On February 20th, 1927, actor, writer, activist, US Army vet, Hollywood icon, diplomat, father, director, and Bahamian Ambassador to Japan-Sidney Poitier was born in Miami, Florida. Poitier is a citizen of both The Bahamas and The US (he was born in the states which makes it automatic). His fraternal roots go back to both The Maroons of Jamaica, and former slaves in Haiti. He migrated to Miami when he was 15, and later moved north to New York City in 1943. While there, he was taught to read by a co-worker at the diner where he worked as a dishwasher. After becoming highly literate, he enlisted in The US Army and served for a year during WWII from 1943-1944.
His first unofficial role was playing an insane US Army cadet, during WWII so that he could get discharged. It worked, and he returned to the states seeking an official role with the American Negro Theater in 1945. He had a thick Bahamian accent, and couldn’t sing; so the theater initially rejected him. But after working hard on his diction, he secured a leading role in Lysistrata in 1946. After his 1950 film debut, in the film No Way Out, Poitier would become a regular face on the stage and screen. One of his biggest films is A Raisin In the Sun (1959). He was also Box Office Star Of The Year in 1967, with three highly successful films scoring impressive ticket sales. The Oscar, Golden Globe, NAACP, SAG, and Grammy Award-Winning actor is 92 years old today.
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On February 20th, 1937, jazz icon, actress, activist, songwriter, pop, and jazz vocalist-Nancy (Sue) Wilson was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. Nancy started singing as a child, and decided at age four that she’d be a singer. Her major influences came from her father’s record collection of Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Lionel Hampton, & Billy Eckstine. Vocal influences included Ruth Brown, Esther Phillips, Dinah Washington, and LaVerne Baker. Nancy sang in church and at family gatherings as a child, and as a teen, she won a talent contest for WTVN in Columbus, Ohio (NBC). She secured a weekly gig at the station as a performer, and host of Skyline Melodies, graduated from high school, and enrolled at Central State College in Wilberforce, Ohio majoring in education.
After a year of college, Nancy won another contest that landed her a spot in Rusty Bryant’s big band. She made her recording debut with Bryant’s group in the late 1950s on Dot Records. Around that same time, she met Cannonball Adderley, who encouraged her to move to NYC to pursue her singing career. She made the move in 1959, and got a gig at The Blue Morocco club. A year later, she was signed to Columbia Records (1960). Nancy Wilson released five LPs on the imprint, over a two year span of 1960-1962. Later that year, she collaborated with Cannonball on their classic LP-Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley. The three-time Grammy Award winning, NEA Jazz Master, DownBeat Hall Of Fame singer, and International Civil Rights Walk Of Fame member passed away on December 13th, 2018 (age 81).
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On February 20th, 1967, alternative music innovator, guitarist, songwriter, artist, singer, former husband of Courtney Love, father, and co-founding member of Nirvana-Kurt Cobain was born in Aberdeen, Washington. He’s most known for his work with the group, but his lyrical approach to music-with substance-based topics, is reminiscent of the 60s rock movement (when the music was still good). He’s ranked as the 12th Greatest Guitarist Of All-Time by Rolling Stone Magazine. He’s also considered a Generation X icon (people born between 1960-1980/post-baby boomers). His first love was art. He used to draw his favorite cartoon characters, and his parents quickly recognized that he had talent.
They also were shocked to find that he'd written a song, and played piano to go along with it at the age of four. Some of his musical influences were The Ramones, The Beatles, ELO, and Arlo Guthrie. When his parents divorced in 1975, he became withdrawn and defiant. This personality change proved to be fertile ground for the punk movement he’d get involved with as a teen. Kurt formed the foundation of Nirvana in the mid 1980s; but they didn’t record an LP until 1989 (Bleach) on Sub Pop Records. Bleach did well enough to secure them a deal with DCG, where they released Nevermind in 1991. The album sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Cobain committed suicide three years later, on April 5th, 1994. He was just 27.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On February 20th, 1944, musician, jazz trumpeter, sideman, actor, composer, and member of Blood, Sweat & Tears (BS&T)-Lew Soloff (Lewis Michael Soloff) was born in Brooklyn, NY. Soloff is most known for his trumpet work on BST’s hit singles-Spinning Wheel, and You’ve Made Me So Very Happy. He learned trumpet at Julliard, and gigged with Tito Puente, Machito, and Maynard Ferguson during the early to mid 1960s. He joined BS&T in 1968, and remained with the group until 1973. In the 80s, he recorded with the jazz ensemble-Members Only. He was 71 when he died in 2015.
On February 20th, 1950, producer, singer, guitarist, songwriter, saxophonist, solo artist, bassist, keyboardist, and co-founding member of Steely Dan-Walter (Carl) Becker was born in Queens, NY. Becker, and songwriting partner Donald Fagen, formed Steely Dan in 1971. The band was successful for just over a decade before dissolving-after which, Becker became a producer and sideman with China Crisis. He recorded two solo LPs (1994, 2000), before reuniting Steely Dan with Fagen in 1993. Becker was 67 years old when he passed away in 2017.
On February 20th, 1951, bassist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, and co-founding member of the 60s rock band Spirit-Randy California (Randy Craig Wolfe) was born in Los Angeles, California. TOV covered the artist’s death in the January 2nd post. Please refer to it for more information. Interesting Facts: the intro for Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven comes from the song Taurus, which was composed and performed by Randy (with his step dad Ed Cassidy). His Uncle Ed Pearl was the founder of the West Coast Folk Revival Movement-Ash Grove. Randy was 45 when he passed away in 1997.
…"I Got You Babe!"...
On February 20th, 1974, Sonny & Cher were heading towards divorce. Sonny struck first blood, when he filed for a legal separation. His official statement on the docket was 'Irreconcilable Differences.' One week later, Cher filed for divorce, stating that she’d been a victim of ‘involuntary servitude,’ due to Sonny controlling the dispersal of her earnings. Both kept up a good face on their TV show, and in public; but their issues had been developing since 1972. Up to that point, they’d been married for three years (they married in 1969). By sheer math, I’d say the first two years were probably the best ones.
On February 20th, 1974, Sonny & Cher were heading towards divorce. Sonny struck first blood, when he filed for a legal separation. His official statement on the docket was 'Irreconcilable Differences.' One week later, Cher filed for divorce, stating that she’d been a victim of ‘involuntary servitude,’ due to Sonny controlling the dispersal of her earnings. Both kept up a good face on their TV show, and in public; but their issues had been developing since 1972. Up to that point, they’d been married for three years (they married in 1969). By sheer math, I’d say the first two years were probably the best ones.
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