SoulTracks is the leading online resource dedicated to classic and modern Soul Music.  From its inception in 2003, SoulTracks has been designed to provide useful information and updates on the greatest Classic Soul artists and to introduce readers to the next generation of Soul Music singers.

SoulTracks includes artist biographies, CD reviews, Soul Music News and "Where Are They Now?" features, as well as regular CD giveaways, free song downloads and special offers.

SoulTracks is currently the most popular soul music website in America.

Our Publisher

Chris Rizik is the founder and publisher of SoulTracks.  Chris began building the website in his kitchen with one of his four children on Memorial Day weekend, 2003, to hold the transcripts of a soul music biography show he was broadcasting on XM Satellite Radio.  Slowly the site expanded and improved, growing as a place to read more about "old school" soul artists and to find out about a new generation of great soul music performers.  By mid-2005, SoulTracks was ranked as the most popular soul music website in America. In 2007, the site was completely redesigned and a number of talented writers joined SoulTracks, deepening its content and making it an even more complete bridge between classic and modern soul.

Our Music Editor

L. Michael Gipson is a critically acclaimed writer, award-winning youth advocate and burgeoning songwriter. For his public health youth work, Michael was the recipient of the NAACP and the Black AIDS Institute 2001 Leaders of Today and Tomorrow award. His socio-political essays have been published in two recent anthologies, including "Emerging Agendas: The Best of Poverty and Race 2001-2005". His feature articles and cultural criticism essays have regularly appeared in ARISE, CLIK, and PULSE magazine. On the music scene, Michael began writing music artist profiles with the regional Midwestern cult classic URBAN DIALECT leading to his indie music column "Go Deep" on Rhythmflow.net before finally settling into the SoulTracks family. He is available for indie artist bios and promotional materials at lmgipson(at)earthlink.net.

Our Senior Writer

Howard Dukes is a father of three and a reporter for the South Bend Tribune as well as a poet, playwright and filmmaker, with two documentary films and two successful plays under his belt.  In 2006 he published his first book, Will Flo-4-Food, and is now working on a new book on the underground soul music scene.

Our Contributing Writers (alphabetically)

Akim Bryant's two passions in life are music and writing. He's currently employed as a radio programmer for the nationally distributed cable service Music Choice (video-on-demand, broadband and digital music channels). In late 2006, Akim joined NYC-based Bleu Magazine as the Arts & Lifestyle Editor. And with an insatiable thirst for the power of the written word, Akim began working in the summer of 2006 on his forthcoming debut novel called Stuck Pages. It's loosely based on his personal triumphs and tribulations. He can be reached at bleulifestyle(at)yahoo.com.

Melody Charles (melody.charles1(at)gmail.com) is a Cleveland-born, Dallas-based entertainment journalist; her parents' extensive vinyl collection stoked her interest in all forms of music, but soul remains the genre that grooves and soothes her. After writing for her college's newspaper, Ms. Charles first wrote for a local website, DallasBlack, eventually contributing articles to Upscale Magazine, Florida Today and The Dallas Morning News. In between managing a home, husband and two children, Ms. Charles has submitted CD reviews, performance reviews and interviewed some of the brightest stars in music (Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Queen Latifah), movies (Jamie Foxx, Leon) and comedy (Katt Williams, Rickey Smiley and Steve Harvey); she was even personally recruited by Stokley Williams of Mint Condition to create the new bio to launch the band's latest CD, e-Life. For Melody, becoming a contributor for SoulTracks is yet another step in cementing her reputation as an insightful, enthusiastic conveyor of R&B musicians, events and culture.  (And yes, even if you aren't Mint Condition, Ms. Charles is available to pen indie/professional artist bios at the above e-mail address).

Detrel Howell is these days most often associated with the independent soul music promotional company One Nation Under The Soul Shack (ONUTSS),", which she co-founded.  However, Detrel is an avid music lover who, for years has worked quietly behind the scenes as a champion for lesser known artists.  She is also a contributing writer for PlanetSoul.com and Rhythmflow.net, where her column "Inspirational Rhythms" focuses on the world of gospel music.

James "JL" Lewis is based in the UK and attracts a world-wide audience through his popular radio shows and taste in music. Holding the record for the longest continuously running soul show JL has devoted his life to the genre and is passionate about seeking out artistes that may not be able to get the exposure that they deserve. His eclectic taste and humour can now be regularly heard through the on demand and podcasted syndicated shows that are now on a radio station near you. His reviews and interviews are featured in a number of music magazines and in-between all this JL has founded a international children's cancer charity, heads up a charity for Older People and keeps order over 5 children-just!

David Nathan is known to many as the "British Ambassador of Soul," and has carved an outstanding career over more than three decades as one of the most tireless supporters of Soul Music.  His work as a writer for Blues & Soul and Billboard, his many soul books, his pioneering work as a creator of classic soul CD compilations, his formation of soulmusic.com, one of the leading soul music sites on the we, his work as "media coach" for a number of top R&B artists and his service for many important Soul Music organizations such as the Rhythm & Blues Foundation (for which he is a trustee) have made David one of the most important and visible figures in the Soul Music community.

