1st.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT
VISUAL ARTS:
163:
EDWARD M. BANNISTER (1828-1901)
1787
The African Free School, first free school in New York City opens.
1945
The first publication of Ebony Magazine by John Harold Johnson.
In 1942 he began The Negro Digest, modelled 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)
1951
Ronald 'The Captain' Bell member
with the group Kool & The Gang born in Youngstown, Ohio, USA.
Now known by his Muslim name Amir Bayyan. This jazz group crossed
over into the pop chart in 1973 and initiated a run of 19 Stateside
Top 40 hits on their own De-Lite Label starting with Funky Stuff. (mn-cl)
1977
Carl
Edward Richard Cort,
6'4"; 12.7 footballer, born Southwark, England. (bh-mn)
1981
Destiny's
Child's LaTavia
Roberson,
born. Destiny's Child was formed in Houston, Texas, in 1990, when
original members Beyoncé Knowles and LaTavia Roberson were
just nine years old; Knowles' father, Matthew, set about developing
an act based on their singing and rapping, under the name GirlTyme.
Knowles's cousin Kelly Rowland joined two years after. Later Tina
Knowles, Beyoncé's mother, took their name from a passage in
the Book of Isaiah. They landed an appearance on Star Search (as a
trio), where they performed a rap song. In 1993, LeToya Luckett
joined the act. The quartet's lineup was finalized (for the time
being), and they spent the next few years working their way up from
the Houston club scene, eventually opening for popular R&B
artists like SWV, Dru Hill, and Immature. In 1997, Destiny's Child
was offered a recording contract by Columbia Records. (wickpedia)
2nd.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT VISUAL ARTS:
164:
HENRY OSSAWA TANNER
(1859 -1937)
NYABINGHI
ILLADAY (*see below) PAGE 1
PCRL
DJ: LITTLE RICHIE BORN
1880
Black
Invention: Eye
Protector Glasses, patent by Powell Johnson.(sc)
1886
Black
invention: Receptacle
for Restoring and Preserving papers, Henry Brown. (sc)
1924
Nadia Cattouse,
black actor born, Belize City, British Honduras (now Belize). She
acted on the BBC's version of The Green Pastures, she remembers
rehearsing in Notting Hill while the 1958 riots were taking place.
Her career began in 1954 with roles in Halcyon Days and Runaway
Slave. In the 1960s Nadia enjoyed international acclaim as a folk
singer, and was-briefly-the first black woman presenter on BBC
radio's Woman's Hour. (mn-sb)
1930
*Ras
Tafari is crowned Haile Selassie I,
King of Kings - Lord Of Lords - Conquering Lion of Judah. Haile
Selassie was born in Harar Province, Ethiopia, July 23, 1894. He
became emperor of Ethiopia today, his rein ended in 1974 when
military leaders over through him. Salassie worked for economic and
social reform, such as making slavery punishable by law. He
gave Ethiopia it's first written constitution in 1931. Ethiopia was
attacked by fascist Italy in 1935 and Halie Salassie lived in exile
in England until 1941. British forces liberated Ethiopia during World
War II and restored him to the throne. Rebels seized the government
on December 13th 1960 while he was in South America, but he regained
his throne four days later. Haile Salassie was born Ras Tafari, he
belonged to a dynasty that claimed to be the descendants of King
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. (dies August 27, 1975). (tr-jc-mn-txx)
1937
Earl
'Speedo' Carroll singer
with Cadilacs/Coasters born. (mn-jt)
1952
Maxine
Nightingale
soul singer born in Wembley, London, England. Maxine gained great
acclaim for her stage work in 'Hair',' Jesus Christ Superstar', and
'Godspell'. (mn)
1983
U.S. President signs a bill to establish a federal holiday in honour
of the birthday of Martin Luther King. (The third Monday in January)
1997
Brenda Holloway the 60's Tamla-Motown recording star talks to PCRL's
listeners though interviewer Bill Randle (The interview was broadcast
in four episodes on the 'Basement Soul Show with Mickey Nold). Ref MD
925 (mn)
2005 Thousands
of people have gathered
to pay their respects at the funeral of US civil rights icon Rosa
Parks, who died last week aged 92. Former US President Bill Clinton
led the tributes at the ceremony in Detroit, Michigan, her home since
1957. Also among the mourners were civil rights leader Jesse Jackson,
and the signer Aretha Franklin. Mrs Parks' refusal to give up her
seat on an Alabama bus to a white man led to the end of legal
segregation. Earlier this week, thousands filed past her coffin as
she lay in state in Alabama and then Washington. 'Grace and dignity'
Hundreds of politicians and other dignitaries, along with 2,000
members of the public, are attending the service in the 4,000-seat
Greater Grace Temple church. Audience members held hands and sang the
civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome, as family members filed past
the open casket before it was closed. (bbc news)
2008
Lewis Hamilton wins the 'F1 World Motor racing' champion title
at the age of 23 overtaking on the last bend of the race and 10
seconds from the end of the Grand Prix. He almost won it the previous
year in his first season! He is the first and youngest black champion.
3rd.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT VISUAL ARTS:
165:
EDMONIA
LEWIS (1845-1890?)
1896
Black
Invention: portable
weighing scales, J.H. Hunter.
1933
Dr.
Louis W. Sullivan,
Cabinet member, born. (tr-iokts)
1963
Ian
Edward Wright,
football player born. In 1991 Striker Ian Wright is purchased from
Crystal Palace by Arsenal for £2.5 million. 1997 he receives a
Carling N0.1 award after a week when he breaks the hat-trick record
by scoring five goals in seven days, he also broke the 178 goals
record. Club Honours: PL '98; FMC '91; FLC '93; FAC '93,'98.
International Honours: E:31; B-3. (bh-mn)
1986
Eddie
'Lockjaw' Davis
saxophonist dies. Davis began to make his mark on the jazz scene in
his home town when he worked at Clark Monroes's Uptown House in the
late 30s. Despite this establishment's close ties with the emergence
of bebop a few years later, Davis's tenor saxophone playing was
rooted in the swing and blues, and early in his career he displayed a
marked affinity with the tough school of Texas tenors. In the early
40s he worked with a number of big bands, including those of Cootie
Williams, Lucky Millender and Andy Kirk. He also made several
appearances with the Count Basie band which extended through the 60s
and 70s. It was with Count Basie he made his biggest impact (mn-cl)
4th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: VISUAL ARTS:
166:
HORACE
PIPPIN (1888-1946)
1879
Black
Invention:
Improvements In Refrigerating Apparatus, Thomas T.Sampson. (sc)
1953
Hulan Jack becomes the fist black Manhattan Borough President of New York.
1954
David Jahson,
reggae artiste born Everald Pickergill, Kingston, Jamaica, West
Indies. Jahson embarked on his recording career with his debut,
"For I", which peaked at number 7 on the JBC chart in
Jamaica. His overnight success led to the release of a number of
hits, including "Ruff Neck Soldier", "Give Thanks And
Praise" and the melancholy "People Bawling". By 1977
he joined the line-up of the Well Pleased And Satisfied band who
enjoyed a string of hits during their brief career, including
"Black On Black", "West Man Rock", "News
Carrier Dem A Warrior", "Barberman Bawling" and
"Open The Gates". Following the band's demise, Jahson
reactivated his solo career, working with brothers Ian and Roger
Lewis of Inner Circle. The alliance led to Jahson's pivotal hit,
"Natty Chase The Barber", which reiterated his acrimonious
attitude towards hairdressers. The song inspired a series of
barber-related tunes in the late 70s, including Doctor Alimantado
riding the same rhythm for "I Killed The Barber". Jahson
simultaneously accompanied the Inner Circle band on their promotional
tour for Everything Is Great, where he is credited as percussionist.
He remained with the band under the guise of Black Spy until Jacob
Miller's untimely demise in March 1980, which led to the band's
temporary dissolution. He settled in the UK throughout the 80s,
initially recording with fellow expatriate Errol Dunkley. Jahson's
sporadic releases include "True Believer", "She Loves
The Rub A Dub", "Lips Of Wine", "Stop Your Gun
Shooting" and "Zion Home". (mn-cl-music.us)
1958
Shirley
Verrett,
world renowned opera singer, makes her debut in New York City.
1992
Carol Moseley Braun is the first African American woman to be
elected in the U.S. Senate. Born in 1947 the daughter of a Chicago
police officer, Braun receives a law degree from the University of
Chicago and worked at the US attorney's office, where she won the
Special Achievement Award. In 1978 she was elected to the Illinois
House of Representatives, where she was voted Best Legislator each of
the ten years she served. In 1988 she became the first
African-American to hold high office in Cook County when she was
elected Cook County Recorder of Deeds, an important stepping-stone to
her senate race. (mn-ss-tr-iokts)
1999
Malcolm
Marshall,
West Indian fast bowling legend dies in his native Barbados from
colon cancer. One of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, his death
shocked and saddened the cricket world and fans who arranged from
heads of state to labourers. In 81 test matches between 1978 and
1991, Marshall took 376 wickets at an average of 20.94 runs per
wicket, that is lower than any of the other outstanding West Indian
bowlers. He was aged 41. (buried 13/11/99) (mn-jahb)
2008
Byron
Lee
dies. Legendary bandleader Byron Lee lost his battle with cancer. The
soca icon died at the University Hospital of the West Indies at the
age of 73. Lee, fondly referred to as 'The Dragon', had been fighting
transitional cell cancer and was being treated in Miami, Florida. He
was later diagnosed with bladder cancer two years ago and returned to
Jamaica, by air ambulance, on Saturday, October 25, and was being
treated at The Tony Thwaites Wing. "The family of The Honourable
Byron Lee Sr, OJ, regretfully confirms that he passed away peacefully
today," The Dragon's daughter, Julian Lee Samuels, told The
Gleaner. "He fought a very brave battle with cancer and was in
hospital surrounded by his family and close friends. He will be
remembered not only as an excellent musician, but as a very kind,
generous, humble and talented man who was always working to use music
to unite persons of all ages, races and people from all walks of
life." Lee is survived by his wife, Sheila, sons Byron Jr,
Edward John, daughters Deanna, Judith, Julianne and Danielle as well
as grandchildren Amelia, Alexander, Jessica, Victoria, Amanda, Jaden
and Dylan. Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that Byron Lee had
excelled not only as a musician, with his band Byron Lee and the
Dragonaires, but was known to be one of the best promoters, label and
studio owners, and can be credited for the explosion in popularity of
Jamaica's music as far back as the 1960s. Olivia Grange, minister of
information, culture, youth and sports, with responsibility for
entertainment, said she was deeply saddened by the passing of Lee.
People's National Party Spokesperson on Information and Culture, Lisa
Hanna, expressed condolences and sympathies to Lee's family.
"Jamaica has lost a loved and treasured icon of our cultural
fabric whose larger-than-life talent pioneered Jamaican music to the
four corners of the world," she said in a statement. Order
of Jamaica: Lee was known for hits such as Tiny Winey and was
recently conferred with the Order of Jamaica during a special
ceremony at the hospital last week. He was given the award by
Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and the prime minister. The Order
of Jamaica is the nation's fourth-highest honour. Lee was awarded the
Order of Distinction (Officer class) in 1982. That honour was
upgraded to Commander class in 2007. Lee's career spans more than 50
years and he is credited with being one of the leading musicians to
bring Jamaican music to the world. According to yahoomusic.com, when
Bob Marley was a struggling young musician and a member of the
little-known Wailers, Lee was perhaps the most well-known Jamaican
bandleader in the world. Lee was 20 years old when he formed his
band, the Dragonaires, in 1957, and has since travelled the world and
assisted to popularise the carnival tradition in Jamaica through the
annual Jamaica Carnival. - Bruce Golding (Jamaican Gleaner)
5th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: VISUAL ARTS:
167:
MARVIN
GRAY JOHNSON (1896-1934)
1926 Negro
History Week
is initiated by Carter G. Woodson.
