JANUARY 1
BIRTHDAYS
• Milt “Bags” Jackson (1923): blues-rooted vibraphonist and founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet
• Arthur Prysock (1924): velvet-voiced baritone whose career stretched from big-band jazz to romantic soul
• Grandmaster Flash (1958): pioneering DJ whose cutting and backspinning techniques helped build hip-hop
1966 – James Brown Opens the Year at No. 1
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” holds the top of Billboard’s Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in the first issue of the new year, its fifth week at the summit, with Joe Tex’s “A Sweet Woman Like You” right behind at No. 2.
2023 – Aretha Franklin Is Named the Greatest Singer of All Time
Rolling Stone places Aretha Franklin at No. 1 on its list of the 200 greatest singers. The Queen of Soul tops a lineup that includes Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke and Billie Holiday.
2023 – Fred White of Earth, Wind & Fire Dies at 67
Fred White, the drummer whose powerful groove helped shape Earth, Wind & Fire’s classic sound, dies at 67. A cause of death was not publicly disclosed. White joined his brothers Maurice and Verdine in the group and played on classics including “September,” “Boogie Wonderland” and “Let’s Groove.”
JANUARY 2
BIRTHDAYS
• Glenn Goins (1954): gospel-powered singer and guitarist of Parliament-Funkadelic
• Dawn Silva (1954): vocalist with Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic and the Brides of Funkenstein
1955 – Johnny Ace Is Laid to Rest in Memphis
Thousands gather to mourn Johnny Ace following his sudden death on Christmas night. Junior Parker and Roscoe Gordon serve as pallbearers. Weeks later, “Pledging My Love” reaches No. 1 on the R&B chart, making Ace one of the genre’s earliest posthumous stars.
1971 – “Groove Me” Opens the Decade at No. 1
King Floyd’s “Groove Me” tops Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart, displacing “Stoned Love” by The Supremes as 1971’s first chart-topper. It holds the summit for three weeks, cedes it for one, then returns for a fourth. It was Floyd’s only No. 1.
1976 – Barry White Releases Let the Music Play
White’s fifth album for 20th Century arrives, extending the string-laden Maestro sound into the disco era.
1978 – Cameo Releases We All Know Who We Are
The Washington, D.C. band’s second album arrives on Chocolate City, still several years ahead of the Larry Blackmon-led run that produces “Word Up!”
Archive note: Sources disagree on whether Johnny Ace’s funeral took place January 2 or January 9.
JANUARY 3
BIRTHDAYS
• James Mtume (1946): Miles Davis percussionist, producer and creator of “Juicy Fruit,” later sampled for The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy”
1976 – “Walk Away from Love” Reaches No. 1
David Ruffin’s “Walk Away from Love,” produced by Van McCoy, tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart. It was the only R&B No. 1 of Ruffin’s solo career, built on the octave-leaping vocal gymnastics that made him a star in the first place.
1980 – Amos Milburn Dies at 52
Singer and pianist Amos Milburn dies following years of poor health after suffering several strokes. His recordings, including “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer,” blended boogie-woogie and rhythm and blues years before rock and roll became a recognized genre.
2025 – Brenton Wood Dies at 83
West Coast soul singer Brenton Wood dies at 83. Best known for “Gimme Little Sign” and “The Oogum Boogum Song,” his playful vocal style made him an enduring favorite in California soul and lowrider music culture.
