Honoring David Ruffin on His Birthday – The Voice of The Temptations
(January 18) Today we commemorate the birthday of the late, great David Ruffin, born January 18, 1941 Certainly one of the greatest Soul singers of all time, David Ruffin was an enigmatic man whose own internal struggles and contradictions led to a tumultuous career, both as the lead vocalist of the Temptations and subsequently as a solo […]
Happy Birthday to Sade – The Timeless Voice of Smooth Soul
We are wishing a very Happy Birthday to Helen Folasade Adu, butter known to music fans around the world as Sade, born on January 16, 1959. The Nigerian born singer-songwriter burst onto the scene with her self-named band in 1984, wowing pop, soul and jazz audiences with the #1 hit “Smooth Operator” and the accompanying […]
Celebrating Lisa Lisa’s Birthday – The Queen of Freestyle Music
Today we wish a very happy birthday to Lisa Velez, aka Lisa Lisa, who emerged from the New York music scene to become one of the biggest stars of the 80s and early 90s. She was born on January 15, 1967. Raised in the Hell’s Kitchen are of New York City as the youngest of ten in […]
Happy Birthday to LL Cool J – Hip-Hop Icon and Trailblazer
Happy birthday to L.L. Cool J, born January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore. New York. LL Cool J, named for the phrase “Ladies Love Cool James,” has been perhaps the longest survivor of the early rap game. Raised in Queens, LL Cool J began rapping as a teenager, drawing inspiration from early hip-hop icons like […]
Honoring George Duke on His Birthday – A Jazz and Funk Pioneer
Today we wish a Happy Heavenly Birthday to the late, great George Duke, born on January 12, 1946. Duke stood as one of the true master keyboardists of the late 20th century. In a forty plus year career, Duke performed with everyone from Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa to Deniece Williams to Michael Jackson. Add to this his […]
Happy Birthday to Rahsaan Patterson – A Neo-Soul Powerhouse
Happy birthday to singer and songwriter Rahsaan Patterson, born January 11, 1974. Rahsaan Patterson is one of the most talented and critically acclaimed – but popularly underappreciated – Soul singers of the past quarter century. In his recording career he has created a series of wonderful songs that cross the urban, smooth jazz, gospel and UAC […]
Celebrating Donald Fagen’s Birthday – Steely Dan’s Musical Genius
Happy birthday to Donald Fagen, born January 10, 1948. Fagen is one half of the legendary duo Steely Dan, and the sole surviving member. Known for his distinctively wry lyricism and sophisticated musical arrangements, Fagan has melded rock, jazz, R&B and various other styles into a style of music that is as unique as it […]
Honoring Little Anthony on His Birthday – A Doo-Wop Legend
Happy birthday to legendary singer Little Anthony, singer supreme and leader of Little Anthony and the Imperials, born on January 8, 1941. First as a doo-wop group and then as an R&B act, through a series of marvelous singles, Little Anthony and the Imperials established themselves as one of the most beloved groups of the late 50s and 60s […]
Happy Birthday to Beau Williams – A Soul Music Legend
Happy birthday to R&B and Gospel singer supreme Beau Williams, born January 6, 1950. Houston, Texas born singer Beau Williams may be one of the greatest Soul voices of the past 40 years, but he still remains relatively unknown outside of the Gospel world. Williams was performing at an early age, and his clear, booming Gospel […]
Celebrating Kathy Sledge’s Birthday – The Iconic Voice of Sister Sledge
Happy birthday to the legendary Kathy Sledge of the group Sister Sledge, born January 6, 1959. The ’60s was arguably the golden decade for girl groups – think The Supremes, The Marvelettes, Martha & The Vandellas, The Ronettes, The Chiffons, The Shangri-Las, The Velvelettes and on and on… The 70s? Well, there are some names that stand […]