1931
Ike
Turner
born in Clarkdale, Mississippi, pianist/guitar player formed The
Kings Of Rhythm in the late 40's. 'Rocket 88' in 1950 is named as the
first 'Rock 'n' Roll' recording, credited as Jackie Brenston. Ike
also formed part of the Ike & Tina Turner act. (mn)
1965
Paris
Gray of
the soul group Inner City born. (mn-jt-)
1956
Art
Tatum,
jazz pianist dies. Born October 13, 1909, learned to play formally
and read music at an early age. Blind in one eye and partially
sighted in the other, worked a soloist for many bands, including
Adelaide Hall who took him on as her accompanist. The word genius is
often used carelessly but, it is hard to think of a word more
appropriate to describe Art Tatum. Read Art Tatum: A Guide To His
Recorded Music, Arnold Laubich and Ray Spencer. (mn-cl-jt)
1968
Shirley Chisholm is the first African American woman to be elected
to the U.S. Senate. On this day she was elected, as a Democrat, to
the US House of Representatives, where she served until 1982. In 1993
President Clinton appointed her ambassador to Jamaica. (mm-tr-iokts)
1969
Sister
Allison,
radio presenter/actress born, Allison Colleen Mason, London,
England. (mn-cl)
2000
Haile Salassie's bones exhumed and re-buried at a new grave with full
honours next to his wife. Haile Salassie was born Ras Tafari, he
belonged to a dynasty that claimed to be the descendants of King
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. (died August 27, 1975 in suspicious
circumstances). (mn)
2008
Baraka Obama is elected as the first Black President of the United
States of America.
6th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: VISUAL ARTS:
168:
RICHMOND
BARTH'E (1901-1989)
In
memory of William Wells Brown, novelist, abolitionist and dramatist
(1815-1884). His autobiography sold 10,000 copies, a record.
1937
Eugene Pitt of
soul group The Jive Five born. (mn-jt)
1973
Coleman Young becomes the first African American mayor of Detroit,
Michigan, USA. He was also the city's longest serving Mayor
(1973-1993). As a young man working in the auto industry, he was an
organizer for the Congress of Industrial Workers. After serving as a
USAAF bombardier in World War II, he became director of organization
for the Wayne County AFL/CIO. His political career advanced rapidly,
from delegate to the Michigan constitutional convention (1961) to
state senator (1964-1973) and mayor. His principal goals as mayor
were to improve Detroit's flagging economy, ease radical tensions,
and combat crime. (mm-ss-tr-iokts)
1984
The Revd. Marvin Gaye Sr. was sentenced to five years in prison for
the manslaughter of his own soul star son, Marvin Gaye. He was later
found to have a tumour on his brain, that was then removed. (mn)
7th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT VISUAL ARTS:
169:
JACOB
LAWRENCE (1917-
)
1919
Ellen
Stewart
born. (tr-bl)
1938
Dee Clark
soul singer born Delecta Clark in Blythville, Arcansas, USA. Dies
foorm heart attack, December 7, 1990, Smyma, Georgia, USA. Clark had
a wonderfully impassioned tenor voice and enjoyed a spate of rock 'n'
roll hits in the late 50s and a lesser body of soul work in the 60s.
Clark's entertainment career began in 1952 as a member of the Hambone
Kids, who, with band leader Red Saunders, recorded a novelty number
in which Clark's group patted a rhythm known as the Hambone. Clark
later joined a vocal group, the Goldentones, who won first prize in a
talent show at Chicago's Roberts Show Lounge. Noted disc jockey Herb
"Kool Gent" Kent then took the group to Vee Jay Records,
where they recorded as the Kool Gents. Clark's distinctive stylings
soon engendered a solo contract and in 1958 he had a US hit with
"Nobody But You" (R&B number 3 and pop Top 30).
"Just Keep It Up" (R&B number 9 and pop Top 20) and
"Hey Little Girl" (R&B number 2 and pop Top 20) proved
equally popular the following year. The artist's major success came
in 1962 with "Raindrops" (R&B number 3 and pop number
2). This plaintive offering, co-written by Clark and Phil Upchurch,
eventually sold in excess of one million copies. Sadly, Clark was
unable to repeat this feat, but continued on Chicago-based
Constellation with a spate of moderate R&B hits, namely,
"Crossfire Time" (1963), "Heartbreak" (1964), and
"TCB" (1965). His career faded after Constellation went out
of business in 1966. In the UK he had a sizeable hit in 1975 with
"Ride A Wild Horse"; in the USA the record failed to chart.
Clark died of a heart attack in 1990. (mn-music.nu)
1942
Johnny Rivers,
soul man born John Ramistella, New York City, New York, USA.Johnny
Rivers enjoyed a succession of pop hits in the 60s and 70s, initially
by remaking earlier R&B songs and eventually with his own
compositions. His singles were spirited creations, some recorded live
in front of an enthusiastic, hip Los Angeles audience. (mn-cl)
1950
Alexa
Candady,
first female African-American neurosurgeon, is born in Lansing,
Michigan. USA (tr-iokts)
1963
John Barnes,
Football player born in Jamaica. Plays for Liverpool and previously
Watford. League appearances: 233 with Watford; 179 with Liverpool. (tr)
1972
The
Black Ace,
blues guitarist, dies, Fort Worth, Texas, USA. (mn-rs)
1989
Douglas Wilder becomes the U.S.A.'s first black governor since
reconstruction, when he wins the Virginia election.
1989
David Dinkins is the first African-American elected Mayor of New York
City. He served his term amidst heightened racial tension in the
city. Despite strong support from the African-American communities,
he lost the election in 1993. (mn-ss)
2011
Smokin'
Joe Frazier
champion boxer dies. Total fights 37, wins 32, wins by KO 27. Born
12-1-44. Toward the end of September 2011, Frazier was diagnosed with
liver cancer. Within a few weeks, the cancer metastasized. By
November 2011, he was under hospice care, where he died on 7
November. Some of the most memorable moments in the 1976
boxing-themed feature film, Rocky — such as Rocky's
carcass-punching scenes and Rocky running up the steps of the
Philadelphia Museum of Art, as part of his training regimen —
are taken from Joe's real-life exploits, for which he received no
credit. In March 2007, a Joe Frazier action figure was released as
part of a range of toys based on the Rocky film franchise, developed
by the American toy manufacturer, Jakks Pacific. wiki (mn-pilot)
2011
Dr. Conrad Murray is found guilty of negligence in the death of
Michael Jackson and faces up-to 4 years in prison. (mn)
8th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: VISUAL ARTS:
170:
MARION PERKINS (1908-1961)
1878
Marshall
Walter Taylor "Major
Taylor", the world's fastest bicycle racer for 12 years, born
in Indianapolis, In,. USA.
1919
Cy
Grant,
calipso singer born in Guyana (then British Guiana), Cy Grant has
lived an extraordinarily varied life. He served as a flight
lieutenant in the Royal Air Force during the second World War, was
shot down and spent two years as a prisoner of war. After the war he
qualified as a Barrister at Law, but went on to be an actor on stage
and in film, as well as a singer in concert and cabaret. His was the
first black face to be regularly seen on British Television, singing
the news on television on the BBC TONIGHT programme. He has had his
own series on radio and TV and his acting career is on record in
BLACKGROUNDS, an Oral History Project housed at the Theatre Museum.
He is the author of RING OF STEEL, pan sound and symbol (Macmillan
1999). He was the Chairman/cofounder of DRUM, the London based Black
arts centre in the 70's and Director of CONCORD Multicultural
Festivals in the 80's. He is an Honorary Fellow of the University of
Surrey, Roehampton and a member of The Scientific & Medical
Network. (cygrant.fsnet,co.uk)
1938
Crystal Bird Faucet of Pennsylvania is the first African American
woman to be elected to state legislature. (tr-iokts)
1942
Gerald Alston singer
with The Manhattans and later solo born today. Alston joined the
band when George Smith died suddenly in 1971. (mn-jt)
1947
Minnie
Ripperton
soul singer born in Chicago, USA. Minnie sang in The Gems and as
Andrea Davis prior to joining Rotary Connection. Then joined Stevie
Wonder's backing group Wonderlove, later recorded solo. Best
remembered for her hit record, Loving You. (Dies 12/7/79). (mn)
1956
A Man from the Sun -
The BBC dramatized the lives of newly arrived Caribbean settlers.
However, for the next forty years, in spite of the wealth of material
available, British television put a wall of silence around the
subject. (mn-sb)
1968
Kokomo
Arnold,
blues slide guitarist, dies in Chicago, Ill, USA. d. 8 November
1968, Chicago, Illinois, USA. "Kokomo" Arnold was a
left-handed slide blues guitarist who learned the basics of his style
from his cousin, James Wigges. After working in steel mills in
Illinois and Pennsylvania he became a dedicated fisherman and
moonshiner, who looked upon his musical success as an adjunct to
"real life". Arnold developed an unorthodox method of
playing guitar, based on a style that had originally been popular in
a few states in the Deep South. He held the instrument flat, using a
slide to create an eerie, ringing sound. Unlike the relaxed and often
casual approach of many of his contemporaries, Arnold's was an
urgent, aggressive style, and he achieved remarkable results with his
unusual method of guitar playing and the curiously high-pitched,
often unintelligible, singing that accompanied it. Interspersed in
these wailings would be sudden bursts of vocal clarity that gave his
statements great authority. He gained a reputation that followed him
in his travels throughout the northern states in the years after the
end of World War I. (sr-music.us)
1974
Ivory Joe Hunter,
singer/piano player dies,Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Although Hunter
was a well-known figure in Texas through his radio shows, it was not
until the 40s, when he moved to the west coast, that his career
flourished. He established his own record companies, Ivory and
Pacific, recording on the former with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
(the Exclusive licensed crossover hit "Blues At Sunrise"),
while the latter provided the outlet for Hunter's first R&B
chart-topper, "Pretty Mama Blues". Hunter continued his
success with several singles recorded with sidemen from the Duke
Ellington Orchestra before one of his most enduring compositions,
"I Almost Lost My Mind", became a second R&B number 1
in 1950. (mn-jt-music.us)
1983
James
Booker,
keyboard player, dies, New Orleans, USA. As an exceptionally
talented child, Booker studied classical piano, but balanced his
virtuosity with blues and boogie learned from Isidore "Tuts"
Washington and Edward Frank. In his early teens he appeared on radio
WMRY and formed a band he called Booker Boy And The Rhythmaires. He
made his first record for Imperial in 1954, "Doin' The
Hambone", and "Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby", produced by
Dave Bartholomew, led to sessions for Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis and
Lloyd Price, among others. Booker made just two more singles during
the 50s, "Heavenly Angel" for Chess and "Open The
Door" for Ace. In 1959 he enrolled at Southern University to
study music. A year later, he signed to Peacock and had the only hit
of his career, an organ instrumental called "Gonzo", which
reached number 3 in the R&B charts. Further singles such as
"Tubby" and "Big Nick" failed to achieve similar
success. By this point, however, drugs had added to his psychological
problems and his work became erratic. In 1970 he served time in
Angola State Penitentiary for drug possession. His appearance at the
1975 Jazz Fest led to a recording contract for Island Records. Other
records appeared sporadically but his deteriorating mental state and
an inability to control his drug problem led to a fatal heart attack.
His highly individual style can sometimes be heard in the work of
Harry Connick Jnr., who was a student and friend of Booker's. (mn-rs-music.us)
1984
Fela Anikulapo Kuti was convicted of smuggling and sentenced to five
years imprisonment. (mn-jt)
1997
Imamu Mayfield wins IBF Cruiserweight World Champion Boxer title
against Uriah Grant in Las Vagas. (mn-ring)
1997
Evander Holyfield retains WBA title and regains IBF World
Championship titles against Michael Moorer in Las Vagas. (mn-ring)
2011
Heavy
D
(Dwight Mayers) 80/90's rapper dies. His hip-hop recording career
began in 1987 with his group Heavy D & the Boyz and on his first
album he released the hit single "The Overweight Lover's in the
House." Another one of his breakthrough hits came in 1991 with a
remake of the O'Jays' "Now That We Found Love." Heavy D's
rapping was featured on Janet Jackson's 1990 hit "Alright."
He rapped on Michael Jackson's 1991 hit "Jam," which he
performed at last month's Michael Jackson tribute show in Cardiff,
Wales. He also composed and performed the theme songs several
television shows, including "In Living Color,"
"MADtv" and "The Tracy Morgan Show." His last CD,
"Love Opus," was released this year. Heavy D also pursued
an acting career, which included mostly roles on TV shows and movies.
He played a courthouse guard in the Eddie Murphy film "Tower
Heist,". (pilot/cnn)
9th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT VISUAL ARTS:
171:
CHARLES
WHITE (1918-1979)
1731
Benjamin
Banneker
was born on this date. He was a self-taught, Black astronomer and
mathematician. From Ellicott, MD., at the age of 22, Benjamin
Banneker created a working clock from wood after studying the watch
of a friend. It took him two years to finish the clock, which kept
accurate time in hours, minutes, and seconds until his death.
Banneker became interested in astronomy through a local surveyor
named George Ellicott, who loaned him astronomy books. (aareg)
1890
Palmer
Hayden
born. He was an African-American painter whose work was evident
during the Harlem Renaissance. Born Peyton Cole Hedgeman, in
Widewater, Virginia, he lived in Paris and New York when he was a
young man. During his life, Palmer Hayden made many contributions.
