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 103^rd Street Rhythm Band and Bill Withers) and Ray Jackson (Watts 103^rd 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.

Barbara Lynn

 Barbara Lynn

Barbara Lynn was born in Beaumont, Texas, on July 16, 1942. Barbara Lynn played the piano as a child. After being inspired by Elvis Presley Lynn convinced her parents to buy her a guitar. She then formed her own band, Bobbie Lynn and the Idols. Lynn’s band performed at parties and local clubs and even won a few talent shows. After attending a show singer Joe Barry recommended Barbara Lynn to his friend Huey P. Meaux the Crazy Cajun.

Huey P. Meaux brought Lynn to New Orleans to record at the Cosimo’s studio, where she cut singles for the Jamie label. In 1962 Lynn wrote and recorded “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” that became a national hit reaching number one on the R&B charts. 

Her first album of the same name was also released that same year. Barbara Lynn continued to record for Jamie Records through 1965, recording “You’re Gonna Need Me” and “Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Going)”.

In 1966 Lynn switched to Meaux’s Tribe Label where she recorded “You Left The Water Running” and “I’m A Good Women”, which became a Northern Soul classic.

In 1967 Barbara Lynn signed with Atlantic and released “This Is The Thanks I Get” and "Take Your Love And Run" two more Northern Soul Classics. In 1972, Lynn released “(Until Then) I’ll Suffer” her last hit for Atlantic, which was yet another Northern Soul Classic.

Barbara Lynn returned to her musical career in the 80’s and released a live album titled “You Don’t Have To Go” In 2000 she recorded “Hot Night Tonight” that feature her son Bachelor Wise.

The Drew-Vels

The Drew-Vels
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The Drew-vels was a girl group during the sixties. The members were Erma Drew, Patti Drew, Lorraine “Micki” Drew, Carlton Black, and sometimes Cynthia Drew, a younger sister. The group was from Evanston, Illinois. Carlton Black who was married to Erma Drew wrote most of the songs. Peter Wright signed the Drew-vels to Carone Productions and produced and managed the group. Wright then signed an agreement with Capital Records. The Drew-vels found success with their first release “Tell Him” b/w “Just Because”, written by Patti Drew, released in 1963. 

This hit was followed by a second two-sided hit record, “It’s My Time” b/w  “Everybody Knows”, released in 1964. 

The last single released by Capital Records was “Creepin’ “ b/w “I’ve Known”, released in 1964. 

Peter Wright then signed his Quill Label and released “Come Out Dancing” and “Chilly Kisses” in 1965. Wright then persuaded Patti Drew to pursue a solo career. Carlton Black moved on as a member of the Duvals, which later became the Naturals. Patti Drew renewed success at Capital Records with a remake of “ Tell Him” b/w “Working On A Groovy Thing”. 

Many great great songs followed until Wright ended Patti Drew’s career and moved Drew back to Evanston, Illinois.

The Flirtations

The Flirtations started out as the Gypsies in 1962 in New York. The Members were Lestine Johnson and sisters: Ernestine, Shirley, and Betty Pearce.
In 1964 they released their debut single, "Hey there, Hey There" under the Old Town Records. This song got some airplay on local radio stations. The single, "Jerk it", written by J.J. Jackson made it to 111 on the pop charts. After the release of "Jerk it" Lestine Johnson left the group and was replaced by Viola Billups.
The group then became the Flirtations and signed to Josie Records. They released "Change My Darkness Into Light", which despite being ignored by DJs still became a Northern Soul Classic. The group then moved to Festival Records, and released "Stronger Than Her Love" and "Settle Down". Both got little interest.
 The Flirtations became a trio after Betty Pearce left the group. They trio decided to try their luck in England. The group signed to Parrot Records in 1966 and toured with Tom Jones Their only Parrot release was "Someone Out There", which reached the UK Bubbling Under list, but made it to #25 in the Netherlands.
In 1966 they signed to Deram Records and released "Nothing But Heartache". "Nothing But Heartache" made to #1 on the Bubbling Under list  It was reissued in the US in 1969 and made it to #93 on Billboards Hot 100 and #20 in  several Us markets, in Boston It peaked at #3.
The follow-up was less of a dance tune than the previous single. "South Carolina" was a ballad that reached only #111 pop in July 1969. In 1970, "Keep On Searching" was released and did nothing. However, this may have been due to confusion over whether the newest single was "Searching" or "What's Good About Goodbye My Love". The latter rocketed to #17 R&B in early 1970, but failed to make a dent in the pop charts. In July 1970 the trio scored another hit with "Can't Stop Loving You". The song made #96 in CashBox.
1971 saw their sixth and last Deram single, "Give Me Love"Not originally in their 1970 LP Sounds Like the Flirtations, but subsequntly added to their 2008 CD version, it did not do well in the charts. The rest of their singles were not released in the U.S. Loretta Noble replaced Viola Billups in 1972. Viola Billups embarked on a solo career as Vie and asPearly Gates.During 1971 & 1972, the group were the resident vocal band on the long running BBC TV series Its Cliff Richards.
Throughout the 1970s the Flirtations released material on various labels. The Flirtations have received recognition in the Disco and Northern Soul Circuits.

