People, Locations, Episodes

Jimmy Reed, Singer, and Musician born

On this date in 1925, Jimmy Reed was born. He was an African American blues guitarist and singer.

There is simply no sound in the blues as easily digestible, accessible, instantly recognizable, and as easy to play and sing as the music of Jimmy Reed. He was born on a plantation in or around the small burg of Dunleith, Mississippi, sticking around the area until he was 15, learning the basic rudiments of harmonica and guitar from his buddy Eddie Taylor.

Roy Brown, Blues, and Gospel Singer born

*Roy Brown was born on this date in 1925. He was an African American blues musician.

From New Orleans, Louisiana, his mother was an accomplished singer and organist in church. This was instrumental in why Brown started as a gospel singer. After a move to Los Angeles, California in the 1940s and a brief period spent as a professional boxer he won a singing contest in 1945 at The Million Dollar Theater singing “There’s No You”. In 1946 he moved to Galveston, Texas singing in clubs; he returned to New Orleans in 1947.

B. B. King, Blues Musician born

*B. B. King was born on this date in 1925. He was an African American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.

Riley B. King was born to a poor family of sharecroppers living on the Mississippi Delta, near the town of Itta Bene, Miss. King’s home life was very unstable and as a child he picked cotton to help with the family income. But King’s mother brought him to church regularly, where he was first exposed to gospel music; he even learned some basic guitar skills from his preacher.

Smalls Paradise (nightclub) Opens

*Smalls Paradise is celebrated on this date in 1925.  This was a jazz nightclub in Harlem, New York City. Entrepreneur Ed Smalls owned a small venue in Harlem, the Sugar Cane Club, from 1917 to 1925, which catered primarily to residents. When Smalls opened Smalls Paradise, he arranged a lavish gala for the club’s opening, which almost 1,500 people […]

Chuck Willis, Singer born

*On this date, in 1926, Chuck Willis was born.  He was a Black blues, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll singer and songwriter. Harold “Chuck” Willis was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1926.  He was spotted at a talent contest by Atlanta radio disc jockey Zenas Sears, who became his manager and helped him to sign with Columbia Records in 1951.  After one single, Willis began recording on a Columbia subsidiary, Okeh. […]

Miles Davis, Jazz Musician born

Miles Davis was born on this date in 1926. He was an African American trumpet player and bandleader, one of the most innovative, influential, and respected figures in the history of jazz

‘Weepin’ Willie Robinson, Musician born

*”Weepin”‘ Willie Robinson was born on this date in 1926. He was a Black blues singer. As a child in Atlanta, GA, he picked cotton and fruit with his family up and down the East Coast. After spending time in the Army in the 1940s, he became a master of ceremonies and doorman at blues clubs in […]

Mal Waldron, Pianist born

*Mal Waldron was born on this date in 1926. He was an African American musician.

Jack McDuff, Jazz Organist born

*On this date in 1926 Jack McDuff was born. He was an African American jazz organist.

John Coltrane, Saxophonist born

On this date in 1926, jazz saxophone player John Coltrane was born. He was an African American composer, small group or combo leader, and a major figure in the evolution of the jazz styles known as bebop and free jazz.

Coltrane was born in Hamlet, NC, and grew up in nearby High Point. He began playing the clarinet in a community band at the age of 13 and switched to the alto saxophone during his final year of high school. In 1945, he was drafted into the United States Navy, eventually serving most of his two-year term with a Navy band stationed in Hawaii.

Joe Hill Louis, Musician born

On this date in 1921, Joe Hill Louis was born. He was an African American musician who played many instruments.

Lester (or Leslie) Hill, as he was named, was from Tennessee. He ran away from home at age 14, living instead with a wealthy Memphis family. A fight with another youth that young Hill won earned him the “Joe Louis” nickname.

Oscar Brown Jr., Playwright, and Songwriter born

Oscar Brown, Jr., was born on this date in 1926. He was an African American actor, director, playwright, songwriter, lyricist, activist, essayist, and television host.

Born at Chicago’s Provident Hospital, he was the first child of Helen, a schoolteacher, and Oscar Brown, Sr., a prominent lawyer and real estate owner. Oscar Cicero Brown, Jr., was raised in a two-church household: St. Edmond’s Episcopal Church and Pilgrim Baptist Church. He attended Willard Elementary and Englewood High Schools. By age 15, he had honed his elocution skills in Studs Terkel’s children’s radio series.

Ray Brown, Jazz Bassist born

Ray Brown was born on this date in 1926. He was an African American jazz bassist.

Chuck Berry, Musician, and Songwriter born

On this date in 1926, Chuck Berry was born. He was an African American Rock & Roll musician and songwriter.

Charles “Chuck” Edward Berry was born in San Jose, California, and grew up in St. Louis. In the early 1950s, Berry led a popular blues trio at night and worked as a beautician by day. He made friends with Muddy Waters, who introduced him to Leonard Chess, head of Chicago-based Chess Records. It was the song on his audition tape called “Ida Red” that won the record company”Maybellene.”

Jimmy Heath, Jazz Saxophonist born

*On this date in 1926, Jimmy Heath was born.  He was a Black jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader.   James Edward Heath was born in Philadelphia.  His father, an auto mechanic, played the clarinet, performing on the weekends. His mother sang in a church choir. The family frequently played recordings of big band jazz groups around the house. His […]