The Soul of Music: Al Green

In this post, we’ll take a look at the life and work of Al Green, one of the most influential soul musicians of our time.

Al Green’s musical career

Al Green is a soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has been credited with helping to shape the sound and style of southern soul. Green’s career began in the 1960s with the hit song “Tired of Being Alone”. He has since gone on to release a number of successful albums and singles.

His early years

Al Green was born Albert LeORNEST Greene on April 13, 1946, in Forrest City, Arkansas. The sixth of ten children born to Cora Lee and Robert G. Greene, he was raised in the rural farming community of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. When Green was four years old, his family moved to Weeming, Michigan, in search of employment opportunities outside the cotton plantations of the South. Inspired by the music he heard on the radio—including country music artists such as Hank Williams and bluegrass performer Bill Monroe—Green started singing in talent shows and gospel groups around Detroit at an early age. It was during this time that he developed his distinctive falsetto singing style.

His breakthrough

In October 1969, Green made hisTimer/b> debut with the song ” Back Up Train “. The album’s second single, Green’s cover of the Temptations ‘ ” I Can’t Get Next to You “, peaked at number one on theHot Soul Singles chart and number thirteen on theBillboard Hot 100 . It was followed by his first self-titled album, which was issued in March 1970. peaking at number seven on theTop R&B Albums chart. His second album, Al Green Gets Next to You , was released in July 1971 and charted at number seventeen on the Top R&B Albums chart. The recording marked his commercial breakthrough, being his first album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America .

His later years

Al Green’s musical career flourished throughout the 1970s, with a series of hit records. He achieved his greatest success with the album Call Me (1973), which topped the pop charts and spawned three top 10 pop singles: “Call Me (Come Back Home)”, “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)”, and “Love and Happiness”. Green continued to score hits in 1974 with the double A-sided single “L-O-V-E (Love)” / “Oh, Pretty Woman” and his second number-one pop single, “Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)”.

The following year, he released two more hit albums, Livin’ for You and Full of Fire. The latter included the top 10 pop single “Have You Never Been Mellow”, as well as the hits “Belle” and “(I’m So) Tired of Being Alone”. 1976’s Al Green Is Love spawned yet another top 10 pop hit, “L-O-V-E (Love)”, along with the ballad “All N All”. That same year, Green also appeared on Saturday Night Live, singing “(I’m So) Tired of Being Alone”, and hosted his own variety show, The Al Green Show.

Green’s commercial fortunes began to decline in 1978, when he left Hi Records for Myrrh Records. Although his first album for Myrrh, Truth n’ Time, was certified gold, it failed to generate any major hit singles. This trend continued with his next two albums for Myrrh: Share My Love (1979) and The Belle Album (1980). In 1981, Green switched labels again, this time signing with A&M Records. His first album for A&M, I’m Still in Love with You, was another gold record that yielded several hit singles: the title track (which reached number one on the R&B charts), as well as “Look What You Done for Me” and “Love Is Reality”. 1982’s Lolitagreen followed; although it was not as successful as its predecessor sales-wise, it did spawn the top 30 R&B hit “Keep On Pushing Love”.

After a couple more years of declining sales and chart placements, Green finally regained commercial momentum in 1985 with his album Perfect Gentleman. The album yielded three hit singles: “I’m Fine”, which peaked at number one on the R&B charts; along with “(Someone Oughta Write a) Book About It”, which reached number two; and finally the title track. Perfect Gentleman would go on to be certified platinum by the RIAA.

Al Green’s personal life

Al Green was born in Forrest City, Arkansas. The youngest of ten children, he was raised in a strict Pentecostal household. His parents died when he was only fourteen, which had a profound effect on him. He began singing in the church choir and started writing his own gospel songs.

His marriages

Al Green was married three times. His first marriage, to Sharon Elizabeth Greene, lasted from 1973 to 1983 and ended in divorce. Green then married PatreneDashiell in 1985; the couple had one son together before divorcing in 1999. Green married his third wife, Ilene Schwartz, in 2005.

His children

Al Green has five children: Al Green III, Cora Green, Willie Green, Patrise Green, and Anthony Green. One of his sons, Al Green III, is a Grammy-nominated producer who has worked with such artists as John Legend, Usher, and Whitney Houston.

His religious beliefs

Al Green’s intense religious beliefs permeate his life and music. He was born into a large family of sharecroppers in Forrest City, Arkansas, the son of a Pentecostal minister. When he was only ten years old, he began singing in his father’s church choir. It was there that he first found his love for music.

Green would go on to have a hugely successful career in music, but his religious beliefs always remained a central part of his life. In the early 1970s, he experienced a religious awakening and became a born-again Christian. He then devoted himself to preaching the gospel through his music.

Despite his commitment to spreading the word of God through his music, Green has always been outspoken about his respect for other religions. In an interview with Beliefnet in 2008, he said, “I think that all religions are basically the same… I don’t care what religion you are as long as you’re trying to do right.”

Green’s religious beliefs have informed and influenced his musical career in a number of ways. Perhaps most notably, they led him to abandon secular music altogether in the late 1970s and focus exclusively on making gospel records. However, after a few years away from the spotlight, Green eventually returned to making secular music. Though he has never again achieved the same level of commercial success as he did in the 1970s, he remains one of the most respected and influential soul musicians of all time.

Al Green’s legacy

Al Green’s music has been called soulful, and he has been referred to as The Soul of Music. He has inspired other artists and has had a lasting impact on music. Green’s vocal style has been described as a “soaring, emotive” voice. He has been credited with helping to shape the sound of soul music.

His impact on music

Al Green was one of the most important soul artists of the 20th century. He was a prolific singer, songwriter, and producer who helped to define the sound and style of southern soul music. Green’s music was characterized by his smooth, heartfelt vocals, catchy melodies, and lush orchestration. He had a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s, including “Let’s Stay Together,” “Tired of Being Alone,” “Love and Happiness,” and “I’m Still in Love with You.” Green’s influence can be heard in the work of subsequent soul artists like Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, and Usher.

His influence on other artists

Al Green’s impact on popular music is undeniable. The raspy-voiced singer with the unmistakable falsetto helped define the sound of soul in the 1970s with a string of hits that included “Tired of Being Alone,” “Love and Happiness,” “Let’s Stay Together” and “I’m Still in Love With You.”

But it’s not just other soul singers who have been influenced by Green. Artists as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, U2, Lenny Kravitz and Willie Nelson have all cited him as an influence. Rockers such as John Mellencamp and Rod Stewart have covered his songs, while R&B superstars like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and Justin Timberlake have all paid tribute to him onstage.