The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Alphabet continues today with a look at one of the most dominant soul figure of our time. Meet Al Green.
The Reverend Al Green exploded onto the charts in the late 60s and 70s with great songs like “I’m Still in Love with You,” “Love and Happiness,” “Take Me to the River” and “Tired of Being Alone.” Al was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
Al was born in Forrest City, Arkansas in 1946, the sixth of 10 children. The family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in the mid-50s and his deeply religious father actually threw him out of the house when caught listening to Jackie Wilson. In 1974 Al’s girlfriend at the time, Mary Woodson White, committed suicide, inspiring Al to turn back to religion for safe harbor, becoming a pastor in Memphis.
Al took a music hiatus for a period of time, returning to the stage in the 80s. The 70-year-old Green still preaches in Memphis, not far from Graceland.
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