April 13, 1946 Albert Greene (Al Green), gospel and soul singer, was born in Forrest City, Arkansas.
Green started performing at the age of 10 and in 1967 recorded his debut album, “Back Up Train.” His breakthrough occurred in 1970 with the release of the album “Al Green Gets Next to You” which contained such hits as “Let’s Stay Together,” “I’m Still In Love With You,” and “Call Me.” In 1976, Green became an ordained pastor and by the late 1970s was concentrating almost exclusively on gospel music.
From 1981 to 1989, Green recorded a series of gospel recordings which garnered eight Grammy Awards for Soul Gospel Performance. Green returned to secular music in 1995 with the album “Your Heart’s In Good Hands.” Since that time he has released “I Can’t Stop” (2003), “Everything’s OK” (2005), and “Lay It Down” (2008). Green has sold more than 20 million records over his career.
In 1995, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 2002 he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2004 he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Green published “Take Me to the River,” a book discussing his career, in 2000.
No comments yet.