Musical News - Little Richard

Little Richard, who was often referred to as “The Innovator,” “The Originator, and the “Architect of Rock and Roll,” died on May 9, 2019 from bone cancer. He was 87 years old.

Richard Wayne Penniman was born on December 5, 1932 in Macon, GA to a religious family. He began singing in church at a very early age. By fifth grade, he played alto saxophone in his school’s marching band.

In 1947,  Richard began opening shows for Sister Rosetta Tharpe. He was inspired to play piano after hearing Ike Turner play “Rocket 88.” While still in high school, Richard left home and began performing in vaudeville shows.

Richard had his first hit in 1955, which was titled “Tutti Frutti” and sold a million copies. Other hits such as “Long Tall Sally” (1956), “Lucille” (1957), and “Good Golly Miss Molly” (1960) quickly followed.

In about 1958, Richard returned to his gospel roots and did not record secular music again until 1962.

 In 1986, Little  Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1993, he received a Grammy lifetime achievement award. He received so many accolades that it is difficult to name them all. He was well known for his flamboyant hairstyles, makeup, and clothes.

The story of Little Richard’s life was brought to the big screen in 2000, with Leon playing the lead role.

Richard was indubitably one of a kind. Although he had not performed publicly for some time before his death, he will never be forgotten.

 

Richard Wayne Penniman

(December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020)

Musical News - Bill Withers

Bill Withers, Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and musician, died on March 30, 2020 of heart complications, at the age of 81. Mr. Withers burst upon the scene in 1971 with “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Grandma’s Hands”. He continued his string of hits with “Lean on Me” and “Use Me,” both from 1972. He recorded “Lovely Day” in 1977 and then “Just the Two of Us” with Grover Washington Jr. in 1981. Mr. Withers was nominated for a total of nine Grammy Awards and won three. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. Two of his songs, “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Just the Two of Us” were also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Bill was a force of nature, one of which was certainly a pleasure to deal with.

William “Bill” Harrison Withers Jr.  

July 4, 1939 – March 30, 2020

© 04/06/2020

Musical News - James Ingram

James Edward Ingram was born on February 16, 1952 in Akron, Ohio. He passed away on January 29, 2019 at the age of 66, after a diagnosis of brain cancer.

As have many of our finest musicians, James started out in the church choir where his father was a deacon. He taught himself to play piano at an early age. Although he was a gifted athlete, James decided to focus on music, and he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams.

As a young man, James joined a band called Revelation Funk and recorded a song featured in the movie “Dolemite.” He subsequently played piano for Ray Charles and appeared as a member of a support band for Dick Clark. Later, he was discovered by Quincy Jones and asked to perform “One Hundred Ways” and “Just Once” on Quincy’s 1981 album “The Dude” and so became an overnight sensation.

James performed duets with such distinguished singers as Patti Austin, Linda Ronstadt, Anita Baker, and Michael McDonald. He appeared on several works of other artists and brought the voice that only he could bring. He appeared in three films and made numerous television appearances. He co-wrote several songs that became popular for other artists, such as Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” from 1984.

James won two Grammy Awards for “One Hundred Ways” (1982) and “Yah Mo B There” (1985) (and was nominated for twelve others). He was nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. He had many hits on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B, and Pop charts, including “I Don’t Have the Heart” (1983), his only solo venture to make it to number 1.

Although we primarily knew James as a singer with a beautiful voice, he was also a talented songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist. All of these talents made him one of the greats, and he will truly be missed.

  

 James Edward Ingram [02/16/1952 – 01/29/2019]

© 01/30/2019

 

 

 

 

 

Musical News - Nancy Wilson

Greetings!

Nancy Sue Wilson was born on February 20, 1937 in Chillicothe, OH and died on December 13, 2018 at the age of 81.

Sometimes known as Fancy Miss Nancy, she won a talent contest at the age of 15, which led to her performing on and then hosting a weekly radio show.

In 1964, Miss Nancy recorded “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am”, which made it to no. 11 on Billboard’s Top 100. (I remember that song so well because we had it in our living room on vinyl when I was very young.) She debuted “Guess Who I Saw Today” in 1962, and it is another of my favorites.

