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WE LOVE THE ICONIC 60’S, 70’S AND 80’S, A TESTAMENT TO THE ENDURING POWER OF R&B!

by BELINDA
written by BELINDA

R&B music has been a staple in American culture for decades, and the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s were no exception. Those decades produced some of the most iconic and enduring R&B songs of all time. From Marvin Gaye to Michael Jackson, the R&B music of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by music lovers of all ages.

Starting with the 60’s, “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye is considered one of the greatest R&B songs of all time. Released in 1971, this socially conscious anthem addresses issues such as poverty, war, and police brutality. It was a departure from Gaye’s previous work. Another classic from the 60’s is “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Gladys Knight & the Pips. This timeless hit, released in 1968, is a soulful masterpiece that showcases Knight’s powerful vocals and the Pips’ tight harmonies. Another notable song of the era is “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, originally recorded by Otis Redding in 1965, but Franklin’s version, released in 1967, became a feminist anthem and reached number one on the R&B chart in the U.S.      

Moving on to the 70’s, Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” is one of the most iconic R&B songs of the decade. Released in 1972, this funk-infused hit features Wonder’s signature harmonica playing and showcases his incredible musicianship. Another classic from the 70’s is “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye. This sensual ballad, released in 1973, is a timeless love song that showcases Gaye’s soulful vocals and masterful production. Another notable song of the era is “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye, released in 1982 after his death, it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male in 1983.     

Finally, the 80’s saw the rise of Michael Jackson as a dominant force in the R&B world. “Billie Jean” is one of his most iconic and enduring hits, released in 1982, it topped the charts in several countries and cemented Jackson’s status as a pop music icon. Another classic from the 80’s is “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan, released in 1983, it reached number one on the R&B chart and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another notable song of the era is “I Want Your Sex” by George Michael, released in 1987, it reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and is considered one of the most controversial songs of the decade.    

In conclusion, the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s were a golden era for R&B music, and these songs continue to be celebrated and enjoyed by music lovers of all ages. From socially conscious anthems to sensual ballads, these songs have stood the test of time and remain a testament to the enduring power of R&B music.

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ObituaryRemember When

10 R&B ARTIST WHO DIED TOO YOUNG!

by BELINDA
written by BELINDA
R&B music has lost some of its brightest stars to untimely deaths, leaving fans heartbroken and the music industry in mourning. These artists had a profound impact on the genre and their music. They continue to be loved and celebrated today.

                                 Here are 10 R&B artists who died too young:

1.   Luther Vandross – Luther Vandross’s death in 2005 at the age of 54 was a tremendous loss for the music industry. The singer was a  true icon of R&B and his powerful voice and emotive performances will always be remembered.   

2.  Minnie Riperton – Minnie Riperton (Mother of actress Maya Rudolph) died in 1979 at the age of 31 from breast                 cancer.  She was a talented singer and songwriter, best known for her hit single “Lovin’ You.”   

3.  Barry White – Barry White died in 2003 at the age of 58 from kidney failure. He was a talented singer, songwriter,           and producer, best known for his deep, distinctive voice.                         

4. Michael Jackson – Michael Jackson’s death in 2009 at the age of 50 was a shock to the world. The King of Pop was an       influential figure in R&B and his music continues to be celebrated today.     

LONDON – FEBRUARY 8, 1983: Michael Jackson at the BPI awards to collect an award on behalf of Barbra Streisand held in London 1983.(Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

5. Tammi Terrell-  Terrell, a Motown label soloist who was already well-known, gained popularity when she teamed up    with Marvin Gaye. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” and “You’re All I Need to        Get By” were among the memorable duets performed by the two. Terrell received the news that she had a malignant brain tumor during this time. The young vocalist underwent eight operations, but her condition continued to decline, and she passed tragically on March 16, 1970, one month before turning 25.       

6. Otis Redding- Redding, made his imprint on the musical scene in 1962 with “These Arms of Mine.” The timeless classic “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” was his biggest hit, though. Sadly, Redding would not live to witness the significance of his hallmark song because it was released one month after his passing(age 26) on December 10, 1967, in a plane accident.   

7.  Donny Hathaway- Hathaway, a gifted vocalist and composer, rose to fame in the late 1960s as a songwriter who produced successful songs for other musicians. But by the end of that decade, he had a recording contract of his own and was well-known for his duets with Roberta Flack, “Where is the Love?” and “The Closer I Get to You,” which made him a star in the music industry. Despite his fame, Hathaway struggled with despair, which ultimately resulted in his apparent suicide on January 13, 1979, according to authorities, who claim he jumped from a hotel room on the 15th floor at the age of 26.   

