Crate Diggers: Stevie Wonder
Showing posts with label Stevie Wonder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stevie Wonder. 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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Sunday, July 16, 2017

Happy Birthday Bill Cosby

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure” - Bill Cosby
(Bill Cosby)
Bill Cosby was born as William Cosby Jr. on July 12th, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Cosby was a class clown as a kid. Cosby was the captain of both the baseball team and the track and field team as well as the class president. While in high school he played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track, in addition Cosby was working before and after school, selling produce, shining shoes, and stocking shelves at a supermarket to help out his family.
(Cosby in high school)
In 1956 Cosby enlisted in the Navy. In 1961 He finished his equivalency diploma via correspondence courses and was awarded a track and field scholarship to Philadelphia's Temple University. He studied physical education. He also ran track and played on the football team. He also started to do stand up comedy the same year. In 1963 he received national exposure on NBC's “The Tonight Show”.
(Cosby in 1963)
In 1964 he gained a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records. He released his 1st album, “Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right!”, the same year. Also in 1964 Cosby got married to Camille Olivia Hanks. In 1965 Cosby was cast in the TV show “I Spy”. “I Spy” became the first weekly dramatic television series to feature an African American in a starring role. At the beginning of the 1965 season, 4 stations declined the show. Cosby was honored with three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the TV show.
(Cosby (Left) in “I Spy” (1965-1968))
In 1967 Cosby recorded the album “Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings”. The album went gold. In 1968 Cosby left Warner Bros to start his own record label. In 1969 Cosby aired “The Bill Cosby Show” which lasted for 2 seasons. In 1971 Cosby began graduate work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 1972 Cosby received an MA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Also in 1972 Cosby aired the cartoon show “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids”.
(Cosby in “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” (1972-1985))
In 1974 Cosby starred in Uptown Saturday Night. In 1975 he starred in Let’s Do it Again.
(Cosby (Right) and Sidney Poitier (Left) in Let’s Do It Again (1975))
In 1976 Cosby starred in Mother, Jugs & Speed. In 1977 he starred in A Piece of the Action. In 1978 he starred in California Suite. In 1979 he aired the show “The New Fat Albert Show”. In 1983 he released the concert film Bill Cosby: Himself.
(Cosby in 1983)
In 1984 he aired “The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids”. Also in 1984 he aired “The Cosby Show”. It became the highest ranking sitcom of all time.
(The cast of “The Cosby Show” (1984-1992)
In 1987 Cosby starred in Leonard Part 6. In 1990 he starred in Ghost Dad. In 1993 he starred in Meteor Man. In 1996 he starred in Jack. Also in 1996 he aired the show “Cosby”. In 1997 he starred in the documentary 4 Little Girls. In 1999 he aired the cartoon show “Little Bill”. In 2004 a movie was made based off of the cartoon character “Fat Albert” called Fat Albert.
(Cosby (Left) and Keenan Thompson (Right) in Fat Albert (2004))
In 2013 he performed the TV standup special "Bill Cosby: Far From Finished". In 2014 TV Land and NBC both ended their relationships with Cosby due to 40 year old allegations of sexual assault made against Cosby.
(Cosby in 2014)
In 2015 Cosby was charged with a felony sexual assault. In 2016 a Pennsylvania judge ruled that there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial even though many of the women that were allegedly assaulted by Cosby kept going back to him multiple times after the alleged assault.
(Cosby in 2016)
In 2017 the trial ended in a mistrial due to the jurors being deadlocked due to the fact that the accusers were very contradicting with their accusations against Cosby.
Image result for bill cosby 2017(Cosby in 2017)
Today he turns 80 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday Bill Cosby.

Comedy Albums by Bill Cosby
  • “Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right!” (1963)
  • “I Started Out as a Child” (1964)
  • “Why Is There Air?” (1965)
  • “Wonderfulness” (1966)
  • “Revenge” (1967)
  • “To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With” (1968)
  • “200 M.P.H.” (1968)
  • “8:15 12:15” (1969)
  • “It's True! It's True!” (1969)
  • “Sports” (1969)
  • “Live: Madison Square Garden Center” (1970)
  • “When I Was a Kid” (1971)
  • “For Adults Only” (1971)
  • “Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs” (1971)
  • “Inside the Mind of Bill Cosby” (1972)
  • “Fat Albert” (1973)
  • “My Father Confused Me... What Must I Do? What Must I Do?” (1977)
  • “Bill's Best Friend” (1978)
  • “Bill Cosby: Himself” (1982)
  • “Those of You with or Without Children, You'll Understand” (1986)
  • “Oh, Baby!” (1991)
Music Albums by Bill Cosby
  • “Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings” (1967)
  • “Bill Cosby Sings Hooray for the Salvation Army Band!” (1968)
  • “Badfoot Brown & the Bunions Bradford Funeral & Marching Band” (1971)
  • “Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert – As master of ceremonies” (1972)
  • “Bill Cosby Presents Badfoot Brown & the Bunions Bradford Funeral Marching Band” (1972)
  • “At Last Bill Cosby Really Sings” (1974)
  • “Bill Cosby Is Not Himself These Days” (1976)
  • “Disco Bill” (1977)
  • “Where You Lay Your Head” (1990)
  • “My Appreciation” (1991)
  • “Hello Friend: To Ennis, With Love” (1997)
  • “Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby – The Original Jam Sessions 1969” (2004)
  • “Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby – The New Mixes Vol. 1” (2004)
  • “State of Emergency” (2009)
  • “Keep Standing” (2010)
Films Starring Bill Cosby
  • Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) as Patron at nightclub
  • Aesop's Fables (1971) as Aesop
  • Hickey & Boggs (1972) as Al Hickey
  • Uptown Saturday Night (1974) as Wardell Franklin
  • Let’s Do It Again (1975) as Billy Foster
  • Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976) as Mother
  • A Piece of the Action (1977) as Dave Anderson
  • California Suite (1978) as Dr. Willis Panama
  • The Devil and Max Devlin (1981) as Barney Satin
  • Leonard Part 6 (1987) as Leonard Parker
  • Ghost Dad (1990) as Elliot Hopper
  • The Meteor Man (1993) as Marvin
  • Jack (1996) as Lawrence Woodruff
  • Baadasssss! (2003) as himself
  • Fat Albert (2004) as himself
  • Bill Cosby 77 (2014) as himself
TV Shows Starring Bill Cosby
  • “I Spy” (1965-1968) as Alexander Scott
  • “The Bill Cosby Show” (1969-1971) as Chet Kincaid
  • “The Electric Company” (1971-1973) as Hank
  • “The New Bill Cosby Show” (1972) as host
  • “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” (1972-1985) as "Fat" Albert Jackson
  • “Cos” (1976) as host
  • “Pinwheel” (1977-1990) as himself
  • “The Cosby Show” (1984-1992) as Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable
  • “A Different World” (1987) as Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable
  • “You Bet Your Life” (1992-1993) as host
  • “The Cosby Mysteries” (1994-1995) as Guy Hanks
  • “Cosby” (1996-2000) as Hilton Lucas
  • “Kids Say the Darndest Things” (1998-2000) as host
  • “Little Bill” (1999-2004) as Captain Brainstorm
Videos of Bill Cosby

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