Crate Diggers: Smokey Robinson
Showing posts with label Smokey Robinson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smokey Robinson. 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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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Happy Birthday Rick James

“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 his 69th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Rick James.
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, December 16, 2016

Happy Birthday Berry Gordy

“Motown was about music for all people - white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone” - Berry Gordy
Image result for berry gordy(Berry Gordy)
Berry Gordy was born as Berry Gordy Jr. on November 28th 1929 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Image result for berry gordy young(Gordy as a teenager)
In 1957 Gordy wrote a song for Jackie Wilson “Reet Petite”. Gordy also wrote “Lonely Teardrops” for Jackie Wilson.
Image result for berry gordy and jackie wilson(Gordy (Right) and Jackie Wilson (Center))
He also wrote “All I Could do is Cry” for Etta James. Also in 1957 Gordy discovered the Miracles. In 1959 Gordy created the labels “Tamla” and “Motown”.
Image result for berry gordy 1959(Gordy in 1959)
In 1960 he merged the two labels to make “Motown Record Corporation”. Also in 1960 he signed Mary Wells.
Image result for berry gordy 1960(Gordy in 1960)
In 1961 he signed the Marvelettes. Throughout the 1960’s Gordy signed the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, the Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Commodores, Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5.
Image result for berry gordy and michael jackson(Gordy (Center Right) with Diana Ross (Left), Michael Jackson (Center Left) and Marlon Jackson (Right))
In 1972 he moved the label to Los Angeles, CA. Also in 1972 he produced the movie Lady Sings the Blues.
Image result for berry gordy 1972(Gordy (Left) with Diana Ross (Center) and Billy Dee Williams (Right))
In 1975 he produced the movie Mahogany. In the 1980’s Gordy signed Lionel Richie as a solo artist and Rick James. In 1985 he produced the movie The Last Dragon.
Image result for berry gordy 1985(Gordy (Right) and Vanity (Left))
In 1988 Gordy sold Motown to MCA records for $61 million. Also in 1988 Gordy was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.
Image result for berry gordy 1988(Gordy in 1988)
In 1994 Gordy published his autobiography To Be Loved. In 1998 Gordy was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.
Image result for berry gordy 1998(Gordy (Left) with Diana Ross (Right))
In 2013 Gordy received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Pioneer Award. Also in 2013 Gordy developed “Motown: The Musical”.
Image result for berry gordy 2013(Gordy (Right) with Smokey Robinson (Left))
In 2016 Gordy received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama.
Image result for berry gordy 2016(Gordy (Left) with President Obama (Right))
Today he turns 87 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday Berry Gordy.

Books by Berry Gordy
  • To Be Loved (1994)
Videos of Berry Gordy



(P.S. sorry for the late post)
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