Happy Birthday: Michael Jackson

Here we are celebrating the life and legacy of "The King of Pop", Michael Jackson, once again. As usual, you know I had to do a tribute mix in his honor. This one is filled will all remixes of your favorites by DJ's and producers from around the world. Enjoy!

Rock My World 2014 by Djkoolemdee on Mixcloud

RE:MIX LIVE: Motown Edition

On March 21, 2013, Re:Mix Live kicked off their premiere showcase of some of the hottest producers and DJs from the DMV area who paid homage to the artists from the Motown catalog, as well as the Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 Edition follow-up on July 14th. For those that couldn't be there, Re:Mix Live uploaded a promo CD as a gift that features the sounds of Maverick, Nick tha 1da, Grussle and Praise. Judging from the recap video, looks to have been a great show. For more information and for future dates of this recurring show, give them a "LIKE" on Facebook.

RE:MIX LIVE: Motown Edition Download

Michael Jackson: Remember The Time (Louis La Roche Remix)

Today is the day we pay our respects in remembering Michael Jackson, who passed away on this day four years ago. With this fantastic remix of "Remember The Time" by Louis La Roche, this is an excellent way to celebrate the life and legacy of the King of Pop. Oh yeah. It's a free download folks!

Happy Birthday: Gil Scott-Heron & Marvin Gaye

Gil Scott-Heron
(April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011)

Gil Scott-Heron is another artist who ranks in my top favorites for his compositions in poetry, Jazz, Soul and other genres. He helped to wake up people stateside and abroad, addressing social and political issues in his music and poetry. Many Hip-Hop enthusiasts consider him to be a key person in the development of the culture.

Soul On Ice! {Episode#5:Gil Scott Heron} 4/6/11 by Thedynamitedavesoul on Mixcloud

Marvin Gaye
(April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984)

Marvin Gaye, his smooth vocal style and the introduction of concept albums has helped changed the face of Soul music. Starting out as a session drummer for Motown records, he went on to release his own solo projects to become one of the most revered artists in American music.

Soul On Ice! {Episode#6:Marvin Gaye tribute}4/6/11 by Thedynamitedavesoul on Mixcloud

Friday Flashback: The Spinners

For this episode of Friday Flashback, we take you back to the classic sounds of one of my all-time favorite singing groups, The Spinners [also known as The Detroit Spinners]. After a stint with both Tri-Phi Records and Motown, The Spinners would later sign to Atlantic Records at the suggestion of Aretha Franklin. Having not scored Top 10 hits with the previous labels, The Spinners began working with Philadelphia based producer and songwriter Thom Bell. Under the helm of Bell, The Spinners charted five top 100 singles (two of them top tens) from their first post-Motown album, Spinners (1972). "I'll Be Around", their first top ten hit and first million-selling record, was actually the B-side of their first Atlantic single, "How Could I Let You Get Away". "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" and "Ghetto Child" made their reputation concrete as one of the well respected vocal groups of the 1970's, along with Bell as a producer and songwriter.


Bobby Smith
(April 10, 1936 – March 16, 2013)
Unfortunately, in the last few days, The Spinners lost their long time lead vocalist Bobby Smith, who fronted the majority of their music. On March 16th, he lost his battle with cancer while residing in Orlando, Florida. He will be laid to rest in his native Detroit, Michigan. I, personally am going to miss his smooth vocals. May he rest in peace!

Happy Birthday: J-Dilla

Another cycle has come for the date of birth of one of the greatest Hip-Hop and Soul producers of all time, the legendary James Dewitt Yancey a.k.a. "J-Dilla/Jay Dee" of Detroit. In case you hadn't grabbed it before, here's the Dilla Jackson Mixtape I co-produced in 2009 in tribute. Listen and download below.

Friday Flashback: Dennis Coffey

Sadly, they didn't have platinum status so many years back. The highest level of record sales was gold for selling one million records (at wholesale price) up until 1976, when they changed it to platinum. Dennis Coffey's "Scorpio" (1971) is a million selling instrumental from his Evolution LP that was sampled by many Hip-Hop and Acid Jazz producers. "Scorpio" features bassist Bob Babbit (November 26, 1937 – July 16, 2012), who along with Coffey are both former members of the legendary Funk Brothers, the studio band who played on numerous Motown recordings.

Happy Birthday: Stevie Wonder

In my book, Stevie Wonder is the the greatest songwriter and composer of all time. Penning an extensive catalog of music that incorporates many different styles and genres, topping the U.S. music charts with more than 30 top 10 hits which won him 22 Grammy awards. A social and political activist, Wonder campaigned to get Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday declared a national holiday in 1980, composing "Happy Birthday" from his Hotter Than July album in tribute to Dr. King and was a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2009. Today we salute this living legend on his date of birth and wish to see him around for many years to come.

