On May 31st, in 1964, hip hop mogul, Golden Era MC, DJ, actor, producer and co-founding member of RUN DMC-Darryl McDaniels (center all photos) was born in Harlem, New York City, New York. He’s most known for his verses on RUN DMC songs during the 80s. He grew up in foster care and group homes until he was adopted by the McDaniels family. He got into hip hop in his early teens, practicing his DJ skills in his parent’s basement. His older brother Alford gave him a set of turntables and a mixer. He named himself DJ Grandmaster Get High and spun a few parties while attending Rice High School. His neighborhood friend, DJ Run (Joseph Simmons, DJ for Kurtis Blow) had DMC sell his tables since Run had a set, and they started a rap group. At first, DMC was the DJ and Run was the MC. However, as time progressed, DMC became an MC with Run.
They hired Jam Master Jay to spin for them. At the time, Jay had developed a reputation of being the best DJ in Hollis, Queens. DMC’s first rap name was Easy D, he then moved to DMcD and settled on DMC which was short for Darryl Mac or Devastating Mic Control. In 1984, they released their first LP-Run DMC (Profile Records). It contains the classic smash hit-Sucker MCs. They gained much popularity from this LP and song which had mostly hard drum beats and sparse synth lines. This was drastically different from the hip hop sound at the time. Most MCs were using turntable created loops of old funk songs, or they were hiring studio bands like Positive Force to recreate tracks. Run DMC’s music was electronic, using drum machines and hard rhymes which showcased a futuristic sound that was big and loud with a hard edge. He’s 55 today.
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On May 31st, in 1948, iconic rock musician, percussionist, songwriter, former drummer and member of Led Zeppelin-John (Henry) Bonham was born in Redditch, Worcestershire, UK. Bonham is a prolific drummer that was voted #1 by Rolling Stones magazine on their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. He started playing drums when he was 5, heavily influenced by Buddy Rich, Max Roach and Gene Krupa. His jazz foundation can be heard in many of Led Zeppelin’s songs, much like Mitch Mitchell with Jimi Hendrix and Ginger Baker with Cream. The irony is that all three drummers played a psychedelic/blues based rock, but used the patterns they’d learned from jazz as the backing beat, making their drum solos, pickups and breaks very funky. Going back to his childhood, Bonham received his first official drum-a snare-when he was 10. He got his first full drum kit at 15.
He was a self-taught musician, aside from picking up a few skills from local drummers. In the mid 60s, he got his professional start with Terry Webb and the Spiders. He also drummed for The Senators, A Way of Life and the Nicky James Movement. In 1967, Bonham joined Robert Plant’s group-Band of Joy. In 1968, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and a reluctant Bonham formed the New Yarbirds which morphed into Led Zeppelin. They signed to Atlantic Records and released their self-titled debut in 1969. They released three more self-titled numbered releases annually up to 1971 (Led Zeppelin II-IV). From 1969 to 1979 they released 8 albums in all that helped shape the sound of rock music. They were international stars, creating a legacy that lasts today. Bonham was 32 when he passed.
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On May 31st, in 1948, seminal session musician, multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre percussionist and actor-Paulinho Da Costa (Paulo Roberto da Costa) was born in Rio de Janeiro. Paulinho is one of the many musicians that fans of music, television and film have heard several times over, but may not have known who he was. He plays percussion instruments like: congas, guiro, drums, djembe, mark tree, cowbell, bongos, shaker, timbales, berimbau, tambourine, pandeiro, rainstick and cuica. He’s also has played with several artists from numerous genres of music: pop, rock, jazz, gospel, soul, country, hip hop, Latin jazz, disco and blues. Some of the artists he’s recorded with include:
Michael Jackson (Thriller & Off the Wall), Madonna, Prince, Celine Dion, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Donna Summer, Barbara Streisand, The Brothers Johnson, George Benson, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Herbie Hancock, The Bee Gees, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Elton John, B.B. King, Babyface, Johnny Mathis, The Emotions, The Pointer Sisters, Minner Riperton, Luther Vandross, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Sarah Vaughan, Lee Ritenour, Red Hot chili Peppers, Bill Withers Joni Mitchell, Hugh Masekela and Barry White. He also made a special appearance in the color Purple as an African drummer. He’s contributed to over 150 film and television scores: The Wiz, Arthur, Waiting to Exhale, Summer of Sam, Sex and the City, Out of Time and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper to name a few. He released 6 solo LPs from 1979 to 1991. Da Costa is 71 today.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On May 31st, in 1938, country musician, singer, bassist, songwriter, guitarist, pioneer of the ‘Outlaw Movement’, steel guitarist and self-proclaimed bad boy of country-Johnny Paycheck (Donald Eugene Lytle) was born in Greenfield, OH. Paycheck is most known for his rebellious nature and thumbing his nose at the establishment/status quo with songs like-Take This Job and Shove It! Even if you’re not a fan of country, you’ve got to be a fan of him using his voice to express the sentiments of those that would otherwise go unheard-the American working class (blue and white collar, manual laborers, small business owners and farmers). He was 64 when he passed.
On May 31st, in 1953, electronic music innovator, percussionist, singer, keyboardist, drummer, educator and former member of German electronic music band Kraftwerk-Karl Bartos was born in Berchtesgaden, West Germany. He’s most known as the drum programmer and percussionist for Kraftwerk-the same band that made Trans Europe Express that was sampled by Afrika Bambaataa for Planet Rock. He started with the Jokers/Jolly Jokers in the mid 60s and remained with the group until the early 70s. In the mid 70s he joined Kraftwerk and stayed with them until the early 90s. In 1992 he founded a new band-Elektric Music. He’s 66 today.
On May 31st, in 1967, we lost a seminal composer, jazz musician, pianist, major collaborator with Duke Ellington, swing jazz pioneer, sideman, songwriter, arranger and co-writer of the jazz standard-Take The ‘A’ Train-Billy Strayhorn (William Thomas Strayhorn). TOV covered the artist’s birthday on the November 29th post. Please refer to it for more information. Strayhorn is most known for co-writing, arranging and producing music with Duke Ellington. The Dayton, OH native started playing piano as a child and was composing as a professional in his late teens. He joined the Mad Hatters in his early 20s and Ellington shortly after. He was 51 when he passed.
On May 31st, in 2000, we lost a prominent Memphis Soul musician, bluesman, DJ, producer, singer, former gospel vocalist, songwriter and multi-label recording artist-Johnnie (Harrison) Taylor. TOV covered the artist’s birthday on the May 5th post. Please refer to it for more information. Taylor’s best work was on Stax and Sam Cooke’s SAR label during the 60s and early 70s. He sang songs like: It’s Cheaper to Keep Her, Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone and Disco Lady. His backing bands were highly talented (Booker T & the MGs & Muscle Shaols Rhythm Section). He became a full-time radio DJ in the 80s on KKDA in Dallas. His moniker was: The Wailer Johnnie Taylor. He was 66 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