George Soulé (musician)
Encyclopedia
George Soulé He is a descendant of George Soule
who was a signatory of the Mayflower Compact
and the grandson of George Soulé who founded the Soulé Steam Feed Works
in Meridian. Mississippi. He is also a descendant of Bishop Joshua Soule
(1781 - 1867) is an American songwriter, singer, drummer, record producer and studio engineer, whose songs have been recorded by some of the most successful artists in soul music
including Percy Sledge
, Carl Carlton
, Temptations and Bobby Womack
. In 1973 he had a Top 40 rhythm and blues hit as a solo artist with ‘’Get Involved’’
, Mississippi
on November 12, 1945. He became a DJ at the local WOKK radio station as a teenager and recorded his first discs for Carol Rachou’s La Louisianne and Tamm labels in the mid 60s.In 1964 his song Someone was recorded by Sue Thompson and covered by Frank Ifield
and Etta James
. Shortly thereafter Soulé made his first television appearance on the pop music programme Shindig
appearing on the bill with Ray Charles
.
He started plugging his songs, often written with his friend Paul Davis, to music publishers in Memphis and Nashville signing a contract around 1966 with the Nashville based Acuff-Rose Music. He moved first to the newly opened Malaco Records
in Jackson , Mississippi and in 1969 onto the studios of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
, in Sheffield, Alabama
where he worked with producers Rick Hall and Don Davis. Soulé was initially used as a songwriter and with the singer Don Covay
he achieved early success with a song ‘’Shoes’’ a hit for Brook Benton
. He wrote I’ll Be Your Everything a chart success for Percy Sledge
.
His most productive writing partnership though was with Terry Woodford. Among their best known songs was How Many Times recorded by Mavis Staples
, "You Can't Stop A Man In Love" by Carl Carlton
, Bobby Womack
, The Temptations
, Wilson Pickett
and several well known rhythm and blues artists.
During this period George played drums on recording sessions produced by Swamp Dogg
for artists like Brooks O’Dell and Z.Z. Hill
, as well as sessions for other artists such as Ernie Shelby. He was also in demand as a demo singer for other writers and as a backup vocalist. A collection of his demos from this period entitled’Let me be the man’ was released on the Soulscape label in 2011 In 1972 he sang on a demo by Memphis writer George Jackson
called Get Involved originally written with Wilson Pickett
in mind. Fame Records owner Rick Hall
liked Soulé‘s version so much he recorded George for his own label and the song reached no 35 in Billboard’s R & B chart the following year,spawning a successful reggae cover version from Freddie McGregor
. The song was featured on the nationally syndicated TV show Soul Train
and caused a mild sensation when it was realised that George Soulé was a white singer. Follow up singles on Fame and United Artists didn’t fare so well.
In 1975 George Soulé joined the Music Mill organisation in Muscle Shoals, writing songs for Arthur Alexander
amongst others and operating the studio’s recording process as engineer. He received Country Music’s song of the year award for his engineering and mixing of Narvel Felts
hit Reconsider Me. He has contributed to numerous songs that include What I Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Me (William Bell
), Catch Me I’m Fallin’ (Esther Phillips
), After The Feeling Is Gone (Lulu
)We’re Into Something Good (Roy Orbison
) and one of his most successful songs Can’t Stop A Man In Love that was recorded by The Temptations
, Bobby Womack
and by Carl Carlton
.
George Soulé left music as a full time occupation in the late 70s, to work in the family iron smelting business in Meridian returning to Muscle Shoals in 1987 as an announcer on WQLT FM radio. Throughout the period he has continued to write songs, often with the late Ava Aldridge or Eddie Struzick, contributing Poor Boy Blue for Johnnie Taylor
and A Woman Without Love for Dorothy Moore
, both on the Malaco label. He also recorded a duet with Aldridge released on MCA. In 1996 Soulé was back in Mississippi working at a casino.
