respect 2010 (pt.1)...
january to june 2011 respect page
lena horne
b. Lena Mary Calhoun Horne, 30th June 1917, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
d. 9th May 2010, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Lena Horne has died in New York. She was 92.
Lena was the first African American performer to be signed by a Hollywood Studio (MGM).
Durning the 1960's, she was active within the Civil Rights Movement, participating on several marches for freedom.
At the age of 16, she had become part of the Cotton Club in New York City, although her career stuttered throughout, at various times, due to the political preoccupation with communism (being blacklisted at one point), along with her Civil Rights support during later years.
Before the political trials and tribulations, Lena's acting career involved acting roles in the movies 'The Duke Is Tops', 'Boogie Woogie Dream', 'Panama Hattie', 'Stormy Weather' and 'Cabin In The Sky'.
Lena never was awarded a leading role, as Black performers were not considered for these roles during the Thirties and Forties.
In 1941, she sang at Cafe Society and worked with Paul Robeson, and performed for segregated audiences or to groups in which German POWs were seated in front of African American servicemen.
She was signed to Metro Goldwyn Mayer for a period, and performed in the Ziegfield Follies during 1946.
Lena sought the role of Julie LaVerne in the musical 'Showboat' losing out to Ava Garnder, who was preferred in the role, being a white performer.
naacp fundraiser 1953 (attending: WC Handy, Errol Gardner, Arthur Prysock and Eartha Kitt amongst others)
Becoming disillusioned during the Fifties, Lena only performed in two major roles at MGM.
These movies were 'Duchess Of Idaho' and 'Meet Me In Las Vegas'.
Lena left Hollywood for a singing career, singing at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles and the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
live at the astoria
In 1957, she released 'Lena Horne at the Waldorf-Astoria', which became the largest selling record by a female artist in the history of the RCA-Victor label.
In the Sixties, Lena was part of the Civil Rights March On Washington, and worked with Eleanor Roosevelt in passing anti-lynching laws.
In following decades she featured in 'Death of a Gunfighter' (with Richard Widmark), 'Glinda' in 'The Wiz' (in 1978) and featured in several television specials.
By 1980, Lena decided to retire from show business, however returned to performing barely a year later.
In May 1981, she began a four week engagement at the Nederlander Theatre on West 41st Street in New York City.
The show led to a special Tony award, and two Grammy Awards for the cast recording of her show Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.
'The Lady and Her Music' toured 41 cities in the U.S and Canada in 1984 and ended its run in Sweden during 1984.
In 1988, Lena released 'The Men In My Life', featuring duets with Sammy Davis, Jr. and Joe Williams.
In 1989, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
During the 1990's Lena concentrated on studio material.
She recorded an album of Billy Strayhorn's and Duke Ellington's songs and performed at New York's Supper Club and Carnegie Hall.
In 1995, Lena recorded a live album, based around her Supper Club performances, which won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
In 1998 she released 'Being Myself', after which she retired from performing and largely retreated from public view, though she did return to the recording studio in 2000 to contribute vocal tracks on Simon Rattle's 'Classic Ellington' album.
In January 2005, Blue Note Records, released some unreleased material, remixed by her long time producer Rodney Jones.
The album included versions of 'Something to Live For', 'Chelsea Bridge' and 'Stormy Weather'.
The album, originally titled 'Soul' was renamed 'Seasons of a Life', and was released in 2006.
In 2007, Lena was portrayed by Leslie Uggams as the older Lena and Nikki Crawford as the younger Lena in the stage musical 'Stormy Weather', performed at the Pasadena Playhouse in California.
eddie jackson (brenda and the tabulations)
b. Eddie L. Jackson, 1947, Forest City, North Carolina, U.S.A.
d. 3rd May 2010, Temple University Hospital, North Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Eddie L. Jackson, guitarist for the group Brenda and the Tabulations, has died. He was 63.
He passed away on the 3rd of May 2010, from a brain aneurysm at the Temple University Hospital in North Philadelphia.
In 1967, Eddie played on the group's biggest hit, 'Dry Your Eyes', which reached No. 2 hit on the U.S. soul charts, and No. 20 on the U.S. pop chart.
