New Orleans Radio

Welcome New Orleans Radio

 

Todays Date

Todays Date
06-16-2026

Birthday Wishes

Year	birthday
1899	Helen Traubel, She was an American operatic soprano, best known for her Wagnerian roles, especially that of Brünnhilde. She died in 1972. (127)
1914	Homer Eugene, Traditional jazz trombonist, banjoist and saxophonist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Was part of a musical family with his brother Wendell and his uncles Paul Barbarin and Albert Burbank. Homer frequently played with Peter Bocage and was also a member of the 'Young Tuxedo Brass Band'. (112)
1938	Albert Dailey, An underrated pianist during his lifetime, his skill and verve as a soloist were greatly appreciated and eulogized following his death. An often hypnotic stylist, his shimmering harmonies and phrases were particularly admired by Stan Getz, with whom he worked in the mid-'70s. He died in 1984. (88)
1939	Billy 'Crash' Craddock, Country singer - "Don't Destroy Me". After an aborted career as a '50s teen idol, Billy "Crash" Craddock returned to his first love, country music, and earned the nickname "Mr. Country Rock" with a string of popular hits during the '70s. (87)
1940	Nolan Struck, A bassist and vocalist and a native of Dunson, Louisiana. He went to Chicago to play bass for Lonnie Brooks, and stayed. In 1967, he formed his own band called the Soul Brothers, which included his brother, King Edward on guitars and vocals. He has continued recording with a few full-length releases to his credit. (86)
1941	Lamont Dozier, He was part of the legendary Motown production team of Holland, Dozier, Holland. A galvanizing force in the '60s pop and R&B chart-dominance of the Detroit-based independent record label, the trio later formed Invictus and Hot Wax Records, and enjoyed gold-record-laced success with the Chairmen of the Board, Freda Payne, 100 Proof Aged in Soul, the Honey Cone, and 8th Day. (85)
1942	Eddie Levert, He sang lead on classic million-selling hits by Philly soul group the O'Jays. They were a part of the artist roster of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records. (84)
1946	Tom Harrell, He has managed to fight courageously (and successfully) against schizophrenia to become one of jazz's top trumpeters of the 1980s and '90s. On-stage, he is totally focused on his playing and seems to only come alive when he is improvising. (80)

Todays_Events

Year	Musical_Fact
1925	Emmett Hardy, traditional jazz cornetist from Gretna, Louisiana died on this day. Emmett was considered a dixieland prodigy and is said to have influenced a young, Bix Beiderbecke, while on tour with the Carlisle Evans band. Hardy died at 22 years of age, but before that time, he played with Tony Catalano in Chicago, the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and Norman Brownlee. Emmett died in Gretna, Louisiana.
1939	Chick Webb, the well known bandleader, died in Baltimore, Maryland. His Orchestra is taken over by his protégé Ella Fitzgerald.
1951	Minden, Louisiana native and singer, songwriter and pianist, Percy Mayfield, debuted on the Billboard R&B charts on this day with the song 'What A Fool I Was'.
1956	Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps released "Be-Bop-A-Lula" on Capitol Records on this day.
1956	DeQuincy, Louisiana native, 'Smiley' Lewis (Overton Amos Lemons), debuted on the Billboard R&B charts on this day with the tune 'Please Listen To Me'.
1962	New Orleans native and 1950's and 1960's hitmaker, Antoine 'Fats' Domino hit the Billboard R&B charts on this day with the tune 'My Real Name'.
1967	Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Mamas and the Papas and The Who were greeted by fifty thousand spectators as the Monterey Pop Festival got underway on this day.
1970	Alonzo (Lonnie) Johnson passed away on this day. A guitarist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began playing jazz and blues solo guitar in the brothels of the Storyville red light district. He played on the riverboats with Charlie Creath and Fate Marable. He was one of the most recorded of New Orleans jazzmen and made his first cuts in 1927. Once he left New Orleans, he never returned, spending his lifetime on tour. He passed away in Philadelphia, PA.
1972	The New York Jazz Museum opened on this day. This was the only museum exclusively devoted to jazz music.
1980	The movie 'The Blues Brothers' opened in Chicago, Illinois on this day. The movie featured John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd formerly of Saturday Night Live. They played Jake and Elwood Blues in the movie and the corresponding soundtrack.
1987	(Kid) Thomas Valentine, traditional jazz trumpeter from Reserve, Louisiana passed away on this day at the age of 91. His real name was Thomas Valentine, and he played in the Hall family band in Reserve until about 1923. He then worked with the Elton Theodore band in Algiers, Louisiana. Around 1926, he started his own band and led it for the remainder of his music career. He was also a regular at Preservation Hall starting in 1961, often playing with George Lewis.
1990	After 'Listen To Your Heart', Roxette came back to the top of Billboard charts with their tune 'It Must Have Been Love'.