I've been a fan of R&B all my life, starting at age 10 when I sat mesmerized, watching the greats like Frankie Lymon, Little Anthony, Bo Diddley, and Clyde McPhatter perform at an all-star show in Pittsburgh. At the same time, I was spending countless hours listening to Pittsburgh DJ Porky Chedwick, who broke all the rules when he began playing what were known in the 1950s as "race records.” He spun some of the best and most obscure records of the day — songs with gorgeous ha

Although the great Jackie Wilson has been a vocal idol of mine since I was a pre-teen, I always felt his recordings were over-produced. I am not a fan of choral backing vocals and lavish orchestration. But then I discovered this early gem, "Rainy Day Blues," which he recorded as Sonny Wilson in 1952, before he joined the Dominoes! Now, THIS is the way R&B was meant to be! It's Jackie's raw, soulful vocals that make the song soar, not strings and slick production gimmicks. Ta