On September 14th, 1914 The Queen Mother of Nashville, Mae Boren Axton, was born in Barwell, Texas. She migrated to Oklahoma, met a US Navy man, married him, and moved to Nashville. While in The Music City, she started writing songs for Country & Pop acts around town. She’s most known as being co-writer on Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel, and Jerry Lee Lewis’ Skid Row.
Mae's songwriting resume totals over 200 songs, and she was very instrumental in making Rock ‘n’ Roll a staple genre for the masses. She eventually moved north of Nashville to Hendersonville. This would be the city where she took her final breath. Mae Boren Axton passed away in 1997 from a heart attack. She was 82 years old.
… "I was like yea, shorty don’t care, she a snake too, F’ing with them nizzahs from that fake crew that hates you"…
On September 14th, 1973 one of the best Emcees to come along in a long time: Nas/Nasty Nas/Nas Escobar (Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones) was born in New York City, New York. Like a lot of prolific artists, Nas had music in his DNA. His father was well known Jazz trumpeter Olu Dara, who still tours and releases albums to this day. Nas got his debut in 1991 on Main Source’s Live At The Barbeque single, off the Breaking Atoms LP. The song features Large Professor, and introduced the world to Nas & also Akinyele. Three years later Nas dropped Illmatic, which was to me his best LP in 1994.
On September 14th, 1973 one of the best Emcees to come along in a long time: Nas/Nasty Nas/Nas Escobar (Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones) was born in New York City, New York. Like a lot of prolific artists, Nas had music in his DNA. His father was well known Jazz trumpeter Olu Dara, who still tours and releases albums to this day. Nas got his debut in 1991 on Main Source’s Live At The Barbeque single, off the Breaking Atoms LP. The song features Large Professor, and introduced the world to Nas & also Akinyele. Three years later Nas dropped Illmatic, which was to me his best LP in 1994.
On Illmatic Nas introduced the world to AZ, and had an All-Star Production Team (DJ Premier, Pete Rock, & Q-Tip). Illmatic was given a 5 Mic Rating by The Source Magazine (one of the few artists to receive the rating during the Golden Era Of Hip Hop). In my opinion Nas went slightly commercial on It Was Written, using the likes of then mega-popular Lauryn Hill on his version of Kurtis Blow’s If I Ruled The World. He has now released 15 albums (including side projects like The Firm), battled and won against Jay-Z (Ether), bought a Fila Store, married and divorced Kelis, became an official spokesman for the Hennessy Brand, became the publisher of Mass Appeal Magazine, launched Mass Appeal Records, financed several films & documentaries, and has profited heavily from his investments in multiple startup ventures in the tech world. Nasir Jones is 45 today!
| | |
…"when you by chance, go knock on her door, walking away you’re convinced that it’s much more, than just an ordinary pain, in your heart"…On September 14th, 1970 Little Stevie Wonder wasn’t so ‘Little’ anymore. He was got married on this day, 48 years ago, to then Motown Secretary Syreeta Wright. Stevie had no idea that Wright could sing and write songs. The couple would collaborate on several of Stevie’s hits from 1970 ‘til around 1974.
Fours years later, to the date (1974), Stevie’s Fulfillingness First Finale LP started a two week run in the Number 1 slot on The US Chart. He’d eventually win three Grammys for the LP, one of which was for Album Of The Year. This was his second #1 LP. The first was Talking Book (1972), which was also co-written with Syreeta Wright.
| | |
On September 14th, 1974, while Stevie had to Boogie On Reggae Woman, Eric Clapton was dabbling in Reggae as well. Clapton had remade Bob Marley & The Wailers infamous Rudebwoy anthem I Shot The Sherrif (but I didn’t shoot the deputy). He reached #1 on The US Pop Singles Chart with his version of the classic song.
A lot of Rock and R&B based artists were collaborating with Jamaican artists at the time (The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, The Police, The Sex Pistols, etc). Bob Marley had introduced the world to a genre of music that was homegrown in the hills and tenement yards of Jamaica. Ironically an island transplant to The South Bronx, New York-Clive Campbell (Dee Jay Kool Herc) would spawn the birth of Hip Hop, based off the toastin’ and sound systems of the Jamaican Dee Jays. Point is, Jamaican Music Culture has birthed and influenced many established other genres.
| | |
I was riding with a good friend to the record store in Sacramento, California back around 2013-2014ish. I stepped into the joint, and heard the storeowner playing Amy Winehouse’s Frank LP. Yea, I was mad late, like by 10 years. That’s what happens when you refuse to hear the new styles. Anyways, dude was playing (You Should Be) Stronger Than Me. I thought she was Black…Seriously, hadn’t ever heard of her. At the time I wasn’t really messing with ‘known’ artists at all. If it wasn’t old, it wasn’t good, in my opinion.
This whole joint though, Frank, is by far her best LP. Pre-junkie Amy-when she was doing her thing for the love, not the dough or spotlight. She was born today, September 14th, 1983 in The United Kingdom. I appreciate the dude putting me up on game with Amy, and even though I didn’t buy the LP (copped a bootleg Dub Mash Up Mos Def’s Black On Both Sides instead), I googled her and downloaded a lot of her stuff. R.I.P. Amy Winehouse.
| | |
Honorable Mention: On September 14th, 1928, The Hub of Los Angeles Black Culture & Heart of Saturday Night Los Angeles-the infamous Dunbar Hotel opened its doors to people of color looking for some adventure in the city. The Dunbar saw its peaks during the 1930's and 1940's, attracting Black celebrities and musicians. The Dunbar was a staple spot for nightlife, and all things related to Black Culture in the Southern California region.
"Ah Wop Bop Ah Loo Bop Ah Wop Bam Bop!"
This line is from no other than the self-declared King Of Rock ‘n’Roll Little Richard. On September 14th, 1955, Little Richard started his first recording session for the song Tutti Frutti. The song has sexual references throughout, which drove conservative Americans crazy, and Teens even crazier. The song would go on to reach #17 on The Pop Chart and #2 on The R&B Chart.
This line is from no other than the self-declared King Of Rock ‘n’Roll Little Richard. On September 14th, 1955, Little Richard started his first recording session for the song Tutti Frutti. The song has sexual references throughout, which drove conservative Americans crazy, and Teens even crazier. The song would go on to reach #17 on The Pop Chart and #2 on The R&B Chart.
On September 14th, 1984, David Bowie would bring home the Video Of The Year trophy for his song China Girl at The MTV Video Awards.
Interesting Fact: Iggy Pop & David Bowie wrote this song together, while they were working in Berlin, Germany. The song actually appeared first on Iggy Pop’s Idiot LP in 1977. Just goes to show that good music is timeless.
Interesting Fact: Iggy Pop & David Bowie wrote this song together, while they were working in Berlin, Germany. The song actually appeared first on Iggy Pop’s Idiot LP in 1977. Just goes to show that good music is timeless.
On September 14th, 1990, The Boy Scouts recognized Michael Jackson as being a Good Scout Humanitarian. The prestigious award was granted to The King Of Pop by the Los Angeles Area Council of The Boy Scouts Of America, and it was presented by Michael Eisner. Regardless to whom or what, Michael wasn’t molesting any kids. That’s what the media wants people to believe, because that’s all the news they’d cover on Mike-not stories like these that combat the assumption and show him in a positive light…
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 Plethora of information, covering several topics exists on this site going back to 2013 when it was created. PEACE!