Favourite Blaxploitation Composers
No ranking, just sorted First Name / Family Name.
Except Willie Hutch, he is a great artist in general.
Personal favourites are hard to choose since there are so many superb Soul and Jazz musicians in this list. But when it comes to film music, I'd name Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Luchi De Jesus, Melvin van Peebles and, above all, Quincy Jones.
Thanks for checking, enjoy.
Except Willie Hutch, he is a great artist in general.
Personal favourites are hard to choose since there are so many superb Soul and Jazz musicians in this list. But when it comes to film music, I'd name Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Luchi De Jesus, Melvin van Peebles and, above all, Quincy Jones.
Thanks for checking, enjoy.
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Extremely talented, versatile and ambitious R&B singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Willie Hutch was born as Willie McKinley Hutchison on December 6, 1944 in Los Angeles. Willie grew up in Dallas, Texas and sang in the doo-wop group the Ambassadors as a teenager. Following graduation from Booker T. Washington High School, Hutch served for two years in the U.S. Marines. He first caught the attention of the music industry with the recording of his 1964 debut single "Love Has Put Me Down." He wrote several songs for the popular soul group the Fifth Dimension and penned the hit song "I'll Be There" for the Jackson 5. Moreover, Willie co-arranged the vocals on the Jackson 5 songs "Got To Be There" and "Never Can Say Goodbye." Hutch produced Smokey Robinson's first album without the Miracles. He recorded a slew of his own albums on the Motown label which include "The Mark of the Beast," "Concert in Blues," "Color Her Sunshine," and "Havin' a House Party." Willie wrote the song "Keep the Fire Burning" for Gwen McCrae. He collaborated with legendary Motown producer/songwriter Berry Gordy on "What Have We Got to Lose," which was a duet between Arethra Franklin and the Four Tops; the song/production "Hello Detroit" for Sammy Davis, Jr., and the soundtrack album for the immensely enjoyable martial arts action picture "The Last Dragon," which features Hutch's rousing song "The Glow." Willie also worked as either a producer and/or songwriter for such artists as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and Junior Walker. Hutch composed the lowdown funky scores for the excellent blaxploitation cult favorites "The Mack" and "Foxy Brown." Willie continued to produce for Motown up until the mid 90s and still recorded solo albums up until 2002. His songs are featured on the soundtracks for such movies as "Hustle & Flow," "Four Brothers," and "The Ladies Man." Willie Hutch died at age 60 on September 19, 2005.- Composer
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Al Elias was born on 13 January 1929 in Charleston, West Virginia, USA. He was a composer and director, known for NBC Special Treat (1975) and Gordon's War (1973). He died on 21 December 2015 in Florida, USA.- Music Department
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British composer and arranger Alan Stanley Tew got his start in the 1950's as a pianist and arranger for The Len Turner Band in London, England. Tew later became the leader of his own orchestra which has recorded dozens of soundtrack and library music albums. In addition, Alan has also collaborated with Cat Stevens. The composer of the themes of or the incidental music for an assortment of British television programs that include The Sweeney, Doctor in the House, and And Mother Makes Three, Tew is perhaps best known for his rousing composition "The Big One," which was initially written for use in the British crime drama series The Hanged Man and achieved its greatest enduring popularity in America as the stirring theme for the TV series The People's Court.- Composer
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Alden Shuman was born on 14 November 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was a composer, known for Crazy Rich Asians (2018). He died on 3 May 2002 in New York City, New York, USA.- Composer
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Arthur Wright was born on 15 May 1937 in the USA. He was a composer, known for Dolemite (1975), Savage! (1973) and The Human Tornado (1976). He was married to Marlene. He died on 14 July 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.- Composer
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Artie Butler was born on 2 December 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Annie Hall (1977), Grease 2 (1982) and What's Up, Doc? (1972).- Music Department
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Barry De Vorzon was born on 31 July 1934 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a composer and producer, known for The Warriors (1979), Event Horizon (1997) and S.W.A.T. (2003).- Actor
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Barry White first made his mark in the music business in the 1960s as a session musician, even serving for a spell as an A&R man for a small, independent Los Angeles record label. He first hit it big in 1973 with a series of albums and singles emphasizing lush orchestrations and elaborate production values, over which he laid down his big bass voice. In 1973 and 1974 alone, he sold US$16 million worth of records--not only on his own but also as the conductor and composer of instrumental records (as The Love Unlimited Orchestra) and as the primary producer and songwriter of the female vocal trio Love Unlimited (one of whom, Glodean White, became his second wife). 1974 was a prolific year for White, during which he composed the score of Together Brothers (1974) and acted in Coonskin (1974).
