1st.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT : AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACHIEVERS:
224:
MUHAMMAD
ALI
(1942- )
KWANZAA
DAY 7/7
Imani
- (faith) :- To believe with all our hearts in our creator,
our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the
righteousness and victory of our struggle for a new and better world.
Independence
Day in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Sudan.
1804 Haiti
achieves independence from France.
1808 The
slave trade is outlawed in The U.S. (tr-iokts)
1863 Abraham
Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation.
1889
Black
Invention: Automatic
Cut-Off Switch, Granville T. Woods. (sc)
1915
Dr.
John Henrik Clarke
born. Pan-Africanist and prolific author. Clarke's systematic search
for the role of people from Africa in history began when a lawyer for
whom he worked told him that he "came from a people who had no
history but, that if I persevered and obeyed the laws, my people
might one day make history." One day during high school Dr.
Clarke was given the responsibility to hold the books and papers of a
guest lecturer. One of the books was entitled The New Negro edited by
Alain Locke. In that book Clarke found the essay "The Negro Digs
Up His Past," by Arthur Schomburg. It was then he realized he
"came from a people with a history older even than that of
Europe." Years later, at the age of seventeen, he would search
for and find Schomburg in what was then New York's 135th street
library. Clarke impatiently told Schomburg he wanted "to know
the history of my people." To which Schomburg replied, "What
you are calling African history and Negro history is nothing but the
missing pages of world history. You will have to know general history
to understand these specific aspects of history." In His later
life he traveled the world, he has read more books than any man has
ever read in his lifetime. John Henrik Clarke was totally blind in
the last remaining years of his life. He expressed he would like to
be remembered as a educator. He died 16/6/98. (mn)
1923
Milt
'Bags 'Jackson vibes
player born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. First played professionally
at the age of 16. (cl-mn)
1958
Grandmaster
Flash,
rapper born Joseph Saddler, Barbados. DJ Grandmaster Flash and his
group the Furious Five were hip-hop's greatest innovators,
transcending the genre's party-music origins to explore the full
scope of its lyrical and sonic horizons. Flash was born Joseph
Saddler in Barbados on January 1, 1958; he began spinning records as
teen growing up in the Bronx, performing live at area dances and
block parties. By age 19, while attending technical school courses in
electronics during the day, he was also spinning on the local disco
circuit; over time, he developed a series of groundbreaking
techniques including "cutting" (moving between tracks
exactly on the beat), "back-spinning" (manually turning
records to repeat brief snippets of sound) and "phasing"
(manipulating turntable speeds) -- in short, creating the basic
vocabulary which DJs continue to follow even today. (wbls.com)
1967
Tim
Dog,
the ultimate insult rapper from South Bronx, USA, real name Timothy
Blair, born today. Rose to prominence during the early 90's with his
debut LP "Penicillin on Wax" and the hit song F*ck Compton.
Tim had already appeared on songs with the Ultramagnetic MC's and
went on to form a duo, Ultra, with member Kool Keith. Fuck Compton
was a huge underground hit and caused ripwaves in the Hip Hop scene
at the time. It also enraged many rappers hailing from Compton and
the Los Angeles area, sparking a flurry of retaliatory disses from
Dr. Dre, DJ Quik, Snoop Dogg, and others. Tim followed up with his
second album Do or Die; it wasn't as acclaimed as Penicillin on Wax,
although it did feature the legendary KRS One. Another controversial
track that Tim released was the Snoop Dogg diss "Bitch With A
Perm" in which Tim let Snoop know how he felt about other
rappers using the title "dog" in their names. Since then
Tim toured with Kool Keith and recorded many other tracks the most
recent being his August 2005 collaboration with Percee P, "NY to
the UK". (mn-ms-wickpedia)
1969
Sophie okonedo (actress)
born in London. (nationmaster)
1987
The publishers of Enid Blyton's Noddy books bowed to pressure groups
and agreed to expunge all racism from them. (mn-txx)
1997
(In January) In memory of Michael
Menson,
29, from Edmington, north London, who was set alight by a gang of
youths while in a phone box. Not recorded a racially motivated until
approx one year afterwards. Police initially believed Menson had set
alight to himself. (mn)
2001
Lawrence Payout From Met.
Doreen and Neville Lawrence the parents of murdered son Stephen have
finally reached a financial settlement with the Metropolitan police
over inadequate investigation over their sons case. The £320,000
payment brings to an end a seven-and-a-half year battle by them to
bring their son's murderers to justice and to expose police
shortcomings and alleged racism. (voice)
2008
Eddie
Singleton
dies in South Africa. Singleton married berry Gordy's sister Raynoma
and formed the Washington D.C. Shrine label. The warehouse was burnt
down during the 60's roits along with most of the labels stock.
Shrine singles now change hands for thousands of pounds. He devorsed
his first wife and married singer Barbara Randolph and they lived
together in South Africa. She died there in 1998. (mn)
2nd.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACHIEVERS:
225:
JOSEPHENE
BAKER (1906-1975)
1820
Two ships with free American blacks went to Liberia, to set up new
country for ex-slaves. Liberia, which means "land of the
free," was founded by free African-Americans and freed slaves
from the United States in 1820. An initial group of 86 immigrants,
who came to be called Americo-Liberians, established a settlement in
Christopolis (now Monrovia, named after U.S. President James Monroe)
on 6 February 1820. (sc)
1898 Sadie
Tanner Mossell Alexander,
first African American to earn a Ph.D. degree in economics,
Pa. She served on numerous boards, committees, and commissions and
held office in many local and national organizations. Among her most
notable activities was her service on President Truman's Committee on
Human Rights in 1947 and on the Commission on Human Relations of the
City of Philadelphia from 1952 until 1968. She continued her
employment in her husband's firm from 1927 until 1959, when he was
named to the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. She subsequently
practiced independently until 1976, when she joined the firm of
Atkinson, Myers, and Archie in the capacity of counsel. She retired
from practice and from public life generally in 1982. Mrs. Alexander
died in 1989. (tr-iokts-wickpedia)
1911
St.
Clair Drake,
anthropologist, coauthor of Black Metropolis, born in Suffolk, Va.St.
Clair Drake was one of the most influential pioneers in sociology. In
the 1940s he and Horace R. Cayton drew upon the research of the Works
Progress Administration to produce the groundbreaking work, Black
Metropolis: A Study of Negro Life in a Northern City. This landmark
book intimately examined the workings of the African-American
"metropolis within a metropolis" on Chicago's South Side
during the late 1930s. It has influenced generations of scholars.
Drake lived at 510 West Chestnut Street when he became a professor of
sociology at Roosevelt College (now University) in 1946. At
Roosevelt, he developed one of the first African Studies programs in
the U.S. When he left for California, Drake would create the
Afro-American Studies Department at Stanford University. A prolific
chronicler of strife and advances in race relations during the 1960s
as well as the author of Black Folk Here and There (1987), Drake
founded the American Society for African Culture and served as
adviser to the first prime minister of Ghana. Died in 1990. (chicago tribute)
1915
John Hope Franklin,
U.S. historian, educator born in Rentiesville, Oklahoma. He is
Professor Emeritus of History at Duke University. He is best known
for his standard work From Slavery to Freedom, which first appeared
in 1947. It has been updated continuously and more than 3 million
copies have been sold. In 1995, he was awarded the Presidential Medal
of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Franklin was born in
Rentiesville, Oklahoma. He graduated from Fisk University in 1935,
and earned a master's degree and a doctorate in history from Harvard
University. "My challenge," Franklin says, "was to
weave into the fabric of American history enough of the presence of
blacks so that the story of the United States could be told
adequately and fairly." Franklin is a prominent member of Alpha
Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity
established for African Americans. (mn-wickpedia)
1929
Arthur
Prysock,
singer born in Spartansburg, USA. Prysock joined the Buddy Johnson
blues band at age 15, performing with them at Harlem clubs. He went
solo in 1952 and sometimes toured with his brother, Wilbert
“Red” Prysock. His popular hits include “It's Too
Late, Baby Too Late” (1965), “When Love Was New”
(1976), and “This Guy's in Love with You” (1988). He also
crooned the well-known TV ad jingle “Tonight, Let It Be
Lowenbrau.” Died 21/6/97 (wbls.com)
1957
Henry 'Juggy Murray' Jones incorporated the Sue record label,
naming it after his mother and daughter. Starting out at 271 West
125th. Street (just near the Apollo Theatre), Juggy shared an office
with d-j Tommy Smalls and fellow record entrepreneur Tommy Robinson
who had the Atlas and Angeltone labels. Sue was a pioneer amongst
successful black-owned and operated record labels. (mn)
1980
Larry Williams rhythm
& blues singer/songwriter dies. Born 10/5/35, Williams' small
string of late-50's singles for the Specialty label made him a
possible heir to the rock & roll throne vacated by Little Richard
after the laters decision to leave pop music. Williams began his
career as the keyboard player with Lloyd Price's band. With Specialty
Records 'Just Because' made No.11 on the R&B chart in 1957,
'Short Fat Fannie' made No.1 in the same year. In the mid-60's he
recorded and toured England with Johnny Guitar Watson while with the
Okeh label. He committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in
his L.A. home. (mn-rs)
1981
David
Lynch soul
singer with the Platters dies. The platters became one of the first
groups to break out of the rhythm-and-blues ghetto in which the US
radio and charts kept black music in the 50's. Also the first black
group to reach No.1 on the American pop charts. (mn-jt)
2004
E. Rodney Jones.
Famous US DJ dies in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from cancer. He also
made a Northern Soul single 'R&B Time (Pt. 1)' on Tuff
records. He was very popular in St. Louis in the 1950s and in Chicago
during the 1960s and 1970, particularly with WVON-AM Radio. One of
the "WVON Good Guys". Co-owned the Burning Spear lounge on
the South Side of Chicago with Pervis Spann. He had retired in
2002. Born in 1928 Texarkana, Arkansas, USA. (mn-dk)
2007
Operah Winfrey opens a girls school for the under priveraged in South
Africa, at a personal cost of 40 million dollars. She said her whole
life had been leading up to this point. (mn)
3rd.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 226: AFRICAN-AMERICAN
ACHIEVERS:
ARTHUR
ASHE (1943-1993)
1624 William
Tucker
becomes first recorded black child born in America. He was
baptized in Jamestown, Virginia. Two of the first Africans to be
brought to North America in 1619 were simply called Anthony and
Isabella they were married and in 1624 gave birth to the first Black
child born in English America naming him William Tucker in honor of a
Virginia Planter. After 1619, all Africans brought into the colonies
were sold as slaves. Today, the Black population is over 35-million,
or nearly 13-percent of the U.S. total. The largest numbers of
African Americans live in New York State (more than 3-million). Other
states with African American populations of more than 2-million
include California, Florida, Georgia and Texas (aareg)
1697
Abram
Hannibal
born. He was an African slave who became a major general and military
engineer in Russia. Hannibal was born in Lagano, Ethiopia, the son of
the reigning prince. At the age of eight he was captured and taken to
Turkey, where he was once again kidnapped and taken to Moscow. He was
given to the Czar, Peter the Great who grew fond of him because of
his intelligence. For ten years Hannibal went everywhere with Peter.
Hannibal completed his early schooling in 1716. (aareg)
1928
Willie
Mitchell,
driving force behind Hi Records born in Ashland, Mississippi, USA. A
veteran of several Memphis based bands, Mitchell rose to prominence
in the late 50s with an outfit that formed the basis of his
production work and early solo recordings. The line-up included Lewis
Stienburg and Al Jackson, both whom would later appear in Booker T.
& the M.G.'s. By the 60s Mitchell was leading the Hi Records
house band. The company was established on the success of Bill Black,
The one-time Elvis Presley bassist. (mn-cl)
1957
Fats Waller makes No.1 with his song, 'I'm Walking'. (wbls.com)
1980
Amos Milburn,
singer/rocking R&B blues pianist/bandleader dies after several
strokes and a leg amputation, Houston, Texas, USA. Born April 1st,
1927 in Houston, Texas, USA. After service in the US Navy in World
War II, Milburn formed his own blues and R&B band in Houston in
which he played piano and sang, and in 1946 he was offered a contract
by the Aladdin label. Between November 1948 and February 1954 he and
his band, the Aladdin Chicken Shakers, had an extraordinary run of 19
consecutive Top 10 hits in the Billboard R&B chart, including
four No.1s. Best remembered for 'Bad Whisky'. Band broke-up 1956. (mn-cl)
1978
Josie
D'arby
(actress/presenter) born CBBC 1990's (nationmaster)
2012
Gary Dobson & David Norris found guilty of the murder of Stephen
Lawrence on 22nd April 1993. At least three more of his attackers got
away with it. Sentancing will take place tomorrow. (mn)
4th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: AFRO-POP STARTS - SOUTHERN AFRICA
227:
ABDULLA
HIBRAHIM (DOLLAR
BRAND)
1920
Andrew Rube Foster organizes the first black baseball league, the
Negro National League. (tr-iokts)
1937
Grace
Bumbry,
internationally known opera singer, born in St. Louis, Mo, USA. The
American opera singer began her career as mezzo-soprano but
later expanded her repertoire to include soprano roles. Bumbry was
born in St Louis. She studied music at Boston University and later
with Lotte Lehmann at Northwestern University. In 1958, she won a
Metropolitan Opera audition. Bumbry made her operatic debut in 1960
when she sang Amneris at the Paris Opéra; that same year she
joined the Basel Opera. She gained international renown when she sang
Venus at Bayreuth in 1961, the first black singer to appear there.
Bumbry made her Royal Opera House, Covent Garden debut in 1963; her
La Scala debut in 1964. Bumbry made her Metropolitan Opera debut as
Princess Eboli in Verdi's Don Carlo in 1965. In 1970, Bumbry appeared
for the first time as a soprano, singing Mascagni's Santuzza at the
Vienna State Opera. Shortly thereafter, she sang Strauss's Salome at
Covent Garden and Tosca at the Met. As a soprano. she also assayed
more unusual roles, singing Janacek's Jenufa at La Scala in 1974, and
Dukas's Ariane et Barbe-Bleue in Paris in 1975. (wickpedia)
1946
Arthur Conley,
soul singer/songwriter born in Atlanta, Gorgia, USA. Arthur owes his
success to Otis Redding who signed him to Atlantic Records via Otis's
Jotis label. Biggest hit Sweet Soul Music in 1967. (other ref. say
1/4/46) (mn)
1962
Anthony
Malvo,
reggae artiste born, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Malvo has voiced
many hits for a number of Jamaica's top producers in the style of a
dancehall singer. His initial hits include "Come Back To Me"
and "Rain From The Skies", both with Tiger, and "Take
You To The Dance" with Lizard. The combination hits were
followed by a solo venture recorded with Bobby Digital, "Can't
Control The Feeling" and "History Sound". Malvo is
best known for his work with dancehall singer Anthony Red Rose when
his career peaked in 1994. The duo enjoyed individual hits on their
How Yu Fi Sey Dat label: Red Rose sang about the "Ganja Man"
while Malvo performed "Sensi" on an identical rhythm in
combination with Josey Wales. In the history of reggae, the dancehall
has always played an important role in inspiring recording trends. In
the early days the selector would play one rhythm and the DJs would
take turns to chant over the same tune. By the early 90s the selector
would mix various recorded tracks of the same rhythm, creating the
impression that a number of performers were taking a turn at the
microphone. Although many sound systems would play the rhythm without
an apparent interruption, the practice induced the duo to create
"Informer". As well as producing the song, they performed
alongside Frankie Paul, Red Dragon, Snagga Puss, Lizard and Flourgon.
The idea proved a success and a number of multi-combination tunes
followed. In 1994, the duo performed "Never Get", which was
rendered in a call-and-response style. They also produced a number of
Jamaica's top performers, including Red Dragon
("Sweetheart"), Beenie Man ("Name Brand"),
Chuckleberry ("Woman You're Hard") and combinations with
Merciless, Prezident Brown and Spragga Benz with "You A Mi
Heart", "Red Alert" and "Reminiscing",
respectively. In 1996, after maintaining a low profile, Malvo
released the popular "Main Ingredient", as well as
producing successful hits for How Yu Fi Sey Dat. (mn-cl-musi.us.bio)
1971
Dr. Melvin H. Evans is elected first
governor of Virgin Islands.
1978
Green Bay Massacre takes place. Five
suspected gang members associated with JLP are murdered, apparently
by an army firing squad, at a bay west of Kingston, and another five
escape to tell the story. Big Youth, Jah Lloyd and Lord Sassafrass
are among the deejays to pass comment on disc. (mn-sb/pd-tr)
5th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: AFRO-POP,
228:
MIRAIM
MAKEBA (B.1932)
1911
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is chartered as a national organization. (tr-iokts)
1929
Wilbert
Harrison,
singer born in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Best remembered for
hit recording 'Kansas City'. Canned Heat and Brian Ferry have all
enjoyed hit versions of his original tunes.(Dies 26 October, 1994 at
Spencer, North Carolina, USA.) (mn-cl)
1931
Alvin
Ailey
Jr.,, legendary choreographer is born. Alvin Ailey, Jr. Was an
African American modern dancer and choreographer who founded the
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ailey was born to his 17-year-old
mother in Rogers, Texas. When Ailey was six-months old, his father
abandoned the family. Alvin developed an early interest in art.
Initially, he took dance classes from choreographer Katherine Dunham
and later studied under Los Angeles dance teacher Lester Horton.
After Horton’s death, Ailey took over his dance company. Alvin
Ailey was homosexual and was a longtime lover of David McReynolds in
the 1950s. Ailey started his own dance company in 1958 featuring
primarily African American dancers. He integrated his dance company
in 1963. He also directed; one notable production was Langston
Hughes's Jericho-Jim Crow (1964). The Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater popularized modern dance throughout the world with his
international tours sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Ailey was
diagnosed with cytomegalovirus and an esophogeal ulcer (complications
of AIDS); he died on December 1, 1989. (wickpedia)
1932
Johnny
Adams,
blues singer born Latham John Adams in New Orleans, LA, USA. d. 14
September 1998, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. A former member of
several gospel groups, Adams' first recordings appeared in 1959 on
Ric Records. Three years later he secured a minor R&B success
with "A Losing Battle", a slow ballad co-written by Dr.
John. In 1968 he joined Shelby Singleton's SSS International outlet
and enjoyed a hit the following year with "Reconsider Me",
an inspired piece of country soul. Although subsequent releases
failed to match this performance, the strong Heart And Soul followed.
Adams signed with Atlantic Records in the early 70s, but his work
there was disappointing. A later move to Ariola Records resulted in a
remake of Conway Twitty's two-year-old country hit, "After All
The Good Is Gone', giving Adams a 1978 US R&B chart entry. He
then recorded for various labels, including, notably, Rounder
Records. From 1989 Adams enjoyed something of an artistic revival,
recording a number of fine albums, including tributes to Percy
Mayfield and Doc Pomus, songwriters to whom Adams" excellent
voice was particularly suited. He lost his battle against cancer in
1998. (mn-rs-music.us.bio)
1943
George
Washington Carver,
agricultural, scientist, dies. If an honest history of the Deep
South is ever written, Dr. George Washington Carver will stand out as
one of the truly great men of his time. Almost single-handedly, he
brought the findings of the laboratory to the land. He was a
scientist, teacher, administrator and humanitarian. He was buried
next to Booker T. Washington. (hear GNPAP:53) (mn-ra)
1947
Winston
Delano Stewart,
reggae singer with the Gaylads born, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.
Renowned rocksteady harmony trio the Gaylads was formed in 1963 by
Kingston-born vocalists Harris "B.B." Seaton and Winston
Delano Stewart, who as the duo of Winston & Bibby previously
enjoyed a series of Coxsone Dodd-produced hits including
"Joybells," "I'll Be There" and "Lover Man." (mn-cl)
1949
George
Brown,
member of soul band Kool & The Gang born. Originally formed as a
quartet, the Jazziacs, by Robert "Kool" Bell later
as the Soul Town Band, moderated their early direction by blending
soul and funk, a transition completed by 1969 when they settled on
the name Kool And The Gang. The group crossed over into the US pop
chart in 1973 and initiated a run of 19 stateside Top 40 hits on
their own De-Lite label starting with "Funky Stuff", a feat
consolidated the following year with a couple of Top 10 hits,
"Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". They
continued to enjoy success, although their popularity momentarily
wavered in the latter half of the 70s as the prominence of disco
strengthened. (mn-jt)
1960
Play of the Week (Moon on a Rainbow Shawl) -
Broadcast by the BBC written by black playwright Errol John. (no
copy exists) (mn-sb)
2010
Willie
Mitchell
dies. Record producer, label head and musician who worked with Al
Green and other stars, he was 81. Mitchell died at Methodist
University Hospital in Memphis at 7:25 a.m., more than two weeks
after he suffered cardiac arrest Dec. 19, said his son, Lawrence
Mitchell. Willie Mitchell owned Royal Studio where Buddy Guy, John
Mayer and many others recorded their music. In the 1970s, Mitchell
also owned Hi Records of Memphis, the label that produced some of
Green's biggest hits. Green, also from Memphis, was flying to
Australia and unavailable for comment Tuesday. At Hi, Mitchell was
responsible for several instrumental hits of the 1960s and helped the
careers of Green and singer Ann Peebles in the 1970s. Even in later
years, Mitchell stayed busy at his studio, working with then-emerging
talents like Mayer and Anthony Hamilton. Most recently, he wrote
string and horn arrangements for Rod Stewart's new album of R&B
covers, and produced a still-unreleased album from soul kingpin
Solomon Burke. He received a Trustees Award from the Grammy
Foundation in 2008. A trumpeter, Mitchell and his band provided the
musical entertainment at several New Year's Eve parties for Elvis
Presley at Presley's Graceland home. A Memphis boulevard was named in
his honor in 2004. Mitchell was born and raised in Ashland, Miss.
