More UK Sue

Record producer, song writer Fred Sledge Smith was born in Los Angeles, California on 18 May 1933, the son of singer Effie Smith.  His first song writing success was "Western Movies" by The Olympics (1958). In 1963 he joined Mirwood Records of Los Angeles. He began working with the duo Bob and Earl and co-produced with them "Harlem Shuffle", which was jointly arranged by Barry White and Gene Page. Although not a huge hit in America, it became a hit in the UK when released on the Sue label. He also produced "The Duck" for Jackie Lee (Earl Nelson). In 1967 he left Mirwood and set up his own record label, MoSoul. In the 1970s he and his mother went to work at Stax Records in Memphis, but when Stax closed down in 1975, he left the music business.  Mr Smith died in Los Angeles, California on 29 July 2005. Image: Restored by Google

  ILP 951 - Bob And Earl - Harlem Shuffle (07.67) Track Listing:  Baby it's over (Cronander) | Dancin' everywhere (Cronander) | Your time is my time (Relf, Nelson) | Baby I'm satisfied (Relf, Nelson, Smith) | I'll keep running back (Relf, Nelson) | Harlem Shuffle (Relf, Nelson) | My woman (Relf, Nelson, Smith) | The cissy (Relf, Nelson, Smith) | Your lovin' goes a long long way (Relf, Nelson, Smith)  | Puppet on a string (Relf, Nelson, Smith)  | Don't ever leave me (Relf, Nelson, Smith) | Fancy free (Relf, Nelson) 

  Blues singer, song writer, disc jockey, guitarist and record producer Riley B (B B) King was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi on September 16, 1925. As a young man he sang in a gospel choir. He initially worked at a cotton gin. Interested in music, he taught himself the guitar. In 1941 he became a fan of a blues music programme on the radio. By 1943 he had moved to Inverness, Mississippi where he worked driving a tractor and sang gospel at local churches – and on the radio. He moved to Memphis in 1946 and by 1948 was appearing with Sonny Boy Williamson on Williamson’s radio show. “BB” stands for “Blues Boy” which is the nickname given to him by other staff when he worked on radio station WDIA as a singer and disc jockey. By 1949 he had formed his own travelling show and was recording for Modern Records. B B King died in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 14 May 2015 from vascular dementia caused by strokes resulting from diabetes. Image: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images | 1948

  Blues singer and song writer Alvin K. Smith (Al King) was born in Monroe, Louisiana on August 8, 1923. He served in the US Forces and began recording in 1951. By 1953 he was a member of the Johnny Otis Revue. He became friends with Jimmy McCracklin, touring and recording with him. It is King’s voice that is the second voice on McCracklin’s hit, “I Just Got to Know”. Al King died of blood poisoning (sepsis) in Oakland, California on January 21, 1999. Image: In a Blue Mood

  Singer Theola Kilgore was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on 6 December, 1925 but was brought up in Oakland, California. She sang in gospel choirs and also recorded gospel records under the name of Theola Kilgord. This recording was produced by Ed Townsend, with whom she was associated for a number of years, in 1964. They formed the K-T record label. She recorded for other labels especially Mercury, where her recording of “Its Gonna Be all right” became a Northern Soul hit. Her biggest success was “The Love of My Man” in 1963. Theola Kilgore died from cancer of the pancreas in Oakland, California, on 19 May 2005. Image: Soul In Groove.

Pianist, song writer, arranger and record producer Ebert Adolphus Mahon, known professionally as Bert Keyes, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on 11 September 1930. He began working as arranger and producer in the 1940s working with Ruth Brown. Keyes got his first big break as an arranger in 1953, when George Goldner founded Rama Records, and Keyes became the A&R director, musical director, and arranger. He subsequently went on to serve as LaVern Baker’s pianist and continued arranging for artists as diverse as Willie Bobo, Inez and Charlie Foxx, and Albert King. He also arranged television and movie music in the ’60s and ’70s. He is also associated with Sylvia, with whom he wrote “Love On a Two Way Street”, popularised by The Moments. He also recorded for the Clock and Rama labels. Bert Keyes died in Central Islip, New York, on July 21, 1987. Image: Ripopmusic