Get Off My Wings! » Music History Fact Of The Week

Music History Fact: Concept Albums

Elsie Law — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 21:41:56 +0000

“[Nat King] Cole and [Frank] Sinatra became the first and second performers to record concept albums; LPs with a theme, more than just a collection of singles.” -From, “Nat King Cole” By: Daniel Epstein

Music History Fact Of The Week: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. & Fats Waller

Elsie Law — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 19:13:49 +0000

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Fats Waller were childhood friends. When Fats Waller passed in 1943, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. delivered his eulogy.

Music History Fact Of The Week: Natalie Cole

Elsie Law — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 19:38:08 +0000

Natalie Cole was the first female artist to have two platinum album releases in the same year: “Thankful, Thankful” and “Unpredictable”; both released in 1977.

Music History Fact Of The Week: Lou Rawls & Sam Cooke Were High School Classmates

Elsie Law — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 21:17:04 +0000

According to Bobby Womack’s autobiography, Lou Rawls and Same Cooke were high school classmates.

Music History Fact Of The Week: Dick Gregory Named Marvin Gaye’s Album

Elsie Law — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 19:54:26 +0000

According to a biography written by Marvin Gaye’s wife, Jan Gaye, in addition to giving Marvin Gaye health and nutrition advice, Dick Gregory also gave Marvin Gaye the title to his album, “Here, My Dear.”

Music History Fact Of The Week: James Brown & Bootsy Collins

Elsie Law — Fri, 15 May 2015 18:55:50 +0000

Bootsy Collins first cam to prominence when James Brown hired Bootsy’s band, The Pacesetters, which included Bootsy’s brother, Catfish Collins. James Brown hired the band in 1970 to back him during his performances.

Bootsy Collins was a teenager when he started playing with James Brown.

James Brown changed the name of The Pacesetters to The JBs.

Music History Fact Of The Week

Elsie Law — Fri, 08 May 2015 19:32:33 +0000

Rapper, Scarface, is related to Johnny Nash. The Bob Marley collaborator and “I Can See Clearly Now” creator is a cousin of the rapper/musician.

Music History Fact Of The Week: Jimi Hendrix Winning At The Apollo

Elsie Law — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 01:22:33 +0000

In his autobiography, Nile Rodgers says the following about Jimi Hendrix entering the amateur night competition at New York’s famed Apollo Theater: “Even Jimi Hendrix had won the fabled amateur night contest, and delighted its intolerant crowd, with his acrobatic guitar-playing virtuosity in 1964.”

Music History Fact Of The Week: The Only Million Selling Drum Solo

Elsie Law — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:59:04 +0000

William Randolph “Cozy” Cole created “Topsy Part 2,” the only drum solo that sold more than one million records. The single was released on a Brooklyn-based record label, Love Records.

Music History Fact Of The Week

Elsie Law — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 01:30:07 +0000

Tajh from the R&B group The Boys played baby Kunta Kente in the television series Alex Haley’s Roots.