October 3, 1975 India Arie Simpson (India.Arie), singer, songwriter and record producer, was born in Denver, Colorado. Arie’s mother moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia when she was 13. She attended Savannah College of Arts and Design to study jewelry making and, while there, gained an interest in the guitar. Arie eventually formed an independent […]
Tag Archives | songwriter
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 […]
September 9th in African American History – Otis Ray Redding, Jr.
September 9, 1941 Otis Ray Redding, Jr., singer and songwriter, was born in Dawson, Georgia. Redding grew up in Macon, Georgia where he sang in the church choir and won the local talent show 15 weeks in a row. In 1960, Redding began to tour the South and in 1962 recorded “These Arms of Mine”, […]
September 4th in African American History – Beyoncé Giselle Knowles
September 4, 1981 Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, singer, songwriter, actress and model, was born in Houston, Texas. At the age of eight, Knowles, along with LaTavia Robinson and Kelly Rowland, began performing with the group Girl’s Tyme. In 1993, the group changed its name to Destiny’s Child and in 1998 they released their self-titled debut album. […]
August 19th in African American History – Blind Willie McTell
August 19, 1959 Blind Willie McTell, blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, died. McTell was born William Samuel McTier and blind in one eye on May 5, 1898 in Thomson, Georgia. He learned to play the guitar and loss his remaining vision at an early age. McTell began his recording career in 1927 and in the […]
August 14th in African American History – Abbey Lincoln
August 14, 2010 Abbey Lincoln, jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress, died. Abbey Lincoln was born Anna Marie Wooldridge on August 6, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. She moved to California in 1951 to perform in nightclubs. In 1956, she began her recording career with “Abbey Lincoln’s Affair: A Story of a Girl in Love.” Other recordings […]
August 9th in African American History – Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr.
August 9, 2008 Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr., musician, songwriter, singer and actor, died. Hayes was born August 20, 1942 in Covington, Tennessee. He began his career in the early 1960s as a session player, songwriter, and producer at Stax Records. Along with his partner David Porter, Hayes wrote a string of hits for the artists […]