Monthly Archives: January 2009

#1 R&B Song 1981:   “Fantastic Voyage,” Lakeside   Born:   Roosevelt Sykes, 1906; Harold “Chuck” Willis, 1928; Marvin Junior (the Dells), 1936   ********************************************************************************* 1958   Little Richard officially announced that he had retired at the peak of his career to become … Continue reading →

Long before her “The Miseducation of Lauren Hill” Cover art of Lauren’s “Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” album. Grammy Award-winning singer, rapper, musician, songwriter, producer, and film actress, Lauryn Hill, appeared on As The World Turns. While still in high school … Continue reading →

I can picture Aretha now; just saying that she wanted to make a statement at President Obama’s inauguration; just saying that she simply wanted to make her mark on the style and type of hat she chose to wear that … Continue reading →

#1 R&B Song 1961:   “Shop Around,” the Miracles   Born:   Jazz trumpeter Roy Eldridge, 1911; Ruth brown, 1928; Luther Ingram, 1944; Jackie Ross, 1946; Jody Watley, 1959   *************************************************************************************** 1958   The Silhouettes’ standard rocker, “Get A Job,” charted en route … Continue reading →

#1 R&B Song 1955:   “Sincerely,” the Moonglows   Born:   Bandleader Paul Gayten, 1920; William King (the Commodores), 1949   ************************************************************************************** 1952   One of the best-known artist/songwriters of his day, bluesman Wille Dixon (“Spoonful,” “Little Red Rooster”) died of a heart … Continue reading →

The following article addresses the issue of the disparity in farm subsidies of Black American farmers. Overwhelmingly, White farmers receive more U.S. government subsidies, than Black farmers, even in counties where the majority of farmers are Black. This issue is … Continue reading →

  First Lady Michelle Obama stepped into the limelight to offer support for the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by President Obama. Mrs. Obama gave Ms. Ledbetter a hug at after the ceremony. The legislation expands workers’ … Continue reading →

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG Published: January 29, 2009   WASHINGTON — President Obama fired a warning shot at Wall Street on Thursday, branding bankers “shameful” for giving themselves $18.4 billion in bonuses as the economy was spinning out of control … Continue reading →

  Stephen Crowley/The New York Times President Obama signed his first bill into law on Thursday, approving the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law named for Ms. Ledbetter, fourth from left, an Alabama woman who at the end of … Continue reading →

#1 R&B Song 1978:   “Our Love,” Natalie Cole   Born:   Blues vocalist Drink Small, 1933; blues guitarist Cash McCall (Morris Dollison, Jr.), 1941   ****************************************************************************************** 1950   Larry Darnell, an early pioneer of the New Orleans sound, hit #1 on the R&B … Continue reading →