[2] The group was formed in 1968 by Isaac Hayes and David Porter of Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee,[1] after Sam & Dave, one of the label's top acts, were forced to leave Stax and return to the Atlantic label following the termination of the Stax/Atlantic partnership.
[1] Colbert, who had been known from childhood as Blackfoot for his habit of walking barefoot on the tarred sidewalks of Memphis during the hot summers, had recorded solo singles before joining The Bar-Kays as lead singer, after four original band members were killed with Otis Redding in a plane crash.
Norman West, Jr., the last to join the group, grew up in Louisiana, and sang in church with his brothers Joe, James, and Robert.
[3] The group's first record, "Give 'Em Love", produced by Hayes and Porter and released in late 1968, was a Billboard R&B chart hit, as were two follow-ups.
However, after the group had a minor hit with a slowed-down version of "Hold On, I'm Coming" in early 1970, Hayes left the project to develop his solo career.
[1] The group recorded Best of Two Worlds, a second album,[1] at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, but their next few singles failed to make the charts.
In 1973, they recorded the ballad "I'll Be the Other Woman", written and produced by Homer Banks and Carl Hampton, and with lead vocals by Shelbra Bennett, which became their biggest hit,[1] reaching no.
[1] She changed her name to Shelbra Deane and under this recorded a few solo 45s for TK, Casino and Muscle Shoals Sound.
[6] The trio of West, Colbert and Louis signed to Epic Records in 1976, releasing Finders Keepers, an album, and several moderately successful singles.
In 2007, West and Blackfoot decided to reform the Soul Children, adding two new singers: Ann Hines and Cassandra Graham.