Leonard Caston Jr.

Last updated
Leonard Caston Jr.
Born (1943-11-13) November 13, 1943 (age 78)
Chicago, U.S.
Genres Rhythm and blues
Occupation(s)Songwriter, record producer, musician

Leonard Caston Jr. (born November 13, 1943) [1] is an American rhythm and blues songwriter, record producer, pianist and singer. He recorded for both the Chess and Motown labels in the 1960s and 1970s, and co-wrote or co-produced several major hit records, including Mitty Collier's "I Had A Talk With My Man" (1964), The Supremes' "Nathan Jones" (1971), and Eddie Kendricks' "Keep On Truckin'" (1973) and "Boogie Down" (1974).

Contents

Biography

Caston was born in Chicago, the son of blues musician Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston. After spending some time in the US Army, in 1964 he joined Maurice McAlister, a fellow member of the Greater Harvest Church, in his vocal group, The Radiants. [2] The group recorded for the Chess label (for whom Caston's father also recorded), and while working at the label Caston co-wrote, with Billy Davis, new words for James Cleveland's gospel song, "I Had A Talk With God Last Night". Recorded by Mitty Collier with secular lyrics as "I Had A Talk With My Man", it became a hit single (no. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100) in late 1964. [3] Caston left the Radiants in 1965, after their first two hit singles, "Voice Your Choice" and "It Ain't No Big Thing", and began working as a session musician, songwriter and producer at Chess. [3] He played piano on Fontella Bass' hit "Rescue Me", [4] and also worked with singers Bobby McClure, Jan Bradley and Laura Lee. [3] He returned to work with the Radiants in 1967, writing and producing their final hit, "Hold On". [3]

Motown years

Caston left Chess in 1968, and joined Motown Records in Detroit, where he worked with songwriter Kathy Wakefield, and writer and producer Frank Wilson. He co-wrote "Nathan Jones" with Wakefield; the song was recorded by The Supremes, produced by Wilson, and rose to #16 on the Hot 100 in 1971. Caston then worked with co-producer Wilson and co-writer Anita Poree to revive the career of ex-Temptations lead singer Eddie Kendricks. He co-wrote "Girl You Need a Change of Mind", and co-wrote, co-produced and played keyboards on "Keep On Truckin''" and "Boogie Down", which both reached no. 1 on the Billboard Soul chart in 1973-74. [4] He also co-wrote and co-produced several of Kendricks' later albums and singles for Motown. Several of his songs were recorded by other artists, including the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson 5, and he was nominated for a Grammy in 1975.

While at Motown, Caston also met, and later married, singer Carolyn Majors. They signed a contract as a recording duo, and, as Caston & Majors, recorded a gospel tinged self-titled album in 1974. [4] The album was not a commercial success in the United States but contained the track "I'll Keep My Light In My Window", co-written by Caston with Terri McFaddin, which was later recorded by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Ben Vereen, and in a Grammy-winning recording by the Mighty Clouds of Joy, among others. [5] In the UK, 'Child of Love' was released as a single reaching a position of #55 in April 1975. [6] A second Caston & Majors album was shelved, finally seeing the light of day in 2013 as part of a reissue of their Motown work. [7] The duo left the company in 1977.

In 1979, he co-wrote and co-produced two tracks on Minnie Riperton's last album, Love Lives Forever , released after her death. [4]

Gospel years

Caston and Majors later moved to California, where they worked together as pastors with the Christian Life Assembly in the Los Angeles area. [8] In 1999, the couple moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where Caston became the Minister of Music of the Dayspring Ministries church, and established My-Lyn Music. [9] They also continued to work with Frank Wilson, who had become a born again Christian minister. In 2002, Caston won a Billboard BMI Urban Music Award, and in 2004 he co-produced, with Billy Davis, the album 19 Days in New York by Australian singer Kate Ceberano. [10] In 2008 he produced an album by Pennsylvania gospel singer and songwriter Dana Fields. [11]

Related Research Articles

Willie Dixon American blues singer-songwriter (1915–1992)

William James Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he is perhaps best known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time. Next to Muddy Waters, Dixon is recognized as the most influential person in shaping the post–World War II sound of the Chicago blues.

The Temptations American rhythm and blues group

The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music. The band members are known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the most successful groups in popular music.

Chess Records American record company established in 1950 in Chicago

Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll, and jazz and comedy recordings, released on the Chess and its subsidiary labels Checker and Argo/Cadet. The Chess catalogue is currently owned by Universal Music Group and managed by Geffen Records.

Eddie Kendricks Musical artist

Eddie James Kendrick, best known by the stage name Eddie Kendricks, was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group the Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. He was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "Get Ready", and "Just My Imagination ". As a solo artist, Kendricks recorded several hits of his own during the 1970s, including the number-one single "Keep On Truckin'".

Roquel "Billy" Davis, of Detroit, was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. Davis was also known as a writer/producer of commercial jingles, mostly for Coca-Cola. He was also known as Tyran Carlo on writing credits.

Frank Wilson (musician) Musical artist

Frank Edward Wilson was an American songwriter, singer and record producer for Motown Records.

