Posted inWax Facts

Ten Facts About Soul Singer Philip Bailey

Today is soul singer Philip Bailey’s 60th birthday today. Check out some interesting facts on the man who has created so many classics as a soloist and with his group, Earth, Wind and Fire.

1. Philip Irvin Bailey, an American gospel, soul and funk singer was born in May 8, 1951 in Denver, Colorado. 

2. Philip Bailey was in a local R&B band called Friends and Love and his early influences included jazz legends like John Coltrane and Max Roach, Miles Davis and the Motown Sound. 

3. Bailey was an integral part of a legendery singing group called Earth, Wind & Fire together with founder Maurice White, Jessica Cleaves (vocals – formerly of the R&B group The Friends of Distinction), Ronnie Laws (flute, saxophone), Roland Bautista (guitar), Larry Dunn (keyboard), Ralph Johnson (percussion) and Philip Bailey (vocals)

4.   Earth, Wind & Fire have  over 50 Gold and Platinum album   The group has also sold over 90 millions records worldwide

5. EWF and Bailey were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 

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Ten Interesting Facts About Soul Singer Johnnie Taylor

Since today (May 5th) would have been soul legend Johnnie Taylor’s 77th birthday, RareSoul.com has gathered Ten interesting facts about the soul singer.

Johnnie Taylor is a legendary member of The Soul Stirrers after Sam Cooke left the group, and he cut a number of sides for Sam Cooke’s record labels, SAR/Derby labels. When Sam Cooke died in 1964, Johnnie Taylor needed a new recording home.

“I was living in Kansas City,” Johnnie Taylor recalled in the book Soulsville U.S.A. “I got to St. Louis and I decided I’d up a dime. I said ‘Should I got Towards Detroit for Motown or should I take the southern route to Stax? Stax won out.”

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First Annual Grammy’s Kicked Off Today (May 4th) in 1959

The Grammy’s were launched on this day (May 4th) in 1959. Even though the first winner was “Tequila” by The Champs – not exactly an R&B song – the awards have evolved into a staple in the industry.

The Grammy was originally called  called a Gramophone Award, after Emile Berliner’s Gramophone.

Emile Berliner, was a German living in Washington D.C., when he invented gramophone. He patented the instrument in the United States under patent no 372786 dated the 8th of November, in 1887.

Scientists were trying to invent the voice recording instrument from the eighteenth century. In 1806, Thomas Young developed the sound wave theory to represent the sounds of drum in a graphical manner.

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Twenty Interesting Facts About James Brown

Since today (May 3rd) is James Brown’s 78th birthday, we decided to put together twenty interesting facts about the Godfather of Soul. Not only did James Brown revolutionize music, but he lead an interesting life. Check it out.

1. James Brown’s song “Living in America” was featured in the movie Rocky IV.

2. James Brown made a cameo appearance in the movie “Blues Brothers”

3. James Brown made a disco album in the 70’s called “The Original Disco Man”

4. James Brown’s first number 1 single on the R&B chart was “Try Me”

5. As a young man James Brown wanted to play professional baseball.

6. He also wanted to be a professional boxer.

7. James Brown went to jail for a high speed car chase in Georgia.

8. James Brown’s original band mates of the Famous Flames were originally in Little Richard’s Band.