With new single out, Bill Avery isn't slowing down after 55 years of singing soul music

Bill Avery has been making music for more than a half-century — something the City of Gadsden recently recognized by declaring a day in his honor — and at age 75, he’s not slowing down.

The veteran singer and songwriter, who during his 55-year career has shared concert bills with the likes of Bobby Bland, B.B. King, Patti LaBelle and the Temptations, just released a new single and still maintains a regular schedule of live appearances.

That single, “Joy,” is distributed by Music Access of Dallas (Avery said he recently signed a contract with the firm) and is available on YouTube and for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

Music Access also distributed his latest album, “Stop the Noise and Bring Back the Music,” which features nine tracks (plus one with a different rap mix), and Avery has been recording in Dallas.

More: Bill Avery's new single "Joy"

The album title reflects Avery’s championing of the old-school soul sounds — he’s a member of the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame, but he described himself as a “soul singer,” not a blues artist, in a 2012 interview with The Gadsden Times — that nurtured his musical journey.

His influences include Joe Simon, Sam and Dave, Sam Cooke, The Manhattans and Wilson Pickett, as well as some of those he’s opened for.

“I’m trying to bring back the sounds I grew up with,” Avery said. “Songs that people can understand. Nothing vulgar, but real songs and real music.” He said "keeping it real” is what draws people to his work.

Avery appeared at a free concert at the Mort Glosser Amphitheatre on May 19, “Bill Avery Day” in Gadsden, and often performs at casinos in Mississippi and in the Memphis area. He’s also appeared at the annual Ocean Drive Beach Music Festival in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

How long can he keep it up? “As long as I can talk and sing, I’m going to keep doing it,” he said. “And I can’t talk like I sing.”

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden's Bill Avery marks more than 50 years in music business