On May 11th, in 1933, seminal Pan-Africanist, historian, Black-Power figure, former calypso singer, violinist and current leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI)-Louis Farrakhan (Louis Eugene Walcott) was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York. Farrakhan is most known as the organizer of the Million Man March (October 16th, 1995). The success of this event started a trend of a marches nationally and internationally that sought to pull in millions or at least hundreds of thousands of supporters. He’s also well-known in the hip hop/urban community as a highly respected elder that help squash beef between gang members, rival crews and individual artists. Numerous others know him for his association with the NOI and the assassination of Malcolm X.
Farrakhan was born in the Bronx. He never met his biological father, and his step-father died when he was 3 (1936). After this, his mother moved the family to Boston (Roxbury). He started playing violin when he was 6 and became very proficient at it. When he was 13 he played with the Boston Civic Symphony and the Boston College Orchestra. He won several awards and competitions before going to NC for school at Winston-Salem Teachers College. He began singing calypso in the 50s and was known around the Northeast as Calypso Gene The Charmer. Farrakhan gained Knowledge of Self via his saxophonist-Rodney Smith. He officially joined the NOI in 1955, becoming Louis X, shortly after that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad changed his name to Louis 'Farrakhan'-which means the Criterion in Arabic. In the 60s, he was assistant minister with Malcolm X in Boston before taking over the temple. He’s 86 today.
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On May 11th, in 1941, seminal blues/rock pioneer, singer, painter, songwriter, poet, graphic artist, former member of the Animals & War-Eric (Victor) Burdon was born in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, UK (home of Newcastle Nut Brown Ale Brewery). When Burdon was very young, he wanted to be a trombonist after seeing Louis Armstrong on TV. He tried to play it, but wasn’t very good so he decided to become a singer instead. He also fell in love with the blues during his primary school years. This is most likely linked to the daily life he experienced in the lower-working class neighborhood he grew up in. Burdon experienced many of the the dark situations, circumstances and life events that blues musicians typically sang about.
One of his former teachers saved him from a life of crime, delinquency and poverty when she recommended him for their local secondary art school-Newcastle Art College. This is where he met future Animal-John Steel (drummer). Burdon painted, sketched and sang at the new school while hanging out with his friends that were like a biker gang without the bikes. He joined the Alan Price Rhythm & Blues Combo in 1958, and they changed their name to the Animals in 1962. They were one of the major British blues/rock bands during the 60s, and Burdon was very good friends with Jimi Hendrix. In the late 60s, Burdon joined War (west coast funk band). He released Eric Burdon Declares War with the band in 1970 on MGM records. Burdon continued to tour and record up to his death. He was 77 when he passed.
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On May, 11th, in 1981, we lost the most popular artist in reggae music, Pan-Africanist, pop culture icon, guitarist, decriminalization of marijuana supporter, bandleader, singer, revolutionary, songwriter, Peace advocate, percussionist, ska/rocksteady innovator, Rastafarian, original member of the Wailers and leader of Bob Marley & the Wailers-Bob Marley (Robert Nesta Marley). He’s most known for the music he created during the early 60s up to his death in 1981. He got his professional start in 1962, recording for Leslie Kong. He joined the vocal group called the Teenagers: Junior Braithwaite, Cherry Smith, Beverley Kelso, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley (1963). They also recorded for Kong at Federal Studios.
In the mid 60s, they changed their names from the Teenagers to the Wailing Rudeboys and finally the Wailing Waliers. They left Kong, and recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One. In 1966, the vocal group became a trio of Bunny, Peter and Bob-featuring Rita Anderson-The Wailers. Late that year Bob married Rita (Marley) and moved to Wilmington, Delaware. When he returned to Jamaica later that year, he became a Rastafarian. In 1968, The Maytals released the new style of island music on one of their biggest selling singles-Do the Reggay. The beat was slower and more synchopated. Bob, along with his wife Rita, Peter and Bunny all recorded new songs and some of their old ones with the new ‘reggae’ beat. In 1972, they signed to CBS/Island Records and released-Catch a Fire. After this, Peter & Bunny went solo and Bob continued to record, tour and perform using the name: Bob Marley & the Wailers. He was 36 when he passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On May 11th, in 1970, we lost a prominent swing jazz musician, innovative sideman, saxophonist, bandleader, clarinetist, composer, arranger and former Duke Ellington Orchestra member-Johnny Hodges (John Cornelius Hodges). He’s most known for his work with Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Sidney Bechet and Chick Webb. Hodges had a unique tone on both alto and soprano sax that made him stand out. He was easy identifiable when soloing on recordings or with other bands. He also recorded over 50 LPs as a bandleader/co-leader from 1946 to 1970. Most of his work can be found on Verve and Norgan Records. He was 62 when he passed.
On May 11th, in 2003, we lost a seminal rock musician and bassist for the Jimi Hendrix Experience-(David) Noel Redding. Redding originally was a violinist and guitarist that was coerced into playing the bass once he joined the Jimi Hendrix Experience (1st member to join). He had a unique playing style that was more like a guitarist than bassist. He was a member of 3 bands before joining the Jimi Hendrix Experience-The Strangers, The Lonely Ones and The Loving Kind. He’s the bassist on all of the LPs Jimi recorded from 1967 to 1968 (Are You Experienced, Axis-Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, Smash Hits). He left the Experience in 1968 and started his own band called Fat Mattress, then he joined Road, Mountain and formed the Noel Redding Band. He was 57 when he passed.
On May 11th, in 2004, we lost a prolific Philadelphia Soul artist in a tragic turn of events-John Whitehead (l). He was shot outside of his home while he was working on his car. Police have been unable to solve his murder and believe it was a case of mistaken identity. Whitehead was a singer, songwriter and producer for TSOP Records (The Sound of Philadelphia). He wrote songs for the O’Jays like Back Stabbers and was co-lead singer of his own vocal group-McFadden & Whitehead with Gene McFadden. Their biggest hit was-Ain’t No Stopping Us Now (1979). Both of his sons were the members of the Whitehead Brothers-an early 90s R&B group that had the hit-Forget I Was a G. He was 55 when he passed.
On May 11th, in 2011, we lost a Big Band jazz musician, trumpeter, sideman, composer, bandleader, arranger, flugelhornist and former original member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band-Snooky Young (Eugene Edward Young). He’s most known for his his work with Jimmie Lunceford where Snooky was lead trumpeter (late 30s to early 40s). He played with Gerlad Wilson and Lionel Hampton in the 40s, Count Basie in the 50s and 60s and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis in 70s. He also worked with Oliver Nelson, JJ Johnson, Coleman Hawkins, Yusef Lateef, Gene Ammons, Eddie Harris, Gil Evans, Herbie Mann, Hank Crawford and Lalo Schifrin, not to mention he’s recorded several LPs as a bandleader. He was 92 when he passed.
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