Old School, but New School. Just Sunshine! Soul!

Sunshine

"Cold feet, if you know, what I mean (...)"

Cold Feet

A Luv Song (Love Like This)

A Father's Child

From LP "Valentine's Day III (The History of Urban Jazz)".

The Jones

From LP "Valentine's Day III (The History of Urban Jazz).

Blossom Hill

Valentine's day I (The History of R&B) 2005

Is a concept of the 21st Centry Muzik team (Marcus Valentine & Carl Harms) to creatively revive music of the past and introduce it to a whole new audience in the present. In dedication to artists who made soul music pleasurable to our ears & an endless array of songs with great hooks that had us tapping our feet and falling in love and even if we fell out of love we'd always have the songs to remind us because soul represented the very essence of nostalgia that brings back memories for which no matter what it can only be seen as good ones that made the era of soul music an experience worth living for. For it's true to say that with all the problems in the world and the prejudice we are conditioned into there's only one language that brings us together that we all understand.............MUSIC.

Valentine's day II (The History of Soul) 2012

Following in the tradition of the first album Marcus Valentine along with the 21st centurions aims to go even deeper taking us on a personal journey and coming full circle when we think of Motown, funk or even jazz it's fundamentally clear the tracks will be considered a blast from the past and for those of us who are true connoisseurs of music there's no doubt who some of the tracks will remind us of. There will be a few twists & turns for which will bring us right back to the present day introducing a mellow easy listening sound which won't be  too offensive to the ears but considerably digestible whether young or old & though a matter of opinion hoping the legends of soul music will at the very least recognize how the inspiration & love for music came directly because of them.

Writer/composer Valentine is a british born artist who started singing at an early age influenced by musical greats from all genres of the musical divide reflective of his jamaican/american heritage he grew up listening to everything from ska music as well as more traditional reggae artists such as Johnny Nash, Ken Boothe, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and the list goes on... Country music was widely played in the household and one of his all time favorite artists was none other than the king of rock Elvis Presley to name but a few. Soul music for most people in the black community would usually be played by one and all but Motown particularly was a late addition in his life and along with The Jacksons Marvin Gaye & Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder was someone Valentine really appreciated in regards to his musical arrangements and lyrical mastery as he describes it. Other groups and artists such as The Beatles and David Bowie fascinated the youngster who attempted to emulate his heroes. In later years Valentine found it hard to come to terms with the strict regime of record companies and decided he wanted to make music with his own identity and not vying for commercial approval he set up his own label 21st Centry Muzik in order to attempt to get his work out on the market which started back in 2005 after numerous efforts he finally saw one of his best known tracks "The feeling" from his debut album Valentine's day I become mega when Sony/Warners R&B love compilation album posted the biggest world wide sales in the quarter of that year giving Marcus his first slice of recognition managing to attract the attention of Japanese distribution company Disk Union who after doing a deal with the artist managed to sell quite a considerable quantity of albums which goes to prove that the key component to any success is persistence. Though still unknown by the wider music community Valentine is happy to continue doing what is dear to him and that is by all accounts the love of music with his concept albums with the recurring theme "The history of.....” based on different collectives of jazz, soul, r&b urban act each album aims to in a creative sense capture an era when songs were timeless and of course fun. Trying to capture the public's imagination isn't often a guarantee but one thing for sure. There's always something for everyone. Hate it or love it, and this album is no exception when you listen to the 2012 remastered work of compiled tracks both new&old which he aptly calls Valentine's day III (The history of Urban Jazz).

Marcus Valentine

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