Other awards and recognition
1983: inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
1984: received an Academy Award for Best Song for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from the movie The Woman in Red.
1989: inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1999: received the Polar Music Prize and Kennedy Center Honors.
2002: received the George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award at UCLA's Spring Sing. The same year, Wonder received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2004: received the Billboard Century Award. Also in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #15 on their list of the 100 Greatest Rock and Roll Artists of All Time.
2006: was inducted, as one of the first inductees, into the Michigan Walk of Fame. The same year, Wonder received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
2008: Ranked at number five on "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists", making him as the third most successful male artist in the history of Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2009: Recipient of the second Gershwin Prize For Popular Song.
2009: Recipient of the Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award. This special award underlines a popular artist’s extraordinary contribution to the musical world. The Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award is in bronze.
2009: Named a Messenger of Peace by the United Nations.

Friday Flashback: J.R. Swinga

Our first Friday Flashback is "Chocolate City", written, performed and produced by J.R. Swinga, released in 1994 as part of the State Of Emergency: Society In Crisis Vol. 1 compilation on Mad Sounds Recordings. For a number of years this has been a pretty hard to find album and single. So if you happen to come across either, you better grab them quickly. Give yourself a listen to my Sunflower Jazz II that has the tune in the mix. ENJOY!

Happy Birthday: Gil Scott-Heron & Marvin Gaye

Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron
(April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011)
Widely considered as one of the forefathers and greatest influences to the world of Hip-Hop with his poetry that had the backings of African drumming, Soul, Jazz, Blues and Funk. His own term for himself was "bluesologist", which he defined as "a scientist who is concerned with the origin of the blues." His best known composition that is considered a critically acclaimed classic is The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. His works with multi-instrumentalist Brian Jackson include Free Will, Pieces of A Man and Winter In America, also gained heavy notoriety and considered classics by many.

Scott-Heron remained active until his death, and in 2010 released his first new album in 16 years, entitled I'm New Here. "The Last Holiday", was also published, posthumously in January 2012.

GilScottHeron.net

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Marvin Gaye
(April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984)

Starting his career as a "doo-wop" artist, he later became a session drummer for Motown Records, before becoming the top selling solo artist of Tamla, a Motown subsidiary. He was crowned the "Prince of Motown" and also the "Prince of Soul". His work in the early and mid-1970s included the albums, What's Going On, Let's Get It On, and I Want You, which helped influence the quiet storm, urban adult contemporary, and slow jam genres. Here, My Dear, In Our Lifetime and Midnight Love would all be heavy influences for the more modern soul sound.

In 1982, during an interview for New Musical Express magazine, he's quoted as saying:

"I don't make records for pleasure. I did when I was a younger artist, but I don't today. I record so that I can feed people what they need, what they feel. Hopefully, I record so that I can help someone overcome a bad time."

Hitsville, USA: 52 Years of Music

In 1959 in Detroit, Michigan, Berry Gordy Jr. hung a sign that read Hitsville, USA on a two story building on West Grand Blvd. (now known as Berry Gordy Jr. Blvd) and founded the Motown Record Corporation. After garnering a little success by writing for local acts such as Jackie Wilson and The Matadors, Gordy found it to be more lucrative in producing records and owning the publishing.

Gordy's first signed act was The Matadors, who later changed their name to The Miracles. Lead singer William "Smokey" Robinson would later be granted the position of vice president of the corporation by Gordy. Specializing in soul music with pop appeal and simplicity, the corporation would gain recognition for having their trademark "Motown Sound". Motown Records launched the careers of The Supremes, The Miracles, Smokey Robinson, The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye and other notable acts. For more info, discography and releases, log on to Motown Records Website.

Happy Birthday: Valerie Simpson

We're wishing a very happy birthday to a legendary and phenomenal woman, Mrs. Valerie Simpson, half of singer-songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson. Both contributed to many tunes in the Motown catalog, as well as penning hits for other legendary artists, for movie soundtracks and for themselves.

Their biggest and most memorable hit single is "Solid", the title track of their album released in 1984 that went #1 on the Billboard R&B charts and certified gold by the RIAA. Both were inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.

Keep Valerie in your prayers, as many now know that her husband Nick passed away only days ago.

Farewell: Nick Ashford of Ashford & Simpson

Nick Ashford
(May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011)
I have just learned upon waking up that the legendary Nickolas Ashford, half of the husband and wife singer-songwriting duo has passed away. The duo has written a string of hits that are part of the Motown catalog for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Supremes, The Marvelettes and The Dynamic Superiors. They have also penned hit tunes for Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross, Rufus, Ray Charles and The Brothers Johnson, as well as contributing for a few movie soundtracks.

