On May 6th, in 1969, we lost a seminal ska musician, jazz composer, trombonist, Rastafarian and original founding member of the Skatalites-Don Drummond. He was ranked by the infamous jazz pianist/composer-George Shearing as one of the top 5 trombonist in the world. The Kingston native started off as a artist before moving to Ska and reggae in the 60s. He was a mentor to Rico Rodriguez, teaching him the ins and outs of the ‘bone’ (slang for trombone). I’m not sure who his musical inspirations were or when and how he learned the instrument. However, In 1953, he started playing with Eric Dean’s All-Stars (jazz combo). He joined Kenny Williams’ band in the early 60s, but left them in 1964 to pursue ‘other ventures’.
He got into Rastafarianism and joined the Skatalites that same year. He began to speak with other band members about the plight of the Black man in Jamaica and brainwashing that existed in their faiths-usually Christianity. Many of them agreed with his social-spiritual-political stance and converted to Rastafarianism themselves. As a result, the sound of the music changed to reflect a more substance-based theme that sought to empower Blacks worldwide. A lot of people think he ‘snapped’ in 1965 when he was convicted for the murder of his rhumba dancing significant other-Anita Marguerita Mahfood. Others feel it was a government plot to stop his influence. The authorities locked him up in the Bellevue Asylum in Kingston. He died there 4 years later. He was 37 when he passed.
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On May 6th, in 2002, we lost a prolific rock ‘n’ roll musician, pianist, composer, soul/R&B music pioneer, singer, arranger, collaborator with Little Willie John, Jery Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Dee Clark-Otis Blackwell. TOV covered the artist’s birthday on the February 16th post. Please refer to it for more information. He’s most known for the hit songs he co-wrote, produced and/or composed like: Don’t Be Cruel (Elvis Presley), Fever (Little Willie John-several other notables have covered it), Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis) and All Shook Up (Elvis Presley). The Brooklynite got his start on piano at a young age. He honed his chops in local bands during his teens (late 40s). When he was 21 (1952), he won his first Amatuer Night at the Apollo Theater (Harlem, NYC, NY).
RCA signed him, and then Jay-Dee Records. His first release became a Jamaican classic-Daddy Rolling Stone (infamously covered by Derek Martin and the Who). Although he made a strong name for himself as a recording artist of soul, blues and R&B during the early 50s, he didn’t care much for being the lead singer or ‘star’ of the group. Blackwell was most comfortable writing songs. He stuck with this profession from 1955 up to his death. In 1956, he penned Little Willie John’s Fever (covered by Peggy Lee). He became the leading Black songwriter in the late 50s with numerous million-selling-Top 40 tracks. Interesting fact: he never worked directly with Elvis in the studio. Also, due to the racist policies of the industry in the 50s-70s, Blackwell wrote under a nomme de plume that sounded more ‘White’-John Davenport. He was 71 when he passed.
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On May 6th, in 1950, seminal Scottish funk musician, percussionist, drummer, former member of the Senate, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express and co-founder of the Average White Band-Robbie McIntosh (Robert Broderick James McIntosh: inset r) was born in Dundee, Scotland. TOV covered the artist’s death on the September 23rd post, please refer to it for more information. McIntosh started playing drums as a youth and joined his first band in his late teens-The Senate. It featured the Socttish singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer-Alex Ligertwood. He left them to join Mal & the Primitives who were a funky blues/rock outfit that gained a lot of popularity in Italy. He stayed with them briefly before becoming the drummer for the prog rock pioneer-Brian Auger (inset-c).
In 1971, he formed the Average White Band (AWB) while he was still the drummer for Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express. You can hear him on the following Auger LPs-Better Land (1971), Oblivion Express (1971) and Second Wind (1972). McIntosh was sought out for his drumming by the jazz flautist Herbie Mann in 1972. He’s featured on a few tracks off Mann’s 1973 LP-London Underground. That same year, AWB released their debut LP-Show Your Hands. It contains the heavily sampled funk number-T.L.C. and other choice cuts. McIntosh is also on their follow up LP-AWB (1974). It contains the hit song-Pick Up the Pieces. His death: he went to a party with Cher and Alan Gorrie (1974). He sniffed what he thought was coke, but it really was heroine. He died from a drug overdose when he was 24.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On May 6th, in 1983, we lost an important jazz musician, sideman, trombonist, hard bop pioneer, Birth of the Cool session musician (1949), bandleader and former member of Benny Goodman’s orchestra-Kai (Chresten) Winding. He was a pivotal jazz musician that frequently worked with J.J. Johnson and Stan Kenton. He also had his own band and recorded for several labels like: Columbia Records, Savoy Records, Creed Taylor’s CTI, Verve Records and A&M Records. He composed the multi-genre standard-Time is On My Side (1963) long before Irma Thomas and the Rolling Stones covered it. He also was the trombonist for the country vocal group-Anita Kerr Singers. He was 60 when he passed.
On May 6th, in 1987, controversial hip hop figure, rapper, producer, songwriter, record executive, and social activist-Meek Mill (Robert Rihmeek Mill) was born in Philadelphia, PA. The young rapper is most known for his association with T.I.’s Grand Hustle label, his own label called Dream Chasers, Rick Ross, the Roots and the time he spent in jail. Mill was caught up in a ‘he say, the cops say’ controversy for carrying a firearm illegally. The cops that beat him up and told the judge that Meek was running towards them with a gun trying to kill them. The judge believed the police. Meek Mill has been rapping professionally since 2003. He’s 32 today.
On May 6th, in 1997 the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame hosted its 12th annual induction ceremony. For the first time in its 12-year history, the festivities were held at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland, OH, the same city that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame is located in. Inductees included: Parliament-Funkadelic (inducted by Prince), the Jackson 5 (they shouted out Berry Gordy), The Bee Gees, folk singer Joni Mitchell, legendary gospel artist Mahalia Jackson, Sydney Nathan (King Records owner), (rockers) Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills and Nash. This was also a late event for their induction, which usually occurs between late January and early April.
On May 6th, in 2005, we lost a seminal jazz musician, sideman, composer, arranger, bandleader, swing jazz innovator and former guitarist for Billie Holiday during the 50s-Barney Kessel. He ‘s the featured guitarist on 10 of Holiday’s releases from 1952 to 1958. He also worked with Benny Carter, Shorty Rogers, Anita O’Day and Buddy DeFranco (50s/early 60s). He recorded several albums as a bandleader which featured players like: Sonny Rollins, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon Charlie Byrd, Shelly Manne, Sonny Criss, Oliver Nelson, Chet Baker, Zoot Sims and Hampton Hawes. He was 80 when he passed.
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