On June 25th, 2009, we lost a pioneering vocalist, pop culture icon, trailblazing songwriter, actor, dancer, choreographer, former lead singer of The Jackson 5/The Jacksons, music video innovator, and international superstar-Michael (Joseph) Jackson aka The King of Pop. Fred Astaire, the previously self-proclaimed King of Pop, passed the torch to Michael from his death bed in 1987 (the same year Bad was released). Many music historians feel that Michael received the torch five years prior with the release of Thriller (1982). In regard to sales and how it was received by the fans, Thriller stands as his greatest album. It was also his second time working with legendary producer Quincy Jones (the first being Off The Wall in 1979).
Michael started off as a singer/dancer with The Jackson Brothers in 1964 (he was 8). Marlon joined at the same time. Michael began sharing lead singer duties with Jermaine a year later in 1965. They changed their name to The Jackson 5, and started performing at local venues. In 1968 they released their first single, Big Boy, on Steeltown Records. The following year, they signed with Motown (Michael also released four solo LPs on the imprint). The Jacksons signed with Epic in 1975, and Michael doubled as a solo artist thru the mid 1980's. He made his film debut, playing The Scarecrow, in the Quincy Jones produced 1978 film The Wiz. In 1982 he released his sixth solo LP Thriller. The music video of the same title showcased Jackson’s creativity, and its success led to the making five more long form video films thru 2004. Michael Jackson was 50 when he passed away.
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On June 25th, 1954, seminal session musician, former keyboardist for Toto, singer, songwriter, producer, and arranger-David (Frank) Paich was born in Los Angeles, California. He’s the featured keyboardist on all of Toto’s big hits like Gorgy Porgy, Rosanna, Hold The Line, and Africa. He sang lead on the latter, and also Stranger In Town. As a session musician, he can be heard on classics from Cheryl Lynn (Got To Be Real) Boz Scaggs (Lowdown) George Benson (Lady Love Me (One More Time), Micheal Jackson (I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, Heal The World, The Girl Is Mine, Stranger In Moscow, and a variety of songs on the Thriller LP). Other notable artists he’s worked with include: Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin, Quincy Jones, Rod Stewart, The Doobie Brothers, Glen Campbell, The Jacksons, Donna Summer, Cher, Diana Ross, The Brothers Johnson, Diana Ross, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Seals & Croft, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, Don Henley, and Randy Newman.
If you’ve heard any music by these artists, then you’ve most likely heard Paich. He got his professional start working for TV networks and corporate advertisers. He wrote music for commercial products, and theme songs for television programs. He was a co-founding member of Toto, and served as co-lead vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter, arranger, producer. He played with them for 31 years (1977-2008). It was also during the late 1970's, that he started working with other musicians familiar with the hits he penned for Toto. The six-time Grammy Award Winner is 64 today.
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On June 25th, 1937, Memphis soul musician, Stax recording artist, songwriter, and lead singer/founding member of The Falcons-Eddie Floyd (Edward Lee Floyd) was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He’s most known for his #1 hit Knock On Wood, which was the B-side for Lay Your Loving On Me. Interesting Fact: Floyd co-wrote a number of hits for other artists on Stax Records, including: The Breakdown (Rufus Thomas), 634-5789 (Wilson Pickett), Just The One I’ve Been Looking For (Johnnie Taylor), and I Love You More Than Words Can Say (Otis Redding). Eddie started off singing in church as a child, moved into secular music as a teen, and formed The Falcons in 1955. They were a blend of doo wop, and not yet heard Motown Soul, similar to what groups like Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, and The Temptations patterned themselves after.
The group released a few singles before dissolving in the mid 1960's. In 1965 Floyd signed with Stax, and penned Carla Thomas’ hit Comfort Me. Steve Cropper(r), the guitarist for Booker T. & The M.G.’s took notice. From there, he and Floyd worked closely together writing several songs for others on the imprint. Wilson Pickett, the man that replaced Floyd in The Falcons, were subcontracted via Atlantic Records to cut a single at Stax. Floyd co-wrote the A and B-side. In 1966 he released Knock On Wood, which later become a #1 hit-when it was reissued in 1973. The song was originally written, by the duo of Floyd and Cropper, for Otis Redding. Floyd enjoyed a successful career, as a solo recording artist and songwriter, while on Stax during the 60's & 70's. He was 81 when he passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On June 25th, 1925, Louisiana musician, zydeco pioneer, singer, songwriter, swamp blues innovator, frottoir player, Cajun artist, accordion player, multi-label recording artist and Creole music trailblazer-Clifton Chenier was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. Chenier is one of the major figures in Zydeco, which can be characterized as a blend of Creole and Cajun music-with elements blues, R&B, and jazz. He was dubbed ‘The King Of Zydeco,’ and released singles & albums dating back to the early 1950's. During the 1960's, he toured & recorded for several labels. He won a Grammy in 1983, and became a NEA member in 1984. Clifton Chenier was 62 at the time of his death.
On June 25th, 1942, jazz musician, drummer, sideman, pianist, composer, vibraphonist, bandleader, arranger, fusion jazz pioneer, and multi-label recording artist-Joe Chambers was born in Chester, PA. Chambers worked as a sideman with Archie Shepp, Bobby Hutcherson, and Wayne Shorter during the 1960's & 1970's. He released several LPs as bandleader, and also played with Charles Mingus, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard (also a composer), Max Roach, Andrew Hill, Hubert Laws, Miles Davis, Donald Byrd, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Woody Shaw, and Art Farmer. His music can be categorized as cool jazz, hard bop, and fusion jazz. Joe Chambers was 76 when he passed away.
On June 25th, 1963, controversial new wave musician, vocalist, producer, songwriter, blue-eyed soul artist, and former lead singer of Wham!-George Michael (Georgios Kyriacos) was born in East Finchley, London, UK. As lead singer for Wham!, George gave us hits like Careless Whispers, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Everything She Wants, Freedom, and more. As a solo artist, he released hits like Faith, I Knew You Were Waiting (with Aretha Franklin), and I Want Your Sex. later he'd get into legal troubles, associated with drug and alcohol abuse, that would derail his career a bit. His musical legacy remains intact in the 21st century though. George Michael turns 54 today.
On June 25th, 1984, Prince released his classic Purple Rain LP. The album changed the whole game for rock, R&B, and pop artists. It was the antithesis of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, but just as popular-if not more so. The album served as the soundtrack to his film of the same title. Purple Rain was for adults only, where as Thriller was more family friendly. Erotic City, the B-Side to the single Let’s Go Crazy, definitely proves that sentiment. The album received an explicit lyrics label, for the song Darling Nikki, although no curse words are in the song. Purple Rain showcases Prince’s maturity as an artist, and his ability to know how to produce hits. It’s one of those albums you can let play all the way through…
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