Like many artist, he got inspiration from the environment around him.
The inspiration for The Janitor Who Paints came from one of Palmer's
friends whose name was Cloyde Boykin. Boykin was a painter who had to
become a janitor to support himself. Hayden once said, “I
painted it because no one called Cloyde a painter; they called him a
janitor.” Many people consider this painting to be an expression
of the tough times Palmer was having. (aareg)
1922
Dorothy
Dandridge
born. She was an African-American actress, singer, dancer, and
entertainer. Dorothy Jean Dandridge was from Cleveland, her
mother was an aspiring actress named Ruby Dandridge. Ruby had walked
out on Dorothy's father, moved into an apartment with a friend,
(Geneva Williams) who became instrumental in teaching Dorothy and her
sister singing, dancing and piano. They moved to Nashville and were
signed with the National Baptist Convention to tour churches
throughout the southern states. The Great Depression put a halt to
progress and moved to Hollywood. The Dandridge Sisters, as they were
know received an unaccredited cameo in the film The Big Broadcast of
1936. They played the Cotton Club where they were a hit and soon
toured Europe. (aareg)
1969
Pepa,
feminine pop rapper, from Jamaica; Bronx; Queens, and member of Salt
& Pepa born Sandra Denton. In the mid-'80s, Herby Azor, a student
at New York's Centre for Media Arts, changed rap history with a class
project. Assigned to produce a record, he recruited two female
friends who shared his part-time job as a Sears telephone sales rep.
Their first rap, "Show stopper" sold 250,000 copies and
launched the career of Salt-N-Pepa. Now known as Hurby Luv Bug, Azor
became a top producer who helped Pepa release one gold and two
platinum albums, a feat no other female rap act can achieve. (mn-jt-ms)
1978
Sisqó,
singer/rapper born. Originally a member of the very successful 1990s
R&B group "Dru Hill". In 2000, though, Sisqó
finally achieved fame with his debut solo album, "Unleash the
Dragon". "Thong Song" and its scandalous video on MTV
propelled the album to the top of the charts, followed by another
huge hit, "Incomplete."
1990
Alma
Parks Brown,
gospel singer, died in Washington, DC, USA. Age: 82
10th.
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CHARLES
H. ALSTON (1907-1977)
1939
Hubert
Laws,
jazz musician born in Houston, Texas, USA. Hubert is the brother of
Debra Laws, Ronnie Laws, and Eloise Laws. He originally studied
piano, but his high-school band required a flute player so he learned
this instrument instead. Over the years he's played with the Jazz
Crusaders and Sergio Mendes. (mn-rt-jt)
1951
Hosea Richardson becomes first black jockey to ride in Florida.
1961
Andrew Hatcher is named associate press secretary to President John
F. Kennedy. (tr-iokts)
1961
Junior
soul singer born Norman Giscombe on this day in Clapham, London. He
made a big impression on the UK 'Brit Funk' scene in 1982 with his
debut single Mamma Used To Say (Top 10), more hits followed but he
became more popular in the US than in the UK. (mn-rt)
1995
Nigeria's military government hangs nine political activist, causing
a worldwide uproar. (tr-iokts)
2006
Gerald Levert
dies aged 40 in Clevelnd, Ohio. (b. 13th July 1966, Cleveland, Ohio,
U.S.A.) He had suffered a heart attack in his home town of Cleveland,
Ohio. He will, inevitably be remembered as the son of the O'Jays
vocal group frontman, Eddie LeVert, however, Gerald was a respected
vocalist in his own right. During the 1980's Gerald was the helmsman
of the vocal ensemble LeVert, who scored a major Soul Music hit with
the song 'Pop, Pop, Pop Goes My Heart'. The group also scored another
major hit with the song 'Casanova'. Following his departure from the
band, Gerald became a substantial Soul Star in his own right,
achieving success with the songs, 'I'd Give Anything (To Fall In
Love)' and 'Mr. Too Damn Good To You'. He also worked with Chris Rock
on the song 'No Sex (In The Champagne Room)'. In 2004, Gerald
released 'Do I Speak For The World', a social diatribe that saw a
musical maturiy beyond his years. (soulwalking)
11th.
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GERALDINE
MCCULLOUGH
(1922- )
1920
Ennisteen
Letitia Allen,
born in Champaign, Illinois, USA. Raised by her grandmother in
Toledo, Ohio, Allen was an exceptionally soulful big-band vocalist
who excelled at both ballads and blues. (Dies August 10, 1992, New
York, USA.) (mn-cl)
1927
Mose Allison,
Jazz-blues pianist, born in Tippo, Mississippi, USA. Allison began
piano lessons at the age of five, and played trumpet in high school,
although he has featured the latter instrument less frequently in
recent years. His music is a highly individual mix of blues and
modern jazz, with influences on his cool, laconic singing and
piano-playing ranging from Tampa Red and Sonny Boy "Rice
Miller" Williamson to Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, and
Thelonious Monk. He moved to New York in 1956 and worked mainly in
jazz settings, playing with Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims and Gerry
Mulligan, and recording for numerous companies. During the 60s,
Allison's work was much in evidence as he became a major influence on
the burgeoning R&B scene. Pete Townshend, one of his greatest
fans, recorded Allison's "A Young Man's Blues" for the
Who's Live At Leeds. Similarly, John Mayall was one of dozens who
recorded his classic "Parchman Farm", and Georgie Fame
featured many Allison songs in his heyday with the Blueflames (Fame's
nasal and understated vocal was similar to Allison's). In the 80s,
Allison saw a resurgence in his popularity after becoming a hero to
the new, young audience hungry for his blend of modern jazz. In 1996,
he collaborated with Fame, Van Morrison and Ben Sidran on his own
tribute album, Tell Me Something: The Songs Of Mose Allison.
Ultimately, however, his work is seen as hugely influential on other
performers, and this has to a degree limited the profile afforded his
own lengthy recording career. (mn-rs-music.us)
1928
LaVern Baker singer
born Delores Williams, Chicago, USA. d.10/3/97. Baker was a
pioneering voice in the fusion of R&B and rock 'n' roll in the
50s. In 1947 she was discovered in a Chicago nightclub by bandleader
Fletcher Henderson. Although still in her teens, the singer won a
recording contract with the influential OKeh Records, where she was
nicknamed "Little Miss Sharecropper" and "Bea
Baker". Having toured extensively with the Todd Rhodes
Orchestra, Baker secured a prestigious contract with Atlantic
Records, with whom she enjoyed a fruitful relationship. "Tweedle
Dee" reached both the US R&B and pop charts in 1955, selling
in excess of one million copies, and the artist was awarded a second
gold disc two years later for "Jim Dandy". In 1959, she
enjoyed a number 6 pop hit with "I Cried A Tear" and
throughout the decade Baker remained one of black music's leading
performers. Although eclipsed by newer acts during the 60s, the
singer enjoyed further success with "Saved", written and
produced by Leiber And Stoller, and "See See Rider", both
of which inspired subsequent versions, notably by the Band and the
Animals. Baker's final chart entry came with "Think Twice",
a 1966 duet with Jackie Wilson, as her "classic" R&B
intonation grew increasingly out of step with the prevalent
soul/Motown Records boom. After leaving Atlantic, Baker is probably
best known for "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show". In the late
60s, while entertaining US troops in Vietnam, she became ill, and
went to the Philippines to recuperate. She stayed there in
self-imposed exile for 22 years, reviving her career at New York's
Village Gate club in 1991. During the following year she undertook a
short UK tour, but audience numbers were disappointing for the only
female, along with Aretha Franklin, who had, at that time, been
elected to the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. She replaced Ruth Brown
in the Broadway musical Black And Blue in the early 90s, but ill
health from diabetes, together with the amputation of both her legs,
made her final years miserable. Baker had a stunning voice that with
little effort could crack walls, and yet her ballad singing was
wonderfully sensitive. (mn-music.us)
1928
Ernestine Anderson
born. Raised in Seattle, Anderson has been singing professionally
since her mid-teens. She worked extensively with R&B bands in the
40s, including those led by Russell Jacquet and Johnny Otis. A year
with Lionel Hampton in the early 50s and a Scandinavian tour with bop
trumpeter Rolf Ericson broadened her repertoire, but she remained
well rooted in the blues. In later years Anderson developed her
technique and range, her rich, molten sound being especially
effective on the better contemporary pop songs. Despite spending long
periods overseas (including several years' residence in England from
1965), her international appeal remained limited. Indeed, the spell
in Europe adversely affected her career in her homeland; even a
national magazine profile that described her as the "new Sarah
Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald" did not help. A chance appearance
at the 1976 Concord Summer Jazz Festival deservedly brought her to
the attention of a new and wider audience, and since then she has
performed and recorded extensively for the Concord label and she is
now based chiefly on the west coast of America. (tr-bl-music.us)
1930
Hail
Selassie's coronation.
Was Jamaica's Daily Gleaner's front page report. Jamaicans of the
Garveyite persuasion began consulting their Bibles. Further study
convinced them that Haile Selassie I was Christ returned as a king in
glory to sit upon David's Throne, the Throne of Ethiopia, as foretold
in the Book of Revelations. (mn-pride)
1936
Buddy
Ace aka
The Silver Fox Of Blues, born Jimmy L. Land, Jasper, Texas, USA, d.
24 December 1994. Ace was a R&B singer who brought a deep blues
feeling to his music. He was raised in Baylor, Texas, and was
recruited in 1956 by the owner of Duke/Peacock Records, Don Robey, to
perform as a soundalike to Johnny Ace, his top recording artist. As
Buddy Ace, the singer was signed to the Peacock label, but it was not
until the late 60s that he had any chart success, with two fine
singles on the Duke label, "Nothing In The World Can Hurt Me
(Except You)" (number 25 R&B) and "Hold On (To This Old
Fool)" (number 33 R&B). Ace also recorded for Jewel, Sunny,
Specialty Records and EveJim; he recorded three albums for the latter
in the early 90s, Root Doctor, Don't Hurt No More and Silver Fox.
Until his death, Land continued to tour as Buddy Ace in the south and
in northern inner-city clubs where his style of soul-blues remained
popular. (mn-rs-music.us)
1943
Grover Washington Jr.,
born in Buffalo, NY, USA. Was given his first saxophone by his
father and was playing professionally by the age of twelve. After
forming a group at the age of fourteen and establishing himself on
the local jazz circuit, he made his first recording on Charles
Earland's Living Black (1970) (mn-cl-rt)
1984
Rev. Martin Luther King Sr., "Daddy King," dies. (tr-iokts)
1989
Civil Rights Memorial is dedicated in Montgomery, Al., USA.
1990
Ronnie
Dyson soul
singer dies. Born June 5, 1950 in Washington, D.C., USA. Dyson
played a leading roll in the Broadway production of 'Hair', he
perused his thespian ambitions in Salvation, a less infamous
musical, from 1970. One of his songs (If you let me make love to you
then) Why Can't I Touch You?, was a US Top 10 hit, while the singer
reached the R&B chart with several subsequent singles. By 1993 he
had his last chart entry with All Over your Face. (mn-cl)
12th.
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RICHARD
H. HUNT
(1935- )
1909
Bukka White,
Delta blues singer born. White learned guitar and piano in his
teens, and hoboed from 1921, playing blues with artists such as
George "Bullet" Williams. In the mid-30s White was a boxer
and baseball pitcher. He recorded for Victor Records in 1930, a
largely unissued session including spirituals and the first of his
breakneck train imitations. Returning to Vocalion Records in 1937, he
recorded his composition "Shake 'Em On Down" and was given
the misspelt billing which he always disliked. By the time "Shake
'Em On Down" was a hit, White had been imprisoned in Parchman
Farm for assault. There, he recorded two songs for the Library of
Congress, and claimed to have had an easy time as a prison musician.
However, when he recorded commercially again in 1940, he was clear
that he had been traumatized by his experience. The result was a
remarkable series of recordings obsessed with prison, trains, drink
and death. The songs were poetic, complete and coherent, often with
deep insights into their topics, their heavy vocal delivery perfectly
complemented by fierce, percussive slide guitar. (d.26/2/1977) (mn-rs-music.us)
1922
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority is organized by Mary Lou Allison and six
other teachers. (tr-iokts)
1939
Ruby Nash Curtis,
soul singer with Ruby and Romantics, born today in New York, USA.
Group: Edward Roberts (first tenor), George Lee (second tenor),
Ronald Mosley (baritone) and Leroy Fann (Born 9 November 1936, d.
