Classic Funk/ R&B band the Brothers Johnson comprised two biological brothers and bandmates, composer/ guitarist/ vocalist George “Lightnin’ Licks” Johnson, born on May 17, 1953, and composer/ bassist/ vocalist Louis E. “Thunder Thumbs” Johnson who was on April 13, 1955. They were both born in … Read MoreBrothers Johnson (1973- )
The Fifth Dimension emerged with clean, breezy harmonies in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, as the Versatiles. The group was composed of jazz singer Lamonte McLemore, opera singer Ron Townson, born on January 29, 1933, St. Louis, Missouri, who received the Bachelor of Arts degree … Read MoreThe Fifth Dimension (1965- )
Sonny Charles Hemphill, arranger, tenor, and director, was born in Blytheville, Arkansas, on September 4, 1940, to sharecroppers. However, at the age of 10, he, his six sisters, and parents moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. At 14 Hemphill, a tenor and harmonica player, sang in … Read MoreSonny Charles and the Checkmates (1969-2008)
In 1967, Edwin Reuben Hawkins—who was born on August 19, 1943, in Oakland, California and had been playing the piano at the age of five and accompanying the Hawkins family gospel group since he was seven—joined his church pianist and soprano Betty Watson of the … Read MoreEdwin Hawkins Singers (1967 – 2018)
Louise Alone Thompson Patterson, civil rights activist, communist, and educator, was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 9, 1901 to Lulu (Louise) F. Brown Toles and William J. Toles. After her parents 1904 separation, Thompson lived in Seattle, Washington as well as Utah, Nevada, Idaho, … Read MoreLouise Thompson Patterson (1901-1999)
Leon Spinks was a professional boxer best known for defeating Muhammad Ali for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship in 1978. Spinks was born on July 11, 1953 to Kay Francis Spinks and Leon Spinks Sr. in St. Louis, Missouri. When Spinks was born, he became ill … Read MoreLeon Spinks (1953-2021)
Aaron Darnell Ford is a lawyer and politician who is serving as the 34th Attorney General of Nevada. Ford was born on May 24, 1972 to Denise and Larry Ford in Dallas, Texas. He is the oldest of three sons. After his parent’s divorce, his … Read MoreAaron Darnell Ford (1972- )
Lieutenant Colonel Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell is the first African American female fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. Kimbrell was born in Lafayette, Indiana on April 20, 1976. Her parents, Eve Blackman Ng A Qui and Dr. Norman N A Qui, migrated from Guyana … Read MoreShawna Rochelle (Ng A Qui) Kimbrell (1976- )
Loletha Elayne Falana, famously known as actress, singer, dancer and model Lola Falana, was born on September 11, 1942 in Camden, New Jersey. Falana’s mother and father are of African-American and Afro-Cuban heritage respectively. Falana was born the third of six children and got her … Read MoreLola Falana (1942- )
William Decker Johnson was the 42nd Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and founder of Johnson Home Industrial College in Archery, Georgia. Born November 15th, 1869 in Glasgow, Thomas County, Georgia to Reverend Andrew Jackson Johnson and Mattie McCullough. Both parents were former … Read MoreWilliam Decker Johnson (1869-1936)
