Winter 2023
A new year of 2023 is upon us. The previous year of 2022 is the fastest year that I have ever experienced in my life. It has been a year filled with successes like progressive laws being passed and setbacks like the U.S. Supreme Court promoting some of the most reactionary, nefarious decisions in a generation. The Ukraine war is one of the major international events of 2022. This started in February of 2022 when Russia used a preemptive invasion of Ukraine, which is a sovereign nation. Proponents of the Russian invasion of Ukraine unjustly talk about NATO. NATO is not perfect, but 2 wrongs don't make a right. It is wrong for Russia to target hospitals, apartment buildings, and other civilian locations in Ukraine. It is wrong for Russian governmental forces to lock up innocent Russian protesters in Russia. It is unjust for Russia to commit overt war crimes in Ukraine, including destroying electrical services in Ukraine. That is why we have to stand up and speak for Ukraine to be a democratic, independent nation. In the United States of America, many of us saw the coldest temperatures of our lives in late December 2022. The December winter storms caused the deaths of at least 26 people with thousands of people lacking power. In Buffalo, New York alone, there was 43 inches of now fell on Christmas morning. Where I was from (in Virginia), it was 14 degrees on Christmas Eve morning with a wind chill of 3 degrees. Donald Trump has been thoroughly exposed and could face charges in 2023 for his treasonous attempted coup d'état against the American government, but some want to underestimate Ron DeSantis.
No one should underestimate him as DeSantis is just as bigoted as Trump is. The difference is that Ron DeSantis is slicker and more sophisticated. He exploits social issues as an excuse to bash progressive policies. Trump is a notorious racist, sexist, and xenophobe. He had a Mar A Lago dinner with the anti-Semite Kanye West and the white racist Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes. Trump didn't apologize for this meeting at all. Kanye has praised Hitler, and many people don't know that according to Trump's ex-wife Ivana Trump that Donald Trump had collection of Hitler's speeches in his bed side table in the 1980's. Trump asked his chief of Staff John Kelly why the U.S. military brass didn't have total obedience to him like the German generals under the Third Reich. At the end of the day, there is no other solution but a reconstruction of society, a radical redistribution of wealth, and a revolutionary change in society to make sure that justice for all is made for a reality.
President Joe Biden has released JFK documents. These documents deal with Lee Harvey Oswald and other people. The National Archives organization is to release more than 10,000 documents on the JFK assassination. Previously, the records released were very much redacted. Some believe that the CIA is hesitant in released all of the documents because some feel that the CIA knew much more about Oswald's activities before JFK was murdered. Some thousands of documents are withheld. In 1992, a Congressional law said that JFK documents should be released. The records show Lee Harvey Oswald and his time in Mexico City. Some documents are hidden like information from CIA agent George Joannides and a covert Cuba-related program he ran that came into contact with Lee Harvey Oswald less than four months before Kennedy was shot. To this day, the vast majority of Americans support the view that the assassination of President John Kennedy was a product of a conspiracy. The CIA trying to redact information without showing all of the records pertaining to the time period is very suspicious. We know that President Kennedy supported Algerian independence and other African independence movements. JFK supported Indonesian independence, support federal civil rights legislation, supported a socialist Italian party in Italy, and desired to eliminate Operation Northwoods. President John F. Kennedy criticized the CIA's covert programs in the world too, even threatening to break up the CIA into a thousand pieces. Not to mention that JFK refused to invade Cuba and just before his death, planned to have meetings with Cuba to establish some type of detente. So, far-right members of the military-industrial complex had hostility toward the policies of President John F. Kennedy.
Russian State TV emails have encouraged the use of Tucker Carlson clips to spin the war in Ukraine. It is no secret that Carlson has praised Putin, made racist comments about Tiffany Cross and believes in the lie of the replacement theory. MAGA far-right extremists readily have given statements to support Russia, because many of them promote the far-right agenda of Putin. Putin is not a progressive person. Putin led an unjust, illegal invasion of Ukraine because he believes in the myth that Ukraine belongs to Russia. Also, Putin made policies that violate freedom of speech, religious liberty rights, and suppression of press rights. That is why many Russian protesters, who protested against the Putin regime, have been arrested and violated their liberties. Many racist MAGA people want a white ethnic-fascist state in America, and they use Putin as a template in promoting their abhorrent agenda.
Something in my intuition compelled me to mention information about Brazil. Bolsonaro is the far-right extremist who lost the 2022 Brazilian election. Recently, Bolsonaro supporters tried to storm the police headquarters in a January 6-style rampage. This comes about Lula having her election victory in Brazil. These far-right terrorists torched cars and buses. They wanted to storm the federal police headquarters. Inacio Lula da Silva will be inaugurated in January of 2023. Far-right terrorists were arrested for trying to incite violence. These extremists wore the yellow Brazil shirt to support Jair Bolsonaro's extremist views. Brasilia has suffered a lot from these evil people. They have destroyed buildings and signposts. They have used rubbish bins and gas canisters as weapons. These Bolsonaro-supporting cowards will not prevail. Real progressive policies will make Brazil a better place with Lula as the real President of Brazil on January 1, 2023.
Today is the 2nd year after the January 6th insurrection. It was one of the worst times in American history where terrorists tried to overthrow the United States government literally. That was the first time in American history that there was no peaceful transfer of power from one President to another President. These terrorists had weapons including guns in D.C. For months before the attacks, far-right extremists used social media and other forums to desire an attack at D.C. over the defeat of Trump after the 2020 election. The terrorists flew Confederate and Neo-Nazi flags, and cursed at U.S. Capitol police officers (which exposed their hypocrisy of claiming to respect the police and the law when they tried to kill the police at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th). These insurrectionists desecrated the Capitol grounds in vulgar ways, threatened to hang Mike Pence, and Trump did nothing to stop this for hours. The Mayor of D.C. and other federal government authorities practically begged Trump to send in the National Guard and other forces ASAP. Trump, in fact, wants to pardon the terrorists. Trump said that he wanted to overthrow the election results and even the Constitution in order to steal the 2020 election. So, Trump and the terrorists involved on January 6th are traitors to America. More than 950 people have been arrested for the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Oath Keepers, The Three Percenters, and The Proud Boys are far-right terrorist, paramilitary groups are still around promoting their hate and extremism (some are in local school boards, governmental offices, etc.). The January 6th House Committee presented more than enough evidence for Trump and his acolytes to be charged with many federal crimes. So, we remember that time in order to have vigilance against tyranny.
