Crate Diggers: October 2016

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Happy Birthday Peter Tosh

“I am not a politician... I only suffer the consequences” - Peter Tosh
Image result for peter tosh(Peter Tosh)
Peter Tosh was born as Winston McIntosh on October 19th, 1944 in Grange Hill, Jamaica. McIntosh was abandoned by his parents when he was born and was passed around to relatives. At 15 he moved to Trench Town. He 1st started playing guitar by watching a man on the street play a song and then playing the song back to him. In the early 1960’s he met Robert Marley (Bob Marley) and O'Reilly Livingston (Bunny Wailer). In 1962 he changed his name to “Peter Tosh” and him, Marley and Livingston began a band together. In 1964 they named the group “The Wailing Wailers”.
Image result for peter tosh 1964(The Wailing Wailers)
Tosh was an inspiration to Marley and Wailer to play instruments. In 1965 he released “Simmer Down”.
Image result for peter tosh 1965(The Wailing Wailers)
In 1967 they renamed the group to “The Wailers”. In 1973 they released the album “Fire it Up”. They also released “Burnin’”. Also in 1973 Tosh and his girlfriend were in a car accident where Tosh fractured his skull and his girlfriend died.
Image result for peter tosh 1973(Tosh (Left) with Bob Marley (Right))
In 1974 Tosh and Wailer left the group due to unfair treatment by the president of Island Records. In 1976 he released “Legalize It”.
Image result for peter tosh 1976(Tosh in 1976)
In 1977 he released “Equal Rights”. In 1978 he released “Bush Doctor”. He also did a duet with Mick Jagger on the song “Don’t Look Back”. Also in 1978 Tosh was arrested and beaten by police for smoking Marijuana while onstage in Jamaica.
Image result for peter tosh 1978(Tosh in 1978)
In 1979 he released “Mystic Man”. In 1981 he released “Wanted Dread and Alive”. Also in 1981 he appeared in the Rolling Stones’ music video for the song “Waiting on a Friend”.
Image result for peter tosh 1981(Tosh in 1981)
In 1983 he released “Mama Africa”. In 1984 he went to Africa.
Image result for peter tosh guitar gun(Tosh in 1984)
In 1987 he won a Grammy for the album “No Nuclear War”.
Image result for peter tosh 1987(Tosh in 1987)
On September 11, 1987 Peter Tosh had arrived to his home in Jamaica when a group of 3 men broke into Tosh’s house and tortured him demanding money, then eventually Tosh was shot and killed by the men. He was 42 years old.
Image result for peter tosh funeral(Tosh’s Funeral)
Today is his 72nd birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Peter Tosh.
Albums by Peter Tosh
  • “Legalize It” (1976)
  • “Equal Rights” (1977)
  • “Bush Doctor” (1978)
  • “Mystic Man” (1979)
  • “Wanted Dread and Alive” (1981)
  • “Mama Africa” (1983)
  • “No Nuclear War” (1987)
Videos of Peter Tosh

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Happy Birthday Chuck Berry

“Rock's so good to me. Rock is my child and my grandfather” - Chuck Berry
Image result for chuck berry(Chuck Berry)
Chuck Berry was born as Charles Berry on October 18th, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He started an interest in music at an early age.
Image result for chuck berry child(Berry as a child)
In 1941 he had his 1st performance while in high school. In 1944 he was arrested for armed robbery.
Image result for chuck berry 1944(Berry in 1944)
He was sent to the Intermediate Reformatory for Young Men. In 1947 he was released. In 1948 he married Themetta Suggs. In 1950 he started to work with local bands in clubs in St. Louis. In 1953 he joined the Johnnie Johnson's trio.
Image result for chuck berry 1953(The Johnnie Johnson’s Trio)
In 1955 he moved to Chicago, IL and met Muddy Waters and signed with Chess records. Also in 1955 Berry released the single “Maybellene”. It sold over 1 million records and hit No. 1 on billboard’s magazine R&B charts.
Image result for chuck berry 1955(Berry in 1955)
In 1956 he released “Roll Over Beethoven”. Also in 1956 he appeared in the movie Rock Rock Rock.
Image result for chuck berry 1956(Berry in 1956)
In 1957 he toured the US with the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. By 1959 he had many top 10 hits including “School Days”, Rock and Roll Music”, “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Johnny B. Goode”. In 1959 he appeared in the movie Go, Johnny, Go!.
Image result for chuck berry 1959(Berry in 1959)
In 1960 he was convicted of allegations of sexual intercourse with a 14 year old girl and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Berry appealed the decision due to the racist attitudes of the jury and judge against him.
Image result for chuck berry 1960(Berry in 1960)
In 1964 he released “No Particular Place to Go”, “You Never Can Tell” and “Nadine”. In 1966 he signed with Mercury records.
Image result for chuck berry 1964(Berry in 1964)
In 1970 he signed back with Chess records. In 1972 he released “My Ding-a-Ling”. In 1979 he signed with Atco records and released the album “Rock It”. Also in 1979 he performed at the White House. He was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to 4 months in prison the same year.
Image result for chuck berry 1979(Berry in 1979)
In 1986 a documentary was made featuring Berry. In 1990 Berry was accused of placing a camera in the bathroom of a restaurant he owned even though he was never proven guilty.
Image result for chuck berry 1990(Berry in 1990)
In 2000 he was sued by a former band member that reportedly co wrote over 50 songs with Berry but was never credited, the case was later dismissed.
Image result for chuck berry 2000(Berry in 2000)
In 2008 Berry toured Europe. In 2011 during a performance he passed out due to exhaustion.
Image result for chuck berry 2011(Berry in 2011)
Today he turns 90 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday Chuck Berry.

