Retro: Kimmer

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HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES: BERNIE WILSON RIP Posted: 27 Dec 2010 02:23 PM PST PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS ANNOUNCES PASSING OF HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES MEMBER BERNIE WILSON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 27, 2010 PHILADELPHIA – Bernie Wilson, baritone vocalist in the classic lineup of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, died early yesterday from undisclosed medical complications at Kresson View Center in Voorhees, NJ, Philadelphia International Records has announced. Wilson joined Melvin, Teddy Pendergrass, Lawrence Brown and Lloyd Parks in the world-renowned lineup that was signed to Philadelphia International Records in 1972, the beginning of a four-year string of hits for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes that were integral in defining the Sound of Philadelphia. They became one of the most popular groups in R&B during that era, with recordings that ranged from sweeping, extended proto-disco dance tracks to silky, smoldering ballads, all wrapped up in the lushly orchestrated production that had become the legendary signature of Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff. The group made their chart debut with "I Miss You," then continued with a Grammy nomination for their first #1 R&B hit, "If You Don't Know Me By Now." More #1 hits followed, with "The Love I Lost," and "Wake Up Everybody." Other Blues Notes classics during that time include "Bad Luck" (#4 R&B; #1 Dance) and "Don't Leave Me This Way." The passing of Wilson leaves Lloyd Parks as the sole surviving member of the classic lineup of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Funeral arrangements are pending. Contact: Randy Alexander / Randex Communications randex@randexpr.com

TEENA MARIE RIP Posted: 27 Dec 2010 07:57 AM PST Sad news last night. Teena Marie passed away suddenly and the authorities are investigating the cause behind her death. Teena was one of my favorite voices of the 80's. She really had such a powerful voice. Teena Marie found airplay on the urban radio stations more than top 40. Luckily for me I worked in Heidi's Salon in Ann Arbor back then and I was working when I first heard my favorite Teena Marie song... Casanova Brown. Beautiful woman beautiful voice. RIP Teena. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – R&B singer and songwriter Teena Marie, best known for the hit 1980s singles "Lovergirl" and "Ooo La La La," died at her home in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to news reports. She was 54. The cause of death was not known, and a spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. Her friend, percussionist Sheila E, reported on Twitter that Teena Marie had a history of seizures. R&B singer Teena Marie dies at 54 Relatives found Teena's body Sunday morning at her home. Relatives told TMZ that Teena seemed fine Saturday when she spent Christmas with her brother. Teena Marie, whose real name was Mary Brockert, was one of the rare white performers to enjoy crossover success on America's black music charts. A protégée of funk singer Rick James, she signed with Motown Records in 1975 and released her first album four years later. That album, which was mostly written by James, led fans to believe that Teena Marie was black since it did not feature a picture of her. Her duet with James on "I'm a Sucker For You" peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Black Singles chart. "I've always been accepted by the black community and I think that's a beautiful thing," Teena Marie told Jet magazine in 2006. She released 13 albums up to 2009's "Conga Square," on which she paid tribute to jazz influences, such as Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday.

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