News — rare soul

Nashville based Stop Records Inc. was perhaps an unlikely source of rare soul. The label was founded around 1967 by session guitarist and producer Pete Drake. An Augusta, Georgia born and raised son of a Pentecostal minister, he moved to Nashville in the late 1950s to pursue his dreams as a musician. Several country, folk, pop and religious hits featured Drake on guitar including Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man”, Bob Dylan’s “Lay, Lady, Lay” and Elvis’ take on “How Great Thou Art”. By 1970, Drake was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Walkway of Stars. Drake may...

The Embers were formed in Raleigh, NC in 1958 by Bobby Tomlinson (drums) and Jackie Gore (vocals, guitar). They mainly played frat parties and Raleigh clubs. The Embers are one of the longest running beach music bands and one of the most widely known, both within and outside the region.  In the late fifties until around 1963/1964 they toured and recorded as The Swinging Embers, before the name change. The Embers had a very prolific recording career for both singles and albums. However UK soul collectors are likely to be most interested in their recording career between 1964 and 1969...

The Neptunes provide a central link to a couple of Nashville solo artists who are recognised on the rare soul scene. Between 1958 and 1964 the group recorded a handful of 45s, including Payson, Checker, Instant and Victoria. Discographies to date are not consistently accurate due to the existence of at least two or three ‘Neptunes’ around in the early to mid-1960s, including at least one LA based outfit. In reference to the Nashville group, various on-line sources also confuse individuals who were producers, promoters and song writers as group members. The 'Nashville' Neptunes were founded in the 1950s with...

The origins of this group go back to 1957 when the group The Marquees were singing around town and at sock hops, and originally included Frank Howard and older brother Bruce. Frank was school friends at Meigs High with Rufus Hunter. Rufus’ older brother Herbert was at the same school, and had already released his first record.. Herbert Hunter would be Frank’s inspiration to pursue a career in singing. An early unnamed group existed which would eventually became the Commanders, before a recording contract was secured. Members at that point all worked for the same downtown department store and included...

The Valentines The Valentines were originally formed in 1966 by James Moon, Charles Myers, Paul Granberry, Ellis Kelly and Thomas Morrow. After winning the local “Discovery Of The Year” talent competition that summer, they performed over the next couple of years with local combos King James and the Sceptres, The Charades, The Majestics, The Imperials,  and Raymond and the Soul Searchers Combo from the Donelson area. After a series of personnel changes, Moon and Myers along with new members Paul Easley and James Clemmons were signed to J.R. Enterprises. A sweet soul track “Gotta Get Yourself Together” (Sound Stage 7...