Other survivors include two daughters. (sw-a.p.)
6th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: AFRO-POP,
229:
HUGH
MASEKELA (B.1939)
1831
The World Anti-Slavery Convention opens in London.
1923
Leah
Chase Born.
Leah Chase also known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, is a New
Orleans chef, author and television personality who has promoted
African American art and Creole cooking. Her restaurant, Dooky Chase,
was a gathering place for the Civil Rights movement during the 1960s,
as well as a gallery for an extensive African American Art
collection. Leah Chase was born on January 6, 1923 to Creole parents
in Madisonville, Louisiana. She moved to New Orleans to the home of
relatives at the age of 14 to attend St. Mary's Academy. After high
school, she worked in the French Quarter at the Colonial Restaurant.
In 1945, she married musician Edgar "Dooky" Chase II. His
parents owned the Dooky Chase Restaurant. She began to work in the
restaurant in the 1950s and eventually converted the menu to reflect
her own family's Creole recipes. She also developed an interest in
African American art and began to display dozens of paintings by
local African American artists. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, 4
feet of water flooded the restaurant and the roof over the takeout
kitchen collapsed. However, Chase's grandson put the restaurant's
African-American art collection into storage. Leah Chase has a
cooking show devoted to Creole cooking and is the author of several
cookbooks (tr-bl-wickpedia)
1935
Ricky
Allen,
soul singer born Nashville, Tennessee, USA. A perfect example of an
artist who recorded in the amalgam style called soul-blues, but he
did so in the early 60's, long before anybody gave that genre a name.
His first hit was You Better Be Sure. (mn-cl)
1937
Doris Troy soul
singer born Doris Higginsen, in the Bronx, New York City, New York,
USA, d. 16 February 2004, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The daughter of a
Barbadian Pentecostal preacher, Doris Higginsen abandoned her gospel
beginnings in favour of a jazz group, the Halos. She recorded as half
of Jay And Dee and soon also began making her mark as a songwriter,
using her grandmother's name of Payne as a nom de plume. In 1960, Dee
Clark recorded her song "How About That" for Vee Jay
Records, while Troy cut a lone single for Everest before
concentrating on background singing, with ex-Drinkard Singers Dionne
Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick and their aunt Cissy Houston, behind many
acts including the Drifters, Solomon Burke and Chuck Jackson. Then in
1963 Troy co-wrote "Just One Look" with Gregory Carroll,
and when Juggy Murray of Sue Records "sat on" a demo of it,
she took a copy to Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records, who promptly
released it exactly as recorded and watched it become a US Top 10
hit. It was covered the following year by the Hollies, and reached
the UK number 2 slot. Other releases included the equally insistent
"What'cha Gonna Do About It?", which reached the UK Top 40
in 1964 (and was later covered by the Small Faces), but failed to
succeed in her home country. Later singles for Capitol Records and
Calla were equally underrated. After settling in London, England in
1969, Troy recorded a self-titled album for the Beatles' label Apple
Records, with the help of George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Troy also
recorded for People and Polydor Records and worked as a session
singer, contributing to seminal tracks such as the Rolling Stones'
"You Can't Always Get What You Want", George Harrison's
"My Sweet Lord", and Carly Simon's "You're So
Vain". She also featured on Nick Drake's Bryter Layter and Pink
Floyd's 1973 epic Dark Side Of The Moon. In March 1983, an
off-Broadway musical about Troy's life, Mama, I Want To Sing, opened
at the Heckscher theatre in Harlem. Written by her younger sister Vy
and her husband Ken Wydro, the musical was a critical and commercial
success and ran for 1,500 performances, and spawned a number of
touring versions. Between 1984 and 1998, Troy sang the role of her
mother Geraldine and travelled with the show around the world.
Nicknamed "Mama Soul" by her loyal British fans, Troy
succumbed to emphysema in February 2004. (mn-mussic.us.bio)
1944
Van
McCoy soul
singer/arranger born on this day in Washington, D.C., USA, d. 6 July
1979 (heart attack). This successful artist had been a member of
several groups prior to announcing his solo career with "Hey Mr
DJ". Released in 1959, the single was distributed by Sceptre
Records, with whom McCoy subsequently served in an A&R capacity.
He also branched out into writing and production work, making
contributions to hits by the Drifters, Gladys Knight And The Pips and
Barbara Lewis. Following that, McCoy embarked on a fruitful
relationship with Peaches And HerBorn In 1968, he established VMP
(Van McCoy Productions) and enjoyed further success with Jackie
Wilson ("I Get The Sweetest Feeling") and Brenda And The
Tabulations ("Right On The Tip Of My Tongue"). He later
became the musical arranger for the Stylistics, on the departure of
Thom Bell, and emphasized the sweet, sentimental facets of their
sound. McCoy was also encouraged to record under his own name and,
fronting the Soul Symphony, secured an international smash in 1975
with the multi-million-selling disco-dance track, "The
Hustle". This perky performance set the pattern for further
releases but the style quickly grew anonymous. McCoy continued his
successful production career with, among others, Faith, Hope And
Charity, until his premature death from a heart attack in 1979. (mn-cl-mussic.us.bio)
1947
Shirley
Brown,
soul singer born in West Memphis, Arkansas, USA. Brown was
discovered and managed by bluesman Albert King, and spent several
years working on the St. Louis nightclub circuit prior to recording
"Woman To Woman" in 1974. Written by the songwriting team
of Homer Banks and Henderson Thigpen, this dramatic tale of
infidelity, complete with its renowned spoken introduction,
encapsulated the "cheating" genre and not only became a
massive hit in its own right, but inspired several "answer"
songs in the process, among which Millie Jackson's "Still Caught
Up" is a good example. Brown had further, if lesser, R&B
hits with "It Ain't No Fun" (1975) and "Blessed Is The
Woman (With A Man Like That)" (1977), and continued her
recording career into the 90s recording with the Malaco subsidiary
Dome. She is most comfortable with aching soul ballads and her voice
deserves a much wider audience. (mn-cl-music.us.bi)
1966
Harold R. Perry becomes the second African American Roman Catholic
bishop in U.S. history. (tr-iokts)
1980
Georgina Tillman Gordon,
soul singer with the 60's Motown group The Velvelettes dies. The
group was founded in 1961 by sisters Carolyn and Millie Gill with
cousins Bertha Barbee-McNeal and Norma Barbee on the Western Michigan
University campus, where they were students. Carolyn's friend Betty
Kelley was also an original member. They got their start playing
fraternity and sorority parties as well as small clubs, before
signing to IPG Records, a local imprint where they recorded their
first single, "There He Goes." While the song only received
local radio attention, it helped the group catch the ear of a Motown
talent scout. The group signed to Motown Records immediately, but
weren't given top priority, as other female vocal groups were
attracting audiences and recording hits. While the group awaited
their chance at stardom, they recorded backing vocals for more
established Motown girl groups, including The Marvelettes, Martha
& The Vandellas, and The Supremes. The Velvelettes got their
break in 1964 thanks to young producer Norman Whitfield, who produced
"Needle In A Haystack" as a single for the group.
"Needle In A Haystack" peaked at number 45 on the Billboard
Hot 100 in mid-1964. The group recorded its follow-up, "He Was
Really Sayin' Somethin'", with Whitfield again producing, and
spent time on various Motown-sponsored tours as an opening act. (mn-jt-wickpedia)
1996
Recycling Black Dollars, an organization of African American
businesses, campaigns for Change Bank Day to benefit
African-American-owned financial institutions. (tr-iokts)
2006
Lou
Rawls,
singer, activist, dies from cancer. First to go in a new year he was
just 72. Born Louis Allen Rawls, 1 December 1935, Chicago, Illinois,
USA. Briefly a member of the acclaimed gospel group the Pilgrim
Travellers, this distinctive singer began forging a secular career
following his move to California in 1958. An association with Sam
Cooke culminated in "Bring It On Home To Me', where Rawls'
throaty counterpoint punctuated his colleague's sweet lead vocal.
Rawls" own recordings showed him comfortable with either small
jazz combos or cultured soul, while an earthier perspective was shown
on his mid-60s release, Lou Rawls Live!. He achieved two Top 20
singles with "Love Is A Hurtin' Thing" (1966) and "Dead
End Street" (1967), and enjoyed further success with a 1969
reading of Mable John's "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)".
Several attempts were made to mould Rawls into an all-round
entertainer, but while his early 70s work was generally less
compulsive, the singer's arrival at Philadelphia International
Records signalled a dramatic rebirth. "You'll Never Find Another
Love Like Mine', an international hit in 1976, matched the classic
Philly sound with Rawls" resonant delivery, and prepared the way
for a series of exemplary releases including "See You When I Git
There" (1977) and "Let Me Be Good To You" (1979). The
singer maintained his association with producers Gamble And Huff into
the next decade. His last chart entry, "I Wish You Belonged to
Me", came in 1987 on the duo's self-named label, since which
time he has recorded for the jazz outlet Blue Note Records and
released his first solo gospel album, I'm Blessed. Rawls has also
pursued an acting career and provided the voice for several Budweiser
beer commercials. (mn-music.us)
2011
Gary
Mason
dies in cycle crash in London. Former British heavy weight boxer, he
was 48. Mason fought 38 times as a professional in a career that
spanned 10 years from 1984 to 1994, with 37 wins (34 by knockout) and
only one loss, that being to Lennox Lewis when he challenged for the
European title in 1991. Mason gave Lewis his hardest fight up to that
point in his career. Mason defeated a number of well known
heavyweights, including Tyrell Biggs, James Tillis, Lorenzo Boyd,
Alfonzo Ratliff, Ricky Parkey, Donnie Long, James Pritchard, Mark
Wills, Everett Martin, Louis Pergaud, Hughroy Currie, Terry
Armstrong, David Jaco and Jess Harding. He suffered a detached retina
in a bout with Everett Martin in 1990. After a short retirement he
staged a comeback, which ended with a TKO loss to Lennox Lewis, which
aggravated Mason's eye injury. He would come back once again, but
after winning two fights in the U.S. he retired for good. (pilot/wiki)
7th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT : AFRO-POP:
230:
MAHLATHINI/MAHOTELLA
QUEENS
Nyahbinghi
Iladay. Ethiopian day. Three Kings. (tr)
1890
Black
Invention:
Fountain pen, William B. Purvis is awarded patent.
1903
Zora Neale Hurston,
Author, anthropologist born in Eatonville, Fl., USA, a self governed
African-American town. Growing up here shaped her later work and
attitudes, for she was influenced by both the oral tradition alive
there and the independence of the African-American community. She
studied at both Howard and Bernard universities, where she earned her
A.B. in 1928. While at Howard she published her first short stories,
launching her writing career. Her most successful novel is Their Eyes
Were Watching God (1937). (mn-ss-dp)
1953
Earl
Wilberforce Wire Lindo keyboard
player for The Wailers (1978-1981) and guest musician on countless
other reggae recordings is born. Original Wailers
organist-keyboardist Earl 'Wya' Lindo is still bubbling with his
trademark funky syncopated peculating playing. He has been through it
all too, from his early days at Coxsone Dodd's Studio One (Jamaica's
Motown), an uncountable number of recording sessions with every star
Jamaica has to offer, to his unification with the Wailers where he
has remained through all of it's incarnations. (tr-mn)
1955
Marian Anderson debuts as first female African American singer at
the Metropolitan Opra House. (tr-iokts)
1963
Thomas Baptiste is the first black actor to appear on a Coronation
Street, he played Johnny Alexander a working-class bus conductor.
When Granada celibrated its 35th birthday he was forgotten. He was on
the Street for 12 months. (mn-sb)
1973
Sean
Paul Henriques,
raga singer born in Jamaica, West Indies. Paul was educated at
Wolmers High School near the National Heroes Stadium, and the
exclusive Bel Air High School in uptown Mandeville. His principal
vocational research was at the College Of Arts Science And Technology
in Hope Road, and he was trained in commerce with a view to pursuing
an occupation in hotel management. Although he was qualified in this
domain he was drawn to the excitement of the dancehall. He began as a
songwriter although he found greater success as a performer. In 1997,
Paul recorded in combination with Spanner Banner on the Jamaican
chart-topper, "Ladies Man", through the singer's Sweet
Angel Productions. The hit resulted in him embarking on sessions with
Jeremy Harding, a little known producer who burst on the scene with
his production of Beenie Man's crossover hit, "Who Am I".
The producer released the dancehall favourite "Baby Girl",
which was followed by the more successful, "Infiltrate".
The latter single joined the singer's combination hit in the Jamaican
chart. Sean Paul's style is reminiscent of the established DJ Spragga
Benz, although he has also been compared to Junior Cat. Aware of the
comparisons, he nurtured his own unique style widely considered as
"uptown". A series of hits ensued including the
enlightening "Deport Them", and the intriguing
"Strategy". In 1998 multiple hits emerged, most notably
"Work With It", "Hot Gal Today", "Woman Yuh
Hot", "Report To Me" and "Faded", all of
which maintained the DJ's profile. The furore of the dancehall crew
in Jamaica led to most principal DJs joining forces with emerging
vocalists as a team. Paul was no exception. The DJ joined the Dutty
Cup Crew alongside Don Yute, Mossy Kid and Luger Man. In combination
the team released the popular "Groove Me" and
"Jamone", which were particularly successful in New York.
Paul continued to release dancehall favourites as a soloist and in
combination with the Dutty Cup Crew. In the winter of 1998, he
recorded a version of the "Unda Wata" rhythm as "Ladies
Man". The chant was a braggadocio rapport that related to a
girl whom he felt necessary to conceal from the rest of the crew. The
Unda Wata video featured a megamix of the tune with Buju Banton,
Beenie Man, Buccaneer, Machel and General Degree alongside the
singer. Security was tense when the all-star line-up filmed the
phenomenally successful promo at the Asylum Club in Kingston. In
1999, Paul's career was firmly established when he embarked on a
hectic touring schedule taking in Europe, Japan and the USA. He
collaborated with Mr. Vegas and US rapper DMX on a contribution to
the soundtrack of Hype Williams' Belly. He cemented his popularity in
the USA with a hit remix of "Hot Gal Today" and the album
release, Stage One. In 2002, Paul enjoyed a mainstream US Top 10 hit
with "Gimme The Light". He was even more successful the
following year when "Get Busy" rose steadily up the charts
before reaching the number 1 position in May. The attendant Dutty
Rock reached the US Top 10 and racked up sales of one million plus.
Paul dominated the airwaves during the summer, appearing on massive
hit singles by Blu Cantrell ("Breathe") and Beyonc‚
("Baby Boy"). (wickpedia)
1985
Lewis
Carl Davidson Hamilton
MBE born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, is a British Formula One racing
driver, currently racing for the McLaren Mercedes team, and is the
youngest ever Formula One World Champion. At the age of ten, Hamilton
approached McLaren team principal Ron Dennis at the Autosport Awards
ceremony in December 1995 and told him, "I want to race for you
one day...I want to race for McLaren." Less than three years
later, he was signed by McLaren and Mercedes-Benz to their Young
Driver Support Programme. After winning the British Formula Renault,
Formula Three Euroseries, and GP2 championships on his way up the
racing career ladder, he became a McLaren F1 driver for 2007, making
his Formula One debut 12 years after his initial encounter with
Dennis. Coming from a mixed-race background, with a black father and
white mother, Hamilton is often labelled "the first black driver
in Formula One". In his first season in Formula One, Hamilton
set numerous records and finished second in the 2007 Formula One
Championship, just one point behind Kimi Räikkönen. He won
his first World Championship the following season, ahead of Felipe
Massa by the same margin of a single point. He has stated he wants to
stay with the McLaren team for the rest of his F1 career. (wiki)
2001
James
Carr,
soul singer dies at Court Manor Nursing Home in Memphis, suffering
from lung cancer. Born on June 13th, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee,
James started out his career singing gospel. He sang briefly with the
famous Soul Stirrers (a group that also spawned Sam Cooke and Johnnie
Taylor) and was a member of the Harmony Echoes when he was discovered
by Roosevelt Jamison and brought to Goldwax Records. There, between
1966 and 69, he had nine Top R & B hit singles including You've
Got My Mind Messed Up, Love Attack, Pouring Water On A Drowning Man
and the originals of the classics To Love Somebody and Dark End Of
The Street (the ultimate southern soul "cheating"
song-.-recorded subsequently by the likes of Percy Sledge). After
Goldwax folded in 1969. James moved to Atlantic where in 1970 and 71
he had four sides released, among them 71's I'll Put It To You.
Increasing health problems removed him from the music scene until a
reunion in 1977 with Roosevelt Jamison for the River City single Let
Me Be Right. Subsequently, he returned to the church but in 1990
surprised his earlier fans with the return to secular form shown on
the brand new album Take Me To The Limit. (mn-i-t-b-ace records)
2001
Louil
Silas Jr.,
music industry executive dies in Los Angeles, California, following
a battle with kidney disease. He was 44. Silas who was senior
executive at LaFace Records at the time of his death, had previously
worked at MCA Records, where he was responsible for building the
label's black music division. Howard Hewett, Chante' Moore, Johhny
Gill and Angela Winbush all sang at his funeral. (mn-i-t-b)
8th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: AFRO-POP:
231:
SOUL
BROTHERS
1918
Black
Invention:
Arm for Recording Machine, Joseph Hunter. (sc)
1922
Col. Charles Young, first African American to achieve that rank in
the U.S. Army, dies in Lagos, Nigeria. (tr-iokts)
1937
Shirley
Bassey,
singer, born in Cardiff, Wales, UK. A
thrilling, highly emotional singer, whose career has spanned some 40
years. Her early jobs included work in a factory's wrapping and
packing department, while playing working men's clubs at weekends.
After touring the UK in revues and variety shows, Lancashire comedian
Al Read included her in his 1955 Christmas Show at London's Adelphi
Theatre, and his revue, Such Is Life, which ran for a year. Her first
hit, in 1957, was the calypso-styled "Banana Boat Song",
followed by "Kiss Me Honey Honey, Kiss Me" nearly two years
later. In 2000 she was created a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent
Order of British Empire. (mn-nc)
1940
Little
Anthony Gourgine,
soul singer born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Little Anthony & the
Imperials formed in 1958 enjoyed one of the longest career runs of
any doo wop group, adapting their honey-smooth style to fit the sweet
uptown soul sound of the mid-'60s. Right from the beginning, Little
Anthony's aching way with a ballad was the group's calling card, but
their repertoire was balanced by more R&B-inflected dance tunes. (mn)
1942
Jon
Lucian
born Tortola Island, Caribbean. d. 18th August 2007. Raised in St.
Thomas by a guitar-playing father and greatly inspired by Nat 'King'
Cole. He relocated to New York in the mid-60's, where he began his
musical career. In 1970, he released his debut album 'I Am Now'. 1973
saw the release of the, much sought after, album 'Rashida',
containing the popular tunes 'Would You Believe In Me', Lady Love'
and the title track. For the follow up, 1974's 'Mind's Eye', Lucien
collaborated with veteran producer Dave Grusin. The album contained
the rare groove tunes 'Listen Love' and 'World Of Joy'. The following
year, Jon had moved to the CBS label for the album release 'Song For
My Lady', followed by 'Premonition', for the same label, in 1976.
Only one release spanned the years between the Seventies and
Nineties, which was 1982's, 'Romantico', for the Precision label.
After a long absence, Lucien returned in 1991 with a release that was
very much what he'd done in his peak '70's years. Further releases
included 1993's 'Mother Nature's Son'. A few months after his 17
year-old daughter Dalila was killed on Flight 800 in July of 1996,
Jon went into the studio and began recording 'Endless Is Love'. Jon
reflected 'My daughter doesn't want me sitting around being unhappy.
I look at her and we communicate. We make music. The music is a
special force.' Having carved himself his own unique niche, within
the jazz market, Jon Lucien remains one of the most distinctive
vocalists over the last 30 years. A 'Best Of' compilation of his
earlier work was released in 2001. (soulwalking)
1943
Marcus
Hutson,
member of soul band The Whispers is born. Formed in the Watts section
of Los Angeles, California, USA in 1964, soul group the Whispers were
originally comprised of Nicholas Caldwell (Born 5 April 1944, Loma
Linda, California, USA), twin brothers Wallace and Walter Scott (Born
23 September 1943, Fort Worth, Texas, USA), Marcus Hutson (Born 8
January 1943, St. Louis, Missouri, USA) and Gordy Harmon. The group
recorded its first single, "It Only Hurts For Awhile", for
Dore Records but it was not until 1969 that they reached the R&B
charts with "Time Will Come", on the Soul Clock label.
Their first Top 10 soul record, "Seems Like I Gotta Do
Wrong", followed in 1970 and the group switched to Janus Records
for the next four years, during which time Leaveil Degree (Born 31
July, 1948, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA) replaced Harmon. In 1975 the
group switched labels again, to Soul Train, and scored such hits as
"One For The Money" and "Make It With You", a
remake of the Bread pop hit. The Soul Train label evolved into Solar
Records in 1978, where the Whispers stayed for 10 years, reaching
their commercial peak. Emphasizing lush arrangements and sweet vocal
harmonies, the group earned hits with the US number 1 R&B single
"And The Beat Goes On", which also reached number 2 in the
UK pop chart. The group continued their success in the US R&B
charts with six Top 10 entries; "Lady" (1980), "It's A
Love Thing" (1981, also a UK Top 10), "In The Raw"
(1982), "Tonight" (1983), "Keep On Lovin' Me"
(1983), "Contagious" (1984), and another R&B number 1
and their only US Top 10 pop entry, "Rock Steady", in 1987.
