I am amazed that someone who lived and died several decades before me still intrigues me so. I wonder what Billie would be doing in a world where everyone has a reason to seek rehab? If I had lived in her time and hung out in her circle, I would have tried to help her move away from her demons. I would have been that exhausted friend who could sing a bit, but would never match her genius. And I would have been disappointed that she needed the fix more than me. Perhaps I will wear a gardenia in my hair today.
Happy Thursday and welcome to the Over The Hump Old School Sound Check! #MusicfriendsofTenaciousM enjoy!
The Brothers Johnson is an American funk and R&B band consisting of American musicians and brothers George aka ‘Lightnin’ Licks’ and Louis E. Johnson aka ‘Thunder Thumbs’. They achieved their greatest success from the mid-1970s to early ’80s, with three singles topping the R&B charts (“I’ll Be Good to You”, “Strawberry Letter 23”, and “Stomp!”). Wikipedia
I am just so excited!! The Jimi Hendrix USPS Stamp is coming!
The United States Postal Service released a new Forever stamp honoring the late ’60s rock guitarist as part of its Music Icons series
Jimi Hendrix died 43 years ago at the age of 27, but his legacy will live on “forever” on a new U.S. postage stamp.
The United States Postal Service released a new Forever stamp Thursday depicting the 1960s rock star as part of its Music Icons series, which honored Lydia Mendoza, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles last year. Designed by artist Rudy Gutierrez, the psychedelic-looking stamp shows Hendrix shredding his left-handed guitar.
A dedication ceremony for the stamp is scheduled to take place Thursday at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Tex., followed by a celebration concert featuring former Guns ‘n Roses guitarist Slash, Jane’s Addiction’s singer Perry Farrell, MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, and ex-Doors guitarist Robby Krieger.
“I am deeply touched and so are other members of the Hendrix family by the issuance of this stamp, and I wish to thank the United States Postal Service for bestowing one of our nation’s highest honors on my brother Jimi,” Janie Hendrix, the sister of the late guitarist, said in a press statement. “While my brother has been cited many times as being among the most influential musicians of all time, the recognition implicit in his being portrayed on a U.S. postage stamp ranks as an unparalleled honor.”
The release of the stamp coincides with an upcoming biopic on the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, All Is By My Side, starring Outkast’s Andre 3000, which was scheduled to premiere at SXSW. Last year saw the release of People, Hell & Angels, a posthumous collection of previously unreleased recordings by Hendrix.
Next up in the USPS’ Music Icons series will be a stamp commemorating rock singer Janis Joplin.
The Ohio Players were an American funk and R&B band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their #1 hit songs “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster”.
Gold certifications, records selling at least one million copies, were awarded to the singles “Funky Worm”, “Skin Tight”, “Fire”, and “Love Rollercoaster”; plus to their albums Skin Tight, Fire, and Honey.
On August 17, 2013, The Ohio Players were inducted into the inaugural class of the Official R&B Music Hall of Fame that took place in Cleveland, Ohio. Credit: Wikipedia
Happy International Women’s Day! It’s been a perfect day for listening to an assortment of African music. #musicfriendsofTenaciousM enjoy!
Prophets of Da City (POC) is a hip hop crew from Cape Town, South Africa. They are composed of about eight members, though the exact membership fluctuates frequently; these include Ishmael Morabe (vocals), Mark Heuvel (dance), Shaheen Ariefdien, Ramone and DJ Ready D. Their style uses elements of hip hop music, reggae and traditional African rhythms. Their albums include Our World (1990), Boom Style (1992), Age of Truth (1993), Phunk Phlow (1994), Universal Souljaz (1995), and Ghetto Code (1997). They are currently signed under the independent record label Ghetto Ruff. Credit: Wikipedia
Nomfusi was born in the township of KwaZhakele in the Eastern Cape. Her single mother, Kwazibani (“Who Knows?” in English) raised her while her father languished in jail for 21 years. A domestic worker by day, Kwazibani was a sangoma (African medicine woman) with a gift for music. Nomfusi would accompany her mother to the weekly sangoma rituals (“Intlombe”) where Nomfusi would develop her musicality by dancing and singing for hours. Today she is a two time SAMA nominee, Metro FM Award nominee and has multiple local and international tours under her belt. Credit: Wikipedia
Sonny Okosun (January 1, 1947 in Enugu, Nigeria– May 24, 2008 in Washington DC) was a musician from Nigeria. His surname is sometimes spelled Okosuns and first name Sunny. He was one of the leading Nigerian musicians from the late 1970s to mid ’80s.
