Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Jeter Jones - "Black Horse"

I LOVE this song!  It is very popular on radio stations down south and I can see why.  I was at a recent blues show and the dee jay put this song in between acts and the floor was packed!! "Black Horse" has a smooth sound and it is perfect for parties, cookouts, in the club, sitting at home, riding in your car, or wherever you may be.  Jeter Jones says the girl's been riding stags but they're not her style - she wants to ride the black horse.  She doesn't want a shetland pony or a mule!! lol

Rodeos, horses, and trail rides are a big thing down south and this fits right into the scene.  I love it!!!

XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Monday, June 24, 2019

Bookie Tee - The Man Behind "Mr. Anything Goes"

I love interviewing southern soul/blues artists but I also really enjoy talking to dee jays and on-air radio personalities because they are the ones who make it possible for us to hear the music.  Without these great people, we wouldn't enjoy the music that shapes our lives. Here's my interview with the remarkable Bookie Tee.

Bookie Tee is a classic example of great people who come from Camden, Alabama!!  He is home grown talent from my hometown and he’s doing amazing things there.

Camden, Alabama…
Camden is a small town but it has two radio stations: one is 24-hour gospel;  the other is WQLS 90.5 and it plays a variety of music.  On WQLS, you’ll hear talk radio, gospel, preached sermons, hip hop, and southern soul/blues.  But the best show on the air is Bookie Tee’s and he is live from 4 – 7pm, six days a week.  He’s known as “Mr. Anything Goes” and that’s exactly what he means – anything goes!  You may hear any type of music during his show and me, being me, I especially love his southern soul.  I also love his engaging personality which shines through the airwaves. His energy is contagious!  

Getting his start in the music industry…
I asked Bookie Tee how he got started in the music industry and he said that he grew up listening to radio. When he was in school, he would be the deejay at school parties.  Pretty soon, word of how good he was spread throughout the area and he started doing yard parties. When he graduated from high school, he knew that music was something he really wanted to do and so he started to look for serious, professional work as a dee jay. He ran into stumbling blocks and hit walls because of the lack of knowledge many people have about people with disabilities. But he persevered and look at him now!!

Against all odds…
Did I mention that this fantastic radio personality is visually impaired?  No? As with most people with disabilities, you can’t tell because he can do everything!!  Bookie Tee went to the school for the blind in Talladega and he’s living proof that his blindness does not hold him back.  You should sit beside him in the radio studio!  I sat with Bookie Tee during his entire show and was amazed at the speed he managed the controls.  He successfully produces a high quality radio show each day and he does it alone.  He is just that good.

Artists he likes…
While growing up, Bookie Tee said he listened to Tyrone Davis, Johnnie Taylor, David Brinston, Keysia Cole, SWV, hip hop, and a wide variety of music.  He didn’t just listen to one type of music.

Some of his favorite southern soul artists are Johnnie Taylor, Jay Blackfoot, Kenne Wayne, TK Soul, Vick Allen, Avail Hollywood, Pat Cooley, Bigg Robb, and he said he could go on and on.  He likes songs that speak to you, songs that you can really feel and the ones that mean something.  I found that he believes in establishing relationships with the artists and, as a result, he has personal ties with many of the artists that he plays on the air.

I asked him what was ‘the’ back-in-the-day song that got people up on the floor. He said that it was Candy Licker by Marvin Sease!!   

He’s been working at WQLS since 2012 and has been a deejay since 2007.  

Future in radio…
I often wonder about the direction of radio and so we talked about whether or not people actually listen to the radio.  I think a lot of people are turning more to online music but he sees the popularity of the radio sliding back.  (I hope so because I love live radio.  What I don’t like, however, is the repetition of the same songs.)  A lot of dee jays record their shows but Bookie Tee prefers to be live on the air and enjoys the camaraderie he has with his listeners.

In closing…
I had a ball talking to Bookie Tee.  I had planned to sit down with him for an hour and ended up staying until he got off the air at 7pm.  He is interesting, so knowledgeable about the music, and is fun to be around.  We talked about new music, old music, and everything in between.

I asked him his closing thoughts for you guys and he said that if you have a disability, don’t let it stop you from doing the things you want to do.  If there’s something you want to accomplish, anything you want to do, go for it!

Bookie Tee is an awesome radio personality who loves the music, loves his audience, and loves the artists who are producing great music.  He is an inspiration because he refuses to let adversity limit his potential and he’s keeping Camden on the southern soul music map!!  Thank you Bookie Tee!!

