1st. DECEMBER
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18th.CENT.VOICES:
193: UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW
1787 First African free school founded in New York, USA.
1892 Minnie Evans, painter, born. (tr-iokts)
1929 Blind Lemon Jefferson, country bluesman, dies in December. (September, 1893 – December, 1929) was an influential blues singer and guitarist from Texas. He was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1920s. He had an intricate and fast style of guitar playing and a particularly high-pitched voice. He was a founder of the Texas blues sound and an important influence on the next generation of blues singers and guitarists, including Leadbelly and Lightnin Hopkins. He was the author of many tunes covered by later musicians, including the classic See That My Grave is Kept Clean, and another, Matchbox Blues, recorded more than thirty years later (albeit in a country & western version credited to Carl Perkins, who himself did not credit Jefferson on his 1955 recording) by the Beatles. Given this influence, it is unfortunate that many of the details of his life remain shrouded in mystery, perhaps forever; even the only known picture of him, shown here, is heavily retouched. However, at the time, "race music" and its white cousin, "hillbilly music", were not considered to be worthy of consideration as art, rather as a low-cost product to be sold and soon forgotten (mn-rs-wickpedia)
1934 Billy Paul soul/jazz singer born Paul Williams in Philadelphia, USA. Billy's best known song being 'Me And Mrs. Jones'. Although Paul had been an active singer in the Philadelphia area since the 50s, singing in jazz clubs and briefly with Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, it was not until he met producer Kenny Gamble that his career prospered. After signing to the Neptune label, he enjoyed a successful spell on the Philadelphia International Records label. His instinctive, jazz-based delivery provided an unlikely foil for the label's highly structured, sweet-soul sound but Paul's impressive debut hit, 1972's US chart-topping "Me And Mrs Jones", nonetheless encapsulated the genre. A classic confessional tale of infidelity, Paul's unorthodox style enhanced the ballad's sense of guilt. His later releases included "Thanks For Saving My Life" (1974), "Let's Make A Baby" (1976) and "Let 'Em In" (1977), the last of which adapted the Paul McCartney hit to emphasize lyrical references to Dr. Martin Luther King. Paul continued to make excellent records, but his last chart entry to date came in 1980 with "You're My Sweetness". He recorded for Total Experience and Ichiban Records in the 80s, and continues to perform throughtout the world in addition to running his own production company. (mn-music.us)
1935 Lou Rawls soul/jazz singer born in Chicago, USA. Briefly a member of the acclaimed gospel group the Pilgrim Travellers, this distinctive singer began forging a secular career following his move to California in 1958. An association with Sam Cooke culminated in "Bring It On Home To Me', where Rawls' throaty counterpoint punctuated his colleague's sweet lead vocal. Rawls" own recordings showed him comfortable with either small jazz combos or cultured soul, while an earthier perspective was shown on his mid-60s release, Lou Rawls Live!. He achieved two Top 20 singles with "Love Is A Hurtin' Thing" (1966) and "Dead End Street" (1967), and enjoyed further success with a 1969 reading of Mable John's "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)". Several attempts were made to mould Rawls into an all-round entertainer, but while his early 70s work was generally less compulsive, the singer's arrival at Philadelphia International Records signalled a dramatic rebirth. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine', an international hit in 1976, matched the classic Philly sound with Rawls" resonant delivery, and prepared the way for a series of exemplary releases including "See You When I Git There" (1977) and "Let Me Be Good To You" (1979). The singer maintained his association with producers Gamble And Huff into the next decade. His last chart entry, "I Wish You Belonged to Me", came in 1987 on the duo's self-named label, since which time he has recorded for the jazz outlet Blue Note Records and released his first solo gospel album, I'm Blessed. Rawls has also pursued an acting career and provided the voice for several Budweiser beer commercials. (mn-music.us)
1955 Rosa Parks refuses to sit at the back of the bus, thus igniting the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. (mn)
1940 Richard Pryor, actor/comedian born on this day. One of the more innovative (and often outrageous) of his generation, Pryor effectively retired from performing after developing multiple sclerosis in the late 1980s. He was discovered by Johnny Carson in 1966, the same year he appeared in The Busy Body a movie that let him to more mainstream audiences. A writer too, he worked with Mel Brookes on the script of Blazing Saddles and he wrote several Lily Tomlin Specials, as well as his own TV work. Pryor died of cardiac arrest at the age of 65 in Encino, California. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 7:58 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on December 10, 2005. He was brought to the hospital after his wife's attempts to resuscitate him failed. His wife was quoted as saying "at the end, there was a smile on his face." (mn-ss)
1986 Lee Dorsey soul singer dies. Born in New Orleans, an ex-boxer turned singer known as Kid Chocolate, his infectious Ya Ya was a US No.1 R&B in 1961. Yes we Can was his last chart success in 1971. Sadly he died of emphysema on this day. He epitomized the New Orleans sound. (mn)
1995 Liam Harrison, (In December memory of) 14 year-old, from Maida Vale, west London, who was run over by a car running to escape racist bullies. (mn)
1999 Blind soul singer Stevie Wonder announces he's to receive an operation to restore his eye-sight. By 2005 nothing has been done! (mn)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18th.CENT.VOICES:
194: IGNATIUS SANCHO (1729-1780)
1912 Henry Armstrong, the only boxer to hold three boxing titles simultaneously, is born Henry Jackson in Columbus, Ohio. A boxer/minister who won the featherweight crown in 1937, and in 1938 he added both the welterweight and lightweight championships. After retiring in 1945, he became a minister and devoted himself to helping underprivileged young people through such organizations as Youthtown in Desert Wells, Ariz. (tr-iokts-mn-bio.com)
1922 Charles Coles Diggs, Jr, U.S. Congressman from Michigan born in Detroit, Michigan. Interrupting his studies to enlist in the army in 1942, he attended Wayne College of Mortuary Science afterwards, working in the House of Diggs, Inc. A Democratic member of the Michigan senate (1951-54), he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1955 until resigning in 1980. He founded and chaired the Congressional Black Caucus (1969-71) and chaired the Committee on the District of Columbia. (mn-bio.com)
1960 Sydney Youngblood, soul singer born in Sanantio, Texas, USA. (mn-jt)
1968 Dial Press publishes Frank Yerby's 'Judas My Brother'. Yerby was born Frank Garvin in Augusta, Ga. He studied at Paine Collage (B.A. 1937) Fisk University (M.A. 1938), and at the graduate level at the University of Chicago (1939). He taught English in the South (1939-41), and worked as a laboratory technician (1941-44). He lived in Florida in the early 1950's, before settling in Madrid, Spain in 1955. He first gained recognition for his short stories about racial injustice, but he turned to writing best-selling romantic adventure novels, such as the Foxes of Harrow(1946). The child of racially mixed couple, he was chided by some African-American critics for not focusing on racial issues, but he did deal with Black Africa in The Dahomean: An Historical Novel (1971).(tr-iokts-mn-bio.com)
1970 Treach, 'hard pop rapper' from New Jersey, and member of Naughty By Nature, real name Anthony Chris, born this day. Naughty By Nature kicked of their career with the anthem O.P.P., those three capital letters spelled rags-to-riches success. Mixing rap with pop samples and sexual innuendo to stories of seedy urban life seems to be the trade mark to the groups success. (mn-ms)
2011 Howard Tate dies, who was effectively lost to fans for years after his once-promising career was cut short, died December 2nd of complications from multiple myeloma and leukemia. He was 72. Tate, who was born in Georgia and grew up in Philadelphia, was a highly touted young singer in the Sixties and early Seventies, when he recorded for Verve, Atlantic and other labels. A favorite of the producer Jerry Ragovoy, Tate had six Top 40 R&B hits and sang an early version of "Get It While You Can," later covered by Janis Joplin. (rolling stone)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18th.CENT.VOICES:
195: OTTABAH CUGOANO (B.1757)
1847 Frederick Douglas and Martin R. Delaney start the North Star, an anti-slavery paper. In 1845 Frederick Douglas published the autobiographical Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave; its elegant prose astonished readers who knew that Douglas was self-taught. The book received enormous attention and, fearing that a bounty hunter might capture him and return him to his master, Douglas sailed for England, where he lectured widely and earned enough money to purchase his freedom when he returned to the US in 1847. Settling in New York, Douglas embarked on a career as an editor of the North Star, from 1847-1851, when he changed its name to Frederick Douglas Paper. (mn-ss)
1922 [William "Hoss" Allen born in Gallatin, Tennessee, USA] He introduced 'The Beat' US TV show] He was a music publisher/producer/drummer/radio DJ/presenter. Died Feb 25, 1997 in Nashville. His radio career started at WHIN in 1948, the WLAC in 1949. He was instrumental in the careers of James Brown and Otis Redding. WLAC transmitter was 50,000 watts and was heard from Jamaica to Alaska. (mn)
1927 Isabelle Lucas, singer/actress born in Toronto, Canada. Played Carmen Jones in the West End and sang 'That's Love', so her ambition to sing opera on a London stage was fore filled. More familiar though for being Lenny Henry's mum in the television series The Fosters. The Fosters were made up of easy-going dad, Samuel (Norman Beaton), and spirited mum, Pearl (Isabelle Lucas), both immigrants from Guyana who had made their home in a high-rise tower block (flat 131) in south London. Here, against the odds and constantly struggling to make ends meet they raise a family that consist of artistic eldest boy, Sonny (Lenny Henry), teenage daughter, Shirley (Sharon Rosita) and youngest son Benjamin (Lawrie Mark). The other main character was near neighbour, Vilma (Carmen Munro), Pearl’s friend and confidante from number 139. (d.24/2/97)
1971 Frank Mohammed Sinclair, 5'9", 12.9 footballer born in Lambeth. Club honours: FAC '97; FLC '98. International honours: Jamaica 13. (cm-mn)
1977 Karen Faemer is first African American woman to join the Daughters of the American Revolution. (tr-bl)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18th.CENT.VOICES:
196: CORRIE THE SALDANIAN (D.1627)
1906 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is founded at Cornell University, the first African American Greek organization to be chartered. (tr-iokts)
1909 The New York newspaper 'Amsterdam News' founded.
1927 Duke Ellington plays at the famous Cotton Club for the first time. Ellington was the greatest composer in the history of jazz, and one of the genre's most accomplished bandleaders and pianists. Other bands may have sold more but the Dukes pervasive musical influence and amazing consistency made him easily one of the all-time greats. Cab Calloway replaces him at the Cotton Club in 1931. (mn-bmcd-tx)
1936 Larry Davis, soul-blues singer, Kansas City, Mo., USA. Davis played bass in Albert King's band before switching to to guitar in the late 60s. In 1972 he was in a motorcycle accident and severely damaged his hand. A few years later, he suffered a stroke. He then retired from recording, but in 1981 he made a come back with the album Funny Stuff, he then won in 1982, four W.C. Handy Awards including Artiste of the Year.
1969 Jay-Z, rapper/producer born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn, NY, USA. Raised in Brooklyn, Carter was a school friend of the Notorious BornI.G. He first started releasing records in the late 80s, part-financing his music by hustling. In 1990, he appeared on records by his close friend Jaz ("The Originators") and Original Flavor ("Can I Get Open'), and later scored an underground hit single with 1995"s "In My Lifetime". Drawing on Jaz's dealings with mercenary labels, Jay-Z set-up his own Roc-A-Fella imprint in 1996 with entrepreneur Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. (wickpedia-music.us)
1982 Bob Marley Escapes Assassination. Seven gunmen burst into Bob Marley's house in Kingston, Jamaica, and Marley, his wife Rita and his manager Don Taylor, were all injured. (mn-jt)
LADY CHERRY BORN 1961 (X PCRL DJ)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT:
197: AFRICANS IN SCOTLAND
1932 Bill Pickett attained national and international fame as a rodeo performer. He was acclaimed one of the greatest black cowboys.
1870 Alexander Dumas (Pe're), author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, dies. Born July 24, 1902, in the village of Viller-Correts in the department of Aisne to the west of Paris. His Mother was the offspring of a local innkeeper, while his father Thomas Dumas was born in Haiti, son of a French marquis, Antoine- Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie, and a black slave woman, Louise- Cessette Dumas. (mn-bio.com)
1910 Sonny Boy Williamson # 2, aka Rice Miller, Willie Williamson, blues man born Aleck Miller in Glendora, Mississippi. Other birth years have been cited (1894, 1897, 1899, 1908 and 1909. One of the most influential harmonica players in blues history. Not to be confused with John Lee Sonny Boy Williamson, who was popular in the 1930/40's and the first to us the Sonny Boy Logo. First became popular when he had a noon radio slot everyday on KFFA in 1941 and was sponsored and featured on the packets of King Biscuit Flour. (mn-jt-rs)
1931 Rev. James Cleveland, gospel singer, composer is born in Chicago, Ill., USA. He sang with several gospel groups and composed many songs including "He's Using Me" (1955). He released over 50 albums and won two Grammy awards. In 1968 he formed the Gospel Music Workshop of America, which had 500,000 member by the mid-1980s. (mn-tr-iokts-bio.com) Dup/other b.23/12/32
1932 Little Richard, R&B legend born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia. Little Richard was what happened when rhythm & blues turned into rock & roll. For three years - 1955 through 1957 - Little Richard practically ruled both the pop and R&B charts with some of the most frenetic piano-pounding music ever made. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1986. (mn-jt-rs)
1949 Albert Ammons, boogie woogie pianist dies in Chicago. He was a major boogie-woogie pianist, who, along with Meade "Lux" Lewis and Pete Johnson, helped make the romping boogie-woogie piano style popular in the late 1930's and 1940's. (mn-rs)
1955 The Montgomery bus boycott begins, blacks refused to ride buses and organized their own (ends successfully one year later). (mn)
1956 Arrests are made of political leaders in South Africa, over 150 are accused of high treason, people like Lilian Ngovi (women's leader); A.J. Luthuli (A.N.C. President); W.Z. Conco; and Z.A. Matthews. (mn)
1965 Wayne Smith, reggae singer born, Walterhouse, Kingston, JA. Smith was an electrician who badgered King Jammy into letting him have ago on the microphone the result was popular with the crowd and resulted in him recording at Channel One studio's. In late 1984 he was directly involved in what is considered by many to be a pivotal phase in the Jamaican recording industry. The occasion of Smith's and Noel Daley's tinkering with a Casio music box has been well documented. The result was 'Under me Sleng Teng' a massive hit all around the world - (the start of digital reggae). (mn-cl)
1966 Richie Stephens, reggae artist born, Richard Stephens, Savannah-La-Mar, Jamaica, West Indies. Stephens gained his initial show business experience helping bands move their equipment when they performed in his home town. He was soon performing as a lead singer for a variety of bands, including Stars Incorporated and the Elements, serenading on the island's hotel circuit. In 1997 he was acknowledged as Top Singer in the Jamaican Binns Awards. (mn-cl)
1977 Roland Rashaan Kirk, jazz musician dies. Born August 7, 1936, Columbus, Ohio. Originally named Ronald Kirk, Kirk changed it to Roland and added Rahsaan after a dream visitation of spirits who 'told him too'. Blinded soon after birth, Kirk became one of the most prodigious multi-instrumentalists to work in jazz, with a career that spanned R&B, bop, and 'The New Thing' jazz style. He died from a second stroke, having suffered one two years earlier. (mn-jt-cl)
1985 The first fully digital reggae recording, 'Under Me Sleng Teng', is cut a Prince Jammy's studio at 38 St Lucia Road, so launching the ragga stage of reggae. (mn-sb/pd-tr)
1987 Larry James, drummer with Fat Larry's Band dies. Born August 2, 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Formed Fat Larry's band following a spell as back-up musician for the Delfonics and Blue Magic. Biggest hit was 'Zoom' in the UK, going to No. 1.
2013 Nelson Mandela dies aged 95. At his home after a Summer of failing health. He will be remembered for his compassion after his release from a South African jail in 1990. This was after serving a 37 year sentance for terrorism against the government. Calls for his release had come from UK/USA musicians/singers with a world wide broadcast of a tribute show on his 70th Birthday. Later released and made African president for many of his surviving 23 years. (mn)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT:
198: AFRICANS IN ENGLAND (PART 1)
1849 Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery in Maryland. She returned to the south nineteen times and brought out more than three hundred slaves.
