On May 9th, 1970, one of the illest emcees ever, actor, songwriter, urban icon, founder of The Theodore Unit and one of the most poplar members of The Wu-Tang Clan-Ghostface Killah (Dennis D. Coles) aka Tony Starks (Ironman) aka Pretty Toney aka Starkey Love aka Ghostdini aka GFK was born on Staten Island, New York. Ghostface is most revered for his work with fellow Wu-Tang member Raekwon The Chef on their groundbreaking Only Built For Cuban Links LP (1995). He's also more than a dozen solo albums, and collaborations with Adrian Younge, The LOX, and other Wu-Tang Members & affiliates. His rhyme style is very unique-highly emotive, full of Five Percenter & Street references, plus mad jokes and original punchlines. Most memorably, his rhymes colorfully speak about real life situations, and memories of things from pop culture during his childhood and teens.
His name comes from the classic marital arts film The Mystery Of Chessboxing. Ghostface Killer was the name of the main villain in the film. Liking the ‘science’ behind the villain’s style, his name, and the overall disdain that people have for the ‘bad guy,’ Ghostface took it for himself. Ghost is ranked as one of The Top 50 MCs of The Golden Era Of Hip Hop (1987-2007). While Method Man kept the Wu in the mainstream, Ghostface kept The Clan feared by wack MCs and street credible. Two of my favorite Ghostface albums are Ironman (1996) and Supreme Clientele (2000). Ghostface is one of the few MCs out of The Clan that make the song-regardless of the beat. This is another reason why he’s remained so relevant and successful over the years. Not to mention, he can rock it on an R&B collab without watering his lyrics down. Ghost is 49 today.
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On May 9th, 1975, singer, songwriter, actress, wife of basketball phenom Grant Hill, producer, and Canadian multi-label recording artist-Tamia (Tamia Marilyn Washington) was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (across The Ambassador Bridge from Detroit, MI). First off, very few musical artists are able to reach the point of performing under a one-name moniker. The few that do are always very talented and well-known in the vein of Prince, Sting, Bono, Eminem, Beyonce, Seal, Cher, Sade, Rihanna, Slash, and Selena. Tamia isn’t necessarily as popular as those musicians, her songs are not all over current radio, she’s not the typical break-room conversation, or blaring out of the passing vehicle-but she's definitely been successful.
TOV’s primary mission is: to provide daily information about artists, rare or popular, that a person can listen to on vinyl, while relaying a brief, but in-depth summary of interesting facts about them that are rarely spoken of or known.
Tamia definitely fits that description. She’s been featured by request on Quincy Jones recordings, and she works closely with 90's R&B stars like Eric Benet. She also is an advocate for The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, having been diagnosed with MS herself in 2003. Interesting Facts:
Tamia grew up in the projects of Windsor, and she was discovered by Lionel Richie’s ex-wife Brenda Richie-who is her current manager. Tamia is 44 today.
Tamia definitely fits that description. She’s been featured by request on Quincy Jones recordings, and she works closely with 90's R&B stars like Eric Benet. She also is an advocate for The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, having been diagnosed with MS herself in 2003. Interesting Facts:
Tamia grew up in the projects of Windsor, and she was discovered by Lionel Richie’s ex-wife Brenda Richie-who is her current manager. Tamia is 44 today.
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On May 9th, 2010, we lost a pioneering figure in Black Culture, singer, dancer, social activist, songwriter, actress, and Civil Rights Icon Lena Horne (Lena Mary Calhoun Horne). There’s so much to say about Ms. Horne. Her career spanned seven decades (since the 1930's). She’s a Brooklyn native and former member of The Cotton Club’s Chorus Line (Harlem, NY, 1933). In the early 1940's she started fighting for Civil Rights, and made her TV debut as a featured singer on The Chamber Music Society Of Lower Basin Street (NBC). She started acting in the mid 1940's, but quit for a bit because she’d grown tired of the racial barriers of Hollywood.
Lena continued to perform and record, and returned to acting in the late 1950's/early 1960's. She became a staple on variety TV shows like The Bell Telephone Hour, The Andy Williams Show, The Dean Martin Show, Kraft Music Hall, and of course The Ed Sullivan Show. In the 1970's she worked with stars like Tony Bennett & Peggy Lee, and appeared on shows like Sesame Street, Sanford & Son, and The Flip Wilson Show. In 1980 she began doing benefit concerts sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. This was supposed to be her retirement concert, but she only stayed gone for a little over a year. In the 1990's she appeared on The Cosby Show and A Different World, while continuing to tour. Lena Horne was 92 when she passed on.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On May 9th, 1937, one half of the Memphis Soul duo-Sam & Dave aka as ‘Double Dynamite’ David Prater Jr. (r) was born in Ocilla, GA. TOV covered the artist’s death in the April 9th post. Please refer to it for more information. Dave was the singer behind the hits You Don’t Know Like I Know (1965), Soul Man (1967), Hold On-I’m Coming (1968), and the ballad When Something Is Wrong With My Baby (1966). The singer, songwriter, and Stax/Atlantic recording artist worked closely with David Porter, Isaac Hayes, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, and Booker T. & The M.G.s to create a unique sound of soul. David Prater Jr. was 50 at the time of his passing.
On May 9th, 1945, prog rock pioneer, 60's blues/rock innovator, guitarist, singer, harmonica player, producer, and one of the original members of Blood Sweat & Tears (BST)-Steve Katz was born in Brooklyn, NY. He’s most known for his guitar work with BST on Spinning Wheel (heavily sampled), And When I Die, You Make Me So Very Happy, and God Bless The Child. He and Al Kooper (pianist) were a dynamic composing team for the band. Katz sang lead on a couple cuts too: Morning Glory & Megan’s Gypsy Eyes. He also worked with Lou Reed, and the rock outfit American Flyer. Steve Katz is 74 today.
On May 9th, 1949, the man the gave KRS-One the inspiration and blueprint for his song The Bridge Is Over (Still Rock ‘n’ Roll to Me)-Billy Joel (William Martin Joel) was born in The Bronx, NY! I find it fitting that a classic hip hop cut like B.D.P.’s The Bridge is Over which came from the birthplace of hip hop (The South Bronx), would have Billy Joel (also a Bronx native) as the foundation for the hit. If you’re a fan of hip hop, then you know these lines "Cause Bronx created hip hop, Queens will only get dropped, you’re still telling lies to me..." He got his flow from Billy Joel’s song. Respect goes out for laying a strong foundation Mr. Joel. He’s 70 today.
On May 9th, 1989, conspiracy whistle blower, educator, philosopher, and Pan-Africanist lecturer Professor Griff of the legendary politically and socially conscious hip hop group Public Enemy granted the infamous Washington Post interview that led to his temporary ouster from the group. In the interview he put the worldwide Jewish Community on blast for exploiting people of color, promoting false propaganda, hoarding wealth, and controlling entertainment/media outlets since before WWI. Griff was quoted as saying "Jews…are responsible for the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe." He went further to tell how "Jews finance these experiments on AIDS with Black people in South Africa, they have a grip on America." He was kicked out of Public Enemy, due to the extreme backlash that came after this interview was published.
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