by Britt Ryan | Aug 11, 2020 | Today in Music History
Co-creator of “the Philadelphia Sound” with longtime collaborator Leon Huff, and co-writer of such classics grroves as the “Love Train,” “Back Stabbers” and “For the Love of Money” by the O’Jays and the Grammy-winning “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul, Kenny Gamble...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 10, 2020 | Today in Music History
A 13-year-old phenom makes history with the first live recording to hit #1 in the U.S. “Fingertips – Part 2” introduced America to the blind jazz-soul prodigy Stevie Wonder, performing that memorable harmonica solo in a Motown classic that can still inspire goosebumps...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 7, 2020 | Today in Music History
Rahsaan Roland Kirk certainly took the term “multi-instrumentalist” to heart, sometimes playing three saxophones at once while rounding out his sound with clarinets and flutes (not to mention literal “bells and whistles”). Born in the Flytown section of Columbus,...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 6, 2020 | Today in Music History
“C’mon baby, let’s do The Twist.” So sang Chubby Checker on “American Bandstand” on this day in 1960, in a TV appearance that helped launch the song to #1. In an unprecedented twist, the song returned to the #1 spot again 16 months later in January 1962. Just 19 for...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 5, 2020 | Today in Music History
Airto Moreira, born in Brazil on this day in 1941, was a very busy and talented jazz percussionist indeed. In addition to playing with Miles Davis and Weather Report, he can also be heard on records by Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz,...
