Although Arthur Conley lived in Baltimore for a relatively brief period of time, it was here that he made the connections that brought his music to national recognition. Conley got his start in McIntosh, Georgia where he sang with an Atlanta based gospel group called the Evening Smiles. He later fronted the R&B group Arthur & the Corvets releasing several singles in Atlanta on the NRC and NA-R-CO labels in 1964.
Around 1965 Conley moved to the Bengie’s area and hooked up with Ru-Jac records owner Rufus Mitchell who rented a room to him above his studios on Laurens Street. Mitchell was a concert promoter who booked all the great R&B / soul artists to the area including Otis Redding to perform at Baltimore area venues such as the Rhapsody, Royal Theater, Civic Center, Carr’s Beach…
A recording of Conley’s “I’m A Lonely Stranger” (see – Holt, Harold) was given to Redding who was so impressed that he eventually brought Arthur to Stax Studios in Memphis. Mitchell filed suit that Conley was still under contact with him but to no avail. Conley went on to record the soul classic “Sweet Soul Music.” He also released records through the mid-’70s on Jotis, Fame, Atco, and Capricorn labels.