1865 13th Amendment ratified, abolishing slavery. adp 38th Congress (tr-bl)
1892 Thoedore Lawless, pioneer in medicine, is born. One of the first physicians to use radium to treat cancer, he was a leading dermatologist. After earning his M.D. at North Weston University in 1919 he received further training at Columbia and Harvard (1920-1921), then worked in Paris (1921-1922), Freburg, Germany (1922-1923), and at clinics in Vienna (1923-1924). He donated a laboratory to Chicago's Provident Hospital, helped finance African-American businesses in Chicago, and received several awards. A clinic in Israel is named in his honour. (Dies 1971) (tr-iokts-ss)
1932 Black Invention: 'The Automobile Automatic Transmission,' Richard Spikes receives patent. (Automatic gear change)
1946 Frankie Beverly, soul singer with Maze, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He released a few singles as Frankie Beverly & became Maze around 1976. They are still relatively unknown, popular for there live shows and Live in New Orleans albums. Dies 10-9-24 aged 77 (mn)
1949 Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, blues legend, dies. More than any other folk-blues artist of his time, Leadbelly helped expose his race's vast musical riches to white America. And in the process, helped preserve a folk legacy that has become a significant part of the U.S. nation's musical treasury.(b.21/1/1888)(tr-iokts-rs)
1961 Dr. Franz O. Fanon, Algeria author, political leader, dies in Bethesda, Md., USA. He was perhaps the preeminent thinker of the 20th century on the issue of decolonization and the psychopathology of colonization. His works have inspired anti-colonial liberation movements throughout the world for the past forty-two years. (wickpedia)
1961 Eugene Wild, soul singer born Ron Broomfield in Miami, Florida, USA., Part of an eight strong musical family, he took to singing at the age of five. He became Eugene Wilde after seeing an add for a nightclub called the Wilde Flowers. Best remembered for 'Can I Stay With You Tonight' (1984) (mn-jt-rt)
1967 Kevin Michael Francis, 6'7", 15s.8lbs footballer born in Birmingham, England. Club Honours: Div 2 '95; AMC '95. International Honours: St Kitts & Nevis. Birmingham City paid £800,000+ on 20/1/95. (bh-mn)
1981 Wigan Casino, home to 'Northern Soul' for 8 years closed it's doors for the last time awaiting demolition. Voted by the readers of Billboard magazine in 1977 as the world's best disco. The soul club had gained more than 100,000 members that had danced to the music of Black America. Such was the love for the venue during its demolition relic seekers collected bricks from the site as souvenirs. (mn-rw-dn)
2011 Dobbie Gray dies. Gray, who was best known for his 1973 single 'Drift Away', was 71. There are currently no details of the singer's cause of death, with the news of his passing revealed via a short announcement on his official website Dobiegray.com. Gray released 14 hit singles over a 24-year period including 1965 single 'The In-Crowd', 1979's 'You Can Do It' and 'Drift Away', which sold over one million copies and remains a staple of many radio stations' playlists. Uncle Kracker, who released a cover of 'Drift Away' in 2003, paid tribute to the singer, tweeting: "My heart goes out to Dobie's family this evening. RIP Dobie Gray. Thank you for the music. You will not be forgotten". The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess also offered his condolences, tweeting: "Sad to hear of the death of Dobie Gray. Out on the floor. Rest in peace." Hip-hop producer Timbaland also paid tribute to Gray, simply writing: "RIP Dobie Gray". (mn)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT:
199: AFRICANS IN ENGLAND (PART 2)
Independence Day - Republic of Ivory Coast.
1895 Sir Milton Margai, first prime minister of Sierra Leone, born. Sir Milton Augustus Strieby Margai ( d. -April 28, 1964) was the first prime minister of independent Sierra Leone. Born in the town of Gbangbatoke, he attended medical school in the United Kingdom, then returned to Sierra Leone in 1928 to work for the colonial administration. In 1949 he founded the nationalist Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) with Siaka Stevens, which won the 1951 election to the Legislative Council. After heading the departments of Health, Agriculture, and Forestry, he was elected chief minister in 1954. In 1958, his leadership of the party was challenged by his younger brother, Albert Margai, but even though Albert narrowly won the internal party election, he declined the leadership of the party, and left to form the opposition People's National Party, rejoining his brother in a coalition government in 1960. Over the next two years, as Sierra Leone headed for independence, Margai oversaw the creation of a new constitution for the colony, Upon its adoption, in 1958, he became premier. Knighted in 1959, he was prime minister at the time of independence on April 27, 1961, and won the ensuing election in 1962. Margai died in office in Freetown and was succeeded by his brother Albert Margai. (wickpedia)
1941 Dorie Miller, a mess man, voluntarily manned a machine gun and downed three Japanese planes in the attack on Pearl Harbour. He was awarded the Navy Cross and was killed in action in 1943. (tr-iokts-bio.com)
1957 Keith Douglas, Reggae DJ born, London, England. He followed local sounds in London, including Sir Coxone's and the Mighty Frontline. He was inspired to perform as DJ by his brother Tony, a member of The Blackstones. Started a recording career initially as Imperial Keith. (mn-cl)
1990 Dee Clark, soul singer dies of a heart attack. Born Delecta Clark in Blytheville, Arkansas, USA. He had a wonderfully impassioned tenor voice and enjoyed a spate of Rock 'n' roll hits in the late 50s and lesser body of soul work in the 60s. Best remembered for Raindrops a 1962 US No. 2 pop, and No.3 R&B hit. (mn-jt)
1997 Leo Chester (now known as Leo Muhammad), star of TV's 'The Real McCoy', talks to the listeners on PCRL's 'Talkback Show' for 4 hours about the benefits of The Nation Of Islam's teachings and shows the listeners that he is much more than just a funny man! More regular visits follow leading up to the 10,000 man march in Trafalgar Square in the summer of 1998. Leo also became a PCRL DJ for a while presenting a Nation Of Islam programme on Sunday mornings. (mn-dp) (Copy of Prog1. 'Leo Muhammad' kept in archive) 2023 Benjamin Zephaniah, the British poet and writer, has died aged 65 (mn)
8th. DECEMBER
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT:
200: AFRICANS IN ENGLAND (PART 3)
1868 Henry Hugh Proctor, writer, born. (tr-iokts)
1896 Black Invention: Lemon Squeezer, John T, White. (sc)
1925 Sammy Davis, Jr., singer, actor, born in New York City. Davis came from a show business family and made his first public appearance at the age of two and, when aged eight, began touring the States with his father and uncle, Sammy Davis, Snr. and Will Mastin were already established vaudeville duo. Sammy Davis, Jr. Spent 1943-6 in the US Army. During the 50s he established himself as a solo star. He had transatlantic success in 1955 with That Old Black Magic, chart success was sporadic and modest, because it was just on of the many strings on his bow. In a show business career that spanned over 50 years he was an impressionist, jazz singer, and multi-instrumentalist. (Dies May 16, 1990) (mn-rmcd)
1925 Jimmy Smith jazz organist born James Oscar Smith in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA.The sound of the Hammond Organ in jazz was popularized by Smith, often using the prefix "the incredible" or "the amazing". Smith has become the most famous jazz organist of all times and arguably the most influential. Brought up by musical parents, he was formally trained on piano and bass and combined the two skills with the Hammond while leading his own trio. He was heavily influenced by Wild Bill Davis. By the mid-50s Smith had refined his own brand of smoky soul jazz, which epitomized laid-back "late night" blues-based music. His vast output for the "soul jazz' era of Blue Note Records led the genre and resulted in a number of other Hammond B3 maestros" appearing, notably, Jimmy McGriff, Brother Jack McDuff, "Big" John Patton, Richard "Groove" Holmes and "Baby Face" Willette. Smith was superbly complemented by outstanding musicians. Although Art Blakey played with Smith, Donald Bailey remains the definitive Smith drummer, while Smith tackled the bass notes on the Hammond. (mn-music.us)
1939 Jerry Butler soul singer born in Sunflower, Mississippi, USA. Jerry, older brother of Billy Butler, moved to Chicago as a child and was later part of the city's burgeoning gospel circuit. He subsequently joined several secular groups, including the Roosters, an aspiring trio of Sam Gooden and Richard and Arthur Brooks. Butler then suggested they add his friend, Curtis Mayfield, on guitar. Now called the Impressions, the quintet secured a Top 3 US R&B hit with the haunting "For Your Precious Love" (1958). However, the label credit, "Jerry Butler And The Impressions", caused friction within the group. A second single, "Come Back My Love", was less successful and Butler left for a solo career. His early releases were minor hits until "He Will Break Your Heart" reached number 1 in the US R&B and number 7 in the pop charts in 1960. The song was written by Mayfield, who also added guitar and sang backing vocals. Their differences clearly resolved, two subsequent hits, "Find Another Girl" and "I'm A Telling You' (both 1961), featured the same partnership. Mayfield's involvement lessened as the Impressions" own career developed, but Butler's chart run continued. "Make It Easy On Yourself" (1962) and "I Stand Accused" (1964) were among his finest singles. Butler switched to Mercury Records in 1966 where he honed the style that won him his "Ice Man" epithet. "Hey Western Union Man" and "Only The Strong Survive" topped the soul chart in 1968 and 1969, while duets with Gene Chandler and Brenda Lee Eager punctuated his early 70s recordings. With his brother, Billy Butler, he formed the Butler Writers Workshop, which encouraged aspiring songwriters and musicians, among whom were Marvin Yancey and Chuck Jackson of the Independents and Natalie Cole. Butler's releases on Motown Records preceded a more successful spell with Philadelphia International Records, while the 80s and 90s saw his work appear on Fountain and CTI. Since the mid-80s Butler has balanced his music career with his involvement in politics, and is currently an elected official in Chicago. (mn-music.us)
1966 Les (Leslie) Ferdinand, 5'11", 13.5 strong powerfull striker, born in Acton, London, England. International Honours: E: 17; B-1. (bh-mn)
1987 Kurt Schmoke becomes the first African American mayor of Baltimore, Md., USA. Born in Baltimore, Md. Appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the White House domestic policy staff (1977-78), he served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland (1978-82), Maryland's state attorney (1982-87) and as Baltimore's mayer (1988). He founded the Baltimore Comunity Development Financing Corporation in 1988. (tr-iokts-bio.com-mn)
1990 MCA Records sold to Japanese Matsushita for $3.1 billion. (mn-jt)
1995 Alton Manning murdered inside Blakenhurt Prison, near Redditch U.K., by prison wardens, family and friends still campaigning for justice, as yet nobody has been tried for this deed. The family apealed many times on our Talk-Back show for justice for Alton. Maxie Hayes from BRAMU (Black Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit,) spoke for the family many times. In July 1997 a 5,500 signature petition handed to home secretary. On this day in 1997 there was be a candle lit vigil has been arranged in Centennial Square, Birmingham. Deborah Coles, Co-Director of INQUEST, commented: "The evidence which emerged at the inquest established that Alton Manning died a brutal, inhuman and violent death as a direct result of the unlawful and excessive violence used against him by prison officers and yet nobody is to be held criminally responsible or indeed accountable for this appalling death.. This decision once again brings the entire criminal justice system and the role of the CPS into disrepute. When is the Government going to act so that when someone dies at the hands of the State the procedures that follow ensure accountability, openness and justice? The failure of the current system denies bereaved families justice and sends a clear message that Black deaths in custody do not matter." However, the CPS decided once again in January 2002 that no prosecution would be undertaken. Alton Manning's family intends to pursue their struggle for justice, and will seek to bring under scrutiny the reasons given for the continuing refusal to prosecute by the CPS and the DPP. The outcome of the investigation by Staffordshire Police, supervised by the Police Complaints Authority, in regard to the family's formal complaint about the conduct of the investigation into the death by West Mercia Police is awaited.
The brother of Alton Manning has also died in custody. Osman 'Ozzie' Cameron died after spending 18 days in a Birmingham hospital following his arrest. His brother Ozzie died on Monday 22nd January, 2005. 45-year-old Ozzie Cameron, from Sparkbrook, was arrested on 4 January on suspicion of robbery. He was remanded in custody, believed to be the Belgrave Road station in Edgbaston. Two days later police transfered him to Elizabeth Hospital in relation to 'mental health issues' A Home Office pathologist has ruled that Ozzie died of asyphyixation following an epileptic fit. (guv.com)
1996 PCRL started promoting black history daily from this very calendar. The calendar is updated daily and was printed weekly by our very own Mickey Nold to be read-out in the studio. (If you have any black facts please contact me - the initials shown in brackets are the source of the facts). (mn)
2021 Robbie Shakespeare dies. Reggae's most loved bassist. According to The Jamaica Gleaner, Shakespeare had recently undergone surgery related to his kidneys. He had been in hospital in Florida. (TR)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT:
201: AFRICANS IN ENGLAND (PART 4)
1961 Republic of Tanzania gains independence from Great Britain.
Independence Day - Republic of Tanzania.
1872 P.B.S. Pinchback becomes the first black governor in Louisiana. Proud and imperious almost to a fault, Pickney Stewart Pinchback rose from a canal-boat cabin boy to lieutenant governorship of the State of Louisiana. His hope was to leed African-American troops, but he ran into trouble with Union troops! Read Russell L. Addams book Great Negroes. (mn-ra)
1919 Roy DeCarava, first African American photographer to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, is born. (tr-iokts)
1922 Redd Foxx, comedian, television actor, is born John Elroy Sanford in St. Louis, Missouri. A Gravely voiced and furrow faced comedian, for years he had a near legendary reputation for his scatological humour to be heard only in venues frequented by African Americans. Then the television sitcom Stanford And Son (1972-77) catapulted him to fame and fortune, earning Foxx three consecutive Emmy Award nominations in1971, 1972 and 1973. (tr-iokts-bio.com-mn)
1931 Donald Byrd, jazz trumpet player born in Detroit, Michigan. Formed his first band in his early teens, shortly to establish himself on the New York jazz scene while working with Max Roach, Art Blakey and Herbie Hancock. After receiving a teaching degree he taught at Howard University and also became it's chairman. Up till this point he played traditional jazz, after teaching student Larry Mizell he was inspired to play fusion-jazz or jazz-funk as it's known in the UK. Many albums followed between 1972-1982. (mn-tx-rt)
1932 Jessie Hill, soul singer born in New Orleans, USA. Hill's primary claim to fame with the classic New Orleans R&B hit 'Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Part II' in 1960. He also wrote songs performed by Sonny & Cher, Ike & Tina Turner and Iron Butterfly. (Dies 17 Sep 1996). (mn-jt-cl)
1934 Junior Wells, musician born Amos Blakemore in Memphis. He was one of the principle blues harmonica stylists of Chicago's post-war era. Wells help define the Chicago blues harp sound in the 1950's. He learned the rudiments of the blues harp from Junior Parker. (mn-rs)
1940 Sam Strain, singer with Little Anthony & Imperials/O'Jays, born.Formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957, and originally called the Chesters. A vital link between doo-wop and sweet soul, the Imperials was a proto-type for The Delfonics and the Stylistics. In 1978 Sam Strain replaced William Powell in the O'Jays. (mn-jt)
1944 Shirley Brickley soul singer with The Orlons, born. The group was introduced to the Cameo-Parkway label by Len Barry singer with the Dovells. Their first hits 'The Wha Watusi', 'Don't Hang Up' and 'South Street', cleverly exploited the male/female aspect of the group. (Shirley was murdered in 1977). (mn-jt)
1950 Joan Armatrading, singer born in St. Kitts, West Indies. Her loyal cult following has kept her touring and recording for more than 25 years. Her revealing, emotionally charged lyrics and excellent understated guitar playing reveal a solid, constant talent. Raised in England, Armatrading's first public notice came in 1970 when she appeared in Hair and began a folk collaboration with songwriter Pam Nestor. (mn-ks)
1967 Jason Alvin Winans Dozzell, 6'1"; 13.8 footballer born in Ipswich.Club Honours: Div 2 '92. International Honours: E: U21-9; Yth. (bh-mn)
1969 Simon Andrew Sturridge, 5'6", 11.8 footballer born in Birmingham, England. Club Honours: AMC '91. (bh-mn)
1980 The Sailor's Return - is broadcasted by ITV television. A drama based on the novel by David Garnett staring Tom Bell as a nineteenth-century sailor who marries an African princess (Shope Shodeinde) and settles in the West Country. (mn-sb)
1981 Sonny Til, singer with The Orioles, real name Earlington Carl Tighman, Dies at the aged 51 of a heart attack. Sonny sang 'Crying In The Chapel', in 1953, later a hit for Elvis Presley. (mn-jt)
2024 Nikki Giovanni Jr. poet/writer/commentator/activist dies. Born 9 Dec. 1924, Knoxville, Tenn, USA. (soulwalking.com) N
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: SLAVERY & THE LAW:
