Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 2 December
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

2 December

Musicians born and died on 2 December: 19 births, 17 deaths and 2 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born19

  • 1866Harry Thacker Burleigharranger, vocal · Erie, PADied 12 September 1949 · Gospel
  • 1890Fate Marablepiano · Paducah, KYDied 16 January 1947 · Jazz · Okeh Rec’s
  • 1890Marshall Owensguitar · GeorgiaDied 1 May 1974 · Testament Rec’s
  • 1892Ernie Younglabel-owner · Giles County, TNBlues · Gospel · R&B · Excello/nashboro Rec’s
  • 1895Jesse Crawfordorgan · Woodland, CADied 28 May 1962 · Jazz
  • 1902Homer Smithvocal · Florence, ALGospel · Southernaires
  • 1904Pedro Laza (Pedro Ignacio Laza Gutiérrez)arranger, band-leader, bass · Cartagena, ColombiaPedro Laza y sus Pelayeros, La Nueva Granada, Orquesta Emisora Fuentes, Sonora Pelayera
  • 1905Moses Aschlabel-owner · Warsaw, PolandDied 19 October 1986 · Blues · Folkways Rec’s
  • 1916Charlie Ventura (Charles Venturo Ventura)saxophone · Philadelphia, PADied 17 January 1992 · Jazz
  • 1918Betty "Big Mama" RankinDJ · New Haven, CTDied 24 February 1998 · Jazz
  • 1921Larry Uttallabel-owner · New York, NYDied 25 November 1993 · R&B · Soul · Madison Rec’s
  • 1929Leslie Bushpiano · TexasDied 26 July 1981 · Gospel · James Cleveland Singers
  • 1931Wynton Kellypiano · Brooklyn, NYDied 12 April 1971 · Jazz
  • 1932Gene Russellpiano · Los Angeles, CADied 3 May 1981 · Jazz · Soul · Three Sounds, Young-Holt Trio
  • 1933Ernest WarrenvocalDied 7 May 2012 · R&B · Spaniels
  • 1936Larry Johnson (El Dorados)vocal · Chicago, ILR&B · El Dorados, Moroccos
  • 1945David Essigguitar · Frederick, MDBlues · Folk
  • 1949Garth Dennis (Rudolph Alando Dennis)vocal · Kingston, JamaicaDied 9 December 2021 · Reggae · Black Uhuru, Wailing Souls
  • 1953Roger Dale WalkerKeokuk, IAZydeco · Buckwheat Zydeco

Died17

  • 1937Joe Smithtrumpet · New York, NYBorn 28 June 1902 · aged 35 · Blues · Bessie Smith
  • 1949Albert C. Ammonspiano · Chicago, ILBorn 23 September 1907 · aged 42 · Blues
  • 1955Charles "Cow Cow" Davenportpiano · Cleveland, OHBorn 26 April 1894 · aged 61 · Blues · Jazz
  • 1962Mercy Dee Waltoncomposer, piano, vocal · Murphys, CABorn 30 August 1915 · aged 47 · Cerebral haemorrage · R&B
  • 1980Fred Flynnclarinet, piano · Chicago, ILBorn 11 September 1905 · aged 75 · Blues · Jazz · Bessie Smith
  • 1983Sonny Kingsaxophone · Portland, OR
  • 1988James Bryantpiano · Lowell, INBlues · Jimmy Johnson
  • 1988Joe Bersonharmonica · Chicago, ILBlues · Jimmy Rogers
  • 1988Larry Exumbass · Lowell, INBlues · Jimmy Johnson
  • 1989Clement Tervalontrombone · New Orleans, LABlues · Jazz · Bessie Smith
  • 1998Roy Burrowestrumpet · London, EnglandBorn 18 February 1930 · aged 68 · R&B · Paul "hucklebuck" Williams
  • 2008Odettaguitar, vocal · New York, NYBorn 31 December 1930 · aged 77 · Heart disease · Jazz
  • 2011Howard Tatevocal · Burlington, NJBorn 13 August 1939 · aged 72 · Multiple myeloma and leukemia · Soul
  • 2013Junior Murvin (Murvin Junior Smith)composer, guitar, vocal · Port Antonio, JamaicaDiabetes and hypertension · Reggae · Soul · Gayfeet, Crystal, Hippy Boys, Mighty Falcons
  • 2013Rex Garvinarranger, band-leader, bass, keyboards, piano, songwriter, vocal · Atlanta, GABorn 24 July 1940 · aged 73 · R&B · Hearts, Johnnie and Joe, Marie and Rex, Mighty Cravers
  • 2015Wally Roker (Christian Waldemar Roker)bass, manager, producer, songwriter, vocalBorn 14 April 1937 · aged 78 · Complications from brain surgery · R&B · Heartbeats, Scepter Records, Roker Record Group, Hearts
  • 2017Mundell Loweguitar · San Diego, CABorn 21 April 1922 · aged 95 · Cancer and complications from a fractured hip · Jazz

Events2

  • 1957The Moonglows record ‘Ten Commandments of Love’ (Chess 1705).
  • 1967'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' by Gladys Knight & the Pips (Soul) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (6 weeks at the top).