If you’re in the Camden, Alabama area, tune into WQLS at 90.5 FM.  If you’re online, use this link to listen to him from 4-7pm Central time, Monday – Saturday: 

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Top 10 Southern Soul Countdown on WDLT

It's time for the Southern Soul Countdown which is Beverly McDowell's top 10 favorite songs of the week. You can catch this countdown on WDLT 104.1 FM, the greatest station in the Mobile, Alabama, area. WDLT has an awesome "All Blues Saturday" show and the on-air personalities - Nikki deMarks, Stormy, and Beverly McDowell - are amazing! The Countdown, which is now done by Beverly McDowell, comes on at 7:00 p.m. CST (8:00 EST) each Saturday night.

To listen to the station if you're in the Mobile area, turn your radio to 104.1 FM and if you're online, go to www.1041wdlt.com. You can also listen via iHeart Radio on your phone/tablet and, if you have an Echo, do like I do and simply tell Alexa to play 104.1 WDLT!

This week's top 10: 
  1.  My Cake - Mr. Campbell
  2.  Until The Morning Come - Tucka (featuring Audi-Yo)
  3.  You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man - Karen Wolfe
  4.  Fine - Lenny Williams

  5.  Dance - Lebrado
  6.  Last Call - Lacee
  7.  She Got The Juice - Geno
  8.  The Baddest  - Magic One
  9.  Giddy Up - Ms. Charli
 10. Drop, Pop, and Roll - Willie Clayton
Beverly's Classic Pick of the Week was "Pop It Baby" by the awesome Mel Waiters. 
Thank you Beverly for your countdown and WDLT for a great All Blues Saturday!! I love southern soul music!!

XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Top 10 Southern Soul Countdown on WDLT

It's time for the Southern Soul Countdown which is Beverly McDowell's top 10 favorite songs of the week. You can catch this countdown on WDLT 104.1 FM, the greatest station in the Mobile, Alabama, area. WDLT has an awesome "All Blues Saturday" show and the on-air personalities - Nikki deMarks, Stormy, and Beverly McDowell - are amazing! The Countdown, which is now done by Beverly McDowell, comes on at 7:00 p.m. CST (8:00 EST) each Saturday night.

To listen to the station if you're in the Mobile area, turn your radio to 104.1 FM and if you're online, go to www.1041wdlt.com. You can also listen via iHeart Radio on your phone/tablet and, if you have an Echo, do like I do and simply tell Alexa to play 104.1 WDLT!

Yes, Tucka's "Make Me Wanna Do Wrong" is both #1 and #6!! 😊

This week's top 10: 
  1.  Make Me Wanna Do Wrong - Tucka
  2.  You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man - Karen Wolfe
  3.  My Cake - Mr. Campbell
  4.  Fine - Lenny Williams

  5.  Mississippi Lit - Chris Ivy
  6.  Make Me Wanna Do Wrong - Tucka
  7.  Giddy Up - Ms. Charli
  8.  If You Don't No - Wendell B
  9.  Boots On Song - Big Yayo featuring Omar Cunningham
 10. Take Me Back - Fat Daddy
Beverly's Classic Pick of the Week was "I Could Have Saved Our Love" by the late, great Little Milton!
Thank you Beverly for your countdown and WDLT for a great All Blues Saturday!! I love southern soul music!!

XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Richard Dimples Fields - "She's Got Papers On Me"

This is my throwback Thursday classic!  Love this song.  Did you know that Betty Wright is the voice of the wife???

XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Sunday, June 9, 2019

Willie Clayton - "Mend Your Broken Heart"

Sometimes a song will come on the radio and it's just what you need to hear.

XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Marvin Sease - "Show Me What You Got"

Marvin Sease was a super talented brother.  This is one of my many favorites!

XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

J. Red the Nephew featuring Karen Wolfe - "What’s Up For the Night"

J. Red and Karen Wolfe!!  These are two awesome performers and they are so right together.  Tell me what's up for the night!! It's a nice dance song and like Karen says, it makes me want to cut loose with you baby!

This is one of the singles from J. Red's new Platinum Soul CD! Great video!