JANUARY 4
BIRTHDAYS
• Arthur Conley (1946): Otis Redding’s protégé and singer of the 1967 anthem “Sweet Soul Music”
• Coco Jones (1998): Grammy-winning contemporary R&B singer known for “ICU”
JANUARY 5
BIRTHDAYS
• Wilbert Harrison (1929): singer whose “Kansas City” topped both the pop and R&B charts
• Johnny Adams (1932): New Orleans vocalist known as the Tan Canary and singer of “Reconsider Me”
• Grady Thomas (1941): founding member of The Parliaments
• Vincent Calloway (1957): Midnight Star trumpeter who later formed the duo Calloway
1975 – The Wiz Opens on Broadway
The Wiz, a Black retelling of The Wizard of Oz, opens on Broadway with Stephanie Mills starring as Dorothy. Its blend of soul, gospel, funk and R&B later inspires the 1978 film starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
1980 – Michael Jackson Rules the R&B Chart While KC Rules the Pop Chart
“Rock with You” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart the same week its parent album, Off the Wall, tops the R&B albums chart. On the all-genre Hot 100 that same week, a different record altogether, KC and the Sunshine Band’s “Please Don’t Go,” becomes the first No. 1 of the new decade. “Rock with You” won’t reach the Hot 100 summit itself until January 19.
2016 – Nicholas Caldwell of The Whispers Dies at 71
Nicholas Caldwell, a founding member of The Whispers, dies from congestive heart failure at his California home. In addition to singing, Caldwell helped shape the group’s smooth choreography and stage presence on classics including “And the Beat Goes On” and “Rock Steady.”
JANUARY 6
BIRTHDAYS
• Doris Troy (1937): singer and songwriter behind the Top 10 soul hit “Just One Look”
• Van McCoy (1940): songwriter and producer who later scored his own No. 1 with “The Hustle”
• Kathy Sledge (1959): youngest member and frequent lead singer of Sister Sledge
1973 – “Superstition” Tops the R&B Chart
Stevie Wonder’s clavinet-driven “Superstition” reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Soul Singles chart and holds for three weeks, three weeks ahead of its own Hot 100 crowning on January 27.
1979 – “Got to Be Real” Reaches No. 1
Cheryl Lynn’s disco-soul landmark “Got to Be Real” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart.
1990 – Tender Lover Holds No. 1 on the R&B Albums Chart
Babyface’s second solo album remains at the top of the R&B albums chart, carrying over from its first run the previous fall. Featuring “It’s No Crime,” “Tender Lover” and “Whip Appeal,” the album helped establish him as one of R&B’s leading singers, songwriters and producers.
2006 – Lou Rawls Dies at 72
Lou Rawls dies in Los Angeles from lung and brain cancer. Known for his rich baritone and songs including “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” Rawls also hosted the Parade of Stars telethon, which raised millions for the United Negro College Fund.
JANUARY 7
BIRTHDAYS
• Eldee Young (1936): Ramsey Lewis Trio bassist and member of Young-Holt Unlimited
• Taja Sevelle (1962): Paisley Park recording artist known for “Love Is Contagious”
1955 – Marian Anderson Breaks the Metropolitan Opera’s Color Barrier
Marian Anderson becomes the first Black singer to perform a principal role at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. She appears as Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera, opening doors for generations of Black classical singers.
1967 – “Tell It Like It Is” Reaches No. 1
Aaron Neville’s “Tell It Like It Is” tops Billboard’s Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and holds for five weeks, the New Orleans singer’s only major hit and one of Southern soul’s most enduring ballads.
1978 – “Ffun” Reaches No. 1
Con Funk Shun’s “Ffun” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and holds for two weeks, the Vallejo band’s biggest crossover moment.
1989 – “Oasis” Returns Roberta Flack to No. 1
“Oasis” tops Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart. It was Flack’s first time back at the summit since 1978.
2001 – James Carr Dies at 58
Deep soul singer James Carr dies from lung cancer. The Goldwax Records vocalist is best remembered for “The Dark End of the Street” and “You’ve Got My Mind Messed Up,” two classics of Southern soul.
JANUARY 8
BIRTHDAYS
• Little Anthony Gourdine (1941): lead singer of Little Anthony and the Imperials
• Jon Lucien (1942): Caribbean-born jazz-soul baritone
• Marcus Hutson (1943): longtime member of The Whispers
1966 – Joe Tex Takes the Top Spot
“A Sweet Woman Like You” displaces James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)” atop Billboard’s Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart, pushing Brown to No. 2. Brown reclaims the summit for one final week on January 15.
