SOULFUL GROOVES FROM SOLARRADIO.COM

We recently discovered a fantastic radio station from the U.K. playing soulful grooves on the Internet known as www.solarradio.com. If you like Soul, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Motown, House, and Smooth Jazz from the 60’s through today, then I suggest you give them a try. As a matter of fact, if New York’s own Frankie Crocker were alive today, this is probably the radio station sound that he would be programming if he were still setting the direction for WBLS-FM. Here’s a bit of background with information obtained off of their website. Solar Radio was first launched on October 1, 1998 as Solar FM - broadcasting Soul, Funk and Jazz across Europe from 10PM to 6AM nightly on a sub-carrier of Challenge TV. The response was very encouraging, however, in January 1999 were forced to discontinue broadcasting as their carrier was undergoing some financial difficulties and so Solar Radio went off the air. Determined to continue, and after a great deal of investigation, they eventually tied up a deal with MTV, and on June 1st 1999 began broadcasting Soul, Funk and Jazz music 24 hours a day on an audio sub-carrier of MTV, reverting to the original call-sign of Solar Radio. With the advent of 24 hour broadcasting new DJ's came on-board including Lorna Hetherington, Mark Phillips, Paul Stenning, Mick Farrer and Steve Bennett (who together with Brian Hurst and his producer Alex James were to form internet only station Soul 24-7 in May 2000). Solar Radio started a series of weekend guest shows with many well known Soul & Jazz DJ's including Jeff Young, Mark Webster and Ralph Tee. They then expanded their service to reach a worldwide audience via Internet audio streaming in August 1999. In February 2000 Solar returned to the FM airwaves in London for a 25 day RSL (Restricted Service License) transmission, which included the "Soul of the Century Top 1000" chart which had been originally broadcast when they entered the new millennium. This turned out to be a great success, bringing on board many new listeners. The analog satellite service continued until August 2000. The next major milestone was reached in September with the switch to Sky Digital, and the addition of DJ's including Dez Parkes, Max Rees, Mike Stephens and Bigger. Solar Radio has remained committed to bringing quality Soul-related music to a wide audience, with every DJ having complete freedom of choice. As far as their musical format is concerned, they broadcast music from a musical heritage that is so great and so vast that no ordinary radio station, even with the best intentions, could possibly do it justice; and contrary to what you might imagine, there is still truly fine soul music being made at the moment. Some great albums are coming out of America - not every week, but most weeks at least; and many more isolated tracks on otherwise fairly average albums; also there is still a thriving soul scene in the U.K. - with a number of soul, funk and fusion bands going strong, where their American counterparts have deserted the scene. The number of soul fans may have reduced across the years, but they are still out there - witness the success of various weekenders and one-off gigs. There is also a growing soul scene in other parts of the world. The music has timeless appeal - many tunes that Solar plays will be remembered long after the more chart-ridden pop and dance tracks are forgotten. After all, how many dance (and even pop) tunes have familiar classic soul or funk samples running through them? After listening now for 3 weeks and for about 8 hours a day, I can easily tell you that the sound of solarradio.com is incredible and the DJ’s really know their stuff. Here’s a comprehensive glimpse of the artists off of the solarradio.com playlist … Aaron Neville, A Green, Al Hudson & Soul Partners, Alexander O'Neal, Amerie, Amp Fiddler, Angie Stone, Anthony David, Aretha Franklin, BWB, Barbara Tucker, Barry White, Ben E.King, Beyonce, Billy Griffin, Black Box, Blaze, Bobby Valentine, Bobby Womack, Boney James, Booker T & MG's, Brand New Heavies, Brass Construction, Brenda Russell, Brian Mcknight, Brook Benton, Brothers Johnson, Brown's Bag, Bunny Sigler, Candy Dulfer, Carmen McRae, Carol Williams, Ce Ce Peniston, Cerrone feat Jocelyn Brown, Chaka Khan, Change, Chante Moore, Chico Hamilton, Christina Aguilera, Colonel Abrams, Crusaders, DJ Spinna, Dazz Band, Delfonics, Dennis Edwards, Dexter Wansel. Earth, Wind & Fire, Elaine Elias, Elvis Presley, Frank McComb, Four Tops, Frankie Knuckles, Freddie Jackson, Gap Band, Gary's Gang, Gary Taylor, George Duke, George McCrae, Geraldine Hunt, Gilberto Gil, Gladys Knight & Pips, Gloria Gaynor, Grace Jones, Grant Green, Harold Melvin & Blue Notes, Heatwave, Hil St. Soul, Imagination, Incognito, Inner Life, Intruders, Isley Brothers, Jackie Wilson, Jamie Lewis, Janet Jackson, Jazzanova, Jean Carne, Jean Knight, Jennifer Holiday, Jill Scott, Jimmy Ruffin, Jocelyn Brown, John Legend, Joi Cardwell, Junior Walker & All Stars, Justin Timberlake, Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore. King Curtis, Lalo Shifrin, Lamont Dozier, Lenny Kravitz, Lionel Richie, Little Anthony, Little Richard. Lonnie Liston Smith, Loose Ends. Lou Rawls, Louis Vega, Louis Vega feat Blaze, Love Unlimited, Love Unlimited Orchestra, LTD, Luisito Quintero, Luther Vandross, Lynne Fiddmont, Main Ingredient. Marques Houston, Martha Reeves & Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Masters At Work feat Jody Whatley & Roy Ayers, Maxi Priest, Melba Moore, Merry Clayton, Mica Paris, Michael Franks, Miki Howard, Millie Jackson, Monica, Narada Michael Walden, Natalie Cole, New Birth, Nightmares On Wax, Norman Connors, Nuyorican Soul, Odyssey, Omar Cunningham, Omarion, Otis Jackson, Patrice Rushen, Paul Shilts, Perio feat Billy Love, Perry Sisters, Phyllis Hyman, Ramsey Lewis, Randy Crawford & Joe Sample, Rascals, Ray Robinson, Redsoul & Rashaan Houston, Richard Bona, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Rihanna, Rippingtons, Rodney Lee, Robin Thicke, Roy Ayers, Roy Hargrove, Rufus feat Chaka Khan, Sarah Vaughan, Sharon Redd, Smokey Robinson, Spinners, Stanley Clarke, Stevie Wonder, Sunshine Anderson, T-Connection, Tata Vega, Teddy Pendergrass, Teena Marie, Temptations, Three Degrees, Tom Browne, Touch Of Class, Ultra Nate, Whispers, Will Downing, Vickie Winans, Viktor Duplex, Vincent Montana Jr. feat Double Exposure, Willie Hutch, and Yusef Lateef, and many, many more…Listen and enjoy!