Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood

Eddie Floyd (born Eddie Lee Floyd, June 25, 1935, Montgomery, Alabama) is a soul/R&B singer and songwriter, best known for his work on the Stax record label in the 1960s and 1970s and the song "Knock on Wood".

Floyd was born in Alabama, but grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He founded The Falcons, which also featured Mack Rice. They were forerunners to future Detroit vocal groups such as The Temptations and The Four Tops. Their most successful songs included "You're So Fine" and later, when Wilson Pickett was recruited into the group as the lead singer, "I Found a Love". Pickett then embarked on a solo career, and The Falcons disbanded.

Floyd signed on with the Memphis based Stax Records as a songwriter in 1965. He wrote a hit song, "Comfort Me" recorded by Carla Thomas. He then teamed with Stax's guitarist Steve Cropper to write songs for Wilson Pickett, now signed to Atlantic Records. Atlantic distributed Stax and Jerry Wexler brought Pickett down from New York to work with Booker T. & the MGs. The Pickett sessions were successful, yielding several pop and R&B hits, including the Floyd co-written "Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)" and "634-5789 (Soulsville USA)".

In 1966, Floyd recorded a song intended for Otis Redding. Wexler convinced Stax president Jim Stewart to release Floyd's version. The Steve Cropper/Eddie Floyd "Knock On Wood" launched Floyd's solo career, and has been cut by over a hundred different artists from David Bowie to Count Basie. It became a disco hit for Amii Stewart in 1979.

Floyd was one of Stax's most consistent and versatile artists. He scored several more hits on his own, including "I Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)" and "Raise Your Hand", which was covered by both Janis Joplin and Bruce Springsteen.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• eddie
• floyd
• knock
• on
• wood
• stax
• soul
• funk
• ska
• rude
• boy
• anti-fascist
• black
• panther
• party

[l2string]

Who's playing this great guitar?

[englishnbloodyproudo]

@l2string I think it may be Stax house band guitarist Steve Cropper!!

[suhayla11]

perfect example of an original that YOU DONT FUCK WITH.

kthxbye!

[cavies12345]

I used to dance to this at the Mecca dance hall in Stevenage in the 60's, good times.

[leonoel42]

David Bowie covered this in 1974 live. I love both tracks

[pezzer40]

memphis soul at its best.

[malmsudahmampos]

If only I have someone who loves to groove to this music with me.

[joe11350]

GREAT SONG

[WhiteNacho]

New school just don't "get it" like old school do.

[looploopok]

these guys are artis man,still bringing joy all these years

[Save9Mustangs]

Easy A for the win

[rustynails12345]

Our Jr High school did this song.. The band teacher was a mempber of the, memphis horns... You know we jamed out at our pep ralleys....

[catyanne53]

Memphis Sound is the best of the world Yeah man !