1st.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 283: CURTIS
MAYFIELD
(3/6/42- )
1780
Slavery abolished in Pennsylvania,
the American State to do so.
1841
Blanche
K. Bruce,
made a Senator 4/3/1875, born in Farmville, Virginia, USA. (mn-ra)
1864
Rebecca Lee is the first African American to be awarded a medical
degree, New England Female Medical College, MA, USA) (tr-bl)
1914
Ralph Waldo Ellison,
author of the award-winning Invisible Man, born in Oklahoma City, Ok.
1927
Harry
Belafonte,
successful singer/actor/activist and winner of Emmy Awards, is born
in Harlem, New York, USA. Moved to Jamaica at the age of eight,
before returning to USA at the age of 13. After three years in the US
navy, he enrolled in American Negro Theatre Workshop. He later stared
in the films: Bright Road; Carmen Jones; Island In The Sun; and The
World, the Flesh and The Devil. His first American Top 40 hit came
late in 1956 when he took Jamaica Farewell to No. 14 . He was active
in the civil rights movements, a director of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, etc; he produced Lorraine Hansberry's play To
Be Young Gifted and Black in 1969. (dc-bm-mn)
1939
Lee
Gopthal,
reggae promoter born, Constant Spring, Kingston, Jamaica, West
Indies. (mn-cl)
1948
Norman
Connors,
drummer/producer born, Philadelphia, USA. (mn-jmcf)
1992
(In March) In memory of Donald Palmer, 52, south London, stabbed by
two men he found attempting to break into his car. Men taunted
Palmer's wife saying, 'We are the National Front'. George McKay given
life sentence for murder. Wayne McGrath given 3.5 years youth custody
for manslaughter. (mn)
2nd.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 284: THE
MIRACLES
1807
U.S.
Congress declares the importation of slaves illegal as of 1st
January 1808.
1867
The U.S. Congress enacts the charter to establish Howard University,
Washington, D.C.
1922
Eddie
Lockjaw Davis,
jazz sax man born on this day. Dies November 3, 1986. (mn)
1943
George
Benson
jazz guitar/singer born in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, USA.(mn) NOTE
(some text books show 22/3/43)
1948
Larry
Carlton,
member of the the jazz group, The Crusaders is born. (mn-jt)
1955
Bo Diddley record's Bo Diddley/I'm A Man at Universal Recording,
Chicago for Checker records, It becomes a #2 on the Billboard chart
and ranked 8th Most Played on juke boxes. (mn)
1968
Otis
Scores with Posthumous Smash.
'Sittin' in the Dock Of The Bay', topped the Billboard chart and
erned the 26 year-old Otis Redding his first gold record -
posthumously. It had been recorded only three days before he died.
(mn-jt) (posthumous = after death)
1981
Britain witnesses the largest black political demonstration. 15-20,000
black people, under the banner of the New Cross Massacre Action
Committee, on the streets of London. It was in response to the death
of 13 black people in a house fire in Deptford on January 18th,
thought to have been racist, although not proven. (mn)
1984
Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, where Phil Spector created many of
his classic hits, was closed in preparation for demolition. (mn-jt)
1999
[Dusty Springfield,
the UK's greatest white soul singer passes away from breast cancer
aged 59. Her fight for life had started in 1993, she had recently
been given an OBE]. (mn)
3rd.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 285: PIC
& BILL
Martyrs
Day-The Republic of Malawi; National Day in Morocco.
1821
Black
Invention:
dry-scour clothes, Thomas L. Jennings is the first African American
to be granted a patent in the United States, for his technique. (tr-iokts)
1886
Black
Invention: guitar,
Fleming R. F. Jr. patents it.
1938
Willie
Chambers,
singer with The Chambers Brothers born. The bands roots are in
gospel, the Mississippi-bred Chambers Brothers would seen unlikely funk-psychedelic
crossover pioneers, but they provided a reference point for the
crossover groups begining to hit their stide at the time, including
Parliament/Funkadelic and Sly & the Family Stone. They first rose
to fame at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1965. (mn-mcc)
1966
Tone-Loc,
singer/rapper born, Anthony Terrell Smith in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
The first African-American rapper to enter the Billboard pop album
chart, best remembered for his croaky voice on Wild Thing - a
humorous sexcapade built on bare-bones beat and snatches of Van
Halan's Jamie's Cryin' - would prove first a blessing and then a
curse: Loc would never fully escape it's stifling shadow. (mn-gs)
4th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 286: PRINCE
(7/6/1958-
)
[TED
MASSEY BORN
- Part of the PCRL Consortium since 1992]
1932
Zensi
Miriam Makeba,
"Empress of African song," born in Prospect Township,
South Africa. Makeba ranks as South Africa's greatest musical
ambassador. She weathered the death of her father, a bout with breast
cancer, childbirth and the first of five marriages before she turned
twenty. From her start in a church choir, Miriam went on to sing
professionally under the strong influence of her American idols, Ella
Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Biggest hit Pata Pata, in 1960. (mn)
1944
Bobby Womack soul
singer/guitar player is born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Bobby was
there at the beginning, playing guitar for Sam Cooke and recording on
Sam's Sar label with his brothers as the Valentinoes. He has make
some great records and worked with the best over the years, he one of
soul's great survivors, but sadly big-time fame has eluded him. (mn-dp)
1944
Mary
Wilson
soul singer born in Greenville, Mississippi, USA. With the original
Supremes, America's all time best selling female group Mary stayed
with the group from '60-'77. (mn
2010
Ron Banks
singer with the Dramatics dies of heart attack. Ron made a 2 hour
program with Bill Randle for PCRL in the late 90's. (br)
5th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 287:
ROY WILKINS
(1910 - 1981)
1770
Crispus
Attucks
first person killed in the Boston Massacre, thus beginning the
American Revolution. At approximately nine o'clock on this night as a
result of a call for help from a beleaguered British sentry, seven
soldiers representing the might of King George III paraded towards
the Commons with bayonets fixed. Attucks and fifty other men stood at
the head of the street armed with clubs and sticks. As the soldiers
drew near, Attucks yelled, "The way to get rid of these troops
is to attack the main guard." The Americans let loose a shower
of sticks and stones. Suddenly there was a crackle of riffle fire.
Tall, distinguishable by his colour, and in the front ranks Attucks
was the first to fall. (mn-ra)
1920
Leontine
T. C. Kelly born,
first black woman bishop in a major religious denomination in the
U.S. (tr-bl)
1936
Joyce
B. Sullivan-Johnson,
first African-American registered nurse in the Washington D.C.
Superior Court's Occupational Health Unit, is born. (tr-iokts)
1948
Eddie
Grant,
reggae singer and member of 1960s group The Equals born Edward
Monague Grant, Plaisance, Guyana, West Indies. Grant moved to England
in 1960. Over the next few years, he wrote a number of ska songs,
some of which have become classics, including the suggestive hit for
Prince Buster, "Rough Rider". During the late 60s he
enjoyed pop success as part of the Equals, with "Baby Come Back'
topping the UK singles chart. Grant was 24 years old, with several
further Equals hits to his credit, when he left the band to form his
own production company. After producing other acts, he made his own
debut in 1977 with Message Man. It was certainly a solo effort: not
only did he sing and play every note, but it was recorded in his own
studio, the Coach House, and released on his own label, Ice Records.
Grant had developed his own sound - part reggae, part funk, with
strong musical motifs and strong melodies - producing pop with
credibility. More than 10 years after the Equals" first hit,
"Living On The Front Line" (1979) was a UK number 11 hit,
and the now dreadlocked Grant had found himself a whole new audience.
"Do You Feel My Love" and "Can't Get Enough Of
You" kept him in the UK Top 20. In 1982, Grant moved his home
and studio to Barbados, signed Ice Records to RCA Records, and
achieved a memorable UK number 1 hit with "I Don't Wanna
Dance". The following year "Electric Avenue" reached
number 2 on both sides of the Atlantic, and the parent album Killer
On The Rampage proved his biggest seller. The huge hits eluded him
for four years until he stormed back in January 1988 with "Gimme
Hope Jo'anna", as if he had never been away. The dressing of the
anti-apartheid message in the apparent simplicity of a pop song was
typically inspired. In recent years, Grant has continued recording
and writing quality material, but has concentrated his efforts on
building a successful music publishing company and record label in
Barbados. A dance remix of "Electric Avenue" was a huge
club hit in 2001. (mn-jt-music.us)
6th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 288:
WILMA RULDOPH (1940
- )
1857
U.S. Supreme Court rules against citizenship for African Americans
in the Dred Scott decision. (tr-iokts)
1926
Black
invention:
Method and apparatus for setting thermostats, David N. Crosthwaight,
Jr. receives patent.