Enjoy!!
XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Blues Critic - Top 30 Southern Soul and Rhythm & Blues Albums

Blues Critic's Soul Blues Music website is all that and more!
http://www.soulbluesmusic.com/southernsoulbluescharts.htm

Here are their top 30 albums as of June 1, 2019!  🙌🏽 🙌🏽
Top 30 Southern Soul, Rhythm & Blues Albums
Southern Soul + Deep Soul + Soul/Blues + Downhome Blues + Urban Blues

TM
LM
Album
Artist
Label
1
NEW
Good Muzic
Bigg Robb
Over 25 Sound
2
2
Untouchable
TK Soul
Soulful
3
1
Face Down
O.B. Buchana
Ecko
4
3
Excellence
Willie Clayton
EndZone
5
7
Platinum Soul
J-Red
Soul Mop
6
NEW
My Music, My Friends
Slack
Slacktraxx
7
4
Still King
Avail Hollywood
Nlighnin
8
NEW
Hit List
Ricky White
CDS
9
NEW
My Turn
J-Wonn
Soul Dynsasty
10
NEW
Blues Mix 28: Dance Party Soul
Various Artists
Ecko
11
5
Southern Soul Music
Various Artists
 Aviara Music
12
6
Working With A Feeling
Tucka
Hit Nation
13
NEW
Untouchable <>
Vick Allen
Soul 1st
14
8
Double Trouble
Jaye Hammer
Ecko
15
10
Let's Party
Lebrado
Make Cents
16
11
Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues, Vol. 3
Various Artists
Aviara Music
17
12
My Southern Soul
Donnie Ray
CDS
18
13
The Masterpiece
Sir Charles Jones
Southern King Ent.
19
15
A New Heart
C-Wright
Total Impaq
20
9
Tha Don Voyage
Tha Don
3 D
21
16
Dhis Him
Jeter Jones
RMG
22
18
Steppin' In
Grady Champion
Malaco
23
19
Welcome To Da Boom Boom Room
P2K Dadiddy
SMG
24
14
Got Soul! New Soul Power Vol. 4
Various Artists
Activate
25
21
"My Sidepiece Hit The Lotto" CD/DVD
Various Artists
RMG
26
22
Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues
Various Artists
Aviara Music
27
23
Stroke That Cat
Val McKnight
Ecko
28
17
Blues Mix 27: Ultimate Soul Blues
Various Artists
Ecko
29
NEW
Soul Resurrection <>
Stan Mosley
SSE
30
29
Mr. Sexy Man: The Album
Nellie Tiger Travis
Wegonsee
Thank you Blues Critic!! ♥️
XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Top 10 Southern Soul Countdown on WDLT

It's time for the Southern Soul Countdown which is Beverly McDowell's top 10 favorite songs of the week. You can catch this countdown on WDLT 104.1 FM, the greatest station in the Mobile, Alabama, area. WDLT has an awesome "All Blues Saturday" show and the on-air personalities - Nikki deMarks, Stormy, and Beverly McDowell - are amazing! The new and revised Countdown, which is now done by Beverly McDowell, comes on at 7:00 p.m. CST (8:00 EST) each Saturday night.

To listen to the station if you're in the Mobile area, turn your radio to 104.1 FM and if you're online, go to www.1041wdlt.com. You can also listen via iHeart Radio on your phone/tablet and, if you have an Echo, do like I do and simply tell Alexa to play 104.1 WDLT!

This week's top 10: 
  1.  Dance - Lebrado
  2.  Make Me Wanna Do Wrong - Tucka
  3.  If I Back It Up - Nellie "Tiger" Travis
  4.  Can't Nobody - Audi-Yo featuring Tucka

  5.  She Got The Juice - Geno
  6.  Sunshine - Solomon Thompson & David J
  7.  Boots On Song - Big Yayo featuring Omar Cunningham
  8.  You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man - Karen Wolfe
  9.  My Cake - Mr. Campbell
 10. Ain't No Way - Willie Clayton
Beverly's Classic Pick of the Week was "You Still Make Me Feel Good" by Latimore.  
Thank you Beverly for your countdown and WDLT for a great All Blues Saturday!! I love southern soul music!!

XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Donnie Ray - "Outside Love Affair" and "Let's Go Dancing"

I've loved Donnie Ray since his classic "Let's Go Dancing" (see below) and he is still recording great music. "Two Way Love Affair" was released in 2016 and it's story I know a whole lot of you can relate to.  Donnie Ray gives men a serious talk about holding on to what you have and to not lose what you've got.  He says these outside love affairs are no good.  #facts

I never thought about cheating because my lady is so sweet to me
She gives me everything that I need
She's the kind of woman in my fantasy
I could never do my baby wrong
I could never do nothing to mess up my happy home
So I'm gonna stay right here with my baby
I'm gonna stay right here at home
So I'm telling all you fellas, you need to stay at home
Don't take no chances on losing your happy home

Outside love affair
Just ain't no good
Outside love affair
Just ain't no good, nobody wins in the end

