Of the artists that I have worked with this past year and those that continue to inspire me, Anthony Hamilton has a voice and persona that carries the torch for Soul Music. He has that fat, rich, incredible voice that holds up with the best of the traditional Soul singers of the 60’s & 70’s, yet is immediately accessible to a new generation and always fresh in his delivery, making him one of those rare contemporary artists creating records that could prove to be classics decades from now. He is also a humble and conscious person, 100% committed to the integrity of his music and work.
I am especially thankful to him for recording the title song I wrote for the film Soul Men (Sam Jackson, Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes), which was nominated for this year’s Grammy’s. I knew when I wrote the song for Malcom Lee’s film – an original piece that had to sound like a classic Soul hit from the Memphis Stax Records (Sam & Dave, Wilson Picket) era of the early 70’s – that Anthony was the perfect voice to deliver that timeless sound. Being a prolific and successful songwriter himself, Anthony Hamilton almost never records songs by other people. With Soul Music, however, we hit a common note that resonated for both of us, the filmmakers and the audience.
The only other cover that I’ve heard Anthony perform recently was for the opening of a beautifully-made documentary called Soundtrack for a Revolution. Soundtrack tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music -the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons, and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality. The film features new performances of the freedom songs by top artists, including John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots; riveting archival footage; and interviews with civil rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Julian Bond, and Ambassador Andrew Young.
The freedom songs evolved from slave chants, from the labor movement, and especially from the black church. The music enabled blacks to sing words they could not say, and it was crucial in helping the protesters as they faced down brutal aggression with dignity and non-violence. The infectious energy of the songs swept people up and empowered them to fight for their rights.
Soul Music as a genre has evolved out of black spirituals – music that expresses from the soul. Since the 60’s, as a musical crossing between Gospel roots and popular R&B, the subject matter has broadened tremendously – from party & dance favorites to sultry love songs – but the essence of the style and the singers that have maintained the roots in their evolution and commercial appeal still has that uncanny ability to touch us deep in our own hearts and souls.