Maintaining the same line-up, the group signed to Capitol Records in
1990, releasing More Of The Night, which still stressed a refined,
slick soul sound. In 1993 the Scotts began recording as Walter &
Scotty, releasing the My Brothers Keeper album. They carried on
working with the Whispers, however, who chalked up 30 years in the
music business the following year. (mn-jt-music.us.bio)
1952
Black Invention: Refrigeration
control device, Frederick McKinley Jones recieves patent.
1960
George
E. Haynes,
sociologist, cofounder of the National Urban League, and first
African American to receive a Ph.D. degree from Columbia Uni., dies.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, George E. Haynes was the only child of
Louis and Mattie Sloan Haynes. At a young age he moved with his
parents to New York, where he spent his youth. In 1903 he received
his B.A. from Fisk University, he earned his M.A. from Yale
University in 1904, and in 1912 he became the first African American
awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Columbia
University. (tr-iokts)
1967
R.
Kelly,
singer/writer born Robert Kelly in Chicago, USA. This urban R&B singer-songwriter
and producer first made an impact in 1991 with his band Public
Announcement, and has since become one of America's most successful
solo artists. Kelly grew up in the housing projects of Chicago's
South Side, but channelled his energies away from fast money-making
schemes and into long-term musicianship. He had a natural flair for
most instruments, eventually becoming, more by accident than design,
a useful busking act. It earned him a living, until constant police
disruptions forced him to reconsider his employment. He put together
the R&B outfit MGM, and went on to win a national talent contest
on the Big Break television show, hosted by Natalie Cole.
Unfortunately, that outfit's energy dissipated, and his next major
break came when manager Barry Hankerson spotted him while auditioning
for a play at the Regal Theatre in Chicago. He soon had Kelly acting
as musical co-ordinator/producer for a slew of acts, including Gladys
Knight, David Peaston, Aaliyah, and the Hi-Five (who had a number 1
single, "Quality Time", with Kelly at the controls). His
diversity was confirmed with his work with the Winans gospel family,
notably a duet with Ronald Winans on "That Extra Mile". (wickpedia-music.us)
1968
Keith
Mullings WBC
Super Welterweight World Champion Boxer is born. Record: 15-4-1
(10). Best wins: Donald Stokes; Terry Norris. He lives in Brooklyn,
New York, USA. (mn-ring)
1973
Archibald a.k.a.
Archie Boy, blues pianist, dies in New Orleans. Born Leon T. Gross,
14 September 1912, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. With a reputation
that rests on his first and only hit, Archibald is best remembered
for the impression he made upon younger piano players such as Fats
Domino, James Booker and Allen Toussaint. Self-taught but influenced
by Burnell Santiago, he gained the nickname "Archie Boy"
during years of playing at parties and brothels. After serving in the
army during World War II, he was spotted and signed by Imperial
talent scout Al Young. His first release, a two-part version of
"Stack-O-Lee", was an immediate hit, but subsequent records
for Imperial and its subsidiary, Colony, failed to maintain his
popularity. For many years, he was the resident pianist at the Poodle
Patio club, but by the 70s his career was all but over. Nevertheless,
his music typified the syncopated piano style with which others
achieved more success. (mn-sr-music.us.bio)
2011
Steve
Mancha a.k.a.
Clyde Wilson passed way at the Ford Hospital, Detroit,
Michigan following a long illness. Steve was lead singer for 8th Day
group. He made a program for PCRL in the 1990's. b. Clyde Darnell
Wilson, 25th December 1945, Walhall, South Carolina, U.S.A. (mn-br)
9th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP:
232:
RAY
PHIRI AND STIMELLA
1866 Fisk
University founded in Nashville Tn.
In 1871 the Fisk Jubilee Singers toured Britain singing Spirituals
their words soon entered English songbook and hymnals, words like:
Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Deep River, Steal Away, and Nobody Knows The
Troubles I've Seen. (mn-pf)
1901
Ishman Bracey,
blues singer/guitarist, born Byram, Mississippi, USA. Early Delta
blues man, made his first recording in Memphis in 1928 for the
Victor label. Two years later he travelled to Grafton to record for
Paramount. He continued as a blues man until he turned to religion in
the late 1930s. He abandoned his blues roots and became an ordained
minister. (Dies February 12, 1970, Jackson, Miss, USA).(mn-rs)
1902
Ann
Nixon Cooper,
106 years old, has seen presidents come and go in her lifetime and
has outlived most of them. On a sunny fall morning, she left her
weathered but well-kept Tudor home in Atlanta, Georgia, to vote early
- this time for Barack Obama. Ann Nixon Cooper was born in
Shelbyville, Tennessee on January 9, 1902. Ann Nixon Cooper, 106
years old, lived during a time when blacks and women did not have the
right to vote. The African-American centenarian remembers a time not
long ago when she was barred from voting because of her race. Now she
hopes to see the day that Barack Obama is elected as the nation's
first black president. Ann Nixon Cooper came to international
attention after President-elect Barack Obama mentioned her and
compared various stages of her life to the present day, the 4th of
November 2008, during his acceptance speech at a rally in Chicago,
following his victory in the United States presidential election,
2008. He mentioned her during the "Yes we can" section of
the speech. "I ain't got time to die," Ann Nixon Cooper,
106 years old, said with a smile. "Even if he didn't win, I was
happy for him just to be nominated," said Ann Nixon Cooper.
"The first black president - isn't that something, at 106 years
old?" (annnixoncooper.com)
1906
Paul
Laurence Dunbar,
renown poet/writer dies. Born June 27, 1872 in Drayton Ohio,
USA. Dunbar was a son of former slaves and was a precocious child who
began to write poems at the age of six. In 1893 he published his
first book of poetry, Oak And Ivory. (tr-iokts-ss)
1914 The
fraternity Phi Beta Sigma, Inc., is founded
at Howard University, USA. (tr-iokts)
1940
'Big Al' Downing,
Singer-Songwriter/piano (R&B, C&W, even Pop) , b: Lenapah,
OK, USA (Al is the brother of Don Downing, singer-songwriter whose
biggest may have been "Lonely Nights, Lonely Days".) (music.us)
1943
[Roy
Head],
vocals. b. Three Rivers, TX, USA. Versatile song stylist, his
mid-1960s. "Treat Her Right" (Back Beat label) reached
number two on both the R&B and Pop charts. (misc.us)
1965
'Haddaway',
vocals, b. Tobago, West Indies. né: Nestor Alexander
Haddaway. Haddaway grew up in the Washington DC area, and later
relocated to Cologne, Germany where his musical career began. In
1993, his release "What is love" hit #11 on the Top 40
charts. (music.us)
1994
Silas
Hogan,
guitarist, died in Scotlandville, LA, USA. Age: 82 (music.us)
2010
Woody
Cunningham
dies. b. Woodrow Cunningham, 8th July 1948, Baltimore, Maryland,
U.S.A. d. 9th January 2010, Bowie, Maryland, U.S.A. Woody Cunningham
has died. He was 61. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at home
in Bowie, Maryland, with his family. Woody was the drummer, writer,
vocalist and co-producer for the late Seventies and Eighties Soul
group Kleeer. He was co-producer of five of their seven albums, the
last two were co-produced with Eumir Deodato. Woody was born in
Baltimore, Maryland where he attended Dunbar High, renowned for their
championship basketball teams. His first drum gig was backing up a
local Baltimore singing group called The Tempros with lead singer
Billy Griffin who took Smokey Robinson's place with The Miracles. His
next gig was with another local group known as The Young Vandals with
Damon Harris who replaced Eddie Kendricks with The Temptations. In
1971, Woody was the drummer with the vocal group the Choice Four. In
1972 he reloacted to New York and formed the band Pipeline with bass
player Norman Durham, keyboardist Richard Lee, and percussionist Paul
Crutchfield, all who were later to form the spine of the group
Kleeer. Woody performed on sessions for Sylvester, Faith, Hope &
Charity, Disco Tex & the Sexolettes, and Candido, for Salsoul
Records. At Salsoul he met Jocelyn Brown who heard his voice and
persuaded him to record lead vocals on future recordings. In
1976 Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael needed a group to tour under
the name the Universal Robot Band. By 1978 Kleeer were formed, and
subsequently the group signed to Atlantic Records where they recorded
seven albums for the label between 1979 and 1986. Woody also has the
distinction of being the very first drummer for the late Luther
Vandross. Woody wrote, sang lead and was drummer for some of Kleeer's
most memorable songs including 'Intimate Connection', 'Get Tough' and
'Open Your Mind'. His solo material included 'Never Say Never' and
'Universal Love' (both on Expansion Records) and 'The Very Best of
Kleeer' (on Rhino Records). Woody is survived by his wife Vickie, his
son Matthew (a drummer and musician who is in college) and five
daughters - Kemberly, Monique, Natasha, Nyima and Cheryl. He also has
five grandchildren. (soulwalking.co.uk)
10th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT : AFRO-POP:
233:YVONNE
CHAKA-CHAKA/BRENDA FASSIE
& THE RISE OF DISCO
1864
George
Washington Carver,
scientist born. (mn-hba/ also 1886 tr-wafp) If an honest
history of the Deep South is ever written, Dr. Washington Carver will
stand out as one of the truly great men of his time. Almost
single-handedly, he brought the findings of the laboratory to the
land. He was a scientist, teacher, administrator and humanitarian.
Died January 5, 1943, he was buried next to Booker T. Washington.
(hear BHPAP :53) (mn-ra)
1917
[Jerry
Wexler],
producer with Atlantic records born in New York. Jerome
"Jerry" Wexler is a music journalist turned highly
influential music producer, and is regarded as one of the major
record industry players behind 1960s soul music. He was born in the
Bronx, New York City, into an Orthodox Jewish family. Wexler served
in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he
attended Kansas State University, and following graduation went to
work for BMI and the publishing division of MGM. He became a partner
in Atlantic Records in 1953. There followed classic recordings with
Ray Charles, the Drifters and Ruth Brown. With Ahmet and Nesuhi
Ertegun he built up Atlantic into a major force. In the 1960s he
notably recorded Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin, cultivated a
tight relationship with Stax Records, and founded the fortunes of the
Muscle Shoals studio and rhythm section. His work in this decade put
Atlantic at the forefront of soul music. (cl-wickpedia)
1924
Max
Roach born
Maxwell Lemuel Roach, New Land, North Carolina, U.S.A. d. 16th
August 2007, New York, U.S.A. Max had three times married, fathering
two sons and three daughters. He led The Max Roach Double Quartet,
and worked with Cecil Taylor, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie,
Anthony Braxton, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Miles
Davis, Eric Dolphy, Stanley Turrentine, George Coleman, Donald Byrd,
Oscar Brown Jr., Kenny Dorham and Booker Little. He was also the
co-founder of Debut Records. Born in North Carolina, Max was brought
up in Brooklyn. His mother was a gospel singer and he began studying
piano at their local Baptist church when he was eight. Later in 1949
he was pivotal in the success of what became known as 'The Birth of
the Cool', recording sessions with a 10-piece band led by Miles
Davis. Max had studied composition at the Manhattan School of Music
in his early years, and in 1972 he became a faculty member at the
University of Massachusetts. Amongst his lifetime achievements were
appointments as a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and
two awards of the Grand Prix du Disque in France. He also had a park
called after him in the Lambeth borough of London, eight honorary
degrees, innumerable magazine poll victories and the title of Harvard
Jazz Master. (soulwalking)
1937
Bob (Nelson) Relf
born Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. a.k.a Bobby Day & Bobby Byrd
(dies 20/11/2007 in Bakersfield, Kern County, California,
U.S.A). Bobby Relf was an accomplished singer and songwriter.
He was also half of a later line-up of the popular singing duo Bob
and Earl, famously recording the Soul Classic 'Harlem Shuffle'. He
was Bobby Byrd in the Hollywood Flames (1952) & Bobby Day as solo
artiste. Remembered by UK Northern Soul fans for: Blowing My Mind
To Pieces/Girl You're Some Kind Of Wonderful on Transamerican
Records. (soulwalking/mn)
1942
Leon
Haywood born.
In the early 60's he played with Big Jay and Sam Cooke. His first
hit on the R&B charts was in 1965 "She's
With The Other Love". Other chart
success are "It's Got To Mellow, "I
Want To Do Something Freaky With You", and "Push It Don't
Force It." (wbls.com-mn)
1948
Cyril Neville,
singer with The Neville Brothers born. The Neville Brothers represent
the essence of 40 years of New Orleans music distilled within one
family unit. The Nevilles comprise Art (Born Arthur Lanon Neville, 17
December 1937, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; keyboards, vocals),
Charles (Born 28 December 1938, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;
saxophone, flute), Aaron Neville (Born 24 January 1941, New Orleans,
Louisiana, USA; vocals, keyboards) and Cyril (Born 10 January 1948,
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; vocals). Each member is also a capable
percussionist. (mn-jt)
1949
George
Foreman,
heavyweight boxer born. Record: 76-5 (68). Best wins: Joe Frazier;
Ken Norton and Michael Moorer. He holds the record for the longest
span between winning world titles. On January 22, 1973,he won the
world heavyweight title by stopping Joe Frazier in two rounds. Almost
22 years later on November 5, 1994, he won WBA & IBF heavyweight
titles by Kayoing Michael Moorer in 10 rounds. Now famous for his
minute grill device. (mn-ring)
1966
Kennedy McKinney Junior Featherweight
boxer born. Record: 33-3-1(19). Best wins: Welcome Ncita; Rudy
Zavala and Junior Jones. He lives in Memphis, Texas, USA. (mn-ring)
1970
Christopher
Colquhoun
(actor) born in Shelfield. (Casulty) (nationmaster)
1973
Felix
Trinidad
IBF Welterweight World Champion Boxer is born. Record 32-0 (28). Best
wins: Maurice Blocker; Yory Boy Campas and Oba Carr. He lives in
Cupey Alto, Puerto Rica. (mn-ring)
1976
Wolf
Howls His Last. Howlin'
Wolf,
one of the most distinctive and influential blues artists to rise
from local popularity in Chicago bars and clubs to international
stardom, died in hospital following brain surgery aged 65. (mn-jt)
2010
Mikey
B.,
aka Michael Bussue dies from pneumonia
aged 51 (b03-09-59). Michael was a PCRL DJ in 1986 who had come to
us from Radio Sheffield. He was later with Enterprise FM & Buzz
FM where he was said to have owned Buzz for a short while. He also
ran a Birmingham nightclub LaMysiques. Rankin' Festus another PCRL DJ
was also his cousin. Funeral in Sheffield at New Testiment Church Of
God, Nursery St, on 29/1/10. (mn-rf)
11th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: AFRO-POP (SOUTHERN AFRICA) STARTS
234:
CHICCO (B.1963)
PCRL
Radio presenter Mikey
Diamond born.
0314
Pope
Miltiades dies,
and like all black popes was canonized as a saint. The 32nd pope,
and the second black pope to ascend to the papal chair in 312 AD.
Although his reign only lasted 3 years Miltiades' papacy coincided
with the Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in 312 AD
and soon Christianity became the state religion of Rome.
1924
Slim
Harpo,
blues man born James Moore, Baton Rouge, USA. (Died January 31,
1970, Baton Rouge, USA). Harpo was a principle player in the role of
swamp blues. He began his career in the 1940's, playing juke joints,
parties, and picnics under the name Harmonica Slim. After years of
building up a following he joined the Excello label in 1955. In 1957
he cut his biggest song 'I'm A King Bee' covered by the Rolling
Stones. In 1961 he recorded a second hit 'Rainin' In My Heart', a
third 'Baby Scratch My Back' came out in 1966. He performed at some
of the biggest venues in the USA before he died from a heart attack
in 1970. Harpo was inducted into The Blues Foundation Hall Of Fame in
1985. (mn-rs)
1940
Maurice
McAlister,
soul singer with the Radiants born, Mississippi. R&B vocal group
from Chicago, Illinois, USA, the early Radiants were a typical
transitional group of the early 60'S, bringing doo-wop harmonies into
the soul era with gospel-inspired vocal treatments. The group began
in 1960 when Maurice McAllister dispelled a vocal group from members
of The Greater Harvest Baptist Church Choir. Their first his (and
record) was 'Father Knows Best' (1962) for Chess, but the superior
'b' side, 'One Day I'll Show You' received much air play. 'Heartbreak
Society' and 'Shy Guy', both 1963, failed to generate sales outside
Chicago area. 'Voice Your Choice' (NO.16 R&B 1964) shows their
later style of vocal sharing and more hits followed. The group broke
up in 1970. (mn-cl)
1962
Juliet Roberts,
soul/jazz singer with Working Week born. From Harrow Road, London
(although her parents came from the Caribbean), Juliet's father was
in a calypso band, Nightingale, while her own first venture into the
music was via reggae and a group called Black Jade. The group we're
featured in a T.V. series Reggae in Schools. When her local record
shop, Bluebird Records (Church Sw, W2) ventured into the music
business and wanted artiste, Juliet persuaded them she could sing and
passed an audition. Her first single 'The Bed's Too Big Without You',
was later released on the Red Bus label. Soon London band Funk
Masters informed the record shop that they needed a new singer, and
impressed by Juliet they featured her as lead singer on the hit
single 'It's Over'. She also co-presented the program, Soul Train in
the 80's.
1971
Mary
J. Blige,
soul singer born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. After being promoted by
her record company as the original queen of Hip-Hop soul, Mary's
debut album sold over 2 million copies. Blige was signed to Uptown
Records by their head of A&R, Sean "Puffy" Combs. After
being promoted by her record company as "The original queen of
hip-hop and soul", . The hip-hop quotient was represented by
bass-driven rhythms, the soul stylings including her affecting voice.
Guest appearances from rappers Grand Puba and Busta Rhymes were
merely a bonus on this accomplished piece of work. When she journeyed
to England for live shows in 1993 she was widely criticised for
overpricing a set that was merely six songs long, but quality rather
than quantity remains the keynote to Blige's career. (mn-cl)
1978
Emile
William Ivanhoe Heskey,
6'2", 13.12 footballer born in Leicester, England. Club
Honours: FLC '97. International Honours: E: B-1; U21-11; Yth. (bh-mn)
1981
Jamelia
real name Jamelia Davis is a r&b singer from the UK who has had
several Top 40 hits in that country. Her song "Superstar"
went to number one in Australia and New Zealand in early 2004 and
went top 10 in the UK , Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and the
Netherlands in 2003 and 2004. Early career: Jamelia was born Jamelia
Davis in Birmingham, England. Growing up in the Midlands, she
listened to plenty of urban r&b. She was signed to Parlophone at
the age of 15 when she impressed their A&R man by singing songs
that she had written acapella. Drama: At 18, she released her
first single "So High" and went on to have four songs go
into the Top 40 in the UK from her album "Drama" released
in 2000 The most successful of those was "Money" featuring
a guest vocal from Beenie Man which went top 5 in 2000. She was
nominated for five Mobo Awards in 2000 winning one. The Independent
on Sunday wrote "a poised 19 year old, Jamelia has the homegrown
talent to give Missy Elliott a run for her money." Jamelia got
pregnant in 2000 and had a baby girl in March 2001. She put her
career on hold for a couple of years to bring up her daughter. Thank
you: Jamelia came back in 2003 with single "Bout" written
with C Swing who had also written Money and featuring Rah Digga. It
was her fifth top 40 hit followed by Superstar which gave her
international success in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
"Superstar" also appears on the Queer Eye for the Straight
Guy soundtrack. Her second album "Thank You" followed soon
after featuring collaborations with Bubba Sparxx on "Club
Hoppin" and Asher D of So Solid Crew on "Off da Enz".
"Thank You" reached number 4 on the UK album charts as at 7
March and the title track reached number 4 on the UK singles charts
as well as going top 10 in Ireland. In March 2004, she signed up with
a modelling agency run by Naomi Campbell. Chris Martin of Coldplay
asked her into the studio to contribute to the bands forthcoming
album. She told BBC Radio 1: "The song itself is really amazing,
it's really, really good. I can't wait for everyone to hear it
because I think it's amazing I really do. He's kind of stayed true to
his indie roots and I've stayed true to my r&b roots, we've kind
of fused together and its something fresh and brand new that people
haven't heard before."
1985
Reuben V. Anderson is appointed a judge on the Mississippi Supreme
Court. He is the first African-American named to the court.
