With his trademark beret, thick black rimmed glasses, puffed out cheeks and whimsical personality, Dizzy Gillespie has become one of the most influential figures in Jazz with his virtuoso performances as a trumpeter and scat vocalist, as well as being a talented composer and songwriter. He was born John Birks…
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Legendary Jazz Trumpeter: Miles Davis
Miles Davis is known to connoisseurs of Jazz music around the world as one of the most respected and influential musicians during the last century. He incorporated a myriad of styles to the Jazz genre which enabled him to have a career spanning almost half a century. The trumpeter, pianist, and composer…
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Legendary 60s Singer of The Temptations: David Ruffin
David Ruffin is best known as being the lead singer of the legendary Motown group, The Temptations, during the sixties. Providing lead vocals on their signature tune “My Girl” from 1965 which would be later used as the theme for the 1992 family film of the same name. Born David…
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Legendary Wimbledon Athlete: Arthur Ashe
In 1975, Arthur Ashe Jr. became the first (and so far only) black male singles champion at Wimbledon when he defeated the then defending champion Jimmy Connors in four sets. He is also the only black male to win the Australian and US Open Tournaments. He was born in 1943 in…
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Former Dutch Footballer: Edgar Davids
With his distinctive dreadlocks and protective glasses he wears on the pitch, the former Dutch Footballing International Edgar Davids had a glittering soccer career. He won silverware at various clubs during a twenty one year professional career and is regarded by many as one of the great players of his…
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Blues Legend: BB King
Riley Ben King (otherwise known to the world as B.B. King) was born in 1925 in rural Mississippi U.S.A. to share cropper parents. His parents split up when he was four, leaving the young King to be raised by his grandmother who had him regularly attend church where he would sing…
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World Famous Producer: Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers is a Singer-Songwriter, Arranger, Producer and Guitarist who first found international fame in the 1970’s with the R’n’B/Disco group “Chic.” But, Rogers is more famous for his work producing for the likes of other artists such as Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Sheena Easton and Madonna to name…
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All About 90s TLC Singer: Lisa Lopes
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was known to the world as 1/3 of the all girl R’n’B group TLC. Throughout the nineties TLC achieved worldwide success with their brand of female empowering and safe sex promoting New Jack Swing/R’n’B. Lopes was the outspoken heartbeat of the group and as well as being a singer-songwriter,…
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R&B Legend: Teddy Riley
Teddy Riley is known through R’n’B circles as the man who almost single handedly created the New Jack Swing music scene, which defined Black American culture during the late eighties and most of the nineties. Riley worked with artists such as Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Heavy D, Janet Jackson and none other…
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All About Soul Singer: Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield was a singer-songwriter who first came to prominence as a performer in the group The Impressions during the turbulent civil rights era of the 1950’s and 60’s. Being the main lyricist of the group, his songs gradually became more reflective of social issues which were effecting mainly black housing projects. Think drug abuse,…