202: THE GRACE JONES CASE
1846 Black Invention: 'Sugar Refining Vacuum,' Norbert Rillieux.
1926 Guitar Slim, blues man born Eddie Jones, Greenwood, Mississippi, USA. (Died February 7, 1959, New York, USA., (mn-rs)
1945 Ralf Tavares of the soul group Tavares born. This US group was formed in 1964 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. The line-up consisted of five brothers, Ralph (Born 10 December 1948), Antone "Chubby", Feliciano "Butch", Arthur "Pooch" and Perry Lee "Tiny' Tavares. Originally known as Chubby And The Turnpikes, the group assumed its family's surname in 1969. Although they lacked a distinctive lead voice or a characteristic sound, Tavares' undemanding blend of light soul and pop resulted in several commercial successes. The brothers" early run of R&B hits culminated in 1975 with "It Only Takes A Minute", a soul chart-topper and a US pop Top 10 entry. The following year the group scored their sole million-seller in "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" before enjoying further success with one of their strongest songs, "Don't Take Away The Music". Both of these singles reached number 4 in the UK where Tavares enjoyed an enduring popularity. "Whodunit" (1977) was another major release, while "More Than A Woman" (1978), a song from that year's box-office smash, Saturday Night Fever, gave the group their last significant hit. Tavares continued to reach the R&B lists until 1984, but their safe, almost old-fashioned style gradually fell from favour. (mn-jt-music.us)
1949 21-year-old Antoine 'Fats' Domino recorded his first million seller, 'The Fat Man', at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studio in New Orleans. (mn-jt)
1948 Jessica Cleaves, singer with the soul group The Friends Of Distinction born. (mn-jt)
1948 Brendon Harkin member of group Kool & Gang/Starz born. Originally formed as a quartet, the Jazziacs, by Robert "Kool" Bell . Based in Jersey City, this aspiring jazz group opened for acts such as Pharoah Sanders and Leon Thomas. They were later joined by Charles "Claydes" Smith (Born 6 September 1948, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; guitar) and "Funky" George Brown (Born 5 January 1949, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; drums), and as the Soul Town Band, moderated their early direction by blending soul and funk, a transition completed by 1969 when they settled on the name Kool And The Gang. The group crossed over into the US pop chart in 1973 and initiated a run of 19 stateside Top 40 hits on their own De-Lite label starting with "Funky Stuff", a feat consolidated the following year with a couple of Top 10 hits, "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". They continued to enjoy success, although their popularity momentarily wavered in the latter half of the 70s as the prominence of disco strengthened. (mn-jt-music.us)
1950 Dr. Ralph J. Bunche is the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Ralph Johnson Bunche (August 7, 1904 – December 9, 1971) was an American political scientist and diplomat who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation in Palestine in the late 1940s that led to an armistice agreement between the Jews and Arabs in the region. He was the first African-American, and first individual of non-European ethnicity or race to be so honored in the history of the Prize. (tr-iokts-wickpedia)
1965 Timothy Christian, soul singer with Tony Toni Tone', born in Oakland, California, USA.Tony! Toni! Toné! was a late 1980s/1990s R&B group from Oakland, California (near San Francisco). It was comprised of D'wayne Wiggins on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Raphael Wiggins (aka Raphael Saadiq) on lead vocals and bass, and their cousin Timothy Christian on drums. Other members were Elijah Baker, Carl Wheeler, Randall Wiggins, and Antron Haile. Their best-known songs were "Little Walter," "Feels Good", and "If I Had No Loot," not forgetting the classics "Anniversary", "It Never Rains (in Southern California)" and "Lay your Head on my Pillow". Raphael Saadiq released his first solo effort, the Top 20 Billboard hit "Ask of You" for the Higher Learning soundtrack, in 1995. Later in the 2000s he has started an actual solo career, releasing two albums, "Instant Vintage" (2002) and "Ray Ray" (2004). In 2003, most members of Tony! Toni! Toné! except for Saadiq were invited by Alicia Keys to guest on her album The Diary of Alicia Keys. The song that resulted from that session was called "Diary", and when it was released as a single in the fall of 2004, it gave them their first Top 10 US hit in 11 years. (mn-cl-wickpedia)
1967 Otis Redding, known as the 'King of Soul', dies aged 26 as his plane crashes into Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, along with four members of the Bar-Kays group. Callus news papers at the time showed his body still strapped in a seat, when the plane was recovered. Son of a Baptist minister, he assimilated gospel music during his child-hood and soon became interested in jump blues and R&B. When resettling in Macon, he became infatuated with local luminary Little Richard, and began singing on a full-time basis. After being seen by a wide audience at the Montrose Festival in 1967 he was tipped to be a big star, sadly this did not happed as his life was ended on this day.
1935 Sam Moore of Sam & Dave soul group born today in Miami, Florida, USA. Best remembered for 'Soul Man' in 1967 and 'Hold on I'm Coming' in 1969 for Stax Records. Revived in the Blues Brothers film in 1980.mn) 1994 Garnett Silk, singer dies at home in Mandeville, Jamaica, along with his mother after a handgun is discharged into a gas cylinder. When the bodies were recovered he was said to be still holding his mothers hand. Born Garnett Smith 2/4/66, Mandeville, Jamaica, West Indies. He was much loved for the conscious lyrics in all his songs. He had begun as a 12 year-old deejay called Little Bimbo, before linking up with cultural deejay Tony Rebel in his mid-teens, working with him on Destiny Outernational sound system. Tony Rebel introduced him to songwriter Anthony "Fire" Rochester, and the pair began working together. In his brief recording career he cut sides for the main production outfits, including Jammy's, Black Scorpio, Star Trail and Sly & Robbie, at the time of his death he had signed to Atlantic, possibly poised for international stardom. (mn-rd-sb/pd)
2005 Richard Pryor, Comedian, actor, died of a heart attack, his wife told CNN. He was 65. Pryor had been ill with multiple sclerosis. Pryor became a legend of comedy by tapping his rage and agonies for laughs. He was the biggest name in standup comedy in the 1970s, winning Grammy awards for his comedy albums. He appeared in nearly 40 films and was nominated for an Academy Award for his dramatic acting in the 1972 film, “Lady Sings the Blues.” (mn)22
2022 JJ Barnes singer dies. James Jay was born in Detroit, 30-11-43. He recorded a 2 hour program in the 1990s for PCRL radio detailing his recording carrer. In 1960, J.J. Barnes released several
singles on the Mickay and Ric-Tic imprints, including ‘Just One More
Time’ and ‘Please Let Me In’. After signing to the Motown label, his career there began initially as a songwriter. James was a member of a group called the Holidays, who were a trio (whose line-up included Edwin Starr and Steve Mancha). The Holidays had an R&B hit in 1966 with ‘I’ll Love You Forever’. James’ biggest hit single came in 1967 with ‘Baby Please Come Back Home’. The song reached No. 9 on the US Billboard R&B chart and was followed with the further releases including ‘Black Ivory’. James then relocated to the U.K., recommended by his fellow group member, Edwin Starr, during the Seventies. He, subsequently, signed a deal with the U.K. label Contempo Records. James became a favourite artist of the UK Northern soul scene, and often performed in the UK.
(MN-BR-soulwalking)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18TH.CENT.VOICES
203: WILLIAM DAVIDSON (1786-1820)
Republic day-Republic of Burkina Faso.
1926 Big Mama Thornton soul singer born Willie Mae Thornton in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, into a clerical family: her father was the minister of the local church. Her childhood was spent tending her sick mother, who died before her 14th birthday. She Started out in the late 30s as a dancer & comedian. Her singing was influenced by Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie and Big Maceo. She recorded the original version of Elvis's hit Hound Dog that was specially written for her by Leiber & Stoller, it was a hit for her in 1953. (mn-cl-rt) (mn-jt)
1931 Benny Spellman, singer born in Penscola, Florida, USA. (mn-cl)
1938 McCoy Tyner singer/musician born in Penselvania. Beginning in his early teens, Tyner studied piano formally for several years before joining the jazztet led by Benny Golson and Art Farmer in 1959. The following year he joined John Coltrane, with whom he had previously gigged in Philadelphia. He remained with Coltrane until 1965 in what became known as the tenorman's "classic quartet", touring internationally and recording numerous albums, including celebrated works such as Impressions (1963) and A Love Supreme (1965). In the late 60s he led his own trio, backed many artists of jazz and popular music, and began to record under his own name. Throughout the 70s Tyner toured and recorded, usually with a quartet or quintet. Several of his albums achieved considerable critical and popular success, some winning awards. He continued touring and recording through the 80s, most often as leader but he also played with Sonny Rollins in the Milestone Jazzstars. Early in his career Tyner was influenced by Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk and Art Tatum, but during his years with Coltrane he developed his own distinctive style. Tyner was not content simply to "comp" with his left hand, but played in a vigorous two-handed manner that echoed the vibrancy and rhythmic excitement of his influences. His playing and, especially, his composing also displayed an advanced harmonic awareness. In some of his later work Tyner has adopted stylistic devices from other fields of music, incorporating African and Asian ethnic music and elements of the European classical tradition. More surprising was his 1997 album of Burt Bacharach music, displaying Tyner's affection for the composer's lush melodic pop, although by 2000 he had returned to his roots with Jazz Roots. (mn-jt-music.us)
1944 Marvin L. Sims born in Sedailia, Missouri. First recorded in 1962. Only chart succsess came with 'talkin' About Soul' reached #50 9th July, 1968. (JW)
1954 Jermaine Jackson, singer with Jackson Five/Jacksons born. Jermaine was one of five brothers who formed the Jackson Five in 1962. Besides playing bass, he acted as vocal counterpoint to his younger brother Michael Jackson, a musical relationship that continued after the group was signed to Motown Records in 1968. Jermaine contributed occasional lead vocals to their albums in the early 70s, and his performance of "I Found That Girl" on Third Album was one of their most affecting ballads. Like his brothers Michael and Jackie Jackson, Jermaine was singled out by Motown for a solo career, and he had an immediate US Top 10 hit with a revival of Shep And The Limeliters' doo-wop classic "Daddy's Home", in 1972. Later releases were less favourably received, but he consolidated his position within the company in 1973 with his marriage to Hazel, the daughter of Motown boss Berry Gordy (the marriage survived until 1987). His new family connections entailed a stark conflict of interest when the other members of the Jackson Five decided to leave the label in 1975. (mn-jt-music.us)
1959 Thulane Malinga World Champion boxer is born. Record: 42-10 (17). Best wins: Nincent Boulware; Nigel Benn and Robin Ried. He lives in Transvaal, South Africa. (mn-ring)
1964 Sam Cooke soul/gospel singer shot dead at a motel on South Figuera Street in Los Angeles California, his last words were reported to be 'Lady you shot me'. One of the most famous R&B/Gospel singers of the 60's was born in Chicago, USA January 22, 1931. He had 16 Top 20 hits in the USA between 1957 and 1965 (only 3 in the UK). (mn)
1972 James Brown was arrested after a concert in Knoxville, Tennessee, and charged with disorderly conduct. When he threatened to sue the local community for $1 million, the charges were dropped. (mn-jt)
1972 Esther Benett, soul singer with Eternal born. Their first two singles, "Stay" and "Save Our Love", made an immediate impact on the UK charts and launched the group as one of the teen phenomena of 1993. However, much more strident and demanding of the listener was their third single, "Just A Step From Heaven", the accompanying video for which depicted gangs of youths in urban wastelands, before switching to a woman giving a lecture on self-awareness. It was perhaps a little disappointing, then, to learn that Eternal's songs were not of their own creation, and written instead by backroom staff. Nevertheless, Always And Forever spawned no less than six Top 15 UK hit singles (another record). (mn-tx) DUPLICATE
1985 Andrew Brown, blues singer, dies, Harvey Ill, USA. (mn-rs)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18TH.CENT.VOICES
204: ROBERT WEDDERBURN (B.1762/3)
1899 Black Invention: Golf Tee, George F. Grant. (sc)
1925 Cora Lee Johnson born in Soperton, Georgia, USA. A social activist, "A hero for Hard Times". (tr-bl)
1940 Dionne Warwick, singer and three time Grammy winner is born in New Jersey, USA. One of soul music's truly sophisticated voices, Warwick first sang in Newark's New Hope Baptist Church choir. She formed the Gospelaires with her sister, Dee Dee, and aunt Sissy Houston. Employed regular as backing singers she met writers Bert Bacharach and Hal David and recorded her first hit Don't Make Me Over in 1963. (mn-cl)
1943 Grover Washington Jr., saxophonist/producer/songwriter born today in Buffalo, New York, USA. He was playing professionally by the age of 12, formed a group at 14 playing on local jazz circuit. Recorded Grammy award winner 'Limelight' with 'Just The Two Of Us' selling over 2 million in USA. ((Dies December 18, 1999 (br)) mn
1957 Sheila E., singer/percussionist born, Oakland, CA. Born Sheila Escovedo, Sheila E. came to prominence as a solo artist in 1984 but had been playing conga drums since the age of three. Her father, Pete Escovedo, worked briefly with Santana and led the Latin-jazz fusion band Azteca, with which Sheila sat in while in high school. She briefly gave up the idea of a musical career but eventually left school to join her father's band, appearing on two of his albums for Fantasy Records. She was discovered by Prince in 1984 and appeared as a vocalist on his "Erotic City", the b-side of the US number 1 "Let's Go Crazy". With that exposure she was able to sign a solo record contract with Warner Brothers Records; her debut was Sheila E. In The Glamorous Life. The album yielded the US Top 10 single of the same name and the UK Top 20 hit, "The Belle Of St. Mark". Her follow-up, Sheila E. In Romance 1600, appeared on Prince's Paisley Park label in 1985 and featured the US hit single, "A Love Bizarre', with Prince himself on backing vocals. Her third solo album, self-titled, was released in 1987 but failed to garner the attention or sales of the first two. That same year she joined Prince's touring group as drummer, also appearing in the movie Sign O" The Times. After a four-year lapse in recording, she returned in 1991 with the dance-orientated Sex Cymbal, which was self-written and produced with assistance from her brother, Peter Michael, and David Gamson. Escovedo subsequently retreated behind the scenes, writing and recording with other artists and working as music director on Magic Johnson's television show The Magic Hour. She also worked extensively with charitable organisations. In 2000, she produced and co-composed the music for the first Latin Grammy Awards and returned to recording with the stylish Latin jazz album, Writes Of Passage. (wickpedia/music.us)
1963 Kenya gains independence from Great Britain.
1964 Rockin' Jeff of The Pasadenas born Jeff Aaron Brown. (mn-jt)
1995 Willie Brown defeats incumbent mayer Frank Jordan to become the first African American mayor of San Francisco, USA. (tr-iokts)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18TH.CENT.VOICES
205: WILLIAM CUFFAY (1788- 1870)
1903 Ella Baker, civil rights worker, born. Best-known for her work in the civil rights movement during the 1950s as interim director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Baker first became a social activist in Harlem during the 1930s depression. Her commitment to women's Day Workers and Industrial League and to write a book on the exploitation of domestic workers (Crisis, 1935). In 1958 she organized a voter registration campaign for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Impatient with SCLC's slow pace of progress and top-down leadership, she supported the foundation of the more militant Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee in 1958 and Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in 1964, thus serving as a bridge to the black power movement of later decades. (Dies 1986) (tr-bl-ss)
1933 Wayne Bennett, blues guitarist with Bobby Bland's group, born, Sulphur, Okla, USA. Died November 18, 1992, New Orleans, La, USA. (mn-rs)
1944 First African American women to complete officer training for the WAVE's. (tr-iokts)
1957 Daniel A. Chapman becomes Ghana's first Ambassador to the U.S.
1958 Lurrie Bell, blues guitarist, son of Carey Bell blues harmonica player, born in Chicago, Ill, USA. Born 13 December 1958, Lurrie's musical interests were encouraged from an early age by his father and the guitarist Roy Johnson. By the age of eight Bell was regularly called onstage for guest appearances. In his teens he joined Koko Taylor's band as guitarist. In the 80s he established himself as both a respected bandleader and an in-demand session player, and he toured Europe frequently. He gave up music in 1986, but marked his return three years later with some well-received recordings for the JSP label. Lurrie's soulful, Little Milton-influenced singing and agile guitar continue to impress, although his recent output for Delmark Records has demonstrated a grittier edge, with suitably dark lyrics to match. He has recorded albums together with his father, the most recent in 2004. (mn-rs)
1981 Pigmeat Markhan, singer and comedian dies aged 75. Best known as a comedian, Markham began his long career in 1917, dancing in travelling shows. He travelled the southern "race" circuit with blues singer Bessie Smith and later appeared on burlesque bills with Milton Berle, Red Buttons and Eddie Cantor. By the 50s, Markham was one of black America's most popular entertainers through his shows at the Regal in Chicago, the Howard in Washington and, in particular, New York's famed Apollo. Despite being black, he applied burnt cork make-up to his face, a device that caused many of his fans to believe he was actually white. He later made several successful appearances on the influential Ed Sullivan television show and was signed by Chess during the 60s. The Chicago-based label issued several in-concert albums and his 1968 novelty hit, "Here Comes The Judge". This tongue-in-cheek recording was inspired by the artist's catch-phrase, which was used extensively on the American television comedy series Rowan And Martin's Laugh-In. Although hampered by a competitive version by Shorty Long, Markham enjoyed a Top 20 hit in the USA and UK. Although this was a one-off achievement, Pigmeat Markham remained a well-known figure until his death in December 1981. (mn-jt-enc pop music)
1994 Norman Beaton actor famous for his role as 'Desmond' in the hit TV series Desmonds, dies in Guyana. Read his fascinating and informative autbiograhy, Beaton but Unbowed, published by Methuen in 1986. Little Napoleons. (nationmaster) (sb)
2007 Ike Turner dies. Ex-husband to Tina Turner. Tina parted company with him in the early 70's after a wife-beating relationship. Dogged by drug problems most of his life, he cleaned up his act more recently and received a blues award for a recent album. Cited by some a the originator of Rock & Roll due to his 1951 record Rocket 88, a song about a Oldsmoble car from that year, sung by Jackie Brenson. Biggest hit was with Tina Turner, River Deep, Mountain High a Phil Spector production in the mid-60's. Known for his explosive stage shows featuring the Ikettes dressed in mini-skirts and outrageous dance routines. (mn) 2021
2021 Joe Simon dies (September 2, 1936 – December 13, 2021) was an American soul and R&B musician. He began as a gospel artist singing with the Golden West Singers in the Bay Area in California. A consistent presence on the US charts between 1964 and 1981, Simon charted 51 U.S. Pop and R&B chart hits between 1964 and 1981, including eight times in the US top forty, thirty-eight times in the top 40 of the US R&B charts, and 13 chart hits in Canada.
