On September 18th, in 1970, one of the greatest Rock guitarists passed away from an accidental drug overdose (downers). His death is full of conspiracies, mysteries and rumors. Eric Burdon of the Animals claimed that Jimi committed suicide, but why would someone want to choke on their own vomit as a means of dying? Also, others claimed that Jimi was in good spirits, he’s was on the verge of working with two of his idols (Miles Davis & Paul McCartney). Under these circumstances, there’d be no need for his killing himself. Not to mention, that one of the Animals’ roadies claimed that Jimi’s manager murdered him because Jimi wanted to get out of his contract.
The latter is probably more accurate than the former. After doing some digging on it, some things appear to be more clear. First, Jimi was changing his sound and his band (Band of Gypsy’s). Second, he wasn’t feeling the crowd screams for him to burn his guitar, or to play his staple hits, his music was progressing and that’s what he wanted to play, the new styles and sounds he was coming up with, not the old stuff. Doing the hits and burning his guitar made him feel like a gimmick. He did those things because that’s what he felt at the time. He didn't intend for them to become reoccurring performance acts.
Third, Jimi was beginning to take more of an ethnic and political stance, making moves with Civil Rights Activist and Black Power groups. Fourth, if his manager could get to him before Jimi could get out the contract, he’d be in a better legal position to continue to get paid off the artist’s works while he was living and things that would be released posthumously. Those four factors point closer to a set-up, rather than a suicide. Others feel he just over indulged on the pills that night. Either way, he’s greatly missed in music.
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…‘I’m only human, of flesh and blood, I’m made’…On September 18th, in 1962 feamle vocalist with the British New Wave band-The Human League’s Joanne Catherall was born in Sheffield, England, UK. She was an original member of the Human League, singing with them during her late teens. Because of her young age, her parents only allowed her to sing at local gigs and on recordings. Any gig that required travel was not allowed.
In 1981, they let her hit the road and the band got their first hit-Don’t You Want Me, off their third release (Dare). The song reached number one on both the US & UK single’s chart. Others hits would follow shortly after. The Human League served as the backdrop for soundtracks of the 80s teen films. She’s 56 today! Sidebar: Human League put out 2 LPs before Dare, they’re experimental and pretty dope, like Kraftwerk meets Eurhythmics.
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…‘I went out last night…uh huh…that’s when I met this sexy girl…she was looking so right…said I wanna take you on a trip around the world’…On September 18th, in 1967, New Edition original member, co-founder, backup and lead vocalist; and Bell Biv Devoe co-founder, lead vocalist and original member-Ricky Bell was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was the youngest child, of 11 siblings. He grew up in the Orchard Park Projects and met all the New Edition members-Ronnie, Bobby, Mike & Ralph. Johnny Gill, would add-on later.
Rick could sing well enough to carry the lead, but management saw fit to put Ralph & Bobby out front. Once the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis produced N.E. Heartbreak LP blew up (featuring Johnny Gill), Bell-Biv-Devoe would use that momentum to start their own hit making splinter group. B.B.D. stated that their music was: Hip-Hop smoothed out on an R&B tip with a Pop feel appeal to it…they definitely put out some heat on their debut LP, and although the follow up didn’t chart as well (Hootie Mack), it wasn’t wack at all either. Bell still performs and tours. He’s 51 today!
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...'Only a hard dozen wanna be calling me cousin, thirsty for my catalog-baby shopping spree ya love it’…On September 18th, in 1969-honorary Wu-Tang Emcee (later full-fledged member), Killer Beez Emcee, & solo Emcee-Cappadonna (Darryl Hill) was born… ‘on the Island of Staten, where fiends carry gats and’…NYC, NY. Cap got his debut on single Ice Cream off the Only Built for Cuban Linx LP (1995-definite classic!).
The public liked his style and he responded by getting up with Ghost on his Ironman LP. Then in 1997, Cap made his Wu debut on the Triumph single off the ‘Wu Tang Forever’ LP. All in all, Cap is featured on over 25 Wu-Related songs (artists from the original Clan & their solo LPs). He also put out several solo LPs starting in 1998 with the Pillage (went gold), all the way to his most current Ear Candy (summer 2018). His solo resume contains 10 LPs over a 20 year period. That’s putting in work. Cap is 49 today!
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…‘er time we be getting high, you start to look like Sugarbear’…On September 18th, in 1971, actress, mother, wife, daughter, poet,movie producer, activist, public speaker, businesswoman, singer, dancer, songwriter, talk-show host and close friend of Tupac-Jada Koren Pinkett Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She got her start on the sitcom True Colors in 1990. After that she was the ‘hoodtastic’ Lena James on the Cosby spinoff-A Different World (1991-1993).
In 1993, she debuted on the sliver screen in Menace II Society. Then in 1994 she did Inkwell & Jason’s Lyric. After that the Nutty Professor & Set it Off in 1996. I could keep going but she has too many movies to list. Jada married rapper and actor Will Smith and they had two kids, Willow, Jaden, and a step-son Trey by Will's first wife. Her daughter is a pop singer, and her son Jaden is an actor and musician. Jada is 47 today!
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On September 18th, in 1974, Likwit Crew member, actor, Ecmee, producer and TV show host Xzibit (Alvin Nathaniel Joiner) AKA X to the Z was born in Detroit, Michigan. After his mother passed in 1984, he moved to New Mexico to live with his father. While there, Xzibit began to dabble in music and the streets, the streets won out and led to some juvenile lockups. His Pops put him out, and he was forced to live with his sister in Los Angeles.
While there, he got into the local Hip Hop Culture and began concentrating on music full-time. Word of his mic skills spread, and area supergroup the Alkoholiks got Xzibit to spit on their 1995 single Hit & Run off the Coast II Coast LP. Xzibit put out a few solo LPs, his first one probably is the bes. He’s worked with Nate Dogg, King Tee, Dr Dre, Snoop, DJ Quik, and other Westcoast notables. He went on to host MTV’s Pimp My Ride and act in TV shows and in Films. Xzibit is 44 today!
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HONORABLE MENTION: On September 18th, in 1919-the first Black professional football player on a major squad-Fritz Pollard-made history by playing his first snap. The Chicago native played for the Akron Pros as their halfback. He led them to the championship the following year, became a player coach of several other teams, minor and major, and became the first Black coach in the NFL. Pollard has a long resume…
On September 18th, in 1984, The King of Pop killed it at the MTV Video Music Awards Show. He won three awards in all for his epic and groundbreaking video Thriller. I was building with Sith on how Michael made video Films in the early 80s, cats are still doing that nowadays…pause…the originality is sorely lack. Mike won: Viewer’s Choice, Best Choreography & Best Overall Performance Video.
… ‘she’s always on my mind’ (Maryjane)…On September 18th, in 2006, Legalization of Cannabis Activist, singer, songwriter and producer-Willie Nelson got raided by the cops on his tour bus. They were coming out of Lafayette, Louisiana and got pulled over. The cops found some shrooms and weed. They charged Willie & four of his band members with simple possession. Willie was 73 when they caught him. The cops have been messing with Willie Nelson hard, nationally, ever since he became an open advocate of cannabis.
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 Plethora of information, covering several topics exists on this site going back to 2013 when it was created. PEACE!