Black History: Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899–May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and band leader who was one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music. As a composer and a band leader, Ellington's reputation has increased since his death, with thematic repackagings of his signature music often becoming best-sellers. Posthumous recognition of his work include a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board.
Ellington called his style and sound "American Music" rather than jazz, and liked to describe those who impressed him as "beyond category", including many of the musicians who served with his orchestra, some of whom were themselves considered among the giants of jazz and remained with Ellington's orchestra for decades. While many were noteworthy in their own right, it was Ellington that melded them into one of the most well-known orchestral units in the history of jazz. He often composed specifically for the style and skills of these individuals, such as "Jeep's Blues" for Johnny Hodges, "Concerto for Cootie" ("Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me") for Cootie Williams and "The Mooche" for Tricky Sam Nanton. He also recorded songs written by his bandsmen, such as Juan Tizol's "Caravan" and "Perdido" which brought the "Spanish Tinge" to big-band jazz. After 1941, he frequently collaborated with composer-arranger Billy Strayhorn, who he called his alter-ego.
One of the twentieth century's best-known African-American celebrities, Ellington recorded for many American record companies, and appeared in several films. Ellington and his orchestra toured the United States and Europe regularly before and after World War II. Ellington led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974. His son Mercer Ellington took over the band until his death in 1996. Today the band performs under the direction of Barry Lee Hall., Jr..

Black History: Ella Fitzgerald

April 25,1917-June 15, 1996

Ella Fitzgerald was born " Ella Jane Fitzgerald" in Newport News, Virginia. She was the last of four great female jazz singers (including Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae) who defined one of the most prolific eras in jazz vocal style. Ella was nicknamed the "First Lady of Song" and the "First Lady of Jazz". She had extraordinary vocal skills from the time she was a teenager, and joined the Chick Webb Orchestra in 1935 when she was 16 years old. With an output of more than 200 albums, she was at her sophisticated best with the songs of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, of George Gershwin, and of Cole Porter. Her 13 Grammy awards are more than any other jazz performer, and she won the Best Female Vocalist award three years in a row. Completely at home with up-tempo songs, her "scat singing" placed her jazz vocals with the finest jazz instrumentalists, and it was this magnificent voice that she brought to her film appearances. Her last few years, during which she had a bout with congestive heart failure and suffered bilateral amputation of her legs from complications of diabetes, were spent in seclusion.


Ella getting it in with her "Scat Singing"




"Fever" was one of the best songs that Ella ever song. It was one of those songs that got a lot of men "HOT" back in the days and probably a lot of the men today hot if the right female performed it!

New Video: Miri Ben-Ari

For a while I’ve been wondering what’s been up with Miri Ben-Ari. Well she’s back with a hot new single, “Symphony of Brotherhood,” becoming the first instrumental to hit the R&B/Hip Hop Charts.  The Grammy-Award violinist is known for her ability to blend song and sound. She has been dubbed the “hip-hop violinist” through her collaborations from Jay-Z to Wyclef.

Ben-Ari has been quite busy. She’s was the featured violinist and writer for “The Freedom Fighters,” was featured in Reebok’s “I am What I am” campaign and has performed for Fashion Rocks. Seems like I’ve been under a rock, I totally missed all of this.

 

Here’s what the artist feels about her work:

 

“I have the privilege to be the first classical violinist to become a “role model” for kids as an urban artist, promoting the art of playing live music and live instruments. I came all the way from Israel to America without my family. I was homeless and I didn’t speak English. I started with a violin and a dream. My music education, discipline and determination helped me to become a great artist, but it was my ability to think “outside the box” that helped me to succeed and make a difference.” - Miri Ben-Ari

 

In honor of Black History Month, check out the video for "Symphony of brotherhood"

Black History: First African-American Male Grammy Winner

Who was the first African-American male to win a Grammy? Give up?

William “Count” Basie. I hate to admit this myself, but even I didn't know that.

William “Count” Basie, (1904-1984) was a New Jersey native who found his talents in the piano. Taught how to play the organ by Fats Wheeler, by the age of 20 Basie toured with the Keith Circuit, Columbia Burlesque, and the Theater Owners Bookers Association Vaudeville circuits.

While playing with the Bennie Moten band in Kansas City, Basie was dubbed “Count” by an emcee who figured that there was already a King of swing,

Basie later formed his own band and their music was characterized by his trademark “jumping beat” and his piano style. By the mid 1950’s Basie and his orchestra worked with Billie Holiday, Jimmy Rushing, Big Joe Turner, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra to name a few.

Basie and his orchestra were one of the biggest poplar bands in the U.S. during the 1940’s and 1950’s producing many hits including one you may know "One O'Clock Jump." Long after swing fizzled away, Basie still continued to perform and record until his death in 1984.

And that is an SC look back into the past.

Will.I.AM and Friends

Just in time for Black History Month. Will.I.AM and friends support Senator Barack Obama. Simple and effective message. 

Check out the Video: Vote for Barack Obama '08. YES WE CAN!

 

Black History: Louis Armstrong

One of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, Louis Armstrong was responsible for innovations that filtered down through popular music to rock and roll. Armstrong himself put it like this: “If it hadn’t been for jazz, there wouldn’t be no rock and roll.” If it hadn’t been for Armstrong, popular music of all kinds - from jazz and blues to rock and roll - would be considerably poorer. As a trumpet player, Armstrong was a pioneering soloist and one of the first true virtuosos in jazz. As a singer, he was one of the originators of scat-singing, and his warm, ebullient vocal style had a big impact on the way all pop music was sung. As an entertainer, his charismatic presence allowed him to break through race barriers to become one of the first black superstars - a figure who would eventually become known as America’s Jazz Ambassador. Born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901, Armstrong was sent to a boys home at age 12, where he learned to play cornet. He apprenticed with his idol, Joe “King” Oliver, in 1917 and joined Oliver’s band in Chicago in 1922. Armstrong also played in Kid Ory’s band, where he replaced Oliver at the latter’s suggestion. As a bandleader in his own right, Armstrong cut some revolutionary jazz recordings with His Hot Five and His Hot Seven between 1925-27. He continued to sing and play jazz brilliantly into the Fifties and Sixties, even managing to unseat The Beatles from the top of the charts in 1964 with his spirited rendition of “Hello, Dolly!” from the Broadway musical of the same name. This feat made him the oldest musician in Billboard history to have a Number One song. Armstrong died at age 69 on July 6, 1971.

Black History: Josephine Baker

February is the month in which African Americans are noted for their tremendous impact to our culture and society. SC would like to pay tribute to the great entertainers of our time.

Josephine Baker, 1906-1975. Renowned for her beauty as well as jazz singing, dancing and exotic costumes got her start here in Harlem. Baker appeared in many films and has graced the stages of Broadway to Europe, becoming at the time one of the highest paid entertainers.

Check Out Josephine Baker Short Bio:
Josephine Baker (1906-1975), is known as the "girl who danced her way through the 20's and 30's only dressed in bananas". A dancer, singer, actress and a comedian all in one, Josephine Baker was the first black female entertainer to break through racial prejudice in Europe and the United States. Her acts were both outrageously funny and quite sexy. She was a star of stage, screen and recordings, a civil rights activist and an honored military woman during World War II. She adopted 12 children of different races, whom she called the "Rainbow Tribe". Josephine sought to prove that "children of different ethnicities and religions could be brothers". Josephine's stardom lasted for 50 years; her fans gave her extravagant gifts such as diamonds and cars, and she received over 1,500 marriage proposals.

Ms. Josephine Baker you don't need our stamp of approval..Yo go girl.

New Video : Master P

Check out this new video from Master P and his son Romeo" Black History" . Master P would like to share this special video with everyone that celebrates black history month.