Soul Connections

Soulful Synergy Presents Soulfull Grooves

2006-10-15T21:32:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! We hope to find you all in good spirits! Our latest update brings a new addition to our E-zine. Soulfull Grooves is the podcast of Soulfull, where she shares her thoughts on her poetry. Swing by when you get a chance, check her out, and as always remember to...

Get Write With Your Soul!

A Soulfull Book Review

2006-08-04T13:09:00.000-05:00

We're Feeling :

RM Johnson's Novel -

Do You Take This Woman?

Hello everyone! This month we present to you a novel that will surely be the talk of the book club circuit - RM Johnson's Do You Take This Woman? Come on by our site and read the insightful review of a book that I truly loved to hate. Once you've picked up your copy (purchase here), we'd love to hear your thoughts/opinions in our messageboard.

Luther Vandross & The Everlasting Power of Love

2006-06-29T23:00:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day of Black Music Month, but we sure did have a ball, didn't we? We rocked our way through this month with the likes of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Prince to name a few and although we can't highlight everyone, we do hope that we've educated and entertained. If you've missed any of our songs this month, they can be reviewed here. We would like to conclude our musical walk through history, with a man who amplified the meaning of love with every ballad he ever wrote or sung... Mr. Luther Vandross!

Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Vandross grew up in a musical family that moved to the Bronx when he was 13. His sister sang with vocal group The Crests who had a number one hit in the early 1960's with "Sixteen Candles." Vandross' father died of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old. His life-changing moment came when at the age of 13 he heard Dionne Warwick sing Anyone Who Had A Heart (a song he would cover in his later years). He knew then that he wanted to be a singer.

Vandross formed a vocal group in high school which once played at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. His first recording credit was as producer of the album Soul Christmas in 1968 and appeared as a vocalist on a Quincy Jones album Best in 1969. He was also a member of a theater workshop at the time and appeared on the first episode of Sesame Street in November 1969.

He attended Western Michigan University for a year, but then dropped out to continue pursuing an already flourishing career in music.

His next recording credit was on an album by Roberta Flack in 1972. Vandross wrote "Everybody Rejoice," for the 1972 show and 1978 movie The Wiz. However, Vandross had dropped out of the music scene when a friend from theater workshop invited him to sing in David Bowie's soul-influenced Diamond Dogs tour and appear as the opening act with the Mike Garson Band in 1974. He ended up singing background vocals on Bowie's album Young Americans.

Vandross also sang backing vocals for Diana Ross, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, CHIC, and Barbra Streisand. During the beginning of his career, Vandross was content to remain mostly in the background, as a producer and backup singer for other artists. Roberta Flack pushed Vandross into starting his own career. She believed he was an incredible talent who, in addition to his songwriting and production skills, deserved to be heard.

Continue reading this incredible bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

At Last, It's Etta James

2006-06-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

Etta James (b. Jamesetta Hawkins January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles, California) is an American Blues, R&B and gospel singer. She is also known by the nickname Miss Peaches.

Born to an unmarried 14 year old mother (although she claims she believes that Minnesota Fats was her father), she received her first professional vocal training at the age of 5, from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Her family moved to San Francisco, California in 1950, and in 1952 the trio (the Creolettes) she had formed with two of her friends came to the attention of Johnny Otis. Otis reversed the syllables of her first name to give her her stage name and began recording her. Her first record, and her first R & B hit, was her own composition, "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)," an answer song to Hank Ballard's "Work with Me, Annie".

She recorded it in 1954 with the Otis band and Richard Berry, who sang the second vocal. The song was later a hit in the white market for Georgia Gibbs, re-written as "Dance with Me, Henry". She briefly recorded as Etta James & the Peaches, releasing several hits before signing to Chess Records in 1960.

James released several duets with Harvey Fuqua (of The Moonglows) that became major R&B hits, as well as her classic "At Last". The song, along with other early hits "All I Could Do Was Cry" and "Trust in Me," was included on her debut album At Last!.

Continue reading this bio here

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Ray Charles: Ain't Misbehavin'

2006-06-27T23:00:00.000-05:00

Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia to Bailey and Aretha Robinson. The family moved to Gainesville, Florida when he was still a child. His father wasn't around much as he worked and had 2 other families, leaving his mother to raise the family with the aid of his father's wife Mary Jane, who helped raise Ray. When Ray was 5 his younger brother, George, who was around 4, drowned in an outside tub. Ray witnessed him fall and tried to pull him out, but he was too heavy for Ray. Ray began going blind soon after and was totally blind by the age of seven. He said that the causes were undiagnosed. (* Note - there are sources which attribute Ray's blindness to glaucoma.) He attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida, as a charity case; he learned how to read Braille, as well as to write music and play various musical instruments. While he was there, his mother Aretha died. His father died two years later.

After he left school, Charles began working as a musician in Florida in several bands that played in various styles including jazz and country music, eventually moving to Seattle in 1947 at the age of seventeen. He soon started recording, first for the label Swingtime Records, achieving his first hit songs with "Confession Blues" (1949) and "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" (1951) before signing with Atlantic Records in 1952. When he entered show business, his name was shortened to Ray Charles to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

It's Floetic with Floetry

2006-06-26T23:00:00.000-05:00

Floetry is a female British hip-hop/neo-soul duo. The members of the group are singer/songwriter Marsha "the Songstress" Ambrosius and emcee/songwriter Natalie "the Floacist" Stewart who was born in London. The women met through their love of basketball and formed a friendship. Ambrosius attended Brits Performing Arts School and studied business and finance. Stewart experimented with acting and directing. For college, Ambrosius planned to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta on a basketball scholarship but could not due to an injury. Stewart attended Middlesex University in London and later transferred to North London University. During these years, both women continued to keep in touch. Stewart was part of a girl group named 3 Plus 1. After the split of the group, her and Ambrosius decided to concentrate on a group together.