Born in Forest City, North Carolina, Eddie graduated from the local Dunbar High School, and relocated to Philadelphia a year later.
In 1966, Eddie joined with Maurice Coates, Jerry Jones, and Brenda Payton to form Brenda and the Tabulations.
The group's other hits included 'Right on the Tip of My Tongue' (No. 23 on pop chart, No. 5 R&B chart), 'Who's Lovin' You' (No. 19 R&B), and 'Stay Together Young Lovers' (No. 44 R&B).
The group went their separate ways in the 1980s, however, Eddie went on to pen 'Touch of You' for Kool and the Gang.
Eddie is survived by his adoptive mother, Lillian Coates; another son, Anthony R. Howard; three brothers; and six grandchildren.
He is also survived by his longtime companion Lorraine Robinson, he is also survived by former companions Beverly Allen and Gwen Howard.
april 2010
guru
b. Keith Elam, 17th July 1966, Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
d. 19th April 2010, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
The rapper, known as Guru, has died. He was 43.
On the 28th of February, Guru suffered a cardiac arrest and, following surgery, days later fell into a coma.
He woke from the coma but died on the 19th of April after a long battle with cancer (multiple myeloma).
Guru began his career in the mid-1980s as MC Keithy E, but soon switched to Guru (which stood for 'Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal').
In 1988, after an early version of Gang Starr splintered, Guru met, Houston based, DJ Premier, Christopher Martin.
The two recorded the albums 'Moment of Truth' and the compilation 'Full Clip', amongst others.
As a child he was a creative youngster.
Guru graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1983 and took graduate classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
He also worked briefly as a social worker.
Guru’s father, Harry Elam, was the first black judge in the Boston municipal courts, and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of library programs in the Boston public school system.
During his career, Guru released four volumes of his 'Jazzmatazz' series (which featured Courtney Pine, Isaac Hayes, Donald Byrd and Chaka Khan, amongst others), with 'Jazz Thing' (a Gang Starr collaboration with Branford Marsalis), being utilised for the closing credits of the Spike Lee movie, 'Mo’ Better Blues'.
Guru also worked with Roy Ayers, Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes and Donald Byrd at various stages.
Guru is survived by his parents, two sisters, and a son, Keith Casim.
steve reid
b. Stephen Reid, 29th January 1944, The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
d. 13th April 2010, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
The jazz drummer, Steve Reid has died. He was 66.
Steve passed away after suffering from throat cancer in recent years.
His resume was quite remarkable for an artist who was a relative unknown.
Steve performed for artists as diverse as Miles Davis, James Brown, Fela Kuti, Ornette Coleman, Gary Bartz, Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Fats Domino, Freddie Hubbard and Sun Ra.
He was also a session drummer for Motown Records.
As a youngster, his family relocated to Queens in New York, coincidentally, residing a few blocks away from John Coltrane.
Before he went to college, he played at the legendary Apollo Theatre, under the tutelage of Quincy Jones, where he recorded with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas as part of the Apollo Theatre House Band.
Steve graduated from the Adelphi University in Garden City, New York.
Working with Miles Davis, Steve later contributed to his album recording 'Tutu'.
During the late Sixties, Steve followed many U.S. citizens, who had become concerned regarding the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. As a result he was arrested in 1969.
By 1970, Steve had set up his own record label, Mustevic Sound Inc.
rhythmatism - 1975 / nova - 1976
He went on to record a number of albums including 'Rhythmatism' (in 1975), 'Raw' (in 1975), 'Nova' (in 1976), 'New Live Version of the Eye' (in 1976), 'Odyssey of the Oblong Square' (in 1977), and 'Sounds Across America' (in 1978).
In recent years, Steve relocated to Europe, living in Switzerland and recording for Soul Jazz Records in London (reissuing 'Nova' and 'Rhythmatism' in 2003 and 2005, respectively) and CPR Records, based in Germany.
Here he released 'Wave' (in 1993), 'Live in Europe' (in 2001), and 'Drum Story' and 'Trio-Invitation' (in 2002).
In the new millennium, his group included Chuck Henderson (soprano saxophone) Lena Bloch (tenor sax), Boris Netsvetaev (piano) and Chris Lachotta and (double-bass).
