Chapter 01 — Today in music
On a day like today June 3
1942
Curtis Mayfield is born, the sweet conscience of soul
On June 3, 1942, Curtis Mayfield was born in Chicago — the falsetto voice that soundtracked the civil rights movement with The Impressions and later X-rayed the ghetto on 'Superfly'. A subtle guitarist, visionary producer and committed lyricist, he proved protest could sound like silk. Half of hip-hop was built by sampling his grooves.
Curtis Mayfield
1939
Ian Hunter is born, glam rock's chronicler in dark glasses
On June 3, 1939, Ian Hunter was born in England — the voice of Mott the Hoople, the band David Bowie rescued by gifting them 'All the Young Dudes' in 1972. Behind his perpetual dark glasses and sharp prose, Hunter also wrote 'Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star', considered one of the best books ever written about real life on tour.
Ian Hunter
Mott the Hoople
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