Johnnie Taylor 's deal with Malaco Records was supported by Carson Whitsett .
After a brief stint at Beverly Glen Records , Taylor signed with Malaco Records after the label 's founder Tommy Couch and producing partner Wolf Stephenson heard him sing at blues singer , Z . Z. Hill 's funeral in the spring of 1984.Backed by members of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as well as in-house veterans like former Stax keyboardist Carson Whitsett , Malaco gave Taylor the type of recording freedom that Stax had given him in the late 1960s and early 1970s , enabling him to record ten albums for the Malaco label in his sixteen year stint .
Johnnie Taylor