On September 25th, in 1947, Cecil Dale Womack was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His brothers: Bobby, Friendly, Curtis and Harry originally were a Gospel outfit that was well-known in the 50s. They were discovered by Sam Cooke-Lead vocalist of the Soul Stirrers, who at the time were also a Gospel outfit. Sam took the Womack Brothers under his wing, and when he went solo, pursuing his secular singing career, he changed the Womack Brothers’ band name to the Valentinos. By the mid 60s, the Valetinos had a hit penned by Cecil Womack and Mary Wells: Sweeter Than the Day Before.
By 74, the Valentinos were no more, and Bobby went on to pursue his solo career, he did very well. Cecil continued to write for others, penning hits like Love TKO, and writing for formidable acts like: The Four Tops, The O’Jays, Patti LaBelle & others. He later married Sam Cooke’s daughter Linda, and they had their own group under the name: Womack & Womack. They had a Deep House classic hit with Baby I’m Scared of You. In the early 90s, Cecil went to Nigeria on a quest to find his ancestry. He discovered he had strong ties to the Zekkariyas Tribe & changed his name to Zekkariyas. He passed away in 2013 from unknown causes in South Africa. He was 65 years-old.
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Combination years: On September 25th, in 1965, two things occurred. First, Blues guitarist, songwriter, singer-Bo Diddley performed live at the Imperial Theatre in Lancashire. Diddley had heavily influenced the British musicians, most notably the Rolling Stones. On that same day, The Beatles premiered their cartoon series on ABC TV. The first episode-I Want To Hold Your Hand-depicted the Beatles exploring the deep blue sea in a submarine. They’d meet an Octopus with a broken heart.
In 1969, John Lennon of the Beatles presented Paul McCartney with a song called ‘Cold Turkey’. Lennon had recorded the song with Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman and Ringo Star. Lennon wanted the song to be a Beatles release. Paul declined. Lennon kept the song and ALL the songwriting credits, putting it out as a Plastic Ono Band single. A year later in 1970, the first season and pilot episode of the Partridge Family aired on ABC TV. It was a Friday night prime-time show which starred: Danny Bonaduce, Shirley Jones, Susan Dey, David Cassidy.
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Ozzy through the Ages: On September 25th, in 1972, Black Sabbath put out their 4th LP: Black Sabbath Vol. IV. It was supposed to be called ‘Snow Blind’ as a reference to all the cocaine they were snorting. The picture for the LP cover is a live shot of Ozzy in concert putting his hands up-the photo was monochromed. 20 years later, in 1992, Ozzy was having a concert in Oklahoma City. I guess alcohol and Heavy Metal don’t mix because things got a little wild at the show.
Apparently, the Cee Cipher Punks arrested 20 attendees and two people got shanked. Eight years later, in 2000, Black Sabbath was up for induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. In true Ozzy form he told the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame voters that he was straight on their induction, and requested that the band be formally removed from the list of inductees. He said, and I quote: it was ‘meaningless’. He went further to say: Let's face it. Black Sabbath have never been ‘media darlings’. We're a people's band, and that suits us just fine…True Indeed Ozzy...he accepted the induction in 2006.
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On September 25th, in 1975, Mr. Excitement, The man that influenced James Brown, Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, and all of the 3 to 6 member vocal collective groups from the 60s that utilized choreography (Supremes, Whispers, Temptations, etc)-Jackie Wilson had a tragedy occur while on stage, doing what he was brought here to do, shine his light through his music. He had a heart attack when he was mid-set at the Latin Casino in New Jersey. Rumors ran rampant that the Mafia was involved in both Jackie’s music business contracts, and his subsequent death (over-worked by the Mob). Elements of this theory ring true if we do the ‘Knowledge’ on the people in charge of ‘Race’ records during the height of Jackie's, and for that matter Sam Cooke’s career.