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: 18TH.CENT.VOICES
206: MARY SEACOLE (1805? - 1881)
RASMAN (PCRL PRESENTER BORN)
Now with New Style radio. Rasman did two programmes on PCRL, one reggae-roots type show and a soul show with Lady JC on Sunday nites after the popular Talk-Back show.
1899 Deford Bailey, harmonica player, and the first black performer on The Grand Ole Oprey, Nashville-based WSM country radio program. born today in Nashville Tennessee, USA. (Dies July 2, 1982 in Nashville). (mn-rs)
1915 Jack Johnson becomes World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
1929 Raymond R. Patterson was born. He was an African-American poet, writer, and professor. From Harlem, NY he was a graduate of the New York City Public School System. Patterson received his BA in Political Science from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he was class poet, and won the Boretone Mountain Poetry Award for best poem written by an undergraduate. He received his MA in English from NYU. A prolific poet whose work was widely anthologized, Patterson was author of 26 Ways of Looking at a Black Man and Other Poems 1969, and Elemental Blues (1983). He also wrote an unpublished book length poem on the life of Phillis Wheatley and two opera librettos. Patterson read his works widely, from local venues to the Library of Congress in Washington DC and at the 60th Birthday Celebration of Chinua Achebe at the University of Nigeria. He collaborated with his wife in the creation of Black Poets Reading, a non-profit speakers' bureau; represented the US at the Struga Festival in Macedonia. He was an Umbra Poet who served on the executive boards of the Poetry Society of America, the PEN American Center, and the Walt Whitman Birthplace. Patterson was also a well-known figure on the Long Island poetry landscape, a dignified voice for poetry who served for many years as a mentor to many individual writers regionally. His poetry also appeared in publications like Transatlantic Review, Ohio Review and Beloit Poetry Journal, as well as in many anthologies including "The Poetry of the Negro," "New Black Voices," "The Norton Introduction to Literature" and "The Best American Poetry of 1996." Patterson joined the New York City College faculty in 1968 and was founder of its Langston Hughes Festival, which he directed from 1973 to 1993. Ray Patterson died on April 5th 2001 at the age of 71. He is survived by a daughter, Ama Patterson, a sister, Carol Patterson Lewis of Plainfield, New Jersey, and two grandchildren. (aareg.com)
1944 Linda Jones, soul singer born in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Dies 14th March, 1972. This soulful song stylist started in her family's gospel group the Jones Singers at the age of six. Her first recording was "Lonely Teardrops" under the name Linda Lane, on Cub Records in 1963, and she had unsuccessful singles on Atco Records in 1964 and Blue Cat the following year. In 1967, she worked with writer/producer George Kerr and signed to Russ Regan's Loma label in 1967. This resulted in her biggest hit, "Hypnotized", which narrowly missed the US Top 20. She later had releases on Warner 7-Arts, Cotique and Gamble And Huff's Neptune label before joining Sylvia Robinson's Turbo Records in 1971. A sufferer of diabetes, Jones collapsed backstage at the Apollo in New York on 14 March 1972 and died shortly afterwards in hospital. She was way ahead of her time and made melisma (spreading a syllable over several notes) an art form. This unique singer, who has influenced scores of R&B artists, was aptly described in Black Music magazine as "perhaps the most soulful singer in the history of R&B music". (mn-cl)
1963 Dinah Washington, singer found dead in her Detroit home from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. Her gutsy style, unique phrasing, gospel background and feeling for the blues transcended category, Dinah Washington (1925-1963) won a talent contest, toured with the Sallie Martin Gospel Singers, changed her name and sang with Lionel Hampton's band from 1943 to 1946. The first session under her own name was produced by Leonard Feather in '43 with Hampton sidemen, and Feathers songs Evil Man and Salty Papa became eternally associated with her, Washington subsequently recorded for Mercury and nearly 30 rhythm-and-blues hits from 1949-61 began with Feather's Baby Get Lost, a No.1 hit. More 20 singles made the pop charts including What A Difference A Day Makes, If It Could Happen To You, Our Love Is hear To Stay and For All We Know. (mn-jt-dc)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT:RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
207: EDWARD WILMOT BLYDEN/J HORTON (1832-1883)
1883 William Augustus Hinton, developer of the Hinton test for diagnosing syphilis, is born. In 1906, the first effective test for syphilis, the Wassermann test, was developed. Although it had some false positive results, it was a major advance in the prevention of syphilis. By allowing testing before the acute symptoms of the disease had developed, this test allowed the prevention of the transmission of syphilis to others, even though it did not provide a cure for those infected. In the 1930s the Hinton test, developed by William Augustus Hinton, and based on flocculation, was shown to have fewer false positive reactions than the Wasserman. Subsequent syphilis tests, such as the Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, and others based on monoclonal antibodies and immunofluorescence, are used in place of the Wassermann and Hinton tests today. In one of the best documented, but most controversial, episodes of the twentieth century, the Tuskegee syphilis study continued to study the lifetime course of syphilis in a group of black Americans, long after effective treatments for syphilis were available. (tr-iokts-wickpedia)
1932 Jesse Belvin, R&B singer born. (Dies 6 February, 1960). Raised in Los Angeles, Belvin became a part of the city's flourishing R&B scene while in his teens. He was featured on "All The Wine Is Gone", a 1950 single by Big Jay McNeely, but his career was then interrupted by a spell in the US Army. "Earth Angel", a collaboration with two fellow conscripts, was recorded successfully by the Penguins, while Belvin enjoyed a major R&B hit in his own right in 1956 with "Goodnight My Love", a haunting, romantic ballad adopted by disc jockey Alan Freed as the closing theme to his highly influential radio show. He also recorded with fellow songwriter Marvin Phillips as Jesse & Marvin, achieving a Top 10 R&B hit in 1953 with "Dream Girl". In 1958 Belvin formed part of the opportunistic vocal quintet, the Shields, who recorded the national Top 20 hit "You Cheated" for Dot Records. That same year the singer was signed to RCA Records, who harboured plans to shape him in the mould of Nat "King" Cole and Billy Eckstine. Further hits, including "Funny" and "Guess Who" - the latter of which was written by his wife and manager Jo Ann - offered a cool, accomplished vocal style suggestive of a lengthy career, but Belvin died, along with his wife, following a car crash in February 1960. (mn-rs-music.us)
1944 Cindy Birdsong, singer with Pati Labelle & Bluebells/Supremes, born. (mn-jt)
1946 Harry Ray, soul singer with Moments/Ray, Goodman & Brown born. Formed in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA, in 1968, this distinctive sweet soul trio comprised Al Goodman (Born 31 March 1947, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; ex-Vipers and Corvettes), Harry Ray (Born 15 December 1946, Longbranch, New Jersey, USA, d. 1 October 1992; ex-Sounds Of Soul and Establishment) and William Brown (Born 30 June 1946, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA; ex-Broadways and Uniques). The falsetto-led, 50s-style harmony vocal group recorded for Sylvia Robinson's Stang label. According to Goodman, the original group led by Mark Greene was replaced by Ray, Goodman and Brown in 1969, after their first hit "Not On The Outside". It was this trio's fourth R&B Top 20 hit, "Love On A Two-Way Street", in 1970, that gave them their biggest pop hit, reaching number 3 in the US charts. They had a further 21 R&B chart records, which included their self-penned Top 20 hit "Sexy Mama" in 1973, and the R&B number 1 "Look At Me (I'm In Love)" in 1975. Their first UK success came in 1975 with "Girls", made with fellow Stang group the Whatnauts. They had two further UK Top 10s: "Dolly My Love" in 1975 and "Jack In The Box" in 1977, neither of which charted in the USA. In 1979, they joined Polydor Records as Ray, Goodman And Brown and had further success notably with the hit "Special Lady". (mn-jt)
1966 Carl Llewllyn Hooper, 6', 13st Kent cricketer born in Guyana. County debut: 1992; County cap: 1992; Test debut: 1987-88; Tests: 73; On-Day Internationals: 167; 1000 runs in on season: 7. (cm-mn)
1976 Jamaica - Michael Manley is re-elected, but sees the PNP's support among the upper working class and lower middle class dramatically reduced. (mn-cb/pd-tr)
1979 Jackie Brenston, whose 1951 single 'Rocket 88', has been cited as the first Rock & Roll record, died of a heart attack, he was 49. (The record was actually made by Ike Turner). (mn-jh-jt)
2001 Rufus Thomas, singer/DJ/entertainer, dies aged 84 after a short illness. Thomas had done much to launch the careers of people like B.B. King and Ike Turner. He had recieved an R&B Foundation Pioneer Award in 1993 and was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame only this year. There is also a street in Memphis, his home town, named after him. He also made a 2 hour programme in 1996 for PCRL. (br-mn)
2006 [Ahmet Ertegun], producer dies in New York. (b. 31st July 1923, Istanbul, Turkey.) After a long illness, Ahmet Ertegun has died. He was 83. 'He was in a coma and expired today with his family at his bedside,' said Dr. Howard A. Riina, Ertegun's neurosurgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center. Although he was slowed by triple-bypass surgery in 2001, he still went into his office on a daily basis. (mn-soulwalking)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
208: CELESTINE EDWARDS (1858/9-1894)
1816 William Cooper Nell was born on this date. He was a Black lecturer, journalist, and historian. From Boston, he was the son of William and Louise Cooper. A frequent reader of William Lloyd Garrison’s, “Liberator,” Nell joined the cause of the antislavery movement. He began working for the Liberator newspaper in the 1840’s. At many of the antislavery functions in Boston, he was Garrison’s personal representative. He became active in the Underground Railroad, until ill health forced him to withdraw. In 1851 he became assistant to Frederick Douglass and soon after published his own pamphlet on "Colored American Patriots" in the Revolution and the War of 1812. This evolved into the book for which he is best known. Nell drew his stories from personal accounts, cemetery records, and research. His book includes an introduction by abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe. Nell has been credited with saving the stories of many Black soldiers from obscurity. His description of the first martyr to the Revolution, Chrispus Attucks, brought a key Black figure into American history but his efforts to have a monument erected to Attucks was unsuccessful in 1851. In protest to the Dred Scott decision, Nell organized the very first Crispus Attucks celebration in America. After the war ended, Nell became a party in identifying the efforts of the Black soldiers in the Civil War. Nell is considered by Carter Goodwin Woodson to be the first African-American historian. Nell is also is acknowledged to be the first federal employee of the United States, having been employed in the Boston Post Office in 1863. He died May 25, 1874. (aareg.com)
1859 Shields Green and John Anthony Copeland, two of five African-American conspirators are hanged for their participation in John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry. Copeland was led to the gallows shouting, “I am dying for freedom. I could not die for a better cause. I would rather die than be a slave.” (aareg.com)
1976 Andrew Young appointed Ambassador to the U.N. by President by U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
1988 Sylvester, soul singer, real name Sylvester James, dies of AIDS-related condition at the age of 41. One of the pioneers of disco music, also one of the first openly gay artists in the music industry, he mixed funk, R&B, and gospel into his music. He came along when the disco genre began to flourish and produced some of the era's finest material. His stage shows presented him in full transvestite regalia and earned him a huge gay following. Before his solo career, her performed with cross dressing vocal group, the Cocketts. His backing vocalists include Jeanie Tracy and the Two Tons O' Fun (Martha Walsh & Izora Rhodes). (mn-jt-dp)
1997 Nelson Mandela makes his last speech as President of South Africa it an A.N.C. Conference in Mafaking and hands over to his deputy Thabo Mbecke. (mn)
2000 Colin Powell was appointed as United States Secretary of State. Accepting President-elect George W. Bush's nomination to be the America's 65th Secretary of State, Powell became the first African-American to hold that position. Powell, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff presided over Operation Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. He said, "If you want to be successful in the 21st century, you must find your path to democracy, market economics and a system which frees the talents of men and women to pursue their individual destinies." (aareg.com)
2006 Leona Lewis wins X-Factor UK tv tallent show. It has been announced that Leona will be flying to New York to have talks with Clive Davis who runs J Records in America – the major label behind Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox and Rod Stewart. Clive has reportedly told Simon Cowell that he has listened to Leona and really likes her and a source has told the Daily Mirror: ” Leona’s X Factor prize is peanuts compared to what Clive is offering. When Clive called Simon Cowell, he was talking £5million. Leona and Simon will fly to meet him.” (mn)
2021 Wanda Young dies (b. Wanda LaFaye Young, 9th August 1943, Inkster, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 16th December 2021, U.S.A.) Wanda of the vocal group, the Marvelettes. She married Bobby Rogers of the Miracles (B/W '63-'77) (She was 78)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
209: SLYVESTER WILLIAMS & AFRICAN ASSOCIATION (1869-1911)
1939 Eddie Kendricks soul singer and Temptation member born today in Union Springs, Alabama, USA. Eddie was the voice on 'Just My Imagination', one of the greatest love songs. (Dies 5/10/92 drug over dose.) (mn-dr)
1939 James Booker, keyboard player, born New Orleans, La, USA. (Died November 8, 1983, 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-rc-music.us)
1964 [Star In Colour Row, Dusty Ordered Out and Showbiz V. Apartheid were the headlines Dusty Springfield returned to the UK to on expulsion from South Africa, half way though a sell-out tour. He had insisted on playing only to non-segregated audiences - this was too-much for the S. African government]. (mn)
1950 Carlton Lyoyd Barrett legendary drummer with The Wailers (1963-81) born in Kingston Jamaica today. Carlton "Carly" Barrett was the originator of the one drop rhythm, a percussive drumming style. An essential member of the Wailers since 1969, Carly co-wrote "Talkin' Blues" and performed on every Wailer album since. With Carly's beats and his brother Aston's bass, the Wailer rhythm section planted the seeds of today's international reggae. "Field Marshal," as he liked to be called, is indeed the marshal of the one drop rhythm who kept the Wailers steady in his own militant style. Carly was born in Jamaica in 1950. As a teenager he built his first set of drums out of some empty paint tins, and had initially been influenced by Lloyd Nibbs, the great drummer from the Skatalites. He and his brother Aston were raised in Kingston and absorbed the emerging "ska" sound. The Barrett brothers came to prominence with their band the Hippy Boys. They began working with Lee "Scratch" Perry, and recorded an international hit, "Return of Django," under the name the Upsetters. The brothers teamed up with the Wailers in 1969-70 for several singles: "My Cup (Runneth Over)," Duppy Conqueror," Soul Rebel," and Small Axe." These songs became part of a double LP set that Perry released: Soul Rebels and Soul Revolution, and formed the early foundation of the one drop sound. Though original Wailers Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston left the group in 1973, Carlton and Aston remained with Bob Marley and went on to record Natty Dread in 1974. Carlton has songwriting credits for two of Natty Dread's songs: "Talkin' Blues" and "Them Belly Full". A steady presence, Carlton remained with the Wailers in the studio and on tour until Bob's passing in 1981. His signature style can be heard on every recording the Wailers produced since 1969. Feel it in the one drop. (tr-mn-bobmarley.com)
1951 Wanda Hutchinson, soul singer with The Emotions is born. Coming from Chicago, Joe Hutchinson's daughters Jeanette, Wanda and Sheila had recorded since 1962 for Local, Tollie Brainstorm and Twin Stacks under the names of The Hutch Stereos and The Sunbeams. produced by Isaac Hayes and Porter they did very fine recordings in the Sam & Dave mould. Still singing and recording today, here is their official web site: www.theemotionsweb.com (mn-jt)
1973 Georgia State Representing Julian Bond promotes health care legislation.
1975 Noble Sissle, lyricist and bandleader dies. From Indianapolis, Indiana, his early interest in music came from his father, a minister and organist. His family moved to Cleveland when Noble was 17, and in 1908, before graduating from high school, he joined a male quartet for a four-week run of the Midwest vaudeville circuit. After graduating, he joined a gospel quartet for a tour on the same circuit. Riding the wave of new interest in black entertainers brought on by the success of James Reese Europe, Sissle was asked to organize his own orchestra, which he led at an Indianapolis Hotel. In 1915, he left the city for Baltimore. Sissle and Eubie Blake became songwriting partners that same year after they met as members of Joe Porter's Serenaders. Their first song was It's All Your Fault. They got some help in writing it from their friend Eddie Nelson and showed it to Sophie Tucker. Tucker had arrangements made and used it the night after she heard it. It's All Your Fault made $200. For a while, Sissle and Blake performed separately. In 1916, Sissle worked for James Reese Europe in his Clef Club, and soon was leading his own group within the organization. The summer of that year, Blake rejoined him. When war broke out in 1917, Sissle enlisted with Europe and helped him recruit members for the military band he was forming. Blake, too old for military service, stayed stateside, putting music to songs they sent back. (tr-iokts-aaregistry)
1982 Big Joe Williams, blues singer/guitarist, dies, Macon, USA. Big Joe Williams (born October 16, 1903 ) was an American blues musician and songwriter, known for his characteristic style of guitar-playing, his nine-string guitar, and his bizarre, cantankerous personality. He performed frequently, wandering across the United States and playing stores, bars, alleys and work camps, as well as recording for Okeh, Bluebird Records, Delmark Records, Prestige Records and Vocalion. (mn-rs)
1991 Basketball player Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls is named Sports Illustrated 'Sportsman of the Year'.