Vernita Naylor  is the principal of Jabez Entertainment Group (JEG), a multi-faceted multicultural entertainment company representing customers in but not limited to public relations, marketing, promotion, talent buying, online content, multimedia design and development, radio and retail servicing, consultation, film and video production, event planning, imaging, speaking engagements and guest appearances.

Peggy Oliver -  No matter what ‘office-type' day job Ms. Peggy Oliver has worked in, the music industry somehow finds a way to her life and her heart.  Majoring back in the day as a Broadcast Major at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, the Seattle, WA native was a DJ for several regional radio stations, including Seattle's KEXP 90.3 FM (formerly KCMU FM), featuring an eclectic format of nearly all genres.  She also served as traffic manager at KBCS 91.7 FM on the campus of Bellevue (WA) Community College.  Ms. Oliver was infected by the music review writing bug as a former bookkeeper/administrative assistant at Blues To Do's, a Seattle-based Blues Music magazine.  Presently, besides Soultracks, Ms. Oliver is a regular contributor to http://www.gospelcity.com/ (since April 2002) and joined the ranks of http://www.blackgospel.com/ last December.

Tom Paul is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston where he received a degree in both Songwriting and Voice. Presently he is a Brooklyn based Singer/Songwriter who works hard writing songs for his upcoming CD as well as with other artists on the scene. He helps promote all of his friends shows and upcoming CDs on the NYC Indie Soul scene via his savvy emails and his blogs. He also hosts a popular Songwriter Circle twice a month which focuses on making songwriters better hone their craft musically and lyrically. His blog can be found at http://tompaulindiemusic.blogspot.com/ and his music can be heard on his website http://www.tompaulmusic.com/ and www.myspace.com/tompaul6band.

Denis Poole became addicted to soul music in 1963 and fortunately never kicked the habit. A noted writer on soul and smooth jazz of many years standing, Denis also writes and produces his own creation, the website  http://www.smoothjazztherapy.com/  In addition he regularly contributes to http://www.smoothvibes.com/ where he has written the "The Secret Garden" section for the last seven years. Denis is available to artists and publicists for the production of biographies, discographies and promotional material. Contact him at denispoole2000(at)yahoo.com.

Steven Riggs is 40 years young and has been teaching elementary school for the past 10 years.  Steven has five strong passions:  Christianity, staying in shape (physically, mentally, and spiritually), developing young minds, fashion, and MUSIC!  (GOOD MUSIC)!  His passion for music is what leads him to write for SoulTracks.  He can spend hours talking about or listening to music from all genres, but R & B, jazz, dance/house, and rock are his favorites.  Steven is honored to be apart of the SoulTracks family because he feels it gives him a voice (no matter how small) in an industry that seems to push aside quality music.  SoulTracks provides listeners and readers the opportunity experience quality music by quality artists. You can reach Steve at Rigzy08(at)aol.com.

Arnold Stovell is a feature reporter for the Urban Times News covering local political and community events in Jersey City and Newark New Jersey.  Arnold was a contributor to http://www.ispysoul.com/ (as Walter O. Williams) and has written commercials and print ads for Sony and EMI artists.  Arnold has also worked as a script reader for independent film companies.  He now serves as a teacher for the Jersey Public School system as well as New York's Harlem Children's Zone. 

Christopher Whaley is, first and foremost, a die-hard music fanatic.  Music has been an artform that he has had an immense appreciation for ever since he was a child.  He grew up in a household where the sounds of Motown, Stax, the Beatles, the Who, and countless artists from a diverse background were in constant rotation on a daily basis.  As he got older, his love for music led him to writing about music and as a result a music journalist was born.  He and his wife Georgette are the creators and publishers of SOBO Magazine, a publication that caters to artists who would otherwise go unnoticed by mainstream media.  They have been grateful to interview many great artists that they admire and their goal is to continue to deliver great journalism for many years to come.

Christian John Wikane is a NYC-based music journalist whose passion for his subject matter stems all the way back to age two when he heard "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross on a scratchy 45 rpm. He holds a BS in Media, Culture & Society from Northeastern University where he studied the relationship between popular music and socio-cultural issues. After his arrival in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, he became a voting member of the Dance Music Hall of Fame, volunteered for LIFEbeat, and continued writing artist features for David Nathan's Soulmusic.com.  Christian is currently a Contributing Editor for PopMatters.com, which features his CD reviews and interviews with legendary artists and up-and-coming talent. (You can find samples of his writing on MySpace: www.myspace.com/christianjohnwikane.) In 2007, he was interviewed and appeared in Eagle Entertainment's DVD biography of Madonna (Wild Angel). Christian is thrilled to join the SoulTracks family!

All information and other content on this website are the copyrighted works of SoulTracks, LLC and may not be copied or reproduced without our written consent.

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