Biography of Arthur Conley

A protégé of Otis Redding and, like Redding, a musical disciple of Sam Cooke, Conley co-wrote (with Redding) and sang "Sweet Soul Music," one of the true anthems of the '60s. Based on Cooke's "Yeah, Man," the record was sweet and hot at the same time, with a readily identifiable horn intro and lyrics that immortalized the soul stars of the day. Conley, although signed to Atco, toured overseas with the Stax/Volt Revue and later joined the Soul Clan with Atlantic labelmates Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Don Covay, Ben E. King, and Joe Tex. He moved to Europe in the 1970's and lived in Holland for a number of years, where he appeared on television and radio programs and ran an independent record label. Conley passed away at his Netherlands home in Ruurlo on November 16, 2003. He was 57. ~ Christine Ohlman