His majesty King Floyd has passed...

i'm not sure who he is, but i love me some "sookie-sookie"

check out our post and educate yourself. download the songs linked from the other blogs.

"Groove Me" was awesome. R.I.P.

"Baby Let Me Kiss You" is also cool.

Everytime I hear Groove Me, I think of Homer and his couch groove. R.I.P.

Better that than the Blues Brothers version.

Still no obits anywhere. Just the mention on the Southern Soul Yahoo group that got picked up by the blogs.

I did not know that a King would ever record "soul" music as that seems to be an unregal activity. Are you totally decided that "King" Floyd was indeed a King or was he pretending to be one, betraying listeners in the process?

i think it was a nickname that sounded cool. that's my hunch.

Given monikers have no position in any type of business, be it commerical, sporting or artistic, when there are paying customers involved and there is a risk of false advertising.

actually, king floyd was his given name at birth. king floyd jr. to be exact, as his father was also named king floyd. he has several children and grandchildren, and the name has been passed all the way down to his grandson, king floyd iv.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/FEAT05/603160356/1023
March 16, 2006

'Groove Me': King Floyd's legacy recalled

Special to The Clarion-Ledger

King Floyd, known best for his smash single, Groove Me, which hit No. 1 on the 1971 Billboard black single's chart (R&B) and No. 6 on the Billboard pop charts, died of a stroke March 6 in California. He was 61.

Groove Me first appeared on Jackson-based Malaco Records' Chimneyville Records imprint as the B-side to Floyd's soulful What Our Love Needs. Thanks to the curiosity of a New Orleans DJ, George Vinnett, the single was flipped and Groove Me hit the airwaves, skyrocketing to No. 1. By Christmas Day, the single went gold and Floyd officially was back in the music business after a long hiatus.

Recorded in one take, this song turned the industry on its ear, becoming the slam dunk hit of the '70s and the biggest hit for distributor Atlantic Cotillion Records. Floyd became Malaco's first platinum-selling artist and vaulted its studios into the limelight. Artists from every genre flocked to Mississippi to record, including Paul Simon, The Pointer Sisters and Rufus Thomas.

Groove Me later was covered by Bon Jovi for film and used for both soap and music commercials, using King's vocals.

Born in New Orleans in 1945, Floyd began singing on a street corner as a teen while befriending local musicians, including the legendary Mr. Google Eyes. He began to play clubs, but took time away from his career to serve in the Army. After his discharge, he traveled to New York and then Los Angeles. It was in L.A. the singer/songwriter penned the lyrics to Groove Me, but did not record the song until years later.

He struggled as a songwriter for several years in L.A. Finally, he returned to New Orleans, leaving the music business. Then, he met producer Wardell Quezergue, who worked at Malaco Records. Quezergue convinced King to work on his music again and the two set to work transforming Groove Me into a funky, danceable tune.

Floyd's funeral is 10 a.m. Saturday at First Zion Baptist Church in Jefferson, La.

He is survived by three children: Kimberly Floyd Westry, Kawana Floyd and King "Champ" Michael Floyd.