Clif Payne Freda Payne number One hit

Producer Preston Glass unites the Paynes together for a timeless ballad, which has now been remixed by Nigel Lowis as a ballad called downtempo mix (DOWNtown mix) or Uptempo in a UPtown mix, which has just released on DSG. You can feel the Soulfulness in the vocals which cut through Lowis's phillyesque remix production. People have already been comparing the cut to Patti & Michael's' On My Own',  Peaches & Herb' Reunited'.  If there such a thing these days as The Last Dance, we would hear songs like this more often.

The song has just reached #1 on the Sweet Rhythms chart & is the highest new entry in the UK soul chart. The song was written by Larry Batiste, Preston Glass & Clif Payne.

Harlem-born singer Clif Payne was first Discovered by Bobby McFerrin, is a 3-time Star Search winner who has opened for Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick and Lakeside. Clif hails from a family of musicians and singers. His father was a reedsman who gigged with Lionel Hampton. His mother was a talented vocalist who once backed Nat "King" Cole in a vocal ensemble. Skilled at reading music, arranging and improvisation, Clif's voice has been featured on numerous albums and commercials. Several years of living in LA enabled Clif to sing with incredible musicians and share the stage with jazz diva Dianne Reeves, Lionel Richie and The Commodores, Tony Toni Tone, and Sheila E. Clif has sung with American Idol judge & vocal coach Peggy Blu, Four Play drummer Harvey Mason, Grammy award-winning producer Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin), Lenny Williams, jazz fusionists Hiroshima, former Chicago vocalist Bill Champlin and legendary R&B band, Tower of Power. Actress Michelle Pfeiffer requested Clif to sing "When A Man Loves A Woman" at her wedding reception.

As a voice teacher, has studied with legendary LA vocal coach Seth Riggs (Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder) associates, Chip Hand and Roger Burnley. Clif's strength as a teacher is rooted in his musical diversity, experience, patience, encouragement and passion for sharing what he has learned in performance and study to his students. Clif's motto: "Sing not just to be heard--but also to be heartfelt and believed!"

What you said:

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* R & B of the highest level on this record of Clif Payne will surprise you."
 cloudJazz.com
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* "Clif Payne is a lush tenor with soaring melismas in his individual passages."
Don Heckman, LA Times
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*Clif has opened for Johnny Mathis, Lenny Williams, Tony Bennett and Dionne Warwick
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* "A great singer that reminds me of Kenny Lattimore."
Freda Payne (Jazz/R&B vocalist "Band of Gold
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The best soul ballad I've heard in 2016 . It sounds timeless and the song exudes in quality, with its infectious melody . The vocals are so lucid and their voices intergrate effortlessly . I love this song ! Perfect end, to a brilliant year of new soul . John Leech BBC 

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A soul Master piece My Record of the week Forever haha It Gives me goose bumps Gary Spence the man With The Sweet from Solar Radio.

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It's hard to believe that such a beautiful record could be made in 2016.
Ian Levine

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My Song Of The Month - Michael K Amil -Teerex Radio

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I LOVE IT - Tony Monson

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My Favorite Song Of The Year - Shaun Louis

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Just Beautiful - John Osborne Jazz FM /Solar Radio

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“instant classic” Chris Rizik - Soul Tracks

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With just a little luck this could be a surprise Christmas hit! William Buckley 

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Paul Miller BBC- My E Mail server exploded by the public response to Clif Payne & Freda Payne

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Love It - Ralph Tee - Expansion Records

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Freda Payne is a worldwide household name who first record release was in 1962, Payne was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up listening to different jazz singers, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Though best known for her 1970 R&B/Soul crossover smash hit “Band of Gold,” Freda Payne has always first and foremost been a jazz singer, dating back to The Jimmy Wilkins Big Band at age 14. Payne performed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem alongside Billy Eckstine backed by Quincy Jones and His Orchestra, comedian Redd Foxx and the dance team Coles & Atkins. She also graced the stage with Duke Ellington for two nights in Pittsburgh, after which he composed “Blue Piano” just for her.. In 1969, her old friends back home in Detroit, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland, Jr., persuaded her to sign with their newly formed record label Invictus. During that same year, her first Invictus single, "Unhooked Generation and became her first American R&B hit. The hits followed, UK #1, "Band of Gold", US #3 "Deeper & Deeper", "Bring the Boys Home",
In 1973, she left Invictus recorded a duet "I Wanna See You Soon" with Capitol stablemates Tavares, which was a radio airplay hit in the UK in 1977. in 1982, she recorded a single entitled "In Motion" for the Sutra label in New York that was arranged by Leon Sylvers, produced by Edmund Sylvers. Freda Payne has recently toured the UK as part of the late David Guest Soul legends live shows.