His first band, The Postmen, was formed in Enugu in 1965. In 1969 he joined Melody Maestros, a band led by Victor Uwaifo. From 1972 to 1974 he led a group known as Paperback Limited and then formed a new band, Ozziddi. From then on, he released several albums either with Ozziddi, or solo recordings.
His 1977 song, “Fire in Soweto”, became a major international hit. He was featured in the anti-apartheid album Sun City, and his song “Highlife” was in the soundtrack of 1986 film Something Wild. His mainstream success started to fade in the late 1980s, but he continued his career as a gospel musician under the name Evangelist Sonny Okosun
He died aged 61 on 24 May 2008 at Howard University Hospital, Washington DC. His musical styles ranged included reggae, highlife, Afro-funk and gospel among others. He made music in the Edo language, Igbo language, Yoruba language and English. Credit: Wikipedia
Happy Thursday! Earth Wind & Fire is one of the all-time best bands. Enjoy!
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band that has spanned the musical genres of R&B, soul, jazz, pop, rock, funk, disco, latin, african and gospel. They are one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands of the twentieth century. Rolling Stone has described them as “innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing” and has also declared that the band “changed the sound of black pop”.
Also known as EWF, the band was founded in Chicago by Maurice White in 1969. Other members have included Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, Larry Dunn, and Al McKay. The band has received 20 Grammy nominations; they won six as a group and two of its members, Maurice White and Bailey, won separate individual awards. Earth, Wind & Fire have 12 American Music Awards nominations and four awards. They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and sold over 90 million albums worldwide.
Five members of Earth, Wind & Fire were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame: Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay. The music industry and fans have bestowed Lifetime Achievement honors from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award – 2002), NAACP (Hall of Fame – 1994) and the BET Awards (Lifetime Achievement Award – 2002).
Earth, Wind & Fire is known for the dynamic sound of their horn section, their energetic and elaborate stage shows, and the interplay between the contrasting vocals of Philip Bailey’s falsetto and Maurice White’s tenor. The kalimba (African thumb piano) is played on all of the band’s albums. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the band had many hits, including “Shining Star”, “That’s the Way of the World”, “Devotion”, “Reasons”, “Sing a Song”, “Can’t Hide Love”, “Getaway”, “Fantasy”, “Love’s Holiday”, “September”, “Boogie Wonderland”, “After the Love Has Gone”, and “Let’s Groove”. Two Earth, Wind & Fire classic songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: “That’s the Way of the World” (2004) and “Shining Star” (2007).
The band is also known as having been the first African-American act to sell out Madison Square Garden and to receive the MSG Gold Ticket Award.President Barack Obama invited Earth, Wind & Fire to perform at the White House for the first social event of the new administration. Credit: Wikipedia
I am obsessed with Pharrell Williams’ Oscar nominated song “Happy” and I decided to post the variety of ways that the world is putting that uplifting groove to good use! #musicfriendsofTenaciousM enjoy!
Robert Nesta Marley OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter who achieved international fame through a series of crossover reggae albums. Starting out in 1963 with the group the Wailers, he forged a distinctive songwriting and vocal style that would later resonate with audiences worldwide. The Wailers would go on to release some of the earliest reggae records with producer Lee Scratch Perry. After the Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career which culminated in the release of the album Exodus in 1977 which established his worldwide reputation. He was a committed Rastafarian who infused his music with a profound sense of spirituality. Wikipedia
Tarrus Riley (born Omar Riley, 26 April 1979, Bronx, New York, United States is a Jamaican American reggae singer, member of the Rastafari movement and the son of Jamaican reggae singer Jimmy Riley. Wikipedia
William Alexander Anthony “Bunny Rugs” Clarke (6 February 1948 – 2 February 2014), also known as Bunny Scott, was the lead singer of Jamaican reggae band Third World as well as recording as a solo artist. He began his career in the mid-1960s and was also at one time a member of Inner Circle and half of the duo Bunny & Ricky. Wikipedia
Egos & Buffaloes 