The Carstairs were an American group of the 1960s and 1970s whose 1973 single, "It Really Hurts Me Girl" is credited with starting the modern soul music scene and genre.

The Carstairs
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresSoul, funk, modern soul
Years active1969–1973
LabelsOkeh, Red Coach
Past membersCleveland Horne
Ray A. Evans

Modern soul

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A male vocal group from the U.S., The Carstairs releases met with no success in their home country. In the United Kingdom, DJ Ian Levine, having heard their song "It Really Hurts Me Girl" played on radio in Miami, acquired a copy and played it during a Northern soul event at the Blackpool Mecca in 1973.[1][2] It caused controversy as it was not to the liking of those who preferred traditional Northern soul music based on a sound and rhythm similar to that traditionally emanating from the Motown label. The Carstairs and their recording are credited with starting a new musical genre that came to be known as modern soul music.[3][4][5]

The group consisted of Ray A. Evans and Cleveland Horne (April 4, 1944 – April 13, 2000)[6] who later performed with The Fantastic Four. Few of their other recordings are known other than some cover versions they released of songs by Edwin Starr.

References

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  1. ^ "It Really Hurts Me Girl". 45cat.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Ian Levine - Interview". Djhistory.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  3. ^ "The Carstairs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Northern Soul: 40 years of the sound of Wigan Casino". BBC Arts. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  5. ^ Shapiro, Peter (2005). Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco. New York: Faber and Faber. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-86547-952-4. the carstairs it really hurts me.
  6. ^ "Cleveland Horne". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
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