Donald Fagen ~ I.G.Y
🎉HAPPY 77TH BIRTHDAY ⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎙️🎹🎶🎊
Donald Jay Fagen (born January 10, 1948) is an American musician best known as the co-founder, lead singer, co-songwriter, and keyboardist of the band Steely Dan, formed in the early 1970s with musical partner Walter Becker. With Steely Dan, he sold more than 40 million albums. In addition to his work with Steely Dan, Fagen has released four solo albums, beginning with The Nightfly in 1982, which was nominated for seven Grammy Awards. In 2001, Fagen was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Steely Dan. Following Becker's death in 2017, Fagen continued to tour under the Steely Dan name.
Fagen was trained in classical piano from an early age & became interested in rock and rhythm and blues in the late 1950s.
At age eleven, his cousin, #barbaracohen, recommended jazz music and Fagen went to the Newport Jazz Festival.
In the early 1960s, he regularly took the bus to Manhattan to see performances by jazz musicians Charles Mingus, The Official Sonny Rollins Page, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis. He learned to play the piano, and he played baritone horn in the high school marching band.
In his late teens he was drawn to soul music, funk, Motown, and Sly & The Family Stone. He has also expressed admiration for The Boswell Sisters, Henry Mancini, and Ray Charles.
Becker and Fagen met while attending Bard College in New York's Hudson River Valley. They shared a common interest in jazz, and worked together as musicians, including a stint with touring band Jay and the Americans, while trying to establish themselves as songwriters in NYC's famed Brill Building. Their point of view was not easily interpreted by other artists.
The pair relocated to Los Angeles and formed their own group, with Becker as bassist and Fagen on keyboards, and eventually lead vocals. They continued working as a songwriting team. In 1974, they decided to stop touring and became a
#terriwells ~ WHO'S THAT STRANGER
🎉HAPPY 68TH BIRTHDAY ⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎙️🎶🎊
Terri Wells is a singer and songwriter who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was born on January 1, 1957. Terri grew up in a Gospel household, where music was not only a form of worship but also a way of life.
She sang in church before being old enough to sing in clubs.
She and some local friends formed #CityLimits, who signed briefly to Philadelphia International Records (PIR) in the mid-70's.
When the group disbanded Dexter Wansel hired her as a session singer at PIR, and for the next few years she both toured and recorded with artists including #lourawls, #mfsb, Leon A. Huff, Jean Carne and Dexter (singing on 'Love Is Everywhere', 'Life On Mars' and lead on 'The Sweetest Pain').
In 1979, Dexter retired from live performances, and Terri was hired by #royayers.
She toured in his band and cowrote 'Let's Stay Together' for Roy on his 'Feelin' Good' album.
Terri was a featured lead vocalist on Roy's 'Turn Me Loose' and was signed by Roy to his #unomelodic label, although nothing was released.
When #nickmartinell was hired by the #phillyworld label as a staff producer, he recommended they sign Terri.
This led to her debut solo release 'You Make It Heaven' (UKTop75) in 1983.
Her follow-up 'I'll Be Around' (U K Top 20, 1984) was a remake of The Detroit Spinners The Spinners classic on which she had been one of the original background singers!
'Just Like Dreamin', which also included 'Who's That Stranger', was released later in 1984.
Terri co-wrote 'I Can't Forget You' (Patti LaBelle) and 'Closer Than Close' ( #JeanCarne ), and sang backgrounds with 52nd Street and #joannagardner.
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Terri released her debut album, “Just Like Dreamin’,” in 1983, which spawned the hit singles “I’m Giving All My Love” and “You Make It Heaven.” The album achieved a lot of commercial success and received critical acclaim from
Freddie Hubbard - Blue Note Records ~ YOU'RE GONNA LOSE ME
IN MEMORY OF #freddiehubbard ⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎺 🎶
😇🕊💫☁️🌈🙏
Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives for modern jazz and bebop.
