Soul Crooners

February 20 - March 24, 2013

Conceived and adapted by Nate Jacobs

By popular demand, WBTT revisits the soul music of the 1970s with unforgettable melodies, heavenly harmonies, and great vocalists. You’ll fall in love again with your favorite guys from the original show (Charles, Leon, Mikeyy, Nate and Sheldon)who masterfully croon new songs from the greatest singers of that engaging era.

What is Soul Music?

Soul music has been defined as music that arose out of the black experience in America through the modification of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of funky, secular testifying (lyrics). Characteristics include catchy rhythms, handclaps and a call and response between the soloist and the chorus. Listen for the occasional addition of improvisation or auxiliary sounds.

There are many styles of soul music – from the classic recordings in the early years to those that are more in a pop music vein by artists such as Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson.

In the beginning of the 1970s, soul music was influenced by psychedelic rock and other genres. The end of the Vietnam War and rock's political statements inspired artists like Gaye and Curtis Mayfield to incorporate hard-hitting social commentary into their lyrics. Soul music also continued to express the African-American experience, capturing the increasingly troubled nature of the times.

Artists like James Brown led soul towards funk music, which became a typical sound of a number of 1970 bands. A new generation of street-corner harmony or "city-soul" groups also came into existence.

Later in the decade, disco and funk dominated the charts and soul music changed direction once again to what has been called the "quiet storm." It was influenced by soft rock and adult contemporary styles, resulting in songs with a relaxed tempo and soft melody.

NATE JACOBS (Creator/Director/Singer)

Cast

  • EMMANUEL AVRAHAM
  • CHRISTOPHER EISENBERG
  • MICHAEL MENDEZ
  • LEON S. PITTS II
  • JAMES (JAY) E. DODGE, II (Music Director/Production Manager)
  • CRISTY OWEN (Costume Designer)

See Cast Bios