On June 6th, in 1944, exactly 366 days (1 year and 1 day) before his partner in athletics and Black Power advocacy was born-John Carlos (see TOV post June 5th), track star, American Football League wide receiver (Cincinnati Bengals), Olympic gold medalist in the 200 meter race (Olympics, Mexico City, 1968), Black Power figure and former San Jose State University student athlete-Tommie C. Smith was born in Clarksville, Texas. He's the person responsible for coming up with the idea to wear black socks and black gloves, raising the Black Power salute if the USA track team's Black athletes won. He asked all of them to carry out the act, and most of them agreed to do so. However, when the time came to 'put up-the Black Power salute or shut up', Smith was the only person that brought a pair of black leather gloves. This is why Carlos has the left glove and Smith the right. Smith went further in his initial political statement by standing on the podium with black socks on, no shoes, raising his left shoe in the air with his left hand, and his Black fist with his right (photo above).
After their popularity exploded in the Black Power Movement, Smith (r) was upset with Carlos (l) for portraying that the idea was his own at the various universities and public speaking forums he appeared at. At the time, there were several pseudo-revolutionaries that portrayed themselves as ‘Pro-Black’ who in actuality were following current trends and attempting to use their ‘Knowledge of Self’ to gain attention. This practice continues to negatively effect the struggle towards absolute freedom from oppression for people of color living America. Tommie Smith called attention to the plight Black people face in America on an international scale, the small progresses made after, even if only in mass awareness, continue to forge the path towards freedom today. He's 75, salute.
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On June 4th, in 1944, heavily sampled jazz musician, piainst, fusion jazz innovator, organist, composer, melodica player, Jamaican music pioneer, sideman, multi-label recording artist, singer, arranger, songwriter and bandleader-Monty (Bernard) Alexander was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He’s most known by hip hop and urban music producers for two LPs he released as a bandleader in the 70s: We’ve Only Just Begun (MPS Records, 1971) and Rass! (MPS Records, 1974). The former is a trio with Alexander on keys, Bobby Durham on drums and Eugene Wright on bass. The other is a quartet consisting of Kenny Clarke on drums, Ernest Ranglin on guitar and Eberhand Weber on bass. The 1974 LP contains the seminal funk number-Love & Happiness. It's a fusion jazz cover of Al Green & Willie Mitchell’s song on Hi Records.
Alexander has an original playing style that merges the Island tempo and tone found in bossa nova and calypso, with elements of soul, funk, swing jazz and pop. His playing style is easily identifiable, bringing a distinct voice to the organ, piano and melodica. He also sings and has played for several Jamaican artists as a session musician. He even started his own reggae band in the 90s. Alexander got his start on piano when he was 4. He could duplicate melodies by ear. He received classical training when he was 6, playing throughout his childhood. In his early teens, he started getting into jazz and pop music. In the early 60s, he started recording with CJ & His Blues Blasters and formed his own cover band-Monty & the Cyclones. He was discovered by Frank Sinatra when he heard how well Monty would cover his songs. He signed to Pacific Jazz in 1964 and has been recording ever since. He’s 75 today.
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On June 6th, in 1959, seminal multi-decade R&B producer, bassist, drummer, keyboardist, songwriter and co-founding member of Flyte Tyme-Jimmy ‘Jam’ Harris was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He’s most known for the songs he produced with his musical partner Terry Lewis. He’s also known as the keyboardist for the Time, and the innovations he injected into the Minneapolis Sound that took off during the early 80s post-Purple Rain. His story begins as the son of the infamous R&B/jazz pianist/singer-Cornbread Harris. His father got him into music and Jimmy learned several instruments as a child, with a primary focus on piano. In his teens (mid 70s), funk was exploding and he began playing it. He was a member of the Upward Bound program that was on the University of Minnesota campus.
He met Terry Lewis (above-r) there and they decided to make a band called-Flyte Tyme. They took the band’s name from Donald Byrd’s song-Flight Time. It started as a septet with: Terry Lewis on bass, Jimmy Jam (inset-3rd r) on keys, Cynthia Johnson on lead vocals/sax, Jellybean Johnson on drums, Monte Moir on keys, Tony Johnson on guitar and David Eiland on sax. Cynthia Johnson left to join Lipps Inc.-singing lead on Funkytown. She was replaced with Alexander O’Neal (late 70s). In 1981, Prince recruited Morris Day as lead and replaced O’Neal because it’s speculated they had a professional dispute. He changed their name to-The Time. In the Mid 80s, after Purple Rain was released and Morris Day went solo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis formed a production company and record label that used their first band’s name-Flyte Time Records. They continue to produce hits in several music genres. Jimmy Jam’s 60 today.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On June 6th, in 1936 seminal soul vocalist, infamous Motown recording artist, songwriter, actor and former lead singer of the Four Tops-Levi Stubbs (Levi Stubbles) was born in Detroit, MI. He’s most known for his lead vocals on Four Tops hits like: Baby I Need Your Loving, Standing in the Shadows of Love and It’s the Same Old Song. Stubbs was an original member of the quartet that was started in 1954 under the name-The Four Aims. In 1956 they signed to Chess Records and changed their name to the Four Tops. They honed their stage skills and signed to Motown in 1963. He was 72 when he passed.
On June 6th, in 1991, we lost a seminal jazz musician, pioneering post-bop bandleader, swing/big band sideman, saxophonist, producer, clarinetist, arranger, composer, pianist and founder of the Stan Getz Sextet-Stan Getz (Stanley Gayetski). The Philadelphia native was a multi-instrumentalist as a child that started playing sax when he was 13. He practiced for 8 hours a day and became extremely proficient. He’s played with: Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Johnny Smith, Jimmy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, Ray Brown, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Horace Silver, Zoot Sims and Oscar Peterson. He was 64 when he passed.
On June 6th, in 2006, we lost an innovative soul organist, composer, singer, session musician, pianist, solo recording artist, former ‘guest’ member of the Rolling Stones and Ray Charles’ band-Billy Preston (William Everett Preston). Preston is most known for his hit singles: Will it Go ‘Round In Circles and the instrumental funk number-Outa Space. He started playing organ professionally when he was 10. He’s played for Little Richard, Sam Cooke, The Beatles, James Cleveland, Eric Clapton, Ray Charles, Syreeta Wright (duets), the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross and Patti LaBelle. He was 59 when he passed.
On June 6th, in 2010, we lost a 70s family musician, soul/funk artist, bassist, singer, composer, percussionist, arranger, songwriter and former member of the Isley Brothers-Marvin Isley. TOV covered the artist’s birthday on the August 18th post. Please refer to it or more information. He was the bassist and a co-writer for the Isley Brothers, contributing to hits like: Between the Sheets, Fight the Power, Caravan of Love and the Pride. He also was a co-founding member of Isley-Jasper-Isley with his brother Ernie Isley (guitarist) and his cousin Chris Jasper (multi-instrumentalist). Marvin was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. He’s 57 today.
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