| 1895 | Bill McKinney, Jazz drummer who led a series of musical groups, most notably McKinney's Cotton Pickers. He was born in Cynthiana, Kentucky. He worked as a drummer in a circus band, then after serving in the United States Army in World War I settled in Springfield, Ohio where he took over leadership of the Synco Jazz Band. After hiring drummer Cuba Austin, McKinney worked as leader and business manager. After touring the U.S. Midwest, they got a residency at the Arcadia Ballroom in Detroit Michigan in 1926. In Detroit they were heard by bandleader and music promoter Jean Goldkette, who arranged a more lucrative home base for the band in Detroit's Greystone Hotel Ballroom. The band was renamed "McKinney's Cotton Pickers". After the band broke up in 1934 during the Great Depression, McKinney for a time led and played with a dance band in Boston, From 1937 on McKinney managed a Detroit Cafe with a dance floor and live bands who McKinney booked; he also booked bands for other locations on the side. Bill McKinney retired in the 1950s and spent his last years in his childhood hometown of Cynthiana. He passed away on October 14, 1969. (130) |
| 1898 | Peter Papin, Traditional jazz banjoist and vocalist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He played in Chris Kelly's band in the 1920's, and was popular as a singer and entertainer.
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| 1900 | George Henderson, Traditional jazz drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana. George led the 'Black Diamonds' in the early twenties and spent most of his career doing pick-up jobs. In the 1950's, he worked at Luthjen's and recorded with 'Kid' Thomas.
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| 1902 | Louis Nelson, Traditional jazz trombonist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his career in Thibodaux, Louisiana in Joe Gable's band. In the twenties and thirties, he played with the 'Original Tuxedo Orchestra', Kid Rena's band and the 'Sidney DesVigne Orchestra'. He was a regular at Preservation Hall with Percy Humphrey and Kid Punch Miller in the 1960's. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 87.
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| 1914 | 'Bunny' Franks, Traditional jazz string bassist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Franks was the manager and bass player for the 'Basin Street Six' in the 1950's.
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| 1923 | Hank Williams Sr., Singer and songwriter - "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". One of the greatest country musicians in the history of music. He died at just 29 years of age on January 1, 1953.
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| 1926 | Jack McDuff, He taught himself organ and piano in the mid-'50's, and began gaining attention working with Willis Jackson in the late '50's and early '60's, recording soul jazz sides for Prestige.
Jack made his recording debut as a leader for Prestige in 1960, playing in a studio pickup band with Jimmy Forrest.
They made the albums, 'Tough Duff' and 'The Honeydripper'.
Jack passed away on January 23, 2001 at the age of 74
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| 1926 | Bill Black, Bassist for the 'Bill Black Combo' -" White Silver Sands". He died in 1965.
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| 1929 | Sil Austin, Tenor saxophonist who was inspired by swing legends like Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. He moved to New York while still a teenager, and in 1946 won a talent show at the Apollo with a rendition of "Danny Boy." His biggest breaks came in 1949, when he joined up first with Roy Eldridge and then with Cootie Williams' Birdland house band, where he stayed for three years.
He lost a four-year battle with prostate cancer on September 1, 2001.
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| 1938 | Perry Robinson, Clarinetist, Robinson has traveled far and wide to play with the most important musicians of his time, and he hasn't let up. The list of artists with whom he has been associated is immense in quantity, quality and stylistic diversity. His discography reveals work with, among others, Henry Grimes, David Izenson, Gunter Hampel, the Brubecks, Tete Montoliu, Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, Archie Shepp, Bill Dixon, Mark Whitecage, John Carter, Lou Grassi, and Burton Greene. And don't forget Robinson's own late father, Earl, the patron saint of generations of troubadours and social movers, and the composer of songs like "Joe Hill," "Ballad for Americans" and "The House I Live In." Perry Robinson's earliest influences were not jazz musicians, but his Dad and the people he hung out with: Leadbelly, Pete Seeger and the Weavers, Woody Guthrie.
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| 1940 | LaMont McLemore, Singer with 'The 5th Dimension' - "Up Up and Away".
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| 1951 | Theryl (Houseman) DeClouet, A vocalist and a native of the Hollygrove neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known as the former lead vocalist for the musical group Galactic. He appeared on the band's first albums before health concerns forced his departure. He has released 2 solo CD's and his latest independent solo release, The Truth Iz Out, features support from longtime friend Ivan Neville and guitarist June Yamagishi of Papa Grows Funk. (74) |
