The Soulful Strings
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Biography
The Soulful Strings were an American soul-jazz instrumental group formed in Chicago in 1966. The project was created by Richard Evans, a staff producer and musical arranger who worked closely with Cadet Records. The group consisted mainly of Cadet's house band, including Phil Upchurch on guitar, Charles Stepney on organ and vibraphone, Lenny Druss on flute, Cleveland Eaton on bass and cello, Morris Jennings on drums, Bobby Christian on vibraphone and percussion, and later Billy Wooten replacing Stepney. It also featured Sol Bobrov and Bruce Hayden on the string section. Their debut album Paint It Black (1966) featured covers of contemporary hits like "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones and "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & The Papas. The following year, they released Groovin' With The Soulful Strings, which included the Top 40 R&B hit single "Burning Spear". Their most successful album, Another Exposure (1968), peaked at number 43 on the Billboard R&B charts and featured interpretations of songs by George and Ira Gershwin, Otis Redding, and The Beatles. In November 1968, they released their first live album, Back By Demand: In Concert, recorded at Chicago's London House nightclub. Their final studio album, The Soulful Strings Play Gamble-Huff (1971), consisted of cover versions of songs by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. The group disbanded following the sale of Chess Records to General Recorded Tape in 1971.
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