William "Mickey" Stevenson American songwriter and record producer for Motown Records

William "Mickey" Stevenson is a former songwriter and record producer for the Motown group of labels from the early days of Berry Gordy's company until 1967, when he and his then-wife, singer Kim Weston, left for MGM.

Hal Davis Musical artist

Harold Edward Davis was an American songwriter and record producer. Davis was a producer and writer for Motown Records for nearly thirty years, and was a key figure in the latter part of the Motown career of The Jackson 5.

<i>Skys the Limit</i> (The Temptations album) 1971 studio album by The Temptations

Sky's the Limit is the fourteenth studio album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label released in 1971. The album includes the #1 hit "Just My Imagination ", the Top 40 hit "Ungena Za Ulimwengu ", and the original version of "Smiling Faces Sometimes", later a Top 5 hit for The Undisputed Truth.

<i>The Temptations in a Mellow Mood</i> 1967 studio album by The Temptations

The Temptations in a Mellow Mood is a studio album by the Temptations, released in 1967 by Motown Records. Composed primarily of pop standards such as "Ol' Man River" and "For Once in My Life", and similar songs written by Holland-Dozier-Holland and other Motown staff songwriters, the Mellow Mood album was part of Motown chief Berry Gordy's crossover plans for the group. Gordy wanted the Temptations, already the most popular male group among black audiences, to attract a large white fanbase and be able to secure playdates at supper clubs like the Copacabana, where the group had first performed in the summer of 1967.

<i>Touch</i> (The Supremes album) 1971 studio album by The Supremes

Touch is the twenty-third studio album by The Supremes, released in the summer of 1971 on the Motown label. It was the third and final LP under the supervision of Frank Wilson, who had been the group's main producer since 1970, when Jean Terrell joined as lead singer. The album also marked the first Motown contributions by composer-producer Leonard Caston, Jr. and writer-lyricist Kathleen Wakefield: "Nathan Jones", a hit single sung by all three members, which was later recorded by Bananarama, and "Love It Came to Me This Time".

Henry Cosby Musical artist

Henry R. "Hank" Cosby was an American songwriter, arranger, producer and musician who worked for Motown Records from its formative years. Along with Sylvia Moy, Cosby was a key collaborator with Stevie Wonder from 1963–1970. Cosby co-wrote and/or co-produced three No. 1 US hits: Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips" (1963), The Supremes' "Love Child" (1968), and The Miracles' "The Tears of a Clown" (1968).

Keep On Truckin (song) 1973 single by Eddie Kendricks

"Keep On Truckin'" is a 1973 hit song recorded by Eddie Kendricks for Motown Records' Tamla label. The clavinet song was Kendricks' first major hit as a solo artist, coming two years after his departure from The Temptations. "Keep On Truckin'" reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Singles Chart upon its release, and was Kendricks' only number-one hit. It also reached #18 on the UK Charts.

"Boogie Down" is a 1973 song which was recorded by Eddie Kendricks for Motown Records' Tamla label. The song was co-written by Leonard Caston Jr., Anita Poree and Frank Wilson, the same songwriting team that had composed "Keep on Truckin'", Kendricks' first major hit as a solo artist. Caston and Wilson co-produced the song and the arrangement was handled by Caston, Wilson and David Van De Pitte.

Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston was an American blues pianist and guitarist. He is best noted for the tracks "Blues at Midnight" and "I'm Gonna Walk Your Log".

The Radiants were an American doo-wop and R&B group popular in the 1960s.

<i>People ... Hold On</i> 1972 studio album by Eddie Kendricks

People...Hold On is the second album by former Temptations vocalist Eddie Kendricks. Released in May 1972 on the Tamla imprint of Motown Records, it was arranged by David Leacraft, David Van De Pitte and Leroy Fleming. The cover photography was by Weldon Arthur McDougal III.

<i>The Hit Man</i> 1975 studio album by Eddie Kendricks

The Hit Man is the sixth album by former Temptations vocalist Eddie Kendricks. The album was released in 1975 on the Tamla imprint of Motown Records.

Kathleen Wakefield is an American songwriter, singer and fiction author known for co-writing The Supremes' hit single "Nathan Jones" that was released by Motown and used as a soundtrack for the film Rain Man and for co-writing the Grammy-winning song "One Hundred Ways."

Harvey Fuqua American musician, record producer

Harvey Fuqua was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.

References

  1. ↑ Betts, Graham (June 2, 2014). Motown Encyclopedia. AC Publishing. ISBN   9781311441546 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ "radiants". Soulfulkindamusic.net. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Pruter, Robert (April 20, 1992). Chicago Soul. University of Illinois Press. ISBN   9780252062599 – via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands". AllMusic .
  5. ↑ DJ Matthew Africa: Lights in my window, December 9, 2009 Archived April 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ BMRB charts UK Top 50 plus breakers April 19, 1975
  7. ↑ Caston & Majors CD reissue BBR / Cherry Red Records under licence from Universal, 2013 (UK)
  8. ↑ "Leonard Caston | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  9. ↑ "My-Lyn Music". Manta.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Caston & Majors discography". RateYourMusic.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  11. ↑ Monica Von Dobeneck (July 27, 2008). "Hundreds celebrate at CD release bash". Pennlive.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.