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Weldon Irvine

December 15, 2023

Weldon Jonathan Irvine Jr. (October 27, 1943 – April 9, 2002), also known as Master Wel,[1] was an American composer, playwright, poet, pianist, organist, and keyboardist.

Biography edit

Irvine, an African American, was born in Hampton, Virginia, on October 27, 1943. He moved to New York City in 1965, settling in the St. Albans, Queens neighborhood.[2][3] He was involved with various musical genres including Jazz-Funk, jazz, hip hop, funk, rhythm and blues, and gospel.[1] He served as the bandleader for jazz singer Nina Simone and was a mentor to many New York hip-hop artists, including Q-Tip and Mos Def. He wrote more than 500 songs,[4] including the lyrics for "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", performed live for the first time by Simone on the album Black Gold (1970). It has been dubbed the "official" Civil Rights anthem.

In 1998, he performed the keys for "Astronomy (8th Light)" on Black Star's album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. In 1999, Irvine contributed on Mos Def's debut solo album Black On Both Sides.[5] Irvine's last major project was The Price of Freedom (1999), a compilation of original songs by hip-hop, jazz, funk, and R&B artists to respond to the shooting of Amadou Diallo.[2] In 2000, Irvine provided the vocal introductions to tracks on the first CD of the album Late Night Blues[6] by UK Drum & Bass producer Big Bud. He co-wrote and performed vocals and played the Fender Rhodes on the first track entitled "Return of Spiritman". He also played the Fender Rhodes on closing track "Persian Blues". He later performed vocals, Fender Rhodes and Hammond organ on the track "Amigo Mio" (also by Big Bud), which appeared on the compilation Earth Volume 5.

Irvine committed suicide by shooting himself outside of EAB Plaza and in front of the Nassau Coliseum located in Uniondale, New York, on April 9, 2002.[2][7]

Legacy edit

In 1976, Weldon's childhood friend Collis Davis produced a documentary The Edification of Weldon Irvine. It was originally Davis' Thesis Film during his time at NYU Film School.

In 2003, Madlib, Mr. Dibbs and Breakestra produced a tribute to Weldon Irvine, "Suite for Weldon". The following year, Madlib released the full-length album A Tribute to Brother Weldon.[8]

In 2008, Q-Tip mentions Weldon in his song "Shaka", a tribute to the people who have helped him throughout the years and those who have died.

In 2019, a feature-length documentary, Digging for Weldon Irvine, was released by director Victorious De Costa.[9]

In 2023, P-VINE acquired the catalog and associated copyrights owned by the estate of Weldon Irvine, for a worldwide territory, including works released from Nodlew Music, hitherto unreleased works, the copyright to "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", and other master recording rights and copyrights owned by the manager of the estate and Irvine’s widow Pauline Cole.[10]

Discography edit

As leader edit

As sideman edit

With Richard Groove Holmes

With Freddie Hubbard

With Big Bud

With Donald Blackman

Charted singles edit

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions
AUS
[11]
"When I Was a Sperm" 1995 26

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Weldon Irvine". Nathaniel Turner. Retrieved December 15, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c "Weldon Irvine: Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 15, 2006.
  3. ^ "Digging For Weldon Irvine". docnrollfestival.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  4. ^ "Weldon Irvine". artistdirect.com. Retrieved December 15, 2006.
  5. ^ "Mos Def - Black On Both Sides (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs. October 1999. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "Big Bud - Late Night Blues (CD, Album)". Discogs. May 2000. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  7. ^ "Music and Suicide: A Tragic History". BET. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  8. ^ Nikhil Yerwadekar. . Hip Hop Site. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2006.
  9. ^ "Digging for Weldon Irvine". Digging for Weldon Irvine. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  10. ^ "Notice of Agreement Concerning the Acquisition of WELDON IRVINE's Master Rights and Copyrights - ニュース - P-VINE, Inc".
  11. ^ "Discography Master Wel". australian-charts.com. Retrieved August 25, 2022.

