Today’s Soul Birthdays – August 18

Maxine Brown – American soul and R&B singer.

Edward Hawkins – American gospel musician, pianist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He was one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He was probably best known for his arrangement of “Oh Happy Day”, which was included on the “Songs of the Century” list.

Ernie Isley – American musician, best known as a member of the musical ensemble The Isley Brothers, and also the splinter group Isley-Jasper-Isley.

Sonny Til – American singer. He was the lead singer of The Orioles, a vocal group from Baltimore, Maryland, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. By 1960 Til was the only original member left.