In 2006, under the group name of Four Tet, he released the album 'The Exchange Session Vol. 1'.
The album was a collaboration with the London born electronic / post rock musician, Kieran Hebden, with whom Steve had developed a good working relationship.
This was followed by three further albums, 'The Exchange Session Vol. 2' (also in 2006), 'Tongues' (in 2007), and 'NYC' (in 2008).
In 2007, Steve recorded with a group of musicians from Senegal for the album 'Daxaar', his first of three projected releases for the Domino label.
march 2010
charlie gillett
b. Charles Thomas Gillett, 20th February 1942, Morecambe, Lancashire, England.
d. 17 March 2010, Clapham, London, England.
Charlie Gillett died on the 17th of March 2010, following a series of health problems.
He had been diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome in 2006.
Charles Thomas Gillett was born in Morecambe, Lancashire, England.
As a child he was brought up in Stockton-on-Tees where he attended Grangefield Grammar School.
He later attended Peterhouse in Cambridge, taking a degree in economics.
In 1965 he attended Columbia University in New York to study for a Master's degree, studying the history of rock and roll music
He returned to the U.K. the following year and taught social studies and film-making at Kingsway College of Further Education in central London.
Charlie's career in journalism began in 1968 with a weekly column in the Record Mirror.
He wrote two books, 'The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll', followed by the highly regarded 'Making Tracks' (published in 1974).
Contributing to Rolling Stone and New Musical Express, Charlie also contributed to The Observer newspaper.
Charlie then began a weekly radio programme, entitled Honky Tonk, on Radio London in 1972, before leaving the station in 1978.
One of his many claims to fame were bringing the likes of Ian Dury to the public's attention.
He also helped pioneer the careers of Graham Parker, Elvis Costello and Dire Straits.
During the Seventies, along with his partner Gordon Nelki, Charlie launched the Oval record label and managed Ian Dury's first group Kilburn & the High Roads.
They co-produced the first Lene Lovich album and published Paul Hardcastle's worldwide number one hit, '19'.
In 1980 Charlie joined Capital Radio, and his show, A Foreign Affair, is credited with helping to launch 'world music'.
He was one of the first deejays to play Youssou N'Dour, Salif Keita and Arrow.
Charlie left Capital in December 1990 and was later presented with the Sony Gold Lifetime Achievement Award the following year.
He then returned to the BBC, presenting a weekly two hour show on BBC London 94.9 from 1995 to 2006.
The same year he was awarded The John Peel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio by the Radio Academy.
His health began suffering however, until his death he continued to present his half-hour show, Charlie Gillett's World of Music, on Friday evenings.
Charlie Gillett and his wife Buffy had two daughters, Suzy and Jody, and one son, Ivan.
http://www.charliegillett.com/
a message from Radio London / Jazz FM Soul deejay Robbie Vincent:
'Charlie hated show business shallowness and his passion for music helped him to remain above it all. He often said I launched his broadcast career following an interview with him on BBC Radio London. If that really is true I am very proud to have done a little bit to make sure Charlie was able to put onto a much bigger stage acts from around the world who we would otherwise never have heard.
He was a humble man who I suspect as a child had his blood mixed with musical rhythms. That process helped produce a smashing man who remained through out his career a music fan first. I like that.'
and a message from Radio London / Jazz FM Soul deejay Peter Young:
'People like Charlie Gillett only come along once in a lifetime. We should give thanks that we were lucky enough in some way to have him as part of our lives.
His lasting legacy will be the enormous amount of good work he did over many years, bringing music and artists to our attention, who otherwise wouldn’t have got a look-in.
Charlie was a man never afraid to take risks, either in what he played and occasionally in what he said. In these days of increasing homogenisation and blandness on the airwaves, he was a broadcaster to be treasured.'
Peter Young March 28th 2010.
alan freeman, peter young, charlie gillett and gary crowley
ron banks
b. Ronald Dean Banks, 10th May 1951, Redford, Michigan, U.S.A.
d. 4th March 2010, Sinai Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
Ron Banks, founder of Detroit soul group The Dramatics, has died according to online reports. He was 58.
