Hank Marr

THE GREASY SPOON – LP White House Party/The Out Crowd Hank Marr was known as the ‘professor’ of the Jazz (Hammond) organ, releasing tracks for King and Federal records in the 1960’s. These included classics such as The Greasy Spoon album. In 1966 he recorded for Detroit‘s Wingate label – great tracks included: ‘Marr’s Groove’ … Read more

Earl Van Dyke

 SOUL STOMP 1964 ALL FOR YOU TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA SIX by SIX All Day And All Night Earl Van Dyke and the Soul Brothers became The Tamla Motown orchestra / backing musicians (See also Choker Campbell). Before receiving their rather elegant name, the group had been known as The Funk Brothers but … Read more

Al Kent

You’ve Got To Pay The Price Al Kent released the above track which became a much sought after recording and quite difficult to obtain. It has a fantastic guitar riff (from Dennis Coffey a white session musician)  Al Kent was born Albert Prentis some say Al Hamilton in 1937 and was an excellent band leader and … Read more

Booker T and The MG’s

The original Booker T and The MG’s (Memphis Group) line-up was Cropper, Booker T Jones (originally a sax player now on the organ), Lee Steinberg (bass) and Al Jackson (drums). Dunn, however, was soon to replace Steinberg on bass. The Mar-Keys’ debut hit was Last Night (1961) but Cropper quit during the band’s first tour … Read more

Brother Jack McDuff

Tobacco Road Hotcha Ain’t It – Chess Cadet Born 17th September 1926 – Champaign, Illinois Real name Eugene McDuffy Died 23rd January 2001 – Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hammond Organ jazz genius. Another favourite of Roger Eagle, who promoted lots of Hammond organists’ tracks at the Wheel, especially Jimmy Smith. Brother Jack McDuff – Wikipedia

Bobby Peterson

Rockin’ Charlie The Hunch (1959) One Day- Sue Smooth Sailing  Bobby Peterson started out as a Ray Charles type singer and pianist who used to include Ray Charles’ standards in his sets. The quintet’s first single was The Hunch which was later copied by Paul Gayten on Anna records where it fared rather better. Anna records … Read more

Billy Preston – Soul Organist

In The Midnight Hour (1966 UK Capitol) – Billy Preston BILLY’S BAG (1964 UK Sue) Billy Preston’s signature tune, Billy’s Bag used to clear the dance floor when first played at Manchester Soul Clubs in the 1960s. However, with persistence it soon became a major had-to-play track that came to fill the dance floor. A … Read more

Bill Doggett

The Hully Gully Twist – UK Warner Brothers HONKEY TONK – King R & B 1956 SMOKIE – Instrumental. Also recorded by Bill Black Soul Organist Bill Doggett  HONKEY TONK  was a rocking R & B Instrumental which Billy Butler co-wrote with Bill Doggett, Clifford Scott and Shep Shepherd. Bill Doggett – Wikipedia

Bill Black Combo

LITTLE QUEENIE (1964) SMOKIE Pt2. (1959) – Instrumental. Also recorded by Bill Doggett in 1960 White Silver Sands – 1960 Firm favourites at the Manchester Soul clubs in the 1960’s; Bill Black’s Combo could be heard on many Elvis Presley recordings. Bill Black, along with Scotty Moore and D. J. Fontana, provided the musical framework for … Read more

Bernard Purdie

Watcha See Is Watcha Get (1971) Funky Donkey Time (uk: Direction 1968) Although he contributed to many great soul tracks, the drumming of Bernard Purdie was sought after in many music genres including jazz – he played for both Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong. He is not beyond causing controversy and his claims that he was … Read more