June 6, 2006 William Everett “Billy” Preston, rhythm and blues singer and musician, died. Preston was born September 2, 1946 in Houston, Texas. He began playing the piano at age three and by the age of ten was performing in the bands of gospel greats Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, and Andrae Crouch. At the age […]
Archive | June, 2011
June 5th in African American History – Henderson v. United States
June 5, 1950 The United States Supreme Court in the case of Henderson v. United States abolished segregation in railroad dining cars. In the case of McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents ruled that a public institution of higher learning could not provide different treatment to a student solely because of his/her race.
June 5th in African American History – Brian McKnight
June 5, 1969 Brian McKnight, singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer, was born in Buffalo, New York. McKnight’s musical career began in childhood and at 19 he signed his first recording deal. His debut album, “Brian McKnight,” was released in 1992 and it was followed by “I Remember You” (1995) and “Anytime” (1997), which sold over […]
June 4th in African American History – Clarissa Davis
June 4, 1967 Clarissa Davis, hall of fame basketball player, was born in San Antonio, Texas. Davis played college basketball at the University of Texas where she was a two-time All-American and National Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989. In 1986, she led Texas to the NCAA championship.
June 4th in African American History – Arna Wendell Bontemps
June 4, 1973 Arna Wendell Bontemps, poet and noted member of the Harlem Renaissance, died. Bontemps was born October 13, 1902 in Alexandria, Louisiana. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College in 1923 and moved to New York City to teach. In 1943, after graduating from the University of Chicago with a Masters […]
June 3rd in African American History – Florence Beatrice Price
June 3, 1953 Florence Beatrice Price, the first African American woman to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra, died. Price was born April 9, 1887 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She played her first piano recital at the age of four and her first work was published when she was 11. She graduated from […]
June 3rd in African American History – Koko Taylor
June 3, 2009 Koko Taylor, blues singer popularly known as the “Queen of the Blues,” died. Born Cora Walton on September 28, 1928 in Shelby County, Tennessee, Taylor moved to Chicago in 1952. During the late 1950s, she began singing in Chicago blues clubs. In 1966, Taylor recorded “Wang Dang Doodle” which became a hit […]