Southern Avenue

Family [CD]

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Recorded in Memphis at the legendary Royal Studios (Al Green, Ann Peebles, Bruno Mars), Family is a vibrant blend of Memphis soul and blues, warm sister harmonies, and positive messages reminiscent of The Staple Singers. From the irresistible “Upside” to the closing, ruminative “We Are,” Family unveils hard-hitting, universal truths about the unshakable power of togetherness. “Rootsy stripped-down Southern soul and hard funk…masterfully written songs [featuring] Tierinii Jackson's soaring vocals.” —AllMusic

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1.	Long Is The Road	3:07	Long is the road Broken but he got soul Heavy is the heart But the beat ain’t stopping He hit rock bottom But he keeps on rocking Fire raining down on a poor man’s dream Devil in a dress she ain’t what she seem Loving on his best man, She likes to creep Hitched a ride to Bluff City Chasing a ring A debt to his heart left him without a dime So he put it in a song and turned water to wine Long is the road Broken but he got soul Heavy is the heart But the beat ain’t stopping He hit rock bottom But he keeps on rocking Fire in his heart drove him to see (Drove him to see) Life in a new land of opportunity (Life in a new land) He didn’t give up oh he had a dream (He didn’t give up oh he had a dream) In the Sounds of Bluff City He got everything A debt to his heart left him without a dime So he put it in a song and turned water to wine Long is the road Broken but he got soul Heavy is the heart But the beat ain’t stopping He hit rock bottom But he keeps on rocking Long Long Long Long He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He keeps on rocking He hit rock bottom But he keeps on rockin’
2.	Upside	5:01	Don’t you carry all them troubles around Leave them bags but not your pride on the ground Don’t you hold on to mistakes that you made Give no power to the price of the game Don’t waste your time On things that you can’t change (Can’t change the things, the things that you can’t change) Don’t waste your time Don’t nothing stay the same (No it don’t, no it don’t, no it don’t) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside, upside) Don’t you be afraid to feel what you feel We’re all human, that’s just part of the deal Cause when your heart is open you feel alive Let the wind blow, enjoy the ride Don’t waste your time On things that you can’t change (Can’t change the things, the things that you can’t change) Don’t waste your time Don’t nothing stay the same (No it don’t, no it don’t, no it don’t) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Find me on the upside (Upside, upside) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside, upside) (On, on, on the upside, on, on, on the upside, on, on, on the upside, on…) Don’t waste your time On things that you can’t change (Can’t change the things, the things that you can’t change) Don’t waste your time Don’t nothing stay the same (No it don’t, no it don’t, no it don’t) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside, upside) Hey, every day’s a new day (Every day’s a new day) Hey, find me on the upside (Upside, upside, upside) (On, on, on) (On, on, on) (On, on, on) (On, on, on)
3.	Found A Friend In You	2:39	I was saved by the graces I was saved by love Saved by the laughs How they lift me up (High, high, times) I found a friend in you We found our way when we found us We found better days when the good got tough We found our strength there in each other And as long as we’re together, can’t nobody touch us As long as we’re together, can’t nobody touch us (Ooooo, ooooo Ooooo, ooooo) My fight when I’m weak Got my sisters with me And we’ll hold up our brother When he’s down in need And I’ll make ‘em dance If you bring the beat And we’ll heal each other with love and harmony (Heal each other with love and harmony) I was saved by the graces I was saved by love Saved by the laughs How they lift me up (High, high, times) I found a friend in you Two sticks and a tough back beat New kit by the end of the week New band, we’re the real dream team Nothin’ to lose on three One- two- three (High, high, times, high) (Ooooo, ooooo Ooooo, ooooo Ooooo, ooooo Ooooo, ooooo) I found a friend in you
