Al Green

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For other people named Al Green, see Al Green (disambiguation).
Al Green

Al Green in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California on July 27, 2006.
Background information
Birth name Albert Greene
Also known as The Reverend Al Green
Born (1946-04-13) April 13, 1946
Origin Forrest City, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres R&B, gospel, soul, smooth soul
Occupations Reverend, vocalist, producer, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1967–present
Labels Hi, Myrrh, The Right Stuff
Associated acts The Creations, Willie Mitchell, Quiet Elegance
Website Official website

Albert Greene (born April 13, 1946),[1] better known as Al Green or Reverend Al Green, is an American singer, better known for scoring a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including "Tired of Being Alone", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness" and his signature song, "Let's Stay Together".[2] Inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, Green was referred to on the museum's site as being "one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music".[2] Green was included in the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, ranking at No. 66.[3]

Life and career

Early life

Albert Greene was born in Forrest City, Arkansas.[1] The sixth of ten children born to Cora Lee and Robert G. Greene, Jr., a sharecropper, Al began performing with his brothers in a group called the Greene Brothers around the age of ten. The Greene family relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan in the late 1950s.[4] Raised in a religiously devout family, Al was kicked out of the family home in his teens after his father caught him listening to Jackie Wilson.[5]

While in high school, Al formed a vocal group called Al Greene & The Creations. Two of the group's members, Curtis Rogers and Palmer James, formed an independent label called Hot Line Music Journal. In 1968, having changed their name to Al Greene & The Soul Mates, they recorded the song "Back Up Train", releasing it on Hot Line Music. The song became a charted hit on the R&B charts. However, the group's subsequent follow-ups failed to chart, as did their debut album, Back Up Train. While performing with the Soul Mates, Al came into contact with Willie Mitchell in 1969 after Mitchell hired him to be a vocalist for a Texas show with Mitchell's band. Following the performance, Mitchell asked Al to sign with his Hi Records label, to which Al agreed. While with the label, he toured with the backing group Quiet Elegance, who Mitchell signed to Hi in 1972.

Early success

Having noted that Al had been trying to sing like Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett and James Brown, Mitchell became his vocal mentor, coaching him into finding his own voice. Before releasing his first album with Hi, Green removed the final "e" from his name. Subsequently afterwards, Green released Green Is Blues, which became a moderate success. Green's follow-up album, Al Green Gets Next to You, featured Green's hit R&B cover of The Temptations' "I Can't Get Next to You", recorded in a slow blues-oriented version. The album also featured his first significant hit, "Tired of Being Alone", which sold half a million copies and was certified gold, becoming the first of seven consecutive gold singles Green would record in the next couple of years.

Green's next album, Let's Stay Together, solidified Green's place in soul music with the title track becoming his biggest hit to date, reaching number-one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. The album became his first to be certified gold. His follow-up, I'm Still in Love with You went platinum with the help of the singles, "Look What You Done for Me" and the title track, both of which went top ten on the Hot 100. His next album, 1973's Call Me spawned three top ten singles including "You Ought to Be with Me", "Call Me (Come Back Home)" and "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)". Green's album, Livin' for You, released at the tail-end of 1973, became his last album to be certified gold.

In addition to these hit singles, Green also had radio hits with songs such as "Love and Happiness", his cover of the Bee Gees' "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", "Simply Beautiful", "What a Wonderful Thing Love Is" and "Take Me to the River", later covered successfully by new wave band Talking Heads and blues artist Syl Johnson. Green continued to record successful R&B hits in the next several years including "Livin' for You", "Let's Get Married", "Sha-La-La (Makes Me Happy)", "L-O-V-E (Love)" and "Full of Fire". By the time Green released the album, The Belle Album in 1977, however, Green's record sales had plummeted, partially due to Green's own personal issues during this time and his desire to become a minister.[6] His last Hi Records album, Truth n' Time, was released in 1978 and failed to become a success. Two years later, he left Hi for Myrrh Records and recorded only gospel music for the next decade and a half.

Gospel recordings and return to secular music

Green's first gospel album, The Lord Will Make a Way, was released in 1980. The title song from the album would later win Green his first of eight Grammy Awards in the Best Soul Gospel Performance category. In 1982, Green co-starred with Patti LaBelle on the Broadway play, "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God".[7] His 1985 gospel album, He Is the Light reunited Green with Willie Mitchell while his 1987 follow-up, Soul Survivor, featured the minor hit, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright", which reached number 22 on the R&B chart, his first top 40 R&B hit since "I Feel Good" in 1978.

Green returned to secular music in 1988 recording "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" with Annie Lennox. Featured on the soundtrack to the movie, Scrooged, the song became Green's first top 10 pop hit since 1974. Green had a hit in 1989 with "The Message is Love" with producer Arthur Baker. Two years later, he recorded the theme song to the short-lived show Good Sports.[8] In 1993, he signed with RCA and with Baker again as producer, released the album, Don't Look Back. Green received his ninth Grammy award for his collaboration with Lyle Lovett for their duet of "Funny How Time Slips Away". Green's 1995 album, Your Heart's In Good Hands, was released around the same period when Green was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[9] The one single released from the album, "Keep On Pushing Love (song)|Keep On Pushing Love" was described as "invoking the original, sparse sound of his [Green's] early classics."[10]

In 2000, Green released his autobiography, Take Me to the River. Two years later, he earned the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and recorded a hit R&B duet with Ann Nesby on the song, "Put It On Paper". In 2003, Green again reunited with Willie Mitchell on the album, I Can't Stop. A year later, Green re-recorded his previous song, "Simply Beautiful", with Queen Latifah on the latter's album, The Dana Owens Album. In 2005, Green and Mitchell collaborated on Everything's OK. His 2008 album, Lay It Down was produced by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and James Poyser.[11] It became his first album to reach the top ten since the early 1970s. The album featured a minor R&B hit with the ballad, "Stay with Me (By the Sea)" featuring John Legend and also featured duets with Anthony Hamilton and Corinne Bailey Rae.[12] During an interview for promotion of the album, Green admitted that he would have liked to duet with Marvin Gaye: "In those days, people didn't sing together like they do now," he said.[13] In 2009, Green recorded "People Get Ready" with Heather Headley on the album, Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.[14] In 2010, Green performed "Let's Stay Together" on Later... with Jools Holland.

