b. Eddie Lee Floyd, 25th June 1935, Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.A.
Eddie Floyd is a Soul singer out of Alabama, who is best known for his Sixties Soul classic, 'Knock On Wood'.
Eddie, although born in Montgomery, spent his upbringing in Detroit, Michigan.
He was a founder member of the group, the Falcons, who paved the way for several vocal groups in the area, such as The Temptations and The Four Tops.
the falcons - circa 1959 (eddie - far left)
clockwise: eddie floyd, joe stubbs, mack rice, willie schofield and lance finnie
The Falcons comprised of:
Eddie Floyd (b. 25th June 1935, Montgornery, Alabama, U.S.A.)
Wilson Pickett (b. 18th March 1941, Prattville, Alabama, U.S.A.)
Joe Stubbs (b. Joseph Stubbles, 1942, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 5th February 1998, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
Sir Mack Rice (b.10th November 1933, Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S.A. - the original singer of 'Mustang Sally')
and guitarists
Lance Finnie
and
Robert Ward (b. Robert Jeryl Ward, 15th October 1938, Luthersville, Georgia, U.S.A. d.25th December 2008, Dry Branch, Georgia, U.S.A.)
Joe Stubbs was the brother of the late Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops.
The Falcons recorded 'You're So Fine' b/w 'Goddess Of Angels' and, following the addition of Wilson Pickett to the ranks (member 1960 - 1962), 'I Found a Love' b/w 'Swim'.
Wilson Pickett left the Falcons and the group disbanded, after recording one side for Lu Pine with the group, 'You're On My Mind'.
Eddie recorded some sides for various labels, including Lu Pine (in 1962), and Safice in 1964 (including 'Never Get Enough Of Your Love', 'Make Up Your Mind' and 'Set My Soul On Fire' in 1965.
Eddie then signed to Stax Records, in Memphis, initially, as a songwriter in 1965.
He wrote the song, 'Comfort Me', which was recorded by Carla Thomas.
Eddie began collaborating with Stax's guitarist Steve Cropper with a view to writing songs for Wilson Pickett.
Wilson Pickett was now at Atlantic Records.
Atlantic distributed Stax and Jerry Wexler brought Wilson down from New York to work with Booker T. & the MGs.
These sessions included the Eddie Floyd co-written 'Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)' and '634-5789 (Soulsville USA)'.
After recording 'Things Get Better' for the label in 1966, Eddie recorded a song intended for Otis Redding.
Jerry Wexler and Stax president Jim Stewart decided to release Eddie's version.
knock on wood - 1967 / i've never found a girl - 1969
'Knock On Wood' b/w 'Got To Make A Comeback' was to launch Eddie's solo career, the song becoming a widely covered track, covered by many artists as diverse as David Bowie and Count Basie.
'Knock On Wood' also became a disco hit for the singer Amii Stewart in 1979.
Eddie recorded several more hits as a solo artist, including 'I Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)' in 1968 and 'Raise Your Hand' in 1967, (later covered by both Janis Joplin and Bruce Springsteen).
rare stamps - 1969 / you've got to have eddie - 1969
The song 'Big Bird' b/w 'Holding On With Both Hands' was written whilst Eddie waited in a London airport for a plane back to the United States for Otis Redding's funeral.
The song did not chart Stateside, however, it became an underground favourite in the U.K., and was recorded by Rosetta Hightower and The Jam.
In 1969, Eddie duetted with Mavis Staples on the song 'Never, Never, Let You Go' b/w 'Ain't That Good'.
california girl - 1970 / down to earth - 1971 / baby, lay your head down - 1973 / soul street - 1974
Eddie remained at Stax Records until 1975, at which time he relocated to the Mercury label up until 1978.
Eddie's writing's were widely recorded by many of the artists based at Stax, often co-writting with Steve Cropper, including Sam & Dave's 'You Don't Know What You Mean to Me', Rufus Thomas's 'The Breakdown', Otis Redding's 'I Love You More Than Words Can Say', and Johnnie Taylor's 'Just the One (I've Been Looking For)'.
experience - 1978 / flashback - 1988 / gotta make a comeback - 1999 / to the bone - 2002
In 1980, Eddie released material on the U.K. record label I-Spy Records, and reunited with the old Stax collaborators Cropper and Dunn, and fronted The Blues Brothers Band on a series of world tours.
In 1998, Eddie, and former Falcon, Wilson Pickett appeared on screen duetting on '634-5789' in 'Blues Brothers 2000'.
Eddie was also the special guest with former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings on several dates in the U.S. and the U.K.
eddie loves you so - 2008 / power - 2010
In 2008, he returned to Stax Records, now owned by Concord Music Group.
His first new album in six years, 'Eddie Loves You So' was released in July 2008.
A new set entitled 'Power' was released on the Locobop imprint in 2010.
Albums:
Knock On Wood (Stax Records 1967)
Looking Back (Ember Records 1968)
I've Never Found A Girl (Stax Records 1969)
Rare Stamps (Stax Records 1969)
You've Got To Have Eddie (Stax Records 1969)
California Girl (Stax Records 1970)
Down To Earth (Stax Records 1971)
Baby Lay Your Head Down (Stax Records 1973)
Soul Street (Stax Records 1974)
Experience (Malaco Records 1978)
Flashback (Ichiban Records 1988)
Gotta Make a Comeback (Plane Records 1999)
To the Bone (Rock House Records 2002)
Eddie Loves You So (Stax Records 2008)
Power (Locobop Records 2010)