November 1973; bass) had been working as the Supremes prior to the
arrival of Ruby Nash Curtis (Born 12 November 1939, New York City,
New York, USA) in 1962. Curtis had met the group in Akron, Ohio, and
took on the role as their lead singer. They subsequently secured a
contract with the New York label Kapp and at the suggestion of the
company, changed their name to Ruby And The Romantics. By the
following year they had taken the evocative "Our Day Will
Come" to the top of the US pop chart, earning them a gold disc.
Over the next 12 months the group enjoyed a further six hits
including the original version of "Hey There Lonely Boy"
which, with a change of gender, was later revived by Eddie Holman.
After three years at Kapp, the group signed to the ABC Records label.
In 1965 "Does He Really Care For Me', the Romantics" last
chart entry, preceded a wholesale line-up change. Ruby brought in a
new backing group; Richard Pryor, Vincent McLeod, Robert Lewis,
Ronald Jackson and Bill Evans, but in 1968 the forthright Curtis
replaced this version with Denise Lewis and Cheryl Thomas. (mn-music.us)
1941
Madame Lillian Evanti, opera singer, founds the National Negro Opera
Company. Born August 12, 1890 in Washington, D.C., Madame Lillian
Evanti made her opera debut in France.
1944
Booker T. Jones
singer/songwriter/organ/producer with Booker T. & The M.G.'s born
in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The group became the house band for Stax
Records recording countless hit records for Otis Redding/Sam &
Dave/William Bell/Carla Thomas and many more. (mn)
1945
Errol Brown singer
with Hot Chocolate born. The group enjoyed chart success in Europe
during th mid-70s, thanks to hits like, You Sexy Thing (recently
revived in the film The Full Monty) and Disco Queen, also
social-political songs like the anti-racism Brother Louie which was
No.1 in 1973. Most of the founding members was from the Caribbean and
Trinidad. (mn-jt-Dp)
1948
Donald
Johnson drummer
with Taste Of Honey, born. There debut disco smash Boogie Oogie
Oogie sold more than a million copies, and the quartet album sold
more than 3 million in 1978 and they won the Grammy Award for Best
New Artist that year. But alas the group faded away. (mn-jt)
1978
Tevin
Campbell,
soul singer born in Waxahachie, Texas, USA. Somewhat of a
Renaissance man (boy), church choirboy Tevin Campbell actually begun
his professional career on television, in Wally and the Valentines.
Quincy Jones introduced him to the world on his Back on the Block
album, on which Tevin sang the title track and No.1 single 'Tomorrow
(Better You, Better Me.') (mn-cl-cf)
1984
Omarion,
singer with BK2 born Omari Ismael Grandbery in Inglewood,
California, USA. This Los Angeles, California, USA-based boy band
comprises Omarion (Born Omari Ishmael Grandbery, 12 November 1985,
Los Angeles, California, USA), Raz-B (Born De'mario Monte Thornton,
13 June 1985, Cleveland, Ohio, USA), Lil Fizz (Born Druex Pierre
Fredericks, 26 November 1985, Los Angeles, California, USA) and
J-Boog (Born Jarell Damonte Houston, 11 August 1985, Los Angeles,
California, USA). The clean-cut quartet broke into the US pop charts
in early 2002 with the infectious "Uh Huh", a steamy dance
track in marked contrast to the usual anodyne material favoured by
boy bands. The single was helped by a stylish Hype Williams video.
The quartet had first made their mark on the teenage market the
previous summer, opening for Lil Bow Wow on his US tour. They had
been discovered a few months previously at an Epic Records showcase
for new talent. Their debut album only briefly repeated the success
of "Uh Huh", with stand-out tracks including "Gots Ta
Be" and "Understanding". Nevertheless, B2K debuted at
number 2 on the Billboard 200 in March. The quartet enjoyed further
success at the end of the year, when their collaboration with P.
Diddy, "Bump, Bump, Bump", broke into the upper regions of
the US singles chart. The single completed the climb to the number 1
position in January 2003. (mn-music.us)
13th.
NOVEMBER
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E. SIMMS CAMPBELL (1908-1971)
1913
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, pioneering Surgeon, becomes a member of the
American College of Surgeons. In 1894 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
performs the world's first successful open heart surgery without
anaesthesia, the patient lives for 20 years. The most prominent
African-American in medicine for many years, Williams was born in
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. He worked as a barber before he
graduated from Chicago Medical Collage in 1893. He organised
Provident Hospital in Chicago in 1891. He was surgeon-in-chief at
Freemen's Hospital in Washington, D.C., (1893-1898). (mn-ss)
1936
Joan
Hooley
UK actor/writer born. She apeared in 'Danger Man', 'Emergancy
Ward 10', 'Desmonds' & 'Eastenders', she also wrote
for Desmonds.
(mn)
1940
Baby Washington,
soul singer born Justine Washington, Bamberg, South Carolina,
USA. Washington's (aka Jeanette Washington) tremendously moving
voice, earthy but sophisticated, perfectly epitomized uptown soul.
Yet unlike her southern counterparts she has never experienced great
crossover recognition, although once cited by Dusty Springfield as
her all-time favourite singer. Washington was raised in Harlem,
singing first in a vocal group, the Hearts, in 1956 and becoming a
solo artist the following year. She built a career with 16 chart
entries during a decade and a half, most of them during the 60s,
recording in New York first for Donald Shaw's Neptune label and then
for Juggy Murray's Sue label. She established herself as a major soul
singer recording "The Time" (US R&B Top 30) and
"The Bells" (US R&B Top 20), both in 1959, and
"Nobody Cares" (US R&B Top 20) in 1961. Moving to Sue
Records in 1962, Washington hit the US national Top 40 with the
sublime "That's How Heartaches Are Made" (1963) and the US
R&B Top 10 with "Only Those In Love" (1965). Washington
revived her career in the early 70s, recording in Philadelphia a duet
with Don Gardner, a revival of the Marvelettes' "Forever",
(number 30 R&B), a solo release "I've Got To Break Away"
(number 73 R&B), and a well-received album. The coming of disco
in the mid-70s effectively killed her career, as it did those of many
soul artists. (mn-music.us)
1940
U.S. Supreme Court rules in 'Hansberry vs. Lee' that African
Americans cannot be barred from white neighbourhoods. (tr-iokts)
1944
Timmy Thomas
soul singer/songwriter/keyboards player born in Evansville, Indiana,
USA. An accomplished singer-songwriter and keyboard player, Thomas
first attracted attention for his work as an accompanist with jazz
musicians Donald Byrd and Cannonball Adderley. He then embarked on a
spell as a session musician, most notably with the Memphis-based
Goldwax label, before his solo career blossomed in 1972 with "Why
Can't We Live Together?' (US number 3/UK Top 20). His simple, Booker
T. Jones-like organ style came to the fore as a hypnotic pulse
punctuates an understated, but heartfelt plea. This rhythmic song was
later tastefully covered by the sophisticated British vocalist, Sade
in 1984. Thomas" immediate releases continued in this vein, but
he was unable to repeat that initial success. He nonetheless enjoyed
a run of minor R&B hits, culminating in "Gotta Give A Little
Love' (Ten Years After)", a US Top 30 soul entry in 1984. (mn-music.us)
1951
Janet Collins is first African American woman to dance at the
Metropolitan Opera House, in Verdi's 'Aida' (tr-bl)
14th.
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176:
GORDON
ROGER PARKS (1912-)
1944
Scherrie
Payne,
The sister of soul singer Freda Payne, Scherrie forsook her teaching
position at Detroit's Grayling Observatory to join the Glass House.
This short-lived band enjoyed a series of minor US hits, the most
notable of which was "Crumbs Off The Table", a US R&B
Top 10 entry in 1969. Several unsuccessful solo singles followed upon
the unit's demise, but Payne achieved a higher profile upon replacing
Jean Terrell in the Supremes. She remained with the trio between 1974
and 1976, contributing to High Energy and Mary, Scherrie And Susaye
(both 1976). After the break-up of the Supremes, she made one
unsuccessful album with fellow ex-Supreme Susaye Green, in 1979,
before resuming her own career with "Incredible".
"Testify", a duet with Philip Ingram, reached the lower
R&B chart during 1987. (mn-cl-music.us)
1952
First British Chart Published. Nat King Cole was the only Black entrant.(mn-jt)
1954
Alexander O'Neil soul
singer born today in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. O'Neal was one of
the best-known soul crooners of the late 80s. In 1978, he joined
Flyte Tyme with future producers Jimmy Jam And Terry Lewis. The group
(as Time) became the backing band for Prince, although O'Neal was
soon dismissed for insubordination. During the early 80s, he began a
solo career as a vocalist, making his first recordings with Jam and
Lewis producing in 1984. The resulting album was issued by the local
Tabu label, and contained R&B hits with "A Broken Heart Can
Mend", "Innocent" (a duet with Cherrelle) and "If
You Were Here Tonight". The latter reached the UK Top 20 in
1986, after Cherrelle's "Saturday Love" (which featured
O'Neal) had been an even bigger success there. His career was
interrupted by treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, but O'Neal
broke through to the mainstream US audience in 1987/8 with his second
album and the singles "Fake", "Criticize" and
"Never Knew Love Like This", another collaboration with
Cherrelle. (mn-music.us)
1954
Dr.
Condoleezaa Rice
born in Birmingham, Alabama, US National Security Advisor she earned
her bachelor's degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta
Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her master's from the
University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate
School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981.
She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has
been awarded honorary doctorates from Morehouse College in 1991, the
University of Alabama in 1994, the University of Notre Dame in 1995,
the National Defence University in 2002, the Mississippi College
School of Law in 2003, the University of Louisville and Michigan
State University in 2004. She resides in Washington, D.C. (us-guv)
1975
Cuban troops save the MPLA government in Angola by defeating an
invading South African army. Several Jamaican 45s - including the
Revolutionaries' MPLA and Angola - express solidarity with liberation
struggles in southern Africa. (mn-sb/pd-tr)
1996
Michael Jackson singer marries nurse Debbie Rowe. After she has two
children he divorces her in 1999. (mn-tx)
1997
Jimmy Cliff internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter was awarded a
honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of the West
Indies, this is the third honour that has been bestowed on him by his
country. (tr-gleaner)
15th.
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JOE LEASHEY/BILL RICHMOND & YOUNG RICHMOND
1825
Sarah
Jane Woodson feminist
is born in Chillicothe, Ohio, USA. (tr-iokts)
1881
Black
Invention: The
Swinging Chair, Payton Johnson. (sc)
1887
Black Invention:
Railway telegraph, Granville T. Woods, known as the 'Black Edison',
patents this allowing messages sent without the use of Morse Code.
1898
Black
Invention:
Oil Cup, Elijah McCoy. (sc)
1929
Joe Hinton,
soul singer born in Evansville, Indiana, USA. d. 13 August
1968, Boston, USA. Hinton recorded a string of R&B singles for
the Texas-based Back Beat label in the late 50s and 60s, the
best-known of which, a cover version of Willie Nelson's
"Funny", reached the Top 20 in the USA in August 1964.
