Shelley’s Plumbline

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Since Shelley was a DJ and radio personality, he was instrumental in helping grow the careers of numerous well-known talented singers and musicians. During Season 4 we have covered stories about many of these musical giants who started as business associates of Shelley’s and blossomed into deep friendships.

We shared stories about BB King, Sam Cooke, and Johnnie Taylor. In episode 3, we talked about how Ray Charles drove a bus around the block in downtown Birmingham. Then, we heard touching stories about Lou Rawls and Bobby “Blue” Bland. And, of course, Shelley told us about his dear friend, Otis Redding.

Today, Shelley brings you more background about an often-overlooked musical talent – but I’ll leave that introduction to Shelley.

Are you ready? No?

Then get ready- because here he comes, the oldest podcaster in the world, Dr. Shelley Stewart!

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On today’s episode we continue sharing stories from Shelley’s fascinating life in music as he tells us about his personal and professional relationship with Otis Redding.

Otis was a chauffeur for another band when he was discovered during a break at the recording studio in Muscle Shoals. Shelley was fortunate enough to be the first DJ to play Otis’s first recording on the air.

Their friendship grew, and Shelley left Radio for a while to become the PR Director for Otis’s Redwal Music Company in Macon, Georgia.

Stay tuned and learn more stories about the recording career and personal life of “The Big O,” Otis Redding.

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Hey Plumbliners. The theme of Season 4 has been about Shelley’s life in music. But this week, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, we’re going to rebroadcast our podcast from Season 1 on Hosea Williams. Hosea Williams was a very close friend and associate of Dr King and was instrumental in organizing the Movement. Please enjoy this special episode.

Dr. King's legacy inspired generations of activists and leaders, and his contributions continue to be recognized and celebrated today as a beacon of hope and progress. But Dr. King had a premonition about his death, and he warned the members of his inner circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement apart after he was gone.

As a member of the King's inner circle, Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Shelley Stewart and Hosea Williams. Hosea reveals the dire warning King had for the members of his inner circle.

Was Hosea Williams right? Did the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Become a Nightmare? Listen and let us know what you think.

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On December 1, 2023, Shelley received the Rosa Parks Day Award for Leadership, Commitment to Civil Rights, Voting Rights, and Civic Service.

Rosa Parks Day is December 1st because that was the day, in 1955, when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus.

In today’s podcast, Shelley reflects on the award and on his own notoriety.

Rosa had heard the story of a black boy who had moved the plank dividing the white and black sections of a streetcar. Years later, when Rosa and Shelley met, she learned that Shelley was that young boy.

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In this week’s episode, we continue exploring Shelley’s friendship with another major blues artist – Bobby “Blue” Bland, or “Blue” as Shelley called him.

Like many blues, soul and R&B artists, Shelley traces Blue’s work back to his Gospel roots. In fact, there are hints of those notes in many of his most popular songs.

Stay tuned and learn how Blue overcame personal obstacles, including illiteracy, to one day find a home in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Today we continue to explore Shelley’s life in the music world as we take a look at Lou Rawls.

Lou, like Sam Cooke, was born and raised in the Chicago area and crossed paths with Sam Cooke as they sang in gospel groups before moving into R&B, Jazz, and Soul.

Since Shelley was a popular radio personality, he had a hand in promoting the careers of both Sam and Lou and they became fast friends when they met at performances.

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Today, Shelley talks about his personal and professional friendship with the Philosopher of Soul, otherwise known as Johnnie Taylor.

As the PR director for Redwal Music Company, Shelley had the opportunity to spend time with Johnnie, as well as other music greats on that label, including Otis Redding. We’ll get to Otis in a future podcast.

Both Johnnie and Shelley shared a love of spiritual music, and Johnnie eventually had a successful career singing blues, R&B, and soul. Johnnie confessed to Shelley that, in spite of his musical career, he really wanted to be a disc jockey. He became a DJ known as “The Wailer, Johnnie Taylor” on KKDA in Dallas, Texas. Johnnie passed in the year 2000, just a few months after releasing one of his best-known songs, “Soul Heaven.”

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We continue to explore Shelley’s life in music, as Shelley shares stories about his relationship with Ray Charles.

Ray is definitely an icon in the blues world, known for his trademark Ray Ban sunglasses. In fact, it’s generally acknowledged that Ray was the first blind musician to wear sunglasses, setting a trend for future musicians. But Ray will be the first to say he never saw his blindness as a handicap.

Many did not know Ray loved to play chess, and he owned his own plane and was fascinated by flying. He was even known to take a turn as a pilot now and then. And in today’s episode, Shelley recalls how Ray drove his own bus around the block in downtown Birmingham on a bet.

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Two of the most popular episodes of Shelley’s Plumbline were Episode 1 of Season 2,  "The Final Interview with Eddie Kendricks."  A lot of folks also liked Episode 2 of Season 2 … about Shelley’s life scouting for musical talent on the Chitlin' Circuit.

So to kick off Season Four, we’re going to give you more stories about Shelley’s life in music – this time with his friend, Riley King – or should we say, BB King. Yup, THE BB King.

Stay tuned. Give it a listen. We think you’re going to like it.

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Today as we continue to explore Shelley’s life in music, we feature a conversation about Sam Cooke, one of Shelley’s dear friends.

In fact, Shelley was so close to him that Sam was the godfather to one of his children.

Aside from being a very good friend, Sam and Shelley shared the same mission: to use the power of music to bring people together. They both played to integrated audiences at a time when that was not acceptable. In fact, it could be dangerous to do that.

Sam was a trailblazer not only with his music, but his approach. He believed the artist should own the rights to their music so he was one of the first to write, produce and distribute his own music.

Sam’s life ended tragically before his time in 1964 when he was shot at a hotel in Los Angeles.

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