The journey through underrated club anthems continues this week with one of the godfathers of UK soul music, the legendary Junior Giscombe, who joins us to break down the making of his 1981 crossover hit “Mama Used to Say.”
Born Norman Washington Giscombe on June 6, 1957, Junior had been making the rounds of the London music scene, just as the Britfunk movement was bridging the gap of a racially-divided England with its friendly and inviting sound, one inspired by American R&B, soul and funk.
After dabbling in rock and even Disco, Junior found his groove with producer Bob Carter and tapped into the words of wisdom of his Jamaican mother to create a song that touched a nerve with audiences in the UK and the US.
With its universal message of love, knowledge, and self-acceptance, “Mama Used To Say” helped Junior make history as one of the first British soul singers to cross over to America, and served as inspiration and praise for a number of equally iconic performers.
Show Tracklisting
Junior on Social Media:
Host and Producer: Diego Martinez
Executive Producer: Nicholas "NickFresh" Puzo
Audio Engineer: Adam Fogel
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