On June 7th, 1943, one of the greatest poets of The Civil Rights/Post-Harlem Renaissance Era-author, educator, public speaker, recording artist, Black Power Icon, and Pan-Africanist-Nikki Giovanni (Yolande Cornelia Giovanni) was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wandering Eyes Blog Editor & Chief Jabriel Allah and myself had the pleasure of meeting this ‘Queen Of Words’ in person, on the campus of the HBCU Tennessee State University (which we both attended) in the late 90's. Ms. Giovanni had come to speak to the students, and held a formal book signing in the campus bookstore we both worked at. One thing I recall from speaking to her was that she referenced her ‘Thug Life’ tattoo, which she’d gotten after the murder of Tupac Shakur-who’d been killed in the fall of 1996.
She told me that: "...America will always view you as a thug. You should embrace it and use it to your advantage." I was introduced to Nikki’s voice as a child by my father. He played her album Truth Is On It’s Way- with The New York Community Choir featuring Reverend James Cleveland (Right On Records, 1971). The song was Ego Trippin. The song opens with a drum break, a scream of "Right On Sister!," and hand claps-as the choir hoots and hollers throughout her poem-which drops memorable lines like "…when he was three, I gave my son Hannibal an elephant. He gave me Rome for Mother’s Day." She’s a Griot in the American wilderness, who has been fighting the struggle for equality since the late 1960's. Nikki Giovanni is 76 today.
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On June 7th, 1958, seminal pop culture icon, singer, songwriter, drummer, guitarist, pianist, producer, composer, arranger, owner of Paisley Park Records, star/co-writer of the phenomenal film Purple Rain, bitter rival to Rick James-and the man responsible for bringing us The Time, The Family, Vanity 6, Apollonia 6, Mazarati, 94 East, The Revolution, and The New Power Generation-Prince (Rogers Nelson) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Everyone, if they’ve been alive since the 1970's, knows who Prince is. I learned a lot of in-depth information about 'The Purple One’ from my older brother. He had bootleg VHS tapes of concerts, rare b-side releases, background information on when/why/how specific songs were cut, knowledge of the splinter acts he produced, aliases he wrote songs under, people he produced, alternative meanings, and references made in his lyrics back prior to the internet boom. You name it, my brother knew it. He was an avid Prince fan to say the least.
Prince was the culmination of artists that inspired, pre-dated, and/or influenced him to invent The Minneapolis Sound of rock/funk-with new wave, pop and synth heavy instrumentation. Without Prince there’d be no ‘Minneapolis Sound’. He was born into a musical family. His mother was a jazz singer, and his father was a pianist/bandleader of The Prince Rogers Trio. Prince didn’t like his name, and preferred his nickname Skipper. He wrote his first song-Funk Machine when he was just seven years old. He wrote several hundred songs we’ll probably never hear. If you are interested in hearing some of his pre-solo career work, check for 94 East Minneapolis Genius 1977-1985. Prince was 57 when he passed away.
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On June 7th, 1964, Golden Era Hip Hop Pioneer, New Jack Swing innovator, MC, and the Zorro Hat wearing member of both The Godfathers Of Threatt & Whodini-Ecstasy (John Fletcher) was born in New York City. He’s most known for his vocals on tracks like Freaks Come Out At Night, Five Minutes Of Funk, One Love, I'm A Ho, and Big Mouth. Many people credit Ecstasy, and Whodini overall, as being the one of the first groups to use hooks and add elements of singing/R&B to their songs. To some extent this is true, and can be heard best in the song One Love-where they broke new ground by singing the hook. The song feels more like an R&B cut-with rhythmic talking than a rap record.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, and Afrika Bambaataa, were both predecessors to Whodini in this style-which was common among MC crews of the 1970's like The Fantastic Romantic Five & The Cold Crush Brothers (reference "Hellooooooo Everybody!" from the film Wildstyle). The point being made here is that hooks and singing have always been part of a good emcees arsenal. Ecstasy grew up during the formation of hip hop, on the planet of Brooklyn, which is largely responsible for birthing the culture. He formed Whodini with Jalil & DJ Grandmaster Dee in 1981. They signed to Jive Records (UK) and released the single Magic’s Wand (an ode to DJ Mr Magic) that same year. The track featured co-production from Thomas Dolby (most known for his huge hit She Blinded Me With Science). They released their self-titled debut LP in 1982, and their career took off. By the early 1990's the group had lost their relevancy, as hip hop changes often. The rapper Ecstasy turns 55 today.