4.	So Much Love	3:56	You may find it on a Sunday In your favorite robe or coffee in your bed And there it goes again on Friday With a bass line you can’t get out of your head And it sounds like (Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo) It may be hard to believe (Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo) Open your heart and you’ll see Hey, darling Ain’t no sense in letting hard times hold you down Hey, darling There’s so much There’s so much love to go around So much love around (‘Round, ‘round, ‘round) (‘Round, ‘round, ‘round) You may find it in yourself now Steady in the confidence you’ve always had And there it goes again, you’ve got it Pumping strong with every step What you’ll give is what you’ll get Hey, darling Ain’t no sense in letting hard times hold you down Hey, darling There’s so much There’s so much love to go around So much love around (‘Round, ‘round, ‘round) (‘Round, ‘round, ‘round) Hey, darling Ain’t no sense in letting hard times hold you down (No sense in letting hard times hold you down) Hey, darling There’s so much There’s so much love to go around So much love Hey, darling Ain’t no sense in letting hard times hold you down (No sense in letting hard times hold you down) Hey, darling There’s so much There’s so much love There’s so much There’s so much love There’s so much There’s so much love There’s so much There’s so much love There’s so much There’s so much love (Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo) (Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo)
5.	Family	0:41	Running from a storm Chasing a dream Met at a crossroad And found all that we need Our journeys Had one destiny Our band became a Family
6.	Late Night Get Down	3:15	I missed the night train The streets was roaring heavy I was followed by a drunk man And my heart started to tarry He grabbed me by the arm Pulled me into the crowd Per his request, all he wanted Was a late night get down I had to give it to ‘em (Late night get down) I’d worked hard all the evening Busking and singing the blues Throwing round these hips For an extra dollar or two But I tried to make it home Long before the midnight crowd Cause things got rowdy When they’d call for the Late night get down I had to give it to ‘em (Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down) Oooooo Oooooo Fill my cup Roll me up That’s the give and take If you trying to see this ass shaking Lift me up Hear me now All I got in my soul to give you Is a late night get down I had to give it to ‘em (Late night get down, late night get down, late night get down, late night get down) Oooooo Oooooo Oooooo Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night give it to ‘em Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down Late night give it to ‘em Late night get down Late night get down Late night get down
7.	Rum Boogie	3:18	We had them all shook up Hit ‘em hard, lit ‘em up From the stage to the crowd outside Brought the house down Had the party loud Rum Boogie was rocking wild Down home kicking On a Beale Street mission Came a brother on the keys Man, when he hit it So sweet we was with it Set fire to the B3 And we were on the rise (rise) Riding out the high (high) We were on a rise (rise) Riding out the high (high) (All night long) Down at The Buc’ Played a midtown rut It was magical little scene Hipsters tripping Eclectic women And everybody in between Made our rounds It was going down At bar DKDC Before we knew it We’d rocked our way To the heart of the city They would scream our name (All night long) Together we found Ourselves in the sound Of love all around And we jammed all (All night, All night, All night long)
8.	Gotta Keep The Love	4:06	You may find it on a Sunday In your favorite robe or coffee in your bed And there it goes again on Friday With a bass line you can’t get out of your head And it sounds like (Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo) It may be hard to believe (Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo) Open your heart and you’ll see Hey, darling Ain’t no sense in letting hard times hold you down Hey, darling There’s so much There’s so much love to go around So much love around (‘Round, ‘round, ‘round) (‘Round, ‘round, ‘round) You may find it in yourself now Steady in the confidence you’ve always had And there it goes again, you’ve got it Pumping strong with every step What you’ll give is what you’ll get Hey, darling Ain’t no sense in letting hard times hold you down Hey, darling There’s so much There’s so much love to go around So much love around (‘Round, ‘round, ‘round) (‘Round, ‘round, ‘round) Hey, darling Ain’t no sense in letting hard times hold you down (No sense in letting hard times hold you down) Hey, darling There’s so much There’s so much love to go around So much love Hey, darling Ain’t no sense in letting hard times hold you down (No sense in letting hard times hold you down) Hey, darling There’s so much There’s so much love There’s so much There’s so much love There’s so much There’s so much love There’s so much There’s so much love There’s so much There’s so much love (Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo) (Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo)
