December 26, 1999 Curtis Lee Mayfield, singer, songwriter and record producer, died. Mayfield was born June 3, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1954, Mayfield dropped out of school and joined The Roosters who two years later became The Impressions. When Jerry Butler left the group, Mayfield became the lead singer. The Impressions were successful with [...]
Tag Archives | Songwriters Hall of Fame
December 24th in African American History – Dave Bartholomew
December 24, 1920 Dave Bartholomew, musician, band leader, composer and arranger, was born in Edgard, Louisiana. Bartholomew has been active in many musical genres, but his partnership with Fats Domino produced some of his greatest successes. Together, they wrote and recorded more than 40 hit songs, including “Goin’ Home” (1952), “Ain’t That a Shame” (1855), [...]
December 10th in African American History – Otis Ray Redding, Jr.
December 10, 1967 Otis Ray Redding, Jr., singer and songwriter, died in a plane crash. Redding was born September 9, 1941 in Dawson, Georgia. He 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 touring the south [...]
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”, [...]
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 [...]
April 29th in African American History – Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington
April 29, 1899 Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington, composer, pianist and big band leader, was born in Washington, D. C. Ellington began taking piano lessons at the age of 7 and at 14 wrote his first composition, “Soda Fountain Rag.” At the age of 18, he formed his first group, The Duke’s Serenaders, who played throughout [...]