Soul singer Joe Simon was born in Simmisport, Louisiana on September 2, 1943. “Say” was first released in 1964 on the famed Vee Jay label. The track was released in the UK on Sue LP ILP 943 “Dr Soul”. In his career, he had 14 top ten hits including three number one positions on the US R&B chart.
Billboard notes: “In 1983, he gave up what he called “worldly music,” according to his grandson, to become an ordained minister, working as a traveling pastor, beginning with a sermon to 4,000 people at the Rapides Coliseum near New Orleans. He made the change after a dramatic onstage moment before 10,000 fans when he forgot the words of the pop and R&B hits he’d been singing for 25 years.”
Joe Simon died on Dec. 13, 2021 in his hometown near Chicago. He was 85.
Image: Ace Records/Spring Records

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