July 29, 2003 Luther Henderson, arranger, composer, orchestrator, and pianist, died. Henderson was born March 14, 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1942, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Juilliard School of Music. From 1944 to 1946, Henderson served as staff orchestrator for the United States Navy School of Music. Henderson served […]
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July 27th in African American History – Harry “Sweets” Edison
July 27, 1999 Harry “Sweets” Edison, jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger, died. Edison was born October 10, 1915 in Columbus, Ohio. At the age of 12, he began playing the trumpet with local bands. In 1937, he moved to New York City and joined the Count Basie Orchestra where he came to prominence as a […]
July 26th in African American History – Charles Albert Tindley
July 26, 1933 Charles Albert Tindley, gospel music composer and Methodist minister, died. Tindley was born July 7, 1851 in Berlin, Maryland. At birth, Tindley’s father was enslaved, but his mother was free, therefore he was considered free. Tindley was primarily self-educated, but he did attend night courses and took correspondence courses as the Boston […]
July 26th in African American History – Mary Esther Wells
July 26, 1992 Mary Esther Wells, singer and “The Queen of Motown,” died. Wells was born May 13, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. By the age of 10, she had moved from singing in church choirs to performing in nightclubs around Detroit. In 1960, she was signed to Tamla Records, a subsidiary of Motown, and wrote […]
July 22nd in African American History – Lonette McKee
July 22, 1954 Lonette McKee, singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, was born in Detroit, Michigan. McKee was a child prodigy, writing music, singing, and playing keyboards at the age of seven. At 15, McKee wrote the title song for the film “Quadroon.” McKee began her film career in the movie “Sparkle” (1976). Other films include […]
July 18th in African American History – Martha Rose Reeves
July 18, 1941 Martha Rose Reeves, R&B singer and former politician, was born in Eufaula, Alabama but raised in Detroit, Michigan. In 1957, Reeves formed a vocal group called the Del-Phis with three other female teenagers and they recorded one single, “I’ll Let You Know”, in 1961. In 1962, the group, minus one member, signed […]
July 17th in African American History – John William Coltrane
July 17, 1967 John William Coltrane, jazz saxophonist and composer, died. Coltrane was born September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. In 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy and played in the Navy jazz band. After returning to civilian life, Coltrane began freelancing around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From October, 1955 to April, 1957, Coltrane […]