Frank Mastropolo Thanks for this article, Frank. Over my decades as a music industry executive and superfan, I've long considerd Felix Cavaliere among the top vocalists ever, and loved the Rascals. I told him this when I met him years ago. I wish I had relayed how significant "People Got to Be Free" was to me, and am glad to see you remind us and expose it to new generations. In fact, the song was one that inspired my Socially Driven Music venture.

I knew and respected Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler (Arif Martin, the genius who produced the record, became a friend of mine), but empathize with Felix and Eddie's frustration at the record company's lack of foresight which is still the case today.

Please see my work on my Medium publication, especially my most recent essay, "How and Why Socially Conscious Music Artists and Superfans Will Vanquish Trump.” I know that you'll appreciate the nexus of the Rascal's song and my endeavor and would welcome your sharing my essay with The Riff audience. It's not easy trying to enlighten an industry (even at a time so conducive to socially poignant music), which remains myopic even to its own detriment.

Best regards to you and Felix.

#Music, #MusicBusiness, #SocialImpact,