As the
years slip by, the appreciation of the
Masqueraders keeps getting higher. The more
people see and hear them, the more they are
in awe of their harmonizing skills. Although
they never had a huge hit, their unique,
classy singing keeps people reverting to
their old recordings frequently.
- Heikki Suosalo, Soul Express
LocoBop went to the vaults to compile
thirteen timeless tracks by The Masqueraders
for this retrospective.
The Masqueraders’ genesis goes back fifty
years when Robert “Tex” Wrightsil formed a
group called The Stairs in his hometown of
Dallas,
Texas. They recorded one record for Sound
Town, a local Dallas label, in 1959.
After several line-up changes, their
recording career as The Masqueraders began
in 1964. After a stint in Detroit, the group
has, for the most part, made Memphis,
Tennessee their home,
where they still (2014) actively perform,
write, and record.
We can never get too much of the
Masqueraders. Their songs, harmonies,
arrangements, are forever reassuring,
reflective, or rousing, depending on your
mood. Above all, they’re refreshing, hence
this album’s title. |
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