Happy birthday

Remembering singer Marvin Junior (January 31, 1936-May 29, 2013-The Dells)

Singer/songwriter/producer/musician Harry Wayne “KC” Casey (KC & The Sunshine Band) 68

This song is the property of Def Jam Recordings.

Public Enemy is an American hip hop group from Long Island, New York. The group was formed in the mid 1980s by Carlton “Chuck D” Ridenhour and William “Flavor Flav” Drayton when both were students at Adelphi University. The group, then billed as Chuck D and Spectrum City, recorded the single “Check Out The Radio/Lies”, a social commentary which would influence Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys. Chuck D released a tape to promote WBAU, where he worked at the time, and to fend off an MC who wanted to battle him. He titled the tape “Public Enemy #1” because he felt he was being persecuted by people in the local scene. The song was assembled with the assistance of Flavor Flav before Public Enemy was formed. Public Enemy was signed to Def Jam Records in 1986. Chuck D recruited Hank Shocklee, Keith Shocklee and Eric “Vietam” Sadler to form the production team the Bomb Squad. Another Spectrum City partner, Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin, along with William “Flavor Flav” Drayton and mobile DJ Norman “Terminator X” Rogers became Public Enemy. They released their debut album “Yo! Bum Rush The Show” to critical acclaim in 1987. They opened for the Beastie Boys shortly thereafter. In 1988, they released the album “It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back”, which sold better than their previous effort and featured the singles “Don’t Believe The Hype” and “Bring The Noise.” They also released the albums “Fear Of A Black Planet” (1990), “Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black” (1991), “Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age” (1994), “He Got Game” (1998), “There’s A Poison Going On” (1999), “Revolverlution” (2002), “New Whirl Odor” (2005), “Rebirth Of A Nation” (2006), “How You Sell Your Soul To A Souless People Who Sold Their Soul?” (2007), “Most Of My Heroes Don’t Appear On No Stamp” (2012), “The Evil Empire Of Everything” (2012), “Man Plans God Laughs” (2015) and “Nothing Is Quick In The Desert” (2017).

This song is the property of Rodeo Media.

The Hues Corporation are an American Pop/Soul trio from Santa Monica, CA. They are remembered for their 1974 single “Rock The Boat”, which sold over 2 million copies. Before achieving mainstream success, they opened for Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Nancy Sinatra and Glenn Campbell. The group’s original lineup consisted of three singers and three sidemen. The sidemen were Joey Rivera, Monit Lawston and Bob “Bullet” Bailey. Lawston left the band to form Goodstuff. The group’s name was a pun  on the Howard Hughes Corporation, with “hue” being a nod to the group’s African heritage. The band’s lineup at the time of their first album consisted of St. Clair Lee, Fleming Williams and Hubert Ann Kelly. The original choice for their  name was the Children of Howard Hughes, which their record label turned down. The group was formed in 1969 by songwriter Wally Holmes and St. Clair Lee. Singer Hubert Ann Kelly was discovered at a talent show in Los Angeles. They recorded the single “Goodfootin/We’re Keepin Our Business” for the Liberty label in 1970. It made no impact on the charts. With Karl Russell, the group’s break came in 1972 when they appeared in the blaxploitation film “Blacula.” They were also asked to record the songs “There  He Is Again”, “What The World Knows” and “I’m Gonna Catch You” for the film’s soundtrack. Shortly thereafter, Karl Russell was replaced by Fleming Williams and the group signed with RCA Records. Their second single for the label, “Freedom For The Stallion”, taken from the album of the same name, was a moderate hit. The album’s third single, “Rock The Boat”, reached #1 on the Billboard chart, and became the group’s signature song. The Hues Corporation charted with the singles “Rockin Soul”, “Love Corporation” and “I Caught Your Act”, but couldn’t duplicate the success of their earlier  hits and disbanded in 1980. They released the albums “Freedom For The Stallion” (1973), “Rockin Soul” (1974), “Love Corporation” (1975), “I Caught Your Act” (1977), “Your Place Or Mine” (1978), “Boogie Me, Move Me” (1980).

This song is the property of Gerald Austin/Curtis Dukes.

Veteran R&B group the Manhattans return after a fifteen year hiatus with their new single “Get It Ready.” The group has experienced the loss of Edward “Sonny” Bivins, Kenneth “Wally” Kelly and Winfred “Blue” Lovett, but lead singer Gerald Austin has soldiered on with David Tyson and Troy May. “Get It Ready” is a midtempo number about a man who has decided to cancel his other plans and spend time with his significant other instead. It has the classic sound fans have come to expect, with Austin’s tenor at the forefront. The group has issued a video for the song as well. It’s great to see and hear the Manhattans again after their long absence.

Happy birthday

Singer Charlie Wilson (The Gap Band) 66

Singer Bettye LaVette 73

Singer Amy Stewart 63

Remembering musician James Jamerson Jr.  (January 29, 1936-August 02, 1983)

This song is the property of A$AP Worldwide/Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records.

Rakim Mayers, known professionally as A$AP Rocky, is an American rapper/songwriter/producer/actor from New York City. Mayers began rapping at age 9, shortly after moving to Harrisburg, PA. He learned to rap from an older brother, whose hairstyle he later adopted. In 2007, Mayers joined the A$AP Mob crew, a group of rappers, music producers, music video directors, fashion designers and bikers who shared similar interests in music, fashion, style and art. As a solo artist, Mayers released his debut single “Peso” in August 2011. The song was leaked online and within weeks received airplay on New York radio station Hot 97. July 2011, Mayers released the single “Purple Swag”, which became a street anthem. On Janaury 15, 2013, Mayers released his debut album “Long Live A$AP.” His sophomore effort, “At Long Last A$AP”, was released on May 26, 2015. The album “Testing” came in 2018.

This song is the property of DPS Productions LLC.

Daron Jones is an American singer/songwriter/producer from Atlanta, GA. In addition to being a member of the R&B quartet 112, Jones has written and produced songs for Keyshia Cole, Pink, Kelly Price, The Isley Brothers, Usher and The Notorious B.I.G. among others. He released his debut solo album “Uncensored” in December 2010. He later went on to release the EPs “The Unofficial Diary Of Daron Jones Vol. 1” and “The Unofficial Diary Of Daron Jones Vol. 2.” The album “Human” is due out February 2019.

This song is the property of Rich Broke Entertainment, LLC/Empire.

Lil Duval and Ty Dolla $ign join forces on the single “Pull Up.” The beat and rhymes fit like a hand and glove.

This song is the property of Dawn Richard.

Dawn Richard is an American singer/songwriter/actress/animator from New Orleans, LA. She began her career as a member of the all-female Pop/R&B quintet Danity Kane. Danity Kane disbanded in 2009. As a solo artist, Richard has worked with Sean “Diddy” Combs and Cassie among others. She has released the albums “Been A While” (2005), “Goldenheart” (2013), “Blackheart” (2015), “Redemptionheart” (2016) and “New Breed” (2019).