Artist:     Ronnie Godfrey

Album:     Shades Of Blue

Label:     Self-released

Release Date:     10.25.19 

95

BUY DIGITAL

BUY PHYSICAL

When I first heard the title of old friend Ronnie Godfrey’s new album, I instantly recalled  “Oh How Happy, You Have Made Me” an outstanding and different song, the Shades Of Blue had on the top of the charts in 1966.  Knowing and having the honor of working in both the studio and on stage with Ronnie Godfrey, I knew this project would be outstanding. I just didn’t know how far outstanding, in both the sun and the shade, he would take it. Be warned, bring your shades and umbrella.

This native of Greenville, South Carolina, veteran keyboardist, tunesmith, and incredibly powerful vocalist of his own bands, Garfeel Ruff and The Godfrey Brothers, as well as that of Marshall Tucker Band and Lee Roy Parnell,  Godfrey has been a Nashville treasure for over three decades. If anyone knows about shades of colors, he has never seen, it is Ronnie and his brother Ricky, both whom were born blind, but never let it—or anything else life threw their way—keep them from making great music or seeing things as they are, and as they hoped they would be.

Things kick off to a roaring start with a barnburner called “Boom, Boom.”  Word to club owners and DJs, play this number and start making plans to expand your dance floor. Godfrey doesn’t let up when he moves on to “Jukin’,” further propelled by Bill Darnell’s harp. Brother Ricky and Mike Severs (who Ronnie refers to as his “brother from a different mother’”) add many shades of red-hot and cool guitar.  Veteran songwriter and studio singer, Kim Morrison, aka Mrs.Godfrey, adds talents and background vocals that Ray Charles would have grabbed in a heartbeat, especially after hearing a bar or two of “Love Me Too.” For umbrella users, there is ample amounts of deep blue and purple too on here. Two originals,  “If Love Was A Bullet” and the closer “Paris Mountain,” a look back at his life and others of his generation, are pure thinking songs.  As he always has, Ronnie Godfrey continues to amaze at all that he can see, feel and do.

—Ken Spooner