One of the great jazz trumpeters of all time, Freddie Hubbard was born and raised in Indianapolis. He moved to New York in 1958, roomed with Eric Dolphy (with whom he recorded in 1960), and was in the groups of #phillyjoejones (1958-1959), Sonny Rollins The Official Sonny Rollins Page, Slide Hampton, and #jjjohnson , before touring Europe with Quincy Jones (1960-1961). He recorded with John Coltrane, participated in Ornette Coleman’s Free Jazz (1960), was on Oliver Nelson’s classic Blues and the Abstract Truth album (highlighted by “Stolen Moments”), and started recording as a leader for Blue Note Records that same year with his debut album as a leader Open Sesame. Hubbard gained fame playing with Art Blakey - Blue Note Records's #jazzmessengers (1961-1964) next to Wayne Shorter and #CurtisFuller. He recorded Ascension with Coltrane (1965), Out to Lunch (1964) with Eric Dolphy, and Maiden Voyage with Herbie Hancock, and, after a period with Max Roach (1965-1966), he led his own quintet, which at the time usually featured altoist #JamesSpaulding. A blazing trumpeter with a beautiful tone on flugelhorn, Hubbard fared well in freer settings but was always essentially a hard bop stylist.
In 1970, Freddie Hubbard recorded two of his finest albums (Red Clay and Straight Life) for CTI. In 1977, he toured with Herbie Hancock’s acoustic #vsopquintet and, in the 1980s, on recordings for Pablo, Blue Note, and Atlantic, he showed that he could reach his former heights. In late 2008, Hubbard suffered a heart attack that left him hospitalized until his death at a
Kim Beacham ~ TROUBLE
IN MEMORY OF #kimbeacham ⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎙️🎶🎊
😇🕊💫☁️🌈🙏
RIP🙏 Kim Beacham. Killed by her own daughter on 16/12/ 2024.
Kim Beacham was an American singer, songwriter & entertainer, recording since 1991 from Trenton, New Jersey. Ms. Beacham came on the scene out the door with the Classic House Jam "TROUBLE" on the #111eastrecords label under the direction of #jamesbratton. From there Ms. Beacham spread her wings and was able to manoeuvre her way through the industry working with many household legendary producers.
Song: Trouble
Artist: Kim Beacham
Label: 111 East Records
Released: 1992
Genre: Electronic
Style: Deep House, Garage House
Producers: Chris Payne, James Bratton
Written By: G. Johnson
Written-By: C. Payne, J. Bratton
#trouble #kimbeacham
#111eastrecords #electronicmusic
#deephouse #garagehouse
#directdrive ~ ANYTHING
🎉HAPPY 67TH BIRTHDAY⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎹🎸🥁🎶🎊
Paul Louis Hardcastle Paul Hardcastle Official (born 10 December 1957) is an English composer, musician, producer, songwriter, radio presenter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his song "19", which went to number one in the Official UK Charts in 1985.
Hardcastle began his career in 1981 when he became the keyboard player for British soul band #directdrive.
Direct Drive were a British Disco, Soul and Electrofunk act in the 1980s.
When the band was founded, it consisted of 4 members: #mickward on bass, #petequinton on drums, #BobWilliams on guitar and #bones playing congas. Later #paulhardcastle applied as keyboard player, and was joined by #derekgreen on vocals to make up the original lineup of the band.
After the release of 2 singles “Don’t Depend On Me” and “Time’s Running Out” on #ovalrecords, Paul and Derek left the band to form #firstlight.
Direct drive then used a succession of keyboard players for live work and auditioned for a new vocalist; they picked Helen Rogers and released the track "In The Middle Of Spring" on the #passionrecords label.
They then formed their own label #directdriverecords and Production Company #BPM and released "Pass The Paper".
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In November 1984 Direct Drive released "Anything" on Direct Drive Records.
This was so successful that it was picked up by Polydor Records and re-released by them in early 1985.
Polydors Boiling Point label then released a follow up single called "ABC ( Falling In Love's Not Easy)" with two remixes of "Anything" (one by #paulhardcasle and the other by #markking) on the B side.
Direct Drive parted company with Polydor and reverted to releasing tracks on their own label.
Song: Anything? (#paulhardcastleremix)
Artist: Direct Drive
Vocals: Helen Rogers
Labels: Polydor, Boiling Point.
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Funk/Sou
#eugenewilde ~ PERSONALITY
🎉HAPPY 63RD BIRTHDAY ⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎙️🎶🎊
Eugene Wilde (born Ronald Eugene Broomfield, December 6, 1961) is an American R&B singer who had two No. 1 hits on the US Billboard R&B charts in the 1980s. Eugene Wilde's artistic style is a melting pot of influences that range from contemporary R&B to the smooth textures of post-disco. He often cites artists like Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke as inspirations.
