Smoothness of his exquisite vibrato
Resonating with so much passion
And revelation by baring
All through his enriched spirit
With every note expressed
In his own unique tailored way
His gospel vocal techniques
Were deeply laden
In his quartet style roots
As it stirs inside your soul
Making a gourmet
Of sweet melodies
As it enters our hearts
Even as a teenager his talent
Could never be overlooked
A soul singer with pop appeal
Singing about love
And his spiritual beliefs.
He told us through a beautiful song
A change is gonna come.
Having one of the first
Successful black owned record labels
When many said it couldn’t be done.
He definitely was before his time
A genius in both music and business
A mentor of many musicians
Even after his life
Was tragically taken away
His music and legacy
Is still important
And relevant to this day.
By Deon Souldier Ballard