1933
Lloyd
Price,
R&B singer, born in New Orleans, LA, USA. (mn-kb)
1936
Sylvia
Robinson*,
soul singer with Mickey & Sylvia, born. (mn-jt) (*some books say 29/5)
1944
Mary
Wilson,
soul singer with The Supremes is born. (mn-jt)
1957
Ghana becomes the first African Nation to achieve freedom from
colonial rule. (Independence Day in Ghana)
1995
Delroy
Wilson,
reggae singer dies on this day, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.
Wilson was barely out of his short trousers when he recorded his
debut single for Coxone Dodd's Studio One label. His first hit, Joe
Liges (1963) was writen by Lee Perry. Despite being one of the best
singers Jamaica has produced, Wilson was rarely able to consolidate
the success that came his way; nevertheless, he remained a much-loved
and respected, but sorely under used and, outside reggae circles,
underrated performer. (b. 5/10/1948) (mn-cl)
19--
Flora
Purim,
Jazz singer born on this day. (mn-vibe)
2006
King
Floyd III
soul singer dies from a stroke and complications with diabetes. (mn)
7th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 289:
A.PHILIP RANDOLF (1889-1979)
1539
Estvanico Esteban from Azamov Morocco, explores Arizona & New Mexico.
1917
The first jazz (jass) record was released in the US, 'The Dixie Jass
Band One Step' by Nick La Rocca's Original Dixieland Jass Band. (mn-jt)
1917
Janet
Collins,
prima ballerina and first African American to perform at the
Metropolitan Opera House, is born. (tr-iokts)
1942
Hamilton Bohannon,
soul musician/producer born. (mn-jt)
1942
The first five cadets graduate from the Tuskegee Flying School. They
will become apart of the famous 99th Pursuit Squadron.
1952
Donovan Germaine
top reggae producer and proprietor of the Penthouse recording
studio's, labels like Penthouse and Germaine born. Germaine started
in the business in 1972 when he opened a record shop in New York
where he produced his own work. His Mr. Boss Man was a huge Cultural
Roots underground hit in 1980. (mn-cl-tr)
1952
Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards hailed as the best batsman in the
world, is born in Atiqua.
1965 Five
day March from Selma to Mongomery
by Dr. Martin Luther King and thousands of followers to protest about
blacks voting rights.(stopped by 200 state troopers and later carried
out 21-25 March). (mn)
1987
Oldies Hold Their Own in UK Chart.
Thanks to snippet coverage in ITV commercials, Ben E King's Stand By
Me & When A Man Loves A Woman by Percy Sledge occupied the
respective first and second positions in the UK chart for three whole
weeks, at a point whe in every fourth record in the chart was a
reissue or a revival of an old song.(mn-jt)
8th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 290: BAYNARD
RUSTIN (1910-1987)
1820
Harriet Ross Tubman
is born in Maryland, USA., known as 'Moses of her People' for her
heroic trips the south to free hundreds of slaves.
1845
Woman's rights activist Hallie Quinn Brown is born in Pittsburgh, USA.
1861
El-Hadji Omar, Tukulor conqueror, starts empire with capture of Segu.
1876
After three years of controversy, U.S. Senate refuses to seat P.B.S.
Pinchback, elected as Louisiana senator in 1873. (tr-iokts)
1945
Phyllis Mae Dailey becomes first black nurse in the Navy Nurse Corps.
1971 Joe
Frazier defeats Muhammad Ali, in 'The Fight of the Century'.
1971
Roxanne Shante',
instant insults rapper from Queens, USA, real name Lolita Shante'
Gordon, born today. (mn-ms)
1981
Destany’s Child’s Letoya
Luckett
born. (mn)
1998
Esther Benett
soul singer with Eternal secretly marries a member of Boy Zone group.
On the same day it is announced that Kelly Bryant of this same group
gives bone marrow to help a twelve year old cancer sufferer. (mn)
1998 Stephen
Laurence's Memorial plaque is vandalized.
A plaque marking the place where Stephen was killed by racist thugs
was vandalized by possibly his murderers. (mn)
1998
The drug Peroxia is announced as an aid for Sickle Cell sufferers. (mn)
2012
James
T. Ellis,
who belted out the dance anthem "Disco Inferno" in the
1970s for The Trammps, died Thursday in South Carolina, the funeral
home handling arrangements said. He was 74. Ellis' rich baritone
powered the funky Grammy-winning tune from the "Saturday Night
Fever" album. It is only second to "The Bodyguard" as
the best-selling soundtrack album of all time with sales of 15
million. Despite the success associated with the hit movie, Ellis and
the band couldn't translate it into mainstream appeal, scoring just
three R&B Top 10 hits from 1972 to 1978. But they still commanded
respect in the music community. "But the Trammps' prowess can't
be measured by chart popularity. Ellis' booming, joyous vocals
brilliantly championed the celebratory fervor and atmosphere that
made disco both loved and hated among music fans," the group's
biography on allmusic.com says. The Trammps began in Philadelphia in
1972. Ellis' memorial service is scheduled for March 16 at Central
Church of God in Charlotte, North Carolina. (br-cnn)
9th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 291: CHARLIE
PARKER (1920-1955)
1891
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is
founded in Greensboro, N.C., USA. (tr-iokts)
1933
Lloyd Price,
R&B singer/pianist born in Kenner, Louisiana, USA. (mn)
1945
Laura
Lee Rundless,
soul singer born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. (mn)
1948
Jeffrey
Osbourne soul
singer born in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.(mn)
1961 I
Want A Guy
is the first single issued by The Supremes it's a flop, although as
the Primettes they had released Tears of Sorrow in 1959, by
1965 they are the world's most popular girl group. (mn-dr)
1964
Miriam Mekaba speaks before the U.N. about apartheid system in South Africa.
1968 Senate
passes Civil Rights Bill of 1968,
containing housing and anti-riot measures. (tr-bl)
1997
Christopher
Wallace,
Brooklyn born rap star , a.k.a. Biggie Smalls a.k.a. The Notorious
B.I.G. was shot dead in Los Angeles in a drive-by shooting, his album
due for release in April that year was to be called 'Life after
Death!, he was just 25. Named after a stylish gangster in 1975's
Let's Do it Again and Frank White from the film King of New York, but
best known as The Notorious B.I.G. (Business Instead of Game and,
since his death, Books Instead of Guns), was a popular rapper of the mid-1990s.
His career was overshadowed by the Bad Boy/Death Row Records feud
during his life, but following his untimely death in 1997, The
Notorious B.I.G. has been celebrated as a hip hop legend. He is
remembered for his storytelling ability, talented freestyling
ability, and his easy to understand yet complex flow.There are many
theories as to who is responsible for Wallace's murder. Some believe
that Sean Combs may have ordered it being that rappers are more
profitable while dead than they are while alive being that dead
rappers don't have to be paid. Others believe that the Crip gang may
have shot Wallace in retalliation for Wallace not paying for the
security services they provided at a previous party. There are many
other theories ranging in credibility as well. (mn/wickpedia)
1999
Divided Soul: The story of Marvin Gaye is broadcasted on PCRL, read
by Maxine Jayne and taken from the book by David Ritz. (mn)
10th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 292: MALCOLM
X (1925-1965)
1913
Harriet
Ross Tubman,
leader of the Underground Railroad, dies. In 1892 Harriet Tubman
receives a pension from Congress for her work as a nurse, spy, and
scout during the Civil War. Often called Moses of her People, Tubman
was the best-known African American woman abolitionist. Through the
Underground Railroad she helped 300 slaves escape to freedom. Read
Harriet Tubman: the Moses of her People by Sara Bradford (1869.) (tr-iokts-mm-ss)
1964
Neneh
Cherry,
soul singer born Nenah Mariann Karlsson, Stockholm, Sweden. Daughter
of Swedish artist Moki Cherry and west African percussionist Amadu
Jah, stepdaughter of trumpeter Don Cherry. (mn-dd)
1955
Bunny
De Barge,
member of soul group DeBarge is born. (mn-jt)
1969 James
Earl Ray pleads guilty
to the first degree murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. He is sentenced
to 99 years in prison.
1989
Doc
Green,
singer with The Drifters dies. (mn-jt)
1999
PCRL's Great Negroes Past & Present changes to Black
Heroes Past & Present. Although the series is based on a book
originally written by Russell L. Adams in 1963 with a third edition
in 1984, the term Negro was found to be offensive to some listeners. (mn-dp-cm)
11th.
