ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: MAY 8

#1 R&B Song 1943:   “I Can’t Stand Losing You,” the Ink Spots

 

Born:   Robert Johnson, 1911; Phillip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire), 1951

 

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1943   Duke Ellington & His Orchestra charted with “Don’t Get Aound Much Anymore,” reaching #1 R&B and #8 pop. The often-recorded hit was originally titled “Never No Lament,” and was first recorded by Ellington in 1940 as a big band instrumental, with song lyricist Bob Russell’s lyrics and the new title added in 1942. Two different recordings of “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, one by The Ink Spots and the other by Ellington’s own band, reached #1 on the R&B charts in 1943.

1961   Darlene Love & the Blossoms—who were the premier vocal back-up singers for everyone from Elvis to Dionne Warwick—finally earned some attention with a single of their own when “Son-n-Law” charted, reaching #79 pop. It was their only Top 100 single and the answer record to Ernie K. Doe’s “Mother-n-Law.”

 

1963   Darlene Love made a rare TV appearance when she preformed on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand singing her current hit, “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry.”

 

 

1964   Little Richard performed on the British TV show, Ready, Steady, Go! along with Carl Perkins and the Swinging Blue Jeans.

 

1968   James Brown attended a dinner at the White House, at the invitation of President & Mrs. Johnson.

 

1992   A monument was dedicated to “Muddy Waters, master of the blues,” in Rolling Fork, MS, by local officials.

 

1992   The Dixie Cups of “Chapel of Love” fame reunited and performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York for WCBS-FM’s twentieth anniversary concert.

 

1996   The eighth annual World Music Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco, bestowed honors upon Michael Jackson, including awards for World’s Best-Selling Album of All-Time (for Thriller), World’s Best-Selling Male Pop Artist, American Male Recording Artist, and World’s Best-Selling R&B Artist. Also honored with a  Lifetime Achievement Award was Diana Ross. Best Pop Group and Best R&B group kudos went to TLC.