1972 – “Let’s Stay Together” Reaches No. 1
Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” tops Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart, displacing Sly and the Family Stone’s “Family Affair,” and holds for nine weeks, the defining record of Green’s Hi Records run.
1977 – “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)” Reaches No. 1
The O’Jays top Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart with the Gamble and Huff production, extending Philadelphia International’s command of the format.
2014 – Reather Dixon of The Bobbettes Dies at 69
Reather Dixon, a founding member of The Bobbettes, dies at 69. The group made history with “Mr. Lee,” one of the earliest major R&B hits recorded by a teenage girl group.
2015 – Andraé Crouch Dies at 72
Gospel singer, songwriter and arranger Andraé Crouch dies following a heart attack. Known as a father of modern gospel, his influence reached popular music through work connected to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.”
2016 – Otis Clay Dies at 73
Deep soul singer Otis Clay dies from a heart attack in Chicago. His gospel-rooted delivery powered recordings including “Trying to Live My Life Without You” and made him a leading voice of Chicago and Memphis soul.
2018 – Denise LaSalle Dies at 83
Singer and songwriter Denise LaSalle dies after years of declining health that included congestive heart failure and a leg amputation months earlier; her family did not announce a cause of death. Known for “Trapped by a Thing Called Love,” she became one of Southern soul and blues music’s most successful female artists.
JANUARY 9
BIRTHDAYS
• Kenny “Wally” Kelley: founding member of The Manhattans
• Preston Glass (1960): songwriter and producer for Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole and Earth, Wind & Fire
1974 – Blue Magic Releases Their Self-Titled Debut
Philadelphia’s Blue Magic issues its debut album, carrying the falsetto-driven “Sideshow” into the Sound of Philadelphia’s crowded field of vocal groups.
1988 – “So Emotional” Gives Whitney Houston Her Sixth Consecutive No. 1
Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” reaches No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It becomes her sixth consecutive chart-topper, tying the record then shared by The Beatles and the Bee Gees. She breaks the record with her next single.
2020 – 5th Ward Weebie Dies at 42
New Orleans bounce pioneer 5th Ward Weebie dies from complications following a heart attack. Born Jerome Cosey, his music helped shape the city’s bounce sound, and his voice reached a global audience on Drake’s “In My Feelings.”
2022 – James Mtume Dies at 76
James Mtume dies six days after his birthday. His career stretched from Miles Davis’s experimental jazz recordings to R&B hits including Mtume’s “Juicy Fruit” and Stephanie Mills’s Grammy-winning “Never Knew Love Like This Before.”
Archive note: Sources disagree on whether Kenny “Wally” Kelley was born in 1941 or 1943, so the year is omitted.
JANUARY 10
BIRTHDAYS
• Jerry Wexler (1917): Atlantic Records producer who helped introduce the term “rhythm and blues”
• Max Roach (1924): revolutionary drummer and composer of We Insist! Freedom Now Suite
• Fayette Pinkney (1948): founding member of The Three Degrees
• Luci Martin (1955): principal vocalist during Chic’s classic era
1970 – “I Want You Back” Tops the R&B Chart
The Jackson 5’s debut single reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart and holds for four weeks, three weeks ahead of its own Hot 100 crowning on January 31.
1976 – “Sing a Song” Reaches No. 1
Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Sing a Song,” the lead single from the live album Gratitude, tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart for the first of two non-consecutive weeks. It returns to the summit on January 31.
1987 – “Control” Reaches No. 1
Janet Jackson’s “Control” tops Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart, the title track of the album that made her a solo force independent of the Jackson name.
1997 – James Brown Receives a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
James Brown is honored with a star at 1501 Vine Street in Hollywood. The recognition arrives more than 40 years after “Please, Please, Please” launched the career of the Godfather of Soul.
