Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 30 May
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

30 May

Musicians born and died on 30 May: 15 births, 17 deaths and 4 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born15

  • 1883Lewis F. Muircomposer, pianoDied 19 January 1950 · Jazz · R&B · Louis Jordan
  • 1896Whispering Jack Smith (Jacob Schmidt)piano, vocal · Bronx, NYDied 13 May 1950 · Jazz
  • 1902Ed "Schubert" Swanstonarranger, piano · New York, NYDied 13 June 2003 · Doo-wop
  • 1902Stepin Fetchit (Lincoln Perry)vocal · Key West, FLDied 19 November 1985 · Comedy
  • 1905Sidney Deparistrumpet · Crawfordsville, INDied 13 September 1967 · Blues · Jazz · Bessie Smith
  • 1909Benny Goodmanband-leader, clarinet · Chicago, ILDied 13 June 1986 · Jazz
  • 1915Isaac Ravizeevocal · AlabamaDied 28 May 1990 · Gospel · Ravizee Singers
  • 1919Joe Gainesvocal · New Orleans, LAR&B · Hawks, Humming Four
  • 1920Kitty Stevenson (Katherine Louise Moore)drums, songwriter, vocal · Thomson, GADied 31 May 1952 · Blues · R&B · Todd Rhodes, T. J. Fowler, Vitacoustic, Sensation
  • 1921Madeline Greenevocal · St. Matthews, SCDied 30 May 1976 · Jazz
  • 1928Priscilla Bowmanvocal · Kansas City, KSDied 24 July 1988 · R&B · Vee Jay Rec’s
  • 1939John Gordontrombone · New York, NYDied 27 November 2003 · Jazz · R&B · Lionel Hampton, Lloyd Price
  • 1939King Ernest (Ernest Baker)vocal · Natchez, MSDied 5 March 2000 · Blues
  • 1944Nicky Thomas (Cecil Thomas)vocal · Portland, JamaicaReggae · Trojan Rec’s
  • 1945Gladys Catherine Hortonband-leader, vocal · Gainesville, FLDied 26 January 2011 · R&B · Soul · Marvelettes, Motown

Died17

  • 1953Dooley Wilsondrums, vocal · Los Angeles, CABorn 3 April 1886 · aged 67 · Jazz
  • 1956Valaida Snowtrumpet, vocal · New York, NYBorn 2 June 1904 · aged 51 · Jazz
  • 1967Morris Lanesaxophone · Gary, INJazz · Lionel Hampton
  • 1972John Ryanesvocal · Newark, NJBorn 16 November 1940 · aged 31 · R&B · Monotones
  • 1975Bobbie Solomonvocal · Los Angeles, CABorn 19 November 1944 · aged 30
  • 1976Madeline Greenevocal · Cleveland, OHBorn 30 May 1921 · aged 55 · Jazz
  • 1976Melvin "Li'l Son" Jacksonguitar, vocal · Dallas, TXBorn 17 August 1916 · aged 59 · Cancer · Blues · Blue Eagle Four
  • 1977Paul Desmondsaxophone · New York, NYBorn 25 November 1924 · aged 52 · Jazz
  • 1980Herbert "Herb" Fisherband-leader, piano, songwriter, vocal · San Francisco, CABorn 23 June 1928 · aged 51 · R&B · His Trio, Modern Records, Imperial Records
  • 1982Leon Renecomposer, producer · Los Angeles, CABorn 6 February 1902 · aged 80 · R&B
  • 1986Hank Mobleysaxophone · Philadelphia, PABorn 7 July 1930 · aged 55 · Jazz · Soul
  • 1989Dave Colemandrums · Seattle, WABorn 22 September 1923 · aged 65 · Jazz · Freddie Slack
  • 1991Demas DeantrumpetBorn 6 October 1903 · aged 87 · Jazz
  • 1993Sun Raband-leader, composer, piano, vocal · Birmingham, ALBorn 22 May 1914 · aged 79 · Blues · Jazz · R&B
  • 1996Arthur "T Boy" Rosscomposer · Oak Park, MIBorn 28 February 1949 · aged 47 · Soul · Motown Rec's
  • 1996John Kahnbass · Mill Valley, CABorn 13 June 1947 · aged 48 · Blues · Otis Rush
  • 1999Dave DixonDJ, songwriter · Detroit, MIHeart attack · Rock · Wabx, Wdet, Wxyt

Events4

  • 1943Hunter Hancock (L.A. DJ) launches his program aimed at black listeners.
  • 1949"Dr Daddy-O" (Vernon Winslow) becomes New Orleans first black DJ.
  • 1953'I'm Mad' by Willie Mabon and His Combo (Chess) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (2 weeks at the top).
  • 1964The Jamaican Government, in cooperation with Atlantic Records, announces that it will send dancers to demonstrate the Ska at New Jersey's Palisades Amusement Park.