Video of the Month: Kinsman Dazz Band pleads for us to “Wake Up”

In his 40+ years in the spotlight, singer and guitarist Michael J. Calhoun has covered an awful lot of ground. Both as a solo performer and as part of the legendary, Grammy winning Kinsman Dazz/The Dazz Band), Calhoun has delivered gems in the funk, R&B and Gospel genres.

About five years ago, Calhoun teamed with original Kinsman Dazz saxman and vocalist Wayne Preston to form the new Kinsman Dazz Band. KDB has been extremely active, releasing a series of great songs that have won for them several SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Award nominations and a regular spot in our rotation. And that string continues with the brand new single, “Wake Up (The Truth),” a plea for us to “see what’s going on,” and to make the changes that our country and our world need.

Mike says that part of the goal of the song was to remind the young to wake up about “the freedom earned through the blood, sweat and tears of the Civil War,” just as the song’s cover art shows Black Lady Liberty waking up the slaves from the darkness with her light.

With noted Gospel singer Eddie B. Sands providing mesmerizing lead vocals, Kinsman Dazz provides a song that would fit among the socially conscious songs of the 1970s, all brought forward to 2024.

Check out “Wake Up (The Truth)” below, and welcome this talented act back to SoulTracks

Video of the Month
Kinsman Dazz Band
“Wake Up (The Truth)”

Video

More Info

Song Credits:

Produced by Michael J Calhoun & Pete Tokar 
Written by : Michael J. Calhoun
Assistant Producers: Wayne Preston and Chris Cuda
Vocal Arrangement: Wayne Preston and Michael J Calhoun
Background Vocals: Wayne Preston, Eugene Wilson, Ronnie B & Rick Marks
Executive Producers: Michael J Calhoun & Wayne Preston
Music Performed By: Pete Tokar, Michael J Calhoun, Niles McKinney and Chris Cuda 
Recorded By: Pete Tokar, Montoyia King &  Jwansee Preston
Mixed By: Pete Tokar
Artwork  Jim Dudash & Michael J Calhoun

Lead Vocals : Eddie B Sands 
Video Director: Jim Dudash
Video Producer: Michael J Calhoun 

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