Hinton first applied his falsetto to gospel music with the Blair
Singers and the Spirit Of Memphis Quartet. He moved to Memphis,
Tennessee, to work with the latter group, who recorded for the
Peacock label. In 1958 Peacock president Don Robey convinced Hinton
to switch to secular music and in 1958 signed him to the Back Beat
subsidiary. Hinton's first single for the label was "Ladder of
Love", which did not sell well. It was not until the 1963
"You Know It Ain't Right" that Hinton reached the charts,
at number 20. After one other minor chart single, "Better To
Give Than Receive", Hinton had his greatest success with the
Nelson ballad, which rose to number 13 in 1964. There was one further
single in the charts that year, "I Want A Little Girl", but
Hinton's career declined after that. He recorded for Backbeat until
1968, when he died of skin cancer. (mn-cl-music.us)
1932
Clyde Mc Phatter soul
singer with Billy Ward & Dominoes, The Drifters and later a solo
artist, born in Durham, North Carolina, USA. For three years,
McPhatter was the lead singer in the seminal R&B vocal group
Billy Ward And His Dominoes. He left in 1953 to form the Drifters,
whose early releases were enhanced by the singer's emotional,
gospel-drenched delivery. In 1954 McPhatter was drafted into the US
Army, where he entertained fellow servicemen. Such work prompted a
solo career, and the vibrant "Seven Days" (1956) was
followed by several other superb performances, many of which,
including "Treasure Of Love", "Without Love (There Is
Nothing)" and "A Lover's Question", became R&B
standards. A hugely influential figure, McPhatter inspired a
generation of singers. His work was covered by Elvis Presley, Ry
Cooder and Otis Redding, but his departure from the Atlantic Records
label to MGM Records in 1959 precipitated an artistic decline. He had
several minor hits on Mercury Records during the early 60s, and
arguably his finest work was the US Top 10 single "Lover
Please" in 1962. (Died 13/6/72). (mn-music.us)
1937
Little Willie John
brother of singer Maybell John, also a singer born in Cullendale,
Arkansas, USA. (Dies 26/5/68)
1941
Percy
Sledge soul
singer born in Leighton, Alabama, USA. An informal, intimate singer,
former hospital nurse Sledge led a popular campus attraction, the
Esquires Combo, prior to his recording debut. Recommended to Quin
Ivy, owner of the Norala Sound studio, Sledge arrived with a
rudimentary draft of "When A Man Loves A Woman". A timeless
single, its simple arrangement hinged on Spooner Oldham's organ sound
and the singer's homely, nasal intonation. Released in 1966, it was a
huge international hit, setting the tone for Sledge's subsequent
path. A series of emotional, poignant ballads followed, poised
between country and soul, but none achieved a similar commercial
profile. "It Tears Me Up", "Out Of Left Field"
(both 1967) and "Take Time To Know Her" (1968) nonetheless
stand among southern soul's finest achievements. Having left Atlantic
Records, Sledge re-emerged on Capricorn in 1974 with I'll Be Your
Everything, which included the R&B Top 20 title track. Two 80s
collections of re-recorded hits, Percy and Wanted Again, confirm the
singer's intimate yet unassuming delivery. Released in Britain
following the runaway success of a resurrected "When A Man Loves
A Woman" (the song reached number 2 in 1987 after featuring in a
Levi's advertisement), they are not diminished by comparison. In 1994
Sledge recorded his first all-new set for some time, the excellent
Blue Night on Sky Ranch, which capitalized on the Sledge "strong
suit", the slow-burning countrified soul-ballad, even although
the sessions were recorded in Los Angeles. The appearance of
musicians such as Steve Cropper and Bobby Womack helped to ensure the
success of the album. (mn-music.us)
1952
Michael Cooper
of soul group Con Funk Shun is born. Formed initially in 1968 as
Project Soul by Mike Cooper (guitar, sitar, timbales, percussion,
vocals) and Louis McCall (drums, vocals), the group's rise began when
they accepted an offer to back the Soul Children, necessitating a
move from California to Memphis. Upon arrival in 1972, Project Soul
became Con Funk Shun, having been augmented by group members Karl
Fuller (trumpet, flgelhorn, vocals), Paul Harrell (saxophone,
flute, vocals), Cedric Martin (bass and vocals), Felton Pilate
(trombone, bass trumpet, piano, synthesizer, acoustic guitar, vocals)
and Danny Thomas (clavinet, piano, synthesizer, organ, vocals). To
make ends meet they initially worked as a Stax Records studio band.
After recording a couple of singles with small local label Fretone
they signed with Mercury Records, releasing their debut album in
1976. The following year they achieved a gold disc with Secrets,
aided by the success of "Ffun", which would go Top 30 in
early 1978. Further albums consolidated their success, but the lack
of a focal point within the group (as opposed to contemporaries such
as Lionel Richie and the Commodores) meant they were never likely to
attain superstar status. In the mid-80s they split, with Felton
Pilate becoming an in-demand producer. (mn-jt-music.us)
1954
Tony Thompson of
soul group Chic is born. Probably the band of the disco generation,
Chic was built around Nile Rodgers (Born 19 September 1952, New York,
USA; guitar) and Bernard Edwards (Born 31 October 1952, Greenville,
North Carolina, USA, d. 18 April 1996, Tokyo, Japan; bass). During
the 60s Rodgers had played in a rock group, New World Rising, before
joining the Apollo Theatre house band. Edwards had played with
several struggling musicians prior to meeting his future partner
through a mutual friend. They both joined the Big Apple Band in 1971,
which subsequently toured, backing hit group New York City. Chic
evolved out of a collection of demos that Edwards and Rodgers had
recorded. Two female singers, Norma Jean Wright and Luci Martin, were
added to the line-up, along with Tony Thompson (Born 15 November
1954, New York, USA, d. 12 November 2003, Encino, California, USA), a
former drummer with LaBelle. Wright later left for a solo career and
was replaced by Alfa Anderson. (mn-jt-music.us)
1962
Starkey
Banton,
reggae singer born David Murray, Hammersmith, London. Banton began
his career on the sound system circuit in and around west London
during the mid-70s, performing under the name Starkey Super. He
eventually changed his name to Banton in acknowledgment of the
Jamaican patois term for a DJ "full of lyrics". Initially,
he maintained a low profile, working with many of the UK's top DJs,
including Sweetie Irie, Chuckie Star and General Levy. In 1993 he
released his debut, "Lover Dread", a conscientious
recording at a time when slackness and gun lyrics were in fashion.
The sessions led to further releases, including the authoritative
"Blackman Memories" and an ode to marijuana, "Ganja
Baby". By 1994 he had joined the One Love crew, who released the
favoured "Wicked Man", leading to combination hits with
Sweetie Irie and Horace Andy. With the advent and popularity of
jungle music in the UK Starkey caused a major controversy when he
released "Jungle Bungle" through Fashion Records; the song
became a summer anthem and, along with his subsequent releases,
fuelled the jungle versus ragga debate. Banton maintained a high
profile with the release of "Fire The Gal", "Don't
Diss The Rass", and a guest appearance on Danny Dread's
"Rolling Stone". He also appeared at the 1995 Jamaican
Reggae Sunsplash Festival. Banton's partnership with Fashion led to
further hits, including the contentious "Nah Wear Nuh
Versace" (the song was inauspiciously released on the day the
designer was killed, somewhat eclipsing the essence of the tune). In
1997 he released a well-received mini-album, which featured Mykal
Rose ("Love King Selassie"), with whom he also appeared on
"Release Me" and "Another Day In Babywrong".
Banton later embarked on session work for the eagerly anticipated
Ancient Spirit. (music.us)
1974 The
Black Man In Britain: 1550-1950
- Only the second television programme thus far acknowledging
pre-1950 black people in Britain is broadcasted. A five part series
exploring the history of black people in Britain shown on BBC2.
(first was on 24.1.71) (mn-sb)
1986
Freddie Jackson replaced his own no.1 in US R&B chart when 'A
Little Bit More', his duet with Melba Moore, was supplanted by his
solo single, 'Tasty Love', (mn-jt)
1996
A 25 mile long column of Huto refugees began leaving Zaire for
Rwanda. (mn-tx)
1988
Pirates Seek Legit Airways Slot.
Read the headline in a local news paper, talking about PCRL's plight
against the D.T.I. (mn-cm)
1996
Rankin' Festus, one of our longest serving D.J.'s on PCRL Radio
Birmingham (12 years at this time), is found guilty at Birmingham
Magistrate Court and is fined £1500 + £500 costs for
illegal broadcasting. (mn)
1998
Stokely
Carmichael dies.
While attending Howard University (1960-64) he became the leader of
the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, changing its focus
from integration to "black liberation" and "black
power," stressed the need for black-run organizations and self
defence. Gifted and articulate, he was prime minister of the Black
Panthers in Oakland, California (1967-69) and for many symbolized
black violence. He and his South African wife Miriam Makeba, lived in
Guinea for a while, and wrote Stokely Speaks (1971), a book that
dealt largely with his new interest in Pan-Africanism. (mn-ss)
1999
Lady J.C. a PCRL presenter is fined after pleading guilty to a charge
of illegal broadcasting at Birmingham Magistrate Court and fined only
£200 and remanded for one year after pointing out to the judge
that she has made many contributions to local/international community
work. (mn)
16th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT PRIZE FIGHTERS:
178:
TOM
MOLINEAUX (1784-1821)
JAHSIAH
B BORN TODAY (PCRL presenter)
1892
King Behanzin of Dahomey (now Benin), leads soldiers against the
French. (tr-iokts)
1904
William Henry Hastie,
jurist and governor of the Virgin Islands, born in Knoxville, Tn., USA>
1943
Winfred
Lovett
singer with The Manhattans born. The band was formed in 1960 in
Newark, New Jersey, USA. Lovett left in 1971. (mn-jt)
1945
Lillian
Lopez
of soul group Odyssey is born. (mn-jt)
1957 Sauders
of the River
- Is first shown on British television. To complaints that the film
is a hymn to colonialism, and an embarrassment to watch. It stared
Paul Robeson who said that extra filming took place unbeknown to him.
1961
Franklin
Roy Bruno WBC
World Champion boxer born in Hammersmith General Hospital (his first
family home was at Battersea, and later at Wandsworth). His Ring
record: 45 contests, 40 victorys. His only defeats have been by James
'Bonecrusher' Smith and in world titles fights against Tim
Witherspoon, Mike Tyson (twice) and Lennox Lewis. He won the World
WBC Title in 1995 against Oliver McCall, and lost it to Tyson in 1996
after 3 rounds in Las Vagas on March 16th. (mn-ng)
1973
Adrian (Adie) Roosevelt Mike,
6'0", 11.9 footballer born in Manchester, England.
International Honours: E: Yth; Sch. (bh-mn)
1980
O.V. Wright,
soul-blues singer, dies, Mobile, Ala., USA. Born October 9,
1939 Overton Vertis Wright in Memphis. One of deep soul's most
impressive stylists, his first recordings were in the gospel
tradition and it was while a member of the Harmony Echoes that he
became acquainted with Roosevelt Jamison. This aspiring songwriter
penned the singer's debut, That's How Strong My Love Is, impassioned
ballad covered later by Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones. (rs-cl)
1985
Whitney Houston Make her chart debut when 'Saving All My Love For
You' entered at No.60 on it's way to becoming her first No.1 a month
later. (mn-jt)
1997
Jamaica's football team (the Reggae Boys), qualifies for the World
Cup. Only two other Caribbean nations - Cuba/Haiti - have qualified
for the World Cup before, in 1934 and 1974 respectively (mn-tr-voice)
17th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: PRIZE FIGHTERS:
179:
SAM
ROBINSON/HARRY SUTTON & MASSA KENDRICK
1636
Henrique Dias, Brazilian general, wins a decisive battle against the
Dutch in Brazil. (tr-iokts)
1916
Winson
Hudson born.
(tr-bl)
1947
Buckweat Zydeco,
bandleader, born Stanley Dural, Jr., Lafayette, La, USA. In the
1980s Dural moved Zydeco music into mainstream by adding liberal
doses of R&B, blues, rock, soul and pop to the Louisiana dance
music, touring with U2, Eric Clapton and Robert Cray made him the
best known Zydeco act of the 80's. (mn-rs)
1979
Jamaica born Arthur Lewis is named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
for research into Economic Development.
1980
WHMM-TV, Howard University, becomes the first black public
broadcasting TV station in the USA.
2006
Ruth
Brown
dies (a.k.a Ruth Alston Weston) born 30th January 1928, Portsmouth,
Virginia, U.S.A. died in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. she was 78. Ruth
won Grammy and a Tony awards, died of complications from a
stroke and heart attack at a Las Vegas-area hospital. (soulwalking)
18th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: PRIZE FIGHTERS:
180:
JAMES WHARTON (1813-1856)
1900
Howard
Thurman,
American theologian and author born on this day. Dies 1981. (mn)
1928
Dennis Binder,
blues man born. Took up keyboards in the church as a youth in
Rosedale, Mississippi, where he was born. Settled in Chicago around
1939, turning his talents to singing after trying his luck as a
dancer. He recored sessions for Modern/United & Sun labels. (mn-bd)
1936
Hank
Ballard soul
singer born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. In the early 50s, gospel-tinged
vocalist Hank Ballard and his group the Midnighters recorded some of
the raciest songs in rhythm and blues. Hits such as Work With Me
Annie, Sexy Ways and Annie Had A Baby, had enough sexual intonations
that many radio stations wouldn't play them. (mn-cl-rs)
1940
Josh
Altheimer,
blues-pianist dies aged 30. Early Chicago blues pianist, known for
his richly percussive accompaniments, Josh played on a number of
Lester Melrose-sponsored recording sessions in the 1930s for the
Bluebird Label. (mn-rs)
1983
"Sweet Honey in the Rock", a cappella singers, perform
their 10th anniversary reunion concert in Washington, D.C.
