Arthur Conley
USA, 1964-1970
As promised a while ago, today another long article about one of my all time favourites. OK, I have quite a long list with names of singers/groups I like and you will see that the next years in this blog. But yes, Arthur Conley was one of the singers from my list. As I wrote before about Joe Tex as a singer who was underestimated I must be honest and write that the real, incredibly and totally underestimated singer was Arthur Conley. We all know him from the Song “Sweet Soul Music”(Second live song is SSM). Who doesn’t remember the words we all sang with him ”….Do you like good music, Yeah Yeah, ….Sweet Soul Music…..Yeah Yeah….”
But this man had more, much more!
Born January 4, 1946 in Hinesfield, Georgia. Like all great soul singers Arthur started to sing gospel during his childhood. Soon he formed his own band, Arthur Conley & The Corvettes. Rufus Thomas saw the young Arthur performing and was the first to state: 'Boy you're gonna be a star!' At the age of 18 he was discovered by Otis Redding who became his mentor and coach. Together with Otis, Arthur rewrote Yeah Man of Sam Cooke and recorded it as Sweet Soul Music in the Muscle Shoals Studio, Alabama. Sweet Soul Music certified gold and peaked no.2 on the pop and R&B charts, an all-time soul anthem. In 1967 Arthur joined the Stax/Volt revue tour of Europe with Sam & Dave, Eddy Floyd, Carla Thomas, The Mar-Keys, Booker T. & The MG's and Otis Redding.
Just 20 years old and a star. But not prepared for that fame on that age! Surrounded and performing on a daily bases with the best Soul artists and performers in the world. And earnings he could never have dreamed of a short-while before.
But this man had more, much more!
Born January 4, 1946 in Hinesfield, Georgia. Like all great soul singers Arthur started to sing gospel during his childhood. Soon he formed his own band, Arthur Conley & The Corvettes. Rufus Thomas saw the young Arthur performing and was the first to state: 'Boy you're gonna be a star!' At the age of 18 he was discovered by Otis Redding who became his mentor and coach. Together with Otis, Arthur rewrote Yeah Man of Sam Cooke and recorded it as Sweet Soul Music in the Muscle Shoals Studio, Alabama. Sweet Soul Music certified gold and peaked no.2 on the pop and R&B charts, an all-time soul anthem. In 1967 Arthur joined the Stax/Volt revue tour of Europe with Sam & Dave, Eddy Floyd, Carla Thomas, The Mar-Keys, Booker T. & The MG's and Otis Redding.
Just 20 years old and a star. But not prepared for that fame on that age! Surrounded and performing on a daily bases with the best Soul artists and performers in the world. And earnings he could never have dreamed of a short-while before.
Ruurlo, The Netherlands,
1970-2003
When asked why he ended up in this small village in the East of the Netherlands he answered: “I have to follow a path, that path was once crossed by Otis but I am still on the same path. It was a straight line to Ruurlo. Since my early teens I ran around the world. It felt like I blinked my eyes once and my youth was gone, all my friends gone. I was a stranger in a world I did not even know myself. No where I had roots and I felt I needed them! That problem never left my mind. I was always uncomfortable when speaking with strangers. It is now a bit better but I still don’t go anywhere alone. I need a partner! After Sam Cooke died I had the first test. I was suddenly between men who could only speak about their latest adventures with women. Terrible talk which I could not stand. But there was always Otis to protect me. I was different though I did not really understood it at that time. I was clean, shaven, showered every day and after the shows I did not go with the others into nightclubs. I went to my room to watch some tv. After Otis died it all came back. Again between men who could only talk sex. And even worse, the company let me sing songs like: ”It's so nice when it's somebody else’s wife". The first time in the hall where I performed, a man shouted to me “if it was you I would kick your ass". It was right away the last time I sang it”. After that Conley wrote a tribute to Otis Redding called “Otis sleep on“, the most sincere, heart breaking Otis Redding lament. Shamelessly sentimental but very touchy.
