Arthur Lee Conley (January 4, 1946 – November 17, 2003), also known in later years as Lee Roberts, was an American soul singer, best known for the 1967 hit "Sweet Soul Music".[1]
Conley was born in McIntosh County, Georgia, U.S., and grew up in Atlanta. He first recorded in 1959 as the lead singer of Arthur & the Corvets. With this group, he released three singles in 1963 and 1964—"Poor Girl", "I Believe", and "Flossie Mae"—on the Atlanta-based record label, NRC Records.[2]
Biography and careerEdit
In 1964, he moved to a new label (Baltimore's Ru-Jac Records) and released "I'm a Lonely Stranger". When Otis Redding heard this, he asked Conley to record a new version, which was released on Redding's own fledgling label Jotis Records, as only its second release.[3] Conley met Redding in 1967. Together they rewrote the Sam Cooke song "Yeah Man" into "Sweet Soul Music", which, at Redding's insistence, was released on the Atco-distributed label Fame Records, and was recorded at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.[4] It proved to be a massive hit, going to the number two position on the U.S. charts and the Top Ten across much of Europe. "Sweet Soul Music" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[5]
After several years of hit singles in the early 1970s, he relocated to England in 1975, and spent several years in Belgium, settling in Amsterdam (Netherlands) in spring 1977. At the beginning of 1980 he had some major performances as Lee Roberts and the Sweaters in the Ganzenhoef, Paradiso, De Melkweg and the Concertgebouw, and was highly successful. At the end of 1980 he moved to the Dutch town of Ruurlo legally changing his name to Lee Roberts—his middle name and his mother's maiden name. He promoted new music via his Art-Con Productions company. Amongst the bands he promoted was the heavy metal band Shockwave from The Hague. A live performance on January 8, 1980, featuring Lee Roberts & the Sweaters, was released as an album entitled Soulin in 1988.[2]
Personal lifeEdit
Conley was gay, and several music writers have said that his homosexuality was a bar to greater success in the United States and one of the reasons behind his move to Europe and his eventual name change.[6] In 2014, rock historian Ed Ward wrote, "[Conley] headed to Amsterdam and changed his name to Lee Roberts. Nobody knew 'Lee Roberts,' and at last Conley was able to live in peace with a secret he had hidden—or thought he had—for his entire career: he was gay. But nobody in The Netherlands cared."[7]
Otis Redding's biography contains history of Jotis Records
Answers.com article on Arthur Conley
Arthur Conley Dies
October 24, 2023
arthur, conley, arthur, conley, january, 1946, november, 2003, also, known, later, years, roberts, american, soul, singer, best, known, 1967, sweet, soul, music, 1967background, informationbirth, namearthur, conleyalso, known, aslee, robertsborn, 1946, january. Arthur Lee Conley January 4 1946 November 17 2003 also known in later years as Lee Roberts was an American soul singer best known for the 1967 hit Sweet Soul Music 1 Arthur ConleyArthur Conley in 1967Background informationBirth nameArthur Lee ConleyAlso known asLee RobertsBorn 1946 01 04 January 4 1946McIntosh County Georgia U S DiedNovember 17 2003 2003 11 17 aged 57 Ruurlo NetherlandsGenresSoulOccupation s SingerYears active1959 1988 Contents 1 Early life 2 Biography and career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Discography 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditConley was born in McIntosh County Georgia U S and grew up in Atlanta He first recorded in 1959 as the lead singer of Arthur amp the Corvets With this group he released three singles in 1963 and 1964 Poor Girl I Believe and Flossie Mae on the Atlanta based record label NRC Records 2 Biography and career EditIn 1964 he moved to a new label Baltimore s Ru Jac Records and released I m a Lonely Stranger When Otis Redding heard this he asked Conley to record a new version which was released on Redding s own fledgling label Jotis Records as only its second release 3 Conley met Redding in 1967 Together they rewrote the Sam Cooke song Yeah Man into Sweet Soul Music which at Redding s insistence was released on the Atco distributed label Fame Records and was recorded