charles shefield

Biography

Charles Sheffield, born Charles Richard Sheffield, Jr. on February 16, 1931 in Beaumont, Texas, was a blues and R&B singer who became a cult figure in the Gulf Coast music scene of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He began his recording career under the moniker 'Mad Dog Sheffield' in 1957, cutting his first single 'Mad Dog' for the Goldband label, backed by the Clarence Garlow Orchestra. Despite early efforts, his initial releases did not achieve commercial success, but they established him as a dynamic performer in the Louisiana and Texas circuit.[1][6]

Sheffield's most notable work came after he began recording with producer J.D. Miller in Crowley, Louisiana. In 1961, he released 'It's Your Voodoo Working' on Excello Records, a track that blended swamp blues, R&B, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Though it failed to chart nationally at the time, the song has since become a northern soul favorite and is widely celebrated for its hypnotic groove and Sheffield's charismatic vocal delivery. Sheffield recorded only a handful of singles, including sides for Miller's Rocko label and later as 'Prince Charles' for Huey Meaux's Teardrop and Jetstream labels. Disillusioned by the lack of commercial success, he left the music business and faded from the public eye, but his recordings have been rediscovered and revered by collectors and soul enthusiasts in subsequent decades.[1][2][5]

Sheffield's legacy rests on his ability to channel the unique sounds of the Gulf Coast, fusing blues, R&B, and regional influences into a style that was ahead of its time. His work, particularly 'It's Your Voodoo Working,' has been recognized posthumously as a classic, influencing later generations of soul and blues musicians and earning him a place in the pantheon of underappreciated American R&B artists.[1][2][5]

Fun Facts

• Sheffield also recorded under the aliases 'Mad Dog Sheffield' and 'Prince Charles.'[1][6]
• His signature song, 'It's Your Voodoo Working,' was largely overlooked upon release but is now considered a classic of the northern soul genre.[2][5]
• He worked with legendary Louisiana producer J.D. Miller, whose studio was a hub for swamp blues and R&B in the 1950s and 1960s.[1]
• After his brief recording career, Sheffield left the music industry and lived out of the public spotlight, contributing to the mystique surrounding his legacy.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Clarence Garlow - Band leader and regional blues figure who provided instrumental backing for Sheffield's first recording session. ('Mad Dog' single (Goldband label)) [1957]
• J.D. Miller - Producer and studio owner who shaped Sheffield's sound and produced his most acclaimed recordings. (Excello and Rocko label singles including 'It's Your Voodoo Working') [1959-1961]

Key Collaborators

• Clarence Garlow Orchestra - Provided instrumental backing on Sheffield's debut single. ('Mad Dog' (Goldband label)) [1957]
• Lionel Prevost (aka Lionel Torrence) - Saxophonist on Excello sessions. ('It's Your Voodoo Working', other Excello sides) [1961]
• Clarence 'Jockey' Etienne - Drummer on Excello sessions. ('It's Your Voodoo Working', other Excello sides) [1961]
• Lazy Lester - Percussionist (shakers) on Excello sessions. ('It's Your Voodoo Working', other Excello sides) [1961]

Artists Influenced

• Northern Soul DJs and collectors - Sheffield's 'It's Your Voodoo Working' became a staple in the Northern Soul scene and inspired renewed interest in obscure American R&B. ('It's Your Voodoo Working' featured in Northern Soul compilations and DJ sets) [1970s-present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. It's Your Voodoo Working (Deep Cuts: 50s & 60s Rarities)
2. It's Your Voodoo Working (Long Forgotten Hits of the '60s)
3. It's Your Voo Doo Working (Greetings from the Far North)
4. It's Your Voodoo Working (The Mod Sounds Of Northern Soul)
5. It's Your Voodoo Working (Rock ' n Roll Train / It's Your Voodoo Working)
6. It's Your Voodoo Working - Single Version (It's Your Voodoo Working: The Best of Excello)
7. Its Your Voodoo Working (Voodoo Dolls)
8. I Got Fever (Bayou Blues Blasters: Goldband Blues)
9. It's Your Voodoo Working (It's Your Voodoo Working)
10. It's Your Voodoo Workin' (60s Soul Sensations - The Rare 45 RPM Collection)

External Links

• Spotify