R & B is a vibrant
music that has only gotten more important over the years. Its influence
transcends even rock. But, anybody can do a great recording today because
they have so much technical expertise available to them in the studio.
My yardstick is live.
1. Frankie
Beverly & Maze is one of the foundations of R &
B and has been for 35 years. They are what I consider a seminal group.
Without a doubt, they are the finest live group on the face of the earth.
No one can put on a better show. But they've had very little crossover
appeal. Ask the average white person on the street about Frankie Beverly,
and he'll say, "Who?"
2. Aretha
Franklin has to be in this mix. Yes, she is the Queen
of Soul. We had Aretha at the Cincinnati Jazz Festival last summer, and
she did a tremendous show, an absolutely fantastic live show. She has
a reputation that has kind of dogged her -- she doesn't show up, she misses
a lot of dates -- but she's still great.
3. Gladys
Knight is certainly one of the most important performers
in terms of bringing the music over to the pop arena. And if you really
want to stretch that to the extreme, you have to start talking about .
. .
4.
Michael Jackson. He has sort of superceded all musical
boundaries. You can't deny someone who has sold the kind of albums he
has sold. And the reality is the preponderance of his audience is white.
He is the kind of artist who has been completely embraced by the white
community.
5. Luther
Vandross is one of the greatest voices out there. Especially
in terms of live performers over the last 15 or 20 years.
6. The
Temptations is a group that has transcended R &
B; everyone knows The Temptations. Of course, the group has changed, and
there are only a couple of the original members alive today. In fact,
two of them have split. There are actually two groups of Temptations.
7. Patti
LaBelle, live, is one of the greatest things anyone
can ever see. Period.
R.I.P.: Marvin
Gaye. He was one of the classic founders of the whole
thing. He brought a tremendous amount of social consciousness to the music,
a quality that had been somewhat lacking. And almost everyone is familiar
with his music.
Santangelo
began his concert production career working with his late brother, Dino
(A&S '56), one of the founders of the Ohio Valley Jazz festival. He
produces the annual summer event, now called the Cincinnati Jazz Festival,
which showcases popular R&B acts. The event was canceled this year
for the first time in 40 years after corporate sponsors backed out during
the boycott in Cincinnati. Santangelo has taught economics as an adjunct
at UC and is an accomplished classical pianist and church organist.
Links: Artists' recordings are available on these Amazon.com pages:
1, Frankie Beverly & Maze, 2. Aretha Franklin, 3.Gladys Knight, 4. Michael Jackson, 5. Luther Vandross, 6. The Temptations, 7. Patti LaBelle, 8. Marvin Gaye
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