2019 – Larry Cunningham of The Floaters Dies at 67
Larry Cunningham dies after a long illness. As a lead vocalist of The Floaters, his spoken and sung introduction became one of the most recognizable parts of the group’s 1977 hit “Float On.”
2025 – Sam Moore of Sam & Dave Dies at 89
Sam Moore dies following complications from surgery. His urgent, gospel-rooted voice powered Sam & Dave classics including “Soul Man,” “Hold On, I’m Comin’” and “I Thank You.”
JANUARY 11
BIRTHDAYS
• Chuck Barksdale (1935): bass singer of The Dells for more than five decades
• Big Bank Hank (1956): member of The Sugarhill Gang on “Rapper’s Delight”
• Mary J. Blige (1971): the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul
1974 – Bobby Womack Releases Lookin’ for a Love Again
Womack’s sixth album arrives on United Artists. Its title track had first been a 1962 hit for The Valentinos, the family group Womack sang in as a teenager, and the reworked version becomes one of his own biggest solo sides.
1975 – “Kung Fu Fighting” Reaches No. 1
Carl Douglas’s novelty disco smash “Kung Fu Fighting” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart.
1986 – “Save Your Love (For #1)” Reaches No. 1
René & Angela top Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart and hold for two weeks, the Los Angeles duo’s biggest hit before Angela Winbush’s solo career took off.
1992 – Three Generations Win NAACP Image Awards
Boyz II Men win Outstanding New Artist, Patti LaBelle is named Entertainer of the Year and The O’Jays receive Outstanding Vocal Group. The winners represent three generations of Black vocal music in one ceremony.
Archive note: Documentation of the exact NAACP Image Awards ceremony date is limited.
JANUARY 12
BIRTHDAYS
• Ruth Brown (1928): Miss Rhythm, whose hit streak helped build Atlantic Records
• Cynthia Robinson (1944): trumpeter and vocalist of Sly and the Family Stone
• George Duke (1946): keyboardist and producer across jazz fusion, funk and R&B
1959 – Berry Gordy Establishes Tamla Records
Using an $800 family loan, Berry Gordy launches Tamla Records in Detroit. The label becomes the foundation of Motown, which develops into one of the most successful Black-owned music companies in history, and arguably the single most consequential date in this entire calendar.
1963 – Sam Cooke Records Live at the Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke performs a raw, gospel-charged set at Miami’s Harlem Square Club. RCA considers the recording too different from his polished pop image and keeps it unreleased until 1985, when it becomes recognized as one of soul music’s greatest live albums.
1995 – Al Green and Martha and the Vandellas Enter the Rock Hall
Al Green and Martha and the Vandellas are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony honors both the Memphis soul of Green and the Motown sound of “Dancing in the Street.”
Archive note: Ruth Brown’s birthday is given as both January 12 and January 30 across published sources. Cynthia Robinson’s birth year is given as both 1944 and 1946. Two further January 1973 album releases, Deodato’s Prelude and Mandrill’s Composite Truth, and two January 1974 releases, The Spinners’ Mighty Love and The Love Unlimited Orchestra’s Rhapsody in White, are documented only to the month, with no specific release day found, and are held out of the day-by-day archive on that basis.
JANUARY 13
BIRTHDAYS
• C.P. Spencer (1938): early member of The Spinners and founding member of The Originals
• Fred White (1955): drummer during Earth, Wind & Fire’s classic period
1968 – “I Second That Emotion” Reaches No. 1
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles top Billboard’s R&B chart for one week with “I Second That Emotion,” the group’s second R&B No. 1, born from a shopping-trip malapropism a friend made while helping Robinson pick out pearls.
1972 – Aretha Franklin Begins Recording Amazing Grace
Aretha Franklin begins two nights of live recording at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Joined by Reverend James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir, the performances become Amazing Grace, the best-selling gospel album of all time.