D O W N L O A D  I T  H E R E 

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DOWNLOAD IT HERE ON iTunes  

DOWNLOAD IT HERE ON AMAZON 

soultracks review read it here 

soulandjazzandfunk review here 

soulandjazzandfunk Uptown review

SWEET RHYTHM CHART 21ST 28TH NOVEMBER (CHART 40 OF 2016)

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1....3-CLIF PAYNE & FREDA PAYNE SINGLE NO PAYNE NO GAIN (NIGEL LOWIS MIX) DSG

As compiled by Tony Monson for Solar Radio- See the chart in Echoes Magazine.

There will be a forthcoming album called, The Soul City People to be released next year on CD, which this will also be included , along with some other great artists.  #TSCP 

Marc Staggers Let Me Be The One - Out Now

After the staggering Soul charts #1 success of Marc Staggers debut single for DSG,'' Bring It Home To Me'' (many people favorite song of the year so far), Marc does it again with, ''Let Me Be The One'' currently #1 on the Sweet Rhythms chart. 

We are proud to welcome back Washington DC's Marc Staggers to DSG the label home of modern 20th century Soul with that retro twist to bring back the sound of yesterday today, ''Let Me Be The One'' was written by the songs producer Nigel Lowis and Marc Staggers.

The song was written in the early part of the year, soon after Nigel Lowis fell ill and was bed and hospital bound for the past four months, with Doctors pulling their hair out to find a cure for his illnesses and viruses. Marc Staggers was thankfully very patient and has been busy co-writing songs for his forthcoming album called, ''Timeless''.

The silky toned velvet voice of Marc Staggers is really shinning in a class of it's own on this Philly-esque song, in which the cool production might bring back some memories when the likes of Lou Rawls, Arthur Preysock were prominent in the chart or even touches the delivery of something that John Legend would be happy singing today.

Marc Staggers started singing in the church choir and studied voice as he was growing up. His initial foray into music started with the release of several gospel albums, on which he worked with talented singers such as the late Clifton Dyson. During his college years, he also studied music with an emphasis on voice, and after graduating college, Staggers continued to study voice under the direction of the world-renowned soprano, Nelda Ormond, under whom he began to recognize his true singing talent, and Ormond was pivotal in helping Marc gain the confidence he needed to pursue a singing career. 

Staggers has released four albums to date, the last being the 2015, ''Dream Catcher'' set on Ralph Tee's Expansion records which contained, ''Bring Me Back'' that appeared in the higher regions of the Soul charts. If it was not for creativity and success of,'' Bring It Home To Me'', Marc Staggers was ready to give up singing and change his profession, so he is very grateful to you for making his last single the success that it was.

I'm sure you will all give a big welcome back to both Nigel Lowis and Marc Staggers by supporting, ''Let Me Be The One '' which is currently available through i Tunes & Amazon

                           New Mont Plonc mix dues to be released September 2016 on DSG. 

REVIEWS

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BBC John Leech's ''Song Of The Summer'' 

REVIEW! Let Me The One is a Killer!!!

Soul Tracks Review

New Entry In The UK Soul Chart at #15

Dina Carroll returns with the DIG Band to bring the Party!

Multi-platinum certifications featured in the ''Bridget Jones's Diary'' soundtrack albums, best Female Artist at the BRIT Awards, two #2 UK Hit albums, her last song was released 2001, 15 UK top 40 Hits, 7 consecutive UK club hit #1 songs, 14 Cars in her lifetime, 2 private jets & 4 pairs of roller skates....

We have waited 16 years for the return of Dina!!!
Carroll's voice is stronger than ever, she has teamed up again with songwriter, producer, Nigel Lowis who also produced her debut Million + selling album in which Carroll and Lowis co wrote 8 of the albums songs. 

