Get On Down With The Stepfather Of Soul!: Gotta Keep Smilin'!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Gotta Keep Smilin'!

Johnnie Morisette - Gotta Keep Smilin' (So Trouble Won't Come)

"Two Voice" Johnnie Morisette has been featured on this blog before, so on this hectic day I'll simply say that today's selection is just what the doctor ordered for my tired soul. The optimistic lyrics of "Gotta Keep Smilin'," a 1964 SAR single, are buoyed by a New Orleans-sounding beat, and Johnnie's vocals are nice and warm most the way, although he manages to get some squalls in there on a chorus or two and at the end. I just love the firm "Amen!" that closes the song out; amen, brother!

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About "Get on Down" and "Soul on the Air"

Although "Get on Down with the Stepfather of Soul!" was conceived as a rare soul blog, it has evolved into being the Web's best source for '60s and '70s soul radio broadcasts, known as airchecks, thanks to the "Soul on the Air" series. With that in mind, the original blog concept has been retired (see this blog post for more information). This blog is now dedicated to the "Soul on the Air" features, which are listed below. Enjoy!

#1 - Herb Kent, WVON, 1970

#2 - Bill Kenner, WBEE, 1966

#3 - George Vinette, WYLD, 1968

#4 - Johnny Lloyd, WOOK, 1966

#5 - J. Evans/T. Quinn, WGRT, 1967

#6 - J. Gates/L. Thimes, KATZ, 1968

#7 - Big Bill Hill, WOPA, 1967

#8 - Joe Cobb, WVON, 1972

#9 - Fat Daddy, WWIN, 1966

#10 - L. Cordell/E. Cook,WVON,1966

#11 - Gladys "Gee Gee" Hill, KCOH, 1970

#12 - Richard Pegue, WVON, 1975

#13 - Bill "Butterball" Crane, WVON, 1967

#14 - "Ugly" Al Dixon, WAPX, 1975

#15 - Dr. Bop, WAWA, 1973

#16 - Mr. Vee, WGRT, 1972

#17 - Herb Kent, WVON, 1971

#18 - Pervis Spann, WVON, 1965

#19 - Bill "Butterball" Crane, WVON, 1968

#20 - Rudy Runnels, WOL, 1966

#21 - Hal Brown, WAMO, 1969

#22 - Buddy Lowe, WILD, 1965

#23 - Herb Kent, WVON, 1965

#24 - Bill "Doc" Lee, WVON, 1965

#25 - B. Allen/J. Thomas, WAUG, 1967

SPECIAL - The WAOK Tape (1971) (courtesy of The Campaign for Independent Broadcasting website)

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If you are the owner of the copyrights to any material featured on this blog and do not wish for it to be so featured, please notify me and I will remove it immediately.