Welcome to Cincinnati Soul Spectrum website, the online companion to the reissue series issued by Shake It Records in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

The purpose of this website is to create an online depository of the history of independent label R&B, Soul & Funk artists in and from Cincinnati and the surrounding region.  Many times the history of Cincinnati Music (whether it be R&B, Country, Rock n’ Roll, etc) begins & ends with King Records.  What’s not nearly as known is the history of those behind the scenes, whether they recorded for King or not, that help shape the sound of that famous label.  Many worked day jobs, slugged it out in the live bar scene and along the way issued some great 45’s here & there.  Thirty-forty plus years later, we’re making this effort to retell their stories & shine a light on their contributions to the American pop music landscape.

This site will be continually updated not only with each release but periodically alone the way, as we uncover more information & materials pertaining to this project.  We’ll attempt to rebuild a history through interviews (both transcribed & audio streaming), expanded liner notes, label scans & discographies, contracts, sheet music, vintage photos and as much related ephemera as we can find. 

Over time, releases will feature recordings from such labels as Finch, Counterpart, Bubbles, Jewel, Split, Fountain, Fraternity, and dozens more performed by the likes of Double O & His Demingos, The (5) Chances, Albert Washington, Gloria Taylor, Ditalians, Endeavors, The Bees, Charles Spurling, The Endeavors, H-Bomb Ferguson, The Cincinnatians, Pure Essence, Manzel and a 100 more.