Smorgasbord Music Column – William Price King with The Duet – #1970 – 1971 – Brewer & Shipley – One Toke Over the Line ,1971 – Ike and Tina Turner – Proud Mary

In this series for 2024, William will be sharing some of the iconic duets from the 1960s onwards. Collaborations between artists that were hits around the world and are still enjoyed today.

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you will enjoy this trip down memory lane with me in coming months. William

1971 – Brewer & Shipley – One Toke Over the Line

Brewer & Shipley were a folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriters Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley. They were known for their intricate guitar work, vocal harmonies, and socially conscious lyrics which reflected the concerns of their generation – the Vietnam War and the struggles for personal and political freedom.

“One Toke Over the Line” was the debut single from their album “Tarkio.” The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on the Cash Box chart and was their only Top 40 hit in the US. It reached #5 in Canada and #7 in New Zealand.

1971 – Ike and Tina Turner – Proud Mary

“Proud Mary” was composed by John Fogerty and originally recorded by the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969. The song was taken from the album “Bayou Country.” It became a major hit in the United States, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In January 1971, Ike & Tina Turner released “Proud Mary,” their second single on Liberty Records, from the 1970 album “Workin’ Together.” Their version differs significantly from the original and became one of their most recognizable signature songs. The single peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 two years after the original by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It also reached #5 on Billboard’s R&B chart, and earned Ike & Tina Turner a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group in 1972.

Thanks for joining me today and look forward to hearing from you… William.

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Website: William Price King – Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial – Regular Venue – Cave Wilson