Miss Martha High | “Singing For The Good Times”

James Brown! Who doesn’t know about the Godfather of Soul?

A key member of James Brown’s inner circle on many of his most famous live performances is one of his most enduring and trusted female vocalists, and one of the best kept secrets in soul music: Miss Martha High.

She appears on his celebrated 1968 live performance of ‘There Was a Time’ and sings the unforgettable soprano note at the beginning of the 1974 US r&b hit, The Payback’, not to mention his 1976 UK hit ‘Body Heat’ to name a handful . Miss High remained by his side for over thirty years, singing at some of his most significant concerts.

She was with him and the JB’s at the famous Boston Garden gig in 1968, the night after Martin Luther King’s assassination, she was also right by his side when James flew through the dangerous Vietnam sky to entertain the US troops. Not to mention with The Godfather of Soul in Zaire, celebrating and performing at the legendary ‘Rumble in The Jungle’ event, attended by over 60,000 people.

Martha was a true friend, confidant and supporter of The Godfather of Soul, but she was just too young and shy to overtakethe other soul divas and take the centre stage.

Today is a different picture! Miss Martha High is one of the hardest working women in music, regularly touring worldwide at the tender age of 71, as a lead singer of Maceo Parker’s band. Now after years of deliberation, she has finally recorded the album she always wanted to make. ‘Singing For The Good Times’ consists of eleven killer original tunes produced and arranged by Luca Sapio, the Italian soul ambassador, in the only way this music should be recorded, completely in analog.

The songs evoke the best sounds of the southern soul golden era, combined with the sonic landscapes of the Italian soundtracks of the 60s. Infused together the two styles create a funk/soul masterpiece, showcasing one of the undisputed hidden treasures of soul, Miss High.

After years behind the scenes, it is now her time to be centre stage and achieve the recognition she so deserves.

‘Singing For The Good Times’ will be released on April 22nd on Blind Faith Records.

Radio impact for the single ‘Lovelight’ (Click song title to hear) is April 22nd.

Green Gab PR