Charles Spurling

Spurling began his music career as a member of a singing group that would often rival the Isley Brothers. The two groups would go to street corners and take turns seeing who could attract the bigger group. A singer as well as a songwriter, Spurling worked mainly within the soul and Motown genres. He was a frequent collaborator with Junior McCants – a recording artist with King Records. Through this relationship, he began to record on the King Record label as well.

Spurling was also a known collaborator with James Brown, The Ohio Players, and Bootsy Collins. Some of his best tracks include “She Cried Just a Minute”, “Don’t Let Him Hurt You Baby”, “Let Me Be (A Steppin’ Soul)”, and “Unwind Yourself” which has been sampled several times in songs like Chad Jackson’s “I Hear the Drummer Get Wicked.”

Spurling’s musical style was very similar to other funk and soul artists of the time, such as James Brown. He used heavy instrumental backing, and smooth deep vocals. “Don’t Let Him Hurt You Baby” demonstrates this and is one of his better “slow” songs. “Let me be (A Steppin’ Soul)” is much more upbeat, and features guitar and a jumpy horns section.

 

 

Notable Songs: “Here I Go” (Recorded By James Brown), Let Me Be (A Steppin’ Soul)”,  “Don’t Let Him Hurt You Baby”, and “Unwind Yourself”.