On February 9th, 2005, Bluesman, singer, songwriter, and The King Of Romantic Chicago Soul-Tyrone Davis passed away in Hinesdale, Illinois. He’s the man that brought us the smooth, sample thick, mid-tempo track-In The Mood. His musical career started in the late 1950s, while he was living in Chicago, working as a driver for Bluesman Freddie King (one of the Three Kings Of The Blues). He also sang in local clubs, where he was discovered by Harold Burrage who owned a small imprint, and billed him as ‘Tyrone The Wonder Boy.’ Davis released an unsuccessful side, before signing to Dakar Records (distributed by Atlantic) via Carl Davis in 1968.
Tyrone changed his last name to Davis (paying homage to Carl Davis), and released A Woman Needs To Be Loved b/w Can I Change My Mind. The A-side is strong, but the B-side got more spins and became his first staple tune. He followed this up with Turn Back The Hands Of Time in 1970. Davis worked with producer Willie Henderson and songwriters Bonnie Thompson & Jack Daniels on most of his late 1960s to mid 1970s recordings-releasing over 25 singles on Dakar. In 1975 he signed to Columbia Records, and linked with producer Leo Graham, who ‘modernized’ his style. From the mid 70s to the mid 90s, he continued to record, tour, and perform. Davis was 66 when he died.
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On February 9th, 1997, Delta Bluesman, NEA folk music master, Bentonia School guitarist, bootlegger, singer, pianist, songwriter, juke joint owner, fife player, and fiddle player-Jack Owens (L. F. Nelson) passed away in Yazoo City, Mississippi. He was one of the original Delta Bluesmen, that played a unique style of guitar named after the region he was born in. There's a shared commonality of sound between musicians from the Bentonia, Mississippi area (Bentonia School Of Guitar). Owens had no aspirations of being a professional musician, seeking a recording contract, or career as a performer. Instead, he was content with farming, bootlegging, running his local juke joint, and making music on his own front porch.
He would strum his D Minor-tuned guitar, stomp his foot for the rhythm section, and sing his original songs. He performed all through the 1920s, and on to the late 1950s without having a formal recording. He was well-known, however, amongst the blues enthusiast crowd. He made some formal recordings with Alan Lomax in the 1960s, but Lomax had to go to him (on his front porch, literally). He didn’t make his first commercial recording until 1970, when someone had a tape recorder at one of his shows and later pressed the set on vinyl. Owen had a deep, rough voice, similar to Howlin’ Wolf. He was 92 years old when he died.
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On February 9th, 1981, singer, guitarist, songwriter, double bassist, bandleader, and the ‘first’ Rock ‘n’ Roll star-Bill Haley (William John Clifton Haley) passed away in Harlingen, Texas. Haley is known for his wild stage performances-including doing tricks with his guitar, his style of fashion, signature spit curl hair, blind eye, and the hit song Rock Around The Clock. Haley was responsible for merging R&B, Rockabilly, Country, and Blues together to help establish the foundation for Rock ‘n’ Roll. His energy & stage presence, as well as the tightness of his backing band-The Comets, produced one of the many blueprints used to construct Rock ‘n’ Roll during the mid to late 1950s.
Some of the hit songs he released include: Shake Rattle & Roll, Skinny Minnie, Razzle Dazzle, Rocket 88 (written by Ike Turner), and See You Later Alligator. Haley grew up in the Detroit area during the early 1930s. He had eye problems as a child, and failed operations to correct his vision left him with a blind eye. As a result, he started doing the spit-curl over the seeing eye to disguise the other one. He learned banjo, mandolin, and guitar from his father. As a teen, and young adult, he won yodeling contests in the 1940s. By 1951, he was off and recording for Keystone Records out of Philly. Bill Haley was 55 when he died.
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On February 9th, 1947, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and member of The Delfonics-Major Harris was born in Richmond, Virginia. He’s most known for his top ten 1975 single Love Won’t Let Me Wait. He also sang some nice vocals with The Delfonics in the early to 1970s. Harris replaced original member Randy Cain in 1972, and stayed with the group until 1974. His Atlantic Records debut, My Way, was released that same year and peaked at #12 on the R&B charts (#28 Pop). His musical roots go back to the Richmond area, where he got his start in the church, before going to the secular world and getting into the R&B and early Funk scenes.
Major sang with local notables like: The Teenagers, The Charmers, The Jarmels, and my favorite-Nat Turner’s Rebellion. The latter group went deeper into funk-with lyrics reflective of the times (late 1960s). The band recorded a few sides on Okeh and Laurie Records, that were later reissued as an LP. His brother-Joseph B. Jefferson was a songwriting partner with the Rebellion, and Harris sang & played guitar for the band. He released two more charting LPs in 1975 and 1976. In 1984 he released a single that did moderately well, and in the early 1990s, he returned to The Delfonics to release two more LPs. He was 65 when he passed away.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On February 9th, 1914, singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader, and Country Music innovator-Ernest (Dale) Tubb aka 'The Texas Troubadour' was born in Crisp, TX. He’s one of the first country musicians credited with the honky tonk style, that came about in the early 1940s. He also was one of the first country artists to popularize the Waltz. His music was the soundtrack for waltz classes and dances. Tubb is a Grand Ole Opry staple, Country Music Hall Of Famer, and former vinyl record store owner. He was 70 when he passed away.
On February 9th, 1964, American Pop Culture was forever changed, when over 70 million viewers tuned in to watch The Ed Sullivan Show. Beatles Mania was alive; and their hit single-I Want To Hold Your Hand was already at number one when they took the stage. The CBS studio was packed as they listened to the band play two sets and five songs. They performed All My Loving, Till There Was You, and She Loves You during the first set-and their hit I Want To Hold Your Hand & I Saw Her Standing There in the second set. The Beatles had entered the states for the first time a few days prior to their appearance on Ed’s show.
On February 9th, 1991, pastor, singer, songwriter, choir director, arranger, pianist, composer, and Gospel Music Innovator-Dr. James (Edward) Cleveland passed away in Culver City, CA. The Chicago native is most known for the gospel staples-No Ways Tired & Peace Be Still. If you’re familiar with the Rough Side Of The Mountain & No Ways Tired gospel LP commercials from the 80s, then you’ve heard James Cleveland. He worked with gospel greats like Albertina Walker, and his own Southern California Community Choir. The Grammy Award Winner, Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and Gospel Music Hall Of Fame artist was 65 years old when he died.
On February 9th, 2010, The US Air Force was in a bit of hot water with The White Stripes. As the story goes, the US Air Force had a recruiting commercial that used The White Stripes’ song Fell In Love With A Girl without their permission/consent. The members posted a statement on their website, that summed up their sentiments about the act the Air Force pulled:
"We take it as a strong insult and objection, with the implication that we licensed one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war that we do not support."
"We take it as a strong insult and objection, with the implication that we licensed one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war that we do not support."
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