Wilde grew up as part of a family group, #lavoyage, playing in local clubs. In the 1970s, the group became #tightconnection, and was later known as #simplicious. Broomfield also recorded an album with #curtomrecords in 1979 as a member of #todaytomorrowforever.
In 1984 he joined #phillyworldrecords, and wrote and recorded his first hit, "Gotta Get You Home Tonight", which rose to #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and also made #18 on the Official UK Charts. After a couple of less successful follow-ups, he hit #1 again a year later with "Don't Say No Tonight". He also had some lesser hits, including "Diana" (1986), but his career stalled when his record label collapsed.
In 1987 he recorded a duet with #SheenaEaston, "What If We Fall in Love", which appeared on Easton's album, No Sound But a Heart.
Subsequent releases on the MCA label, solo and with the group #CaboFrio, were less successful. He later ran the independent label #WildeCityRecords in Florida. Wilde continued his career, expanding into becoming a professional songwriter. He has written hits such as "I'll Never Break Your Heart" for the Backstreet Boys and "I Wish" for Victoria Beckham. He also continues to record his own songs.
In 2010, the Danish production duo of Rob Hardt and Frank Ryle, known as Cool Million, released the title song of their new CD, "Back for More" with Wilde providing the lead vocal. Back for More" was written by Wilde with Hardt, Ryle, and his son Du Juan.
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"Personality" is a 1984 single wr
THE JACKSON FIVE / The Jacksons ~ I WANT YOU BACK
🎉HAPPY 95TH BIRTHDAY⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎶🎊
Berry Gordy (born November 28, 1929), known professionally as Berry Gordy Jr., is an American retired record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer. He is best known as the founder of the Motown Records label and its subsidiaries, which was the highest-earning African-American business for decades.
As a songwriter, Gordy composed or co-composed a number of hits including "Lonely Teardrops" and "That's Why" ( Jackie Wilson ), "Shop Around" ( The Miracles ), and "Do You Love Me" ( The Contours ), all of which topped the US R&B charts, as well as the international hit "Reet Petite" (Jackie Wilson). As part of the Corporation, he wrote many hit songs for the #jackson5, including "I Want You Back" and "ABC". As a record producer, he launched #TheMiracles and signed acts like Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips and Stevie Wonder. He was known for carefully directing the public image, dress, manners, and choreography of his acts.
Gordy was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, awarded the #nationalmedalofarts by President Barack Obama in 2016, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021. In 2022, he was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
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"I Want You Back" is the first national single by the Jackson 5. It was released by Motown in October 1969, and became the first number-one hit for the band on January 31, 1970. "I Want You Back" has sold over 6 million copies worldwide.
The song, along with a B-side remake of "Who's Lovin' You" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, was the only single to be released from the Jackson 5's first album, "Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5". It went to number one on the Soul singles chart for four weeks and held the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100.
"I Want You Back" was ranked 10
Morrissey Mullen Legacy ~ COME AND GET ME
🎉 HAPPY 79TH BIRTHDAY ⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎸🎶🎊
Jim Mullen (born 26 November 1945) is a Scottish, Glasgow-born jazz guitarist with a distinctive style, like Wes Montgomery before him, picking with the thumb rather than a plectrum.
Jim Mullen was guitarist with #PeteBrown & #piblokto! for two albums in 1970. He then played with #BrianAuger's #oblivionexpress, appearing on the band's first three albums together with future Average White Band drummer #robbiemcintosh. Mullen then joined #kokomo and later toured with the Average White Band.
It was while both musicians were touring the United States with AWB in the mid-1970s that Mullen met tenor saxophone player #dickmorrissey, and throughout the 1980s, he found critical notice as joint leader of the British jazz funk band Morrissey Mullen.
Morrissey–Mullen were a British jazz-funk/fusion group of the 1970s and 1980s. Considered one of the most popular jazz groups in London, the band was led by Dick Morrissey on tenor and soprano saxes and flute, and Jim Mullen on guitar, who joined forces in 1975, playing together for sixteen years, during which they came to be known as "Mr Sax and Captain Axe" because of their hallmark call and response style between guitar and saxophone.
