On August 27th, in 1902-The Original Ice Grill wearer-Mary ‘Diamond Teeth’ McClain was born in Huntington, West Virginia. She got the name ‘Diamond Teeth,’ sometime during the 40's, when she had some diamonds removed from a bracelet she owned. They were set in her upper and lower teeth. With the old school bright lighting, it made for a spectacular stage show.
Real bling. Her musical roots and story go deep, much like her half-sister Bessie Smith. McClain left home in her early teens and joined a circus to avoid physical abuse. She stayed in Memphis for a stint, and began singing and recording with a female chorus line. She found the blues in that area and became a performer and singer of it full-time. She died in 2000, she was 98.
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On August 27th, in 1909, Billie Holiday’s favorite sax player of all time-Lester Young AKA 'Pres', was born in Woodville, Mississippi. He moved to Kansas City and picked up on the Jazz sound brewing out there with the likes of Count Basie’s Big Band. He influenced Bird, Coltrane, Adderley, and even Miles’ style of cool playing that utilized silence.
Young’s riffs are early examples of the style Miles would develop on the trumpet. Lady Day loved his tone as much, if not more than true Jazz heads do. He did some solo projects, and worked with many other notables over the years, but his best work is with Miss Billie Holiday, hands down. He died in New York City, New York 1959, he was 49.
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On August 27th, in 1937, John Coltrane’s muse-Alice Coltrane (Alice McCleod, Turiyasangitananda) was born in Alabama. She originally was a Jazz pianist/organist & composer, but she later picked up the harp and played that, plus the piano for most of her work with Coltrane following McCoy Tyner leaving the band. Her solo LPs on Impulse in the 70s are very original in sound and composition.
She’s a Sanskrit Buddhist and a pioneering woman in the Free Jazz movement. Alice worked with Pharaoh Sanders, Leon Thomas, Horace Silver, Elvin Jones, Ornette Coleman, and many others. Most of her LPs on Impulse during the early to mid 70s are considered collectibles and fetch a high price. She passed away in 2007, she was 69.
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On August 27th, in 1963, three prominent things happened in no particular order: W.E.B. DuBois died at age 95. He was the NAACP Leader, Author, Pan-Africanist, Sociologist, Historian, & Civil Rights Activist. Sometime, somewhere else, on the same day: Sam Cooke got a spotlight performance slot on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
This was a big deal for the time because very few, if any, Black performers were allowed on National Networks. Then, the guy that gave us the traffic light (African Patriotic Flag colors-Red Gold Green), the perm for thick hair & the gas mask-Garrett Morgan, died (86). He invented several other inventions and improved other devices already in use. His contributions to improving everyday life are frequently overlooked.
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On August 27th, in 1968, two interesting things occurred…again, in no particular order. The Staples Singers featuring Pops Staples & Mavis, performed at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, California. Santana & Steppenwolf also performed. The Staples did some of their best work on the Stax imprint.
Mavis has a couple of nice solo 45s on the Volt imprint as well…
Eric Bobo Correa was born in Queens, New York. He's the percussionist for Cypress Hill, The Black Crowes, Gnarls Barkley, The Beastie Boys, Latin Bitman, Fort Minor & 311. His percussion skills run in the DNA. His father is famed Jazz, Funk, Soul Percussionist Willie Bobo. He’s 50 today!
Eric Bobo Correa was born in Queens, New York. He's the percussionist for Cypress Hill, The Black Crowes, Gnarls Barkley, The Beastie Boys, Latin Bitman, Fort Minor & 311. His percussion skills run in the DNA. His father is famed Jazz, Funk, Soul Percussionist Willie Bobo. He’s 50 today!
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On August 27th, in 1990, Rock & Blues lost one of it’s 6 String greats when Stevie Ray Vaughn was killed in a helicopter crash. As the story goes, the helicopter was trying to go through dense fog and hit a man-made ski slope. Vaughn was leaving from doing a show in East Troy, Wisconsin at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre.
Other notable musicians on the bill included: Eric Clapton, and Robert Cray & His Memphis Horns. A person from Eric Clapton’s entourage told Vaughan that there were three open seats on the helicopter that was headed to Chicago. There was only one seat and Vaughn’s brother agreed to give it up to him. The rest is history. He was 35 when he died.
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On August 27th, in 1991, Jeremy was speaking to the masses… Pearl Jam released their debut LP Ten. This LP cemented the band’s place in the Grunge & Rock scene. It sold over 13 million copies, which helped to catapult it to ears of listeners that otherwise would have never heard of the band, let alone any of their songs. It’s hard to find any person that doesn’t know some lyric or chorus from one of their songs off the Ten LP. Jeremy, Even Flow, Alive…those alone prove the point… Pearl Jam was and is dope, don’t sleep. It’s good music.
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Honorable Mention: On August 27th, in 1947, Glady Knight’s little brother & percussionist for Gladys Knight & the Pips-David Leon Billy Knight was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He played for Gladys during his music career and passed away in Las Vegas in 2002. He was 54.
On August 27th, in 1959, Ms. ‘Wubba Wubba’-MTV’s video jockey Downtown Julie Brown (Julie Dorne Brown) was born in Bedfordshire, England. She interviewed all the hit makers in music during the late 80s and through the 90s. She hosted dance and video shows for MTV and made a name for herself with her original catch phrase ‘Wubba Wubba’. She’s 59 today!
On August 27th, in 1977, the male Soul Vocal group the Floaters had a number 1 UK single with Float On. The song would be the only hit the group had in the UK. Thus, this Soul vocal group from Detroit was added to the One Hit Wonders list in the UK. However, most crate diggers know that they had several early 80s post disco hits, as well as a few mid tempo funk numbers during the late 70s.
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