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Todays Date

Todays Date
02-17-2026

Birthday Wishes

Yearbirthday
1902Marian Anderson, Opera Singer who sang both opera and spirituals, beginning her concert career in 1924 and at first concentrating on Europe. She died in 1993. (124)
1909Marjorie Lawrence, She was an Australian soprano, particularly noted as an interpreter of Richard Wagner's operas. She died in 1979. (117)
1923Buddy DeFranco, He is one of the great clarinetists of all time and, until the rise of Eddie Daniels, he was indisputably the top clarinetist to emerge since 1940. (103)
1933Bobby Lewis, Pianist and Singer who was a top studio musician with a jazz style. Since 1964 has appeared on over 500 recording sessions - "Tossing and Turnin'". (93)
1936Chris Burke, Jazz saxophonist and saxophonist from Islington, London, England. Chris was a student of the famous Barney Bigard. He played in British jazz bands through the 1970's. In the late 70's he settled in New Orleans to play in local bands. (90)
1941Gene Pitney, Singer "Town Without Pity". He had a long run of hits distinguished by his pained, one-of-a-kind melodramatic wail. He passed away in 2006. (85)

Todays_Events

YearMusical_Fact
1943 Armand J. Piron, a violinist, bandleader, composer and native of New Orleans, Louisiana passed away on this day at the age of 54. In 1912 he took over the leadership of the highly-rated Olympia Orchestra when its former leader Freddie Keppard left town. The band soon included King Oliver and Sidney Bechet. Piron formed a publishing company with Clarence Williams in 1915 and continued leading bands while also working with Oscar "Papa" Celestin. Piron's New Orleans Orchestra lasted until 1928, Armand Piron fronted George Augustin's Moonlight Serenaders into the mid-1930's and he died in poverty (and largely forgotten).
1951 Minden, Louisiana native and singer, songwriter and pianist, Percy Mayfield, debuted on the Billboard R&B charts on this day with the song 'Lost Love'.
1954 "Secret Love", by Doris Day, hit #1 in the US on this day.
1958 'Sugartime' by The Macquire Sisters peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts on this day.
1962 'Duke Of Earl', the smash hit by Gene Chandler, arrived at the #1 spot on the pop charts on this day.
1966 "The Ballad of the Green Berets" won Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler a gold record on this day.
1969 Paul Barbarin, traditional jazz drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana died on this day. Paul was one of the best known of all the drummers to come out of the Crescent City. He played with Joe 'King Oliver, Louis Armstong, A.J. Piron and Fats Pichon. He was the leader of his own band for decades and composed some of the most enduring New Orleans originals like 'Bourbon Street Parade' and 'The Second Line'. With his father Isidore and his brother Louis, he was part of a very well-known New Orleans musical family. Paul died while playing in a parade and his funeral was attended by thousands.
1971 Sam Rankins, traditional jazz guitarist from New Orleans, Louisiana passed away on this day. He was a member of the Noon Johnson bazooka trio during the 1950's. Sam died in New Orleans.
1982 Pianist, Theolonious Monk died in Weehawken, NJ at the age of sixty-four on this day.
1984Andrew (Blueblood) McMahon, a bassist and a native of Delhi, Louisiana passed away on this day at the age of 57. He played blues and hillbilly music in Mississippi and worked with Bukka White in Memphis, Tennessee, before moving to Chicago. He played bass guitar for Howlin’ Wolf and recorded during 1960-73. McMahon recorded under his own name for the Bea And Baby label in 1971, and as ‘Blueblood’ for Dharma Records in 1973.