1960
WILD CHERRY * LEROY WASHINGTON * EXCELLO 2144 * USA

Great Britain had it's introduction to Leroy Washington, and others, in 1963 on the Stateside LP: Authentic R&B which showcased some of the talent of the Nashville, Excello label. The sleeve notes, and probably the compilation and title of the album, were by the legendary Guy Stevens, who did a lot of pioneering work to bring this type of music to British audiences. The use, in the title, of the adjective Authentic, which is tantamount to genuine, suggests an antithesis to the diluted r&b/pop that was fashionable with the emerging British beat bands at the time, some of which went on to be given international fame, and are now propped up by a self interested media and its corporate sponsors as 'classic' Rock and even as 'Blues' artists.


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