Posted inSoul Music

Teddy Pendergrass Dead At 59; Gamble & Huff Reminisce

Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendegrass, former lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes has died.

Relatives for Pendegrass, 59, made the announcement late last night (January 13, 2010).

According to reports, Pendergrass was suffering from colon cancer and had a difficult time recovering from the disease after undergoing, surgery almost eight months ago.

“Teddy Pendergrass was one of the greatest artists that the music industry has ever known, and there hasn’t been another one since,” Gamble & Huff told RareSoul.com in a statement today (January 14, 2010). “We’ve lost our voice and we’ve lost our best friend, but we’re thankful for what we had. It was beautiful. He was one of the best.”

01/14/2010
Posted inSoul Music

Songwriter Bert Berns Dies; Leaves Behind Rich Legacy

Bert Berns
Bert Berns
Rock & Roll/Soul pioneer Bert Berns died of a heart attack today. (December 31, 1967).

Bert Berns, 38, was born on November 8, 1929 in the Bronx New York, to white Jewish Russian immigrant parents.

As a young man he was highly influenced by the Latin sounds and African-American sounds around his neighborhood.

A trip to Cuba cemented his fondness for Latin rhythms which would appear in his future hits.

12/31/2009
Posted inDoo-Wop Wax Facts

Dootone Promotes The Cufflinx’ “Guided Missiles” December 29, 1956

The CufflinxDootone Records was busy promoting the breakout single “Guided Missiles” by The Cufflinx on this day (December 29, 1956).

Dootone was a legendary Los Angeles-based record label that was owned by Walter “Dootsie” Williams.

Among the acts Dootsie recorded were Johnny “Poppa John” Creach (of Jefferson Starship fame), Redd Foxx, The Medallions, Don Julian & The Meadowlarks and The Penguins were some of the acts who passed through Dootsie’s doors.

12/29/2009