On June 3rd, in 1942, seminal soul musician, prolific songwriter, psychedelic soul innovator, producer, guitarist, singer, pianist, composer, arranger, film scorer, activist, Black Power figure and former member of the Impressions-Curtis (Lee) Mayfield was born in Chicago, Illinois. TOV covered the artist’s death on the December 26th post. Please refer to it for more information. Curtis Mayfield is most known for his hits with the Impressions and his solo album for the Superfly Soundtrack (1972). His music career goes back to the early 50s when he started singing gospel in the Chicago area. In the mid 50s (early teens), he got into secular music and started singing with Jerry Butler who was a member of the Impressions. He formally joined the group in 1956 and immediately changed the content of their lyrics by penning songs that spoke about the plight of people of color in America.
9 years after joining he wrote the infamous-People Get Ready (1965), two years after that he wrote-We’re a Winner (1967), and two years after that-Choice of Colors (1969). These three songs, and many more set the foundation for the type of songs Mayfield would write throughout his career. He went solo in 1970, but continued to write for the Impressions. He also started his own record label-Curtom Records, and scored several films like Sparkle (Aretha Franklin)-Claudine (Gladys Knight & the Pips), Three the Hard Way (The Impression), Let's Do It Again (The Staple Singers) and Short Eyes (Curtis Mayfield). He was a prominent figure in the Black Power and Civil Rights movement via his music. Curtis is a double inductee in the the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame-with the Impressions and as a solo artist (1991 & 1999). He's a member of the Vocal Group and Songwriters Hall of Fame as well (2003, 1999). He was 57 when he passed.
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On June 3rd, in 1924, seminal Chicago Bluesman, guitarist, singer, songwriter, member of the Headcutters Trio (including Little Walter and Muddy Waters), multi-label recording artist, former cab driver, store owner and harmonica player-Jimmy Rogers (Jay Arthur Lane-c) was born in Ruleville, Mississippi. He’s most known for the music he recorded during the height of the Chicago Blues movement in the 1950s. He was a prolific solo and accompanying artist on the infamous Chess Records label. He learned how to play the blues harp/harp (harmonica) as kids. In his teens, Rogers started playing guitar and would often perform as a sideman with Delta blues guitarist Robert Lockwood (East St Louis, Sonny Boy Williamson also was a member).
He moved to Chicago in his early 20s (mid 40s) and began doing session work for blues artists on Harlem Records (owned by J. Mayo Williams-one of the few Black Record label owners in America at that time). He mostly played harp with some vocals/guitar. His was mis-credited for the work under the name-Memphis Slim & His Houserockers. In the late 40s, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Jimmy Rogers formed the Headcutters and went all around the south side of Chicago challenging other bands. All of them got singed to Chess Records. Rogers played on most of the recordings made by Muddy and Little Walter. He also released several solo tracks that charted well throughout the 50s. He stepped away from music in the 60s and returned in the early 70s. He was 73 when he passed.
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On June 3rd, in 2009, we lost a seminal musician, multi-genre and multi-label recording artist, the woman dubbed ‘The Queen of the Blues’-Ko Ko Taylor (Cora Anna Walton). I learned about Ko Ko's music via KRS-ONE’s track-Breath Control off his-The Blueprint LP in 1989. He sampled her song-Wang Dang Doodle. After that, I was hooked on finding more of her material, and subsequently learned more about her as an artist. If there was a ‘female’ version of Howlin’ Wolf's vocal styling, Ko Ko would be the official artist that could be compared to him. She sings with a soulful and raspy voice that sounds lovely over the equally hard beats and loud guitar riffs that she compliments on her songs.
The Shelby County, TN native (Memphis area) got her start singing with blues bands in the Chicago, Illinois area during the late 50s. She was discovered by Willie Dixon-infamous Chess Records producer, songwriter, singer and bassist on most of the songs they cut during the 50s and 60s. He got her a deal with Chess’ subsidiary-Checker Records in the early 60s. She made her recording debut in 1963 and appeared on a compilation LP called-Chicago Blues (Spivey Records, 1964). In 1964, she recorded a single that Willie Dixon penned for Howlin’ Wolf 5 years prior-Wang Dang Doodle. This song alone is better than most female blues musicians’ entire discography. It became her staple track that was peaked in the top 100 on the pop chart, top 5 on the R&B chart and #1 on the Blues chart. The Blues Hall of Fame artist released over a dozen albums from 1969 to 2007. She was 80 when she passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On June 3rd, in 1897, pioneering blueswoman, banjo player, singer, drummer, guitarist (acoustic & electric), songwriter, bassist, multi-label recording artist and one of the first Black women to be recorded on vinyl-Memphis Minnie AKA Kid Douglas AKA Minnie Lawlars (Lizzie Douglas) was born in Algiers, LA. Ms. Douglas has a lengthy discography of over 200 recordings between the 20s to the 50s. She started out as a homeless street musician (runaway) and ‘working girl’ on Beale Street (age 13). She got her professional start with her second husband Joe McCoy’s band. Columbia Records signed her in 1929 and she immediately started recording. She was 76 when she passed.
On June 3rd, in 1906, seminal dancer, choreographer, singer, songwriter, actress, activist, philanthropist, former Cotton Club dancer and French Resistance agent-Josephine Baker (Freda Josephine McDonald) was born in St. Louis, MO. TOV covered her death on the April 12th post. Please refer to it for more information. Baker’s legacy in dance, music, art and social-political issues can be traced back to the early 20s. She had several 'stage' aliases like: Black Venus, Creole Goddess and Bronze Venus. She adopted numerous children of all nationalities during her adult life. She helped preserve French independence during WWII, while securing equal rights for Blacks in America. She was 68 when she passed.
On June 3rd, in 1951, singer, session vocalist, songwriter, and the woman considered to have one of the best voices in soul music-Deniece Williams (June Deniece Chandler). She’s most known for her solo work that was produced by Maurice White (Earth Wind & Fire bandleader). She was one of the first vocalist to hit high notes, pre-Mariah Carey/post-Minnie Riperton. She sang hits like Silly, Free, That’s What Friends are For (duet with Johnny Mathis) and Let’s Hear it For the Boy. She also sang back up for Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton and Roberta Flack during the 70s. Williams sang theme songs for TV shows in the 80s like Family Ties. She’s 68 today.
On June 3rd, in 1977, Bob Marley & the Wailers released their ninth full-length LP-Exodus. This is credited as one of his biggest commercially successful albums-featuring less political hits like-Three Little Birds, Jamming, One Love/People Get Ready and Waiting in Vain. However, the album also has some politically charged songs like-Exodus, Natural Mystic and The Heathen. Personnel on the LP included the I Threes (Marica Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley), Junior Marivn (guitar), Tyrone Downie (keys), Earl Lindo (keys), Carlton Barrett (drums), Aston Barrett (bass), and Alvin Patterson (percussion). It’s a critically acclaimed release that has sold millions of copies worldwide.
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