- News & Reviews FeedByron Woods
What's Happening Soul Trackers...
Thanks for stopping by the S. T. web page, U Dig! I would like to give a Big "SHOUT OUT" to all the cool fans and friends who have supported my music through the years. My new solo CD, "In The Land Of Smooth," is dedicated to you, buyers of Classic Soul!
This is my musical tribute to some of the greatest vocal groups and vocalists that I grew up with and enjoyment of their music in my career. The Spinners, The Stylistics, Chi-lites, Blue Magic, Isley Bros, Temps, Dells, Dramatics, just to name a few. I hope you enjoy the new CD. When you get a chance, drop by my web site: http://www.byronwoods.com/ and let me know what you think!
You can also purchase the CD at: http://www.expansion-records.co.uk/ http://www.dustygroove.com/ and http://www.passion-music.com/ .
I would like to give a special "Thank You" to Chris Rizik for the excellent CD review and inviting me into the Soul Tracks family groove! Joyce, thanks for turning Chris on to my music and your friendship/musical support!
Keep the positive groove going, U Dig...The Good Lord is always in control!
Easy,
Byron Woods
Web Sites:
Official Site
Expansion Records Site
Biography
Chicago native Byron Woods has been a regionally popular singer/songwriter for 30 years and has fronted multiple singing groups with his pleasant tenor and smooth falsetto voice.
Woods first made a name for himself in the Windy City in the mid-70s with the vocal group Heet (later called Brandi). In the 80s he became lead singer for the Chicago group Onstage (which also included singer Mike Logan). Onstage recorded a few singles that received regional attention (and some UK airplay) in the mid-80s. During that period, Woods also wrote with now-deceased Motown artist, Gary Glenn (who later composed "Caught Up in the Rapture" for Anita Baker). In the 90s Woods served as a backing singer for Phil Perry, who became a mentor to the young vocalist.
In 2004 Woods released his long-awaited solo debut, In the Land of Smooth, on the UK soul label, Expansion Records. Smooth, which is co-produced by old friend Logan, is a solid display of Woods' appealing voice and a throwback to the Philadelphia sounds of the 70s. The Woods-penned title track sounds like a Delfonics cut, circa 1972, and his "Fly Away" (an 80s composition with Glenn) and "Special Kind of Woman" are great examples of PIR-style adult-oriented nighttime music, updated with classy arrangements. The Philly influence is even more explicit with Woods' covers of the Spinners' great "He'll Never Love You" (a duet with the Logan, who is a fine vocalist) and the Stylistics' "Payback is a Dog." Best of all is his faithful rendition of the Natural Four's classic "Can This Be Real." While the new material on the disc contributed by other writers is not as strong, In the Land of Smooth is a solid and long-overdue mass introduction to this talented Soul singer.
By Chris Rizik