MARCH
SOUL
ENDS
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 293: JOE
LOIS (1914-1981)
1773
Jean
Baptist Pointe du Sable founds Chicago, USA. (tr-iokts)
194-
Frances
Nero soul
singer born today in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Frances made a special
one hour programme for PCRL in 1995. (ref md:115) (mn-br)
1950
Bobby Mc Ferrin,
jazz singer born on this day. Best remembered for his hit record
"Don't worry, be happy" in 1988. (mn)
1951
Katie
Kissoon,
singer with Mac & Katie Kissoon, born. (mn-jt)
1959
Lorriane Hansberry's 'Raisin in the Sun' becomes the first play to be
written by an African-American woman to open on Broadway.
1971
In memory of Whitney
M. Young, Jr.,
reformer and founder of the National Urban League. Born July 31,
1921. After World War II Young earned a master's degree in social
work with a thesis on the Urban League of St. Paul. This led to
employment with the Urban League of St. Paul and Omaha, Nebraska and
in 1954, to the position of Dean of the Atlanta University Graduate
School of Social Work. Following further study at Harvard University,
he was selected executive director of the League, whose prestige he
lent to the March on Washington (1963), the Salma March (1965) and
the Merideth Mississippi March (1966.) (mn-ss)
1985
The Shoreline - Is broadcasted by CH4 television.
A short drama set in 1941 with Paul Barber as a seaman whose father
came to Liverpool from the African Gold Coast. The script includes
references to black film extras and the 1919 riots. (mn-sb)
12th.
MARCH
GREAT
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACHIEVERS
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 294: VERNON
JORDON (1935-
)
1791
Scientist/inventor Benjamin Banneker with Piere Charles L'enfant, is
commissioned to survey the area that later becomes Washington D.C.
1932
Andrew Young, former ambassador, present mayor of Atlanta, born in
New Orleans, La.
1940
Al Jarreau, soul/jazz singer, born,
Milwaukee, WI, USA. Singing a highly sophisticated form of vocalese,
Jarreau's style displays many influences. Some of these come from
within the world of jazz, notably the work of Jon Hendricks, while
others are external. He customarily uses vocal sounds that include
the clicks of African song and the plosives common in oriental speech
and singing patterns. This range of influences makes him both hard to
classify and more accessible to the wider audience for crossover
music. More commercially successful than most jazz singers, Jarreau's
work in the 70s and 80s consistently appealed to young audiences
attuned to fusions in popular music. By the early 90s, when he was
entering his 50s, his kinship with youth culture had clearly
diminished, but his reputation was by this time firmly
established. (mn-tt/gg-music.us)
1947
Ruby
Andrews,
soul singer born Ruby Stackhouse in Hollandale, Mississippi, USA.
This Chicago singer made her reputation in 1967 with her one
crossover hit, Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over). Popular on UK
Northern Soul scene with
Just Loving You.
(mn-cl)
1955
Charlie
Parker,
jazz saxophonist dies. The most influential jazz musician in history
after Louis Armstrong. He was born in Kansas City. He played alto
saxophone (very occasionally tenor), led his own combo, endlessly and
effortlessly composed every time he played. Nicknamed Yardbird (for
chicken) Bird for short. His greatest recordings are on Savoy &
Dial (now Spotlite). (mn-dc)
1957
Marlon
Jackson,
singer with The Jackson Five born. (mn-jt)
1975
Kelly Bryant of
the soul group Eternal celebrates her birthday. (tx)
1968
Mauritius achieves independence from Great Britain.
2000
PCRL's Father Hovis directs his show to Sandwell Hospital. (His
daughter was in coma)
13th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 295: JESSE
JACKSON
(1941- )
Anniversary
of the revolution in Grenada.
1913
Lightnin' Slim,
blues-man, born, Otis Hicks, St. Louis, Mo, USA. (Dies July 27,
1974, Detroit, Mich., USA. d.
27 July 1974, Detroit, Michigan, USA. It is as a Louisiana blues
stylist that Hicks is best known, having settled in that state in his
early teens. He learned guitar from his father and his brother, and
made a name for himself on the Baton Rouge blues circuit during the
40s. In 1954, he recorded for Jay Miller's Feature label, and began
that producer's long and fruitful relationship with the blues. These
early recordings had a tough, spare sound that helps to place them
alongside the very finest down-home blues of the 50s, and the quality
was largely maintained over much of the next decade, with many
singles leased to Excello Records. His partnership with harmonica
player Lazy Lester was particularly effective and releases such as
"Mean Old Lonesome Train", "Hoodoo Blues" and,
especially, "Rooster Blues', provided him with commercial
success and kept him in demand for tours both locally and further
afield. Many of his releases demonstrate his particular facility for
taking raw material from the work of other popular bluesmen, such as
Muddy Waters and Lightnin" Hopkins, and turning it into
something entirely his own. The relationship with Miller finally came
to an end in 1965, but within a few years, Slim found a wider forum
for his music when he became a regular visitor to Europe. (mn-rs-music.us)
1940
Candi
Staton soul
singer born Canzette Maria Staton in Hanceville, Alabama. (mn-castle)
1959
Ronnie
Rogers
singer with T'Pau born. (mn-jt)
1998
The Police Complaints Authority (PDA) five years after the murder of
Stephen Lawrence by racist thugs (April 1993), recommend that a
senior unnamed officer should be charged with neglect of duty.
Stephen's father say's he will not rest until his killers are locked
up. Only six days earlier a memorial plaque had been vandalized. (mn)
1998
[Judge
Dread collapses
and dies on stage (fatal heart attack). He had large UK success with
his Big 6 recording. Born Alex Hughes in 1945 he found fame in
the lade 60's/early 70's with a string of innuendo-inflated hits. He
was inspired by Prince Buster in name and songs. He was a musical
figurehead to skinheads at the time.] (mn)
14th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 296: ZORA
HURSTON (1903-1960)
1876
Black
Invention:
Improvement in Furniture Casters, David A.Fisher, Jr. (sc)
1889
Menelik becomes ruler of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).
1933
Quincy Delight Jones,
composer, musician and record producer, is born in Chicago. He was
an early friend of Ray Charles and encouraged the blind singer, who
was a similar age to himself. His first hit as a producer was Leslie
Gore's It's My Party when it reached N0.1 in 1963. He's also made
film soundtracks and 250 scores for TV series, most of those being
Ironside. He's also famous for re-launching Michael Jackson's career
with the Off the Wall/Thriller albums from 1977-82. (mn)
1934
Shirley Scott,
jazz keyboards player, born, Philadelphia, USA. She was married
Stanley Turrentine for a while. (mn-cl)
1957
Junior
Brown,
reggae artiste, born in Hammersmith, London, England. (mn-cl)
1972
Linda
Jones,
soul singer dies in New York City, NY, USA. She had been in ill
health most of her life, and recorded some of her greatest records in
much pain. (mn-cl)
1978
Glamma
Kid,
reggae artiste born, Hackney, London, England. (mn-cl)
1990
Big
Twist singer
with the Mellow Fellows dies in Broadview, Ill, USA. (mn-rs)
2001
Police
in Jamaica kill seven youths in one house.
15th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 297:
LOUIS FARRAKHAN (1933-
)
Joseph
J. Roberts, first president of Liberia, born.
1905
Betha
"Chippie" Hill,
blues singer, born. (d.7/5/50) (mn-rs)
1912
Lightnin'
Hopkins,
blues-man, born Centerville, Texas(died Jan 30/82)
1961
In October 1960, the Verwoerd government in South Africa held a
referendum among the White population to proclaim the country as a
republic. The majority voted in favour. The date of the proclamation
of the Republic was set for the fifty-first anniversary of the Union,
31 May 1961. At the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in
London in March 1961, the majority of the Prime Ministers were
against the continued membership of South Africa because of
apartheid. On March 15 Verwoerd informed the Conference that he was
withdrawing South Africa's application to remain a member of the
Commonwealth after it became a Republic. (mn-drum).
1944
Sly
Stone
soul singer/dj born Sylvester Stewart in Dallas, Texas, USA. Fronted
the group Sly & The Family Stone. Best remembered for his 60's hit
Dance To The Music. (mn)
1947
Jean
Carn,
soul singer born Sarah Jean Parker in Columbus, Georgia. (mn)
1962
Terence Trent D'Arby soul
singer born on this day in New York, USA. A former soldier, he first
became involved with the music business while posted in Germany. He
joined a local funk band, Touch, in 1983 he signed to CBS records in
London. His first hit was If you let me stay. (mn)
1964
Rockwell,
soul singer and son of Berry Gordy Jr., born Kennedy Gordy. (mn-jt)
2011
David
Victor Emmanuel dies
(c. 1962 – 15 March 2011), better known as Smiley
Culture,
was an English reggae singer and DJ known for his 'fast chat' style.
