The Producer: This post features four different producers, from four different genres: Rock, Reggae, Hip Hop & Jazz. Some of them have experience in multiple genres.
On October 24th, in 1944, musician, guitarist, singer, drummer and music producer-Ted Templeman (r-blonde) was born in Santa Cruz, California. Templeman got his start in Southern California, around the mid-60s. He was the drummer for a band called The Tikis, who later changed their name to Harper’s Bizarre in 1966. He left his drum kit and stepped out front to be the lead singer and guitarist for the band. They dropped their first LP in 1967-Feelin’ Groovy on the Warner Brothers imprint. They had a couple singles chart off this LP, but nothing cracked the top 10 in the US or UK. As a result, they split in 1970 and Templeman went out on his own to record The Templeton Twins (1970).
It’s a cult classic, recorded with Teddy Turner & his Bunsen Burners as the backing band. 1970 was a pivotal, productive and extremely busy year for Templeman as he also started working as an engineer for Warner Brothers, producing the Doobie Brother’s first self-titled release that was put out in 1971. This is where Templeman’s true talent showed through, being behind the boards, penning songs and mixing sounds. From 1971 to 2006, he’s produced more that 50 LPs, most of them from the 70s through the 90s. He’s worked heavily with the 'Vans' of Rock-Van Halen & Van Morrison, and everyone else from Eric Clapton to Joan Jett. He’s 74 today.
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On October 24th, in 1950, background vocalist, steel drummer, keyboardist, songwriter, session musician and producer-:Pablove Black (Paul Anthony Dixon AKA Pablo Black) was born in Kingston Jamaica. Pablo got his start in the mid-60s, playing steel drums with the Trinidadian Federal All-Star Steel Band. In the late 60s, he joined the Wanderers (they were World champs for Steel Band playing). By 1971, he’d put the mallet down, and picked up the keyboard at Studio One (the Stax or Motown of Jamaica). Pablove’s production skills were cultivated by Studio One’s infamous producer-Clement ‘Sir Coxosone’ Dodd. His keyboard skills were mentored by the infamous pianist-Jackie Mittoo. Pablove was part of the Studio One house band (Roland Alphonso on sax, Jackie Mittoo on keys, Ernest Ranglin on guitar, Earl Bagga Walker on bass, Pablove on backing vocals and keys-sometimes behind the boards).
He played with Bagga in the Soul Defenders as well. They were the backing band for acts like Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, and Marica Griffiths (formerly a Walier with Bob Marley). He got a lot of insight from another seminal producer-Black Ark Studio owner and executive producer-Lee Scratch Perry. While at Black Ark, he worked with Benbow on drums and Junior Dan on bass to create tracks for Culry Locks with Junior Byles & Tribal War with Little Roy. He’s featured on several Studio One singles as a co-producer, producer, arranger, session musician, vocalist, and keyboardist without formal credit. He also managed to put out a couple LPs from the late 70s through the mid-80s. H toured regularly with Jimmy Cliff. He’s 68 today.
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On October 24th, in 1973, Emcee, Dee Jay, drummer, Jazz musician, and producer-Madlib (Otis Jackson, Jr.) was born in Oxnard, California (Southern Cali). Madlib was making beats and rhyming since his pre-teen days in the mid 80s. A decade or so later, the world was able to hear his creations. He produced a beat for the Liks in 1993, and then put a 12”, with the aid of his Pops, called Ill Psyche Move (Lootpack 1995-on Crate Diggas Palace). Three years later, Peanut Butter Wolf signed Lootpack to Stones Throw. The group released Soundpieces: Da Antidote in 1999. A year later, Madlib put out one of Spin Magazine’s top 20 Albums of the year (2000)-Quasimoto (Madlib’s solo-alter ego). During this time, his was producing tracks for others, working with production teams like Sa Ra, Erykah Badu, Mos Def (Yaasin Bey), and J Dilla (JayLib).
He got into producing Jazz songs, at first with his alter egos, but later getting other musicians (Yesterday’s New Quintet). He also worked with Blue Note Records, remixing LPs from their archives and new unreleased material. Most of the music from these LPs are deeply rooted in Jazz Fusion, Funk, Psychedelic Soul, and Hard Bop Jazz. Madlib produced a lot of LPs for Emcees like M.F. Doom, Talib Kweli, Freddie Gibbs, Percee P, Guilty Simpson and Blu. His Beat Konducta series are nice too-all genres: African, Funk, Rock, Indian/Eastern and Soul. He’s 45 today.
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On October 24th, in 2002, we lost an excellent Rock producer, and highly inventive sound engineer to emphysema-Tom Dowd (Thomas John Tom Dowd). I need all music makers and lovers out there to observe a moment of silence for this cat, ‘cuz without him, there wouldn’t be the possibility of multitrack recording…That means we’d be listening to one take songs with everyone playing at the same time, at the same volume, no turning down the drums or turning up the bass. If you turn up the bass, you turn up the drums, keys, guitar and everything else. I think y’all can see the importance of this man. He worked for Atlantic, where he created his ‘multitracking’ technique.
