Sam Cooke’s Sad Demise

Sam Cooke, one of the greatest soul singers in history, was shot to death on this date in 1964 - at the height of his career. In 1963 he wrote one of the earliest protest songs of the civil rights movement: the soul-stirring "A Change is Gonna Come," which was released after his death.

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‘Lady Sings the Blues’ Biopic: The True Spirit of Billie Holiday?

Legendary jazz singer/songwriter Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915. You might remember the 1972 biopic, "Lady Sings the Blues," which was based on Billie's 1956 autobiography.The book was ghostwritten by William Dufty from a series of conversations with the singer in her New York apartment. According to a 2006 article by San Francisco Chronicle writer Jesse Hamlin, people well-acquainted with Billie disliked the movie, feeling it didn't reflect her true spirit.

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Scott Joplin and the Meaning of ‘Ragtime’

Composer and pianist Scott Joplin, The King of Ragtime, was born on November 24, 1868. Most people know his music from the 1973 movie "The Sting," which featured his tunes as interpreted by the late pianist Marvin Hamlisch. The film created a resurgence in the popularity of Ragtime music. But do you know how the genre got its name?

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When White Artists Cover Black Music: It Rocks or it Flops

Thirty-one years ago this week, Blondie's "Rapture" became the first rap song to hit the number one spot on the Billboard chart, introducing a whole new audience of white Americans to a provocative musical genre emerging from black artists like Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow and the Sugarhill Gang. A blonde on blonde chick rapping about a man from Mars who eats up cars, bars and guitars? Yes, brave, sexy Debbie Harry and her band of New York / New Wave punk-hipsters put their own spin on a distinctly urban black musical style - and it worked!

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