News of Banks' death, apparently from a heart attack, spread following a deejay at a Chicago R&B radio station posted about Banks on Facebook and rapper T3 of Slum Village tweeted out the news of his death.
Herb Kent, a deejay at Chicago's V103, stated: 'I just learned some sad news. My friend, Ron Banks of the Dramatics passed away today at age 58'.
Ron was at home with his family when he abruptly passed out, said fellow Dramatics singer L.J. Reynolds, who had spoken to Ron just minutes earlier.
The Dramatics were formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962.
The group used to go under the name of the Dynamics, back in 1962, however, as the Dramatics they achieved major success with their songs, 'In the Rain' and 'What You See Is What You Get'.
The group changed their name, originally in 1967, and achieved a small hit with the song 'All Because of You', released on a small Detroit label.
During that year, The Dramatics were staying at the Algiers Motel, following a performance at Detroit's Fox Theatre, during an alleged murder by members of the Detroit Police Department.
This became one of the incidents which sparked the Detroit Riots of 1967.
It wasn't until 1971 when the Detroit producers Don Davis and Tony Hestor signed the Dramatics to the Memphis-based Stax Records in 1971, where the group saw greater success with their song 'Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get'.
The song reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 9 back at the time.The group were awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. later that year.
At this stage, The Dramatics comprised of Ron Banks, William 'Wee Gee' Howard (who died of a heart attack on the 22nd of February 2000 at the age of 49), Elbert Wilkins (who died of a heart attack on the 13th of December 1992 at the age of 45), Willie Ford, Larry Demps and keyboardist James Mack Brown (who died on the 28th of November 2008 at the age of 58).
Following the release of the group's first album, William Howard and Elbert Wilkins left the group.
They were replaced by L.J. Reynolds (previously of Chocolate Syrup) and Leonard 'Lenny' Mayes.
In 1973, the group released the song 'Hey You! Get Off My Mountain', which became an R & B number 5 and pop Top 50 that year.During the Seventies, the Dramatics released several further popular sides, including the haunting ballad 'In The Rain'.
In 1974, the Dramatics left Stax, and the following year began an association with Los Angeles-based ABC imprint, while still recording in Detroit with Davis and Hestor.
U.S. hits at ABC included the ballad 'Me And Mrs. Jones' (R & B number 4 and pop Top 50, 1975, a song made popular by Philadelphia International star Billy Paul), 'Be My Girl' (R & B number 3, 1976) and 'Shake It Well' (R & B number 4, 1977).
The Dramatics appeared on Soul Train and also released the songs 'Toast to the Fool', 'Me and Mrs. Jones' , 'I'm Going By The Stars In Your Eyes' and 'Be My Girl'.
In the meantime, William Howard and Elbert Wilkins formed their own version of the Dramatics.
They released the song 'No Rebate on Love', and called the group 'Ron Banks and The Dramatics'.
Relocating to the MCA imprint in 1979, the group achieved their last Top 10 hit with 'Welcome Back Home' (R & B number 9, 1980).
The same year, the group released the album 'The Dramatic Way', which contained the popular rare groove dancer 'Get It'.
Shortly afterwards L.J. Reynolds left to establish a solo career, and in 1981 Craig Jones was recruited in his place, but they disbanded in 1982 after Ron Banks left to start a solo career, releasing 'Truly Bad' for CBS in 1983 (featuring 'This Love Is For Real').
William Howard later rejoined the original group for the albums 'Somewhere in Time: A Dramatic Reunion' and 'Positive State Of Mind'.
He then left the group again.
The Dramatics were reunited in the late 80's and released 'Look Inside' for the NCI label in 2002.
The Dramatics have worked with many diverse R&B acts, including Snoop Dog, and continue to tour.
The current line-up consisted of Ron Banks, L.J. Reynolds, Willie Ford, Winzell Kelly and Michael Brock, (who replaced Lenny Mayes, who died of lung cancer on the 8th of November 2004 at the age 53).
Ron Banks is survived by his wife, Sandy Banks, four daughters and two sons.
february 2010
johnny dankworth
b. John Phillip William Dankworth, 20th September 1927, Woodford, Essex, England.
d. 6th February 2010, King Edward VII hospital, London
U.K. Jazz musician, Sir Johnny Dankworth has died. He was 82.
Johnny Dankworth was born in Woodford, Essex in the U.K.
Johnny attended the Sir George Monoux Grammar School in Walthamstow in his early days.
Although he was tutored with the violin and the piano, it was the clarinet which became his musical instrument of choice.
Influenced by Benny Goodman and (later) Charlie Parker, Johnny studied at London’s Royal Academy of Music.
In 1949 he attended the Paris Jazz Festival and played with Charlie Parker, an association which led to a tour of Sweden with the saxophonist Sidney Bechet.
Johnny was voted Musician of the Year the same year.
He formed the Dankworth Seven, a group which initially endured for three years, became disbanded, but was reformed on occasions during the following years.
In 1953 he formed the Johnny Dankworth Big Band, who performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, the Birdland jazz club in New York and shortly afterwards shared the stage with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
three early albums
Johnny had introduced a young vocalist to his ensemble, a songstress called Cleo Laine.
The couple were later to marry in 1958.
He then began adding further additions to his musical C.V., writing scores for various film and television shows.
Johnny penned the scores for The Avengers and Tomorrow's World, along with music for the films Modesty Blaise and Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment.
In 1961, he made the charts with 'African Waltz', a melody which remained in the charts for several months.
Johnny developed a musical association with the trumpeter Clark Terry, who featured on the album 'The Zodiac Variations'.
He continued his schedule of live recordings touring in Britain and Europe with Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan and Gerry Mulligan, and performed at concerts and radio performances with Lionel Hampton and Ella Fitzgerald.
Johnny remained a good friend of Duke Ellington's, a relationship which continued until Duke's passing in 1974.
The Ellington family links continued, with Johnny performing with the Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Duke’s son, Mercer Ellington.
During his career, Johnny performed alongside George Shearing, Toots Thielemans, Benny Goodman, Herbie Hancock, Hank Jones, Tadd Dameron, Slam Stewart, Oscar Peterson amongst others.
From 1984 to 1986, he was a professor of music at Gresham College, London, and ran the Allmusic summer schools at The Stables in Wavendon, a theatre created by him and Cleo in their own back garden.
Johnny diverse performances included an appearance with the U.K. Soul singer Craig David on the Later with Jools Holland show on the BBC.
Sadly, Johnny was taken ill in late 2009.
He and Cleo cancelled a number of UK concert dates, however he did return to performing for one solo show at the London Jazz Festival at the Royal Festival Hall, London, in December 2009.
Johnny had to play his sax from a wheelchair, and sadly passed away on the 6th February 2010, at the King Edward VII hospital in London.
Cleo Laine announced his passing at a concert at The Stables theatre, in Buckinghamshire, that evening.
Johnny Dankworth was given a CBE in 1974 and was knighted in 2006 for his services to music.
Johnny and Cleo have two children. Alec Dankworth is a bassist who is also a member of his father's band, and Jacqui Dankworth who is a singer.
january 2010
robert 'squirrel' lester (the chi-lites)
b. Robert 'Squirrel' Lester, 16th August 1942, McComb, Mississippi, U.S.A.
d. 22nd January 2010, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Robert 'Squirrel' Lester, of the Soul vocal group, the Chi-Lites, has died. He was 67.
Robert was the second tenor in the Chicago based singing group. He passed away following a short illness.
He was born in McComb, Mississippi.
He was included in the recent Chi-Lites line-up, along with group leader Marshall Thompson, lead vocalist Frank Reed, and backing vocalist, Tara Thompson.
An inductee at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Lester was 67 years old at the time of his death.
The Chi-Lites were inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 2000 and fellow founding member Eugene Record joined them on stage for the first time in 10 years.
ed thigpen
b. Edmund Leonard (Ed) Thigpen, 28th December 1930, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
d. 13th January 2010, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ed Thigpen, drummer for Oscar Peterson between 1959 and 1965, has died. He was 79.
He also performed with the Billy Taylor trio from 1956 to 1959.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ed Thigpen was raised in Los Angeles, California.
As a student, he attended Thomas Jefferson High School, whose other pupils included Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon and Chico Hamilton.
Ed's father was also a drummer.
