On May 20th, in 1972, hip hop icon, MC, actor, producer, record executive, songwriter, Grammy nominated musician, social activist, co-founding member of the Leaders of the New School, and founder of the Flipmode Squad-Busta Rhymes (Trevor George Smith Jr-Trevor Taheim Smith) was born in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He’s most known for his work with Native Tongues artists like A Tribe Called Quest-specifically the Scenario remix off their Low End Theory LP. He also collaborated often with rappers outside of the Tongues circle like Ol’ Dirty Bastard on Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check, Talib Kweli’s remix for Just to Get By and Pass the Corvoisier produced by the Neptunes featuring Pharrell Williams. One of my favorite songs he’s rhymed on is New York Sh!t.
He uses the SSO Faded Lady loop made famous by Diamond D. Busta continuously stood out on all the songs he had other artists on due to his original vocal style, delivery, lyrical content and energetic demeanor. The Source magazine ranked him in the top 50 MCs of all-time (2012). Busta also is known for his original videos that were based on famous scenes from popular movies of the 80s and 90s like: Coming to America, Night Rider and Harlem Nights. He also appeared in several films like Higher Learning, Shaft and Halloween: Resurrection. He was the voiceover for Flonominal on the Boondocks. He started rhyming in 1989 with Charlie Brown, Dinco D and Cut Monitor Milo-The Leaders of the New School (1989). 30 years later, he’s still doing it! Busta is 47 today.
| | |
On May 20th, pop culture icon, singer, actress, dancer, model, TV show host, producer, songwriter, comedian, author, fashion designer, philanthropist, record executive, former spouse of Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman-Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian) was born in El Centro, California. She’s most known for her musical marriage with Sonny Bono in the 60s, her variety TV show in the 70s, her acting in the 80s, her musical comeback in the 90s and her filmmaking-participation in musicals and return to music in the 2000s. Cher started out as housekeeper and aspiring actress in her teens. She was a go-go dancer in Hollywood and worked as Sonny Bono’s housekeeper. Bono was working for Phil Spector (Wall of Sound), who used her as a backup singer on songs like You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’ and Be My Baby.
She released her debut single under the name Bonnie Jo Mason-Ringo, I Just Love You. During her time with Bono & Spector, she developed a great friendship with Sonny and they married in 1964. She convinced Sonny to perform with her due to her anxiety with stage fright. They sang ‘feel good’ pop tinged folk songs like I Got You Babe (1965). The changing times, hippie counterculture and political climate coerced them to stop singing the pop/folks songs. They moved to the TV industry in the early 70s. At first, they acted as guest-hosts for the Merv Griffin Show. The audience responded so well to them that they got their own show-The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. She divorced Sonny in 1974 and went solo. She married Greg Allman a year later (1975). She’s 73 today.
| | |
On May 20th, in 1944, seminal blues/rock musician, singer, songwriter, pianist, harmonica player, original member of the Grease Band, frequent collaborator with Leon Russell and co-founder of Mad Dogs & Englishmen-Joe Cocker (John Robert Cocker) was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He’s most known for his quirky movements during his live performances which were often imitated by National Lampoon/SNL comedian Jim Belushi. Speaking of Hollywood figures, Cocker also sang themes for major network shows and movies-With a Little Help From My Friends-The Wonder Years and Up Where We Belong-An Officer & a Gentleman (duet with Jennifer Warnes). He performed at Woodstock in 1969, the Isle of Wright Festival (1969) and Woodstock in Europe (1979).
Dr Dre sampled his seminal funk cut-Woman to Woman for California Love, while Paul McCartney was very appreciative that Cocker reworked their tunes and turned them into classics. He’s one of the few musicians that can take a song and make it his own. Songs like Feelin' Alright (Traffic) and The Letter (Box Tops) showcase this unique ability. Although he got caught in the drug and alcohol scene in the late 60s and early 70s, he continued to record and released two solid LPs in the mid 70s-I Can Stand a Little Rain and Jamaica Say You Will (1974, 1975). The former contains the Billy Preston penned smash hit-You Are So Beautiful. He made his SNL appearance with Jim Belushi in 1976-singing the hit Feelin’ Alright. In the 80s, his music was used for television and films, which increased his popularity. He was 70 when he passed.
| | |
HONORABLE MENTION: On May 20th, in 1940, one of the most slept on Motown affiliated producers for their Soul subsidiary label, trumpeter, singer, songwriter, organist/pianist, drummer, harmonica player and multi-label recording artist-Shorty Long (Frederick Earl Long) was born in Birmingham, AL. He’s most known for his work as a solo artist and producer with Tri-Phi/Harvey Records (owned by Harvey Fuqua). When the label was bought out by Berry Gordy, Long moved to Soul Records in 1964. He penned hits like Devil With the Blue Dress On, It’s a Crying Shame and Function at the Junction. He also did a version of Pigmeat Markham’s-Here Comes the Judge. He was 29 when he passed.
On May 20th, in 1958, singer, guitarist, songwriter, actress, co-founding member of the Go-Go’s, and bandleader of FroSTed-Jane Wiedlin (Jane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin) was born in Oconomowoc, WI. She was a fan of 60s and early 70s pop music like the Beatles, The Monkees and Sparks. She was an avid fan and participant of the Southern California late 70s punk rock scene. She and Belinda Carlisle formed the Misfits in 1978. They were an all female punk band like the Runaways. They changed their name to the Go-Gos and Wiedlin co-wrote their first hit song-Our Lips Are Sealed in 1981. She went solo in 1985, released her debut and started acting in films in 1986 (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home). She’s 61 today.
On May 20th, in 2003, The Godfather of Soul, the Minister of New New Super Heavy Funk, singer, songwriter, pop culture icon, multi-instrumentalist, producer, businessman and social activist-James (Joseph) Brown was set free and pardoned for drug and assault charges in the state of South Carolina. He’d spent 2-and-a-half years in prison for an arrest dating back to 1988. The State Department of Probation-Parole-and Pardon Services granted him his freedom, and the Godfather of Soul sang ‘God Bless America’ after the hearing. Many hip hop musicians made it public news that James was in jail and called for his freedom.
On May 20th, in 2013, we lost a seminal 60s rock musician, keyboardist, filmmaker, songwriter, vocalist, composer and co-founding member of the Doors-Ray Manzarek (Raymond Daniel Manzarek). He’s most known for his work with the Doors and Jim Morrison. The two met in film school and decided to start a band after Manzarek heard Jim sing some of his poetry. Manzarek also co-founded the Manzarek-Rogers Band, Manzarek-Krieger, Note City and Rick & the Ravens. He had a unique playing style that used the organ as a bass instead of having a bassist. He wrote a memoir in 1998 called Light My Fire: My Life with the Doors. He was 74 when he passed.
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 wide variety of information, covering several topics exists on this site going back to 2013 when it was created. PEACE