Maurice White was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1941 to a father who was a doctor and an occasional saxophonist. He grew up in South Memphis where he lived with family in the Foote Homes Projects and was a childhood friend of Booker T Jones. In his teenage years he moved to Chicago and found work as a session drummer for Chess Records. He played on the records of artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart, Ramsey Lewis, Sonny Stitt, Muddy Waters, The Impressions, The Dells, Betty Everett, Sugar Pie DeSanto and Buddy Guy.[2] He also played the drums on Fontella Bass's Rescue Me and Billy Stewart's Summertime.[4] In 1962, along with other studio musicians at Chess, he was a member of the Jazzmen, who later became The Pharaohs.
By 1966 he became the new drummer in the Ramsey Lewis Trio, replacing Isaac 'Red' Holt who would go on to be a part of the Young-Holt Unlimited and Eldee Young was also replaced by bassist Cleveland Eaton. Maurice as part of the Ramsey Lewis Trio played on nine of the group's albums some of which included Wade in the Water, from which the track Hold It Right There won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal Or Instrumental, Goin' Latin, and Dancing in the Street. While in the Trio he was introduced to the Kalimba which he found in a Chicago drum store and the Trio's 1969 album Another Voyage featured the first recording of Maurice playing the Kalimba.[5]
In 1969 Maurice left the Trio, and joined two friends, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, to form a songwriting team which wrote songs for commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol Records, and called themselves The Salty Peppers and they had a moderate hit in the Midwestern area with their single "La La Time". The Salty Peppers' second single, "Uh Huh Yeah", wasn't as successful, and Maurice then moved, from Chicago To Los Angeles and altered the name of the band, to Earth, Wind & Fire.
[edit] Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind Fire, an American R & B and disco group formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969, by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as the EWF, the group has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards.[6] With Maurice as the band's leader Earth, Wind & Fire has sold over 90 million albums worldwide earning the band a place on the list of best-selling music artists.[2][7] As a member of the band Maurice has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
White is also responsible for incorporating the sound of the kalimba also known as the African thumb piano and the Phenix Horns composed of Louis Satterfield, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Michael Harris and Don Myrick into the music of Earth, Wind & Fire. In addition Maurice has produced most of the band's albums.
Mr. White largely stopped touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in the early 1990s for health reasons, but returned for a series of farewell performances in Japan in 1995.However, he is very much active and busy in the music business, producing other new artists and retaining executive control of the band. He has performed sporadically on the stage since; for example at the 2004 Grammy Awards and at Clive Davis's 2004 pre Grammy award party where Maurice performed with Earth, Wind & Fire alongside Alicia Keys, the classic song September.[8][9]
Dino (H-Town)
Growing up in a family of singers, brothers Keven and Solomon Conner began their careers singing in talent shows and plays before a local producer sent their demo tape to onetime 2 Live Crew rapper and record label executive Luther "Luke" Campbell. After an impromptu audition, Campbell signed the group to his label, Luke Records.[1]
[edit] Albums
[edit] Fever for Da Flavor
H-Town's debut album Fever for Da Flavor was released on April 15, 1993.[2] The group achieved hit status in the United States with "Knockin' Da Boots," which became H-Town's biggest hit and also their signature song. "Boots" was a #1 hit on the R&B charts,[3] and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] "Lick U Up," the bands follow-up single, was less successful on the charts. H-Town won the 1993 Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist. That same year, they signed on as a part of the Coca-Cola Summerfest tour, which also included Shai, SWV, Jade, Naughty by Nature, LL Cool J and Silk.[1]
[edit] Beggin' After Dark
In 1994, H-Town returned the studio to record their second album Beggin' After Dark . It was released on November 8, 1994.[5]
The most popular single from this album was "Emotions." It became a #11 hit on the Billboard R&B chart and reached #51 on the Hot 100.[4] Other tracks from the album included "Sex Bowl," "Full Time," "Much Feelin' (And It Tastes Great)," "Buss One," featuring reggae singer Papa Reu, and "Baby I Love Ya," featuring Roger Troutman.
[edit] Ladies Edition, Woman's World
By the time H-Town returned to the studio to record Ladies Edition, they had undergone some changes. They recorded a cover version of The Persuaders' "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" for the 1996 film of the same name. The song became H-Town's first Top 40 pop hit in three years, peaking at #37.[4]
They then cut ties with Luther Campbell, underwent a spiritual awakening of sorts, and became more aware of women's issues on their third album Ladies Edition, Woman's World.[6] It was released on October 28, 1997.[7] The album's general theme centers on a man's penitence for his past transgressions with his woman, a theme conveyed in songs such as "Don't Sleep on the Female," "Julie Rain" (a sobering account of spousal abuse), and "Jezebel." According to the liner notes, the album was dedicated to Nicole Brown Simpson and "all the women of the world." Twenty national women's telephone helplines were also listed on the back cover.[8]
[edit] 2000 - Present
In July 2000, Solomon "Shazam" Conner released a solo album entitled Bringing the Heat. Selected tracks from Shazam's solo effort were included on H-Town's 2004 album Imitations Of Life.
On January 28, 2003, Dino was killed in an automobile accident in Houston, Texas. According to police, Dino had just left a recording studio and was a passenger in a car being driven by his girlfriend, 22-year-old Teshya Rae Weisent. Their vehicle was struck by an SUV that ran a red light, and both Dino and Weisant were killed.
Three people were in the SUV, all of whom fled after the accident. One of them, Juan Diaz, was later apprehended, however, and faced a felony charge of failure to stop and render aid.[9]
At the time of Conner's death H-Town was said to have just finished what would become their fourth album.[9] They eventually released their reunion album Imitations of Life on October 12, 2004.[10]
In mid 2009, the remaining two members, Solomon "Shazam" Conner and Darryl "G.I." Jackson released the single "Knocking Your Heels" from their upcoming album "Child Support." The single's remix features Jodeci and Pretty Ricky. The release date of "Child Support" is still TBA as of January 2011.
another unfair match up :(
ReplyDeletetrue, but at least you have a slightly better & younger talent to even consider (as opposed to Prince v. Sisqo).
ReplyDeleteI think H-Town's "Natural Woman" would have been a better comparison for Dino's talent, but, again, this IS random.