They started their career as songwriters in 1997. They have written for Jill Scott, Jazz of Dru Hill, Glenn Lewis, Bilal, and Michael Jackson, for whom they penned the hit 2002 single "Butterflies".

In 2000, the duo moved to the United States to further pursue their music career. In Philadelphia, they met J. Erving, son of basketball player Julius Erving. He became the manager of the group and introduced them to DJ Jazzy Jeff. In 2002, they signed with Dreamworks Records and released their debut album Floetic, which featured the singles "Floetic", "Say Yes", and "Getting Late". Floetry released a live album titled Floacism in 2003. The 2-disc set consisted of a CD and DVD and featured the single "Wanna B Where U R (Thisizzaluvsong)" featuring rapper Mos Def. Their next album Flo'ology was released on 8 Nov 2005.

Continue reading this bio here

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Isaac Hayes: A Few More Kisses To Go

2006-06-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

Isaac Lee Hayes (born August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee, United States) is an actor, and influential soul singer, songwriter, musician and arranger. He also voiced the character "Chef", a singing ladies' man and elementary school cook, on the popular animated sitcom South Park from 1997 until 2006; he resigned following a highly-publicized dispute between the series and the Church of Scientology, a religious organization that the show pointedly satirized and of which Hayes currently is a member.

In 1992, Hayes was crowned an honorary king of Ghana's Ada district thanks to his humanitarian deeds.

On June 9, 2005, Hayes was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame alongside Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, John Fogerty and his longtime writing partner David Porter.

Continue reading this bio here

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Ike and Tina Turner: Making Mary Proud

2006-06-25T22:03:00.000-05:00

In St. Louis, Anna Bullock met Ike Turner, a noted pioneer of rock and roll, and later asked him if she could sing for him. Ike's initial response was no, but after much persistence on Anna's part, he eventually accepted.

Young Anna Mae started working with Ike Turner in 1958. Ike officially changed her stage name to Tina Turner. They later married in 1960. She began as an occasional vocalist in his show at the age of 18, but within a couple of years she not only had a new name, but was the spotlight of a popular soul revue led by Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm.

When a singer was scheduled to record the famous rock song, "A Fool In Love", didn't appear, Tina stepped in and recorded the song instead. "A Fool In Love" was a huge R&B hit, and it made it into the top 30 of the U.S pop chart. After this, Ike changed the name of his band to the Ike and Tina Turner Revue. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Tina rose into superstardom. She developed a very unique stage persona that people very much enjoyed in live concert.

Ike and Tina Turner recorded a number of hits in the 1960s and early 1970s, including "A Fool In Love," "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," "I Idolize You," "Nutbush City Limits," and River Deep - Mountain High with producer Phil Spector in his Wall of sound style. They also carved out a successful niche for themselves by "covering" songs made popular by other artists, such as, "Come Together", "Honky Tonk Woman", "I Want to Take You Higher". In fact, their signature hit became their high energy cover version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary" (1971). Proud Mary was one of the revue's greatest radio successes peaking at number four on the official US radio chart.

Continue reading this bio here

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Funkin It Up With George Clinton & the P.Funk All-Stars

2006-06-23T23:00:00.000-05:00

George Clinton (born July 22, 1941) is an American musician, he is widely considered one of the forefathers of funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and was a solo funk artist as of 1981.

He was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, and currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida. In Plainfield, he ran a barber salon, where he straightened hair, and soon formed a doo wop group, inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, called The Parliaments. Despite initial commercial failures, The Parliaments eventually found success under the names Parliament and Funkadelic in the seventies (see also P-Funk). This article focuses on Clinton's solo efforts after 1981.

Usually recording under the name George Clinton & the P.Funk All-Stars, Clinton recorded several solo albums. The primary reason was legal difficulties, due to the complex copyright and trademark issues surrounding the name "Parliament" (primarily) and Polygram's purchase of his former label (as part of Parliament), Casablanca. In 1982, Clinton signed to Capitol Records as a solo artist and as the P.Funk All-Stars, releasing Computer Games that same year. "Loopzilla" hit the Top 20 R&B charts, followed by "Atomic Dog," which reached #1 R&B, but peaked at #101 on the pop chart. In the next four years, Clinton released three more studio albums (You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish, Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends and R&B Skeletons in the Closet) as well as a live album, Mothership Connection (Live from the Summit, Houston, Texas) and charting three singles in the R&B Top 30, "Nubian Nut," "Last Dance," and "Do Fries Go with that Shake." This period included multiple legal problems (resulting in financial difficulties) due to complex royalty and copyright issues. His popularity waned in the mid 1980s, but was revived by the rise of rap music (particularly, in the 1990s, G Funk), as many rappers cited him as an influence and began sampling his songs. Alongside James Brown, George Clinton is considered to be one of the most sampled musicians ever.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Intermission For More Changes!

2006-06-23T16:15:00.000-05:00

Hello all! We are constantly evolving here at Soulful Synergy and as we proceed towards our goal of connecting souls (did that just rhyme-LOL!), we're encouraging all of our readers and visitors to share their various art forms! Click here for more details and as always...

Thanks for reading!

The Supremes: Stop! In The Name of Love

2006-06-23T16:10:00.000-05:00

The Supremes were a very successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia, and disco.

One of Motown's signature acts, The Supremes were the most successful African-American musical act of the 1960s[1], recording twelve American number-one hits between 1964 and 1969. Many of these singles were written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland. The crossover success of the Supremes during the mid-1960s paved the way for future black soul and R&B acts to gain mainstream audiences both in the United States and overseas.

Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1959, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from the Brewster-Douglas public housing project in Detroit, were the sister act to The Primes (later The Temptations). In 1960, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown, and the group signed with Motown in 1961 as The Supremes. Martin left at the end of 1961, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio. After they achieved success in the mid-1960s with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1967, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. Ross left the group for a successful solo career in 1970, and was replaced by Jean Terrell. After 1972, the lineup of the Supremes changed frequently, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all becoming members before the group ended its eighteen-year existence in 1977.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Startin' Somethin' With Michael Jackson

2006-06-22T16:10:00.000-05:00

Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana), is an American musician and entertainer whose successful music career and controversial personal life have been at the forefront of pop culture for the last quarter-century. Born the next-to-youngest brother of seven and the eighth of ten by Joseph and Katherine, Michael began his career early first singing at a school recital around the age of five and joined his older brothers as a percussionist in the then known The Jackson Brothers. In 1966, after taking co-lead singing duties with brother Jermaine, the group's name was changed to The Jackson 5. The group played local clubs and bars, building up a following and eventually signing a contract with Motown Records in March 1969. The group hit stardom with their first four singles charting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael also released and charted many hit singles as part of the Jackson 5 franchise including the hits "Got to Be There", "Ben", and a remake of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin".

The group's sales declined after 1973, and the group chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow the Jacksons creative control or input. In 1976, the group signed a new contract with CBS Records (first joining the Philadelphia International division and later moving over to Epic Records). Upon learning that the Jackson 5 had signed a contract with another label, Motown sued the group for breach of contract. As a result of the legal proceedings, which were complicated by the fact that Jermaine Jackson had just married the daughter of Motown president Berry Gordy, the Jacksons lost the rights to use the "Jackson 5" name and logo and also lost Jermaine, who wanted to stay in Motown. They changed their name to simply "The Jacksons" featuring youngest brother Randy in Jermaine's place, continued their successful career, touring internationally, and releasing six albums between 1976 and 1984.

In 1978, Michael Jackson starred as the scarecrow in The Wiz with former-labelmate Diana Ross playing Dorothy.[6] The musical film's songs were arranged by famed producer Quincy Jones, who established a partnership with Jackson during the film's production and agreed to produce his first solo album in four years. Off the Wall, released in 1979, was a worldwide hit, and became the first album in history to spawn four top-ten hits, including "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You".[7] The album went on to sell 20 million copies worldwide[8], establishing Jackson as a musical force without his brothers. After the success of Off the Wall, Jackson began work on his second album with Jones.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

The Joy of Teddy Pendergrass

2006-06-20T23:00:00.000-05:00

Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass, Sr. (born March 26, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) affectionately known as 'Teddy P', "TP", or "Teddy Bear" is an American soul singer. He was born to Ida Geraldine Epps and the late Jesse Pendergrass. Teddy got his start singing gospel in the church, where he was ordained a minister at the age of 10, and sang doo wop tunes on the street corners in North Philadelphia where he grew up. He was a student at the old Thomas Edison High School for Boys. However, he dropped out in the 11th grade to go in the music business. Pendergrass' career began when he was a drummer for The Cadillacs, which soon merged with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Melvin invited Pendergrass to become the lead singer after he jumped from the rear of a stage and started singing his heart out. Months later the group signed with Gamble & Huff on the then CBS subsidiary Philadelphia International Records in 1972. The Blue Notes had hits such as "I Miss You", "Bad Luck", "Wake Up Everybody", and many more. Following personality conflicts between Melvin and Pendergrass and a brief stint with Teddy leading a group of Blue Notes, Pendergrass launched a solo career and released hit singles like "The More I Get the More I Want", "Close The Door", "I Don't Love You Anymore", "Turn Out The Lights", and more. Pendergrass was the first African-American singer to sell five platinum albums in a row. He also began his practice of ladies-only concerts, for which he remains well-known. His first solo album was self titled Teddy Pendergrass (1977), followed by Life Is a Song Worth Singing (1978), Live Coast to Coast and Teddy (1979), 1980's TP and the final Philadelphia International Records album It's Time For Love (1981). In august 1982 PIR also released "This one's for you" while TP was recovering. Even in 1983 the album "Heaven Only Knows" was released. This was his last album containing his pre-accident recordings.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Express Yourself With Salt-N-Pepa

2006-06-19T23:00:00.000-05:00

Salt-N-Pepa is an American R&B and hip hop group, consisting of Cheryl James and Sandy Denton ("Salt" and "Pepa", respectively), and Deidre "Dee Dee" Roper (DJ Spinderella). They debuted with "The Show Stopper", a response record to Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick's "The Show". It was an underground hit and Salt-N-Pepa signed to Next Plateau. Their debut LP was Hot, Cool & Vicious (1986, which was produced by Salt's then-boyfriend, Hurby Azor, the group's manager, and he received songwriting credit for the album, though this was later disputed. According to AMG it also featured DJ Pamela Green [1], though they do not include her in their list of credits, and neither does the album sleeve.

Hot, Cool & Vicious received little attention until a San Francisco DJ named Cameron Paul created a remix of "Push It" (The b-side to "Tramp"). Mr. Paul's remix of "Push It", rereleased as a single, quickly became a national hit and was nominated for a Grammy, pushing both the single and LP to Platinum album status. They released A Salt With a Deadly Pepa, which was only a minor hit, though it featured "Shake Your Thang".Their third original LP, Blacks Magic was a watershed moment for Salt N Pepa. Cheryl James grew tired of being at the beg and mercy of their industry male superiors who were late and no shows at the studio. With no one but Invinvible's Producer Dana "Dum" Mozie at the board in the Studio at the back of Hurby's Queens home, they began production on many singles for the LP that would epitomize the appeal of Salt 'N Pepa. Dana loaded some sample into a SP1200 Drum machine. Salt started tapping out a kik and snare rhythm. Dana added hip hop stabs, voices drops, and breakbeats sounds. Moments later, Salt utters "You know life is all about expressions". "Expression" went Platinum and "Blacks Magic" became a best seller. Salt, Pepa and DJ Spin were finally recognized for their production and leadership talents without Hurby. For Dana Mozie of Washington DC, "Expression" was his first Industry production.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir: Any Way You Bless Me

