Arthur Conley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Conley
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Arthur Conley in 1967
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Arthur Lee Conley |
| Also known as | Lee Roberts |
| Born | January 4, 1946 McIntosh County, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | November 17, 2003 (aged 57) Ruurlo, Netherlands |
| Genres | Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1959–1988 |
Arthur Lee Conley (born January 4, 1946 – died November 17, 2003) was an American soul singer. He was also known later in his life as Lee Roberts. Arthur Conley is most famous for his big hit song from 1967, "Sweet Soul Music".
Contents
Who Was Arthur Conley?
Arthur Conley was a talented singer known for his soulful voice. He made music that touched many people's hearts. His career lasted for many years, from the late 1950s into the 1980s.
Early Life and First Songs
Arthur Conley was born in McIntosh County, Georgia, in the U.S. He grew up in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. He started his music journey quite early. In 1959, he became the lead singer of a group called Arthur & the Corvets.
With his group, he released three songs in 1963 and 1964. These songs were "Poor Girl," "I Believe," and "Flossie Mae." They were released on a record label in Atlanta called NRC Records.
Working with Otis Redding
In 1964, Arthur Conley moved to a new record label, Ru-Jac Records, in Baltimore. He released a song called "I'm a Lonely Stranger." A very famous soul singer, Otis Redding, heard this song. Otis Redding liked it so much that he asked Arthur Conley to record a new version. This new version was released on Otis Redding's own label, Jotis Records.
Arthur Conley and Otis Redding met in 1967. They worked together to change an old song by Sam Cooke called "Yeah Man." They turned it into the song "Sweet Soul Music". Otis Redding really wanted this song to be released on the Atco-distributed label Fame Records. It was recorded at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
"Sweet Soul Music" became a huge success! It reached number two on the music charts in the U.S. It also made it into the top ten in many parts of Europe. The song sold over one million copies, which earned it a special award called a gold disc.
Later Career and Life in Europe
After having several hit songs in the early 1970s, Arthur Conley decided to move. In 1975, he moved to England. He then spent some time in Belgium before settling in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1977.
In the early 1980s, he performed many successful shows. He performed as Lee Roberts and the Sweaters in famous venues like Paradiso and the Concertgebouw. At the end of 1980, he moved to a Dutch town called Ruurlo. He legally changed his name to Lee Roberts. This new name came from his middle name and his mother's maiden name.
Arthur Conley, as Lee Roberts, started his own company called Art-Con Productions. Through this company, he helped promote new music and other bands. One of the bands he promoted was a heavy metal group named Shockwave. An album of a live show from January 8, 1980, called Soulin, was released in 1988. It featured Lee Roberts & the Sweaters.
A Peaceful Life
Arthur Conley found a peaceful life in the Netherlands. He was able to live comfortably and pursue his music and business interests without the pressures he faced earlier in his career.
His Passing
Arthur Conley passed away in November 2003 at the age of 57. He died from intestinal cancer in Ruurlo, Netherlands. He was buried in a town nearby called Vorden.
Discography
Here are some of the albums and singles Arthur Conley released:
Albums
- Sweet Soul Music (1967)
- Shake, Rattle & Roll (1967)
- Soul Directions (1968)
- More Sweet Soul (1969)
Singles
- "I Believe" (1963, as Arthur & the Corvets)
- "Sweet Soul Music" (1967, co-written with Otis Redding)
- "Shake, Rattle & Roll" (1967)
- "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (1968, a Beatles cover song)
- "Funky Street" (1968)
- "People Sure Act Funny" (1968)
- "God Bless" (1970)
See Also
In Spanish: Arthur Conley para niños