1989
Shangri'las
Win, Three Degrees Lose. The
Three Degrees are told their name belongs their former manager
Richard Barrett, while the Shangri'las was told they could license
their group name to whoever they wanted. (mn-jt)
1992
Wayne
Bennett,
blues guitarist with Bobby Bland's group, dies, New Orleans, La,
USA. Although not a soloist he ranks as one of the great rhythm and
blues guitarists. He suffered a fatal heart attack. (mn-rs)
1994
Cab Calloway singer/drummer/MC
dies. Famous for his extroverted manner, flamboyant zoot-suited
appearance, and scat singing - his Hi-Di-Hi became part of the
language - Calloway led one of the most successful bands of the
1930s, making major contributions to jazz though the quality of
musicians he hired and allowed to solo. Born in Rochester, New York,
and raised in Baltimore, as a versatile song-and-dance man he began
fronting bands in Chicago in 1928 and began fame when his band
replace Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club in 1931 (mn-cl-ss)
2010
Ron aka Original
Don
a PCRL DJ was laid to rest. Service was at the New
Testiment Church Of God, Gilson Way, Kingshurst, Birmingham B37.
Internment: Woodland Cemetry,
Birmingham Road, Birmingham B46 1DP. Refreshments: The
Labour Club, 51 Clopton Cresent,
Birmingham B37 6QU. Since the close down of PCRL he had presented a
show on Newstyle radio. (pilot)
19th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: PRIZE FIGHTERS:
181:
MASSA
SUTTON & JOHN PERRY
0496
Saint
Gelasius I,
dies, and like all black popes was canonized as a saint. He was the
3rd African pope to Rome. He became the 49th pope after Saint Peter
and the head of the Catholic Church just over 1500 years ago in 492
AD. His reign was short lived - a little over four years. During this
period, Gelasius did all that was necessary to establish the future
security of the Roman Catholic Church. He is celebrated on November
21st. (mn-voice)
1797
Sojourner
Truth,
abolitionist and women's rights advocate, is born in New York, USA.
On January 25, 1851 Sojourner Truth addresses the first Black Women's
Rights Convention, Ackron, Ohio. On May 28, 1851 she attends Women's
Rights Convention. She met most of the white abolitionists, and she
was received by Abraham Lincoln at the White House. Only Fredrick
Douglas outshone her in eloquence. Dies November 26, 1883 in Battle
Creek, Mi. (mn-ss
1878
Charles
S. Gilpin,
actor, born. James Weldon Johnson once wrote that Charles Gilpin
"by his work in the Emperor Jones ... reached the highest point
of achieving on the legitimate stage that had been attained by a
Negro in America." In 1921 Gilpin won the converted Spingarn
Medal for his contribution to the theatre and the progress of the
Negro. (mn-ss)
1979
Chuck Berry released from prison after serving a short sentence
for tax evasion. (mn-jt)
1983
Tina Turner returns to the charts after ten years with 'Let's Stay
Together' her first hit since 'Nut Bush City Limits'. She ended the
1980s a world superstar. (mn-jt)
2011
Basil
Lewis D'Oliveira
CBE dies. (4 October 1931 - 19 November 2011)He was a South
African-born cricketer. D'Oliveira was classified as 'coloured' under
the apartheid regime, and hence barred from first-class cricket. He
captained South Africa's national non-white cricket team, and also
played football for the non-white national side. D'Oliveira played in
forty four Test matches, and four ODIs for England. Despite his
cricketing prowess, he was best known because of the "D'Oliveira
affair", centred around his inclusion in the England side for a
planned tour to South Africa in 1968. In 2000, he was nominated as
one of 10 South African cricketers of the century, despite not having
played for South Africa. In 2004, a perpetual trophy was struck for
Test series between England and South Africa, and named the 'Basil
D'Oliveira Trophy'. In 2005, he was awarded a CBE in the Queen's
Birthday Honours. In the same year, journalist Peter Oborne wrote a
well-received biography, entitled Basil D'Oliveira: Cricket and
Conspiracy, which was accompanied by Paul Yule's RTS award-winning
documentary Not Cricket—The Basil D'Oliveira Conspiracy. In the
same year, a stand at New Road, Worcester was named in his honour. (mn-wiki)
20th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT:PRIZE FIGHTERS:
182:
JEMMY
ROBINSON & BOB TRAVERS
1695
Zumbi dos Palmares,
Brazilian leader of a hundred-year-old rebel slave group, is killed
in an ambush. (tr-iokts)
1910
Pauli
Murray,
the first female African-American priest to be ordained in the
Episcopal Church, is born. This church is the oldest and largest
institution amongst African-Americans, and was founded in
Philadelphia by Richard Allen in 1787. (tr-iokts-ss)
1923
Black Invention: Traffic
lights, Garrett A. Morgan receives U.S. patent for this modern-day
essential item.
1944
New Constitution in Jamaica
- ministerial government, the most advanced at the time in the
British West Indies - was useful for it's period. It proved a system
under which official, nominated and elected members were expected to
share responsibility for governmental decisions. (mn-cb)
1970 Phife,
friendly rapper from Queens, USA, real name Malik Taylor and member
of A Tribe Called Quest, born today. (mn-ms)
1982 Pop
Pirates Chart A Hit.
Read the headline in the Birmingham Evening Mail, it also showed a
photograph of Radio Star DJ, Papa Stone. Radio Star was PCRL's
earlier name. (mn)
1998
Roland
Alphonso,
core member of seminal reggae group the Skatalites dies. He had been
struggling with heart problems for some time, collapsed on stage in
New York six days earlier. (mn-echoes)
2007
Bob
Relf
dies in Bakersfield, Kern County, California, U.S.A. a.k.a. Bobby
Byrd & Bobby Day. ( b. Robert Nelson Relf, 10th January 1937, Los
Angeles, 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 in 1952 &
Bobby Day as a solo artiste. Remembered by UK Northern Soul fans for: Blowing
My Mind To Pieces/Girl You're Some Kind Of Wonderful on
Transamerican Records. (mn)
21st.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: PRIZE FIGHTERS:
183:
BOB
SMITH & BOBBY DOBBS
1865
Shaw University is founded in Raleigh, N.C., USA. (tr-iokts)
1866
Duse
Mohammed Effendi,
Egyptian Pan-Africanise, born.
1904
Colman
Hawkins,
jazz musician born. (aka "Bean" and "Hawk") is a
colossus of the tenor saxophone, and hence of jazz. He was the first
to use the instrument as a serious means of expression and continued
to be open to new developments for 40 years. Starting piano lessons
at the age of five, he later learned cello and took up tenor
saxophone when he was nine years old. (mn-jt)
1941
David
Porter producer/singer
born today in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He sang on Savoy and Hi
Records before he tried to sell life insurance to Isaac Hayes. The
two teamed up for production work on many early Stax hit records. (mn)
1948
Lonnie
Jordan,
with the band War born Leroy Jordan.Veterans of the Californian west
coast circuit, the core of War's line-up - Leroy "Lonnie"
Jordan (Born 21 November 1948, San Diego, California, USA;
keyboards), Howard Scott (Born 15 March 1946, San Pedro, California,
USA; guitar), Charles Miller (Born 2 June 1939, Olathe, Kansas, USA; flute/saxophone),
Morris "BornBorn" Dickerson (Born 3 August 1949, Torrence,
California, USA; bass) and Harold Brown (Born 17 March 1946, Long
Beach, California, USA; drums) - had made several records under
different names including the Creators, the Romeos and Senor Soul. In
1969, the quintet was working as Nightshift, an instrumental group,
when ex-Animals lead singer, Eric Burdon, adopted them as his backing
band. Renamed War, the ensemble was completed by Lee Oskar (Born
Oskar Levetin Hansen, 24 March 1948, Copenhagen, Denmark; harmonica)
and "Papa" Dee Allen (Born 18 July 1931, Wilmington,
Delaware, USA, d. 29 August 1988; percussion). (mn-jt)
1948
Alphonse Mouzon,
Jazz musician born. Mouzon started playing when he was four years
old and was taught drums at high school. He relocated to New York
when he was 17 and in 1969 played in the Broadway musical Promises,
Promises. He released his first record in the same year, with Gil
Evans. He freelanced for a time before playing with Weather Report in
1971, McCoy Tyner (1972-73), Larry Coryell's Eleventh House (1973-75)
and in a trio with Albert Mangelsdorff and Jaco Pastorius. After that
Mouzon again freelanced until he joined Herbie Hancock in the late
70s. Later recordings such as Early Spring (1988) and The Survivor
(1992) edged towards smooth mainstream jazz, alienating some fans and
critics. In 1996 he released a new album and landed a small part in
the Tom Hanks movie That Thing You Do. Mouzon tries to bring
"jazz polyrhythms to a rock pulse" and in this he succeeds,
with his furiously propulsive drumming which is as welcome in a rock
setting as in straight jazz. (mn-jt-music.us)
1951
In
memory of Henrietta Lacks.
The first of it's case where by her cancerous cells continued to
grow way after her death. Her cells were used by the world of science
to gather valuable knowledge on a cure for cancer, her cells gave
birth to the polio vaccination and these cells are still growing till
this day and are still being used by scientists. Many companies made
great profits from her cancerous cells, but the 'white' scientists
never acknowledged her great input. These cancerous cells are known
simply as 'Hela', without her family's knowledge or permission. (sc)
22nd.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18TH. CENT. BIOGRAPHIES:
184:
FRANCIS
WILLIAMS (1700?-?)
1778
Ackee trees were brought from West Africa to the Caribbean. Ackee and
salt-fish has become the national dish of Jamaica. (sc)
1870 Scotia
Seminary opened on this date,
Scotia Seminary was chartered by the State of North Carolina.
As a learning institution for Black girls, Scotia was founded in 1867
as a strict prim Presbyterian school located roughly fifteen miles
north of Charlotte in the cotton-mill town of Concord. In 1932,
responding to the wave of interest in junior colleges and greater
responsibility for Black secondary education, Scotia merged with
Barber College for Women in Anniston, Alabama. The transformed
school, Scotia-Barber College was typical in basic functions,
tuition, many secondary programs and in its private sponsorship. Yet
the majority of Scotia’s faculty held masters degrees, more than
half were enrolled in college programs, and all of them were women. (aareg)
1884
Christopher
Perry founded the Philadelphia Tribune.
It is the oldest continually published non-church newspaper, first
published in 1885. Reference: The Encyclopedia Britannica, Fifteenth
Edition. Copyright 1996 Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. ISBN 0-85229-633-0
1888
Camille
Nickerson
is born. She was an African-American musician, composer, and
administrator. Nickerson was born into a talented musical family in
the French Quarter of New Orleans. At the age of nine she was the
pianist for the Nickerson Ladies' Orchestra directed by her father.
She attended Oberlin Conservatory earning a bachelor of music in 1916
and Masters in Music degree in 1932. She also was a member of Pi
Kappa Lambda and the national honor society in music. While at
Oberlin, she began to compose and publish Creole music. (aareg)
1930
Elijah
Muhammad joins The Nation of Islam.
Born Elijah Pool, October 7, 1897 in Sanderville, Georgia, the
founder of the Black Muslims becomes a most influential leader. Born
to former slaves and sharecroppers. On this day he joined the Nation
of Islam, founded and led by W.D. Fard in Detroit, who became Pool's
spiritual leader. After Fard's disappearance in 1934 Pool emerged as
Elijah Muhammad, the divine leader of the Nation of Islam. Many of
his teachings live on in minister Louis Farrakhan's Final Call to
Islam, a break away group. (Dies 1975) (mn-ss?)
1946
Aston
Francis Barrett,
Bass player/writer/arranger originally with The Reggae Boys later
with The Wailers born Kingston Jamaica. (tr)
1963
Kennedy
Assassination Spoils Spector's Xmas.
'A Christmas Gift For You' an album of Phil Spector's artists sold
very little because of U.S. president J.F. Kennedy's assassination. (mn-jt)
1972
Patra,
reggae DJ/singer born, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. A DJ, singer
and hopeful actor widely touted/hyped as the female equivalent of
Shabba Ranks, Patra (formerly Lady Patra) signed to the same
management, under the aegis of Clifton "Specialist" Dillon,
in 1989. She also shares the same record company, Epic. Accordingly,
with the new, commercial expectations placed on her shoulders, her
material has moved from strict dancehall to include smooth love
songs. Patra was brought up singing in churches in Westmoreland,
where she moved from Kingston at an early age. Her ambition as a
child was always evident, and she soon entered neighbourhood
singing/DJing competitions in high school. Early supporters, who
included Major Mackerel, encouraged her to return to Kingston and try
her luck in the studios. Gussie Clarke was the first to
"voice" her after she had been declined by several others.
