Black Music Sunday is a weekly collection highlighting all issues Black music, with 240 tales masking performers, genres, historical past, and extra, every that includes its personal vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll discover some acquainted tunes and maybe an introduction to one thing new.
Because of Vice President Kamala Harris being a graduate of Howard College, her historic presidential marketing campaign helped extra individuals within the U.S. study concerning the nation’s Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities. “Black Music Sunday” has showcased music from HBCUs up to now, together with musical Howard alumni like Shirley Horn, Geri Allen, Roberta Flack, and Donny Hathaway. We’ve additionally highlighted the groundbreaking work of the Fisk (College) Jubilee Singers, and featured the magic of HBCU marching bands and drumlines.
But we now have not explored the musical profession and passionate work of singer, actor, and philanthropist Lou Rawls or his work funding HBCUs by way of the United Negro School Fund, a company based in 1944 whose work continues right this moment
Rawls was born in Chicago on Dec. 1, 1933, and for his birthday, we have a good time each his music and his dedication to supporting Black academic achievement.
Music critic Steve Huey is behind the biography of Rawls discovered at Blue Be aware Data.
Louis Allen Rawls … was raised on [Chicago’s] south facet by his grandmother. He sang within the choir at his Baptist church beginning at age seven, and have become excited by in style music as a young person by attending reveals on the Regal Theatre, with genre-crossing singers like Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock, and Billy Eckstine rating as his explicit favorites. Rawls additionally tried his hand at harmony-group singing with schoolmate Sam Cooke, collectively in a gospel outfit referred to as the Teenage Kings of Concord. Rawls moved on to sing with the Holy Wonders, and in 1951 changed Cooke within the Freeway Q.C.s. In 1953, when Specialty recording artists the Chosen Gospel Singers swung by means of Chicago on tour, they recruited Rawls as a brand new member; he made his recording debut on a pair of periods in early 1954. He later joined the Pilgrim Vacationers, however give up in 1956 to enlist within the Military as a paratrooper; upon his discharge in 1958, he returned to the Vacationers and launched into a tour with Cooke. It practically price Rawls his life — in the course of the Southern leg of their tour, the automotive Rawls and Cooke had been driving in crashed right into a truck. Cooke escaped with minor accidents, however one other passenger was killed, and Rawls was really pronounced useless on the best way to the hospital; because it turned out, he spent 5 and a half days in a coma, didn’t regain his full reminiscence for one more three months, and took a whole 12 months to recuperate.
Right here is Rawls with the Chosen Gospel Singers in 1954.
Huey’s Blue Be aware biography continues:
When Rawls had recovered sufficiently, he switched to secular music and hit the L.A. circuit with a vengeance, performing in golf equipment, coffeehouses, and every other small venues that will enable him on-stage. Throughout this era, he additionally landed his first performing position, a small half on the hit detective collection 77 Sundown Strip. In 1962, he was found at a coffeeshop close to Capitol Data headquarters by producer Nick Venet; at Venet’s request, Rawls rapidly recorded an audition tape, and wound up with a recording contract. Later that 12 months, Capitol issued Rawls’ debut album, Stormy Monday (alternately often known as I’d Fairly Drink Muddy Water), a set of jazz tunes with backing from the Les McCann Trio. The identical 12 months, he equipped the impassioned background vocals on Sam Cooke’s hit “Bring It On Home to Me.” Rawls’ subsequent few recordings for Capitol mixed jazz, blues, R&B, and pop in various combos, typically casting him in big-band settings akin to these of his hero Joe Williams. Whereas the outcomes had been usually rewarding, it was plain that Rawls and Capitol had been nonetheless trying to find a particular course.
Right here’s “Stormy Monday.”
And right here’s Rawls and Cooke with “Bring It On Home To Me.”
One final bit from the Blue Be aware biography:
Within the meantime, Rawls was revamping his stay act by including prolonged spoken monologues to his songs; these “raps” served as a platform for the singer to debate social points and private expertise, to not point out as an attention-getting gimmick that overrode the noise and bustle of the golf equipment he carried out in. 1966’s Reside! captured that particular live performance presence on a repertoire of largely jazz and blues (plus a celebrated model of “Tobacco Road”), and proved to be a gold-selling breakthrough hit. Nevertheless, Rawls discovered an much more profitable course when he made the swap to soul music later that 12 months; his first full-fledged R&B album, Soulin’, spawned his first main hit single in “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing,” which practically reached the pop Prime Ten and went all the best way to primary on the R&B charts earlier than 12 months’s finish. 1967’s “Dead End Street” hit quantity three R&B and gained Rawls his first Grammy, for Greatest R&B Vocal Efficiency
I’ll always remember the primary phrases of Rawls’ “Dead End Street” opening monologue.