1979 – “September” Reaches No. 1
Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart. It’s one of the most enduring records the band ever cut, and one of this same day’s two very different 1979 stories.
1979 – Donny Hathaway Dies at 33
Donny Hathaway dies after falling from a 15th-floor window at New York’s Essex House hotel. The singer, pianist and arranger left behind a deeply influential catalog that includes “A Song for You,” “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and his celebrated duets with Roberta Flack.
2010 – Teddy Pendergrass Dies at 59
Teddy Pendergrass dies from complications of colon cancer. After rising to fame as the commanding lead voice of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, he became one of soul music’s most successful solo performers.
JANUARY 14
BIRTHDAYS
• Clarence Carter (1936): Muscle Shoals soul singer and guitarist behind “Slip Away” and “Patches”
• Allen Toussaint (1938): New Orleans songwriter, pianist, arranger and producer
• LL Cool J (1968): Def Jam pioneer whose “I Need Love” helped establish the rap ballad
1970 – Diana Ross Performs Her Final Show with The Supremes
Diana Ross performs her final concert with The Supremes at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. Jean Terrell is introduced as the group’s new lead singer, closing Ross’s historic run after 12 No. 1 pop hits.
1976 – Idris Muhammad Releases House of the Rising Sun
The New Orleans-born jazz-funk drummer releases his Kudu Records take on the folk standard, a deep-crate favorite of the CTI era.
1984 – “Joanna” Reaches No. 1
Kool & the Gang’s “Joanna” tops Billboard’s Black Singles chart and holds for two weeks, part of the group’s biggest commercial run.
1989 – “Superwoman” Reaches No. 1
Karyn White’s “Superwoman” tops Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart and holds for three weeks, the year’s longest unbroken reign and her second of three consecutive R&B chart-toppers from her debut album, a feat no woman had managed with her first three releases.
JANUARY 15
BIRTHDAYS
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929): civil rights leader whose life inspired generations of soul and gospel music
• Sonny Bivins (1936): founding member of The Manhattans
• George “Funky” Brown (1949): drummer and co-founder of Kool & the Gang
• Lisa Lisa (1967): lead singer of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
1961 – The Primettes Sign with Motown and Become The Supremes
Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Barbara Martin sign with Motown. Berry Gordy renames the group The Supremes, beginning the journey that produces 12 No. 1 singles and transforms the modern girl group.
1966 – James Brown Reclaims the Top Spot
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart for one final week, with Gene Chandler’s “Rainbow ’65 (Part I)” at No. 2, the last chapter of the three-way chart battle that opened the year.
1977 – “I Wish” Reaches No. 1
Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and holds for five weeks running into February, the sound of Songs in the Key of Life ruling the airwaves the same month it dominates the Grammys.
1981 – Marvin Gaye Releases In Our Lifetime
Motown issues Gaye’s final album for the label without his approval of the mix, against his wishes and ahead of his own intended release date. Gaye is furious at the finished product; within months he leaves Motown for Columbia.
1981 – Stevie Wonder Leads a Rally for the King Holiday
Stevie Wonder joins tens of thousands of people in Washington, D.C., to demand a federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His song “Happy Birthday” becomes the movement’s anthem, and the holiday is signed into law in 1983.
1983 – “The Girl Is Mine” Reaches No. 1
Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s duet tops Billboard’s Black Singles chart and holds for three weeks, the first single released from Thriller.
Archive note: Two further January 1975 album releases, Michael Jackson’s Forever, Michael and The Temptations’ A Song for You, both issued January 16, and Bootsy’s Rubber Band’s Ahh... The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!, issued the same day as “I Wish,” are held out of the day-by-day archive to keep Dr. King’s birthday square from being crowded with commercial trivia. All three are real and dated; ask if you’d like them restored.