Now, Karen Bass is the new mayor of Los Angeles. She is about to call on an emergency on the homelessness issue in Los Angeles. We wish her the best. I saw her in person at USC back in 2019 in LA before. She gave a stirring speech. Also, I realize that this was a historic moment when she ran for the election. Vice President Kamala Harris swore her in to make her officially the first black woman mayor of Los Angeles. Karen Bass defeated many candidates by her own merit and by hard work. Now, it's back to business with over 40,000 people in the Los Angeles area living in homelessness. “Today, too many Angelenos have no choice but to crowd multiple families into one home, and to work multiple jobs just to barely pay rent,” Bass said. “Tragically, our city has earned the shameful crown as being home to the most crowded neighborhoods in the nation – Pico Union, South L.A., East L.A., the East Valley,” she added. “And Angelenos, we know our mission – we must build housing in every neighborhood.” When Bass takes office, the four largest cities in the US will all have Black mayors – that includes Eric Adams of New York City, Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, and Sylvester Turner of Houston.
Pop and Rock History Part 2
It's certainly time to show multifaceted stories about the world. During the 1960's, there was a revolutionary change in music. Back in the early 1960's, times would never be the same as a cultural revolution was developing like the civil rights movement (this movement included diverse people like Ella Baker, Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Septima Clark, Pauli Murray, Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer, Gloria Richardson, Unita Blackwell, Medgar Evers, Myrlie Evers-Williams, etc.), the anti-war movement, the women's rights movement, etc. The 1960's saw some of the most talented artists of all time. Also, it was a time when there was a shift to more pop music, more soul music, and the further evolution of Rock and Roll. By the early 1960's, pop and rock music were dominated by music groups, surf music, and Motown music. There was also the revival of American folk music with Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter Seeger, The Kingston Trio, Odetta, Harry Belafonte, Phil Ochs, and other people. I love Odetta's music as her voice is incredible. Folk music readily delves into political issues like civil rights, workers' rights, anti-war messages, and pro-environmental themes. Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and other artists laid a large foundation that allowed the music of the 1960's to flourish in the world.
Women groups singing about love and romance were topping the charts like the Supremes, the Shirelles, the Ronettes, Betty Everett, Martha and the Vandellas, Little Eva, and other people. We saw Lesley Gore, the Angles, and Shangri-Las. Motown was a powerful force in showing black musical expression and fighting to bring people together too. Rock had many voices in America, the UK, etc. We saw Dusty Springfield, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix (who innovated guitar playing and music in general), the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, etc. Jazz saw Nat King Cole and John Coltraine reach their final peaks in their careers. Country music was prominent with artists like Patsy Collins, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Buck Owens, and Merle Haggard. Rock saw the popularization of the electric guitar in tons of spaces. Some of the biggest music tragedies involved the passing away of legends like Sam Cooke, Jim Reeves, and Otis Redding. By the end of the 1960's, music had more proto-metal (with artists like Lep Zeppelin), harder beats, psychedelic sounds, and more conscious lyrics (like James Brown's I'm Black and I'm Proud. James Brown was born in the South and has been called the Godfather of Soul). Therefore, the music of the 1960's from soul to gospel set a huge, massive tone in the development of modern music in general.
The Motown Explosion
There is no understanding of the music of the 1960's without understanding Motown of the 1960's. Fans of Motown music exist among every color. Motown was created by Berry Gordy on June 7, 1958. Motown represented black style, black music, and Black Excellence to the fullest. Motown became the Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. In the 1960s, Motown and its subsidiary labels (including Tamla Motown, the brand used outside the US) were most of the Motown sound, a style of soul music with a mainstream pop appeal. Motown was the most successful soul music label, with a net worth of $61 million. During the 1960s, Motown achieved 79 records in the top-ten of the Billboard Hot 100 between 1960 and 1969. Following the events of the Detroit Rebellion of 1967, and the loss of key songwriting/production team Holland–Dozier–Holland that year over pay disputes, Gordy moved Motown to Los Angeles, California. Motown expanded into film and television production. Berry Gordy had a record store called 3D Record Mart that showed jazz music in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Detroit's downtown nightclubs, and he met many people. He worked with songwriters like his sister Gwen Gordy and Billy Davis. They wrote for Jackie Wilson (who was based in Detroit).
Early on, Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, and Mable John had shown music. Shop Around was the Miracles first number 1 R&B hit. This was in 1960. Later, the Marvelettes had the pop hit Please Mr. Postman. By the mid-1960s, the company, with the help of songwriters and producers such as Robinson, A&R chief William "Mickey" Stevenson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Norman Whitfield, had become a major force in the music industry. One large anchor of Motown back then was the Supremes. The Supremes changed everything in music from being all women traveling the world to presenting music and outlining unique fashion styles. The original members of the Supremes were Florence Ballad, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Betty McGlown. Later, many members were part of the group like Barbara Martin, Cindy Birdsong, Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene. They were once called the Primettes. Back in the 1960's, the Sunday's best style was popular. As the legendary Valerie Simpson has mentioned:
"Motown was the mecca. It was every writer's dream to work there."
-Valerie Simpson
From 1961 to 1971, Motown had 110 top 10 hits. Top artists on the Motown label during that period included the Supremes (initially including Diana Ross), the Four Tops, and the Jackson 5, while Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Marvelettes, and the Miracles had hits on the Tamla label. The company operated several labels in addition to the Tamla and Motown imprints. A third label, which Gordy named after himself (though it was originally called "Miracle") featured the Temptations, the Contours, Edwin Starr, and Martha and the Vandellas. A fourth, V.I.P., released recordings by the Velvelettes, the Spinners, the Monitors, and Chris Clark.
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A fifth label, Soul, featured Jr. Walker & the All Stars, Jimmy Ruffin, Shorty Long, the Originals, and Gladys Knight & the Pips (who had found success before joining Motown, as "The Pips" on Vee-Jay). Many more Motown-owned labels released recordings in other genres, including Workshop Jazz (jazz) Earl Washington Reflections and Earl Washington's All Stars, Mel-o-dy (country, although it was originally an R&B label), and Rare Earth, which featured the band Rare Earth themselves. Under the slogan "The Sound of Young America," Motown's acts were enjoying widespread popularity among black and white audiences alike (and human beings of every color in general). Motown wanted to break down barriers. In the United Kingdom, Motown's records were released on various labels: at first London (only the Miracles' "Shop Around"/"Who's Lovin' You" and "Ain't It Baby"), then Fontana ("Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes was one of four) and then Oriole American ("Fingertips" by Little Stevie Wonder was one of many). In 1963, Motown signed with EMI's Stateside label ("Where Did Our Love Go" by the Supremes and "My Guy" by Mary Wells were Motown's first British top-20 hits). Eventually, EMI created the Tamla Motown label ("Stop! In the Name of Love" by the Supremes was the first Tamla Motown release in March 1965). The Temptations issued many soundtracks of love from A'int to Proud to Beg and My Girl.
