Died On This Date (November 17, 2003) Arthur Conley / Soul Great
themusicsover Arthur Conley
January 4, 1946 – November 17, 2003
Arthur Conley was a gifted soul singer and dynamic performer whose 1967 single, “Sweet Soul Music” is considered one of the era’s greatest R&B songs, and to this day, a staple of Bruce Springsteen’s live shows. After slugging it out on his own since 1959, Conley was, in 1967, “discovered” by Otis Redding, who began teaching him the ways of the music business and helping him land a better record deal. The two quickly co-wrote “Sweet Soul Music” which hit #2 on the US pop chart and became a top hit across Europe. Conley released several records during his career but none were able to catch the same excitement as “Sweet Soul Music, so in the late ’70s, he all but retired and moved to Europe where he continued to work, but not as much as he had during the ’60s and early ’70s. Arthur Conley was 57 when he died of intestinal cancer.
What You Should Own
Alan Hull was the lead singer and primary songwriter for British folk rock band, Lindisfarne. Formed in 1970, Lindisfarne had a handful of UK hit singles including, “Lady Eleanor,” “Meet Me On The Corner,” and “Fog On The Tyne.” Hull stayed active with different formations of Lindisfarne through the ’70s and then continued on basically as a solo artist up until his death. Alan Hull, 50, died suddenly of heart thrombosis while working on a new album.
Derek B was a British rapper who came on the scene during the mid ’80s. He was just 15 when he started and was soon picked up by local radio stations to spin there. He was soon hired by hip UK independent dance label, Music Is Life to do A&R. Derek B released several records during his career, a couple reaching the top 15 on the UK charts. He was one of the first British rapppers to appear on the Top of the Pops program due to his crossover appeal. As a producer, Derek B worked with the likes of Cookie Crew and Eric B & Rakim. Derek B was 44 when he died following a heart attack on November 16, 2009.