J.C. and the Soul Angels / Roy Jefferson

Youngstown, 1970s

1974 ad....standing J.C. and Shirley, sitting Sylvia and Elaine... and that's Gloria and the Pips, not Gladys Knight and the Pips....

J.C. and the Soul Angels were a family based group from Youngstown. The leader was James "J. C." Hunter and his three daughters Shirley, Sylvia, and Elaine made up the core band.  J.C. played guitar, Shirley played drums, Sylvia played organ, and Elaine played bass.

The band recorded four 45s, all on Tammy. They (and Iron Knowledge) were the only artists aside from Tony March (under his various novelty names) on Tammy during the 1970s, when Tony reactivated the label after going quiet for a few years.

The first 45 is a dance groove record across two sides. The band added singers from outside the family to enhance their sound. Tina Crosby is the lead singer on the first record. The second 45 has an Al Green cover 'God Bless Our Love' (the original had the title "God Blessed Our Love"). The lead singer is Roy Jefferson and the band's sound changed completely to deep soul. The other side is an original in the same style credited to Jefferson. 

Roy Jefferson was the lead on the third 45, and back to the uptempo funk dance sound with "He's Got To Go" another extended jam across two sides. 

The band recorded a 4th 45, which seems to have been the last chonologically, and possibly the last Tammy 45. They recorded two instrumentals. "Nightmare Strut" has become a collector favorite, opening with a familiar five note 'spooky' line and then into a synthed funk instro. The other records have a big production with added horns, this one has no horns and is probably the band on their own.

Discography:
Dance Party (Part-1) / Dance Party (Part 2) - Tammy 1044, 1975
God Bless Our Love / True Love Is Hard To Find - Tammy 1054, April/May 1976
He's Got To Go (Part 1) / He's Got To Go (Part 2) - Tammy 1056, Sept 1977 (group name misprint as the Soul Angeles)
Angel's Theme / Nightmare Strut - Tammy 1777, 1977?