Ben Thigpen had collaborated with Andy Kirk for several years during the 1930's and 40's.
Ed began his professional career in the Savoy Ballroom in New York City with the Cootie Williams orchestra, for a two year period, between 1951 to 1952.
He accompanied several Jazz artists including, Dinah Washington, Gil Melle, Oscar Pettiford, Eddie Vinson, Paul Quinichette, Ernie Wilkins, Charlie Rouse, Lennie Tristano, Jutta Hipp, Johnny Hodges, Dorothy Ashby, Bud Powell, and Billy Taylor.
Ed then replaced Herb Ellis in the Oscar Peterson Trio in 1959 whilst in Toronto, Canada.
In 1961 he recorded with the Teddy Edwards & Howard McGhee Quintet in Los Angeles with Phineas Newborn, Jr. and Ray Brown.
When he and Oscar went their seperate ways, Ed recorded for the Verve imprint.
'Out of the Storm' was released in 1966 for the label and featured Kenny Burrell, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter.
Ed later toured with Ella Fitzgerald between 1967 and 1972.
He relocated from the States to Copenhagen in recent years, working with the likes of Alice Babs, Kenny Drew, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Ernie Wilkins, Svend Asmussen, Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander and Thad Jones.
Ed was later inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
Ed Thigpen passed away peacefully after a brief period in Hvidovre Hospital (Copenhagen, Denmark) on the 13th of January 2010.
b. Theodore DeReese 'Teddy' Pendergrass, JR.., 26th March 1950, Kingstree, South Carolina. U.S.A.
d. 13th January 2010, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Philadelphia International Soul singer, Teddy Pendergrass has died. He was 59.
In 2009, Teddy underwent colon cancer surgery and had difficulty recovering. The operation was related to complications from injuries resulting from an earlier 1982 car accident.
He died on the 13th of January 2010, while hospitalized at Bryn Mawr Hospital in suburban Philadelphia.
Teddy Pendergrass was born to Ida Geraldine Epps and the late Jesse Pendergrass.
He was a student at the old Thomas Edison High School for Boys in Philadelphia.
Teddy left school in the 11th grade to go into the music business.
When he was young, Teddy was ordained a minister and became a drummer to further his musical ambitions.
Teddy became the drummer for the group The Cadillacs, who later merged with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.
He became the lead singer and the group signed with Gamble & Huff on the then CBS subsidiary Philadelphia International Records in 1972.
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were hugely successful, scoring chart hits with songs such as 'I Miss You', 'Bad Luck', 'Wake Up Everybody' and the multi million seller 'If You Don't Know Me By Now'.
Teddy left the group in 1977, launching a solo career, resulting in the releases 'The More I Get the More I Want', 'Close the Door', 'I Don't Love You Anymore', 'Turn Off the Lights' and 'The Whole Town's Laughing At Me'.
His first PIR solo album was the self titled 'Teddy Pendergrass' (in 1977), which was followed by 'Life is a Song Worth Singing' (in 1978), 'Live Coast to Coast' and 'Teddy' (in 1979), 1980's 'TP' and the final Philadelphia International Records album 'It's Time for Love' (in 1981).
He also sang a duet with Whitney Houston on "Hold Me", from her self-titled debut album.
On 18th of March, 1982, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia on Lincoln Drive, Teddy was involved in an automobile accident when the brakes failed on his Rolls-Royce and he hit a tree.
Teddy and his passenger, Tenika Watson, were trapped in the wreckage for 45 minutes.
As a result of the accident, Teddy suffered a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
In August 1982, PIR also released 'This One's for You', while Teddy was recovering from the automobile accident.
In 1983, the album 'Heaven Only Knows' was released, containing his final pre-accident recordings.
In 1988, Teddy released the album 'Joy', which featured the popular songs 'Joy' and '2 a.m.'
He relocated to a new label in 1996 after a lengthy gap in his career, recording 'Believe In Love', which was considered as one of his finest recorded moments in recent years.
c.1984
b. Woodrow Cunningham, 8th July 1948, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
d. 9th January 2010, Bowie, Maryland, U.S.A.
Woody Cunningham has died. He was 61.
He passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Bowie, Maryland, with his family.
