Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

17 March

Musicians born and died on 17 March: 16 births, 20 deaths and 3 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

Born16

  • 1907Ellabelle Davisvocal · New Rochelle, NYDied 15 November 1960 · Gospel
  • 1909Lovie Leepiano · Chattanooga, TNDied 23 May 1997 · Blues
  • 1919Leroy Lovettpiano · Philadelphia, PADied 9 December 2013 · Jazz · Lucky Millinder
  • 1919Nat "King" Cole (Nathaniel Adams Coles Cole)piano, vocal · Montgomery, ALDied 15 February 1965 · Jazz · R&B
  • 1927Kenneth Goldsteinproducer · Brooklyn, NYDied 11 November 1995 · Blues · Bluesville Rec’s
  • 1927Rudy Ray Moore (Rudolph Frank Moore)producer, songwriter, vocal · Fort Smith, ARDied 19 October 2008 · R&B · Soul · Federal, Dooto, Vermont, King Records
  • 1931Lorraine Ellisoncomposer, vocal · Philadelphia, PADied 31 January 1983 · Soul
  • 1934Q.T. Maconguitar · Bolivar, TNDied 12 April 1994 · Blues · Pulsar Rec’s
  • 1935Adam Wadevocal · Pittsburgh, PADied 7 July 2022 · R&B · Soul
  • 1938Eddie C Gilesguitar, vocal · Frierson, LADied 5 February 2019 · Soul · Murco Records
  • 1938Zoletta Lynn "Zola" Taylorvocal · Los Angeles, CADied 30 April 2007 · R&B · Platters, Shirley Gunter & the Queens
  • 1939Louis Aldine "Dean" Mathisbass, guitar, piano · Hahira, GAR&B · The Brothers, Dale Hawkins
  • 1941Clarence Collinsvocal · Brooklyn, NYR&B · Soul · Little Anthony & Imperials
  • 1946Harold Ray Browndrums · Long Beach, CASoul · WAR
  • 1948Johnny Daye (John DiBucci)vocal · Pittsburgh, PADied 6 May 2017 · R&B · Soul · Jomada, Stax, Parkway, Blue Star
  • 1954Hollywood Fats (Michael Mann)guitar · Los Angeles, CADied 8 December 1986 · Blues

Died20

  • 1958Carl Perkinspiano · Los Angeles, CABorn 16 August 1928 · aged 29 · Jazz · R&B · Big Jay McNeely, Tiny Bradshaw
  • 1963Lizzie Milesvocal · New Orleans, LABorn 31 March 1895 · aged 67 · Blues · Jazz
  • 1963Terry Snyderband-leader, drums · New York City, NYJazz · All Stars
  • 1976Jack Palmercomposer · Waterbury, CTBorn 29 May 1900 · aged 75 · Jazz
  • 1982Samuel George Jr.vocal · Detroit, MIBorn 1 October 1942 · aged 39 · Soul · Capitols
  • 1989Bobby Mitchellvocal · New Orleans, LABorn 16 August 1935 · aged 53 · R&B · Soul · Toppers
  • 1991Cadillac Baby (Narvel Eatmon)vocalBorn 3 July 1914 · aged 76 · Congestive heart failure · R&B · Bea & Baby
  • 1993Bill Diceyharmonica · Rock Hall, MDBorn 25 May 1936 · aged 56 · Blues · Jsp, Spivey
  • 1995Sunnyland Slim (Albert Luandrew)piano, vocal · Chicago, ILBorn 5 September 1907 · aged 87 · Blues
  • 1998Black Lone Ranger (James Ramsey)guitar, vocal · Chicago, ILBorn 1 February 1932 · aged 66 · Heart failure · Blues
  • 2000Dorothy "Dottie" Martinvocal · New York, NYR&B · Creations, Willows
  • 2000Jerome Breslercomposer · Delray Beach, FLBorn 29 May 1914 · aged 85 · Jazz · R&B · Louis Jordan
  • 2005Justin HindsvocalBorn 7 May 1942 · aged 62 · Lung cancer · Reggae · Ska · Dominoes
  • 2005Lalo Guerrero (Eduardo Guerrero Jr.)band-leader, guitar, songwriter, vocal · Rancho Mirage, CABorn 24 December 1916 · aged 88 · R&B · Rock · Los Carlistas, Trio Imperial, Lalo Guerrero y Sus Cinco Lobos, Las Ardillitas
  • 2009Lester "Mad Dog" Davenportharmonica · Chicago, ILBorn 16 January 1932 · aged 77 · Prostate cancer · Blues · Delmark
  • 2019Andre Williamsvocal · Chicago, ILBorn 1 November 1936 · aged 82 · Cancer · R&B · Soul
  • 2021Freddie Reddpiano · New York, NYBorn 29 May 1928 · aged 92 · Jazz · R&B · Tiny Grimes
  • 2021Sonny "Orbitone" Robertscomposer, label-owner, producer · Saint Andrew, JamaicaBorn 26 July 1931 · aged 89 · Cancer · Gospel · Ska · Planetone, Sway, Orbitone
  • 2022Bobby StarrvocalBorn 19 January 1937 · aged 85 · Soul · Intruders
  • 2024Sandra Crouchvocal · Northridge, CABorn 1 July 1942 · aged 81 · Radiation complications from a non-cancerous brain lesion · Gospel

Events3

  • 1956'Why Do Fools Fall in Love' by The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon (Gee) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (5 weeks at the top).
  • 1958The Coasters with King Curtis on saxophone record 'Yakety Yak' (Atlantic).
  • 1962The Shirelles' 'Soldier Boy' is released on Scepter Records.