Albert Greene – April 13, 1946. An American gospel and soul singer, born in Arkansas. At the age of ten he started performing in a quartet with his brothers. They toured extensively throughout the 1950s, but Green was eventually kicked out of the band by his father for listening to his hero, Jackie Wilson. Green then dropped the ‘e’ from Greene and went on to record as a solo artist.
Green’s original singing style was more akin to that of James Brown and other contemporaries he idolised such as Jackie Wilson. In 1969, Willie Mitchell of Memphis’ Hi Records, who would sign Green and release his first albums, recognised that Green had a powerful and expressive voice more suited to slower grooves. Greens next albums would include classics such as Al Green Get’s Next To You (1970), Let’s Stay Together (1972), I’m Still In Love With You (1972) and Call Me (1973), which included Green’s own “Take Me to the River”, which remains a huge hit today.
Despite the huge success of Green’s early 1970s offerings, his career would take an abrupt change in direction in 1974. Mary Woodson White, a girlfriend of Green’s, assaulted him before committing suicide at his Memphis home. Although she was already married, White reportedly became upset when Green refused to marry her. At some point during the evening, White doused Green with a pan of boiling porridge while he was showering, causing burns on Green’s back, stomach and arms. The police found in her purse a note declaring her intentions and her reasons. “The more I trust you,” she’d written, “the more you let me down.”
Green cited the incident as a wake-up call to change his life. He became a pastor and continues to serve in this capacity today. Green released another R&B album in the late 70s, but sales were relatively poor and he never regained his former mass audience. Finally in 1979 Green injured himself falling off stage during a performance and interpreted this as a message from God. After this he devoted all his energies towards pastoring his church and gospel singing. Green has made the odd contribution to R&B, generally through collaborations with other artists.
Despite the abrupt end to Greens R&B recording and performing career, he remains a very popular artist today. His achievements have been recognised with a number of high profile awards, which include ten Grammy’s in both best song and best artist categories.
