Singer

Died On This Date (July 11, 1981) Hubert Johnson / The Contours

Hubert Johnson
January 14, 1941 – July 11, 1981

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Hubert Johnson, 2nd from left

Hubert Johnson was a singer in the Motown group, the Contours.  While other Motown groups were polished and finely dressed, the Contours were rough around the edges and raw, their shows full of high energy.  It was Johnson who arranged for the group to sing for his cousin, Jackie Wilson who later, introduced them to Motown’s Berry Gordy.  After nearly being dropped by the label after a lackluster first single in 1961, the group recorded and released “Do You Love Me?” which rose to the top of the R&B and to #3 of the pop charts.  Today, the song is one of the most popular songs of that era.  The song nearly cracked the Top 10 again, when it was featured in the 1988 film, Dirty Dancing.  Hubert Johnson committed suicide on July 11, 1981.

What You Should Own

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20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Best of the Contours - The Contours



Died On This Date (July 11, 2008) Chuck Carbo / New Orleans R&B Singer

Hayward “Chuck” Carbo
1926 – July 11, 2008

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Chuck Carbo was best known as the singer for New Orleans R&B group, the Spiders.  The group formed in the ’50s and included Carbo’s brother Leonard “Chick” Carbo.  During their early years, the group had several R&B hits, including “I Don’t Want To Do It,” “You’re The One,” and “Witchcraft,” the latter two being later hits for Lou Rawls and Elvis Presley, respectively.  It has been reported that the Spiders were the inspiration for Buddy Holly naming his band, the Crickets, who in turn was the inspiration for the name, the Beatles.  Carbo eventually left the group to start a solo career.  His career found a resurgence in the early ’90s when he was signed to Rounder Records who released his critically acclaimed, Drawers Table which included such guests as Dr. John.  Chuck Carbo died on July 11, 2008 after a long illness.  He was 82.

What You Should Own

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The Barber's Blues - Chuck Carbo



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.

What You Should Own

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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, 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.