Source Material: Grady Tate – “Be Black Baby”

Grady Tate was a well-renowned Jazz drummer from Durham, North Carolina.  He was a self-taught drummer who played a major role in the expansion of soul-jazz.   In 1963, Tate moved to New York City to enroll at The New York Academy of Dramatic Art.  While in pursuit of an acting career, Jerome Richardson, the famed saxophonist and flutist, recommended Tate to Quincy Jones.  Shortly after, Tate became a member of Quincy Jones’s big band.  The demand for Tate as a session drummer quickly materialized and his impact would be felt all throughout the ’60s and ’70s.  He worked with a number of artists including: Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Jimmy Smith, and Wes Montgomery.

Outside of drumming, Grady Tate was also a great vocalist.  His song, “Be Black Baby,” released in 1967, was one of his first forays into making his own music.  The funk single exhibits the amount of range and talent Tate had as a musician.  His career as a vocalist eventually led to two Grammy nominations.  In the ’70s, Tate was featured on the Schoolhouse Rock! soundtrack and his performance on, “Multiplication Rock,” led to his first Grammy nod.  And in 1986, he was nominated for another Grammy for his version of “She’s Out of My Life,” by frequent collaborator Jimmy Smith.