2006-06-18T23:00:00.000-05:00

Giving equal air time to hard-beat hip-hop and Gospel Choir performance, Pastor Hezekiah Walker has enjoyed no small amount of crossover success in the secular and Christian markets. High-energy tunes geared to pass on the Word of the Lord employ state-of-the-art rap styles, with the Pastor's forceful delivery heading the proceedings. Were it not for the frequent references to the wages of sin, Hezekiah Walker's palpitating rap could pass for just about any hip-hop/R&B hybrid dominating today's secular airwaves. Hard-groove samples and Gospel choruses provide foundation for Walker's impassioned preach/rap in these fully bumpin' praise songs. On a side note, the Pastor is spiritual advisor to producer/artist/mogul P.Diddy.

- Mike McGuirk for Rhapsody Music

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Taking A Ride With The Staple Singers

2006-06-17T23:00:00.000-05:00

The Staple Singers were a United States gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Pops Staples, the patriarch of the family, formed the group in 1951, signing with United Records, then Vee-Jay, Riverside and, finally, Epic Records.

It was on Epic that the Staple Singers began moving into mainstream pop markets, with "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" and "For What It's Worth" (Stephen Stills) in 1967. In 1968, the Staple Singers signed to Stax and released two albums with Steve Cropper and Booker T & the MG's - Soul Folk in Action and We'll Get Over. By 1970, Al Bell had become producer, and the family began recording at the fame Muscle Shoals studio, moving in a more funk and soul direction. The first Stax hit was "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)". In 1972, the group had a No. 1 hit in the United States with "I'll Take You There." Their 1972 recording on Stax of "Respect Yourself," written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, was number 2 on the R&B charts and a Top 40 pop hit as well. The song's theme of self-empowerment had universal appeal, released in the period immediately following the intense American civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Jimi Hendrix: Telling Us About His Foxey Lady

2006-06-16T23:00:00.000-05:00

James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist, innovator, and cultural icon. Lauded by music fans and critics alike, Hendrix is considered by many to be the most influential and talented electric guitarist in rock music history. He achieved worldwide fame in 1967, then headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival before his tragic death in 1970 at the age of 27.

A self-taught musician, the left-handed Hendrix played a right-handed Fender Stratocaster guitar turned upside down and re-strung to suit him. As a rock guitarist, Hendrix exploited and integrated the sonic tools of feedback and distortion into his music to an extent that previous pioneers (such as The Kinks' Dave Davies, The Yardbirds' Jeff Beck and The Who's Pete Townshend) had never achieved. He built upon the innovations and influence of blues stylists such as B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, T-Bone Walker, and Muddy Waters, as well as rhythm and blues and soul guitarists like Curtis Mayfield, and the traditions of jazz. Hendrix was also inspired by rock pioneer Little Richard, having toured in Richard's back-up band "The Upsetters" before forming his own group in 1966. [1]

Hendrix strived to combine what he called "earth", a blues, jazz, or funk driven rhythm accompaniment, with "space", the high-pitched psychedelic sounds created by his guitar improvisations. He also integrated instruments rarely used in rock, such as the harpsichord, recorder, and glockenspiel. As a record producer, Hendrix was an innovator in using the recording studio as an extension of his musical ideas: he was notably one of the first to experiment with stereophonic and phasing effects during the recording process. Hendrix was also an accomplished songwriter whose compositions have been performed by countless artists.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Sade: A Smooth Operator

2006-06-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

Sade Adu (pronounced Shar-day) is an English and Nigerian singer and songwriter (January 16, 1959) born in Ibadan, Nigeria as Helen Folasade Adu. Sade is a jazz, pop, urban and adult contemporary vocalist, noted for her soulful, smoky contralto. She achieved success during the 1980s and 1990s as the frontwoman and lead vocalist of the popular English group Sade.

Sade Adu was born the daughter of a Nigerian father and English mother. After the separation of her parents, she came with her mother at age four to Clacton-on-Sea. She studied studied fashion design at St. Martins College in London. In 1980 she entered the music business joining a band called Arriva at the same time she was also working as a fashion designer and designed clothes for Spandau Ballet. Then in 1981 she joined the jazz funk group Pride, and began writing with the group's saxophonist, Stewart Matthewman, who along with Andrew Hale and Paul Denman became the founder members of the group Sade. They made their debut at Ronnie Scott's in 1983, and landed a record deal the same year, releasing Your Love is King in 1984.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Gettin' Misty With Sarah Vaughn

2006-06-14T23:00:00.000-05:00

Sarah Lois Vaughan (nicknamed Sassy and The Divine One), (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was considered to be one of the greatest female jazz singers of the 20th Century, along with Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Sarah Vaughan was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1924, her carpenter father was an amateur guitarist and her laundress mother was also a church vocalist.

Like Carmen McRae, she studied the piano from an early age, and before entering her teens had become an organist and a choir soloist at the Mount Zion Baptist Church. In a story reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald's discovery, at the age of eighteen, a dare from friends resulted in her entering the famed Amateur Contest at Harlem’s Apollo Theater in 1942. Her rendition of the jazz standard "Body and Soul" won her first prize. In the audience that night was the singer Billy Eckstine. Six months later, she had joined Eckstine in Earl Hines’s big band, and sang alongside Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, as well as being the bands second pianist.

Eckstine and Vaughan, having broken away from Hines's band, along with Gillespie and Parker, performed together until she went solo in 1945 (after having spent a short time with John Kirby's band).

Becoming a solo artist, she married trumpeter George Treadwell in 1947, whom she had met at the New York City nightclub, Cafe Society. Recognizing his wife's huge potential, he soon became her manager.

"Tenderly" and "It's Magic" became popular during the late 1940s, and she continued to build on her fanbase in the 1950s with songs like "Misty" and "Broken-Hearted Melody." She continued playing with some of the biggest names in the business, including Miles Davis and Jimmy Jones.

Continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Cruisin With Smokey Robinson

2006-06-13T23:00:00.000-05:00

Today we greet you with the song, Cruisin' by Smokey Robinson.

William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer and songwriter. Robinson is noted for being one of the primary figures associated with the Motown record label, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy. As both a member of Motown group The Miracles and a solo artist, Robinson recorded seventy Top 40 hits for Motown between 1959 and 1990, and also served as the company's Vice President from 1961 to 1988.

Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and was nicknamed "Smokey" as a child because of his love of westerns. In 1955, Robinson founded a group he called "The Five Chimes" with his best friend Ronnie White, and Northern High School classmates Pete Moore, Clarence Dawson, and James Grice. By 1957, the group was called "The Matadors" and included cousins Bobby Rogers and Claudette Rogers in place of Dawson and Grice. With Robinson as lead singer, the Matadors began touring the local Detroit venues. In 1958, Robinson met songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr., who co-wrote for them the single "Got a Job," an answer song to The Silhouettes' hit single "Get A Job." The group renamed itself The Miracles, and issued singles on both End Records and Chess Records before Robinson suggested to Berry Gordy that he start a label of his own.

In 1959, Gordy founded Tamla Records, which he soon reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles were among the label's first signees. Gordy and Robinson had a synergistic relationship, with Robinson providing a foundation for Motown's hit-making success and Gordy acting as a mentor for the budding singer and songwriter. By 1961, Gordy had appointed Robinson vice-president of Motown Records, a title Robinson held for as long as Gordy remained with the company.

You can continue reading this bio here.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

The Roots: Creating A New Standard

2006-06-13T09:06:00.000-05:00

Personally, I can't think of a better rap/hip-hop band to recognize than The Legendary Roots Crew. Their song, What They Do, which talks about not following the usual "standard" of bling and Moet that's laid out for rappers, is our song for today. Enjoy and read below to learn more about this influential group!

The Roots, also known as The Legend/The Legendary, The Fifth Dynasty and The Foundation, are an influential, Grammy winning Philadelphia-based hip hop group, famed for innovative lyrics and live instrumentation. Inspired by the "hip-hop band" concept pioneered by Stetsasonic, the Roots themselves have garnered critical acclaim and influenced later hip-hop and R&B acts.

As Roots, originally named the Square Roots, were formed when Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) and ?uestlove, formerly known as Brother Q.U.E.S.T.I.O.N. (Ahmir Thompson) met in 1987 at Philadelphia's High School for Creative and Performing Arts, which was also attended at the time by Boyz II Men. Trotter and Thompson shared a love of hip hop and eventually began performing together. Legend has it that they couldn't afford turntables and therefore began to focus on live instrumentation using pots and pans. They enlisted a basist-John Abrams, who later left the group-and would go on weekends and perform with pots and pans (as drums) on Philadelphia's South Street. As time went on, they began to create buzz around Philly and grew as a collective. Keyboardist Scott Storch, Basist Hub and another MC, Malik B., joined the group. They began to do shows around Philly and in 1992 or 1993 left to perform in Europe. They rented out a flat in London and performed in Europe for approximately one year. In order to sustain themselves financially, The Roots released what would become their debut album: Organix. The album was actually a live recording from a concert in Germany that the Roots sold at their shows. The album earned enough industry buzz to earn the Roots offers from major record labels, and they signed with DGC Records, which at the time was better known for its grunge music releases. With their new record deal, the quintet travelled back to states... [Continue reading here]

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Miles Davis: Miles Ahead of Us

2006-06-12T20:37:00.000-05:00

A legend is many things to many people and Miles Davis is one of those legend that transcedes time as he was "partially responsible for the development of modal jazz, and jazz fusion arose from his work with other musicians in the late 1960s and early 1970s". Many might find the beginning of today's song familiar as Erykah Badu blended it into the intro on her live album. For today, we present to you, So What by Miles Davis. Enjoy!

Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century. A trumpeter, bandleader and composer, Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz after World War II. He played on some of the important early bebop records and recorded the first cool jazz records. He was partially responsible for the development of modal jazz, and jazz fusion arose from his work with other musicians in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Free jazz was the only post-war style not significantly influenced by Davis, although some musicians from his bands later pursued this style. His recordings, along with the live performances of his many influential bands, were vital in jazz's acceptance as music with lasting artistic value. A popularizer as well as an innovator, Davis became famous for his languid, melodic style and his laconic, and at times confrontational, personality. As an increasingly well-paid and fashionably-dressed jazz musician, Davis was also a symbol of jazz music's commercial potential.

Davis was late in a line of jazz trumpeters that started with Buddy Bolden and ran through Joe "King" Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie. He has been compared to Duke Ellington as a musical innovator: both were skillful players on their instruments, but were not considered technical virtuosos. Ellington's main strength was as a composer and leader of a large band, while Davis had a talent for drawing together talented musicians in small groups and allowing them space to develop. Many of the major figures in post-war jazz played in one of Davis's groups at some point in their career.

Davis was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006. He has also been inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame, and the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.[Source]

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted and Black!

2006-06-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

This woman needs no introduction, she is simply known internationally as the "Queen of Soul". To many people this was an anthem back in 1971 and today, there is still much pride behind the words of this song. Therefore in celebration of Black Music Month, Aretha's song, "Young, Gifted, and Black" is the song for today.

Franklin was born in Memphis. The family lived in Buffalo, New York for a short time before moving to Detroit, Michigan when she was seven. Aretha's mother, Barbara (a gospel singer), left the family when Aretha was only six years old, and later died.

