In what will be a rare opportunity to see some of the biggest soul stars of the past, the Giants of Soul tour arrives in the region later this month. With one of the performers having a North East connection, the show will have a special significance for Tunde Baiyewu, formerly of Lighthouse Family. Tunde went to the University of Northumbria in Newcastle where he met fellow student Paul Tucker, the two found a common interest with the style of music they both liked and Lighthouse Family became regular chart visitors in the late nineties.
Lighthouse Family
Lighthouse Family released their debut album Ocean Drive, with the lead single Lifted reaching the top five on the UK Singles Chart. Ocean Drive was certified six-times platinum by the end of 1997, selling more than 1.8 million copies in the UK alone and spending 154 weeks on the UK Album Chart. The Lighthouse Family’s follow-up albums, Postcards from Heaven achieved similar sales status in 1997, reaching 6 times Platinum status, and Whatever Gets You Through the Day also receiving Platinum status also. They subsequently sold over 15 million albums throughout their career.
Other performers
Also appearing will be Denise Williams best remember for her hits Free”, “Let’s Hear it For The Boy”, “That’s What Friends Are For”, “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late”, “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle”.
Deniece Williams has been described as “one of the great soul voices” by the BBC. Williams has won four Grammys, and received twelve nominations altogether.
Gwen Dickey is often described as one of the finest female vocalists of her generation – she is the voice of Rose Royce who released their first single Car Wash in 1976. The single peaked at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, and sold over a million copies in United States alone. Rose Royce’s debut album Car Wash was released the same year and sold over two million copies worldwide.
Alexander O’Neal graced the charts in the mid-eighties with hits such as Criticize, If You Were Here Tonight, Saturday Love, and Fake and adds a stylish touch to the show.
British soul singer Jaki Graham had hits with Could It Be I’m Falling in Love, Round and Around, Set Me Free, Step Right Up, and Breaking Away. Still recording today, she has a dance hit with Zed Bias on the track The Music.
Janet Kay had the summer hit of 1979 with Silly Games and will take the audience back in time with other hits such as I Do Love You.
Newcomer Candace Woodson is the answer to those who long for nostalgic and soulful R&B and jazz music. She is an Indie Soul Grammy winner and a UK Soul Chart Top 100 of 2021 recipient for the #1 song, Midas Touch.
The show will be compared by Angie Greaves who can be heard weekdays on Smooth Radio where she is the National Drive Time Presenter. It sounds like a great night out for anyone who likes soul music.
You can see the Giants of Soul show at:
10 September – York Barbican
16 September – Middlesbrough Town Hall
18 September – Newcastle 02 City Hall
29 September – Scarborough Spa Hal