8. Sam Cooke- Cooke, known as “The King of Soul,” helped make soul music famous and opened the way for a number of      illustrious performers. Cooke was one of the first African American musicians to launch his own business, and he   boasted      more than 20 top 40 songs in his discography. He started his own publishing and record label. Despite his   groundbreaking achievements, Cooke passed away in questionable circumstances on December 11, 1964, when a hotel   manager shot him to death after alleging that he had attacked her. He was 33 years old.             

9. Marvin Gaye- Gaye, a Motown superstar, amassed an outstanding discography of classic songs, from political satire to love ballads. Throughout his life, he battled despair and drug addiction. When he and his father got into a fight on April 1, 1984, which resulted in the singer’s death from a deadly gunshot wound, his inner demons came to a head. Just one day before turning 45, Gaye passed away.                   

10. Whitney Houston- Whitney Houston was a multi-platinum-selling singer who rose to fame in the 1980s as one of the best R&B voices of her period. Ms. Houston had the skill, good looks, and pedigree of a pop diva from the beginning of her career more than 20 years ago. She passed away at the age of 48 and left behind a rich musical legacy that will endure for decades.                   

 

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Did You KnowRemember When

LET’S NOT FORGET ” WHAT’S GOING ON” WITH MARVIN GAYE!

by BELINDA
written by BELINDA

Marvin Gaye’s voice was heard by millions, and he always sang from the heart. But, at the end of the day, despite all of his obstacles and complexities in his life, he will be a man remembered for his music, songwriting ability and his voice. You can turn on the radio at any time, anywhere , or even the world, and hear something by Marvin Gaye, such as “Inner City Blues,” “Save the Children,” “Pride and Joy “, “Sexual Healing”, and  ” What’s Going On”.

When  “What’s Going On” was released, it was Gaye’s first album to credit him as a producer and to credit Motown’s in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers.  “What’s Going On” was recorded between 1970 and 1971 in sessions at Hitsville U.S.A., Golden World, and United Sound Studios in Detroit, as well as The Sound Factory in West Hollywood, California. 

On May 15, 1969, while traveling with The Four Tops on their tour bus, Renaldo “Obie” Benson witnessed police brutality and violence against anti-war protesters at Berkeley’s People’s Park in what became known as “Bloody Thursday”. Later, Benson told author Ben Edmonds, “When I saw this, I began to wonder, ‘what was going on here?’  One thing led to another. “Why are they sending children so far away from their families”?  “Why are they attacking their own children in public?”  When Motown songwriter Al Cleveland returned to Detroit, he wrote and composed a song based on his conversations with Benson about what he had seen in Berkeley.  Benson originally, sent the song to the Four Tops but his bandmates turned the song down.

He then offered the song to Marvin Gaye. Gaye thought “The Originals ” would benefit from the song’s melancholy flow. But Benson eventually persuaded Gaye that the song was his. Benson agreed to the singer’s request for partial writing credit. Gaye added a new musical composition, a new melody, and lyrics reflecting Gaye’s disgust with the climate of the country. Gaye later tweaked and enhanced the song, “adding some things that were more natural, which made it seem like a story and not a song… “we measured him for the suit and he tailored the hell out of it,” according to Benson. 

The rest is History. Some people will never understand (Including BackBeat R&B ) why “What’s Going On” was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1972 including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), but failed to win in any of the categories. We all know “What’s Going On” was considered the best album of all-time by critic surveys in Rolling Stone, The Guardian and New Music Express. Therefore, it’s time to give credit where credit is due.  We will never forget Marvin Gaye, the man and his music.  His music will continue to live in our hearts and minds forever.    

 

 

 

 

 

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Remember When

THE SOUL SURVIVORS

by evan625
written by evan625


The Soul Survivors originally played together in New York under another name known as The Dedications, they were founded by member Kenny Jeremiah, and released several singles under this name in 1962 and 1964. They changed the name to Soul Survivors in 1965. They signed to Philadelphia label Crimson Records, who put them in touch with Gamble & Huff. “Expressway to Your Heart” was a #1 hit regionally in Philadelphia and New York in the fall of 1967, and the tune reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 nationally. “Expressway to Your Heart” spent 15 weeks in the charts and sold over one million copies.

