Crate Diggers: Miles Davis
Showing posts with label Miles Davis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miles Davis. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Anniversary of Rick James' Death

“You can't have rock and roll without drugs, you can't have rock and roll without sex” - Rick James
(Rick James)
Rick James was born as James Johnson Jr. on February 1st, 1948 in Buffalo, New York, USA. At 10 years old his father left the family. His mother would take him on her routes when running errands for the mafia. Johnson would be able to see performers such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Etta James while on these errands. Johnson dropped out of high school. As a teenager he was introduced to drugs and involved in a burglary. At 15 years old he lied about his age and joined the US Navy Reserve. He also became a drummer for a local band. Due to missing his twice monthly reserve sessions he was ordered to serve in Vietnam. In 1965 he fled to Toronto, Canada, where he met then local musicians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. He then changed his name to “Ricky Matthews”. He then formed the group “Mynah Birds”.
(The Mynah Birds)
They then recorded at Columbia records. The group then recorded with Motown. Matthews then met Stevie Wonder and Wonder suggested that he should change his name to “Ricky James”. The Navy then found James and he was arrested. Motown dropped the Mynah Birds from the label due to James being arrested. After a year in prison he moved to California. In 1968 James went back to Motown and became a songwriter. He worked with the Miracles and the Spinners. Also in 1968 he formed a group called “Salt and Pepper”.
(Salt and Pepper)
In 1969 he moved back to California. In 1973 James signed with A&M Records. In 1976 he returned to Buffalo and formed “Stone City Band”. In 1977 he signed a contract with Motown. In 1978 he released his 1st album “Come and Get It!”. The single “You and I” went No. 1 on the R&B charts.
(James in 1978)
In 1979 he released his 2nd album “Bustin’ Out of L Seven”. He then released his 3rd album “Fire it Up”. He then started his “Fire it Up Tour” which included Prince as an opening act and Teenie Marie. James then produced Teena Marie’s 1st album.
(James (Right) and Teena Marie (Left))
This tour led to a rivalry between Prince and James due to James accusing Prince of stealing his moves.
(James (Right) and Prince (Left))
In 1980 he released “Garden of Love”. In 1981 he released “Street Songs”. The single “Super Freak” sold over 1 million copies. “Street Songs” went to No. 1 on the R&B charts.
(James in 1981)
In 1982 he released “Throwin’ Down”. Also in 1982 he produced the Temptations’ album “Standing on the Top”.
(James (Top Left) and the Temptations (Floor))
In 1983 he released “Cold Blooded”. James then launched the careers of Process and the Doo-Rags and the Mary Jane Girls. Also in 1983 James did a duet with Smokey Robinson called “Ebony Eyes”.
(James (Right) and Smokey Robinson (Left))
In 1984 he was hospitalized due to a drug overdose. In 1985 he produced Eddie Murphy’s album and appeared on the song “Party All the Time”.
(James (Right) and Eddie Murphy (Left))
In 1986 he released “The Flag”. He then signed with Warner Bros. records. In 1988 he released “Wonderful”. In 1989 he released “Kickin’”. In 1990 MC Hammer sampled James’ song “Super Freak” and it earned the both of them a Grammy award.
(James in 1990)
In 1993 James and his wife were accused of holding 24 year old Frances Alley hostage for up to 6 days. James was convicted of the crime.
(James in 1993)
He was released from prison in 1996. In 1997 he released “Urban Rhapsody”. In 1998 he suffered a minor stroke. In 1999 he appeared in the movie Life.
(James (Right) and Eddie Murphy (Left) in Life (1999))
In 2004 James participated in the “Chapelle Show”.
(James in 2004)
On August 6th, 2004 Rick James died of pulmonary failure and cardiac failure in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was 56 years old.
(James’ funeral)
Today is the 13th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great musical artist today.
Albums by Rick James
  • “Come Get It!” (1978)
  • “Bustin’ Out of L Seven” (1979)
  • “Fire it Up” (1979)
  • “Garden of Love” (1980)
  • “Street Songs” (1981)
  • “Throwin’ Down” (1982)
  • “Cold Blooded” (1983)
  • “Glow” (1985)
  • “The Flag” (1986)
  • “Wonderful” (1988)
  • “Kickin’” (1989)
  • “Urban Rhapsody” (1997)
Videos of Rick James

