2010

Died On This Date (July 11, 2010) Bishop Walter Hawkins / Grammy Winning Gospel Singer

Walter Hawkins
May 18, 1949 – July 11, 2010
Walter Hawkins was a Grammy winning Gospel singer and ordained Bishop who, with the help of his brother, Edwin Hawkins and their Edwin Hawkins Singers, recorded one of Gospel’s earliest crossover hits, “Oh Happy Day.”  His wife, Tramaine Hawkins is an equally respected Gospel performer as well.  Hawkins went solo while forming his own church during the early ’70s.  His Love Center Choir won numerous accolades and found significant success with their Love Alive series which have sold in excess of one million copies.  1990’s Love Alive IV sat at the top of the Billboard Gospel charts of an astonishing thirty-three weeks.  It has been reported that Hawkins contributed in one form or another to nearly 120 Gospel charting records.  Over the course of his career, he collaborated with the likes of Jeffrey Osborne, Sylvester, Van Morrison, and Diahann Carroll.  Bishop Walter Hawkins, age 61, died on July 11, 2010 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

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Love Alive IV - Walter Hawkins



Died On This Date (July 10, 2010) Sugar Minott / Reggae Legend

Lincoln “Sugar” Minott
May 25, 1956 – July 10, 2010

Sugar Minott was a reggae pioneer who began his career during the late ’60s as a member of the African Brothers.  Their early recordings are noted to have shown the Rastafaris’ influence on the development of reggae music.  Minott soon went to work at Coxsone Dodd’s legendary Studio One as a back up musician, singer and overall apprentice, eventually branching out to make his first solo records there.  His recordings of the late ’70s and early ’80s are considered some of the biggest influences on reggae’s dancehall scene.  He also released several UK charting roots and lovers rock style records throughout the ’80s.  Meanwhile, Minott operated one of Jamaica’s most popular sound systems which was set up in public parks and afforded countless young reggae artists their first opportunities to perform in front of an audience.  He also produced records by the likes of Daddy Freddy, Horace Andy and Barrington Levy.  Others with which he collaborated were  Sly & Robbie and Mikey Dread, to name a couple.   Sugar Minott was 54 when he died in a Kingston hospital.  Cause of death was likely due to a heart conditioned he suffered from.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Nice It Up - The Best of Sugar Minott - Sugar Minott

Died On This Date (July 10, 1987) John Hammond / Legendary Talent Scout & Producer

John H. Hammond
December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987

Photo by Frank Driggs
Photo by Frank Driggs

John Hammond was one of the most influential men in the music business during the 20th century.  Whether as a producer or talent scout, Hammond was instrumental in the success of many of the names in music.  That list includes Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pete Seeger, Aretha Franklin, and Count Basie.  Hammond began his career in the early ’30s, mostly working with jazz artists, primarily helping African American musicians like Lionel Hampton and Charlie Christian land gigs in previously all-white bands.  In 1938, Hammond put together the first of the groundbreaking From Spirituals To Swing concerts that included the biggest names in jazz, blues and gospel.  Taking place at Carnegie Hall, it was reportedly the first significant concert by a racially mixed group of performers in front of a racially mixed audience.  The albums documenting the shows are now considered American music classics and a box set was released in 1999 thanks in part to Morgana Kennedy at Vanguard Records. In the early ’60s, Hammond was hired by Columbia Records where he signed Springsteen, Dylan, Seeger, Aretha and many others.  John Hammond passed away after a stroke at the age of 76.

Died On This Date (July 10, 2009) Bob Willis / “Mr. Country Gospel”

Bob Willis
February 23, 1934 – July 10, 2009

bobwillisBob Willis was a preacher and respected country singer and songwriter, so much so that he has been called “Mr. Country Gospel.”  Willis began writing straight country songs when he was just twelve years old but switched to country gospel when he turned his focus to the ministry at age 26.  Over his career, Willis published over 140 songs and had songs recorded by over 100 artists including Jimmie Davis.  Bob Willis passed away at the age of 75.

 


Died On This Date (July 10, 1941) Jelly Roll Morton / Jazz Great

Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton
October 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941

Jelly Roll Morton is considered Jazz’s first great composer and by at least himself, the inventor of jazz.  Regardless, his contribution to the form cannot be denied.  Starting out in New Orleans, reportedly playing the local bordellos as a teenager, Morton soon hit the road landing in Los Angeles, Chicago and finally New York where his reputation as a braggart kept him from landing the sidemen he wanted, adversely effecting his career.  He did make some outstanding recordings though, but he never was able to get the acclaim he deserved until after his death, again, likely due to his reputation.  Jelly Roll Morton died as a result of ongoing asthma troubles at just 50.   His place in American music was finally recognized in the coming years when New Orleans jazz went through a revival.

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Jelly Roll Morton 1923/24 - Jelly Roll Morton