9.	Sisters	2:47	I got a sister to birth the dream A sister to keep it queen A sister to hype me up When my bad ain’t bad enough (Bad just ain’t bad enough) (Bad just ain’t bad enough My (bad just ain’t bad enough) (Bad just ain’t bad enough) If I ain’t got my sisters My (sisters) My (sisters) My (sisters) My (sisters) I got a sister who’ll bare the road A sister for the kids at home Sisterhood is all I know And we don’t ride these streets alone ‘Cause my (Bad just ain’t bad enough) (Bad just ain’t bad enough) My (bad just ain’t bad enough) (Bad just ain’t bad enough) If I ain’t got my sisters My (sisters) My (sisters) My, my, my, my (sisters) My (sisters) We are power We are love We move mountains For each other We are power We are love We move mountains For each other And together we’ll take the world Kicking aspirations We are power We are love We move mountains for each other And together we’ll take the world Together we’ll take the world Together we’ll take the world My my my my my my my my my my my my my (sisters)!
10.	Kept On Moving On	0:38	Together we came We saw a change Willing to grow Our change was a sure thing We saw ups and downs Lost friends in and out But we kept on Moving on Shared a couple heartbreaks But we remained strong
11.	Back To What Feels Right	3:37	Free up your mind Your move Do what you need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel Im-a cut loose ‘Cause I feel like I want to move Too much pressure Trying to take me out the groove I want to get back to life Back to what feels right Bodies in the room Good sweating all on the dance floor My body on you (you) Giving what I need and more You’re bringing me back to life Back to what feels right Free up your mind Your move Do what you need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel Free up your mind Your move Do what You need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel Take your time it’s gon’ start to feel nice Open up baby let me see that body wind To get back to life You’re gonna have to take the night Shift the room with your sway Make the room rock your way To take control of life You got to move it right Free up your mind Your move Do what you need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel Free up your mind Your move Do what you need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel Free up your mind No hate just love Free up your mind You’ll rise above Free up your mind No hate just love Free up your mind You’ll rise above Free up your mind Your move Do what you need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel Free up your mind Your move Do what you need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel Free up your mind Your move Do what you need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel Free up your mind Your move Do what you need To get down Get up New groove New you New feel
12.	Flying	3:23	Momma had a fear of flying She couldn’t let go Generational curses Will follow you down the road (They’ll haunt you) in your highs And bury you down below But I gotta fly Yeah, I gotta fly (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die At least I’lI die flying (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die At least I’ll die flying (At least I’ll die flying) Fear won’t be defining Any part of me Here I am defying Defying gravity (Sever) these soul ties It’s my fight to be free And it’s ‘bout time to see how wide I can spread my wings (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die At least I’ll die flying (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die At least I’ll die flying (At least I’ll die flying) I’m taking the stakes I’m tipping the scale Taking my chances Might go through hell Might screw it up But I'm in my peak I’m rising above, Trusting in me I’m knowing my strength And not scared to fail These situations that have no avail I’m cutting them lose I’m light now I’m free I’m one with the storm And honestly It feels good It feels good (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die (If I die), if I die At least I’ll die flying (If I die),if I die (If I die).if I die (If I die) if I die At least I’ll die flying (At least I’ll die flying)
13.	Believe	0:48	Believe And everything that we dreamed Believe It was all in our reach Believe At our lowest or at our highest peak Believe We knew our reward was in our journey Believe And troubles along the way Believe Were worth the friends that we made Believe When love was our only wealth We chose to believe In ourself
14.	We Are	3:46	This here is mine And it’s yours, too In all our glory Power to you And in this moment We stand in truth We’re here together A force to live on forever This is our story It’s tried and true When we affirm ourselves We write the future We are love We are peace We are whole We are healing This here is gold This life we own We may only live once We gotta set the tone We gotta know our power We gotta take control We’re a force together And we gotta send it on This is our story It’s tried and true When we affirm ourselves We can rewrite the future We are love We are peace We are whole We are healing We are triumphant We are strong We are the answer We are music for the soul We are triumphant We are strong We are the answer We are music for the soul This is our story It’s tried and true We see ourselves When we see you You are love You are peace You are whole We are healing