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Friday, May 26, 2017

Happy Birthday Miles Davis

“Don't play what's there, play what's not there” - Miles Davis
(Miles Davis)
Miles Davis was born on May 26th, 1926 in Alton, Illinois, USA. In 1927 Davis’ family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois. When he was 13 he started playing trumpet.
(Davis as a child)
At 16 Davis was a member of the music society and, when not at school, playing professionally first at the local Elks Club. At 17 he spent a year playing in Eddie Randle's band, the Blue Devils. In 1944 Davis graduated high school. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker invited Davis to play third trumpet for a couple of weeks for their band. Also in 1944 Davis moved to New York City, NY to study at the Juilliard School of Music. Davis then dropped out of school due to the Juilliard classes for centering too much on the classical European and white repertoire. Davis began playing professionally, performing in several 52nd Street clubs with Coleman Hawkins and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. In 1945 he entered a recording studio for the first time, as a member of Herbie Fields's group.
(Davis in 1945)
In 1946 he finally got the chance to record as a leader. In 1948 Davis was not being paid while in the band. Davis then left Charlie Parker’s band.
(Charlie Parker (Left) and Davis (Right))
In 1949 Davis got a record contract with Capitol Records. Also in 1949 while in Paris, France Davis began a relationship with French actress and singer Juliette Gréco. In 1950 Davis started doing heroin. In 1951 Davis signed to Prestige Records.
(Davis in 1951)
In 1953 his drug addiction began to impair his playing ability. While in Los Angeles, CA he had been arrested for drug possession. In 1954 he beat his drug addiction. He then started to play in Detroit, MI. In 1955 Davis had an operation to remove polyps from his larynx. Even though he was not supposed to speak at all, he had an argument with somebody and raised his voice. This outburst damaged his vocal cords forever. Also in 1955 Davis attended the Newport Jazz Festival At the same time, Davis recruited the players for a formation that became known as his "first great quintet": John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Davis then signed with Columbia Records.
(Davis (Center) performing at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955)
In 1957 the band disbanded. In 1958 Davis returned to New York City, NY. The band then came back together. Also in 1958 he married his 1st wife. In 1959 Davis released “Kind of Blue”. While performing at a nightclub in New York City, NY Davis stepped out in between sets and while he was outside he escorted a White woman to her taxi and a police officer told Davis to move along and after Davis told him that he worked as a performer at the nightclub the officer attacked Davis. Davis was then arrested. Davis was acquitted of disorderly conduct charges and he tried sue the NYPD but he eventually dropped the charges.
(Davis after the incident in New York City)
In 1963 Davis formed a new group. Herbie Hancock was one of the members to Davis’ new band. In 1966 he released “Miles Smiles”. Davis’ sound began to change with the inclusion of electric bass, electric piano, and electric guitar. In 1968 Davis remarried.
(Davis performing in 1968)
In 1970 Davis released “Bitches Brew”. Davis then started to use effects on his trumpet to alter the sound. Davis did the soundtrack to the documentary of boxer Jack Johnson. In 1972 Davis released “On the Corner”.
(Davis performing in 1972)
Davis then formed a new group. In 1974 Davis released “Big Fun”. In 1975 Davis was hospitalized. In 1976 Davis had a hip replacement. Davis then became addicted to alcohol and cocaine. Davis began to open for former band member Herbie Hancock. In 1979 Davis overcame his cocaine addiction.
(Davis in 1976)
Davis then brought together another band with Marcus Miller as the bass player. In 1981 Davis married Cicely Tyson.
(Davis (Left) with Cicely Tyson (Right))
In 1985 Davis released “You’re Under Arrest”. Davis also guest starred on “Miami Vice”.
(Davis in “Miami Vice”)
In 1986 Davis signed with Warner Records. Davis also participated in the “Artists United Against Apartheid” recording. Also in 1986 Davis released “Tutu”. In 1987 Davis won a Grammy for “Sketches in Spain”.
(Davis in 1987)
In 1990 Davis received a Grammy lifetime achievement award.
(Davis (Left) with Herbie Hancock (Right) receiving the Grammy Lifetime achievement award)
In 1991 Davis starred in the movie Dingo. On September 28th, 1991 Miles Davis died of a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure in Santa Monica, California, USA. He was 65 years old.
(Davis’ grave)
Today is his 91st birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Miles Davis.

Albums by Miles Davis
  • “The New Sounds” (1951)
  • “Young Man with a Horn” (1952)
  • “Blue Period” (1953)
  • “The Compositions of Al Cohn” (1953)  
  • “Miles Davis Volume 2” (1953)
  • “Miles Davis Volume 3” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis Quartet” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis All Star Sextet” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis Quintet” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis All Stars Volume 1” (1955)
  • “Miles Davis All Stars Volume 2” (1955)
  • “Musings of Miles” (1955)
  • “Blue Moods” (1955)
  • “Dig” (1956)
  • “Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet” (1956)
  • “Miles Davis and Horns” (1956)
  • “Quintet/Sextet” (1956)
  • “Collectors’ Items” (1956)
  • “Blue Haze” (1956)
  • “Walkin’” (1957)
  • “Cookin’” (1957)
  • “Bags’ Groove” (1957)
  • “‘Round About Midnight” (1957)
  • “Miles Ahead” (1957)
  • “Relaxin’” (1958)
  • “Milesstones” (1958)
  • “Jazz Track” (1958)
  • “Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants” (1959)
  • “Workin’” (1959)
  • “Porgy and Bess” (1959)
  • “Kind of Blue” (1959)
  • “Sketches of Spain” (1960)
  • “Steamin’” (1961)
  • “Someday My Prince Will Come” (1961)
  • “Seven Steps to Heaven” (1963)
  • “Quiet Nights” (1964)
  • “E.S.P.” (1965)
  • “Miles Smiles” (1967)
  • “Sorcerer” (1967)
  • “Nefertiti” (1967)
  • “Miles in the Sky” (1968)
  • “Filles de Kilimanjaro” (1968)
  • “In a Silent Way” (1969)
  • “Bitches Brew” (1970)
  • “Jack Johnson” (1971)
  • “Live-Evil” (1971)
  • “On the Corner” (1972)
  • “Big Fun” (1974)
  • “Get Up with it” (1974)
  • “Water Babies” (1976)
  • “The Man with the Horn” (1981)
  • “Star People” (1983)
  • “Decoy” (1984)
  • “You’re Under Arrest” (1985)
  • “Tutu” (1986)
  • “Amandla” (1989)
  • “Aura” (1989)
  • “Doo-Bop” (1992)

Videos of Miles Davis

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