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*I need to preface this post by saying I really don’t care for the business practices of this artist, because he’s like the Berry Gordy of Atlanta in the 1990's. He exploited a generation of musicians, that were 'ripe for the taking' during that booming period for The South. However, I can’t deny the legacy of major contributions he’s made to music.*
On June 7th, 1956, record executive, singer, songwriter, drummer, producer, and former member of both Pure Essence & The Deele-L.A. Reid (Antonio Marquis Reid) was born in Cincinnati, OH. Reid rose from singer, to being the owner of LaFace Records-and producer of acts like Bobby Brown, TLC, Outkast, The Dungeon Family, Goodie Mob, J-Lo, Mariah Carey, Usher, Paula Abdul, and several others. L.A. Reid is 63 today.
On June 7th, 1956, record executive, singer, songwriter, drummer, producer, and former member of both Pure Essence & The Deele-L.A. Reid (Antonio Marquis Reid) was born in Cincinnati, OH. Reid rose from singer, to being the owner of LaFace Records-and producer of acts like Bobby Brown, TLC, Outkast, The Dungeon Family, Goodie Mob, J-Lo, Mariah Carey, Usher, Paula Abdul, and several others. L.A. Reid is 63 today.
HONORABLE MENTION: On June 7th, 1917, singer, comedian, actor, one half of the Martin & Lewis comedy duo, and member of The Rat Pack-Dean Martin (Dino Paul Crocetti) was born in Steubenville, OH. Dean’s history in music, TV, Las Vegas stage performances, films, and comedy is remarkable and memorable. He was dubbed 'The King of Cool,’ and worked extensively as an entertainer starting in the early 1940's. He was a regular in Vegas, and was well known for his crooning vocal style. Although he didn’t sell as many records as fellow Rat Pack member Frank Sinatra, his comedy skills would be an anchor to stay in the public’s eye. Dean Martin was 78 when he passed.
On June 7th, 1967, alternative rock pioneer, vocalist, guitarist, solo recording artist, and former member of Jane’s Addiction & The Red Hot Chili Peppers-Dave Navarro (David Michael Navarro) was born in Santa Monica, CA. Navarro is considered one of the greatest alternative rock guitarists of all-time. His playing style is rooted in the modern rock sound-with elements of heavy metal, punk, and psychedelic rock/blues thrown in. Aside from releasing the 2001 solo LP Trust No One (Capitol Records), he's also worked with Alanis Morrissette, Deconstruction, Spirits In The Sky, Nine Inch Nails, and The Panic Channel. Dave Navarro is 52 today.
On June 7th, 1991, filmmaker, director, producer and Black Hollywood Icon Spike Lee released his fifth feature-length film Jungle Fever. The film title gave birth to the pop culture term for interracial relationships-based off the story of an extra-marital affair between Flipper Purify (Wesley Snipes) and Angie Tucci (Annabella Sciorra). Both try to make it work, but their familes & communities won’t embrace the relationship. Samuel L. Jackson set it off as the crackhead Gator (ironically he had just left rehab shortly before taking on this role. Wow!). And Halle Berry was so deep into her role as Gator's crack fiend significant other, that few even realized it was her. Jungle Fever was where Queen Latifah made her acting debut, as a disgruntled waitress not happy at all with Flipper bringing his 'Becky' to the predominantly Black restaurant in which she was working. Other notable cast members included Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Anthony Quinn, and John Turturro. Stevie Wonder scored the soundtrack.
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