On March 18th, 1970, Hollywood star, hip hop icon, rapper, singer, actress, record executive, producer, and one of the best female emcees to do it-Queen Latifah (Dana Elaine Owens) was born in Newark, New Jersey. Latifah is one of those artists that’s able to take things to a higher level than most, in most of the things she attempted. Call it 'The Midas Touch.’ She has it, whatever ‘it’ is. Latifah’s DJ Mark The 45 King-produced LP All Hail The Queen took everyone by storm (Tommy Boy Records, 1989). The album contains 12 tracks, with featured verses from KRS-One, Monie Love, De La Soul, Daddy-O, and Quasar. Her second LP, Nature Of A Sista (1991) didn’t live up to the sales of her debut; so Tommy Boy dropped her. After leaving the label, she discovered Naughty By Nature, signed with Motown, and got into acting.
Latifah made her film debut as the Pro-Black waitress in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, in 1991; and played a similar role in House Party 2 that same year. In 1992 she appeared in Juice, as the judge that hosted the Dee Jay contest at The Ruffhouse. This was more reflective of 'her lane,' but her acting in this role didn’t really come off naturally. 1993 would be her breakthrough year on all levels. She released Black Reign-which further solidified her place in hip hop, and quieted the naysayers that figured Latifah was washed up. Songs like U.N.I.T.Y., Just Another Day, Rough, and Listen 2 Me gave the LP an extra boost in the charts. She also began acting on the sitcom Living Single, under the name Khadijah James-owner of Flavor Unit Magazine (also the name of her crew and production company). Queen Latifah is 49 today.
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On March 18th, 1963, singer, actress, model, former first Black Miss America (1984), and fashion designer-Vanessa Williams was born in The Bronx, NY. Both of her parents were music teachers, and she studied dance (jazz & classical), piano, French horn, and violin. She was also a talented singer and actress, who earned Dramatic Arts Scholarship offers to both Carnegie Mellon and Syracuse University. She opted for the latter (Syracuse), and majored in musical theater (1982). In 1984 she won the Miss America Title and quit school. After the smoke from the Miss America scandal cleared, Vanessa moved into acting and appeared on both T.J. Hooker and The Love Boat in 1986.
A few years later, she started a successful singing career with the release of her solo debut album The Right Stuff in 1988. The album did very well on the charts; but her second LP-The Comfort Zone (1991) officially confirmed Vanessa’s presence as an extremely talented contemporary singer. Williams continued appearing on TV, and in films, with spots in The Pick Up Artist (1987) and Under The Gun (1988). She continued to release music, tour, and act in the 90's, and will always be remembered for her role in the 1997 film Soul Food. A couple of years later, Vanessa married then-L.A. Lakers forward Rick Foxx and became a mother. In 2016, she launched a clothing line called V. Vanessa Williams' contribution to the screen and music stands as an inspiration for artists that have yet to come and those already here. She’s 56 today.
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On March 18, 1943, one of the lesser known Bluesman of our time, a true lyrical-musical revolutionary, guitarist, singer, songwriter, and conscious musician-Willie King was born in Prairie Point, Mississippi. TOV covered the artist’s death in the March 8th post. Please refer to it for more information. Willie was an unusual musician in that he never sang for fame. He sang from the heart, and because he had music inside of him that needed to get out. As a matter of fact, several labels and record executives wanted to sign him-only to be refused. Once he started making ethnically conscious songs during the late 1950s and 1960s, those knocks on his door and phone calls from major labels dwindled swiftly.
King became very active in the Civil Rights Movement. Had he the acquired the popularity of Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, or Sam Cooke, he’d probably be in the Rock ‘n’ Roll, Blues,and Soul Music Halls Of Fame like they were. When he was asked to describe his music, in his own words, he replied that he wrote "struggling blues." Music that focuses on the ethnic injustices in America, and life as a Blackman in the rural south. In 1983 he founded the grassroots organization called The Rural Members Association (RMA)-which was a nonprofit that taught people what King called "rural survival skills" (agriculture, community improvement, and self-sufficiency). Willie King was 65 when he passed (2009).
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HONORABLE MENTION: On March 18th, 2017, rock and roll pioneer, guitarist, singer, producer, songwriter, award winning musician, and Chess Records recording artist-Chuck Berry (Charles Edward Anderson) passed away in Wentzville, Missouri. He was coined "The Father Of Rock ‘n’ Roll" in the early 1970s, but released most of his hit recordings in the 1950s and 1960s. He’s credited with helping shape the sound and culture of rock ‘n’ roll during its early stages. He was inducted into the first-ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame Ceremony, held in 1986. He also has three songs on the list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll (Johnny B. Goode, Maybellene, and Rock And Roll Music). Chuck Berry was 90 years old when he died.
On March 18th, 1995, one of the best basketball players of all-time, Chicago Bull, six-time NBA Champion & Finals MVP, 14-time NBA All-Star, 10-time All NBA First Team, Nike Air Jordan merchandise mogul, Charlotte Hornets part-owner, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist-Michael (Jeffrey) Jordan announced that he was coming back to the NBA. He had initially retired on October 6th, 1993, following the death of his father. MJ's attempt at a MLB career with The Chicago White Sox fell very short, and he never made it out of the minor leagues. The Bulls made a good run in the Eastern Conference Playoffs the year before Jordan returned, but couldn’t beat The New York Knicks without Mike.
On March 18th, 1945, prog rock producer, singer, pianist, composer, arranger, electronic music pioneer, and co-founder of The Alan Parsons Project-Eric (Norman) Woolfson was born in Charing Cross, Glasgow, Scotland. He became a session pianist in the 1960s, created Alan Parsons Project in the 1970s, and composed music for theater and stage in the 1980s. He’s featured on over 50 million recordings, and has performed in several countries. Woolfson was 64 years old when he passed away in 2009.
…"Engine-engine #9, can you get me back on time?!"…
On March 18th, 1941, singer, dancer, songwriter, and soul music pioneer-Wilson Pickett, aka 'The Wicked Pickett' was born in Prattville, Alabama. Pickett started off in the church, singing in choirs as a child. As a teen, he sang secular music in Detroit with The Falcons-featuring Sir Mack Rice and Eddie Floyd. The Falcons were one of the first vocal groups to incorporate the gospel feel to their secular music-thus creating 'Soul' music (later innovated by Sam Cooke). Pickett went solo in the early 1960s, and released songs like Mustang Sally & In The Midnight Hour. My favorite song by Wilson Pickett is Engine #9 Parts 1 & 2. He was 64 when he passed away in 2006.
On March 18th, 1941, singer, dancer, songwriter, and soul music pioneer-Wilson Pickett, aka 'The Wicked Pickett' was born in Prattville, Alabama. Pickett started off in the church, singing in choirs as a child. As a teen, he sang secular music in Detroit with The Falcons-featuring Sir Mack Rice and Eddie Floyd. The Falcons were one of the first vocal groups to incorporate the gospel feel to their secular music-thus creating 'Soul' music (later innovated by Sam Cooke). Pickett went solo in the early 1960s, and released songs like Mustang Sally & In The Midnight Hour. My favorite song by Wilson Pickett is Engine #9 Parts 1 & 2. He was 64 when he passed away in 2006.
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