Porter was the ninth of 12 children born to James and Corean Porter inMemphis, his second oldest brother wasCOGIC Bishop W. L. Porter (1925–2009). Porter's career began in music after singing in church, school, Memphis venues and competitions, often with close friend and classmateMaurice White, who later foundedEarth, Wind and Fire.[9] Porter graduated fromBooker T. Washington High in 1961 and later attendedLeMoyne College. While still a high-school student working at a grocery across fromSatellite Records, he went over to find if the label would consider recording soul music.[10]
After meetings withChips Moman, Porter became active at Satellite as a songwriter.[10] With this role, Porter arranged for his friends and classmates to record for the Satellite label, includingBooker T. Jones,William Bell, andAndrew Love. Soon after, Satellite rebranded as Stax Records and redefined their focus to become a soul music label.[10]
Porter was the first staff songwriter atStax Records and developed his skills inA&R and songwriting.[10] In Porter's A&R capacity, he signed acts includingThe Emotions,Homer Banks,The Soul Children and was a catalyst for bringing inIsaac Hayes as a writing partner.[10] As house composers forStax Records, Porter and Hayes penned most ofSam & Dave's hits, including "Soul Man", "I Thank You", "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'". They also wrote material forCarla Thomas ("B-A-B-Y"),Johnnie Taylor ("I Got to Love Somebody's Baby" and "I Had a Dream"), and The Soul Children. Starting in the late 1960s, Hayes became increasingly focused on his own recording career, eventually leading to the end of the songwriting partnership. The Hayes-Porter duo composed 200 songs during their collaboration.[10]
Porter then began recording his own albums for Stax. He did a single for Stax itself in 1965, "Can't See You When I Want To", a remake of which became a Top 30 R&B hit for Porter. He cut several albums for Stax in the early 1970s, including a concept LP,Victim of the Joke? which includes an upbeat cover ofThe Beatles' "Help!". Also, he released on other labels under the pseudonyms Little David and Kenny Cain.[10]
Porter began working with songwriting partner Ronnie Williams, and later went on to engineer the brief relaunch of the Stax label in 1978, after the bankrupt label's assets were acquired byFantasy Records.[10] He and Hayes received Pioneer Awards from theRhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999.[citation needed]
In 2012, Porter founded The Consortium MMT, a 501(c) non-profit with the goal of developing a viable music industry in Memphis through structured teaching, experience and mentorship.[1][11] Porter was awarded the 2013 Governor's Arts Award for his achievements including the founding and success of The Consortium MMT venture.[12][13]
.jpg)
