January 26, 1955: Number ONE R&B tune in the country…

"Sincerely"   is a popular song written by Harvey Fuqua and Alan Freed and published in 1954….





It was originally recorded by The Moonglows, who scored a #1 single on the Billboard R&B Juke Box chart and #20 on the Billboard Top 100 charts…




The original Moonglows disbanded in 1958, and Fuqua put together a new group called Harvey And The Moonglows that included a young Marvin Gaye. Featuring Fuqua on lead, 'Ten Commandments Of Love' (number 9 R&B/number 22 pop, 1958) was the last of the group's major hits...

 In 1960 Fuqua disbanded this group and he and Gaye went to Detroit to work in the city's burgeoning music industry...

 Fuqua worked with Berry Gordy's sister, Gwen Gordy, on the Anna label and Gaye joined Berry Gordy's Motown Records operation. Fuqua carved out a very successful career as a producer and record executive, working with Motown artists in the 60s…

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July 3, 1940: Fontella Bass Hits the Planet…

 

Fontella Bass (July 3, 1940 – December 26, 2012)

Her first hit, “Don’t Mess Up A Good Thing,” a duet with Bobby McClure, was released by Chess in early 1965...

It was followed that summer by “You’ll Miss Me (When I’m Gone),” which enjoyed modest success…

 

 Then she struck gold!

 Fontella Bass’ major success was with a tune called “Rescue Me” 

An original composition with an aggressive rhythm section; backing musicians on the track included drummer Maurice White (later the leader of Earth, Wind, & Fire), bassist Louis Satterfield 

"Daddy G"

and tenor saxophonist “Daddy G” (Gene Barge), with the young Minnie Riperton among the background singers. 

The song, "Rescue Me", shot up the charts in the fall and winter of 1965. After a month-long run at the top of the R&B charts, the song reached #4 on the US pop charts and #11 in the UK...

 "Rescue Me" gave  Chess its first million-selling single since Chuck Berry a decade earlier. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc…

Fontella Bass in 1965

THE USE OF ANY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL IS USED UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF "FAIR USE" IN TITLE 17 & 107 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE. SUCH MATERIAL REMAINS THE COPYRIGHT OF THE ORIGINAL HOLDER AND IS USED HERE FOR THE PURPOSES OF EDUCATION, COMPARISON, AND CRITICISM ONLY. NO INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT IS INTENDED… 

April 30, 1983: R.I.P. Muddy Waters. The Mojo is Gone The Master Has Won…

Muddy Waters was born McKinley Morganfield on April 4, 1915, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi.

Waters grew up immersed in the Delta blues,
 and was first recorded by archivist Alan Lomax. 

In 1943, he moved to Chicago and began playing in clubs. 

A record deal followed, and hits like "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man"   and "Rollin'Stone"  made him an iconic Chicago blues man...

McKinley Morganfield "Muddy Waters" died of a heart attack on April 30, 1983 at the age of sixty-eight. Morganfield is buried at the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.

 The epitaph on the burial marker reads: "McKinley Morganfield, 1915 - 1983, 
The Mojo is Gone The Master Has Won"

R.I.P. Muddy Waters

 THE USE OF ANY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL IS USED UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF "FAIR USE" IN TITLE 17 & 107 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE. SUCH MATERIAL REMAINS THE COPYRIGHT OF THE ORIGINAL HOLDER AND IS USED HERE FOR THE PURPOSES OF EDUCATION, COMPARISON, AND CRITICISM ONLY. NO INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT IS INTENDED…