Roots Archives Forum

BOB ANDY:
Jamaican singer, best known for his work with Marcia Griffiths as Bob And Marcia. Solo hit in 1962 with "I Want To Go Back Home". Sang with leading rock steady group The Paragons from which John Holt also emerged. Left Duke Reid and joined Coxon Dodd when Paragons split and had hit with "Games People Play".

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

LOUIS ARMSTRONG:
Satchmo--jazz music`s greatest ambassador. Ironically his gravel-voice vocals and not his exultant trumpet were mainly heard in his final years. Learnt cornet at waif`s home and by 1922 was befriended by King Oliver and playing in Oliver`s band. Later worked with Ollie Powers, Fletcher Henderson and Erskine Hawkins. But it was on record as Louis Armstrong`s Hot Five (or Seven) that the legend grew. By `29 New York, black and white, was his. Louis started with big bands and toured and recorded extensively `till `46. Films like "Pennies From Heaven" (`30s) and "High Society" (`50s) added to his showbiz aura. As popularity grew so creativity wained but the hundred or more albums covering every facet of Satchmo`s career show that despite his death in 1971 his spirit lingers.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

KOKOMO ARNOLD:
A superb Mississippi bluesman whose "Milk Cow Blues" is an acknowledged classic. Recorded a series of searing bottleneck guitar blues for Decca in the `30s.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

ARTISTICS:
Chicago sweet soul group with a distinctive lead in Marvin Smith. Had several soul hits and albums on Brunswick in the `60s including "This Heart Of Mine" and "I`m Gonna Miss You".

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974; - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

SIL AUSTIN:
Veteran R&B and jazz tenor saxman. Worked with Tony Bradshaw in early fifties. First big solo hit was "Slow Walk" for Mercury in 1956. In recent years popular albums on SSS Int.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

ALBERT AYLER:
Free jazz tenor man, Albert`s jagged improvisations on several albums, particularly "Ghosts" and "Spirits" left a big mark on modern jazz. Tragically drowned in 1972.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

PEARL BAILEY:
Jazz and pop vocalist, Pearl toured in `40s as singer with Cootie Williams, starred in "Carmen Jones" `54 movie and maintained a top nightclub popularity all through the `50s. Recorded extensively on Columbia, Coral, Mercury and Roulette.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

LAVERN BAKER:
Gained big success with R&B novelty "Tweedlee Dee", and helped establish Atlantic Records with a series of massive R&B and pop hits like "Jim Dandy" and "I Cried A Tear". Remained big in the early sixties ("Bumble Bee" and "See See Rider") but faded in the mid `60s into night club oblivion.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

MICKEY BAKER:
McHouston `Mickey` Baker--R&B`s first superstar session man. Played guitar on literally thousands of New York`s `50s R&B records as well as fronting Mickey & Sylvia ("Love Is Strange" smash). Mickey`s fine blues guitar is still a major influence and the model for hundreds of later musicians. Mickey now lives in Paris and records the odd blues disc.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace

HANK BALLARD:
Immensely popular R&B hitmaker of the `50s and `60s. His "Work With Me Annie" became the theme of early `50s ghetto life and shot Hank and his group the Midnighters to stardom. Other equally sexual songs like "Annie Had A Baby" and "Sexy Ways" made his strange, strangled voice popular all through the `50s and early `60s. Hits like "Finger Poppin` Time" and "Let`s Go, Let`s Go, Let`s Go" maintained the big beat and made bread for King Records, though it was his last million seller "The Twist" that spelt a Ballard decline. The cover, by Chubby Checker, got most of the attention. Also Hank couldn`t come to terms with soul. Leaving King he recorded unsuccessfully for several labels. Returned to King in 1970 where James Brown gave him a little taste of former glories.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MARCH 1974: - PART ONE
Black Music March 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 4

peace