On June 12th, in 1979, we lost superior musician, one of the best singers of all-time, psychedelic soul/hard funk pioneer, backing vocalist/duet singer with Stevie Wonder, solo recording artist, songwriter, 60s seminal session musician, one of the creator’s of Chicago Soul, and co-founding member of Rotary Connection-Minnie (Julia) Riperton aka ‘Queen of the Whistle Register’. TOV covered her birthday on the November 8th post. Please refer to it for more information. Minnie was a session vocalist for Chess, Brunswick and Cadet Records during her early teens. These were the three major labels in Chicago that recorded/distributed Black music. She honed her chops while singing backup for Bo Diddley, Ramsey Lewis, Etta James, Chuck Berry, Fontella Bass and Muddy Waters.
In the late 60s, she joined Rotary Connection and stayed with the band until 1971. This is some of her best work, especially Black Gold of the Sun and her version of Respect on the Songs LP (1969). This is where she showcased her five-octave voice and glass shattering abilities. Many people know her from Loving You, which is much more ‘polished’ than the raw and funky stuff she was doing with Rotary Connection. Her 70s work is funky, upbeat and soulful as well. She had several ‘b-side’ hits like-Memory Lane, Inside My Love and Baby This Love I Have. All three have been sampled numerous times, while a lot of her work with Rotary Connection goes largely untouched. She often collaborated with Leon Ware during the mid to late 70s, singing duets with him on his solo LPs. Minnie and Stevie Wonder had a long-lasting working relationship, with both acting as session vocalists for one another, while Stevie also wrote and produced for Minnie. She was 31 when she passed.
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On July 12th, in 1964, avant-garde musician, electronic music pioneer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, synthesizer player, harsh noise artist, former member of McCarthy and co-founding member of Stereolab-Tim Gane (Timothy John Gane) aka Unkommunitim was born in Ilford, Essex, Englad. Gane is most known for his work with Stereolab from the 90s to the early 2000s. I was introduced to their music by Dee Jay Tron (Nashville, TN). It was a mix of acid jazz, industrial, prog rock, EDM, new wave, funk, hip hop and world music all condensed into one sound. None of their LPs sounded alike, nor did the individual songs. Gane got his start in the early 80s as a ‘harsh noise’ tape maker. Harsh noise is a genre of music that utilizes noise as a central theme around which the song is built. It’s comparable to music by Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Don Cherry and similar free jazz musicians. He released his tapes under the name-Unkommunitim.
During this time, he worked with samplers/sequencers, guitar, and synthesizers. In the mid 80s he joined the new wave band McCarthy, staying with them until they disbanded (1990). Later that year he formed Stereolab with his love interest-Laetitia Sadier. He used the skills he perfected during the 80s to create a new sound, one that the band would use for the duration of their existence. The first line-up was an electronic quintet with Gina Morris on vocals, Martin Kean on bass, Sadier on lead vocals, Joe Dilworth on drums and Gane on guitar/synthesizer/sampler. Gina left the band right before they released their debut LP in 1992-Peng! (Too Pure Records). It did moderately well in sales, and currently is viewed as a rare gem that displayed the true sound of harsh noise. They released 10 LPs in all, with the best being Dots & Loops (1997). Gane is 55 today.
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On July 12th, in 1943, rock musician, singer, pianist, songwriter and former member of Fleetwood Mac-Christine McVie (Christine Anne Perfect) was born in Bouth, Lancashire, England. Many of McVie’s fans love her sultry dark vocals, others are drawn by her keyboard playing. However, her songwriting skills are probably the most overlooked skill that she possesses. McVie has an innate ability to speak the truth about relationships. She discusses real issues, the daily work needed to sustain one, or mustering the strength to end one that’s run its course. She also talks about the brighter side of romance, giving her a ‘real’ balance that reflects the realities of love. Many can identify with the sentiments she expresses, because she talks about how relationships really are.
