Photos courtesy: Terry Martin.
In Toledo’s diverse musical community, soul is a genre that seems underrepresented. While the classic merger of gospel and R&B dominated the music scene in the mid-20th century, examples of classic soul in Glass City history are hard to find. The people behind
“Soulcentric” are trying to fill that void.
“We’re trying to bring soul back to Toledo,” said Toledo promoter and DJ Andre Williams, also known as DJ DreWills. “Toledo has gotten away from that over recent years. A lot of artists have gone to larger markets to try to expand their brand and make more of a name for themselves. That has left the city lacking when it comes to soul music. But there is still hunger for good soul.”
You can’t fake it
Williams and Detroit promoter Terry Martin are collaborating on “Soulcentric,” an evening celebrating soul music, at the Peacock Cafe on Friday, September 23. Toledo’s own Carmen Miller and Detroit soul artist Dominick Shelton will both perform at the event, while Williams will DJ.
“Andre is the lynchpin for putting this together,” Martin said. “He finally got the chance to do something in his home town.
“[Soul] captures realness and authenticity. You can’t fake it. People do imitations of soul, but when it comes down to it, you just can’t fake it.”
“The name itself embodies the sound,” Williams said. “It’s soul music– it comes from the soul. That’s why it’s so powerful and so popular. And that’s why it’s so loved. From the time that soul music began, it’s timeless.”
Transparency of emotions
For Dominick Shelton, who just released his debut single, “Rocket Love,” this past June, “Soulcentric” will be his first performance in front of a Toledo audience. He said that the ability to connect with a new area while remaining true to the sound of his home is key to his performances outside Detroit.
“You want to make sure that you are aware of who your audience is,” Shelton said. “At the same time, you want to make sure that you are keeping that authenticity in your music, from what you have gone through– keeping that transparency of emotions in the music and the sounds.
Capturing that feeling, and reigniting Toledo’s love of classic soul, is a big part of what Terry Martin hopes to accomplish with “Soulcentric”.
“It’s more about everybody recognizing that we can get together, and make good music and support each other. I think that’s really the strongest thing,” Martin said. “It’s merging two cities– in my opinion, sister cities, Detroit and Toledo.”
“Soulcentric” begins at 9pm on Friday, September 23
at the Peacock Café on Monroe St.
For more information, contact the Café at: 419-241-8004.