After a particularly pronounced fallow period in the 1980s, he rebounded in the 1990s with a series of critically and commercially acclaimed records and he beefed up his presence on TV somewhat with a famous guest appearance on The Simpsons (1989), a recurring role on Ally McBeal (1997), and a series of commercials in which he parodied his image and persona.- Music Department
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Bernard Pretty Purdie was born on 11 June 1939 in Elkton, Maryland, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Smokin' Aces (2006).- Bobby Davidowitz is known for Stroke Kings (2011).
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Booker T. Jones was born on 12 November 1944 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Repo Men (2010), X-Men: First Class (2011) and Rush Hour (1998). He has been married to Nanine Warhurst since 18 June 1985. They have three children. He was previously married to Priscilla June Coolidge.- Composer
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Composer Brian Bennett is the three times winner of the Ivor Novello Award. Initially achieving fame as drummer with The Shadows, he has since forged a career as one of Britain's leading writers of music to picture.
Brian was born in London in 1940 and by the late 1950s was one of the most sought-after percussionists around. He was drummer in residence at the legendary '2 Is' in Soho and a regular on Jack Good's ground breaking TV show Oh Boy.
In 1961, he was invited to join Cliff Richard and The Shadows and wrote many of the hit songs from the films, including Summer Holiday (for which he won his first Ivor Novello award), Wonderful Life and Finders Keepers.
In the 1970s, he became Cliff Richard's musical director and formed The Brian Bennett Orchestra touring the world including the first concerts to be staged in Russia. By the mid 1970s, Brian was in demand as an arranger, conductor and record producer and had already started composing for film and television.
During the 1980s, he was awarded his second Novello award (for 25 years services to music) and was busy writing and recording music for a wide range of programmes including Dallas, Knotts Landing, Pulaski, The Royal Wedding, BBC Golf theme, The Sweeney, Dennis Hopper's film The American Way and Ellen Barkin and David MacCallum's Terminal Choice.
In 1990, he won his third Ivor Novello award for Best Score For A Television Series (The Ruth Rendell Mysteries). From the 1990s to 2000, he was in demand more than ever, recent commissions including the long-running series The Knock, Nomads of the Wind, Global Sunrise, The Harpist, David Jason In His Element, Living Britain and Dirty Work.
In 2001, Brian was the proud recipient of the Gold Badge Award given by the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters Society. He also won the Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards 2000/2001 for Best Original Title Music for Murder In Mind.
He lives and works in Hertfordshire where he runs his own recording studio and record label.- Music Department
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Charles Earland was born on 24 May 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a composer, known for The Mule (2018), Dynamite Brothers (1974) and Young Soul Rebels (1991). He died on 11 December 1999 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.- Composer
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Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson was born on 14 June 1932 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for The Education of Sonny Carson (1974), Mean Johnny Barrows (1975) and A Warm December (1973). He died on 9 March 2004 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.- Music Department
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Rhythm and blues performer/songwriter credited with defining 1960's Chicago sound in hits like "It's All Right" and "Gypsy Woman." His style influenced other artists from pop to hip hop. Has been a quadriplegic ever since he was struck by lighting rig during outdoor concert in New York, 1990. Member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame whose 1968 hit "We're A Winner, " became a civil rights anthem. Two-time Grammy winner whose "Superfly" soundtrack sold more than 4 million copies.- Music Department
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David Shire was born on 3 July 1937 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He is a composer and writer, known for Zodiac (2007), Short Circuit (1986) and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). He has been married to Didi Conn since 11 February 1984. They have one child. He was previously married to Talia Shire.- Composer
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Dennis Coffey was born on 11 November 1940 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for One for the Money (2012), Sleep Tight (2011) and Hitch (2005).- Music Department
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Dominic Carmen Frontiere, 86, Emmy and Golden Globe winning film and television composer, former head of music at Paramount Pictures, passed away in Tesuque, New Mexico on 21 December 2017. He is survived by his wife Robin and their children Emily, Joseph, Nicholas and Sofia, as well as daughter Victoria from a previous marriage.- Music Department
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Don Costa was born on 10 July 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Hello, Dolly! (1969), The Steve Lawrence Show (1965) and The Impossible Years (1968). He was married to Terry Ray Costa. He died on 19 January 1983 in New York City, New York, USA.- Composer
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Don Julian was born on 7 April 1937 in Houston, Texas, USA. Don was a composer, known for Savage! (1973), A House in the Hills (1993) and American Me (1992). Don died on 6 November 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
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Donald Byrd was born on 9 December 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Confidence (2003), Very Bad Things (1998) and A Bronx Tale (1993). He was married to Lorraine Glover. He died on 4 February 2013 in Dover, Delaware, USA.- Music Department
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Donny Hathaway was born on 1 October 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a composer, known for Two Weeks Notice (2002), The Intouchables (2011) and Malcolm X (1992). He was married to Eulaulah Hathaway. He died on 13 January 1979 in New York City, New York, USA.- Music Department
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Doug Riley was born on 24 April 1945 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was a composer, known for Shoot (1976), Liberty Heights (1999) and Foxy Lady (1971). He was married to Jan. He died on 27 August 2007 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.- Music Artist
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Ed Bogas was born on 2 February 1942 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Black Girl (1972), Eddie Macon's Run (1983) and Sunburst (1975). He is married to Desirée Goyette. They have two children.- Composer
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Ed Townsend was born on 16 April 1929 in Fayetteville, Tennessee, USA. He was a composer, known for High Fidelity (2000), R.I.P.D. (2013) and The Bounty Hunter (2010). He was married to Janice Townsend and Cherrigale Townsend. He died on 13 August 2003 in San Bernardino, California, USA.- Actor
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Born Charles Hatcher in Nashville, Tennessee, Starr formed his first group, the Future Tones, in 1957, recording one single before his three-year army service. In 1965, he was offered a solo deal following two years of touring with another band.