Music with a Message
One of the greatest parts of the 1960's subsequently was about how much of its music (from across genres shown by people of diverse backgrounds) outline very relevant political songs. These songs helped to stir up the human souls to fight for real social change involving civil rights, the rights of black people in general, women's rights, anti-war activism, fighting poverty, defending the sanctity of the environment, etc. Protest songs were used in marches, sit-ins, and in universities where human beings courageously opposed the Vietnam War (including the draft that unfairly targeted black people, other people of color, and the poor of every color). Only a Pawn in Their Game by Bob Dylan (1964) outline a social commentary about the unjust murder of the civil rights activist Medgar Evers (who saved lives on Normandy during World War II). His song mentioned that the murderer Byron De La Beckwith wasn't the only one responsible for the murder but a racist system too. Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come (1964) is very much self explanatory. The song describes a story about despite the oppression against black people in America (via Jim Crow, racism, discrimination, economic exploitation, and other evils), change will come to transform society into a better place. Sam Cooke was one of the best soul singers in history. He also wanted his own record label to gain more power for black musicians. Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire (1965) was a folk rock song. It originally was done by 19 year old P.F. Sloan from the same year. The song touches on civil rights and war.
Fortunate Son was done by Creedance Clearwater Revival (1969). The song both opposed the Vietnam War and shown respect to the troops. Respect done by Aretha Franklin (1967) is about respect for black people, respect for women, and respect for human beings in general. Otis Redding originally written and recorded the song in 1965. Aretha Franklin transformed the song into an anthem about women's empowerment. Universal Soldier was made by the Canadian musician Buffy Sainte-Marie. This protest song was about personal responsibility involving war. There were the songs of The Fish Cheer: I feel like I'm Fixing' to Die by Country Joe McDonald (1967) and Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came by The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band (1967) opposed the Vietnam War overtly. Folk singer Phil Ochs songs of I A'int Marching Anymore (1965) was a famous protest song.
One of the most powerful political songs of the 1960's was Say It Loud: I'm Black and I'm Proud by James Brown (1968). James Brown wanted black people to love their black identities and have a sense of self determination to live their own lives the best that we can. Famous pro-civil rights singers of the 1960's were the Impressions, Grant Green, Larry Goldings (who innovated the classic song of We Shall Overcome), Joan Baez, Bernice Johnson Reagon, etc. The most outspoken civil rights singer back in the 1960's was Nina Simone. She made the song of I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to be Free) and Mississippi Godd___. Lift Every Voice and Sing or the Black American anthem is the epitome of a protest song. It was created by James and John Johnson being later adopted by the NAACP. Gospel, jazz, folk, rock, R&B, and soul music all had a role to play in protesting evils in our society. Odetta is another great civil rights singer too.
The British Invasion
There is no Duran Duran, no Lep Zeppelin, and no Sting without the British Invasion. This movement was about tons of UK artists who showed their talents in America on a large scale by the 1960's. We know about the Beatles and the Rolling Stones have a large role in rock music. Also, many unsung UK artists made their progress in American society to express their musical talents too (like the Kinks, the Dave Clark Five, Hermans Hermits, The Who, Them, Dusty Springfield, Lula, Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Thom Jones, Donovan, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Hollies, Small Faces, the Zombies, etc.). These rock and pop artists were very popular. This started in the late 1950's. During that time, many British young people admired the tone and image of American rock and roll and blues musicians. They were popular. Some people in the beat boom movement or the Merseybeat in Liverpool formed their own groups. Cliff Richard performed. Also in 1962 on the Hot 100, "Midnight in Moscow" by Kenny Ball peaked at number two, Frank Ifield's "I Remember You" became the next British vocal to crack the top five, and the Springfields' version of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" reached the top forty. Many UK musicians were inspired by the African American legendary artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. The Mods and Rockers came from the UK. By 1963, the Beatles existed to promote their music. In October 1963, the first newspaper articles about the frenzy in England surrounding the Beatles appeared nationally in the U.S.
The Beatles spread their reputation in America by December 10, 1963, when CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite reported on them. On December 17, 1963, James had Miss Albert introduced "I Want to Hold Your Hand" live on the air. WWDC's phones lit up, and Washington, D.C., area record stores were flooded with requests for a record they did not have in stock. James sent the record to other disc jockeys around the country sparking a similar reaction. On December 26, 1963, Capitol Records released the record three weeks ahead of schedule. The release of the record during a time when teenagers were on vacation helped spread Beatlemania in the U.S. On December 29, The Baltimore Sun, reflecting the dismissive view of most adults, editorialized, "America had better take thought as to how it will deal with the invasion. Indeed a restrained 'Beatles go home' might be just the thing." In the next year alone, the Beatles would have thirty different listings on the Hot 100. On February 7, 1964, the CBS Evening News ran a story about the Beatles' US arrival that afternoon in which Walter Cronkite said, "The British Invasion this time goes by the code name Beatlemania." Two days later, on Sunday, February 9, 1964, the Beatles group appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Nielsen Ratings estimated that 45 percent of US television viewers that night saw their appearance.
The Beatles were shown everywhere. The Carefrees was a British girl group showing songs like We Love You Beatles. Later, Dusty Springfield had his solo career with the song of I Only Want to Be With You. By 1965, more groups came about like the Hollies and the Zombies. A harder, blues inspired sound came from the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, and Dave Clark Five. The Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night marked the group's entrance into film. The film Mary Poppins – starring English actress Julie Andrews as the titular character and released on August 27, 1964 – became the most Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated Disney film in history. My Fair Lady, released on December 25,1964, starring British actress Audrey Hepburn as Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle, won eight Academy Awards. Oliver! was released in 1968 won Best Picture, becoming the final musical film to do so until Chicago in 2002. Sean Connery playing James Bond started in 1962. Motown survived the British musical invasion. Yet, the folk revival, Nashville country music, and other genres were in competition. It dented the careers of established R&B acts like Chubby Checker and temporarily derailed the chart success of certain surviving rock and roll acts, including Ricky Nelson, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, and Elvis Presley (who nevertheless racked up thirty Hot 100 entries from 1964 through 1967). It prompted many existing garage rock bands to adopt a sound with a British Invasion inflection and inspired many other groups to form, creating a scene from which many major US acts of the next decade would emerge. It inspired more rock musicians and other musicians to use guitars, drums, and produce their own material. The Motown sound, exemplified by the Supremes, the Temptations, and the Four Tops, each securing their first top 20 records during the invasion's first year of 1964 and following up with many other top 20 records, besides the constant or even accelerating output of the Miracles, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and Stevie Wonder, actually increased in popularity during that time. The British invasion ended by the late 1960's and the 1970's. Fashion from the British invasion included flashy styles and miniskirts.
The biggest irony is that the British invasion didn't end. The 2nd British Invasion was during the 1980s and 1990's with groups like Spice Girls, Oasis, Blur, and Robbie Williams including Duran Duran. There would be the British R&B and soul The third British Invasion or the British Soul invasion with artists like Amy Winehouse, Estelle, Joss Stone, Duffy, Natasha Bedingfield, Florence Welch, Corrine Bailey Rae, Adele, Floetry, Jessie J, Leona Lewis, Jay Sean and Taio Cruz happened during the 21st century. The pop group One Direction is part of that movement too.
