The Black Rock (Alternative R&B) Timeline

Date: May 1, 2009

From: BLACKAPALOOZA TOURS < http://www.blackapalooza.com >

The Black Rock (Alternative R&B) Timeline

Below are listed our suggestions on what we believe to be key events in the development and evolution of “Black Rock” (that is, the Alternative R&B Music genre).

In chronological order, they are as follows:

1. The all black Band of Gypsys debut performance at the Fillmore East on New Year’s Eve in 1969, which featured musicians, Jimi Hendrix (guitar), Buddy Miles (drummer) and Billy Cox (bassist). Band of Gypsys is also the name of a DVD documentary concerning the album and Hendrix’s performances at the Fillmore during New Year’s Eve 1969, and New Year’s Day 1970. The Band of Gypsys reached 5 in the U.S. and 6 in the UK and became one of the Hendrix’s best-selling albums.

2. The formation of the band Mother’s Finest in Atlanta, GA in early 1970 by Joyce Kennedy and Glenn Murdock. The group charted with the singles "Fire", "Baby Love" (79 Black Singles, 58 Pop Singles), "Don’t Wanna Come Back" (54 Black Singles), and "Love Changes" (26 Black Singles) in the mid to late 1970s. Mother’s Finest are notable partly because they are an "interracial" rock group from the US South. Their music was a blend of funky rhythm, heavy guitars and expressive rock singing.

3. The formation of the rock group LOVE that featured Arthur Lee on lead vocals. Arthur Lee (March 7, 1945 to August 3, 2006 was the frontman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of the Los Angeles rock band LOVE, best known for the critically acclaimed 1967 album, Forever Changes. Forever Changes is regarded by critics and fans alike as LOVE’s finest recording, and one of the best records of the ’60s. LOVE’s music has been described as a mixture of folk-rock, psychedelic rock, R&B, baroque rock, protopunk, garage rock,

4. In the late 1970’s saw the formation of The Selecter, a 2 Tone Ska Revival band from Coventry, England, UK that featured a racially mixed line-up that included the vocalist, Pauline Black. Pauline Black was the lead singer of The Selecter since its formation as a band in August 1979, when the band released the singles "Three Minute Hero", "The Whisper", "Missing Words" and "On My Radio".

5. The Wailers first US Tour and US Club tour dates from 1973 to 1975, and the signing of the band by Chris Blackwell to Island records, and the release of their first album in 1973, titled, “Catch A Fire,” (Island Records), The Catch A Fire album incorporates elements from popular music; such as R&B, rock, soul, blues and funk. The US tour dates had significant important in the development of black rock because this tour was a towering rip roaring success for Bob Marley and the Wailers which paved the way for other Jamaican reggae entertainers and other black bands to tour major college and to performance at predominately white venues.

6. The birth of Bad Brains in 1977 in Washington, DC. Bad Brains are perhaps the most important hardcore punk band ever.

7. The formation of ONYX (ONXYZ) Band in 1978 in Detroit, Michigan, USA as a black rock-reggae band by musician/keyboardist and producer KAS, and the release in 1978 of their hit single, “Dread Wave” on POPP INC RECORDS < http://www.poppmusic.net > Detroit, MI, USA). ONXYZ, under the direction of founder, KAS, has recorded and released many CD/Albums, including their mega hit, 45 and their 12-inch hit single, "Dread Wave." ONYX (ONXYZ) was awarded the Metro Times (Detroit) "Hall of Fame Award". The band has toured the Mid-West, East Coast and Canada and performed with many of the major acts in the Rock, R&B, Reggae, Funk and World Beat Category. Some of these acts include Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Judy Mowatt, Sugar Minott, Ohio Players, DeFunkt, Was Not Was, Miriam Makeba, Inner Circle and Chaba Fadela, Shabba Ranks, and many others.

8. Fishbone band formed in 1979 in South Central Los Angeles, California by Angelo Moore (Lead Singer). Fishbone is an African-American alternative band that plays a fusion of ska, punk, rock, reggae, punk, funk, and metal. Fishbone first gained attention with their live concerts, earning a reputation as one of the most diverse bands in the alternative rock genre.

9. The emergence in the 1980’s of the soul music collective empire, SOUL II SOUL in London by Jazzie B that was active from 1988 to 1997,

10. The formation of the musical artist collective, Black Rock Coalition (BRC) in 1985 in New York City, NY by Vernon Reid (guitarist, Living Colour), Greg Tate (author, musician), Konda Mason (music producer), and

11. The emergence and birth of the Afro-Punk scene and the involvement of African American in the punk sub-culture of today.

We hope that you find these suggestions useful for your “Black Rock Timeline”. Please contact if we can be of any further assistance. We can be contacted via e-mail at: info@blackapalooza.com

For more about Alternative R&B Music visit our web site at:

http://www.blackapalooza.com

For more news about Black Rock Bands, Alternative R&B artists and Alternative R&B Music and the scene visit:

http://groups.myspace.com/AlternativeRnB

By: BLACKAPALOOZA Tours, Motor City, Detroit, MI and Brick City, Newark, NJ, USA

Tags: 360, 3d, African, Afro, Afro-Punk, Alternative, America, American, BET, BLACKAPALOOZA, More…

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Comment by Tassja Walker on May 29, 2009 at 5:26pm: What up people? The Afro Punk Festival is approaching quickly and the good folks over at About Time Boutique are going to be there in full effect! If you are looking to have t-shirts personalized for the event feel free to reach out and ask for that family discount!!!

Comment by Kevin Phillip on May 29, 2009 at 2:56pm: Hey, I’m Kevin from About Time. Afro punk festival is coming up and about time boutique will have a table at the event. Everyone is really excited about it, if you’re looking to have your own/personalized t-shirts 4 the event, then hit me up! Afro Punk’s in da building get a friend in my head discount So come on bands & vendors get your t shirts done. It’s a recession, but I’m recession proof. Yo, check this out and tell me what u think http://abouttimeboutique.blogspot.com/ it’s About Time we all work together!
Kevin Phillip
By the way BET is coming by our office on Wednesday, So Afro Punk stand up!!