DESCRIPTION:
Sam Moore recorded this song in 2014 in Memphis to remind people of Dr. Martin Luther King's message of peace, equality and respect.

History of a forgotten song: This new recording has been 46 years in the making. It is originally written and recorded in May 15, 1968 in Belgium by Bobbejaan Schoepen and his friend Mel Turner in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4th, 1968.

Profoundly affected by this seismic event, both men felt compelled to commit their feelings to paper, to convey the deep sadness that Dr. Martin Luther King’s death had prompted within them and across the world.

However, this song almost never came to light. For four decades it lay almost forgotten. But in June 2008, during the recordings of the last album by Bobbejaan, the idea was born to resurrect the track. Bobbejaan’s son, biographer and manager, Tom Schoepen, and the record producer Firmin Michiels both knew it would make an excellent recording with a great guest singer. But the untimely passing of Bobbejaan Schoepen in 2010 meant that this endeavour would have to wait.

In 2013 Tom and Firmin reunited to complete the project. During his career, Firmin had worked at the Royal Studios in Memphis Tennessee. Through his connections with Lester Snell both men began to gather a group of outstanding musicians to bring this song to life.

Via Lester Snell, the renowned arranger and keyboard player, the soul legend SAM MOORE was recruited to provide his own inimitable voice to the track. Not only is Sam one of the greatest soul voices of all time but he was also a close friend of Dr. King and has contributed to a slight adaptation of the original words.

Recorded in Memphis over the weekend of Martin Luther King Day 2014, under the auspices of engineer Lawrence ‘Boo’ Mitchell – son of Royal Studios founder Willie Mitchell – this soulful song captures the spirit of the times it was written in. As Boo Mitchell stated: ‘This song is so, so strong, it could have been recorded in the 60s or 70s in Stax Memphis by the best soul artists’.

Credits:
Produced by Mark Plati and Firmin Michiels
Executive producer Tom Schoepen
Arranged by Lester Snell
Recorded January 17-18, 2014 at Royal Studios, Memphis Tennessee
by Lawrence "Boo" Mitchel
Tribute song for Martin Luther King:
Mixed by Mark Plati at Alice's Restaurant, New York City
Mastered by Tom Durack
Artistic direction by Tom Schoepen and Firmin Michiels
Special Thanks to Joyce Moore

The Band
Lester Snell - Wurlitzer
James Robertson - Drums
Rev Charles Hodges - B3
Leroy Hodges - Bass
Michael Toles - Guitar
Mark Plati - Guitar
Marc Franklin - Trumpet
Gary Topper - Tenor Sax
Victor Sawyer - Trombone
Art Edmaiston - Baritone Sax

Backing Vocals
Tomika "Big Baby" Goodman
Ann Hines
Patricia Snell

Music Video
Directed by Benny Vandendriessche
Camera by Jakob Rosseel
Edited by Tom Denoyette
Produced by Tom Schoepen/Bobbejaan Records bvba

#MartinLutherKing, #SamMoore, #SamAndDave,

℗ & © 2014 Bobbejaan Records bvba
Written and composed by Mel Turner aka Jimmy James Ross and Bobbejaan Schoepen, April-May 1968. Lyrics adaptation by Sam Moore, 2014

This song is Re-recorded and Published by Tom Schoepen on behalf of Bobbejaan Records, January 2014 - All Rights Reserved © www.theykilledtheking.com and www.bobbejaanschoepen.com