The inimitable Miss Nancy won three Grammy Awards over five decades for the albums “How Glad I Am” (1965), R.S.V.P (Rare Songs, Very Personal) (2005), and “Turned to Blue” (2007). She won numerous and varied other awards, such as the NAACP Image Award, a Trumpet Award for Outstanding Achievement, and an NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship Award. She was granted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Big Band  and Jazz Hall of Fame. For a decade, she hosted the NPR Jazz Profiles program.

My daughter attended high school with Miss Nancy’s daughter in the 1990s, and when Miss Nancy came to town, my daughter and I saw her at Kimball’s East. I only regret that I did not accompany my daughter backstage when I had the opportunity to meet this lovely lady.

 

Nancy Sue Wilson (1937 – 2018)

Musical News - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul

The legendary Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has died on August 16 2018 at the age of 76. She had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Aretha was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, TN to the Reverend C. L. Franklin. Almost from the beginning, she sang and played the piano in her father’s church choir at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, MI. She developed into a fantastic gospel singer, sometimes traveling on the road with Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. In the early 1960s she recorded standards, jazz, blues, doo-wop, and rhythm and blues.

In 1960 at the age of 18, Aretha began singing R&B music. She signed a contract with Atlantic Records and from the beginning of her reign in the 1960s, she recorded a number of hits, such as “I Never Loved a Man,” “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” and the ever popular “Respect,” all from 1967. Aretha’s special voice and delivery were a part of the sound track of my childhood.

Aretha won a total of 18 Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, becoming the first female inductee. Throughout her career, she was awarded numerous honors, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. She is listed on the Rolling Stones 100 greatest artists of all time. In 2014, an asteroid was named in her honor. In 2017, a street in Detroit was renamed Aretha Franklin Way. She had a total of 20 number one hits during her lifetime.

Queen Aretha performed before presidents and queens and Super Bowl audiences, never failing to impress. Over the course of her decades long career, Aretha sold more than 75 million records worldwide.

All hail the Queen! She is already missed.

 

Aretha Louise Franklin [03/25/1942 – 08/16/2018]

© 08/16/2018

Pete Moore - The Miracles

Pete Moore of the Miracles died on November 19, 2017, his 79th birthday. His death was attributable to complications of diabetes. He was a co-founder of the Miracles, a singer-songwriter, and a vocal arranger. He co-wrote many hits for the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and for the Miracles. Notable hits are Ooh, Baby Baby 1965) and The Tracks of My Tears (1965). Mr. Moore sang co-lead on Doggone Right (1969) and produced Choosey Beggar (1969), Here I Go Again (1969), and Baby, Baby Don’t Cry (1969).

Pete’s compositions were recorded by many famous artists, including Michael Jackson, Ramsey Lewis, Luther Vandross, and the Four Tops.

Pete was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame. He was also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mr. Moore’s contributions to music are too numerous to name.

 

 

Warren Thomas “Pete” Moore [11/19/1938 – 11/19/2017]
© 07/07/2018

 

Musical News - Pam the Funkstress

DJ Pam Warren, better known as Pam the Funkstress, died on December 22, 2017 as a result of complications resulting from organ transplant surgery. Pam was 51 years of age.

Pam was the DJ for Oakland Bay Area socially conscious rap group The Coup, from its inception in the early 1990s. The Coup is perhaps best known for “Not Yet Free” and “Dig It”, featuring Pam. Pam also DJed on local radio station KBLX for a number of years. In addition to her association with The Coup, Pam DJed for Prince during his final tour, earning her nickname Purple Pam and marking her as the best of the best.

In addition to her legendary talent on the turntables, Pam was a chef in her own spot, Piccadilly Restaurant & Catering in Foster City, CA.

Pam was one of the first female DJs in hip-hop and had a stellar reputation in the music community. She mentored many young DJs and was thought of as The Turntable Queen. It was posted on social media by DJ Styles upon Pam’s death that she was taken from us because Prince needed his DJ. Perhaps they are now making beautiful music together, wherever they are.
 

 Pam Warren [11/1966 – 12/22/2017]

© 05/04/2018