George Soulé now resides in Meridian, MS
George Soule
George Soule was a signer of the Mayflower Compact, and one of the original 102 Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.-Biography:...
who was a signatory of the Mayflower Compact
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the colonists, later together known to history as the Pilgrims, who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower...
and the grandson of George Soulé who founded the Soulé Steam Feed Works
Soulé Steam Feed Works
Soulé Steam Feed Works is a historic business founded in Meridian, Mississippi in 1891 by George Soulé. The complex was listed as a contributing property to Union Station Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 under the Meridian Multiple Resource...
in Meridian. Mississippi. He is also a descendant of Bishop Joshua Soule
Joshua Soule
Joshua Soule was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church , and then of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.-Birth and rebirth:...
(1781 - 1867) is an American songwriter, singer, drummer, record producer and studio engineer, whose songs have been recorded by some of the most successful artists in soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
including Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
, Carl Carlton
Carl Carlton
Carl Carlton is an American R&B, soul, and funk singer and songwriter, best known for his hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama ".-Career:...
, Temptations and Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
. In 1973 he had a Top 40 rhythm and blues hit as a solo artist with ‘’Get Involved’’
Biography
George Soulé was born in MeridianMeridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
on November 12, 1945. He became a DJ at the local WOKK radio station as a teenager and recorded his first discs for Carol Rachou’s La Louisianne and Tamm labels in the mid 60s.In 1964 his song Someone was recorded by Sue Thompson and covered by Frank Ifield
Frank Ifield
Francis Edward Ifield is an early Australian-English easy listening and country music singer. He achieved considerable success in the early 1960s, especially in the UK Singles Chart, where he had four Number 1 hits between 1962 and 1963....
and Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
. Shortly thereafter Soulé made his first television appearance on the pop music programme Shindig
Shindig
Shindig may refer to:*Shindig!, a '60s American music variety television show*"Shindig" , an episode of the television series Firefly*Shindig , an open-source software implementation of the OpenSocial standard...
appearing on the bill with Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
.
He started plugging his songs, often written with his friend Paul Davis, to music publishers in Memphis and Nashville signing a contract around 1966 with the Nashville based Acuff-Rose Music. He moved first to the newly opened Malaco Records
Malaco Records
Malaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
in Jackson , Mississippi and in 1969 onto the studios of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
, in Sheffield, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
where he worked with producers Rick Hall and Don Davis. Soulé was initially used as a songwriter and with the singer Don Covay
Don Covay
Don Covay is an American R&B/rock and roll/soul music singer and songwriter most active in the 1950s and 1960s, who received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994...
he achieved early success with a song ‘’Shoes’’ a hit for Brook Benton
Brook Benton
Brook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...
. He wrote I’ll Be Your Everything a chart success for Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
.
His most productive writing partnership though was with Terry Woodford. Among their best known songs was How Many Times recorded by Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.-Biography:...
, "You Can't Stop A Man In Love" by Carl Carlton
Carl Carlton
Carl Carlton is an American R&B, soul, and funk singer and songwriter, best known for his hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama ".-Career:...
, Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
, The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
and several well known rhythm and blues artists.
During this period George played drums on recording sessions produced by Swamp Dogg
Swamp Dogg
Jerry Williams, Jr., , is a soul music artist who is better known by his pseudonym Swamp Dogg.Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Williams made his first recording in 1954 under the moniker "Little Jerry", a 78 rpm single on the Mechanic label titled "HTD Blues" / "Nats Wailing"...
for artists like Brooks O’Dell and Z.Z. Hill
Z.Z. Hill
Arzell "Z. Z." Hill was an American blues singer, in the soul blues tradition, known for his 1970s and 1980s recordings for Malaco. His 1982 album, Down Home, stayed on the Billboard soul album chart for nearly two years. The track "Down Home Blues" has been called the best-known blues song of the...
