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The Soul Children

The Soul Children was an American soul music group.

Career

This Memphis, Tennessee Stax Records mainstay was formed by Norman West (formerly of The Del-Rios), and included the talents of John Colbert aka J. Blackfoot, Anita Louis and Shelbra Bennett. The group was formed by Isaac Hayes and David Porter in order to fill the gap that Sam & Dave had left after parting from the Atlantic record label. They scored 15 R&B hits between 1968 and 1978.

Norman R. West, Jr., a country preacher's kid, grew up in Louisiana, and whereby singing in his Dad's church and any other church where his Dad, Rev. Norman R. West, Sr was asked to preach, Norman and his brothers (Joe, James, Robert) were there to offer a few songs. Norman also was a member of various quartets and groups in his formative years before he began sneaking out and singing in local clubs, then later formed The Soul Children.

'J. Blackfoot' is a nickname Colbert picked up during his early years, due to his habit of walking barefoot on the tarred sidewalks of Memphis during the hot summers. He spent six months as lead singer with a new line-up of The Bar-Kays after the original members were killed with Otis Redding in a plane crash. He later launched a solo career as J. Blackfoot with the single "Taxi", which climbed into the R&B Top Ten in 1984.

Both Norman West and J. Blackfoot are still touring performing to date with their solo careers. Norman West is due to release a new single in 2008 called 'Long Way Home'.

Discography

Singles

• Stax 0008 : "Give 'Em Love" / "Move Over"
• Stax 0018 : "I'll Understand" / "Doin' Our Thang"
• Stax 0030 : "Tighten Up My Thang" / "Take Up The Slack"
• Stax 0050 : "The Sweeter He Is Pt. I" / "Pt. II"
• Stax 0062 : "Hold On, I'm Coming" / "Make It Good"
• Stax 0075 : "Put your World in My World" / "Finish Me Off"
• Stax 0086 : "Let's Make A Sweet Thing Sweeter" / "Finish Me Off"
• Stax 0102 : "Gonna Get Away From It All" / "Ridin' On Love Merry-Go-Round"
• Stax 0119 : "Hearsay" / "Don't Take my Sunshine"
• Stax 0132 : "Don't Take My Kindness For Weakness" / "Just The One I've Been Looking For"
• Stax 0152 : "It Ain't Always What You Do" / "All That Shines Ain't Gold"
• Stax 0170 : "Love Is A Hurtin' Thing" / "Poem On The School House Door"
• Stax 0182 : "I'll Be The Other Woman" / "Comeback Kind Of Love"
• Stax 0218 : "Love Makes It Right Pt. I" / "Pt. II"
• Stax 0230 : "What's Happening Baby Pt. I" / "Pt. II"
• Stax 3206 : "Can't Give Up A Good Thing" / "Signed, Sealed, Delivered"
• Stax 3214 : "Who You Used To Be" / "Believing"

Albums

• Soul Children - Stax 2018
• Best of Two Worlds - Stax 2043
• Genesis - Stax 3003
• Frictions - Stax 5507

External links

• The Soul Children via Stax Records
• Soul Children page via soulwalking