April 13: Al Green was born in 1946

I’m thankful for every moment.
~Al Green

The music is the message, the message is the music. So that’s my little ministry that the Big Man upstairs gave to me – a little ministry called love and happiness.
~Al Green

“Green plays the boyish Sam Cooke supplicant–or maybe a smooth Otis Redding, or an assertive Smokey Robinson–with the startling is-that-a-synthesizer? high note…”
~Robert Christgau (in 1970 – review of “Gets next to you” album)

Let’s Stay Together (Live 1972):

President Obama:

Wikipedia:

Birth name	Albert Greene
Also known as	The Reverend Al Green
Born	April 13, 1946 (age 72)
Origin	Forrest City, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres	R&B, gospel, soul, smooth soul
Occupations	Reverend, vocalist, producer,songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1967–present
Labels	Hi, Myrrh, The Right Stuff
Associated acts	The Creations, Willie Mitchell
Website	Official website

Albert Greene (born April 13, 1946), better known as Al Green or Reverend Al Green, is an American singer, better known for scoring a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including “Tired of Being Alone”, “I’m Still In Love With You”, “Love and Happiness” and his signature song, “Let’s Stay Together”. Inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, Green was referred to on the museum’s site as being “one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music”. Green was included in the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, ranking at No. 66.

Love and Happiness (live – HQ):

Al Green was the first great soul singer of the ’70s and arguably the last great Southern soul singer. With his seductive singles for Hi Records in the early ’70s, Green bridged the gap between deep soul and smooth Philadelphia soul. He incorporated elements of gospel, interjecting his performances with wild moans and wails, but his records were stylish, boasting immaculate productions that rolled along with a tight beat, sexy backing vocals, and lush strings.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine (allmusic.com)

Awards:

• Inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995
• In 2004, Green was inducted into the Gospel Music Association‘s Gospel Music Hall of Fame
  
• In the same year he was inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame
• In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him No. 65 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time
• He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 BET Awards on June 24, 2009
  

On August 26, 2004, Green was honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI Urban Awards. He joined an impressive list of previous Icon honorees including R&B legends James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley

Live at the Apollo 1990 (59 fantastic minutes!):

Playlist of the day:

Other April 13:

• Bob Dylan played @ Sydney Stadium, Sydney Australia in 1966.
  Check out my post ->Bob Dylan – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia – 13 April 1966
• Max Weinberg (born April 13, 1951) is an American drummer and television personality, most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and as the bandleader for Conan O’Brien on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

-Egil & Hallgeir