ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: MARCH 22

#1 R&B Song 1952:   “Night Train,” Jimmy Forest & His All-Star Combo

 

Born:   George Benson, 1943; Stephanie Mills, 1957; Jadakiss (Jayson Phillips), 1975

 

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1951   The Five Keys’ first recording session included their first two singles, “With A Broken Heart” and the million-selling “Glory Of Love.”

 

 

1952   Ray Charles’s “Kiss-a Me Baby” hit the R&B charts, rising to #8 for his third Top 10 hit in a row. An original copy of the single today would cost in the $300 range.

 

 

1980  Shalamar’s “The Second Time Around” peaked at #8 pop and also reached #1 R&B to become their biggest hit in a career spanning ten years and twenty-two R&B chart singles. The group’s lead, Howard Hewitt, would go on to solo success in the mid-’80s, while member Jody Whatley (god-daughter of “Mr. Excitement” himself, Jackie Wilson) became a solo star with hits like “Looking For A New Love.”

 

 

1980   Soul balladeer Peabo Bryson charted with “Minute by Minute,” reaching #12 R&B. Through 1993 the South Carolina native had forty-five hit 45s, including #1s “Show & Tell” and “Can’t Stop the Rain.”

 

1993   Sade performed at New York’s Paramount Theater and must have felt quite comfortable as she did the whole show bare foot.

 

 

2001   Earl Beal, co-founder and baritone of the Silhouettes, died today. He and lead singer Billy Horton formed the Philadelphia group in a pool hall in 1955. Beal suggested naming the group after the Rays’ hit. They had only one chart record but it was a classic, “Get A Job,” which went to #1 R&B and pop. Beal was deventy-six.