He viewed it as having the ability to record different instruments and parts of a song, at different times, on separate tracks and then bring them together to make it a ‘more cohesive whole’. Some of the people he produced LPs for include: Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cream, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Diana Ross, Derek & the Dominoes, The Drifters, Rod Stewart, Sonny & Cher, Willie Nelson, Otis Redding, Eric Clapton, Dusty Springfield, Chicago, The J. Geils Band, The Rascals and Kenny Loggins. He was 77 years-old when he passed away. Interesting fact: he worked on the Manhattan Project and has extensive experience in Nuclear Physics.
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The Powers that Be:
On October 24th, in 1977, guitarist and songwriter for the Rolling Stones-Keith Richards was in trouble…again…(Gangstalicious reference)…This time though…it was more of the same, ‘botanically’ and ‘pharmaceutical-ly’ related…lil horse too…okay so Keith was at home, and then the cops that must love his interior decorating because they’re always there, decided to come in, they’re always at his house anyways, might as well move in. They found some weed, Quaaludes, heroin and a revolver. He was fined about $500 and pleaded guilty. They didn’t give him any time, detain him, or confiscate his house.
On October 24th, in 1977, guitarist and songwriter for the Rolling Stones-Keith Richards was in trouble…again…(Gangstalicious reference)…This time though…it was more of the same, ‘botanically’ and ‘pharmaceutical-ly’ related…lil horse too…okay so Keith was at home, and then the cops that must love his interior decorating because they’re always there, decided to come in, they’re always at his house anyways, might as well move in. They found some weed, Quaaludes, heroin and a revolver. He was fined about $500 and pleaded guilty. They didn’t give him any time, detain him, or confiscate his house.
The day ended up getting worse for Keith. After he paid his fine and was chilling later that evening with his ‘significant other’ in a London hotel-Anita Pallenberg, they somehow ‘accidentally’ set their room on fire. I’m not sure what the cause was, but I’m pretty sure if you’re ‘smacked-luded-and tree’d up’, then you may be a little sleepy, and that cigarette you just lit, may fall out your mouth and spark up them nylon and polyester curtains like Carrie at her prom. Just saying. Richard admits that there are whole portions of his life he can not recall due to his extreme use of drugs, especially heroin. His life at times remains a blur and no matter who tries to jog his memory, it’s gone. Just say no…cough cough…
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On October 24th, in 2004, Inranian born Freddie Mercury of the seminal Rock group Queen (Zanzibar AKA Tanzania), was finally given some solace from beyond the grave by his native land (he died 13 years prior in 1991). The frontman for Queen, and openly gay singer was the first western artist to receive an official seal of approval for his music in Iran. Much like Russians couldn’t have Levis during the cold war, or any of our music for that matter, Iran was just as conservative about their citizens’ rights, and the music that was allowed.
The country considers homosexuality, and music made by openly gay artists as contraband or criminal. However, the country released a Queen’s Greatest Hits LP this week. It really was unnecessary because Queen was already the most popular band in Iran. Plus, mad numbers of bootlegs and illegal singles were in heavy rotation. It’s kind of like dubbing tapes back in the day. Yes, it was ‘illegal’, but even the police would ask: yo, can you make me a dub of that? Iran is an Islamic Republic and a lot of things we consider everyday rights are forbidden there. Mercury was proud of his roots, and it is a good thing that Iran showed their gratitude for him.
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Honorable Mention: On October 24th, in 1962, the Godfather of Soul, The Man that brought us the One, The Minister of Super Heavy Funk, The Hardest Working Man in Showbiz, Mr Please-Please-Please-James Brown recorded his classic Live at the Apollo LP at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. It has been ranked as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of all Time by Rolling Stones Magazine (top 40-number 24). It was a groundbreaking recording at the time and showed the power, energy and selling power of a live LP.
On October 24th, in 2004, the one known as: The Mother of the Freedom Movement & the First Lady of Civil Rights-Rosa Parks (Rosa Louise McCauley) passed away in Detroit, Michigan. She was most known for her refusal to give up her seat to a White bus rider in Montgomery, Alabama. Her courage helped spark the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Subsequent protests of all types of injustices directed towards people of color would soon result across the South. The North would see a resurgence in Black pride, African Ancestry and direct participation in the Political process.
On October 24th, in 2008, we lost the prolific Hammond B-3 keyboard player-Merl Saunders. He worked closely with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. He had his own band (Merl Saunders & Friends) that backed Shelia E, Tom Fogerty and David Grisman. He played several genres of music from Jazz (Miles Davis) to Blues (B.B. King) to Rock ( Phish). He was 74 when he passed.
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!