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
210: DUCE MOHAMED ALI (1866/7-1945)
Republic Day-Republic of Niger.
1865 Congress ratifies the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery. Also at this time the Freedmen's Bureau was federally-sponsored institution that tried to care for the needs of newly freed slaves. One of it's major duties was to supervise redistribution of land from southern plantations to former slaves and poor whites. Fisk, Howard, and Atlanta Universities were also founded with assistance from the Bureau. (tr-iokts-hol-mn)
1933 Lonnie Brooks aka Guitar Junior, guitarist, born Lee Baker, Jr., in Dubusisson, Louisiana, USA. He began his career shuffling between rock & roll and rhythm & blues. After backing up zydeco legend Clifton Chenier in the mid-50s, Brooks, then called Guitar Junior, signed a recording contract with Louisiana-based Goldband label in 1957. his first single an R&B ballad called Family Rules, was a regional hit that year. (mn-rs)
1969 Keith John Piper, 5'7", 10.8 Warwickshire cricketer born in Leicester. County debut: 1989; County cap: 1992. (cm-mn)
1999 Grover Washington, saxophonist/singer/arranger, dies from a heart attack while recording four songs in a studio in New York for use on CBS Television's Saturday Early Show. He was 56. (mn-br)
1999 Joe Higgs, Jamaican singer, "Father of Reggae Music", dies in a Los Angeles hospital, aged 59 following several months treatment for cancer. Hugely influential in the birth of ska, rock steady and reggae forms of Jamaican music, Higgs was widely respected as a composer, arranger and performer, but perhaps most of all as a teacher. Among those he trained were Bob Marley, Derreck Harriot, Peter Tosh, Bob Andy, the Wailing Souls and Bunny Wailer. It was in Higg's Trench Town yard that Bob Marley received many years of private tutoring in vocal technique and stagecraft from Higgs, years before he began performing with the Wailers. Marley later admitted that "Joe Higgs was a genius, "crediting him for his international musical success. (mn-echoes 8/1/00)20
2019 Kenneth Lynch OBE dies aged 81s(b.18 March 1938) was an English singer, songwriter, entertainer and actor. He appeared in many variety shows in the 1960s. At the time, he was among the few black singers in British pop music. (mn)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
211: JOHN ARCHER/AFRICAN PROGRESS UNION (B.1863)
1875 Carter G. Woodson, "Father of Black History," born. The oldest of nine children, dropped out of school to work to help support his family. Despite this, he went on to earn his A.B. and M.A. from the University of Chicago (1908) and his Ph.D. from Harvard (1912). He hoped that a greater understanding of black history and culture would improve race relations. Published over 20 books and countless articles, both popular and scholarly. (mn-ss)
1899 Black Invention: Amusement Apparatus, Granville T. Woods. (sc)
1899 Black Invention: The Water Closet, Jorone B. Rhodes. (sc)
1918 Professor Longhair, pianist, born Henry Byrd in Bogalusa, Louisiana, USA. He was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He was noted for his unique piano style, which he described as "a combination of rumba, mambo, and Calypso", and his unusual, expressive voice, described once as "freak unique". His career in music began in the 1930s, dancing for tips. "The very first instrument I played was the bottom of my feet, working out rhythms, tap dancing. We used to dance all up and down Bourbon Street." He learned guitar and piano and began to take music seriously when he found he could get out of work by playing piano for his fellow members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He also worked as a boxer, cook, and professional card player. In the late 1940s, he sat in on piano at the Caldonia Club while Dave Bartholomew's band was taking a break. He was an immediate hit and Bartholomew, later famous as Fats Domino's bandleader and collaborator, was fired. The band all had long hair and were dubbed Professor Longhair and the Four Hairs. (dies 30/1/80) (mn-cl-wickpedia)
1933 Cicely Tyson, acclaimed actor, born in New York to poor Caribbean immigrants. As a young woman she worked as a secretary and model and studied at New York University. She began acting in film and stage in the early 1960s and helped found the Dance Theatre of Harlem with Arthur Mitchell. One of the strongest stage roles was in the off-Broadway production The Blacks (1971). (tr-iokts-ss)
1967 Michael Anthony Vincent Bell, 6'2", 13.2 Surrey Cricketer born in Birmingham, England. County debut: 1992 (Warwickshire), 1998 (on-day, Surrey). (cm-mn)
1941 Maurice White drummer/singer with Earth Wind & Fire born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Former Chess Records session drummer and member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, White and his brother Verdine on bass formed EWF in 1969 in Chicago along with Philip Bailey on vocals the group was one of the most successful in the 1970s. (mn)
2012 Terry Huff dies (b. 16th October 1947, Washington D.C., U.S.A./d. 19th December 2012, George Washington University Hospital, Clinton, Maryland, U.S.A.)The singer and guitarist, Terry Huff has died. He was 65. Terry had been fighting colon cancer, and lost his fight at a hospice in Maryland. (mn)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
212: GEORGE PADMORE (1902/3-1959)
1852 Moshweshwe, leader of Basutoland (Lesotho) in Africa, defeats the boars.
1930 Pat Hare, blues guitarist, born, Cherry Valey, Ark. His style was and early influence on Jimi Henrix. ;Died September 26, 1980 while serving a life prison sentence for murdering his girlfriend and a policeman.
1939 Kim Weston soul singer born Agatha Natalie Weston in Detroit, Michigan, USA. In 1993 Kim recorded a 1 hour program for PCRL, reappearing on the station again in November 1997. Best known as a duet partner of Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston also charted with some of her own solo sides during the '60s, although she never had the breakout success of a Martha Reeves or Diana Ross. She started singing in her church choir at age three, and by her teenage years had joined a touring gospel group called the Wright Specials. She signed with Motown during the company's early days, scoring a minor R&B hit in 1963 with "Love Me All the Way." The following year, she recorded her first duet with Gaye, "What Good Am I Without You," but made the tactical error of turning down a chance to record "Dancing in the Street," which subsequently became a smash hit for Martha & the Vandellas. She enjoyed her biggest solo hit in 1965 with "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" and followed it up in 1966 with the equally soulful "Helpless," both of which helped make her reputation among soul collectors. Also in 1966, she cut an entire album of duets with Gaye, Take Two, which produced the Top Five R&B classic "It Takes Two." By the time it was peaking on the charts in early 1967, however, Weston had already left Motown; she and her husband, producer William "Mickey" Stevenson, moved to MGM, but a pair of albums there (For the First Time and This Is America) proved to be commercial failures. Weston subsequently recorded for Volt (Kim Kim Kim), People (Big Brass Four Poster, an album of jazz standards with the Hastings Street Jazz Experience), and Johnny Nash's Banyan Tree, all without much success. She did, however, chart with her version of the anthem "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" in 1970. Weston largely disappeared from the music industry during the '70s; in 1987, Weston became the first of many Motown artists to work with British producer Ian Levine on the Motorcity label, re-recording many of her old hits for the Northern soul market; her two albums for Motorcity, 1990's Investigate and 1992's Talking Loud, also featured some new material. (mn-allmusic)
1959 Motown Records is established. Berry Gordy was writing songs for Jackie Wilson (Reet Petite and To Be Loved) and came to realize he probably wasn't making the kind of money he should for his hits. His answer: to set up his own record company. So with a loan of $800 from his family, Gordy launched the Motown empire.
1965 Charlie Burse, guitarist/band leader, dies, Memphis, Tenn., (mn-rs)
1988 Max Robinson, first African American news anchor for major television network, dies. television journalist in the United States, and is best known for being the only African American network news anchor in the country. Robinson began his television career in 1959, when he was hired for a news job in Portsmouth, VA. He had to read the news while hidden behind a slide of the station's logo. One night, Robinson had the slide removed, and was fired the next day. He later went to Washington, D.C. based WRC-TV, and stayed for three years, winning six journalism awards for coverage of civil rights events such as the riots that followed the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1969, Robinson joined the Eyewitness News team at WTOP-TV (now WUSA-TV) in Washington, D.C. He was teamed with anchor Gordon Peterson, and the newscast took off. During that time, he so well liked by viewers, that when Hanafi Muslims took hostages at a Washington Mosque, they would only speak with Robinson. Robinson was tapped by Roone Arledge to become the Chicago-based co-anchor of ABC World News Tonight in 1978 after Arledge had seen Robinson in a documentary on CBS' 60 Minutes. He served in that position until 1983, when ABC abandoned the multiple anchor format following the death of Frank Reynolds. Robinson's ABC tenure was marked by conflicts between him and the management of ABC News over viewpoints and the portrayal of black America in the news. In addition, he was known by his co-workers to show up late for work or sometimes not show up at all, along with his moods, and his use of alcohol escalated. In addition, Robinson was known to fight racism at any turn and often felt unworthy of the admiration he received and was not pleased with what he had accomplished. He was often considered a mentor to young black broadcast journalists. By the time Robinson departed ABC News to become the first black anchor at Chicago's WMAQ-TV in 1984, he had been relegated to the weekend news and news briefs. Robinson would not last at WMAQ, leaving the station in 1985. In the fall of 1988, Robinson was in Washington to deliver a speech at Howard University's School of Journalism when he became increasingly ill. Robinson checked himself into Howard University Hospital where he died of AIDS on December 20, 1988. Robinson had been found to have the disease while he was hospitalized for pneumonia in an Illinois hospital, but kept it a secret. At his service, he was eulogized by the Rev. Jesse Jackson. (tr-iokts)
2012 Jimmy McCracklin dies. (b. James McCracklin, a.k.a. James David Walker, St. Louis, Missourri, U.S.A./d. 20th December 2012, San Pablo, California, U.S.A.)The pianist and singer, Jimmy McCracklin has died after a long illness. He was 91. Famous for his R&B compositions, which amounted to over 1000 in total, Jimmy recorded some 30 album releases during his career (which spanned seven decades). Jimmy was drafted into the United States Navy in 1938. He was seen as a promising boxer, staying in Los Angeles after his national service, fighting under the name ‘Jimmy Mackey’ in the light-heavyweight division. He later relocated to California, performing at the Club Savoy. Jimmy's first single arrived in 1945, recorded for the Globe Records imprint, entitled 'Miss Mattie Left Me', which was followed by 'Street Loafin' Woman' a year later. He later recorded for Modern Records during 1949 and 1950.Jimmy later appeared on Dick Clark's show 'American Bandstand'. performing 'The Walk' in 1957. In 1961, he released his debut album, entitled 'Twist' for the Crown Records imprint. In 1967, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas scored with the song 'Tramp', penned by Jimmy and Lowell Fulson. During the 1970's Jimmy ran the Continental Club in San Francisco, and recorded for the Stax imprint. Jimmy continued to tour and release albums through the 1980's and 1990's.A favourite of Bob Dylan, Jimmy played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1984 and 2007.He was awarded a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1990, and the Living Legend and Hall of Fame award at the Bay Area Black Music Awards, in 2007.(soulwalkin.com) 2024 Sugar Pie DeSanto singer dies. Real name Umpeylia Marsema Balinton. Born Oct. 16, 1935, Brooklyn, New York. Sister of Domingo Balinton and childhood friend of Etta James. (mn)
21st. DECEMBER
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
213: C.L.R. JAMES (1901- )
1891 Black Invention, hair straightening comb, Walter H. Sammons. (sc)
1902 Peetie Wheatstraw, 30's blues man, born (d.21/12/1941) Born William Bunch, 21 December 1902, Ripley, Tennessee, USA, d. 21 December 1941, East St. Louis, Illinois, USA. Wheatstraw, also known as the Devil's Son-In-Law, was an influential and popular blues artist of the 20s and 30s. He opened a club with "Big" Joe Williams in 1929. An accomplished guitarist, pianist and singer, he was tragically killed in a car accident at a comparatively young age. Throughout his recordings, usually with Vocalion or Decca, he was accompanied by musicians such as James "Kokomo" Arnold, Lonnie Johnson and Lillian Armstrong. Although he recorded many tracks, little of his work has been available for some time, giving fuel to the argument that his importance and influence is on the wane. (mn-rs-music.us)
1905 The Blace Ace, aka B.K. Turner, bluesman/guitarist, born, Babe Karo Lemon Turner, Hughes Spings, Texas, USA. (Died November, 7, 1972, Forte Worth, Texas, USA). (mn-rs)
1911 Josh Gibson, Negro leagues home-run king, is born in Buena Vista, Georgia - d. January 20, 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani, 6-foot-1, 215-pounder was a catcher for the Homestead Grays and later the Pittsburgh Crawfords in baseball's Negro Leagues. Gibson is widely considered among the very best power hitters in baseball history, but never played in Major League Baseball as racial segregation excluded African-Americans during his lifetime. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, elected in 1972. (tr-iokts-wickpedia)
1942 Carla Thomas soul singer born on this day in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, USA, Carla is the daughter of Rufus Thomas singer/d.j./writer, first performed with the Teen Town Singers. "'Cause I Love You', a duet with her father, was released on Satellite (later Stax Records) in 1960, but the following year she established herself as a solo act with "Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)". Leased to Atlantic Records, the song became a US Top 10 hit. "I'll Bring It On Home To You" (1962 - an answer to Sam Cooke), "What A Fool I've Been" (1963) and "Let Me Be Good To You" (1965) then followed. "B-A-B-Y", written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, reached the US R&B Top 3, before a series of duets with Otis Redding proclaimed her "Queen of Soul". An excellent version of Lowell Fulson's "Tramp" introduced the partnership. "Knock On Wood" and "Lovey Dovey' followed before Redding's premature death. Thomas" own career was eclipsed as Aretha Franklin assumed her regal mantle. Singles with William Bell and Johnnie Taylor failed to recapture past glories, although the singer stayed with Stax until its bankruptcy in 1975. Since then Thomas has not recorded, although she tours occasionally with the Stax revival shows, and she appeared, along with her father, at the Porretta Terme Soul Festival in 1991. (mn-music.us)
1943 Gwen McCrae, singer born in Penscola, Florida, USA. Born 21 December 1943, Pensacola, Florida, USA. The wife of George McCrae, Gwen made her mark in the mid-70s with a delightful series of southern-style soul numbers produced by Steve Alaimo and Clarence Reid for Henry Stone's Miami-based TK operation. She first found success with a remarkable remake of the old Bobby Bland gospel blues, "Lead Me On" (R&B number 32, 1970). The record was recorded for TK Records, but leased to Columbia Records. The following year, now on TK's subsidiary label Cat, she followed with an equally remarkable remake of the Ed Townsend oldie, "For Your Love" (R&B number 17). McCrae had her only pop hit with "Rockin' Chair" in 1975, when the number 1 R&B hit crossed over to reach the US Top 10. "Love Insurance" (R&B number 16) was a respectable follow-up in 1975. TK collapsed in 1980, and McCrae moved to New Jersey, and while there signed with Atlantic Records, after which she entered the charts with "Funky Sensation" (number 22 R&B) in 1981. McCrae's last US chart record was in 1984, but in the UK she had a hit with "All This Love That I'm Giving' (number 63, 1988), an old single taken from 1979"s Melody Of Life. Her status on the UK's northern soul scene led to a new recording contract with the Homegrown label, who released McCrae's Girlfriend's Boyfriend in 1996. Further recordings followed for the revived Goldwax Records label in the USA, and in 2004 McCrae released her first gospel album. (mn-cl-music.us)
1948 Samuel L. Jackson, actor born. Jackson as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. Samuel Leroy Jackson (born December 21, 1948) is an American actor. He has starred in many Hollywood movies, to the point of holding the title of highest box office grossing actor. His performance in Jungle Fever was so acclaimed, the 1991 Cannes Film Festival created a Supporting Actor award just for him. Along with that award, he has won many others including a Silver Berlin Bear, A BAFTA Film Award, and two Independent Spirit Awards. Roger Ebert wrote of him: Like Bill Cosby, Jackson is arguing against the anti-intellectual message that success for young black males is better sought in the worlds of rap and sports than in the classroom. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Quentin Tarantino movies Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, as Jedi Mace Windu in the prequel Star Wars Trilogy, and the Spike Lee movies Do The Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues and Jungle Fever. Thus, he is usually cast into roles that involve a cool, controlled, "in-the-know" black man. His roles almost always involve a memorable line delivery; and Jackson's trademark voice inflection lend heavily to this key attribute. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. (wickpedia)
1953 Betty Wright soul singer born in Miami, Florida, USA. A former member of her family gospel group, the Echoes Of Joy, Wright's first recordings were as a backing singer. She later embarked on a solo career and scored a minor hit with "Girls Can't Do What The Guys Do" in 1968. "Clean Up Woman" (1972), a US R&B number 2/pop number 6 hit, established a punchier, less passive style which later releases, "Baby Sitter" (1972) and "Let Me Be Your Lovemaker" (1973), consolidated. Although "Shoorah Shoorah" and "Where Is The Love?" reached the UK Top 30 in 1975, the singer was unable to sustain a wider success. Wright nonetheless continued recording into the 90s and also forged a career as a US television talk show hostess. (mn)
1996 Tim Chandell, reggae singer dies on this day. (mn-dp)
1985 Richie Makes It Nine In A Row. When his 'Say You, Say Me' topped the US singles chart for four weeks at the end of 1985 and into 1986, compositions by Lionel Richie had topped the US singles chart for nine consecutive years. (mn-jt)
1992 Albert King, blues guitarist, dies, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. By playing left-handed and holding the guitar upside down (with the strings set for a left-hand player) and by concentrating on tone and intensity more than flash, King fashioned, over his long career, a sound that was both distinctive and highly influential. (mn-rs)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
214: RAS MAKONNON (1909-1983)
1883 Arthur Wergs Mitchell, first African American to be elected to Congress, is born in Lafayette, Ala., USA. (tr-iokts)
