heart." He recorded a version of the Tyrone Davis hit, Turn Back The Hands Of Time for the equally short-lived Elka. Clay also reformed the Gospel Songbirds for one release and made further singles for the labels Glades and Kayvette. Like several soul singers he remained highly popular in Japan and LIVE OTIS CLAY documents his 1978 tour there.
Rick Lawson: Tyrone Davis-inspired singer Rick Lawson began his singing career at the age of four as the lead vocalist for "The W&W Jr. Spirituals" of Raymond, Mississippi. At age ten, he joined "The Baptist Brothers," also of Raymond, MS and recorded his first single. At the age of sixteen, Rick formed a group called "The Gospel Carriers" of Jackson, MS and recorded his first album entitled, "Look Where He Brought Us." By the time he reached the age of twenty, Rick Lawson was singing R&B with "The Mighty Upsetters Dance Band" of Jackson, MS. With this band, he gained valuable experience singing "blues" music. On July 18, 1994, the Jackson Music Awards presented him with an award as the "Most Outstanding New artist of the Year." Rick Lawson has opened and shared the stage with major acts such as B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Taylor, Tyrone Davis, and many others. Due to his age and growing popularity, he earned the stage title "The Baby of the Blues." In July 1997, at the age of twenty-six, he recorded his first R&B album under the Nu Wave Records label, entitled, "Check Your Heart Out." He signed with Ecko Records in 2000 and has released a string of Southern Soul discs.
Dr. Feelgood" Potts: Robert Potts was born into a large family in Greenwood, MS. In 1967, he moved to Memphis to start his career in music. His first stop was an audition at Stax Recording and Hi Records. . In, 1970 he penned and recorded his first 45 single entitled, "Funky Postman" and "Under Your Spell." These releases lead to him appearing on local television, The Talent Party and Swing Shift. In the 1980's he landed a recording contract with 8th Street Records. Several singles were released including "Lost In The County Jail", "Seven Years Blues", and several cover tunes. The recordings were jukebox favorites. He also is a successful songwriter penning the tune "Don't Make Me Late," by Johnnie Taylor, which he co-wrote with George Jackson. In 1995 Dr. "Feelgood" started his own Record label, RLP Records. He released a single in 1996 and a full length CD in 1997. The CD, entitled "Love Starved," consisted of ten songs, {a combination of blues, soul, and a harmonica instrumental.} In January of 2000,he released a second RLP CD entitled "Blues Me 4 U LOSE ME." But his real break came when he signed with Ecko Records where he has released two discs. His biggest hit so far has been "Make It Talk". Potts is the father of singer Sheba Potts-Wright.
Sheba Potts-Wright: Ms. Sheba Delight Potts was born the 30th day of January and lived her younger days in Chicago, Il, Detroit, MI and Greenwood, MS. She now resides in Memphis, TN. During high school, Sheba joined a singing group named the 21st Century Band under the direction of Mr. Russell Baxter. They traveled all over the Mid-south doing opening acts for various artist. She moved further and started performing with her father, Mr. Robert "Dr. Feelgood" Potts who has been recording since 1970. With him, she opened and shared the stage with artist such as Willie Clayton, Pat Brown, Vickie Baker, Jessie Grahman, Shirley Brown, and Marvin Sease. There after, she started performing with Quinn Golden of Memphis, TN. Sheba can proudly say that she met with Wolf Stevenson in 1987 and was able to do some voice backgrounds with Harrison Calloway at Malaco Studio for the late great Johnnie Taylor. She signed in her contract with Ecko Records and has released three Southern Soul/dance cds thus far with hits like "Slow Roll It", "I Can Bagg It Up" and "I Can Hear Your Macaroni".
Carl Sims: Carl Sims began performing when he was sixteen years old singer for the Original Bar-Kays back in the mid-60s. The Bar-Kays took Arthur Conley's place as opening act for the Otis Redding Revue. A plane crash in Milwaukee, Wi. in 1967 killed Otis and several of the Bar-Kays. Carl along with James Alexander the Bass Player for the group luckily took a commercial flight out of Cleveland, OH to join the group in Milwaukee, because there was no room on Otis's private plane. Carl remembers, having to identify the bodies of the Band members. After returning to Memphis along with the surviving members Ben Cauley (Trumpet player) and James Alexander what was left of the Bar-Kays went there separate ways. Carl began his solo career with a couple of Hits "Trapped" and "17 Days of Loving", on Paula-Jewel Records. From there he went to Malaco Records for two albums, one for Entune and now he is with Ecko Records.
Kenne' Wayne: Kenne Wayne (Landry) was born September 3, 1966. He realized he wanted to sing at an early age. As a teenager, he began forming bands and entering talent shows in his hometown of Crowley, LA. In his late teens, he became a member of a popular local band that played around the state of Louisiana. After years in the local 'chitlin' circuit, Kenne' decided that he wanted more out of music than just performing locally. In 1995, he signed with MTE Records and released his first album, "Old Fashion Love". Not only did this album introduce Kenne' as an artist, it also gave way to his talents as a producer and songwriter. He has co-produced and co-wrote each CD