SoulTracks is the leading online resource dedicated to classic and modern Soul Music.  From its inception in 2003, SoulTracks has been designed to provide useful information and updates on the greatest Classic Soul artists and to introduce readers to the next generation of Soul Music singers.

SoulTracks includes artist biographies, CD reviews, Soul Music News and "Where Are They Now?" features, as well as regular CD giveaways, free song downloads and special offers.

SoulTracks is currently the most popular soul music website in America.

Our Publisher

Chris Rizik is the founder and publisher of SoulTracks. Chris began building the website in his kitchen with one of his four children on Memorial Day weekend, 2003, to hold the transcripts of a soul music biography show he was broadcasting on XM Satellite Radio. Slowly the site expanded and improved, growing as a place to read more about "old school" soul artists and to find out about a new generation of great soul music performers.  By mid-2005, SoulTracks was ranked as the most popular soul music website in America. In 2007, the site was completely redesigned and a number of talented writers joined SoulTracks, deepening its content and making it an even more complete bridge between classic and modern soul.

Our Music Editor

L. Michael Gipson is a critically acclaimed writer, award-winning youth advocate and burgeoning songwriter. For his public health youth work, Michael was the recipient of the NAACP and the Black AIDS Institute 2001 Leaders of Today and Tomorrow award. His socio-political essays have been published in two recent anthologies, including "Emerging Agendas: The Best of Poverty and Race 2001-2005". His feature articles and cultural criticism essays have regularly appeared in BET/CENTRIC, CREATIVE LOAFING ATL, SWERV, ARISE, CLIK, AMPLIFY, PULSE and PORT OF HARLEM. On the music scene, Michael began writing music artist profiles with the regional Midwestern cult classic URBAN DIALECT leading to his indie music column "Go Deep" on Rhythmflow.net before finally settling into the SoulTracks family. He is available for indie artist bios and promotional materials at faithwalkllc(at)gmail.com.

Our Senior Writers

Melody Charles (melody.charles2010@gmail.com) is a Cleveland-born, Dallas-based entertainment journalist; her parents' extensive vinyl collection stoked her interest in all forms of music, but soul remains the genre that grooves and soothes her. After writing for her college's newspaper, Ms. Charles first wrote for a local website, DallasBlack, eventually contributing articles to Upscale Magazine, Florida Today and The Dallas Morning News. In between managing a home, husband and two children, Ms. Charles has submitted CD reviews, performance reviews and interviewed some of the brightest stars in music (Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Queen Latifah), movies (Jamie Foxx, Leon) and comedy (Katt Williams, Rickey Smiley and Steve Harvey); she was even personally recruited by Stokley Williams of Mint Condition to create the new bio to launch the band's latest CD, e-Life. For Melody, becoming a contributor for SoulTracks is yet another step in cementing her reputation as an insightful, enthusiastic conveyor of R&B musicians, events and culture.  (And yes, even if you aren't Mint Condition, Ms. Charles is available to pen indie/professional artist bios at the above e-mail address).

Howard Dukes is a father of three and a reporter for the South Bend Tribune as well as a poet, playwright and filmmaker, with two documentary films and two successful plays under his belt. In 2006 he published his first book, Will Flo-4-Food, and is now working on a new book on the underground soul music scene.

Our Contributing Writers (alphabetically)

Ann Marie Collymore - Montreal-born Ann Marie Collymore is a veteran freelance writer, blogger and online consultant with more than 13 years experience writing for various print and online publications in Canada and the US. Ann Marie is constantly on the go networking and managing her professional writing company, Soulafrodisiac Online Consulting. Ann Marie began her journey with Soultracks.com as a concert reviewer, but can now be found serving up new and notable videos as the Video Editor.  She has been able to share her passion with her readers onSoulafrodisiac.com, which has in turn given her opportunities to work with Centric TV, Fiona Bloom of The Bloom Effect and Thisisrealmusic.com to name a few.  Always on the move, you are bound to find her taking in a show, networking and making moves in a city near you." (soulafrodisiac.amc@gmail.com)

Reg Jones is a writer. A songwriter of over twenty years with a BA in Media Journalism from North Carolina Central University, his study of musicianship and the critique of it is extensive. As an artist, stage musician, label owner and producer, he's single-handedly done press releases and bios on his artists to sell their shows throughout the Metropolitan DC Area for since 2001. "As important as my songs are to me, I'm even more passionate about getting the ignored and underrated voices heard. My purpose on the planet is to get people to HEAR music more attentively and comprehensively."

Peggy Oliver -No matter what 'office-type' day job Ms. Peggy Oliver has worked in, the music industry somehow finds a way to her life and her heart. Majoring back in the day as a Broadcast Major at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, the Seattle, WA native was a DJ for several regional radio stations, including Seattle's KEXP 90.3 FM (formerly KCMU FM), featuring an eclectic format of nearly all genres.  She also served as traffic manager at KBCS 91.7 FM on the campus of Bellevue (WA) Community College. Ms. Oliver was infected by the music review writing bug as a former bookkeeper/administrative assistant at Blues To Do's, a Seattle-based Blues Music magazine. Presently, besides Soultracks, Ms. Oliver is a regular contributor to http://www.gospelcity.com/ and http://www.blackgospel.com.

Gabriel Rich - No stranger to the music scene, Gabriel Rich has been an advocate for indie soul, R&B and funk for over a decade.  Based in Raleigh, NC, Gabriel is the creator of Starchild 7 Public Relations, and has worked with an impressive list of artists, including YahZarah, Xavier (Chocolate Butterfly, Blood Sugar, Me & This Japanese Guy), Jacques Schwarbart, Rhonda Thomas, Kelli Sae, Laura Jane Jones, Edwin Lugo, Shelley Nicole, Tracey Amos, and Purpose Records among many others.  Gabriel was the senior staff writer for Soulinterviews.com, a blog writer for AllAboutSoulMusic.com, and is a contributing writer for Tribes Magazine among other publications.  Gabriel has also written reviews for publications such as the Independent Weekly, Amsterdam News, and DPVN Web-TV.  A self-proclaimed music junkie, Gabriel focuses on bringing the music world the best in indie music talent.  Starchild7(at)excite.com

Christian John Wikane is a NYC-based music journalist whose passion for his subject matter stems all the way back to age two when he heard "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross on a scratchy 45 rpm. He holds a BS in Media, Culture & Society from Northeastern University where he studied the relationship between popular music and socio-cultural issues. After his arrival in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, he became a voting member of the Dance Music Hall of Fame, volunteered for LIFEbeat, and continued writing artist features for David Nathan's Soulmusic.com. Christian is currently a Contributing Editor for PopMatters, which features his CD reviews and interviews with legendary musicians and emerging artists. Christian's articles have appeared in the Boston Herald and Edmonton Journal. He's also written for About.com and Dave Marsh's Rock & Rap Confidential.

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