I was honored to meet Jimmy Castor at the 2007 Soul-Patrol Convention. After that brief conversation, I was compelled to go back and listen to his music which I had loved as a kid.
As Soul-Patrol’s Bob Davis said to me when we were talking about the man later, Jimmy Castor’s genius is often overlooked. He’s dismissed as a “parody” artist. But when you really get into the music, you’ll feel the depths of the grooves. You’ll be impressed by the musicality and the arrangements. And you will laugh your behind off.
I was really sad to hear that Mr. Castor passed away on January 16, 2012, at the age of 71. I hope there will be a long line of tributes for this man, though he deserved so much more attention during his life.
Here are a couple of my favorite Jimmy Castor joints.
Detroit writer Dina Peace’s blog Musickhead is “for those special people who love to blow the dust off of forgotten. obscure or underground hits.” Check out our interview:
With the discerning eye of a journalist and the soul of a rock and roll musician, Detroit-based funk disciple Nadir Omowale has made a career of speaking his mind on what is affecting the world and its inhabitants that range from matters of the heart, economics and yes, politics.  Omowale, whose first name is Jonah, encounters a whale of an issue allegorical to the narrative of his famous Biblical namesake with his new musick video, “Guantanamo”.
Nadir’s Workin’ For The Man cd received another great review, this one from Germany’s SoulSite.de. On the site’s Sonic Soul section, Joerg Michael Schmitt offers his perspective on the latest new music from around the world.
If you Sprekense de deutsch you can read the original review HERE. For you English speakers, here is the translation, courtesy of my big brother, James Kevin McFarland (aka The Big Black Guy). And don’t worry. Joerg confirms that my brother, the poet, didn’t take poetic license with the text.
Distorted, meaning: bent, twisted, deformed, or unusual. Aha! Now it has been made clear that Nadir’s “Working for the Manâ€, is not simply classified as Nu soul, or R&B, but that he has forged his own way into the Universe of Soul.
The man takes strong elements from the styles of the past, including the energy of James Brown which lends a rhythmic basis to Nadir’s distinct guitar sound. And of that sound, the artist sees himself as a commentator of political events and holds strong opinions he openly shares on a diverse profusion of issues not only in the U.S. today, but the world.
Funk & Rock and political awareness make an explosive mixture because Nadir and his smooth energetic music are on point with his driving beats, hard hitting guitar and radical opinions. Nadir, in the tradition of Gil Scott Heron with the power of James Brown and the explosive force of Public Enemy equals Molotov Soul. Not easy, but easy to move to as Nadir himself explains it “I’m about telling stories, singing songs, and making music that moves people spiritually, emotionally, physically, politically, what ever. Don’t just sit there, do not sit there, do something! Do Something!”
For the third year in a row the Detroit music community voted Nadir the Outstanding Urban/Funk Songwriter at the 16th Annual Detroit Music Awards for his 5th DMA trophy total!
Thanks to all of YOU for the love, support and work you gave to make it possible! Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at this year’s DMAs.
