Black Music Month Artist of the Day - Day 26: Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson was one of the founding members and artists of Motown along with Barry Gordy. His songs with The Miracles and as a solo artists were really influential in helping to define the modern pop and R & B love song. He had many hits and has composed some of the greatest songs ever written. Bob Dylan once referred to him as "America's greatest living poet". He was responsible for the Motown sound having composed and or produced some of the label's biggest hits from The Temptation's "My Girl" and "Get Ready" to Mary Well's "My Guy" just to name a few. Today Robinson will be honored by ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) with the Rhythm and Blues Award for his work as a songwriter. That makes him the best choice for artist of the day. Here he is with The Miracles singing the incredible, "OOO, Baby Baby"!

Black Music Month: Artist of The Day: Michael Jackson

MICHAEL JACKSON--ANOTHER PART OF ME!

Of course any list of great black music artists would be incomplete without Michael Jackson's name on it. Performing for most of his life, he's a master story teller and one of the most exciting performers. There's no one who has done more for the evolution of modern music today as Michael Jackson. As one of the pioneer artists who helped launch MTV to what it is today, Michael's video performances speak for themselves.

Musically, he experimented with all forms of the genre including pop and rock, but it a testiment to his roots of being mentored by Motown and the great Berry Gordy, that his best music by far continues to be his soul and R&B recordings.
Here is one of those songs--"Another Part Of Me".

Black Music Month Artist of The Day: Luther Vandross

Gone too soon but certainly not forgotten, Luther Vandross's voice defined the soul sound in the 80s and 90s. Whenever people think of soul music and songs that identify soul only one name comes up, Luther. Here is his first hit, "Never Too Much".

Black Music Month Artist of the Day - Day 22: The Ojays

THE OJAYS--LOVE TRAIN

This was a universal song that inspired a lot of dancing. Although their hit, "For Love Of Money" has gained popularity recently as the theme for Donald Trump's reality show The Apprentice, "Love Train" is one of the band's most recognizable and requested song. Here is a fantastic performance of the classic song.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day - Day 21: George Clinton & Parliment

Artist of the Day: George Clinton, Parliament Funkadelic, The P-Funk All Stars---Atomic Dog

This song was all about dancing,wishing you were older than you really were to go to a club or a house party to dance. George Clinton was all about funk, blending all music genres into one. They certainly believed in making the show as lively and colorful as possible. They became more known for their outrageous shows than for the music. Atomic Dog hit main stream success and is often used in movies and in commercial advertising.

Check out one of their most memorable performances of the hit.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day - Day 20: Isaac Hayes

ISAAC HAYES---SHAFT!!!!

The instrumentation on this song is incredible. There really aren't words to describe it. The fact that it was an Oscar winner for Best Original Song says a lot.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day - Day 18: Al Green

Al Green's "Let's Stay together" was the first song I remember everyone in my neighborhood loving. My parents, my aunt who lived next door and even my mom's friends loved it. A typical Saturday afternoon in Indiana was the same, moms would be talking, kids would be playing kick the can, dads would be mowing lawns, teenage girls would be braiding each others hair for the summer, all just going about their day. Then this song would be playing on the radio of a car passing by and suddenly every radio within a 5 mile radius would catch on and start playing it. Soon Al Green would be playing in surround sound on Deodar Street.

Those were the days. There aren't too many songs or artists today that could have everyone stop, listen, sing or dance to all at once, no matter the age. Al Green's
"Let's Stay Together" is one of those songs. The fact that he could unite a neighborhood in a common theme for even 4 minutes at a time, makes him the Black Music Month Artist of The Day.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day - Day 17: Gladys Knight & The Pips

There's no one like Gladys Knight. Her soulful voice is one of the most distinct in the music that dominated radio and television for over three decades since the 1960s.
Performing with her brother, Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten as Gladys Knight & The Pips, they helped defined family groups.

Although, Gladys was the star, the group was really an ensemble. The back vocals on their well-known hit "Midnight Train To Georgia remain of the best written and performed to this day. Check out a true black music legend, Gladys Knight & The Pips.

Black Music Month Artist Of The Day: Day 16

The spotlight artist of the day, is Rufus, featuring Chaka Khan. Highly popular in the 70's and 80's, Rufus was synonymous with helping to define the R&B/Soul sound. Chaka Khan, a diva in her own right, began her career with the band. Blending dance songs with soulful ballads makes Rufus the artist of the day. Here's one of my favorite songs: Sweet Thing.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day - McFadden and Whitehead

June is Black Music Month
Day 15
McFadden and Whitehead

I am sure you heard the song but most don't know that they were songwriters for Philadelphia International Label. They wrote hits you know today such as and Backstabbers by The O'Jays and Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin & The Blue notes just to name a few.
This song is still a classic after all these years.
We lost both of them recently R.I.P. Their music will live forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuHxZWeQOC4

Black Music Month Artist of the Day- Teena Marie

June is Black Music Month
Day 14
Teena Marie

One of the best female singers in the business. One of my all time favorites. Not only can she sing, but she also writes, produces and plays most instruments on her recordings.Teena started in the music business when she was 16 years old, hired as a songwriter for Motown. Rick James wanted to produce and write for her. The rest is history. Listen to this track and you will see why she is on the list and a long time favorite.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day - Ready For The World

June is Black Music Month
Day 13

Ready For The World

One of my favorite groups from the 80s. Ready for the world are six men from Flint, Michigan who wrote & performed all their songs. They are best known for their number one song" Oh Sheila", but this band also knew how to produce a great ballad. Here is a look at their ballad Love You Down. RFTW are touring this year so get ready for them to do it all again.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day- Prince

June is Black Music Month
Day 12

Prince
need I say more...... A musical genius

Black Music Month Artist of the Day- Anita Baker

June is Black Music Month
Day 11

Anita Baker
talent at it's finest with a voice that gives you chills. Enjoy this clip of one of her best songs live...

Black Music Month Artist of the Day- GUY

June is Black Music Month
Day 10

Guy
One of the best R&B groups from the New Jack Swing days. Guy started in the late 80s and recently reunited. The Hall Brothers(Damian and Aaron) make up this group with musician , songwriter and producer Teddy Riley.
Check out this live clip of songs from a concert they performed last year and see why this group makes the list.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day- Rick James

June is Black Music Month
Day 9

Rick James

Rick started as a writer and musician for Motown and ended up with a big legacy of his own. Never a dull moment with Rick. Enjoy this clip of one of his first hit singles.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day- Minnie Riperton

A beautiful soul who we lost way too soon. A vocal range that not many perfomers can begin to touch.
The Maya she references at the end is this song is for her daughter Maya.Today she is Maya Rudolf the actress and comedian best known for being former cast member on the tv show Saturday Night Live. Maya will next be seen in the upcoming Sam Mendes movie.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day - Earth Wind And Fire

Black Music Month
Day 7

Earth Wind and Fire

One of the top 10 greatest songs of all time in my opinion. Enjoy this live clip. One of the best band on record and live.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day- Brothers Johnson

Brothers Johnson...a classic duo who started off as session musicians.

Enjoy this clip of one of the best songs ever written.

Black Music Month Artist of the Day- Stevie Wonder

Black Music Month
Day 5

Stevie Wonder is a musical genius. He is amazing on record and live. He has been in the music business since the age of 14. Enjoy this live clip on Stevie signing "Sir Duke".