More Artists Forming Their Legacies
By the 1960's, we saw more American rock and pop musicians assert themselves vocally and performance wise. The music of the sixties expanded music in the midst of social and cultural changes. We see the boundaries of rock expand. Elvis Presley had hits. We saw Motown, Stax, and Atlantic record labels bring more African American artists high on the pop and rock charts. By 1960, Jimmy Jones, Marv Johnson, Bobbie Rydell had made songs. Brenda Lee made the pop hit "I'm Sorry." Guitar player Roy Orbison made the hit of Only the Lonely. Fats Domino made the hit Walkin' to New Orleans, and the son of A Fool in Love was made by Ike and Tina Turner. The Twist was done by Chubby Checker. The Ventures made Walk Don't Run in 1960. Joan Baez of the Greenwich Village folk revival made her debut album filled with traditional folk songs. You Send Me was shown by Sam Cooke. Save the Last Dance was one of the best songs from the Drifters. Hank Ballard made the romance song Let's Go, Let's Go. In 1961, groups like The Shirelles had a song named Will You Love Me Tomorrow. This groups started a new era of women groups. Queens, NYC doo wop group The Capris made the song There's a Moon Out Tonight. Shop Around was the song form The Miracles being written by Smokey Robinson and Motown label founder Berry Gordy Jr. Memphis's own Carl Thomas had the songs Gee Whiz. Elvis' Surrender was a number one hit in America and the UK. Ben E. King had hits like Spanish Harlem and Stand by Me. At Last was a classic from Etta James. Artists like Dion, Th Paris Sisters, Johnny Hallyday, The Dovells, Lee Dorsey, and Jimmy Dean expressed their music. The Marvelettes' Please Mr. Postman was a number one US hit. Willie Nelson wrote the country hit Crazy by Pasty Cline, and The Tokens made The Lion Sleeps Tonight (which was a South African folk song).
Solomon Bruke, Cliff Richard, Gene Chandler, and Chubby Checker shown their music in 1962. Sam Cooke made Twistin' the Night Away. Shelley Fabares, Roy Orbison, and Jay and the Americans continued to show their songs. Soldier Boy was made by The Shirelles. Dee Dee Sharp made Mashed Potato Time. Ray Charles had the love anthem of I Can't Stop Loving You. Freddy Cannon, David Rose, and Bobby Vinton were very popular in 1962. Twist and Shout as shown by The Isley Brothers. By the early 1960's, Carole King continued to be a genius songwriter by writing a song for her teenage babysitter named Little Eva called the Locomotion. The Watutsi dance craze came from The Orlons group with their song of The Wah-Watusi. Dancing was promoted by Chris Montez, The Contours with Do You Love Me, and the folk group Peter, Mary, and Paul. Booker T and The MG's, members of the house band at Memphis' Stax Records, hit #3 US Pop, #1 R&B, #7 UK with the instrumental single "Green Onions." With over a million copies sold the song is one of the most popular instrumentals ever. James Brown, Bobby Pickett, and The Crystal showed their talents to the world.
By 1963, there were groups galore like The Exciters with Tell Him, the folk Rooftop Singers, and the Beatles showing Please, Please Me. Cliff Richard and The Shadows made their music shine. Patsy Cline, unfortunately, died in a plane crash in Tennessee. The Four Seasons, The Chiffons, and The Cascades were groups on the move. Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash in 1963 was the biggest hit of his career. It was written by him and his 2nd wife June Carter. Surfing USA was the Beach Boys signature song. Jimmy Soul, Rolling Stones, and the NYC woman group The Crystals had many hits. The teen Lesley Gore had the song It's My Party. Fingertips from Stevie Wonder was his early hit in the midst of a legendary career. The brother and sister duo Inez and Charles Foxx (of Greensboro, North Carolina) had the song of Mockingbird. Martha and The Vandellas had Heat Wave being very popular. The songwriting and production team of Lamont Dozier and brothers Eddie and Brian Holland contributed to the song. The Ronettes released the song Be My Baby. These people are from Spanish Harlem, NYC using Phil Spector's wall of sound multi layered production technique. Everyone knows that Spector was a person with bad character. I mentioned him for historical reasons. The Chicago group The Impressions had It's Alright which is soulful record. Curtis Mayfield was one lead singer of the Impressions who would go on to have an outstanding solo career. Tommy Roe, The Kingsmen, and Beatlemania take over by the end of 1963.
In 1964, John Dylan shown his third album of The Times They Are a Changin'. This year saw a new time in world society. Ed Sullivan was on. By February 1964, the Beatles are on Ed Sullivan's show. Dave Clark Give's Glad All Over existed. The Beatles' hits back then were I Want to Hold Your Hand, She Loves You, and Can't Buy Me Love. Betty Everett made the song of The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss). The Opals were backing vocals. Terry Stafford made music and Mary Wells too. From New Orleans, Sisters sing songs like Chapel of Love. The group is called The Dixie Cups. Dionne Warwick showed the song Walk on By. She is from East Orange, New Jersey, and is related to Whitney Houston. The Beach Boy's I Get Around is a hit. Johnny Rivers, Stan Getz, Dusty Springfield, and the Four Season establish their own legacies. By August of 1964, the Supreme made their first U.S. hit with Where Did Our Love Go. Under the Boardwalk was one of the best songs of The Drifters (after Rudy Lewis unfortunately died). By September 1964, Shindig! debuted on ABC TV. Oh Pretty Woman was a classic song from Roy Orbison. Simon and Garfunkel made their debut album back in 1964, and they were from Queens, NYC. Manfred Mann, Gale Garnett, and Martha and the Vandellas' Dancing in the Street inspired people (Marvin Gaye and others wrote the song). One of the best songs in 1964 was Baby I Need Your Loving by the Four Tops. Levi Stubbs was an icon of vocal ability. The Shrangri-Las from Queens had Leader of the Pack. Proto-hard rock and punk music The Kinks made You Really Got Me. Marianne Faithful and Bobby Vinton outlined their art in music. By December 1964, Sam Cooke was killed mysteriously. To this day, no one knows all of the details. He was shot in a Los Angeles motel room. Cooke had released his 13th album - Ain't That Good News in March which included the anthem "A Change Is Gonna Come." Viva Las Vegas was done by Elvis. The Rolling Stones's Time is On My Side was famous.
