Joe Simon RIP

No sooner have a paid tribute to musicians who have died during the year than I hear of the death of a true soul and R and B great - Joe Simon at the age of 85. Born in Louisiana, Joe's family moved to California and he began his singing career with the Golden West Gospel Singers. The group turned secular and soon after Joe went solo, recording 'My Adorable One' for Veejay. He was signed to Sound Stage 7, then a subsidiary of Monument, where he was produced by John Richbourg. He had a big hit in 1966 with 'A Teenagers Prayer'. Other country flavoured soul hits followed, including '(You Keep Me) Hanging On', 'The Chokin' Kind', 'Nine Pound Steel', 'My Special Prayer, 'Moon Walk' and 'Farther On Down The Road' - all brilliant examples of the genre. He signed for the Spring label in 1970 where his career was guided by Gamble and Huff as well as John Richbourg and his music became less country soul orientated but still very successful. Hits included 'Drowning In The Sea of Love', 'Power of Love, 'Step By Step' (his only UK success) and 'Get Gown Get Down (Get On The Floor)'. In all Joe saw 51 records chart in the US R and B and pop charts between 1964 and 1981. In the late seventies Joe gave up secular music and moved into the gospel field, recording an album called 'Lay My Burden Down'. He became a bishop in his own church and it looked unlikely that we would ever see Joe perform again, but a miracle happened and he performed at the Porretta Soul Festival in 2008, with support from the the 24 strong Avenue D choir from Florida. He refused to sing most of his hits claining that his early work was 'satan's music' but he did sing slightly changed versions of 'My Special Prayer' and 'A Teenager's Prayer'. His voice was still a beautiful thing but it was a pity we didn't get to hear the likes of 'The Chokin' Kind' and 'Nine Pound Steel'. RIP Joe.