But their most important engagement was accompanying Aretha Franklin when she finally became a star after years of trying. In the early 60s, Houston formed a group which coalesced into The Sweet Inspirations, backing vocalists to Solomon Burke, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison. He didn’t compete with James Brown or Motown, but Benton’s thoughtful, down-home manner spoke to people – and still can.Ĭissy Houston developed her vocal prowess in church with the group The Drinkard Singers, and her family was packed with great vocalists, including Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick. 1970’s The Brook Benton Today album sold well, and the subsequent Home Style and The Storyteller records stuck with the new style. The record was a smash, and established Tony Joe White’s tune as a go-to among the best soul songs. By the mid-60s, when soul music was all about dynamics, Benton’s smoothness was seen as old-fashioned, but when he signed to Cotillion in 1968, he began recording at Muscle Shoals, and 1969’s Rainy Night In Georgia established his new rootsier style – a little country, a little bit pop, and a whole lot of soul. He made his breakthrough with several hits from 1959 through to 1962, including Endlessly and A Matter Of Time, and his duets with Dinah Washington, among them A Rocking Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love), gave inspiration to Otis Redding and Carla Thomas’ King & Queen album, and Marvin Gaye’s work with female partners. While some of the music he made was not soul at all, his deep, silken tones were the epitome of soulfulness. Bettye Swann may never have become a superstar, but soul fans know that nobody can deliver poignant songs quite like her.īrook Benton was a pop singer, crooner, songwriter an urbane deliverer of musical stories. A compilation, Elegant Soul, which she shares with Barbara Lynn, tells you everything you need to know in its title. She switched to Atlantic in 1971, and her beautiful Victim Of A Foolish Heart and Today I Started Loving You Again, both recorded at Muscle Shoals, plus Time To Say Goodbye, cut in Philadelphia, rank as her greatest sides, raising Swann’s reputation among the best soul singers. Swann’s voice, tenderly placing every nuanced note to perfection, saw her hit with Make Me Yours (1967) and Don’t Touch Me (1969). Living in Los Angeles, Swann scored enough soul chart hits in the mid-60s to attract the attention of Capitol Records, which released her first two albums in 1969.

Her name was Betty Chapin, a winning moniker in itself, but Bettye Swann’s voice had a stately elegance with a delicious delicacy.

Soul Style by Duane Thomas