Saturday, June 8, 2013

Mike James Kirkland

Mike James Kirkland grew up in Yazoo, Mississippi, singing doo-wop and gospel. Kirkland then settled in California where his brother Robert bet some friends at a party that he and his brother could compose and release a record just as good as the records released on the Motown record label. The bet only allowed until Christmas for the record to be released. With in a couple of months the two brothers formed Mike and the Censations and released “Victim Of Circumstance” on the Bryan label owned by Robert Kirkland.
“Victim Of Circumstance” reached the top 50 of the R&B charts, which led to the release of  “Nothing I Can Do About it” and many others.
The censations band members consisted of many noted musicians such as Lee miles (Ike and Tina Turner), Al McKay (Earth Wind and Fire), James Gadson (Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and Bill Withers) and Ray Jackson (Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band).
In 1972 Mike James Kirkland released his solo album titled “Hang On In There” and “ Got To Do It Right”  in 1973.
Mike James Kirkland later pressured to change his name to Bo Kirkland, to avoid being confused with Michael Jackson. The first single release under Bo Kirkland, “Grandfather Clock reached that reached #80 on the R&B charts in 1975. Then Joined with Ruth Davis (of the Ikettes) and the release of the classic “You’re gonna get next to me” in 1976.
 More about Mike James Kirkland and complete discography can be found at http:Soul-side.com
There is also a very interesting interview with Mike James Kirkland.

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