Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 23 May
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

23 May

Musicians born and died on 23 May: 15 births, 9 deaths and 7 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born15

  • 1897Fred Guyguitar · Burkeville, GADied 22 November 1971 · Jazz · Duke Ellington
  • 1904Edgar J. Hayesarranger, piano · Lexington, KYDied 28 June 1979 · Jazz · Stardusters
  • 1909James C. Brackenlabel-owner · OklahomaDied 20 February 1972 · Blues · R&B · Soul · Vee Jay Rec’s
  • 1910Artie Shawclarinet · New York, NYDied 30 December 2004 · Jazz
  • 1910Scatman Crothersdrums, guitar, piano · Terre Haute, INDied 22 November 1986 · Jazz
  • 1918Robert "Bumps" Blackwellarranger, band-leader · Seattle, WADied 9 March 1985 · R&B · Specialty Rec’s
  • 1919Charles Wesley Hillvocal · Danville, VAGospel · Southern Sons
  • 1920Beatrice "Wee Bea" Booze (Muriel Nichols Booze)guitar, vocal · Baltimore, MDDied 11 November 1986 · Blues
  • 1926Arthur Gunterguitar, vocal · Nashville, TNDied 16 March 1976 · Blues · R&B · Gunter Brothers Quartet
  • 1932Les Spannguitar · Pine Bluff, ARDied 24 January 1989 · Jazz
  • 1938Al "Tnt" Braggdrums, producer · Dallas, TXDied 3 December 2003 · R&B · Soul
  • 1941General Norman Johnsonvocal · Norfolk, VADied 13 October 2010 · Soul · Showmen
  • 1944Justin Yap (Philip Stanford)composer, DJ, label-owner, producer, sound-system · Kingston, JamaicaDied 23 July 1999 · Ska · Top Deck, Skatalites, Studio One
  • 1944Ramon "Tiki" Fulwooddrums · Philadelphia, PADied 29 October 1979 · Soul · Funkadelic
  • 1945Rodney Bucklelabel-owner · London, EnglandSonet Rec’s

Died9

  • 1975Moms "Jackie" Mabley (Loretta Mary Aitken Mabley)vocal · White Plains, NYBorn 19 March 1897 · aged 78 · R&B · Comedy
  • 1978Marie Bryantvocal · Los Angeles, CABorn 6 November 1917 · aged 60 · Jazz · Duke Ellington
  • 1985Lloyd Glennarranger, piano · Los Angeles, CABorn 21 November 1909 · aged 75 · Heart attack · R&B
  • 1994Joe Passguitar · Los Angeles, CABorn 13 January 1929 · aged 65 · Jazz
  • 1997Lovie Leepiano · Chicago, ILBorn 17 March 1909 · aged 88 · Blues
  • 2000Marcus HutsonvocalBorn 8 January 1943 · aged 57 · Prostate cancer · Soul · Whispers
  • 2021James HarmanharmonicaBorn 8 June 1946 · aged 74 · Heart attack · Blues
  • 2023Floyd Newmanband-leader, saxophoneBorn 17 August 1931 · aged 91 · R&B · Soul · Mar-Keys, Memphis Horns, Stax Records, B.B. King Review
  • 2023Isaac "Redd" Holtdrums, vocal · Chicago, ILBorn 16 May 1932 · aged 91 · Lung cancer · Jazz · Soul · Ramsey Lewis

Events7

  • 1952Willis Jackson records 'Gator's Groove' (Atlantic).
  • 1955Smiley Lewis records 'I Hear You Knocking' (Imperial) New Orleans.
  • 1956Modern releases The Cadets' 'Stranded In The Jungle'.
  • 1958Shirley Scott records 'Great Scott!' (Prestige) at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack.
  • 1960'Doggin' Around' by Jackie Wilson (Brunswick) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (3 weeks at the top).
  • 1963Willis Jackson records the sessions issued as 'Grease 'n' Gravy' and 'The Good Life' (Prestige) at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs.
  • 1964The only Ska hit in America Millie Small's 'My Boy Lollipop' already a hit in UK enters Hot 100 later, reaching #2. The song's success sparked anticipation of a Ska trend.