Photo credit: Julia La Riva Photography
(November 21, 2020) Sonny Green is a blues and soul survivor, who made the trip taken by many Blacks by migrating from Louisiana to California, ending up in Los Angeles. Green is a blues and southern soul singer in the vein of Johnnie Taylor and ZZ Hill, but unlike those legends, he never cut an album. Although, he did release several singles in the 1960s and 70s – including “It’s A Game” and “If You Want to Keep On Loving Me” – Green is one of those who managed to craft a career over the last five decades by building up a following on the west coast through his live performances.
(November 21, 2020) Sonny Green is a blues and soul survivor, who made the trip taken by many Blacks by migrating from Louisiana to California, ending up in Los Angeles. Green is a blues and southern soul singer in the vein of Johnnie Taylor and ZZ Hill, but unlike those legends, he never cut an album. Although, he did release several singles in the 1960s and 70s – including “It’s A Game” and “If You Want to Keep On Loving Me” – Green is one of those who managed to craft a career over the last five decades by building up a following on the west coast through his live performances.
That will change in 2021 when Found: One Soul Singer drops in January. Green is now 77-years old, but “I Beg Your Pardon,” the lead single that we are previewing on this First Listen, shows that he is more than ready for his close-up. “I Beg Your Pardon” fuses gospel infused organ work with lyrical structure of the blues and a horn section that engages in call and response with Green’s still strong and energetic vocals.
“I Beg Your Pardon” tells the story of a guy who just has to ask a lady how did she come to be so easy on the eye. It’s the kind of come-on line that would sound corny or offensive in about any other context. But in the blues, it sounds just right. Check “I Beg Your Pardon” out here.
By Howard Dukes
Sonny Green – “I Beg Your Pardon”