Starr's early hits included "Agent Double-O Soul" and "Stop Her on Sight (S.O.S)." But his biggest success came with "War," a No. 1 hit in 1970 during a time of growing anti-Vietnam War protests. Other top 10 hits included "Contact" and "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio." Edwin Starr was a veteran of Vietnam War.
He made a brief comeback during the disco craze, and later spent most of his time touring Europe on the oldies circuit. In England, Starr participated in an award-winning British Broadcasting Corporation radio series on the U.S. civil rights movement. In 1995, he was featured on a Walt Disney children's workout album entitled "Mousercise In 2002, Starr performed at the wedding of Liza Minnelli and David Gest in New York.
His last performances was at two shows in Stuttgart, Germany March 29th and 30th, 2003.- Composer
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Galt MacDermot was born on 18 December 1928 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was a composer, known for Hair (1979), Zodiac (2007) and Forrest Gump (1994). He was married to Marlene Bruynzeel. He died on 17 December 2018 in Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA.- Composer
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Garfeel Ruff is known for The Hitter (1978).- Composer
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Gene Page was born on 13 September 1939 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was a composer, known for Blacula (1972), Together Brothers (1974) and Cool Breeze (1972). She died on 24 August 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Composer
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Gerard Damiano was born on 4 August 1928 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was a director and writer. He was married to Paula Morton and Barbara. He died on 25 October 2008 in Fort Myers, Florida, USA.- Director
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The pre-eminent American photojournalist of sub-Saharan descent. An acclaimed photographer for Life magazine from the late 40s through late 60s, he turned to directing films, his second of which, the blaxploitation movie Shaft (1971), achieved success at the box office. In 1989 his first film effort, The Learning Tree (1969), was selected among the first 25 films so honored, by the U.S. Library of Congress to be preserved in the National Film Registry for all time.- Music Department
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Grant Green was born on 6 June 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He is known for The Two Popes (2019), Duplex (2003) and The Final Comedown (1972). He died on 31 January 1979 in New York City, New York, USA.- Music Department
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H.B. Barnum was born on 15 July 1936 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Pulp Fiction (1994), Fly and The Domestics (2018).- Composer
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Harry Betts is known for Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Nighthawks (1981) and Black Mama White Mama (1973).- Music Artist
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Isaac Hayes, the second-born child of Eula and Isaac Hayes Sr., was raised by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Wade Sr. The child of a poor family, he grew up picking cotton in Covington, Tennessee. He dropped out of high school, but later his former high-school teachers to get his diploma, which he earned when he was 21. Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor, The Bar-Kays, and Booker T. Jones (later of Booker T. & the M.G.s fame) were some of the "Memphis Sound" musical luminaries Hayes worked with during his early years as a budding musician and vocalist. He was a multi-talented composer, singer, and arranger who played the piano, vibraphone, and saxophone equally well. In 1971 he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for a Motion Picture for the "Theme from Shaft" (1970) and was nominated for Best Original Dramatic Score for Shaft (1971).- Composer
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J.J. Johnson was born on 22 January 1924 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. He was a composer, known for Shaft (1971), Sea of Love (1989) and Cleopatra Jones (1973). He was married to Carolyn and Vivian. He died on 4 February 2001 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.- Actor
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Jack Ashford was born on 18 May 1934 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Blackjack (1978), Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (2014) and Great Performances (1971).- Music Department
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James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer, and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honorific nicknames "Godfather of Soul", "Mr. Dynamite", and "Soul Brother No. 1". In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he influenced the development of several music genres. Brown was one of the first 10 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at its inaugural induction in New York on January 23, 1986.
Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. He first came to national public attention in the mid-1950s as the lead singer of the Famous Flames, a then-only Rhythm and blues vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd. With the hit ballads "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown built a reputation as a dynamic live performer with the Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. His success peaked in the 1960s with the live album Live at the Apollo and hit singles such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".
During the late 1960s, Brown moved from a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music-making, emphasizing stripped-down interlocking rhythms that influenced the development of funk music. By the early 1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of the J.B.s with records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". He also became noted for songs of social commentary, including the 1968 hit "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown continued to perform and record until his death from pneumonia in 2006.
Brown recorded 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts. He also holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that did not reach No. 1. Brown was inducted into the first class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as an artist and then in 2017 as a songwriter. He also received honors from several other institutions, including inductions into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In Joel Whitburn's analysis of the Billboard R&B charts from 1942 to 2010, Brown is ranked No. 1 in The Top 500 Artists. He is ranked seventh on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.- Composer
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Jerry Butler got his start in the music business at age 18 when he and his friend Curtis Mayfield formed a singing group and named them The Impressions. They had an almost immediate hit with a song Butler wrote, "For Your Precious Love", which became the group's first gold record. Nicknamed "The Iceman" by legendary Philadelphia DJ Georgi Woods for his smooth, cool delivery and effortless style, Butler has had numerous hits on his own since embarking on a solo career, "He Will Break Your Heart", "Moon River", "Only the Strong Survive" and "Never Gonna Give You Up" being among his biggest. He has been nominated three times for a Grammy award, has won a CLIO award for writing and producing TV commercials, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in 1994. Iin addition to his music career, Butler also has a career in politics: he is a member of the Cook County (Illinois) Board of Commissioners, having first been elected in 1985.- Actor
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Jimmy Cliff was born on 30 July 1944 in St. Catherine, Jamaica. He is an actor and composer, known for The Harder They Come (1972), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) and Mission: Impossible III (2006).- Actor
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Johnnie Taylor is a three-time Grammy-nominated American recording artist and songwriter who performed a wide variety of genres, from blues, rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel to pop, doo-wop, and disco.
Johnnie Taylor was born in Crawfordsville, Arkansas. He grew up in West Memphis, Arkansas, performing in gospel groups as a youngster. He had one release, "Somewhere to Lay My Head", on Chicago's Chance Records label in the 1950s, as part of the gospel group The Highway QC's, which had been founded by a young Sam Cooke. Taylor's singing then was strikingly close to that of Cooke, and he was hired to take Cooke's place in the latter's gospel group, The Soul Stirrers, in 1957. A few years later, after Cooke had established his independent SAR Records, Taylor signed on as one of the label's first acts and recorded "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day" in 1962. However, SAR Records quickly became defunct after Cooke's death in 1964.
In 1966, Taylor moved to Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was dubbed "The Philosopher of Soul". He recorded with the label's house band, which included Booker T. & the M.G.s. His hits included "I Had a Dream", "I've Got to Love Somebody's Baby" and most notably "Who's Making Love", which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the R&B chart in 1968. "Who's Making Love" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
During his tenure at Stax, he became an R&B star, with over a dozen chart successes, such as "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone", which reached No. 23 on the Hot 100 chart, "Cheaper to Keep Her" and "I Believe in You", which reached No. 11 on the Hot 100 chart. "I Believe in You" also sold in excess of one million copies, and was awarded gold disc status in 1973. Taylor, along with Isaac Hayes and The Staple Singers, was one of the label's flagship artists. He appeared in the documentary film, Wattstax (1973), which was released in 1973.
In 1996, Taylor's eighth album for Malaco, Good Love!, reached number one on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart (No.15 R&B), and was the biggest record in Malaco's history. With this success, Malaco recorded a live video of Taylor in the summer of 1997.
Taylor's final song was "Soul Heaven", in which he dreamed of being at a concert featuring deceased African-American music icons from Louis Armstrong to Otis Redding to Z.Z. Hill to The Notorious B.I.G., among others.- Music Department
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Johnny Harris was born in Edinburgh, Scotland 1932 (of Welsh parentage) and is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London. He originally played trumpet with English big bands in the 50's and started freelance writing and arranging in the early 60's before he was hired by Tony Hatch for Pye Records in 1965. He became well known for his wild style of conducting which was inspired by touring with Tom Jones and he went on to win Eurovision 1969 with Lulu and 'Boom Bang-a-Bang'. Director Richard C. Sarafian had heard his 1969 space-age easy listening hit single 'Footprints On The Moon' and offered him his first British film score for the psycho-thriller 'Fragment Of Fear' because he liked 'the spiky sounds' that Johnny created on the 45. Johnny would score a number of cult British films with mates like Sarafian and Richard Harris before he left for the US in 1972 to work with Paul Anka. He continued his film/tv work in America on such legendary shows like Wonder Woman, Buck Rogers In The 25th Century and award winning specials with Lynda Carter who remained his greatest supporter in the US. Johnny died on March 20th, 2020 peacefully in his sleep.- Composer
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Johnny Pate was born on 5 December 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a composer, known for Shaft in Africa (1973), Brother on the Run (1973) and Super Fly (1972).- Composer
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Joseph Koo was born on 23 February 1931 in Guangzhou, China. He was a composer and actor, known for The Way of the Dragon (1972), A Better Tomorrow (1986) and Fist of Fury (1972). He died on 3 January 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Music Department
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Keith Mansfield was born in June 1940 in Slough, Berkshire, England, UK. He is a composer, known for X-Men: First Class (2011), Death Proof (2007) and The Fighter (2010).- Composer
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Lamont Dozier was born on 16 June 1941 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). He was married to Barbara Ellen Ullman, Daphe Dumas and Elizabeth Ann Dozier. He died on 8 August 2022 in Arizona, USA.- Composer
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Luchi De Jesus was born on 19 August 1923 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer, known for Nights in Rodanthe (2008), Detroit 9000 (1973) and The Six Million Dollar Man (1974). He died on 19 August 1984 in Canoga Park, California, USA.- Music Artist
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Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. (known professionally as Marvin Gaye; April 2, 1939 - April 1, 1984) was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of successes, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".
Gaye's Motown songs include "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Gaye also recorded duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross. During the 1970s, Gaye recorded the albums What's Going On and Let's Get It On and became one of the first artists in Motown to break away from the reins of a production company.
His later recordings influenced several contemporary R&B sub-genres, such as quiet storm and Neo-Soul. He was a tax exile in Europe in the early 1980s; he released "Sexual Healing" in 1982, which won him his first two Grammy Awards on the album Midnight Love. Gaye's last televised appearances were at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, where he sang "The Star-Spangled Banner"; Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever; and Soul Train.
On April 1, 1984, the eve of his 45th birthday, Gaye was shot and mortally wounded by his father, Marvin Gay Sr., at their house in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, after an argument. Gay Sr. later pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, and received a six-year suspended sentence and five years of probation. Many institutions have posthumously bestowed Gaye with awards and other honors including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and inductions into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.- Actor
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Melvin Van Peebles was born on 21 August 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Shining (1997), Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) and Don't Play Us Cheap (1972). He was married to Maria Marx. He died on 21 September 2021 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Composer
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Monk Higgins was born on 3 October 1936 in Menifee, Arkansas, USA. He was a composer, known for 'Sheba, Baby' (1975), Clockers (1995) and Elephant Juice (1999). He died on 3 July 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Music Department
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Nat Dove was born on 13 November 1939 in Mumford, Texas, USA. Nat is a composer, known for Petey Wheatstraw (1977).- Actor
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Paul Riser is known for Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), Coach Carter (2005) and Fried Green Tomatoes (1991).- Music Department
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Considered to be one of the greatest minds in music and television history, Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. was born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Sarah Frances (Wells), a bank executive, and Quincy Delight Jones, Sr., a carpenter.
Jones found his love for music while he was enrolled in grade school at Seattle's Garfield High School, this is also where he had met Ray Charles whom he later worked and became friends with. In 1951, Quincy Jones had won a scholarship to the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Jones however dropped out when he got the opportunity to tour with Lionel Hampton's band as a trumpeter and conductor. Jones also worked for the European production of Harold Arlen's blues opera, Free and Easy in 1959. After Jones had worked on several projects overseas he returned to New York where he composed and arranged, and recorded for artists such as Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dinah Washington, LeVern Baker, and Big Maybell. Jones was working with these artists while holding an executive position at Mercury Records, being one of the very few African Americans at the time to have such a position.
In 1963, Quincy Jones won his first Grammy award for his Count Basie arrangement of "I Can't Stop Loving You". In 1964, by the request of director Sidney Lumet, Jones composed the music for his movie, The Pawnbroker. This would be the first of many Jones composed for film scores. By the mid-1960's Quincy Jones became the conductor and arranger for Frank Sinatra's orchestra. Jones also conducted and arranged one of Sinatra's most memorable songs, Fly Me To The Moon. Jones appeared on a lot of film credits for his music such as The Slender Thread, Walk, Don't Run, In Cold Blood, In The Heat Of The Night, A Dandy In Aspic, Mackenna's Gold, and The Italian Job. In 1972 Quincy Jones was the theme song composer for the hit-sitcom, Sanford And Son.
