Roots Archives Forum

DEL VIKINGS:
US servicemen who smashed in 1957 with the dance song "Come Go With Me" followed by "Whispering Bells" and "Cool Shake". The lead vocalists--white singer Gus Backus, Krips Johnson and Chuck Jackson--soon scattered, the latter going on to solo stardom.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

WILBUR DE PARIS:
Trombonist whose work with large bands of the `30s and `40s eventually led to cultural missions overseas as an ambassador of the jazz tradition.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

SUGAR PIE DESANTO:
Tough blues, ballad and now soul vocalist who recorded for numerous labels in the `50s but first found national success with Checker when her "I Want To Know" was a national R&B hit. Her "answer" to "Hi Heel Sneakers" (called "Slip In Mules") was a pop hit in 1964, though she`s best remembered for her "Soulful Dress"--and for a stage act which made Tina Turner look positively demure.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

DETROIT EMERALDS:
Popular soul team who hit with Ric Tic Records in 1968 ("Showtime") but who found consistent success with Westbound where their "If I Lose Your Love", "Wear This Ring" and especially the superb dancers "Do Me Right" and "You Want It You Got It" have made them favourites on the club scene.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

MANU DIBANGO:
Born in the Cameroons, Manu began blowing sax with a number of European-based jazz units. His fusion of jazz and African rhythms was given an additional ingredient--soul--in 1973 when "Soul Makossa" originally released in France, became a smash million selling soul, jazz and pop hit.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

BO DIDDLEY:
Ellas McDaniel, alias Bo Diddley, developed futuristic sounds on electric guitar which pre-dated the heavy rock brigade by more than a decade. His `jungle` rhythm,` blues-based music gained big popularity in the `50s ("Bo Diddley" 1955, "Say Man" 1959) and the `60s ("You Can`t Judge A Book By The Cover" 1962 and "Ooh Baby" 1969) all for Checker. Bo`s exuberant vocals, his marraca-propelled rhythms and above all his often purposely-distorted guitar work have earned him a `rock legend` status in the `70s. Wild performances in rock shows and festivals, as well as constant echoes of his work in dozens of other performers, (notably the Stones, whose early work owed a massive debt to Bo) show that his reputation is deserved.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

VARETTA DILLARD:
A popular female vocalist in the LaVern Baker style who had national R&B hits for Savoy in 1952 ("Easy Easy Baby"), 1953 ("Mercy Mr. Percy") and in 1955 ("Johnny Has Gone"). A comeback in the `60s failed.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

DIXIE CUPS:
Mid-sixties girlie group who sold a million with a Phil Spector cast-off song "Chapel Of Love" (Red Bird, 1964) and "Iko Iko" (1965) but their stiff harmony, and relative lack of `soul` feeling made them redundant by 1966.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974 - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS:
Gospel group who have, astonishingly, maintained their popularity since the `30s. Ira Tucker`s blue notes and controlled shrieks transformed the `jubilee quartet` into one of the most popular postwar religious units with hit records on Apollo and especially Peacock. Recently gained a "rock" audience through their hit "Loves Me Like A Rock" and their work with Paul Simon.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace

FLOYD DIXON:
West Coast bluesman whose relaxed `club blues` were successful in the immediate postwar years.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JULY 1974: - PART FIVE
Black Music July 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 8

peace