During a relatively brief period of fame and success, he produced two
of the most critically acclaimed reggae singles of the 1980s.He died
following a police raid on his home, aged 48. Emmanuel, born and
raised in South London, was the son of a Jamaican father and South
American mother. He was educated at Tulse Hill School. His 'Smiley'
nickname was gained due to his method of chatting up girls at school
– he would ask them for a smile. Prior to his recording career
he worked as a DJ with the Saxon Studio International reggae sound
system, where he met and worked with a number of other reggae
artists, including Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Tippa Irie. Signed to
the London based reggae record label, Fashion Records, his first
single "Cockney Translation" (1984) was a Jamaican's guide
to the East End dialect – "Cockneys have names like Terry,
Arfur and Del Boy/We have names like Winston, Lloyd and Leroy."
Simon Reynolds has often cited this song in his writings, arguing
that it presaged the creation of a new hybrid accent in which white
East Londoners would adopt many terms of black origin. The song's
lyric was later used in schools as an example of how immigration has
affected the English language. Smiley Culture popularized the 'fast
chat' style of deejaying that had originated with Jamaican deejays
such as Ranking Joe, and was developed further by British toasters,
particularly those on the Saxon sound system such as Peter King.
Emmanuel had chart success with his next single, "Police
Officer", released towards the end of 1984. This was the
supposedly autobiographical tale of how Emmanuel was arrested for the
possession of cannabis, but then let off when the police officer
recognised him as a famous reggae artist. In spite of the subject
matter – and possibly because mid 1980s radio station bosses in
the UK did not understand the terms 'ganja' and 'sensimilla' –
the single was a Top 20 hit and earned Emmanuel two appearances on
BBC Television's flagship music programme, Top of the Pops. The
record, although humorous, did have a serious aspect, in that it
highlighted the way black people often feel they are unfairly treated
by the police. He recorded a session for Janice Long's BBC Radio 1
show in December 1984, and was featured on the covers of
Echoes, Record Mirror, and the NME in early 1985. The success of
"Police Officer" prompted a re-release of "Cockney
Translation". It picked up considerable airplay on BBC Radio One
but only reached the lower end of the UK Singles Chart, selling over
40,000 copies in total. His success led to an appearance at the
Reggae Sunsplash festival in Jamaica in 1985. After this he signed to
major label Polydor, but his work for them – including the album
Tongue in Cheek, and the accompanying single "Schooltime
Chronicle" – did not replicate the chart success of
"Police Officer". He also hosted the Channel 4 television
show Club Mix in 1986 and 1987. In 1986, Emmanuel enjoyed a brief
flirtation with the cinema when he made a cameo appearance in the
film, Absolute Beginners. On 28 September 2010 he was charged, at
Croydon magistrates court in London, with conspiracy to supply
cocaine. On 15 March 2011, Emmanuel died of a stab wound during a
police raid on his house in Warlingham, Surrey. (pilot/wikipedia)
16th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 298: BILL
COSBY
(1937- )
1827
John B. Russwurm founded The first black paper, Freedom's
Journal, he was a native of Jamaica (1799-1851). (mn)
1909
Son
Bonds,
country blues guitarist, born, Brownville Son Bonds, Brownville,
Tenn, USA. (Died August 31, 1947, Dyersburg, Tenn, USA). (mn-rs)
1970
Tammi
Terrell soul
singer dies from a brain tumour. She had collapsed on stage into the
arms of Marvin Gaye in 1968, she was just 24 years old!. Born Tammi
Montgomery in Philadelphia in 1946 she had 6 hit records with Marvin
Gaye between 1968-69 on Motown records. (mn)
1959?
Flavor
Flav rapper
with Public Enemy born William Drayton in Roosevelt, Long Island,
USA. (mn-ms)
1965
Byron
Stingily,
soul singer with Ten City is norn. (mn-jt)
1975
T-Bone
Walker,
blues man dies. Real name Arron Thibeaux Walker. Guitarist singer
and songwriter born 1910 and died in California. A teenage friend was
Charlie Christian. Walker had a great influence in the blues as
Christian had in Jazz. He was responsible for a generation taking up
the guitar. After his win in a Cab Callaway amateur contest in 1930
he toured heavily and worked hard the rest of his life. He wrote the
popular song Stormy Monday. (mn-dc-jt)
1996
Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno boxing bout fetches the biggest purse
ever $30 million. Evander Holifield fight Nov.9 is the same fee! (mn-ring)
2003
Kenny
Sinclair,
singer with the Olympics & Doo-wop Elgins dies. (basement)
2005
Justin
Hinds,
reggae dies. Born in 1942 in Sheertown, St. Ann, Jamaica. With the
Dominoes he first made a name for himself in the 6t’s on Duke
Reeds Tresure Isle label. Hits included King Samuel, The Higher The
Monkey Climb, Out Of The Flying Pan and Baddaration. But it was his
Rocksteady era that Hinds and his partners cut their best known tune,
Carry Go Bring Come. He had been quieter more recently though he
toured Europe as recently as January. (echoes)
17th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 299: WILT
CHAMBERLAIN (1936-
)
GYPSY
-
PCRL PRESENTER'S BIRTHDAY
1806
Black
Invention: sugar
refining methods, Inventor Norbert Rilliex receives his patent.
1885
Black
Invention: Automatic
Stop Plug for gas and Oil Pipes, William Fosgrove. (sc)
1890
Black
Invention:
Street-Sweeper, Charles B. Brooks. (sc)
1933
Unita
Blackwell born.
(tr-bl)
1933
Myrlie
Evers,
Commissioner of Public Works in Los Angeles in 1987, the first
African American woman to achieve this, born in Vicksburg,
Mississippi, USA. (tr-ml)
1939
Clarence Collins,
member of soul group Little Anthony & The Imperials is born. (mn-jt)
1917
Nat
King Cole,
singer Nathaniel Adams Coles is born in Montgomery, USA. Highly
influential jazz pianist, Cole was the first African-American male to
attain mainstream acceptance as a popular singer and the first negro
to host his own TV show. Had many hit records. His daughter Natalie
is also a successful singer.(d.15/2/65). (mn-ss)
1947
John Lee becomes the first African American commissioned officer in
the U.S. Navy. (tr-iokts)
1946
Harold
Brown,
member of the soul group War is born. (mn-jt)
1949
Bertha
Knox Gilkey
born. (tr-bl)
1959
Gypsy PCRL presenter born today. (mn-anna)
18th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 300: RALPH BUNCHE (1904-1971)
1806
Norbert
Rillieux,
inventor of the sugar refining process, born in New Orleans, La.
1809
Gabriel de la Concepc'ion Valdes (Pla'cido),
poet, is born in Havana, Cuba.
1894
Butch
Cage,
musician, born James Cage, Hamburg, Mississippi, USA. He was a
Louisiana fiddle player whose style dated back to the pre-blues days
of the nineteenth century whan black string bands played country
dances and socials. (Dies c. 1975, Zackery, La,. USA). (mn-rs)
1901 Willian
H. Johnson,
premier painter, is born in Florence, S.C.USA. (tr-iokts)
1938
Charley
Pride,
country music singer. Born in Sledge, Ms, USA. (mn-jt) 1938
Kenny Lynch, soul singer/songwriter born in London. Wrote hits for
Dusty Springfield, Drifters and Cilla Black. (mn)
1941
Wilson
Pickett,
soul singer with Falcons, later solo singer, born in Prattville,
Alabama, USA. Dies in January 2006. (mn)
1958
Irene
Cara,
singer/actor born. Remembered for her part in the 80's television
programme Fame, all about a school of music. (mn-jt)
1963
Vanessa
Williams
singer born on this day in Tarrytown NY, USA. (cl)
1964
Courtney
Pine
U.K. jazz saxophonist born on this day. (mn-tx)
1970
Queen
Latifah,
real name Dana Owens, rapper/actress from East Orange, New Jersey,
USA, born on this day. (mn-tx)
1982 Paralysed
Pendagrass.
