Welcome New Orleans Radio
Todays Date
Todays Date 02-18-2026
Birthday Wishes
| Year | birthday |
|---|---|
| 1892 | Emile Barnes, Traditional jazz clarinetist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the brother of clarinetist, Polo Barnes. He had an active career which spanned 58 years. He played with Chris Kelly and often played at the Happy Landing and Mama Lou's. Emile died in New Orleans in March of 1970. (134) |
| 1904 | Joseph de la Croix 'Dee Dee' Pierce, A Traditional trumpeter and vocalist and native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He played with the 'Tuxedo Brass Band' until he lost his sight, then was with Abby Williams. He regularly played at Luthjen's in the late fifties, and at Preservation Hall in the sixties. He was also well-known for singing in Creole French. He died in November 23, 1973 in New Orleans. (122) |
| 1933 | Yoko Ono Lennon, Wife of the famous Beatle, John Lennon. (93) |
| 1937 | Warren Storm (Warren Schexnider), A Drummer and vocalist and a native of Abbeville, Louisiana. As a young musician he and legend Bobby Charles would travel to New Orleans to hear black rhythm and blues artists in the local nightclubs. He cites New Orleans rhythm and blues musician Charlie "Hungry" Williams as a major drumming influence. Storm recorded swamp pop music for numerous labels, including Rocko, Zynn, Top Rank, and Dot. In the early 1960s he teamed up with follow swamp pop musicians Rod Bernard and Skip Stewart to form The Shondells. He recorded regional favorites, "Lord I Need Somebody Bad Tonight" and "My House of Memories." On September 5, 2010, during his performance at the "Boogie for the Bayou" fundraiser event at Paragon Casino in Marksville, Louisiana, Warren Storm was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. (89) |
| 1941 | Irma Thomas (Irma Lee), Grammy Award-winning soul and rhythm and blues singer from Ponchatoula, Louisiana. She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans". She is a contemporary of Aretha Franklin and Etta James, but never experienced their level of commercial success. As a teen she sang with a Baptist church choir, and by 13 was auditioning for Specialty records. She then began recording on the Minit label, working with songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint on songs including "It’s Raining" and "Ruler of my Heart". In April 2007, Irma Thomas was honored for her contributions to Louisiana music with induction into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. (85) |
| 1953 | Robbie Bachman, Drummer for Bachman-Turner-Overdrive, "Takin Care of Business". (73) |
| 1966 | Mervin (Kid Merv) Campbell, A trumpeter and a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He began playing as a youngster with Danny Barker, the Olympia Brass Band, Junior Olympia Brass Band, Deff Generation (also known as the Young Nevilles) and with Tuba Fats & His Chosen Few with Linda Young, and with the Jackson Square Jazz Band with pianist Marie Wantanabe. He has recorded with Olympia Brass Band, Young Olympians, Soul Rebels, Deff Generation, Cyril Neville and the Uptown All-Stars, and the Neville Brothers on the Family Groove album. He was also featured in the documentary Satchmo in the Ghetto. In 1997, he began work on a solo CD at Milton Batiste's Dubat Studios. Batiste named Merv “Kid Merv” in honor of Kid Rena, Merv's Great Uncled. The name stuck and the resulting CD, Kid Merv & All That Jazz, won two 1997 Offbeat Awards, for Best Traditional and Best Vocal. His own jazz band, Kid Merv & All That Jazz is a five-piece playing a range of jazz, from Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis, with a touch of pop and some swing. Kid Merv also is a member of the Treme Brass Band, where he plays lead trumpet and sings second vocal (to Uncle Lionel Batiste). (60) |
Todays_Events
| Year | Musical_Fact |
|---|---|
| 1903 | The copyright for the ragtime opera "A Guest of Honor" was registered by Scott Joplin" on this day. It was never published and is now lost. |
| 1919 | Henry Ragas, traditional jazz pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana passed away on this day. He was the brother of fellow dixielander, Herman Ragas, and a member of the 'Original Dixieland Jazz Band. He began playing in the café district surrounding Storyville, before leaving the city with Johnny Stein to play in Chicago. He died during the flu epidemic at a very young age, and didn't see the fruits of his infamous recordings of the band. Henry died in New York City. |
| 1924 | Bix Beiderbecke made his recording debut with The Wolverines on this day. The recording took place at Gennett studios. |
| 1930 | Algiers, Louisiana native, Henry (Red) Allen And His Orchestra recorded for Victor Records in New York City on this day. The songs were Sugar Hill Function, You Might Get Better, Everybody Shout and Dancing Dave. |
| 1942 | "Paper Doll" was recorded by the Mills Brothers for Decca Records. It became one their three greatest hits. |
| 1950 | New Orleans native and hitmaker, Antoine 'Fats' Domino hit the Billboard R&B charts on this day with the tune 'The Fat Man'. This was the beginning of a long run on the charts for 'Fats'. |
| 1950 | Lake Charles, Louisiana native, Nellie Lutcher And Her Rhythm made it to the Billboard R&B charts on this day with the song 'For You My Love'. Nellie was accompanied on this one by Nat 'King' Cole. |
| 1956 | Kay Starr catapulted to #1 on the Billboard pop music charts on this day with 'Rock And Roll Waltz'. |
| 1967 | The Buckinghams found thenselves in the spotlight as their hit ;Kind Of A Drag' went to #1 on this day. |
| 1969 | "In A Silent Way" is recorded by Miles Davis. |
| 1978 | After a 7-year break from the charts, Lee Dorsey came storming back on this day. He entered the R&B charts with 'Night People'. |
| 1981 | Joe 'Brother Cornbread' Thomas, A traditional jazz clarinetist from New Orleans, Louisiana passed away on this day at the age of 78. He worked with the 'Joe Harris Dixieland Band' in the 1920's and spent most of the 1930's touring. He joined 'Papa Celestin' in the early 1950's and remained in the organization until his death. |
| 1986 | Louis Keppard, traditional jazz guitarist, tuba and alto horn player from New Orleans, Louisiana passed away on this day at the age of 98. He is the brother of Jazz pioneer and legendary cornetist, Freddie Keppard. Louis began playing in the early 1900's in the 'Magnolia Orchestra' with the Depass brothers, King Oliver and Frank Goudie. Additionally, he worked in his brothers band, the 'Olympia Orchestra'. During the fifties, he played lake resorts, and in the sixties, he was marching in street parades. |
| 2009 | Fird 'Snooks' Eaglin passed away on this day. Guitarist and singer and songwriter of Rhythm and Blues music from New Orleans. Early in his career he played in 'The Flamingoes', a dance and club band, for Allen Toussaint. When that was done he recorded for Dave Bartholomew then with Sugarboy Crawford and Professor Longhair in the 1970's. In the 1980's he was signed by the Black Top label and regularly released original music. He was also well-known for playing most any request during his live shows and is known as the 'Human Jukebox'. |