In 1965, Petula Clark released Downtown. She is from the Uk. By January 1965, NBC had . Alan Freed died in 1965. Shirley Ellis had the Name Game in 1965. She is a Sister from the Bronx, NYC. The Impressions with People Get Ready was an outstanding record. It was inspired by the March on Washington. The Righteous Brothers expressed You're Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. I don't like the term "blue-eyed soul" because music is music, but that nickname defined that record. Joe Tex had Hold What's You've Got. Hits came from The Kinks and This Diamond Ring. The Detroit vocal group of the Temptations released My Girl in March 1965. From then on, The Temptations went above the ceiling in talent, influence, style, and power. The Supremes Stop in the Name of Love was their fourth Number one hit. It is important to note that the Supremes were a product of the long tradition of black American culture. Black people have always shown great sophisication and creativity plus originality in history. It is important to note that the Supremes were a product of the long tradition of black American culture. Black people have always shown great sophisication and creativity plus originality in history. As Mary Wilson of The Supremes has stated in her 2019 Elle Magazine Interview (to celebrate her book Supreme Glamour):
"...No, I don’t think it was that, I think it was our own parents. There were so many misconceptions about Black people in America at the time, that we were somehow uncouth or unsophisticated, but that’s nonsense. Our parents and aunts and uncles dressed beautifully: the hats, the suits, they were sharp. Black people knew how to dress and we really got that from our community. I can remember being in church on Sunday as a little girl and admiring the parade of these big, beautiful hats. And of course, Diana and I had Home Economics in school, so that’s where we learned to sew...Mrs. Powell said some of the most wonderful things to us, such as “you are diamonds in the rough and we are just here to polish you.” The impact of saying that to a young person is just immeasurable. She was such an elegant woman and I always felt good when we were able to honor her. Motown artists always stood out, wherever we went..."
Freedie and The Dreams's I'm Telling You Now was another British invasion hit. British people like Shirley Bassey's Goldfinger, Tom Jones's It's Not Unusual, and Herman's Hermits' Henry VIII were very popular. Help Me Rhonda from The Beach Boys existed. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch was The Four Tops's number one hit. The Byrds' Mr. Tambourine Man was in tribute to Bob Dylan's song of the same name. I Can't Get No Satisfaction was overt in its message from The Rolling Stones (the song is very clear on what it is talking about). Bob Dylan promoted the new electric guitar song at the Newport Folk Festival. Help! was the song shown by the Beatles at Shea Stadium in NYC in August 1965. Wilson Pickett had the song of In the Midnight Hour. I Got You Babe was shown by a young Sonny and Cher.
Otis Redding's album of Otis Blue had the single I've Been Loving You Too Long. Otis Redding had an unique, old school voice. James Brown promoted pre funk music with Papa's Got a Brand New Bag. Roy Head, Herb Alpert's Taste of Honey, and the Beatles' Yesterday were high on the charts. Sisters from Jamaica Queens, NYC had the song A Lover's Concerto. The group is called The Toys. Fontella Bass from St. Louis made the soul record of Rescue Me. My Generation was shown by The Who. The Byrds and Dave Clark Five continue to make music.
Counterculture Vibes
By 1966, the counterculture was all over America and the world. It was the shift from the old-school, more conservative culture to a newer, rebellious form of human expression in society. Clothes changed, sexuality became more in the open, and debates about the counterculture exist to this very day. Many rock and roll artists back then and today picture Aleister Crowley as some cultural patron saint. With recent research from the Internet, documents, and documentaries, we realize that Crowley was not only a fraud and a sexist. He was an anti-Christian religious bigot who wanted to use occultism to promote his Aeon of Horus agenda. His religion was Thelema. A lot of people don't know that Crowley called democracy as an "imbecile and nauseating cult of weakness." The counterculture was felt massively in certain types of music. Rubber Soul by the Beatles in 1966 promoted the electric guitar and more Indian sounds. Simon and Garfunkel's Sounds of Silence promoted more drums, bass, and the electric guitar. Nancy Sinatra or the daughter of Frank Sinatra made the song of These Boots Are Made For Walkin'. Mitch Ryder and Lou Christie made music. Uptight, Everything's Alright by Stevie Wonder in February 1966 made him make his stamp in the music industry. Sgt. Barry Sadler made the pro-Vietnam War songs of Ballad of The Green Beret. You're My Soul and Inspiration was made by the LA based The Righteous Brothers. Cher, the Young Rascals, the Outsiders, and The Mama's and the Papa's Monday, Monday were highly influential.
When a Man Loves a Woman by Percey Sledge shows the glorious love that a man shows when he loves a woman. Bands like The Strandells, The Rolling Stones, The Byrds were moving with new sounds. By this time, the psychedelic sound was developing. Frank Sinatra had the hit of Strangers in the Night. Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention debut their album. Wild Thing by the Troggs existed in 1966. Sunny was a song released by soul singer Bobby Hebb. In 1966, John Lennon made the comment that they were bigger than Jesus. Back then, America was a more conservative nation religiously. So, they were boycotted and had death threats for a time. When Revolver came out, the Beatles had the number one album in the UK and the US. The Four Tops had the hit Reach Out I'll Be There. Neil Diamond had his song of Cherry Cherry. You Keep Me Hangin' On was the Supremes' 8th U.S. number one hit. The psychedelic song of Good Vibrations was established by The Beach Boys.
In 1967, there was no turning back. Experimental music and albums were the order of the day. Electric Prunes and Blues Magoos promoted the psychedelic music. The LA band of the Doors released their debut album with songs like Light My Fire. Jim Morrison was the lead singer of the group. Jim Morrison would have tons of talent, be controversial, and was a spokesman for the counterculture movement. The Human Be-In gathering in San Francisco promoted LSD with bands like Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Tell It Like It is by Aaron Neville was a classic. Aaron Neville is from Louisiana. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit were hits from Jefferson Airplane. The Beatles made the song Strawberry Fields Forever. The Velvet Underground, The Grateful Dead, and Jimi Hendrix had their debut albums. Jimi Hendrix's Jimi Hendrix Experience changed music forever. Jimi Hendrix was probably the greatest guitar player of all time with his rock sounds and expressive talent. He was inspired by the blues and other music.
Peaches and Herb had the song of Close Your Eyes. Sweet Soul Music was performed by Arthur Conley. The Beatles Sergeant Pepper Album was released in 1967. It had symbolism, music about drugs, Eastern mysticism promotion, and it changed many people. It was on the top charts in America for 15 weeks and 27 weeks in the UK. It would win the Grammy award for Best Album. The 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival was held in Monterey, California. It had about 200,000 people with artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Otis Redding, Jefferson Airplane, the Association, Janis Joplin, and other people. It was organized by John Philips of the Mama's and the Papa's. The Happening was number one from the Supremes in America. Florence Ballad left the Supremes, and the group was called Diana Ross and the Supremes. Florence Ballad was the most underrated singer of the group, and she was a victim of abuse. Her memory lives on as a courageous woman. The Bee Gees, Vanilla Fudge, and Pink Floyd come out with music. The controversial Beatles manager Brian Epstein died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 33. The Cream Disraeli Gears album existed. Scottish singer Lulu made To Sir With Love part of the movie soundtrack of the same name (the film starred Sidney Poitier in 1967). The Monkees made Daydream Believer. Toots and the Mystals made the music some believe to be the first reggae song. By October of 1967, Dionne Warwick released the song of "I Say a Little Prayer." It was a song written by Burt Bacharach (one of the most talented songwriters of all time) and Hal David for Dionne Warwick. A lot of people forget that Dionne Warwick is from Newark, New Jersey. The song was about a woman having concern for her man who's serving in the Vietnam War. Dionne Warwick recorded the song back in an April 9, 1966 session. Aretha Franklin did her version in 1968. The Jamaican singer Diana King did her version in a reggae style in 1997. CNN recently did a documentary about Dionne Warwick's life and legacy as an artist. Dionne Warwick broke down barriers and expanded the power of black music. Her music also was meant for the human race in general, as great music will always stand the test of time.