32-year old soul singer Teddy Pendergrass was paralyzed from the neck
down as a result of his Rolls-Royce swerving across the street in his
native Philadelphia, and going into a skid in attempts to avoid a
collision with another vehicle. (mn-jt)
2009
Eddie
Bo
dies.b. Eddie Bo (Edwin Joseph Bocage) (aka Spider Bocage), 20th
September 1930, New Orleans, Los Angeles, U.S.A. d. 18th March 2009,
New Orleans, Los Angeles, U.S.A. Singer and pianist, Eddie Bo has
died. He was 78. Eddie suffered a sudden heart attack. An
accomplished songwriter, Eddie Bo penned 'I'm Wise', which was made
famous by Little Richard when renamed and released in 1956 as
'Slippin' and Slidin'. He also wrote the 1960 Etta James hit 'My
Dearest Darling', along with his own New Orleans funk compositions,
'Hook & Sling', 'Check Your Bucket' and 'Check Mr Popeye'. Eddie
Bo led The Spider Bocage Orchestra and worked with The Dirty Dozen
Brass Band, Willy DeVille, The Louisiana Legends, The District Court
and The Hoodoo Kings. He produced and/or arranged records for Art
Neville, The Vibrettes, Chris Kenner, The Explosions, Chuck Carbo,
Irma Thomas, Johnny Adams, Robert Parker and Mary Jane Hooper. Born
Edwin Joseph Bocage, Eddie grew up in Algiers and the 9th Ward of New
Orleans. His first released record was in 1955 for Johnny
Vincent’s Ace Records. In 1961, Eddie recorded 'Check Mr
Popeye'. In 1969, he penned and sang 'Hook and Sling', for Scram
Records, which reached No. 13 on the R&B charts in that year. The
next year saw another hit with 'Check Your Bucket' on his own
Bo-Sound imprint. In the 1970's Eddie, absorbed in the renovation
business, disappeared from the music scene, but re-appeared at the
end of the decade with two albums, 'Another Side of Eddie Bo' and
'Watch for the Coming,' which he produced himself. In the new
millennium Eddie bought a doctor's office and salon on Banks Street
which he and his sister converted into an eatery for Bo’s fans
called 'Check Your Bucket' after his 1970 hit. Eddie's home and
studio were hit by Hurricane Katrina while Bo was on tour in Paris. A
skilled carpenter and bricklayer he took on the task of completing
the hurricane damage repairs himself. Eddie Bo won many music awards
including two Lifetime Achievement awards from the South Louisiana
Music Association and Music/Offbeat Best of the Beat and was named
New Orleans' music ambassador to Pakistan. (soulwalking)
19th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 301: HANK
AARON (1935-
)
1872
Black
Invention: apparatus
for detaching horses from carriages, T.J. Boyd inventor is awarded patent.
1894
Moms
Mabeley,
comedian born Loretta Mary Aiken. Dies 23/5/75. (mn-jt)
1928
Clarence Paul,
record producer, born Clarence Pauling in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina, USA. (mn-cl)
1930
Ornette
Coleman,
jazz musician born today in Fort Worth, Texas. He turned the jazz
world on its ear in the late fifties and early sixties with his
plastic alto saxophone and his radically simple idea that jazz
improvisation did not require any fixed harmonic or rhythmic patterns
at all . (mn-jt)
1937
Clarence
'Frogman' Henry
born in Algiers, Louisiana, USA. (mn-cl)
1938
Walter
Jackson,
soul singer born in Pensacola, Florida. He began his singing career
in nightclubs before producer Carl Davis took him to the Okeh label
in the mid-60's. He stayed there six years. Later recorded with
Brunswick, Epic, Cotillion, Wand and Chi-Sound. He suffered from
Polio all his life. Dies June 20/83. (mn-jt-rt)
1945
John
Wakefield Holder,
cricket umpire, played for Hampshire, born in Barbados. Tests
umpired: 10; One Day Internationals umpired: 14, County debut: 1968.
One of only two black umpires, the other being Vanburn Holder. (cm-mn)
1946
Ruth
Pointer of
the soul group The Pointer Sisters is born. (mn-jt)
1975 The
Fight Against Slavery
- Is broadcasted by BBC2 and is the third and last television series
acknowledging pre-1950 black people in Britain to be shown in this
decade, there was none in the previous two! A six part series
written and introduced by Evan Jones. Jones was the UK's first black
writer for television - the first use of his writing came with In A
Backward Country, shown on 30.12.58 by the BBC. (no copy exists) (mn-sb)
1996 Nelson
Mandela gets a divorce from Winnie. (mn)
2007
Luther
Ingrum
dies. b. Luther Thomas Ingram, 30th November 1937, Jackson,
Tennessee, U.S.A. Dies, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., after years of
kidney troubles and ill health, at the age of 69.Luther Thomas
Ingram's professional career began in New York with work for
producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Several singles followed,
including 'I Spy For The FBI', which was a version of Jamo Thomas's
1966 hit version.Luther then signed to HIB Records for 'Exus Trek /
If It's All The Same To You' before moving on to Koko Records, an
independent label later marketed by Stax and owned by his manager and
producer, Johnny Baylor. Here, alongside Mack Rice, he participated
on songwriting chores including 'Respect Yourself' for the Staple
Singers. Luther was also releasing his own material with a great deal
of success on the R & B charts. He was, for a time, a member of
the group, The Gardenias. In 1972, he released a recording of the
classic Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson and Carl Hampton song, '(If
Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right'. Produced by Johnny
Baylor, the song reached number one on Billboard magazine's R & B
chart, and peaked at number three on that publication's Hot 100 chart
in 1972. It was was later recorded by Rod Stewart, Millie Jackson and
Barbara Mandrell. The song went on to sell over a million copies and
reached number 3 in the U.S. pop charts. Luther's next release, 'I'll
Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm)', then followed. His label, Koko
struggled with financial problems. It took 8 years before Luther
returned to the R & B chart in 1986 with 'Baby Don't Go Too Far'.
In 2001, Luther Ingram began battling kidney disease. Various soul
artists performed benefit concerts to help offset his medical
expenses. (mn-soulwalking)
20th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 302: LAUREL
AITKEN
(1928- )
1852
Uncle Tom's Cabin an anti-slavery novel by [Harriet Beecher Stowe]
published. (mn-tx)
1883
Black Invention:
shoe-lasting machine, Jan E. Matzeliger a native of Suriname receives
his patent.
1949
Marcia
Ball,
keyboard/R&B singer, born, Orange, Texas, USA. (mn-rs)
1957
Spike
Lee (Shelton
Jackson), director and actor is born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Born
to a middle-class family, like his father and grandmother before him
attended Morehouse College in Atlanta. Films include She's Gotta Have
It (1985), School Daze (1988), Do The Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better
Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991) and Malcolm X in 1992. (mn-ss)
1980
[Pirate Radio Caroline's ship 'Mi Amigo' sank off the Kent coast in a
storm after 14 years broadcasting]. (mn-tx)
21st.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 303: ROLAND
ALFONZO (C.1930'S)
1788
Olaudah Equiano (aka Gustavus Vassa) petitions the Queen Of England
on the freedom of slaves, one year later publishes a best selling
book on his life as a slave (eight editions in 5 years!). (mn-ra)
1894
Bo
Carter,
ribald blues singer born (rs)
1916
Choker
Campbell,
saxman/bandleader, born in Shelby, Mississippi, USA. He led the first
of Motown's road bands that accompanied the labels act's on tour.
(dies 20 July, 1993)
1930
Otis
Spann,
blues man, born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. Spann was a legend in
his own liftime, he died in Chicago from cancer in 1970. He was also
a house pianist for Chess Records. (dies April 25, 1970, Chicago,
Ill., USA). (mn-jt-dc)
1945
Rose Stone,
from soul band, Sly & The Family Stone, born. (mn-jt)
1945
Rose
Banks,
soul singer born Rosemary Stewart in Dallas, Texas, USA. AKA Rose
Stone. (mn-cl)
1960 Sharpville
Massacre in South Africa.
72 freedom fighters protesting apartheid killed (most of them shot in
the back!, 185 injured), at Sharpville, South Africa. - "For
many months the Pan-Africanise leaders in South Africa had planned a
violent campaign against the pass laws. We were inspired in this
campaign by our brilliant leader, Mangaliso Sobukwe. Our plan of
action was that we would deliberately leave our pass books at home,
and march in our thousands to the police stations to demand arrest.
We would ask no bail, pay no fine. The national working committee
finally decided the date of action" - Philip Kgosana. (mn-drum).
