Musical News - Mary Wilson (the Supremes)

Mary Wilson, founding member of the stars of Motown, the Supremes, has passed away on February 8, 2021, at the age of 76. Her cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Ms. Wilson was born in Greenville, MS on March 6, 1944. She lived in St. Louis, MO and Chicago, IL prior to landing in Detroit, MI in the early 1950s. She joined the Primettes in 1959, before graduating high school. They were signed to Motown in 1961, at which time the group’s name was changed to the Supremes. The rest, as they say, is history,

The Supremes began a string of number 1 hits in 1964 with “Where Did Our Love Go”. Ms. Wilson sang background on 10 of the 12 hits. She was the longest-lasting member of the Supremes, being a member until the group disbanded in 1977. She enjoyed a brief solo career following the group’s breakup.

Ms. Wilson produced a best-selling memoir, “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme”, in 1986 and a second best-selling memoir, ‘Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together” in 1990.

Ms. Wilson was involved in various legal disputes over the management of the Supremes and over the name itself. She played a role in lobbying for the “Truth in Music” legislation, which determines who is allowed to use a group’s name.

Ms. Wilson continued to perform concerts and appear on shows such as “Dancing with the Stars”. She performed work for various charities, namely Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, and the NAACP.

Ms. Wilson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Newspaper Publishers Association in 2020. She was inducted, along with the Supremes, into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame class of 2013.

This truly marks the end of an era.

Mary Wilson

(March 6, 1944 – February 8, 2021)

© 02/09/2021

Musical News - John 'Ecstacy" Fletcher (Whodini)

John "Ecstacy" Fletcher, rapper and co-founder of the hip hop group Whodini, passed away on December 23, 2020 at the age of 56.

Whodini was formed in 1982 by John Fletcher, Jalil Hutchins, and DJ Crew Carter (also known as “Grandmaster Dee”). The group was wildly popular throughout the 1980s with such hits as “Friends”, “Five Minutes of Funk”, and “Freaks Come Out at Night” (1984) and “Funky Beat” and “One Love” (1986).

The group laid the foundation for the genre “New Jack Swing” which consisted of elements of jazz, funk, rap, and rhythm and blues.

In 2007, Whodini was featured at the 4th VH1 Hip Hop Honors. In 2012, Whodini was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. And in 2018, the group was awarded the Hip-Hop Icon Award.

In the 1980s, Whodini was the favorite group of everybody’s mom. We blasted their music in our homes so that people outside could hear and enjoy it.

We hope Ecstasy is still rocking the Funky Beat, wherever he may be.

John “Ecstasy” Fletcher

(June 7, 1964 – December 23, 2020)

© 12/23/2020

Musical News - Rance Allen

Bishop Rance Allen, gospel music royalty, died on October 31, 2020 at the age of 71, following a medical procedure.

Bishop Allen was born in Monroe, Michigan on November 20, 1948. He began singing and preaching at the age of five. He and brothers Tom and Steve formed the Rance Allen Group in the 1960s.

Bishop Allen was a vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter. A favorite song by the group is “Ain’t No Need of Crying” from 1975. This song is perfect for the times.

Bishop Allen was an evangelist and minister in the New Bethel Church of God in Christ who was promoted to bishop in 2011.

The Bishop has now been elevated to his highest position ever!

Bishop Rance Allen (November 20, 1948 – October 31, 2020) © 10/31/2020

Musical News - Johnny Nash

Johnny Nash, soulful singer of the 1970s, passed away on October 6, 2020 at the age of 80.

Mr. Nash was born in Houston, TX on August 19, 1940. As a child, he sang in the choir at Progressive New Hope Baptist Church. At the age of 13, he began to perform on local variety shows, as well as radio and television shows. He enjoyed mild success as a screen actor.

In the mid-1960s, Nash was introduced to Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, and Rita Marley, and signed them to Cayman Music.

In 1972, Mr. Nash recorded “I Can See Clearly Now,” which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. The recording reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In June of 2019, Johnny Nash’s material was among that of hundreds of artists which was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire.

John Lester Nash (August 19, 1940 – October 6, 2020) © 10/06/2020

Musical News - Pamela Hutchinson (The Emotions)

Pamela Hutchinson, member of The Emotions, called one of the most influential girl groups of all time, has died on September 18, 2020 at the age of 61. She had been experiencing long-term health challenges.

The Emotions recorded their debut album. “So I Can Love You” in 1969, but sister Pamela did not join The Emotions until 1977, when they recorded “Rejoice”. From that album came "Best of My Love" which reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance, as well as an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. “Best of My Love” was certified platinum.

Pamela sang with her older sisters Wanda, Sheila, and Jeanette Hutchinson for several years, eventually rejoining the group in 2000. We all remember and love many songs by the iconic group The Emotions. While we listen, we cannot help but recall Pamela Hutchinson.

Pamela Hutchinson (1959 – September 18, 2020) © 09/22/2020

Musical News - Edna Wright (Honey Cone)

Edna Wright, lead singer of the 1970s soul group Honey Cone, passed away on September 12, 2020 at the age of 76. She was born in 1944 in Los Angeles, CA and died in Encino, CA as the result of a heart attack.

Ms. Wright began her career by singing in a gospel choir. In the 1960s, she sang background for the Righteous Brothers and Ray Charles. She co-founded Honey Cone in 1968, and they recorded their only hit, “Want Ads” in 1971. They recorded "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" in 1972. The group disbanded in 1973.

Ms. Wright was also a backup artist in the 1980s and 1990s for artists such as U2, Kim Carnes, Aaron Neville and Andraé Crouch, and she was a member of Ray Charles’ backup group, the Raylettes.

Edna Wright (1944 – September 12, 2020) © 09/17/2020

Musical News - Ronald Bell (Kool & the Gang)

Ronald Nathan Bell, co-founder of Kool & the Gang, died suddenly on September 9, 2020 at the age of 68. He was a composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer who (along with his brother Robert “Kool” Bell) was introduced to jazz at the age of five.

Ronald composed some of the group’s biggest hits, including “Celebration” (1980), “Cherish” (1985), “Jungle Boogie” (1973) and “Summer Madness” (1974.

The group won a Grammy in 1978 for their work on the soundtrack for “Saturday Night Fever” and was honored with a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. They were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

Kool & the Gang was one of our all-time favorite groups, and I am sure Celebration is still being played, somewhere in the world.

Ronald “Khalis” Bell (November 1, 1951 – September 9, 2020) © 09/10/2020