When asked why he ended up in this small village in the East of the Netherlands he answered: “I have to follow a path, that path was once crossed by Otis but I am still on the same path. It was a straight line to Ruurlo. Since my early teens I ran around the world. It felt like I blinked my eyes once and my youth was gone, all my friends gone. I was a stranger in a world I did not even know myself. No where I had roots and I felt I needed them! That problem never left my mind. I was always uncomfortable when speaking with strangers. It is now a bit better but I still don’t go anywhere alone. I need a partner! After Sam Cooke died I had the first test. I was suddenly between men who could only speak about their latest adventures with women. Terrible talk which I could not stand. But there was always Otis to protect me. I was different though I did not really understood it at that time. I was clean, shaven, showered every day and after the shows I did not go with the others into nightclubs. I went to my room to watch some tv. After Otis died it all came back. Again between men who could only talk sex. And even worse, the company let me sing songs like: ”It's so nice when it's somebody else’s wife". The first time in the hall where I performed, a man shouted to me “if it was you I would kick your ass". It was right away the last time I sang it”. After that Conley wrote a tribute to Otis Redding called “Otis sleep on“, the most sincere, heart breaking Otis Redding lament. Shamelessly sentimental but very touchy.
"The company tried more and more to let me sing those songs that did not fit to me as a person and I decided on one day to leave to Europe. I made one more song “Another Time”, recorded in Belgium, as to say to my fans in the States that it was over. It was enough and time for a new life. I could wear jeans, not to think about my hair every second and leave all that Soulstar live behind me. When I ended up in Amsterdam I finally felt that my life was good. People understood me in the Netherlands, respected me and I could live like I wanted to live. I found my identity and did not shame myself any longer. The people from Surinam in those times found out who I was and “forced” me to sing again, what I did for a while. But after meeting my Soulmate I decided to change my name in Lee Roberts and to finally finish my life as Arthur Conley. Don’t call me gay as I don’t know what that is, Also I am not bi-sexual but maybe better to call me Unisexual. And now I have roots”.
(Thanks to Sander Donkers, journalist Vrij Nederland, 2001)
(Thanks to Sander Donkers, journalist Vrij Nederland, 2001)
Conley, his music:
Arthur Conley was not only a gifted singer he was also a great performer and a talented song writer as well a remarkable person. He could have been one of the biggest stars of his decade, but instead he choose to stay aside. In fact he was a bit like his first single where he sings: "I'm A Lonely Stranger". With the passing away of this great talent the world has lost one of the finest 60 soul singers. Arthur Conley is a severely underrated giant of soul music. Perhaps the paradoxical stumbling block of his career was the huge success of Sweet Soul Music, which overshadowed his real strength, which was interpreting - and often writing - the most beautiful and sensitive soul ballads and mid tempo gems like “Otis sleep on'”. A glance at his discography reveals that he was expected to recapture that cheerful, lightweight rock and rolish atmosphere - not to much avail, both musically and commercially. Please listen to his sensitive numbers like ”There's a place for us”, (one of my favourites. The link will bring you the song but not combined with the correct film, but nice to see!) "Nothing can change this love I have for you", (an original from Sam Cooke, Conley's last live performance on Dutch TV) "I'm a lonely stranger”, “I'm gonna forget about you”, “Let nothing separate us”, “Let's go steady”, “Love got me”, “Love comes and goes”, “Is that you love”, (My real favourie, can listen to it every day. Listen to his voice changing after 38 seconds, how full, strong and yet TOTAL SOUL!!) all exquisite soul performances - but with almost no public recognition. What a shame.
Arthur Conley was not only a gifted singer he was also a great performer and a talented song writer as well a remarkable person. He could have been one of the biggest stars of his decade, but instead he choose to stay aside. In fact he was a bit like his first single where he sings: "I'm A Lonely Stranger". With the passing away of this great talent the world has lost one of the finest 60 soul singers. Arthur Conley is a severely underrated giant of soul music. Perhaps the paradoxical stumbling block of his career was the huge success of Sweet Soul Music, which overshadowed his real strength, which was interpreting - and often writing - the most beautiful and sensitive soul ballads and mid tempo gems like “Otis sleep on'”. A glance at his discography reveals that he was expected to recapture that cheerful, lightweight rock and rolish atmosphere - not to much avail, both musically and commercially. Please listen to his sensitive numbers like ”There's a place for us”, (one of my favourites. The link will bring you the song but not combined with the correct film, but nice to see!) "Nothing can change this love I have for you", (an original from Sam Cooke, Conley's last live performance on Dutch TV) "I'm a lonely stranger”, “I'm gonna forget about you”, “Let nothing separate us”, “Let's go steady”, “Love got me”, “Love comes and goes”, “Is that you love”, (My real favourie, can listen to it every day. Listen to his voice changing after 38 seconds, how full, strong and yet TOTAL SOUL!!) all exquisite soul performances - but with almost no public recognition. What a shame.
Arthur Conley,
buried at the Public Cemetery in
Vorden, The Netherlands.
who did not have this LP in the 70ies??
Respect!
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