THE (H)OFF BEAT
Australian R&B and rock ’n’ roll singer Ray Hoff and his band Ray Hoff & The Off Beats feature in the latest season of Godfather of Harlem with their track ‘Sinner’s Prayer’. Taken from the group’s 1960s recordings, the song captures their raw, blues-driven sound, shaped by classic R&B and early rock ’n’ roll influences, and sits naturally alongside the series’ soundtrack. The song was first released on the Clarion label – one of the most successful Australian independents of the 1960s and 1970s. Among the acts on Clarion were The Valentines, a beat combo fronted by one Bon Scott, later to achieve fame with AC/DC. Other artists on the label included Johnny Young (their most successful and prolific signing), The Times, Robby Snowden, Russ Kennedy And The Little Wheels, Soul Purpose and The Clan.