, as well as sessions for other artists such as Ernie Shelby. He was also in demand as a demo singer for other writers and as a backup vocalist. A collection of his demos from this period entitled’Let me be the man’ was released on the Soulscape label in 2011 In 1972 he sang on a demo by Memphis writer George Jackson
George Jackson
- People :* George Jackson , American MLB player from 1911–1913* George Jackson , U.S. Black Panther, prisoner, and author* George Jackson , English botanist...
called Get Involved originally written with Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
in mind. Fame Records owner Rick Hall
Rick Hall
Roe Erister "Rick" Hall is an American record producer, songwriter, music publisher and musician who is best known as the owner and proprietor of the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.-Life and career:...
liked Soulé‘s version so much he recorded George for his own label and the song reached no 35 in Billboard’s R & B chart the following year,spawning a successful reggae cover version from Freddie McGregor
Freddie McGregor
Freddie McGregor has been variously a singer, musician and producer. According to Allmusic he is one of reggae's most durable and soulful singers, with a steady career that started in the 1960s, when he was just seven years old.-Biography:In 1963 he joined with Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin to...
. The song was featured on the nationally syndicated TV show Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
and caused a mild sensation when it was realised that George Soulé was a white singer. Follow up singles on Fame and United Artists didn’t fare so well.
In 1975 George Soulé joined the Music Mill organisation in Muscle Shoals, writing songs for Arthur Alexander
Arthur Alexander
Arthur Alexander was an American country soul singer. Jason Ankeny, music critic for Allmusic, said Alexander was a "country-soul pioneer" and though largely unknown, "his music is the stuff of genius, a poignant and deeply intimate body of work on par with the best of his...
amongst others and operating the studio’s recording process as engineer. He received Country Music’s song of the year award for his engineering and mixing of Narvel Felts
Narvel Felts
Narvel Felts is an American country music singer. Known for his soaring tenor and high falsetto, Felts enjoyed his greatest success during the 1970s, most famously 1975's "Reconsider Me."-Career:...
hit Reconsider Me. He has contributed to numerous songs that include What I Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Me (William Bell
William Bell
-Musicians:* William Bell * William Bell * William Henry Bell , composer -Politicians:* Dr. William Bell , founder of Manitou Springs, Colorado...
), Catch Me I’m Fallin’ (Esther Phillips
Esther Phillips
Esther Phillips was an American singer. Phillips was known for her R&B vocals, but she was a versatile singer, also performing pop, country, jazz, blues and soul music.-Early life:...
), After The Feeling Is Gone (Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
)We’re Into Something Good (Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
) and one of his most successful songs Can’t Stop A Man In Love that was recorded by The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
and by Carl Carlton
Carl Carlton
Carl Carlton is an American R&B, soul, and funk singer and songwriter, best known for his hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama ".-Career:...
.
George Soulé left music as a full time occupation in the late 70s, to work in the family iron smelting business in Meridian returning to Muscle Shoals in 1987 as an announcer on WQLT FM radio. Throughout the period he has continued to write songs, often with the late Ava Aldridge or Eddie Struzick, contributing Poor Boy Blue for Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Harrison Taylor was an American vocalist in a wide variety of genres, from rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel to pop, doo-wop and disco.-Early years:...
and A Woman Without Love for Dorothy Moore
Dorothy Moore
Dorothy Moore is an American pop, R&B, and soul singer best known for her 1976 hit song, "Misty Blue".-Career:...
, both on the Malaco label. He also recorded a duet with Aldridge released on MCA. In 1996 Soulé was back in Mississippi working at a casino.
Return to solo recording
In 2004 he was part of the newly formed Country Soul Revue who recorded a CD entitled “Testyfing” for Casual Records and performed with other members of the Revue on stage a year later at London, England’s Barbican Theatre in a highly acclaimed return to performing for the first time in twenty years. He followed this with the first CD in his own name “Take A Ride” for Zane Records which included both new material and also his own interpretations of songs he had written in the 1970s. In 2011 he released ‘Let me be a man’ a collection of archive material from his period with Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.George Soulé now resides in Meridian, MS