PAUL FOSTER, OF THE SOUL STIRRERS, DIES AT 75

[Eric LeBlanc-CISTI]

The Rev. Paul Foster Sr., former tenor/baritone singer with the
Soul Stirrers, died Sunday, August 20, 1995, Vallejo, CA. He was born
July 12, 1920, Shreveport, LA. After WW II, he settled in Oakland,
joining The Rising Stars, recording for Pacific Records, and Bob Geddins'
Big Town & Cavatone Labels. By 1949, Foster had returned to Houston,
joining Wilmer "Little Axe" Broadnax as co-lead of The Golden Echoes,
recording for Art Rupe's Specialty Records (available on Specialty 7034)
and Jack Lauderdale's Swing Time Records. Paul Foster then replaced
James Heywood Medlock in the Soul Stirrers, remaining with them for 13
years. Paul Foster's beautiful low tenor/strong baritone lead were the
perfect checkmate to the Soul Stirrers' many lead singers : R.H. Harris,
Sam Cooke, Johnnie Taylor and Jimmy Outler. These 'dual' leads were the
model for the 60s' soulmen like Sam & Dave - so Stax fans take note.
Specialty 7052 I particularly recommend as we have here 28 tracks
featuring Sam Cooke, 12 of which are duets with Paul Foster. His 1950
(acappella) dual leads with R. H. Harris are on Specialty 7013, and his
solo leads & duets with Johnnie Taylor are on Specialty 7040. And
finally, in what is the only live recording of Sam Cooke & The Soul
Stirrers, we have Specialty 7045, were Foster nearly steals the show from
Sam Cooke on their 8 minute version of "Be With Me Jesus". Their 1959-1963
SAR Recordings are now on ABKCO 2231 : Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story.
For more details concerning their recordings, I suggest GOSPEL RECORDS
1943-1969 : A BLACK MUSIC DISCOGRAPHY by Cedric Hayes & Bob Laughton.

In 1965, Paul Foster was called to the ministry, pastoring the Union
Baptist Church, Vallejo, CA. until his retirement a few years ago.
His son, Paul Foster Jr., is continuing on the tradition. The Soul Stirrers
were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame on January 18, 1989. I'd
like to thank Galen Gart's series, FIRST PRESSINGS : THE HISTORY OF RHYTHM
& BLUES (which includes gospel) for help with this obituary.

For the record, 1995 deaths in gospel music include : Doris Mae Akers
(1923-1995), Cassietta Baker George (1929-1995), Raymond Rasberry
(1930-1995), Carl M. Story (1916-1995), Vernell Garnett Townsend
(1931-1995), and Bill Woodruff (1929-1995).

References :

GOSPEL RECORDS 1943-1969 : A BLACK MUSIC DISCOGRAPHY / by Cedric Hayes &
Bob Laughton. 2 Volumes. (available now from Roots & Rhythm at a new
low price. Email <ro...@hooked.net> for details)

FIRST PRESSINGS : THE HISTORY OF RHYTHM & BLUES (available from Big Nickel
Publications, P.O. BOX 157, MILFORD, NH. 03055)

CD DISCOGRAPHY
=========================================================================
ABKCO 2231 : VARIOUS - SAM COOKE'S SAR RECORDS STORY 1959-1966
ACE (UK) 280 : SAM COOKE & THE SOUL STIRRERS - IN THE BEGINNING
SPECIALTY 2119 : TWO SIDES OF SAM COOKE
SPECIALTY 7009 : SAM COOKE WITH THE SOUL STIRRERS
SPECIALTY 7013 : SOUL STIRRERS - SHINE ON ME
SPECIALTY 7031 : SOUL STIRRERS - JESUS GAVE ME WATER
SPECIALTY 7034 : THE DETROITERS / THE GOLDEN ECHOES - OLD TIME RELIGION
SPECIALTY 7040 : SOUL STIRRERS - HEAVEN IS MY HOME (w/Johnnie Taylor)
SPECIALTY 7045 : GREAT 1955 SHRINE CONCERT (3 Soul Stirrers tracks)
SPECIALTY 7052 : SOUL STIRRERS - LAST MILE OF THE WAY