Albums by Chuck Berry
  • “After School Session” (1957)
  • “One Dozen Berrys” (1958)
  • “Chuck Berry is on Top” (1959)
  • “Rockin’ at the Hops” (1960)
  • “New Juke Box Hits” (1961)
  • “Two Great Guitars” (1964)
  • “St. Louis to Liverpool” (1964)
  • “Chuck Berry in London” (1965)
  • “Fresh Berry’s” (1965)
  • “Chuck Berry in Memphis” (1967)
  • “From St. Louie to Frisco” (1968)
  • “Concerto in B. Goode” (1969)
  • “Back Home” (1970)
  • “San Francisco Dues” (1971)
  • “The London Chuck Berry Sessions” (1972)
  • “Bio” (1973)
  • “Chuck Berry” (1975)
  • “Rock It” (1979)
Videos of Chuck Berry

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Monday, October 17, 2016

Anniversary of Jean Jaques Dessalines' Death

“We have dared to be free. Let us dare to be so by ourselves and for ourselves” - Jean Jacques Dessalines
Image result for jean jacques dessalines(Jean Jacques Dessalines)
Jean Jacques Dessalines was born as Jean Jacques Duclos on September 20th, 1758 in Grande Riviere du Nord, Haiti. He was born as a slave. He rose to the rank of foreman in the sugarcane fields. When he was 30 years old he was bought by a free Black man and had his last name changed to “Dessalines”. In 1791 he was freed due to the slave uprising. He then joined the slave rebellion of the northern plains led by Jean François Papillon and Georges Biassou. He then became a lieutenant of the revolution. He then joined Spain's military forces against the French colony of Saint Domingue. He then met Toussaint Louverture. In 1794 he became chief lieutenant of Louverture.
Image result for jean jacques dessalines(A portrait of Dessalines)
In 1799 he became brigadier general. During the Haitian Revolution Dessalines ordered the killing of all royalists in Saint Domingue to ensure that Haiti would become a nation. In 1801 Dessalines quickly ended an insurrection in the north led by Louverture's own nephew, General Moyse. He gained a reputation of taking no prisoners. When the French tried to retake Haiti in 1802 Dessalines and Louverture defeated them in the battle of Crete a Pierrot. After Louverture was captured Dessalines became the leader of the revolution.
Image result for jean jacques dessalines(A portrait of Dessalines)
In 1804 he declared himself Governor of Haiti for life and declared the independence of Haiti. He then claimed himself as Emperor of Haiti. He then ordered the massacre of all Whites in the country and forbade Whites to have land in Haiti. The Haitian army followed the Whites into the Dominican Republic and occupied the country. In 1805 he released the Imperial constitution.
Image result for jean jacques dessalines(A portrait of Dessalines)
He demanded that all Black men be either soldiers or laborers. He believed in strict regulation of foreign trade. On October 17th, 1806 Jean Jacques Dessalines was assassinated in Port Rouge, Haiti. He was 48 years old.
Image result for jean jacques dessalines statue(A statue of Dessalines)
Today is the 210th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great emperor today.

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Anniversary of Thomas Sankara's Death

“Let there be an end to the arrogance of the big powers who miss no opportunity to put the rights of the people in question. Africa's absence from the club of those who have the right to veto is unjust and should be ended” - Thomas Sankara
Image result for thomas sankara(Thomas Sankara)
Thomas Sankara was born on December 21st, 1949 in Yako, French West Africa. In 1966 he began his military career. In 1970 Sankara went to the military academy of Antsirabe in Madagascar. In 1972 he read the works of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin which had a big impact on him. He graduated in 1973. In 1974 he fought in the border war between the Upper Volta and Mali. In 1976 he became commander of the Commando Training Centre in Po. The same year he joined “The Communist Officers’ Group”. In 1981 Sankara was appointed Secretary of State for Information in the military government. In 1982 he resigned. In 1983 he became prime minister.
Image result for thomas sankara 1983(Sankara in 1983)
He was later placed under house arrest. An uprising occurred due to Sankara being under house arrest. A coup d'etat made Sankara the President of French West Africa. He was inspired by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in his leading style.
Image result for thomas sankara and fidel castro(Sankara (Left) and Fidel Castro (Right))
He was an anti imperialist. In 1984 he changed the name of the country to “Burkina Faso”. Production of crops increased during his presidency.
Image result for thomas sankara 1984(Sankara in 1984)
Sankara put emphasis in feeding and housing the people of Burkina Faso. He also launched education programs in the country. He also banned  female genital mutilation, forced marriages, and polygamy. In 1985 a war broke out with Mali where 100 people were killed.
Image result for thomas sankara 1985(Sankara in 1985)
In 1986 Burkina Faso was producing 3500 Lb of wheat per acre. In 1987 he gave a speech to thousands of women about better conditions for females all over the country. Sankara was the 1st African leader to appoint women to major cabinet positions and to recruit them actively for the military.
Image result for thomas sankara 1987(Sankara in 1987)
Also in 1987 Sankara was accused of human rights violations by Great Britain. European countries viewed Burkina Faso as not free in terms of civil liberties and political rights. On October 15th, 1987 Thomas Sankara was killed in a coup d'etat. He was 37 years old.
Image result for thomas sankara grave(Sankara’s grave)
Today is the 29th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great president today.

Videos of Thomas Sankara



(P.S. sorry for the late post)
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