1988 So
Emotional became the sixth consecutive US Number One hit for
Whitney Houston. (mn-jt)
1999
John Fashanu talks with Gabon's President Omar Bongo in his first
interview with the west for 32 years. He had been impressed
with Fasanu's work with UNISEF/United Nations Children's Fund. Full
interview in the Voice newspaper (mn)
2010
Sandra Wright
dies. b. 1st October 1948, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A. d. 11th January
2010, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire,
U.S.A. Soul Songstress, Sandra Wright, died early Monday the 11th of
January 2010. She was 61. Sandra suffered a blood clot and died at
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hamphire. She had
battled diabetes and in 2008 and had a double knee-replacement
operation. Sandra was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where
she began singing at age 4 before training at Tennessee State
University to be an opera singer. Blues legend Memphis Slim was her
cousin, and she won a talent contest at Tennessee State by singing
rhythm and blues. On leaving college, Sandra performed on tour with
Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown and recorded a solo album for Stax/Truth
Records, entitled, 'Wounded Woman' in 1974. She sang regularly in
Nashville, where she put together the Sandra Wright Band. The band
relocated in 1992 to Vermont to be closer to the band's production
company. Sandra sang with the Unknown Blues Band for a double bill
with Kilimanjaro on New Year's Eve during the First Night Burlington
2010 celebration, and had been very recently performing at the local
Flynn Center. (soulwalking.co.uk)
12th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: AFRO-POP:
235:
MZWAKHE
MBULI
1944
Joe Frazier,
boxer celebrates his birthday today. Joseph William Frazier
nicknamed Smokin' Joe (born in Beaufort, South Carolina ), better
known as Joe Frazier, is a world famous former boxer and world
Heavyweight champion. Among other things, Frazier is famous for his
trilogy of fights with Muhammad Ali, of which their third bout, the
Thrilla In Manila, has been considered by many to be boxing's
greatest bout ever. (mn-ttx)
1946
George
Duke,
keyboards/singer/producer born on this day in San Rapheal,
California. Duke studied the piano at school (where he ran a Les
McCann-inspired Latin band) and emerged from the San Francisco
Conservatory as a Bachelor of Music in 1967. From 1965-67 he was
resident pianist at the Half Note, accompanying musicians such as
Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Dorham. This grounding served as a musical
education for the rest of his life. (mn-rt)
1848
U.S. Supreme Court gives blacks the right to study law at state institutions.
1949
Abe Tillmon,
singer with The Detroit Emeralds born. (Dies from a heart attack in
1982). Formed in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, by the Tilmon brothers,
Abrim, Ivory, Cleophus and Raymond, the Emeralds' first hit came in
1968 when "Show Time" reached the US R&B Top 30. By the
time "Do My Right" (1971) reached the Soul Top 10, the
line-up had been reduced to a trio of Abrim, Ivory and mutual friend
James Mitchell (Born Perry, Florida, USA). The group secured their
biggest US successes in 1972 with "You Want It, You Got It"
and "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)", but the following
year "Feel The Need In Me', which failed to crack Billboard's
Hot 100, peaked at number 4 in the UK chart. Three further UK hits
followed, including, in 1977, a re-recorded version of their 1973
best-seller, but at home the Emeralds" career was waning. By
1977 Abrim Tilmon was the last remaining original member; sadly, he
died from a heart attack five years later. (mn-jt-misic.us.bio)
1965
Lorraine
Hansberry,
author and dramatist, dies. The most prolific A-American author of
her time, during her short career she published poetry, articals, a
short story, a novel and a travel book. Her drama A Raisin in the Sun
(first performed in 1959) was the first drama written by a black
woman to be produced on Broadway, and was the winner of the New York
Drama Critics' Circle Award for best Broadway play of the 1958-1959
season. In 2004, A Raisin in the Sun received a Broadway revival
earning Tony Awards for Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald. Hansberry
grew up on the South Side of Chicago, in the neighborhood of
Woodlawn. (mn-ss)
1970
The ending of the Nigerian Civil War,
when Biafran Army surrendered.
1987
Rumours abounded that Michael Jackson was set to purchase Motown
Records from it's founder Berry Gordy Jr. The only possible snag was
the asking price of $75 million. (mn-jt)
1995
Manchester United purchase Nottingham born Andy Cole from Newcastle
in a £7m deal.
1996 8,000
Muslims were found buried in Lijubija, Bosnia. (mn-ttx)
1999
Funeral of the Drifters singer Johnny Moore took place at 2.30 pm at
St. Luke's Church, High Street, Norwood, south London. (mn-voice)
2010
A devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake has hit Haiti, including the
densely populated capital Port-Au-Prince and the surrounding area.
Although there is as yet no accurate assessment of the death toll it
is clear that millions of people live in the affected area. Haiti is
the poorest country in the western hemisphere, greatly increasing the
risk that people will suffer or die in the aftermath of a natural
disaster. Communications have been severely disrupted and many roads
are blocked with rubble. Despite the challenges, many DEC member
agencies are already helping on the ground while others are preparing
to do so. Very substantial humanitarian assistance will be required
to ensure survivors get food, clean water, emergency shelter, medical
care and other support. (mn)
13th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT
AFRO-POP:
236:
TRADITIONAL AFRICAN POP MUSIC
1913 Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is founded at
Howard University.(tr-iokts)
1930
Bobby
Lester member
of soul/doowop group The Moonglows born. The group's career
paralleled that of their mentor, legendary disc jockey Alan Freed,
who during his rise in rock 'n' roll made the Moonglows the mainstays
of his radio programmes, motion pictures and stage shows. He was also
responsible for naming the group, who originally performed as the
Crazy Sounds. (mn-jt)
1955
Fred
White of
the group Earth Wind and Fire born. Earth, Wind & Fire is a world-renowned
American band which fuses different genres of music, formed in
Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 and is led and founded by Maurice White.
During their career, EWF have garnered twenty Grammy nominations and
have won six Grammys. (mn-jt)
1979
Donny Hathaway
singer, arranger, producer and musician, committed suicide at the age
of 34, the reason why still remains a mystery today. He recorded some
memorable songs such as Little Ghetto Boy,
the Ghetto and
his duet hits such as Where Is the Love
and the Closer I Get To You he
sang with Roberta Flack were
both Top 5 Hits. (mn)
1989
Sterling A. Brown poet
dies. Born in 1901 he was an influential figure in the Harlem
Renaissance, Brown was a poet and teacher at Howard University
between 1952 and 1962, who encouraged a number of writers, as well as
focusing on neglected folk artists such as Ma Rainey and Blind Lemon
Jefferson. His Negro Poetry and Drama (1937) and The Negro in
American Fiction (1931) were among the first work in what came to be
known as African-American studies. He was once called the dean of
American Negro poets. (mn-ss)
2010
Teddy
Pendergrass
dies at age 59. The gruff-voiced Philadelphia soul powerhouse who
belted out hits like "The Love I Lost" and "If You
Don't Know Me By Now" as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the
Blue Notes in the 1970s for Philadelphia International Records and
went on to forge an influential solo career as a seductive bedroom
balladeer, has died. The singer's son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said his
father died yesterday at Bryn Mawr Hospital. He underwent colon
cancer surgery eight months ago. Pendergrass II said the singer, who
had been paralyzed from the waist down after he crashed his
Rolls-Royce on Lincoln Drive in the Germantown section of
Philadelphia in 1982, had "a difficult recovery." "To
all his fans who loved his music, thank you," his son said.
"He will live on through his music." After the car
accident, he spent six months in a hospital but returned to recording
the next year with the album Love Language. He returned to the stage
at the Live Aid concert in 1985, performing from his wheelchair.
Pendergrass was raised by his mother, Ida Epps, in North
Philadelphia, and started singing in public at an early age. At age
21/2, he recalled in an interview in 2007 that he stood up on chair
at the Glad Tidings Baptist Church and sang "If I Could Write A
Letter To Heaven." "I was just a little bitty guy," he
said. "I had to be seen. Always been my problem." In 1998,
Pendergrass founded the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, an organization
whose mission is encourage and help people with spinal cord injuries
achieve their maximum potential in education, employment, housing,
productivity and independence. A tribute called "Teddy 25: A
Celebration of Life, Hope and Possibilities" was held at the
Kimmel Center in June 2007 to mark 25 years since his accident. It
featured such artists as Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills.
(Philadelphia Inquirer-sw)
2010
Ed
Thigpen
dies. b. Edmund Leonard (Ed) Thigpen, 28th December 1930, Chicago,
Illinois, U.S.A. d. 13th January 2010, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark. Ed Thigpen, drummer for Oscar Peterson between 1959 and
1965, has died. He was 79. He also performed with the Billy Taylor
trio from 1956 to 1959. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ed Thigpen was
raised in Los Angeles, California. As a student, he attended Thomas
Jefferson High School, whose other pupils included Art Farmer, Dexter
Gordon and Chico Hamilton. Ed's father was also a drummer. Ben
Thigpen had collaborated with Andy Kirk for several years during the
1930's and 40's. Ed began his professional career in the Savoy
Ballroom in New York City with the Cootie Williams orchestra, for a
two year period, between 1951 to 1952. He accompanied several Jazz
artists including, Dinah Washington, Gil Melle, Oscar Pettiford,
Eddie Vinson, Paul Quinichette, Ernie Wilkins, Charlie Rouse, Lennie
Tristano, Jutta Hipp, Johnny Hodges, Dorothy Ashby, Bud Powell, and
Billy Taylor. Ed then replaced Herb Ellis in the Oscar Peterson Trio
in 1959 whilst in Toronto, Canada. In 1961 he recorded with the Teddy
Edwards & Howard McGhee Quintet in Los Angeles with Phineas
Newborn, Jr. and Ray Brown. When he and Oscar went their seperate
ways, Ed recorded for the Verve imprint.
14th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP:
237:
LADYSMITH
BLACK MAMBAZO
1908
African-American singer Pete Hampton participates in his first
recording session in London. Later that year he recorded 'Hannah!
Won't You Open That Door'
which he re-recorded on several occasions over the next few years. He
also later recorded a cine film to be used with the 'Hannah!' disc,
but this seems to have not survived. Pete Hampton seems to be the
first black performer to appear in a British film. (mn-sb)
1907 An
earthquake in the Caribbean Island of Jamaica destroy's
the capitol Kingston and 1,000 people loose their lives. (mn-ttx)
1936
Clarence
Carter soul
singer who was blinded as a child born today in Montgomery, Alabama,
USA. Carter's earliest releases were as half of the duo Clarence And
Calvin. Also known as the C And C Boys, the blind duo made seven
singles, the last of which was recorded at Fame's Muscle Shoals
studio. When his partner, Calvin Thomas (aka Scott), suffered serious
injuries in a car accident in 1966, Carter became a solo act (Calvin
Scott himself later reappeared as a solo act to record two Dave
Crawford-produced Atco Records singles in 1969/70 and a Clarence
Paul-produced 1971 album for Stax Records, I'm Not Blind ... I Just
Can't See, from which two singles were also culled). "Tell
Daddy", released in January 1967, began a fruitful spell of
Fame-produced hits by Carter, released on the Atlantic Records label.
Noteworthy were "Thread The Needle", "Looking For A
Fox" and "Slip Away", where the singer combined his
outstanding voice with his skill as an arranger and musician.
"Patches", first recorded by Chairmen Of The Board, was a
UK number 2 and a US number 4 in 1970, but despite further strong
offerings, Clarence was unable to sustain the momentum. He remained
with Fame until 1973, where he also helped guide Candi Staton, who
was now his wife, before moving to ABC Records the subsequent year.
Further recordings on Venture and Big C took Carter's career into the
80s and later the artist found a sympathetic outlet with the Ichiban
Records label. Despite being blinded as a child, he developed a
distinctive guitar style that complemented his earthy delivery, and
was just as comfortable on keyboards, writing songs or arranging
sessions. The first two albums, This Is Clarence Carter and The
Dynamic Clarence Carter show off his versatile talent to good
effect. (mn-music.us)
1938
Allen Toussaint
producer/singer/pianist born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.This
influential artist first came to prominence as the touring piano
player with Shirley And Lee. The duo's producer, Dave Bartholomew,
began using Toussaint on several recording sessions, including those
of Smiley Lewis and, on a handful of occasions, Fats Domino. The
artist's solo debut came in 1958 with his Wild Sounds Of New Orleans
album. One of the tracks, "Java", later became a hit single
for trumpeter Al Hirt. Toussaint then joined the emergent Minit
Records label as a producer. His first release, Jessie Hill's
"Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Part II", was a US Top 30 hit in 1960
and paved the way for similar exemplary work with Irma Thomas, Aaron
Neville and Ernie K-Doe. Such artists often recorded Toussaint's
songs, several of which were credited to his "Naomi Neville"
pseudonym. Toussaint's work was not restricted to one outlet and
local singer Lee Dorsey recorded several "Neville"
compositions for the New York-based Fury label. Drafted into the US
Army in 1963, Allen's career was temporarily sidelined, although he
continued playing with the on-base band, the Stokes. On return from
military service in 1965, he formed a partnership with fellow
producer Marshall Sehorn. Lee Dorsey was again the lucky recipient of
several exceptional songs, including "Ride Your Pony",
"Get Out Of My Life, Woman" and "Working In The
Coalmine". Sansu, the label formed by the two entrepreneurs, was
also responsible for releases by Betty Harris and the Meters, while
the duo also set up their own recording studio, Sea-Saint. (mn-music.us)
1940
Julian Bond,
civil rights leader and Georgia state senator, is born. Horace Julian
Bond is an American leader of the civil rights movement. While
a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia during the early
1960's, he helped found SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating
Committee. Since 1998 and as of 2004, he is Chairman of the NAACP. He
served in the Georgia legislature as both a Representative and as a
Senator. He has been a lecturer at the University of Virginia since
1990 and a professor there since 1998. In addition, he has been a
professor at American University, near his Washington, DC home, since
1991. Bond has been known to berate conservative African-Americans
like former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Alan Keyes and Supreme Court
Justice Clarence Thomas. He also has been known as a divisive figure
because of his support for abortion rights and gay-marriage. (tr-iokts-wickpedia)
1944
Linda
Jones,
soul singer born in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Dies 14th March, 1972.
This soulful song stylist started in her family's gospel group the
Jones Singers at the age of six. Her first recording was "Lonely
Teardrops" under the name Linda Lane, on Cub Records in 1963,
and she had unsuccessful singles on Atco Records in 1964 and Blue Cat
the following year. In 1967, she worked with writer/producer George
Kerr and signed to Russ Regan's Loma label in 1967. This resulted in
her biggest hit, "Hypnotized", which narrowly missed the US
Top 20. She later had releases on Warner 7-Arts, Cotique and Gamble
And Huff's Neptune label before joining Sylvia Robinson's Turbo
Records in 1971. A sufferer of diabetes, Jones collapsed backstage at
the Apollo in New York on 14 March 1972 and died shortly afterwards
in hospital. She was way ahead of her time and made melisma
(spreading a syllable over several notes) an art form. This unique
singer, who has influenced scores of R&B artists, was aptly
described in Black Music magazine as "perhaps the most soulful
singer in the history of R&B music". (mn-cl)
1965
Frank Liles WBA
Super Middleweight World Champion Boxer born. Record:20-0 (21). Best
wins: Merqui Sosa; Michael Nunn and Tim Littles. He resides in North
Carolina, California, USA. (mn-ring)
1968
L.L.
Cool J. Rap
star from St. Albans, Queens, USA, born James Todd Smith on this
day. Long-running star of the rap scene, LL Cool J found fame at the
age of 16, his pseudonym standing for "Ladies Love Cool
James". As might be inferred by this, LL is a self-professed
lady-killer in the vein of Luther Vandross or Barry White, yet he
retains a superior rapping agility. Smith started rapping at the age
of nine, after his grandfather bought him his first DJ equipment.
From the age of 13 he was processing his first demos. The first to
respond to his mail-outs was Rick Rubin of Def Jam Records, then a
senior at New York University, who signed him to his fledgling label. (mn-txt)
1970
Diana Ross played her last show with The
Supremes before going solo. (mn-jt)
1967
Lt. Col. Etienne Eyadema becomes president of Togo. General
Gnassingbé Eyadéma, formerly Étienne
Eyadéma (December 26, 1937 – February 5, 2005), was the
President of Togo from 1967 until his death. He participated in two
successful military coups, in January 1963 and January 1967, and
became President on April 14, 1967. He managed to remain in power for
the next 38 years. (wickpedia) Other ref. says 1971.
2011
Mississippi
Winn
a Louisiana woman believed to have been the oldest living African-American
and one of the last children of United States slaves has died aged
113. Mississippi Winn, an upbeat former domestic worker known as
“Sweetie,” died at Magnolia Manor Nursing Home in
Shreveport, Louisiana, said Milton Carroll, an investigator with the
Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office. Winn was believed to be the
oldest living African-American in the US and the seventh-oldest
living person in the world, said Robert Young of the Gerontology
Research Group, which verifies information for Guinness World
Records. Young said Winn was one of two known people left in the US
whose parents both were almost certainly born into slavery because
documents show they were born before the end of the Civil War, though
her great-niece Mary C. Hollins says Winn never acknowledged that.
The Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation
Proclamation ended slavery in the southern US “I don’t know
much about that,” Hollins recalled Winn saying when asked about
her parents’ early years. Young visited Winn in July 2010 and
remembered her being much more fit than others her age. “When I
asked her how old she was, she knew she was 113 but she thought she
was young,” he said. “She always thought there would be a
next year. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. That was just the
thing – she had a very positive attitude.” With Winn’s
death, Young’s Los Angeles-based gerontology group has verified
Mamie Rearden, 112, of South Carolina as the current oldest known
living African-American. He said Eunice Sanborn, 114, of Texas is the
world’s oldest known living person. Hollins said Friday evening
that Winn was in good health and mentally sharp until recently. She
described her great-aunt as “a strong-willed person, a
disciplinarian” who believed that elders should be respected.
“She was living on her own until she was 103,” Hollins
said, cooking for herself and taking walks. “She just believed
she could handle anything.” Winn, who never married, was a
caretaker of children and a cook. She lived nearly her entire life in
Louisiana and had been a member of Shreveport’s Avenue Baptist
Church since 1927 and used to say, “I am gonna stay here as long
as he wants me to stay here.” Carroll said Winn was well-known
in Shreveport. Last spring, the mayor declared “Miss Mississippi
Winn Day” on March 31 when she turned 113. According to a
biography released by the city, Winn was one of eight children,
including a sister who died in 2000 at the age of 100. “Her
father named her Mississippi but her mother always called her
Sweetie,” the biography said. “Her favourite hobby is
sewing and favourite book is the Bible.” Her favourite quote
from the Bible: “Be ye kind one to another.” (walesonline)
15th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP;
238:
JOHNNY
CLEGG
1908 Alpha
Kappa Sorority, Inc., founded at Howard University.
1926
Chuck
Berry,
singer/songwriter/guitarist born Charles Edward Berry in San Jose,
California. (alt. dates given, see 18th October) A seminal figure in
the evolution of rock 'n' roll, Chuck Berry's influence as songwriter
and guitarist is incalculable. His cogent songs captured adolescent
life, yet the artist was 30 years old when he commenced recording.
Introduced to music as a child, Berry learned guitar while in his
teens, but this period was blighted by a three-year spell in Algoa
Reformatory following a conviction for armed robbery. On his release
Berry undertook several blue-collar jobs while pursuing part-time
spots in St. Louis bar bands. Inspired by Carl Hogan, guitarist in
Louis Jordan's Timpani Five, and Charlie Christian, he continued to
hone his craft and in 1951 purchased a tape recorder to capture ideas
for compositions. The following year Berry joined Johnnie Johnson
(piano) and Ebby Hardy (drums) in the house band at the Cosmopolitan
CluBorn Over the ensuing months the trio became a popular attraction,
playing a mixture of R&B, country/hillbilly songs and standards,
particularly those of Nat "King" Cole, on whom Berry
modelled his cool vocal style. The guitarist also fronted his own
group, the Chuck Berry Combo, at the rival Crank Club, altering his
name to spare his father's embarrassment at such worldly pursuits. In
1955, during a chance visit to Chicago, Berry met bluesman Muddy
Waters, who advised the young singer to approach the Chess Records
label. Berry's demo of "Ida May", was sufficient to win a
recording contract and the composition, retitled
"Maybellene", duly became his debut single. This ebullient
performance was a runaway success, topping the R&B chart and
reaching number 5 on the US pop listings. Its lustre was partially
clouded by a conspiratorial publishing credit that required Berry to
share the rights with Russ Fratto and disc jockey Alan Freed, in
deference to his repeated airplay. This situation remained unresolved
until 1986. (mn-jt-music.us)
1929
Martin Luther King, Jr.
black civil rights leader born today. (Martin Luther King Day USA).
The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr, Ph.D. (January 15, 1929 –
April 4, 1968) was a Baptist minister and political activist who was
the most famous leader of the American civil rights movement. King
won the Nobel Peace Prize and Presidential Medal of Freedom before
being assassinated in 1968. For his promotion of non-violence and
racial equality, King is considered a peacemaker and martyr by many
people around the world. Martin Luther King Day was established in
his honor. (mn)
1930
Earl
Hooker,
slide-guitarist, born, Clarkesville, Mississippi, USA. (dies April
21, 1970, Chicago, Ill, USA. Born Earl Zebedee Hooker, d. 21
April 1970. Hooker's interest in music was kindled at an early age. A
self-taught guitarist, he began his itinerant career as a teenager,
and having toured America's southern states in the company of Robert
Nighthawk, Ike Turner and many others, Earl made his first,
rudimentary recordings in 1952. The artist followed a sporadic
release schedule throughout the 50s, but by the end of the decade
Hooker had settled in Chicago where he began a more consistent
output. However, his early work was spread over several of the city's
independent outlets, and although undeniably talented, the difficult
search for success saw Hooker aping the styles of contemporaries
rather than forging one of his own. The guitarist asserted his gifts
more fully in the wake of the blues revival and became one of the
city's most highly regarded talents. He made a rare UK television
appearance on the pioneering music programme Ready Steady Go!,
performed in-concert at London's Royal Albert Hall and toured Europe
with the American Folk-Blues festival. Hooker also completed albums
for several specialist labels, and led his own band, Electric Dust,
but the tuberculosis against which he had battled throughout his life
finally took its toll. Earl Hooker died in a Chicago sanitarium in
April 1970. (mn-rs-music.us.bio)
1942
Johnny
Williams,
soul singer born today in Tyler, Alabama, USA. Johnny was popular on
the Chicago club circuit and average about one single per year over
mid 60's - mid 70's period Best recording, I Made A Mistake. He died
in December 1986. (mn)
1942
Edward Sonny Bevins,
singer and founder of The Manhattans/Ducets born. The
Manhattans formed in 1962 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, about 10
miles south of New York City's borough of Manhattan, this enduring
soul group enjoyed its greatest success during the 70s. (mn-jt)
1961 Supremes
sign with Motown Records. (mn-dr)
1965
Bernard
Hopkins IBF
Middleweight World Champion Boxer is born Record: 33-2-1 (25). Best
wins: Segundo Mercado; Joey Lipsey Andrew Council. He lives in
Philadelphia,USA. (mn-ring)
2000
Richard
'Dimples' Fields,
soul singer dies aged 52 from a stroke in Oakland, California, USA.
Survived by six children. (mn-echoes)
2009
Jean
Abedambo
dies. It is sad news to hear that lover’s rock singer Jean
Adebambo reportedly committed suicide. Jean, 46, was born in London,
England to a Montserration mother and a Nigerian father. she was best
known for the track Paradise, released on Santic records, which was
also featured on her 1983 album, Feelings. Her entry into the music
business was by chance. Whilst she was in training to enter the
Health Care profession, she was invited to do a cover version of two
records entitled Again and Reunited by Ital Records in the early
1980s. However, not until her pairing with the Jamaican producer and
by now London resident Leonard Chin did she really embark on a
successful solo career. Thereafter, a string of hits followed such as
the monster single Paradise, Reaching for a Goal, Hardships of Life
and Pipe Dreams. But for all the popularity of her 80s output,
Adebambo quit the music business and returned to the Health Care
profession securing a role as a health visitor in Bermondsey.
Recently she returned to the stage after nearly a 25 year old
sabbatical started performing at the Brixton Academy in London last
year. After a well-received performance at The British Lovers Rock
Gala Awards Show in London and Wolverhampton in September 2008. Jean
had revived her career. But in 2007, Adebambo seemed upbeat when she
was interviewed on London-based radio station Choice FM - even
talking about her new music, eventually playing host to an unplugged
session at the D'Eclipse club and restaurant in south London. Her
last performance was a fundraising event at the Aldersbrook Lawn
Tennis Club in east London. Jean Adebambo’s death has shocked
the British reggae community. Rumours have been circulating the
Internet since the the singer was found dead on the 15th of January,
as yet no official confirmation has come as to the cause of death,
however the Voice online article is the closest we have to come to an
official confirmation of suicide. It is reported, that her brother
conferred with her manager, Orlando Gittens, that Jean Adebambo’s
death is thought to be suicide and that there was no one else
involved here was a benefit concert planned for March 15th at the
Hackney Empire. (riddimjamacia.net)
16th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 239: LUCKY
DUBE
1920
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is founded. (tr-iokts)
1942
Barbara
Lynn Ozen,
soul singer/guitarist born Beaumont, Texas, USA. Lynn was signed up
by producer Huey P. Meaux after hearing a demo tape and watching her
perform in a Texas club. Her early records recorded at Cosimo's New
Orleans studio and leased to the Jamie label. Composed by Lynn
'You'll Lose A Good Thing' (1962) was an R&B chart-topper and a
pop Top 10 hit. (mn-cl)
1959
Sade'
(pronounced shar day), soul singer born Helen Folasade Adu Ibadam,
Nigeria. Of mixed Nigerian/English parents and grew up in Clacton,
Essex, England. While an art student in London she joined Arriva
where she met guitarist Ray St. John whith whome she composed 'Smooth
Operator' a big international hit. (mn-cl)
1966
Maxine
Jones,
soul singer with En Vogue group born. The group was formed in
October of 1988, with singles success with 'Hold On' and 'Lies' in
1990. They were apart of the rising 'New Jack Swing' era of R&B. (mn-ttx-cl)
1969
Roy Jones,
WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion boxer is born. Record: 35-1
(30). He lives in Pensacola, Florida, USA. Best wins: Bernard
Hopkins; James Toney and Montell Griffin. (mn-ring)
1973
Clara Ward,
gospel singer dies. In 1948/49 'Surely God Is Able' was a popular
recording that she sang with the Ward Singers. Despite her later
commercialism, Clara Ward is one of the music major figures, and a
powerful influence on, among others, Aretha Franklin. Her singing
experience was vast, few performers have played in the supper clubs
of Los Vagas, the choir lofts of churches, the stages of the
world-famous halls such as Carnegie in New York and the tiny stages
of jazz clubs like Birdland and outdoor festivals of jazz and folk.
She also encouraged other to sing lead on her songs, in the case of
'Surely' it was shared with Marion Williams. (mn)
1974
Leon
Bukasa
a noted singer and composer of Zaire dies.
1978
Maj. Guion S. Bluford Jr., Maj. Fredrick D. Gregory, and Dr. Ronald
E. Mc.Nair join NASA's astronaut-training program. (tr-iokts)
1979
Aaliyah,
soul singer born Aalyah Haughton in Brooklyn, NY. Her career was
fostered by R. Kelly while she studied in Detroit. She
travelled to Kelly's home in Chicago for the sessions while she was
still a student at the Detroit High School of the Performing Arts.
She remained a "straight A's" student throughout the first
stage of her recording career, persevering with her education despite
commercial success. Tragedy struck in January 2002 when sshe dies in
a plane crash. (cf-mn)
1988
The show at Rio de Janeiro's Americana Stadium during Tina Turner's
Break Every Rule tour broke the world box office record for a single
act when over 180,000 fans filled the stadium. The show was also
broadcast live to an estimated 26 million homes in US/Japan. (mn-jt)
1997
Entertainer Bill Cosby's only son
Ennis Cosby
is murdered changing the tyre on his car, he was only 28. (mn/larry)
2012
Jimmy
Castor dies.
b. Jimmy Castor, 23rd June 1941, New York City, New York, U.S.A. d.
16th January 2012, Henderson, Nevada, U.S.A. The singer and
saxophonist, Jimmy Castor, has died. He was 71. There are no reports
as to the cause of his passing at this point. News reports stated
that Jimmy's grandson P.J. Romain understood his grandfather had
become 'unresponsive at the hospital'. He later posted that 'My
grandfather Jimmy Castor died today at 2:30 on MLK day'. In November,
Jimmy suffered a heart attack and underwent quadruple heart bypass
surgery. In addition to his son Jimmy Jr., Mr. Castor is survived by
his wife, Sandi, another son, Jason; two daughters, April Vargas and
Sheli Castor; and eight grandchildren. Jimmy Castor had a career
spanning over 50 years.
17th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 240: FOUR
BROTHERS
1924
Jewel
Plummer Cobb,
born. (tr-bl)
1942
Cassius
Clay Jr,
legendary boxer is born in Louisville, Kentucky USA. He later changed
his name to Muhammad Ali due
to his faith Islam. Beyond being one of the greatest boxers of all
time he himself an inspiration to people of colour throughout the
world Ali's promise as a fighter was clear when he was a small boy.
1956 to 1960 he fought as an amateur under his birth name, 100 out of
108 matches. His triumphs included the Golden Gloves the Amateur
Athletic Union titles as well as the light gold medal in the 1960
Olympics. He then turned professional and his first 19 fights (1960-63).
Despite his impressive record, 1964 defeat of Sonny Liston for the
world heavyweight took boxing fans by surprise. By this time he had
announced that had joined the Nation Of Islam (1957), and in 1964 he
changed name to Muhammad Ali. By the mid 60's it seamed nothing could
Ali: he successfully defended his championship nine times '64-'66.
But in 1967 he refused his draft notice on religious grounds, he
stripped of his title. He was out of the ring for three years. In
1971 he lost against Joe Frazier. Shortly after the Court overturned
his conviction. Ali then won against Joe Foreman. Between 74-78 he
defended his 10 times, finally loosing to Leon Spinks. From 1981 Ali
has suffering from Parkinson's Disease. The BBC awarded him sportsman
the Century in 1999. (mn-ss)
1945
William Hart,
soul singer with The Delfonics born. Soon, they became known
throughout the Philadelphia area, signing with Cameo Records. At
Cameo, Stan Watson introduced them to the man who made them famous,
producer Thom Bell, then working with Chubby Checker. Bell dreamed of
creating a Philadelphia version of Motown and struck gold with the
Delfonics, whose first album, released on Watson's own Philly Groove
record label, featured the hit "La-La (Means I Love You)",
in 1968. Four more Bell-produced albums appeared in the next few
years: The Sexy Sound of Soul, The Delfonics Super Hits, The
Delfonics and Tell Me This Is a Dream. Among the Delfonics' popular
hits were "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "For
The Love I Give To You", "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't
Hide from Love)" and "Hey Love". Prior to the release
of "La-La (Means I Love You)", they had a hit with "He
Don't Really Love You" on the small Moonshot record
label. (mn-jt)
1953 Sheila
Hutchinson the
Emotion's lead voice born today Chicago, USA, Best remembered for
songs Flowers/The Best of My Love in 1977. (mn)
1958
Janet
Kay Bogle,
reggae singer/actor born, London, England attended Brondesbury High
School, Wembley, and later took secretarial studies, to which she
returned at various points in career. Her first recordings came under
the aegis of Alton Ellis 1977. Her first hit was 'Loving You' topping
the reggae charts. (mn-cl)
1966
Shabba
Ranks,
reggae singer born Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon in St. Ann's
Parish, Jamaica. After spending time with the Roots sound system he
made his recording debut 'Heat under Sufferers Feet'in 1985. His
initial reputation for slackness came with his 'Needles Eye Punany'
in 1988. Throughout 1989 Shaba's dominated the reggae scene. His
personal appearances in London resulted in riots and in one case, a
shooting. (mn-amcg)
1967
William Guthrie
IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Boxer born, Record: 24-0 (21).
Best wins: Tim Hillie; Ramzi Hassan and Allen. He resides at
Wilmington, Delaware, USA. (mn-ring)
1978
Red Rat,
ragga artist born, Wallace Wilson, St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica West
Indies. Wilson came from a musical familly - his father for
Byron Lee & the Dragonaires and his eldest brother played for
Diana King. He started DJing under the name Mice. He was to the Main
Street Crew, making popular records such as 'Shelly Ann''Dwayne' and
'Good Boy'. International tours followed with an appearence at the
Notting Hill Carnival. (mn-cl)
1996
Barbara
Jordan,
lawyer, politician, activist, dies. Jordan was born in Houston,
Texas's Fifth Ward. She graduated magna cum laude from Texas Southern
University in 1956 and from Boston University Law School in 1959. She
passed the Bar Exams in Massachusetts and Texas before returning to
Houston to open a law practice. Active in the Kennedy-Johnson
presidential campaign of 1960, Jordan wanted to be a part of the
change. She unsuccessfully ran for the Texas House of Representatives
in 1962 and 1964. Her persistence won her a seat in the Texas Senate
in 1966, becoming the first African American state senator since 1883
and the first black woman to serve in that body. Reelected to a full
term in the Texas Senate in 1968, she served until 1972, when she
made a successful bid to represent Texas's Eighteenth Congressional
District in the U.S. House, becoming the first black woman from a
Southern state to serve in the House. She was reelected in 1974 and
1976. She received extensive support from President Lyndon Johnson,
who helped her secure a position on the House Judiciary Committee. In
1973, Jordan began to suffer from multiple sclerosis which eventually
confined her to a wheelchair. In 1974, she made a well-known speech
before the House Judiciary Committee supporting the impeachment of
President Richard Nixon. She gave a speech at the 1976 Democratic
National Convention that is considered by many historians to have
been the best convention keynote speech in modern history. Because of
her illness, Jordan retired from politics in 1979 and became a
professor at the University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson
School of Public Affairs. She again was a keynote speaker at the
Democratic National Convention in 1992. Jordan kept her health and
her lesbianism out of the press. Nancy Earl, her life partner for
over twenty years, was her caregiver during her final illness and
executor of her estate. Jordan was awarded the Presidential Medal of
Freedom in 1994. It was only one of many honors given her, including
election into both the Texas and National Women's Hall of Fame. In
1995, Jordan chaired a congressional commission that advocated
increased restriction of immigration and increased penalties on
employers that violated US immigration regulations. She was buried in
the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. She was the first black woman
interred there. (tr-iokts-wickpedia)
1998
James Brown the Godfather of soul is forced by police to Carolina
State Hospital, after concern from his family that he was addicted
pain killing tablets. He was using them to help the pain of splits in
his stage show at the age of 62. (mn)
2012
Johnny
Otis
dies. b. Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes, 28th December 1921, Vallejo,
California, U.S.A. d. 17th January 2012, Los Angeles, California,
U.S.A. Johnny Otis, the rhythm-and-blues singer, songwriter, drummer,
bandleader and disc jockey has died. He was 90. He was instrumental
in the careers of the artists Etta James, Little Richard, Jackie
Wilson, Hank Ballard and Little Esther Phillips. Johnny was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Although of Greek
origin, Johnny stated in 1979, 'I chose, because despite all the
hardships, there's a wonderful richness in black culture that I
prefer'. Johnny was born John Veliotes on the 28th of December 1921,
in Vallejo, northeast of San Francisco, and was raised in Berkeley.
In later life he served as the deputy chief of staff for the
Democrat, Mervyn M. Dymally in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Johnny and his wife of 60 years, Phyllis, had several children and
grandchildren. (soulwalking.co.uk)
18th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 241: THOMAS
MAPFUMO
1858
Daniel Hale Williams
surgeon and founder of Provident Hospital Chicago, born. The most
prominent African-American in medicine many years, Williams was born
in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. worked as a barber before he
graduated from Chicago Medical in 1893. He organised Provident
Hospital in Chicago in 1891. He surgeon-in-chief at Freemen's
Hospital in Washington, D.C., (1893-1898) and in 1899 became
professor of clinical surgery at Medical College in Nashville,
Tennessee. (mn-ss)
1866
Robert C. Weaver becomes first African-American Cabinet member
appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by LBJ. (tr-bl)
1960
Gladys
Bentley,
cabaret singer/pianist, dies, LA, USA.Gladys Bentley (12 August
1907-18 January 1960) was a famous butch lesbian African-American
Blues singer during the Harlem Renaissance. Bentley was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of American George L.
Bentley and his wife, a Trinidadian, Mary Mote. She appeared at Harry
Hansberry's "Clam House" on 133rd Street, one of New York
City's most notorious gay speakeasies, in the 1920s, and headlined in
the early thirties at Harlem's Ubangi Club, where she was backed up
by a chorus line of drag queens. She was a 250 pound bulldyke,
dressed in men's clothes (including a signature tuxedo and top hat),
who played a mean piano and sang her own obscene lyrics to popular
tunes of the day, in a deep, growling voice, flirting outrageously
with women in the audience. On the decline of the Harlem speakeasies
with the repeal of prohibition, she relocated to southern California,
where she was billed as "America's Greatest Sepia Piano
Player", and the "Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs".
She was frequently harassed for wearing men's clothing. She claimed
that she had married a white woman in Atlantic City. Fictional
characters based on Benlty appeared in Carl Van Vechten's Parties,
Clement Woods's Deep River, and Blair Niles's Strange Brother. She
recorded for the OKeh, Victor, Excelsior, and Flame labels. During
the McCarthy Era, she started wearing dresses, married a man, and
studied to be a minister. She died, aged 52, from pneumonia. (mn-rs-wickpedia)
1970
Billy
Stewart soul
singer dies in a car crash aged 33 along with band 'The Soul Kings'
as his week old car plungers into the river. Born March 22nd,
1937 in Washington, he sang in the with Marvin Gaye/Don Covay due to
his weight he was known as the 'fatboy,' from the mid-50's to the
mid-60's had one hit 'Summertime.'(mn)
1970
DJ
Quick,
rapper from Compton, California, USA, real name David Blake is born
today. Artist whose deification of his home town, where he had grown
up the youngest of ten children, pervaded both his first two albums
("Born And Raised In Compton" on his debut, and minor hit
single "Jus Lyke Compton" on the follow-up set). At the age
of 12 he began to learn the art of DJing, but it wasn't until N.W.A.
exploded on the West Coast that he actually considered these skills
might provide a career. He began recording cassettes, one of which
found its way into the hands of Profile Records A&R man Dave
Moss, head of their newly opened Los Angeles office. His debut set
saw comparisons to Prince, though in mode of operation rather than
musical terms: Quik writing, rapping, producing and arranging the set
in its entirety. Rather than repeating the gangsta stance of his
near-neighbours N.W.A. (though he claimed to be a former member of
the Bloods gang), Quik confirmed that "There's a fun side to
Compton, too", reflecting this in songs about sex (the rather
too obvious "Sweet Black Pussy' - I'm like Noah's Ark, My
bitches come in pairs"), alcohol ("8 Ball") and
marijuana ("Tha Bombudd"). His biggest hit, however, came
with the Top 50-breaking "Tonite". He has also produced
widely for Compton groups like 2nd II None and Penthouse. Quik signed
to the influential Death Row Records for his 1995 set, Safe + Sound,
which borrowed even more heavily from George Clinton's G-funk sound.
The Arista Records release in 2000 proved to be one of his most
successful productions to date. (mn-music.us.bio)
1941
David
Ruffin
drummer/singer/Temptation member born in Merriden Mississippi, USA.
David was the voice on Temptation's hitss: My
Girl/Ain't too Proud Beg. Sadly David died
of a drug overdose 1/6/91, foul play over death was not ruled out. (mn-dr)
1980
The Day Disco Died. If
disco had a headquarters, it was certainly in New York at Studio 54,
a glitzy trendsetting nightspot. The owners are found guilty of tax
evasion an fined $200,000. (mn)
1986
The AIDS charity record by Dionne (Warwick) and friends, That's what
friends are for, topped the US Singles Chart remaining at No.1 for
four weeks. The friends were Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys
Knight. (mn-tj)
1990
Kim
Appleby,
singer with Mel & Kim dies of cancer. The duo had a number of
hits in the UK produced by Stock-Aitkin-Waterman. (mn-jt)
1998
PCRL DJ Carl Josephs a.k.a. C.J. starts a two-week court case against
the West Midlands Police. A civil liberty case and first of it's kind
to show that black people are being targeted unfairly by the police. (mn)
19th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT; AFRO-POP: 242:
STELLA CHIWESHE
1887
Clementine
Hunter,
the black Granma Moses, is born. (tr-iokts)
1918
John
H. Johnson,
editor, publisher born in Arkansas City, Ar. In 1942 he began The
Negro Digest, modeled on Readers Digest, and thus launched the
Johnson Publishing Company. His next venture was Ebony (1945), like
Life a pictorial magazine but one focusing on African-Americans.
Ebony undeniably promoted a middle-class life style and would receive
it's share of criticism for its espousal of what some considered
"white" values and its lack of militancy. (mn-ss)
1963
Carron
Wheeler,
born today. The London-based singer began singing at the age of
twelve. She sang in reggae bands Brown Sugar and Aphrodisiac before
establishing her self as a top session singer with artists like Phil
Collins and Erasure. Later taken on by Soul II Soul as lead vocalist
on two hit singles. (mn-jt)
1969
L. C. McKinley,
blues singer/guitarist dies. His classy fretwork bore a deep T-Bone
Walker influence and was the antithesis of the rough-and-tumble Windy
City approach. (mn-bd)
1980
Michael Jackson receives his first Gold
Album for sales of Off The Wall. (mn-jt)
1998
Joe
Stubbs,
soul singer dies. Joe sang lead on The Falcons hit Your so Fine, solo
work on Lupine records also sang lead on the Contours's Just A
Little Misunderstanding and The Originals on Good Night Irene,
later with 100 Proof (aged in soul). (br)
2006
Wilson
Pickett,
soul singer dies aged 64 from a hear attack in
Reston, Va., hospital. Remembered for his hits
'Mustang Sally' & 'In The Midnight Hour.' Pickett also was a
member of the Falcons group, as was Joe Stubbs who also died on this
date eight years earlier. (mn)
20th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP:
243:
OLIVER
MATUKUZI
1895
Eva Jessye,
born. Eva Jessye (1895–1992)—the first black woman to
receive international distinction as a professional choral
conductor—is a notable as a female choral conductor during the
Harlem Renaissance. Her accomplishments in this field were historical
for any woman regardless of ethnicity. Jessye studied privately in
Kansas, then with Will Marion Cook later in New York. In 1926 she
began to perform regularly with her choir, the Eva Jessye Singers,
who were originally called the Dixie Jubilee Singers. She went to
Hollywood in 1929 to train a choir for the film Hallelujah directed
by King Vidor. In 1933, she was in a production of Four Saints in
Three Acts by Thomson. In 1935, she was the choral director chosen by
Gershwin for Porgy and Bess. Further, Jessye composed her own pieces.
Her folk oratorio Paradise Lost and Regained (1934), The Life of
Christ in Negro Spirituals (1931), and The Chronicle of Job (1936).
At the University of Michigan, she established the Eva Jessye
African-American Music Collection (tr-bl-wickpedia
1959 Earliest
human fossils found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.
