Here's the latest SoulSorts podcast hosted by Roger Williams. He's spent
the last ten weeks digging through his archives bringing listeners the best
tunes of the 90s. He's now back with up to date releases which is pretty
good as he's catching up on the tunes he's missed over the last three months
so a good opportunity of reminding yourself of some tunes you may have
forgotten already or even missed first time around.
Roger's show is broadcast every Sunday between 22:00-00:00 (GMT) on Starpoint Radio playing his selection of the best new soul and jazz releases.
Roger Williams is a well known name on the UK soul scene not only from
attending events, DJing and presenting radio shows since 2005 but also for
his graphic design work for magazines and album artwork for Goldmine Records
and Expansion and also many independent artists. Our paths crossed over
twenty years ago after initially meeting at such events as Soul Essence
(Great Yarmouth), Cala Gran (Fleetwood) and Southport Weekenders and I have
always respected his taste in music as he doesn't follow the herd, he's his
own man and has given exposure to, and championed, new artists such as
Jarrod Lawson, Tahirah Memory, Gwendolynn Collins, TanQueray Hayward and Kim
Tavar giving them exposure to a worldwide audience via his weekly SoulSorts
radio show, now running for over 15 years, to the extent that they are all
now well established artists to the UK soul audience.
I asked Roger to provide his 'soul credentials'. Any other DJ's/presenters
who would like their shows to feature here then please also provide some
background in the first instance. (soulstrutter@gmail.com).
Startpoint Radio Thames Cruise 18 Sep 2021
Background
Roger is from Kendal (Cumbria) and started collecting soul/disco music in
1978. At that time there were no dedicated soul radio stations (although
like many of us he tuned in to very poor reception on Radio Luxembourg in
the vague attempt to hear 'some') - there were also no specialist soul
record shops where he lived so he bought all of his new found love of soul
and disco records ‘blind’ following recommendations and playlists from the
big names at the time, Pete Tong, Jeff Young, Robbie Vincent, Colin Curtis
etc, always felt safe with their recommendations.
He moved to Bournemouth and then London and a whole new world of music
opened up having access to the Bournemouth Soul Centre, and then in London
it was Groove Records, Record Shack, City Sounds, Bluebird and all the
other little import shops dotted about. He was a regular listener to
Robbie Vincent, Jeff Young and Greg Edwards and a host of pirate stations
and bought records incessantly week in week out having developed a serious
passion for all things black music.
He moved back to his home of Kendal and in the mid/late 80s discovered
that wonderful man Dean Johnson and his Expansion Records shop in
Manchester, Richard Searling’s radio shows and columns in Blues & Soul
and in turn the immense Parkers gig in Manchester, and then subsequently
met his wife Collette and started doing the Southport weekenders when it
was a soul weekender twice a year, first one in 1989 witnessing the likes
of Regina Belle, Rockie Robbins and all the big names they had on during
the years he went, watching artists like Sam Dees, Garland Green,
Dramatics, Prince Gideon, Glenn Jones and so many others soul
superstars.
In the early to mid 90s he moved to Merseyside to live and discovered the
rare soul scene and some amazing north west people who shared their music,
none of which he'd ever heard, it was a whole new exciting world of music
to discover. After a visit to Goldmine Records in Shambles Square he
got involved doing artwork with Andy Love’s excellent Love Music Review
magazine which led onto Tom Smith from the shop asking if he'd like to do
a Goldmine CD artwork and that kicked off what is currently nearly a
quarter of a century of soul music design work for Goldmine, Kev Roberts
and Richard Searling and their Togetherness magazines. In 2000 he was
contacted by Ralph Tee asking if he'd be interested in doing Expansion
work which he's still very proud and honoured to be still doing today.
Along the way he has worked with Dome Records, Funkytowngrooves and
lifelong soul man and legendary Blues & Soul columnist David Nathan on
just about every one of his Soulmusic Records CD reissue projects and box
sets. Roger is currently working on music graphics and album covers
for indie artists on a regular basis, forging very strong personal
relationships with them all. He is particularly proud of his association
with the great Preston Glass in particular.
