Under the title, “Thanks To All The Good People,” penned at the end of my second year as the resident correspondent in New York for the British music magazine, Blues & Soul, I looked back at some of the highlights. Seeing this now, in October 2024, as I begin to document the articles I’ve written and interviews I’ve conducted, along with the many amazing performances I’ve seen over the decades, I find myself bathing in gratitude…

“As yet another year draws to a close, we’d like to just recall some of the outstanding events and people that have made 1977 an interesting and exciting year. Space usually doesn’t permit us to do a proper review of the whole year but in brief, we’d like to run down some of the more memorable happenings of what has been a truly soulful year!

Starting off with the events: like Ashford & Simpson’s dynamic performance at the Bottom Line, with Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, George Benson and others in the audience (February); Enchantment, riding the crest of a hit wave with “Gloria” who had everyone spellbound at Leviticus (March).

Billy Paul, who with Dexter Wansel and Jean Carn pulled off a magnificent concert at Carnegie Hall (April); Teddy Pendergrass, fellow Philly International star who, in spite of the tragic circumstances just days before when his manager was killed, turned in a fine show at his Carnegie Hall debut (April); Bob James, Marlena Shaw and Eric Gale, who demonstrated true professionalism at their Avery Fisher Hall ‘happening’ (May).

Dionne Warwick, who is still the epitome of sophistication and class, as she ably proved at her Latin Casino stint (May); The Pointer Sisters, who may have been out of the record limelight but nevertheless gave a quality performance at Carnegie Hall (June); Zulema, who remains one of those ‘undiscovered’ creative talents, doing it at Smucker’s (June).

Betty Wright, another lady who has paid her dues and is waiting for that total recognition, giving a first class performance at the Bottom Line (July); Cissy Houston, who some say has been in the background for too long, knocking everyone out at Reno Sweeney’s (July); Roberta Flack in a rare nightclub appearance where she literally gave one of her best ever shows (August).

Marvin Gaye and guest stars Luther, the former giving his audience the best in sensual soul and the latter gettin’ down with some deep soul (September) at Radio City; Sarah Dash, former Labelle-r, whose cabaret debut was auspicious, professional and enjoyable at Reno Sweeney’s (September); Peaches & Herb, by no means golden oldies, who turned in a contemporary, rockin’ show at the Copa (September).

The Brothers Johnson, the funky duo who know how to show true musicianship and keep their audiences impressed with their mixture of mellow music and some serious grooves at Carnegie Hall (September); Al Jarreau and guest Earl Klugh, two shining stars who are finally receiving some of the acclaim that’s their due, at Avery Fisher Hall (September); The Emotions, soul personnified, and The Commodores, full of life and energy, at Madison Square Garden (October).

Millie Jackson whose saucy slices of life in music put her in a category of her own, at Radio City (October); Patti Labelle, performed with super energy, gusto and tons of soul in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music (October); Lou Rawls, who is a true professional and musical maestro in his Broadway debut (November).

And, saving the best till last, Patti Austin, whose talent, personality and energy made her three-day stint at Smucker’s in April enjoyable to the point where we went out to see her no less than five times.

And, the greatest show we have ever witnessed featuring the mighty, mighty Earth, Wind & Fire, Deniece Williams and Pockets at Madison Square Garden (November), in a programme which musically and visually surpassed anything your columnist had ever had the opportunity to see.

Special events we dug: the CBS Convention in London in July which gave us so much insight into the workings of the record business and gave us the opportunity to see so many old friends; the fabulous party for The Jacksons held at New York’s fashionable Studio 54 at which everyone (including yours truly!) got down to the sounds.

The Broadway show, “For Colored Girls” which depicts so much of what’s really happening in black America; the movies, “Short Eyes” and “A Piece Of The Action”, both of which had a message, very much relevant to the times we live in.

And the nicest part — some of the truly soulful people who we have had the good fortune to meet and greet during 1977: Maurice and Verdine White (of EW&F), Phyllis Hyman, Earl Klugh, Patti Austin, Bob James, Dexter Wansel, Dorothy Moore, Larry Blackmon (of Cameo), Patti Labelle, Jean Carn, Teddy Pendergrass, Philippe Wynne, Randy Crawford, Grover Washington Jr, Phillip Ballou & Arthur Freeman (formerly of Revelation), Eddie Kendricks, Sarah Dash, Skip Scarborough, Eddie Holman, Betty Wright, Reggie Andrews (of Karma), Deniece Williams, Roy Ayers, Stix Hooper (of the Crusaders), Ralph MacDonald, Curtis Mayfield, L.T.D., The Ritchie Family, Kenny Gamble, Doris Troy, & William Bell. Also, including some of the folks we’ve had to work with: Jimmy Simpson, Sandra Trim da Costa (CBS); Simo Doe (Atlantic); Gary Byrd; Howard Bloom, Barbara Shelley, Marsha Stern & co; Doreen D’Agostino (Capitol); Marie Moore; Didier Deutsch; Larry Alexander; Buddy & Connie & Steve Allen; Joe Dera; Les Schwartz, (Warners); Billy Pierce Jr and of course, all the B&S staff including Mr Abbey and Jeff Tarry who make sure it all comes together.

Thank y’all for a fabulous ’77. May God bless you.”

David Nathan