DC MUSIC HISTORY
THE EARLY YEARS
MARVIN GAYE BUCK HILL THE CLOVERS BILLY HART BUTCH WARREN SHIRLEY HORN BILLY STEWART
BILLY HANCOCK TIM BUCKLEY BILL HUGHES
JORMA KAUKONEN JACK CASADY TIM ROSE
PUNKY MEADOWS
BILLY HANCOCK TIM BUCKLEY BILL HUGHES
JORMA KAUKONEN JACK CASADY TIM ROSE
PUNKY MEADOWS
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AIN'T THAT PECULIAR - Marvin Gaye
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Marvin Gaye was born in Washington DC in 1939. He grew up on 1st Street SW in Anacostia where his father was a church minister. When Gaye was four he began singing in church, often with his father on piano. When he was in his teens, Gaye moved with his family to Deanwood in NW Washington DC. When he was attending high school at Cardoza, Gaye was pursuing his interest in music in several doo-wop groups. At seventeen he dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Air Force. Shortly afterwards, he faked mental illness so he would be discharged. His music career started when he formed The Marquees - a Washington DC vocal group that worked with Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and others.
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AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell |
YOU'RE A SWEETHEART - Charlie Byrd
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FOOL FOOL FOOL - The Clovers
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Roger "Buck" Hill was born in Washington DC in 1927.In 1943 he began his career as a jazz saxophonist. and for thirty years he continued to hold his job as a DC mailman. In 1958-59 he played with Charlie Byrd.
The Clovers formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington DC. The group got a break after being featured on WWDC's amateur hour show. By the 1950's, The Clovers were one of the top doo-woop acts in the country.
The Clovers formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington DC. The group got a break after being featured on WWDC's amateur hour show. By the 1950's, The Clovers were one of the top doo-woop acts in the country.
Drummer William "Billy" Hart was born in Washington DC in 1940. Early in his career he performed with soul acts, including Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. From 1964-1966 he performed with jazz great Jimmy Smith. In 1968, Hart moved to New York where he played some of the greatest jazz artists in history. From 1969-1973 he was a member of Herbie Hancock's Sextet, and from 1974-1977 he played with jazz saxophonist Stan Getz. Hart is also very well known as an educator, which he continues to do. He currently lives in New Jersey, and he leads a jazz group, and is featured in another.
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THE SERMON - Jimmy Smith ft Quentin Warren and Billy Hart
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Edward "Butch" Warren was raised in Washington DC. The hard bop bassist began his career at fourteen playing in his father's local DC band. He later played in other local groups, and for the Howard Theatre house band led by Rick Henderson. He moved to New York in 1958, and he was well-know as the house bassist for Blue Note Records. Warren recorded with many jazz legends before moving back to Washington DC in 1964. After returning to DC, he only performed occasionally, including some regular gig's at jazz club Columbia Station in Adam's Morgan.
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BUTCH WARREN - hard bop double bassist
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THE GOOD LIFE - Shirley Horn
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Jazz diva Shirley Horn was born in Washington DC in 1934. She wwas four years old when she began taking piano lessons, and at twelve she was studying piano and composition at Howard University. By the time she was twenty, Horn had formed a jazz piano trio. Horn had been unable to accept an offer to attend the Juilliard School in New York City - her family couldn't afford sending her there. When she was below the legal age, Horn would sneak into jazz clubs on the famous U Street strip. - After the late 1960's, Horn rarely performed outside of Washington DC.
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Billy Stewart was born in Washington DC in 1937. When he was twelve years old he performed in a group with his brothers - The 4 Stewart Brothers. For five years the brothers had their own radio show on DC's WUST-AM. Stewart would occasionally fill in for bands playing in DC's clubs, that is where Bo Diddley is said to have "discovered" Stewart. Diddley invited Stewart to join his back-up band, which led to a recording contract with Diddley's label Chess Records Stewart had several hits in the 1960's, including his 1966 hit Summertime.