As a child, Franklin and her sisters, Carolyn and Erma, sang at her father's Detroit-area church and made her first recordings at the age 14. One of their two brothers, Cecil, became a minister like their father, but was also Aretha's manager for a time. Their other brother, Vaughn, became a career Air Force pilot.

Aretha signed with Columbia Records after being discovered by legendary A&R man John Hammond. In the early 1960s, Franklin had a few popular songs, most notably "Rock-a-bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody." Though Columbia really wanted her as a jazz singer, the results never gave full rein to Franklin's talents. Her greatest and most innovative work was yet to come.

Franklin had her first two sons around this time. Clarence, Jr. was born when she was 15 and Edward "Eddie" was born when she was 16. She dropped out of high school soon after the birth of her second son. Her grandmother took in her sons to help Aretha move on in her career.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin teamed up with producers Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin, resulting in some of the most influential R&B recordings of the 1960s, including "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", a much more soulful and impassioned song than most of her earlier work. By the late 1960s, Franklin had earned the nickname "The Queen of Soul", having become an internationally famous artist and a symbol of pride for the Black community. Franklin said herself of this period, "When I went to Atlantic, they just sat me down at the piano and the hits started coming."[Source]

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly: Bringing Us Music For Our Joy & Pain

2006-06-10T18:48:00.000-05:00

Today's song of the day is Happy Feelin's by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. Read on to learn more about this influential band...

The sound is distinctive -- passionate, creative, original, soulful, honest and powerful. For nearly thirty years Frankie Beverly and Maze have created a unique sound and become one of the most influential groups in modern history.

"We've made it this far because we love and respect ourselves and our fans. But, most importantly, we believe in what we do," remarks Frankie. The journey began when Frankie relocated from his hometown of Philadelphia to San Francisco and formed Maze. In 1976, he released his first album, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly which yielded a string of hit singles, including "Lady of Magic" and "Workin' Together."

The 80's brought the release of the best-selling albums, Golden Time of Day, Inspiration, Joy and Pain, containing a list of chart-topping singles including "Travelin' Man," "Feel That You're Feeling," "Joy and Pain," "Look in Your Eyes" and "Southern Girl," to name a few. The group gained worldwide appeal with its legendary sold-out live appearances, and released the deluxe album Live in New Orleans which captured the energy, excitement and electricity of a Maze stage show and offered a fourth side of new studio material which included the hit single "Running Away".

In 1983, with the release of We Are One, Frankie Beverly & Maze solidified their international standing with such hits as the title track "Never Let You Down", "I Love You Too Much" and "Love is the Key." As the 80's came to a close, the group released Can't Stop the Love and a second in-concert package, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly Live in L.A., which served both as a retrospective of the group's remarkable career to date and a fitting close to the first chapter of the Maze legend.

With a change of record label and shifts in the group's line-up a new era was launched for Frankie Beverly & Maze. "We wanted to emphasize our strengths, bring together the elements that have always been a part of our music and really focus on them," continued Frankie. The band released Silky Soul, one of their most successful albums, which included the smash singles, "I Can't Get Over You" and the title track.

After a solid year of touring North America and Europe, the group took a break to recharge their creative juices. "When you're trying to do the best you can..to give the people everything you've got, you need to be patient," Frankie emphasized. With anticipation and excitement, the group released Back to Basics which captured the passionate, electrifying essence of the group, and included the hit singles, "Laid Back Girl," "The Morning After" and "What Goes Up."

In between preparing material for the release of their third Warner Bros. album and a Christmas album the group continues to be one of the most requested at music festivals throughout the world drawing major crowds. As a headlining act, Frankie Beverly and Maze have been instrumental in giving exposure to several new recording artists, before they became household names, including Toni Braxton, Regina Belle and Anita Baker, to name a few.

Recently Maze released a 20-track double-CD "Anthology" of the most popular and successful songs by Frankie Beverly's smooth soul/R&B group Maze makes an almost self-evident point about the far-too-usual treatment of the deserved in the pop music game. The All Music Guide wrote, "Frankie Beverly and Maze may be the ultimate urban contemporary group, though they're much more soulful and funky than many of their counterparts."

Although the group has never won any awards they continue to attract sold-out audiences giving them the title "best kept secret in the industry". [Source]

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince: Rockin' The House

2006-06-08T23:08:00.000-05:00

Whether you call it rap or hip-hop, there's no denying the impact this genre has had in music and popular culture as a whole. From the funky fresh kicks to the undeniable swagger of our youth, hip-hop has captured the hearts and minds of many. Today we honor two pioneers, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince for their song, Parents Just Don't Understand, which celebrates the interesting relationship between parents and their teens.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince was a 1980s and 1990s rap duo. The vocalist of this duo, Will Smith, met Jeff Townes while trying to make a name for himself in West PhiladelphiaÂs local party/rap scene. After joining forces, the team became local celebrities; so much so that Will Smith supposedly turned down a scholarship to MIT to pursue a rap career. Philadelphia-based Pop Art Records released their first single, "Girls AinÂt Nothing but Trouble", in late 1985, a tale of misadventures with the opposite sex. The song sampled the theme of I Dream of Jeannie. Smith became known for lighthearted, storytelling raps and capable, though curse-free, "battle" rhymes. Townes was known for his turntable acrobatics, and is credited by many as inventing a style of scratching called "transforming". [Source]

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Mahalia Jackson: Her Eyes Are On The Sparrow

2006-06-08T20:38:00.000-05:00

Hello readers! It has been a world wind of a day, so we find that this would be a great time to reflect on the beautiful words and voice of the one and only, Mahalia Jackson. Her rendition of the song, His Eye Is On the Sparrow, is our song for today!

Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911 - January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer, widely regarded as the best in the history of the genre. She grew up in the "Black Pearl" section of the Carrollton neighborhood of uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, and began singing in a Baptist church. In 1927 she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she sang with The Johnson Brothers, one of the earliest professional gospel groups.