I used to be born in a metropolis that they name the Windy Metropolis
And so they referred to as it the Windy Metropolis due to the Hawk
The Hawk, the almighty Hawk, Mr. Wind
Takes care of loads enterprise round wintertime
The place that I lived in
Was on a avenue that, uh, occurred to be one of many useless finish streets
The place there was nothing to dam the wind, the weather
Nothing to buffer them for me to maintain them from knockin’ my pad down, you understand
I imply, actually sockin’ it to me…
The historical past of the time period “the Hawk” as shorthand for Chicago’s brutal winds was explored in a 2021 Chicago Tribune story by Edward McClelland.
“When you’d come out the projects, and that wind hit you, we’d call it the Hawk,” mentioned an elder from my church who grew up within the Robert Taylor Properties within the Nineteen Fifties and ’60s. “The old folks still say it. I don’t know if the young folks say it. We still say icebox, too.”
Now that the Hawk has returned to our metropolis for a three- or four-month keep, it’s value wanting on the origins of this Chicago phrase. It isn’t, because the identify would possibly counsel, an try to match the reducing, slicing wind to a sharp-beaked, sharp-clawed raptor.
McClelland goes on to clarify the phrase additionally didn’t originate in Chicago!
Right here’s “Dead End Street,” which introduced Rawls his first Grammy award
Christine Morrison at Musician Information continues Rawls’ story:
His first single “A Natural Man” earned Rawls a second Grammy Award in 1972. The tune reached quantity 17 on the pop and R & B charts. Rawls launched just one extra album with MGM earlier than signing with Philadelphia Worldwide information.
The signing with Philadelphia Worldwide was memorable as a result of it paired Rawls with legendary producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. His first album with Gamble and Huff was his solely platinum album: All Issues in Time. It reached quantity 3 on the R & B charts. Rawls’ most notable single was the primary single recorded with Gamble and Huff in 1976 referred to as “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” It reached quantity two on the pop charts and primary on the R & B charts, and was performed in just about each disco throughout the nation. The tune was Rawls’ first gold single and it gained him an American Music Award and a Grammy nomination. “Groovy People” was the following single recorded with Gamble and Huff; it additionally earned a Grammy nomination. Different singles launched with Gamble and Huff embrace: “See You When I Git There,” “Lady Love,” and “Let Me Be Good to You.”
In 1977 Rawls gained his third Grammy Award. This time it was for the very best male rhythm and blues efficiency for the album Unmistakably Lou. Rawls was seen on tv usually within the Nineteen Seventies on selection reveals and as an actor.
Right here’s Rawls performing “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” on “Soul Train.”
And right here’s “Lady Love.”
All About Jazz particulars Rawls’ musical and performing profession till he handed on.
The title observe of 1979’s Let Me Be Good to You was his final huge hit with Philly Worldwide, reaching quantity 11 R&B. The next 12 months, Rawls kicked off what would change into a consuming ardour for years to return: the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon, an annual occasion which ultimately raised thousands and thousands of {dollars} for the United Negro School Fund.
From the ’80s on, Rawls performed the a part of a well-established entertainer, fairly than focusing his energies on sustaining a chart presence. He served a stint on Epic Data from 1982-1986 that proved a business disappointment; by then, he was extra excited by working the telethon and conducting intensive excursions of American army bases world wide. A 1987 reunion with Gamble & Huff produced his last charting single on the R&B facet, “I Wish You Belonged to Me.” Towards the top of the ’80s, Rawls made some recordings for Blue Be aware, together with the Grammy- nominated At Final in 1989. In the course of the latter half of the ’90s, Rawls returned to his performing profession with better frequency, showing within the acclaimed Leaving Las Vegas (amongst many different movies and TV reveals) and in addition pursuing voice-over work in cartoons like Hey Arnold and Rugrats (he’d begun this facet of his profession singing on a number of Garfield specials). Most of his ’90s recordings had been vacation collections, however 1998’s Seasons 4 U was a jazzy outing launched on his personal label. Rawls entered the brand new millennium by returning to his gospel roots on 2001’s I am Blessed (astonishingly, his first solo gospel album) and 2002’s Oh Blissful Day. In 2003 he paid tribute to Frank Sinatra with the discharge of Rawls Sings Sinatra on Savoy Jazz. On January 6, 2006, he succumbed to a two-year struggle with most cancers.
Let’s pivot to that telethon. The United Negro School Fund describes Rawls’ large fundraising energy.
