On here, unsung heroes of the soul world get 'paid their dues', mainly via our discussions on their old records.

But lots are celebrated in other ways. UK guys (& some US, Spanish, etc.) have gone looking for unreleased gems & have recently made them available to purchase.

Enterprising promoters have been bringing 'forgotten singers' to the UK to perform for many years now (BIG UPS to Ady C and his ilk).

But not all who made the music we love have gone unrecognised. While Lots (both singers & musicians) went thru their careers without much recognition LUCKILY some got to enjoy loads of success & have the evidence to prove it ...

An item in my possession ... of course Gladys got many more awards (both in the pop & soul worlds) ...

Edited October 13, 20231 yr by Roburt

Not a singer or a musician, but a dancer; Cholly Atkins.

After a distinguished career as a dancer, Cholly started to school acts appearing @ the NY Apollo with regard to their stage acts. From there, he was hired by Motown & became a member of their Detroit team. In the 70's, when the O'Jays wanted to become the 'next Temptations', they hired Cholly to tighten up their stage moves.

He eventually settled in Vegas (still doing some dance tuition) but whenever Motown acts or the O'Jays played gigs in the city, he was always invited along to spend time with them backstage.

I got to visit with him @ his home & his den there was full of mementoes -- His own awards & lots of backstage passes + many gold discs that had been gifted to him by the acts he'd helped. Below is a pic I took while with him (& Lou Ragland) in his den. It doesn't really display the scope of the treasures he had up on his den walls (which were all covered from floor to ceiling with such items). Unfortunately, after he passed , all were sold at auction to provide money for his wife (whole survived him). So his great collection of awards was broken up.  

Lots of various music 'Hall of Fame' nominations for successful soul acts + of course the Hollywood Walk Of Fame stars ...

Can anyone else post up similar items to the above ?  

 

Lots of stage musicals are / have been around that celebrate soul music & the folk involved in it .... Dreamgirls, Ain't Too Proud To Beg, Motown; the Musical + others that focused on the careers of Doris Troy, Faye Treadwell, etc. 

Lots of movies have also been made about soul stars ....

Lots more have been proposed & abandoned though  -- Otis Redding movie projects being started at least 3 times in the past, with one even getting as far as talking to Billy Ocean about him playing Otis.

At present, a new movie is in the pipeline that will document the work of Earl Young & his mates in MFSB. 

Some great information thanks Robert 

Here's othe stars for BB King and Anita Baker. Got another photo too Chaka Khan's somewhere

Anyone know how you nominate a singer / group to get a plaque on the Camden MUSIC WALK OF FAME ?? 

Anyone been down there & seen any of the existing ones ?

Edited October 16, 20231 yr by Roburt