| 1902 | Sammy Penn, Traditional jazz drummer and vocalist from Morgan City, Louisiana. He came to New Orleans in the early twenties, and played with the bands of Chris Kelly and Kid Rena. He then spent over twenty years with the Kid Thomas band. He formed his own band called Penn and His Five Pennies in the mid-fifties, and toured Chicago. He died on September 18, 1969, while on tour with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
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| 1903 | Eddie Summers, Traditional jazz trombonist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began playing music in neighborhood bands, and joined the 'Augustin-Snaer Moonlight Serenader's' in the late 1920's. He performed with the same group under the leadership of A.J. Piron, and was a member of the 'Eureka Brass Band' and 'Young Tuxedo Brass Band'. Eddie died in New Orleans on October 27, 1977.
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| 1908 | George 'Kid Sheik' Colar, Traditional jazz trumpeter from New Orleans. He was the pupil of Wooden Joe Nicholas and led small dance bands for many years. He performed with Kid Rena's marching band and later worked with the Eureka Brass Band. As late as 1982, he was a regular at Preservation Hall. In his later years, he was married to pianist Sadie Goodson. He passed away in 1996 at the age of 88.
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| 1911 | Robert Coquille, Traditional jazz string bassist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a regular performer with George Girard's New Orleans Five and played in groups led by Sharkey Bonano, Al Hirt and Pete Fountain. Robert died in New Orleans in August, 1982.
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| 1911 | Silas Hogan, He was a Louisiana Swamp Blues guitarist from Westover, Louisiana. He was influence by Jimmy Reed was most well known for recording "Airport Blues" and "Lonesome La La". He became an inductee in the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame. he passed away at the age of 82 on January 9, 1994.
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| 1915 | Al Casey, He started working with the pianist's group in the early '30s, and was his main guitarist (with time off) up until Waller's demise in 1943, recording literally hundreds of performances. Sticking to acoustic guitar during that period, Casey was a very valuable rhythm player who also contributed some excellent single-note solos.
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| 1921 | Snooky Pryor, Legendary harpist is one of a generation of Mississippians who came to Chicago in the 1940s and invented the urban sound of Chicago Blues. His muscular harmonica tone and voice, which goes from a quavering vibrato wail to a roar in an instant, remain strong.
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| 1926 | Bobby Short, In 1968, the pianist and singer took a two-week gig at Manhattan's Cafe Carlyle – that hasn't ended yet. A few years ago, Time Magazine wrote, "In an increasingly inelegant world, Bobby Short is the very symbol of elegance, style and an easier way of life. Not long ago his appeal seemed largely confined to New York, but now just about everybody everywhere seems to be enchanted by Bobby." He passed away in 2005.
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| 1928 | Julien "Cannonbal" Adderly, The nickname "Cannonball" was a childhood corruption of "cannibal," describing his large appetite. He played alto saxophone in Florida bands from around 1942. After serving in army bands from 1950 to 1953 he resumed teaching until 1955. He then moved to New York, intending to play with his brother, Nat, and to begin graduate studies at New York University. Instead, a chance jam session led to his joining Oscar Pettiford's band and signing a recording contract.
He died on August 8, 1975.
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| 1931 | Richard Payne, A New Orleans native, and R&B, Jazz and Classical bassist. He studied at Xavier under Clyde Kerr, Sr. He was classmates with Edward Frank and Frank introduced him to Jazz. He recorded and played with many, but eventually became an educator, and played with most of the symphonies in Louisiana. He passed away on May 17, 2000.
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| 1937 | Charles Middleton, A native of Lafayette, Louisiana and a singer. He is most well-known for his association with the Los Angeles group called The Jaguars, where he was the bass singer. (88) |
| 1945 | Lee Dorman, Influential bassist who played with Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond.
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| 1945 | Jessye Norman, Soprano opera singer. Norman is one of the most admired contemporary opera singers and recitalists, and one of the highest paid performers in classical music. A true dramatic soprano with a majestic stage presence, Norman is associated in particular with the roles of Aïda, Cassandra, Alceste, and Leonora in Fidelio.
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| 1950 | Anthony 'Tuba Fats' Lacen, He was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and a jazz tubist and band leader. He played traditional New Orleans jazz and blues for over 40 years. He played professionally with brass bands such as the Young Tuxedo, E. Gibson, Doc Paulin, Onward, Algiers, Treme, and Olympia Brass Bands, and with his own band, Tuba Fats & the Chosen Few Brass Band. But he was probably most well known for many years to lead a band playing for tips in Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Tuba Fats passed away January 11, 2004.
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| 1960 | Mitch Dorge, Drummer and co-producer with the band 'Crash Test Dummies'.
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| 1969 | DJ Kay Gee, Rapper - 'Naughty By Nature'
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