On January 12th, 1970, emcee, producer, actor, and original member of The Wu Tang Clan, Raekwon The Chef (Corey Woods) was born in Brooklyn, NY. He became part of The Wu in 1992, and is featured on their 1993 debut LP Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). In 1994, Rae signed a contract with Loud Records and released his debut solo LP (featuring Ghostface Killah) Only Built 4 Cuban Linx in 1995. RZA produced the entire LP, which in my opinion is the best ‘solo’ LP to come out of The Wu camp to date…definitely one of the best Hip Hop LPs of all-time. The album’s tracks and skits are legendary, with memorable features from Wu Members: Method Man, U-God, Masta Killa, GZA, and Inspectah Deck. Other notable emcees that appeared on the LP included Nas, and soon-to-be 10th Wu Member Cappadonna.
One of the best skits on the LP is Shark Ni&%s (Biters), which features Ghostface Killah telling the listening audience what a biter is, and urging up & coming emcees to not sound like him…on NO album… Both The Wu & Rae’s debut LPs afforded him opportunities to shine on other Wu Tang members’ solo albums; as well as dropping featured verses with other emcees outside of the Clan and on various R&B singles. OBCL was followed up with Immobilarity in 1999, and The Lex Diamond Story in 2003 (Loud Records). A lot of people feel these LPs were not as good as the first, mainly because The RZA and Ghost weren’t on it as much as they were with the first one. However, they're dope too. In 2009, Rae redeemed himself with Only Built for Cuban Linx… Pt. II on his own Ice H2O label (in collaboration with Dr. Dre's Aftermath) which was definitely A Classic! He’s 49 years old today.
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On January 12th, 1946, songwriter, singer, sideman, pianist, flautist, trombonist, bassist, composer, arranger, producer, and saxophonist, George Duke was born in San Rafael, California. He was inspired to play piano when he was four or five years old, after seeing a Duke Ellington concert. He started taking formal lessons at the local church when he was seven, began playing trombone in high school and college (San Francisco Conservatory Of Music). Duke graduated in 1967, with a Bachelor’s in Composition (Trombone) and a minor in Contrabass. He earned a master’s in composition in 1975; but had already been recording for years at this point. Originally, he was a classical musician, but felt constricted when playing because improvisation is frowned upon. His cousin, Jazz bassist Charles Burrell, encouraged Duke to do what he felt and be free.
This is when he switched to jazz. He recorded his debut LP The George Duke Quintet in 1966 (a year before he graduated college). He also recorded with Jean-Luc Ponty, joined Frank Zappa’s Mothers Of Invention-then Cannonball Adderley’s band, before returning to work with Zappa. Duke & Zappa would continue to record with one another and collaborate throughout the 70s. His second LP, Save The Country, came out in 1971. Between 1970 and 1979, Duke recorded over 15 LPs, most of them fusion, funk, and dance based albums. He worked with several notables as a bandleader, songwriter, or producer, including Shelia E., Billy Cobham, A Taste Of Honey, Anita Baker, Stanley Clarke, Al Jarreau, Take 6, Flora Purim, The Pointer Sister, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, and Deniece Williams, to name a few. He was 67 years old, when he passed away on Aug 5th, 2013.
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On January 12th, 1946, trumpeter, singer, and member of Sly & The Family Stone, Cynthia Robinson (2nd-l) was born in Sacramento, California. She started off playing trumpet in her high school’s band, and got teased for it by her peers, during the late 1950s & early 1960s. Gender bias and racism played a major role in attempts to keep Robinson (below-standing) off the trumpet. Her teachers tried to encourage her to play a more ‘feminine’ instrument, while her peers told her she was a Black Girl trying to play an instrument for White Boys. She didn’t listen, and stuck with the trumpet, out of her sheer love for the instrument. In 1966, she became an original member of the multi-ethnic coed funk band-Sly & The Family Stone. She's featured on every LP the band put out, from 1967’s A Whole New Thing on CBS/Epic, to 1974’s Small Talk.
In 1974, the band started having problems with bassist Larry Graham (above-r) leaving to start Graham Central Station. By 1975, The Family Stone had split, but Robinson stayed with Sly for the 1976 release-Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back and 1979’s Back On The Right Track. In the early 1980s, Sly’s popularity began drying up (due to New Wave English Bands, Punk Rock, & Hip Hop moving in-all of whom sampled The Family Stones’ music). Robinson (above-r) started doing session work for bands like Stargard, The Robert Cray Band, Graham Central Station, and Funkadelic. Robinson is the first, and one of the only, female trumpeters to be inducted into The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame (2006). She was 71 when she passed away, in Carmichael, California in 2015.
