Murder Inc. Records, a Hip Hop record label, was founded by brothers Chris Gotti and Irving Domingo “Irv Gotti” Lorenzo Jr. in 1998. It signed artists such as Jeffery Bruce “Ja Rule” Atkins, Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas, Tiffany “Charli Baltimore” Lane, Ramel Leroy “Black Child” Gill, … Read MoreMurder Inc. Records (1998-)
Media critic Eric Deggans was born on November 6, 1965, in Washington, D.C. to Chuck Deggans and Carolyn Jean McClellan Deggans Williams, a life member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Deggans was reared, however, in Gary, Indiana, and graduated from Andrean High School, a … Read MoreEric Deggans (1965- )
Lamont Dozier was born Lamont Herbert Dozier on June 16, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Poe Elementary School on the city’s west side and wrote his first lyrics, “A Song,” and composed the piano accompaniment in 1953 at 12. He then attended Hutchins Junior … Read MoreLamont Dozier (1941- )
Rhythm and Blues singer Eddie Holman was born on June 3, 1946 in Norfolk, Virginia and introduced to the piano and guitar at the age of 2. In 1954, his family relocated to New York City and two years later Holman won first prize at … Read MoreEddie Holman (1946- )
The R&B doo-wop ensemble Brenda & the Tabulations began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1966. They comprised vocalist/ lyricist Brenda J. Payton (Hill), born in the city on October 24, 1945, composer/ guitarist Eddie L. Jackson, born in 1947 in Forest City, North Carolina, Maurice Coates … Read MoreBrenda & the Tabulations (1966-1987)
The Monotones were a six-member American doo-wop group in the 1950s. Though they recorded other songs, they had only one hit single, “The Book of Love,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 100 chart in 1958. The teenagers lived in Baxter Housing Project and … Read MoreThe Monotones (1957-1962)
The Capitols, an R&B doo-wop trio, originally known as the Three Caps, was formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962 with a lineup that included principal vocalist and percussionist Samuel George Jr. (born January 23, 1942), guitarist/percussionist Don Storball, whose birth name was Don Norman and … Read MoreThe Capitols (1962-1969)
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is a hip-hop group that includes members Bryon Anthony “Bizzy Bone” McCane II, Charles “Wish Bone” Scruggs, Steven “Layzie Bone” Howse, Anthony “Krayzie Bone” Henderson, and Stanley “Flesh-n-Bone” Howse. The group is credited with popularizing the Hip Hop subgenre Chopper Rap during the … Read MoreBone Thugs-N-Harmony (1991- )
The Detroit Emeralds, an R&B/ soul vocal ensemble, was formed in 1966 in Detroit, Michigan, by two brothers and a childhood friend. However, they were originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. The members were brothers Ivory Tilmon (born September 14, 1941), composer/ lyricist Abrim Tilmon (born … Read MoreDetroit Emeralds (1966-1978)
R&B composers, lyricists James Samuel “Jimmy Jam” Harris III (born June 6, 1959, in Minneapolis, Minnesota), and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956, in Omaha, Nebraska), were one of the most successful songwriting teams of the late 20th Century. Harris was a senior, and … Read MoreJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (1981- )
