People, Locations, Episodes

Clifford Brown, Jazz Trumpeter born

On this date Clifford Brown, an African American jazz trumpeter, was born in 1930.

Born in Wilmington, DE, Brown attended Delaware State College and Maryland State College. He played in Philadelphia before joining, first, Tadd Dameron’s band in Atlantic City, NJ, then Lionel Hampton’s big band for a European tour, both in 1953. He then played with leading West Coast musicians and the Art Blakey quintet. In 1954, he and drummer Max Roach formed the Brown-Roach quintet, which quickly became one of the outstanding postwar jazz units.

Stormé DeLarverie, Lesbian Singer born

*Stormé DeLarverie was born on this date in 1920. She was a Black singer, butch lesbian, fashion designer, and LGBT activist. She was born in New Orleans to a Black mother and a white father. DeLarverie’s father was wealthy, and her mother worked as a servant for his family. According to DeLarverie, she was never given a […]

Ed Thigpen, Drummer born

*Ed Thigpen was born on this date in 1930.  He was a Black Jazz and standards drummer.   Born in Chicago, Illinois, Edmund Leonard Thigpen was raised in Los Angeles and attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where Art Farmer Dexter Gordon and Chico Hamilton also attended. After majoring in sociology at Los Angeles City College, […]

Odetta, American Folk Artist born

*The birth of Odetta is marked on this in 1930. She was an African American singer, song writer and Civil Rights activist.

Carol Millard, Singer and Actress born

*Carol Maillard was born on this date in 1951. She is a Black vocalist and actress. Maillard is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and originally attended the Catholic University of America on scholarship as a Violin Performance major. She began writing music and performing with the Drama Department and eventually changed her major to Theater. This passion […]

Hasaan Ibn Ali, Pianist, and Composer born

*Hasaan Ibn Ali was born on this date in 1931. He was a Black jazz pianist and composer. Born William Henry Langford, Jr. in Philadelphia, his mother was a domestic worker. In 1946 (aged 15), he toured with trumpeter Joe Morris’s rhythm and blues band. In 1950 he played locally with Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, J. J. […]

The Blind Boys From Alabama, Gospel Singers, Formed

On this date we celebrate the beginning of Clarence Fountain and The Blind Boys of Alabama in 1931. They are a gospel singing group who’ve been singing God’s music for over 60 years.

Jackie McLean, Alto Saxophonist born

*Jackie McLean was born on this date in 1931. He was a Black jazz alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator. John Lenwood “Jackie” McLean was born in New York City. His father, John Sr., played guitar in Tiny Bradshaw’s orchestra. After his father died in 1939, McLean’s musical education was continued by his godfather, record-store-owning stepfather, and several noted teachers. He also received […]

Dewey Redman, Musician, and Bandleader born

*Dewey Redman was born on this date in 1931. He was a Black saxophonist who performed free jazz as a bandleader.  Walter Dewey Redman was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended I.M. Terrell High School and played in the school band with Ornette Coleman, Prince Lasha, and Charles Moffett. After high school, he briefly enrolled in the electrical engineering program at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama […]

Otis Blackwell, Lyricist and Musician born

Otis Blackwell’s birth in 1931 is celebrated on this date. He was an African American songwriter and musician.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up listening to cowboy songs, particularly those by Tex Ritter, and R&B songs by artists such as Chuck Willis. As a teenager he entered and won a contest at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre. He was introduced to songwriter Doc Pomus, who encouraged him and helped him early in his career. One of Blackwell’s early records titled Daddy Rollin’ Stone was released by Jay-Dee in 1953. It was revived later in a version recorded by The Who.

Shirley Verrett, Opera Singer born

Shirley Verrett was born on this date in 1931. She is an African American opera singer and one of the leading sopranos in the world.

She was born New Orleans to Leon Solomon, a building contractor, and Elvira Harris Verrett; she had four brothers and a sister. She had and her parents were passionate members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, an affiliation that would play a role in the development of Verrett’s career. When Verrett was five, the family moved to Oxnard, CA, where her father established the Verrett Construction Company.

Junior Walker, Musician born

*Junior Walker was born on this date in 1931. He was an African American musician.

Andrew Hill, Pianist and Educator born

*Andrew Hill was born on this date in 1931. He was a Black jazz pianist, educator, and composer. Andrew Hill was born to William and Hattie Hill in Chicago, Illinois. He had a brother, Robert, a singer and classical violin player. Hill took up the piano at thirteen and was encouraged by Earl Hines. As a child, […]

Kenny Burrell, Guitarist born

*Kenny Burrell was born on this date in 1931.  He is a Black jazz guitarist known for his work on the Blue Note label.   Kenneth Earl Burrell was born in Detroit, Michigan. Both his parents played instruments, and he began playing guitar at 12 after listening to Charlie Christian’s recordings. During World War II, due to a metal shortage, he abandoned becoming a saxophonist and bought an acoustic […]

Clifford Jordan, Musician born

*On this date, in 1931, Clifford Jordan was born.  He was a Black jazz tenor saxophone player.   Clifford Laconia Jordan was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.  While in Chicago, he performed with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some rhythm and blues groups. He moved to New York City in 1957, after which he recorded three albums for Blue Note.   He recorded with Horace Silver, J.J. Johnson, and Kenny Dorham, among […]