Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

21 July

Musicians born and died on 21 July: 6 births, 20 deaths and 2 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

Born6

  • 1915Floyd McDanielguitar, vocal · Athens, ALDied 22 July 1995 · Jazz · R&B · Five Blazes
  • 1916Jackson "Flap" McQueenvocal · Cincinnati, OHDied 11 December 2005 · R&B · Ray-O-Vacs
  • 1917Floyd Jonesguitar, piano, vocal · Marianna, ARDied 19 December 1989 · Blues
  • 1922Brother Claude Elyvocal · Lee Cty, VADied 7 May 1978 · Gospel
  • 1931Plas Johnsonsaxophone · Donaldsonville, LADied 15 July 2026 · Jazz · R&B · Capitol Rec’s
  • 1953Melvin Williamsvocal · Smithdale, MSGospel · Williams Brothers

Died20

  • 1935Honore Dutreytrombone · Chicago, ILBorn 9 September 1894 · aged 40 · Blues · Jazz · Sippie Wallace
  • 1962Maceo Pinkardcomposer · New York, NYBorn 27 June 1897 · aged 65 · Jazz
  • 1981Snub Mosleytrombone · New York, NYBorn 29 December 1905 · aged 75 · Jazz
  • 1982Big Boy Groves (Perry Ervin Minor Groves, Jr.)arranger, band-leader, piano, songwriter, vocal · San Diego, CABorn 20 January 1927 · aged 55 · Leukemia · Blues · R&B · Big Boy Groves and Band, Spark, Money, GME
  • 1987Bert Keyespiano · Central Islip, NYBorn 11 September 1930 · aged 56 · R&B
  • 1988Francisco "Pacho" Galánarranger, band-leader, piano, songwriter, trumpet, vocal · Barranquilla, ColombiaBorn 4 October 1906 · aged 81 · Jazz · Pacho Galán Orchestra, Orquesta Atlántico Jazz Band, Emisora Atlántico Jazz Band, Pájaro Azul
  • 1990Joe "Stride" Turnerpiano · Montreuil, FranceBorn 3 November 1907 · aged 82 · Jazz
  • 1991Louise Spencevocal · Nassau, BahamasBorn 8 August 1911 · aged 79 · Blues · Joseph Spence
  • 1993Richard Teepiano, producer · Bronx, NYBorn 24 November 1943 · aged 49 · Jazz · Soul
  • 1995Claude McLinsaxophone · Los Angeles, CABorn 27 December 1925 · aged 69 · R&B
  • 2001Napoleon Stricklandfife, guitar, harmonica · Senatobia, MSBorn 6 October 1924 · aged 76 · Stroke · Blues
  • 2005Long John Baldryvocal · Vancouver, CanadaBorn 12 January 1941 · aged 64 · Severe chest infection · Blues · R&B
  • 2006Herbert Kalinvocal · Waldorf, MDBorn 16 February 1934 · aged 72 · Heart attack · Jazz · Kalin Twins
  • 2009Horace C. Boyervocal · Amherst, MABorn 28 July 1935 · aged 73 · Gospel · Famous Boyer Brothers
  • 2011Lloyd RickettsvocalBorn 23 September 1947 · aged 63 · Reggae · Terrors, Tennors, Westmorelites, Itals
  • 2016Lewie Steinbergbass, songwriter · Memphis, TNBorn 13 September 1933 · aged 82 · Cancer · R&B · Soul · Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Mar-Keys, Stax
  • 2017Louis "L.C." Cookesongwriter, vocalBorn 14 December 1932 · aged 84 · Natural causes · Gospel · R&B · Soul · Singing Children, Magnificents, SAR Records, Upsetters
  • 2020Annie Rossvocal · New York, NYBorn 25 July 1930 · aged 89 · Jazz · Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
  • 2020Dobby Dobson (Highland Ralph Dobson)composer, producer, vocal · Coral Springs, FLBorn 5 July 1942 · aged 78 · COVID-19 · Gospel · Reggae · Tip-Top, Treasure Isle, Virtues, Sheiks
  • 2023Peter Austincomposer, producer, vocal · Kingston, JamaicaReggae · Ska · Clarendonians, Studio One, Treasure Isle

Events2

  • 1956'Fever' by Little Willie John (King) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (6 weeks at the top).
  • 1979Bob Marley and the Wailers headline the Amandla Festival of Unity at Harvard Stadium, Boston.