After witnessing Elko, SC’s finest and renowned guitarist, Terence Young, alongside with one of three of his bands, Soul Centric, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Columbia, SC on April 5, 2019 for an “Evening of Soul,” is a testament that decades worth of establishing an independent foundation can be a success without the use of a major record deal.
The first band that set the stage and foundation for a nostalgic "Evening of Soul" was the new hot R&B group Sav’Gents. The energetic, individual personalities of the five band members created this high-spirited performance used to rekindle memories of the late ’90s and '80s Motown and rhythm and blues grooves reminiscent of Broadway’s theatrical productions.
The band can not only be found on stage rocking to retro records of the past but located within the crowd giving heart-to-heart moments with the women in the audience. When had the chance to discuss with Terence Young about his background in music, he informed that he manages Sav’Gents.
As the headlining, Reigning Men of Soul, Soul Centric, featuring Terence Young, Mike Stone, and Steve Ray graced the stage; the performance lights transitioned from natural lighting to a dark, atmospheric aurora. “The catch to this band it’s a bunch of young guys in their 20’s, but perform Adult Contemporary renditions of the ’50s and '60s,” said Terence Young.
While hearing the mature falsettos and captivating crowd presence of Mike Stone and Steve Ray’s soul-touching piano performance brings back memories of church devotion, while the congregation clapped in rhythm and swayed their hips to the keys of the percussions.
Experiencing music live is very different from experiencing it through modern-day music streaming. The difference shows when the instrumentation of bass guitars, piano, and dirty drums creates this jazzy-rock atmosphere that mp3 formats wish it can replicate. It would not be fitting to have the soul in the band’s name, Soul Centric if they did not go out their way to touch someone in the audience. What better way to move and devote your appreciation to your fans by having Terence Young’s number one fan, his mother, come to the front of the stage to be serenaded by Terence’s guitar.
Soul Centric ended the night with their last song “I Rather Be With You” by Bootsy Collins. The band closed with this song to express there is no other place that they would rather be right now, which is in Columbia, SC where Terence Young currently resides.
For an in-depth interview with Terence Young about his musical background in various genres, check out the discussion on YouTube.