RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN

Rufus, was a 70s band formed in Chi-Town, which helped launch the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They are known for such hits as "Tell Me Something Good" (penned by Stevie Wonder), "Sweet Thing", and "Ain't Nobody". Band members included:

* Chaka Khan — vocals
* Andre Fischer — drums
* Dennis Belfield — bass
* Al Ciner — guitar
* Tony Maiden — guitar
* Kevin Murphy — keyboards
* Ron Stockert — keyboards
* David Wolinski "Hawk" — keyboards
* Bobby Watson — bass
* John "JR" Robinson — drums (from 1978)
* Moon Calhoun — drums, street player
* Nate Morgan — keyboards


RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN - "DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU FEEL"




My girl G put me onto this track below. Here is the remake by Carl Carlton

CARL CARLTON - "SMOKING ROOM" (REMAKE OF THE RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN HIT)

DONNY HATHAWAY: A SONG FOR YOU (1971)

One of the most incredible voices of ALL time. You can just feel his pain in this one. Rest in peace Donny.

MARVIN GAYE (4/2/1939 - 4/1/1984)

Although Marvin passed away a few months before I came into this world his music has influenced my life a great deal. Marvin embodied everything about soul music. He asked, "What's Going On," and spoke of "Inner City Blues". "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" that at times he was a "Trouble Man", but you "Gotta Give It Up" to a brother for having so much "Pride and Joy." Marvin oozed sensuality. I could picture him whispering in a young lady's ear,"You're All I Need to Get By" and "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" I would, for "Your Precious Love". Because "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing". Man, "That's The Way Love Is" and should be, "I'll Be Doggone". If you think about it, "It Ain't That Peculiar". And I could see Marvin telling that young lady "Let's Get It On" and come get some of this "Sexual Healing". And she's just so smitten that all she can say is "Mercy, Mercy Me".

Happy birthday, Marvin, "You Are Everything".

Albums that reached the Top 10 on U.S. pop albums chart/ UK pop albums chart.

* 1971: What's Going On (U.S. #6)
* 1973: Let's Get It On (U.S. #2)
* 1973: Diana & Marvin (w/Diana Ross) (UK #6)
* 1974: Marvin Gaye Live! (U.S. #8)
* 1976: I Want You (U.S. #4)
* 1977: Live at the London Palladium (U.S. #3)
* 1982: Midnight Love (U.S. #7; UK #10)
* 1994: The Very Best of Marvin Gaye (UK #3)
* 2000: Marvin Gaye Love Songs (UK #8)

"DISTANT LOVER" (SOUL TRAIN LIVE, 1980s)



"WHAT'S GOING ON" (LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM 'SAVE THE CHILDREN' FILM, 1973)



"INNER CITY BLUES (MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER)" (1971)


"SEXUAL HEALING" (1982)

SYL JOHNSON - "IS IT BECAUSE I'M BLACK?"

Listen closely...




Syl Johnson is a Blues and Soul singer responsible for such cuts as "Is It Because I'm Black?", "Different Strokes" and "Come On Sock It To Me". Different Strokes is a heavily sampled track in Hip-Hop, sampled by such artists as Wu-Tang Clan, Kool G Rap, Hammer, and the Geto Boys.

He is also the father of R&B songstress Syleena Johnson.