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 […]
December 26th in African American History – Curtis Lee Mayfield
Tags: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, record producer, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, singer, songwriter, Songwriters Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame
July 18th in African American History – Martha Rose Reeves
Tags: R&B, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, singer, Vocal Group Hall of Fame
July 18, 1941 Martha Rose Reeves, R&B singer and former politician, was born in Eufaula, Alabama but raised in Detroit, Michigan. In 1957, Reeves formed a vocal group called the Del-Phis with three other female teenagers and they recorded one single, “I’ll Let You Know”, in 1961. In 1962, the group, minus one member, signed […]
July 1st in African American History – Renaldo “Obie” Benson
Tags: Motown Records, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame
July 1, 2005 Renaldo “Obie” Benson, member of the Four Tops, died. Benson was born June 14, 1936 in Detroit, Michigan. In 1954, Benson and three friends formed a singing group called the Four Aims. Two years later, they changed their name to the Four Tops and signed with Motown Records. By the end of […]
June 13th in African American History – Clyde McPhatter
Tags: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, singer, Vocal Group Hall of Fame
June 13, 1972 Clyde McPhatter, rhythm and blues singer, died. McPhatter was born November 15, 1932 in Durham, North Carolina. From 1950 to 1953, he performed with Billy Ward & the Dominoes who recorded “Sixty Minute Man” (1951) and “Have Mercy Baby” (1952). In 1953, McPhatter quit that group and formed the Drifters who released […]
March 2nd in African American History – Hank Ballard
Tags: R&B, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, singer, songwriter, Vocal Group Hall of Fame
March 2, 2003 Hank Ballard, Rhythm and Blues singer and songwriter, died. Ballard was born John Henry Kendricks on November 18, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan but raised in Bessemer, Alabama. At 15, Ballard moved back to Detroit where he began his singing career. In 1951, he formed a group which eventually became known as the […]
October 17th in African American History – Levi Stubbs
Tags: Motown Records, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame
October 17, 2008 Levi Stubbs, lead vocalist of the Four Tops, died. Stubbs was born Levi Stubbles on June 6, 1936 in Detroit, Michigan. In 1954, he and three friends formed a singing group called the Four Aims. Two years later they changed their name to the Four Tops and in 1963 signed with Motown […]
Search
Subscribe to TiAAH
African American History Categories
Previous Days in African American History
Other African American History Posts
- March 31st in African American History – James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens
- Varnette Patricia Honeywood – December 27th in African American History
- Andrew Jackson Smith – March 4th in African American History
- Elvin Lamont Bethea – March 1st in African American History
- February 10th in African American History – Roberta Flack
M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
« Feb | ||||||
1 | ||||||
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
30 | 31 |