Crate Diggers: New York
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Happy Birthday KRS One

“Hip is to know, it's a form of intelligence. To be hip is to be update and relevant. Hop is a form of movement, you can't just observe a hop, you gotta hop up and do it. Hip and hop is more than music, Hip is the Knowledge, hop is the Movement. Hip and Hop is Intelligent movement”
Image result for krs one(KRS One)
KRS One was born as Lawrence Parker on August 20th, 1965 in The Bronx, New York, USA. At 16 years old he left his home to become an MC. He then lived in a homeless shelter in the South Bronx. He then met Scott Sterling who later became “ DJ Scott La Rock”. Parker then started to go by the name “KRS One” (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everybody). They then formed the group “Boogie Down Productions”. In 1987 they released “Criminal Minded”.
Image result for krs one 1987(KRS One in 1987)
Rapper D-Nice also joined the group. They then dissed rappers MC Shan and Marley Marl in the song “South Bronx” and “The Bridge is Over” because they claimed Hip Hop began in Queens when it really began in the Bronx.
Image result for krs one and scott la rock(KRS One (Left) and Scott La Rock (Right))
Scott La Rock was later shot and killed in a dispute. In 1988 they released “By All Means Necessary”. Ms. Melodie and DJ Kenny Parker then joined the group.
Image result for krs one 1988(KRS One in 1988)
In 1989 they released “Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop”. Also in 1989 KRS One formed the Stop the Violence Movement featuring rappers such as Public Enemy, Stetsasonic, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Just-Ice, and Heavy D.
Image result for krs one 1989(KRS One in 1989)
In 1990 they released “Edutainment”. In 1992 they released “Sex and Violence”. In 1993 he released his 1st solo album “Return of the Boom Bap”.
Image result for krs one 1993(KRS One in 1993)
In 1995 he released “KRS One”. Also in 1995 he organized the group “Channel Live”.
Image result for krs one 1995(KRS One in 1995)
In 1997 he released “I Got Next”. In 1999 he released the song “5 Boroughs” for the movie The Corruptor (1999).
Image result for krs one 1999(KRS One in 1999)
In 2000 he released “A Retrospective”. In 2001 he released “The Sneak Attack”. In 2002 he released “Spiritual Minded”. In 2003 he released “Kristyles” and “D.I.G.I.T.A.L.”. In 2004 he released “Keep Right”. Also in 2004 there was a controversy with his comments about 9/11 where he said “we cheered when 9/11 happened...9/11 affected them down the block; the rich, the powerful those that are oppressing us as a culture”.
Image result for krs one 2003(KRS One in 2004)
In 2006 he released “Life”. In 2008 he released “Maximum Strength 2008”. In 2011 he narrated the documentary Rhyme and Punishment.
Image result for krs one 2011(KRS One in 2011)
In 2012 he released “The BDP Album”. In 2015 he released “Now Hear This”. In 2017 he released “The World is Mind”.
Image result for krs one 2017(KRS One in 2017)
Today he turns 52 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday KRS One.
Albums by KRS One
  • “Return of the Boom Bap” (1993)
  • “KRS One” (1995)
  • “I Got Next” (1997)
  • “The Sneak Attack” (2001)
  • “Spiritual Minded” (2002)
  • “Kristyles” (2003)
  • “Keep Right” (2004)
  • “Life” (2006)
  • “Adventures in Emceein” (2008)
  • “Maximum Strength” (2008)
  • “The BDP Album” (2012)
  • “Now Hear This” (2015)
Videos of KRS One
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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Happy Birthday Matthew Henson

“I think I'm the first man to sit on top of the world” - Matthew Henson
(Matthew Henson)
Matthew Henson was born in Nanjemoy, Maryland, USA on August 8th, 1866. Henson’s mother died when he was 2 years old. Later his father died and Henson was sent to live with his uncle in Washington D.C., USA. At 12 years old Henson moved to Baltimore, MD. While in Maryland he became a cabin boy on a merchant ship. In November of 1887 he met commander Robert E. Peary. Henson was recruited by Peary as an aide for a surveying expedition to Nicaragua.
(Henson as a young man)
Peary was impressed with Henson on that expedition so Peary made Henson his 1st man in his expeditions. For more than 20 years their expeditions were to the Arctic. Henson traded with the Inuit natives and mastered their language. They called him Mahri-Pahluk. He was a skilled craftsman, and he came up with solutions for what the team needed in the harsh Arctic conditions. In 1908 Peary mounted his eighth attempt to reach the North Pole. Peary selected Henson and four Inuit natives as part of the team of six who would make the final run to the North Pole.
(Henson (Right) with his associates)
Henson was set as a scout after Peary fell ill and couldn't go on. Henson reached the North Pole and placed the American flag. Henson became the 1st man to reach the North Pole. In 1909 Henson was honored within the Black community but as a whole his contributions were ignored. In 1912 Henson published a memoir of his arctic exploration. For the next 30 years Henson worked in the U.S. Customs House in New York. In 1947 he collaborated with Bradley Robinson to write Henson’s biography Dark Companion. In 1937 Henson was admitted as a member to the prestigious Explorers Club in New York City. In 1944 Henson was awarded with the Peary Polar Expedition Medal.
(Henson (Right) at the White House)
On March 9th, 1955 Matthew Henson passed away in The Bronx, New York. He was 88 years old.
(Henson later in life)
Today is his 151st birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Matthew Henson.
Books relating to Matthew Henson

  • A Black Explorer at the North Pole (1912) by Matthew Henson
  • Dark Companion: The Story of Matthew Henson (1947) by Bradley Robinson
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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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Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Happy Birthday Louis Armstrong

“If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know” - Louis Armstrong
(Louis Armstrong)
Louis Armstrong was born on August 4th, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He spent his youth in poverty, in a rough neighborhood known as "the Battlefield". His father left the family while he was a child. As a child his mother left him to live with his grandmother. At 5 years old he moved back to live with his mother and her relatives. He brought in some money as a paperboy and also by finding discarded food and selling it to restaurants, but it was not enough to keep his mother from prostitution. He would listen to bands play in clubs and dance halls.
(Armstrong as a young child)
At age 11 Armstrong dropped out of school and joined a quartet of boys who sang in the streets for money. He began to play the trumpet by ear at the same age. He also worked for a Lithuanian immigrant family who treated him like family. Armstrong developed his cornet playing skills by playing in the band of the New Orleans Home for Colored Waifs. Professor Peter Davis instilled discipline in and provided musical training to the otherwise self taught Armstrong. At 13 years old Armstrong became the band leader. At 14 years old he moved in with his father. Armstrong hauled coal by day and played his cornet at night. He played in the city's frequent brass band parades and listened to older musicians every chance he got. In 1919 He became second trumpet for the Tuxedo Brass Band.
(Armstrong in 1919)
At 20 years old he could read music and started to be featured in extended trumpet solos, one of the first jazz men to do this. In 1922 Armstrong joined the exodus to Chicago. Armstrong lived luxuriously in Chicago.
(Armstrong in 1922)
In 1923 Armstrong made his first recordings. In 1924 Armstrong received an invitation to go to New York City to play with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. Armstrong then included singing in his performances. In 1925 he returned to chicago.
(Armstrong in 1925)
He began recording under his own name for Okeh with his famous Hot Five and Hot Seven groups. The group included Kid Ory (trombone), Johnny Dodds (clarinet), Johnny St. Cyr (banjo), and his wife Lil (piano). The most notable of the Hot Five and Seven records were "Cornet Chop Suey", "Struttin' With Some Barbecue", "Hotter Than that" and "Potato Head Blues”. In 1926 Armstrong was 1st to scat sing on record. In 1929 he returned to New York City. Also he played in the pit orchestra of the successful musical “Hot Chocolate”.
(Armstrong in 1929)
In 1930 Armstrong moved to Los Angeles, CA. He played at the New Cotton Club in Los Angeles, CA with Lionel Hampton on drums. In 1931 Armstrong took full advantage of the new RCA ribbon microphone. Armstrong's famous interpretation of Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" became one of the most successful versions of this song ever recorded. Also in 1931 Armstrong appeared in his first movie, Ex-Flame.
