J. blackfoot dies

J. blackfoot dies - Soul singer J. Blackfoot, known for his time with the Bar-Kays and The Soul Children, died in Memphis Wednesday at the age of 65.

Hours after his death, tributes to Blackfoot were written in the comments section of his songs on YouTube, including his 1984 solo hit, "Taxi."

James Alexander with JEA RightNow Records knew Blackfoot, whose real name is John Colbert, when he was a young singer.

"Even back in the beginning, his voice was matured far beyond his years," said Alexander.

Alexander recruited Blackfoot to be the leader singer of his hit group the Bar-Kays for a time.

"I introduced him to Isaac Hayes and David Porter, who later put together a group called The Soul Children," said Alexander. "This was the late 60's, early 70's."

Blackfoot later went solo. When asked what his favorite Blackfoot song was, Alexander could not stop naming them.

"'Taxi,' 'Just One Lifetime,' 'I Stood on the Sidewalk and Cried,' the list goes on and on," he said. "He had so many great songs. You're talking about a man who has been singing for over 40 years."

Alexander said he spent those 40 years singing a kind of music that just is not made these days.

"J. was really one of the last soul singers," said Alexander. "Lots of people call it blues, but J. was a soul singer. Sang from the heart."

Source: wbtv