Belva & The Randolph Bros. "Happy Fool" (Randolph Bros. Productions)

The Star City's own Randolph Bros. return, this time adding a sister to the mix. Belva's unique vocals on the super catchy "Happy Fool" immediately draw you in with a delivery that's somehow innocent yet knowing. Ultimately, it becomes clear that she's not as blissfully ignorant as the title might lead us to believe. The rhythm section falls into lock step behind a crisp guitar line, as the horns deftly augment the tight arrangement with percussive melody. Then out of nowhere comes this blast of fuzz, as if the Deep Purple tour bus made a quick detour through the studio on the way to the Roanoke Civic Center. Truly out of left field, but, hey, it works!

Belva & The Randolph Bros. "Happy Fool"

Randolph Bros "What It Is Pt.1" (Star City)

On November 23rd, 1949 the city of Roanoke, Va switched on an illuminated star high atop Mill Mountain, which still shines there to this day. Perhaps the mountains of Virginia would not be the first place to come to mind as a hotbed for soul & funk, but "The Star City" boasted such heavyweights as Earl Carter & the Fantastic 6 and fellow funkateers The Randolph Brothers. In the early 70's, The Randolphs decided to put The Star Of The South on the R&B map with two strong singles, "What It Is" was the first. (Don't worry kids, we'll get the other one up soon.)

Randolph Bros. "What it is Pt.1"