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Al Green

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For other people named Al Green, see Al Green (disambiguation).
Al Green

Albert Greene (born April 13, 1946),[2] better known as Al Green, is a Grammy-winning American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me," "Spending My Time," "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together".[3] In 2005, Rolling Stone named him #65 in their list of the '100 Greatest Artists of All Time'. The nomination, written by Justin Timberlake, stated that "[p]eople are born to do certain things, and Al was born to make us smile."[4] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Green in 1995, referring to him as "[o]ne of the most gifted purveyors of soul music." Green has sold more than 20 million records.[3]

Early years

Green was born in Forrest City, Arkansas.[2] He was the sixth of ten children born to Robert and Cora Greene.[5] The son of a sharecropper, he started performing at age ten in a Forrest City quartet called the Greene Brothers; he dropped the final "e" from his last name years later as a solo artist. They toured extensively in the mid-1950s in the South until the Greenes moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when they began to tour around Michigan.[6] His father kicked him out of the group because he caught Green listening to Jackie Wilson.[7]

Green formed a group called Al Greene & the Creations in high school. Curtis Rogers and Palmer James, two members of the Creations, formed an independent label called Hot Line Music Journal. In 1967, under the new name Al Greene & the Soul Mates, the band recorded "Back Up Train" and released it on Hot Line Music; the song was an R&B chart hit. The Soul Mates' subsequent singles did not sell as well. Al Green's debut LP was released on Hot Line in 1967 called "Back Up Train". The album was upbeat and soulful but didn't do well in sales. This was the only album on the Hot Line label. Green came into contact with band leader Willie Mitchell of Memphis' Hi Records in 1969, when Mitchell hired him as a vocalist for a Texas show with Mitchell's band and then asked him to sign with the label.

Rise to stardom

Mitchell predicted stardom for Green, coaching him to find his own, unique voice at a time when Green had previously been trying to sing like his heroes Jackie Wilson, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Sam Cooke. Green's debut album with Hi Records was Green Is Blues, a slow, horn-driven album that allowed Green to show off his powerful and expressive voice, with Mitchell arranging, engineering and producing. The album was a moderate success. The next LP, Al Green Gets Next to You (1970), was a massive success that included four gold singles as Green developed his vocal and songwriting talents. Let's Stay Together (1972) was an even bigger success, as was I'm Still In Love With You (1972). Call Me was a critical sensation and just as popular at the time; it is one of his most fondly remembered albums today. Al Green Explores Your Mind (1974) contained his own song "Take Me to the River", which was later turned into an R&B hit (#7) by label-mate Syl Johnson and also covered by Talking Heads (#26 Pop) on their second album.

On October 18, 1974, Mary Woodson White, a girlfriend of Mr. Green's, assaulted him before committing suicide at his Memphis home.[8] Although she was already married, Mrs. White reportedly became upset when Mr. Green refused to marry her.[9] Ironically, Green had peaked at #32 on the Hot 100 with "Let's Get Married" earlier in 1974. At some point during the evening, Mrs. White doused Mr. Green with a pan of boiling grits while he was showering causing third-degree burns on Mr. Green's back, stomach and arms.[10]

Green cited the incident as a wake-up call to change his life.[8] He became an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis in 1976.[11] Continuing to record R&B, Green saw his sales start to slip and drew mixed reviews from critics.[12] 1977's The Belle Album was critically acclaimed but did not regain his former mass audience.[13] In 1979, Green was injured while performing, and interpreted this accident as a message from God. He then concentrated his energies towards pastoring his church and gospel singing[11], also appearing in 1982 with Patti Labelle in the Broadway musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God.[14] According to Glide Magazine, "by the late 70s, he had begun concentrating almost exclusively on gospel music." [15] His first gospel album was The Lord Will Make a Way. From 1981 to 1989 Green recorded a series of gospel recordings, garnering eight "soul gospel performance" Grammys in that period. In 1985, he reunited with Willie Mitchell for He Is the Light, his first album for A&M Records. In 1984, director Robert Mugge released a documentary film, Gospel According to Al Green, including interviews about his life and footage from his church.[16]

