Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 4 January
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

4 January

Musicians born and died on 4 January: 13 births, 13 deaths and 5 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born13

  • 1894George W. Leeband-leader · Indianola, MSDied 1 August 1976 · Blues · Jazz · W C Handy
  • 1906Frankie Newtontrumpet · Emory, VADied 11 March 1954 · Blues · Jazz · Bessie Smith
  • 1908Frances Brownvocal · New York, NYDied 18 May 1982
  • 1913Edgar Williamspiano, trumpetDied 27 September 1979
  • 1913Playboy Vensondrums, harmonica · Belzoni, MSDied 24 February 1985 · Blues · Sun Rec’s
  • 1916Bulee "Slim" Gaillardguitar, piano, vocal · Detroit, MIDied 26 February 1991 · Jazz · Slim & Slam
  • 1923Marylin Scott (Mary Lynn Clowers)guitar, vocalBlues · Gospel · Johnny Otis Orchestra, Evans Gospel Quartet, Savoy, GOLD-De-Lo
  • 1923Sonny Blake (Clennon Lee Blakes Blake)harmonica · Dundee, MSDied 21 October 2002 · Blues
  • 1932Willie Kizartguitar · Tutwiler, MSDied 2 September 1998 · Blues · R&B · Ike Turner
  • 1937Gaynel Hodgeband-leader, piano, songwriter, vocal · Los Angeles, CADied 3 June 2020 · R&B · Soul · Hollywood Flames, Platters, Turks, Flamingos
  • 1946Arthur Conleyvocal · McIntosh County, GADied 17 November 2003 · Soul · Arthur & Corvets
  • 1948Charlie Saylesharmonica · Woburn, MABlues
  • 1954Eugene Chadbourneguitar · Mt. Vernon, NYJazz

Died13

  • 1964Artie Bernsteinbass · Los Angeles, CABorn 4 February 1909 · aged 54 · Blues · Ida Cox
  • 1969Paul Chambers (Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr.)bass, songwriter · New York City, NYBorn 22 April 1935 · aged 33 · Tuberculosis · Jazz · Miles Davis Quintet, Wynton Kelly Trio, Blue Note, Prestige
  • 1976Bill Quinnlabel-owner, producer · Houston, TXBorn 8 January 1904 · aged 71 · Blues · Gold Star Rec’s
  • 1980"Uncle" Homer Walkerbanjo · Princeton, W. VaBorn 15 February 1898 · aged 81 · Folk
  • 1991Eddie Barefieldsaxophone · New York, NYBorn 12 December 1909 · aged 81 · R&B · Paul Gayten
  • 1991Leo Wrightsaxophone · Vienna, AustriaBorn 14 December 1933 · aged 57 · R&B · Jimmy Witherspoon
  • 1992Teddy Gracevocal · La Mirada, CABorn 26 June 1905 · aged 86 · Blues · Jazz · Decca Rec’s
  • 1994Calvin Peeledrums · Fresno, CABorn 24 August 1937 · aged 56 · Blues · Troyce Key
  • 2002William R. "Little Bo" Savichdrums · Ventura, CABorn 2 August 1939 · aged 62 · Cancer · Rock · Royaltones, Johnny and the Hurricanes
  • 2008Earl Maybass · New York, NYBorn 17 September 1927 · aged 80 · Heart attack · Jazz
  • 2016John Thurman "Long John" Hunter Jr.guitar · Phoenix, AZBorn 13 July 1931 · aged 84 · Blues · R&B
  • 2022James Maddoxbass vocalBorn 31 October 1936 · aged 85 · R&B · El Dorados
  • 2025Richard DunbarvocalBorn 31 May 1939 · aged 85 · Soul · Knight Brothers

Events5

  • 1957Fats Domino records 'I'm Walkin' (Imperial).
  • 1960Jimmy Smith records 'Crazy! Baby' (Blue Note) at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs.
  • 1961Satellite/Stax first hit – Carla Thomas' Gee Whiz - is recorded in Memphis.
  • 1966Johnny "Hammond" Smith records 'The Stinger Meets the Golden Thrush' (Prestige) at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs.
  • 1971Sonny Stitt records 'Turn It On!' (Prestige) at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs.