UNSUNG HEROES OF SOUL #Deep Soul

James Carr's haunting baritone suggested a demon-driven man perpetually at the end of his rope—which he was.

In 2004, Betty Harris returned to the music business after a 35-year absence. I helped spearhead her career revival.

A Mississippi native, Margie Joseph established a strong cult following among soul-music collectors despite a lack of commercial success and critical attention.

Freddie Scott had a top ten pop hit in 1963 and a #1 Rhythm & Blues hit in 1967. As Bill Dahl wrote for the "The Best of Freddie Scott" CD, “[He was] blessed with sleek pipes that grew grittier as the [1960s] progressed.”

Candi Staton is a four-time Grammy nominee who has recorded in the Southern soul, disco, and gospel genres.

Led by Whitney Houston's mother Cissy, the Sweet Inspirations were an in-demand back-up group who appeared on acclaimed recordings by Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield, Jimi Hendrix, and Van Morrison (among many others).

In 1967, Oscar Toney, Jr., remade "For Your Precious Love," a nine-year-old hit for Jerry Butler & The Impressions. With his half-preached, half-sung delivery, Toney took the old doo-wop number straight to church!

The Wallace Brothers' recordings were raw, unpolished soul. Although the production values were low, their uninhibited vocals were highlighted by that very lack of sophistication.

Overton Vertis “O.V.” Wright was a gospel-inflected singer whose body of work influenced the likes of Robert Cray and Taj Mahal.