The Johnson Brothers broke up in the mid-1930s, and Jackson began her solo career, recording for Decca in 1937. The result, "God's Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares", was only a moderate success, but Jackson became a popular concert draw. She experienced a recording hiatus until 1946 when she signed with Apollo Records, releasing several singles that are now highly regarded, though sales were sluggish at the time. "Move on up a Little Higher" (1948) became a huge success, however, and stores could not stock enough of it to meet demand. Jackson rocketed to fame in the U.S. and soon after in Europe. "I Can Put My Trust in Jesus" won a prize from the French Academy, and "Silent Night" was one of the best-selling singles in the history of Norway. She began a radio series on CBS and signed to Columbia Records in 1954. With her mainstream success came an inevitable backlash from gospel purists who felt she had watered down her sound for popular accessibility.

Jackson's career in the late 1950s and early 1960s continued to rise when she recorded with Percy Faith, and performed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. She also sang at the funeral of her friend Martin Luther King, Jr. The late 1960s saw a downturn in her popular success. She ended her career with a concert in Germany in 1971; when she returned, she made one of her final television appearances on The Flip Wilson Show.

In the mid-1960s, Jackson and country commediene Minnie Pearl were convinced by Nashville entepreneur John Jay Hooker to lend their names to chains of fried chicken resturants to compete with Kentucky Fried Chicken aimed at their respective predominantly black and white entertainment audiences. Jackson's chain used the memorable tag line "It's Glori-fried!" The venture collapsed amid claims of accounting irregularities, stock-price fixing, and other fraud, but a long U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation showed that neither Jackson nor Pearl had any involvement in, or knowledge of, the wrongdoing. One "Mahalia Jackson's Fried Chicken" outlet still remains in Nashville as of 2006 and enjoys considerable success and local fame in the vicinity of the Tennessee State University campus.

Jackson died in Chicago on January 27, 1972, of heart failure and diabetes at the age of 60. She was buried in Providence Memorial Park in Metairie, Louisiana. She was posthumously inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1978. [Source]

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Prince: A Sign O' The Times

2006-06-07T19:46:00.000-05:00

First off, we apologize for the delay in our musical update for today. We experienced some technical difficulties, but without further ado, our song for today is Sign O' The Times by the artist we all know as Prince. Prince is celebrating his birthday today, so it's only fitting that this legend be recognized.

Prince (born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958), known as (The Artist Formerly Known As Prince) from 1993 to 2000, is a popular and influential American musician. His music has spanned myriad styles including funk, pop, rock, R&B/soul, and hip hop, and he is widely regarded as a musical genius and the definition of the "Minneapolis sound". [Source]

In other news, our site has experienced some great exposure with being featured on Winning Writers today, as well as our writer, Soulfull, who is featured on AOL.COM for her blog, Soulfull of Thoughts. It's been a busy day today, but there's only more to come here at soulfulsynergy.com! Thanks for reading and don't forget to spread the poetic word about our site! :)

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Chante Moore: Raising The Bar

2006-06-06T13:33:00.000-05:00

At a time when the airwaves were (and still are) full of male-bashing songs, Chante Moore stepped up and proclaimed that she had found her a good-loving man. A man who wasn't "cheating or beating" on her, instead he was making her life just a bit easier. Today's song for the day is, if you haven't already guessed, is Chante's Got A Man, from the 1999 album, This Moment Is Mine.

Chanté Torrane Moore (born February 17, 1967 in San Francisco, California) is a jazz and R&B singer, known for an acrobatic vocal range from a low contralto well into her whistle register. She is best known for her emotively seductive breathy vocals. Born to a gospel minister, she grew up singing in the church and was heavily influenced by the music of George Duke and Lee Ritenour. While in high school, she decided to make a career of singing. She was a successful beauty pageant contestant and model when she was discovered by the late Louil Silas at 22, a record executive who had started his own label, Silas Records, then distributed by MCA. Moore has recorded several hit records, including "Love's Taken Over", "Alright", "I'm What You Need", "Old School Lovin", and "Free" (a cover of a Deniece Williams song that showcases her effortless flip into whistle register by jumping an octave higher than the song's original top note). [Source]

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: IT'S A CELEBRATION!

Earth Wind, and Fire: True Shining Stars

2006-06-05T12:01:00.000-05:00

There's something to be said about a musical group that can encourage your spirits as well as give you a good time in the process. Earth, Wind, and Fire's 1975 hit, Shining Star, is our song for today for Black Music Month. Written in a time where the world was in a period of rapid change, this group gave pride to not only African-Americans, but all Americans. Their lyrics speak universal truths that know no color lines.

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American funk band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Led by Maurice White, they are best known for their hits of the 1970s, among them "After the Love Has Gone" produced by David Foster, "September", "Reasons", "Let's Groove", "Boogie Wonderland", "Fantasy" and "Shining Star". Earth, Wind & Fire became the first black performers to headline throughout the world without an opening act, to receive Madison Square Garden's Gold Ticket Award for selling more than 100,000 tickets and to receive the Columbia Records Crystal Globe Award for selling more than five million albums in foreign markets. They have gained the BET's Lifetime Achievement Award and ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award. They were the first black artists to have a single ("Shining Star") and its accompanying album (That's The Way Of The World) at number one status on the pop charts at the same time. [Source]

We encourage everyone to take time out today and reflect on the beautiful songs of EWF and the musical legacy they have created.

Let's Celebrate Black Music Month!

Black Music Month: The Song of the Day

2006-06-04T01:22:00.000-05:00

June 4th brings a song that embodies the suffering of many African-Americans due to the injustice of lynching in the South. Billie Holiday's song, Strange Fruit, is our choice for today as we pay our respects. The following is taken from here:

"Strange Fruit" is a song most famously performed by Billie Holiday that condemns American racism, particularly the practice of lynching and burning African Americans that was prevalent in the South at the time when it was written. "Strange Fruit" was originally written by Lewis Allan (Abel Meeropol), a Jewish school teacher of Eastern European descent, as a poem for a trade union magazine.

