On April 21st, 2016, we lost one of the greatest musicians of all-time-producer, pop culture icon, actor, guitarist, singer, bassist, composer, 80's music pioneer, the man that perfected the dead stare, drummer, record executive, filmmaker, social activist, pianist, major rival of Rick James, creator, writer, and producer (The Time, Vanity 6, and The Family)-Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson). Most people know Prince from his Purple Rain film and soundtrack, and others from the classic double LP 1999; but 'The Purple One' had his hands in just about everything considered dope in the 80's.
Aside from his own music, mostly created with his tight backing band The Revolution (some members of The Revolution had already been playing with him going back to 1978), he managed to produce, write, and compose for several splinter acts. Prince also influenced the sound of popular music, while staying relevant, and forging his own lane during Michael Jackson’s peak years.
He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is credited as one of the major forces behind 'The Minneapolis Sound.’ The Minneapolis Sound can be characterized as a fusion of funk, pop, rock, and soul-with elements of jazz and blues thrown in. It is very synthesizer and guitar-driven, with heavy drum patterns. Prince was billed as the next Stevie Wonder, due to his ability to create an album on his own. He recorded over 30 LPs, and several B-Sides, between 1978 & 2015. This award-winning, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame musician was 57 when he passed away.
He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is credited as one of the major forces behind 'The Minneapolis Sound.’ The Minneapolis Sound can be characterized as a fusion of funk, pop, rock, and soul-with elements of jazz and blues thrown in. It is very synthesizer and guitar-driven, with heavy drum patterns. Prince was billed as the next Stevie Wonder, due to his ability to create an album on his own. He recorded over 30 LPs, and several B-Sides, between 1978 & 2015. This award-winning, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame musician was 57 when he passed away.
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On April 21st, 2003, we lost a seminal civil rights vocalist, social activist, poet, classically trained pianist, jazz singer, composer, bandleader, arranger, songwriter-the woman who penned Mississippi Goddam (used as the SCLC anthem for the southern marches by Stokeley Carmichael) and To Be Young Gifted & Black (co-written with Weldon Irvine)-Nina Simone (Eunice Kathleen Waymon). TOV covered this artist’s birthday in the February 21st post. Please refer to it for more information. Nina died exactly two months, to the day, after her 70th birthday (born Feb 21, 1933). She'd been a champion of the unheard since childhood. Due to her ethnicity, Nina was not allowed to attend certain schools for classical pianists. This was a central to her career, as she ‘fell’ into singing when classical schools closed their doors to her.
Many friends, associates, lovers, family and music historians believe that she resented being denied access to the classical pianist schools of the day, and that it drove her to write the unapologetic music she did. It also contributed to her stage presence. Like classical pianists do, she would sometimes command long periods of total silence before she’d begin playing. This alleged resentment towards discrimination further fueled her Black Consciousness and social activism. The content of her lyrics got her banned from several venues and appearances. She stayed the course, however, and made sure that her music had substance that spoke about the realities of The Black Experience in America. She befriended those not viewed as fitting the status quo's norms like Malcolm X, Eartha Kitt, Harry Belafonte, Stokeley Carmichael, and several Harlem Renaissance figures. She has influenced many musicians, and her music is just as relevant today, as it was 50 years ago. Nina Simone was 70 years old at the time of her passing.
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On April 21st, 1947, punk rock innovator, creator of the stage dive, drummer, Detroit Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer-the singer infamous for smearing peanut butter on his body while on stage, actor, close associate of David Bowie, songwriter, MC5 protégé, producer, and former lead singer of The Stooges-Iggy Pop (James Newell Osterberg Jr.) was born in Muskegon, Michigan. If his name doesn’t grab your attention, the fact that he helped invent the punk rock song structure of short, hard, loud, substance-based lyrics (with no intro nor outro) should. He also helped create a sub-genre of rock, known as The Detroit Sound. Bands like Death, The Stooges, MC5, The Bob Seger System, Rare Earth, and The Flaming Ember all have a hard & distinct sound-with a soulful edge you can sing along to (influenced by Motown & The Blues). Many of the bands from the late 1960's & early 1970's did covers of Motown and blues songs with a rock edge.
A young Iggy got into music early. He liked Chicago Blues, soul (James Brown) and rock (Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, etc). As a teen he became the drummer and background singer for The Iguanas. They covered popular blues tunes, and sang a few originals. Iggy was heavily influenced by the blues, Chicago Blues to be exact. He started playing drums for Sam Lay’s band, who was responsible for giving Iggy his first industry break. Iggy formed his own band called The Psychedelic Stooges, and changed his name to Iggy Pop. Since 1968, Iggy Pop has continued to act, record, produce, write, perform, and film music.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On April 21st, 1932, jazz musician, trombonist, sideman, flugelhornist, bandleader, Indianapolis Jazz Pioneer, tuba player, and composer-Slide Hampton (Locksley Wellington Hampton) was born in Jeannette, PA. Hampton is from the post-bop school of jazz, at the height of the genre in the 1950's. He learned to play instruments very young, with eight brothers and four sisters who also were taught by their parents. His family’s band was called The Duke Hampton Band (Indianapolis). He started playing with them when he was 12, and went on to later play with Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Johnson, and Art Blakey. Slide Hampton is 87 today.
On April 21st, 1959, New Wave/Punk Musician, singer, guitarist, pianist, bassist, violinist, songwriter, cellist, percussionist, harmonica player, and co-founder of The Cure-Robert (James) Smith was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. Smith got his start on piano-battling his sister Janet, who was a musical prodigy. His efforts to keep up with her level of talent tremendously improved his play. As a result, he learned several instruments-and started The Crawley Goat Band with two of his siblings. He then formed The Obelisks, with some classmates. The Obelisks morphed into The Cure, and went on to release several hit albums. Robert Smith is 60 today.
On April 21st, 1970, we lost seminal Chicago bluesman, guitarist, singer, songwriter, slide guitar innovator, bandleader, and session musician-Earl (Zebedee) Hooker. The Quitman County, MS native got his start in Chicago during the 1940's. Earl was a street performer as a child in Chicago, playing with his childhood friend Bo Diddley. He went on to play with Sonny Boy Williamson II, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, and may others. He also recorded five solo LPs between 1968 & 1970. His major influences were T-Bone Walker and Robert Nighthawk. Hooker had a unique slide guitar style, that can be heard in the playing of contemporaries like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Bonnie Raitt. Earl Hooker was 40 years old when he passed.
On April 21st, 2008, soul music vocalist, songwriter, and recording artist-Al Wilson (Allen LaMar Wilson) passed away in Fontana, CA. He’s most known for his 1972 hit single Show & Tell. Considered a Northern Soul pioneer, Wilson had hits like The Snake-that stand today as Northern Soul classics. He released six LPs (1968-1979). His best one being Show & Tell (1973), which reached #9 on The U.S. R&B Chart. The album features the title track, and other songs like Queen Of The Ghetto, A Song For You, and What You See. The Meridian, MS native was 68 at the time of his passing.
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