Charles Christopher

Charles Christopher came up singing gospel in Mississippi before moving toward the kind of soul music Sam Cooke and Otis Redding were making. In 1968, he had a breakout with 'A Little Tenderness,' a song that caught on nationally with its direct plea for affection.

He recorded several albums in the years that followed, including 'Reach Out' in 1970 and 'Soulful Journey' in 1972. Other songs like 'Baby Come Back To Me' and 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' kept to that straightforward, vocal-driven style.

Christopher sometimes spoke out on social issues, which drew mixed reactions at the time. He worked with musicians like guitarist Marvin Jones and bassist George Adams, but the focus usually stayed on his own singing.