1898 Dr. Chancellor Williams, historian, author of "Destruction of Black Civilization," born in Bennettsville, S.C.
1939 Ma Rainey, 20s blues-singer dies, Columbus, Da., USA. Along with Bessie Smith, Gertrude "Ma" Rainey is regarded as the best of 1920s classic blues singers. She was most likely the first woman to incorporate blues into minstrel and vaudeville stage shows, perhaps, as early as 1902. Rainy is often called "The Mother Of the Blues" since she inspired many female blues singers who followed her. (mn-rs)
1976 Shaft Man Hayes Files For Bankruptcy. Isaac Hayes, who had topped the US singles chart just over five years earlier with 'The Theme From Shaft', a hypnotic instrumental that won an Oscar for Best Film Theme of 1971 and Grammy Awards for Best Instrumental Arrangements and Best Engineered Recording, filed for bankruptcy. (mn-jt)
2012 Marva Whitney dies. (b. Marva Ann Manning, Kansas, Missouri, U.S.A./d. 22nd December 2012, Kansas, Missouri, U.S.A.) The singer Marva Whitney has died. She was 68. Marva passed away as a result of complications of pneumonia at her home. Probably best known as one of the series of fine singers enlisted to the ranks of James Brown’s performing entourage, she was also best remembered for her solo funk anthem ‘It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who to Sock It To)’. (soulwalking.com)
2022 Thom Bell musician/producer/arranger/songwriter dies aged 79. b. Thomas Randolph Bell, 27th January 1943, Kingston, Jamaica. Dies in Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A. (mn)
23rd. DECEMBER
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
215: JOMO KENYATTA (1897-1978)
1815 Henry Highland Garnet born a slave in Kent County, Maryland. Henry Highland Garnet (December 23, 1815 - February 13, 1882), an African-American abolitionist and orator, was born a slave near New Market in Kent County, Maryland. He and his family escaped to Pennsylvania in 1824, before moving to New York, where from 1826 and 1833, Garnet attended the African Free School, and the Phoenix High School for Colored Youth. Two years later, in 1835, he started to attend the Noyes Academy in New Hampshire, but was driven away by an angry segregationist mob. In 1839, after graduating from the Oneida Theological Institute in Whitesboro, Garnet moved to Troy, New York. He served as the pastor of the Liberty(Fifteenth) Street Presbyterian Church from 1864 until 1866, and during this time he became the first black minister to preach to the House of Representatives. He joined the American Anti-Slavery Society and frequently spoke at abolitionist conferences. One of his most famous speeches, "Call to Rebellion," was delivered August, 1843 to the National Negro Convention in Buffalo, New York. In addition, by 1849 Garnet began to support emigration to Liberia. He was appointed president of Avery College in Pennsylvania, and became minister to Liberia in 1881, but he died two months later. (wickpedia)
1863 Robert Blake, powder boy aboard the USS Marblehead, was the first Black awarded the Navy Medal of Honour "for conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism". (bio.com)
1867 Madame C.J. Walker, the first black millionaires, generous benefactress of her community is born in Delta, La. Sarah Breadlove Walker invented a new way of straightening hair, up till this point black women who wanted to de-kink their hair had to put it on a table and press it with an iron. She laid the foundation of the cosmetics industry among Negroes and spurned personal beautification among black women. (mn-ra-tr-iokts)
1908 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr, Born. Rev Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (November 29, 1908 – April 4, 1972), American politician, was the first African American to become a powerful figure in the United States Congress. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Harlem in 1945, and became chair of the Labor and Education Committee in 1961. His tenure as commitee chairman saw the passage of important social legislation. His career was ended by a corruption scandal. (bio.com-wickpedia)
1919 Black Invention: Alice H. Parker patents a gas heating furnace. (bio.com)
1932 Rev. James Cleveland born, gospel singer, composer in Chicago, Ill. He sang in choirs as a boy and began writing songs while a teenager. In the 1950's he sang with several gospel groups and composed many songs including "He's Using Me" (1955). He released over 50 albums and won Grammy awards. In 1968 he formed the Gospel Music Workshop of America, which had 500,000 member by the mid-80's. alt ref says 6/12/41 (mn-jt-biog.com)
1935 Esther Phillips soul/jazz singer born Esther Mae Jones in Galveston, Texas, USA. This distinctive vocalist was discovered by band-leader Johnny Otis. She joined his revue in 1949 where, Little Esther the teenage singer recorded two N0.1 R&B singles, Double Crossing Blues, and Mistrustin' Blues. (Dies of liver/kidney failure in August 1984). (mn)
1940 Eugene Record soul singer and original member of the Chi-Lites born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He wrote and/or produced artists like Barbara Acklin (Love Makes A Woman), Young Holt Unlimited (Soulful Strut), Wales Wallace (Somebody I Know), the Dells (I Touched A Dream), and Lowell (Mellow Mellow Right On). Dies 2005. (mn-rt)
2007 Oscar Peterson dies.The jazz odyssey is over for Oscar Peterson: the Canadian known globally as one of the most spectacularly talented musicians ever to play jazz piano has died at age 82. Peterson died at his home in Mississauga, Ont., from kidney failure, CBC News has confirmed. (cbs)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: RISE OF PAN-AFRICANISM:
216: I.T.A. WALACE-JOHNSON (1894/5 - D.1965)
1853 Octavia Victoria Rogers, eloquent writer, born of slave parentage in Macon County, Ga.
1898 Orvin C. Mollison, first African American judge of the Customs Court, is born in Chicago, Ill., USA. (tr-iokts)
1920 Dave Bartholomew, producer/bandleader/composer and arranger born in Edgar, La, USA. Dave Bartholomew was one of the most important shapers of New Orleans R&B and rock 'n' roll during the 50s. A producer, arranger, songwriter, bandleader and artist, Bartholomew produced and co-wrote most of Fats Domino's major hits for Imperial Records. Although Bartholomew, who claims to have written over 4,000 songs, recorded under his own name, his contribution has been primarily as a backstage figure. He recorded a dixieland album in 1981 and in the 90s was still leading a big band at occasional special events such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991. (mn-rs-music.s)
1926 Irving Lee Dorsey, soul singer born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Ex-boxer turned singer known as Kid Chocolate, his infectious Ya Ya was a US No.1 R&B in 1961. Yes we Can was his last chart success in 1971. Sadly he died of emphysema December 1, 1986. He epitomized the New Orleans sound. (mn)
1931 Ray Bryant, latin/mambo/cuban musician, born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Coming from a musical family gave Bryant an advantage - his mother played piano and his sister sang in a gospel choir. He started on bass, but passed it to his older brother Tom, in order to play piano. The Bryant Brothers became the house band for Philadelphia's Blue Note Club, where they played with Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. It was these contacts that led to recordings with Davis, Sonny Rollins and Carmen McRae. He led a trio at New York's Village Vanguard in 1959. In 1960 he had a surprise hit with the infectious and memorable "Little Susie", named after his daughter, and "Cubano Chant" and "Slow Freight". Initially inspired by the style of Teddy Wilson, Bryant's gospel inflections give his playing a modern, rootsy edge. For a number of years much of his work was unavailable; fortunately, with the advent of the compact disc, Bryant's highly underrated work was made available again. He continues to perform and record prolifically as both a soloist and leader of a trio. Through The Years (Vols. 1 & 2) (1992) was an excellent recording, covering Bryant's entire career, and demonstrating, if anything, that his technique has improved with age. (mn-jt-music.us) [dup dec]
1951 Libya gains independence after 20 years of Italian rule.
1954 Johnny Ace one of the must popular black vocalists of the early 1950s died while playing Russian roulette backstage at Houston City Auditorium in Texas, he was 25. Born John Marshall Alexander Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee June 29, 1929, was a U.S. rhythm and blues singer. Ace was one of the brightest stars in the R&B field. He signed to Duke Records in 1952 and the following year he had his first hit, "My Song." After that he had eight hits in a row, including "Cross My Heart," "Please Forgive Me," "The Clock," "Yes, Baby." and "Never Let Me Go." Paul Simon wrote a song called "The Late Great Johnny Ace" (on his Hearts and Bones album) that references Johnny Ace's death (and also John Lennon's). His biggest song, the haunting "Pledging My Love", became a hit posthumously in 1955. His single sides were compiled and released as The Johnny Ace Memorial Album. (mn-jt-wickpedia)
1965 Roger Anthony Joseph, 5'11", 11.10 footballer born in Paddington, London England. International Honours: E: B-2. (bh-mn)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: BLACK SETTLERS IN BRITAIN
217: ERNEST GOFFF
1745 Joseph Boulogne Saint-George, French Revolution hero/musician, born.
1870 Henry McKee Minton, physician, is born. (tr-iokts)
1907 Cab Calloway, bandleader and first jazz singer to sell a million records, is born in Rochester, N.Y., USA. 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 (Dies November 18, 1994). (tr-cl-ss-iokts)
1934 McKinley Mitchell soul singer born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. d. 1986, USA. A formative soul singer with George Leaner's early 60s Chicago-based One-derful label, Mitchell came from the Chicago blues-club scene to launch that label with his fine, self-penned "The Town I Live In", later re-recorded during an even more productive soul period in the 70s with the Malaco subsidiary Chimneyville. After leading the Hearts Of Harmony gospel group at the age of 16, Mitchell tried secular music with a quintet in Springfield, Massachusetts, before moving to Philadelphia to front his own gospel group, the Mitchellairs. Subsequently, he travelled to Chicago, where he sang at several blues clubs, and worked with Muddy Waters at Pepper's Lounge. Ironically, his first recording, "Rock Everybody Rock', was in a rock 'n' roll style, cut with members of Howlin" Wolf's band for the Boxer label in 1959. In the local clubs, Mitchell had become known as McKinley "Soul" Mitchell by the time he brought "The Town I Live In" to Leaner in 1962. Despite this number 8 R&B hit, Mitchell's subsequent records for One-derful, although good examples of early "tough" soul, sold poorly, and Mitchell embarked on a Chicago label-hopping exercise with the likes of St Lawrence, Chess, Spoonful, Sandman, Black Beauty and Big 3, often being produced by Chicago bluesman Willie Dixon. In 1976, Mitchell's Big 3 recording, "Trouble Blues", received good southern coverage from Jackson's Malaco label, and it was followed by other superior soul sides for the same company's Chimneyville label, including the beautiful "The End Of The Rainbow" and "The Same Old Dream", as well as the fine remake of "The Town I Live In". A good Chimneyville album, McKinley Mitchell, was also released in 1978. In the 80s, Mitchell worked for James Bennett's Rettas label where he cut three singles and an album. Earlier material was reissued on both US and Japanese labels. Mitchell died prematurely from a heart attack in 1986, and was buried in his native Jackson (mn-music.us)
1937 O'Kelly Isley, singer with The Isley Brothers born. The Isley Brothers represented the apogee of gospel-inspired soul on their early hits, they pioneered the ownership of record labels by black artists, and invented a new funk genre with their blend of dance rhythms and rock instrumentation in the early 70s. Their series of US hits from the 50s to the 90s is one of the major legacies of black American music. (mn-jt-music.us)
1944 John Edwards soul singer with The Detroit Spinners born. In 1957 a group of friends in a Detroit, Michigan high school came together to make music. Billy Henderson, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson, George W. Dixon, and Bobbie Smith called themselves the Domingoes. Early on, The Spinners established a pattern of rapidly going through lead singers. Dixon was the first to go. The Spinners first hit the charts in 1961, with "That's What Girls Are Made For." In 1964, they made their debut at the Apollo Theater and won instant acclaim, a rare feat at the time. They also signed to Berry Gordy's Motown label, based in Detroit. Success mostly eluded them until 1970, when they had a hit with Stevie Wonder's composition, "It's A Shame". They did not achieve another commercial hit until singer Philippe Wynne joined the group, and (as legend has it) Aretha Franklin suggested the group finish out their Motown contract, and change to Atlantic Records. The Spinners began a climb up the charts that put 11 songs in the Top 40 pop charts between 1972 and 1976. With songs like "I'll Be Around", "Sadie", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "The Rubberband Man", "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)", "They Just Can't Stop It (Games People Play)" and "Then Came You" (with Dionne Warwick), The Spinners had cemented their place in pop music history. The Detroit band's popularity was contributed to by their producer, Thom Bell, who was beginning to be recognized for his trademark Philly soul or "Philadelphia Sound". This turned out to be a precursor to disco, a contemporary dance genre. When Wynne left the group in 1977, the hits dried up. The Spinners appeared on the charts only twice more, both in 1980. (mn-jt-wickpedia)
1945 Steve Mancha born Clyde Wilson in Walhall, South Carolina, USA. Mancha sang with the Holidays and 100 Proof Aged in Soul and recorded a 1 hour program from his home in Detroit for PCRL in 1995. ref: MD917) (mn-br)
1962 Black Nativity - Broadcasted by ITV television with Vinnette Carroll and Marion Williams, written by Langston Hughes. Viewing copy held by National Film and Television Archive. (mn-sb)
2006 James Brown dies in Barnwell, South Carolina, USA. Brother James had just visited his dentist, who informed the man that something wasn't quite right and he should seek some medical attention. He was suffering from pneumonia and passed away at 1:45 a.m. (0645 GMT) at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta after being admitted there over the weekend, his agent, Frank Copsidas, said. Three days earlier he had been giving gifts to children in his annual donation. (mn)
2008 Eartha Mae Kitt dies. b.17th January 1927, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.A. d. 25th December 2008, Connecticut, U.S.A. Eartha Kitt has died. She was 81. Eartha had been suffering from colon cancer recently. Born in South Carolina, Eartha said that her father was the white son of a plantation owner, and that she had been conceived as a result of rape. At eight years of age, her mother sent her away to live with an aunt in Harlem. She was an actress, singer, and cabaret star and was, perhaps, best known for her 1953 Christmas song 'Santa Baby'. Orson Welles once described her as the 'most exciting woman in the world', after she performed for him as Helen Of Troy in Welles production of Dr. Faust.She took over the role of Catwoman for the 4th series of the 1960's Batman TV series, replacing Julie Newmar who was unavailable for the final series. Her other memorable songs included 'Where Is My Man'. Offstage, Eartha described herself as shy and fairly reclusive, remnants of feeling unwanted and unloved as a child. She referred to herself as 'that little urchin cotton-picker from the South, Eartha Mae'. (soulwalking)
2008 Robert Ward Sr. died at his home in Dry Branch from health complications, his widow said. Roberta Ward said her husband, a well-known blues guitarist/vocalist who performed with the likes of Wilson Pickett and The Temptations, had been suffering from a variety of ailments, including cancer and diabetes. Robert Ward, 70, had suffered a stroke in 2001 and never fully recovered from it, she said. After growing up in Georgia, Ward moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he founded The Ohio Untouchables blues band, which later became The Ohio Players. One of the group’s signature songs was “Your Love Is Amazing.” Ward then moved to Detroit during the 1970s, where he played with some of Motown’s biggest artists. His guitar playing became well-known with a unique tone soaked in vibrato coming from the Magnatone amplifier. In 1991, Ward released his first full-length album, “Fear No Evil.” He later followed that up with other albums, including “Rhythm of the People,” “Hot Stuff,” and “Black Bottom.” His last album was “New Role Soul,” released in 2000. Ward was one of several Georgia-based artists to perform during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He often performed in Macon and surrounding areas, including during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Often, he played with his son, well-known drummer Robert Ward Jr. Roberta Ward said her husband is survived by seven children, eight stepchildren, 87 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren. (macon.com)
26th. DECEMBER
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: BLACK SETTLERS IN BRITAIN:
218: J.R. ARCHER (1863-1931)
KWANZAA DAY 1/7 Umoja - (Unity): To strive for a principled and harmonious togetherness in the family, community, nation, and world African Community.
