THIS DAY IN SOUL MUSIC HISTORY

MARCH 1

1927

Harry Belafonte is born in Harlem, New York. At 8 years old, he moves with his family to Jamaica, his mother’s birthplace. Years later, he returns to New York and becomes one of the biggest entertainers of the ‘50s, known for his contributions to calypso music and activism.

1981

“Sophisticated Ladies,” a Broadway musical based on the music of Duke Ellington, premieres at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in NYC. The show runs for an impressive 767 performances.

1984

Just two days after losing to Michael Jackson at the Grammys, Prince heads into the studio and records “When Doves Cry.” He programs the drums, plays every instrument, and then makes a bold decision—he removes the bassline, creating one of the most unique and unforgettable songs in music history.

1990

Janet Jackson kicks off her Rhythm Nation World Tour at the Miami Arena in Florida. The high-energy production features live re-creations of her music videos, including the iconic choreography for “Rhythm Nation.”

Initially, a live panther is part of her stage show, but after safety concerns (and a few incidents of the panther urinating on stage), the animal is removed from the summer leg of the tour.

2001 – Sean “Puffy” Combs becomes the star witness in his own defense in a New York court case involving a shooting at a nightclub. Puffy testifies that he did not have a gun and believed he was being shot at.

2003 – The Soul Train Music Awards are held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California, hosted by Queen Latifah and Arsenio Hall.

Major Honors:

• LL Cool J receives the Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements (Male).

• Mariah Carey is honored with the Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements (Female).

• Nelly is awarded the Sammy Davis, Jr. Award for “Entertainer of the Year.”

Notable Winners:

• R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year: Nellyville – Nelly

• Best R&B/Soul Album – Male: Juslisen – Musiq Soulchild

• Best R&B/Soul Album – Female: Ashanti – Ashanti

• Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo: B2K – B2K

• Best R&B/Soul Single – Male: Musiq Soulchild – “Dontchange”

• Best R&B/Soul Single – Female: Ashanti – “Foolish”

• Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo: B2K (feat. P. Diddy) – “Bump, Bump, Bump”

• Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video: Missy Elliott – “Work It”

• Best Gospel Album: The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin – Kirk Franklin

2004 – Michael Jackson unveils www.mjjsource.com, a website dedicated to celebrating his music career while also providing news updates on his criminal trial. The site features attorney bios and a court date calendar.

2019 - Solange releases her fourth studio album, When I Get Home. The album explores themes of self-reflection, identity, and homecoming, blending R&B, jazz, and electronic influences.

2023 – Leon Hughes, the last surviving original member of The Coasters, passes away at age 92 in Watts, Los Angeles. The group was known for classics like “Yakety Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” “Young Blood,” and “Poison Ivy.”