| 1901 | Lee Collins, Jazz trumpeter from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a student of Professor Jim Humphrey, and early in his musical career, he played with the 'Original Tuxedo Orchestra' and the 'Tuxedo Brass Band', Buddy Petit and Chris Kelly. He later played with 'Young Eagles' and 'Golden Leaf' bands. He replaced 'Satchmo' in King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and recorded with Jelly Roll Morton. During the 1920's he worked with a virtual who's who in jazz that included Luis Russell, Dave Peyton, Zutty Singleton and Mezz Mezzrow. By the end of the 20's he recorded the famed discs with Jones-Collins Astoria Hot Eight in New Orleans. He then played and settled in Chicago, where he died in July of 1960.
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| 1906 | Cozy Cole, Drummer with Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong as well as solo. Also started a drum school with the immortal Gene Krupa. He died in 1981.
(118) |
| 1920 | John 'Picket' Brunious, Jazz pianist and trumpeter from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the nephew of Paul Barbarin and played trumpet in his uncles bands. In the 1940's he palyed modern jazz, but drifted back to traditional New Orleans jazz in the 1950's. He helped re-build the 'Onward Brass Band. John died in May of 1976.
(104) |
| 1923 | Barney Kessel, One of the finest guitarists to emerge after the death of Charlie Christian, He was a reliable bop soloist throughout his career. He died in 2004.
(101) |
| 1933 | Floyd Cramer, Country pianist from Shreveport, Louisiana. He appeared on the Louisiana Hayride show, and played with the 'Browns', Jim Reeves and Elvis Presley during his career. He had a distinctive style, which was evident on his own hits of the 60's, 'Last Date', and 'On The Rebound'. Cramer died in December '97.
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| 1936 | Sathima Bea Benjamin, South African jazz singer. She made several recordings as a leader since establishing herself in Abdullah Ibrahim's (her husband) band during the '70s. (88) |
| 1940 | James Seals, Musician for the famous group that bears his name, Seals and Crofts - "Summer Breeze", "Diamond Girl", etc.
(84) |
| 1941 | Earl Thomas Conley, Country singer who was influenced by everyone from Hank Williams to the Eagles, he delved into the details of writing, trying to learn the craft by following the rules and regulations of the Music Row songwriting community.
(83) |
| 1942 | Gary Puckett, Singer for the popular group "The Union Gap" - "Young Girl".
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| 1949 | Bill Hudson, Singer in the group 'The Hudson Brothers' - "So You are a Star".
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| 1958 | Alan Jackson, Singer who was the most popular male country singer of the '90s - "Chattahoochie".
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| 1968 | Ziggy Marley, Singer, guitarist and leader of the group "The Melodymakers". He's the son of the legendary rastaman Bob Marley.
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| 1971 | Chris Kirkpatrick, Singer with the popular boy group 'N Sync'.
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| 1972 | Wyclef Jean, Lead rapper and sometime guitarist for the "Fugees", he was the first member of his group to embark on a solo career. It proved even more ambitious and eclectic.
(52) |