The Italian and Jewish mobs ran the board, for decades. Anyways, Jackie’s heart attack was so sudden, severe, and the blow he suffered to his head when he passed out caused him to suffer brain damage and seep into a coma…He was two words in on his: Lonely Tear Drops. Lonely Tear is all that came out, then Wham! Do you know they kept this man alive for 9 years?!..pause…9 YEARS?!?!?! He finally got to go home in 1984. He was 49 years-old. Sidebar: Jackie Wilson is too prominent of an artist to even list in this post, or any post for that matter. He transformed all musical genres, Real talk. If you don’t know any of his music, then you need to, ASAP.
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Combination Years, All Things Nirvana: On September 25th, in 1993, Nirvana had their first number one UK LP: In Utero. It wasn’t so much that the across the pond residents were slow to warm up to Nirvana, it was more so that the states didn’t release Nirvana as openly as they did in the US, they didn’t believe in Grunge’s worldwide potential. 2 years later, in 1995, Courtney Love would be in the news on some M.O.P. shit. She beat up the lead singer for Bikini Kill-Kathleen Hanna.
Not sure if Kathleen ‘caught a bad one’ (S.O. Del) on stage or in the streets, but regardless, Courtney had to give up $1000, go to anger management, and hit lock up for a year (the prison sentence was suspended for 2 years). 18 years later, in 2013, the childhood home of Nirvana’s guitarist, lead singer and songwriter-Kurt Cobain was put on the market in Aberdeen, Washington. Kim Cobain, Kurt’s sister, and Wendy O’Connor, his mother, put the house up for sale to the tune of half a million dollars. Their hope was that a Nirvana admirer would purchase and preserve the house, possibly turn it into a museum of sorts.
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Combination years, the Exit the Entrance: On September 25th, in 1980, two things happened in no particular order. First, the infamous drummer known for playing up to 30 minute drum solos on the track called: Moby Dick, and member of the infamous Rock band-Led Zeppelin, John Bonham AKA ‘Bonzo’ passed away. He went on a drinking binge, consuming an alleged 40 shots of Vodka in 4 hours…He was found dead, the same way Jimi was found: choked on his own vomit. Little known fishy fact, he was found dead at Jimmy Page’s gate…No way in hell my homeboy dies on me at my gate…Just saying…
So, while Bonzo was making his exit, T.I. was making his entrance. On the same day Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. AKA T.I. AKA T.I.P. was born in the A T L (Atlanta, Georgia). T.I. gets props for joining the cause as of late. Love or hate his music, and early appropriation of the Black Community, to me, honestly, he ‘redeemed’ himself by using his stardom to cast light on the racial and economic injustices, and most importantly-police brutality that occurs daily in the Black & Brown Communities. He’s 38 today.
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Honorable Mention, Integration Through the Centuries: During the 19th Century, on September 25th, in 1861: The American Civil War was at full throttle. The Yankees AKA Union Navy decided to integrate their ranks, allowing African Descendants in America to enlist. Nearly 100 years later (1957), in the 20th Century, the Little Rock ('9'), Arkansas School District (Central High School) was integrated with the aid of US Army Troops that escorted the Black students…In the 21st Century…just kidding, but not, point made I hope…Takes 100 years to get anything done 'round here', and it usually involves guns…
On September 25th, in 1968, the man that gave us the line: ‘I yelled to the cabby, yo homes, smell ya later’-the man that married Jada Pinkett, the man that kept Philly on the map in Hip Hop Culture post-Schooly D, the man that made music with his partner on the decks D.J. Jazzy Jeff-and the man who’s first silver screen appearance was as a homosexual in Six Degrees of Separation (yes, they always try to emasculate Back Men-do the ‘Knowledge’)-William Clifford Smith Jr AKA Will Smith AKA The Fresh Prince (of Bel-Air) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He’s 50 today.
…‘Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin’…On September 25th, in 2011, The media had a frenzy with an infamous 60s-70s artist’s living conditions. The New York Post ran a story about how Sly Stone was living out of his camper in South Central Los Angeles (Crenshaw area). He was 68 years-old at the time of the interview. He was quoted as saying: I like my small camper. I just do not want to return to a fixed home. I cannot stand being in one place. I must keep moving…True Indeed Sly…Sidebar: he was able to record in his camper, it was essentially converted into a mobile studio.
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 Plethora of information, covering several topics exists on this site going back to 2013 when it was created. PEACE!