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On January 12th, 1945, singer, songwriter, dancer, and original member of The Detroit Emeralds, Abe Tilmon (Abrim Tilmon-r) was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tilmon was one of four brothers that comprised the original vocal quartet called The Emeralds. His other brothers Ivory, Cleophus, and Raymond rounded out the vocal quartet. The latter two left the group in the late 1960s; so Abe (below-r) and Ivory added their childhood friend James Mitchell to the group, making them a trio. They all moved to Detroit, signed with Ric-Tic Records, and in 1968, had a charting single with Show Time. Popularity from the Ric-Tic single got the attention of Westbound Records, and they signed to the imprint in 1970.
Interesting fact: while touring the south, and in Memphis, TN, they went to Hi Records and recorded a few sides with the infamous producer Willie Mitchell. They took the masters back to Westbound, and added strings and backing vocals to make the track-If I Lose Your Love. They had several singles that charted in the R&B Top 20. Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms) was released in 1972, and did well on both the R&B & Pop charts. It’s the song De La Soul sampled for Potholes In My Lawn. They released five LPs between 1971 and 1978, with their second LP-You Want It You Got It being their best seller. Their sound during the mid to late 70s was more rooted in the disco craze; but they have a ballad called Love Has Come To Me that’s definitely worth a listen. Abe (r) passed away on July 6th, 1982, in Southfield, Michigan. He was 37 years old.
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame Special: January 12th is one of the early official days that The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame used to induct the nominated musicians for each year during the 90s. TOV will cover the artists inducted during the following years: 1993, 1995, and 1998.
On January 12th, 1993, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame was having its 8th Annual Ceremony. Inducted artists included: The Doors, Etta James (inset), Sly & The Family Stone, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Van Morrison, and Cream (above). The latter reunited for the first time since their split in the late 1960s. In 1995, at The 10th Annual Ceremony, Led Zeppelin, Martha & The Vandellas, Frank Zappa, Al Green (below), The Allman Brothers Band, Neil Young, and Janis Joplin (below inset) were all inducted.
On January 12th, 1993, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame was having its 8th Annual Ceremony. Inducted artists included: The Doors, Etta James (inset), Sly & The Family Stone, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Van Morrison, and Cream (above). The latter reunited for the first time since their split in the late 1960s. In 1995, at The 10th Annual Ceremony, Led Zeppelin, Martha & The Vandellas, Frank Zappa, Al Green (below), The Allman Brothers Band, Neil Young, and Janis Joplin (below inset) were all inducted.
In 1998, The 13th Annual Induction Ceremony featured a variety of genres and musicians including: Santana, Allen Toussaint, Jelly Roll Morton, Gene Vincent, The Eagles, The Mamas & The Papas, and Lloyd Price. All three of the classes were well deserving of induction; and many of those artists helped shape and innovate the sound of more than just Rock ‘n’ Roll, Jazz, Blues, and Soul. If you’re an admirer of music, and you’ve never been to The Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame, then I strongly urge you to go and check it out. They have an awesome gift shop that sells sealed vinyl; but beware the prices, they’re very steep. The summer is the best time to go, obviously for the weather-but also because it tends to be a down time for The Hall, with smaller crowds of people. Weekdays are best. S.O. to The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame for preserving good music for over three decades (since 1985).
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HONORABLE MENTION: On January 12th, 1941, singer, songwriter, British Bluesman, voice actor, and guitarist-Long John Baldry (front) was born in East Haddon, Northamptonshire, England. He got the nickname 'Long John' because he was 6’7”. He started in the coffee lounges of the early 1960s, before joining up with Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies’ Blues Inc. (1963). In 1967 he went solo, and released a few LPs that put a Funk and Rock base to The Blues. He was 64 when he passed away July, 21, 2005.
January 12th proved to be an important date for Berry Gordy and The Supremes. In 1959, Gordy (at the age of 29) started Tamla Records-which would become Motown. He used an $800 loan from his family to start the imprint. In 1961 he signed The Primettes, featuring diva Diana Ross to the label. They of course later changed their name to The Supremes. Several hits, and seven years later, The Supremes made a special appearance on NBC’s TV show Tarzan. The trio played a group of nuns.
On January 12th, 1975, one of the best live shows of the year took place in The UK. The Warner Brothers Music Show debuted featuring performances by: Little Feat, Tower Of Power, Montrose, The Doobie Brothers, and Graham Central Station. Warner Brothers also released a sample LP that featured songs from all the artists on the showcase. Tickets were ‘dirt cheap’ at a little over $1 US Dollar. Out of all of the bands that played, I’d most like to see Tower Of Power. Around this time they had Lenny Williams as lead singer. Their early 70s LPs are both groundbreaking and very funky.
On January 12th, 1983, sideman, session musician, drummer, percussionist, and member of Traffic, Reebop Kwaku Baah passed away in Stockholm, Sweden. He was born in Konongo, Ghana, and is one of the most slept on drummers of our time. He played with The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Steve Winwood, Can, and Zahara. The latter three are full of sample-thick cuts. His drumming style was funky with plenty of breaks. His conga drumming and percussion style can be compared to Tony Allen, with Fela Kuti and Ginger Baker. He was 38 years old when he died.
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!