Personal life

Death of Mary Woodson White

On October 18, 1974, Mary Woodson White, a girlfriend of Green's, assaulted him before committing suicide at his Memphis home.[8] Although she was already married, White reportedly became upset when Green refused to marry her,[15] ironically some four months after he peaked at No. 32 on the Hot 100 with the song "Let's Get Married". At some point during the evening, White doused Green with a pan of boiling grits while he was showering, causing severe burns on Green's back, stomach and arms.[16] She then found his .38 and killed herself. The police found in her purse a note declaring her intentions and her reasons. "The more I trust you," she'd written, "the more you let me down."

Turn to the ministry

Green cited the incident as a wake-up call to change his life.[8] He became an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis in 1976 and continues to serve in this capacity, delivering services down the street from Graceland.[17][18] Continuing to record R&B, Green saw his sales start to slip and drew mixed reviews from critics. In 1979 Green injured himself falling off the stage while performing in Cincinnati and interpreted this as a message from God. He then concentrated his energies towards pastoring his church and gospel singing. According to Glide Magazine, "by the late 70s, he had begun concentrating almost exclusively on gospel music."[19] His first gospel album was The Lord Will Make a Way. From 1981 to 1989 Green recorded a series of gospel recordings, garnering eight "soul gospel performance" Grammys in that period. In 1985, he reunited with Willie Mitchell along with Angelo Earl for He Is the Light, his first album for A&M Records. In 1984, director Robert Mugge released a documentary film, Gospel According to Al Green, including interviews about his life and footage from his church.[20]

Marriage to Shirley Green

In June 1977, Green married Shirley Kyles.[21] They had three daughters together, Alva, Rubi and Kora.[21] The marriage lasted until January 1983. Shirley Green accused her ex-husband of domestic violence throughout it.[21]

Discography

Main article: Al Green discography

Awards and honors

Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2004, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame. That same year, he was inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame.[22] Also in 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him No. 65 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[3] He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 BET Awards on June 24, 2009 .[23]

On August 26, 2004, Green was honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI Urban Awards. He joined an impressive list of previous Icon honorees including R&B legends James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley[24]

See also

Book icon
  • Book: Al Green

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Al Green: Biography". Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Al Green". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Justin Timberlake. "The Immortals - The Greatest Artists of All Time: 65) Al Green". Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone. 
  4. ↑ Darden, Robert; Darden, Bob (2005). People Get Ready!: A New History of Black Gospel Music. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 296. ISBN 0-8264-1752-3. 
  5. ↑ Booth, Stanley (2000). Rythm Oil: A Journey Through the Music of the American South. Da Capo Press. p. 150. ISBN 0-306-80979-6. 
  6. ↑ Strong, Martin C.; Peel, John (2004). The Great Rock Discography: Complete Discographies Listing Every Track Recorded by More Than 1,200 Artists. Canongate U.S. p. 628. ISBN 1-84195-615-5. 
  7. ↑ "Your Arms Too Short to Box With God: A Soaring Celebration in Song and Dance". ibdb.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 ""Sports" Report". Entertainment Weekly, Ken Tucker. 1991-01-25. 
  9. ↑ Van Til, Reinder; Olson, Gordon (2007). Thin Ice: Coming of Age in Grand Rapids. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 225–226. ISBN 0-8028-2478-1. 
  10. ↑ 's+In+Good+Hands.htm CDuniverse.com
  11. ↑ Cohen, Jonathan (2006-12-14). "The Roots Plot Tour, ?uestlove Reworks Pharrell". Billboard. 
  12. ↑ Jurek, Thom. "Lay It Down: Album Review". billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-31. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  13. ↑ "News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-11-06. 
  14. ↑ "Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"". Reuters. March 27, 2009. 
  15. ↑ Kim, Alice (2002-05-17). "Al Green loves and cherishes the booty". The Stanford Daily. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  16. ↑ Sullivan, James (2008-02-22). "Twisted Tales: Al Green Finds Salvation, Served Scalding Hot". spinner.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  17. ↑ "Full Gospel Tabernacle". Retrieved April 1, 2013. 
  18. ↑ "Al Green still singing, preaching about love with new CD 'Lay It Down'". Jet. 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  19. ↑ "Al Green - Everything's OK". Glide Magazine. 2007-09-19. Retrieved 2011-11-06. 
  20. ↑ "Al Green (1946–)". encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Silent No Longer". Chicago Tribune. March 1, 1995. Retrieved May 25, 2013. 
  22. ↑ Songwriters Hall of Fame
  23. ↑ "Al Green to scoop lifetime gong". BBC News (BBC). 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2010-01-01. 
  24. ↑ "BMI Celebrates Urban Music at 2004 Awards with Top Writers, Producers, Publishers". bmi.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-13. 

Further reading

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Al Green
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