On March 30th, 1914, legendary bluesman, harmonica player, singer, songwriter, and blues pioneer-Sonny Boy Williamson II aka 'The Father Of The Modern Blues Harp' (John Lee Curtis Williamson) was born in Madison County, Tennessee. Sonny Boy is the man responsible for bringing the harmonica from the rural south to the urbanized cities of America. He also made the blues harp a staple instrument in modern blues compositions. Before him, the harmonica was mostly played as a accent or complimentary instrument regulated to country, folk, and country blues-not as a lead. Sonny Boy used it as his primary instrument, and would solo on it often during his performances and recordings. His influence with the instrument spread beyond the blues, and inspired artists like Stevie Wonder, Hugh McCracken, and Lee Oskar (War) to use the instrument in soul and pop tunes.
Sonny Boy started on harp when he was a child. In his teens he played around the Memphis area, with Sleepy John Estes and Yank Rachell. He moved to Chicago when he was 20 (1934), and signed to Bluebird Records. He made his recording debut in 1937, with Good Morning, School Girl, and built a strong rep from the success of the single-which soon became a blues staple. He was very popular in both The South and Midwest (Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland etc). In the 1940's, he continued to record and tour. Some of his biggest hits during this time were Hoodoo Man Blues, Shake The Boogie, Early In The Morning, and Sugar Mama Blues. He influenced musicians like Little Walter, Junior Wells, and Jimmy Rogers. He was only 34 when he died in 1948.
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On March 30th, 1945, seminal rock musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer-member of The Yardbirds, Cream, and John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers-Eric (Patrick) Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England. Clapton’s solo work is what he’s most known for, by people born after the 1960's. However, for those born before, he’s known for his work with The Yardbirds-and to a greater extent-Cream. He’s been inducted into The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame three times (as a solo artist, with Cream, and with The Yardbirds). Clapton is the only musician in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame that’s achieved that feat. He also has won over 15 Grammys, and is a CBE certified citizen of The UK (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
Clapton’s path to success was riddled with drama and controversy. He nearly stopped playing due to a heroine addiction, and his son dying tragically at a young age. All that aside, however, he’s maintained a position in modern music that’s undeniable. Eric started playing guitar at the age of 15. He was heavily influenced by the blues, and tried to learn the chords by playing along. He practiced incessantly, and was performing professionally with The Roosters by age 17. He joined The Yardbirds in 1963, and his career really took off. By the late 1960's, he was with Cream (1966-1968). Around that time, he started struggling with heroine addiction-but made a strong comeback in 1970 as a solo artist. His infamous Layla, and cover of Bob Marley’s I Shot The Sheriff set the rock guitarist/vocalist apart from others. He’s 74 today.
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On March 30th, 1962, dancer, rapper, TV personality, voice over cartoon actor, preacher, and one of the first rappers to crossover & receive endorsement deals from major corporations-MC Hammer (Stanley Kirk Burrell). Love him or hate him, people can’t front on Hammer’s business sense. He was able to build a strong fan base in The Bay area during the mid 1980's-so much so that Capitol Records came calling and made Hammer a deal. He not only turned it down, he demanded more points for his royalties, and total creative control over his production-setting an industry record. He got both-plus a Saturday morning cartoon, endorsement deal with Pepsi, and also appeared in several other commercials. He did all of this during an eight year span. Sadly, Hammer managed to spend all the money he’d made in the same period of time (1986-1994).
Hammer was more of a party rapper. In 1986 he was making well over $100,000, selling his records independently. In 1988 he signed the best industry deal, of any artist in a long time, with Columbia. By 1994, when he dropped his fifth LP, he was looked at as a novelty. He tried to come with a 'darker' 'thug' style, but it was still Hammer. Artists like Nas, Biggie, Wu-Tang Clan, The Boot Camp Clik, and similar early 90's acts, pushed the pop appeal Hammer had out of the hip hop music scene. After the end of his music career, he’s starred on a few Reality TV Shows, became a pastor, and continues to do commercials & special appearances. Hammer is 57 today.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On March 30th, 1948, author, businesswoman, Wilhelmina Modeling Agency member, and the first modern Black super model in America-Naomi Ruth Sims was born in Oxford, MS. Sims moved to Pittsburgh, PA, with her mother when she was very young. Her mother fell on hard times, and Ruth had to stay at a Catholic foster home. She grew to be 5’10” by the time she was 13, and won a scholarship to The Fashion Institute Of Technology in NYC after high school. She ran into ethnic discrimination when she tried to get modeling gigs. But by the end of the 1960's, she’d joined Wilhelmina Models, made the cover of Ladies’ Home Journal, The New York Times, and Life Magazine. She started her own successful Black beauty supply business in the 70's and authored books on modeling and beauty tips. Naomi Sims was 61 years old when she passed away.
On March 30th, 1987, one of the best albums Prince made in the 80's-Sign O’ The Times was released on Paisley Park/Warner Brothers Records. It was a double LP, gatefold jacket, and the first after 1999 that didn’t have The Revolution playing on it.
Interesting Fact:
Originally Prince wanted to release a triple LP, called Crystal Ball, that contained songs from his solo project-Camille And The Dream Factory-an LP he’d working on with The Revolution. The label made him cut it down to a double LP. The title track, Starfish & Coffee, If I Was Your Girlfriend, Adore, House Quake, The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, Strange Relationship, and You Got The Look all made the LP an instant classic!
Interesting Fact:
Originally Prince wanted to release a triple LP, called Crystal Ball, that contained songs from his solo project-Camille And The Dream Factory-an LP he’d working on with The Revolution. The label made him cut it down to a double LP. The title track, Starfish & Coffee, If I Was Your Girlfriend, Adore, House Quake, The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, Strange Relationship, and You Got The Look all made the LP an instant classic!
On March 30th, 1995, exactly one day after his solo debut LP Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version dropped, Ol’ Dirty Bastard appeared on MTV News. He took the viewers on a journey to The Department Of Human Services to pick up his food stamps-in a limo! After the footage aired, several small time politicians complained of the abuses of welfare-how it should be reformed-and questioned Dirty’s tax filing practices. He also broke down his style on the show, speaking further on how he was more like a soul singer-than a rapper. He broke into song a couple times during the interview.
On March 30th, 2002, singer, songwriter, actress, and Murder Inc. Records recording artist-Ashanti had The Billboard Chart’s Top 10 filled with songs featuring her writing and vocals. The #1 Song was J-Lo’s Ain’t It Funny. Ashanti co-wrote the lyrics. She held the #4 slot, with her & Ja Rule's duet Always On Time. At the #5 slot, was the duet with Fat Joe-What’s Luv? Finally, at the #9 spot, was her solo single Foolish. She was to Murder Inc, what Mary J. Blige was to Uptown and Bad Boy. Ashanti had good vocals, and decent acting skills too.
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