Such rejections were only a short-term problem, however. Following
the sessions with Clarke, she found herself in demand by Shocking
Vibes, Exterminator and several others. Sides such as "Holler Fe
The Wok", "Visa Hole", "Man Me Love" and
"Worky Worky' showcased her considerable talents. On the back of
this moderate success she played her first major show at the Sting
"88 celebrations. By the time the contract with Epic was
secured, Patra's singing voice had taken precedence over her DJ
skills, as highlighted by the single "Sweet Memories", the
first product of new sessions (though it was actually released by
Tachyon's Sonny Ochai). Curiously, it rose to number 1 in the
Japanese reggae charts, but Epic will surely demand more concrete
domestic success in return for their investment. (mn-cl-music.us)
1986
George Branham is the first African American to win a professional
Bowlers Association title. (tr-iokts)
1997
Father Hovis, PCRL presenter wins The National Revival Cup Challenge
for third year running. 'Revival' being term used for old Jamaican
45's. (mn)
1997
Haile Selassie's, Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie Hail Selassie,
visited the birthplace and final resting place of Reggae king Bob
Marley at Nine Miles, St. Ann, Jamaica. (tr-rr)
1998
The funeral of 'X Black Panther'
Stokeley Carmichael takes place in Guyana, a week after his death
from prostrate cancer. (mn)
23rd.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 18TH.CENT.BIOGRAPHIES:
185:
AYUBA
SULEIMAN DIALLO
(1701? - 1773)
1897
Black
Invention:
Pencil Sharpener, patented by John L. Love. (S.C.).
1897
Black
Invention:
Rail road car coupler, A. J. Beard patents his life-saving device.
1926
R.L. Burnside,
born, Oxford, Mississippi, USA. Burnside is a northern Mississippi
guitarist whose whiskered, bristly blues recalls an earlier style
heard by the likes of Mississippi Fred McDowell and Bukka White. (mn-rs)
1934
'Imitation of Life '
premiers in New York, N.Y., USA. (tr-iokts)
1939
Betty
Everett
soul singer born in Greenwood, Mississippi, USA. She gained her
initial experience singing gospel before relocating to Chicago. Here
she moved into the secular R&B field, initially with a solo
release Your Love Is Important to Me and a US hit Your No Good during
the early 60's. In 1964 she had a million seller with The Shoop Shoop
Song (It's In His Kiss) and recorded duets with Jerry Butler. In the
UK her hits were Getting Mighty Crowded and The Shop Shoop Song (It's
In His Kiss). (mn)
1982
Arena (Upon Westminster Bridge)
is shown on BBC2 - Profile of Jamaican 'dub' poet Michael
Smith, including an appearance by the Caribbean Marxist historian
C.L.R. James and Smith's visit to the Bristol grave of Scipio
Africanus, a slave who died in 1720. (mn-sb)
1985
Big
Joe Turner soul/R&B
artist dies. R&B became Rock-N-Roll when Shake Rattle and Roll
was recorded on February 15th. 1954 by Joe Turner. (Born May 11,
1911) (mn-jt)
1995
Junior Walker saxophonist/singer
with Motown Records dies from cancer. Born Oscar G. Mixon, a.k.a.
Autry De Walt III, June 14, 1941 Blytheville, AK, USA. Best
remembered for hits like Shotgun, Roadrunner, What does it take and
These Eyes. Jr Walker and the All Stars was a great act to see live.
He toured until his death in 1995. (interview: Mickey Nold archives
Tape 113) (mn)
2000
Bobby Sheen,
the 'Bob B. Soxx' of Phil Spector's Blue Jeans', dies aged 57. (mn-i-t-b)
2006 Tiger
Woods has won his
seventh PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Poipu Beach, Hawaii, with a
two-stroke victory over Jim Furyk. He finished with a with 6-under
66. He has been victorious eight times this year, including the
British Open and PGA. Woods earned $500,000 for the win, with
Furyk taking home $300,000 for second. U.S. Open champion Geoff
Ogilvy, who came in third, said of Tiger: “Any time you get to
play with him, it’s a privilege. You can learn something from
him.” (mn)
24th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 18TH. CENT. BIOGRAPHIES:
186:
WILLIAM ANSAH
PCRL
PRESENTER T.N.T. Born
National
Holiday, Anniversary of the New Regime-Republic of Zaire.
1868
Scott
Joplin,
famous for his early developments of ragtime is born in Texarkana,
USA. d. 1 April 1917, New York City, New York, USA. Joplin's father
was born into slavery, becoming a freedman with Emancipation in 1863.
A musical individual, he encouraged the musical aspirations of his
sons and daughters. Scott Joplin, who was originally self-taught,
moved to St. Louis while still in his teens, by which time he was an
accomplished pianist. Although adept in various styles, including
that of contemporary classicists such as Louis M. Gottschalk, Joplin
excelled in the currently popular ragtime music. (music.us)
1941
[Donald
Dunn,
bass player for Booker T. & MG's and 90% of Stax hit records born
in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.]The quartet appeared on all of the
company's notable releases, including "In The Midnight Hour"
(Wilson Pickett), "Hold On I'm Comin'" (Sam And Dave),
"Walking The Dog" (Rufus Thomas), and a creative
partnership with Otis Redding. Although Jones divided his time
between recording and studying at Indiana University (he subsequently
earned a BA in music), the MGs (Memphis Group) continued to chart
consistently in their own right. "Hang 'Em High" (1968) and
"Time Is Tight" (1969) were both US Top 10 singles, while
as late as 1971 "Melting Pot" climbed into the same Top 50.
The group split that year. (mn)
1943
Richard Tee soul
pianist born in New York, USA. He's one of New York's top session
musicians, Richard established himself during the early 70's. While
working for Aretha Franklin he met Eric Gale with whom he has
recorded sessions over the years in addition to their playing
together in a group called Stuff. Also worked for Motown and CTI
Labels as a staff arranger. (mn-rt)
1997
Man
suing cops faces charges. Read
the headline in the national Voice newspaper. Cee Jay (a PCRL radio
DJ at the time) has been found guilty at Sutton Coalfield
Magistrate's Court for failing to stop for the police. (this
judgement went to appeal in March 1998 and was overturned). So Cee
Jay still has a 'squeaky clean' driving licence even though he has
been stopped over 34 times by the police. (mn-cj)
25th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 18TH.CENT.BIOGRAPHIES:
187:
FRANCIS
BARBER (1735?-1801)
Independence
Day - Republic of Suriname
1914
Eddie
Boyd,
blues pianist, born, Clarksville, Miss, USA. Popular post-World War
II Chicago blues player and singer is best known for his 1952 hit
Five Years Long, which has since become a blues standard. (mn-rs)
1931
Nat
Adderley,
younger brother of Cannonball Adderley singer/trumpet player born
this day. He was a singer until his voice broke and he took up the
trumpet. In 1954 Lionel Hampton asked him to join his riotously
swinging, R&B-infected big band, he stayed for one year. Later he
played for Woody Herman and J.J. Johnson. He played throughout the
60/70's with his brother's combo until his death in 1975. (mn-cl)
1941
Percy
Sledge,
soul singer born. Best remembered for the hit 'When A Man Loves A
Woman' (mn-jt) [duplicate]
1955
The Interstate Commerce Commission bans segregation in interstate
travel. (tr-iokts)
1960
Amy Grant, hugely influential gospel singer born in Augusta, Georgia,
USA. (mn-cl)
1968
Erick
S. Sermon,
hard-core, boasts and money talk rapper from Brentwood, Long Island
and member of EPMD born today. (mn-ms)
26th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 18TH.CENT.BIOGRAPHIES
188:
PHILIP
QUAQUE (1741-1816)
PCRL
PRESENTER SHAWN KING IS BORN ON THIS DAY
1883
Sojourner Truth,
poet, freedom fighter, dies in Battle Creek, Mi. Abolitionist and
women's rights advocate, is born in New York, USA. On January 25,
1851 Sojourner Truth addresses the first Black Women's Rights
Convention, Ackron, Ohio. On May 28, 1851 she attends Women's Rights
Convention. She met most of the white abolitionists, and she was
received by Abraham Lincoln at the White House. Only Frederick
Douglas outshone her in eloquence. (Born 17/11/1797) (mn-ss)
1933
Garnet Mimms (singer
with the Enchanters) born on this day in Ashland, West Virginia,
USA. Raised in Philadelphia and by 1954 he was singing in gospel
groups and in 1958 he fronted the Enchanters before going solo in
1964. On Loma Records he had hits One Girl (1964), A Quiet Place
(1964), A little Bit Of Soap (1965), I'll Take Good Care of You
(1966), and Looking for You (1966). (mn-rt)
1939
Tina Turner born
Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee, USA. The daughter of a
Cherokee Indian and African American father. The saga of Tina
Turner's escape from an abusive relationship with husband Ike has
often obscured the duo's status as seminal R&B and rock'n'roll
pioneers. Phil Spector produced her first hit River Deep Mountain
High. But the beatings she received from Ike and his escalating drug
abuse eventually prompted her to leave him in 1976. Loss of
confidence held her back until she made a cover version of Let's Stay
Together, she soon turned into an 80's rock legend. (mn-ed/gg)
1958
Tiny
Bradshaw,
big band musician/R&B singer, dies, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
1965
Desmond Sinclair (Des) Walker,
5'11", 11.13 footballer born in Hackney, London, England. Club
Honours: FLC '89, '90; FMC '89, '92. International Honours: E: 59;
U21-7. Sampodoria paid Nottingham Forest £1,500,000 for him on
1/8/92 and Sheffield Wednesday paid £2,700,000 for him on
22/7/93. (bh-mn)
1968
O.J. Simpson 'Juice' is named Heisman Trophy Winner for 1968. This
sports legend career is now over-cast by the murder trial of the
mid-90's, where he was acquitted for the murder of his 'white' blonde
wife. He is now fighting for custody of his children. (mn)
1970
Charlie Gordone receives Pulitzer Prize for his play 'No Place to be Somebody'.
1999
[James Shaw, 57 one of the founders of the National Front (NF), was
jailed for nine years at the Old Bailey. Police arrested him by
chance in Chiswick, west London, in April. He was found carrying two
home-made bombs in a bag - built to blow up trains.] (mn-voice)
2006
Tony
Sylvester,
singer with Main Ingrediant died. (soulwalking)
27th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 18TH.CENT.BIOGRAPHIES
189:
JOHN
NEMGBANA
(1760- ?
1935
Al
Jackson Stax
Records main drummer and member of Booker T. & M.G's born in
Memphis, Tn, USA. Al Jackson was drummer with seminal house
band at Stax Records, Booker T. and The MGs (MG stood for Memphis
Group), and thus the rock-steady rhythm behind hits by Otis Redding,
Sam & Dave, and other great soul stars of the 1960s. On the same
day as Jimi Hendrix was buried (1st October 1975), Jackson was
murdered - spooky as they share the same birthday as well! He was
shot and killed when he confronted an intruder at his Memphis home.
Jackson was 39 years old. (mn-jt)
1942
Jimi
Hendrix,
rock musician, born in Seattle, Washington, USA. When he died in
1970 the news stuns the world. Although he will be remembered as
rock's most innovative and revolutionary guitarist, he had the
natural instincts of a bluesman and in fact built much of his early
repertoire from the blues. Some of what he did with feedback, fuzz
tones, distortion, and volume elaborated on the styles of blues
guitarists Pat Hare and Guitar Slim. He was inducted into the Rock
& Roll Hall Of Fame in 1992. (Dies 18th. September 1970). (mn)
1960
Ashley
Ingram from
soul group Imagination is born. Imagination were one of the most
successful British funk bands of the early 80's. Ingram had played in
Chairman of the Board and the Delphonics as a musician along with Lee
John, they both formed Imagination who's debut was Body Talk (1981). (mn-jt)
1961 Princess
(uk singer) born Desiree Heslop. (nationmaster)
1969
Ike
Quartey
WBA Welterweight World Champion Boxer is born. Record:34-0-1
(29). Best wins: Crisanto Espana; Vince Phillips and Oba Carr. He
lives in Accra, Ghana. (mn-ring)
1990
Charles Johnson's 'Middle Passage' wins National Book Award.
1998
Barbara
Acklin,
soul singer dies while dubbing vocals aged 56. Born in California but
grew up in Chicago, her career took of when she joined Brunswick
Records as a songwriter in 1966 (and secretary to boss Carl Davis).
She co-wrote Jackie Wilson's Whispers (Getting Louder) that
year, while her own recordings, including soul classics Love Makes
A Woman and Am I The Same Girl, have ensured her a place
in music's hall of fame. (mn-echoes)
1999 I-Roy,
reggae d.j., dies after a long illness in Spanish Town, Jamaica, West
Indies. Born Roy Reid, Spanish Town, Jamaica, West Indies, I.