1894 Jean Toomer, author, born Nathan Pinchback Toomer in Washington, D.C., Jean was of mixed racial descent and spent his childhood attending both all-white and all-black segregated schools. In his early years Toomer resisted racial classifications and wished to be identified only as an American. Toomer attended several colleges for short stints but did not take a degree. The readings that he would undertake and the lectures he attended during his college years shaped the direction his writing would take. After leaving college, Toomer published some short stories, devoted several months to the study of Eastern philosophies and took a job as a principal in Sparta, Georgia. The segregation Toomer experienced in the South lead Toomer to identify more strongly as an African-American. In 1923, Toomer published the experimental novel Cane, his most famous work. A series of poems and short stories about the Black experience in America, Cane was hailed by critics and is seen as an important work of both the Harlem Renaissance and the Lost Generation. In 1926 Toomer went to France to attend the Gurdjieff Institute and was associated with G. I. Gurdjieff until 1935. Toomer was prolific during this period, writing plays, the novel The Gallonwerps and several poems and short stories that appeared in The Dial. Toomer found it harder and harder to get published throughout the 1930s and in 1940 moved with his second wife to Doylestown, Pennsylvania where he joined the Religious Society of Friends and began to withdraw from society. Toomer wrote a small amount of fiction and published essays in Quaker publications during this time, but devoted most of his time to serving on Quaker committees. Toomer stopped writing literary works after 1950. He died in 1967 after several years of poor health. (wickpedia)
1899 Black Invention: Parcel-Carrier for Bicycles, Jerry M. Certain. (sc)
1929 [Regine Zylberberg] is the inventor of the discothèque is born. She was born in Belgium to Polish-Jewish parents. Started life hiding from the Nazis in occupied wartime France and later invented the format for "discothèque" (French for Nightclubs). Setting in 1953 the elements of modern day nightclubs, mainly by replacing the use of jukebox by coupled turntables as done for the first time in Paris' 'Whisky-a-Gogo' club that she managed aged 24. This specific setting appeared later in any of 'Chez Regine's ultra selective venues and later in many variations at most Nightclubs around the world.Aside of inventing and managing "discothéques", she taught a former king of England to do the twist, presided over a multi-million dollar international nightclub empire and had a hit single with the French version of Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive." She also played in a few movies.In 1957 she opened Chez Regine in the Latin Quarter, which quickly became the place to be seen for playboys and princes. It was here that she introduced France to the 'Twist', having seen the Paris cast of West Side Story warming up to Chubby Checker records.In the 1970s Regine Zylberberg moved to New York and lived in a suite of the Delmonico Hotel. At her height there were 25 clubs bearing the franchise across three continents and it was said you could party at a Regine's somewhere in the world 17 hours out of every 24, if you could get in.The American press dubbed her the "Queen of the Night". (dk)
1940 [Phil Spector] famous producer born in the Bronx, when he was 13, his widowed mother Bertha moved to Phil and his sister Shirley to Hollywood, where he met rock 'n' roll. One story is that Lonnie Donigan's Rock Island Line inspired him to buy a guitar, but unlike most aspiring rockers of the 50's, he soaked up everything: classical, jazz, pop, rockabilly, R&B, rock. (mn-dh)
1966 Kwanzaa originated by Dr. Maulana Karega, is to 'restore and reaffirm African heritage and culture' and will be celebrated of the next seven days. (mn)
1950 Count Machuki (the original DJ) the first man to speak over records at dances. Got his first break with Tom the Great Sebastian this night at Forresters' Hall on Boxing Night and later with Sir Coxone Downbeat. (mn-sp-pd-tr)
1952 Mutabaruka born Allan Hope in Rae Town, Kingston, Jamaica. Hope is a dub poet who combines social commentary with scathing personal analysis and endearing humour. Having published several volumes of poetry and having written for Swing magazine, Mutabaruka (his stage name is a Rwandan term for "one who is always victorious") reserves his performances for his most effective tirades against hypocrisy, injustice, or more particularly, stupidity. His favoured means of denouncing his enemies rests strongly with the latter, vilifying them and the contradictions of their positions by means of a languid, inviting slur. His debut album for Earl "Chinna" Smith's High Times label was a genre classic. Muta tore through a set that railed against oppression on all fronts, aided and abetted by Smith's imaginative rhythms and arrangements. "Everytime A Ear De Soun", from the album, was also a hit as a single. In the interim he has ensured his position as Jamaica's most popular radical poet, with a series of inspiring albums. Despite such militancy, he retains his day job - running a health food store in Jamaica and broadcasting on Jamaica's Irie FM radio station The Cutting Edge. He also appeared in the film Sankofa. (mutabaruba.com-music.us)
1999 Curtis Mayfield, singer, songwriter, producer, dies. Born June 3rd. 1942, Chicago, Illinois, USA. As a songwriter and vocalist with the Impressions, Mayfield established an early reputation as one of soul music's most intuitive talents. In the decade between 1961 and 1971,he penned a succession of exemplary singles for his group, including 'Gypsy Woman' (1961), 'It's Alright' (1963), 'People Get Ready' (1965), We're A Winner' (1968) and 'Choice of Colours' (1969), the subjects of which ranged from simple, tender love songs to broadsides demanding social and political equality. Years later Bob Marley lifted lines from the anthemic 'People Get Ready' to populate his own opus, 'One Love'. Two independent record companies, Windy C and Curtom, emphasized Mayfield's statesman-like role within black music, while his continued support for other artists - as composer, producer or session guitarist - enhanced a virtually peerless reputation. In 1990 a freak accident on stage happened when a sound rig fell on him on stage, killing his drummer and paralysing Mayfield from the neck down. His last album was 'New World Order' (1996). (mn-cl)
2010[Teena Marie] dies aged 54. Called herself "A black singer in a white skin". Real name: Mary Christine Brockert ( b.March 5, 1956), was an American singer, songwriter and producer. Marie, nicknamed Lady Tee, (sometimes spelled Lady T), was a protégée of funk legend Rick James. She played rhythm guitar, keyboards and congas. She also wrote, produced, sang and arranged virtually all of her songs since her 1980 release, Irons in the Fire, which she said was her favorite album. She had a daughter, Alia Rose, who, as of 2009, sang under the name Rose LeBeau. (wbls) 2021 Desmond Mpilo Tutu OMSG CH dies, he was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was the Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then the Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold the positio (mn)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: BLACK SETTLERS IN BRITAIN:
219: THEO CAMPBELL
KWANZAA DAY 2/7 Kujichagulia - (Self Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
1929 'Blind Lemon' Jefferson, guitar, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 32
1941 Dr. Charles Drew establishes a pioneer blood bank in New York City. The man who discovered the modern processes for preserving blood for life-saving transfusions. In 1940-1941 he spent time in New York City as director of the American Red Cross blood donor project, spearheading the Plasma for Britain program. Furious at the official government policy of black blood for blacks and white blood for whites he resigned from his post and went back to Howard where he was head of the department for surgery until 1950 when he died in a car crash. (mn-ss)
1949 Thelonious Sphere Monk, Jr., drums. (known professionally as T.S. Monk) (nfo.net)
1956 Federal judge Dozier Devane gained a temporary injunction restraining city officials from interfering with integration of Tallahassee, Fla., city buses and said "every segregation act of every state or city is as dead as a doornail". (blackfacts.com)
1975 Olu born, R&B vocals/guitar/drums/sax/piano/bass, b. New York, NY, USA. Olu was a member of the renowned 'Boys Choir of Harlem'. In 1999, he was signed to the V2 label, who issued his debut album "Soul Catcher" in mid-1999. (nfo.net)
1981 Javine (Hylton) (uk singer) born London. (nationmaster)
1992 Edward Gates White, blues man dies, diagnosed with lymphoma. Recorded for Aladdin and States labels in the 1950's. (mn-bd)
2010 Bernie Wilson, baritone member of the rhythm and blues group that produced the 1972 hit "If You Don't Know Me by Now," has died. Wilson, 64, died early Sunday at Kresson View Center in Voorhees, N.J., following a stroke and a heart attack, his cousin, Faith Peace-Mazzccua, said Monday. Philadelphia International Records, the former record company for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, said Wilson's death leaves Lloyd Parks as the sole surviving member of the group's lineup at the time. The lineup also featured Teddy Pendergrass and Lawrence Brown. The group produced a string of R&B hits in the '70s and helped define the Sound of Philadelphia. "If You Don't Know Me by Now" topped the R&B charts and made the top five on the pop charts. The hits that followed included "I Miss You," "Bad Luck," "Wake up Everybody," and the dance track "The Love I Lost," which has been credited as one of the first disco records, according to an All Music Guide biography on the Billboard website. "He left home at 16 as a pauper and came back home a millionaire," Peace-Mazzccua told The Associated Press. She said her cousin kept performing until a few years ago and hoped to return and sing gospel music. "Bernard was a very funny person. He should have been a comedian," she said. "He didn't take no stuff and he loved people." (pilot-ap)
28th. DECEMBER
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: BLACK SETTLERS IN BRITAIN:
220: ALFRED MOORE (1926- )
KWANZAA DAY 3/7 Ujima - (Collective Work & Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together; to make our sisters' and brothers' problems our problems and solve them together.
1831 Great slave revolt in British St. James, Jamaica. (mn-cb)
1905 Earl "Fatha" Hines, "Father of Modern Jazz Piano," born in Duquesne, Pa. (Dies April 22, 1983). An outstanding musician and a major figure in the evolution of jazz piano playing, Hines began his professional career in 1918. By that time he had already played cornet in brass bands in his home-town. By 1923, the year in which he moved to Chicago, Hines had played in several bands around Pittsburgh and had been musical director for singer Lois Deppe. He performed in bands in Chicago and also toured theatre circuits based on the city. Among the bands with which he played were those led by Carroll Dickerson and Erskine Tate. In 1927 he teamed up with Louis Armstrong, playing piano, acting as musical director and, briefly, as Armstrong's partner in a nightclub (the third partner was Zutty Singleton). With Armstrong, Hines made a series of recordings in the late 20s which became and have remained classics: these were principally Hot Five, Hot Seven or Savoy Ballroom Five tracks but also included the acclaimed duet "Weather Bird", one of the peaks of early jazz. (mn-cl-music.us)
1910 Billy Williams gospel singer with the Charioteers born in Waco, Texas, USA. Singer, Billy Williams had a hugely successful recording Fats Waller's "Im Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter". His trademark hook for his songs was to shout "Oh, Yeah" at the end of lyrics. (Dies 1972). (mn-cl-wickpedia)
1915 'Pops' Staples, blues/soul/gospel singer born, Wynona, Mss,USA. Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914-2000) was a Mississippi gospel musician. He was the patriarch of The Staple Singers, which consisted of his daughters Mavis, Yvonne, and Cleotha. He was a songwriter, guitarist and singer. (mn-cl)
1921 [Johnny Otis], bandleader, born in Vallejo, California, USA. Johnny Otis (born Ioannis (Yiannis) Veliotis is an American blues and rhythm and blues pianist, vibraphonist, drummer, singer, bandleader, and impresario. After playing in Swing orchestras he founded his own band in 1945. This band played with Wynonie Harris and Charles Brown. In 1947 he and Bardu Ali opened the Barrelhouse Club in the Watts district of Los Angeles. He reduced the size of his band and hired singers Mel Walker, Little Esther and the Robins (who later became the Coasters). With this band, which toured extensively throughout the United States as the California Rhythm and Blues Caravan, he had a long string of rhythm and blues hits through 1952. In the late 1940s he discovered Big Jay McNeely, who then performed on his "Barrelhouse Stomp." In the 1950s he discovered Etta James, for whom he produced her first hit, "Roll With Me, Henry," (also known as "The Wallflower"). As an artist and repertory man for King Records he also discovered Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard, and Little Willie John, among others. He also became an influential disk jockey in Los Angeles. However, he continued to perform, and in 1958 he had a hit with his best-known recording "Willie and the Hand Jive." In the 1960s he entered journalism and politics, losing a campaign for a seat in the California Assembly (one reason for the loss may be that he ran under his much less well known real name). He then became chief of staff for Democratic Congressman Mervin Dymally. He continued performing into the 1990s, although because of his many other interests he went through long periods where he did not perform. He was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He is the father of Shuggie Otis. (mn-cl-wickpedia)
1940 Lonnie Liston Smith jazz keyboard player born, Richmond, Vr, USA. Not to be confused with the soul/jazz organist Lonnie Smith. Born into a very musical family, Smith seemed destined from a very early age to make music his career. His father and two brothers were all vocalists, but it was the keyboard that attracted Smith. After studying at Morgan State University, he moved to New York and immersed himself in the city's thriving jazz scene. Accompanying Betty Carter for a year in 1963, Smith soon became a highly sought-after pianist, working with successive jazz stars, from Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1964-65), Art Blakey (1966-67), and Joe Williams (1967-68), through to Pharoah Sanders (1969-71), Gato Barbieri (1971-73), and finally Miles Davis (1972-73). In 1973, Smith formed the Cosmic Echoes and released the all-instrumental Astral Traveling. The following year's Cosmic Funk introduced his brother Donald as vocalist. Playing a very popular soft fusion, Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes recorded a number of successful albums and remained popular throughout the mid-70s. Despite a number of personnel changes, they landed another major label recording contract in 1978 when they switched to Columbia Records. Growing increasingly commercial, the new-look unit enjoyed a minor R&B hit with "Space Princess" (from Exotic Mysteries). The album was the last of this era to feature Donald Smith, with James "Crabbe" Robinson taking his place on A Song For The Children and Love Is The Answer. Smith reunited with his brother when the Cosmic Echoes moved to the Doctor Jazz label, but despite enjoying a minor hit with the vocal track "Never Too Late" the unit ground to a halt in the mid-80s. In 1991, after some time out of the spotlight, Smith recorded a high-quality album, Magic Lady, and embarked on a European tour (including the UK). In recent times Smith has shared his performing duties with his role as a teacher at various workshops. He reunited with his brother Donald on 1998's Transformation. (mn-music.us)
1954 Denzil Washington, Oscar winner/producer/actor is born in Mount Vernon, New York, USA. He was born Mount Vernon, New York, the son of a Pentecostal minister and a beauty-parlour owner. In his youth, Washington was banned by his parents from watching movies. When his parents separated, Washington went through a rebellious stage, at the end of which several of his friends were sentenced to prison. His mother's reaction to his behavioral problems was to send him to preparatory school, and, later, on to Fordham University, where he discovered acting and earned a degree in journalism. He landed his first film role in the 1975 TV movie Wilma. While filming this movie he met actress Pauletta Washington, whom he later married. His big break came when he starred in the popular TV hospital drama St. Elsewhere. Washington turned down roles in several action movies, in hopes for a more challenging role. In 1987 he starred as South African anti-apartheid campaigner Steve Biko in Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom. In 1989 Washington won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, after playing a defiant self-possessed slave in the film Glory. Washington played one of his most critically acclaimed roles in 1992's Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee, where his performance as the Black Nationalist leader earned him an Oscar nomination. Both the influential film critic Roger Ebert and the highly-acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese called the movie one of the ten best films made during the 1990s. Malcolm X transformed Washington's career, turning him, practically overnight, into one of Hollywood's most respected actors. He turned down several similar roles, such as the chance to play Martin Luther King, Jr., because he wanted to avoid being typecast by subject matter. (wickpedia)
1976 Freddie King, Bluesman King Dies Of Heart Attack., a vocalist and highly rated blues guitarist, died in Dallas, Texas, of a heart attack aggravated by a blood-clot and internal bleeding from ulcers. King was raised in Memphis but matured as a musician in Chicago. His guitar style combined country style and urban influences. His influence on such blues-rock titans as Eric Clapton helped preserve a legacy characterized by searing, aggressive guitar solos. (mn-rs)
1977 Karen Farmer becomes the first African American member of the DAR. (tr-iokts)
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: BLACK SETTLERS IN BRITAIN:
221: DONALD HINDS
KWANZAA DAY 4/7 Ujamaa - (Co-operative Economics): To build our own businesses, control the economics of our own communities, and share in all our communities' work and wealth.
