Biography
Formed by leading figures in 1960s soul, the Soul Clan maintained an official studio output limited to two tracks yet attracted immediate notice from rhythm-and-blues devotees through its roster of Solomon Burke, Arthur Conley, Don Covay, Ben E. King, and Joe Tex. During their commercial peak, Burke, Covay, Tex, Otis Redding, and Wilson Pickett—who all cut sides for Atlantic Records or its associated imprints—shared a close friendship, frequently shared bills on tour, and occasionally appeared unannounced at one another’s performances. Burke and Covay first floated the notion of a joint project as an expression of musical unity; Burke viewed the venture as an initial step toward an independent African-American commercial enterprise, whereas Covay, whose songwriting successes outstripped his performing career, sought to advance his own profile while supporting those of his colleagues. Although the concept circulated for years, the enterprise only materialized in 1968. By then Redding had perished in an airplane accident and Pickett had withdrawn, reportedly uneasy about Burke’s expansive business ambitions, leaving Conley and King to fill the vacancies. The ensemble cut the single “Soul Meeting” b/w “That’s How I Feel,” conceived as an advance preview of a forthcoming album and tour, yet the release made little headway on the charts. Atlantic subsequently withdrew support for additional sessions; Burke later stated he believes Atlantic purposefully let the record fail to prevent the artists from gaining too much power. An album eventually surfaced, though it merely paired the two new sides with existing solo recordings by the participants and thereby concluded the group’s discography in the same year it began. The members reconvened for a live performance in New York City in 1981, with Pickett substituting for Arthur Conley, who was then abroad, but the occasion marked their final collaboration; Joe Tex died the following year.
Albums