January 19, 2006 Wilson Pickett, soul singer and songwriter, died. Pickett was born March 18, 1941 in Prattville, Alabama. He grew up singing in church choirs. In 1955, he moved to Detroit, Michigan where his forceful and passionate style of singing was developed. In 1959, he joined the Falcons and in 1962 they released “I […]
Tag Archives | R&B
December 23rd in African American History – Esther Mae Jones Phillips
December 23, 1935 Esther Mae Jones Phillips, R&B vocalist, was born in Galveston, Texas. In 1949, she won the amateur talent contest and began touring as “Little Esther Phillips.” In 1950, she recorded her first hit record, “Double Crossing Blues,” and that was followed by other hits such as “Mistrusting Blues,” “Misery,” and “Wedding Boogie.”
December 19th in African American History – Roebuck “Pops” Staples
December 19, 2000 Roebuck “Pops” Staples, gospel and R&B musician, died. Staples was born December 28, 1914 on a cotton plantation near Winona, Mississippi. He dropped out of school after the eighth grade. In 1935, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he sang with the Trumpet Jubilees. In 1948, he formed The Staple Singers with […]
December 12th in African American History – Ike Wister Turner
December 12, 2007 Ike Wister Turner, bandleader and record producer, died. Turner was born November 5, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. His music career began in the late 1940s when he formed a group called The Kings of Rhythm. In 1951, the band recorded “Rocket 88” which many historians recognize as the first rock and roll […]
November 10th in African American History – Gerald Edward Levert
November 10, 2006 Gerald Edward Levert, singer, songwriter and producer, died. Levert was born July 13, 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but raised in Cleveland, Ohio. While in high school, he formed the group LeVert in 1984. Four of the group’s seven albums, “I Get Her” (1985), “Bloodline” (1986), “The Big Throwdown” (1987), and “Just Coolin’” […]
September 30th in African American History – Franklin Joseph “Frankie” Lymon
September 30, 1942 Franklin Joseph “Frankie” Lymon, R&B singer and songwriter, was born in Harlem, New York. At the age of 12, Lymon began singing in a group that called itself both The Ermines and The Premiers. In 1955, they wrote the song “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.” On the day of recording, the […]
August 7th in African American History – Esther Mae Jones Phillips
August 7, 1984 Esther Mae Jones Phillips, R&B vocalist, died. Phillips was born December 23, 1935 in Galveston, Texas. In 1949, she won an amateur talent contest and began touring as “Little Esther Phillips.” In 1950, she recorded her first hit record, “Double Crossing Blues,” and that was followed by other hits such as “Mistrusting […]