Mike James Kirkland (born 1949 in

Yazoo City Yazoo City is a U.S. city in Yazoo County, Mississippi. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's m ...

, Mississippi) is an American R&B singer. He began his recording career in 1965, as leader of Mike & The Censations, a quartet which included his brother Robert, their sister and her husband. He was also half of the duo Bo and Ruth on

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who achieved a U.K. Top 20 single with their release of "You're Gonna Get Next To Me" (credited to Bo Kirkland and Ruth Davis) in the summer of 1977.

Biography

Mike James Kirkland grew up singing

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and

doo wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica ...

in Mississippi in a local gospel act, The Seven Seals, with his two brothers, Walter and Robert. He began his recording career as leader of the group Mike & The Censations in 1965. After the Censations folded, Kirkland and his brother Robert moved to

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where they started a record label, Bryan Records, so they could release

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s and

soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...

that Kirkland was working on. They released two albums, ''Hang on in There'' (1972) and ''Doin' it Right'' (1973), following the style and social comment of artists like

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and

Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.

. In 1975, Kirland began issuing solo recordings under the name Bo Kirkand. Also a Bo, he recorded an album as a part of duo with Ruth Davis. The reputation of the albums slowly grew and spread over the following years, culminating with reissues in the '90s by Luv N Haight. In 2010,

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released an album that includes a cover of one of Kirkland's songs, "Hang On In There."

Discography

Albums: *''Hang on in There'' 1972, reissued 1999CMJ New Music Report Feb 8 1999 p39 *''Doin' it Right'' 1973, reissued 1999 Singles: * "Victim of Circumstance", Mike & the Censations 1965 - Top 50 R&B * "There is Nothing I Can Do About It", Mike & the Censations - Top 50 R&B * "Together" / "The Prophet", Mike James Kirkland 1971

References

1949 births Living people American rhythm and blues singers Revue Records artists {{US-RnB-singer-stub