Passings: Mary Wilson, U Roy and Chick Corea

[Imani]

Three major musical figures passed away in February 2021, all working in different areas but each with huge and enduring influence.

Mary Wilson as a founder member of The Supremes, was largely responsible for making Motown the model for so much popular music across genres, not to mention fashion.

What can be said about U Roy? All toasters, rappers, emcees etc owe their art to the "Daddy" of them all. There's a good interview with him and dub poet Mutabaruka on Youtube.

Chick Corea: Master pianist, composer and bandleader who first came to prominence with Miles Davis, and amassed a great body of work in his own right. Steel Pulse wrote a nice tribute to him as one of their influences, on their Facebook page

[Harry]

True. All 3 were very influential.
I think I'm right in saying a version of Wear You To The Ball was the last thing The Specials recorded. I love U Roy's' version
_________________
I got one art O'level it did nothing for me

[Imani]

'Wear You To The Ball' and so many others he did with The Paragons, brilliant.
I think the original Specials line-up did a recording that was never released, or at least some of the band (the session where 'Why?' was demoed?).

This was the first time I saw U Roy on tv, along with his disciple 'U Brown'. From the documentary Roots, Rock, Reggae.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRc4Uu-UmCU