Gang Starr

Died On This Date (February 4, 2013) Donald Byrd / Jazz Great

themusicsover February 4, 2013 4 Comments

Donald Byrd
December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013

Donald Byrd was an influential jazz trumpeter who successfully brought jazz into R&B, funk, and later hip hop. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Byrd was proficient at his instrument at a young age. In fact, he performed with Lionel Hampton before graduating from high school. After serving in the United States Air Force where he played in the band, Byrd earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music. While pursuing his master’s in New York City, he was hired by Art Blakey to play in his Jazz Messengers. After leaving Blakey in 1956, Byrd played with some of the greatest names jazz has ever known. That list includes Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, and Thelonious Monk. During the ’70s, Byrd steered his horn toward fusion and R&B. Although he had been recording influential albums for Blue Note Records as far back as 1959, it wasn’t until 1973’s Black Byrd that he delivered what would become the label’s biggest selling album. He continued to release best sellers for many years to come. Byrd was also an educator, having taught at Rutgers, NYU, and Howard University, to name a few. In all, Byrd earned three Master’s degrees, a Doctorate and law degree. During the ’90s, Byrd collaborated with hip hop great, Guru of Gang Starr fame on the latter’s Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 which was one of the first albums to back rap with live jazz musicians and give it a hip hop production. The landmark album was followed by a second volume that also featured Byrd. He also contributed to the evolution of hip hop through the use of sampling. Pieces of his music can be heard in cuts by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy, and Naughty By Nature. Donald Byrd was 80 when he passed away on February 4, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus from Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

What You Should Own

R&B Singer

Died On This Date (July 26, 2010) Melvin Bliss / Heavily Sampled ’70s Soul Singer

themusicsover July 26, 2010 No Comments

Melvin Bliss
DOB Unknown – July 26, 2010

Born in Chicago, Melvin Bliss began his career in music at the age of six, first performing gospel and then moving on to jazz. In 1973, he released “Synthetic Substitution” a soul record that went on to become one of the most sampled songs in music history even though it was an obscure b-side. Below is a partial list of songs that borrowed elements from Bliss’ recording. Melvin Bliss was 75 when he passed away on July 26, 2010.

Where You’ll Hear Melvin Bliss Samples

From the-breaks.com

3XDope – “Funky Dividends”
Alkaholiks – “Bullshit”
Alkaholiks – “Turn the Party Out”
Almighty RSO – “One in the Chamba”
Big Daddy Kane – “Just Rhymin’ with Biz”
Big Daddy Kane – “Looks Like a Job for. . .”
Biz Markie – “Cool V’s Tribute to Scratching”
Blessed Union of Soul – “Let Me Be the One”
Boss – “Comin’ to Getcha”
Brotha Lynch Hung – “24 Deep”
Brothers Like Outlaw – “The Real McKoy”
Chubb Rock – “My Brother”
Chubb Rock – “The Night Scene”
Coolio – “I Remember”
Criminals at Large – “Times are Getting Hard”
Da King & I – “Flip Da Scrip”
De la Soul – “Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa”
De la Soul – “Potholes in My Lawn”
De la Soul – “Sh.Fe.MC’s”
Deee-Lite – “I Won’t Give Up”
Def Jef – “Black to the Future”
Depeche Mode – “In Your Room”
Digital Underground – “Tie the Knot”
DJ Honda – “Out for Cash”
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – “Groove”
DOC – “Mind Blowin'”
Dr. Octagon – “A Visit to the Gynecologyst”
Dr. Octagon – “Wild and Crazy”
Eazy-E – “Eazy Street”
En Vogue – “Hold On”
EPMD – “Mr. Bozack”
EPMD – “Scratch Bring it Back”
Gang Starr – “Code of the Streets”
Gang Starr – “Dwyck”
Ghostface Killah – “Deck’s Beat”
Ghostface Killah – “Mighty Healthy”
Goats – “Do the Digs Dug”
Gravediggaz – “Bang Your Head”
Gravediggaz – “Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide”
Group Home – “So Called Friends”
Guru – “Take a Look (At Yourself)”
Guru – “Transit Ride”
Ice Cube – “2 N the Mornin'”
Ice T – “Depths of Hell”
Ice T – “Original Gangster”
Imani Coppola – “It’s All about Me, Me and Me”
King & I – “Flip Da Scrip”
Leaders of the New School – “Bass is Loaded”
LL Cool J – “Crossroads”
MadKap – “Here Comes the Break”
Masta Ace – “Saturday Nite Live”
MC Lyte – “Never Had Nothing Like This”
Mellow Man Ace – “Silly Rabbit”
Method Man – “All I Need”
Naughty by Nature – “O.P.P.”
Naughty by Nature – “On the Run”
Naughty by Nature – “Yoke the Joker”
Nice & Smooth – “Cake & Eat it Too”
Nice & Smooth – “Pump it Up”
Nikki D – “The Beauty Shop”
NWA – “Alwayz into Somethin'”
NWA – “Real Niggaz Don’t Die”
ODB – “Cuttin’ Headz”
Onyx – “Nigga Bridges”
Onyx – “Throw Ya Gunz”
Orb – “Supernova at the End of the Universe”
Papa Chuk – “Make Way for the Rudeboy”
Peanut Butter Wolf – “I Will Always Love H.E.R.”
Penthouse Players Clique – “P.S. Phuk U2”
Pharcyde – “Ya Mama”
PM Dawn – “On a Clear Day”
Public Enemy – “Don’t Believe the Hype”
Public Enemy – “Miuzi Weighs a Ton”
Redman – “I’m a Bad”
Redman – “Jam 4 U”
Run-DMC – “Wreck Shop”
Scarface – “For Real”
Scarface – “Murder by Reason of Insanity”
Schoolly D – “Saturday Night”
Slick Rick – “Venus”
Sloan – “Stove”
Souls of Mischief – “A Name I Call Myself”
Special Ed – “5 Men and a Mic”
Tim Dog – “I Ain’t Takin’ No Shorts”
Tone Loc – “On Fire”
Too $hort – “Hoes”
Tupac – “The Streetz R Death Row”
Tupac – “When I Get Free II”
Ultramagnetic MCs – “Ego Trippin'”
Ultramagnetic MCs – “Pluckin Cards”
WC & the Maad Circle – “A Crazy Break”
Wu-Tang Clan – “Bring Da Ruckus”
Wu-Tang Clan – “Clan in Da Front”
Wu-Tang Clan – “Method Man”

Hip Hop Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (April 19, 2010) Guru / Gang Starr; Jazzmatazz

themusicsover April 19, 2010 No Comments

Guru (Born Keith Elam)
July 17, 1966 – April 19, 2010

Guru was a popular rapper/MC who gained popularity during the early ’90s with Gang Starr. A duo formed with DJ Premier in 1987, Gang Starr signed with EMI Records who released their debut, No More Mr. Nice Guy, in 1989. The group’s effective used of New York swing jazz and hip hop endeared them to fans and critics alike. In 1993, Guru released the brilliant Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 album where he introduced a live jazz band into the hip hop arena. Guests on the album included Branford Marsalis, Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers. Guru had been actively recording and performing up until the time of his death. On February 28, 2010, he suffered a heart attack which resulted in a coma that he eventually awoke from. On April 19th however, he died of cancer at the age of 43.