Carlton Jumel Smith: The vocalist keeping New York soul alive
That beating rhythm of soul music gripped audiences throughout the United States back in the 1960s, and industrial cities like Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York were the centre point of that cultural revolution. From factories, work yards, and run-down neighbourhoods across these cities came a defiant sense of resistance, which manifested itself in the music emanating from Black communities. Labels like Motown Records, Atlantic, and Stax Records sought to bring the sounds of soul to the masses, and now, six decades later, audiences are still enamoured with the sweet sounds of soul.
Back in the 1960s, during the heyday of soul and R&B music, the major cities of America each boasted their own unique take on the soul sound. Detroit was dominated by Berry Gordy and the Motown sound, which had become a regular fixture in the charts thanks to records by the likes of The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. Chicago and Philadelphia had their own take on the soul sound, but New York went in a different direction to their Northeastern contemporaries.
New York soul traditionally fell in line with the sounds of Memphis and southern soul while retaining some of that NYC edge, giving it a unique and identifiable quality that made labels like Atlantic, Scepter, and Shout so beloved by soul fans. New York has always boasted an incredibly diverse and captivating music scene, producing countless legendary artists from the experimentalism of The Velvet Underground to the indie rock heroes The Strokes, so it makes sense that their soul scene has been just as successful and enduring.
One of the main faces keeping New York soul alive in the modern age is Carlton Jumel Smith, whose sound draws upon everything from Motown, to James Brown, to his deep and passionate love for New York soul. Born and raised in the musically rich area of Spanish Harlem, Smith grew up worshipping the soul stars of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly after being taken to see James Brown in concert during his childhood.
It was during the 1980s that Smith entered the music industry, dropping out of college and pursuing his deep love of old-school soul during a time in which the pop charts were chock full of meaningless corporate rock and the dregs of the disco scene. Since then, the New York native has worked tirelessly to craft his soul sound and continue on the legacy of the musicians he grew up listening to.
“In this business, it all starts with the song,” the performer once claimed. “I firmly believe that a great song is a kiss from God. After all, in my soulful equation: ‘Music + Lyrics = Your Life.’” That inherent philosophy seems to have followed Smith throughout his long and illustrious career, which took off during the 2000s with the release of his debut solo album Diagram of a Relationship.
That early album firmly established the lush soulful sounds of Smith, which only seemed to increase in quality and passion with every subsequent release. One of his most recent singles, ‘Keep On Swinging’, for instance, is a masterful effort, awash with infectious grooves, a commanding presence, and, crucially, palpable passion for music.
Smith’s obvious adoration for the history and inherent message of soul music bleeds through into every recording he makes, keeping the spirit of the genre alive while simultaneously pushing New York soul into expansive new avenues. As long as artists like Carlton Jumel Smith continue to write and record innovative grooves, soul music will never truly die.
