Eddie Floyd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eddie Floyd
|
|
|---|---|
Eddie Floyd in 2000
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eddie Lee Floyd |
| Born | June 25, 1937 Montgomery, Alabama, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts |
|
Eddie Lee Floyd (born June 25, 1937) is an American R&B and soul singer and songwriter. He is best known for his amazing work with Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s. One of his most famous songs is "Knock on Wood", which was a number one hit!
Contents
Eddie Floyd's Musical Journey
Eddie Floyd was born in Montgomery, Alabama, but he grew up in Detroit, Michigan. When he was younger, he started a music group called The Falcons. Another famous singer, Mack Rice, was also in this group. The Falcons helped pave the way for other popular Detroit groups like The Temptations and The Four Tops. Some of their successful songs included "You're So Fine." Later, Wilson Pickett joined The Falcons as their lead singer, and they had another hit called "I Found a Love." After a while, Wilson Pickett decided to start his own solo career, and The Falcons group broke up.
Becoming a Songwriter at Stax
In 1965, Eddie Floyd signed a contract with Stax Records in Memphis. This time, he joined as a songwriter. He quickly wrote a popular song called "Comfort Me," which was recorded by Carla Thomas. Eddie then started working with Stax's talented guitarist, Steve Cropper. Together, they wrote songs for Wilson Pickett, who was now signed with Atlantic Records. Their songs for Wilson Pickett became big hits, including "Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)" and "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)".
The Big Hit: "Knock on Wood"
In 1966, Eddie Floyd recorded a song that he had originally written for another famous singer, Otis Redding. But the head of Stax Records decided to release Eddie's version instead. This song, "Knock on Wood" (written with Steve Cropper), launched Eddie Floyd's solo career! It became a huge success and has been sung by over a hundred different artists, from David Bowie to Count Basie. Later, Otis Redding did record his own hit version of the song in 1967 with Carla Thomas. "Knock on Wood" even became a disco hit for Amii Stewart in 1979.
More Hits and Collaborations
Eddie Floyd was a very consistent and talented artist at Stax Records. He had several more hit songs on his own, like "I've Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)" and "Raise Your Hand". "Raise Your Hand" was so good that famous singers like Janis Joplin and Bruce Springsteen covered it!
Eddie also wrote the song "Big Bird" while waiting at a London airport. He was waiting for a plane to fly back to the United States for Otis Redding's funeral.
Even with his own singing career, Eddie was one of Stax's most active songwriters. Many Stax artists recorded songs written by Eddie, often with Steve Cropper or Booker T. Jones. These include Sam & Dave ("You Don't Know What You Mean to Me"), Rufus Thomas ("The Breakdown"), Otis Redding ("I Love You More Than Words Can Say"), and Johnnie Taylor's "Just the One (I've Been Looking For)."
Later Career and Awards
In 1980, Eddie Floyd released new music in the UK. He also joined his old Stax friends, Steve Cropper and Donald "Duck" Dunn, to sing with The Blues Brothers Band on world tours. In 1998, Eddie and Wilson Pickett appeared together in the movie Blues Brothers 2000, singing "634-5789."
Besides singing with The Blues Brothers Band, Eddie Floyd has also been a special guest with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. Bill Wyman was a member of the famous band The Rolling Stones.
In 2008, Eddie Floyd returned to Stax Records. He released a new album called Eddie Loves You So that year. In November 2012, Eddie was honored and inducted into the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame. In December 2012, he released a Christmas album. His son, Anthony Floyd, sang with him on the song "Don’t Forget About James Brown." In 2016, Eddie was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Eddie Floyd was also named to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2017, when he was 80 years old, Eddie performed live at the Royal Albert Hall in London with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. This concert celebrated 50 years of Stax Records, which is famous for Southern soul music.
His Albums
- Knock on Wood – (1967) – Stax
- Looking Back – (1968) – Ember Records
- I've Never Found a Girl – (1969) – Stax
- Rare Stamps – (1969) – Stax
- You've Got to Have Eddie – (1969) – Stax
- California Girl – (1970) – Stax
- Down to Earth – (1971) – Stax
- Baby Lay Your Head Down – (1973) – Stax
- Soul Street – (1974) – Stax
- Experience – (1978) – Malaco Records
- Flashback – (1988) – Ichiban Records
- Red, White & Blues (The Blues Brothers Band) – (1992) – Turnstyle Records
- Gotta Make a Comeback – (1999) – Plane Records
- To the Bone – (2002) – Rock House Records
- Eddie Loves You So – (2008) – Stax
- At Christmas Time – (2012) – Stax
- Down by the Sea – (2013) – Stax
See also
In Spanish: Eddie Floyd para niños
