ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: JUNE 20

#1 R&B Song 1953: “Help Me Somebody,” the “5″ Royales

Born: Lionel Richie, 1949

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1953 Beautiful R&B ballads were the norm in the early ’50s. Too bad so many went unnoticed, though they are now sought-after collector’s items like the Five Willows’ “My Dear Dearest darling” ($300), which was released today. Billboard “Buys of the Week” included “I I Can’t Have You,” the Flamingos’ debut 45 ($2,000), and the Crickets’ “For You I Have Eyes” ($200).

1964 James Brown, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Joe Tex, and Garnett Mimms performed at the Summer Shower of Stars tour at the Donnelly Theater, Boston, MA.

1973 Though bedridden at the time, Little richard chose to perform on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand TV show.

1979 The Blues Brothers film opened throughout America. some the movie’s highlights included Aretha Franklin’s portrayal of a crusty waitress, singing her 1968 hit, “Think”; James Brown’s performance as a hypnotic dancing and singing preacher; Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers’ rockin’ “Shake A Tail Feather”; and John Lee Hooker’s rough and raw version of “Boom Boom.”

1986 Tina Turner performed in the Prince’s Trust concert in London along with Elton John and Eric Clapton.

1991 Bell Biv Devoe performed on James Brown’s Living in America live cable special.

1994 Aretha Franklin performed at the White House in Washington, DC, for President and Mrs. Clinton.

1997 Lawrence Payton of the Four Tops died today of liver cancer at his Southfield, MI, home. It was the first time in forty-four years that the Tops would be without an original member, as the same four men stayed together until Payton’s death. Payton was fifty-nine. The three remaining original members went on at that time performing as the Tops, before Theo Peoples (of the Temptations) was recruited as the fourth member. Peoples eventually took over the role of lead singer when Stubbs suffered a stroke in 2000 with his position assumed by Ronnie McNeir. On July 1, 2005, Renaldo “Obie” Benson died of lung cancer with Payton’s son Roquel Payton replacing him. As of 2006, Fakir, McNeir, Roquel Payton, and Peoples were still performing together as the Four Tops. On October 17, 2008, Levi Stubbs of the Tops, died at his home in Detroit. Abdul “Duke” Fakir is now the only surviving founding member of the original group.


Lawrence Payton of the "Four TOPS"