JANUARY 16
BIRTHDAYS
• Barbara Lynn (1942): left-handed guitarist, singer and writer of “You’ll Lose a Good Thing”
• Katherine Anderson (1944): founding member of The Marvelettes
• Sade Adu (1959): Nigerian-British singer behind “Smooth Operator” and “No Ordinary Love”
• Maxine Jones (1962): founding member of En Vogue
• Aaliyah (1979): influential R&B singer whose work helped reshape the genre’s sound
1979 – Rick James Releases Bustin’ Out of L Seven
James’s second album arrives on Gordy, its title track and “High on Your Love Suite” showcasing the punk-funk range that would define his imperial run into the next decade. “Mary Jane” belongs to the album before this one, Come Get It!
1991 – LaVern Baker Enters the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
LaVern Baker is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Atlantic Records star was known for “Tweedlee Dee,” “Jim Dandy” and “I Cried a Tear,” and had also challenged the music industry’s practice of copying Black artists’ recordings.
JANUARY 17
BIRTHDAYS
• Eartha Kitt (1927): singer, actress and activist known for “Santa Baby”
• William “Poogie” Hart (1945): falsetto lead singer and songwriter of The Delfonics
• Sheila Hutchinson (1953): member of The Emotions
1976 – “Wake Up Everybody” Reaches No. 1
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes top Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart with the Gamble and Huff-penned title track, its call for civic responsibility becoming one of Philadelphia International’s defining anthems.
1978 – Rufus & Chaka Khan Release Street Player
The Chicago funk-soul band’s sixth album arrives, its title track later reborn as the backbone of a Number 1 club sample decades on.
1987 – “Stop to Love” Reaches No. 1
Luther Vandross’s “Stop to Love” tops Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart and holds for two weeks. It’s an upbeat, danceable single, not one of his ballads, and his first No. 1 since “Never Too Much” in 1981.
2012 – Johnny Otis Dies at 90
Musician, bandleader, producer and broadcaster Johnny Otis dies from natural causes. Often called the Godfather of Rhythm and Blues, he helped discover or develop artists including Etta James, Big Mama Thornton and Esther Phillips.
JANUARY 18
BIRTHDAYS
• David Ruffin (1941): lead singer on Temptations classics including “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” whose June 1, 1991 passing this calendar holds
• Frankie Knuckles (1955): the Godfather of House
• Angela Winbush (1955): singer, songwriter, musician and producer known for “Angel”
1975 – “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” Reaches No. 1
Barry White’s string-laden landmark tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, the Maestro at the height of his imperial run.
JANUARY 19
1977 – Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan Release Ask Rufus
The band’s fifth album arrives, its lead single “At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)” becoming Khan’s third R&B No. 1 with the group. “Sweet Thing,” their earlier signature ballad, belongs to the band’s 1975 self-titled album, not this one.
2006 – Wilson Pickett Dies at 64
Wilson Pickett dies from a heart attack in Reston, Virginia. One of Southern soul’s most commanding voices, he recorded classics including “In the Midnight Hour,” “Mustang Sally,” “Land of 1000 Dances” and “Funky Broadway.”
JANUARY 20
BIRTHDAYS
• Caron Wheeler (1963): lead vocalist on Soul II Soul’s “Back to Life”
• Questlove (1971): drummer, producer, historian and director of Summer of Soul
1968 – “Chain of Fools” Reaches No. 1
Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools,” written by Don Covay, tops Billboard’s Best Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and holds for four weeks, peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100 behind only “Judy in Disguise.”
1979 – “Aqua Boogie” Reaches No. 1
Parliament’s “Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and holds for four weeks into February, the P-Funk mothership at its commercial peak.
2009 – Beyoncé Sings “At Last” at the Inaugural Ball
Beyoncé performs Etta James’s “At Last” as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama share a dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. The performance connects a classic soul recording to the inauguration of the nation’s first Black president.
