#WhatsHappening for January 1, 2021

Considering the past year's unprecedented fuckery, I think it's no small feat that we all survived. Happy New Year, friends.

How did you spend the last day of last year? I worked. I was lucky enough to keep working for through the worst parts of last year- when so many other folks weren't. And I don't personally need a stimulus check. You might not, either. But there are millions of our neighbors who do. And it's beyond fucked up that our so-called representatives haven't pulled their heads out of their asses to bring it to them.

No matter what "party" is in charge, or who's president.

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Dancer Adolfo Quiñones, who went by the stage name Shabba-Doo, has died.

Toni Basil, who co-founded dance crew The Lockers with Quiñones in the 70s, shared news on social media Thursday.

"It is with extreme sadness The Lockers family announces the unexpected passing of our beloved Adolfo Shabba-Doo Quiñones," Basil tweeted. "In this difficult time we are requesting privacy." A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Quiñones, who is credited with inventing "locking" was best known to many for playing Ozone in Breakin’ and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, from 1984.

Quiñones also served as choreographer to Lionel Richie, Madonna, and Luther Vandross, and was the primary dancer and main choreographer on Madonna’s Who’s That Girl? tour in 1987.

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Kelvin Harrison Jr. has been tapped to play B.B. King in the upcoming Elvis Presley movie.

The movie, starring Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker, had production shut down until September. The story is said to explore the relationship between Parker and Presley, with Austin Butler playing Elvis and Olivia DeJonge playing Priscilla Presley.

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One half of the karaoke compound has gotten one half of her Covid-19 vaccine. Not sure when I'll even be eligible, but you can bet your sweet bippy I'll be offering up my arm to do so.

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Petula Clark took to Facebook to speak about her "shock and disbelief" after the Christmas Day terrorist attack in Nashville, which she called "our beloved Music City.:"

Then, she kind of fucked that very nice sentiment up by complaining that the terrorist had played her song Downtown before the explosion. Way to miss the bigger picture.

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Phyllis McGuire, the last surviving sibling of the McGuire Sisters, passed away Tuesday at her Las Vegas home.

Phyllis, along with her older sisters Christine and Dorothy had a string of hits in the 1950s- singing and dancing their way to success- and performed into the 1990s after breaking up in 1968 and regrouping in 1986. Among their shows included performances for five presidents and Queen Elizabeth II. They were inducted to the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

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Longtime Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band sax player Alto Reed died Wednesday after a prolonged batter with colon cancer. 

"It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our lifelong friend and band mate, Alto Reed," Seger wrote in a social media tribute. "Alto has been a part of our musical family, on and off stage, for nearly 50 years."

Reed first played with Seger in 1971 and joined the Silver Bullet Band three years later. 

"No doubt his iconic performance on Turn the Page helped lift us to another level. He has been with us on that stage virtually every show, ever since," continued Seger. "And whether it was Turn the Page, Mainstreet, or Old Time Rock and Roll, audiences roared every time he played his part. In our band, Alto was the rock star."

Reed also worked with Grand Funk Railroad, Little Feat, Foghat, Dave Mason, Spencer Davis, the Blues Brothers, George Thorogood, Robin Gibb, and the Motor City Horns. He also paired He also released Tonight We Ride with Steve Dickinson under the name the Reed & Dickinson Band.

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Birthdays today include Country Joe McDonald (74); Martin Plaza of Mental As Anything (65); and Grandmaster Flash (63). #MusicalBirthdays