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Todays Date

Todays Date
03-12-2026

Birthday Wishes

Yearbirthday
1912Paul Weston, Orchestra Leader and arranger - "I Should Care". (114)
1918Sir Charles Thompson, American swing and bebop pianist, organist and arranger. He composed the jazz standard "Robbins' Nest." He has chiefly worked with small groups, although he belonged to the Coleman Hawkins, Howard McGhee band in 1944-1945. Throughout the 40's he did several recordings with such giants as Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon and J.C. Heard. (108)
1918Roger Johnston, Traditional jazz drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his musical career playing dixieland in his early teens. He played with Santo Pecora, 'Dukes of Dixieland', Sharkey Bonano and Roy Liberto. He spent many years gigging at the 'Famous Door' in New Orleans. Roger passed away on October 9, 1958 in his hometown of New Orleans. (108)
1930Wardell Quezergue, A New Orleans arranger, producer, known to some as the "Creole Beethoven". His credits are numerous and include 'Big Chief' (Professor Longhair); 'Barefootin' (Robert Parker); 'Teasin' You' (Willie Tee); 'Groove Me' (King Floyd); Mr. Big Stuff (Jean Knight) - the last two being both recorded on the same day. He also produced and arranged the Grammy Award-winning Dr. John album “Goin' Back to New Orleans” in 1992. In May 2009, Wardell Quezergue received an honorary doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010 in a multiple induction at Montrel's Bistro in New Orleans. Wardell passed away on September 6, 2011. (96)
1935Hugh Lawson, Jazz pianist. (91)
1940Al Jarreau, Grammy Award–winning jazz singer. Versatile in his singing style, He is a seven-time Grammy-winning vocalist and the only vocalist in history to win a Grammy Award in three separate categories: jazz, pop, and R&B. (86)
1948James Taylor, Singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was part of a wave of singer-songwriters of the time that also included Tom Rush, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, John Denver, Elton John, Jackson Browne as well as Carly Simon, whom Taylor later married. His 1976 album Greatest Hits was certified diamond and has sold more than 11 million copies. (78)
1949Elder Robert L. Overtstreet, A gospel vocalist and a native of De Quincy, Louisiana. He is the son of the legendary street gospel preacher Reverend Louis Overstreet. In 1962, his father and his brothers recorded an album of gospel performances, which are sought after until today. Robert and his brothers continued running the church that their father built in Arizona, St Luke Powerhouse Church of God in Christ, and Robert is the President. (77)
1959Marlon Jackson, Singer for 'The Jackson Five'. (67)
1983Luke Winslow-King, A vocalist, slide guitarist composer and a native of Michigan. He is known for his love of pre-war blues and traditional jazz. He came to New Orleans in 2001 after becoming stranded when his tour van was ransacked. He never left and has become an ambassador for New Orleans’s rich and colorful culture. His education continued with gigs on Royal Street, club performances at various spots along Frenchmen, and pick-up/recording sessions with locals including John Boutte, Roberto Luti, “Washboard” Chaz Leary, Little Freddy King and George Porter, Jr. (43)

Todays_Events

YearMusical_Fact
1939 "Deep Purple", the jazz standard, was recorded by Artie Shaw and his band on this day for Bluedbird Records.
1950Louis Prima plays the third night of two weeks at The Click in Philadelphia on this day.
1950Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong And His Orchestra played the eleventh night of two weeks at The Palomar Club, Vancouver, British Columbia
1955 This was a sad day in the world of jazz as the incomparable saxophonist, Charlie "Yardbird" Parker died at the age of thirty-four.
1955 Carnegie Hall was the scene for the performance of one of the great jazz groups on this night. The Dave Brubeck Quartet performed, which included Paul Desmond, Joe Morello and Eugene Wright.
1955 Marksville, Louisiana native and blues singer, 'Little' Walter (Marion Walter Jacobs) hit the Billboard R&B charts on this day with his smash hit 'My Babe'. The song eventually hit #1 on the charts.
1969 Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman on this day and created one of the most well known marriages in pop music.
1982 Dave Williams, Traditional jazz pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana passed away on this day. He was born in 1920, and occasionally played at Preservation Hall in the 1960's. Dave died in New Orleans.
1988 Today Rick Astley reached the top of the Billboard pop charts with 'Never Gonna Give You Up'.
1994 Ace of Base's awesome smash 'The Sign' made it to #1 on the pop charts on this day.
2010Rockie Charles (Alfred Charles Merrick), a guitarist and singer and a native of Bootheville, Louisiana passed away on this day at 67. He was known as New Orleans’ “President of Soul,” and cut a handful of singles in the 1960s and 1970s. it wasn't until 1997, that he recorded his first CD, the acclaimed Born for You. In 2009, he recorded an album in Denmark, I Want First Class.