The author of more than 130 articles and reviews and seven books, Rick Simmons was formerly the George K Anding Endowed Professor of English at Louisiana Tech University, where he was director of Honors. He currently lives in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and teaches at the Georgetown School of Arts and Sciences.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

The Encyclopedia

Barbara Acklin

Arthur Alexander

The Artistics

The Astors

The Bad Habits

Razzy Bailey

Lavern Baker

Hank Ballard and the Midnighters

The Band of Oz

Darrell Banks

Gene Barbour and the Cavaliers

Chris Bartley

Fontella Bass

William Bell

Archie Bell and the Drells

The Blenders

Bob and Earl

Earl Bostic

Calvin Boze

Bradford & Bell

Jan Bradley

Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats

Buster Brown

Maxine Brown

Ruth Brown

James Brown and the Famous Flames

The Buckinghams

Solomon Burke

Jerry Butler

Cannonball

The Capitols

The Cardinals

Carl Carlton

Clarence Carter

The Catalinas

The Chairmen of the Board

Gene Chandler

Bruce Channel

The Checkers

Dee Clark

Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts

Tony Clarke

Judy Clay & William Bell

The Clovers

The Coasters

The C.O.D.s

Bob Collins and Fabulous Five

The Commands

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

The Corsairs

Clifford Curry

Tyrone Davis

Otis Day and the Knights

Bill Deal and the Rhondels

Harry Deal and the Galaxies

The Delfonics

The Dells

Varetta Dillard

Floyd Dixon

Ernie K. Doe

Patti Drew

The Drifters

The Drivers

The ­Du-Droppers

Champion Jack Dupree

Donnie Elbert

The Elgins

The Embers

The Esquires

Betty Everett

The Falcons

The Fantastic Shakers

The Fantastics

The Fiestas

The Five ­Du-Tones

The "5" Royales

Eddie Floyd

Frankie Ford

The Formations

The Foundations

The Four Jacks

The Four Tops

Little Frankie

The Friends of Distinction

The Futures

Don Gardner and Dee Ford

Marvin Gaye

Barbara George

The Georgia Prophets

Jim Gilstrap

The Globetrotters

Rosco Gordon

The Happenings

Harmonica Fats

Peppermint Harris

Wynonie Harris

Wilbert Harrison

Leon Haywood

Bobby Hebb

Eddie Holland

The Impressions

The Intrigues

The Intruders

The Isley Brothers

Paul Jabara

Chuck Jackson

Deon Jackson

J.J. Jackson

Millie Jackson

Etta James

Jimmy James and the Vagabonds

Janice

Jay and the Techniques

Jewell and the Rubies

The Jewels

The Jive Five

Little Willie John

Robert John

Ben E. King

The King Pins

Robert Knight

Gladys Knight and the Pips

Bob Kuban and the ­In-Men

The Lamplighters

Major Lance

Barbara Lewis

Jimmy Liggins

The Love Committee

Carrie Lucas

Barbara Lynn

The Magic Lanterns

The Main Ingredient

The Manhattans

Martha and the Vandellas

The Marvelettes

Cash McCall

Gene McDaniels

Stick McGhee

Clyde McPhatter

Mel and Tim

Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes

Bob Meyer and the Rivieras

Amos Milburn

Percy Milem

Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters

The MOB

The Monzas

Jackie Moore

Bobby Moore and the Rhythm Aces

New York City

Billy Ocean

Lenny ­O'Henry

The ­O'Jays

The ­O'Kaysions

Patty & the Emblems

Freda Payne

Teddy Pendergrass

The Penguins

The Platters

The Poets

Tower of Power

Lloyd Price

Louis Prima and Keely Smith

James & Bobby Purify

The Radiants

Lou Rawls

Jimmy Ricks and the Ravens

John Roberts

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Rose Colored Glass

Jackie Ross

Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye

David Ruffin

Jimmy Ruffin

The Sandpebbles

The Sanford Townsend Band

The Sapphires

Boz Scaggs

Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson

Shades of Blue

The Showmen

The Skyliners

Percy Sledge

Soul Inc.

The Spaniels

Benny Spellman

The Spinners

The Spiral Starecase

Edwin Starr

Billy Stewart

Sunny and Phyllis

The Supremes

The Swallows

The Swingin' Medallions

The Tams

Tavares

Gloria Taylor

Willie Tee

The Tempests

The Temptations

The Trammps

Doris Troy

Big Joe Turner

The Tymes

The Van Dykes

The Videos

Jr. Walker & the All Stars

Billy Ward and the Dominoes

Dionne Warwick

Dinah Washington

Mary Wells

The Whispers

Wild Cherry

Lenny Williams

Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

Jackie Wilson

The Winstons

Robert Winters and Fall

Brenton Wood

Works Cited

Index