In 1968, many activists and politicians were assassinated (like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy), the Vietnam War continued, and music reflected the times. Hello Goodbye was a hit by the Beatles in early 1968. Chain of Fools was made by Aretha Franklin. Frankie Lymon died in February of 1968. Otis Redding, after his passing in December 1967, had the posthumous single Sitting' on the Dock of the Bay. The Monkees continued to make hits. The Delfonics in 1968 made the great song of La-La Means I Love You. The Rock Musical Hair on Broadway was about the counterculture, race, sexuality, and everything under the sun. It didn't hold back. Music with songs like Aquarius defined the play. It was shown on Broadway and other places. Sly and the Family Stone's Dance to the Music had funk elements. Sly and the Family Stone was based in California and had a multicultural style to it. Janis Joplin went solo in 1968. Music grows from Simon and Garfunkel, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, and the Troggs. Johnny Cash records two live performances at California's Folsom Prison in January with support from June Carter and Carl Perkins. The resulting live album released in May goes to #1 on the US Country chart and revitalized Cash's career. Dionne Warwick made the song Do You Know the Way to San Jose. Jumpin' Jack Flash was The Stones going into blues, rock and pyschedelia. Born to be Wild from Steppenwolf was hard with metal influences. Jeannie C. Riley's Harper Valley PTA was popular. Deep Purple's Hush was an early heavy metal sound. The Beatles's White Album was released. Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, and Mary Hopkin were for the UK. Elvis Presley made his comeback special in December 1968. He had his own songs. Stevie Wonder's For Once in My Life is a great song about love and romance. Marvin Gaye outlined more confidence in himself with the song I Heard It Through the Grapevine. Gladys Knights and the Pips had shown the song too, but Gaye's version stood out for tons of people as well.
The End of the Revolutionary 1960's
By 1969, rock music and pop music changed in fashion, culture, and songs forever. It was a sound lightyear different from the music of 1960. By the late 1960's, colorful clothes, Afros, and flashy swagger were the order of the day. By the late 1960's, revolutionary movements grew, the anti-Vietnam War movement was even more potent, and everything evolved into a new eclectic style. By January of 1969, the Beatles performed live for the last time on the roof of their London record label Apple Records. Space Oddity was a hit by David Bowie. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones drowned. By January 1969, Led Zeppelin made their debut self-titled album. It would be one of the most influential rock albums of history (basically starting modern day heavy metal music) with Jimmy Page being a guitarist of the band. They would grow their popularity even more by the 1970's. UK vocalist Dusty Springfield's song of Son of A Preacher Man was very powerful. Crimson and Clover from Tommy James and the Shondells would promote psychedelic rock. Kick Out the Jams by the MC5 in February 1969 would be proto-punk before punk was created. Their music was anti-establishment. Sly and the Family Stone was based in San Francisco, California. Their hit Everyday People outlined a new multicultural world developing in American Society. Sly Stone is a musical genius. The band was diverse, and they had more hits like I Want To Take You Higher with funk elements as well. The greatness of Sly and the Family Stone is that its music appeared to everyone of every color (and every fan of many genres of music).
Some music is just universally great or excellent. Dizzy was a pop record made by Tommy Roe in March 1969. Creedence Clearwater Revival had Proud Mary as a single. The reggae and ska singer Desmond Dekker released the popular song of Israelites. It was the first reggae song to chart in America. The Fifth Dimension released tons of music like the hit Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In. They had talented black singers in the group. The Fifth Dimension wanted more black support, and it would be decades later when their legacy is more appreciated by more people. Neil Young, the Who, and Simon and Garfunkel released many albums and songs. By April of 1969, Aretha Franklin released her album called "Soft and Beautiful." By May 1969, Crosby, Stills, and Nash released their debut album. John Lennon in June 1969 had the bed-ins for peace in Amsterdam and Montreal. Lennon had the song Give Peace a Chance supported by his wife Yoko Ono. The Easy Rider soundtrack had music from Steppenwolf, the Byrds, The Electric Prunes, and other artists.
One great concert was the Harlem Cultural Festival which took place in 1969. It was shown in the 2021 documentary called Summer of Soul. It lasted from June 29, 1969, to August 24, 1969. The festival had icons like Abbey Lincoln, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, George Kirby, Olatunji, Max Roach, The Staple Singers, Herman Stevens and The Voices of Faith, David Ruffin, Chuck Jackson, Gladys Knights and the Pips, Lou Parks Dancers, Nina Simone, B.B. King, Hugh Masekela, and other artists. The festival took place in Mount Morris Park in Harlem, NYC. Questlove (the proponent of the Summer of Soul documentary) said this about the Harlem Cultural Festival:
"...The fact that 40 hours of footage was kept from the public is living proof that revisionist history exists. It was incredibly important for me to get that history right."
On July 30, 1969, Columbia Records released In A Silent Way by Miles Davis. This was one of the first, jazz/rock fusion albums featuring John McLaughlin, Joe Zawinul, and Chick Corea. In 1969, tons of classic songs existed like My Whole World Ended by David Ruffin, It's Your Thing by The Isley Brothers, Too Busy Thinking About My Baby by Marvin Gaye, Johnnie Taylor (I Wonna), Betty Everett's There'll Come a Time, The Impressions Choice of Colors, Carla Thomas's "I Like What You're Doing (To Me), and Stevie Wonder's Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday. Clarence Carter and Gladys Knights and the Pips had classic music too. Marvin Gaye had many duets with Tammi Terrell during 1969 too. Tammi Terrell is an underrated artist from Philadelphia.
By August 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival existed. About 500,000 people were there to hear music from Jimi Hendrix to other people in upstate Bethel, NY. The event was released as a movie and triple album in 1970. The Youngbloods, The Archies, and Bob Dylan released music. In 1969, the Temptations embraced a more futuristic, funk, and psychedelic sound. Janis Joplin released music in September 11, 1969 in her album of "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!" By September 23, 1969, the Supremes and The Temptations released an album together called ironically "Together.' It covered many songs like Can't Take My Eyes Off You, etc. The Temptations had the number one U.S. hit in October 1969 with the song I Can't Get Next to You. The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The Funk Brothers helped with the song too. By October of 1969, Whole Lotta Love was released by Led Zeppelin. The song sounded hard and proto-metal. Fleetwood Mac, made music too. By November of 1969, Elvis Presley released his comeback singles like Suspicious Minds, In the Ghetto, and other music. He performed lived in Las Vegas to show his comeback to music. The Allman Brothers had their debut in November 1969. The Beatles released Abbey Road in November of 1969. The 1960's in music ended with the Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, Northern California. The Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Santa, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and the Flying Burrito Brothers performed. Yet, an innocent young black man was murdered by cowards later on. Leaving on a Jet Plane was the December 1969 hit released by the New York City folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary.