Mullen has also played and recorded with, among others, Mose Allison, #hamishstuart, #JOANNAEDEN, #tamwhite, #clairemartin, Mike Carr, #jimmywitherspoon, Dave O'Higgins and Georgie Fame, Sinan Alimanović, David Tughan, #jimmysmith, Terry Callier [Official] and #frankholder. Mullen has recorded as part of #TheAllStars, a collective of session musicians on their Paul McCartney-produced album All About the Music, alongside special guests Jocelyn Brown, Hamish Stuart and #angelostarr. In 2014, he featured prominently on the Citrus Sun album, People of Tomorrow, produced by Incognito co-founder, Bluey aka Jean-Paul Maunick.
Mullen has won many British music awards including "Best Guitar" in the Briti
Helen Bruner ~ GIMME REAL LOVE
🎉HAPPY BIRTHDAY ⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎙️🎶🎊
Producer, artist, songwriter and one-half of the GRAMMY-Nominated duo Helen Bruner and Terry Jones. Signed to Cardiac/Virgin Records as a solo artist in the 90s, Bruner's songs have reached No.1 on the Billboard charts, have been featured in Blockbuster films, TV shows, soundtracks and licensed to more than 250+ compilation albums internationally. Bruner is a co-owner of Philerzy Entertainment and Philerzy Productions based out of Philadelphia, a multifaceted music company. As a studio owner Bruner's clients range from Grammy winners #postmalone, Erykah Badu, rapper Ty Dolla $ign, rock band Cage The Elephant, #corona, #BMI and a list of others. Bruner received in 2008 a GRAMMY nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category. In the late 2000s #philerzyproductions released the Helen Bruner & Terry Jones album "Hollyhood" which Bruner & Jones wrote, produced, performed and mixed. Hollyhood held the No.1 spot for five consecutive weeks on the Official UK Soul charts. Bruner also performed, produced and wrote songs for "All About Bullies Big And Small", which won a GRAMMY for Best
Children's Album in 2011. She is a recipient of the Linda Creed Shining Star award, a songwriter's award, the IM3 Media 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2018 Woman of Style and Substance award.
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Gimme Real Love is an early House track on the NYC record label #cardiacrecords released in 1991. It reached #19 on the US #billboard Dance chart.
Song: Gimme Real Love
Artist: Helen Bruner
Album: 90’s Baby
Label: Cardiac Records
Released: 1991
Genre: Electronic, R&B/Soul.
Style: Garage House
Written-By: Helen Bruner
Produced, Arranged & Mixed By: Helen Bruner & Bluejean
#gimmereallove #helenbruner
#90sbaby #electronicmusic
#rnbsoul #rnb #soul
#garagehouse
Noel McKoy ~ FAMILY
🎉IN MEMORY OF #NoelMcKoy⋆⭒˚｡⋆🎙️🎶🎊
😇🕊💫☁️🌈🙏
Noel McKoy (20 December 1961 – 3 November 2022) was a British soul music singer. His music was a collection of soul, gospel,funk and Northern soul.McKoy created, produced and presented the Dutch Pot new artist nights in London – which ran for five years. Over 300 artists including Hil St Soul, Shaun Escoffery, #michaeljackson (writer), and #JeffreyWilliams gave early performances at these nights – which proved to be pivotal to their later careers.International names topping the bill included Omar Lyefook , Lynden David Hall Tribute and DefJam's Tashan7.
Noel McKoy was born in Clapham, London.
Noel lived with his Aunt Winnie who came over in the 1940s and then later sent for the whole family to come over. They then moved to Battersea in 1968, and Noel experienced a lot of racism early on in his new school.
The family had a history of music and his Mum and Aunt were both singers. Noel got involved in music early on and formed a school band, called “The Albions”. Noel put on many events in his teen years which also involved a dance group that evolved into “The Pasadenas" The Pasadenas - Tribute (Right On) who had a UK Top Ten Hit with “TRIBUTE (RIGHT ON) which got to No.5 in the Official UK Charts and performed on Top of the Pops. Afterwards Noel continued to tour and perform in backing bands and was involved with many recording artists. He has worked in many recording studios and also directed videos,McKoy-Family.
McKoy cited his influences as The Beatles, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, Chaka Khan,
#martinlutherkingjr., and #NelsonMandela.He has duetted with #JulietRoberts, Mica Paris, #VanessaSimon, Beverley Knight, and #EbonyAlleyne. He released five solo albums and, in 2007, he recorded new songs for the record producer #IanLevine's Northern Soul 2007 and Disco 2008, the latter also featuring his sisters.
Bo
