| 1898 | Otis Rene (Otis J. René Jr.), He was a songwriter, label owner and a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. Together with his brother they co-wrote "When It's Sleepy Time Down South". During the 1940's he ran the independent rhythm and blues labels Exclusive and Excelsior with his brother Leon. He died in Los Angeles, in 1970 at the age of 71.
(127) |
| 1919 | Ambrose Sam, Accordianist and native of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Was a member of The Sam Brothers 5 who recorded "Lafayette Special". He led Ambrose Sam's Old Time Zydeco nd recorded "Old Time Zydeco". He was the brother of accordionist, Herbert Good Rockin' Sam. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 76.
(106) |
| 1925 | Phil Urso, Saxophonist who was a member of the 1950s' cool school who owed a strong artistic debt to Lester "Pres" Young but never came across as a clone of him.
(100) |
| 1927 | Leon Rausch, Singer and musician with 'Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys'
(98) |
| 1937 | Billy Huntington, Jazz guitarist, bassist, saxophonist and banjo player from New Orleans, Louisiana. As a youngster he played banjo with Ken Colyer. He was also associated with members of the George Lewis Band, Lawrence Marrerro and the older masters, Charlie Love, Steve Angrum, Emile Barnes and Albert Jiles. Billy gave up traditional jazz in the fifties.
(88) |
| 1945 | Don McClean, Sing and songwriter who will forever be remebered as the man of "American Pie" fame.
(80) |
| 1946 | Jo-El Sonnier, A country and Cajun music singer-songwriter and accordionist from Rayne, Louisiana. he charted several minor country singles in the late 1970s. By the late 1980s, he broke through with the Top Ten hits "No More One More Time" and a cover of Richard Thompson's "Tear Stained Letter". Although his chart success waned by the late 1980s, he has continued recording music. He has recorded more than twenty albums, primarily on independent labels.
(79) |
| 1948 | Chris LeDoux, Country singer with over 30 albums to his credit. He died in 2005.
(77) |
| 1950 | Michael Rutherford, Bassist and guitarist for the prog rock group "Genesis", and later "Mike & The Mechanics".
(75) |
| 1951 | Sting, (Gordon Sumner) Singer, bassist for the rock group "Police". In the mid 80's he employed experienced jazz players to tour and record his solo works.
(74) |
| 1951 | Willie Williams, Gospel vocalist and guitarist with the Zion Harmonizers and native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also known as the fifth Subdude for his contributions to 3 of their albums.
(74) |
| 1955 | Phil Oakley, Vocalist for the 80's wave group named 'The Human League'
(70) |
| 1958 | Freddie Jackson, Singer with hits "Mr. Magician" and "Rock Me Tonight".
(67) |
| 1958 | Wayne Toups, He is one of the most commercially successful Cajun singers, songwriters and accordianists. He is a native of Crowley, Louisiana. He has combined his love of Cajun music, rock, R&B, and zydeco into a genre he calls Zydecajun. He sings in both English and French.
(67) |
| 1960 | Django Bates, British saxophonist Django Bates is well-known for his razor sharp wit as a player, composer, and arranger.
Bates founded the quartet Human Chain in 1979 -- a group that is still together in the 21st century -- and is, along with Courtney Pine and Iain Ballamy, one of the architects of the British jazz renaissance which began in earnest in the late '80s.
(65) |
| 1963 | Alton (Big Al) Carson, New Orleans, Louisiana native and vocalist performing in the jazz and blues genre's. He is a well-known performer on Bourbon street in his native city. (62) |
| 1967 | Bud Gaugh, Drummer in the groups 'Sublime' and the "Long Beach Dub All-Stars".
(58) |
| 1970 | Dion Allen, 'Az Yet'.
(55) |
| 1971 | Tiffany (Tiffany Darwisch), Singer - "I Saw Him Standing There".
(54) |
