| 1893 | Dominick Barocco, Traditional jazz trumpeter, banjo player and guitarist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Studied under Frank Christian and started his own band, 'Susquehanna Band' with his brother, Joe. His career also included performances with Nick LaRocca, Larry Shields and Johnny Provenzano. Dominick died in New Orleans in January of 1970.
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| 1905 | Irving (Pinky) Vidacovich, A clarinetist and native of Buras, Louisiana. He stuck close to the Big Easy during nearly 40 years of performing as a clarinetist and bandleader. During his career, he led the WWL radio house band, called "The Dawnbusters", and also was the radio character "Cajun Pete". During his career he played with the New Orleans Owls and the Princeton Revellers, Augie Schellang, Sharkey Bonano and Al Hirt. Pinky passed away in 1966 at the age of 60.
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| 1916 | Billy Diamond, He was a bassist and a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was given a trumpet by Louis Armstrong as a teenager that he never learned to play. Instead he opted to come under the mentorship of Oscar "Papa" Celestin he became a Dixieland bass player. In the summer of 1947, the pianist, Antoine Domino, impressed him enough that he asked Domino to play in his combo, the Solid Senders. He nicknamed the kid "Fats" because Domino reminded him of renowned pianists Fats Waller and Fats Pichon. He became Domino's road manager in the early 1950s. In the 1950s and 60s, Diamond promoted other artists, including Shirley and Lee, Huey "Piano" Smith, James Booker and Solomon Burke. He passed away in October 2011 at 95.
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| 1925 | Bill Dixon, Trumpeter who was one of the seminal free jazz figures, he made his mark as a player, organizer, and educator in a career that's spanned more than 40 years.
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| 1935 | Margie Singleton, Singer from Coushatta, Louisiana - "Eyes Of Love".
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| 1937 | Rooster (Curtis Lee Wheeler), A blues guitarist and a long-time resident of New Orleans, Louisiana. His actual date of birth is somewhat in duspute. He is well-known for his almost 30 year run on Bourbon Street. (89) |
| 1938 | Johnny Duncan, Country-pop singer best-known for a string of hits with producer Billy Sherrill in the late '70s. - "She Can't Put Her Shoes Under My Bed". He died in 2003 in Ft. Worth, Tx.
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| 1941 | Roger Hayward Lewis, Baritone saxophonist and original member of the 'Dirty Dozen Brass Band' from New Orleans, Louisiana. Roger was also well-known for his long tenure with Fats Domino. The bands style has been described as 'Jazz Gumbo', and are known for playing street parades and jazz funerals.
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| 1943 | Steve Miller, Guitarist and singer who was one of the top-selling pop rock acts of the mid to late '70s and early '80s with hits like "The Joker," "Fly Like an Eagle," "Rock'n Me," and "Abracadabra."
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| 1944 | Andrew Hall, Traditional jazz drummer from Chesterfield, England. Andrew played with the Society Jazz Band and native New Orleanean, Tony Fougerat. He also performed with Mike Casimir's band in England.
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| 1945 | George Finola, Traditional jazz trumpeter from Chicago, Illinois. He was a student of Johnny Wiggs and a regular performer on Bourbon Street. He was an avid Bix Beiderbecke fan, and recorded 'Finola and The Chosen Few' early in his career. George died in New Orleans at 55 years of age.
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| 1948 | Brian Connolly, Singer in the pop rock group named 'Sweet' - "Ballroom Blitz".
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| 1949 | B.W. Stevenson, Singer who's best remembered for his 1973 smash "My Maria," singer/songwriter B.W. Stevenson (the "B.W." reportedly stood for "Buckwheat". He died in 1988.
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| 1952 | Morgan Blanchard, A guitarist and singer from Pierre Part, Louisiana. He's known for Cd's named Swamp Pop Man, and Gator Man.
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| 1954 | Bob Geldof, Singer and songwriter for 'Boomtown Rats' - "I Don't Like Mondays'.
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| 1963 | Ben Schenk, A clarinetist and resident of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is well-known for the Klezmer influence in his music, and founded New Orleans Klezmer All Stars and Panorama Jazz Band, two very well-regarded groups. (63) |
| 1969 | Kenneth Terry, Brass band trumpeter and vocalist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He's played with Rebirth, Treme, Chosen few and others.
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