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On April 26th, in 1970, the day after her TLC band mate Lisa Left-Eye Lopes died (2002), Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins (Tionne Tenese Watkins) celebrated her 32nd birthday. She’s an original founding member of TLC (pre-Chilli with Crystal Jones). Tionne’s probably the best actress out of the trio. She co-starred in the Hype Williams film-Belly with Nas, but also was in House Party 3 before that (1994). She’s most known for her participation as co-lead singer and co-writer in the all-female trio-TLC (Left-Eye & Chilli). She won 4 Grammy Awards with them and had a hand in producing the films ATL (2006) and CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story (2013). T-Boz was born in Des Moines, Iowa. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia when she was 9. She met then leader of TLC-Crystal Jones at an audition she was having for an all-girl vocal group. Jones selected Tionne and Lisa Left-Eye Lopes. They called themselves 2nd Nature and later TLC (Tionne, Lisa, Crystal). Pebbles was putting together a record label and managing company with the help of her husband-LaFace Records co-owner Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid. She replaced Crystal with Chilli and started managing the band. Tionne was the lead singer on most songs, with Chilli singing the bridges and choruses and Left-Eye rhyming. Their first two LPs did very well. Tionne did a few solo sides and was a featured vocalist on several artist’s albums (Keith Sweat, Da Brat, Society of Soul). She’s 49 today.
On April 26th, in 1940, DJ, singer, keyboardist, producer, guitarist, songwriter, bassist, composer and arranger-Giorgio Moroder was born in Urtijei, South Tyrol, Italy. He’s credited as being the ‘Father of Disco’. Moroder was the producer behind Donna Summer’s I Feel Love which is considered one of the first EDM records. It’s an uptempo song with synthesizer and Donna’s falsetto vocal. He also produced music for films like Midnight Express-Chase and the themes for Flashdance, Cat People and Scarface. All of these songs have a common feature, the synthesizer. Moroder was one of the first musicians to make it his primary instrument. His songs didn’t require extra instrumentation. A lot of his early work is drums and synthesizer, sometimes they were entirely synthesizer. He produced songs for Blondie, David Bowie, Irene Cara, Pat Benatar, Bonnie Tyler, Adam Ant, Freddie Mercury, Melissa Manchester, Janet Jackson and Japan. During the 70s, he innovated disco, bringing the synthesizer and faster beats to the genre. He had his own band called the Munich Machine that showcased Moroder’s style. He’s noted as being the first person to release an electronic music album-E=MC2 (1979). He rode the disco wave for a couple years. By the time it died in the late 70s, he’d moved on to scoring films and continuing to pioneer electronic music. He’s won 4 Grammy Awards and has produced several tracks that have sampled by the likes of: Swollen Members, RZA, J Dilla, Mobb Deep, MF DOOM and DJ Shadow. He’s 78 today.
On April 26th, in 1958, the man that has acted in numerous films by Spike Lee, actor, director and the person with nearly 100 TV and film appearances-Giancarlo Esposito (Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. He’s most known for his role as ‘Julian’ in School Daze-the leader of Gamma Phi Gamma. He was Buggin’ Out in Do the Right Thing, Esteban in Fresh, Lance in King of New York and Left Hand Lacey in Mo’ Betta Blues. He played Federal Agent Mike Giardello on-Homocide: Life on the Street and Tom Divack on-The Street. If you’re not familiar with any of those, he’s more recently been in Breaking Bad-Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring, Once Upon a Time-Sidney Glass/Magic Mirror, Revolution-Tom Neville and Better Call Saul-Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring. He also is the narrator for the series-Dear White People. Giancarlo lived in Denmark until he was 6. His family moved to Manhattan and he started attending school in NYC. He graduated from college with an Associates in radio and television communications. He made his film debut in 1979 in the film called-Running. By the late 80s, Giancarlo became a recognizable actor due to his work with Spike Lee. He saw his biggest demand during the 90s. However, his popularity has increased during the last decade (2010-2019). The roles Spike cast Giancarlo fit his style of acting. In the 2000s, he got into directing films (like SPike Lee). He’s 61 today.
HONORABLE MENTION: On Apri 26th, in 1915, bluesman, singer, guitarist, songwriter and multi-label recording artist-Johnny Shines (John Ned Shines) was born in Memphis, TN. He recorded on Chess during the 50s, but none of his music was ever released. He recorded several tracks for a Vanguard Records compilation-Chicago/The Blues/Today in 1966. This brought the attention of Warner Brothers, who signed him. He released his solo debut in 1968-Last Nights Dream. He went on to record over 15 LPs from 1968 to 1991. The Delta and Chicago Bluesman was 76 when he passed (1992). On April 26th, in 1936-Maurice Williams of Maurice and the Zodiacs was born in Lancaster, South Carolina. He’s most known for singing lead on the hits with the Zodiacs during the height of doo wop (50s). He had several of his songs become hits for others like Stay (The Hollies/Four Seasons/Jackson Browne) and Little Darlin’ (The Diamonds). He got his start in the church when he was 6. He formed his first gospel group-The Junior Harmonizers. They morphed into the Royal Charms, started singing doo wop and stopped singing gospel. They moved from South Carolina to Nashville, TN and began to sing around the R&B scene along historic Jefferson Street. He’s 81 today. On April 26th, in 1978, singer, songwriter and R&B musician-Avant (Myron Lavell Avant) was born in Cleveland, OH. He’s most known for his duets with female singers like: KeKe Wyatt (My First Love) and Kelly Rowland (Separated). He sites R-Kelly as his biggest musical influence and has released 8 LPs from 2000 to 2015. He’s collaborated with rappers like Snoop and Lil Wayne, and had several singles chart over his career. His best selling LP was released in 2006 on Geffen Records-Director. It went to #4 on the US pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart. He’s 41 today. On April 26th, in 1984, we lost a seminal jazz musician, influential pianist, drummer, composer, producer, arranger, Kansas City jazz pioneer, swing jazz innovator, bandleader and bebop cultivator-Count Basie (William James Basie). He was mostly known for his orchestra that featured artists like: Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Dinah Washington and several others. He was like the 'Jazz Messengers' before Art Blakey came on the scene. Basie unselfishly provided his bandstand as a launching pad to many musicians that would go on to have successful careers. He was more about the music, and keeping it alive than he was about the money. He was 79 when he passed. For more information on any musician or event reviewed in posts, or for additional information on The Wandering Eyes Blog overall, use the search bar and search the artist or event using keywords. It’s like a Google search for the site. A myriad of information, covering several topics exists on this site going back to 2013 when it was created. PEACE
1 Comment
Krsy
12/8/2019 12:37:12 pm
Krsydo you actually do you actually like to repeat we can have it on the TV and the P Las Vegas for her so embarrassing for her I hate feeling better bonkers but when I look in the big chickenyour Visa TV so you're there I can have a Tinkerbell is your PP is likely to be even later TV here actually
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