Soul singer teams with industry veteran Henry Stone for album salute to be released April 16

Soul singer teams with industry veteran Henry Stone for album salute to be released April 16

By Rick Scott

 MIAMI, FL —  With a booming voice untouched by time, soul singer-keyboardist Latimore unleashes his gravely blues vocals to pay tribute to legend Ray Charles on “Latimore Remembers Ray Charles,” his 25th album that will be released April 16th by Henry Stone Music. Record industry veteran Henry Stone produced the 10-song set of tunes made famous by Charles, including the sassy soulified single, “Hit The Road Jack,” which is currently receiving airplay at classic soul, blues and adult R&B radio stations.

There is plenty of history entrenched in “Latimore Remembers Ray Charles.” Latimore and Stone first connected in the mid-60s, which led to the release of Latimore’s self-titled debut album 40 years ago on Stone’s Glades imprint. Going back further, the now 91-year-old Stone first recorded Charles in 1951 in his Miami warehouse.

Stone recalls, “I first recorded Ray Charles in the back of my little distribution warehouse on Flagler Street after Sam Cooke introduced me to him at the Mary Elizabeth Hotel in Over-town in 1951. Possessing distinctive artistry that is instantly identifiable, Latimore is a uniquely gifted artist in his own right capable of interpreting Ray’s music. This album could propel Latimore back into the national consciousness.”

Latimore’s weathered, soulful blues baritone commands the spotlight on “Latimore Remembers Ray Charles.” Like Charles, his rural Southern up-bringing and churchgoing roots enhance the raw emotion poured from his impassioned vocals. You can hear the urgency in his fiery guttural growls on boisterous rockers like Unchain My Heart, What’d I Say and I Got A Woman and feel his vulnerability on heart-wrenching ballads such as Drown In My Own Tears, I Can’t Stop Loving You and Crying Time. Stone penned St. Pete Florida Blues, a scorching Southern fried blues joint that opens the album. Latimore preaches from the pulpit on the gospel spiritual “Hallelujah” and carves his own name onto Charles’ signature hit, Georgia On My Mind.

“I always liked what Ray Charles did. When I first heard his playing, it really knocked me out. He definitely influenced me early on. It was fun paying tribute to the artist and the songs that he made famous while putting my own twist on them,” says Latimore.

Born Benjamin “Benny” Latimore in Charleston, TN, Latimore’s breakthrough single was 1973’s Stormy Monday. He rose to #1 the following year with Let’s Straighten It Out and cemented his presence in the R&B top 10 with Somethin’ ‘Bout ‘Cha and Keep The Home Fire Burning,” all of which were released on Stone’s Dade and Glades labels. To date, Latimore has released 24 albums and charted 12 singles. His considerable keyboard skills graced multimillion-selling hits on Stone’s TK Records label such as Betty Wright’s Cleanup Woman Gwen McRae’s Rockin’ Chair and Bobby Caldwell’s What You Won’t Do For Love  More recently, he played on three albums by blue-eyed soul singer Joss Stone – her 20

03 debut “The Soul Sessions,” the 2004 follow-up Mind, Body & Soul and 2011’s LP1.

Additional information about Latimore is available at www.henrystonemusic.com.