Masters of Funk, Soul, and Blues
Written by Norman (Otis) Richmond      
Tuesday, 08 July 2008

Africans in the United States have produced some of the most popular music
in the world. The world knows about the Motown sound. Equally, the earth
knows about the sound of Philadelphia.

Detroit-born Donald Byrd remembers the Philadelphia.-born Lee Morgan
whispering in his ear while he's was playing on stage, "We (Philadelphia
musicians) are badder than you guys in Detroit."

Phil Hurtt and Bunny Sigler have squashed   the "beef" and brought the two
power house cities together on the CD, Masters of Funk Soul and Blues: A
Soulful Tale of Two Cities.

Hurt and Sigler have the two cities making mad passionate love and not
war. Philadelphia artists like Hurtt, Sigler, Jean Carne, Carl Helms,
Russell Thompkins, Jr. (Stylistics); Ted Mills (Blue Magic), Barbara
Mason, Jimmy Ellis (Trammps),Kathy Sledge (Sister Sledge)  Major Harris
and William "Poogie"Hart of the Delfonics represent the city of brotherly
love.

Sigler, who has been described as "Philadelphia's secret weapon" stands
out on this project. He performs Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up", Gaye
and Tammie Terrell's, "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing", Smokey Robinson and the Miracles', "Ooh Baby, Baby", The Temptations' "Baby, Baby, I Need You" and Rick James and Teena Marie's "Fire and Desire." Sigler does justice to these Motown classics. He is joined by Carne on James' "Fire And Desire."

The soulful Ted "The Wizard" Mills does an outstanding rendition of Eddie
Kendricks' and the Temptations' "Just My Imagination." I personally love
Hart's take on the Four Tops, "Just Ask the Lonely". While Levi
Stubbs'rendition of the song is sandpaper, Hart's version is silk.

Bobby Taylor is featured a 2006 CD, "Masters of Funk, Soul and Blues: A
Soulful Tale of Two Cities". Taylor performs The O'Jay's "Love Train",
"Sunshine", "When the World is at Peace" and The Spinners "Sadie".

Taylor was one of the oldest on this project and still has a nice set of
pipes.

 I saw Taylor and The Vancouver's at the Fox Theatre in Detroit in 1967. He
and his group shared the stage with the Temptations (Dennis Edwards,
Eddie, Paul, Melvin and Otis), Stevie Wonder, and Blinky Williams, who
grew up in my neighbourhood in Los Angeles.

The biggest surprise on this CD is George "Doctor Funkenstein's" Clinton
performance of "Love Won't Let Me Wait". Freda Payne's magnificent
reworking of Russell Thompkins Jr. and The Stylistics', "Betcha by Golly
Wow" is a gem. Ali Ollie Woodson's "Ain't No Stopping Us Now"'.

This CD is the brainchild of Phil Hurtt and Bunny Sigler. Hurtt
established himself in the early 70's as one of the Young Professionals.
They were a group of talented songwriters and producers on the
Philadelphia R & B scene. One of Hurtt's biggest song writing successes
was "I'll Be Around" which he co-wrote with Thom Bell in 1973, a classic
soul recording for the Spinners and later a U.K. hit for Terri Wells.

At the same time he began working closely with Sigler, an early
co-production being a 1973 Atlantic album "Sweet Charlie Babe" for Jackie
Moore. He also co-produced "The Weathermen" and "Mama Never Told Me," the first two singles for Sister Sledge that year. As a recording artist he
signed briefly with Fantasy in 1978, his single release 'Giving It Back'
being a popular soul / dance record that year and a U.K. Top 40 hit.
Sigler, who has been described as "Philadelphia International's "secret
weapon", is also a songwriter and record producer and  has done extensive
work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental
in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr.
Emotion."

Sigler has worked with most of the acts associated with the Philadelphia
stable including The O'Jays, Jackie Moore, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes,
Barbara Mason, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls and Stephanie Mills. He also co-wrote
"The Ruler's Back", the opening song on the widely respected and
critically acclaimed album The Blueprint by Jay-Z.

Masters of Funk Soul and Blues: A Soulful Tale of Two Cities is a must
have for lovers of Black Music. This CD proves that great music is still
being made; however, radio is unwilling or unable to play it. In the 21st
century to hear current music from classic r& b artists is next to
impossible. Gerald Alston sings Sam Cooke featuring Gerald Albright and
the Masters of Funk Soul and Blues is getting little or no airplay.

Toronto-based journalist and radio producer Norman (Otis) Richmond is the
co-founder, along with the late Milton Blake, of the BMA/TC. He can be
heard on Diasporic Music, Thursdays, 8 p.m.-10 p. m., and Saturday Morning
Live, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p. m. on CKLN-FM 88.1 and on the internet at
http://www.ckln.fm . He can be reached by phone at 416-979-5251 x2372 or
by e-mail at norman@ckln.fm.