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Today The Praise Family want to shine the spotlight on Rev Al Green as he celebrates his birthday TODAY!!! Here’s a brief bio:

Synopsis

Born on a farm in Dansby, Arkansas on April 13, 1946, Al Green became a popular soul singer whose hits include 1971’s “Let’s Stay Together.” While at the top of his career in the 1970s, Green became a reverend and chose to focus on gospel music. Years later, Green found a balance between his religious calling and secular music and went on to release several new albums.

Early Life

Al Green was born Albert Greene on April 13, 1946, in Dansby, a small town down the road from Forrest City, Arkansas. He began performing at a young age, singing gospel music with his family as part of the Greene Brothers. Even after the Greene family moved to Michigan, the Greene Brothers continued touring on the gospel circuit.

After being kicked out of the family home for listening to the secular music of Jackie Wilson, Green started a group called the Creations, which later became Al Greene and the Soul Mates. The Soul Mates had one hit, “Back Up Train,” which brought them to a successful appearance at New York City’s Apollo Theater.

Commercial Success

After the Soul Mates failed to capitalize on their one hit, the group broke up and Al Green struck out out his own. It was at this time that he decided to drop the final “e” from his last name.

In 1968, while on the road in Texas, Green opened for producer Willie Mitchell. Impressed with what he heard, Mitchell signed Green to Hi Records of Memphis, Tennessee. As he started working closely with Mitchell, Green’s soft phrasing and falsetto embellishments took soul in a new direction. In 1971, Green had a popular cover of The Temptations’ “I Can’t Get Next to You.” Mitchell also produced Green’s other huge hits of the 1970s, including the number one “Let’s Stay Together” and “I’m Still in Love with You.” With his ballads, his gifts of long-stemmed roses to female concertgoers and his golden voice, Green became a true star.

CLICK HERE to read bio

source: biography.com

 

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