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Leonard Caston Jr.

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), Eddie Kendricks' "Keep On Truckin'" (1973) and "Boogie Down" (1974).

Leonard Caston Jr.
Born (1943-11-13) November 13, 1943 (age 79)
Chicago, U.S.
GenresRhythm and blues
Occupation(s)Songwriter, record producer, musician

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]

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. ^ a b c d Pruter, Robert (April 20, 1992). Chicago Soul. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252062599 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b c d "AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands". AllMusic.
  5. ^ DJ Matthew Africa: Lights in my window, December 9, 2009 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.

leonard, caston, father, blues, musician, leonard, caston, born, november, 1943, american, rhythm, blues, songwriter, record, producer, pianist, singer, recorded, both, chess, motown, labels, 1960s, 1970s, wrote, produced, several, major, records, including, m. For his father the blues musician see Leonard Caston 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 Eddie Kendricks Keep On Truckin 1973 and Boogie Down 1974 Leonard Caston Jr Born 1943 11 13 November 13 1943 age 79 Chicago U S GenresRhythm and bluesOccupation s Songwriter record producer musician Contents 1 Biography 2 Motown years 3 Gospel years 4 ReferencesBiography EditCaston 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 EditCaston 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 amp 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 amp 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 EditCaston 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 References Edit Betts Graham June 2 2014 Motown Encyclopedia AC Publishing ISBN 9781311441546 via Google Books radiants Soulfulkindamusic net Retrieved April 20 2020 a b c d Pruter Robert April 20 1992 Chicago Soul University of Illinois Press ISBN 9780252062599 via Google Books a b c d AllMusic Record Reviews Streaming Songs Genres amp Bands AllMusic DJ Matthew Africa Lights in my window December 9 2009 Archived April 25 2012 at the Wayback Machine BMRB charts UK Top 50 plus breakers April 19 1975 Caston amp Majors CD reissue BBR Cherry Red Records under licence from Universal 2013 UK Leonard Caston Listen and Stream Free Music Albums New Releases Photos Videos Myspace com Retrieved April 20 2020 My Lyn Music Manta com Retrieved April 20 2020 Caston amp Majors discography RateYourMusic com Retrieved April 20 2020 Monica Von Dobeneck July 27 2008 Hundreds celebrate at CD release bash Pennlive com Retrieved April 20 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leonard Caston Jr amp oldid 1151468809, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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