Monday, July 20, 2015

Al Green - Voice Your Choice

Al Green was born April 13, 1946 in Forrest City, Arkansas. He was only 13 when he became part of the family's group the Greene Brothers; quite an early start. He moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1959 and a year later he had his first recording contract, with Fargo Records.

Despite not have a hit record, he continued to hone his skills with the group The Creations from 1964 to 1967. From 1967 to 1968 he was a member of The Soul Mates, along with his brother Robert Green and Lee Virgins.

He turned to a solo career in 1969 and that's when things started to change for him. He teamed up with Willie Mitchell at Hi Records who ended up producing his hit singles and albums. Al Green became the #1 Hot 100 artist of 1972. He's been recognized for his achievements by receiving a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2002 and voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

He appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 charts a total of 25 times between 1967 and 1988, including six Top Tens and 8 Gold Records.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents Al Green with two of his many hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Look What You've Done For Me or You Ought To Be With Me. I'll play the winning song during next week's show.