Remembering Richard Smallwood (1948-2025): Gospel Without Compromise
Why Richard Smallwood’s Legacy Matters Beyond ‘I Love the Lord’ (January 1, 2026) – An icon of one of the most profoundly Black music genres has been lost. Richard Smallwood…
R.I.P. Carl Carlton: A Detroit Soul Who Never Truly Escaped Motown’s Long Shadow
Carl Carlton’s Career Was Defined by Motown—Even Though He Wasn’t on the Label (December 16, 2025) – Motown was so huge for Detroit-area musicians that it often cast a long…
Tribute to the late Chubby, Pooch, and Ralph Tavares — and the Obscure Favorite on which They All Sang Lead
Antone Lee “Chubby” Tavares passed away on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. He was 80. (December 3, 2025) – In early 1980, while I was creating my own personal weekly music…
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Why The Time’s Funkiest Drum Track Wasn’t His—But the Legacy Still Was: A Tribute to Jellybean Johnson
The Story Behind ‘777-9311’ and the Drum Legend Who Didn’t Play It: Remembering Jellybean Johnson, who died suddenly at the age of 69 on November 21, 2025 (November 23, 2025).…
Soft Cell’s Dave Ball Remembered: How ‘Tainted Love’ Was Both Made—and Undone—by Technology
A tribute to Soft Cell’s Dave Ball, whose 1982 classic “Tainted Love” broke chart records—then lost them to technology’s evolution. (October 24, 2025) – The haunting, pulse-like synth melody that…