On May 10th, in 1937, seminal session musician, jazz pianist, chairman/president of the Recording Academy (NARAS), sideman, composer, arranger, bandleader, father of Wendy Melvoin (guitarist for Prince’s Revolution), Susannah Melvoin (former lover of Prince and co-lead singer of the Family) and Johnathan Melvoin (keys, drums, vocals for the Family)-Mike Melvoin was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He started playing piano when he was 3. He learned the instrument quickly and practiced constantly throughout his childhood. He graduated from Darmouth in the late 50s, moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a professional career in music (early 60s) and started working as a session musician with pop, rock and soul artists like: Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Gerald Wilson and Paul Horn.
In 1966, he released his debut LP as a bandleader-Keys to Your Mind (Liberty Records). He became the session pianist, composer and arranger for Concord Jazz recordings during the 60s. He also toured/performed live with Herb Ellis and vocalist Bill Henderson. During the 70s, he was a session musician for: The Jackson 5, The Beach Boys, The Partridge Family, John Lennon and Barbara Streisand. Melvoin worked as a TV show composer for MacGuyver and Fame. His children continue to keep his legacy alive through their own music. He’s one of the few popular musicians from the 60s/70s that also had equally successful children. He was 74 when he passed.
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On May 10th, in 1952, seminal reggae, dub and dancehall drummer, former member of Dave & Ansell Collins’ band-Skin Flesh & Bones and one-half of the super producer duo Sly & Robbie-Sly Dunbar (Lowell Fillmore Dunbar) was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He was influenced by drummers from Jamaica and the US like: Carly Barrett (Bob Marley), Lloyd Knibb (Skatalites), Al Jackson (Booker T. & the M.G.s) and Paul Douglas (Toots & the Maytals). He used elements of what he'd heard them play, infused some of his own flavor and came up with an original style that he started displaying with his first band-the Yardrooms (mid 60s). He made his recording debut with Dave & Ansell Collins on their Double Barrel LP in 1971 (Trojan/Bog Tree Records).
He met his musical partner a year later in 1972-then bassist for the Hippy Boys-Robbie Shakespeare (l). Robbie suggested Sly as a drummer for a recording session that Bunny Lee needed (former original Wailer with Peter Tosh & Bob Marley) for the Aggrovators. The two liked playing with one another and decided to play as a duo in Peter Tosh’s band until 1981. Sly & Robbie decided to form their own production team and label (Taxi Records) in 1980. They had a breakthrough performance on the Mighty Diamonds’ track-Right Time. Sly followed the rhythm and lyrics of the singer, although popular in jazz, it was a first for reggae. The chart topper made them very popular and several musicians hired them: The Upsetters (Lee Scrath Perry), Black Uhuru, Junior Murvin, Joe Gibbs, Ini Kamoze, Grace Jones, Joe Cocker, the Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock and Chaka Demus & Pliers. He’s 67 today.
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On May 10th, in 1999, we lost a seminal poet, playwright, cartoonist. author and songwriter-Shel Silverstein (Sheldon Allan Silverstein, Uncle Shelby-2nd r). He’s most known for his children’s books like: The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends. However, he’s also a Grammy Award winning songwriter that has worked with Dr Hook & the Medicine Show, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash, Tompall Glaser, Belinda Carlisle, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins and Peter-Paul & Mary. Most of the songs he wrote are featured on recordings from the late 60s to the mid 70s.
He worked in television and film, acting as primary writer and narrator for his animated short-The Giving Tree (1973). He won 2 Grammy Awards: one with Johnny Cash for his song-A Boy Named Sue (1970). The other was granted in 1984 for Best Recording For Children-Where the Sidewalk Ends (LP)/cassette). He was prolific writer that produced over 30 works, that have sold more than 20 million copies. They’ve also been translated in over 20 languages. He did all of this from 1955 to 1998. He's an astute playwright that wrote over 100 one-act plays and a few comedies for Broadway like Look Charlie: A Short History of Pratfall (1959). During the 50s, he showed the world his drawing skills, becoming the lead cartoonist for Playboy Magazine. The Chicago native was 68 when he passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On May 10th, in 1940, singer, songwriter, multi-label recording artist, rock, soul and country music innovator-Arthur Alexander AKA June Anderson was born in Sheffield, AL. He’s most known for the songs he’s written that have been covered by: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Paycheck, Humble Pie, Esther Phillips, Pearl Jam and the Hollies. He’s just as popular as a solo artists for his recordings with Judd, Buddha, Ace, Warner and Sound Stage 7 Records. Some of his best work comes from his Muscle Shoals recording sessions. Most of these can be found on the infamous Nashville, TN label-Dot Records. He’s was 54 when he passed.
On May 10th, in 1957, punk rock icon, bassist, vocalist, drummer, saxophonist and former member of the Sex Pistols-Sid Vicious (Simon John Ritchie) was born in Lewisham, London, England, UK. TOV covered the artist’s death on the February 2nd post. Please refer to it for more information. Sid is most known for several things, but to keep the post short, TOV will list 3: first, for innovating punk rock fashion and sound. Second, for being a member of one of the most popular punk bands of all-time: the Sex Pistols Last, for his tumultuous relationship with Nancy Spungen. He was 21 when he died.
On May 10th, in 1994, a historical event took place in South Africa. Pan-Africanist, social activist, political freedom fighter, inspirational figure, anti-Apartheid mobilizer and former political prisoner-Nelson Mandela became the President. He was the first person of color to be elected into the newly democratic Republic of South Africa. It should be noted that people of all ethnicities were instrumental in seeing Mandela become the head of the country. He was imprisoned by the same government he was now in charge of. Mandela is one of the many figures that helped the country move forward after Apartheid ended. However, racism still exits heavily in South Africa.
On May 10th, in 2010, the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NYC, NY unveiled their Apollo-Walk of Fame on the sidewalks outside of the venue. Artists that have performed at the theater were commemorated on bronze plaques very similar to the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The first artists honored were: James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Patti LaBelle, Little Richard and Smokey Robinson. The King of Pop-Michael Jackson, and the Queen of Soul-Aretha Franklin were honored with a month later in June of 2010. The CEO-Jonelle Procope was present for the event and helped place the plaques in the sidewalk.
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