1965
Martin Luther King Jr. leads thousands of marchers
from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to dramatize denial of voting
rights to African Americans. (tr-iokts)
1966
Nyahbinghi Iladays. Emperor Haile Selassie I, visits Jamaica and
other Carribean nations. (the sealing of Ras Tafari and reconnition
of Ras Tafari children). (tr)
1971
Don
Drummond,
reggae trombonist and member of Skatalites dies. Born in 1933 in
Kingston, Jamaica. Led a troubled life and in 1965 he stabbed to
death his girlfriend and then gave himself up to be institutionalized
until his death. (mn-jt) Another reference gives date of death as 6/5/69.
1986 Debi
Thomas wins the Word Figure Skating Championship.
2011
Loleatta
Holloway,
the soul singer best known for her 1980 hit "Love
Sensation," has died at the age of 64. Her manager Ron
Richardson confirmed that Holloway passed away following a brief
illness. Born in Chicago in 1946, Holloway began singing in gospel
groups like the Holloway Community Singers and the Caravans before
signing to Aware Records and releasing her debut album,
"Loleatta," in 1973. In the second half of the 70s,
Holloway recorded hit disco singles like "Only You,"
"Hit and Run" and "Catch Me on the Rebound,"
while her most memorable single, "Love Sensation," hit No.
1 on the Dance/Club Play Songs chart in 1980.The singer's vocals were
used on Black Box's 1989 hit "Ride on Time," and she was
featured on Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch's 1991 Hot 100 No. 1
"Good Vibrations." Holloway returned to the top of the
Dance/Club Play Songs chart twice following the success of "Love
Sensation": in 1998 as a guest on Fire Island's "Shout to
the Top," and with her own "Dreamin'" in 2000. (steve williams/billboard)
2011
"Pinetop"
Perkins
dies. (b. Joseph William Perkins, 7th July 1913, Belzoni,
Mississippi, U.S.A., d. 21st March 2011, Austin, Texas, U.S). A Blues
Hall Of Fame Inductee. Singer and pianist who collaborated with
Robert Nighthawk, Earl Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Hubert Sumlin,
Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith and Muddy Waters. (mn)
22nd.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 304: PRINCE
BUSTER (1938-
)
1492
Alonzo Pietro, explorer sets sail with Christopher Columbus.
1932
Juke
Boy Bonner,
multi-instrumentalist, born Weldon Bonner, Memphis, Tenn, USA. (Dies
June 28, 1978, Houston Texas, USA). (mn-rs)
1943
George
Benson,
soul singer and guitarist born in Pennsylvania. He began learning
the guitar at the age of eight. Having moved to New York, he earned
respect from fellow musicians during the Sixties and early Seventies
with his jazz flavoured guitar work. He was influenced by Wes
Montomery and worked with Jack McDuff. His first hit record was
Supership in 1975. He is a true great jazz-man. (mn)
1945
Chuck
Jackson,
singer with The Independents born Greenville South Carolina. USA.
One time director at Playboy magazine and also found time to write
sermons occasionally for his brother, the civil rights leader and
politician, the Reverend Jesse Jackson. He worked as a songwriter
with Mavin Yancy for Jerry Butler's writers workshop.(cl)
1956
King
Freed.
The Rev Martin Luther king, walks free from a courtroom in
Montgomery. The civil rights leader had been found guilty of trying
to mount a bus boycott to end segregation on busses, but the judge
suspended his $500 fine and let him go. (mn-e-mail)
1957
Stephanie
Mills,
soul singer born, Brooklyn, NY, USA. Stared in the Broadway show
Maggie Flynn at the age of 9. Won the Apollo Theatre amateur night 6
times time in a row. Then Toured with the Isley Brothers. Then stared
as Dorothy in the Broadway show The Whiz. She's had consistent minor
chart success over the years. (mn)
1973
Beverly
Knight (uk
singer) (born Beverly Ann Smith) in Wolverhampton. (nationmaster)
1981
Jamelia (Davis)
(uk singer) born. (nationmaster)
1998
George
Howard,
Philadelphian saxman dies after suffering from lymphoma for several
months. He was 41 years old. Howard got his first break touring with
Grover Washington Jr., in the eighties and began recording his own
stuff in '82 when Asphalt Jungle was released. He recorded several
albums for GRP Records, his biggest hit probably Dancing in the sun. (mn-echoes)
2007
Stamps featuring Ignatius Sancho and Olaudah Equiano were issued by
the Royal Mail to mark the law passed in March 1807 making slavery
illegal. The set of six stamps include six individuals associated
with the abolition movement. The other abolitionists featured are
Thomas Clark, Granville Sharp, Hannah More and William Wilberforce.
Igantius Sancho was born into slavery in 1729 on a slave ship near
West Africa that was heading for the West Indies. Eventually he was
brought to Britain at a time when rich individuals found it
fashionable to have slaves working as domestics in their household.
Sancho endured the harsh realities of life as a black servant but was
spotted by the Duke of Montagu to whom he eventually sought refuge.
As a butler in the Montagu household he was able to study, read and
write poetry, prose and music. He eventually married a black woman
from the Caribbean, Anne Osborne and bought a small grocery shop with
money left to him by the Duke. Sancho rose to fame for letters he
wrote supporting the abolition movement and condemning the slave
trade. In addition to being an avid letter-writer he also composed
music. His biography was written by Joseph Jekyll in 1782. The image
of Sancho on the Royal Mail stamp is of a portrait by Thomas
Gainsborough painted in 1768. The stamps were designed by Howard
Brown, a graphic designer based in Yorkshire. Sancho will feature on
a stamp priced at 72p. Olaudah Equiano, who was also born into
slavery served as slave to a captain in the Royal Navy and later to a
Quaker merchant. He eventually saved up enough to buy his freedom.
When he came to London he became involved in the abolition movement
and later published his autobiography: Interesting Narrative of the
Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa the African in 1789 .
Although the Bill abolishing the slave trade received Royal assent in
1807, it was another 26 years before the Slavery Abolition Act was
passed ending slavery in the Caribbean colonies. For slaves born in
the year 1807 there was no freedom for them until they reached 30,
which was a terrible injustice. Furthermore whilst slave owners were
compensated to the tune of £20 million, the victims of slavery
received not one penny. (black britain)
23rd.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 305: JIMMY
CLIFF
(1948- )
1916
Marcus
Mosiah Garvey arrives in America from Jamaica. Within
5 years he had recruited more than 1 million members.
1918
Granville
H. 'Sticks' McGhee is
born, Knoxville Tenn., USA. (Dies August 15, 1961, New York, NY,
USA). (mn-rs)
1953
Chaka
Khan soul
singer born Yvette Marie Stevens at the Great Lakes Naval Training
Station, Illinois, USA. Sang in Lyfe, Lock And Chains and Baby Huey
And The Babysitters before Ask Rufus, who were remnants of American
Breed. Later solo success followed 'I'm Every Woman ' in particular'. (mn)
1978
Bill
Kenny,
singer with The Inkspots dies. The group originally formed in New
York in 1935. They started life as The Percolating Puppies, but soon
realized that such a silly name would be a handicap if their career
was to progress. In 1939 they achieved major disc success with I
Didn't Care. This introduced the world to there pioneering vocal
style. (mn-bmcd)
1980
Jacob
'killer' Miller,
reggae singer with Inner Circle dies. Dies in a car accident along
Hope Road, J.A. Born in Mandeville in May 1954. Best remembered for
Tenement Yard, Baby I Love You So, and Tired fe lick weed in a bush. (cd-liner-jah-b)
1985
Patricia
Roberts Harris,
Cabinet member and ambassador, dies.(tr-iokts)
1992
Janet Jacks Up Virgin Advance.
After prolonged negotiation, Janet, the youngest of Michael Jackson's
nine siblings, landed a $16,000,000 contract with Virgin Records for
three albums.
24th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 306: DESMOND DECKER
(1942- )
1837
Canada
gives blacks the right to vote.
1912
Dorothy
Irene Height,
family/woman's rights advocate, born. (tr-iokts)
1937
Billy
Stewart soul
singer is born in Washington, D.C., USA. He sang in the Rainbows
with Marvin Gaye/Don Covay due to his weight he was known as the 'fat
boy', from the mid-50's to the mid-60's only one UK hit 'Summertime.'
(d.18/1/70). (mn)
1938
Don Covay,
soul singer/writer, born, Orangeburg, SC, USA. The son of a Baptist
preacher. His family had a gospel group the Cherry-Keys, with whom
Don sang soon as he was old enough. He grew up in Washington where in
the 50's he joined vocal group the Rainbows with Marvin Gaye, John
Barry, and Billy Stewart. He also performed live with Little Richard,
who recorded Don as 'Pretty Boy' on the Atlantic release 'Bip Bop
Bip'. In 1960 he had some solo success with Pony Time (written by Don
& John Barry) on the Arnold label, though it was Chubby Checker
who took it to N0.1 a dance craze in 1961. (mn-rt)
1961
Cardigan Adolphus Connor,
5'10", 12.8 Hampshire cricketer is born, West End, Anguila.
