The Mighty Soul Night at Uncorked Wine Bar

The Mighty Soul Night at Uncorked Wine Bar

by Brit Charek

This Mighty Soul Night, a coalition made up of DJs Ben Crazy, Robert El Prezidente and Forrest GetemGump, is taking over Uncorked Wine Bar one Saturday every month starting this weekend through the rest of the summer.

"We aren't flashy DJs trying to shove garbage down your throat," says Ben Fulkman, aka DJ Ben Crazy. "We really love the music that we spin, and would be doing it in our bedrooms if we couldn't play out anywhere else."

DJ Ben Crazy

You might know Ben from the all-vinyl funk night at the Matinee he's been running since 2006, or as the man behind the music at the bi-annual Crafty Mart at Musica, or from "Bring Your Own Vinyl Night" at Uncorked, which was the catalyst for the Mighty Soul Night.

Robert El Prezidente

Robert El Prezidente has been DJ'ing and record collecting for more than twenty years. He hosts the all vinyl radio show Soul Elixir on 88.7 WJCU, which has been Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm for two years now. 

Forrest GetemGump, internationally known and respected, has been DJ'ing and record collecting for almost thirty years now. After his recent move back from NYC, he opened his own record shop, Calhoun Records, in Firestone Park (356 Reed Ave 44301), the only shop in town that exclusively sells vinyl. The shop specializes in funk, soul, jazz, and hip hop and attracts collectors from around the nation. 

Forrest Getem Gump

"I had known Forrest from back in the days when he used to host an all vinyl funk night on the Lime Spider rooftop," says Ben. "I had known Robert through the vinyl collectors circle but never really knew him." 

That is, until he started showing up to Bring Your Own Vinyl Night. Robert suggested that they combine forces, along with their mutual Forrest, and start doing an all vinyl night that featured Funk, Soul, Jazz, Disco, Boogie, Samba, and Latin. 

Just then, a trifecta of soul-spinning harmony was formed. The Mighty Soul Night has now been in operation for almost a year. Ben says they have "big plans for 2014 and hope to have a variety of guest DJ's and musicians." 

You can catch the Mighty Soul Night this Saturday May 31st starting at 9pm at Uncorked Wine Bar, located at 22 N. High Street in downtown Akron. 

They will be returning June 28th, July 19th and August 23rd. For more information and to keep up, make sure to "like" their Facebook page.