Tate Dunbar, Author at

Student Historian

Tate Dunbar is an undergraduate at the University of Washington, Seattle, who is majoring in psychology while minoring in African American studies. As he approaches graduation and afterwards graduate school, he hopes to research animal behavior. In his leisure time he loves to play basketball and explore the University of Washington campus in Seattle.

Kenneth Brian “Babyface” Edmonds (1959- )

Kenneth Brian Edmonds, known professionally as “Babyface,” would become one of the most successful music producers in the nation in a career that spanned nearly three decades. Edmonds was born on April 10, 1959 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Marvin and Barbara Edmonds. He began his musical career at the age of … Read MoreKenneth Brian “Babyface” Edmonds (1959- )

Little Willie John (1937-1968)

Little Willie John, born William Edward John on November 15th, 1937, was one of ten children born in Cullendale, Arkansas to Mertis John and mother Lillie John. His family migrated north to Detroit, Michigan in the 1940s so his father could find work. Little Willie John was a musically gifted child who performed … Read MoreLittle Willie John (1937-1968)

Arthur Conley (1946-1988)

Arthur Lee Conley was born on January 4, 1946 in McIntosh County, Georgia but grew up in Atlanta. At the age of 12 he was part of a gospel group that appeared frequently on the local radio station, WAOK. By 1963 at the age of 17, he led the R&B group … Read MoreArthur Conley (1946-1988)

LaVern Baker (1929-1997)

R&B singer LaVern Baker was born Delores LaVern Evans in Chicago, Illinois on November 11, 1929. Baker was described as one of the most eccentric, beautiful divas of her time. Although her actual music career wouldn’t begin until 1949 she first began singing in Chicago as early as 1946 … Read MoreLaVern Baker (1929-1997)

Luther Vandross (1951-2005)

Singer and entertainer Luther Vandross was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York on April 20, 1951. As a child he was influenced to seek a music career like his older sister, Patricia Van Dross, who was a member of an all-girl R&B group, The Crests, … Read MoreLuther Vandross (1951-2005)

The Marvelettes (1960-1972)

The Marvelettes were an all-girl group whose original members were Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart, and Georgia Dobbins. They came together in a high school glee club in their home town of Inkster, Michigan in 1959. In 1960, they auditioned at year-old Motown records where founder Berry Gordy praised … Read MoreThe Marvelettes (1960-1972)

The Moonglows (1949-1957)

The Moonglows were one of the early influential groups in rhythm and blues. Formed as a duo in Cleveland, Ohio in 1949 by Harvey Fuqua and Bobby Lester as the two friends returned from the U.S. Army, they were later joined by Ed Wiley. The trio began making what was then … Read MoreThe Moonglows (1949-1957)

Chic (1977- )

Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers both had experience with music coming out of Stuyvesant High School in New York City, New York as trained jazz musicians. They met in 1970 and in 1972 they created the jazz/ rock group, The Big Apple Band. They performed first in New York City but finally became … Read MoreChic (1977- )

En Vogue (1989- )

En Vogue was conceived by Oakland, California record producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy in 1989 with Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones as the original four-member girl group. They were chosen after auditions given by Foster and McElroy who named them En Vogue after … Read MoreEn Vogue (1989- )

Bill Withers (1938-2020)

Singer and musician William Harrison Withers Jr., known to the world as Bill Withers, was born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, on July 4, 1938, to William and Mattie (Galloway) Withers. Born with a stutter, Withers had a difficult time fitting in. His father, a coal … Read MoreBill Withers (1938-2020)