Pianist, singer, lyricist Garland Green, Jr. was born on June 14, 1942, in Dunleith, Mississippi, to Garland Green, Sr. and Mary Green. He was the tenth child of eleven siblings. In 1958, 16-year-old Green moved to Chicago, Illinois and shortly after his arrival he entered … Read MoreGarland Green (1942- )
On June 25, 1939, lyricist, arranger, and choreographer Harold Melvin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A self-taught pianist, as a teenager in 1953, Melvin began singing doo-wop with a vocal ensemble called the Charlemagnes. The following year, 1954, he established a quintet, the Blue Notes … Read MoreHarold Melvin & the Blue Notes (1954-1972)
Popular singer Dionne Warwick was born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12, 1940, in East Orange, New Jersey, to Mancel Warrick, a Pullman porter, chef, and promoter and distributor of recorded music, and Lee Warrick, who managed the gospel group, Drinkard Singers. Warwick was singing … Read MoreDionne Warwick (1940- )
Legendary Composer, singer, lyricist Mary Wells was born Mary Esther Wells on May 13, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan to Arthur Wells and Geneva Campbell Wells. Her brothers were Thomas and Fletcher. When she was two years old, Wells was diagnosed with spinal meningitis and partial … Read MoreMary Wells (1943-1992)
Blues percussionist, guitarist, composer, lyricist Cedric Burnside was born on August 26, 1978, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Calvin Jackson, a Blues percussionist, and Linda Burnside from Holly Springs, Mississippi, where Cedric was reared. He grew up in his grandfather’s home, the legendary North Mississippi hill … Read MoreCedric Burnside (1978- )
Composer, Lyricist, and Rhythm & Blues Singer, Lloyd Price, was born on March 9, 1933, in Kenner, Louisiana, to Louis Price and Beatrice Price, entrepreneurs who owned a restaurant. There were 12 children in the home where Price played the trumpet and piano at an … Read MoreLloyd Price (1933-2021)
Robert “Black Rob” Ross was an American rapper formerly signed to the Bad Boy Records label and was best known for his hit single “Whoa!” Ross was born on July 12, 1969 in Buffalo, New York but he has kept many details about his early … Read MoreRobert Ross (1969-2021)
Sly and The Family Stone is band from San Francisco, California that was active from 1966 to 1983. The band consisted of brothers Sylvester and Freddie and sister Rose Stewart along with Greg Errico, Cynthia Robinson, Jerry Martini, and Larry Graham and was the first … Read MoreSly and The Family Stone (1966-1983)
Manu Dibango was a saxophonist from Cameroon whose 60 years of experience in the music industry inspired some of the world’s most famous artists. Dibango was also one of the first high-profile people to die after catching COVID-19, the coronavirus. Dibango was born in the … Read MoreEmmanuel “Manu” N’Djoké Dibango (1933-2020)
Lonnie Corant Jaman Shuka “Common” Rashid Lynn is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, actor, and songwriter. Common was born on March 13, 1972 in Chicago, Illinois to Mahalia Ann Hines and Lonnie Lynn Sr. Common grew up in the southside of Chicago in the Calumet Heights … Read MoreCommon (1972- )