He said later that he had been inspired by seeing Lawrence Beitler's photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith. Allan later added music and the song was presented to Holiday, who had been a victim of racism throughout her life and described herself as a "race woman," after a performance she gave at Café Society in 1939.

Billie Holiday later claimed in her autobiography that, together with her accompanist Sonny White, she put the song to music and introduced the piece into her next show; but the truth is Meeropol wrote the song. The "strange fruit" referred to in the song are the bodies of African American men hanged during a lynching: "Black bodies swingin' in the southern breeze, / Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees." They contrast the pastoral scenes of the South with the ugliness of racist violence: "Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh, / And the sudden smell of burning flesh." The lyrics were so chilling that Holiday later said: "The first time I sang it, I thought it was a mistake. There wasn't even a patter of applause when I finished. Then a lone person began to clap nervously. Then suddenly everyone was clapping." The club owner immediately recognized the impact of the song on his audience and insisted that Holiday close all her shows with it. Just as the song was about to begin, waiters would stop serving, the lights in club would be turned off, and a single pin spotlight would illuminate Holiday on stage. During the musical introduction, Holiday would stand with her eyes closed, as if she were evoking a prayer.

The song became an instant success and came to be the piece most identified with Holiday, though it has been performed by countless others including Josh White, UB40, Tori Amos, Pete Seeger, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cassandra Wilson, Nina Simone, Jeff Buckley, Cocteau Twins, Sounds of Blackness, and The Twilight Singers and remixed by Tricky. In October 1939, Samuel Grafton of The New York Post described Strange Fruit: "If the anger of the exploited ever mounts high enough in the South, it now has its Marseillaise."

In 2002, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

Are You Ready To Rock and Roll?

2006-06-03T01:02:00.000-05:00

Hello readers! As you may already know, June is Black Music Month! So what can you expect from Soulful Synergy? A month long celebration of all things black music! We will chronicle a new song every day this month, highlighting the many genres of black music, from jazz, funk, R&B, and rap, we hope to bring a funky fresh groove to your ears! And we can't forget about the poetry! Darknight will be coming soon with his poetic take on major black artists and we'll definitely have more poetry from our readers throughout the month as well! Hey, do you have any fresh poems of a musical topic? Well, be sure to get them to us because this month is a special month and don't forget our messageboard is always open for your thoughts! Soo....

Celebrate good times, COME ON!

Visit Soulful Synergy today!

MAY We Make Some Changes....

2006-05-17T20:17:00.000-05:00

The month of May is just full of changes for Soulful Synergy. Off the break, if you visited us lately, the site has a totally new look! Gone is the dark colors and in its place is a fresh, white background with burgundy and gray trim. We’ve pretty much changed the entire format of our site in an effort to keep our website refreshing to read for our many visitors!

As far as the content goes, we have some great new poetry for everyone to read. Poems entitled, Moderate Waters, The children of today, Demigod, and TONIGHT are all waiting for your eyes. There’s a new Soulful Short, entitled The Dope Bawyz, which recounts an eventful night our 12 year old Soulfull had when she visited her grandmother in Georgia. Our Elder Soul of May is Marcus Garvey, which is presented in poetry format with his own poem, Man to Man.

So swing on by and see what’s new at soulfulsynergy.com!

What's New This Month

2006-05-03T07:13:00.000-05:00

Here at Soulful Synergy, we've started May off with some great new site changes. Our readers can enjoy the all new messageboard to interact with other readers, stories, and poetry! We’ve also incorporated a guest map for which visitors can place a small pin to mark their location in the world! Have you noticed our new toolbar? Well, this little toolbar packs some really cool features to keep you coming back to your Soulful Synergy. Well, I know you're wondering, what does the Soulful Synergy toolbar let me do? This toolbar includes a cookie cleaner, a history cleaner, and a cache cleaner. Get notified when you receive new e-mails to your POP3, Yahoo!, Gmail, or Hotmail accounts. Instant access to our site from any site on the web. Search from anywhere on the web. Get instant access to useful links. Get up-to-date local and global weather forecasts. Get fresh content from this blog automatically via the RSS Reader and listen to online radio directly from the toolbar!

It's FREE, with no spyware or viruses, does not open pop-ups or hijack your searches, and no personal information is required. Go here to download this popular feature of our site.

Additionally, we welcome the new poetry from Delores Parker with her two poems, If I Could and I Do I Feel along with a new We’re Listening review of Ryan Toby’s new album, Soul of a Songwriter, and motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy the poem, I Just Wanna Ride, so stop on by and Get Write with Your Soul™.

Connect With Us

2006-04-15T23:06:00.000-05:00

Everything is new @ soulfulsynergy.com, new poetry, new stories, new thoughts, new ideas, new readers, new listeners, new authors, there’s so much. First we have Benjamin Hartman and Frank Shepich leaving a piece of there soul with A Poem Found in Harlem and Big Boys Don’t Cry, and you know Darknightofpoetry wrote the new Elder Soul of April and the new poem The Knight of Night, in which he show’s you how bright his armor shines. Well you’ve asked for it and here it is, the new page In the Spirit, because sometimes you just need a little inspiration. Now for all of those who are wondering, yes we’ll be Feeling, Seeing and can’t wait to be Tasting brand new Soulfull’s Stars along with more new poetry submission from you, the readers. There are emerging possibilities here @ soulfulsynergy so come and connect…

Visit Our Online Store Today!

2006-03-30T12:33:00.000-05:00

April is National Poetry Month! Be sure to stop by our store and celebrate your love of poetry!!