If ever the word "genius" applied to any pop artist, it is surely not misused in reference to Ray Charles.

In 1960, Sam Cooke signed with RCA Records where he continued to write and record such Number 1 hits as "Chain Gang", "Twisting The Night Away", "Bring It On Home To Me", "Having A Party" and "Cupid".

Brenda Lee sang her way out of an impoverished childhood and into the hearts of the world.  Before turning twenty, Brenda had recorded a phenomenal 256 sides--a musical odyssey that even at this early stage included classic million sellers like "I'm Sorry," "Fool Number 1," "Emotions," "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and "That's All You Gotta Do." 

Having lent his harmonica skills to Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby," which topped the pop charts in 1962, Delbert McClinton toured Europe with Channel.  While in England, McClinton tutored the leader of a then unknown band on mouth harp, the results of which subsequently were heard around the world on the Beatles hit "Love Me Do."

In 1965, James Brown, "The Godfather of Soul," hit No. 1 on the R & B charts with "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag."

By the mid-sixties, Loretta Lynn was the most popular female country singer in America.

In 1966, Otis Redding created the intense, Gospel-oriented Dictionary Of Soul.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Franklin, "Lady Soul," recorded her first Atlantic disk, "I Never Loved A Man," in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 1967 at Fame Recording Studios.

At the Monterey Pop Festival in June of 1967, Janis Joplin from Port Arthur, Texas, distinguished herself with her energetic performance and quickly rose to stardom.

In 1967, Dolly Parton began singing on the Porter Wagner Show.

On East McLemore Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, stood the old Satellite Recording Studio, which Jim Stewart, with help from his sister Estelle Axton, and Jerry Wexler, forged into the legendary powerhouse of soul music,
Stax Recording Studio.

In 1969, Bill Lowery was Broadcast Music's number one publisher.

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Deal Of The Day

MY MUSICAL LIFE
By Carl P. McConnell

Mabel McConnell talks about the Carter Family, Doc & Carl,
The Original Virginia Boys and the early days of radio.