August 27: This Day in Black History 1902: Mary ‘Diamond Teeth’ McClain was born. She was a blues singer & entertainer. In the ’40s, she had diamonds removed from a bracelet and set in her upper & lower teeth, creating a dazzling stage effect. She passed away in 2000 at age 98. 1909: Lester Young, one of the early jazz tenor saxophonists, was born today. He’s best known for the hits “Just You, Just Me” and “Sometimes I’m Happy.” 1937: Alice Coltrane was born. She was a jazz pianist, organist, harpist and composer. She died in 2007 at age 69. 1949: The Orioles charted with their classic version of “A Kiss and a Rose,” reaching #12 R&B. 1949: Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra charted with the macabrely-titled “Lavender Coffin,” eventually reaching lucky #13 R&B. 1955: ‘Maybellene’ by Chuck Berry was the Number One Song this day. 1959: Downtown Julie Brown was born. She is an actress, dancer and former MTV VJ. She turns 54 today. 1960: Lloyd Price appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, performing “Personality.” 1961: Yolanda Adams was born. She is a gospel singer, record producer, actress and radio host. She turns 52 today. 1963: Sam Cooke performed on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. 1963: W.E.B. DuBois passed away at age 95. He was a was a sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author and editor. 1963: Garrett Morgan passed away. He was an inventor who invented a device-like gas mask, traffic signal and hair-straightening preparation. He was 86 years old. 1966: Eddie Floyd hit the R&B charts with his single, “Knock on Wood,” a 45 that would reach #1 and #28 pop. Over the next eleven years the soul singer would chart R&B eighteen times, but “Knock” would always be his biggest hit. 1968: The Staples Singers performed at San Francisco’s Fillmore West with Santana and Steppenwolf. 1968: Eric Bobo was born. He is a percussionist and a member of Cypress Hill. He turns 45 today. 1969: Award winning actress Chandra Wilson was born. She is an actress of television, stage and film as well as a director. She is 44 today. 1971: Lil Hardin Armstrong passed away. She was a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, singer and bandleader She was 73 years old. 1975: Ma$e was born. He is a rapper and actor. He turns 36 today. 1986: Mario was born. He is a R&B singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and model. He turns 27 today. 1994: “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men began an incredible run of fourteen weeks at #1, surpassing the group’s record-breaking streak of thirteen weeks in the top spot in 1992 with “End of the Road.” Written by Babyface, the song marked his first writing success without former partner L.A. Reid. 1996: Greg Morris passed away at age 62. He was an actor of film, stage and television. 2010: Thomas White Jr. passed away at age 71. He was a longtime New York city councilman who represented the 28th District in southeast Queens, which includes Jamaica, South Jamaica, and Richmond Hill.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 14:07:42 +0000
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