On April 22nd, 1922, innovative jazz musician, social activist, poet, double bassist, composer, trombonist, sideman, pianist, arranger, producer, record executive, bandleader, and cellist-Charles Mingus (Jr.) was born on a U.S. Army base in Nogales, Arizona. TOV covered this artist’s death in the January 5th post. Please refer to it for more information. His mother moved him to Watts, Los Angeles, California when he was very young. Mingus took up trombone at first, before switching to, and remaining on the cello. During the late 1930's, he started playing bass. He ran into difficulties, however, because he couldn’t read music well-and because a lot of schools and music programs wouldn't admit him (also because of his ethnicity).
Mingus played by ear-which is what took him out of the classical realm and into the jazz world. Here he could improvise and convey his feelings through his music. It was a perfect fit! Mingus excelled on bass, using his classical cello training to enhance his style. He quickly gained a reputation as a prolific bassist, and was hired by Barney Bigard, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, and Chico Hamilton in the 1940's. In the early 1950's he started composing for Hampton and gigging with Charlie Parker. He refers to Bird as being so influential, ahead of his time, and that jazz should be categorized like the bible-Pre-Bird/Post-Bird (B.C./A.D.). Mingus composed many songs that spoke directly to the racism he endured as an aspiring Black classical musician. Although he recorded a number of LPs, some of his best work is from 1959 to 1974. Charles Mingus was 56 when he passed.
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On April 22nd, 1921, seminal Afro-Cuban/Latin jazz musician, sideman, percussionist, bandleader, composer, bassist, recording artist, drummer, arranger, infamous bongo, and conga player-Candido (de Guerra Camero) was born in Cuba. Candido is unique in that he’s known for his distinct style of play-that switched with the times over the course of four decades (1940's-1970's). In the 1940's he was the house conga player at the opening of The Tropicana nightclub in Havana, Cuba, (he remained house player from 1940 thru 1948). He played Afro-Cuban dance music and Latin standards. During the 1950's he started recording and playing with Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton-mostly bebop and post bop jazz. In the 1960's he started recording more as a solo artist, and meshed his Afro-Cuban/Latin jazz style with post bop and soul.
In the 1970's he continued to record as a solo artist, and sideman with others. He’s also known for a lot of deep disco and fusion jazz tracks. His best work is from the late 60's to the late 70's. Songs like Thousand Finger Man, a deep disco classic, showcase the intricacy of Candido’s playing style in the title. A lot of solid conga players use their palms, and combined fingers to create different sounds. Candido used his individual fingers with such style and speed that it appeared he had 1000's of them. Listen to his play, on the first solo, during the intro of Thousand Finger Man. It serves as a good example of his playing style. I appreciate Candido’s ability to create uptempo throughout the duration of his career. He’s 98 today.
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On April 22nd, 1983, we lost a pioneering jazz musician, bandleader, swing jazz innovator, composer, arranger-the man credited with creating the style of modern jazz piano, and who many consider to be the greatest piano player in the world-Earl Fatha Hines (Earl Kenneth Hines). TOV covered this artist’s birthday in the December 28th post. Please refer to it for more information. If Bird was the ‘Jesus Of Jazz,' then Hines is The God-His Fatha (Father) Of The Piano. Matter of fact, Bird and Dizzy Gillespie played with Hines-who was a major inspiration in helping them create bebop. He also helped shape the sound of Pittsburgh and Chicago jazz during WWI. Hines had perfect pitch; but couldn’t read music. He was, however, able to reproduce anything he heard on piano. This became a useful skill during his career, but was unfortunately a bit of a hindrance at times-because he wouldn't get hired for certain gigs & couldn't relay some compositions to his band through writing.
Hines became good friends with Louis Armstrong during the mid 1920's. They met in Chicago, and played together at various clubs. They eventually became roommates, and joined Carroll Dickerson’s band. Armstrong later made Hines the bandleader of his Hot Five Band. They recorded some of the most influential jazz songs during this time (pre-bebop). You can hear the similarities between swing and bebop on these recordings. Shortly afterwards, Hines started his own band called The Hines Orchestra aka The Organization. His band had over 20 members, and performed regularly at The Grand Terrace Café in Chicago. By the 1940's, he was working with the soon to be greats of the 50's (Bird, Dizzy, and Mingus). Earl Hines was 79 when he passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On April 22nd, 1939, actor, singer, songwriter, recording artist-and friend of Sam Cooke-Mel Carter was born in Cincinnati, OH. Carter is most known for his gritty soul vocals, that were less polished than The Motown Sound. He sang on Sam Cooke’s SAR imprint, and produced a Top 10 Hit with Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. He was more of a doo wop-meets-Otis Redding type of singer. He was easy to listen to, but also heartfelt & soulful. When the public’s taste in music changed, Carter showed his artistic adaptability. He became an actor in a number of TV series and sitcoms, including: Magnum P.I., Sanford & Son, Quincy, and CHIPs. He was also in Friday Foster with Pam Grier. Mel Carter is 80 today.
On April 22nd, 1978, Rasta & Reggae Music Icon, pioneering songwriter, social activist, Pan-Africanist, guitarist, singer, bandleader, leader of The Wailers, and Tuff Gong Records owner-Bob Marley held his One Love Peace Concert at The National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The political climate was at a fever pitch between The PNP (People's National Party) and JLP (Jamaica Labor Party). Both sides were waring in the streets of Kingston, and killing prominent figures. Bob Marley called both of the organizations leaders up on stage, and made Michael Manely (l-PNP) and Edward Seaga (r-JLP) join hands while he sang Jammin’. This was a significant event, that would go down in history as one of the greatest impromptu movements towards peace at any concert.
On April 22nd, 1985, Prince & released his seventh LP Around The World In A Day. It's definitely in my Top 10 Prince, or Prince related LPs, for several reasons. First, he was very bold in that he didn’t come out with anything on it that sounded like Purple Rain or 1999. It was a whole new sound he showcased, still utilizing the same backing band from the prior albums (The Revolution). The album was more acoustic, less synth driven, and had a pop-but funky feel to it. It also was his first release on his Paisley Park imprint. Notable songs include the poppy Raspberry Beret, the insightful and funky Pop Life, the title track-Around The World In A Day, the ballad Condition Of The Heart, and the uptempo-and suggestive Tambourine.
On April 22nd, 2013, we lost a folk music pioneer, guitarist, poet, 60's counterculture icon, songwriter, recording artist, and the man that opened the groundbreaking rock festival Woodstock in 1969-Richie Havens (Richard Pierce Havens). The Brooklyn native came from Blackfoot Indigenous People, on his maternal side, and West Indian Lineage on his paternal side. Havens got into music and writing poetry at an early age. He was into the 1950's Beatnik culture, and was introduced to folk music at poetry readings. He took to it, and started creating his own songs-based off poems he’d written. His popularity soared, and he went on to have a successful recording career. Ritchie Havens was 72 at the time of his death.
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 myriad of information, covering several topics exists on this site going back to 2013 when it was created. PEACE