As their success enjoyed continued growth grew they signed on artists from the now defunct Stax label like Eddie Floyd and highly underrated soul singers such as Chicago's McKinley Mitchell. In the"If you can't beat 'em, Join 'em Dept.) they even took a stab the disco market such as recording the disco hit "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward which sold a phenomenal 10 Million+ copies.
By this point in time with a built in audience for their music, Malaco had reached a level of indepedence that allowed then to do what they wanted to do. In this case it was producing music by and large for their base audience. To Wit: Black Music for Black People. Although Blues was supposedly "dead" the release of Z.Z. Hill's "Down Home Blues" was released in 1980 and sold a tidy 500,000+ copies. Not bad for a "dead genre." Not only was it a staple on the Southern Blues markets, it has lived on to become a de riguer set piece of many working blues and bar bands, both black and white alike.
Malaco has many artists on it's roster that while being barely known outside of the "Chittlin" Circuit" are stars in their own right, continuing to play to packed houses everywhere they go. Names such as Denise LaSalle, Artie "Blues Boy" White, Poonanny, Benny Latimore, Little Milton, Johnny Taylor, Z.Z. Hill, Shirley Brown, Bobby Rush & Marvin Sease amongst others. Bonafide R & B legends Bobby Bland & Tyrone Davis were added to Malaco roster in the 1990's. Mr. Tyrone Davis sadly passed last year and can be read about in a heartfelt homage by Eric Olsen. While many of these artists have passed in recent years the magic lives on in their recordings on the Malaco label and others.
Currently running on late night TV are advertisements for a pair of compact discs that feature some of Malaco's better selections called "Juke Joint Saturday Night" & "Down Home Blues." Also, if you're at all interested there is a set of highlights spanning Malaco's history from inception to the present that is called "The Last Soul Company". T.L.S.C is available in truncated form as a two disc set and long form (recommended by the author) in a 6 disc set that covers the many fine "Blues, Soul, Funk, Gospel and R&B" sides that Malaco has put forth since its inception back in 1967.
Article comments
1 - ETHELLA
Where can I locate a copy of the JUKE JOINT SATURDAY NIGHT CD from Malaco. Blues
2 - HW Saxton
Ethella, You can find a copy of the CD
"Juke Joint Saturday Night" by going to:
www.malaco.com and ordering it directly
from them. This CD you want that I have
talked about is only available from
Malaco directly.Their address again is:
www.malaco.com It is a really great CD
with lots of great Blues,Soul and R & B.
This CD listed under the category of:
" As Seen On TV "
I ordered mine directly from them online
and they shipped it out immediately.
Hope this helps you out. And Have fun!
3 - Temple Stark
From two weeks ago Blogcritics' editors liked this one. It's a pick of the week. Congrats. Put the news up proudly on your site.
Here's a link to the rest of this week's picks where we say why we chose 'em.
4 - Martha Miller
We follow the artist called Rue Davis, and we would like to see something about him on your website. He is a phonominal songwriter and singer. I hear he sometimes writes for your company, is that right? He has a large group of followers. He is such a great entertainer and songwriter, and very modest about what he does.
Just give us something about this great man.
5 - annette d. beasley
I love my music LOVE TO OWN SOME OFit.