 

 

 

Barbara Acklin

Barbara Jean Acklin was born February 28, 1943, in Oakland, California. Acklin's family moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1948. By the age of eleven she was a soloist in the New Zion Baptist Church and as a teenage she began performing in Chicago night clubs. After high school Acklin was employed as a secretary at St. Lawrence Records. Her first record was produced by her cousin Monk Higgins and release on the Special Agent Label under the name Barbara Allen. Barbara Acklin can also be heard singing background for Chess Records artists Etta James, Fontella Bass, and Koko Taylor.

In 1966 Acklin began working as a receptionist for the Brunswick Records Chicago office, where she presented producer Carl Davis with demos of her own songs. Acklin helped co wrote a song with David Scott, of the Five Du-Tones, for Jackie Wilson, who later helped her get a recording contract with Brunswick. Although Acklin's first two singles on Brunswick were unsuccessful, her third single, "show me the way", a duet with Gene Chandler made it to the R&B Charts. Acklin then began writing songs with Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites. The pair co wrote the hit "Two Little Kids" for Peaches and Herb. Barbara Acklin's biggest solo hit, "Love Makes A Woman", was co written by Record and Davis. Acklin had a slew of hits on Brunswick for several years and carried on co writing with Eugene record. Together they wrote "Have you Seen Her" for The Chi-Lites.

In 1974 Acklin Moved to Capital Records, where her first and biggest hit "Raindrops" stayed on the R&B charts for six years. All recordings, which followed had little success causing Brunswick to  drop her. 

Acklin later lived in Omaha, Nebraska where she began working on a new album, when she died of  pneumonia at age 55.

The Miracles

                

                 The Miracles

The Miracles also known as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Started in Detroit Michigan, they are noted as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy’s Motown Record Corparation. Their single Shop around"" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature acts of the 1960s. During the same period, the Miracles' original lead singer and founding member Smokey Robinson became one of the most successful songwriters and record producers of all time.

During their nineteen-year run on the American music charts, The Miracles charted over fifty hits and recorded in the genres of Doo-Wop, soul, disco, and R&B. Twenty-six Miracles songs reached the Top Ten of the Billboard’s R&B single charts, including four R&B number ones. Sixteen of the Miracles' songs charted within the Top 20 of the Billbaord Hot 100, seven songs chartied within the Top Ten and two – 1970's "Tears of a clown" and 1975's "Love Machine” reaching number-one.

Referred to by critics as Motown's "soul supergroup", The Miracles are multiple Grammy Hall of Fame inductees, Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Doo-Wop Hall of Fame inductees,Winners of The Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s Pioneer Award,multiple Bmi Songwriter’s Award winners, Winners of the ASCAP Award Of Merit , and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

                      The Royalettes

 

The Royalettes were a four-girl group from Baltimore Maryland Baltimore, during the mid-60s. They were originally signed with Philadelphia-based Chancellor Records and later with Warner Bros., but their biggest success came at MGM Records. They worked with producers Teddy Randazzo, who also wrote for Little Anthony & the Imperials in the 1960s, and Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers.
The 60’s girl-group released two albums with MGM Records, produced by Teddy Randazzo who also arranged the records and co-wrote a majority of the songs. Randazzo Incorporated a full orchestra to enhance the production, but despite the Exceptional quality of the songs and critical acclaim for their live performances, a success eluded the group. A final single produced by Bill Medley also failed to chart and the group then signed to Roulette Records in 1967 before breaking up two years later. Sheila Ross worked briefly as a backup singer for The Three Degrees and had two solo single releases in the early 1970s. A CD retrospective was released in late 2010 of all their MGM tracks including the 27 songs produced by Randazzo for the two albums, plus another originally released on a single.