TBGB Reviews…Sons of the Soul Revivers

Golden Nuggets
The Sons of the Soul Revivers
Alpha 7 Ministries 2007
www.alpha7ministries.com

Much in the tradition of the Sons of the (Dixie Humming) Birds, the Sons of the Soul Revivers are in the family business. Since 1970, the quartet has continued and expanded the quartet-singing tradition of their fathers, uncles, and other relatives, the San Francisco-based Soul Revivers.

Sons vocalist James Morgan told TBGB that the original Soul Revivers organized in the late 1950s or early 1960s in San Francisco as the Truetone Gospel Singers. Comprised of members of the Morgan Family as well as in-laws and friends, the Truetones did not make any recordings but rather traveled and performed in and around the Bay Area and other parts of California. In the 1970s, the Truetone Gospel Singers changed personnel and became the Soul Revivers, continuing to sing regionally in churches and auditoriums. The quartet officially quit in the 1980s.

The Sons of the Soul Revivers quartet also calls the Bay Area home and is comprised of vocalists James and Dwayne Morgan, Walter Morgan on lead guitar, Sydney Morgan on bass, Kelvin Morgan on Keyboards, Dartagnon Tabor on drums, and Darryl Stickman on second lead guitar. Formed in 1970, the group first imitated the major quartets of the day, such as the Pilgrim Travelers and Pilgrim Jubilees, but by the latter part of the decade had developed their own sound. James said that even though they have their own distinctive singing style and write their own songs, they remain true to the traditional sound.

Unlike their precesessor group, the Sons do travel nationally and have recorded. Their latest project for Alpha 7 Ministries is Golden Nuggets, a project brimming with traditional quartet singing enveloped in a laid-back groove. The finest tracks are the project’s two workouts, “When I Get Home,” and “Because of Calvary,” the latter sporting stave-topping falsetto notes by the lead singer. And “Shine” is really “This Little Light of Mine” with funky bass riffs that will delight fans of 1970s gospel funk. Speaking of bass, the production could stand a little more bass to balance things out, but it does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the performance.

Listening to the Sons of the Soul Revivers is like digging into a home-cooked meal.

James reported that another CD is on its way by the end of Summer 2008. Meanwhile, if you want to see as well as hear the quartet in performance, visit YouTube:

Sons of the Soul Revivers on YouTube

Two and a Half of Four Stars