Woody was the drummer, writer, vocalist and co-producer for the late Seventies and Eighties Soul group Kleeer.
He was co-producer of five of their seven albums, the last two were co-produced with Eumir Deodato.
Woody was born in Baltimore, Maryland where he attended Dunbar High, renowned for their championship basketball teams.
His first drum gig was backing up a local Baltimore singing group called The Tempros with lead singer Billy Griffin who took Smokey Robinson's place with The Miracles.
His next gig was with another local group known as The Young Vandals with Damon Harris who replaced Eddie Kendricks with The Temptations.
In 1971, Woody was the drummer with the vocal group the Choice Four.
In 1972 he reloacted to New York and formed the band Pipeline with bass player Norman Durham, keyboardist Richard Lee, and percussionist Paul Crutchfield, all who were later to form the spine of the group Kleeer.
Woody performed on sessions for Sylvester, Faith, Hope & Charity, Disco Tex & the Sexolettes, and Candido, for Salsoul Records.
At Salsoul he met Jocelyn Brown who heard his voice and persuaded him to record lead vocals on future recordings.
In 1976 Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael needed a group to tour under the name the Universal Robot Band.
kleeer (woody-centre right)
By 1978 Kleeer were formed, and subsequently the group signed to Atlantic Records where they recorded seven albums for the label between 1979 and 1986.
Woody also has the distinction of being the very first drummer for the late Luther Vandross.
Woody wrote, sang lead and was drummer for some of Kleeer's most memorable songs including 'Intimate Connection', 'Get Tough' and 'Open Your Mind'.
His solo material included 'Never Say Never' and 'Universal Love' (both on Expansion Records) and 'The Very Best of Kleeer' (on Rhino Records).
Woody is survived by his wife Vickie, his son Matthew (a drummer and musician who is in college) and five daughters - Kemberly, Monique, Natasha, Nyima and Cheryl. He also has five grandchildren.
b. 1st October 1948, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
d. 11th January 2010, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, U.S.A.
Soul Songstress, Sandra Wright, died early Monday the 11th of January 2010. She was 61.
Sandra suffered a blood clot and died at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hamphire.
She had battled diabetes and in 2008 and had a double knee-replacement operation.
Sandra was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where she began singing at age 4 before training at Tennessee State University to be an opera singer.
Blues legend Memphis Slim was her cousin, and she won a talent contest at Tennessee State by singing rhythm and blues.
On leaving college, Sandra performed on tour with Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown and recorded a solo album for Stax/Truth Records, entitled, 'Wounded Woman' in 1974.
She sang regularly in Nashville, where she put together the Sandra Wright Band.
The band relocated in 1992 to Vermont to be closer to the band's production company.
Sandra sang with the Unknown Blues Band for a double bill with Kilimanjaro on New Year's Eve during the First Night Burlington 2010 celebration, and had been very recently performing at the local Flynn Center.
willie mitchell
b. Willie Lawrence Mitchell, 1st March 1928, Ashland, Mississippi, U.S.A.
d. 5th January 2010, Methodist University Hospital, Memphis Tennessee, U.S.A.
The legendary producer and musician, Willie Mitchell, has died. He was 81.
Willie had suffered a cardiac arrest on the 19th of December and died at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis at 7:25 a.m. on Tuesday the 5th of January.
Willie will, probably, be best remembered for his production work with the Soul singer Al Green.
A trumpeter (from the age of 8 years) and bandleader in his own right, Willie released a number of popular singles for Hi Records as an artist in the 1960s, which included 'Soul Serenade'.
Willie Mitchell owned the Royal Studio where the artists Buddy Guy, John Mayer and many others recorded.
During the 1970s, Willie also owned Hi Records, based in Memphis.
Willie was later presented with a Trustees Award from the Grammy Foundation in 2008.
Willie and his band also provided the music at several New Year's Eve parties for Elvis Presley at Presley's Graceland home.
He and Al Green revived their successful recording partnership in 2003 when Al recorded 'I Can't Stop', his first collaboration with Willie since 1985's 'He is the Light'.
This release was followed by the album 'Everything's OK'.
A Memphis boulevard was named in his honour in 2004.