Roger first started club DJ'ing in 1990 for Eddy Edmondson in Kendal and
then with the KRL (Kev Roberts) / RS (Richard Searling) / Togetherness
connection he got on board their line ups as a modern soul DJ and did the
Togetherness all nighters, Cala Gran Weekenders and then the amazing
Luxury Soul Weekenders at Blackpool and Birmingham of which he is one of a
small handful of DJ's to have done every one to this day and of course
still producing all the design graphics and programmes. Since the
late 90s he has been resident and guest at most quality modern soul or
northern/modern two room events up and down the UK, Soul Underground, Bass
Museum, Hardinge Arms, Prestwich, Lowton, Lightwater, Vybe, Freestylin’
and many more, mainly playing new/upfront soul but also the quality side
of classic 70s and 80s vinyl in more recent times at venues and weekenders
in the north west UK where he still lives.
'Soulsorts' started as a website in 2004 and entered radio in 2005 on
Starpoint Radio, subsequently moving to Solar Radio for a good few years
in various timeslots, but because of the work commitments it wasn’t always
possible for him to commit to regular shows so he has moved around a few
stations for short periods of time, Stomp Radio, Brian Hurst’s
SoulAndJazz, Hot FM, Mike Shaft's reactivated Sunset Radio in 2015 and
then onto MiSoul Connoisseurs which became Global Soul and then in 2018 he
returned to Starpoint Radio where he is currently producing a weekly
Soulsorts Sunday Soul Collection and a monthly Wednesday Wind Down Zone
and championing and supporting new artists he believes in, he is very
proud of his connection in particular with James Day and Jarrod Lawson
amongst others.
Roger’s shows are current every Sunday on Starpoint Radio 10pm til
midnight UK time where he varies the playlists between the quality side of
classic 70s 80s and 90s, 2000s and his pick of what he believes is the
best quality current and recent music. He also hosts the final Starpoint
Radio Wednesday Wind Down Rotation of each month featuring his great love
of the mellow side of all era quality soul music.
Listen to the latest show below or click image to head over to Podomatic to
listen.
The Soulsorts Radio Show & Podcast 2021 #44
The Paradise Projex - Feels Like Home (EP: The Paradise Projex)
Rasmus Faber feat. Dyanna Fearon - All Of My Dreams (BBQ '79 Mix)
The Paradise Projex - For This Love (EP: The Paradise Projex)
Nigel Hall feat. Patrice Rushen - Baby I Do Love You (Album: Spiritual)
Leela James - Rise N Shine (Album: See Me)
Carmichael Musiclover - Know You Better (Album: Slow Motion)
NexXup - Remain Friends (Album: Regi Myrix presents Black Buttah 2)
Maurice J - No Matter How Far (Album: Love Language)
Castella feat. Willie Bradley - So Glad I Met You
Pharez Whitted feat. Opal Staples - Perfect Stranger [Remix] (Album:
Pharaoh Smooth)
Chan Hall feat. Robbie Cunningham - Find Myself (Album: Somethin’ 2
Prove)
Lin Rountree/Lindsey Webster - Me For Me (Album: Fluid) 2021
Lalah Hathaway & Robert Glasper - Show Me Your Soul
Garcia Walker & Durrell - Just Gotta To Have You (Album: Garcia
Walker & Durrell)
Regi Myrix feat. Hil St Soul - In My Groove (Album: Regi Myrix presents
Black Buttah 2)
Earth, Wind & Fire feat. Lucky Daye - You Want My Love
B. Golden feat. Rob Cunningham - When You Touch Me
Carmichael Musiclover - Summer Breeze (Album: Slow Motion)
Vula - Dreaming
Penzillathegreat - Stay a Little While
Marshella Muzic - U & Eye (Album: Moodz)
Wendy B. - Vibe With Me (Album: Here 2 Stay)
LaTanya Hughes - Too Grown
Samm Henshaw - Grow (Album: Grow)
Durand Jones & The Indications - Love Will Work It Out (Album:
Private Space)
Bridge City Revival & Ronnie Wright - Good Love (Album: Introducing
Bridge City Revival)
Nigel Hall - Yesterday (Album: Spiritual)
