ANGIE STONE (1961 - 2025)

Angie Stone, the neo-soul singer who expertly merged old school r&b with modern sounds,  has tragically passed away on March 1st. She had been traveling from Alabama to her next concert in Atlanta when becoming involved in a car accident. Stone was sixty-three.

Born Angela Brown in South Carolina, she found her love of music in the church, singing gospel as part of the choir. As a teenager, Brown joined an all-female hip-hop trio, The Sequence with Cheryl Cook and Gwendolyn Chisolm. Signed to Sugar Hill Records, they had a hit with their 1980 single "Funk You Up", reaching number fifteen on the US Billboard Black Singles chart. During this time, she married Rodney Stone, a musician from the hip-hop group, Funky Four Plus One. The Sequence continued to achieve modest success before disbanding five years later.

Stone would join other bands; an electro-funk group, Mantronix, the lead vocalist of the r&b trio, Vertical Hold and soul group, Devox. She began songwriting, working on D'Angelo's first two albums and going on tour with him as well as performing on Lenny Kravitz's "5" album in 1998. This helped lead Stone to the attention of Clive Davis and she was signed to his label, J Records. 

Her solo debut, "Black Diamond" was released in 1999, a collection of hip-hip infused soul that was warmly received and critically acclaimed. Stone would record two more albums for the label before joining a revived Stax Records in 2007. She released her last album, "Love Language" two years ago that featured her version of classic Southern R&B and Philly soul.

Stone was a powerful vocalist who kept the spirit of soul music alive and well. Yet she was also a vital and gifted artist who was not fully recognized for her brilliant contributions to contemporary hip-hop soul.

BETTY WRIGHT (1953 - 2020)

One of the most dazzling voices in soul music, Betty Wright has sadly passed away on May 10th at the young age of sixty-six. She died in her home in Miami from complications of cancer. The singer, born Bessie Regina Norris, was also an acclaimed songwriter (winning her only Grammy out of six nomination in 1974 for Best R&B Song for co-writing, "Where Is The Love"), producer and worked with virtually everyone in all genres of music as a background vocalist. Wright would help nurture new musical talent including George and Gwen McCrae, Peter Brown and Joss Stone.

Music had always been a passion for Wright since she was a child as she became a part of her family's gospel group, Echoes of Joy. She performed and recorded with them until she was eleven years old. She then decided to move in to secular music and after being discovered at a Miami talent show, Wright signed to her first label, Deep City Records at the age of twelve in 1966. By the age of 15, she released her first solo album, "My First Time Around" and had her first top twenty r&b song and Top 40 on the pop charts with "Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do".

In 1971, Wright would have her biggest commercial hit with "Clean Up Woman" that reached number two on the r&b chart, number six on the US pop chart and sold over a million copies. While she never had another major hit again, Wright would continue to record and tour throughout the rest of the 1970's and '80's. She started her own record label, Miss B Records in 1985 and would spend time writing and arranging music for other artists like Gloria Estefan, Tom Jones and Jennifer Lopez. Wright was asked to appear as a vocal coach on on the reality television series, "Making the Band" in 2006 and teamed-up with the Roots for her last studio album, "Betty Wright: The Movie" in 2011. Here is a small sample of music featuring the amazing voice of Betty Wright:

MY FAVORITE MOMENTS IN MUSIC OF 2012

Another year has come and gone but what we have left is the music; songs that inspired and some that were just plain. dumb fun.

I have already shared some of my personal favorites throughout the year, so here are the rest of the best:

Carly Rae Jepsen - "Call Me Maybe" from "Kiss"

Goyte featuring Kimbra - "Somebody That I Used To Know" from "Making Mirrors"

Chris Brown - "Turn Up The Music" from "Fortune"

Chris Brown - "Don't Wake Me Up" from "Fortune"

Marina & The Diamonds - "How To Be A Heartbreaker" from "Electra Heart"



Lana Del Rey - "Ride" from "Paradise" EP

Icona Pop - "I Love It" from "Iconic" EP

Alex Clare - "Too Close" from "The Lateness Of The Hour"

Scissor Sisters - "Let's Have A Kiki" from "Magic Hour"



Sky Ferreira - "Everything Is Embarrassing" from "Ghost" EP

Angie Stone - "Backup Plan" from "Rich Girl"

Diplo Featuring Nicky Da B - "Express Yourself" from "ExpressYourself" EP



Jessie Ware - "Sweet Talk" from "Devotion"

Miguel - "Adorn" from "Kaleidoscope Dream"

David Guetta featuring Sia - "Titanium" from "Nothing But The Beat"

Finally, I know this is old but I'm always late to the game. Enjoy Duck Sauce's "aNYway" that perfectly spoofs "The Midnight Special' and the soul groups of the 70's. I just love this song and video: