With a voice that could melt hearts and lift souls, Al Green became one of the defining artists of the soul and R&B genre in the 1970s. Known for timeless hits like “Let’s Stay Together” and “Tired of Being Alone,” Green’s silky vocals and passionate performances made him a legend. But there’s more to his story than just chart-topping records.
Nicknamed “The Reverend” for his powerful spiritual transformation and later role as a pastor, Al Green’s journey from soul superstar to pulpit preacher is one of music’s most fascinating evolutions. This article dives into the life, music, and faith of a man whose voice continues to resonate through generations.
Early Life and Career
Albert Greene was born on April 13, 1946, in Forrest City, Arkansas, into a family of sharecroppers with a deep love for music and faith. Raised in a household where gospel music filled the air, young Al began performing with his brothers in a family group known as the Greene Brothers. Their musical roots ran parallel to their Christian upbringing—faith and melody were foundational parts of life.
However, not all music was welcome in the Greene household. When Al was caught listening to soul legend Jackie Wilson, his father, disapproving of secular influences, kicked him out of both the group and their home. This pivotal moment would fuel Al’s independence and ambition.
In his teenage years, he formed his first group, Al Greene and The Creations, alongside Curtis Rogers and Palmer Jones. The trio took a bold step by launching their own label, Hot Line Music Journal, showing early signs of the creative control Al would later seek in his solo career.
Eventually rebranding themselves as The Soul Mates, the group released their debut single, “Back Up Train.” To their surprise, the track gained modest success and even charted, earning them national attention. But sustaining that early momentum proved difficult—their follow-up songs and debut album, also titled Back Up Train, didn’t quite make the same impact.
Pursuing a Solo Career
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Al Green’s solo journey took a major turn when he crossed paths with producer and arranger Willie Mitchell. Recognizing Green’s raw talent, Mitchell convinced him to join Hi Records, a label known for its soulful sound. Under Mitchell’s guidance, Green received vocal coaching aimed at helping him refine his voice and develop a signature style—something that would soon set him apart from his contemporaries.
The collaboration proved fruitful. Not only did Mitchell help shape Green’s sound, but the two also began co-writing songs, laying the groundwork for what would become some of Green’s earliest and most memorable hits. Around this time, Green dropped the final “e” from his last name, a subtle change that marked the beginning of a new era.
In 1969, he released his first solo album, Green Is Blues. While the album didn’t make a major commercial splash, it was well-received by critics and served as a vital stepping stone in establishing Green as a rising force in soul music.
Commercial Success
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Green Is Blues would prepare Green for his sophomore effort Al Green Gets Next To You. The album yielded Green’s first big hit “Tired Of Being Alone,” which was just a notch shy of Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also landed at #7 on the R&B singles chart and #4 on the UK singles chart. The enormous success of the single made Al Green Gets Next To You his breakthrough album, which also netted him his first gold certification.
Green released his second solo album Let’s Stay Together which featured the title track. “Let’s Stay Together” became Green’s first #1 hit, not only on the R&B singles chart but also on the Billboard Hot 100. The album and the song established Greene as a major R&B/soul star. “Let’s Stay Together” remains Green’s signature song.
Green consolidated his success with his next LP I’m Still In Love With You, which featured two singles “Look What You Done For Me” and the title track. The album became even more successful than its predecessor, making it Greene’s first platinum album. “Look What You Done For Me” and “I’m Still In Love With You” were both Top 10 pop hits at #4 and #2 respectively.
Green released his next album Call Me in 1973. It spawned the Top 10 pop and R&B singles “You Ought To Be With Me,” “Here I Am (Come Back Home)” and the title track. The same year Green released the follow-up LP Livin’ For You that yielded two Top 40 pop hits “Let’s Get Married” and the title track. Both Call Me and Livin’ For You both went to #1 on the R&B album charts.
In 1974 Green released another LP Al Green Explores Your Mind which was to be his last album to be certified gold. One of its tracks “Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)” was also to be his last Top 10 pop hit, peaking at #7.
Turning Point and Ministry
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In the early 1970s, Al Green was a dominant force on the radio, thanks to hits like “Love and Happiness,” “Take Me to the River,” and his heartfelt cover of the Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.” But behind the music, his life took a dark and life-altering turn.
In 1974, a deeply tragic event changed Green forever. His then-girlfriend, Mary Woodson White, attacked him while he was bathing, throwing boiling grits on him and causing second-degree burns. She then took his handgun and died by suicide in his home. Reports indicated that White, who was already married, was distraught over Green’s refusal to marry her.
The traumatic incident led Green to reevaluate his life. Seeking peace and purpose, he turned to his faith. In 1976, he became an ordained pastor at the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where he continues to preach.
That same period marked a shift in his musical focus. Green began recording gospel music, and in 1980, he released his first gospel album, The Lord Will Make a Way. The title track earned him his first Grammy Award in the Best Soul Gospel Performance category. This launched a new phase in his career, during which he won eight Grammy Awards for gospel music, and ten Grammys overall.
While gospel brought him critical praise and spiritual fulfillment, it didn’t always match the commercial success of his earlier soul hits. Still, Green’s influence grew, and he remained active in both music and ministry throughout the 1980s.
Return to Secular Music and Later Legacy
Though his gospel era defined a large part of his identity, Al Green eventually found his way back to secular music. In the mid-1980s, he collaborated with Patti LaBelle in the Broadway musical Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, and reunited with Willie Mitchell for the gospel project He Is the Light.
In 1988, he returned to the R&B charts with “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” his first Top 40 hit in over a decade. That same year, his duet with Annie Lennox, “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” became a major pop success, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This comeback continued with his 1989 soul album Don’t Look Back, produced by Arthur Baker, which included the single “The Message Is Love.” Though some of his later albums didn’t generate big sales, they were praised for their depth and artistry.
In 2005, Green released Everything’s OK through Blue Note Records, signaling another high point in his late-career resurgence. His follow-up, Lay It Down (2008), featured collaborations with modern artists and reached #9 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the R&B chart—his highest chart position in decades. It remains his last studio album to date.
Beyond music, Green continues to serve as a minister in Memphis. His influence and achievements have been widely recognized: he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.