Brittany Howard on why Charles Bradley is her favourite live singer: “It’s just real”
There are countless talented singers around the world, but what makes somebody a truly great vocalist is the ability to convey complex emotions through song. This is why figures like Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin are so often hailed as the greatest vocalists of all time; not only do they have technical ability, but also emotional weight. In the modern age, there are few vocalists as gifted and emotionally effective as Alabama Shakes songwriter Brittany Howard.
From the formation of Alabama Shakes back in 2009, Howard has earned a reputation for herself as one of America’s greatest vocal talents. Her work with the band, along with more recent solo records and tracks like ‘Stay High’, have reaffirmed Howard’s constantly evolving musical style, as well as showing that the quality of her performance has never really wavered. As such, Howard is certainly an authority when sizing up the vocal performances of some of her contemporaries.
During an interview with Rolling Stone back in 2013, shortly after the release of Alabama Shakes’ stunning debut album Boys & Girls, Howard was asked to list some of her all-time favourite live acts and singers. As you might expect, the list was incredibly eclectic, placing Deadmau5 and The Hives among legendary figures like Björk and Bruce Springsteen. Topping the list, however, is the late, great funk and soul legend Charles Bradley.
Inspired by the unforgettable performances of James Brown, Bradley first began performing as a young man in the 1960s. Despite his clear vocal talent, he never quite made it in the music industry during his youth and soon resigned himself to a life living in obscurity. That was until the 1990s, when he returned to the musical world in his 50s, finding a new audience for his revivalist funk and soul stylings.
Over the next two decades, Bradley found the fame and notoriety that he had first yearned for back in the 1960s. After releasing his debut studio album, No Time for Dreaming, in 2011, Bradley soon crossed paths with Brittany Howard. “I first saw him on YouTube playing at a bicycle shop for SXSW,” Howard recalled, adding that she “was brought to tears. ‘Who is this dude?’”
“I got to meet him at Sasquatch, and he’s pretty much the only person I’ve ever been like a superfan, freaking out,” Howard said, which is a good measure of how well-respected a singer Bradley was. Explaining the unique quality of his voice, Howard shared, “He sings about his life, and a lot of things are hard for him to talk about, but he does it because he’s trying to help people.”
“It’s just real,” Howard concluded, “Other people go through the motions, but he’s doing the real thing. That’s why it’s a breath of fresh air, like ‘Wow, this is what music’s about.’” Unfortunately, Bradley passed away in 2017 at the age of 68, putting an end to the incredible live performances that Howard held so dear. Nevertheless, there are many documented performances by the soul star that come close to capturing the emotional weight of his performance.
