January 29, 1936 James Lee Jamerson, bass player and member of Motown’s Funk Brothers, was born in Edisto Island, South Carolina. Jamerson and his mother moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1954. He learned to play the bass at Northwestern High School and soon began playing in blues and jazz clubs. In 1959, he joined Motown […]
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January 28th in African American History – “We Are the World”
January 28, 1985 “We Are the World” was recorded by USA for Africa. The idea for the creation of a song to benefit African famine relief came from Harry Belafonte and the song was co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The song was co-produced by Quincy Jones and released on March 7, 1985.
January 28th in African American History – Ronald Ervin McNair
January 28, 1986 Ronald Ervin McNair, physicist and NASA astronaut, died along with six other crew members during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. McNair was born October 21, 1950 in Lake City, South Carolina. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in physics, magna cum laude, from North Carolina A&T State University in […]
January 26th in African American History – Kenneth Spearman “Kenny” Clarke
January 26, 1985 Kenneth Spearman “Kenny” Clarke, jazz drummer, died. Clarke was born January 9, 1914 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While still in high school, he studied multiple instruments as well as music theory and composition. He also played in the bands of Leroy Bradley and Roy Eldridge.
January 26th in African American History – Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman
January 26, 1892 Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman, civil aviator, was born in Atlanta, Texas. In her early 20’s, Coleman became interested in flying, but could not gain admittance to American flight schools because she was black and a woman. Therefore, she traveled to Paris, France where she learned to fly and on June 15, 1921 became […]
January 25th in African American History – Sarah Louise “Sadie” Delany
January 25, 1999 Sarah Louise “Sadie” Delany, educator, author and civil rights pioneer, died. Delany was born September 19, 1889 in Lynch Station, Virginia. She graduated from Saint Augustine’s School (now college) in 1910 and moved to New York City in 1916 where she began teaching for the public school system.
January 25th in African American History – Alicia Augello Cook (Alicia Keys)
January 25, 1981 Alicia Augello Cook (Alicia Keys), recording artist, musician, and actress, was born in New York City. At the age of seven, Keys began to play classical music on the piano. She attended Columbia University before dropping out to pursue her music career.