External links edit

December 15, 2023
weldon, irvine, weldon, jonathan, irvine, october, 1943, april, 2002, also, known, master, american, composer, playwright, poet, pianist, organist, keyboardist, contents, biography, legacy, discography, leader, sideman, charted, singles, references, external, . Weldon Jonathan Irvine Jr October 27 1943 April 9 2002 also known as Master Wel 1 was an American composer playwright poet pianist organist and keyboardist Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Discography 3 1 As leader 3 2 As sideman 3 3 Charted singles 4 References 5 External linksBiography editIrvine an African American was born in Hampton Virginia on October 27 1943 He moved to New York City in 1965 settling in the St Albans Queens neighborhood 2 3 He was involved with various musical genres including Jazz Funk jazz hip hop funk rhythm and blues and gospel 1 He served as the bandleader for jazz singer Nina Simone and was a mentor to many New York hip hop artists including Q Tip and Mos Def He wrote more than 500 songs 4 including the lyrics for To Be Young Gifted and Black performed live for the first time by Simone on the album Black Gold 1970 It has been dubbed the official Civil Rights anthem In 1998 he performed the keys for Astronomy 8th Light on Black Star s album Mos Def amp Talib Kweli Are Black Star In 1999 Irvine contributed on Mos Def s debut solo album Black On Both Sides 5 Irvine s last major project was The Price of Freedom 1999 a compilation of original songs by hip hop jazz funk and R amp B artists to respond to the shooting of Amadou Diallo 2 In 2000 Irvine provided the vocal introductions to tracks on the first CD of the album Late Night Blues 6 by UK Drum amp Bass producer Big Bud He co wrote and performed vocals and played the Fender Rhodes on the first track entitled Return of Spiritman He also played the Fender Rhodes on closing track Persian Blues He later performed vocals Fender Rhodes and Hammond organ on the track Amigo Mio also by Big Bud which appeared on the compilation Earth Volume 5 Irvine committed suicide by shooting himself outside of EAB Plaza and in front of the Nassau Coliseum located in Uniondale New York on April 9 2002 2 7 Legacy editIn 1976 Weldon s childhood friend Collis Davis produced a documentary The Edification of Weldon Irvine It was originally Davis Thesis Film during his time at NYU Film School In 2003 Madlib Mr Dibbs and Breakestra produced a tribute to Weldon Irvine Suite for Weldon The following year Madlib released the full length album A Tribute to Brother Weldon 8 In 2008 Q Tip mentions Weldon in his song Shaka a tribute to the people who have helped him throughout the years and those who have died In 2019 a feature length documentary Digging for Weldon Irvine was released by director Victorious De Costa 9 In 2023 P VINE acquired the catalog and associated copyrights owned by the estate of Weldon Irvine for a worldwide territory including works released from Nodlew Music hitherto unreleased works the copyright to To Be Young Gifted and Black and other master recording rights and copyrights owned by the manager of the estate and Irvine s widow Pauline Cole 10 Discography editAs leader edit 1972 Liberated Brother Nodlew 1973 Time Capsule Nodlew 1974 Cosmic Vortex Justice Divine RCA Records 1974 In Harmony Strata East 1975 Spirit Man RCA Records 1976 Sinbad RCA Records 1979 The Sisters Saucerman 1989 Weldon amp The Kats Nodlew 1994 Music Is the Key Luv N Haight 1995 Keyboards Wild DJ s Smile Tuff City Records 1998 Embrace the Positive Nodlew 1999 The Amadou Project The Price of Freedom Nodlew As sideman edit With Richard Groove Holmes Comin on Home Blue Note 1971 With Freddie Hubbard Straight Life CTI 1971 With Big Bud Late Night Blues Good Looking Records 2000 Earth Volume 5 Track Amigo Mio Good Looking Records 2001 With Donald Blackman Listen Expansion Records 2002 Charted singles edit List of singles with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positionsAUS 11 When I Was a Sperm 1995 26References edit a b Weldon Irvine Nathaniel Turner Retrieved December 15 2006 a b c Weldon Irvine Biography allmusic com Retrieved December 15 2006 Digging For Weldon Irvine docnrollfestival com Retrieved August 10 2020 Weldon Irvine artistdirect com Retrieved December 15 2006 Mos Def Black On Both Sides Vinyl LP Album Discogs October 1999 Retrieved December 28 2015 Big Bud Late Night Blues CD Album Discogs May 2000 Retrieved December 28 2015 Music and Suicide A Tragic History BET Retrieved July 10 2015 Nikhil Yerwadekar Yesterday s New Quintet Hip Hop Site Archived from the original on January 16 2016 Retrieved December 15 2006 Digging for Weldon Irvine Digging for Weldon Irvine Retrieved June 9 2020 Notice of Agreement Concerning the Acquisition of WELDON IRVINE s Master Rights and Copyrights ニュース P VINE Inc Discography Master Wel australian charts com Retrieved August 25 2022 External links editWeldon Irvine at AllMusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Weldon Irvine amp oldid 1187991152, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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