December 1, 1940 Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, III, comedian, writer and actor, was born in Peoria, Illinois. After his discharge from the Army in 1960, Pryor began working as a professional comic in clubs throughout the Midwest. In 1963, he moved to New York City and began to gain national recognition and appear on […]
December 1st in African American History – Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, III
Tags: comedian, Emmy Award, Grammy Award, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, writer
November 18th in African American History – Cabell “Cab” Calloway III
Tags: Cab Calloway School of the Arts, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Jazz Hall of Fame, National Medal of Arts
November 18, 1994 Cabell “Cab” Calloway III, jazz singer and bandleader, died. Calloway was born December 25, 1907 in Rochester, New York. After graduating from high school, Calloway joined his sister in a touring production of the black musical revue “Plantation Days.” In 1930, he assumed leadership of his orchestra and they became the co-host […]
October 21st in African American History – John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie
Tags: composer, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, National Endowment for the Arts, National Medal of Arts, NEA Jazz Master
October 21, 1917 John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie, jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer, was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. By the age of 12, Gillespie had taught himself to play the piano, trombone, and trumpet and he took his first professional job at 18. Together with Charlie Parker, Gillespie was a major figure in the development […]
October 18th in African American History – Charles Edward “Chuck” Berry
Tags: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, singer, songwriter
October 18, 1926 Charles Edward “Chuck” Berry, guitarist, singer and songwriter, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Berry made his first public performances while he was still in high school and by early 1953 was performing at popular clubs in East St. Louis, Illinois. In 1955, Berry recorded “Maybelene” which sold over a million copies […]
September 30th in African American History – John Royce “Johnny” Mathis
Tags: Grammy Award, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, singer
September 30, 1935 John Royce “Johnny” Mathis was born in Gilmer, Texas. As a teenager, Mathis was known for his singing and athletic abilities. At San Francisco State College he broke classmate Bill Russell’s high jump record and in 1955 had to decide whether to pursue a recording career or tryout for the 1956 Olympics. […]
September 28th in African American History – Miles Dewey Davis III
Tags: composer, Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame, Grammy Award, Juilliard School of Music, National Endowment for the Arts, NEA Jazz Master, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
September 28, 1991 Miles Dewey Davis III, jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer, died. Davis was born May 26, 1926 in Alton, Illinois. By the age of 16, Davis was a member of the musical society and playing professionally. In 1944, he moved to New York City to study at the Juilliard School of Music. In […]
Groups of Interest
One of the many ways to help us understand the tremendous impact of our famous and most influential leaders is to look at their achievements throughout history. The awards, the championships, the organizations that have been built by individuals are part of the legacy of these trailblazers. African Americans have made their marks all around […]
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- Fred Hampton, Sr – August 30th in African American History
- July 10th in African American History – Mary Jane McLeod Bethune
- February 8th in African American History – Joseph Black
- February 24th in African American History – Alma Woodsey Thomas
- September 19th in African American History – Benjamin Franklin Peay (Brook Benton)
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