1923 Cheikh Anta Diop, Egyptologist, anthropologist. born in Diourbel, Senegal. Cheikh Anta Diop (29 December 1923- 7 February 1986) was a staunch defender of the world view known as Afrocentrism, which places emphasis on the human race's African origins and on the study of pre-colonial African culture. He has been considered one of the greatest African historians of the 20th century. Cheikh Anta Diop was born in Diourbel, Senegal. At the age of 23, he went to Paris to study physics, but soon became more interested in the study of history, the social sciences and humanities from his native African point of view. In the 1940s, the study of African history was dominated by Europeans who considered Africans 'people without a past'. In 1951, Diop submitted a PhD thesis at the University of Paris where he argued that ancient Egypt had in fact been a black African culture. The thesis was rejected, but it was published in 1955 as a book titled Nations nègres et culture ('Negro nations and culture'), proving very successful and making him one of the most controversial historians of his time. He made three further attempts to gain his doctorate, finally succeeding in 1960. After 1960, Diop went back to Senegal and continued writing. A radiocarbon laboratory was established with the University of Dakar (which was later named after him: Cheikh Anta Diop University), and Diop was made its head. He had said, 'In practice it is possible to determine directly the skin colour and hence the ethnic affiliations of the ancient Egyptians by microscopic analysis in the laboratory; I doubt if the sagacity of the researchers who have studied the question has overlooked the possibility.' Diop's first work translated into English, The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality, was published in 1974, revealing his views to a much greater audience. In this work, he claimed that archaeological and anthropological evidence supports his Afrocentric view of the Pharaohs being of Negroid origin. The academic world as a whole does not accept Diop's theories, but they continue to raise important questions about the cultural bias inherent in scientific research. On 7 February 1986, Diop, who by now was regarded by many as 'the modern pharaoh of African studies', passed away in his sleep in Dakar. (wickpedia)
1939 Kelly Miller, first African American graduate of Johns Hopkins University, dies. Kelly Miller (1863 – 1939) was a mathematician, sociologist, essayist, and newspaper columnist, and an important figure in the intellectual life of black America for close to half a century. Born in South Carolina in 1863, he worked his way through Howard University, then did postgraduate work at Johns Hopkins University, the first black ever admitted to that university. Appointed professor of mathematics at Howard in 1890, Miller introduced sociology into the curriculum in 1895, serving as professor of sociology from 1895 to 1934. As dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, he modernized the classical curriculum, strengthening the natural and social sciences. Miller was a prolific writer whose articles appeared in the major newspapers and magazines of the day. In the 1920s and 1930s, his weekly column appeared in more than 100 newspapers. On African American education policy, Miller aligned himself with neither the "radicals" — Du Bois and the Niagara Movement — nor the "conservatives" — the followers of Booker T. Washington. Miller sought a middle way, a comprehensive education system that would provide for "symmetrical development" of African American citizens by offering both vocational and intellectual instruction. (tr-iokts-wickpedia)
1944 Pati Drew, soul singer born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. , and raised in Evanston, Illinois. As lead singer of the Drew-vels, a group consisting of herself, her sisters Lorraine and Erma, and bass singer Carlton Black, she and the band had several local hits, notably "Tell Him" (1963) and "It's My Time" (1964). Drew became a solo artist two years later and achieved her biggest hits with a remake of "Tell Him" (number 22 R&B, number 85), from 1967, and "Workin' On A Groovy Thing" (number 34 R&B, number 62 pop), from 1968, a Neil Sedaka composition that was also a hit for the Fifth Dimension. After Drew's last record with Capitol Records in 1970, she essentially retired from the business a year later. She made one more record for Inovation in 1975. In the 80s she occasionally worked the local lounges in her home-town of Evanston with Carlton Black in a group called Front Line. (mn-cl-music.us)
1968 Sadat X, Islam rapper from New Rochells, New York, member of group Brand Nubian, and real name Derrick Murphy born. Brand Nubian is a hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York. Grand Puba, Sadat X, DJ Alamo and Lord Jamar formed the group in 1989 (see 1989 in music) and soon signed to Elektra Records for the release of All for One in 1990 (see 1990 in music). Generally acclaimed, the album drew fire for militant rhetoric on tracks like "Drop the Bomb"; the controversy helped sales, though the album was still not a great commercial success. The video for one of the album's singles, "Wake Up," was banned from MTV, due to its portrayal of white people as devils. Soon after its release, Grand Puba, the crew's leader, left and took DJ Alamo with him, while Jamar and Sadat added DJ Sincere for In God We Trust (1993, 1993 in music), which sold moderately well and was also controversial for its alleged homophobic content. The group's controversy grew with the release of Everything Is Everything (1994, 1994 in music), which contained even more examples of what a growing number of critics labelled "hate speech". They soon broke up and launched solo careers in music and television. The original members reunited in 1998 (see 1998 in music) and released Foundation to glowing reviews. The group members continued their individual pursuits, but reunited in 2004 to release Fire In The Hole. (mn-ms-wickpedia)
1982 A Jamaican postage stamp was issued featuring a picture of Bob Marley, one of the country's most famous sons, who had died the previous year. (mn-jt)
2009 Frederick Dewayne Hubbard dies, 7th April 1938, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. d. 29th December 2008, Sherman Oaks Hospital, Los Angeles, U.S.A.Freddie Hubbard, died Monday the 29th December 2008, a month after suffering a heart attack. He was 70. Freddie died at the Sherman Oaks Hospital, said his manager, fellow trumpeter David Weiss of the New Jazz Composers Octet. He had been in the hospital since having a heart attack in November. Freddie played on hundreds of recordings in a career dating from 1958, the year he arrived in New York from his hometown Indianapolis, where he had studied at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music and with the Indianapolis Symphony. Here he worked with such jazz legends as Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane.Freddie played on more than 300 recordings, including his own albums and those of scores of other artists. In 1961 he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, but left in 1964 to lead his own group. He won his Grammy in 1972 for best jazz performance by a group for the album 'First Light.' Soul fans will look to his own recording of the song 'Little Sunflower' from 1979, a track embellished by a fine vocal from Al Jarreau, and taken from his 'Love Connection' album. He was also popular in Soul circles due to his 1981 album release 'Splash', which featured the Jeannie Tracey fronted 'You're Gonna Lose Me'. Freddie continued playing in recent years despite suffering declining health in recent years and a debilitating split upper lip suffered the early 1990's. In 2006, he was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, the nation's highest jazz honour. Freddie Hubbard is survived by his wife of 35 years, Briggie Hubbard, and his son, Duane. (guardian/soulwalking.co.uk)
2024 Sandra Reeves-Philips dies. American actor/writer/singer. Born Dec 23/1944. US soul singer and actress born in Mullins, South Carolina. She sang in church and entered talent contests when she arrived in New York City, eventually landing a contract with Sue Records. She released 'You Succeeded' and 'World Without Sunshine' on their Broadway label (both big tunes on the UK Northern Soul scene). She had further releases on OKEH Records, Canyon Records and finally Brown Dog/Mainstream Records. In pursuit of her dreams she studied acting, launching her new career with the female lead role in the off-Broadway show 'Little Bit'.
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: BLACK SETTLERS IN BRITAIN
222: LORD LEARY CONSANTINE (1901-1971)
KWANZAA DAY 5/7 Nia - (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
1928 Bo Diddley, guitarist/singer born Ellas Bates later McDaniel in Mississippi but raised in Chicago. One of the most influential figures in the history of rock. Listen to Bo Diddley: the Living Legend, Tuesday's at 11.30p.m. on PCRL, read by Maxine Jayne. (mn-bd)
1975 Eldrick Tont Woods born. Better known as Tiger Woods, is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Currently the World No. 1, he was the highest-paid professional athlete in 2008, having earned an estimated $110 million from winnings and endorsements. Woods has won 14 professional major golf championships, the second highest of any male player, and 71 PGA Tour events, third all time. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour. Additionally, Woods is only the second golfer to have achieved a career grand slam three times along with Jack Nicklaus. Woods has won 16 World Golf Championships and has won at least one event each of the 11 years they have been in existence. Woods has held the number one position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest total number of weeks. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record ten times, the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times, and has the record of leading the money list in nine different seasons. On December 11, 2009, Woods announced he would take an indefinite leave from professional golf to focus on his marriage after he admitted infidelity. His multiple infidelities were revealed by over a dozen mistresses, through many worldwide media sources. (wiki)
1998 Johnny Moore, lead singer with the Drifters between 1955-57, 1964-65, 1972-1982, dies from pneumonia aged 61 at his home in Norwood, south London. Sang with Drapers and as Johnny Darrow (mn-br-voice) 2000 Floella Benjamin, Audley Harris and Denise Lewis all receives New Years Honours from the queen. (mn-dp)
2010 Bobby Farrell, the frontman of disco legends Boney M, has been found dead in a hotel room in St. Petersburg on the same date and in the same town as Russian monk Rasputin, who was the subject of the band’s 1978 top three single. The 61-year-old’s body was discovered just hours after a live performance, according to his agent. “He did a show last night as part of Bobby Farrell’s Boney M and they found him this morning dead in his hotel room,” said his agent John Seine. “He did not feel well last night, and was having problems with his breathing, but he did the show anyway,” Seine added. The cause of his death was not immediately clear, according to Sergei Kapitanov, a representative of St. Petersburg’s branch of Russia’s investigative committee. Boney M - consisting of Farrell, Maisie Williams, Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett - were one of the most successful bands of the late 1970, with hits including Daddy Cool, Rivers of Babylon, Rasputin, Brown Girl in the Ring, plus a disco version of Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord. The band Boney M was put together by German singer-songwriter Frank Farian who also produced most of the vocals for the group. Though the frontman, Bobby Farrell became almost as famous for lip-synching as his outrageous outfits. The original Boney M band broke up more than 20 years ago but have since reformed in various guises. Last year they played at two World Travel Awards regional finals – the Middle East Ceremony and the Africa Ceremony.Farrell was born on the island of Aruba. He lived in Norway and the Netherlands before moving to Germany. (St. Petersburg News)
2023 Byron Woods USA singer/writer/producer has died in Chicago, (d.30-12-23). He wrote 'Caught Up in a Rapture' for the Isley Bros., but Anita Baker grabbed it first.. His own recordings, many released by Expansion Records were mainly ballads. He also did background vocal for Phil Perry, Ben E King and Vera Williams. (ref. Soulwalking) https://www.facebook.com/byron.woods.33633
BLACK HEROES PAST & PRESENT: BLACK SETTLERS IN BRITAIN:
223: CLAUDIA JONES (1915-1964)
TONY RAY BORN (PCRL PRESENTER)
KWANZAA DAY 6/7 Kuumba - (Creativity): To do as much as we can, in whatever way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than it was when we inherited it.
1917 Dr. Yosef-Ben Jockannan, historian, Egyptologist, born in Gondar, Ethiopia.
1930 Odetta born, birth name Odetta Holmes, also known with her stepfather's surname as Odetta Felious, is an African-American singer. Her repertoire consists largely of American folk music, blues, and spirituals, although she first worked in the mode of musical theater. She also acted in several films, notably The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and the film of William Faulkner's Sanctuary. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama, grew up in Los Angeles, California, and studied music at Los Angeles City College. Her first professional experience was in 1949 with a touring company of the musical Finian's Rainbow. Her folksinging career began in San Francisco, California; in 1953 she appeared at the Blue Angel nightclub in New York City. She recorded her first album in 1954 for Fantasy Records. Harry Belafonte included her in a nationwide television special in 1959. Her 1963 album titled Folk Songs' was one of the year's best-selling folk albums. She continued to tour and record into the late 1990s, having released a studio album, Blues Everywhere I Go, in 1999. (tr-bl-wickpedia)
1948 Donna Summer soul singer born Adrean Ladonna Gaines in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" and "I Feel Love" made her the best-known of all 70s disco divas. Having sung with rock bands in Boston, Summer moved to Europe in 1968 and appeared in German versions of Hair and Porgy And Bess, later marrying Austrian actor Helmut Sommer, from whom she took her stage name. Summer's first records were "Hostage" and "Lady Of The Night" for Giorgio Moroder's Oasis label in Munich. They were local hits but it was "Love To Love You Baby" (1975) that made her an international star. The track featured Summer's erotic sighs and moans over Moroder's hypnotic disco beats and it sold a million copies in the USA on Neil Bogart's Casablanca label. In 1977, a similar formula took "I Feel Love" to the top of the UK chart, and "Down Deep Inside", Summer's theme song for the movie The Deep was a big international success. Her own film debut came the next year in Thank God It's Friday, in which she sang another million-seller, "Last Dance". This was the peak period of Summer's career as she achieved four more US number 1s in 1978-79 with a revival of Jim Webb's "MacArthur Park", "Hot Stuff", "Bad Girls" and "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", a duet with Barbra Streisand. The demise of disco coincided with a legal dispute between Summer and Bogart and in 1980 she signed to David Geffen's new company. Her work took on a more pronounced soul and gospel flavour, reflecting her decision to become a born-again Christian. Some of her major US hits during the early 80s were "On The Radio", "The Wanderer", "She Works Hard For The Money" and "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" in 1982, produced by Quincy Jones. After a three-year absence from music, Summer returned in 1987 with a US and European tour and enjoyed another international hit with the catchy "Dinner With Gershwin". Other major US and UK hits include "This Time I Know It's For Real" and "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt". Another Place And Time, her bestselling 1989 release for Warner Brothers Records, was written and produced by Stock, Aitken And Waterman while Clivilles And Cole worked on Love Is Gonna Change. The 90s proved only moderately successful for the singer, but she remains a perennial club favourite. (mn-music.us)
1964 Malcolm X gives a speech to urge young people "to see for yourself and listen for yourself and think for yourself" College Fund raises $14.1 million. (tr-iokts)
1997 Tessa Sanderson the former Olympic javelin champion is given an O.B.E. in the New Year's Honours List. (mn)
2013 James LaRue Avery dies. ( b. November 27, 1945) was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the patriarch and attorney (later judge) Philip Banks, Will Smith's character's uncle, in the TV sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. This character was ranked #34 in TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time." He also provided the voice of Shredder in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series, as well as War Machine in the animated series Iron Man and Junkyard Dog in Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling. He also played Michael Kelso's commanding officer at the police academy late in the series run of That '70s Show. (wiki)
2015 Natalie Cole singer dies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.. b. Natalie Maria Cole, 6th February 1950, Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Daughter of Nat King Cole, cousin of Eddie Cole, niece of Freddy Cole. Natalie died of congestive heart failure on the 31st of December 2015 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Funeral service is set for Monday, January 11th at 11:00 a.m. at West Angeles Cathedral, 3600 Crenshaw Blvd, LA.) (soulwalking)
A1 - Alarm (Alarm magazine (issue No.1)
bb1- Black Business (Quarterly UK magazine issue No.1)
mn - Mickey Nold (PCRL radio - main researcher for this book)
tr - Tony Roots (PCRL radio)
ss - Sandie Smith (Who's Who in African-American History)
tx - teletext (British Tele-text services)
jt - John Tobler (
pf - Peter Fryer (Staying Power - UK Black history)
rt - Ralf Tee (Who's Who In Soul Music)
cl - Colin Larkin (Who's Who In Soul/Jazz music)
cb - Clinton V. Black (History of Jamaica)
mc - Merrise Crooks (Rocky's Heros - Story of Jamaica's Heros)
bw - Brian Ward (Just My Soul Resonding)
rd - Rebel D (PCRL radio)
jc - Lady JC (PCRL radio)
ra - Russell L. Adams (Great Negroes Past & Present)
rs - Robert Santelli (Blues music bio's)
sc - Sister Carole (PCRL radio - Black patents - Ebony)
sb - Stepen Bourne (author of Black in the British frame)
ms - Michael Small (Break It Down (rapp music bios))
lb - Lloyd Bradley (Reggae on CD)
rb - Robert Pruter (Chicago Soul)
br - Bill Randle (Motownologyist)
dr - Dave Rimmer (Soulful Kinda Music magazine)
jw - Joe Whitburn (USA Top 1000 Singles - Billboard magazine)
jahb - Jahsiah B (PCRL radio)
ring - Boxing magazine
it - Inside Track (Track & field magazine)
voice - UK Weekly Black newspaper
echoes - UK Echoes weekley Black music paper
iokts - A Black calender publication
irr - Institute Of Race Relations
nf/cp - Nigel File & Chris Power (Black Settlers In Britain 1555-1958)
rvc - Ron Van Clief
bmc - Bob McDonald (Music Master catalogue)
sb/pd - Steve Barrow & Peter Dalton (Reggae Rough Guide)
drum - South African Black daily news paper
rw/dn - Wigan Story
gleaner Jamaican Newspaper
j - Jazzbo (music hound)
cf - Chistina Fuoco (music hound)
nc - Norene Cashen (music hound)
ct - Corey Takahashi (music hound)
Jmcf - Jim McFarland (music hound)
kb - Ken Burke (music hound)
dd - Daniel Durchholz (music hound)
ds - Dana G. Smart (music hound)
gk - Greg Kot (music hound)
ml - Mat Lee (music hound)
sb - Stephen Bourne (black in the british frame)
df - David Feld (music hound)
ed/fp - Rric Deggans/Franklin Paul (music hound)
jf - Josh Freedom du Lac (music hound)
mi - Michael Isabella (music hound)
sc - Salvatore Capulto (music hound)
gg - Gary Graff (music hound)
lg - Lawrence Gabriel (music hound)
tm - Tim A. Smith (music hound)
sk - Steve Knopper (music hound)
mb - Mike Brown (music hound)
fp - Franklin Paul (music hound)
tt - Tom Terrell (music hound)
ed - Eric Deggans (music hound)
sh - Steve Holtje (music hound)
gp - Gary Pig Gold (music hound)
js - Joel Selvin (music hound)
jzc - Jeff"DJ Zen"Chang (music hound)
tw - Tod Wicks (music hound)
bm - Brian Mansfield (music hound)
bp - Bill Pollak (music hound)
cs - Chistopher Scrapelliti (music hound)
stb - Steve Braun (music hound)
sd - Spence D (music hound)
dpl - Doug Pullen (music hound)
amcg - Andre McGarrity (music hound)
av - Aidin Vaziri (music hound)
bd - Bill Dahl (delmark sleeve)
music.us - web site
wiki - Wikipedia site
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