Quincy Jones in 1978 worked on music for the Wiz, this is where he met icon, Michael Jackson. Jackson at the time was looking for a producer, Jones recommended some producers but in the end asked Jackson if he could do it, Jackson said yes. In 1982 as a result of this partnership, Jones had formed a tapestry with Jackson which was unbreakable it was called, Thriller. The Thriller album sold more than 100 million records world-wide. Jones continued working with Jackson with his Bad album in 1987. However after Jones recommended Jackson seek other producers to update his music. Jones referred Jackson to producer, Teddy Riley. This ended a partnership between two-greats, Jackson and Jones would never collaborate again.
In 1981 Jones had an album called, The Dude. In 1985 Jones scored the film adaptation of The Color Purple. Jones also was a philanthropist, in 1985 gathering multiple stars to participate in the song We Are The World to help raise money to help the victims of the Ethopian disaster.
In 1990 Jones composed a theme song for the new sitcom which was centered around Will Smith, The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. Jones was also the executive producer of the show.
Quincy Jones will forever be remembered as someone who helped sculpt music in every form, he refined music and through the music he helped sculpt brought messages of peace, justice, love, funk, and hope.- Composer
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A versatile, accomplished and yet often times a rather underrated composer, conductor and orchestrator, Robert O. Ragland remained one of the busiest film composers in the motion picture industry. Originally from Chicago, Ragland gave up a comfortable executive position in advertising to gamble on his musical talents in Hollywood. Since that decision was made in 1968, Ragland made his impressive presence known in the film community by scoring over sixty feature motion pictures and television specials in a span of over forty years.
Ragland first became interested in music by playing the piano at the age of five. During his school years, Ragland both performed and organized dance bands. After serving in the U.S. Navy for several years, Ragland attended and graduated with a business degree from Northwestern University. He then served as a musical arranger for the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra and also attained further degrees in music from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago (Bachelors and Masters in Music) and later attended the Academy of Music in Vienna (Doctorates in Composition, Conducting and Piano).
Upon the death of Tommy Dorsey, Ragland officially left the music business for a career in advertising. However his interest in music eventually overwhelmed him as did his urge to write music for motion pictures. Ragland came out to California in 1969 to start his new career. In 1972, Ragland married Martha Montgomery Newman, following the death of her longtime husband, nine time Oscar winning film composer Alfred Newman.
A handful of Ragland's scores for films including "Seven Alone", "Pony Express Rider", "Grizzly", "Q: The Winged Serpent", "10 to Midnight", "A Time to Die" (which Ragland collaborated with the world renowned Ennio Morricone), "The Supernaturals", "Messenger of Death", "Plato's Run", "Top of the World" and the critically acclaimed award winning "Downtown: A Street Tale" are favorites to music lovers and have been well received by audiences worldwide. Ragland also composed music for such television shows including "Barnaby Jones", "The Streets of San Francisco", "Wonder Woman" and "Tarzan".
Outside of the film industry, Ragland conducted many of the most famous orchestras of the world including those in London, Moscow, Vienna, Rome and Toronto. He has composed 15 symphonies, an oratorio "St. Birgitta", a choral mass, 4 string quartets, 5 violin sonatas and a handful of chamber and vocal works.
In his later years, Ragland also conducted the music for many live awards shows including the Oscars and the Emmys. Ragland passed away at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in April, 2012 after being retired from the industry for seven years. Since his passing however, Ragland's work has resurfaced on CD and MP3 releases to a new generation of music lovers.- Composer
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Roger Hamilton Spotts is an American composer and arranger who has enjoyed a highly successful career that has spanned over five decades. He has collaborated with noted musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton, to name a few. For Roger, his 'work' was always a passion fueled by both a love of music and community. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 20, 1928, Roger's parents were college educated at Central State University. Roger's mother, Marian was voted "Woman of the Year" in Cincinnati, 1952. She was the president of a prominent Cincinnati Woman's Group. Roger's father was a beloved School Instructor. It was their hope that their son would follow in his father's footsteps and become an instructor.
From a young age, Roger was an avid chess player who also enjoyed reading books. However, a love of music led him to follow his dreams of becoming the best jazz saxophone player in the world, which took him to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, however, he discovered that many other musicians had the same idea. Despite being a great saxophonist, Roger filled in the gaps between saxophone jobs by playing the piano. Soon, he also began using the piano to write and arrange music. While Los Angeles had many saxophone players, there were few who could also play the piano, arrange, write, and compose music. His specialty became writing for horn sections.
