Bobby Moore and The Rhythm Aces<div hidden>Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces</div>
Bobby Moore was a tenor saxophonist and bandleader best known for leading Bobby Moore & the Rhythm Aces, an American soul group from Montgomery, Alabama. The group formed in 1952 and gained fame with their 1966 hit "Searching for My Love."
Bobby Moore, born Robert Moore on July 17, 1930, in New Orleans, Louisiana, joined the US Army as a teenager. Stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1952, he assembled the first Rhythm Aces lineup from the base's marching band, performing at military events and southern clubs. After his discharge around 1961, he relocated to Montgomery and reformed the group with his son Larry Moore on saxophone, Chico Jenkins on vocals and guitar, Marion Sledge on guitar, Joe Frank on double bass, Clifford Laws on keyboards, and John Baldwin Jr. on drums.
The band backed touring artists like Sam Cooke and Ray Charles while playing local Alabama gigs. In 1965, they recorded "Searching for My Love" at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, which Checker Records released and became a million-seller, peaking at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the R&B chart in 1966. Follow-up singles like "Try My Love Again" (#97 Hot 100) and "Chained to Your Heart" had modest success, but Checker dropped them after 1969's "Your Love and My Love Together."
The Rhythm Aces persisted in Alabama with shifting members into the 2000s, performing soul, funk, rock, and modern hits at events. Bobby Moore died of kidney failure on February 1, 2006, in Montgomery, after which son Larry Moore took over leadership. The group remains active, booked through Nashville's Crescent Moon Entertainment for parties and corporate events.
Searching for My Love
A2 Mr. Starlight 2:00
A3 Follow Me 2:57
A4 The Hamburger Song 2:00
A5 Hey, Mr D.J. 2:53
A6 When I Get This Feeling 2:06
B1 We've Got That 2:25
B2 How Can You Do It, Baby 2:44
B3 Alone 5:05
B4 Jenny, Jenny 1:50
B5 I Will Never Trust Love Again 2:45
B6 Come Back Baby 2:25
Written by Robert Moore
Label: Checker – LP 3000
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Canada
Released: 1966
Genre: R&B Soul, Pop
Style: Sixties Soul, Rhythm & Blues
Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces' "Searching For My Love" album (debuting with the hit single) is a classic mid-tempo soul record known for its New Orleans flavor, prominent organ, swaying horns, and passionate vocals by Chico Jenkins, delivering heartfelt pleas for a lost love, making it a significant early soul gem from the Muscle Shoals era with tracks like the iconic title song that crossed over to pop charts.
Features a distinctive blend of Soul and R&B with strong Southern Soul/Muscle Shoals elements, characterized by insistent organ, brass, and a solid rhythm section.
While Bobby Moore led, the distinctive, persuasive vocals often attributed to the group were actually by singer Chico Jenkins, giving the record its unique sound, though many assumed Moore sang.
The title track was a major hit, reaching #7 on the R&B charts and #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, establishing the group. The music conveys deep passion and longing, perfectly matching the lyrical themes of searching for a returned lover. Considered a "splendid" and essential soul gem, it's praised for its raw emotion and catchy, danceable groove.
The album is celebrated as an unearthed classic, showcasing pure, heartfelt soul music from a pivotal period in Southern Soul, with the title track remaining a beloved staple for soul fans.