On June 26th, in 1903, we lost a pioneering bluesman, singer, guitarist, Chicago blues innovator, social-political lyricist, fiddler, country blues musician, multi-label recording artist, former preacher and sharecropper-Big Bill Broonzy (Lee Conley Bradley). BHe managed to have a successful career for nearly 40 years (early 1920s-late 1950s). During that time, he influenced a lot of blues singers that would become popular innovators of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Broonzy started taking music seriously when he was 10. He made his own fiddle, and learned to sing folk and spirituals from his uncle-Jerry Belcher. Broonzy teamed up with his childhood friend-homemade guitarist Louis Carter. The two sang at church and social gatherings. He got married, worked as a sharecropper and became a preacher before being drafted into the US Army in 1917.
Broonzy fought in WWI and was discharged in 1919. He moved to Chicago in 1920 and started playing guitar. He was taught by Papa Charlie Jackson and became a rent party staple. Jackson got Broonzy a deal with Paramount in the mid 20s. He released a few unsuccessful singles with John Thomas on lead vocals. He released a minor hit in 1927 with the Thomps-Big Bill’s Blues b/w/ House Rent Stomp. In the 30s, his popularity continued to grow leading him to record with other labels and tour with Memphis Minnie. In the 40, he began writing more socially charged songs and showcased his folk and country blues roots. In the 50s, he continued to record and perform at jazz/folk clubs, touring the world: Africa, South America, Europe. He was 55 when he passed.
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On June 26th, in 1956, we lost a seminal jazz musician, collaborator with Max Roach, trumpeter, sideman, arranger, bandleader and composer of the jazz standards-Daahoud, Joy Spring and Sandu-Clifford (Benjamin) Brown. He most known for his work with Max Roach, Sonny Rollins and Lionel Hampton during his short recording career (1953-1956). Brown was killed in an automobile accident when he was 25. It’s amazing that a man that died so young was able to compose 3 jazz standards, a feat that many musicians who’ve played longer than Clifford lived have been unable to accomplish. To say Brown was highly talented would be an understatement. Even DownBeat magazine’s readers had to give it up for Brown, voting him New Star of the Year in 1954-a year after he made his first recording (1953).
The Wilmington, Delaware started off singing in a a quartet that included his siblings. When he was 10, he started playing trumpet. His father-a trumpeter as well, bought Clifford his first horn when he was 13. He was taught by Robert Lowery and started playing jazz with a band Lowery organized. Brown attended Delaware State and traveled often to Philadelphia to play with local bands. In 1950, he was in a car accident and couldn’t play trumpet. He learned piano and was encouraged by Dizzy Gillespie to pursue a career in music. He started playing professionally with Chris Powell and J.J. Johnson. He moved on to Lionel Hampton’s band before working with Art Blakey. When Brown left Art, he formed a band with Max Roach. The DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame musician was 26 when he passed.
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On June 26th in 1955, seminal rock musician, punk rock innovator, keyboardist, songwriter, guitarist, singer, harmonica player, multi-label recording artist, drummer, bassist, co-founder of Big Audio, The Clash and General Public-Mick Jones was born in Wandsworth, London, England. Jones played with numerous groups dating back to the mid 70s. He most recently was the guitarist for the Gorillaz-tour band included. Jones states that he always wanted to be a musician, specifically a guitarist. By the time he reached his teens, he’d built a strong local following. In his late teens, he formed the glam rock band-The Deliquents. In 1976, Jones and bassist Tony James formed a pre-punk band-London SS. He co-founded the Clash a year later with Joe Strummer.
Both played guitar, shared lead vocals and co-wrote songs. He played on all of their recordings up to 1983 when Strummer and Paul Simonon kicked him out of the band. He co-founded General Public (1983), but his membership was brief, leaving before they completed their first album. In 1984, he formed Big Audio Dynamite and they released their first LP in 1985-This is Big Audio Dynamite (Columbia Records). They continued to record throughout the 80s and 90s. In 2002, he formed another band with Tony James-Carbon/Silicon. They encouraged file-sharing and helped spawn the saying-MPFree. In 2010 he toured with the Gorillaz and was featured on their Plastic Beach LP. A year later, he formed the Justice Tonight Band. He’s 64 today.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On June 26th, in 1938, pop musician, 60s/70s vocalist, former spouse of Marilyn McCoo and original member of 5th Dimension-Billy Davis Jr. was born in St. Louis, MO. He’s most known for his hits with the 5th Dimension (Stone Soul Picnic) and his work with his former wife-Marilyn McCoo. They sang the duet hit-You Don’t Have to Be a Star (ABC Records, 1976). They were both former members of 5th Dimension that recorded as a duo group during the 70s. He joined the Versatiles in 1966-they eventually morphed into the 5th Dimension. Davis went solo with his wife McCoo in 1975. The Grammy Award winner is 81 today
On June 26th, in 1943, bandleader, keyboardist, composer, sideman, session musician, arranger, collaborator with Van Morrison and founder of Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames-Georgie Fame (Clive Powell) was born in Leigh, Lancashire, UK. He started playing piano when he was 7 and started playing professionally for Bill Fury and the Blue Flames when he was 16 (early 1960). He was forced to change his name by promoter/manager-Lionel Bart. Fame composed several hits during the 60s that were mixture of jazz, ska, R&B and blues. In the 70s he became a producer and band member with Van Morrison. He’s 76 today.
On June 26th, in 1976, seminal UK R&B band-The Real Thing became the first UK R&B band to have a #1 single-You to Me Are Everything (PYE Records). The Real Thing was founded in 1970 consisting of 4 vocalist and a 5-piece backing band. They are lesser-known in the US, but can be compared to the Ohio Players, Pleasure, Mandrill and the S.O.S. band. They appeared on the Black Joy film soundtrack and released their first single in 1973-Vicious Circle. Their self-titled debut-Real Thing was released in 1976. It contains their #1 hit. They released 4 LPs from 1976 to 1980. However, I feel their best LP is 1978’s-Step Into Our World (reissued in 1979 as Feel the Force). If you see any of their music, buy it!
On June 26th, in 1984, seminal college basketball player, former University of Illinois point guard, NBA All-Star, and the 1st round-3rd draft pick in the 2005 NBA draft (Utah Jazz)-Deron Williams was born in Parkersburg, WV. I had to mention Williams being a former player of the Fighting Illini in Champaign, IL-my hometown. He led the Illini to the 2005 NCAA Championship game as an undefeated team. They were one win away from a perfect season. He was a 3-time NBA All-Star and won 2 gold medals on the USA Olympic team (2008 & 2012). He played 14 seasons in the NBA for 3 teams-The Utah Jazz (2005-2011), The New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets (2011-2015), the Dallas Mavericks (2015-2017) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (2017). He’s 34 today.
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