Archive of entries posted by joshpincusiscrying
DCS: david johansen
David Johansen, the front man of the seminal glam-punk band The New York Dolls, passed away in February 2025 after a five year battle with cancer, exacerbated by a fall in late 2024 in which he broke his back in two places. Despite his raucous, exuberant, over-the-top stage persona, David was — by all accounts, …
inktober52: lamp
DCS: hubert johnson
In 1959, three Detroit musicians formed a singing group called “The Blenders…” with little success. The next year, popular singer Jackie Wilson suggested the trio become a quartet with the addition of Jackie’s cousin Hubert Johnson. Hubert was accepted and the group changed their name to The Contours. Soon after, music impresario Berry Gordy signed …
DCS: sam theard
As a young man in New Orleans, Sam Theard began performing in the circus, as well as theaters and nightclubs. In 1929, accompanied by noted blues musicians Tampa Red and Cow Cow Davenport, Sam wrote and recorded “Ill Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You” under the whimsical moniker “Lovin’ Sam from Down in …
inktober52: pisces
DCS: marie van brittan brown
Registered nurse Marie Van Brittan Brown grew weary of the high crime rate in her Queens, New York neighborhood. She and her her electrical engineer husband Albert were furious at the amount of time it took for police to respond to calls. They decided to take matters into their own hands. Marie and Albert rigged …
DCS: jimmy castor
Teenage Jimmy Castor formed the group Jimmy and the Juniors and recorded “I Promise to Remember.” The single was poorly promoted by Mercury Records, which angered the budding singer. In 1966, Jimmy and the group released “Hey Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You.” It was a moderate hit. In the 70s, Jimmy formed The Jimmy Castro …
inktober52: pyramid
DCS: arturo schomburg
Arturo Schomburg, son of a Black midwife and a German immigrant to Puerto Rico, was told by a grade school teacher that Black people had no heroes, no history and no accomplishments. This infuriated the young Arturo and he devoted his life to proving his teacher wrong. At St. Thomas College in the Virgin Islands, …