On May 8th, 1911, seminal bluesman, guitarist, singer, Delta Blues Innovator, recording artist, songwriter, blues/rock legend, American Music Icon, and the man who allegedly sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads-Robert (Leroy) Johnson (above-l) was born in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. TOV covered the artist’s death in the August 16th post. Please refer to it for more information. Robert Johnson did so much to influence blues, rock, soul, R&B, funk, folk, and country music during his short time on Earth-and with a rather small discography of only 29 songs written. Only half of these were released as singles during the height of his influence. He was unique in that some feel that his soulful Son House inspired and taught rendition of the blues (that mixed The Delta Sound with R&B and Country Blues) set him apart from the rest. Others believe that his youth and musical prowess made him a big deal. Most feel, however, that it’s the mystique that surrounded him in relation to his deal with the devil at the ‘crossroads’.
As the story goes, Johnson (above-l) was recording in San Antonio, TX, in November of 1936. He recorded 22 songs, for ARC Records in three sessions, over the course of four days (Nov 23-27). His first two sessions produced ‘brighter,’ more pop appealing lyrics and rhythms. He left for a couple days, before returning to San Antonio for the third session. His lyrics and sound had changed markedly. It was much darker-speaking of failed redemption, racism, and the supernatural. Historians believe he made his 'deal with the devil' at the intersection between Highway 49 and 61, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, over the two days Johnson was away from the studio (in between the 2nd and 3rd recording sessions in San Antonio). Supposedly the devil gave him the musical skills necessary to become famous, in exchange for his soul… He wrote songs about lynchings, infidelity, hell hounds being on his trail, injustices, and ‘sundown town' laws (towns in which Blacks having to be gone, or out of sight by the time the sun went down-or face dire consequences). Robert Johnson was just 27 when he passed away.
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… "The Reasons!!!...the reasons that we’re here!!!…" For this next artist, he was definitely created to sing falsetto over funky beats. On May 8th, 1951, legendary Grammy Award Winning singer, percussionist, songwriter, and vocalist for Earth Wind & Fire-Philip (James) Bailey (above-front row 2nd l) was born in Denver, CO. Phillip is most known for his lead vocals on Earth Wind & Fire songs like Clover, Keep Your Head To The Sky, Devotion, and Reasons. He was introduced to the new wave/rock world in the early 1980's, via Phil Collins' song Easy Lover.
His-Story: Bailey grew up in Denver, and graduated from East High School in 1969. His early musical influences were mostly jazz vocalists and musicians like Sarah Vaughn, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Dionne Warwick, and John Coltrane. You seldom hear any remnants of doo wop in his vocals, but he did enjoy listening to Motown music-specifically Stevie Wonder.
His-Story: Bailey grew up in Denver, and graduated from East High School in 1969. His early musical influences were mostly jazz vocalists and musicians like Sarah Vaughn, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Dionne Warwick, and John Coltrane. You seldom hear any remnants of doo wop in his vocals, but he did enjoy listening to Motown music-specifically Stevie Wonder.
Phillip had a wide vocal range early on, and could sing falsetto like it was breeze. A lot of falsetto singers, especially from the doo wop era (i.e. Eugene Record of The Chi Lites, Frankie Lymon of The Teenagers, William Hart of The Delfonics, etc) tend to sound ‘whiny’ after a few songs. Bailey (inset-front row l) does not, and never did, on any song. He was a trailblazer, and original. Bailey performed with a band called Friends & Love in Denver, before being asked to join Earth Wind & Fire by bandleader Maurice White in 1972. This Rock ‘n’ Roll, Songwriters, and Vocal Group Hall Of Fame artist is 68 today.
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On May 8th, 1999, we lost jazz vocalist, songwriter, avant-garde musician, social activist, the original jazz yodeler, Pan-Africanist, arranger, former Tennessee State University (TSU) student, Count Basie lead vocalist, Pharaoh Sanders collaborator, and infamous Flying Dutchman Records recording artist-Leon Thomas (Amos Leon Thomas Jr.). I was introduced to his vocals by my Pops. He kept two of his LPs on heavy rotation-his solo debut Spirits Known and Unknown (Flying Dutchman, 1969), and Pharaoh Sanders’ LP Karma (featuring The Creator Has A Master Plan, Impulse!, 1969). I often confused Thomas with Solomon & Andy Bey, who sang with Horace Silver. All three share a similar style in tone and lyrical content.
Thomas was a lover of music, so much so that he majored in it at TSU. He joined Count Basie’s orchestra in the early 1960's, and became well-known in the hard bop/swing jazz community. As free and fusion jazz were being pioneered by most of the hard bop artists during the late 60's, Thomas followed suit and began to use his voice as an instrument. This marks the period when he started yodeling. The infamous jazz producer Bob Thiele founded Flying Dutchman Records and quickly signed Thomas. The label is known for releasing avant garde albums-backed by great session musicians like Bernard Perdie, T-Bone Walker, Oliver Nelson, Freddie Hubbard, Larry Coryell, and Pee Wee Ellis. Thomas used each of these musicians on his LPs. His Flying Dutchman releases are definitely worth the buy. He was 62 when he passed.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On May 8th, 1910, hard bop jazz musician, pianist, bebop innovator, composer, session musician, bandleader, arranger, and multi-label recording artist-Mary Lou Williams (Mary Elfrieda Scruggs) was born in Atlanta, GA. Williams is most known for her mentoring/teaching of then younger musicians Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell the art of ‘swing jazz,’ how to compose & arrange on the piano, and for providing the blueprint for bebop-which came into existence from her musical tutelage. She composed for Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. She also has many recordings on 78, 45, and LP formats. She was 71 when she passed.
On May 8th, 1953, hard rock innovator, drummer, heavy metal pioneer, percussionist, older brother of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen-Alex Van Halen was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He’s most known for his work with the band Van Halen, who released hits like Jump and Hot For Teacher. He started the band with his brother in 1972 (originally called Mammoth). He changed the name to Van Halen in 1974, when he discovered another band was using the name Mammoth. Alex Van Halen has been playing professionally since the early 1960's, and with Van Halen since 1972. He’s 66 today.
On May 8th, 1974, we lost saxophonist, sideman, keyboardist, bandleader, former member of Blues Incorporated, founder of The Graham Bond Organisation, a prominent English figure in skiffle/blues/rock-Graham Bond (Graham John Clifton Bond) was born in Romford, England, UK. Bond is most known for working with most of the musicians associated with the British blues rock explosion of the 1960's (Ginger Baker, John McLaughlin, Deep Purple, and Eric Clapton). He was a prolific Hammond organist that taught John Lord (Deep Purple) and other notable organists in 60's rock how to play. Inspired by jazz, blues, soul, and folk, Bond helped shape the sound of modern rock. He was 36 when he passed away.
On May 8th, 1982, we lost an important, behind the scenes figure, for all genres of 1970's music-Neil Bogart (Neil Scott Bogartz). The Brooklyn native was the founder, and primary owner, of Casablanca Records (est. 1973). They signed acts like Donna Summer, Parliament-Funkadelic, KISS, Cameo, and T. Rex. Bogart was a singer in the early 1960's, became an executive at Cameo-Parkway Records during the mid 60's, and Buddha Records during the late 60's. He started Boardwalk Records, in 1980, to stay relevant with the times after the death of disco. He signed Joan Jett, and other hard edged rock bands before he passed. He was 39.
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