Soul Survivor followed-up with “Explosion in Your Soul”, which was not as successful (U.S. #33); a third release, “Impossible Mission”, also was a minor hit in 1969 (U.S. #68). They quit playing for a few years, but re-formed with a different lineup in 1972. They had one more hit, “City of Brotherly Love” in 1974. In the 1970s, the group lost its record contract and its manager and eventually disbanded. Charlie Ingui became a landscaper, Richie Ingui became a house painter, Paul Venturini became a restaurateur, and drummer Joe Forgione owned an auto body shop. In 1987, the Inqui brothers began playing occasional gigs as the original Soul Survivors and signed a five-record contract in 1991 with Society Hill Records. As of 2006, they were playing occasional gigs in the Eastern United States

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Remember When

NATIVE NEW YORKER’S ODYSSEY !

by evan625
written by evan625

Odyssey is a singing group from New York, best known for their 1977 hit “Native New Yorker,” and a series of other mainly dance and soul hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Now based in the UK, the band is led and fronted by Steven Collazo and continues to perform and record.

Odyssey began as the Connecticut-born “Lopez Sisters” featuring Steven’s mother, Lillian (Lillian Lopez Collazo Jackson; 16 November 1935 – 4 September 2012),[4] Louise Lopez (February 22, 1933 – January 28, 2015), and Carmen Lopez (born July 12, 1934), the latter having left the group before Odyssey, as the act would come to be known after her departure, was conceived.

“Native New Yorker” reached no. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, no. 5 in the UK Singles Chart and was later covered by Frankie Valli. A string of albums and singles followed and the group managed another R&B chart hit, “Inside Out”, written by Jesse Rae, produced by Jimmy Douglass and featuring music performed by session musicians. It peaked on the US charts at no. 12 and in the UK went to no. 3 in 1982.[5] Reynolds, for unknown reasons, left after the first album and was replaced by Fayetteville, North Carolina native William “Bill” McEachern, who remained with the group throughout the remainder of its RCA Records output. During that time, Brooklyn-born Steven Collazo joined the group as keyboardist, vocalist and musical director.
“After leaving RCA, Odyssey, composed of lead vocalist Lillian Lopez, Al Jackson and Steven Collazo, continued touring, performing, and making television appearances throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East. Lillian Lopez and Jackson married in 2000, and retired from the music industry in 2003. Lillian died on September 4, 2012 of cancer”.

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Remember When

BackBeat R&B Remembers Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

by evan625
written by evan625

To Late To Turn Back Now

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose formed in 1970 and gained popularity in the early 1970s.They were composed of siblings Carter Cornelius, Eddie Cornelius, and Rose Cornelius, who were joined by sister Billie Jo Cornelius in 1972. Cleveland E. Barrett an original member of the group, was (a childhood friend),killed in a car accident before their short lived success.
Rose Cornelius had already appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in June 1967 and had been performing in Las Vegas and worldwide, touring in 1970 with a group called the Gospel Jazz Singers. She went home to Florida at her mother’s request to help form the group. Rose wrote most of the background vocals while Eddie wrote most of the songs.
The group hit the pop chart in 1971 with the single “Treat Her Like a Lady” (U.S. R&B Top 20, Billboard Hot 100 #3). The record was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on 2 August 1971.[1][2]

The act succeeded again in 1972 with “Too Late to Turn Back Now” (U.S. R&B #5, Hot 100 #2); both songs were written by Eddie Cornelius.[1] This also sold over one million copies with a gold disc awarded in August 1972.[1]

While the group failed to find any further success on the scale of their first two singles, two releases, “Don’t Ever Be Lonely” and “I’m Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore” reached the Billboard Top 40. Their final charting single was “Since I Found My Baby” in 1974, from their third and last album.
Unfortunately, the group broke up in 1976 when Carter Cornelius joined a black Hebrew sect in Miami and adopted the name Prince Gideon Israel. He wrote, recorded, and mixed the sect’s music and videos for the next 15 years. He died of a heart attack on November 7, 1991. Eddie Cornelius became a born-again Christian and later an ordained pastor who continued to sing, produce, and write music.[3]

Rose Cornelius is working and living in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, and performs with many groups.

References[edit]
1. Jump up to: a b c Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 291 and 310. ISBN 0-214-20512-2. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Record Research Online Database. “Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose” Billboard Chart Discography. Retrieved March 17, 2011.

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Remember When

Remember When…The Temptations And The Four Tops

by evan625
written by evan625

The Temptations and the Four Tops returned to the Apollo Theatre in 1985, it was one of the greatest performances ever. As Oprah once said “This is from a time when Music was strong”. What a Tribute for R&B to have two of  Motown greatest Artist showing each other out. Each better than the other. But, I think we all agree as great as they are, each group sounded better singing their own songs.

The Temptations and the Four Tops are a refined group of singers, their soulful styles make you want to get up and start dancing at any party or concert venue. Both groups had great harmony, choreography and we all loved the flashy wardrobes. They were very influential in the progression of R&B and sold millions of records as well as received numerous music awards and Grammys.

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