Today is the fourteenth day of Black History Month. Because the current administration is racist, fascist and wants to deny the existence and histories of anyone that isn’t cis-het and white, there are some important things everyone should remember during this month — and every single month:
- You can’t love Black artists and their work, and not see them as people
- Black lives — and Black art matters
- Black culture is American culture
As we go through the month, I’m going to talk about a collection of Black artists. It’ll be fairly comprehensive and eclectic list — although it won’t be a complete list. So far I’ve talked about the following:
- Big Boi, who celebrated his 51st birthday on February 1
- Rick James, who was born 78 years ago on February 1
- Sudan Archives, one of the most talented and dynamic artists performing out there today
- The Temptations‘ second and longest tenured lead vocalist Dennis Edwards who was born 83 years ago on February 3
- Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, bassist and JOVM mainstay Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner
- Bobby Brown, who celebrated his 57th birthday on February 5
- The legendary Bob Marley, who was born 81 years ago on February 6
- Natalie Cole, the daughter of the legendary jazz singer and pianist Nat King Cole, who was born 76 years ago on February 6
- J. Dilla, who was born 52 years ago on February 7
- The pioneering Sister Rosetta Tharpe
- The uncompromising and trailblazing Tracy Chapman
- The legendary Roberta Flack, who was born 89 years ago on February 10
- D’Angelo, who was born 52 years ago on February
- Bad Brains‘ founder and frontman H.R., who celebrated his 70th birthday on February 11
- Brandy, who celebrated her 47th birthday on February 11
- Grammy Award and Brit Award-nominated artist Billy Ocean
As a member of C+C Music Factory, Freedom Williams‘ sonorous baritone flow was heard on the outfit’s smash-hit 1990 debut album, Gonna Make You Sweat, including the Billboard Hot 100 #1 “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” “Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll)” and “Things That Make You Go Hmmmm .. . ” All three of those songs hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.
If you came of age in the 1990s, “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance now)” and “Things That Make You Go Hmmmm . . . ” were ubiquitous inescapable — and honestly a lot of fun.
Williams’ 60th birthday was yesterday. So happy belated birthday, brother!
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