(Armstrong in Ex Flame(1931))
He then moved to Chicago, IL. He also visited New Orleans, LA and had a hero's welcome. He sponsored a local baseball team known as "Armstrong's Secret Nine" and had a cigar named after him. In 1936 he appeared in Pennies from Heaven.
(Armstrong (Right) in Pennies From Heaven (1936))
In 1937, Armstrong substituted for Rudy Vallee on the CBS radio network and became the first African American to host a sponsored national broadcast. In 1943 he moved to Queens, NY. Throughout the 1940’s Armstrong played over 300 gigs a year. In 1947 Armstrong formed the group “Louis Armstrong and his All Stars”.
(Armstrong in 1947)
In 1948, he participated in the Nice Jazz Festival. In 1949 he was the first jazz musician to appear on the cover of “Time” magazine.
(Armstrong on “Time” magazine in 1949)
In 1950 Armstrong recorded the first American version of "C'est si bon”. In the 1960s, he toured Ghana and Nigeria. In 1964 he recorded his biggest selling record, "Hello, Dolly!".
(Armstrong in 1964)
The record went number 1 on the Hot 100 charts making Armstrong, at 62 years, 9 months and 5 days, the oldest person ever to accomplish that feat. In 1968 Armstrong made his last recorded trumpet performance on the album “Disney Songs the Satchmo Way”.
(Armstrong in 1968)
On July 6th, 1971 Louis Armstrong died of a heart attack in New York City, New York, USA. He Was 69 years old.
(Armstrong’s funeral)
Today is his 116th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Louis Armstrong.
Albums by Louis Armstrong
  • “Satchmo at Symphony Hall” (1951)
  • “Satchmo at Pasadena” (1951)
  • “Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy” (1954)
  • “Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers, Volume One” (1954)
  • “Satch Plays Fats: A Tribute to the Immortal Fats Waller” (1955)
  • “Louis Armstrong at the Crescendo, Vol. 1” (1955)
  • “Louis Armstrong and Eddie Condon at Newport” (1956)
  • “Satchmo the Great” (1956)
  • “An Evening With Louis Armstrong and His All Stars” (1956)
  • “Ella and Louis” (1956)
  • “Ella and Louis Again” (1957)
  • “I've Got the World on a String” (1957)
  • “Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson” (1957)
  • “Louis Under the Stars” (1957)
  • “Louis and the Angels” (1957)
  • “Porgy & Bess” (1958)
  • “Louis and the Good Book” (1958)
  • “Satchmo In Style” (1959)
  • “The Five Pennies” (1959)
  • “Bing & Satchmo” (1960)
  • “Recording Together for the First Time” (1961)
  • “The Great Reunion” (1961)
  • “The Real Ambassadors” (1962)
  • “Hello, Dolly!” (1964)
  • “Disney Songs the Satchmo Way” (1968)
  • “The One and Only” (1968)
  • “What a Wonderful World” (1970)
Films Starring Louis Armstrong
  • Ex Flame (1930) as himself
  • I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead You Rascal (1932) as himself
  • A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932) as himself
  • Pennies from Heaven (1936) as Hery
  • Artists & Models (1937) as Speciality
  • Every Day’s a Holiday (1937) as himself
  • Doctor Rhythm (1938) as Trumpet Player
  • Going Places (1938) as Gabe
  • Birth of the Blues (1941) as himself
  • Cabin in the Sky (1943) as The Trumpeter
  • Jam Session (1944) as himself
  • Pillow to Post (1945) as Orchestra Leader
  • New Orleans (1947) as himself
  • A Song is Born (1948) as himself
  • I’m in the Revue (1950) as Band Leader
  • The Strip (1951) as himself
  • Here Comes the Groom (1951) as himself
  • Glory Alley (1952) as Shadow Johnson
  • High Society (1956) as himself
  • The Five Pennies (1959) as himself
  • The Beat Generation (1959) as himself
  • Kærlighedens melodi (1959) as Musician
  • Paris Blues (1961) as Wild Man Moore
  • When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965) as himself
  • A Man Called Adam (1966) as Willie Ferguson
  • Hello, Dolly! (1969) as Orchestra Leader
Videos of Louis Armstrong
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