One of many longest working televised occasions in U.S. historical past, An Night of Stars® started practically three a long time in the past in 1979 because the Parade of Stars, a three-hour syndicated telethon launched by legendary singer Lou Rawls, who got down to increase funds for UNCF–the United Negro School Fund. Over time, The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars® took on a number of codecs, turning into a 12-hour telethon earlier than taking up a brand new and thrilling format as An Night of Stars®: A Celebration of Instructional Excellence in 1998. Whereas An Night of Stars® has advanced over time, the message has remained the identical – supporting minority greater training as a necessary path to make sure the longer term success of our nation.
Throughout its first 12 months, The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars® telethon raised $3.5 million for minority training. Superstar appearances garnered assist for UNCF and academic excellence. These traditional reveals featured prime entertainers, together with Sammy Davis, Jr., Invoice Cosby, Tony Bennett, The 4 Tops, and The Commodores, in addition to a particular look by President Ronald Reagan.
In 1984, The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars® modified to a 12-hour telethon and made historical past by turning into the primary nationally televised fundraiser to profit minority greater training. It aired in 53 completely different cities throughout the nation and produced greater than a one hundred pc enhance in pledges and presents over the earlier 12 months. The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars® telethon continued to function a Who’s Who of the nation’s most recognizable expertise as performers and presenters for the present. By the top of this vital period, The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars® had raised roughly $156.6 million for UNCF, its member establishments and college students.
Right here’s a 2-hour excerpt from one of Rawls’ telethons—this one in 1987—for many who have by no means seen one.
From PIX Promos & Extra’s YouTube video notes:
Beginning in 1979-80 and persevering with by means of 1998 when it was re-branded “An Evening of Stars”; legendary R&B singer Lou Rawls would placed on a Telethon supporting the United Negro School Fund (“A Mind is a Terrible thing to Waste”). And like most Telethons did again within the day, it might be packed to the rafters with Main expertise—and since Rawls (and Telethon Co-Producer Dick Clark) had lots of clout, the celebrities had been on par with all the main Telethons that aired throughout that period—A lot of them lasting 6 hours or extra, and airing Nationwide; normally after Christmas however Earlier than New Years.
Even of us who could not have seen one of many telethons may be acquainted with the UNCF slogan, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
For greater than seven a long time, this precept has remained on the coronary heart of UNCF, enabling us to lift greater than $5 billion and assist greater than 500,000 college students and counting not simply attend faculty, however thrive, graduate and change into leaders.
We do that in 3 ways: By awarding greater than 12,000 college students scholarships, value greater than $65 million, annually. By offering monetary assist to 37 traditionally Black schools and universities (HBCUs). And by serving because the nation’s main advocate for the significance of minority training and group engagement.
This three-pronged method is highly effective: Since our founding in 1944, we’ve helped to greater than double the variety of minorities attending faculty. The six-year commencement fee for UNCF African American scholarship recipient is 70%. That is 11% greater than the nationwide common and 31% greater than the nationwide common for all African Individuals.
A 1997 UNCF PSA featured Ray Charles.
Rawls additionally did commercials, like this one encouraging minority college students to enroll in engineering applications.
Kids throughout the nation had been launched to Rawls by way of “The Muppet Show.”
Rawls explains jazz to Kermit the Frog on this clip.
Rawls was a terrific stay entertainer all over his last years, so take some time to take pleasure in two such concert events. First, on the North Sea Jazz Pageant in 1995:
From Charly Data’ YouTube video notes:
On account of his years enjoying stay dates to audiences of every kind, Rawls was a really consummate showman in his later years, as attested by this excellent live performance efficiency recorded on the 1995 North Sea Jazz Pageant which demonstrates each his extraordinary rapport together with his viewers and the broad scope of his repertoire.The featured songs are all confirmed stage favourites and embrace all his largest hits. They vary from his shifting rendition of the Broadway commonplace ‘Send In The Clowns’ to up-tempo R&B requirements like ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ and ‘Tobacco Road’. In a extra soulful vein, they vary from the cool groove of ‘You’ll By no means Discover One other Love Like Mine’- his largest profession hit – to the fantastic ‘Girl Love’.
Recorded in Howard College’s hometown of Washington, D.C., BET produced and introduced this Rawls live performance in 2000:
As a former Howard pupil and the daughter of two HBCU graduates myself, and on behalf of my aunts, uncles, and cousins who all attended HBCUs, I honor and have a good time Lou Rawls, and supply my heartfelt thanks on his birthday.
Please be a part of me within the feedback for heaps extra Lou!