2012 – Etta James Dies at 73
Etta James dies from complications of leukemia in Riverside, California. Her powerful voice moved easily through blues, gospel, rock and soul on classics including “At Last,” “Tell Mama” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.”
JANUARY 21
BIRTHDAYS
• Richie Havens (1941): singer and guitarist whose improvised “Freedom” opened Woodstock
1978 – “Our Love” Reaches No. 1
Natalie Cole’s “Our Love,” from her album Thankful, tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and holds for two weeks, one of eight consecutive Top 10 R&B hits for Cole across 1976 to 1978.
1984 – Jackie Wilson Dies at 49
Jackie Wilson dies after spending more than eight years in medical care following his 1975 onstage collapse. Known as Mr. Excitement, his athletic performances and soaring voice influenced generations of soul singers.
1987 – Aretha Franklin Becomes the First Woman Inducted into the Rock Hall
Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes a career that transformed gospel feeling into the foundation of modern soul singing.
JANUARY 22
BIRTHDAYS
• Sam Cooke (1931): gospel star who became one of soul music’s foundational singers, songwriters and businessmen
1966 – Stevie Wonder Reaches No. 1 for the First Time
“Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” tops Billboard’s Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart. It’s the fifteen-year-old’s first No. 1, with James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)” sitting behind it at No. 2 in its sixth week on the chart.
1979 – Sister Sledge Releases We Are Family
The Chic-produced album arrives, its title track becoming a permanent anthem of Black joy and solidarity far beyond the year it was written for.
JANUARY 23
BIRTHDAYS
• Anita Pointer (1948): founding member of The Pointer Sisters and lead voice on “Fire” and “Slow Hand”
1971 – “If I Were Your Woman” Reaches No. 1
Gladys Knight & the Pips top Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart with the Norman Whitfield-produced ballad.
1982 – “Turn Your Love Around” Reaches No. 1
George Benson’s “Turn Your Love Around” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, the jazz guitarist’s pop-soul crossover peak.
2018 – Hugh Masekela Dies at 78
South African trumpeter, composer and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Masekela dies from prostate cancer in Johannesburg. His instrumental “Grazing in the Grass” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968, while his music remained closely connected to the struggle for freedom in South Africa.
JANUARY 24
BIRTHDAYS
• Zeke Carey (1933): member of The Flamingos, known for “I Only Have Eyes for You”
• Aaron Neville (1941): New Orleans singer known for “Tell It Like It Is”
JANUARY 25
BIRTHDAYS
• Etta James (1938): powerhouse blues and soul vocalist behind “At Last” and “I’d Rather Go Blind”
• Alicia Keys (1981): pianist, singer and songwriter whose debut album introduced “Fallin’”
1969 – A Motown Supergroup Reaches No. 2
“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,” the joint single by Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations from their collaborative album, peaks at No. 2 on Billboard’s Best Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart, two of Motown’s biggest acts sharing a single record, Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks trading the lead.
1975 – “Fire” Reaches No. 1
The Ohio Players’ “Fire” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and holds for two weeks, the title track of the album that made them funk’s most reliably outrageous hitmakers.
1986 – “That’s What Friends Are For” Reaches No. 1
Dionne Warwick & Friends, with Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder, top Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart and hold for four weeks into February. Proceeds benefit AIDS research and prevention, and the record becomes one of the era’s defining charity singles.
JANUARY 26
BIRTHDAYS
• Huey “Piano” Smith (1934): New Orleans pianist behind “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu”
• Thom Bell (1943): arranger, songwriter and producer who helped define Philadelphia soul
• Anita Baker (1958): Grammy-winning contralto whose Rapture became a quiet-storm landmark
1985 – “Gotta Get You Home Tonight” Reaches No. 1
Eugene Wilde tops Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart with his breakthrough single, a defining slice of mid-1980s New York boogie-soul.
