SOUL SIDE | The Soul Side of Americana & Roots

SOUL SIDE | Where the soul in Americana and Roots music shines. Soul Side is our show dedicated to the Americana and Roots side of classic rhythm and blues as it was played and appreciated in the 60’s and early 70’s, and as it’s still being played on the Stations of The Deep South. Soul Side–with its own stars, its own audience and day-to-day hits–is the resurgence of that verse-and-chorus, story-telling tradition. In addition to Motown, Memphis, Philly and Chicago-style rhythm and blues, Soul Side borrows freely from country, gospel, rock, pop and many other influences. It is not simply the “blues,” with which it is often confused, and which traces its roots through a decidedly narrower, less danceable, lineage. Probably the most accurate synonym for “southern soul” is “country soul.” Soul Side is more laid-back and low-tech than the “urban” sound that dominates today’s R&B charts. It’s more liable to include a narrative, it’s less likely to be frenetic, it’s grittier.

Keywords: Variety, culture, behind-the-scenes, music-culture

From Memphis to Detroit to New Orleans to Chicago, Philadelphia and beyond, Soul music has inspired and influenced generations of songwriters. Soul can be swaggering and slick, sophisticated and sultry, sentimental and sexy, psychedelic, “…and so on and so on and Scooby dooby doo,” as Sly Stone put it. The Soul Side is a celebration of the gritty, passionate, and downright funky R&B that developed from the African-American consciousness through gospel music, and this visceral video hour is a testament to the timelessness that this genre embodies. Motown, Stax, Atlantic, Chess, Hi Records and more; their legacy lives on The Soul Side.

Meet Our Host Nick Black

Nick Black is a fun, optimistic, and authentic young artist from Memphis, TN. Influenced by the feel-good music of Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars, and the musicality of legacy acts such as Al Green and Sting, Nick has created his music to sound modern and unique, yet familiar and nostalgic. He strives to bring his optimistic life-vision to his music, imbuing his beliefs in human nature and the Universe, that are true, honest, perceptive and passionate. Craving stardom since a child, multi-in-strumentalist / vocalist Nick Black is determined now more than ever to reach and exceed his goals. His stage presence as an entertainer is quite something to behold. Nick pulls the audience in and doesn’t let them go. He creates an experience that he wants everyone to be part of. Pulling people up from the crowd, singing to a fan in the front row…everyone’s included.

He grew up between two worlds: his family’s deep ties to church, and his hometown of Memphis where Soul, RnB, Rock N’ Roll, and Blues legends made names for themselves, Black’s sound is an organically grown phenomenon, honed at open mic nights, in church, at hundreds of club gigs, and now on larger stages across the USA. Since his first album in 2012, The Soul Diaries, his authenticity and passion has been the foundation of his identity, both as a person and as an artist. Venturing into new territory with his recently released single, “Grenadine”, Nick is excited to pursue his curiosity in electronic music, adding dance beats to his extremely versatile sound. Nick is now touring nationally, following recent sold out shows at Springboard West Music Festival in San Diego, The Mint in Los Angeles, B-Side in Hollywood and at Anaheim’s 2020 NAMM Show. He has also been featured on the viral YouTube music show Jam In the Van, Fame Studio’s Muscle Shoals to Music Row, and as an artist and VJ on DittyTV.