From 1951 to 1953, Roger served in the United States Army. In 1951, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Music from Central State University and he was an instructor at the Fairfield High School in Alabama in 1953. Roger married Betty Mosley, who was also a professional pianist, singer, songwriter, dancer, and model. His only child was born, a daughter named Woni. Roger and Betty became the quintessential "Golden Couple" both were playing piano in the Los Angeles music scene. At home, they wrote songs together but because they both played piano, their performance paths rarely crossed.
Betty received an award for volunteerism from the First Lady. She always joked that she only volunteered at Head Start Pre-School because she was an overprotective mother. During the '70s and '80s, Roger was an instructor at Grant's Music Center in Los Angeles. Since 1983, he has been on the board of directors for the Friends of Watts Towers Art Center, also in Los Angeles. Roger was a Member of the American Society of Composers. He was the recipient of The American composer, arranger. Grantee National Endowment for Arts, 1976. Roger served on the Board of directors at the Musicians Credit Union #47, Los Angeles, since1984, Musicians Union #47, 1970; Despite Los Angeles being his base, music has also allowed Roger and Betty to travel the world.
Roger toured Asia and Betty performed extensively in South America, The Caribbean Islands and Africa, taking their young daughter with them. In addition to his work as a composer, Roger has also worked in all sorts of dance productions. Most notably, he has worked with Chester A. Whitmore, a well-known tap dancer, artistic director, and choreographer.
Roger also had literary friends such as Nolan Davis, author of Six Black Horses and Ray Bradbury, who wrote the back flap for Nolan's book. Roger, Nolan, and Ray attended Mensa meetings together. Roger has been mentioned in many books and publications such as Take Me To A Circus Tent: The Jefferson Airplane Flight Manual by Craig Fenton and Screen World 1993: Comprehensive Pictorial and Statistical Record of the 1992 Movie Season by John Willis.
Roger has taught many well-known singers how to perform which included stage presence, vocal coaching, and how to present themselves. He has worked with many actresses and was the music director for Zola Taylor's Platters. Roger loved experimenting with electronic instruments, throbbing electric basses, Mini Moogs, and Wah Wah pedals. Roger created some of the sexiest heart-stopping grooves on the planet. "Blaxploitation soundtracks" An example of this music can be found on Tongue, a rare album. While his true love was Jazz, his friendship with Papa John Creach allowed him to collaborate with psychedelic rock bands. Roger worked with Grace Slick and on Flight Log with Jefferson Airplane's Cosby and Stills. Roger has also composed classical music with one of his mentors and best friends, Lyn Murray. A fellow screenwriter and composer, the two of them worked together on Bob Hope-America is 200 Years Old...And There's Still Hope!
While I was researching Roger's music collaborations, I noticed that most of the players on any given recording were also very close friends such as Tollie Moore, Rufus Anderson Jr, Curtis Kirk, Bobby Haynes, Stan Levine, Billy Brooks, Niva Ruschell, Caprice Clarke, Curtis Peagler, Miles Grayson Virgil Rodgers, Frank Foster, Thurman Green, Bill Rene, Clint Stacy (Ink Spotts), Spanky Wilson, Zola Taylor (Platters) Billy Mitchell, Johnny Otis, Shuggie Otis, Lermon Horton, Al Gray, Phil Wright(a Fellow Piano Player and Composer). Some of Roger's other notable recordings and productions were Lo Milos, Azitis, Mary Love, Don Sugarcane Harris, Mel Bryant, Wynton Kelly, Lee Morgan, Tramaine Hawkins, Larry Ball, Vera Hamilton, Free Form Experience, Pee Wee Crayton, Marchand Melcher, Roy Porter, James "Popeye" Maupin, Gary Bell, Curtis Fuller, Billy Higgins, Louie Spears, Maurice Spears, Horace Tapscott, Slim Jim Green, Oscar Mclollie, Clora Bryant, H. B. Barnum, Fred Merrill, Marion(Music Copyist) John Outterbridge (Artist), Kurt Baker (Director), and many more. Roger has been mentioned in many books and newspaper articles such as There and Back by Roy Porter, Take me to the Circus Tent: The Jefferson Airplane Flight Manual, Ray Charles: Man and Music-Updated Commemorative Edition, Frank Foster Papers-Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Duke University, The LA Times and more!
