I saw the indomitable Syl Johnson play at the Bell House this weekend, brought to the stage by Dig Deeper, a monthly party in Brooklyn that offers a platform for 60's soul legends like Otis Clay, Maxine Brown and Marva Whitney to shake their money makers.
My oldest brother was a 60's soul fanatic trapped in the body of a tall, skinny white boy. As a result, I grew up listening to all the greats and some of the less celebrated artists obscured by their formidable shadows. Hearing Syl Johnson play brought be back to my childhood, when the words "any way the wind blows is cool with me" seemed possible.
Photograph of Syl Johnson via Steady Bloggin'.
