Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 13 May
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

13 May

Musicians born and died on 13 May: 16 births, 9 deaths and 4 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born16

  • 1911Maxine Sullivanvocal · Homestead, PADied 7 April 1987 · Jazz
  • 1914Bobby Platersaxophone · Newark, NJDied 20 November 1982 · Jazz · R&B · Count Basie, Tiny Bradshaw
  • 1914Johnnie Robert "Johnny" Wright Jr.songwriter, vocal · Mount Juliet, TNDied 27 September 2011 · Johnnie & Jack, Decca, Kitty Wells, Tennessee Mountain Boys
  • 1918William "Bass" McMahonbass · Birmingham, ALDied 23 September 1996 · R&B · Tiny Bradshaw
  • 1920Jack "Jockey" "The Rapper" GibsonDJ · Chicago, ILDied 30 January 2000 · R&B
  • 1926Dewey PhillipsDJ · Adamsville, TNDied 28 September 1968 · Blues · R&B
  • 1933Buddy Catlettsaxophone · Long Beach, CADied 12 November 2014 · Jazz · Blackwell, Count Basie
  • 1933Harold Winleyvocal · Washington, DCR&B · Clovers
  • 1935Teddy Randazzocomposer, producer · Brooklyn, NYDied 21 November 2003 · Soul
  • 1938Frankie Smithvocal · Newark, NJDied 26 November 2000 · R&B · Monotones
  • 1940Richard Brookscomposer, vocal · Chattanooga, TNDied 12 November 2023 · Soul · Impressions
  • 1941Ritchie Valens (Richard Steven Valenzuela Valens)vocal · Los Angeles, CADied 3 February 1959 · R&B · Silhouettes
  • 1943Mary Wellsvocal · Detroit, MIDied 26 July 1992 · Soul · Motown Rec’s
  • 1944Carolyn Franklinarranger, composer, vocal · Memphis, TNDied 25 April 1988 · Soul
  • 1945Eddie StokesLake Charles, LAZydeco · Buckwheat Zydeco
  • 1950Stevie Wonder (Steveland Morris Hardaway Judkins Wonder)harmonica, organ, piano, vocal · Saginaw, MISoul

Died9

  • 1950Whispering Jack Smith (Jacob Schmidt)piano, vocal · New York City, NYBorn 30 May 1896 · aged 53 · Heart attack · Jazz
  • 1987Phil Moorearranger · Los Angeles, CABorn 20 February 1917 · aged 70 · Jazz · Black & White Rec’s
  • 1988Chet Bakerflugelhorn, trumpet, vocals · Amsterdam, HollandBorn 23 December 1929 · aged 58 · Jazz
  • 1988Floyd Morrispiano · Chicago, ILJazz
  • 1992Floyd Arceneauxtrumpet · Houston, TXBorn 9 August 1934 · aged 57 · Jazz · R&B · G Gaines, Joe Scott
  • 2012Donald "Duck" Dunnbass · Tokyo, JapanBorn 24 November 1941 · aged 70 · Soul · Booker T & Mgs
  • 2017James Leon ComegystromboneBorn 7 June 1917 · aged 99 · Jazz · R&B · Eddie "cleanhead" Vinson, Tiny Bradshaw
  • 2021Norman Simmonspiano · Mesa, AZBorn 6 October 1929 · aged 91 · Multiple myeloma · Jazz
  • 2026Clarence Cartervocal · Atlanta, GABorn 14 January 1936 · aged 90 · Pneumonia complications · Soul · Clarence & Calvin

Events4

  • 1950'I Need You So' by Ivory Joe Hunter (MGM) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (2 weeks at the top).
  • 1956King Curtis begins his long association with Atlantic records participating in a session featuring the Tibbs Brothers after being introduced to Herb Abramson by Doc Pomus - Atco 6074 ‘I’m Going Crazy’/‘Miss Rip Van Winkle’.
  • 1965Ramsey Lewis Trio record 'The In Crowd' (Cadet 5506) at the Bohemian Caverns Washington DC.
  • 1967'Jimmy Mack' by Martha and the Vandellas (Gordy) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (1 week at the top).