The Jackson Five music in 1969 was involved with soul, pop, and R&B music. The song I Want Your Back by the Jackson Five was released in early October 1969. The group performed the song on Hollywood Palace and the Ed Sullivan Show (on December 14, 1969). In December 1969, the Jackson Five had their debut album called Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5. The rest is history. By the 1970's, with songs like ABC, the Jackson Five was highly influential and popular worldwide. Diana Ross deserves great credit for promoting the Jackson Five too. Michael Jackson, the lead singer of the Jackson Five, showed unparalleled talent in singing and dancing. The Jackson family became a staple of American culture and world musical history indeed. As we shall see in the next part of the series, the 1970's certainly expanded the boundaries of musical talent in every genre.
Pam Grier
When I was a child during the 1990's, I watched the film Coffy. I was thinking about who is this gorgeous black woman is fighting the drug trade, using self-defense, being confident, and standing up for the poor, working-class people (especially black people)? This woman is Pam Grier. Pam Grier worked hard to be one of the greats of acting. Her role wasn't just involved in action movies. Pam Grier worked in dramas, thrillers, science fiction, and other forms of entertainment for over five decades now. Pam Grier gave confidence to a new generation of young people after the 1960's. By the 1970's, fashion changed, the culture of society changed, and oppressed people wanted to show out to display their sense of creativity, individuality, and power. Gaining power legitimately has nothing to do with mocking others. It's about having a fair representation and true influence on the culture to make the world better. That is precisely why we can't be complacent about life. Life is a journey, and while we are here, we have to help people and fight for justice for all. Pam Grier was born in the South in North Carolina, but she lives on the West Coast. You fall in love with the architecture and the beautiful scenery of the West. I have been to the West and fell in love with the West's culture. Also, Pam Grier represented what we want any human being to be: bold, uncompromising, progressive, and having a sense of purpose to make sure that liberty for all is made into a reality. Pam Grier is the first modern-day black woman action star. Pam Grier loves rural farm culture and has been active politically to stand up for human rights in a forthright fashion. It's precisely time to give a description of her life and legacy.
A Life of Ups and Downs
Pam Grier was born on May 26, 1949, at Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her parents are Gwendolyn Sylvia Samuels (a homemaker and nurse) and Clarence Ransom Grier Jr. (a mechanic and a technical sergeant of the United States Air Force). She has one sister and one brother. She was raised Catholic and was later baptized as a Methodist. Grier said that she has African American, Latino, Chinese, Filipino, and Cheyenne heritage. Her father had a long military career, so the family moved around the world during her childhood. By the time she was 6 years old, they lived in Swindon in South West England, United Kingdom. Her father worked on an airforce base. Grier was the only black families in town. Pam Grier said that she faced no massive racism or segregation in the UK as compared to America. She said that, "They didn’t care that I was black since they hadn’t been raised to hate blacks. Instead they’d been raised to hate Germans... In the U.S., especially in the South, we were never able to get buses to stop for us, we couldn’t eat in certain restaurants, couldn’t use certain bathrooms. Up until 1969, there were department stores in which my father and I weren’t even allowed to try on clothing."
After two years in the UK, the family came back to the United States of America. They settled in Denver, Colorado. Pam Grier spent part of her upbringing on her maternal grandparents' sugar beet farm in rural Wyoming where their ancestors had homesteaded after fleeing west via the Underground Railroad to escape slavery. Grier attended East High School in Denver and appeared in many stage productions. She also participated in beauty contests to raise money for college tuition at Metropolitan State College. In 1967, Pam Grier moved to Los Angeles, California. She worked at the switchboard at American International Pictures (AIP). She is believed to have been discovered by director Jack Hill, who cast her in his women-in-prison films The Big Doll House (1971) and The Big Bird Cage (1972). While under contract at AIP, she became a staple of early 1970s blaxploitation movies, playing larger-than-life, bold, and assertive women.
Stardom and Making History
Later, the movie Coffy was released in 1973. Coffy changed the whole world. You can make the case that Pam Grier is the first woman superhero crime fighter in modern American film. The movie of Coffy was about Pam Grier playing Coffy, who is a nurse who seeks justice against drug dealers harming the black community. Coffy was a hit and it had violence, sexual themes, and a lesson about confronting injustice in communities. Pam Grier was the first African American woman to headline an action film. This was part of the Blaxploitation movie genre movement. In his review of Coffy, critic Roger Ebert praised the film for its believable woman lead. During the 1970's, she played similar roles of a black woman fighting the establishment and drug dealers in society with roles like Foxy Brown in 1974, Sheba, Baby (1975), and Friday Foster (1975). In a 2020 New Yorker interview, Pam Grier defends her movies from the 1970's as not perpetrating stereotypes in these terms:
"...I keep telling them, Where do you think we get them from? Those aren't stereotypes. We get them from reality. We'd like to address them and correct them, if possible. It's like, when a woman takes off her earrings and her shoes, she's going to whoop your behind. So that's in my movies, O.K? Certain cultures understand that. And other cultures think it's exploitation: "We don't fight! We're conservative black people- we don't do that.!" The h____ you don't. Black exploitation was labeled by two black advertising executives at American International Pictures. That was the only way they could tell people it's black jargon, black music, black culture. It wasn't negative, because it would stay in a movie theater almost eight weeks, more than any other movie. Before I had done my movies, there were maybe twenty blaxploitation movies, but they didn't call them blaxploitation because they weren't so sexy."
Pam Grier made a great point about the double standards in the film industry by her own following words: "Everyone else can do violence. You know, Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone, they can all do shoot-em-ups. Arnold Schwarzenegger can kill 10 people in one minute, and they don't call it "white exploitation." They win awards and get into all the magazines. But if black people do it, suddenly it's different than if a white person does it. People respond differently because people come from different places." By the 1970's, Pam Grier dated prominent and famous men. She met basketball player Ferdinand Lewis (Lew) Alcindor before he became a Muslim; soon after they began dating, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar proposed to Grier but gave her an ultimatum to convert to Islam. He said, "If you don't commit to me today, I'm getting married at 2 this afternoon. She's a converted Muslim, and she's been prepared for me," adding, "once you become Muslim, you might appreciate another wife." Grier declined, so he got married that day to another woman. Grier met comedian Freddie Prinze while promoting her film Coffy in 1973. They began a relationship and considered marriage. Prinze wanted her to have his baby, but she was reluctant due to his history of depression and drug addiction. They remained in touch after she left him. She was one of the last people Prinze spoke to before he died in 1977.
