Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 21 February
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

21 February

Musicians born and died on 21 February: 8 births, 15 deaths and 5 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born8

  • 1903Francis "Scrapper" Blackwellguitar, vocal · Syracuse, SCDied 7 October 1962 · Blues
  • 1910Albert Omega "Al" Searsarranger, band-leader, label-owner, saxophone, songwriter · Macomb, ILDied 23 March 1990 · Jazz · R&B · Arock, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Johnny Hodges, Lionel Hampton
  • 1917Tadd Dameronarranger, piano · Cleveland, OHDied 8 March 1965 · Jazz
  • 1928Count Alert (Alerth Rockford Bedasse)arranger, band-leader, composer, DJ, guitar, percussion, sound-system, vocal · May Kraal, JamaicaDied 5 March 2007 · Mento · Chin’s Calypso Sextet, Chin’s, Federal, Kalypso
  • 1933Nina Simone (Eunice Waymon Simone)composer, piano, vocal · Tyron, NCDied 21 April 2003 · Jazz
  • 1938Bobby Charles (Robert Charles Guidry Charles)composer, vocal · Abbeville, LADied 14 January 2010 · R&B
  • 1939Hubert Leroy "Herbie" Goinssinger · Ocala, FLDied 27 October 2015 · Soul · Herbie Goins & the Nighttimers
  • 1953Danny Draherguitar · Indianapolis, INBlues · Jazz · Buttlerfield

Died15

  • 1977Nolan Strongvocal · Detroit, MIBorn 22 January 1934 · aged 43 · R&B · Diablos
  • 1980Janet Vogel-Rappvocal · Pittsburgh, PABorn 10 June 1941 · aged 38 · R&B · Skyliners
  • 1980Theo WadeDJ, vocal · Memphis, TNBorn 30 April 1906 · aged 73 · Gospel · Spirit of Memphis
  • 1992Eva Jessyevocal · Ann Arbor, MIBorn 20 January 1895 · aged 97 · Gospel · Eva Jesse Gospel Choir
  • 1994Gary "B.B." Colemanproducer · Atlanta, GABorn 1 January 1947 · aged 47 · Blues · Ichiban Rec’s
  • 2008Calvin Owenstrumpet · Houston, TXBorn 23 April 1929 · aged 78 · Kidney failure · R&B · B.b. King, Topcat Rec’s
  • 2011Jah Woosh (Neville Beckford)DJ, producer, vocal · London, EnglandBorn 16 September 1952 · aged 58 · Reggae · Cactus
  • 2013Cleotha Staplesvocal · Chicago, ILBorn 11 April 1934 · aged 78 · Alzheimer’s disease · Gospel · Spaple Singers
  • 2013Magic Slim (Morris Holt)guitar, vocal · Philadelphia, PABorn 7 August 1937 · aged 75 · Bleeding ulcer · Blues
  • 2015Clark Terryband-leader, trumpet · Pine Bluff, ARBorn 14 December 1920 · aged 94 · Cardiac complications · Jazz
  • 2019Donald Edgar "Gus" Backussongwriter, vocal · Germering, GermanyBorn 12 September 1937 · aged 81 · R&B · Rock · Del-Vikings, Vidells, Carlton Records, Polydor
  • 2019Jackie Shanedrums, vocal · Nashville, TNBorn 15 May 1940 · aged 78 · R&B · Soul · Frank Motley and his Motley Crew, Excello Records, Caravan Records, Numero Group
  • 2022Ernie Andrewsvocal · Conroe, TXBorn 25 December 1927 · aged 94 · Blood clot complications · Blues · Jazz · R&B
  • 2024Getatchew Kassa (Getachew Tsegaye)drums, saxophone, vocal · Addis Ababa, EthiopiaBorn 6 September 1944 · aged 79 · Long illness · Jazz · Fetan Band, Sehebelles, Venus Band, Walias Band
  • 2025Gwen McCraevocal · North Miami Beach, FLBorn 21 December 1943 · aged 81 · Stroke complications · Soul · George McCrae

Events5

  • 1934Leroy Carr records 'Blues Before Sunrise' (Vocalion).
  • 1936Roosevelt Sykes records 'The Honey Dripper' (Okeh).
  • 1953'Baby Don't Do It' by The 5 Royales (Apollo) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (4 weeks at the top).
  • 1967Stax releases Booker T and the MGs ‘Hip Hug Her’/’Summertime’.
  • 1969'Musical Scorcher' by Sound Dimension (Studio One) is No. 1 on the JBC Big J Jamaican Top 30 for a second week (week of 21–28 February 1969).