Tierinii Jackson: Lead Vocals
Ori Naftaly: Guitars
Tikyra Jackson: Vocals, Drums
Ava Jackson: Vocals, Percussion, Violin
with
Jeremy Powell: Keys
Blake Rhea: Bass
Luther Dickinson: Bass (3, 6, 8, 10)

Produced by John Burk
Recorded & Mixed by Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell at Royal Studios, Memphis, TN
Mastered by Michael Graves at Osiris Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Cover Photos by Rory Doyle
Design by Kevin Niemiec

Southern Avenue proudly endorses: DR Handmade Strings, Promark Sticks, Evans Drumheads & Dream Cymbals, and Telefunken Elektroakustik Microphones

This album is more than a record to us—it’s a declaration of our growth and unity. Born in the heart of Memphis, our sound reflects the cultural crossroads of this city, a tapestry of harmonies and rhythms that could only come from a melting pot of experiences like ours. These songs chronicle our evolution—not just as a band, but as a family. They dive into the moments that shaped us, the struggles that tested us, and the dreams that keep us moving forward. The sound of destiny fulfilled—the sound of people who were meant to find one another. This album isn’t just something to hear; it’s something to feel. Like a vibrant family photo album, these songs capture snapshots of our past, reflections of our present, and our hopes for the future. To us, music is about connection—and this collection of songs is our invitation to share that connection with you. —Southern Avenue

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Issac Hayes once said to me, “In the ‘50s and ‘60s, Memphis sat at the crossroads of music, with gospel from the churches, blues from the Mississippi Delta, country music from Nashville, jazz and R&B from New Orleans and Atlanta...it all lived in Memphis at the same time, and that’s the Memphis sound.” You can hear all of that and more in the sound of Southern Avenue, a family band who began their musical journey worlds apart.

Tierinii, Tikyra (“TK”), and Ava Jackson, grew up in a musical family. The three sisters, along with their other siblings, their father on guitar, and their mother as the band leader on the organ, made up their church band. Constantly singing and playing in church and at home gave the girls countless hours of making music together. In the early years, it was strictly gospel, as their parents didn’t allow them to listen to secular music until they reached their late teens.

Halfway around the world, Ori Naftaly began playing guitar at the age of five in a small Israeli town, immersing himself in blues and roots music from an early age. Deeply influenced by the rich sounds of Memphis and the surrounding regions, his passion for the genre eventually carried the Ori Naftaly Band across the ocean to compete in the International Blues Challenge. That single invitation led to a life-altering move to Memphis, the city that shaped the music he had admired since childhood.

Once in Memphis, Ori met Tierinii and TK, and their coming together was the birth of Southern Avenue. Shortly thereafter my good friend “Boo” Mitchell brought me to their show at the Memphis club, DKDC. I was struck by their talent and how authentically they were bringing that great Memphis music tradition forward, blending hill country blues, gospel and soul like no other group to come along in decades. I was also struck by their songwriting—soulful, uplifting and hopeful that they could make the world a better place with their music. In my view, this was a band worthy of following in the footsteps of such seminal family groups as the Staple Singers.

Over the years, I’ve watched the band continue to grow in every way, as songwriters and performers, as well as in their relationship to each other. What started out as friendship (Found A Friend In You) between young artists, became something much stronger when Tierinii and Ori were married and had their first child. Not long after that, Ava got her degree in violin performance and was free to join the band full time. Now Southern Avenue had truly become a family band.

It felt like a bit of a homecoming when we all met up to make this new album at the legendary Royal Studios with Boo. After all these years, it was the first time we were all in the studio together. The casting was perfect, with Jeremy Powell on keys, Blake Rhea on bass and very special guest Luther Dickinson. The band came prepared with a truly inspired collection of brilliantly written songs, crafted in such a way as to create a concept album telling their story, but at the same time, somehow telling all of our stories. All that we love about Memphis music can be found in this album—gifted musicians delivering the most authentic modern-day Memphis Soul, capped by tasteful, bluesy and rockin’ guitar solos, mind-blowing lead vocals, and harmonies that could only be created by sisters who’ve sung together for decades. That’s the Southern Avenue band, and this is their story.

—John Burk, Producer