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SUMMERTIME - Billy Stewart
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THE BOOGIE DISEASE
Billy Hancock |
REDSKIN ROCK'N'ROLL
Billy Hancock |
Rockabilly singer Billy Hancock was born in Washington DC in 1946, and he was raised in Alexandria, Virginia - where he graduated from George Washington High School. Hancock's mother worked at the area Waxie Maxie's - the popular record store chain in those days. His career budding career was influenced by the records his mother brought home from work.
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HAPPY TIME - Tim Buckley
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Tim Buckley was born in Washington DC on Valentine's Day, 1947. He spent much of his childhood in New York, before moving to California at age nine. When Buckley was thirteen, he was inspired by the music of The Kingston Trio to start his own folk band. In 1966, after writing and performing dozens of songs, he released his self-titled debut album. He died of a herion overdose at the age of 28. He was not commercially successful during his lifetime, and he was more greatly admired after his death.
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Bill Hughes was born in Dallas, Texas, he moved to DC with his family when he was nine years old. When he was twelve or thirteen, Hughes began playing the trombone - at sixteen he was performing in Washington DC jazz clubs. While attending school at Howard University, Hughes was in a group called The Howard Swingmasters. In 1952, he graduated from Howard University School Of Pharmacy, and went on to pursue a career as a pharmacist. Hughes worked at the National Institute of health for about a year before Count Basie invited him to join his band. In the late fifties, Hughes took a break from the band for a few years. After returning, he played trombone until 2003 when he became the band's leader. He retired from the band in 2010.
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CUTIE - Count Basie Orchestra
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JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
Live at Woodstock |
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
White Rabbit / Somebody To Love |
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Jorma Kaukonen was born in Washington DC in 1940, he is best known for being lead guitarist and founding member of Jefferson Airplane. When he was a teenager, Kaukonen started a band called The Triumphs with his friend Jack Casady - who also was a member of Jefferson Airplane. Kaukonen quit the band when he moved to Ohio to attend Antioch University. In 1962, he moved to California to attend Santa Clara University. After being invited to a early Jefferson Airplane rehearsal by Paul Kantner, Kaukonen was invited into the band.
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HESITATION BLUES - Hot Tuna (Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Cassidy) 1969
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Jack Casady was born in Washington DC in 1944, he is best known as bassist for Jefferson Airplane. When he was in high school, Casady was originally played lead guitar for rhythm and blues group The Triumphs. When he switched to bass, Casady, with a fake ID, found gigs in DC clubs backing artists including Ray Charles, James Brown and Little Anthony & The Imperials. In 1965, he was invited to join with Jefferson Airplane by lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen - a former high school friend. In 1969, Cassidy and Kaukonen formed the group Hot Tuna.
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LONG HAIRED BOY - Tim Rose
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HEY JOE - Tim Rose
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Tim Rose was born in Washington DC in 1940, and he was raised in Arlington, Virginia. In 1958, he graduated from Gonzaga College Prep School. After graduating he joined the U.S. Air Force, and he worked as a merchant seaman, before pursuing music. Rose's first band's formed in the early 1960's in Washington DC. After being discovered in a Georgetown club, Rose was off to New York and then to San Francisco. In 1966 he recorded Hey Joe, the song had been covered many times with a completely different arrangement. Rose's uniquely slow version was famously covered the same year on Jimi Hendrix's solo debut single.
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TOWER - promotional video from Angel featuring Punky Meadows
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PUNKY'S WHIPS - Frank Zappa
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Edwin "Punky" Meadows was born in Washington DC in 1950. He grew up in the Barnaby Terrace neighborhood, where he went to Draper Elementary School. He started his first band when he was attending Hart Junior High School. He had been through a few bands by the time he made it through high school, and had opened for big names like The Yardbirds, The Young Rascals and Neil Diamond. In 1975, Punky Meadows formed the band Angel, named after a Jimi Hendrix song. He is well known for best known for glam image as drummer for the glam rock and heavy metal band. The band was discovered by Gene Simmons, who got them signed to Casablanca Records - the label Kiss was on. Frank Zappa wrote a flattering song poking fun at Punky - Punky's Whips.
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> THIS IS NOT A "BEST-OF" LIST, AND IT IS NOT INTENDED TO INCLUDE EVERYONE IMPORTANT <
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