1941
Ronald
Townson soul
singer with The Fifth Dimension is born. Members have included
Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Ron Townson, Florence LaRue, LaMonte
McLemore. When they first formed in 1965 they called themselves The
Versatiles. Their producer, Johnny Rivers, suggested they come up
with a newer-sounding name. That night they sat around trying to
think up a new name, and member Ron Townson came up with The Fifth
Dimension. (mn-jt)
1942
William
Powell singer
with The O'Jays is born. Dies in 1977. The core of this long-standing
soul group, Eddie LeVert (Born 16 June 1942) and Walter Williams
(Born 25 August 1942) sang together as a gospel duo prior to forming
the Triumphs in 1958. This doo-wop-influenced quintet was completed
by William Powell, Bill Isles and Bobby Massey and quickly grew
popular around its home-town of Canton, Ohio, USA. The same line-up
then recorded as the Mascots before taking the name the O'Jays after
Cleveland disc jockey Eddie O'Jay, who had given them considerable
help and advice. Having signed to Imperial Records in 1963, the
O'Jays secured their first hit with "Lonely Drifter", which
was followed by an imaginative reworking of Benny Spellman's
"Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)" (1965) and "Stand
In For Love" (1966). (mn-jt)
1947
Josh
Gibson,
Negro leagues star and National Baseball Hall of Famer, ies. (tr-iokts)
1965
Heather
Small (uk
singer) born. Heather Small has what some call a unique and
distinctive voice which is quickly recognisable to many people. She
is probably most famous for being the voice of Manchester based band
M People. She was born and raised in West London and joined her first
group, Hot House, while she was still a teenager. However after a
chance meeting with a Manchester DJ called Mike Pickering, formerly
of Quando Quango, she was soon going to sell over 10 million albums
worldwide singing with his group M People. They had some very big
hits with songs such as Moving on Up and Search for The Hero. (nationmaster)
1971
Esther Bennet soul
singer with Eternal born. This band was the most successful UK girl
group since Bananarama. Esther is the lead singer and along with her
sister Vernie sang at Croydon Baptist Church. Their first two singles
had immediate impact Stay and Save our love. The video for Just a
Step from Heaven depicted gangs of youths populating scenes of urban
desolation, before switching to a woman giving lecture on self
awareness beneath the symbol of the Black Panther Movement. (mn-ttx)
1973
Mauricio
Pastrana IBF
Junior Flyweight World Champion born. Record:17-0 (14). Best wins:
Michael Carbajal and Manuel Herrera. He lives in Sincelejo, Columbia. (mn-ring)
1977
Patricia Harris, first African American Cabinet member nominated.
Patricia Roberts Harris (May 31, 1924 – March 23, 1985) served
as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, United
States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and United States
Secretary of Health and Human Services in the administration of
President Jimmy Carter. Born Patricia Roberts in Mattoon, Illinois,
Harris graduated summa cum laude from Howard University in 1945, and
later graduated from the George Washington University National Law
Center in 1960. She was dean of Howard University Law School in 1969.
Harris was the first African American woman to serve as an
Ambassador, representing the U.S. in Luxembourg under President
Lyndon B. Johnson. Harris was appointed to the cabinet of President
Jimmy Carter upon his election 1977. She thus became the first
African American woman to enter the line of succession, at number 13.
Between 1977 and 1979 she served as Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), and in 1979, she served as Secretary of Health,
Education, and Welfare. After the Department of Education
Organization Act was signed into law on October 17, 1979, the
Department Health, Education and Welfare was divided into the
separate departments of Health and Human Services and Education.
Harris then served as the first Secretary of Health and Human
Services until Carter left office in 1981. In 1982, Harris become a
professor at the George Washington National Law Center, a position
she held until her death from breast cancer on March 23, 1985, at the
age of 60. (tr-bl-wickpedia)
2009
Baraka Obama is inaugurated as US President, Aretha Franklin
sand the national anthem and now everybody want's her hat. The world
has much hope for the US's first Black president, but he has taken
over at very bad time in the history of the USA/World. (mn)
2009
David
'Fathead' Newman
dies in Kingston, New York, U.S.A. b. Davis Newman Jnr, 24th February
1933, Corsicana, Texas, U.S.A. David Fathead Newman has died. He was
75. He died from complications of pancreatic cancer on the 20th
January 2000, at a hospital in Kingston, New York, according to his
wife and manager, Karen Newman. Born in Corsicana, Texas, his
professional career began in 1954 as an original member of Ray
Charles' Band. He was nicknamed 'Fathead', after his music teacher
criticised his standard of reading music, disapproving of David's
preference in listening to the music instead, tapping him on his head
and calling him 'Fathead'. David, later, relocated to Dallas, where
he graduated from Lincoln High School. After leaving school, he
started playing flute and tenor saxophone at local shows. He received
a scholarship to Jarvis Christian College, where he studied theology
and music. David remained in college for two years and then began
touring, and it was at one of these gigs he met Ray Charles. He
joined Ray's band in 1954, and remained with the ensemble for a dozen
years, performing on some of Ray's most memorable hits ('I Got a
Woman', 'What'd I Say' and 'Lonely Avenue'). David later worked for a
decade with Herbie Mann. During the Seventies, he recorded some
classic fusion albums, including 'Keep The Dream Alive', 'Concrete
Jungle' and 'Scratch My Back'. David became a character in the Ray
Charles biopic 'Ray' (featuring Jamie Foxx), although he did not
approve of the portrayal of his own character in the film. On 22nd
January 2008, David sat in as a guest with the CBS orchestra on the
Late Show with David Letterman. He is survived by his wife, four
sons, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. (soulwalking.co.uk)
2012
Etta
James
dies. James was hospitalized in January 2010 to treat an infection
caused by MRSA. During her hospitalization, her son Donto revealed
that James had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2008, and
attributed her previous comments about Beyoncé Knowles to
"drug induced dementia". On January 14, 2011, it was
announced that James had been diagnosed with leukemia and was
undergoing treatment. She was hospitalized in May 2011 with a
urinary tract infection and the blood infection known as sepsis. On
December 16, 2011, it was announced that she was under 24-hour care
and is terminally ill from the cancer she has been battling
throughout 2011. Her manager, Lupe De Leon, stated to the media that
she is "in the final stages of leukemia", has been
diagnosed with both dementia and Hepatitis C, has been placed on
oxygen, is receiving constant care from her husband, and is being
visited regularly by her sons. De Leon went on to say, "We're
all very sad. We're just waiting..." On December 19, 2011,
James's husband and sons reached a deal on managing her estate and
medical care. A judge ruled that the amount of money available to
Artis Mills, her husband and estate conservator, was to be $350,000
USD. On December 23, 2011, James reportedly had to be rushed to a
hospital after having breathing problems and was placed on a
breathing machine. On December 30, 2011, James was taken off of the
machine after being able to breathe on her own. De Leon said the
singer's blood pressure had also returned to normal.After nearly a
month from being declared terminally ill, Etta James' longtime friend
and manager on January 5, 2012 said the singer had been released from
a Southern California hospital. Fifteen days later, she lost her
battle with leukemia and other diseases. She was 73. (Wiki)
21st.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 244:
BHUNDU BOYS
1824 Osie
Bonsu, Ashanti leader, defeats British at Assamaka, Ashanti.
1888
Leadbelly,
folk-blues artiste, born. d. 6
December 1949, New York City, New York, USA. Lead Belly's music
offers an incredible vista of American traditions, white as well as
black, through his enormous repertoire of songs and tunes. He learned
many of them in his youth when he lived and worked in western
Louisiana and eastern Texas, but to them he added material from many
different sources, including his own compositions, throughout the
rest of his life. (mn-rs)
1964
Carl T. Rowan is named director of the US Info. Agency. (tr-iokts)
1966
Deborah
Glasgow is
born, one of Britain's finest female reggae artists. Glasgow's
career began at the tender age of 12 when she first worked with the
Mad Professor. Under the name Debbie G. she released Falling In Love
for his Ariwa label. She apprenticed herself on London sound system
circuit, mixing with the likes of Tippa Irie and Philip Papa Livi,
and gaining a reputation for knowing her own mind and music. She died
January 25, 1994, from a brain haemorrhage after being diagnosed as
having cancer of the lymph gland. Best remembered for her hit 'When
somebody loves you back'. (rd-cl-mn)
1941
Richard
Havens,
soul/folk singer is born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York
City, New York, USA. Havens' professional singing career began at the
age of 14 as a member of the McCrea Gospel Singers. By 1962 he was a
popular figure on the Greenwich Village folk circuit with regular
appearances at the Cafe Wha?, Gerdes, and The Fat Black Pussycat.
Havens quickly developed a distinctive playing style, tuning his
guitar to the open E chord which in turn inspired an insistent
percussive technique and a stunningly deft right hand technique. A
black singer in a predominantly white idiom, Havens' early work
combined folk material with New York-pop inspired compositions. His
soft, yet gritty, voice adapted well to seemingly contrary material
and two early releases, Mixed Bag and Something Else Again, revealed
a blossoming talent. However, the artist established his reputation
interpreting songs by other acts, including the Beatles and Bob
Dylan, which he personalized through his individual technique. Havens
opened the celebrated Woodstock Festival and his memorable appearance
was a highlight of the film. A contemporaneous release, Richard P.
Havens 1983, was arguably his artistic apogee, offering several
empathic cover versions and some of the singer's finest compositions.
He later established an independent label, Stormy Forest, and enjoyed
a US Top 20 hit with "Here Comes The Sun". A respected
painter, writer and sculptor, Havens also enjoys a lucrative career
doing voice-overs for US television advertisements. Wishing Well in
2002 showed that the artist had lost none of his artistic verve and
was applauded as one of the finest recordings of his career. (mn-jt-music.us.bio)
1942
Edwin Starr (Charles
Hatcher) singer/song writer born Nashville, USA. Now lives in the
West Midlands UK. Recorded hit records on Motown/Ric-Tic/MCA Records.
He got his first break on America's Uncle
Jake Show performing with Billy
Holiday. Dies April, 2003 aged 61 years.
Two interviews in PCRL archieve. (mn-br-rt)
1950
Billy Ocean born
Leslie Sabastion Charles in Trinidad, a soul singer/songwriter.
Billy's family moved to Stepney, East London in 1968, between 1976
& 1986 he had 14 hit records. (mn)
1984
Jackie
Wilson's
life support machine was turned off after
his money ran out!. On September 25, 1975, Jackie collapsed on stage
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with a heart attack that led to an
irreversible coma that ended today, 8 years later. Born June 9, 1934,
Detroit, Michigan USA. When his parents thwarted his boxing
ambitions, he took to singing in small local clubs. He sang with the
Thrillers (soon to be the Royals), recorded as Sonny Wilson, and
joined the Dominoes as replacement for Clyde McPhatter. Then started
a solo career with Brunswick Records in 1958, recording some thirty
albums. Biggest UK hit was 'Reete Petite', number 1 in 1987. He was
also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame that same year. (mn-cl)
2000 Mike
Tyson the US boxer was mobbed by a crowd in Brixton. He
had come to the UK after a public out cry into letting a convicted
rapist into the country. (mn)
2003
Mickey Nold dj's his last program for PCRL, it was 12-6pm on a
Tuesday afternoon. Speaking out about the proposed war in Irac didn't
help. The Radio Authority raided his home 2 days later, and Pilot's 7
days later.
2006
Dee
Edwards,
soul singer dies. Singer Dee Edwards remains best known in Northern
soul circles for the cult classic "All the Way Home." Born
Doris Jean Harrell in Montgomery, AL, in June 1945, she began singing
in her church choir at age five. After the family's 1960 relocation
to Detroit, Harrell and her brother Albert teamed with fellow
siblings Tommy and Freddy Martin to form the Paragons, an R&B
vocal group that attracted the attention of neighbor Mike Hanks,
owner of the fledgling MAH label. Hanks licensed the Paragons' lone
single, "My Time Is Important to Me," to another Detroit
indie, Duke Browner's Exit Records, and the record was a local hit in
the spring of 1963. The group nevertheless split soon after and Hanks
signed Harrell as a solo act, renaming her Dee Edwards in honor of
his new D-Town imprint. Her debut, "You Say You Love Me,"
followed on the Tuba label in late summer, trailed by "Too
Careless with My Love," a major Detroit radio favorite. With
1964's "Oh What a Party," Edwards abandoned the
harder-edged R&B sound of her previous records in favor of a
buoyant, Motown-inspired approach. Subsequent efforts like
"Happiness Is Where You Find It" and 1965's "His
Majesty, My Love" refined the formula, and with 1966's "All
the Way Home" Edwards reached her zenith, her husky vocals
perfectly complemented by Hanks' brassy production. By now a
fixture of Detroit nightclubs like the Twenty Grand and Gino's,
Edwards boasted a loyal local following but Hanks lacked the
marketing muscle necessary to push her records to a national
audience. When D-Town splintered in mid-1966, her recording career
stalled until 1968, when she cut "I'll Shed No Tears" for
Premium Stuff. With husband Floyd Jones serving as arranger, Edwards
next surfaced with 1970's GM label single "Say It Again with
Feeling." Two years later, she made her major-label debut with
the RCA release "All We Need Is a Miracle," but the record
failed to generate much interest, and after the De-To effort "I
Can Deal with That" she spent the next several years in
retirement, raising a family. Upon signing to Atlantic's Cotillion
imprint, Edwards scored a disco hit with 1979's "Don't Sit
Down," culled from her LP No Love, No World -- 1980's "Mr.
Miracle Man" proved a minor pop hit but she again mothballed her
career to focus on her children. Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
(mn-artiste direct)
22nd.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP:
245:
LEONARD
DEMBO AND BLACK UMFOLOSI
PCRL
presenter
Fire was
born on this day.
1731
Benjamin
Banneker,
inventer, scientist, astronomer, helped survey a plan of
Washington, D.C., born. Although he spent nearly his entire life on a
farm, Banneker had an important influence on how African-Americans
were viewed during the Federalist and Jeffersonian periods of
American history. Born in Baltimore County, Maryland, Banneker was a
child of a free black father. He had little formal education, but he
became literate and read widly. At the age of 21 he built a clock
with every part made of wood - it operated for over 40 years. (mn-ss)
1871
Justina
Ford,
first female African-American physician in Denver, Colorado, USA.,
is born in Knoxville, Ill. (tr-iokts)
1906
Willa
Brown Chappell,
pioneer aviator is born. In an era harsh for both women and African
Americans, she sought great challenge. Influenced by aviatrix Bessie
Coleman, in 1934 Willa began flight lessons at Chicago's Aeronautical
University. She studied with Cornelius R. Coffey at the racially
segregated Harlem Field in Chicago. By 1935, she received her master
mechanic's certificate, joined the Challenger Air Pilot's
Association, joined the Chicago Girl's Flight Club, and enrolled in a
master's program at Northwestern University. In 1937, airman's
certificate No. 43814 made her the first African American woman to be
licensed as a private pilot in the United States. She also received
her MBA from Northwestern and co-founded, with Coffey, the National
Airmen's Association of America to promote interest in aviation&ldots;
and to help get black aviation cadets into the US Military as
pilots. In 1940, Brown advocated the inclusion of African
Americans in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. In 1941, she was
named federal coordinator of the Chicago unit of the Civil Air Patrol
civilian pilot training program, the first African American officer
in this integrated unit. The Coffey School was selected to provide
black trainees for the Air Corps' pilot training program at Tuskegee
Institute. As school director, Brown was instrumental in training
more than 200 students who went on to become the legendary Tuskegee
airmen. Willa was also coordinator of war-training service for the
Civil Aeronautics Authority. And in 1943, she became the first woman
in the United States who possessed both a mechanic's license and a
commercial license in aviation. She married the Rev. J. H. Chappell
in 1955 and taught school until 1971. In 1972, she was appointed to
the FAA Women's Advisory Board. Her love for aviation continued until
her death in 1992 at age 86. (rootsweb)
1915 Rev.
C.L. Franklin,
gospel singer/father to singers Aretha Franklin and Carolyn Franklin
born in Sunflower County, Mississippi, USA. The pastor of Detroit's
Bethel Baptist Church, a confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., and
father of Aretha Franklin, this charismatic preacher is known for
"hair-raising" sermons. (d.24/7/84) (mn-cl)
1924
J.
J. Johnson,
trombone player born, Indianoplis, Indiana, USA. Johnson was in the
first order of modern jazz musicians, including Charlie Parker, Dizzy
Gillespie, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Max Roach, Sonny
Rollins, John Coltrane, and Oscar Pettiford. He recorded a number of
popular albums with fellow trombonist Kai Winding, as well as many
solo albums, and was a sideman on many classic jazz recordings.
Several of his compositions, including "Wee Dot,"
"Lament," and "Enigma" are considered jazz
standards. He was part of the Third Stream movement in jazz music in
the late 1950s and early 1960s and wrote a number of large-scale
works which incorporated elements of both classical and jazz
music. (mn-cl)
1931
Sam Cooke one
of the most famous R&B/Gospel singers of the 60's is born in
Chicago, USA. He had 16 Top 20 hits in the USA between 1957 and
1965 (only 3 in UK). Also on this day in 1960 on his 29th birthday he
signed to RCA Records. Dies 11/12/64. (mn-rt)
1940
Addie
Mickie Harris,
soul singer with The Shirelles born. The Shirelles were the first
major female vocal group of the rock era, defining the so-called girl
group sound with their soft, sweet harmonies and yearning innocence.
Their music was a blend of pop/rock and R&B -- especially doo wop
and smooth uptown soul -- that appealed to listeners across the
board, before Motown ever became a crossover phenomenon with white
audiences. (mn-jt)
1964
Nigel
Benn,
boxer born. British former boxer who held world titles at both
Middleweight and Super Middleweight. Benn was known as The Dark
Destroyer, a nickname that would, ironically, later come back to
haunt him. A somewhat eccentric personality, Benn had a record of 41
wins and 1 loss as an amateur boxer. He turned professional in 1987
with a win over Graeme Ahmed in Croydon. This win began a streak of
22 consecutive knockout wins for The Dark Destroyer. The streak
extended until 1989. During this time Benn's accomplishments included
beating Fermin Chirino, winning the British commonwealth Middleweight
title with a win over Abdul Umaru, and retaining it against David
Noel, brother of former world Lightweight champion Claude Noel.
-wickpedia (mn-ttx)
1965
Andrew
Roachford,
singer with Roachford is born. Started performing in London's Soho
jazz clubs from the age of 14. The band was formed in 1987 and had a
big hit in 1989 with Cuddly Toy. (mn-jt-cl)
1971
Stanley (Stan)
Victor Collymore,
6'3"; 14.00 Aston Villa player born in Cannock, England.
International Honours: E: 3. (mn-bh)
1972
Successful song writing & production team Holland Dozier and
Holland settled out of court with Motown Records, who had sued the
trio when they left the label for which they had produced such
major hitmakers as the Supremes & The Four Tops. (mn-jt)
1982
Tommy
Tucker soul
singer dies. Born Robert Higginbotham March 5, 1933 in Springfield,
Ohio, USA. Renowned R&B performer, recommended
album listening Hi Heel Sneakers and Long Tall Shorty
(Checker 1964). He died from poisoning. (mn-cl)
1988 Court
Victory For Pirate Station.
Read the headline in the Caribbean Times newspaper. Charges that had
been made against Cecil Morris at Birmingham Magistrate Courts by the
D.T.I. for illegal broadcasting as PCRL were not proven. The judge
told the DTI that they had wasted his time and public money. (mn)
2010
Robert 'Squirell' Lester dies. b. Robert 'Squirrel' Lester, 16th
August 1942, McComb, Mississippi, U.S.A. d. 22nd January 2010,
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Robert 'Squirrel' Lester, of the Soul vocal
group, the Chi-Lites, has died. He was 67. Robert was the second
tenor in the Chicago based singing group. He passed away following a
short illness. He was born in McComb, Mississippi. He was included in
the recent Chi-Lites line-up, along with group leader Marshall
Thompson, lead vocalist Frank Reed, and backing vocalist, Tara
Thompson. An inductee at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Lester was 67
years old at the time of his death. The Chi-Lites were inducted into
the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 2000 and fellow founding member
Eugene Record joined them on stage for the first time in 10 years. (soulwalking.co.uk)
23rd.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP:
Ancobia
PCRL DJ born
246:
DAMA MAHALEO AND D'GARY/ROSSY
1944
Jerry
Lawson,
member of soul group The Persuasions born. This group from New York,
formed in 1966 continued the accapella tradition despite prevalent
trends elsewhere right into the 1980's. (mn-jt)
1948
Anita
Pointer of
the soul group the Pointer Sisters born. She quit a job as a
secretary to join her younger sisters Bonnie and June to form the
Pointer Sisters in 1969. After several failed singles between 1971
and 1972 for Atlantic Records, the trio convinced eldest sister Ruth
to join the group in 1972 and becoming a quartet. The group found
fame under the Anita-assisted lead vocals of their big hit, 1973's
"Yes We Can Can". It was Anita's co-writing duties for
their 1974 hit, "Fairytale", that helped the group make
music history when the country-infused song hit the country charts,
instantly winning the group their first Grammy for Best Country
Performance by a Duo or Group; and June and sister Bonnie a Grammy
nod for Song of the Year in 1975. After Bonnie left the Pointers in
1977 bringing the group back to being a trio, Ruth, Anita and June
would rise to higher levels with the releases of singles like 1978's
rock-infused "Fire", 1980's New Wave-ish/dance single,
"He's So Shy", 1981's "Slow Hand" and 1982's
"I'm So Excited", with the latter two led-sung by
Anita. (mn-jt)
1951
Darrow
Fletcher,
soul singer born in Inkster, Michigan, USA. Raised in Chicago his
only hit record was the Pain Get's A Little Deeper in 1966 on the
Groovy label, he was still a freshman at high school. His last record
was in 1976 for Ray Charles' Crossover Label. (mn-cl)
1955
Reggie Calloway,
soul singer/producer born. With his brother Vincent formed Midnight
Star, he is also credited as forming the Cincinnati sound which
sparked off new groups/producers like L.A. and Babyface.(mn-jt-cl)
1964
The U.S. 24th Amendment is ratified,
abolishing poll tax, which was used as a means of preventing
African-Americans from voting. (iokts)
1972
Big
Maybelle,
R&B singer dies. Born Mabel Louise Smith, May 1st, 1924 she was
discovered sing in church by band leader Dave Clark in 1935, her
career was marred by frequent drug problems which contributed to her
early death from a diabetic coma. (mn-cl)
1976
Paul
Robeson,
Internationally famous singer/actor/athlete/lawyer dies. Born Paul
Bustil in 1898 in Priceton, New Jersey, USA. According to legend,
when he was called upon to whistle when he appeared in Eugene
O'Neill's play the Emperor Jones in 1925, he instead sang - and soon
found himself the most famous African-American singer of his
generation. By 1926 his fame as an actor and singer was reaching it's
zenith, Robeson's outspoken political views were beginning to raise
eyebrows in some quarters, his praise of communism resulted in loss
of passport until 1958. He then resumed his international career but
retired 5 years later due to poor health. (mn-ss)
1977
ABC TV premieres Alex Haley's Roots,
the story of Kunta Kinte. Roots was the saga of Haley's own family,
which he traced back to Kunta Kinte, brought from the Gambia to
America as a slave in 1767. First the book Roots: The Story of an
African-American Family (1976) and then the incredibly successful
T.V. mini-series. (mn-ss)
1990
Mickey Nold does his first PCRL soul radio program (Tuesday 3-6 am).
