Died On This Date (January 6, 2006) Lou Rawls / R&B Icon
themusicsover Lou Rawls
December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006
Lou Rawls was one of the most popular soul and jazz singers during the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Over the course of his career, he released over 70 albums and sold upwards of 40 million. Rawls’ career in music began as a teenager in Chicago where he and classmate, Sam Cooke performed in a local gospel group. Signed to Capitol Records in the early ’60s, Rawls kept a busy pace over the course of the next two decades, from opening for the Beatles in 1966 to co-hosting a television show in 1969 to singing a remarkable rendition of the National Anthem before the Muhammad Ali – Earnie Shavers fight of September 29, 1977. His most memorable hit was 1976’s “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” Lou Rawls passed away as a result of cancer at the age of 72.
What You Should Own
Willie Mitchell is best remembered as the esteemed producer who helped develop the Memphis soul sound of the ’60s and beyond. Mitchell learned to play the trumpet as a child and by the time he was in high school he was playing in local jazz bands. He soon formed his own band that reportedly performed at numerous New Years Eve parties at 
Robert Dickey was an R&B singer who is perhaps best remembered as the original “Bobby” of James & Bobby Purify, who scored a huge hit with “I’m Your Puppet” in 1966. Formed by Dickey’s cousin, James Purify, in 1965, the duo released several charting singles while recording for Bell Records – that list “Shake A Tail Feather,” “Let Love Come Between Us,” and of course, “I’m Your Puppet” which ultimately reached #6 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1971, Dickey left the group due to health issues and was replaced by a second “Bobby,” Ben Moore. Dickey retired from the music business in 1972 and spent many years working for the City of Tallahassee, Florida while singing and playing guitar in his church group. Robert Dickey was 72 when he passed away on December 29, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Ralph MacDonald was an in-demand percussionist and hit songwriter who could count two of the biggest R&B songs of the ’70s as his own. Growing up in a musical family in Harlem, New York, MacDonald first picked up the steelpan as a youngster. By the time he was 17, he had already played his first big gig at a local Harry Belafonte show. He continued on with Belafonte for the next ten years until parting ways in 1971. MacDonald soon became one of contemporary music’s most in-demand session players, performing on countless R&B, jazz and disco records. The list of those he recorded with includes George Benson, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffett, Carole King, Average White Band, the Brothers Johnson,