Ashford also did his share of acting for the movie New Jack City (Rev. Oates) with Wesley Snipes, Mario Van Peebles and Ice T, and the television series New York Undercover with Malik Yoba.

Farewell Fonce Mizell

Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell
Jan. 15, 1943 - July 11, 2011
Half of The Mizell Brothers and formerly of The Corporation with Motown, Fonce helped to pen and produce early hits from 1969 through 1971 for The Jackson 5, including "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save" and others. Along with his brother Larry, he has written and produced for the likes of Michael Jackson, Donald Byrd, Bobbi Humphrey, Gary Bartz, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Edwin Starr, The Blackbyrds, Johnny Hammond, L.T.D., A Taste of Honey and more. The Mizell Brothers are pioneers in the fusion of Soul and Funk with Jazz.

Happy Birthday: Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder (born May 13, 1950 as Steveland Hardaway Judkins, later changed to Morris) is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist who signed with Motown Records' Tamla label at the age of eleven, after being discovered by Gerald White, brother of Ronnie White of The Miracles.

By age 13, Wonder had a major hit, "Fingertips (Pt. 2)", a 1963 single taken from a live recording of a Motor Town Revue performance, issued on the album Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius. The song, featuring Wonder on vocals, bongos, and harmonica, and a young Marvin Gaye on drums, was a #1 hit on the U.S. pop and R&B charts and launched him into the public consciousness.

Wonder's songs are renowned for being quite difficult to sing. He has a very developed sense of harmony and uses many extended chords utilizing extensions such as 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, b5s, etc. in his compositions. Many of his melodies make abrupt, unpredictable changes. Many of his vocal melodies are also melismatic, meaning that a syllable is sung over several notes. Some of his best known and most frequently covered songs are played in keys which are more often found in jazz than in pop and rock. For example, "Superstition", "Higher Ground" and "I Wish" are in the key of E flat minor, and feature distinctive riffs in the E flat minor pentatonic scale (i.e. largely on the black notes of the keyboard).

Wonder played a large role in bringing synthesizers to the forefront of popular music. He developed many new textures and sounds never heard before. In 1981, Wonder became the first owner of an E-mu Emulator. With the soundtrack album Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants (1979), featured in the film The Secret Life of Plants. Mostly instrumental, the album was composed using the Computer Music Melodian, an early sampler. Wonder toured briefly in support of the album, and used a Fairlight CMI sampler on stage.

Stevie Wonder has recorded more than thirty U.S. top ten hits and received twenty-two Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist. Wonder is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a holiday in the United States. In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's fiftieth anniversary, with Wonder at number five. Between 1983 and 2009, Wonder has also won numerous other awards and received recognition.

StevieWonder.net

Happy Birthday: Marvin Gaye

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., known to the world as Marvin Gaye, who is one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century. Many don't know that outside of his smooth four octave voice and "tickling the ivory", he started out as a session drummer for Motown.

For many, Here, My Dear is considered a classic, although it failed commercially. At first it received ill reviews until re-examined later. It was supposed to be an attempt at making a "lazy album" due to the unrepairable circumstances surrounding his first marriage to Anna Gordy, the sister of Motown/Tamla mogul Berry Gordy. With the advice of Curtis Shaw, Marvin's attorney, it was agreed that Marvin would give half the royalties for the album to Anna for alimony and child support for their only son Marvin III. However, while recording the album, Marvin's emotions took over the music.

One of my favorite tunes from the album is "Is That Enough", which talks about the divorce court precedings and having to pay attorney fees.

Happy Birthday: Diana Ross, Steven Tyler & Teddy Pendergrass

Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is a singer and actress who served as lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway. She received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her 1972 role as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues, for which she won a Golden Globe award. She won 8 awards American Music Awards, garnered twelve Grammy Award nominations, and won a Tony Award for her one-woman show, An Evening with Diana Ross, in 1977. With a career total 18 #1 records, Diana Ross is considered the most successful female recording artist of the 20th century.

Other films Ross would later star in include Mahogany, The Wiz (a remake of The Wizard of Oz), Out of Darkness, and Double Platinum.



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Steven Tyler (born March 26, 1948) is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, and the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is also known as the "Demon of Screamin'" and is equally known for his on-stage acrobatics. During his high-energy performances, he usually dresses in bright, colorful outfits with his trademark scarves hanging from his microphone stand. In the 1970s, Tyler rose to prominence as the frontman of Aerosmith, which released such milestone hard rock albums as Toys In The Attic and Rocks.

Aerosmith rose to prominence again when Tyler and Perry appeared on Run–D.M.C.'s cover of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" in 1986, a track that combined elements of hip-hop and rock, that broke down the barriers between the two genres, broke rap into the mainstream, and introduced Aerosmith to a new generation. The track hit #4 on the charts and launched a famous music video that saw heavy rotation.



