Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 3 December
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

3 December

Musicians born and died on 3 December: 7 births, 16 deaths and 4 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born7

  • 1863Gussie Lord Daviscomposer · Dayton, OHDied 18 October 1899 · Folk
  • 1894Doug Suggspiano · St. Louis, MOBlues
  • 1902Joe "Brother Cornbread" Thomasclarinet · New Orleans, LADied 18 February 1981 · Jazz
  • 1910Lou Levylabel-owner · New York, NYDied 31 October 1995 · Leeds Music
  • 1917Lester Koeniglabel-owner · New York, NYDied 21 November 1977 · Jazz · Contemporary Rec’s
  • 1917“Little” Sammy Hopkinspiano · Plaquemine, LADied 3 October 2004 · Jazz
  • 1934David "Dave" Burgessband-leader, DJ, guitar, producer, songwriter · Beverly Hills, CADied 19 October 2025 · Rock · Champs, Challenge

Died16

  • 1967Peter Edwin Bocagecornet · New Orleans, LABorn 31 July 1887 · aged 80 · Jazz · Esther Bigeou
  • 1977Porkchop (Eddie Hines)drums · Chicago, ILBlues
  • 1978William Grant Stillarranger, label-owner · Los Angeles, CABorn 11 May 1895 · aged 83 · Jazz · Black Swan Recs
  • 1983Irving Taylorcomposer · Westlake Village, CABorn 8 April 1914 · aged 69 · Myocardial infarction · Jazz · R&B · Louis Jordan
  • 1988Charles "Chick" Ganimianarranger, band-leader, oud, vocal · South Orange, NJBorn 18 January 1926 · aged 62 · Jazz · Rock · Nor-Ikes, Ganimian & His Orientals, Ganim's Asia Minors, Atco
  • 1989Jimmy Shirleyguitar · New York, NYBorn 31 May 1913 · aged 76 · Jazz
  • 2003Al "Tnt" Braggdrums, producer · Dallas, TXBorn 23 May 1938 · aged 65 · Series of strokes · R&B · Soul
  • 2006Emett Babe Wallacecomposer · Englewood, NJBorn 24 June 1909 · aged 97 · Jazz · R&B · Louis Jordan
  • 2011Ronald MosleyvocalSeries of strokes · R&B · Soul · Skarlettones, Embers, Feilos, Ruby & the Romantics
  • 2014Edward "Sonny" Bivinsvocal · Basking Ridge, NJBorn 15 January 1936 · aged 78 · Soul · Manhattans
  • 2014Graeme Goodallengineer, label-owner, producer · Atlanta, GABorn 21 September 1932 · aged 82 · Natural causes · Reggae · Ska · Island Rec’s, Doctor Bird Rec’s, Pyramid Rec’s, Federal Rec’s
  • 2015Gladstone "Gladdy" Andersonband-leader, keyboards, organ, piano, producer, vocalBorn 18 June 1934 · aged 81 · Reggae · Ska · Lynn Taitt and the Jets, Gladdy's All Stars, Harry J All Stars, Treasure Isle
  • 2015Milton Joseph "Smokes" Wellsbass, vocal · Enid, OKBorn 17 April 1925 · aged 90 · R&B · Soul · Showmen
  • 2016Herb Hardesty (Herbert Hardesty)band-leader, saxophone, songwriter, trumpet · Las Vegas, NVBorn 3 March 1925 · aged 91 · Cancer · Jazz · R&B · Fats Domino, J&M Studio Band, Mercury, Tom Waits
  • 2021Melvin Parkerdrums · Baltimore, MDBorn 7 June 1944 · aged 77 · R&B · Soul · James Brown Revue
  • 2025Steve Croppercomposer, guitar, producer · Nashville, TNBorn 21 October 1941 · aged 84 · Soul · Booker T & Mgs, Markeys

Events4

  • 1951Big Joe Williams records for Trumpet Records in Jackson, MS - ‘She Left Me A Mule’, ‘Bad Heart Blues’.
  • 1966Otis Redding’s ‘Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa’, ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ (Atlantic) enter Hot 100.
  • 1966Ray Charles fined $10,000 given a 5 year suspended sentence and probation for 4 years by Boston Court for possession of heroin and marijuana.
  • 1976Bob Marley, his wife Rita and manager Don Taylor are shot at 56 Hope Road, Kingston, two days before the Smile Jamaica concert.