July 13, 1966 Gerald Edward Levert, singer, songwriter, and producer, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but raised in Cleveland, Ohio. While in high school, Levert formed the group LeVert in 1984. Four of the group’s seven albums, “I Get Her” (1985), “Bloodline” (1986), “The Big Throwdown” (1987), and “Just Coolin’” (1988), went platinum. In 1991, […]
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July 13th in African American History – Vernon Joseph Baker
July 13, 2010 Vernon Joseph Baker, Medal of Honor recipient, died. Baker was born December 17, 1919 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He graduated from high school and worked several menial jobs before enlisting in the United States Army in 1941. After completing Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1943. In 1944, […]
July 12th in African American History – Bennett Lester “Benny” Carter
July 12, 2003 Bennett Lester “Benny” Carter, jazz musician, composer, arranger and bandleader, died. Carter was born August 8, 1907 in New York City. Largely self-taught, by the age of 15 Carter was sitting in with some of New York’s top bands. In 1929, Carter formed this first big band and from 1931 to 1932 […]
July 12th in African American History – Arthur A. Fletcher
July 12, 2005 Arthur A. Fletcher, the “father of affirmative action,” died. Fletcher was born December 22, 1924 in Phoenix, Arizona. After serving in World War II where he was wounded, Fletcher graduated from Washburn University with a degree in political science and sociology. For a short time he played professional football and he was […]
July 11th in African American History – Mattiwilda Dobbs
July 11, 1925 Mattiwilda Dobbs, coloratura soprano and one of the first black singers to enjoy a major international career in opera, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Dobbs began piano lessons at the age of seven and sang in the church choir. She graduated from Spelman College in 1946 with a degree in music and […]
July 11th in African American History – Walter Hawkins
July 11, 2010 Walter Hawkins, gospel music singer, died. Hawkins was born May 18, 1949 in Oakland, California. He began his career as a member of his brother’s chorale, The Edwin Hawkins Singers. They produced “Oh Happy Day” (1967) which was one of the first gospel songs to cross over and become a mainstream hit. […]
July 10th in African American History – Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr.
July 10, 1943 Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr., hall of fame tennis player and civil rights activist, was born in Richmond, Virginia. In 1963, Ashe became the first Black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and in 1965 he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association tennis singles title. Ashe graduated from the University […]