Alongside Roger's immense love for music is also a love for his community, particularly through volunteering. A terrific friend, he often visited and cared for aging musicians. Children also adored Roger for his patience and his funny personality, he was always available for a trip to the museum, beach, zoo, park, or fireworks show. Well known for his Midwestern values, his honesty in business, his outgoing personality, and his good humor, Roger was always a perfect gentleman.
Roger Hamilton Spotts' work and the achievements of his parents are being displayed at the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans. A memorial bench was placed across from The Greek Theater. The plaque reads "Roger Hamilton Spotts Brilliant Musician Great Father Caring Friend Rest Knowing that your warmth made your only child and her friends laugh and smile on those Endless Summer Days"- Composer
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Roy Ayers was born on 10 September 1940 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Ant-Man (2015), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Summer of Sam (1999).- Actor
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Rudy Ray Moore was born on 17 March 1927 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Dolemite (1975), The Human Tornado (1976) and Disco Godfather (1979). He died on 19 October 2008 in Akron, Ohio, USA.- Composer
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Sid Ramin was born on 22 January 1919 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was a composer, known for West Side Story (1961), Demolition Man (1993) and Secretary (2002). He was married to Gloria Breit. He died on 1 July 2019 in New York City, New York, USA.- Music Artist
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Multi-talented performer/writer/producer Smokey Robinson's career, and life, is inextricably tied up with Motown Records' founder Berry Gordy (his first two children are named Tamla, for the Gordy-owned label Smokey recorded for, and Berry, for Gordy himself). He and Gordy have had a professional and personal relationship since the late 1950s, when Robinson went to work for Gordy's budding musical empire not only as a performer with his group, The Miracles, but also as a songwriter/producer. Robinson and The Miracles began turning out an almost unbroken string of hits in the early 1960s on Gordy's Tamla label (although they had minor hits on a few labels before they signed with Gordy). Robinson's high, warm tenor was perfect for the romantic ballads that he wrote for the group (one of the music industry's most prolific songwriters, Robinson was also such an imaginative one that Bob Dylan once called him "America's greatest living poet"), although they could also do hard, driving dance records (i.e., "Mickey's Monkey"). In addition to his writing/performing/producing chores for The Miracles, Robinson also turned out hit after hit for other Motown acts: Mary Wells ("My Guy"), The Temptations ("My Girl"), and others for The Marvelettesand Marvin Gaye. He left The Miracles to go solo in 1972, and met with even more success, turning out hit record after hit record all through the 1970s and 1980s. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.- Actor
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Solomon Burke was born on 21 March 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Unbreakable (2000), '71 (2014) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015). He died on 10 October 2010 in Schiphol Airport, Haarlemmermeer, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.- Music Department
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Sonny Terry was born on 24 October 1911 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for The Jerk (1979), House at the End of the Street (2012) and Superbad (2007). He died on 11 March 1986 in Mineola, Long Island, New York, USA.- Composer
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Steve Dexter is known for Black Lolita (1974).- Composer
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Sun Ra was born on 22 May 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. He was a composer and writer, known for Space Is the Place (1974), The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) and Deceiver (1997). He died on 30 May 1993 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.- Composer
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Composer / arranger / record producer Thom Bell is known as one of the chief architects of "The Sound Of Philadelphia". In the mid-'60s he was the house pianist at The Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia and later became musical director for Chubby Checker. In 1966 he partnered up with entrepreneur Stan Watson to produce a local group called The Delfonics. In early 1968 they had their first smash with "La-La Means I Love You", and for the next two years wrote, produced and arranged such hits for the group as "I'm Sorry", "Break Your Promise", "Ready Or Not, Here I Come" and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time"). In late 1970 Bell broke off with the group to work with another Philadelphia group called The Stylistics, and wrote and produced songs for them for three years. He simultaneously produced The Stylistics and former Motown artists The Spinners. Between all this, he still found time to provide hit arrangements for his boyhood pal Kenny Gamble's Philadelphia-International Records.- Tito Sotto was born on 24 August 1948 in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Luzon, Philippines. He is a producer and composer, known for Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After (The Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure) (2008), Naku...Ha! (1984) and Iskul bukol (1980). He is married to Helen Gamboa.
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Tom McIntosh was born on 6 February 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Tom was a composer, known for Shaft (1971), The Bus Is Coming (1971) and The Red, White, and Black (1970). Tom died on 26 July 2017.- Composer
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Vic Caesar was born on 27 May 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Bare Knuckles (1977), The Hoax (2006) and Ride in a Pink Car (1974). He died on 21 June 2000 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.- Music Department
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Wade Marcus is known for The Final Comedown (1972) and Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002).- Music Department
Wilbur Kirk is known for Nothing But a Man (1964) and The Subject Is Jazz (1958).