THE SENSATIONAL SOULMASTERS SOULMASTERS -RAVEN 2020 written by Brent Hosier 1965; you're living in Danville, Virginia and you're a white kid who has just formed a soul band. One problem though - you just can't get "the sound". Good white soul singers are nowhere to be found. What to do? For Doug Hyler and Wayne Womble it came down to calling up people in the phone book who lived in the black section of town and asking them if they knew anybody who sang. Despite these creative efforts no one came forth. But soon the guys connected with The New Breed and integration began for the Soulmasters.
Vocalists John Irby and Jerry Wilson came over to practice in Doug's all-white neighborhood. Summertime and with the windows open the guys looked out to see black people lined up and down the street. The word was out. Black folks kept showing up outside of Soulmaster's rehearsals. The neighbors at first were not too happy, but at least no one called the cops. Summer's here and the time is right for (discreet) dancing in the street. Soon the neighbors were out on their porches enjoying the sights and sounds.
The Soulmasters were for the most part too young to play clubs. In Danville they played the Y, the Coke Plant and the 360 Drive In. Sometimes the group would go out to the Fairgrounds to play at Danceland. The all black dances that started at midnight lasted until "til".
Their only recording was thru the local Raven / House of Sound facility in '67. No local airplay came about but a few times they were thrilled to hear " I'll Be Waiting Here " coming through late at night from Nashville, courtesy of John R. at WLAC. Doug's "You Took Away The Sunshine" has a cool intro with John and Jerry name checking each other as well as cutting loose a scream n shout. The title makes for a great hooky chorus with plenty of boost from the band and a full throttle fade has the singers riding it all the way. The Soulmasters carried on before coming to an end during the changing time of 1970. They found "the sound" and we're honored to present it. (Brent Hosier, Arcadia International, 0l' Virginia Soul part 1)