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(ThyBlackMan.com) When we think of the voices that built soul music from the ground up, Jerry Butler—affectionately known as The Iceman—rises near the top of that list. His voice wasn’t just smooth—it was wise, weathered, and full of heart. He had that rare ability to make you feel like he was speaking directly to you, whether he was singing about devotion, heartbreak, or emotional survival. Butler didn’t just record soul […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) With Consumer Spending, or consumption spending accounting for 68-70% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), “the 68-70% figure alone is proof,” it is Consumer Spending that is at the heart of growth and Job creation. Increase Consumer Spending and you increase Job creation. It makes you wonder why policy makers would risk wrecking our economy with Trump’s projected $3.8 trillion to $5.0 trillion Trump tax cut […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Where is Barack Obama? Democrats had been frustrated that their charismatic former president had gone silent on MAGA’s march of mayhem. Where is that smooth, persuasive voice? It has risen. Obama has spoken, and Democrats would do well to take in the message. “You could be as progressive and socially conscious as you wanted,” Obama sternly told an audience in Connecticut, “and you did not have to pay a […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) For African American families, honoring ancestors and preserving generational wisdom are deeply held traditions. From oral storytelling to Sunday dinners, remembrance is stitched into the fabric of everyday life. Yet, beyond words and rituals, there’s a growing movement to honor this legacy in a way that’s both physical and enduring—through the earth itself. Planting trees as memorials is one powerful way to pay tribute to those who came before […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Mesh coils are redefining how flavour is delivered in modern vaping devices by using a structured mesh heating element that vaporises e-liquid more efficiently and uniformly. Unlike traditional round-wire coils, mesh coils offer increased surface area, faster ramp-up time, and better thermal distribution, which results in consistent and intense flavour output. The shift toward mesh coil technology reflects changing consumer priorities in the UK vape market, where flavour precision […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) After Israel’s latest military attack on another nation, Trump  says  “I gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum to “Make A Deal!.“  That makes the U. S. a partner in this latest tragedy.  When will our current U. S. leaders learn that you can’t threaten people believing your threats will make them do what you alone want them to do? Israeli and American leaders must come to a place where they understand threats nor […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Douglas Turner Ward (1930-2021) wrote a searing play, Days of Absence that depicted the way life might be like in a small southern town where all of the Black folks disappeared.  Predictably, white folks could not walk and chew gum, neither at one time nor at the same time. They could not boil water, feed their children, nor manage their own feeding. The fictional town just about falls apart in the […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Ronald Isley’s voice is more than a melody—it’s a feeling. It’s the slow drop of a bassline in a smoky lounge. It’s the sweet ache of falsetto drifting over candlelight. For over six decades, Isley hasn’t just sung soul—he’s defined it. Whether serenading hearts with The Isley Brothers or stepping out solo in silk-smooth confidence, Ronald’s vocals carry the weight of generations, gliding across love ballads, funk grooves, and […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Cab Calloway remains one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American music. Known for his charismatic stage presence, distinctive vocal style, and groundbreaking contributions to swing and jazz, Calloway carved out a space where music, theater, and cultural commentary intersected. As a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance and a pioneering bandleader at the Cotton Club, he brought scat singing, showmanship, and storytelling to the forefront of big […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Few artists have had a more significant influence on both funk and soul music than Larry Graham. As the pioneering bassist of Sly and the Family Stone and the dynamic frontman of Graham Central Station, Graham didn’t just play music—he redefined how the bass guitar could drive a song. Often credited with inventing the “slap bass” technique, his innovations laid the foundation for generations of funk, R&B, and even […]