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Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass (March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010) was an R&B/Soul singer and songwriter. Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade. In 1982, he was severely injured in an auto accident in Philadelphia, resulting in his being paralyzed from the waist down. After his injury, the affable entertainer founded the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, a foundation that helps those with spinal cord injuries. Pendergrass commemorated 25 years of living after his spinal cord injury with star filled event, Teddy 25 - A Celebration of Life at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center. His last performance was on a PBS special at Atlantic City's Borgata Casino in November 2008.

In 1977, Pendergrass released his self-titled album, which went platinum on the strength of the disco hit, "I Don't Love You Anymore". Its follow-up single, "The Whole Town's Laughing At Me", became a top 20 R&B hit. It was quickly followed by Life Is a Song Worth Singing, in 1978. That album was even more successful with its singles including "Only You" and "Close the Door". The disco single, "Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose" was popular in dance clubs. 1979 brought two successes, Teddy and the live release, Live Coast to Coast. Hits off Teddy included "Come and Go With Me" and "Turn Off the Lights". His 1980 album, TP, included his signature song, "Love TKO" and the Ashford & Simpson composition, "Is It Still Good to You". Between 1977 and 1981, Pendergrass landed five consecutive platinum albums, which was a then-record setting number for a rhythm and blues artist.

Pendergrass' popularity became massive at the end of 1977. With sold-out audiences packing his shows, Pendergrass' manager soon noticed that a huge number of his audience consisted of women of all races. They made up a plan for Pendergrass' next tour to have it with just female audiences only, starting a trend that continues today called "women's only concerts". With five platinum albums and two gold albums, Pendergrass was the leading R&B male artist of his day usurping competition including closest rivals Marvin Gaye and Barry White. In 1980, the Isley Brothers released "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)" to compete with Pendergrass' "Turn Off the Lights", which sensed Pendergrass' influence on the quiet storm format of black music.

Happy Birthday: Smokey Robinson & Seal

William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is a R&B and Soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy. Robinson's consistent commercial success and creative contributions to the label have earned him the title "King of Motown."

As an original member of Motown Records' first vocal group The Miracles and as a solo artist, Robinson delivered many U.S. and U.K. Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987. He also served as the company's vice president from 1961 to 1988.

Smokey Robinson began a low-key solo career while concentrating on his duties as vice president of Motown, releasing his first solo LP, Smokey, in 1973. His first hit single, "Sweet Harmony" (1973), was dedicated to The Miracles. In 1975, Robinson's solo career took off with the success of the number one R&B hit "Baby That's Backatcha". Robinson's 1976 single "Quiet Storm" and its accompanying album typified a genre of smooth, slow R&B that has spawned late-night radio shows called "quiet storm". Other Robinson solo hits include "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (a U.K. number-one hit) (1981), "Tell Me Tomorrow" (1982), and "Ebony Eyes", a duet with labelmate Rick James (1983). He also recorded the soundtrack to the film Big Time (1977).

SmokeyRobinson.com



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Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (born February 19, 1963 in Paddington, London, England), known simply as Seal, is a Soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. His name, Olusegun, means "God is victorious".

A recipient of BRIT, MTV and Grammy Awards, Seal is known for his numerous international hits; perhaps best known is "Kiss from A Rose" which appeared in the soundtrack to the 1995 Batman film Batman Forever and won him three Grammy Awards.

Seal contributed vocals to a cover of John Lennon's "Imagine" for the 2010 Herbie Hancock album, The Imagine Project along with P!nk, India.Arie, Jeff Beck, Konono N°1, Oumou Sangare and others.

SEAL.com

R.I.P. Teena Marie

Singer Teena Marie, the "Ivory Queen of Soul", also known as Lady T, passed away today in her California home from an unspecified cause. She was found unresponsive by daughter Alia Rose. Marie was a protégée of funk artist Rick James, and she was also a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer.

Personally, i'm pretty saddened by the news of the loss of another great in music. I saw her performing live years ago and to see her play the bass guitar like a true master. I will miss her voice, presence and skill as an artist.

Happy Birthday: Brenda Lee & Jermaine Jackson

Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), better known as Brenda Lee, is a performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis. She is best known for her 1960 hit "I'm Sorry", and 1958's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", a US holiday standard for more than 50 years.

At 4 ft 9 inches tall, she received the nickname Little Miss Dynamite in 1957 after recording the song "Dynamite"; and was one of the earliest pop stars to have a major contemporary international following.



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Jermaine Jackson (born December 11, 1954) is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director. He also produced and recorded duets with American singer Whitney Houston in her early years as a recording artist.

Here's my favorite track by Jermaine written and produced by the legendary Stevie Wonder (he also provided background vocals on this track). Pay close attention and you'll hear Wonder's signature sound.