| 1825 | Johann Strauss, An Austrian composer of Viennese waltzes; known as "the Waltz King." His almost 500 dance pieces are his crowning achievement. He died in 1899.
(200) |
| 1838 | Georges Bizet, A French composer of piano, vocal, and dramatic music known for the opera Carmen (1875). He died in 1875.
(187) |
| 1888 | Harrison Brazlee, Traditional jazz trombonist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began with the 'Excelsior Brass Band' and toured with circuses and minstrels before joining Evan Thomas' Band. He settled in New Orleans and performed regularly at Luthjen's until the time of his death in November of 1954.
(137) |
| 1897 | Edmond 'Doc' Souchon, Traditional jazz guitarist, banjoist and vocalist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was an obstetrician and a skilled player. He organized the 'Six and 7/8 String Band', and was one of the most recorded jazz players. He founded the 'Second Line', and co-founded the New Orleans Jazz Club. He also helped in the development of many guitarists. Doc died in New Orleans on August 24, 1968.
(128) |
| 1902 | Eddie Lang, The first jazz guitar virtuoso, Eddie Lang was everywhere in the late '20s; all of his fellow musicians knew that he was the best. A boyhood friend of Joe Venuti, Lang took violin lessons for 11 years but switched to guitar before he turned professional. He died in 1933.
(123) |
| 1910 | George Williams, Traditional jazz bass drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the leader of the 'George Williams Brass Band', and worked at the 'Paddock' with Bill Matthews in the 1950's. George died in New Orleans on August 27, 1965.
(115) |
| 1918 | Tony Dalmado, Jazz trumpeter from New Orleans. He is most associated with a Keynote session he played with Irving Fazola.
(107) |
| 1924 | Earl Palmer, R&B, Rock n' Roll and Jazz drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a member of the original J&M studio band, under direction of Dave Bartholemew. Some say that Palmer is probably the most recorded drummer in history. He recorded with Little Richard, Professor Longhair, Ike & Tina Turner, Sonny and Cher and many others too numerous to name here. He played on all of Phil Spector's smash hits of the 1960's and was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. In 2000, he became one of the first session musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He passed away in September 2008.
(101) |
| 1926 | Jimmy Heath, Reed player for The Heath Brothers. He has a distinctive sound on tenor, is a fluid player on soprano and flute, and a very talented arranger/composer whose originals include "C.T.A." and "Gingerbread Boy."
(99) |
| 1935 | Li'l Millet (McKinley James Millet ), A rhythm and blues pianist, bass player, singer and songwriter, and a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a member of the Hawkettes before they recorded, then formed his own band called "Li'l Millet and the Creoles". Their first single, "Rich Woman" was released in 1955 was co-written by Millet with Dorothy LaBostrie, and was later recorded by Canned Heat, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. He died of cancer in 1997 at 61.
(90) |
| 1942 | Helen Reddy, Singer - "Delta Dawn". Between 1971 and 1978, Reddy hit the Top 40 fourteen times.
(83) |
| 1943 | Zydeco Joe (Joseph Adam Mouton), He was a cajun singer and accordianist, and native of Lafayette, Louisiana. He learned to play at 45, and formed his own band in 1988. He said of his music "I play my music from the heart. You can say it's back porch jam high energy Zydeco music that pulls people together for a good time." He died in November 2007 at 64.
(82) |
| 1944 | Jon Anderson, Singer extaordinaire for "Yes" and one of the most recognizable voices in progressive rock..
(81) |
| 1944 | Taffy Danoff, Singer for the Starland Vocal Band - "Afternoon Delight"
(81) |
| 1947 | Coco Robicheaux (Curtis John Arceneaux), He's a guitarist and artist from Ascension Parish, Louisiana. His stage name originates from a Louisiana legend where a child called Coco Robicheaux is abducted by a werewolf (Loup Garou or Rougarou). This name "Coco Robicheaux" is repeated in the legendary song "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" from Dr. John the Night Tripper's 1968 album, Gris-Gris. He's released 6 albums between 1994 and 2010. Coco passed away in New Orleans at the Apple Barrel, the day after Thanksgiving, November 25, 2011 at the age of 64.
(78) |
| 1971 | Rosie Ledet (Mary Roszela Bellard), She is a Creole Zydeco accordion player and singer and a native of Church Point, Louisiana. She was motivated to learn the music by Boozoo Chavis and her husband Morris Ledet. She is famous in the genre for her suggestive lyrics. She continues to tour and record with her band the Zydeco Playboys.
(54) |