at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals Alabama 4 It proved to be a massive hit going to the number two position on the U S charts and the Top Ten across much of Europe Sweet Soul Music sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc 5 After several years of hit singles in the early 1970s he relocated to England in 1975 and spent several years in Belgium settling in Amsterdam Netherlands in spring 1977 At the beginning of 1980 he had some major performances as Lee Roberts and the Sweaters in the Ganzenhoef Paradiso De Melkweg and the Concertgebouw and was highly successful At the end of 1980 he moved to the Dutch town of Ruurlo legally changing his name to Lee Roberts his middle name and his mother s maiden name He promoted new music via his Art Con Productions company Amongst the bands he promoted was the heavy metal band Shockwave from The Hague A live performance on January 8 1980 featuring Lee Roberts amp the Sweaters was released as an album entitled Soulin in 1988 2 Personal life EditConley was gay and several music writers have said that his homosexuality was a bar to greater success in the United States and one of the reasons behind his move to Europe and his eventual name change 6 In 2014 rock historian Ed Ward wrote Conley headed to Amsterdam and changed his name to Lee Roberts Nobody knew Lee Roberts and at last Conley was able to live in peace with a secret he had hidden or thought he had for his entire career he was gay But nobody in The Netherlands cared 7 Death EditConley died at the age of 57 from intestinal cancer in Ruurlo The Netherlands in November 2003 8 He was buried in Vorden Discography EditAlbums 9 Sweet Soul Music Atlantic 1967 Shake Rattle amp Roll Atlantic 1967 Soul Directions 1968 More Sweet Soul 1969 Singles I Believe 1963 as Arthur amp the Corvets Flossie Mae 1963 as Arthur amp the Corvets Poor Girl 1963 as Arthur amp the Corvets Where He Leads Me I m A Lonely Stranger 1965 Who s Fooling Who There s A Place For Us 1966 I Can t Stop No No No In The Same Old Way 1966 I m Gonna Forget About You 1966 Sweet Soul Music Let s Go Steady 1967 co written with Otis Redding 2 R amp B 2 pop Whole Lotta Woman Love Comes And Goes 1967 73 Pop Ha Ha Ha Ha 1967 Shake Rattle amp Roll 1967 31 pop 20 R amp B Ob La Di Ob La Da Otis Sleep On 1968 51 pop 41 R amp B Beatles cover featuring guitar by Duane Allman Aunt Dora s Love Soul Shack 1968 Funky Street Put Our Love Together 1968 People Sure Act Funny 1968 Top 20 R amp B Burning Fire 1968 Is That You Love 1968 Run On 1968 Star Review 1969 with Tom Dowd written by Allen Toussaint They Call the Wind Maria 1969 Day O 1969 made famous by Harry Belafonte God Bless 1970 Top 40 R amp B I m Living Good 1971 Walking on Eggs More Sweet Soul Music 1972 Rita 1972 It s So Nice When It s Someone Else s Wife 1974 References Edit Gilliland John 1969 Show 51 The Soul Reformation Phase three soul music at the summit Part 7 UNT Digital Library audio Pop Chronicles University of North Texas Libraries a b Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books p 296 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 Stax Records www goergwa demon co uk Archived from the original on 18 June 2012 Retrieved 2 July 2012 Foxlee Neil 2003 12 02 Obituary Arthur Conley the Guardian Retrieved 2022 10 13 Murrells Joseph 1978 The Book of Golden Discs 2nd ed London Barrie and Jenkins Ltd p 218 ISBN 0 214 20512 6 Boss Tracks Arthur Conley Sweet Soul Music Bosstracks blogspot com 27 February 2009 Retrieved 28 October 2014 The Mysterious Case of Arthur Conley Otis Redding s Protege NPR org Retrieved 28 October 2014 Foxlee Neil 2 December 2003 Obituary Arthur Conley Theguardian com Retrieved 5 December 2017 Arthur Conley Discogs Retrieved 2022 10 13 External links EditMemorial website in Dutch Photos from Arthur s last live performance 9 June 2002 in Netherlands Arthur Conley Sweet Soul Music Home Page w CD Liner Notes Discography and Latest Releases Yoni s Home of Soul Music page on Conley w info about unreleased tracks Arthur Conley at Find a Grave Otis Redding s biography contains history of Jotis Records Answers com article on Arthur Conley Arthur Conley Dies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur Conley amp oldid 1180527814, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
