Sam Gooden RIP

Very sad to hear of the death of Sam Gooden, a member of the Impressions for over 60 years, at the age of 87. The Impressions were by far my favourite soul group and Sam's smooth vocals, combining with Curtis Mayfield and fellow Chattanoogan Fred Cash, were a pivotal part of their sound. Sam was there from the beginning when the group was known as the Roosters, moving to Chicago with Fred where they formed the Impressions with Jerry Butler and Curtis on 'For Your Precious Love' in 1958. The group went on to record some magical tracks for ABC Paramount in the 1960s, including 'Gypsy Woman' (1961), 'I'm The One Who Loves You', 'It's Alright', 'Talkin' About My Baby', 'I'm So Proud', 'Keep On Pushing', 'You Must Believe Me', 'People Get Ready', 'Amen' and many more. When Curtis left the group in 1970 and Leroy Hutson took over as lead the group stayed with Mayfield's Curtom label and continued to record some excellent records although with less success. Reggie Torian took over as lead singer in 1973 and the Impressions had more success with 'I Finally Got Myself Together' and 'Sooner Or Later'. The line up changed a couple of times but Sam Gooden and Fred Cash remained and the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991. The group made its first ever UK appearance at the Barbican in London in 2011, at the Jazz Cafe in 2012 and the Islington Assembly Hall in 2014. I was lucky enough to be at all three and at Islington they ended their excellent set with a new Daptone record, a cover of Major Lance's 'Rhythm', 'Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)' and their great civil rights anethm 'Move On Up'. The final UK show by the Impressions was at the Blackpool Soul Festival in 2017 with new lead singer Jermain Purifory. I wrote at the time: 'Backed by the excellent Snake Davis Band, they ran through many of their back catalogue from the Curtis Mayfield era, including 'I Can't Satisfy','Woman's Got Soul' and 'Nothing Can Stop Me'. Fred took the lead on 'You've Been Cheating', but mostly it was the new boy who took that role with strong support from Fred and Sam, and fulfilled it to perfection. The inspirational 'Choice of Colors' was included, along with'This Is My Country', 'I Need You', 'I've Been Trying', 'Stay Close To Me' and 'You Ought To Be In Heaven' There was no 'It's Alright', 'Amen' or 'People Get Ready', but the encore, inevitably, was 'Move On Up', which brought a tremendous response from the large soul loving audience in the Empress Ballroom. The group members seemed to be enjoying themselves throughout, which makes it all the sadder that this final show should also be Jermaine's first in the UK. With his looks and voice he will surely go on to big things as a solo artist. All three of them spent several minutes after their set shaking hand with anyone they could, their faces beaming with huge smiles. The end of an era, but a great way to go out.'