Dina's hits include, "It's Too Late'' with Quartz, "Ain't No Man", "Special Kind of Love" with C&C Music Factory, "So Close", "Don't Be a Stranger", "The Perfect Year", "Escaping", "Without Love", "One, Two, Three", "Express" & "Living for the Weekend", co-produced by David Morales.

Live Interview with Gary Spence on Solar Radio.

    Live Interview with Dina Carroll & The IDG Band - ''We Bring The Party'' with Gary Spence.   

The Dig Band collectively under the production wings of Lowis promise this to be just the start of an album project called, ''Soul City People'' with many other favorite artists to be featured mid year.

''We Bring The Party'' was co written by, Lowis and Carroll in a stabbing, retro cool, Bronzing Mars, Daft punking, Chic moving nu groove slice of modern Disco set to light up any dance floor, backing vocals by Leanne McCrei, The lead spine tingling vocal of Dina Carroll will once be a pleasure to our ears, soothingly, sung with so much Soul ... Lets welcome back Miss Dina Carroll!

DOWNLOAD IT HERE - DIG Band starring DiNA CARROLL

Soul Tracks review

IDMW Review

soulandjazzandfunk review

The Dig Band featuring Dina Carroll - We Bring The Party - Mont Plonc mix - DSG.

The Nigel Lowis mix is out now and has had major support from the likes of, John Leech, Paul Miller and Tony Blackburn on the BBC..

Here is the Soulful House mix by Monc Plonc giving you more for the floor with a release date soon. 

Neo Featuring Drizabone - Your Smile - Now released!

Just released on DSG Music through, i Tunes, Amazon, Beatport, Juno and other download sites. The song is currently in the top 10 of Solar Radio's  ''Sweet Rhythm's Soul Chart'' and has been played on many BBC Radio shows. The song was also a record of the week on John Leech's popular radio show. The song also entered the Amazon's best sellers chart.     

REVIEWS POSTED BELOW:

Texas-born singer Rudi Wilburn has more than a touch of classic soul singers like Barry White in his voice. But it was a trip to Europe that introduced him to Stephane d'Esposito, aka Neo, a talented producer and songwriter, with whom Rudi wrote the song “Your Smile” in 2005. The song became a hit at selective venues throughout Europe, but never got the shine it deserved until this year, when noted producer Billy Drizabone reworked the backing track to give it a new, hotter sound.
Review with thanks to Soul Tracks

Rudi learnt his craft in the juke joints of Texas and cites his influences as Barry White, Luther Vandross and Marvin Gaye and it's his wonderful sonorous voice that graces the song... no wonder it's been a popular spin on the modern soul scene for a number of years.
Review with thanks to Souljazzandfunk.com

Currently the hottest tune on the modern soul scene is 'Your Smile' by NEO. Neo of course, is French piano man Stephane d'Esposito and he penned the song with the vocalist Rudi Wilburn. The song first came out in 2005 but this year it won the attention of Gary Van den Bussche who runs the wonderful Disco Soul Gold organization which includes the boutique label DSG Records. So, Gary got his old mate Billy Freeman from Drizabone to remix 'Your Smile'. Big Bill retained the magic of the original but added those special, infectious Drizabone elements to the cocktail and the new version took the modern soul world by storm.

If you want more of 'Your Smile', the good news is that it's about to become available in two new mixes.

First up is CW's Soulful Mix. Slightly slowed down, this one will once again appeal to the sophisticated modern soul crowd. With a lush, spoken passage, the ambience is Barry White meets Lou Rawls ... and that can't be bad can it?

The second tweak – the 12 Shades Dirty Groove Mix – is a touch more experimental. Almost in soulful house territory, it features a loping bass line and some wonderful Donald Byrd style trumpet which creates an appealing, ethereal atmosphere.

Whatever mix you go for, you'll enjoy some classy, proper modern soul..

Review with thanks to Bill Buckley

 Top 10 on Indamixworldwide

Drizabone will be Live in London's Jazz Cafe 24th January 2015 with Solar Radio's Mike Gee as
musical support.

Thanks to everybody for your support ...

The CW Soulful remix, 12 shades and Soul2heaven remixes are now also released!

  

Gary Van den Bussche (DSG Music)