On April 25th, in 2002, we lost pop culture superstar, female musician, poet, MC, 4-time Grammy winner, singer, actress, innovative 90s R&B vocalist, former ‘significant other’ of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Andre Rison and co-founding member of TLC (T.Boz, Left-Eye-Chilli)-Lisa Left-Eye Lopes. She’s most known for her outrageous personality in the all-female R&B group TLC. Lisa was the ‘rapper’ in the group and co-wrote a lot of the songs they released post-Pebbles management. She was a gender issues trailblazer and consistently worked towards leveling the playing field for women from all walks of life. She performed music that spoke about everyday situations women go through with employment, romance, personal time and serious circumstances in a way that wasn’t preachy, but very effective.
She started out as a gospel singer with her sibling’s group-The Lopes Kids. During her late teens, she moved to Atlanta to audition for a female group Peebles was putting together. She made the cut and they called themselves 2nd Nature. Original members included: Lisa, Tionne Watkins and Crystal Jones. They changed their name to TLC, and shortly after, Crystal left the group. She was replaced by Rozanda ‘Chilli’ Thomas. They kept the name and released their debut LP in 1992-Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip (LaFace/Arista Records). In 1994, they released their seminal LP-CrazySexyCool. It sold over 20 million copies. Lisa became a featuree MC on some pop, R&B and rap songs in the late 90s. She was 30 when she passed.
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On April 25th, in 1990, we lost a seminal hard bop jazz musician, sideman, saxophonist, composer, clarinetist, bandleader and actor-Dexter Gordon AKA Long Tall Dexter AKA Sophisticated Giant (he was 6’6”). He’s most known for his influential style of playing and his distinctive phrasing during solos and choruses (50s-60s). His specialty is the tenor sax. He’s makes a ‘big’ sound , you know it’s Gordon, he’s a bit louder and more powerful than the other band members. He means it, with every note he blows. It’s hard to catch him ‘slacking’ when playing as a sideman or bandleader-a lot of musicians ‘go through the motions’ when playing on another artist’s LP whether or not they have a solo career in place. Dexter doesn’t roll like that. Matter of fact, some of his best solos and overall playing are on other artist’s albums.
When listening, you forget it’s a Bud Powell LP, and think it’s Dexter’s album because he’s playing with so much emphasis and real feeling. It’s no wonder he was the major influence of the most known saxophonist in the world-John Coltrane. Trane even immolated a lot of Gordon’s phrasing and solo style in his early recordings for Atlantic. And loud?! Trane is Loud!!! He get’s that from Gordon. He was one of the first to formulate the new sound of jazz-be bop with Charlie Parker, Bud Powell , Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie. He started on clarinet, and by his teens moved to alto sax first before settling on the tenor sax. He stayed true to hard bop, even through the influx of fusion jazz. His stuff is more funky and soulful than most during his era. The NEA Jazz Master was 67 when he passed.
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On April 25th, in 1923, one of the Three Kings of the Blues Guitar (w/Freddie & B.B. King), pioneering Memphis Bluesman, singer, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member, drummer, songwriter, Stax recording artist, producer and alleged half-brother of B.B. King-Albert King (Albert Nelson) AKA The Velvet Bulldozer was born in Indianola, Mississippi. He got the nickname the Velvet Bulldozer because he had a laid-back smooth demeanor and actually drove a bulldozer. TOV covered the artist’s death on the December 21st post. Please refer to it for more information. Albert is probably the most sampled blues musician by hip hop and urban music producers. He has classic tracks that have been looped by thousands of producers worldwide:
I’ll Play the Blues for You, Cold Feet, I Can’t Hear Nothing but the Blues, Blues at Sunset and ‘Til My Back Ain’t got no Bone. He was inspired by bluesmen like Robert Nighthawk, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Jimmy Reed, Lonnie Johnson and Elmore James. He saw many of them perform numerous times during the peak of Delta Blues. He was a member of the Groove Boys out of Osceola, Arkansas in his teens. He moved to Gary, Indiana, bought his signature Flying V Gibson guitar (named Lucy) and recorded his first single-Bad Luck Blues b/w Be On Your Merry Way (Parrot Records). He recorded for several imprints before settling at Stax Records in the mid 60s. He released the majority of his funkiest music on the label from 1967 to 1973. He was 69 when he passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On April 25th, in 1917, a pioneering vocalist, songwriter, actress, pop and jazz singer-Ella (Jane) Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia. She’s most known for her work with Chick Webb, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and the doo wop group the Ink Spots. More importantly, she's highly noted for her solo music that helped influence singers from all genres that came after her. She went from singing on the streets of Harlem during her teens, to singing at the Harlem Opera House a few years later (with Tiny Bradshaw). She then joined Chick Webb’s Orchestra and recorded one of her biggest hits: A-Tisket A-Tasket. They performed regularly at the Savoy Ballroom where a young Malcolm X would dance. She 79 when she passed (1996).
On April 25th, in 1920, businesswoman, record executive, sister of Berry Gordy and creator of the Motown Museum-Hitsville USA-Esther Gordy (Edwards) was born in Washington County, Georgia. She is one of the women in the family responsible for giving Berry Gordy the $800.00 loan he needed to start Tamla AKA Motown Records. Always a businesswoman, Esther started a family loan company with her husband called Ber-Berry Co-Op. She went on to work for Motown booking shows, managing acts and overseeing the Motown Revue. She also started the Motown Museum, preserving historic memorabilia that document an important time in music. She was 81 when she passed.
On April 25th, in 1932, one of the biggest figures in early to mid 80s basketball, pioneering comedic athlete, true ‘baller’, former member and leader of the Harlem Globetrotters-Meadowlark Lemon (Meadow Lemon III) AKA the Clown Prince was born in Willimington, NC. He got his start with the Globetrotters when he was 23 in 1955. He’d return from the Army and served in West Germany. He stayed with the Globetrotters for 25 years (1995 to 1980). After that, he formed a rival team called the Bucketeers. He would make shots form long distances and hype the crowd up with his almost ‘Naismith’ style. He was 83 when he passed (2015).
On April 25th, in 1950, one of the most funky and unsung drummers of the 70s, funk and rock musician-Stephen Ferrone (Steve Ferrone) was born in Brighton, England, UK. You’ve definitely heard Ferrone keeping the beat for several funk and rock tunes during the mid 70s to the late 80s. He was the drummer for: Average White Band, Duran Duran, Chaka Khan, George Benson, Steve Winwood, Jeffrey Osbourne, Eric Clapton, Tracy Chapman, Johnathan Butler, Anita Baker, Jaco Pastorius, Bernie Worrell, Freddie King and Paul Simon. He’s 69 today.
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