The Architect of Soul: The Story of George Kerr
Certain names defined the sound of a generation from behind the mixing board. Among them is legendary producer, songwriter, and arranger George Kerr. With a career spanning over six decades, Kerr’s touch helped shape the emotional depth, rich harmonies, and timeless appeal of sweet soul music.
Kerr’s journey began in the 1950s as a singer in groups like The Serenaders and The Imperials (formerly Little Anthony & The Imperials).
After learning production under Motown’s Raynoma Liles Gordy, Kerr quickly proved his genius in the studio. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he produced and wrote hit after hit for some of soul music’s most revered acts, including Linda Jones, The Whatnauts, The O’Jays, The Moments, The Chi-Lites, The Manhattans, The Main Ingredient, The Delfonics, Marvin Gaye, Blue Magic, Florence Ballard, and many, many more. The Escorts were one of those groups as well. Formed inside Rahway State Prison in 1969, 1970, Kerr famously brought mobile recording equipment directly into the facility, capturing their undeniable talent. Their name came from the guards escorting them because, in a maximum-security prison, inmates are not allowed to leave their cells unless escorted by a guard.
Kerr is considered a "godfather" of hip-hop due to the frequent sampling of his work. A prime example is Skull Snaps' self-titled LP, particularly the song "It's a New Day," which became a foundational sound for many 90s hip-hop hits. A number of artists have also sampled or used his productions in their songs, such as Gang Starr, Black Moon, Fat Joe, Method Man, 50 Cent, Kanye West, Drake, and Jennifer Lopez.
Kerr holds an extraordinary vault of music history in his head, and at 91 years old, no less. He can recall specific recording dates, street addresses of historic studios, and session details down to the exact day, a living, breathing archive of American music. His lifelong dedication to the craft makes Kerr a pivotal figure for modern soul enthusiasts. It is also the exact reason his path naturally aligned with SOLA Records. Co-founded by Manuel Rodarte and Raymond Esquivel, SOLA Records has built a reputation since 2020 on honoring that sweet soul sound.
Recognizing the immense value of Kerr’s life's work, SOLA, through various connections, entered into a partnership with the legendary producer, a collaboration dedicated to celebrating his catalog and bridging his vast body of work with SOLA’s own mission of preserving and advancing Souldies (Soul and Oldies) Culture, while also protecting this era of soul but while also connecting this legacy to a newer generation. It was also, through this collaboration, that George and SOLA created What's Old is New Records (WON) out of New Jersey.
That natural union between George Kerr and SOLA Records laid the groundwork for a broader cultural movement. As SOLA began working alongside Kerr to preserve his story, it became clear that this mission required an even larger team, setting the stage for a unique partnership that would bring his history into the spotlight for a whole new generation.