ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: JUNE 4

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#1 R&B Song 1966:   “It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World,” James Brown

 

Birn:   Leroy Hutson, 1945; El DeBarge (DeBarge), 1961

 

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1955   The Miracles recorded their first single, “I Wanted You,” at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. While considering a new name in engineer Bob Ross’ office, comedian Stan Freburg came in. Posed with the question, he sat down, unwrapped a candy bar, finished it and said, “The Jaguars,” and left. The group then became the Jaguars of “The Way You Look Tonight” fame.

 

1983   Donna Summer entered the carts with the women’s national anthem of the ’80s, “She Works Hard For the Money” reaching #1 R&B for three weeks and #3 pop.

 

 

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

Onetta there in the corner stands
And wonders where she is and
It’s strange to her
Some people seem to have everything

Nine a.m. on the hour hand
And she’s waiting for the bell
And she’s looking real pretty
Just waitin’ for her clientele

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

Twenty eight years have
Come and gone
And she’s seen a lot of tears
Of the ones who come in
They really seem to need her there

It’s a sacrifice working day to day
What little money just tips for pay
But it’s worth it all
To hear them say that they care

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

(She) already knows
She’s seen her bad times
(she) already knows
These are the good times

But never sell out
She never will
Not for a dollar bill
She works Hard

 

1988   Armed with an anthropology degree from Tufts University (just in case), folk/R&B artist Tracy Chapman didn’t need it when she cruised onto the charts with “Fast Car” (#6), her first of five hits through 1996.

 

 

1991   The Shirelles perfcormed at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theater in the Celebrate the Soul of American Music concert to raise money for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s scholarship fund.

 

1992   Dionne Warwick sang at the Hammerstein Odeon in London at the end of a ten-performance trip through England.

 

1994   Seal’s second album reached #1 in England on its first week on the charts. It took him over two years to make the record.

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