News & Updates

Lesley Gore / May 2, 1946 - Feb 16, 2015

Lesley Gore / May 2, 1946 - Feb 16, 2015

The original Riot Grrl, long before such a phenomenon, Lesley Gore's big hits, "It's My Party", "Judy's Turn To Cry", "That's The Way Boys Are" and the feminist statement "You Don't Own Me", were all produced by Quincy Jones and released while Lesley was still in high school. She was popular in the mid '60s, appearing in films and television, before the hippy generation tossed her aside for awhile. She found some more success with the movie Fame, writing "Out Here On My Own" for Irene Cara. A lesbian herself, she hosted a LGBT rights-oriented TV show for a stretch...

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Eugenio "Totico" Arango / June 2, 1934 - Jan 21, 2011

Eugenio "Totico" Arango / June 2, 1934 - Jan 21, 2011

One of the rumberos who helped the tradition thrive in NYC, Totico is best known for teaming with Carlos "Patato" Valdes. Born in Havana, he arrived in Boston in '59 and moved to NYC shortly after. He quickly found work as a percussionist, playing with Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln & Eric Dolphy on Roach's incredible Percussion Bittersuite album in '61. He also hooked up with Pupi Legarreta's charanga ensemble (check the Salsa Nova LP) before the absolute classic rumba album Patato & Totico on Verve ('68). The album features Arsenio Rodriguez and Cachao, and I love the killer version of...

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Little Walter / May 1, 1930 - Feb 15, 1968

Little Walter / May 1, 1930 - Feb 15, 1968

Blues harp icon Little Walter Jacobs influenced nearly every single blues and rock harmonica player that came after him, Junior Wells included. He was hugely popular in the '50s with his loose & jazzy updates of old blues tunes, as well as original compositions hitting the charts and attaining worldwide popularity. Born and raised in Louisiana, he quit school at 12 to busk and work in various cities in the South, playing with Honeyboy Edwards and Sunnyland Slim along the way before hitting the Windy City in '45. Chicago, being the loud & buzzing town that it was, forced Walter...

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Marva Whitney / May 1, 1944 - Dec 22, 2012

Marva Whitney / May 1, 1944 - Dec 22, 2012

Forever associated with James Brown as one of his funky divas, Marva Whitney is fondly remembered for her raw vocal attack on some of the funkiest records ever made. From Kansas City, she came up in a gospel-singing family, performing as early as 1947 when she was three years old. She sang in R&B bands locally until '67. After rejecting offers to tour with Bobby "Blue" Bland and Little Richard, she signed on to join the James Brown Revue, which included her own featured set. She toured the world with JB (including Vietnam and Africa) and had a romantic relationship...

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Duke Ellington / April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974

Duke Ellington / April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974

Happy birthday to the greatest American composer, Duke Ellington!

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