Think about the kids and everything that you work so hard for
Don't take a chance on losing it for a sidepiece
The same thing that she do on the outside
You got a good woman at home, she's your love and your freak
So I'm standing here, singing this song
I'm telling you fellas, don't leave your woman at home alone
So I'm telling you fellas, don't be no fool
Cause your woman needs love, your woman needs love, too



Enjoy!!
XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Nelson Curry - "Dance Floor Remix"

Like in the beginning of this song, I've also been to many parties and everyone's just sitting there or standing against the wall.  I always wonder why because I love to dance and music always makes me want to move. Sometimes it takes the right song to get the party started. And a little juice never hurt nobody! lol

How many people on this dance floor, how many's having a good time?  Look at the people on this dance floor and all of the women so fine.

This remix is good and the music is very smooth.  It's all about having a good time.

I posted the original "Dance Floor" back in 2014 - see: https://southernsoulparadise.blogspot.com/2014/06/klass-band-brotherhood-feat-nelson.html.

XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Big K9's Top 20, Traditional Blues Top 5, and Old School Top 5 - June 2019

I know I've said it before but one of the cool things about the internet is that you can find out the music that is being played in different markets.  For instance, what I hear in Mobile is slightly different than what I hear in Birmingham, and that's different from what I hear in Mississippi or in DC.  I love to take a look at the top songs in different areas because I learn a lot of new music that way and it gives me a chance to see the music that people really like.  It also motivates me to search for and listen to the songs I see listed.

I admire those who create and compile lists of the top blues and southern soul songs. They all should be commended. Trust me, it takes a lot of work and it isn't easy.

You may not be familiar with Big K9 but he is a sincere fan of the blues and southern soul music and grew up in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.  I consider him an expert and he has a wonderful website - check out: http://bigk9.net/.  If you want to know if there is a southern soul show near you, his site has a page that shows plenty of the upcoming blues shows and there's also a concert review page, photo galleries, interviews, and so much more.  

Big K9's website displays his June 2019 lists in three categories:
1.  BIG K9'S TOP 20   
2.  BIG K9'S TRADITIONAL BLUES TOP 5
3.  BIG K9'S OLD SCHOOL TOP 5

BIG K9'S TOP 20  
 1. BIGG ROBB FEATURING O.B. BUCHANA -  CUTTIN' UP
 2. J-RED THE NEPHEW FEATURING KAREN WOLFE - WHAT'S UP FOR TONIGHT
 3. JETER JONES - OLD BACK  ROAD
 4.  P2K  DaDIDDY -  GROWN FOLK
 5. VICK ALLEN - SUPERSTAR
​ 6. SEBASTIN GOWDY-  SNEAK CREEP FREAK

​ 7. CHRISSY LUVZ - CATCHA A FISH WITH NO HOOK
 8. MARQEE OF SOUL - PARTY ON THE WEEKEND
 9.  MOSE STOVALL - WHISKEY DRINKING WOMAN
​10. KIRBY SMOOTH - SHE PUT A PRICE ON THAT THANG
​11. CHRIS IVY - GOOD LOVE
12. O.B. BUCHANA - FACEDOWN
13. OMAR CUNNINGHAM - INSIDE MAN/OUTSIDE HELP
14. AUDI YO - THE WAY YOU MOVE
15. JAY CROZ - TORE UP FROM THE FLOOR UP
16. KING FRED - ENJOYING MY LIFE
17.  HUMMIN'  BOY - PICK 5
18. AVAIL HOLLYWOOD - 25 AND UP
19. MR. AMAZING - ROLL IT
20. MR. SIPP - HOLD IT IN THE ROAD


BIG K9'S TRADITIONAL BLUES TOP 5
1. KINGFISH  FEATURING BUDDY GUY - FRESH OUT
2. GARY CLARK - THIS LAND
3 .GRADY CHAMPION - SOMEONE ELSE IS STEPPIN'  IN
4. BUDDY GUY -  A FEW GOOD YEARS
5. KENNY NEAL - FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY


BIG K9'S OLD SCHOOL TOP 5
1.JOHNNIE TAYLOR - RUNNING OUT OF LIES
2 BOBBY BLUE BLAND - YOU GOT TO HURT BEFORE YOU HEAL
3.DENISE LASALLE - TRAPPED BY THIS THING CALLED LOVE
4.MUDDY WATERS - HOOCHIE  COOCHIE MAN
5.HOWLIN WOLF - SMOKE STACK LIGHTING


Enjoy!!
XXOOXX
Southern Soul Paradise
southernsoulparadise@hotmail.com
Facebook: SouthernSoul Paradise