JANUARY 27
BIRTHDAYS
• Bobby “Blue” Bland (1930): soul-blues vocalist behind “I Pity the Fool” and “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City”
1972 – Mahalia Jackson Dies at 60
Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson dies from heart failure in Chicago. Thousands gather to honor the singer whose powerful voice brought gospel music to audiences around the world. Aretha Franklin performs “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” at her funeral.
1973 – “Why Can’t We Live Together” Reaches No. 1
Timmy Thomas’s one-man plea “Why Can’t We Live Together” tops Billboard’s Soul Singles chart and holds for two weeks, built from nothing but his voice and a Lowrey organ’s rhythm box.
1973 – “Superstition” Reaches No. 1
Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” reaches No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Built around its unmistakable clavinet riff, the song becomes his first pop chart-topper since 1963 and begins the most celebrated creative period of his career.
1978 – Bootsy’s Rubber Band Releases Bootsy? Player of the Year
Collins’s third album arrives on Warner Bros., its title track and “Bootzilla” cementing the Star Child as P-Funk’s most flamboyant solo voice.
2006 – Gene McFadden Dies at 56
Gene McFadden dies from liver and lung cancer one day before his 57th birthday. As one half of McFadden & Whitehead, he co-wrote Philadelphia soul classics including “Back Stabbers” and “Wake Up Everybody” before recording “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.”
JANUARY 28
BIRTHDAYS
• Gene McFadden (1949): singer and songwriter, one half of McFadden & Whitehead
1984 – “If Only You Knew” Reaches No. 1
Patti LaBelle’s “If Only You Knew” tops Billboard’s Black Singles chart and holds for four weeks into February, her biggest solo hit since leaving Labelle.
1985 – “We Are the World” Is Recorded
After the American Music Awards, 45 artists gather at A&M Studios in Los Angeles to record “We Are the World.” Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones, the song raises money for African famine relief and becomes one of the best-selling singles in history.
JANUARY 29
1966 – Stevie Wonder Holds No. 1 for a Second Week
“Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” spends a second week atop Billboard’s Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart, with The Miracles’ “Going to a Go-Go” moving into the No. 2 spot behind it.
1982 – Shalamar Releases Friends
The Solar Records trio’s sixth album arrives, featuring “A Night to Remember.” The album later reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B albums chart.
JANUARY 30
1961 – The Shirelles Make Girl-Group History
“Will You Love Me Tomorrow” reaches No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Shirelles become the first Black all-female group to top the chart, opening the door for the wave of girl groups that follows during the 1960s.
1965 – “My Girl” Reaches No. 1
The Temptations’ “My Girl” tops Billboard’s Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart, with Joe Tex’s “Hold What You’ve Got” right behind at No. 2, David Ruffin’s lead and James Jamerson’s bassline carrying Motown’s men to the R&B summit.
1982 – “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” Reaches No. 1
Daryl Hall & John Oates top Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, a rare crossover act reaching the summit of the R&B chart, a testament to how thoroughly the duo had absorbed Philadelphia soul.
1988 – “I Want Her” Reaches No. 1
Keith Sweat’s “I Want Her” tops Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart and holds for three weeks into February. It’s his first No. 1 and one of new jack swing’s founding records.
JANUARY 31
BIRTHDAYS
• Chuck Willis (1926): Atlanta rhythm-and-blues singer known as the King of the Stroll
• Marvin Junior (1936): powerful baritone lead singer of The Dells
1970 – “I Want You Back” Reaches No. 1
The Jackson 5’s debut Motown single reaches No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It begins a run of four consecutive chart-toppers for the group, followed by “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.”
1976 – “Sing a Song” Returns to No. 1
Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Sing a Song” climbs back to the top of Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart for a second, non-consecutive week, three weeks after its first reign on January 10.
1981 – “Fantastic Voyage” Reaches No. 1
Lakeside’s “Fantastic Voyage” tops Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, the Dayton funk band’s signature hit and, decades later, a foundational Coolio sample.