April 25, 1917 Ella Jane Fitzgerald, jazz and pop vocalist also known as the “First Lady of Song,” was born in Newport News, Virginia. Fitzgerald made her singing debut at the age of 17 at the Apollo Theater and won the first prize of $25.00. In 1935, she began singing with the Chick Webb Orchestra […]
Ella Jane Fitzgerald – April 25th in African American History
Tags: April 25, Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame, Grammy Award, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, June 15, National Endowment for the Arts, NEA Jazz Master, Presidential Medal of Freedom, US Stamp
April 13th in African American History – Albert Greene
Tags: Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Grammy Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
April 13, 1946 Albert Greene (Al Green), gospel and soul singer, was born in Forrest City, Arkansas. Green started performing at the age of 10 and in 1967 recorded his debut album, “Back Up Train.” His breakthrough occurred in 1970 with the release of the album “Al Green Gets Next to You” which contained such […]
Marian Anderson – April 8th in African American History
Tags: April 8, February 27, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, NAACP, National Medal of Arts, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Spingarn Medal, US Stamp
April 8, 1993 Marian Anderson, contralto, died. Anderson was born February 27, 1897 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the age of six, she began singing at local functions for small change. She got her first big break in 1925 when she won a singing competition sponsored by the New York Philharmonic. In 1939, the Daughters of the […]
March 28th in African American History – William Christopher “W. C.” Handy
March 28, 1958 William Christopher “W. C.” Handy, blues composer and musician, died. Handy was born November 16, 1873 in Florence, Alabama. At age 23, He became band master of Mahara’s Colored Minstrels and over the next three years toured throughout the United States and Cuba. From 1900 to 1902, he taught music at Alabama […]
March 16th in African American History – Aaron Thibeaux “T-Bone” Walker
Tags: Grammy Award, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, singer, songwriter
March 16, 1975 Aaron Thibeaux “T-Bone” Walker, blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, died. Walker was born May 28, 1910 in Linden, Texas and learned his craft as a teenager. He made his debut recordings in 1929 with “Wichita Falls Blues” and “Trinity River Blues.” Much of his output was recorded between 1946 and 1948, including […]
March 12th in African American History – Charles “Bird” Parker, Jr.
Tags: composer, Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, jazz
March 12, 1955 Charles “Bird” Parker, Jr., jazz saxophonist and composer, died. Parker was born August 29, 1920 in Kansas City, Kansas. He began playing the saxophone at age 11 and by 1938 was touring nightclubs and other venues in the southwest. In 1939, he moved to New York City where on November 26, 1945, […]
March 1st in African American History – Harold George “Harry” Belafonte, Jr.
Tags: Broadway, Civil Rights Movement, Grammy Award, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal of Arts, Navy, social activist, World War II
March 1, 1927 Harold George “Harry” Belafonte, Jr., musician, actor and social activist, was born in New York City. Belafonte served in the United States Navy during World War II and after his discharge began his music career singing in clubs to pay for acting classes.
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Other African American History Posts
- July 10th in African American History – Mary Jane McLeod Bethune
- February 15th in African American History – Nat King Cole
- December 13th in African American History – Dale Raymond Wright
- September 25th in African American History – Scottie Maurice Pippen
- Jacob Lawrence – September 7th in African American History
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