singing Archives - Roy Shuler - Actor. Print Model. Blogger. Voice Actor. Inspirational Speaker.

Happy Birthday, Sam Cooke

Roy / January 4, 2023

A few weeks ago, Rolling Stone Magazine released its 200 Greatest Singers List. In what is certain to spur a number of spirited debates, this list will make news for who it excludes as much as for who it includes – and where they are placed. On a personal note, I’m delighted to see that many of of my favorites made the cut: Frank Sinatra, David Ruffin, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Solomon Burke, Steve Perry, the tragically under-appreciated Clyde McPhatter, Jackie Wilson and Gladys Knight (did they really place 100+ singers ahead of them 🤔?) Teddy Pendergrass, Dion, Amy Winehouse, and a few others. Still, from my perspective, the likes of Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops, Marvin Junior of The Dells, Sting, and Sananda Maitreya (formerly known as Terence Trent D’Arby) would’ve been welcome additions. But make no mistake about it: on this 92nd anniversary of his birth, I’m here to talk about Sam Cooke. Reflect, if you will, on the fact that a voice that was silenced 58 years ago the 11th of last month in a still controversial shooting was ranked #3, behind Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, respectively – two still relatively contemporary voices who left us in 2018 and 2012. The man hasn’t sung a note in almost six decades. To borrow a quote that accompanied the list: “There is American popular music before Sam Cooke and popular music after.” Joe Gross, Rolling Stone Magazine It’s somewhat redemptive to see the ‘pundits’ confirm what 10,000+ members of Facebook’s Sam Cooke Club have known all along. That’s a #1 in our book. Happy Birthday, Sam 🎉

Blog, Music

A Little Respect When I Come Home…

Roy / December 10, 2022

Many may recognize those words as a line from the late Aretha Franklin’s anthemic 1967 hit song ‘Respect.’ What many may not know is that the song was written, performed, and released two years earlier by her Atlantic Records label mate (via a distribution with Stax Records), the legendary Otis Redding. I heard a lot of Otis’ music growing up courtesy of my father. He always sounded so gritty, so emotional, so soulful…and so old! When I became a huge fan of his as a young adult, I couldn’t believe that he was only 26 years old when he died. Otis, along with four members of his backup band, The Bar-Kays, died in a plane crash 55 years ago today. A few months later, his signature song, (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, became the first posthumous number one song in the history of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. It won two Grammy Awards a year later: Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. When I listen to Otis, he still sounds so gritty, so emotional, and so soulful. I’m glad that’ll never get old.