October 26, 1952 Hattie McDaniel, the first Black performer to win an Academy Award, died. McDaniel was born June 10, 1895 in Wichita, Kansas. She was a professional singer/songwriter, comedienne, stage and movie actress, and radio performer. Over the course of her career she appeared in more than 300 films, often portraying a maid. In […]
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October 9th in African American History – Rosetta Tharpe
October 9, 1973 Rosetta Tharpe, gospel singer and songwriter, died. Tharpe was born March 20, 1915 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas. She began performing at the age of 4, accompanying her mother at tent revivals across the South. Tharpe made her recording debut in 1938 and soon became the first great recording star of gospel music.
October 1st in African American History – Donny Edward Hathaway
October 1, 1945 Donny Edward Hathaway, R & B singer, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Hathaway began singing in a church choir at the age of three billed as “Donny Pitts, The Nation’s Youngest Gospel Singer”. He also began studying the piano as a child and in 1964 earned a fine arts scholarship to Howard […]
September 30th in African American History – Patrice Louise Rushen
September 30, 1954 Patrice Louise Rushen, R&B singer, songwriter, composer and pianist, was born in Los Angeles, California. At a young age, Rushen was considered a child prodigy. At the age of 18, she won at competition at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival. Rushin earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and piano performance from […]
September 19th in African American History – Benjamin Franklin Peay (Brook Benton)
September 19, 1931 Benjamin Franklin Peay (Brook Benton), singer and songwriter, was born in Lugoff, South Carolina. At the age of 18, Peay moved to New York to pursue his music career. There he changed his name to Brook Benton, at the suggestion of his record label, and earned a good living writing songs for […]
September 18th in African American History – James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix
September 18, 1970 James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix, guitarist, singer and songwriter, died in London, England. Hendrix was born November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington and acquired his first guitar at the age of 15. A self-taught musician, Hendrix moved to New York in 1964 and played with several backing bands for soul, R&B, and blues […]
September 16th in African American History – Riley “B. B.” King
September 16, 1925 Riley “B. B.” King, blues guitarist and singer/songwriter, was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi. In 1948, King moved to Memphis and worked as a singer and disc jockey at the local R&B radio station. King began recording in 1949 and by the 1950s had become one of the most important names in […]