Roy, aka Roy Reid, aka Roy Senior, was one of the great originals of
Jamaican music. Always the most intellectual of his peers, he arrived
at the start of the 70s as an accomplished DJ with a neat line in
storytelling and the ability to ride a rhythm as if it was first
recorded for him and not simply "borrowed". He drew his
name from U-Roy, the first truly popular reggae star, and his first
records were slightly derivative of the older man's style, and also
owed a little to another DJ pioneer, Dennis Alcapone. However, I. Roy
soon hit his stride and recorded a mighty series of singles for
producer Gussie Clarke, including "Black Man Time",
"Tripe Girl" and "Magnificent Seven".
"Brother Toby Is A Movie From London" emerged for Glen
Brown; "Dr Who" for Lee Perry and innumerable sides for
Bunny Lee. His debut album Presenting was magnificent, collating most
of his hits for Gussie Clarke. It remains a classic of its genre
today. Further albums Hell And Sorrow and Many Moods Of were nearly
as strong. In 1975, he became involved in an on-record slanging match
with fellow DJ Prince Jazzbo, a bizarre name-calling affair that
nonetheless presented the public with a new twist to such rivalries
and helped to maintain sales. In 1976, a liaison with producer Prince
Tony Robinson brought I. Roy a contract with Virgin Records and Roy's
albums graced the label five times: General, Musical Shark Attack,
World On Fire, Crisis Time and the excellent 1977 set Heart Of A
Lion. By the early 80s I. Roy had burnt out his lyrical store and was
overtaken by younger DJs. However, he was still to be found on the
periphery of reggae until his death from a heart attack in 1999,
sometimes, ironically, on Ujama, the label owned by his old rival,
Prince Jazzbo. (mn-echos-music.us)
2006
Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he feels "deep sorrow"
for Britain's role in the slave trade in an article for the New
Nation newspaper. His statement which comes ahead of next year's
bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade, stopped short of a
full apology and has divided opinions. (mn)
28th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 18th.CENT.VOICES:
190:
JOSEPH
EMIDY
Independence
Day - Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
1929
Berry
Gordy Jnr.,
founder of the Motown Records empire, is born in Detroit, USA. He
took his first steps in the music business in 1955, when he opened a
jazz record store in Detroit. When it folded he returned to the
automobile assembly lines until he met the manager of a young R&B
singer Jackie Wilson. Berry wrote Wilson's first hit Reet Petite, and
joined the singers entourage, composing four other chart hits over
the next two years. In 1958 he set himself up as an independent
producer and the rest is history. (mn-cl)
1940
Clem Curtis,
lead singer with the Foundations, born in Trinidad, West Indies. The
group was formed in January 1967, discovered by London record dealer
Barry Class as they rehearsed in the Butterfly, a club in the
basement below his office. Baby Now That I Have Found You became the
groups debut release. (mn-cl)
1944
R.B. Greaves,
(Ronald Bertrum Aloysuis Greeves), soul singer born in Georgetown,
British Guyana. This singer half north American Indian, made his
greatest impact in 1969 with the single, Take A Letter Maria. He's a
nephew of Sam Cooke and built a career in the Caribbean and in the
UK. (mn-cl)
1946
Blues
Boy Willie,
singer, born, Memphis, Texas, USA. (mn-rs)
1960
Republic of Mauritania gains independence.
1961
Ernie Davis is the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. (tr-iokts)
1962
Princess,
soul singer born Deriree Heslop. She sang with Osibisa prior to
touring as backing singer with artists like Evelyn Thomas and
Precious Wilson. Teaming up with writers/producers Stock, Aitkin and
Waterman she signed to the Supreme label and had a string of UK hits,
the biggest of which was Say I'm You're No.1, (Top 10, 1985) (mn-jt-rt)
1967
Sanchez,
reggae artist born, Kingston, Jamaica, West
Indies. Popular success came with
many cover versions. His skinny frame, boyish demeanour and exciting
stage act appealed to the predominantly female audiences. He is
capable of writing his own serious songs, such as 'South Africa',
which became yet another hit. (mn-cl)
1992
PCRL's DJ, C.J. Gospel, receives his first 'producer' at 3.38 pm. 34
more follow between 1992-1997 before he takes the West Midland police
to Court in January 1999. (mn-cj)
29th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT 18th.CENT.VOICES:
191:
LADIPO SOLANKE & W.A.S.U.
(B.1895 - D.1958)
1735
Francis Barber born.
He was a Black slave who became a businessmen and educator. Barber
was born a slave on a plantation in Jamaica. He was brought to
England by his owner in 1750. After a brief schooling at a village
school in Yorkshire he entered the service of his owner's son. Later
he was hired out to Samuel Johnson after the death of his wife in
1752. Barber worked as Johnson's valet for six years until he ran
away to sea. There, for the next two years he served on the HMS Stag
in the North Sea. On his return in 1760 he rejoined Johnson's staff.
He worked as Johnson's butler but in 1762, after attending Bishop's
Stortford Grammar School for five years he worked as his secretary.
Barber married an Englishwoman and the couple had four children.
Barber and his family lived in Johnson's house. When Samuel Johnson
died in 1784 he left Barber a gold watch and an annual payment of 70
pounds. Barber moved to Lichfield, Staffordshire, and later he became
a schoolteacher in Burntwood. Francis Barber died in 1801. His son,
(also) Samuel Barber, became a Primitive Methodist preacher in
Staffordshire. (aareg)1915, Billy Strayhorn was born. He was an
African-American composer and jazz pianist. (aareg)
1915
William
Thomas Strayhorn
was born in Dayton, Ohio, and raised in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Yet he gained most of his schooling, including private piano
instruction in Pittsburgh. He sought our Duke Ellington in 1938,
attempting to work with his as a lyricist; Strayhorn introduced
himself with his songs Lush Life and Something to Live For. After
becoming a regular contributor to the Ellington Orchestra, he
contributed themes such as Day Dream and Passion Flower for the
Ellington saxophonist Johnny Hodges. Other tracks that followed were
Take the A Train, Raincheck, Chelsea Bridge and Johnny Come lately.
Strayhorn came to the world of music with a sophisticated knowledge
of chromatic harmony, this gave jazz performers and listeners classic
melodies unlike anyone else before him. From the mid-fifties until
his death he wrote and arranged at a fever pitch, coming out with
selections such as Sweet Thunder, Suite Thursday and Far East suite.
Billy Strayhorn died on May 30, 1967. (aareg)
1897
Lucille
Hegamin born.
She was an African-American Blues singer. Hegamin’s birth
name was Lucille Nelson; she also went by Fanny Baker and was born in
Macon, Georgia, hence her first stage-nickname, the Georgia Peach.
Although she had little or no vocal training, she began working the
tent-show circuit in the South in her mid-teens. In 1914 she married
piano player Bill Hegamin. The duo eventually wound up in Chicago,
where Hegamin sang with jazz pianists Jelly Roll Morton and Tony
Jackson. She and her husband moved to Los Angeles before ultimately
settling in New York in 1919. In New York she sang in cabarets and
nightclubs and was signed by Arto in 1920. Her follow-up to "The
Jazz Me Blues" was "Arkansas Blues," a song that
solidified her reputation as one of the more popular Black singers of
the era. After Hegamin's contract with Arto expired, she signed with
Cameo and eventually became known as the Cameo Girl. Lucille Hegamin
was the second black vaudeville-blues singer to record in 1920. She
cut "The Jazz Me Blues" and "Everybody's Blues"
for Arto Records in November of that year, just a few months after
Mamie Smith had recorded "Crazy Blues," the first blues
song to appear on disc. Although not a pure blues singer in the
tradition of, say, Bessie Smith, Hegamin seemed as comfortable
singing the blues as she was singing the pop and vaudeville hits of
the day. Light-skinned and attractive and born with a cool,
well-rounded voice, Hegamin became one of the biggest names in blues
circles in the early 1920s. Her signature song, "He May Be Your
Man, But He Comes to See Me Sometimes," is considered one of the
era's most memorable numbers. In all, Hegamin recorded some forty
songs with Cameo before she slid from the scene in the 1930s. In the
early 1960s, Hegamin returned to recording, thanks to the support and
urging of fellow classic blues singer Victoria Spivey. Hegamin sang
songs for Spivey's self-named label as well as for the
Prestige-Bluesville label. She died on March 1, 1970. (aareg)
1964
Kenneth
(Ken) Monkou,
6'3", 14.4 footballer born in Surinam. Club Honours: FMC '90.
International Honours: Holland: U21. Southampton paid £750,000
for him on 21/8/92. (bh-mn)
1999
Patrick Moten,
songwriter and production partner for Anita Baker, Rosie Gaines,
Chapter 8, Johnnie Taylor and long time buddy of Bobby Womack dies. (mn-echoes)
2011
Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, has been sentenced to
four years in prison following his conviction for involuntary
manslaughter of the pop legend earlier this month. Judge Michael
Pastor said Dr Murray, "repeatedly lied... violated the trust of
the medical community... and of his patient, and he has absolutely no
sense of remorse." The pop star died on 25 June 2009 from an
overdose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol. Murray waited 20 mins
before calling for help. (bbc)
30th.
NOVEMBER
BLACK
HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18th.CENT.VOICES:
192:
DR.
HAROLD MOODY
B.1882 D.1947
JR.RANKS
BORN (1978)
1912
Gordon Parks,
film maker and photographer, is born. (tr-iokts)
1915
Brownie McGhee,
blues guitarist born in Knoxville, Ten, USA.McGhee learned guitar
from his father, and started a musical career early on, playing in
church before he was 10 years old, and on the road with medicine
shows, carnivals and minstrel troupes in his early teens. His travels
took him into the Carolinas, and his time there proved very
influential in moulding his musical style. His younger brother was
Granville "Sticks" McGhee, also a singer and blues
guitarist. He met Sonny Terry in 1939, and their partnership was to
become one of the most enduring in blues. The following year, he made
his first records, reminiscent of those of Blind Boy Fuller; indeed
some of them bore the credit "Blind Boy Fuller No.2". Also
around this time, he settled in New York, where his career took a
rather different turn, as he took up with a group of black musicians
- including Terry, Lead Belly and Josh White - favoured by the then
small white audience for the blues. Dies 1996. (mn-rs-music.us)
1924
Shirley Chisholm,
congresswoman, is born in Brooklyn, New York but spent her early
childhood with her grandparents in Barbados. She received her A.B.
degree from Brooklyn Collage in 1946 and her M.A. from Columbia
University in 1952. She taught in Brooklyn and served as an education
consultant to New York's Division Day Care before her election to the
state assembly in 1964. In 1968 she was elected, as a Democrat, to
the US House of Representatives, where she served until 1982. In 1993
President Clinton appointed her ambassador to Jamaica.(mm-ss-tr-iokts)
1943
J.J.
Barnes
singer/songwriter born James Jay Barnes in Detroit, USA. Popular
night club performer in Detroit best remembered by Northern Soul fans
for his classic 'Real Humdinger'. He made a programme for PCRL
in 1991. (mn-br/ref:tape 18)
1944
Luther
Thomas Ingram
singer born in Jackson, Tennessee. Recorded on Koko Records via
Stax, his 1972 album 'I've Been Here All
the Time' sold 50,000 imported
copies in the UK without being released. (mn-rt)
1966 Barbados
gains independance from Britain after 300 years (mn)
1968
Desree
Weeks
(uk singer) born in London. (nationmaster)
2005
Dr
John Sentamu becomes the UK's first Black Archbishop of York.
A twenty strong group od dances, some bare chested performed a dance
of "rejoicing and thnksgiving" wearing colourful head
plumage of red white and black feathers. The 3000 strong conregation
was mesmerised by the specticle of the former Bishop of
Birmingham, Dr. John Sentamu, himself wearing a colourful robe that
was based on a paining from Birmingham. (mn)
2011
John
"Blackfoot" Colbert,
known best to soul music fans as J. Blackfoot, died of a
heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee. Colbert first came to
prominence as a member of the Soul Children in the 1960s and 70s
before scoring a major solo hit in 1984 with the brilliant Southern
Soul song, "Taxi." Colbert was born in Mississippi
and was discovered by legendary songwriter David Porter, who helped
him become a member of the Bar-Kays after a plane crash decimated
that group. After a brief stay there, he became a founding member of
the Soul Children, and over the next decade landed big hits like
"Hearsay" and "I'll Be the Other Woman." After
leaving the Soul Children in the early 80s, Colbert, then going by
the name J. Blackfoot, went solo and recorded "Taxi," a
song reportedly originally written for Johnny Taylor. He made it his
own and it became an international smash and his signature song. He
had a moderate hit a couple years later with the album U-Turn and the
song "Tear Jerker," and continued to record with modest
success into the new century. Colbert then helped reform the
Soul Children in 2007 for a brief run. Whether as part of a group or
as a solo artist, John Blackfoot Colbert's gravelly, expressive voice
absolutely brought life to any kind of material. He will be missed. (BR/soultracks)