Soul Music

When I was a kid I thought “soul music” was exclusive to black people and only “hippies” listened to the music of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. I don’t know if my conservative catholic school upbringing in the 60’s had anything to do with my ignorance or just sheltered me from the vast world out there. I’ve since come to appreciate that just as a rose is still a rose by any other name so to is “soul music” color blind and the river that crosses cultures. “Colored music” represents the shades and hues found in musician’s names, song titles and lyrics. “Soul music” comes from the spirit and core of its creators and takes on its own distinctive meaning to the listener each listener.
The origins of “soul music” is a combination of Gospel music and rhythm and blues with roots that go deep into Africa and Europe, into the far reaches of our world and can be heard loud and clear in a broad spectrum of music.
In downtown Albuquerque one summer evening in the mid-70’s, where several blocks of Central Avenue, also known as “The Mother Road” and Route 66 were blocked off for what was called at that time “Saturday Night Downtown”. I stopped to listen to a group of mariachi’s perform when I heard someone comment on what a soulful sound mariachi’s make and how the sound of the trumpet player was the most soulful sound she had ever heard. I had to think about that. I thought about how shortsighted I had been for thinking that soul music was just something people like Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations did. It was an epiphany for me when I realized soul music was really about passion, pain, joy and any number of intense feelings we live with in our lives.
Another time I was walking around the cemetery where my twin brother, Mark is buried. I thought I was alone in the cemetery except for all the dearly departed resting in peace. It was a profound feeling of isolation and melancholy but what was even more profound were the sudden sounds of a bagpipe player waling out “Amazing Grace” up on a grassy hill off in the distance. The sound suddenly burst into the stillness of the cemetery sending a chill up my spine, it was the most soulful, sorrowful and hauntingly beautiful sound I have ever heard. I stood in awe of the moment. It was like a dream as the air resonated with strong, vibrant yet piercingly, mournful music.
Switching gears we take a spin, a musical colorful cruise for the fun of it, a joy ride with musicians and music filled with color, limitless, boundless color.
Aretha Franklin and Bruce Springsteen both rode in a “Pink Cadillac”, “Lets Stay Together” with Al Green, Lee Greenwood, James Brown and Jackson Browne, Barry White, The Average White Band and Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire. Many a song has been created with our country’s red, white and blue in mind. “Off we go into the Wild Blue Yonder,” one song rings, while Nat King Cole crooned about “The Orange Colored Skies.”
“A White Christmas”, a red nose reindeer… and “Silver Bells”, are all the rage in December. Fleetwood Mac sang about “Silver Springs” and Bob Seager ran with The Silver Bullet Band. Dobey Gray, The Indigo Girls, and Simply Red laid bare, their true colors along with Leon Redbone. UB40 liked “Red Red Wine” and my hometown enjoys the colorful music of; Red Wine, Los Blue Ventures and Purple Haze.
Leon Russell and George Benson each have their own take on a “Lady Blue.” Blue Oyster Cult had a rugged sound and Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes asked, “What Does It Take”? The New Riders of The Purple Sage, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath played rock hard. Pink Floyd, Pink and The Red-Hot Chili Pepper’s just tell it like it is where Snoopy’s association with “The Red Baron” is magic.
“Blue Eyed Soul” has been plentiful with the likes of Elvis “Don’t Step on My Blue Suede Shoes” Presley and “Blue Christmas”. I couldn’t believe Boz Skaggs was white the first time I heard “Lowdown”. The “Fab Four” invaded the US in their “Yellow Submarine” and a Green Apple record label followed. So many Blues singers and musicians past and present, black and white, conveying intense feelings of regret, remorse, love gained and love lost, expressing excitation, exhilaration and inspiration. The list goes on as familiar stories are told with passion and pain, joy and grief.
The Moody Blues sang about “Knights in White Satin.” Melba Moore and Melissa Manchester referred to “Midnight Blue” in two different songs. More out of the blue include; “Jackie Blue,” “Blue Moon,” “Blue Monday” and “Blue Velvet.” Willie Nelson and Elton John both sang about “Blue Eyes” while Crosby, Steels, Nash and Young sang about “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes”. No way can I not mention one of my all time fav’s; “Crystal Blue Persuasion” by Tommy James and the Shondell’s.
Procol Harum did an obscure number called “Whiter Shade of Pale, and ”Carlos Santana sings about a “Black Magic Woman” in addition to Ella Fitzgerald, so smooth with “That Old Black Magic”. Alannah Myles was sassy doing “Black Velvet” and “A Black Pearl” was big during the summer of 1969. There was a “Black Bird” singing in the dead of night while a “White Bird” flew it’s way into A Beautiful Day and “Una Paloma Blanca” enjoyed a spotlight in the 70’s with Tony Orlando and Dawn who “Tied A Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree”. The Rolling Stones sashayed about with “Brown Sugar”. Barbara Streisand made beautiful music in “A Star Is Born” and “Evergreen”. The late 60s spawned “My Green Tambourine” the national anthem of flower children everywhere. “Green-eyed Lady.” And Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” were a couple of eye catchers while “Green Sleeves” carved a place for itself in the elegant world of romantic classics.
Three Dog Night declared; “The world is black, the world is white, together we grow to see the light.” Diversity celebrated in harmony as Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney echoed thoughts of peace in “Ebony and Ivory”.
“Pink Polka Dots” and “Purple People Eaters”, bubble gum music at it’s best. Nothing got couples dancing closer together then Chicago’s, “Color My World,” a popular love song in l975 and Homecoming theme song for many a High School around the country including Del Norte High School, my alma mature in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have no doubt, overlooked several colorful musical mentionables... in any case I had a great time retracing memories while recalling the wonderful world of music that has accompanied me through life. The heart and soul of good music, heard loud and clear, softly, quietly in countless styles of music. Music that tugs at your heartstrings, exciting crown jewels of the music world. Lyrics coinsiding with rhythm and ryme, taking you away. Exuberant. Lush, rich, colorful and comforting. Call it soul, r & b, c& w, classical, jazz, rock, rap, rave pop, punk, gospel...if it stirs the soul, its “Soul Music”.

TURN IT UP!