Tag Archives: 1951 in North Carolina

Gerald Alston inherited some big spirit sneakers and filled them admirably for 17 years. The nephew of gospel great Johnny Areas and the child of Rev. J.B. Alston, the North Carolina-born vocalist discovered his trade in the chapel. As a teenager he formed the brand new Imperials, an organization that …

Lee Areas initially produced his name among die-hard funk enthusiasts with some hard-hitting singles recorded for various little labels through the ’70s. Everything about Areas — his appear, his vocals, the grooves on his information — was therefore indebted to Adam Dark brown that he received the nickname “Small J.B.” …