February 15, 1965 Nat King Cole, jazz pianist and singer, died. Cole was born Nathaniel Adam Coles on March 17, 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama. He began performing in the 1930s with the King Cole Trio and in 1943 they signed with Capitol Records.
Tag Archives | singer
February 10th in African American History – Roberta Flack
February 10, 1937 Roberta Flack, singer, songwriter and musician, was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina. During her early teens, Flack so excelled at classical piano that Howard University awarded her a full music scholarship at the age of 15 and she graduated at the age of 19.
February 6th in African American History – Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley
February 6, 1945 Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, singer and songwriter, was born in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. In 1963, Marley formed a group that eventually came to be called The Wailers. Their first album, “Catch a Fire,” was released in 1973 and it was followed a year later by “Burnin” which included the hit songs […]
January 30th in African American History – Ruth Alston Weston (Ruth Brown)
January 30, 1928 Ruth Alston Weston (Ruth Brown), R&B singer and actress, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. Brown recorded her first hit, “So Long,” in 1949 and from that time to 1955 was on the R&B charts for 149 weeks with 16 top 10 blues records, including five number ones. Those hits were “Teardrops From […]
January 22nd in African American History – Samuel Cooke
January 22, 1931 Samuel Cooke, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Cooke began his career singing gospel. In 1950, he became the lead singer for The Soul Stirrers who recorded several hits, including “Peace in the Valley” (1951) and “One More River” (1955). In 1957, Cooke left The Soul Stirrers and recorded […]
January 13th in African American History – Theodore DeReese “Teddy” Pendergrass
January 13, 2010 Theodore DeReese “Teddy” Pendergrass, singer and songwriter, died. Pendergrass was born March 26, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began his career as a drummer with The Cadillacs, who soon merged with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. With Pendergrass singing lead vocals, the group had such hits as “If You Don’t Know […]
January 11th in African American History – Mary Jane Blige
January 11, 1971 Mary Jane Blige, singer, record producer and “Queen of Hip Hop Soul,” was born in The Bronx, New York. Blige spent her early years in Savannah, Georgia where she sang in a church choir. In 1989, she was signed by Uptown Records, becoming the label’s youngest and first female artist. In 1991, […]