On August 5, 1992, Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro died aged 38. He was a songwriter, musician (drums), and record producer, best known as the drummer with Toto. He was one of the most south after session drummers in popular music, played on hundreds of albums and worked with numerous artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Greg Lake, Seals & Crofts, Les Dudek, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Jacksons, Tommy Bolin, Jackson Browne, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lisa Dal Bello, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Colin Blunstone, Larry Carlton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Bim, Jerry Williams, Al Stewart, Marc Jordan, Rickie Lee Jones, Janne Schaffer, Lowell George, Aretha Franklin, Jon Anderson, Luis Miguel, Love and Money, Patti Austin, Mariya Takeuchi, The Brothers Johnson, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Char, Christopher Cross, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Amii Ozaki, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Eye to Eye, Donna Summer, Elton John, Melissa Manchester, Donald Fagen, Herbie Hancock, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Russ Taff, Chicago, David Gilmour Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Peter cetera, Earth Wind & Fire, roger Hodgson, David Benoit, Dr. John, Steve Porcaro, Nik Kershaw, Poco, Clair Mario, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Madonna, Jude Cole, Sandy Patty, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Cher, Dire Straits, Richard Marx, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, B-52’s, Go West, 10CC, Roger Waters, Paul Young, and David Crosby. In 1993, Porcaro was posthumously inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”.
Tag Archives: Diana Ross
Luther Vandross Jr.
On July 1, 2005, Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. died aged 54. He was a singer, songwriter, and record producer who worked as a background vocalist for different artists including Todd Rundgren, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E. King, and Donna Summer. He was a member and lead singer of the band Change, and had a successful solo career, recorded sixteen albums and won four “Grammy Awards”.
Robert Kulick
On May 28, 2020, Robert J. Kulick died aged 70. He was musician (guitar) and producer, best known for his studio work with Kiss, Kulick has also worked with Lou Reed, Diana Ross, Paul Stanley, W.A.S.P., Neverland Express, Meat Loaf, Michael Bolton, Doro, Balance, Motörhead, Tim Curry, Alice Cooper, Mark Farner, Janis Ian, Was (Not Was), Kris Hadlock, Spys, Blackthorne, David Glen Eisley, Skull, Michael Wendroff and Random Blues Band. As a leader Kulick recorded one album.
Uriel Jones
On March 24, 2009, Uriel Jones died aged 74. He was musician (drums), session drummer for Motown’s in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s. He has recorded with many famous artists including Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Carl Dixon BandTraxs and Spider Webb.
Diana Ross: Diana
On May 22, 1980, “Motown” label released “Diana”, the tenth Diana Ross album. It was recorded December 1979-March 1980, at “Power Station”, and “Electric Lady” in New York City, “Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Studios” in Hollywood and was produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Diana Ross –lead vocals
- Nile Rodgers– guitar
- Andy Barrett (Schwartz) –piano
- Raymond Jones – keyboards
- Bernard Edwards– bass guitar
- Tony Thompson– drums
- Eddie Daniels –saxophone
- Meco Monardo– trombone
- Bob Milliken –trumpet
- Valerie Haywood (The Chic Strings) –strings
- Cheryl Hong (The Chic Strings) – strings
- Karen Milne (The Chic Strings) – strings
- Gene Orloff– conductor
- Alfa Anderson –backing vocals
- Fonzi Thornton– backing vocals
- Luci Martin – backing vocals
- Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
- Bob Clearmountain– engineer
- Bill Scheniman – engineer
- James Farber – engineer
- Neil Dorfsman– engineer
- Ralph Osborn – engineer
- Abdoulaye Soumare – engineer assistant
- Jeff Hendrickson – engineer assistant
- Lucy Laurie – engineer assistant
- Peter Robbins – engineer assistant
- Dennis King –mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.
- Upside Down
- Tenderness
- Friend to Friend
- I’m Coming Out
- Have Fun (Again)
- My Old Piano
- Now That You’re Gone
- Give Up
The Supremes: Let The Sunshine In
On May 26, 1969, “Motown” label released “Let the Sunshine In”, the sixteen Diana Ross & the Supremes album. It was recorded 1966 – 1969, and was produced by Berry Gordy, Frank Wilson, R. Dean Taylor, Deke Richards, Henry Cosby, Smokey Robinson ,Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, Pete Moore, George Gordy, Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, William Weatherspoon, Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.