Grier met comedian Richard Pryor through her relationship with Prinze, but they did not begin dating until they were both cast in Greased Lightning. She helped Pryor learn to read and tried to help him with his drug addiction. After six months of sobriety, he relapsed. In her memoir, Grier described how her sexual relationship with Pryor caused cocaine to enter her system. Grier confronted Pryor about protecting her health, but he refused to use a condom. Pryor married Deborah McGuire while dating Grier in 1977. Grier was formerly romantically linked to Jimmie “Big Wheel" Wheeler, a famous boxing promoter, Soul Train host Don Cornelius and basketball player Wilt Chamberlain.
Diverse Range
By the end of the 1970's, the game has changed. Blaxploitation films started to end, sci-fi films increased in power, and the country was changing politically plus socially. We know that Ronald Reagan was inaugurated President on January 20, 1981, so the conservative movement was at its zenith in American society. Pam Grier wanted to play more diverse roles. So, he played a prostitute in Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981) and a witch in Something Wicked this Way Comes (1983). In 1985, Grier made her theatrical debut in Sam Sheppard's Fool for Love at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Grier returned to film as Steven Seagal's detective partner in Above the Law (1988). She had a recurring role in Miami Vice from 1985 to 1989. She had a recurring role in the TV series Crime Story between 1986 and 1988. Grier was diagnosed with stage-four cervical cancer in 1988 and was told she had 18 months to live. Through vigorous treatment, she made a recovery and has been in remission. That was certainly excellent news.
The 1990's
By the 1990's, Pam Grier continued to work hard in the craft of acting. She made guest appearances on Martin, Night Court, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She was on Sinbad, Preston Chronicles, The Cosby Show, The Wayans Brothers Show, and Mad TV. By 1994, Pam Grier appeared in Snoop Dogg's video for "Doggy Dogg World." By 1993, she was part of the movie Posse playing Phebe. Posse is an underrated movie about the African American experience in the 19th-century West. Back then, many black Americans were soldiers, cowboys, and formed their own towns after leaving the South. There were the black American Exodusters in Kansas. In real life, Grier's ancestors lived in Wyoming. By 1996, she starred as Laurie Thompson in Original Gangstas. The film is about a story of heroes fighting back against criminals in Gary, Indiana. By the late 1990's Pam Grier was cast of a member of the Showtime series called Linc's. She was in the 1996 movie of John Carpenter's Escape from L.A. By the 1990's, there was nostalgia for the 1970's. I remembered in the 1990's when I watched tons of 70's films, especially blaxploitation movies. Therefore, Pam Grier was in the film Jackie Brown (directed by the controversial Quentin Tarantino). Jackie Brown played homage to Pam Grier's blaxploitation movies. Jackie Brown was about Jackie Brown (played by Pam Grier) who acts as a courier, but she wants to have a change of heart to go legit by the end of the movie. She was nominated for numerous awards for her work in the Tarantino film. Pam Grier continues to inspire audiences worldwide with her acting, charisma, and activism in society. In 1998, Grier was engaged to RCA Records executive Kevin Evans, but the engagement ended in 1999. One of her prominent roles was playing Detective Angela Wilson in the film In Too Deep. In Too Deep is a film about an undercover officer (played by Omar Epps) trying to take down a vicious drug dealer (played by LL Cool J). The undercover officer finds love with a supportive woman (played by Nia Long).
Reinvention and Modern Life
By the 21st century, Pam Grier has worked hard in acting from television shows to movies. She finished playing Elanor Winthrop on Linc's by the year 2000. She was on shows like Night Visions, Justice League in 2002 as My'ria'h, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, and Lady of the House. She was on the show The L Word as Kit Porter for 70 episodes from 2004 to 2009. Later, she played Amanda Waller on Smallville in 2010. She worked on This is Us as a grandmother. In 2022, she played Neckbone in the animated series of The Great North. She was in films like 3 A.M. and the famous film of Bones. Bones is a thriller with Snoop Dogg having a role too. Back in the Day was a serious film in 2005 where she played Mrs. Cooper (the film also starred Ja Rule and Ving Rhames). This movie had her acting as a mother trying to keep her family away from the street life of crime and social destruction. Pam Grier was Detective Barrick in the 2012 movie called Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day. The 2019 film Poms featured her as the character of Olive. In 2010, Grier wrote her memoir, Foxy: My Life in Three Acts, with Andrea Cagan. Grier received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2011. That same year, she received an honorary Doctorate of Science from Langston University. According to Essence magazine, in Grier's career, "[s]o revolutionary were the characters Grier played that women reportedly would stand on chairs and cheer." She founded the Pam Grier Community Garden and Education Center with the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum. The purpose is to teach people about organic gardening, health, and nutrition among other things. The museum named its first garden in honor of Grier in 2011. In January 2018, Grier revealed a biopic based on her memoir in the works, entitled Pam. In April 2022, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) announced the fourth season of their podcast, The Plot Thickens, would focus on Grier's life and career. So, Pam Grier has been creating tons of accomplishments and institutions for decades.
The Legacy of Pam Grier
Pam Grier changed society in many ways. To this very day, she is very humble about her experiences and contributions to movies and television shows. She has been through the storm in her life early on (she experienced sexual assault and later survived cervical cancer back in the 1980's). Yet, Pam Grier survived the storm to be an inspiration to human beings, especially to black women to see that they can achieve greatness through their own power. The independent power of Pam Grier developed into a huge legacy involving our society in general. She helped to shape cinema, feminism, and gave new insights into the lives of black women. She has shown the image of black women to be powerful, diverse, and willing to stand up against injustice. You will notice that the films like Coffy, Foxy Brown, Sheba Baby, and Friday Foster were about a woman (and other people) working together to confront evils in our community like drug addiction, the War on Drugs, police corruption, Mafia criminal actions, and abuse of fellow human beings. Pam Grier was one of the first modern black woman superheroes in the movie industry.
After the 1970's, all women action stars of every color owe a debt of gratitude to Pam Grier and her sacrifice to make complex images of black women grow. Pam Grier has an American story. She was born in the South in Winston Salem, North Carolina, many of her relatives lived in the Mountain West over in Wyoming, and she always worked hard to achieve her goals. To this day, she has her own ranch which is an homage to the work ethic of her ancestors. Her memoir from 2010 is entitled, Foxy: My Life in Three Acts. From Turner Movie Classics having a podcast about her inspirational life to tons of musicians, intellectuals, and everyday fans being influenced by her, Pam Grier made an undeniable mark in black culture and world culture as a whole. At the end of the day, everything comes down to the Golden Rule. Treating people with respect, standing up for yourself, fighting for what is right, promoting truth, and defending justice will cause blessings in all of our lives. It is what it is. Pam Grier is a gorgeous black woman (inside and out) who has been an icon in our lives indeed.
By Timothy
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