This dynamic young gun in Southern Soul continues to impress fans and critics alike with his vocal prowess.   Nathaniel Kimble had an explosive hit (included here) with his January 2014 single release on CDS Records of the Ricky White composed Bad Mama Jama. The Benoit, Mississippi native got indoctrinated to music participating in the church choir while growing up and at the same time, developing a love for the Blues. He began creating his own tunes at an early age, which carried over to continuing to write a good portion of his own material today. Nathaniel first broke loose in 2001 with his Can You Bagg It Up album, the hip hop infused title track of which quickly became a #1 hit as well as what was to become his signature song. Ecko recording artist Sheba Potts-Wright later covered the song on her Love Fest album. The Please Don't Go release followed for Kimble in 2003 on the Suzie-Q label with the title track getting sizable airplay. An album drop of fresh material every two years has kept Kimble in the mix of the Southern Soul male soloists. Additional significant charting singles have included You Make Me Happy,  Better Get Ready, Tell It, Dancing Shoes, Back In The Streets,  Gotta Get You Back and Full Of That Juice.

His latest album, Still Here, was recently released on Nathaniel's own Kimbarn label. It consists of ten tracks, combining a mellow smoothness on the slow jams with raw vocal power on the tunes that jump off,  Bad Mama Jama included. I am having to make a hard choice between three solid groove tracks for this month's chart -  U Got Me Walking, Rock It Slowly and Move Baby Move.  All have hit potential. Slow downs and low downs for easy listening include Can't Let You Go, Let's Get Serious, 1 More Chance, Man To Treat U Right  and Stay Wit Me 2. An outstanding mix here, we may have still only scratched the surface of the talent this exciting young artist!

There is no doubt in my mind that Willie Clayton is a Soul/Blues icon. After all, he has been recording and performing for over 50 years, starting when he left his native Mississippi home as a teenager for the music scene in Chicago. Quickly catching on there with the local radio jocks, Willie shortly thereafter was recording on the fabled Memphis based Hi Records label in the '70's as well as on it's Pawn subsidiary with the likes of Willie Mitchell, Al Green, Otis Clay and Ann Peebles. He followed up in the '80's with a few regional hits that were distributed by Polygram, then recorded multiple  notable albums on the Atlanta based Ichiban Records as well as on Johnny Vincent's Ace label. Willie later had several releases on Malaco as well as his own Claytown and Endzone Entertainment labels. He currently carries on the legacy left behind by the Soul greats like Tyrone Davis, Johnnie Taylor, Marvin Sease and J. Blackfoot. One of my absolute favorite songs of all time is Clayton's Dancing With My Baby from his 1994 Simply Beautiful album.

Willie had some very pointed comments recently in David Whiteis' book entitled Southern Soul Blues regarding his dislike for being characterized as a 'Southern Soul' artist. He prefers to be known as an old school Soul stylist, further supported by the fact that there is no Grammy Awards category for music known as Southern Soul. As one of the most visible Soul singers that are from the old days, he is often in an almost untenable position. What I believe Willie has tried to accomplish in recent years is to bridge the music of days gone by with today's more modern contemporary sound.

If I am correct in my assumptions,  his strategy is evident in his latest release, Untamable, on the Endzone label. It is fifteen mostly slow to mid-tempo tunes in which you can almost hear Willie tying together all of the Soul music styles that have transcended the last fifty years. Tunes on the release such as All My Love, Missing You and Easy To Love are vocal interpretations that sound somewhat similiar to an early '90's Kenny "Babyface'' Edmonds production. Not a bad thing at all, Willie has the chops to carry styles such as new jack swing and quiet storm. Girl I Love You and Let Me Be With You are examples on the album of a little more upbeat straight ahead soulful jams that seem to tie the past with the present.  I can honestly say this is not one of my favorite Clayton albums; but, I understand and absolutely respect his position as one of the few remaining Soul superstars from back in the day that has to make sure both the old and the new are well heard! Thank you Willie Clayton for all that you have given us over the years!