On July 6th, in 1931, seminal entertainer, actress, singer, minister, producer and former singer in Mahalia Jackson’s gospel group-Della Reese (Delloreese Patricia Early) was born in Detroit, Michigan. 70s/80s babies will recall Della Reese playing the role of Ms Vera the madame in the film Harlem Nights (co-starring Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx). She stated: ‘the only thing I’m stealing out here, is your face!’, after hitting Eddie Murphy (Quick) when they had their dispute in the alley behind Sugar Ray’s nightclub (Richard Pryor-1st video). She appeared on radio as a singer in her early childhood, and doubled as the director of the children’s choir at church. By age 13, she was singing and touring with Mahalia Jackson. She performed in several churches, honing her skills, and signing to Jubilee Records.
Della released her first single in the mid 40s-In the Still of the Night. She graduated from high school at 15, enrolled at Wayne State University and formed her first gospel outfit-the Meditation Singers. In 1947 she released another single-I’ve Got MY Love to Keep Me Warm b/w Time After Time. She changed her performance name to Della Reese around her 18th birthday (1949). She performed, recorded and toured for several years before her first major single charted-And That Reminds Me (also an LP released in 1959). In 1959 she signed to RCA Records, and a year later she appeared in ads for Ebony magazine. In the late 60s she got into acting, appearing in her own talk show-Della. This led to TV appearances on the A-Team (B.A. Baracus’ mother), Chico & the Man and The Royal Family. Her acting career took off in the 80s. She was 86 when she passed.
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On July 6th, in 1970, hip hop musician, MC, producer, solo recording artist and original member of the Wu-Tang Clan-Inspectah Deck (Jason Hunter) was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York. He’s most known for his intricate verses on Wu-Tang songs, along with the bars he spit as a solo and featured artist on other musicians tracks like Gang Starr’s-Above the Clouds. Deck’s a great producer as well. TTEOAN covered his beat making skills on the L4TPB August 20th post. As mentioned in that post, Deck sampled Portishead’s-Over for the-Kiss of the Black Widow-on Bobby Digital’s solo LP (RZA). Ol’ Dirty Bastard is featured on the cut. Please refer to that post for information. Deck grew up in the Park Hill Projects on Shaolin (Staten Island). He went to school with Raekwon, Method Man and Ghostface Killah.
In the early 90s, they linked with RZA, GZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, adding Masta Killah and U-God making the 9 member team-The Wu-Tang Clan. He was the second most featured MC on their debut LP-Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers (1993). He appeared on fellow Clan members’ LPs as well: Tical (1994), Only Built for Cuban Linx (1995), Liquid Swords (1995) and Ironman (1996). His solo LP-Uncontrolled Substance was set to drop in 1997, but RZA’s basement flooded and destroyed most of the tracks he’d completed. It finally dropped in 1999 and featured production from Deck. That same year he produced a track for GZA-Beneath the Surface. Aside from participating on all the Wu-Tang Clan albums, he released a second LP in 2003 and a third in 2006. He’s 49 today. Interesting Fact: Deck’s birthday is exactly 1 year and 1 day after the RZA’s.
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On July 6th, in 2010, we lost a seminal soul musician, record executive, former member of the Moonglows, songwriter, former business partner and spouse of Gwen Gordy (Berry Gordy’s sister)-Harvey Fuqua. TOV covered the artist’s birthday on the July 27th post. Please refer to it for more information. In American music history, there’s only a few artists that have the ability to shape the sound of popular music from the beginning to the end of their careers. Harvey Fuqua is one of these people. As a producer, he wrote for Motown, worked with The New Birth, Nite Liters, The Weather Girls, Sylvester, Johnnie Bristol and several others. As a singer/songwriter, he helped create the ‘Beach Music’ sound and innovated rock ‘n’ roll with the doo wop group-The Moonglows. They had a close assoication with DJ Alan Freed.
He also sang duets with Etta James on Chess Records. As a record executive, he worked at Anna Records (Berry Gordy’s sister imprint) with Lamont Dozier & Marvin Gaye. He also founded Resurging Artist Records and Tri-Phi Records-which contained the majority of the artists Motown would receive in the early 60s when they bought out Fuqua. Marvin Gaye, Johnny Britsol, The Spinners, Tammi Terrell and Junior Walker were original Tri Phi musicians. He was responsible for suggesting Tammi & Marvin sing duets and produced the majority of them. Fuqua’s work in the 60s alone proves to be legendary. The 70s-80s were no different. He produced the New Birth/Nite Liters, which have been sampled by thousands of producers. He also innovated the disco sound with Sylvester and the Weather Girls, while resurrecting Marvin Gaye’s career. He was 80 when he passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On July 6th, in 1937, seminal soul musician, producer, songwriter, Chicago Soul innovator, singer, record executive and multi-label recording artist-Gene Chandler (Eugene Drake Dixon) was born in Chicago, IL. He’s most known for his soulful hits like Duke of Earl (1961), Groovy Situation (1970) and Please Sunrise (1978). He worked closely with Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield and Barbara Acklin. He sang with the Dukays in the 50s-60s, and he appeared on the Impressions live album in 1973. He also started his own labels-Bamboo and Mister Chand (mid 70s) before he became Vice President of Chi Sound Records (late 70s). The Grammy Hall of Fame singer is 81 today.
On July 6th, in 1949, jazz musician, songwriter, pianist, singer, actress, session vocalist, composer, multi-label recording artist and bandleader-Phyllis (Linda) Hyman was born in Philadelphia, PA. TOV covered the artist’s death on the June 30th post. Please refer to it for more information. Hyman had her breakthrough success with Norman Connors on his LP-Your Are My Starship (1976). She released her hit single three years later-You Know How to Love Me. Hyman has appeared in films, musicals and plays. She’s also scored songs for movies like School Daze and James Bond: Never Say Never Again. She was 45 when she passed.
On July 6th, in 1971, we lost a jazz icon, pop culture mogul, pioneering trumpeter, singer, scat innovator, bandleader, actor, marijuana advocate and international star-Louis (Daniel) Armstrong. TOV covered the artist’s birthday on the August 4th post. Please refer to it for more information. Armstrong is most known for innovating the modern jazz sound in the early 20s. The New Orleans native got his professional start with King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. He was an avid winner of cutting contests and cemented his rapid style of soloing that would morph into bebop. He was 69 when he passed.
On July 6th, in 1979, we lost a seminal 70s producer, pianist, composer, songwriter, conductor and multi-label recording artist-Van McCoy (Van Allen Clinton McCoy). TOV covered the artist’s death on the January 6th post. Please refer to it for more information. He’s most known for the hits he produced during the height of the disco era. He’s credited with being one of the originators of the disco sound. He was one of the first musician’s/producers to use large orchestras (Barry White did as well). McCoy produced hits for others too: Aretha Franklin, Faith Hope & Charity, David Ruffin, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Stacy Lattisaw. He was 39 when he passed.
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