On April 13th, 1946, seminal Southern Soul Icon, Memphis Sound innovator, singer, preacher, songwriter, producer, guitarist, and Willie Mitchell (Hi Records) collaborator-Al Green (Albert Leornes Greene) was born in Forrest City, Arkansas. Love And Happiness, Simply Beautiful, I’m Glad You’re Mine, Let’s Stay Together, and I’m Still in Love With You are just a few of the hits Al has given the world. He’s most known for his unique vocal tone and delivery. Al has the ability to make you feel he means what he's saying when he sings. This is the essence of soul music-music you can feel, music you can relate to, and apply to your own life. He also managed to release some great gospel singles and LPs too. Green came from a big family of 10 children (he was the sixth). At the age of ten, he and his siblings formed a gospel group called The Greene Brothers. The family relocated to Grand Rapids, MI, shortly after, and Al got into secular music, which was forbidden in his home. He continued to sing gospel, but had a fierce yearning to sing popular music. Eventually his father kicked him out, because he caught him listening to Jackie Wilson.
Heavily influenced by Wilson Pickett & Elvis Presley, Green seized the opportunity to do secular music-and continued to attend high school-though he was essentially homeless. He formed the doo wop group Al Greene & The Creations. In 1968, two of the members-Palmer James & Curtis Rodgers-formed their own label called Hot Line Records. Green changed the group’s name to Al Greene & The Soul Mates, and they released the single Back Up Train. Al met Willie Mitchell shortly after this, who signed him to Hi Records. Mitchell encouraged him to find his own voice, and to stop trying to sound like Jackie Wilson, Elvis Presley, and Sam Cooke. He released his debut single Green Is Blues, in 1969, featuring the breakbeat classic The Letter. His career skyrocketed after this... Al Green is 73 today.
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On April 13th, 1951, 1980's R&B star, singer, pianist, dancer, songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, and multi-label recording artist-Peabo Bryson (Robert Peapo Bryson) was born in Greenville, South Carolina. Bryson is most known for his duets with Minnie Ripperton (Here We Go), Roberta Flack (Tonight I Celebrate My Love), Natalie Cole (What You Won’t Do for Love), Celine Dion (Beauty & the Beast), Regina Belle (Without You), Chaka Khan (There’s Nothing Out There), and Angela Boffill (For You & I). Bryson has a strong discography of hits as solo artist however. Most of the ‘need to listen’ suggestions would come from his 1970's LPs: Peabo (1976), Reaching For The Sky (1977), and Crosswinds (1978). The ‘Peabo’ album features the God Is On Our Side, and Luther Vandross is on backing vocals.
Reaching For The Sky has a hot title track-plus Feel The Fire (later remade by Teddy Pendergrass & Stephanie Mills). The Crosswinds title track is also banging, while Spread Your Wings and I’m So Into You hold their own too. After this Peabo became more like The Pointer Sisters did in the 80's, with a more pop-tinged sound much different from his soulful funk of late 70's. He also began writing, producing, and singing TV themes for major artists and networks. One of his biggest hits to date in his duet with Celine Dion, for the Disney movie theme song Beauty & The Beast. He also appears on A Whole New World (w/Regina Belle), from the Disney film Aladdin. He’s won Grammys for both and turns 67 today.
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On April 13th, 1973, infamous 90's urban movie actor, ventriloquist, and TV personality-Bokeem Woodbine was born in Harlem, New York. I first saw him in the 1993-Forest Whitaker directed-film Strapped. He played the role of Diquan Mitchell-a good guy that hung in a bad crowd. I noticed him again in Jason’s Lyric & Crooklyn (1994). I saw him again in Panther, and he's very memorable in Dead Presidents playing the crazy soldier-turned reverend/bank robber. That's probably his best role out of the ones previously mentioned. Woodbine was acting in films way before this. His mother was an actress herself and made sure that he attended schools for the arts in the city.
At the age of 19, Bokeem made his professional acting debut as an extra in Juice (1992). In 1993 he made his television debut on the CBS Schoolbreak Special Love Off Limits. His appearance on CBS led to his casting him as lead in Strapped. Since 1993 Woodbine has appeared in over 60 films, and 20 TV shows. Some notables include: Caught Up (Daryl, 1998), The Big Hit (Crunch, 1998), Life (Can’t Get Right, 1999), Ray (David 'Fathead' Newman, 2004), Black Dynamite (Black Hand Jack, 2009), and Riddick (Moss, 2013). Woodbine typically appears in action/thriller/comedy roles and movies. Bokeeme Woodbine also appeared in three Wu-Tang videos: Protect Ya Neck, Careful (Click Click), and Gravel Pit. This Harlem native is 46 today.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On April 14th, 1967, dancehall legend, singer, dee jay, and songwriter-Capleton aka King Shango (Clifton George Bailey III) was born in Islington, Jamaica. Capleton was influenced by dancehall, dub, and toasters in the early 1980's Kingston Sound System Scene. He moved there when he was 18, and started toasting at local venues. This caught the attention of Stewart Brown, who owned African Star Records in Toronto, Canada. He flew Capleton there for a show with Ninjaman and Flourgon, in 1989; and two years later he released his debut Lotion Man. He went on to be a staple in dancehall music, with more than 20 releases. Capelton is 52 today.
On April 13th, 1951, rock ‘n’ roll artist, documentarian, percussionist, bandleader, session musician, writer, actor, father of Slip Knot drummer Jay Weinberg, and drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band-Max Weinberg was born in Newark, New Jersey. He’s the bandleader for The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien, The Max Weinberg Seven, and The Max Weinberg Quintet. He’s also performed as a session and tour drummer for several other acts. Max started on drums when he was six, made his public debut at seven, met Bruce Springsteen in 1974, and hasn’t looked back since. This award winning drummer is 67 today.
On April 13th,
1973, The Wailers (featuring-Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley) released Catch A Fire on Island Records. They’d recently changed their name from The Wailers to Bob Marley & The Wailers, after the label execs urged them to make Bob the lead. This album features Bob (as co-producer), Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths (on backing vocals), and the infamous Barrett Brothers on bass and drums. Notable songs off the LP include Slave Driver, Concrete Jungle, Kinky Reggae, Stir It Up, and No More Troubles.
1973, The Wailers (featuring-Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley) released Catch A Fire on Island Records. They’d recently changed their name from The Wailers to Bob Marley & The Wailers, after the label execs urged them to make Bob the lead. This album features Bob (as co-producer), Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths (on backing vocals), and the infamous Barrett Brothers on bass and drums. Notable songs off the LP include Slave Driver, Concrete Jungle, Kinky Reggae, Stir It Up, and No More Troubles.
On April 13th, 2005, we lost rock ‘n’ roll musician, soul music pioneer, prolific songwriter, pianist, jazz artist, and bluesman-Johnnie (Clyde) Johnson. Johnson is most known for his association with Chuck Berry, with whom he penned many songs. Johnson played as bandleader and sideman in several jazz outfits during the 1940's (the height of swing jazz and jump blues). He’s the man behind Wee Wee Hours (an instrumental standard of his he played long before Berry spruced it up) and Maybellene. Berry repaid the favor, writing Johnny B. Goode, in dedication to him, requesting that he act accordingly when drinking. Johnnie Johnson was 80 when he passed away.
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