Soulful songstress Amy Black says “I love the music of Memphis; everything that came out of there in the ’50s, the ’60s, the ’70s … I love the grit and the guts and the soul and the groove.”
The video “What Makes a Man?” directed by Stacie Huckeba, is from Amy Black’s upcoming album titled Memphis, produced by Scott Bomar and recorded at Electraphonic, and mixed at Ardent Studios, in Memphis. Memphis features members of the Hi Rhythm Section – Rev. Charles Hodge keys, Lerory “Flick” Hodges bass, Howard Grimes drums. Additional players include Joe Restivo guitar, Marc Franklin horn arrangements/trumpet, Kirk Smothers tenor saxophone, Edmaiston baritone saxophone.
Talking about the song “What Makes a Man?”, Black explains, “I’m married to a guy who is pretty great. He’s loving, kind, and considerate. He’s not perfect and he would tell you that, but he is a good man.
“I started playing around with this idea of “What makes a good man?” and got a little chorus going. I went over to my friend Karen Leipziger’s house here in Nashville to do a co-write and I mentioned the line to her. She loved the idea and we started talking about the qualities that make a good man, and the lyrics of the song flowed from there.
“Karen also had a wonderful husband, who like mine, was loving, generous and kind. They were best friends… soul mates. But, one night, after a gig, he had a fatal heart attack. He left a legacy of love behind, one that Karen carries in her heart every day.
“We hope this song will inspire guys to be the best they can be and inspire ladies to keep their standards high (and vice versa). It’s dedicated to Karen’s Dennis and my Ryan — two great men.”
