E. Mark Windle 21 October 2025. A story of the early days of Hendrix, The King Kasuals and the Nashville R&B scene Motown had The Funk Brothers, Stax had The Memphis Horns, Muscle Shoals had The Swampers, and Nashville’s Black music scene had The King Kasuals. Er, wait a minute. Who? The partnership that existed betweenContinue reading “Before the Wind Cried Mary”
Tag Archives: nashville
Mac Gayden, Nashville Singer-Songwriter and Music Producer, Passes
Mac Gayden (far right), promoting the book House of Broken Hearts: The Soul of 1960s Nashville. E. Mark Windle 23 April 2025. On April 16, 2025, Nashville lost a legend with the death of McGavock “Mac” Gayden, at 83 years of age. I’m sure the anticipated outpouring of accolades will most likely be in regardContinue reading “Mac Gayden, Nashville Singer-Songwriter and Music Producer, Passes”
Redressing the History Books: The Soul of Music City.
By E. Mark Windle, 20 August 2023. Regarding what’s been pretty much an obsession with writing about southern soul music since I started out over ten years ago, House of Broken Hearts: The Soul of 1960s Nashville was undertaken in an attempt to resolve one nagging omission. A fair chunk of my travels has beenContinue reading “Redressing the History Books: The Soul of Music City.”
Radio Stations, DJs and the 1960s Nashville R&B Scene
E. Mark Windle 1 August 2022. Music historians will argue over the exact origins of the music industry in Nashville, although any stance depends on the genre under debate, and how far back one is willing to go. The predominance of country music is undeniable, with its roots planted in Celtic and European folk songsContinue reading “Radio Stations, DJs and the 1960s Nashville R&B Scene”
Nashville: From Charlie Romans to the Paramount Four
E. Mark Windle 14 December 2021 So, which floats your boat? I’ve been asked a few times now what the rationale was for selecting the particular artists and recordings in House of Broken Hearts: The Soul of 1960s Nashville. The intention of the book was not to be a panacea of Nashville soul music history; moreContinue reading “Nashville: From Charlie Romans to the Paramount Four”
Reaching Different Shores: A Subculture Rediscovery.
E. Mark Windle 5 November 2021 As important career, family and other life events took over, the musical activities of their youth were becoming distant memories for some former Tempests members. A new generation of musicians were stepping in, taking black music into another era. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the love of R&B from anContinue reading “Reaching Different Shores: A Subculture Rediscovery.”
East 4th Street Studio, and the Fabulous Plaids (The Tempests Story pt 13)
E. Mark Windle 18 October 2021 After The Tempests split and members went their separate ways, Van Coble was determined to continue in the industry. With an interest in sound engineering and electronics he toyed with the idea of setting up a recording studio. Before long, Van brought two other business partners into the fold:Continue reading “East 4th Street Studio, and the Fabulous Plaids (The Tempests Story pt 13)”
The Tempests (pt. 8): Touring, Boston’s Sugar Shack, and the LP release
E. Mark Windle 19 August 2021 Touring was relentless. In between it all, the Premier Talent Agency pushed The Tempests through a couple of multi-artist events, at The Mariners Festival, a USO show at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Then it was onto another at Trenton, New Jersey where a local promoter took all the money andContinue reading “The Tempests (pt. 8): Touring, Boston’s Sugar Shack, and the LP release”
The Tempests (pt. 6): Ted Bodnar and the Road to Mercury-Smash
E. Mark Windle July 2021. The Tempests were ready to take on the world, no doubt about that. Musicianship, vocal talent and enthusiasm for live performance were all there. What was needed now was a new industry link to point them solidly towards a fresh recording contract. Someone with local knowledge, connections, and production andContinue reading “The Tempests (pt. 6): Ted Bodnar and the Road to Mercury-Smash”
The Tempests (part 5): Hit Attractions
E. Mark Windle 13 June 2021 Whether the decision to extend the horn section in The Tempests was a conscious one or just natural evolution, was unclear. Movement of personnel in and out of the band in the early days had been pretty fluid, though Jim Butt (on trumpet) and Rick White (tenor sax) hadContinue reading “The Tempests (part 5): Hit Attractions”