Let's Tell It Like It Is. . .
In 1955 rock and roll was still a secret. Then, in 1956, a little-noticed film, "Rock Around The Clock," debuted and put rock and roll on the map. In 1972 reggae was just another anonymous Caribbean rhythm. Then, in 1973, the film "The Harder They Come" opened to scant audiences. Its soundtrack, published in late '72, seduced listeners around the world (including many R&B fans) and made reggae a phenomenon. In 2008 Southern Soul music is at such a crossroads, poised to break out, if only a filmmaker could find the means to tackle the subject in spectacular fashion. Your Daddy B. Nice's fantasy is a fast-moving, Tarantino-esque panorama of the most feverish moments in chitlin' circuit concerts, with Southern Soul stars in their prime at their most climactic concert peaks, with women screaming and baring their bodies and men out of their minds with inebriated joy--an R-rated, chitlin' circuit version of the "Beatles At Shea Stadium." Until that joyous day, Southern Soul fans will have to fend for themselves in exploring the genre, and Daddy B. Nice's Links page is able and willing to help. At this point in time, there are four indispensable Southern Soul information sites. Two, Jerry Mason's "Boogie Report" and Funky Larry Jones' "Soul & Blues Report," specialize in industry news and chart reports. And two, Daddy B. Nice's "SouthernSoulRnB" and Dylann DeAnna's "Blues Critic," specialize in artist/material background and perspective. There are many other worthy specialty and periphery sites, but these four "base" sites--at least for the time being--are the points from which anyone who wants to climb the mysterious mountain of Southern Soul music should begin their expeditions, and return to explore again and again.

The Boogie Report
Jerry Mason's "The Boogie Report" has long been the standard for Southern Soul music websites. Our favorite of its many departments is the "Radio Reporters" section, an ongoing list of chitlin' circuit deejays' current playlists.

WMPR
WMPR out of Jackson, Mississippi. the defacto capital of Southern Soul, is our favorite Southern Soul radio station, and it now offers high-quality streaming. Although online service can be erratic, the station's schedule is as close to full-time, local-color Southern Soul music as you will find. Even the commercials are beguiling. The best times to listen are week-days at 5-9 am (DJ Outlaw), 1-4 pm (DJ Ragman) and 4-8 pm (DJ Handyman). Weekends are to be avoided, as they are mostly devoted to non-Southern Soul material. All times are USA Central Time Zone.

Blues Critic
Blues Critic is a content-rich site specializing in today's under-the-radar blues and soul musicians. Our favorite department, "Soul Blues Artists," contains rare, finely-detailed discographies.

Soul And Blues Report
Soul and Blues Report chronicles chitlin' circuit radio activity, and our favorite page, "Reports," monitors the latest deejays and playlists from an ever expanding roster of Southern Soul stations.

Chico's Radio
Internet radio station Chico's Radio hosts the newest, "cutting-edge" Southern Soul music. Loyal listeners know that DJ Chico Jackson is their "bloodhound," always on the track of whatever's new. If you can do without the bells and whistles (and documentation) of sites like the Chitlin' Circuit, Chico's is hard to beat for pure, uninterrupted Southern Soul music, 24 hours a day.

Soul Express
Soul Express, based in Finland, is a phenomenally rich information site, with literate, intensively-researched articles on Southern Soul and other R&B artists. Columnist Heikki Suosalo's Southern Soul profiles are particularly recommended.

IntoDeep Music
IntoDeep is a European site that is surprisingly knowledgeable about contemporary Southern Soul.

Da Dawg Pound
Big K9 attends a lot of Southern Soul concerts--maybe more than anyone except Cassaundra Peagler--and he takes a lot of pictures. Need we say more? Oh--and by the way--the Big Dawg has established himself as Southern Soul's most consistent and informative concert reviewer.

Chittlin' Circuit
Chittlin' Circuit, the home of "Chittlin' Circuit" magazine, is an internet radio station that queues songs by computer, along with artist, song and album names. Chittlin' Circuit also has a nifty computer-designed "request" link, allowing listeners to request up to three songs per hour.

American Blues Network
American Blues Network is quickly rising in the Southern Soul Internet radio mix. If you can get past the station's annoying label of "party blues and oldies" instead of "Southern Soul and Blues," which is what they're playing, you'll find chitlin' circuit RnB rendered with scintillating sound quality and 24/7 consistency.

Moonman Radio
DJ Moonman broadcasts over the Internet from the "most powerful city in the world," Washington D.C. Moonman has been around a long time, but of late his playlist (now advertised as "Southern Soul & Solid Gold") has become much more up-to-date and perspicacious. Songs are accompanied by documentation.