October 10, 2001 Eddie Futch, hall of fame boxing trainer, died. Futch was born August 9, 1911 in Hillsboro, Mississippi, but raised in Detroit, Michigan. In 1932, he won the Detroit Athletic Association Lightweight Championship and in 1933 he won the Detroit Golden Gloves Championship. A heart murmur prevented him from turning professional, therefore he […]
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October 10th in African American History – Solomon Burke
October 10, 2010 Solomon Burke, singer and songwriter, died. Burke was born March 21, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began his adult life as a preacher and host of a gospel radio show. By 1960, Burke began moving toward more secular music. His first hit was “Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)” […]
October 9th in African American History – Milton Jackson
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.
October 9th in African American History – Michael Singletary
October 9, 1958 Michael Singletary, hall of fame football player and former head coach, was born in Houston, Texas. Singletary played college football at Baylor University where he earned All-American honors in 1979 and 1980. He is the only two-time winner of the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy given to the most outstanding player in the […]
October 8th in African American History – Wangari Muta Maathai
October 8, 2004 Wangari Muta Maathai became the first African woman and environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her “contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.” Maathai was born April 1, 1940 in Nyeri District, Kenya. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and […]
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 […]