As an award-winning musician in LA for almost twenty years, under my own brand, Cliff Beach, the last ten of them, I have made several rewarding albums and singles that have done well in Local Spotlights on this station. This led me in my career path to a chance to become a music curator for Deeper Grooves on 88.5FM So Cal, and in the last year I have had the pleasure of producing over 40 shows expanding the zeitgeist and lexicon of what groove-oriented music is, from Soul to Funk, Jazz to Rock, Country to Hip hop, R&B to Blues, Gospel to Electro and everything in between. As an indie record label owner, I thought it very fitting to use my platform to promote four Black Music Labels (Motown, Hi, Stax, & Daptone) for Black History Month, spotlighting one label each Friday Night at 9pm PST the entire month of February, to give listeners a music history lesson that both deeply moves and grooves.
The Motown Sound - (Airing 2/4/22 9pm PST)
There must be something in the water because how can one city birth so many soul music giants as Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes and more. From Musicals to Movies, TV to Documentaries, it is hard to remember a time where The Motown Sound wasn’t the soundtrack to our lives. Spearheaded by music mogul Berry Gordy with a team of staff writers, producers and one of the greatest rhythm sections ever known, The Funk Brothers, you owe it to yourself to watch the award-winning documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown, to hear their story and listen to the Grammy-Award winning soundtrack that goes with it. On Deeper Grooves starting out week 1 of 4 for Black History Month the Motown Sound will feature two sets featuring music by: Marvin Gaye, Erykah Badu, India Arie, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, The Four Tops, The Miracles, Martha & The Vandellas and more.
When I get low, I get Hi - (Airing 2/11/22 9pm PST)
We make our journey now from the Motor City down to the south in the Delta, stopping off in Memphis, which is home to so many great labels and studios like FAME, but this week we will be discussing one of two great labels, the first being Hi Records. Hi was the home of the hottest soul singer to come out of the swamp, Al Green, as well as several other notable soul singers and producers which a stellar rhythm section as well. I had the pleasure of speaking with one of them on my podcast Deeper Grooves, none other than Mr. Don Bryant who is married to label mate soul singer Ann Peebles who together co-wrote several classics including “I Can’t Stand The Rain” which was later a comeback hit for Tina Turner, and sampled by hip hop fashion icon Missy Elliott in her mega 90s hit produced by legendary producer and hit maker Timbaland. This week we will feature music by such renowned artists as: Don Bryant, Syl Johnson, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, Al Green, O.V. Wright & Willie Mitchell. I recall seeing Al Green perform at The Greek Theater in LA years ago with Tower of Power; he still had on his white suit and gave out roses to all the ladies, and I am so happy to be able to share his and his labelmates enduring, classic soul music this month.
Their Vinyl Definitely Stax Up - (Airing 2/18/22 9pm PST)
Staying one more week in the Delta, next stop on our “Soul Train” is the home of one of the first racially-integrated rhythm sections, Booker T and The MGs, that played on a laundry list of hits according to Paste Magazine, like “Soul Finger”, “Mr. Big Stuff” “In The Rain”, “Who's Making Love “, and “Knock On Wood” among others and is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. The hit list goes on and on like a who’s who of soul music and this week we will be featuring many of the aforementioned titles and also including songs by: Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Otis Redding, The Staple Singers, Sam & Dave and more. If you have not watched Richard Pryor’s film debut “Wattstax”, an amazing film with similar vibes to the Questlove’s “Summer Of Soul” doc out now; you owe it to yourself to watch this great line up of Black musicians play at the “Black Woodstock” of the late 60s. Add it to your binge queue stat!
Where Brooklyn at? - The Daptone Story- (Airing 2/25/22 9pm PST)
The last stop on our musical tour this month has us heading back up the turnpike to NYC, the city that never sleeps, and which is home to the newest label on the list to be featured, Daptone Records. Before the Dap Kings became famous for bolstering Amy Winehouse with Mark Ronson to super stardom, they were the backing band for Miss Sharon Jones but also building a soul empire to rivel with the late great Charles Bradley, Budos Band, Antibalas and more. For this edition, sticking to the Black Artists on their label for Black History Month and celebrating their 20 years of solid gold we will be featuring music by: Naomi Shelton, Charles Bradley, The Como Mamas, Sharon Jones, Lee Fields, and Binky Griptite. I was so fortunate to see and meet Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at the Old Amoeba Records in Hollywood and see Charles Bradley at The Roxy in Hollywood, both before their untimely, premature deaths to battles with Cancer and I am so happy to be able to share their music and honor their legacies on Deeper Grooves.
All the music we are playing during Black History Month on the show is to keep hope and the groove alive. All these labels were indies at one point and pioneered the way for America to accept Black Music, which was originally charted as Race Records before desegregation, and I am thankful as a DJ at the station to have a platform to let this music have a place to be spotlighted and shine this month and beyond. As Berry Gordy once famously said, “There aren’t enough people who care about the future. They are too busy worrying about today and what they can grab now.” Here at 88.5FM we care about the future by preserving the past and paving the way for future generations, future listeners, and future members to keep the music and the groove above everything else in the heart and on the airwaves. Happy Black History Month to all and happy listening!