County debut: 1984; County cap: 1988; 50 wickets in a season: 5. (cm-mn)
1969
Joseph Kasavubu,
former president of the Congo dies.
2008
Uriel
Jones
dies. Motown drummer. b. 13th June 1934, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. d.
24th March 2009, Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center, Dearborn,
Michigan, U.S.A. The Funk Brothers drummer, Uriel Jones, died in a
Michigan hospital on Tuesday the 24th of March 2009. Uriel had
suffered complications from a heart attack. He was 74. The Funk
Brothers have become a little better known, in recent years, as the
in-house Motown group of session players. Uriel was the last
surviving drummer from the Funk Brothers. He was taken ill in
mid-February, had shown signs of improvement, but had a relapse. He
passed away at the Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn.
Uriel was key to many of the driving Motown Funk rhythms inspired by
the late Norman Whitfield, at the label. His versatility allowed him
to beat out the Whitfield sound, whilst incorporating a gentler
technique in other Motown recordings, epitomised by songs such as
'The Tracks of My Tears', by The Miracles, and 'What Becomes of the
Brokenhearted', by Jimmy Ruffin. Uriel Jones joined Motown in 1964
after touring with Marvin Gaye. With Marvin, he provided the rhythm
for the songs, 'Ain't That Peculiar', 'I Heard it Through the
Grapevine' and 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. Of the three in house
drummers, Motown arranger Paul Riser once said 'He had a mixed feel
and did a lot of different things well'. Benny Benjamin was Motown's
main drummer, however Uriel and Richard 'Pistol' Allen were more pro-actively
used during Benny Benjamin's time spent fighting drug addiction.
Benny Benjamin died in 1969. 'Pistol' Allen succumbed to cancer in
2002, shortly after completing production on the Funk Brothers
documentary 'Standing in the Shadows of Motown'. The biographical
movie saw the light of day in 2003, and gave well deserved props to
Motown's forgotten session musicians. The Funk Brothers toured the
world (coming to the U.K. in 2004) and won two Grammy awards. While
Motown recordings utilized many musicians, the film focused on 13
players, of whom five had already passed. Four Funk Brothers are
alive (and still performing) thesedays. Uriel Jones is survived by
his wife, June, and three children. (soulwalking)
25th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 307: CLEMENT
'COXONE' DODD (193?-
)
1807
African
slave trade in British Colonies abolished.
2007 saw the 200 anniversary of the law that took some 7 years to
take effect. British TV ran a few poor documentary programmes to mark
the event and six stamps depicting William Wilberforce, Olaudah
Equiano, Granville Sharpe, Thomas Clarkson, Hannah More &
Ignatious Santcho were issued the same month. (mn-cb)
1887
Samori, builder of the Wasulu Empire, signs the Treaty of Bisnadugu
with the French. (tr-iokts)
1931
Ida
B. Wells-Barnett,
journalist, anti-lynching activist, and founding member of the
NAACP, dies in Chicago, Ill, USA. Born 1862, Ida B. Wells, reformer
who gathered the first statistical records on lynching in the U.S.
After emancipation she attended Rust Collage and was fired in 1891
from her teaching post in Memphis, Tennessee, due to her outspoken
criticism of segregation in the schools. She became editor and
part-owner of a Memphis newspaper, for which she wrote anti-lynching
articles. She moved to the Northwest when her writing work provoked
threats and continued as a strong anti-lynching activist. She was
secretary of the National Afro-American Council from 1898-1902 and
one of the founders of the Natonal Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (1910).(mn-ss-tr-iokts)
1933
Tommy Tucker soul
singer born Robert Higginbotham in Springfield, Ohio, USA. Renowned
R&B performer, recommended album listening Hi Heel Sneakers and
Long Tall Shorty (Checker 1964). Died from poisoning 22 January,
1982. (mn-cl)
1942
Aretha Franklin
'The Queen of Soul' is born in Memphis. Aretha is the daughter of the
crusading Baptist preacher, the Rev. C.L. Franklin, himself a regular
recorder of harmonising LP's. He gave her much encouragement in her
formative musical years, as did several gospel singers who were
regular visitors of the family household. Sam Cooke in particular,
persuaded Aretha to follow his switch from gospel to secular R&B
music. First chart success came in 1961 with Rock-A-Bye Your Baby
with a Dixie Melody. But Atlantics Jerry Wexler persuaded her
to join his company. Together they made an astounding string of
classics during the late 60's, that not only defined soul music but
gave her the Queen Of Soul tag she carried for the rest of her life.
She now lives in Detroit. (mn-BmcD)
1951
Maizie
Williams,
singer with Eurodisco group Boney M, born in Montserrat. They had a
big hit with a Jamaican nursery rhythm Brown Girl In The Ring. (mn-jt)
1974
Finley
Quayle,
reggae singer born, Edinburgh, Scotland. From a musical family
Qualle was raised in Manchester and on leaving school returned to
Edinburgh. First gig was at the Malcolm X centre in Bristol where he
supported Luciano. Success came when he was voted Best Male Singer in
the 1998 BRIT awards. (mn-cl)
2003
Brandi
Wells
soul singer dies in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Born in Philly in 1955)
2007
Ms Dynamite presents a BBC2 program about Nanny of the Maroons, a
Jamaican folk hero on the 200 anniversary of the abolition of
slavery. (mn)
26th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 308: ALTON
ELLIS (1944-
)
In
memory of Augusta Savage, sculptor (1900-1962).
1872
Black Invention:
Fire extinguisher Thomas J. Martin patents one.
1916
Rufus
Thomas soul
singer/dancer/entertainer born in Cayce, Mississippi, USA. In 1996
Rufus recorded a one hour program for Pcrl in his 80th year! Dies
15/12/01 (ref: MD 101). (mn-br)
1918
Andy Hamilton
is a Jamaican-born British jazz saxophonist and composer. Hamilton
was born in Port Maria, Jamaica, and learnt to play saxophone on a
bamboo instrument. he formed his first band at the age of eighteen,
influenced by American musicians such as Duke Ellington and Count
Basie and by the Kingston-based bands of Redver Cook and Roy Coburn.
He spent some time in the U.S., working as a cook and farm labourer,
but also having short jazz residencies in Buffalo and Syracuse, New
York. After returning to Jamaica, he worked as musical arranger for
Errol Flynn on his yacht the Zaka. Hamilton emigrated to the UK in
1949, living and working in Birmingham. His day job was in a factory,
while at night he played jazz — with his own group, the Blue
Notes, with visiting musicians such as Art Farmer and David Murray,
and with his sons Graeme and Mark (trumpet and saxophones
respectively). At the age of seventy-three, Hamilton made his first
album as leader, Silvershine on World Circuit Records; it became the
biggest selling UK Jazz Album of the Year, The Times Jazz Album of
the Year, and one of the fifty Sony Recordings of the Year. It was
followed three years later in 1994 by a live album, Jamaica at Night.
He continues to play regularly at the Bearwood Corks Club in
Birmingham, appears on albums from World Circuit as guest musician,
and is working on a new album of his own compositions. In 1996
Hamilton was awarded an Honorary Master of Arts degree by Birmingham
University, and in 1999 he received a Millennium Fellowship for his
work in Community Education (which has involved the establishment of
The Ladywood Community School of Music, supported by the Millennium
Commission). (wickpedia)
1936
Fred
Paris,
singer with Five Satins is born. (mn-jt)
1944
Diana
Ross
born Diane Earle on this day in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Ross was 20
when she rose to stardom as lead singer with the Supremes: with their
12 US No.1 singles the Motown vocal trio were America's hottest act
of the 60's. (mn-tx)
1950
Teddy
Thoedore Pendergarass soul
singer with Harold Melvin & Bluenotes and later solo, born on
this day in Philadelphia, USA. In 1982 he had a near-fatal car
accident which has left him in a wheelchair. (mn)
27th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 309: GREGARY
ISAACS
(1950- )
REBEL
D -
PCRL PRESENTER BORN TODAY
1905
Leroy
Carr,
blues pianist, born. (d. april 1935) (mn-rs)
1924
Sarah
Vaughan,
singer The Divine One, is born today in Newark New Jersey, USA.
