October 9, 1999 Milton Jackson, jazz vibraphonist and composer, died. Jackson was born January 1, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan. He was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie who hired him for his sextet in 1946. Around 1950, Jackson formed his own group, the Milt Jackson Quartet which in 1952 was renamed the Modern Jazz Quartet.
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October 8th in African American History – Albertina Walker
October 8, 2010 Albertina Walker, gospel singer, died. Walker was born August 29, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. She started singing in church choirs at an early age and by the time she was a teenager, she was touring with Mahalia Jackson. In 1951, Walker formed The Caravans and soon after she earned the title “Queen […]
October 7th in African American History – William Boone “Billy” Daniels
October 7, 1988 William Boone “Billy” Daniels, vocalist and Broadway actor, died. Daniels was born September 12, 1915 in Jacksonville, Florida. Daniels was a nightclub entertainer and was the biggest cabaret draw in New York City during the 1950s. He was also popular in Europe and in 1952 headlined at The London Palladium and broke […]
October 7th in African American History – Ed Blackwell
October 7, 1992 Ed Blackwell, jazz drummer, died. Blackwell was born October 10, 1929 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his career in the 1950s and first came to national attention as the drummer with Ornette Coleman’s quartet around 1960. Blackwell was one of the great innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s, […]
October 5th in African American History – Edward James “Eddie” Kendricks
October 5, 1992 Edward James “Eddie” Kendricks, singer and songwriter, died. Kendricks was born December 17, 1939 in Union Springs, Alabama. In 1955, he and three friends formed a group called The Cavaliers who moved to Detroit in 1957 and changed their name to The Primes. In 1961, Kendricks joined The Elgins who signed with […]
October 4th in African American History – Arthur Stewart Farmer
October 4, 1999 Arthur Stewart Farmer, jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player, died. Farmer was born August 21, 1928 in Council Bluff, Iowa but raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He began his musical education by studying the piano and violin. He moved to Los Angeles, California at the age of 16 and worked as a musician from […]
October 3rd in African American History – India Arie Simpson (India.Arie)
October 3, 1975 India Arie Simpson (India.Arie), singer, songwriter and record producer, was born in Denver, Colorado. Arie’s mother moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia when she was 13. She attended Savannah College of Arts and Design to study jewelry making and, while there, gained an interest in the guitar. Arie eventually formed an independent […]