I find obscure a relative term.. All this music is easily gotten via a variety of methods. Most of the contemporary artists, are on Facebook, etc. They are on high profile indies, it's just they tend to better know in the UK,etc and have limited promotional budgets outside of Europe.
I will never claim to be a true collector/crate digger, preferring to let those in know compile rare stuff from the original tapes, etc with additional research liner notes. Honestly, I just want to listen to the music.
Given Black Joe Lewis was from Texas, I decided to checkout a couple of the comps I seen in the past. Specifically "Texas Funk: Black Gold from the Lone Star State 1968-1975" on the Stones Throw/Now Again label. And "Funky Funky Houston" on Funky Delicacies.
I got a couple more of the well known Stones Throw rare funk comps recently, along with Truth and Souls compilation of Soul Fire singles. Soul Fire being label that was around briefly in 1999-2002 which released both new Lee Fields and re-issued rare funk singles like the Detroit Sex Machines.
Rough Francis is the band with songs of bass player from Death, who started as a Death tribute band.
I will get this up on Spotify and hopefully 8-tracks soon.