February 27, 1968 Franklin Joseph “Frankie” Lymon, R&B singer and songwriter, died from a heroin overdose. Lymon was born September 30, 1942 in Harlem, New York. At the age of 12, he began singing in a group that called itself both The Ermines and The Premiers. In 1955, they wrote the song “Why Do Fools […]
Tag Archives | R&B
February 15th in African American History – Marion “Little Walter” Jacobs
February 15, 1968 Marion “Little Walter” Jacobs, blues harmonica player, died. Jacobs was born May 1, 1930 in Marksville, Louisiana. Jacobs moved to Chicago in 1945 and from 1948 to 1952 played in Muddy Walters’ band. His harmonica is featured on most of Walters’ classic recordings from the 1950s.
November 23rd in African American History – Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr
November 23, 1995 Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr. (Junior Walker), saxophonist and bandleader, died. Walker was born June 14, 1931 in Blytheville, Arkansas but grew up in South Bend, Indiana. In the mid-1950s, he started a band called the Jumping Jacks. In 1961, the band signed with Motown Records and their name was changed to Jr. […]
November 17th in African American History – Ruth Brown
November 17, 2006 Ruth Brown, R&B singer and actress, died. Brown was born Ruth Alston Weston on January 30, 1928 in Portsmouth, Virginia. She recorded her first hit, “So Long” in 1949 and from that time to 1955 she was on the R&B charts for 149 weeks with 16 top 10 blues records, including 5 […]
November 11th in African American History – Delores LaVern Baker
November 11, 1929 Delores LaVern Baker, rhythm and blues singer, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Baker began performing around Chicago under various names before settling on LaVern Baker in 1952. Her first hit recording came in 1955 with “Tweedlee Dee”, which reached number 4 on the R&B charts.
November 5th in African American History – Eddie Harris
November 5, 1996 Eddie Harris, jazz musician, died. Harris was born October 20, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. He studied music at DuSable High School and Roosevelt University before he was drafted into the army where he played in the 7th Army Band. His first album, “Exodus to Jazz” (1961), included his jazz arrangement of the […]
September 26th in African American History – Betty Carter
September 26, 1998 Betty Carter, jazz singer, died. Carter was born Lillie Mae Jones on May 16, 1929 in Flint, Michigan but grew up in Detroit. She studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory and by the age of 16 was singing with Charlie Parker. In 1958, Carter released her first solo album, “Out There with […]