She got her start on piano when she was 11, and continued to play during her teens. She would sit-in occasionally with acts like the Sounds of Blue and the Spencer Davis Group, but she was focused on becoming an art teacher. After she graduated, Stan Webb and Andy Silvester hired her as a pianist/singer for their band-Chicken Shack. She penned and sang lead on several hits for them, developing her bluesy singing/piano style. This led to a solo release in 1970-Christine Perfect (Blue Horizon Records). She joined Fleetwood Mac shortly after and soon became one of the lead singers/songwriters for the band. She appeared on their 1971 release-Future Games, and moved to the states in 1974. In 1975, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined the band. In 1977, they released the epic-Rumours. She penned a few tracks on the LP, most notably-Don’t Stop, one of their biggest hits of all-time.. She’s 76 today.
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On July 12th, in 1937, seminal businessman, comedian, avid HBCU supporter, educator, producer, actor, director, Temple University track star, writer, Civil Rights activist, recording artist, drummer pianist, bandleader, singer and creator of the infamous-The Cosby Show-Bill Cosby (William Henry Cosby Jr.) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Brown Hornet, Picture Pages, Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids, I Spy, The Electric Company, Pinwheel, A Different World, The Cosby Mysteries, Little Bill, Kids Say the Darndest Things and The Bill Cosby Show are just a few of the programs Dr. Cosby regularly appeared in, hosted and/or produced. His filmography began in the late 60s, with his 3 films co-starring Sidney Poitier during the Blaxploitation era being standouts-Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Let’s Do it Again (1975) and A Piece of the Action (1977).
One of my favorite Cosby produced shows was-A different World. It was a spin-off for Denise Huxtable which showed her going to college at a fictional HBCU-Hillman College. Dr. Cosby got his start as a comedian by chance. While he was in college he worked as a bartender and noticed when he made customers laugh, he got more tips. He did stand-up at a few open mics before landing a gig at the Gaslight Café in NYC (Greenwich, 1961). His popularity took off and he continued to tour, booking dates in the Midwest and on the West Coast. In 1963, he made his national TV debut on The Tonight’s Show (NBC). A year later, he made his comedy LP debut-Bill Cosby is a Very Funny Fellow…Right! (Warner Brothers, 1964). A year after that, he landed the co-starring role of Alexander Scott on I Spy. His career took off after this. Dr. Cosby is 81 to
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HONORABLE MENTION: On July 12th, in 1973, rapper, songwriter and co-founding member of Timbaland & Magoo-Melvin Barcliff aka Magoo was born in Norfolk, VA. He’s most known for his verses on Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Playa and Ginuwine songs produced by Timbaland. He & Timabaland also were members of Jodeci member/producer-DaVante Swing’s-Swing Mob which was a collective of talented artists from the VA area. Timbaland and Magoo had a 1997 hit-Up Jumps the Boogie. Magoo’s been recording since 1994, with his latest verse being on Missy Elliott’s-Warped in 2013. He’s 46 today.
On July 12th, in 1983, we lost a seminal rock musician, fusion jazz pioneer, saxophonist, prog rock innovator, flautist and co-founding member of Traffic-Chris Wood (Christopher Gordon Blandford Wood). He helped shaped the sound of late 60s rock, bringing a hard and funky edge to it by re-incorporating horns that had been removed from many bands. Wood played by ear, teaching himself and inventing a unique style of his own. Of the numerous brass and woodwind musicians in rock, Wood is one that I can hear and know it’s him. Much like a unique vocalist, his runs, solos and accents were easily identifiable. He was 39 when passed.
On July 12th, in 2003, we lost a prominent jazz musician, trumpeter, composer, saxophonist, bandleader, arranger, clarinetist, sideman, swing jazz artist and multi-Grammy Award winner-Benny (Lester) Carter. The Harlem NYC, NY native is most known for his lengthy discography and work as an arranger. He has more than 100 titles/LPs going as far back as 1950 and up to the late 90s. Not to mention, he’s won 8-Grammy Awards. Carter was well-known 20 years prior to his recordings, working as a sideman and composer during the 20s and 30s with artists like Fletcher Henderson, Earl Hines and Johnny Hodges. He left a legacy of choice music that continues to move and inspire those that hear it. He was 95 when he passed.
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