Show Your Unkle Some Love!!

RIP Don Cornelius

Although you probably haven't heard his name in awhile, the name "Don Cornelius" was burned into our brains on weekday afternoons (and later on in syndication on Saturday afternoons) as the legendary creator and host of the ground breaking Soul Train. Don hosted from its inception in 1971 till 1993 with a few other hosts taking over after him until the show ended in 2006.

In its 35 years in the air, Soul Train featured legendary acts such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Chaka Khan w/ Rufus. It was dubbed "The Black American Bandstand" Once you were on Soul Train, You knew you had made it. Along with its strong musical influenced it also helped shaped the fashion and dance moves of the 70's and 80's. If it was happening on Soul Train, it was happening across the map.

Soul Train's roots started in Chicago while Don Cornelius was a news reader and back up DJ on WVON. He then moved to sports at WCIU in 1967, where he was also traveling to area high schools featuring local talent calling it "The Soul Train". WCIU loved his outside work and let him bring his "Soul Train" to t.v.

The 1st Soul Train was broadcast on August 17th, 1970 as a weekly show in the afternoons. The first episode featured Jerry Butler, The Chi-lites and The Emotions. By October of that year it was syndicated in 5 major cities. (Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Philly and San Francisco) By the end of its first season, it was picked up by the 17 remaining cities.
Today definitely marks an end of an era. D.C will surely be missed.

Our first show of 2012!!

RIP Etta James

Jamesetta Hawkins was born on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles. Early on, it was clear, Etta was a gospel prodigy, singing in her church choir and on the radio at the age of 5. When Etta turned 12, she moved north to San Francisco where she formed a trio and was soon working for bandleader Johnny Otis.

In 1954, she moved to Los Angeles to record "The Wallflower" (a tamer title for the then-risqué "Roll with Me Henry") with the Otis band. During this time the young singer also became Etta James and her vocal group was called The Peaches (Etta's nickname). Soon after, James launched her solo career with the hit "Good Rockin' Daddy" in 1955.

After she signed with Chicago's Chess Records in 1960, James' career began to soar. Chart toppers included duets with then-boyfriend Harvey Fuqua, with the ballad "All I Could Do Was Cry," "At Last" and "Trust in Me." But James' talents weren't reserved for powerful ballads. She knew how to rock and definitely did with "Something's Got a Hold On Me" in 1962 and "In The Basement" in 1966. James kept on working with Chess throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Unfortunetly, heroin addiction took its tool on both her personal and professional life, but despite her drug problems she still created new albums. In 1967, James recorded with the Muscle Shoals house band in the Fame studios, and the collaboration resulted in the acclaimed Tell Mama album.

Her work gained kudos from critics and fans, when her 1973 album Etta James earned a Grammy nomination. After completing her contract with Chess in 1977, James signed on with Warner Brothers Records. A renewed public profile followed her appearance at the opening ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Subsequent albums, including Deep In The Night and Seven Year Itch, received high critical success. She was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993, right before she signed a new recording contract with Private Records.

James' career continued well through the 90's and early 2000's with her albums Blue Gardenia in the early 90's, Let's Roll in 2003 and Blues to the Bone in 2004. Her last album was a cover album called "All the Way" in 2006 paying tribute to Prince, Marvin Gaye and James Brown to name a few.

A legend in her own right, she'll surely be missed.



As A Matter Of Funk

TBU will be literally "chillin'" until late Feb. when we come back to our house gig at Peppers in KofP. Also--- Bustin' out some new material, new players and a special surprise in a "purdy" package. Stay tuned and look both ways before you cross the groove!