On April 15th, in 1984, American pop culture icon, The Empress of the Blues, one of Billie Holiday’s major influences, Ma Rainey collaborator, businesswoman, actor, entertainer, vocalist, controversial figure and multi-label recording artist-Bessie Smith AKA the Queen of the Blues was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. TOV covered the artist’s death on the September 26th post. Please refer to it for more information. Bessie was one of the few singers during the 20s (pre-Great Depression) that sold over 100.000 copies (Crazy Blues). Her subject matter was extremely sexual and highly suggestive for the time period. As a result, she was shunned by a lot of the ‘mainstream’ labels that pressed Black music. Black Swan Records, the first Black record company in America, turned her down. She auditioned for the company and they felt she didn’t ‘fit’ their target demographic.
She was viewed as a hard lady, one that represented the everyday Jane in America. She wasn’t an elitist...she could hang with the roughest men and women, it kept her popular during a time that the image she portrayed was to be kept quiet not celebrated. She was a hero for women, proving that they didn’t have to fit into the stereotypical roles they were supposed to. She recorded for Columbia, Okeh and Paramount Records, making music for the Black working-class that subsequently loved her. Bessie gained international fame and influenced jazz, blues, folk, country and rock music. She was 43 when she passed (1937).
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On April 15th, in 1966, pop musician, former UK topless pin-up girl, Full Force collaborator, actress, Producer, songwriter and TV personality-Samantha (Karen) Fox was born in Mile End, London, England. She’s most known in the states for her 1987 self-titled sophomore LP produced by Full Force (Jive Records). However, she's formerly the most popular pin-up girl and photographed British woman in the UK from 1983 to 1986. She started modeling when she was 16 in the Sun magazine which is similar to the Enquirer. She posed top-less on the infamous page three. When she was 16, her mother got her into topless modeling by taking pictures of her in lingerie, yes, her mother. She sent the photos to the major publications in the UK (pre-instagram modeling).
She turned to music in 1986 when she was 20. Her debut LP-Touch Me was released in 1986. She not only capitalized on her own sexual imagery from her modeling career, she also used the momentum Prince had introduced to the game by being overtly sexual in his lyrics, image and dancing. She ran into Full Force who took notice of her skills and produced a few tracks for her on her 1987 LP-Samantha Fox. She released 5 more LPs from 1988 to 2005. She also got into producing and writing for others. She started acting in the late 80s, and has appeared in UK commercials, American TV shows and in films from both countries. She’s 53 today.
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On April 15th, in 2001, we lost a punk rock innovator, CBGBs regular, guitarist, songwriter, punk culture icon, former drummer and lead singer of the Ramones-Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Ross Hyman). He’s most known for his self-made dichomoty: a shy off-stage demeanor, and fiery on-stage presence. His band had a unique image for punk groups, which usually had a ‘different’ image-being that looking like everyone else was against the fashion premise of punk. The Ramones went back to the 50s for their image, resurrecting a punk fused ‘greaser’ look. They all wore black leather jackets that could fit into the movie set of the Outsiders, West Side Story and of course Grease. Also, all of them had the same last name, the band’s name., which also wasn’t really considered ‘punk’.
However, once they started playing, it was indeed punk, to the fullest: rebellious, fast, short, loud, chaotic, substance-based lyricism with a lot of intensity. He was influenced by David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Phil Spector pop girl groups and the Who, specifically Pete Townshend-who’s one of his idols (they also share the same birthday, May 19th). He started off on drums (13) before moving to the acoustic guitar (17). Around the time he turned 21 (1972), he joined the proto punk/glam rock band-Sniper. His stage name was Jeff Starship. He left Sniper in 1974 and formed the Ramones with John Cummings and Dee Dee Ramone AKA Douglas Colvin (bass). They decided to build off the name Colvin was already using and called themselves the Ramones (derived from Paul McCartney using the name as a pseudonym-Paul Ramon). He was 49 when he passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On April 15th, on 1948, film scorer, songwriter, producer, oboist, session musician, conductor, composer, arranger, pianist and co-founder of the New York Rock & Roll Ensemble-Michael (Arnold) Kamen was born in NYC, NY. He’s most known for composing the X-Files theme and co-scoring the Pink Floyd movie-The Wall. He also worked with Queen, the Eurythmics, Aerosmith, Jim Croce, Eric Clapton, Sting, Bon Jovi, Herbie Hancock, Metallica, Tom Petty, Bryan Adams and Roger Daltrey. Kamen made their music sound ‘bigger’ by adding strings, percussion and brass. The award-winning musician was 55 when he passed.
On April 15th, in 1970, former hip hop dancer, comedian, choreographer, actor and TV personality-Flex (Mark Alexander Knox) was born in Harlem, NYC, NY. He got his name from his ability to do wild contortionist moves when he danced-hence Flex. He eventually had a hip hop dance style named after him-Flexing. He got his start dancing with Salt-n-Pepa (1987) after he was discovered in a club by DJ Spinderella. The exposure while touring and appearing in videos led him to comedy and acting. He made his stand-up debut in 1989 on Def Comedy Jam. He was a regular on the show and got a role on the sketch comedy series-Uptown Comedy Club (1992-1994). He’s 49 today.
On April 15th, in 1983, one of the most unique American bands-The Bad Brains released their sophomore LP-Rock for Light (Passport Records). Considered a hardcore punk band at the time, they had the Cars’-Ric Ocasek produce the LP. They reworked some of their old songs from their first LP (Bad Brains, 1982)-Sailin’ On and Banned in D.C., but also added a lotof new tracks like Riot Squad, How Long Can a Punk Get? and Destroy Babylon. Interesting fact: The band is unique in that they started as a jazz fusion group in 1977, then moved to hardcore punk in the 80s, and reggae in the 90s.
On April 15th, in 1985, one of the best middleweight fights of the 80s took place at Caesars Palace in Paradise, NV-THE WAR!: Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Tommy the Hitman Hearns. The fight was short, but action packed. It only went 3 rounds. In the first round, The Hitman got a good shot on Hagler that cut his head. It bled a lot, and the fight was halted in the third round. Hagler’s cut men did their best work and it resumed. Hagler caught Hearns with a good left, then a body shot, and finally a chin shot. Just when everyone thought Hagler was in trouble, he came out the victor by K.O. in the 3rd round. The profuse amount of blood on his face and head, made him appeared to be the loser.
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