Personnel:
- Diana Ross – lead vocals
- Mary Wilson – backing vocals
- Cindy Birdsong – backing vocals
- Florence Ballard – backing vocals
- The Andantes– backing vocals
- The Funk Brothers- instrumentation
- Los Angeles session musicians – instrumentation
Track listing:
- The Composer
- Everyday People
- No Matter What Sign You Are
- Hey, Western Union Man
- What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
- I’m Livin’ in Shame
- Medley: “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)
- Let the Music Play
- With a Child’s Heart
- Discover Me (And You’ll Discover Love)
- Will This Be the Day
- I’m So Glad I Got Somebody (Like You Around)
Capitol Records
On June 4, 1942, “Capitol Records” was founded by Johnny Mercer, Buddy DeSylva, and Glenn Wallichs. Over the decades, the label became home to artists such as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Bobby Darin, Glen Campbell, Steve Miller, Dr. Hook, Bob Seger, Tina Turner, Heart, Nat King Cole, the Four Knights, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Stan Kenton, June Christy, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, the Louvin Brothers, Judy Garland, the Andrews Sisters, Harry James, Andy Griffith, Shirley Bassey, the Kingston Trio, Dean Martin, The Four Freshmen, Helen Reddy, Anne Murray, April Wine, Blondie, Bloodrock, Burning Spear, Buzzcocks, David Bowie, Kim Carnes, Rosanne Cash, Max Webster, Lee Clayton, Natalie Cole, The Goose Creek Symphony, Sammy Hagar, The Knack, Maze, Mink DeVille, Juice Newton, Raspberries, Minnie Riperton, Diana Ross, Sweet, The Specials, The Sylvers, Ten Wheel Drive, The Stranglers, Tavares, George Thorogood, Triumvirate, Little River Band, Wings, The Persuasions, Richard Marx, The Motels, Billy Squier, Crowded House, Peter Blakeley, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, The Doobie Brothers, Willie Dixon, Glass Tiger, Katrina & The Waves, Grace Jones, Lloyd Cole, Pet Shop Boys, Sawyer Brown, Queen, Roxette, Brian Setzer,The Smithereens, Spandau Ballet, The Tubes, Paul Westerberg, Butthole Surfers, Concrete Blonde, Billy Idol, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megadeth, Exodus, W.A.S.P., Poison, Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche, Beastie Boys, King Tee, Mantronix, Mellow Man Ace, Robbie Robertson, Dave Koz, Ashford and Simpson, Freddie Jackson, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Skinny Puppy and others.
We Are the World
On January 28, 1985, the song “We Are the World” was recorded in the “A&M” studios in LA. The USA response to the UK Band Aid’s “Do they know it’s Christmas” was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World. The single was released on March 7, 1985 on “Columbia” label and sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
The following singers, musicians and celebrities took part in the song:
- Lionel Richie
- Stevie Wonder
- Paul Simon
- Kenny Rogers
- James Ingram
- Tina Turner
- Billy Joel
- Michael Jackson
- Diana Ross
- Dionne Warwick
- Willie Nelson
- Al Jarreau
- Bruce Springsteen
- Kenny Loggins
- Steve Perry
- Daryl Hall
- Huey Lewis
- Cyndi Lauper
- Kim Carnes
- Bob Dylan
- Ray Charles
- Dan Aykroyd
- Harry Belafonte
- Lindsey Buckingham
- Mario Cipollina
- Johnny Colla
- Sheila E.
- Bob Geldof
- David Paich
- Michael Boddicker
- Paulinho da Costa
- Louis Johnson
- Michael Omartian
- Greg Phillinganes
- John Robinson
Tom Dowd
On October 24, 2002, Thomas John “Tom” Dowd died aged 77. He was recording engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. He was credited with innovating the multi-track recording method. Tom Dowd recorded albums for number of famous artists including: Eric Clapton, Derek and the Dominos, Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, The Drifters, Cream, Lulu, Chicago, The Allman Brothers Band, The J. Geils Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, Sonny & Cher, The Rascals, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Kenny Loggins, Dusty Springfield and Otis Redding.
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