Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 17 February
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

17 February

Musicians born and died on 17 February: 16 births, 12 deaths and 7 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born16

  • 1899Harvey Oliver Brookscomposer · Philadelphia, PADied 17 June 1968 · Jazz
  • 1900Bernie Andersband-leader · Paint Rock, ALDied 11 April 1939 · Bernie Anders & Combo
  • 1902Orville "Hoppy" Jonesvocal · Chicago, ILDied 18 October 1944 · Jazz · Ink Spots
  • 1906Wallace Bishopdrums · Chicago, ILDied 2 May 1986 · Jazz · Les Hites
  • 1907Harry Dialdrums, label-owner, producer · Birmingham, ALDied 25 January 1987 · Soul · Dial Rec’s
  • 1911J.T. Adamsguitar · Morganfield, KYBlues
  • 1922Tommy Edwardscomposer, piano, vocal · Richmond, VADied 23 October 1969 · Jazz · R&B
  • 1926Noble "Thin Man" Wattssaxophone · Deland, FLDied 24 August 2004 · R&B
  • 1926Will Davispiano · Chicago, ILDied 24 March 1984 · Jazz · Paul Bascomb
  • 1928Betty Jackson Kingvocal · Chicago, ILDied 1 June 1994 · Gospel · Jacksonian Trio
  • 1937Mickey McGillvocal · Chicago, ILR&B · Soul · Dells, El-Rays
  • 1941Charles "Packy" Axtonband-leader, saxophone, songwriter · Memphis, TNDied 20 January 1974 · R&B · Soul · Mar-Keys, Royal Spades, Packers, Stax Records
  • 1942Stanley Beckfordcomposer, guitar, vocal · Portland, JamaicaDied 30 March 2007 · Mento · Reggae · Starlights, Stanley and the Turbines
  • 1949Doyle Bramhall Sr.drums · TexasDied 12 November 2011 · Blues · Antone's Rec’s
  • 1952Bruce Ruffin (Bernardo Constantine Balderamus Ruffin)vocal · St. Catherine, JamaicaReggae · Techniques
  • 1954Lou Ann Bartonvocal · Fort Worth, TXBlues · Antone's Rec’s

Died12

  • 1969Paul Barbarindrums · New Orleans, LABorn 5 May 1899 · aged 69 · Jazz
  • 1982Thelonious Monkcomposer, piano · Englewood, NJBorn 10 October 1917 · aged 64 · Jazz
  • 1984Andrew "Blueblood" McMahonbass · Monroe, LABorn 12 April 1926 · aged 57 · Blues
  • 1992Sallie Blairvocal · Baltimore, MDBorn 27 April 1934 · aged 57 · Jazz · Cab Calloway
  • 1993Al Riversvocal · Portland, ORBorn 25 March 1927 · aged 65 · Jazz · Ink Spots
  • 2006Ray Barrettoband-leader, congas · Hackensack, NJBorn 29 April 1929 · aged 76 · Jazz
  • 2015Kenneth "Wally" KelleyvocalBorn 9 January 1941 · aged 74 · Soul · Manhattans
  • 2017David "Dave" YorkoguitarBorn 15 June 1943 · aged 73 · Rock · Johnny and Hurricanes, Fascinators, Dave and Orbits, Orbits
  • 2019Ethel Ennisvocal · Baltimore, MDBorn 28 November 1932 · aged 86 · Stroke · Jazz
  • 2020“Little” Henry GraypianoBorn 19 January 1925 · aged 95 · Blues · Chess, Parrot
  • 2021U-Roy (Ewart Beckford)DJ, vocal · Kingston, JamaicaBorn 21 September 1942 · aged 78 · Reggae · Hometown Hi-Fi, Treasure Isle
  • 2025Milton "Prilly" Hamiltonvocal · FloridaBrief illness · Reggae · Third World

Events7

  • 1953The Du Droppers record 'I Wanna Know' (Victor).
  • 1954The Dells record their first single (as the El Rays) for Chess, ‘Darling I Know’ (Checker 794).
  • 1962'Duke of Earl' by Gene Chandler (Vee-Jay) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (5 weeks at the top).
  • 1962King Curtis 'Soul Twist' (Enjoy) goes pop (eventually #17).
  • 1964Shirley Scott and Kenny Burrell records 'Travelin' Light' (Prestige) at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs.
  • 1968'I Wish It Would Rain' by The Temptations (Gordy) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (3 weeks at the top).
  • 1969Rusty Bryant records 'Rusty Bryant Returns' (Prestige) at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs.