Born:   Bob Marley, 1945; Natalie Cole, 1950

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1954   The Drifters’ “Such A Night” (#2 R&B) and the Ravens’ “September Song” were released.

1960   One day after performing in Little Rock, AK, with Jackie Wilson, Arthur Prysock, and Little Willie John, Jesse Belvin was killed in a car crash along with his wife and driver on the way to their next performance.

1961   Chubby Checker & the Dreamlovers charted R&B on their way to #1 and their second million-seller with “Pony Time.” The song was a revision of Clarence “Pinetop” Smith’s “Boogie Woogie” in 1928, and Checker’s version beat out a competing recording by Don Covay & the Goodtimers that reached only #60 pop. The Dreamlover’s were never credited on the label and since Checker was considered a solo act (even though the prominant harmonies of the group were evident on all his hits), they are relegated to a footnote in history rather that full participants in the hit’s success.

1965   Little Anthony & the Imperials’ classic “Hurt So Bad” charted, en route to #10 pop.

1971   Marvin Gaye’s critically claimed “What’s Goin’On” was released. It reached #2 pop and #1 R&B.

1971   The Jackson 5’s “Mama’s Pearl” charted, reaching #2 pop and R&B. It was kept from the top spot by the Osmond’s “One Bad Apple,” which was offered to Motown for the Jacksons but was rejected as sounding too adolescent. (I remember when this song came out and immediately felt it to have a Jackson 5 sound to it. Many people thought that the Osmonds sang the song to make it sound as much like the Jackson 5, on purpose, thus, stealing their thunder with the “Mama Pearl” song. Since the Jacksons passed on singing the song, we will never know how it would have siunded in their hands.)

1988   Public Enemy, one of rap music’s most contentious acts, made their chart debut with “Bring The Noise.” The group, in keeping with their image, would soon perform at New York’s Rikers Island Prison. One of their managers referred to them as “the black panthers of rap.”

1990   A national holiday was proclained in Jamaica to commemorate the birth of Bob Marley.