A recording exists.
2000
Leo Mohammed from the Nation Of Islam starts his own radio program
'The Cultural Revolution', on PCRL at 6.00 a.m., this is a sister
program to the one he conducts on London's Unique F.M. 101.2. (mn)
2000
The B.B.C. names Bob Marley's 'One Love'
as 'Song of the Century' (mn)
2004
Three
Founder Members
Of Europe's longest and first Black Radio Station Peoples Community
Radio Link (P.C.R.L), Were Fined A Total Of £13,000 at
Birmingham Crown Court. Cecil Morris: Founder and Former Head Of
Station Was fined £8,000 and also given a 9 Month Prison
Sentence Suspended For 2 Years. Anthony Jeffers: Former Head Of
Programming Was Fined £3,000 + 200 Hours Community Service.
Michael Norton: DJ & Black Historian Was Fined £2,000 + 120
Hours Community Service. With the law suit that soon followed this
judgment, that was the last straw for PCRL and the station soon
closed after 19 years. (mn)
24th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 247: SAMMY/MADAGASCAR
1865 US
congress passes the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery in the USA.
1885
Martin
Robison Delany,
physician, Pan-Africanise, dies. This precursor of twentieth-century
African-American militancy was born to a free black woman and an
enslaved father in Charles Town, Virginia. The family moved to
Pennsylvania in 1823, and in 1831 young Delany apprenticed himself to
a doctor in Pittsburgh. He founded an African-American magazine,
Mystery (1843-1847), and worked on behalf of the abolitionist cause.
(Born 1812). (mn-ss)
1937
Alvin
Robinson,
New Orleans based session guitarist born. His single Down Home Girl
on the Red Bird label was one of the labels finest releases, later
recorded by the Rolling Stones. Robinson was a New Orleans-based
session guitarist, and secured a minor hit in 1964 with a recording
of a Chris Kenner song, "Something You Got". The single was
released on Tiger Records, a short-lived outlet owned by Jerry Leiber
and Mike Stoller, who then took Robinson to their next venture, Red
Bird. His first release there, "Down Home Girl", was an
inspired amalgamation of New York pop and Crescent City R&Born
Later covered by the Rolling Stones, Robinson's single was one of the
finest to appear on this impressive label. It was followed by a
reshaped version of "Let The Good Times Roll", but the
artist was unable to find another success. Robinson moved to the west
coast in 1969 and was one of several expatriate musicians who played
on Dr. John's New Orleans "tribute" album, Gumbo. He
returned to New Orleans in 1985 and died in 1989. (mn-cl-music.us.bio)
1941
Aaron Neville singer
with Hawkettes/Neville brothers and Meters born today in New
Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Best remembered for his hit Tell It Like It Is. Aaron
was signed to Minit Records as a solo artist, but despite a minor
hit with "Over You" (1960), he remained largely unknown
until the release of "Tell It Like It Is" (1966). This
simple, haunting ballad showcased the singer's delicate delivery
while the song's slogan-like title echoed the sentiments of the
rising Black Power movement. Sadly, the single's outlet, Par-Lo, went
bankrupt, and despite subsequent strong releases, Neville was unable
to repeat its commercial success. In 1978, following the break-up of
the Meters, Aaron joined Art, Cyril and Charles in the Neville Family
Band, later renamed the Neville Brothers. He continued a parallel
solo career and in 1989 enjoyed an international hit with "Don't
Know Much", a duet with Linda Ronstadt. The first of several
recordings for the A&M Records label, Warm Your Heart was a
strong collection but the subsequent releases failed to do justice to
Neville's astonishing voice. The singer found more worthy material
with a pair of gospel releases (Devotion and Believe) in the new
millennium. (mn-music.us.bio)
1971
I
Done What You Told Me To - broadcasted by ITV television. The
first U.K. television programme to acknowledge the existence of
black people in pre-1950 Britain. An HTV Network production. Rudolph
Walker and Nina Baden-Semper read from contemporary accounts of the
slave trade. (mn-sb)
1985
Tom Bradley, four-term mayor of Los Angeles, receives the NAACP's
Spingarn Medal for public service. After retiring from the Los
Angeles Police Department as a lieutenant in 1962, Bradley practised
law briefly, but he soon entered politics. He was widely credited
with calming the city's racial tensions. (tr-iokts-ss)
25th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP:
248:
ANGOLA
AND MOZAMBIQUE
1851
Sojourner Truth addresses the first Black Women's Rights Convention,
Ackron, Ohio.
1896
Florence
Mills was
born. She was an African-American singer, dancer. From
Washington D.C., she was raised in severe poverty. Her parents John
and Nellie were illiterate migrants from Lynchburg, Virginia. A young
Florence was on stage full-time as a child, first as a
“pickaninny” in White vaudeville then as a sister act on
the Black popular entertainment circuit. Mills’ big break came
in 1921 in Chicago with Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake’s Shuffle
Along, the show that introduced syncopated song and dance to White
America. She went on to star in Plantation Revue in New York and
Dover Street to Dixie in London. Florenz Ziegfeld offered Mills a
major role in his Follies, but she turned him down to pursue the
creation of an all-Black revue. The show, From Dixie to Broadway was
successful and led to her opening of Blackbirds of 1926 in London.
Soon afterwards she returned to New York due to poor health and she
died November 1st 1927. Florence Mills’ funeral brought over
150,000 people out on the streets, the largest such gathering in
Harlem’s history. She was one of the most outstanding Black
women in American musical comedy during the Jazz Age of the
1920’s. Mills was one of the most popular personalities of the
Harlem Renaissance. Reference: Black Women in America An
Historical Enyclopedia Volumes 1 and 2, edited by Darlene Clark Hine
Copyright 1993, Carlson Publishing Inc., Brooklyn, New York ISBN 0-926019-61-9
1911
Truck Farham
was born on this date in 1911. He was an African-American jazz
bassist and drummer. A longtime fixture in the Chicago music scene,
Charles “Truck” Parham played in a countless number of
settings during his long career. A fine athlete in his early days
(including spending time playing professional football with the
Chicago Negro All Stars and as a boxer), Parham was originally a
drummer before switching to bass picking up early experience with
Zack Whyte's band in Cincinnati from 1932-34. Back in Chicago from 1936-38,
he played regularly with Zutty Singleton and Roy Eldridge and
occasionally with Art Tatum. In 1940 Parham joined Earl Hines' big
band for two years before working with Jimmie Lunceford's Orchestra
until 1947. In Chicago, Parham was part of Muggsy Spanier's dixieland
band (1950-55) and also worked with Herbie Fields (1956-57), Earl
Hines and Louie Bellson. In the 1960's Parham mostly played with Art
Hodes and since then he has continued playing with trad jazz groups.
Although he never recorded as a leader, Parham appeared on many
records through the years including with Eldridge, Hines, Lunceford,
Spanier, Bellson and Hodes. Parham died in July 2002 after he’d
been in the hospital for a few weeks, he was 90. The entire jazz
world will miss Charles "Truck" Parham. Reference:
All That Jazz The Illustrated Story of Jazz Music General Editor:
Ronald Atkins Copyright 1996, Carlton Books Limited ISBN 0-76519-953-X
1929
Benny Golson saxophonist/writer/arranger
born in Philadelphia, Benny played tenor sax with jazz artists
including Lionel Hampton (1953),Dizzy Gillespie (1956-58) and Art
Blakey (1959) before forming a group Jazztet with McCoy Tyner and Art
Farmer (trumpet) in 1959. On the UK jazz funk scene, Benny is best
remembered for his 1977 CBS recording 'The New Killer Joe', adapted
from an instrumental he had already written, 'Killer Joe', but now
featuring a spoken rap written by Quincy Jones. The track came out on
an album of the same name, the follow-up being 'I'm Always Dancing To
The Music' (1978). (mn-cl-rt)
1938
Etta
James soul
singer born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, USA. She had an R&B
No.1 in th U.S. with Wallflower. James was inducted into the
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993, prior to her signing a new
recording contract with Private Records. (mn)
1943
Ron
Van Clief,
born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. 'The Black Dragon' as he was known
in 7 Kung Fu films. A martial arts champion, six times winner of Best
Fighter Award (1969, 70, 72, 75, 88 and 89) also 10th Degree Red
Belt. He was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall Of Fame and
given a Life time Achievement Award in 1995. (mn-rvc)
1950
Gloria
Naylor,
writer born. Her novel The Women of Brewster Place was adapted into
the 1989 film The Women of Brewster Place by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo
Productions. List of works: Bailey's Cafe (1992), Mama Day (1988),
Linden Hills (1985) and The Women of Brewster Place (1982) (iokst-wickpedia)
1966
Constance Baker Motley is the first African American woman to be
appointed to a federal judgeship. (tr-iokts)
1976
Chris Kenner who
recorded the original Land of 1000 Dances in 1963, later a hit
record for Wilson Pickett, dies on this day. (mn-jt)
1989
Bobby Brown soul singer, was arrested in Geogia for alleged lewdness
in stage and fined $652. (mn-jt)
1994
Deborahe
Glasgow,
UK reggae singer dies. Born in 1965, her career began at the tender
age of 12 when she first worked with the Mad Professor. Under the
name Debbie G. she released Falling In Love for his Ariwa label. She
apprenticed herself on London sound system circuit, mixing with the
likes of Tippa Irie and Philip Papa Livi,and gaining a reputation for
knowing her own mind and music. She died on this day from a brain
haemorrhage after being diagnosed as having cancer of the lymph
gland. Best remembered for her hit When
somebody loves you back. (rd-cl-mn)
2011 John
Tayor (Baron of Warwick), at Southwark Crown Court before Mr
Justice Saunders, Taylor was found guilty by the jury which delivered
majority verdicts (11 votes to 1) on six counts of false accounting,
relating to a total of £11,277.80 in false parliamentary
expenses claims. The first such claim was for £1,555.70, the
second for £2,042.80, the third was £1,600.70, the fourth
£2,309.50, the fifth £2,421.80, and the final claim was for
£1,347. He had claimed that his main residence was in Oxford, at
an address which was occupied by his nephew and the nephew's partner
(who owned the premises). In fact, Taylor lived in Ealing, West
London. On 16 July 2010, Taylor resigned the Tory Whip as he had been
charged with six counts of false accounting, claiming more than
£11,000 in overnight subsistence and mileage claims. He appeared
before a Westminster magistrates’ court in August 2010 (mn-wikidedia)
26th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 249: RUMBA
PIONEERS
1893
Bessie
Coleman is
born in Atlanta, the first black woman pilot. Unable to gain pilot
training in the US she went to Europe to obtain a licence (1921) and
then an international pilot's licence in 1922. She intended to open
an African-American school for flying but she died in a plane crash
after her controls jammed in 1926. (mn-ss)
1932
Coxone,
real name Clement Seymore Dodd reggae producer/songwriter born in
Kingston, JA. It's an undisputable fact that without the vision and
work of this man, reggae music as we now know it would not exist. One
of the first to run his own sound system. He celebrated 35 years in
the business with two huge show in Jamaica in 1991. Despite rumours
of financial and personal disagreement with artistes and Dodd, most
have stated that their time at Coxone's 'musical college'was well
spent. (mn-tr-cl)
1934
Huey
'Piano' Smith soul
singer/keyboards player born. Huey's influence on New Orleans music
in the mid 1950s was profound, and it was often said Huey Piano
Smith’s band was like a finishing school for Nola singers and musicians(mn-jt)
1943
Jean Knight,
soul singer, born in New Orleans, best known for her Stax single Mr.
Big Stuff released in 1971, and revived on the UK Rare Groove scene
in mid 80's. (mn)
1944
Angela Davis,
political activist born in Birmingham, Al, USA. A racial
philosopher, she has contributed to increasing political rights for
African-American citizens. She received her A.B. degree from Brandeis
and her Masters from the University of California at San Diego.
Politicized through the Black Panther Party, the Southern Non-violent
Coordinating Committee, the CheLumumba group and the Communist Party,
she successfully challenged the california state law forbidding
Communists from teaching at state universities. Her books include:
Women, Race and Class (1980), and Women, Culture and Politics (1984). (mn-ss)
1963
Jazzie
B.,
of soul band Soul II Soul born Beresford Romero in London,
England.The early definition of the group was uncomplicated:
"It's a sound system, an organisation (which) came together to
build upon making careers for people who had been less fortunate
within the musical and artistic realms." The name Soul II Soul
was first used to describe Jazzie B and Harvey's company supplying
disc jockeys and PA systems to dance music acts. They also held a
number of warehouse raves, particularly at Paddington Dome, near
Kings Cross, London, before setting up their own venue. (mn-jt-cl-music.us)
1958
Anita Baker soul
singer born in Toledo, Ohio USA. The granddaughter of a minister,
Baker had a religious upbringing that included church music and
gospel singing. After vocal duties with local bands she joined the
semi-professional Chapter 8 in 1979 and was the vocalist on their
minor US chart hit, "I Just Wanna Be Your Girl", the
following year. Several years later she left the band and was working
in an office when she persuaded the Beverly Glenn label to record and
release her debut album in 1983. (mn-music.us says:20/12/57
Detroit/ Wickpedia says today)
1971
James Brown records Soul Power at Rodel Studios in Washington, D.C.,
USA. It reaches N0.3 in the R&B charts that year. (mn)
1980
Prince, soul singer makes his first TV appearance on Dick Clark's
American Bandstand. (mn-jt)
1984
Jackson's Curls Crackle.
While shooting a Pepsi Cola add an accidental flare explosion ignited
hair spray being applied to Michael Jackson's hair. He suffered
second-degree burns to head & neck. (mn-jt)
1990
Mickey Nold's first PCRL 'Basement Soul' programme (Friday 6-9 a.m.).
I did the breakfast shows on three days a week for 3 years and went
on to my day job afterwards.
1993
Dizzy Gillespie horn
player dies. One of the fathers of modern jazz and a great influence
on trumpeters as Charlie Parker has been to saxophonists, Gilespie's
brilliant, long career included leading a 16 piece band on a State
Department-sponsored international tour (1956) that marked the
governments official support. Born in Cheraw, South Carolina, he
became a leading exponent of the new bebop after working with swing
bands of Teddy Hall, Cab Calloway, and Earl Hines (1937-1941). (mn-cl-ss)
2011
Gladys
Horton
dies. Born in Gainesville, Florida, she was raised in the western
Detroit suburb of Inkster by foster parents. By the time of her high
school years at Inkster High School on Middlebelt Road, Gladys had
taken a strong interest in singing, joining the high school glee
club. In 1960 the fifteen-year-old formed a group with fellow glee
club members Georgeanna Tillman, Katherine Anderson and Juanita
Cowart. She also invited Georgia Dobbins to join her new group.
Formerly calling themselves The Casinyets (can't sing yet), the group
eventually auditioned for Motown after a talent contest, and while
the audition was successful, the group was requested to return to
Hitsville with an original song. After member Georgia Dobbins
co-created the song "Please Mr. Postman", Dobbins suddenly
left the group after her father forbade her to be in nightclubs.
Dobbins, who was also the group's original lead singer, gave Horton
the spotlight to be the lead vocalist, a spot Horton was not
comfortable with in the beginning. The group changed their name to
the Marvelettes shortly after Motown signed the act and released
"Please Mr. Postman" in the summer of 1961 when Horton was
just sixteen. The single eventually hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 -
becoming Motown's first #1 Pop hit - and turning the group into
instant Motown stars. Horton would later sing lead on Marvelettes'
classics such as "Playboy", "Beechwood 4-5789"
and "Too Many Fish in the Sea". Horton's position as lead
vocalist ended in 1965 with Wanda Young, who had replaced Dobbins,
taking over from then on as lead vocalist. Horton left the group in
1967 and was replaced by Cleveland, Ohio vocalist Anne Bogan. In the
late 1980s, Horton and Wanda Young Rogers reunited to collaborate on
the 1990 Marvelettes album for Ian Levine's Motor City Records label
titled The Marvelettes...Now! though Young didn't take part in the
group's performances. The Marvelettes released the single
"Holding On With Both Hands" in 1990, which was sung on
record by Wanda but performed by Gladys in public due to Wanda's
severe personal problems, described by Marc Taylor in the book, The
Original Marvelettes - Motown's Mystery Girl Group, published in 2004
by Aloiv Publishing Company, New York. Gladys and former Marvelette,
Katherine Anderson were involved with Marc Taylor's official
biography of the group. Horton semi-retired from the business to take
care of her handicapped son; however, she still performed on occasion
as "Gladys Horton of the Marvelettes". She had resided in
southern California since the early 1970s. Gladys Catherine Horton
died at age 65 on January 26, 2011 at a nursing home in Sherman Oaks,
California following several strokes. (wiki/steve williams)
27th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 250: ZAIKO
GENERATION
1787
Juan Alverez, hero in the independence movement in Mexico, born in
Guerrero, Mexico.
1918
Elmore James,
blues-guitarist, born Elmore Brooks, Richmond, Mississippi, USA.
(Dies May 24, 1963, Chicago, Ill, USA). Although his recording career
spanned 10 years, Elmore James is chiefly recalled for his debut
release, "Dust My Broom'. This impassioned, exciting
performance, based on a virulent composition by country blues singer
Robert Johnson, was marked by the artist's unfettered vocals and his
searing electric slide guitar. James" formative years were spent
in Mississippi juke joints where he befriended Rice Miller (Sonny Boy
Williamson), a regular performer on the US radio station KFFA's King
Biscuit Time show. Elmore accompanied Miller for several years, and
through his influence secured his initial recording contract in 1951.
James then moved to Chicago where he formed the first of several
groups bearing the name "the Broomdusters". Subsequent
recordings included different variations on that initial success -
"I Believe", "Dust My Blues" - as well as a
series of compositions that proved equally influential. "Bleeding
Heart" and "Shake Your Moneymaker" were later
adopted, respectively, by Jimi Hendrix and Fleetwood Mac, while the
guitarist's distinctive "bottleneck' style resurfaced in
countless British blues bands. James" style was accurately
copied by Jeremy Spencer of Fleetwood Mac - the band often had
"Elmore James" segments in their act during the late 60s.
Another James devotee was Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, whose
early stage name of Elmo Lewis, and bottleneck guitar work paid
tribute to James. John Mayall's "Mr. James" was a
thoughtful tribute to this significant performer who sadly did not
live to enjoy such acclaim. In May 1963, James suffered a fatal heart
attack at the home of his cousin, Homesick James, who, along with
J.Born Hutto, then assumed the late musician's mantle. (mn-rs-music.us.bio)
1930
Bobby
'Blue' Bland,
R&B singer born in Rosemark, Tennesee, USA. He's had more Hot 100
entries in the U.S. than the Beatles! His
recording career began with a couple of unsuccessful singles for
Chess Records in 1951, and Modern Records in 1952. That year, Bland
entered the Army and returned to music upon his discharge in 1955.
His first successful single was "It's My Life Baby",
showcasing a new, more mature sound. He was signed to the Duke
Records label in 1956. (mn)
1941
Bobby Hutchinson jazz
musician born on this day. (mn-vibe-cl)
1947
Nedra Tally,
soul singer in the Ronettes born. By 1961 they had become the
resident dance troupe at the famed Peppermint Lounge, home of the
twist craze, and having taken tuition in harmony singing, later
secured a recording contract. The trio's first single, "I Want A
Boy", was credited to Ronnie And The Relatives, but when
"Silhouettes" followed in 1962, the Ronettes appellation
was in place. They recorded four singles for the Colpix/May group and
appeared on disc jockey Murray The K's Live From The Brooklyn Fox
before a chance telephone call resulted in their signing with
producer Phil Spector. Their first collaboration, the majestic
"Be My Baby" defined the girl-group sound as Spector
constructed a cavernous accompaniment around Ronnie's plaintive,
nasal voice. The single reached the Top 5 in the USA and UK before
being succeeded by the equally worthwhile "Baby I Love You",
another Top 20 entrant in both countries. The producer's infatuation
with Ronnie - the couple were later married - resulted in some of his
finest work being reserved for her, and although ensuing singles,
including "The Best Part of Breaking Up", "Walking In
The Rain" (both 1964) and "Is This What I Get For Loving
You' (1965), failed to recapture the Ronettes" early success,
they are among the finest pop singles of all time. Following their
1966 offering, "I Can Hear Music", the group's career was
shelved during Spector's mid-60s "retirement". (mn-jt)
1961
Opera singer Leontyne Price makes her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
House as Leonora in Veri's Trovatore.
