Died On This Date (December 10, 2011) Karryl “Special One” Smith/ Hip-Hop’s Conscious Daughters

Karryl Smith
DOB Unknown – December 10, 2011

Karryl “Special One” Smith was one half of the popular San Francisco hip-hop duo, the Conscious Daughters.  Smith formed the act with Carla “CMG” Green in 1992, and within a year, they were signed to Paris’ label, Scarface Records. Their first album, 1994’s Ear To The Street, included their first hit, “Somethin’ to Ride (Fonky Expedition).”  They went on to secure a deal with the iconic Priority Records who released their follow-up, Gamers, which landed on the Billboard charts and sold upwards of 300,000 copies.  More releases followed, including 2011’s The Jane Of All Trades.   Special One was reportedly found dead inside her home on December 10, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

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



Died On This DAte (December 6, 2011) Dobie Gray / Soul & Country Singer-Songwriter

Dobie Gray
July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011

Dobie Gray was an American soul (and later, country) singer and songwriter who, over a career that started in 1960, released hits like “The In Crowd” and “Drift Away,” which sold over a million copies and remains a staple on radio.  Born into a family of Texas sharecroppers, Gray was exposed to gospel music at an early age thanks to an uncle who was a Baptist minister.  By the early ’60s, he was living in Los Angeles where he met Sonny Bono who connected him with his first label, Stripe Records.  It wasn’t long until Gray was putting out a string of hits like “Look At Me,” “See You At The Go-Go,” and of course, “The In Crowd” and “Drift Away.”  The latter has been also recorded by such luminaries as Rod Stewart, Roy Orbison, the Neville Brothers, and Humble Pie. When he wasn’t making records, Gray worked as an actor – he spent over two years as part of the Los Angeles cast of Hair.  During the mid ’70s, Gray moved to Nashville where he wrote songs that were recorded by the likes of Charley Pride, George Jones, Ray Charles and Don Williams.  He also released a handful of moderately successful records at that time.  During the mid ’80s, Gray signed with Capitol Records and released a few country records that performed fairly well on the country charts.  Dobie Gray was 71 when he passed away in his sleep on December 6, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released, though he had been ill.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Best of Dobie Gray (Re-Recorded Versions) - Dobie Gray



Died On This Date (December 2, 2011) Howard Tate / Soul Music Legend

Howard Tate
August 14, 1939 – December 2, 2011

Howard Tate was an American soul and gospel singer and songwriter who first found his audience during the ’60s and early ’70s.  With bluesy soul records like “Ain’t Nobody Home,” “Granny,” and “Stop,” Tate built a sizable following which included no less than Janis Joplin, who recorded his “Get It While You Can” on her Pearl album.  After retiring from the music business during the late ’70s, Tate fell into some hard times, and eventually found work as a drug and mental illness counselor and preacher.  In 2003, he mounted a much welcomed comeback with the release of the Grammy nominated Rediscovered which was produced by Jerry Ragavoy who died the same for Tate’s hits back in the 1960s.  Tate back in  A live album followed the following year, and in 2006 he released A Portrait Of Howard, produced by Steve Weisberg and featuring songs by Carla Bley, Lou Reed, and Nick Lowe.  Howard Tate died from complications of Multiple Myeloma and Leukemia on December 2, 2011.  He was 72.

Thanks to Steve Weisberg for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

A Portrait of Howard - Howard Tate & The Steve Weisberg Orchestra

Died On This Date (November 30, 2011) J. Blackfoot / The Soul Children; Had R&B Hit With “Taxi”

J. Blackfoot (Born John Colbert)
November 20, 1946 – November 30, 2011

J. Blackfoot was an American R&B singer who first found some success as lead singer of the Soul Children and later had a solo hit with “Taxi.” Born in Mississippi but raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Blackfoot caught the ear of Stax Records’ David Porter who invited him to be lead singer of the Bar-Kays after several group members were killed in the plane crash that took Otis Redding’s life. He performed but never recorded with the group.  In 1968, Porter invited Blackfoot to sing in the Soul Children, a new co-ed R&B vocal group.  Over the next decade, the group released seven albums that included 15 R&B hits.  After the group split up in 1978, Blackfoot launched his solo career which included the 1983 soul hit, “Taxi.”  He continued to release albums as score moderate R&B hits well into the 200s.  On November 30, 2011, J. Blackfoot died of cancer.  He was 65.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

City Slicker - J. Blackfoot

Died On This Date (November 27, 2011) Jovan Coleman aka J-1 / Drummer For Dam-Funk’s Master Blazter

J-1 (Born Jovan Coleman)
DOB Unknown – November 27, 2011

Know professionally as J-1 and The Dear, Los Angeles based musician and producer Jovan Coleman was the drummer in Dam Funk’s trio, Master Blazter which also counted Computer Jay as a member. Coleman also played in Animal Kingdom as well as Shafiq Husayn’s En’AFreeKa Ensemble. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Coleman ultimately settled in L.A. where he quickly became part of the city’s vibrant funk/soul/boogie scene.  He released The Yellow (EP) in June of 2011.  Jovan Coleman passed away in Sweden on November 27, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.