| James Brown’s favorite singer and the inspiration for generations of musicians, Little Willie John was the unjustly forgotten singer whose deep blues, rollicking rock ‘n’ roll, and swinging ballads formed the basis for what we know as soul music. Written by esteemed music journalist Susan Whitall and with a foreword by Stevie Wonder, the singer receives his due in the first-ever official biography based on his fast life and strange death, FEVER |
I introduced a new structure for listing the albums and 12inches. You can now better view per period which albums an artist has recorded. Period 1980-1989 is the default, because these years are Black Music DB speciality. If you want see the albums/12inches of an other period you can click the appropriate years. The default album sorting order is by year (descending).
MarkB
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DETROIT (AP) - Ali-Ollie Woodson, who led the legendary Motown quintet The Temptations in the 1980s and '90s and helped restore them to their hit-making glory with songs including "Treat Her Like A Lady," has died, a friend said. He was 58. Woodson died Sunday in southern California after battling cancer, Motown Alumni Association President Billy Wilson said. Wilson said Woodson's wife, Juanita, told him about the death Sunday. Woodson was not an original member of the group, which had several lineup changes since it started in the 1960s. But he played an integral part in keeping the Temptations from becoming just nostalgia act. |
Nick Ashford of the famous songwriter/producer duo Ashford and Simpson died in New York on August 22, 2011.
Nick Ashford Together with Valerie Simpson started their career in the mid-1960s, writing for artists such as The 5th Dimension, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles. Their work with Ray Charles brought them to the attention of Motown chief Berry Gordy. They joined Motown and started writing songs for Marvin Gaye. Later on they produces three albums for the Diana Ross and the Supremes. Gladys Knight and the pips song some Ashford & Simpson penned songs.
In 1974, Ashford & Simpson married and resumed their career as a duo with the Warner Bros. album, Gimme Something Real. This was followed by the hit singles, "Don't Cost You Nothin'" (1977), "It Seems To Hang On" (1978), "Is It Still Good to Ya" (1978), "Found a Cure" (1979), "Street Corner" (1982), and their biggest hit, "Solid", released in 1984.
Nick Ashford died of complications from throat cancer. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Nick Ashford RIP
| Imagine your standing on a record fair or in a record shop and you want to buy that album or maxi but you have the doubts, is it the one i've seen? Do I have it already? Is it the right label? From which year is it? The seller doesn't know which album you mean! From now on you can reach your favorite soul and funk music site everywhere on your PDA, MDA or PocketPC. I have created a new site for all soulandfunkmusic.com visitors. You can access the PDA site by typing pda.soulandfunkmusic.com into your mobile or PocketPC. For any questions, remarks, requests please use the contact info link from the mainmenu. Mark |
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Gerald Levert, the son of O' Jays Eddie Levert, is no longer here. He passed away on 10th of november at age of 40 due to a heart attack. Gerald started with the group Levert back in 1985 where he recorded the album 'I Get Hot' and followed by Bloodline in 1986. Levert consist of the trio Gerald Levert, brother Sean Levert and Marc Gordon. The Big Throwdown, and Just Coolin', released in 1987 and 1988, respectively, both received gold certification. Beginning in the 1990s, Gerald began dividing his time between LeVert, and his solo career, but the band released three more albums. During his solo career Gerald recorded nine albums, such as Private Line, Groove on, Father & Son with his father Eddie, Gerald's World and Gerald's last album Do I Speak For The World. Gerald also participated in LSG the project with Johnny Gill and Keith Sweat in 1997 and 2003. He also produced several tracks for artists like Miki Howard, James Ingram, Geoff McBride, Keith Washington and others. In the eighties and ninetees he was, for me, one of the biggest musical creaters and inspirators.
My heart and Condolences go out to the Levert Family. Rest In Peace Gerald. Mark @ SoulAndFunkMusic.com |
Renee Diggs-Phillips, former lead singer of the group Starpoint, died at age of 50. She died on 18th march due to complications with her disease Multiple Sclerosis.
Renee met Ernesto Phillips (who died Thursday, April 1, 2004) and his brothers in the early stages of their musical careers. Starpoint were signed to the Polygram imprint, Casablanca / Chocolate City Records in 1980. On that label they recorded four albums.
During the 'Restless' tour, in 1985, Renee was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. After this diagnoses Renee recorded three more outings with Starpoint under bad health conditions. After five years, in 1990, Renee decided to go solo. The U.K. based record company Expansion acquired the rights to the subsequent 1994 recording and released 'Oasis' in late 2000. Renee formed the Renee Diggs Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis.
Thanx Renee for your outstanding vocal contributions. It always gives me the creeps.
RIP
| NEW
YORK (AP) - Wilson Pickett, the soul pioneer best known for the fiery
hits "Mustang Sally" and "In The Midnight Hour," died of a heart attack
Thursday in a Reston, Va., hospital, according to his management
company. He was 64. Chris Tuthill of the management company Talent Source said Pickett had been suffering from health problems for the past year. Pickett lived in Ashburn, Va. . |
| {safm}Gene McFadden{/safm} was diagnosed with liver and lung cancer in 2004 and died at his home in the Mount Airy, Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the 27th January 2006 of cancer. |