Return to R&B

After spending several years exclusively performing gospel, Green began to return to R&B. First, he released a duet with Annie Lennox, "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" for Scrooged, a 1988 Bill Murray film. In 1989 Green worked with producer Arthur Baker writing and producing the international hit "The Message Is Love". In 1991 he created the introductory theme song for the short-lived television series Good Sports featuring Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett.[8] In 1992, Green recorded again with Baker, the Fine Young Cannibals, and reunited with his former Memphis mix engineer (this time functioning as producer) Terry Manning, to release the album "Don't Look Back". His 1994 duet with country music singer Lyle Lovett blended country with R&B, garnering him his ninth Grammy, this time in a pop music category. Green's first secular album in some time was Your Heart's In Good Hands (1995), released to positive reviews but disappointing sales, the same year Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[17]

In 2000, Green published Take Me to the River, a book discussing his career. Green received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.[17]

By 2003 Green released a non-religious (secular) album entitled I Can't Stop, his first collaboration with Willie Mitchell since 1985's He is the Light. In March 2005 he issued Everything's OK as the follow up to I Can't Stop. Green also collaborated with Mitchell on this secular CD.

In 2008, Green's album Lay It Down marked his full return to chart success, reaching #9 on the Billboard hit album chart. It was his most successful album release in 35 years.

In 2004, Green sang a duet, Simply Beautiful, with Queen Latifah on her The Dana Owens Album. In 2006, Green worked on his latest studio album for Blue Note Records with The Roots' Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson.[18] The album, Lay It Down, was released May 27, 2008 and includes tracks featuring John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae and Anthony Hamilton.[19] Green said in an interview that he would have liked to duet with Marvin Gaye: "In those days, people didn't sing together like they do now," he said.[20]

In 2009, Al Green, along with Heather Headley, released a version of the song People Get Ready on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.[21]

Awards

In 2004, Green was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Also in 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #65 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[4] He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 BET Awards on June 24, 2008.[22]

Discography

Main article: Al Green discography

See also

References

  1. ^ Werner, Craig Hansen, A change is gonna come: music, race & the soul of America, University of Michigan Press, 2006, p. 180
  2. ^ a b "Al Green: Biography". Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  3. ^ a b "Al Green". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
  4. ^ a b Justin Timberlake. "The Immortals - The Greatest Artists of All Time: 65) Al Green". Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=122&csid2=9&fid1=31338
  6. ^ Darden, Robert (2005). People Get Ready!: A New History of Black Gospel Music. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 296. ISBN 0-826-41752-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Booth, Stanley (2000). Rythm Oil: A Journey Through the Music of the American South. Da Capo Press. p. 150. ISBN 0-306-80979-6.
  8. ^ a b c Brunner, Rob (2000-10-20). "Scared Straight". ew.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07. Cite error: The named reference "ew.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ Kim, Alice (2002-05-17). "Al Green loves vagina and butt". The Stanford Daily. Retrieved 2008-08-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Sullivan, James (2008-02-22). "Twisted Tales: Al Green Finds Salvation, Served Scalding Hot". spinner.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  11. ^ a b "Al Green still singing, preaching about love with new CD 'Lay It Down'". Jet. 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-08-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography: Complete Discographies Listing Every Track Recorded by More Than 1,200 Artists. Canongate U.S. p. 628. ISBN 1-841-95615-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Wynn, Ron. "The Belle Album: Album Review". billboard.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  14. ^ "Your Arms Too Short to Box With God: A Soaring Celebration in Song and Dance". ibdb.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  15. ^ http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/52514/al-green-everythings-ok.html
  16. ^ "Al Green (1946–)". encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  17. ^ a b Van Til, Reinder (2007). Thin Ice: Coming of Age in Grand Rapids. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 225–226. ISBN 0-802-82478-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2006-12-14). "The Roots Plot Tour, ?uestlove Reworks Pharrell". Billboard.
  19. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Lay It Down: Album Review". billboard.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  20. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/21023889/al_greens_soul_revival
  21. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"". Reuters. March 27, 2009.
  22. ^ "Al Green to scoop lifetime gong". BBC News. BBC. 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2010-01-01.

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