1962
Chubby Checker had four albums in the US Top 10: For Twisters Only
Your Twist Party, Let's Twist Again. This was the first time a
non-MoR act had achieved such success in the album chart. (mn-jt)
1965
Robert (Robbie)
Gerald Earl,
5'9", 10.10 footballer, born in Newcastle under Lyme.
International honours: Jamaica: 9. (cm-mn)
1970
Dean
Headly born,
grandson of cricket legend George Headly and son of Ron Headly who
also played for his country is born. His father lives in Stourbridge
near Birmingham. Height: 6'5", weight: 13.10, County debut: 1991
(Middlesex), 1993 (Kent); Test Debut: 1997; Tests: 10; County cap:
1993 (Kent); One-day Internationals: 9; 50 wickets in a season: 2. (cm-mn)
1972
Mahalia
Jackson,
gospel legend dies. More than 60,000 people filed past her coffin
after it had been taken to the Rivergate Auditorium in New
Orleans.For many commentators, Mahalia Jackson remains the definitive
exponent of gospel music. At the age of four she sang at the Plymouth
Rock Baptist Church and later joined the Mount Moriah Baptist Church
junior choir. She mixed the singing styles of the Baptists with the
Sanctified Church, which produced a powerful rhythm and beat, and
fell under the influence of gospel artists Roberta Martin and Willie
Mae Ford Smith. Coupled with the expressions of Bessie Smith and Ma
Rainey, which in her teens Jackson had begun to observe, she
developed the beginnings of a deep soulful blues style. In 1927,
Mahalia moved from New Orleans to Chicago; after her first Sunday
church service, where she had given a impromptu performance of her
favourite song, "Hand Me Down My Favourite Trumpet,
Gabriel", she was invited to join the Greater Salem Baptist
Church Choir and began touring the city's churches and surrounding
areas with the Johnson Singers. (mn-cf)
1972 Nathan
Alexander Blake,
5'11"; 13.11, footballer born in Cardiff. Club Honours:
WC'92,'93,;Div 3 '93, Div 1 '97. International Honours: W:7; B-1;
U21-5; Youth.
2006
Gene
McFadden
producer dies. Gene McFadden was an American singer, songwriter, and
record producer. He is best known as one of the key members of the
Philadelphia International record label, and was one-half of the
successful team of McFadden & Whitehead with John Whitehead.
McFadden and Whitehead wrote many hits for Philadelphia International
artists such as The O'Jays and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes,
and had their own hit with "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" in
1979. He was diagnosed with liver and lung cancer in 2004 and died at
his home in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia of cancer. (mn)
28th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP:
251:
SOUKOUS
AMBASSADORES
1787 The
Free Africa Society organizes in Philadelphia.
1941
Cash
McCall,
singer/songwriter/musician, born Maurice Dollison, New Madrid,
Missouri, USA. McCall was a songwriter,
session musician and vocalist in the R&B and gospel fields. Best
known for his 1966 R&B hit "When You Wake Up", McCall
began singing with the gospel Belmont Singers at the age of 12.
Moving to Chicago in the 60s, he played guitar for the Five Blind
Boys of Mississippi, Pilgrim Jubilee Singers and Gospel Songbirds.
His secular recording career began in 1963 for One-derful Records. He
next signed to the small Thomas label, for which he recorded his only
R&B chart hit. Subsequent releases for labels such as Checker,
Ronn, Paula and Columbia Records did not fare as successfully. In
1967, McCall wrote "That's How Love Is", a hit for Otis
Clay, and also penned songs for artists including Etta James and
Tyrone Davis. (mn-cl)
1941
King Tubby,
reggae producer born, Osbourne Ruddock, Kingston, Jamaica, West
Indies. (Died February 6, 1985) He was a Jamaican electronics and
sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development
of dub in the 1960s and 1970s. Tubby's innovative studio work, which
saw him elevate the role of record producer to a creative height
previously only reserved for composers and musicians, would prove to
be highly influential across many genres of popular music. He is
often cited as the inventor of the concept of the remix, and so may
be seen as a direct antecedent of much dance and electronic music
production. (mn-cl)
1944
Brian
Keenham,
with soul group The Chambers Brothers born.The group was formed in
1954 in Los Angeles by four brothers from Mississippi, George,
Willie, Lester and Joe Chambers. They toured extensively throughout
southern California but did not achieve nationwide success until 1965
when, with the addition of drummer Brian Keenan, they appeared at the
Newport Folk Festival. Shortly after this they recorded their debut
album People Get Ready. The band scored their first major hit in 1968
with "Time Has Come Today" (written by Joe & Willie
Chambers), from their similarly named third album The Time Has Come.
However they found it difficult to build on this success and
eventually split up in 1972. They reformed in 1974 to record Unbonded
and have toured regularly since. Keenan died of heart failure in
1986. (mn-jt)
1944
Matthew Henson receives a joint medal from Congress as co-discoverer
of the North Pole. [On April 6, 1909 he lead a party of 5 to reach
the North Pole after a 20 year odyssey. Born on a farm in Charles
County, Maryland, USA, he went to sea when he was about 12, In 1887
he met Robert E. Peary, then a lieutenant in the US navy and already
committed to exploring the Artic region. Henson began as Peary's
personal assistant. For 20 years Henson led sleds and was Peary's
right hand man. Peary, Henson and four Eskimos were the first known
humans to reach the North Pole.] (mn-ss-tr-iokts)
1970
Stars
Play Giant Ant-War Benifit In New York. Jimmy
Hendrix, Harry Belafonte, Voices Of East Harlem and the cast of Hair
all sing in protest of war in Vietnam. (mn-jt)
1973
Carl Asaba, 6'2"; 13.00 footballer, born London, England. (mn-bh)
1986
The space shuttle Challenger explodes after lift-off from Cape
Canaveral, Florida, USA. Travelling at 2,500 mph at the time and the
crew's intact capsule hit the sea 4 minutes later a 200 mph. One of
the dead crew was
Dr. Ronald McNeir,
a black physicist.
2000
Thomas
'Beans' Bowles,
saxophonist/flute player dies from prostrate cancer. He was a 'Funk
Brother' part of the Motown in-house session band of the 60's. He
played flute on 'Hitch Hike' (Marvin Gaye) and saxophone on
'Heatwave' (Martha/Vandellas). (mn-ac)
2004
Gene
Allison,
singer dies. Born 29 August 1934. (mn)
2012
The funeral of [Morris Hunting] who opened the Diskery Jazz record shop
aged 22 originally in Moor Steet in Birmingham in 1952. Today it's
found in Bromsgrove Steet. He is survived by his wife Gisela and
daughter Susan. (mn)
29th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 252: KENYA'S
BENGO BOOM
1837
Alexander
Pushkin,
Father of Russian Literature, dies in a duel. Born May 26, 1799,
Alexander S. Pushkin, Russia's greatest poet, was the grandson of
Abram Hannibal (BHPAP 004), the transplanted African who achieved
greatness in the armies of the Czars. Pushkins's poetry is still
widely read in Russia and, despite the passing years, holds front
rank in the land of Tolstoy and Dostoevski. Hear GNPAP 125 (mn-ra)
1901
Black
Invention: Electric
Railway, Granville T. Woods patents it.
1926
Violette Neatley Anderson is the first African American woman to
practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. (tr-iokts)
1948
Felice Taylor,
soul singer born. Biggest U.K. hit was I
Feel Love Coming On, produced by a young
Barry White in 1967.Taylor sang in the Sweets, a trio that included
her sisters Norma and Darlene. Signed to Bronco and released on the
Mustang label, Taylor's three singles -- "It May Be Winter
Outside" b/w "Winter Again," "Under the Influence
of Love," and "I Feel Love Coming On" -- were
co-written and produced by White. After leaving Bronco, Taylor
recorded for Kent ("Captured By Your Love"). Years later,
she recorded in the U.K. with Eddy Grant and Derv Gordon of the
Equals. In the summer of 1973, White's protegées Love
Unlimited recorded Taylor's "It May Be Winter Outside" and
"Under the Influence of Love." Taylor's Bronco/Mustang
singles "It May Be Winter Outside," "I Feel Love
Coming On," and "Under the Influence of Love" are
available on Boss Soul: The Genius of Barry White, a 1998
various-artists compilation from Del-Fi Records. (mn-jt)
1954 Oprah
Winfrey
born, is an actress, talk-show host, and one of the most successful
entrepreneurs and television personalities in the United States. She
is currently involved in many business ventures, but is most
identified with her massively popular and eponymous talk show. She is
currently ranked as the most powerful celebrity by Forbes magazine[1]
as well as the ninth most powerful woman in the world.[2] She is the
first African-American woman to become a billionaire. Some believe
there to be a gender bias in some of her shows. Shows about
infidelity, for example, often focus either on cheating men, or on
cheated-on wives. Some critics say Winfrey makes inadequate reference
to women who cheat, or may only make cursory comments. Oprah's Book
Club has come under fire for its choice of books. Most notably, one
of its attempted selectees, author Jonathan Franzen objected to his
book The Corrections being chosen, believing that its selection as an
Oprah's Book Club book would demean his literary reputation.
"She's picked some good books, but she's picked enough
schmaltzy, one dimensional ones that I cringe ..." he said in a
Powells.com interview (wickpedia)
1961
Pauline Henry,
soul singer with The Chimes born.The Chimes were a dance music trio
from Scotland, featuring vocalist Pauline Henry (born, in Edinburgh)
with Mike Paden and James Locke. They are best known in Europe for
their remake of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking
For". which became a UK Top Ten hit. Their only Billboard Hot
100 entry was with the song "1-2-3," which hit #86 in 1990.
It spent two weeks at #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and
its follow-up, "Heaven," was another #1 dance chart hit.
Henry has also enjoyed dance club success as a solo artist. They are
not to be confused with the Brooklyn New York vocal group (also
called The Chimes), who had a #11 Billboard Hot 100 hit with
"Once In Awhile" in 1961. (mn-jt)
1966
Mark
Stein,
football player born in Cape Town, South Africa. Played for Chelsea
and Stoke City. (tr)
1996
Hidden Empire (A Son of Africa) - Shown on BBC2 television, a
drama-documentary about Olaudah Equiano, a former slave who settled
in London and companied for the abolition of slavery. (mn)
2009
Hank
Crawford dies
in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A. Born Bennie Ross Crawford, Jr, 21st
December 1934, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A. Hank Crawford has died. He
was 74. Hank died Thursday the 29th of January, at his home. Delores
Crawford said her brother had been in declining health for the past
year, dealing with the long-term effects of a stroke he suffered in
2000. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee and began formal piano
studies at age nine and was soon playing for his church choir. On
returning from national service, his father brought Hank back an alto
saxophone and when Hank entered high school, he learned how to play
the instrument in order to join the band. In the late Fifties Hank
attended the Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. Here
he majored in music studying theory and composition, as well as
playing alto and baritone saxophone in the Tennessee State Jazz
Collegians. At college he formed his own group called Little Hank and
the Rhythm Kings. Hank then met Ray Charles and Ray hired Hank
originally as a baritone saxophonist. Hank later became Ray's musical
director up until 1963. He left Ray Charles in 1963 to form his own
ensemble. Signing to Atlantic, he recorded twelve LPs for the label,
many while balancing his earlier duties as Ray’s director.
During the 1970's he recorded several jazz albums with 'I Hear a
Symphony' reaching 11 on Billboard (magazine)'s Jazz albums chart. In
1981, he featured, with fellow horn players Ronnie Cuber and David
Newman, on B. B. King's 'There Must Be a Better World Somewhere'. In
1983 he moved to Milestone Records as an arranger, soloist, and
composer. Then in 1986, he began working with blues-jazz organ master
Jimmy McGriff. In the new millennium Hank released 'The World of Hank
Crawford'. In 2001 he released 'The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy
McGriff', and 'Back' in 2007. Hank is survived by two children,
Michael A. Crawford and Sherri L. Crawford and a grandchild, Tiffany
M. Crawford. (soulwalking)
30th.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT AFRO-POP: 253: WANYIKA
AND SAMBA
1844
Richard Theodore Greener is the first African American to graduate
from Harvard University. (tr-iokts)
1928
Ruth Brown soul
singer born in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. Brown started singing at
an early age in a choir led by her father. In 1948 she was singing in
a band led by her husband Jimmy, when a DJ from the Voice of America
radio, recommended her to Ahmet Ertegun at the newly formed Atlantic
record label. She was hospitalized for nine months after a car crash,
paid for by Atlantic records. She recovered and rewarded them with
her first big hit Teardrops in my eyes (1950). (mn-cl)
1946
Jackie
Ross,
soul singer, born in St. Lois, Missouri, USA. This cool sylish
singer made her debut on Sam Cooks's Sar label in 1962. 'Selfish One'
(1964), was her first hit single for Chess. The daughter of
husband-and-wife preachers, she made her performing debut on her
parents' radio gospel show at the age of three. Following her
father's 1954 death, the family relocated to the Windy City; there
the legendary Sam Cooke, a friend of her mother, recruited Ross for
his SAR label, where she issued her debut single, "Hard
Times," in 1962. Following a stint singing with Syl Johnson's
band, she signed to Chess Records, making her label bow with 1964's
"Selfish One"; the single fell just shy of the ~Billboard
pop Top Ten, and Ross soon issued a follow-up, "I've Got the
Skill," as well as an album, Full Bloom. The superb "Take
Me for a Little While" followed in 1965; unbeknownst to Ross,
however, the same song had been recently recorded by New York singer
Evie Sands as well, and although Sands' version for Blue Cat actually
came first, Chess' marketing muscle nevertheless ensured that their
label's rendition proved more successful. Ross' disgust with the
situation, combined with the negligible royalties she received from
"Selfish One," soon prompted her to exit Chess, and in 1967
she landed at Brunswick; two years later, she moved to Jerry Butler's
Fountain Productions, but failed to recapture her earlier commercial
success. (mn-cl)
1961
Jody Watley,
soul singer with Shalimar born. She started as a dancer on US TV's
Soul Train programme. A string of poppy
dance-soul hits that would chart in America and the U.K. began in
1979 with "Take That to the Bank." Watley would leave the
group in 1982 and eventually move to London, where she recorded some
demos with the Art of Noise. It was during this time that she was
invited by Bob Geldof to appear on the 1986 charity single "Do
They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid. She returned to the U.S.
late in the year and began working on her solo debut. Recorded with
hit producers Bernard Edwards, David Z., Patrick Leonard, and
André Cymone -- who eventually become her husband until 1995,
when the two divorced -- Watley's 1987 self-titled debut became an
instant smash courtesy of its lead single, "Looking for a New
Love," and its catch phrase, "hasta la vista, baby."
Stylish videos accompanied the future hits "Don't You Want
Me" and "Still a Thrill" and would help earn her the
award for Best New Artist at the 30th annual Grammy Awards. Two years
later she would return with the ambitious album Larger Than Life and
the number one hit "Real Love." The album's second single,
"Friends," was an early R&B/hip-hop blend with Eric B.
& Rakim making an appearance. The remix album You Wanna Dance
with Me? surfaced a year later as did the million-selling exercise
video Dance to Fitness. Fashion spreads and an appearance in a Gap ad
campaign were other non-musical activities, all helping to earn her a
spot on People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People list. (mn-jt)
1965
Satchel Paige named all time outstanding
player by the National Baseball Congress.
1974
Robert
John Rollins,
5'9", 14st Essex cricketer born in Painslow, London, England.
County debut: 1992; County cap: 1995. (cm-mn)
1980
Professor
Longhair blues
singer dies, New Orleans, LA., USA. Born Henry Roeland
"Roy" Byrd, December 19, 1918, Bogallusa, La.He was one of
the pioneers of the New Orleans R&B; his "pupils"
included Fats Domino, Huey Smith, Allan Tousaint and Dr. John. Noted
for an unorthodox, even eccentric, piano style that was nothing less
than a spicy rhythmic gumbo of blues, jazz, calypso, ragtime, and
zydeco. (mn-rs)
1982
Lightnin'
Hopkins,
blues legend dies, Houston, Texas, USA. Born Sam Hopkins, March 15,
1912, Centerville, Texas, USA. Hopkins was a Texas blues great whose
career spanned six decades and who, in all probability, made more
recordings than any other blues artist. When performing live he used
wit and comedy and made verses up as he went along. (mn-jt)
31st.
JANUARY
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: AFRO-POP:
254:
LUHYA,
KIKUYU AND JUWATA JAZZ
1914
Jersey Joe Walcott,
heavyweight boxing champion is born. Wins world title July 18, 1951,
KO 7, Ezzard Charles, Pittsburgh. (mn-tr-iokts)
1919
Jack
Roosevelt Robinson,
professional baseball player, first black to play the Major League,
born in Cairo, Ga.
1928
Chuck
Willis,
musician born in Atlanta, Georgia. (Dies April 10, 1958). (mn-jt)
1953
Big
Time Sarah,
blues belter, born, Sarah Streeter, Coldwater, Mississippi, USA. (mn-rs)
1958
Little Richard quit music at the height of
his fame to attend evangelism collage where he stayed for four years. (mn-jt)
1970
Slim
Harpo blues
singer, dies aged 45. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana real name James
Moore, best U.K. hit was Baby Scratch My Back in 1966 on Excello
Records.The eldest in an orphaned family, Moore worked as a
longshoreman and building worker during the late 30s and early 40s.
One of the foremost proponents of post-war rural blues, he began
performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim. He
later accompanied Lightnin' Slim, his brother-in-law, both live and
in the studio, before commencing his own recording career in 1957.
Named "Slim Harpo" by producer Jay Miller, the artist's
solo debut coupled "I'm A King Bee" with "I Got Love
If You Want It". Influenced by Jimmy Reed, he began recording
for Excello and enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles which
combined a drawling vocal with incisive harmonica passages. Among
them were "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), "I Love The
Life I Live", "Buzzin'" (instrumental) and "Little
Queen Bee" (1964). These relaxed, almost lazy, performances,
which featured an understated electric backing, set the tone for
Moore's subsequent work. His warm, languid voice enhanced the sexual
metaphor of "I'm A King Bee", which was later recorded by
the Rolling Stones. The same group also covered the pulsating
"Shake Your Hips", which Harpo first issued in 1966, while
the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds and Them featured versions of his
songs in their early repertoires. Harpo enjoyed a notable US Top 20
pop hit in 1966 with "Baby Scratch My Back" (also a number
1 R&B hit), which revitalized his career. Never a full-time
musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 60s,
although he was a popular figure in the late 60s blues revival, with
appearances at several renowned venues including the Electric Circus
and the Fillmore East; he suffered a fatal heart attack on 31 January
1970. (mn)
1972
Aretha Franklin soul singer attended the funeral of Mahalia Jackson
and sang a memorial to her. (mn-jt)
1976
Buster
Brown,
blues singer/harmonica player dies, Brooklyn, NY, USA. He is known
for his only hit "Fannie Mae", a catchy R&B number No.1
hit recorded for the New York Fire label in 1960. (Born August 11,
1914, Criss, Ga) (mn-rs)
1989
Donnie
Elbert,
soul singer dies. Born 25 May 1936 in New Orleans. His prolific
career began in the 50's with the Vibraharps. His first solo hit was
What Can I Do, released in 1957, but the singer's career was
interrupted by a spell in the US Army. Discharged in 1961, recordings
for Parkway Records and Checker then followed, before Elbert the
labels, Gateway/Upstate, co-founded by Robert Schachner in 1964. His
reputation was secured by "Run Little Girl" and "A
Little Piece Of Leather", compulsive performances highlighting
Elbert's irrepressible falsetto. The latter single became a standard
in UK soul clubs when it was released on the Sue label and on the
strength of this popularity Elbert went to the UK where he married
and settled. The singer pursued his career with several releases,
including an album of Otis Redding cover versions, Tribute To A King.
Elbert returned to the USA in 1970 although his pounding version of
the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go?" (1972) was recorded
in London. A hit on both sides of the Atlantic, it was followed in
1972 by "I Can't Help Myself", another reworking of a Tamla/Motown
Records classic. Elbert's last UK chart entry came with a new, but
inferior, version of "A Little Bit Of Leather" (1972),
although he continued to appear in the US R&B listings up until
1977. Elbert later moved to Canada where he became an A&R
director with PolyGram Records. (mn-cl) Audio Interview in
Mickey Nold archives.
1995 Police
Stopped DJ Motorist 26 Times!
Read the headline in the Voice newspaper. It referred to PCRL's
Cee Jay who had been successful at getting £250 compensation for
wrongful arrest, now four months later he has received another 4
producers - and he's now fed up! (He will later take the chief
constable of the West Midlands Police to Court over this racial
harassment - January 1999. See tomorrow's date. (mn-cj)