(d.1990) (mn-vibe-iokts)
1932
Little
Junior Parker,
blues man born Herman Parker. (mn-jt)
1934
Arthur Mitchell,
born, founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City.
1935
Ramsey
Lewis,
soul/jazz pianist is born. (other ref: 27.5.35)(mn-jt)
1937
Johnny Copeland,
guitarist/singer, born, Haynesville, La., USA (mn-rs)
1941
Bunny
Sigler,
singer with the Opals and later solo/songwriter born in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA. (mn-cl)
1959
Little
Willie John ,
soul singer dies. Much loved by singer James Brown, so much so that
he recorded an album of his songs and dedicated it to his memory.
(some books say 26/5/68). (mn-jt)
1970
Mariah
Carey,
soul singer, born, Long Island, NY, USA. (mn-ed)
1972
Jimmy
Floyd Hasselbaink,
5'11", 13.4 footballer born in Surinam. International Honours:
Holland: 4. (bh-mn)
1984
Ahmed
Sekou Toure,
president of Guinea, dies. (tr-iokts)
1997
Harold
Melvin
dies. Born in Philadelphia in 1942, Harold was the binding force
behind Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, although the lead singer on
most of the hits was Teddy Pendergrass who was later replaced by
David Evo. (mn)
2006
Terry Stanton of the Dazz Band is shot three times in the head and
his body was then set on fire - a victim of black on black violence. (mn)
28th.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 310:
DERRICK HARRIOT
(1942- )
1870
Johnathan S. Wright becomes the first African American state
supreme court justice in South Carolina, USA. (tr-iokts)
1925
Countee Cullen wins Phi Beta Kappa honours at New York University.(tr-iokts)
1936
Lee
Perry,
reggae producer born, Rainford Hugh Perry, Hanover, Jamaica, West
Indies. Aka Scratch and the Upsetter. Small in stature, but a giant
of reggae, Lee Perry began his musical career working for seminal
producer Coxsone Dodd during the late 50s and early 60s, acting as a
record scout, Perry had released the first of his own vocal records
through Dodd. Social and personal justice, bawdy, sometimes
lewd, sexual commentary. Also during his sojourn with Dodd, he
began an association with the Wailers that had repercussions later in
the decade. In 1966, Perry fell out with Dodd and began working with
other producers including Sir JJ Johnson, Clancy Eccles and, in 1968,
Joe Gibbs, for whom he wrote songs and produced artists such as Errol
Dunkley and the Pioneers. With Gibbs, he also voiced a bitter snipe
directed at Dodd entitled "The Upsetter", from which he
gained his next epithet. On parting with Gibbs, Perry recorded
several fine titles. In 1968, Perry set up his own Upsetter label in
Jamaica, again with help from Clancy Eccles. Perry experienced
his first taste of UK chart success with tenor saxophonist Val
Bennett's spaghetti western-inspired title, "Return Of
Django", which spent three weeks at number 5 in the UK charts
during October 1969. From 1972-74 Perry slowed down the rhythm and
consolidated his position as one of the leading innovators in
Jamaican music. By 1976, Island Records had begun to release
the fruits of this latest phase, including music by the Heptones
(Party Time), Max Romeo (War Inna Babylon), Bob Marley And The
Wailers ("Jah Live", "Punky Reggae Party"),
George Faith (To Be A Lover), Junior Murvin (Police & Thieves,
the single of the same title being very popular in Jamaica at the
time, and becoming a belated chart hit in the UK in May 1980), Prince
Jazzbo (Natty Passing Through, released on Black Wax), and the
Upsetters (the classic Super Ape). However, Island rejected his own
vocal album, Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Corn Bread (1978), and
missed out on the Congos classic, Heart Of The Congos, which finally
gained a UK release some years later on the Beat's Go Feet label.
With commercial success now coming infrequently, Perry's frustrations
and personal problems began to increase. Perry's behaviour
became increasingly strange and bewildering, and in 1980 he destroyed
his studio and left for Britain, After living in the Netherlands in
the mid-80s, he moved back to London, occasionally performing live.
In 1990, he went to Switzerland, worked with a new management team,
and married a Swiss millionairess. He also returned to Jamaica to
rebuild the trashed and burnt-out Black Ark. Whatever the future
holds, Lee "Scratch" Perry, the Upsetter, the man Bob
Marley once described as a "genius", has already made one
of the most individual contributions to the development of Jamaican
music, as a producer, arranger and writer, and also simply as a
singularly powerful guiding force during several crucial phases.
(mn-music.us)
1948
Milan
Williams,
member of The Commodores group is born. (mn-jt)
1958
W.C. Handy 'Father of Blues" dies, New York, NY, USA. (mn-rs)
1964
[Radio Caroline, Britain's first pirate radio station starts
broadcasting from just off the British coast. (mn-jt)]
1984
Benjamin
May,
educator and civil rights activist dies in Atlanta, Georgia,
SA,. He was mentor to the young Martin Luther King, Jr. whilst at
Morehouse College.
1870
Jonathan S. Wright becomes first black State Supreme Court Justice
in South Carolina.
1969
'Salt', Rapper Cheryl James of Salt & Pepa from Bushwick;
Brooklyn; Queens, born today. (mn-tx)
29th.MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT
312:
BUNNY
'STRIKER' LEE (1941-
)
1870
America's 15th Amendment barring race and colour as voting
qualification comes into effect.
1886
Black
Invention: Guitar,
Robert F. Flemmings, Jr. (sc)
1914
Sonny
Boy Williamson #1,
blues harmonic man born John Lee Williamson, Jackson, Mississippi,
USA. (Dies June 1, Chicago, Ill., USA). (mn-jt)
1931
Harold
Burrage
singer/pianist born in Chicago, USA. Died 26/11/66. (mn)
1937
Black
Invention: Signalling
System, Lewis W. Chubb. (sc)
1962
MC
Hammer,
dance rapper from Oakland is born Stanley Kirk Burrell. He sold 12
million copies of his second album 'Please Hammer don't hurt 'em'.
Rap music's most successful star! (mn-jt)
1963
Capt. Edward J. Dwight Jr. becomes a candidate for astronaut
training. (tr-iokts)
1964
Tracy Chapman,
folk singer born. (mn-jt)
1969
Kieth
Holmes WBC
Middleweight World Champion Boxer is born. Record:30-1 (20). Best
wins: Kelcie Banks; Quincy Taylor and Paul Vaden. He lives in
Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. (mn-ring)
2007
Re-launched 'Black Heroes Past & Present' on the web. (mn)
31st.
MARCH
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT
313:
BYRON LEE
(1935- )
1797
Olaudah
Equiano,
a chief spokesman for black people at this time in Britain dies in
London aged about 52. According to his famous autobiography, written
in 1789, Olaudah Equiano (c.1745-1797) was born in what is now
Nigeria. Kidnapped and sold into slavery in childhood, he was taken
as a slave to the New World. As a slave to a captain in the Royal
Navy, and later to a Quaker merchant, he eventually earned the price
of his own freedom by careful trading and saving. As a seaman, he
travelled the world, including the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the
Atlantic and the Arctic, the latter in an abortive attempt to reach
the North Pole. Coming to London, he became involved in the movement
to abolish the slave trade, an involvement which led to him writing
and publishing The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah
Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa the African (1789) a strongly abolitionist
autobiography. The book became a bestseller and, as well as
furthering the anti-slavery cause, made Equiano a wealthy man. (mn-pf)
1905
Big
Maceo,
blues pianist, born, Major Merriweather, Atlanta, Ga, USA. Died
February 23, 1953, Chicago, Ill, USA. (mn-rs)
1913
Etta
Baker,
instrumentalist blues guitar player born. (mn-rs)
1921
Lowell
Fulson,
guitarist/singer, born Tulsa, Okla, USA. (mn-rs)
1930
Willie
Mitchell producer/trumpet
player born in Ashland Mississippi, USA. He became vice president of
Hi Records between 1970-77. He made many soul instrumental tracks of
well known songs, biggest hit 'Soul Serenade' in 1968 on London
records in the UK. (mn)
1934
Shirley
Jones,
soul singer born. (mn-jt)
1947
Al
Goodman,
singer with The Moments is born. (mn-jt)
1950
Ada
Brown,
blues/vaudaville singer, dies, Kansas City, USA. (mn-rs)
1960
Laurian Rugambwa of Tanzania becomes the first black Roman Catholic Cardinal.
1976
Anthony
B
real name Kieth Blair, reggae DJ, born in Clarks Town, Trelawny,
Jamaica. Best known for 'Fire pon Rome'. (tr-dubm)