Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 7 May
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

7 May

Musicians born and died on 7 May: 15 births, 13 deaths and 7 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born15

  • 1895Yank Porterdrums · Norfolk, VADied 22 March 1944 · Jazz
  • 1900Leon Abbeyviolin · Minneapolis, MNDied 15 September 1975 · Jazz
  • 1905Bumble Bee Slim (Amos Easton)guitar, piano · Brunswick, GADied 8 June 1968 · Blues
  • 1909Teddy Bunnguitar · Freeport, NYDied 20 July 1978 · Jazz
  • 1922Roy Hallpiano · Big Stone Gap, VADied 3 March 1984 · Country · Rock & Roll
  • 1926Chink Johnsontrombone · New York, NYJazz · Fletcher Henderson
  • 1926Kansas City Red (Arthur Stevenson)drums · Drew, MSDied 7 May 1991 · Blues
  • 1926Thomas "Beans" Bowlesflute, saxophone · South Bend, INDied 28 January 2000 · Jazz · Soul · Motown Rec's, Swinging Dashikis
  • 1936Jimmy Ruffinvocal · Collinsville, MSDied 17 November 2014 · Soul · Temptations
  • 1939Johnny Mastro (John Peter Mastrangelo Mastro)vocal · New York, NYDied 24 March 2010 · R&B · Brooklyn Bridge, Crests
  • 1942Justin Hindsvocal · Steertown, JamaicaDied 17 March 2005 · Reggae · Ska · Dominoes
  • 1943Thelma Houstonvocal · Leland, MSGospel · Soul
  • 1946Sparky Ruckerguitar · Knoxville, TNBlues · Folk
  • 1948Caleb Butlerbass · Washington, DCGospel · Five Blind Boys of Alabama
  • 1948Pete Wingfieldproducer, piano · Liphook, EnglandR&B · B.b. King

Died13

  • 1950Bertha "Chippie" Hillvocal · New York, NYBorn 15 March 1905 · aged 45 · Blues · Jazz · Louis Armstrong
  • 1978Brother Claude Elyvocal · Newport, KYBorn 21 July 1922 · aged 55 · Gospel
  • 1990Sonny Rodgersguitar · Minneapolis, MNBorn 4 December 1939 · aged 50 · Blues
  • 1991Kansas City Red (Arthur Stevenson)drums · Chicago, ILBorn 7 May 1926 · aged 65 · Blues
  • 1995Ray McKinleydrums · Largo, FLBorn 18 June 1910 · aged 84 · Jazz
  • 1998Alphonso Howellvocal · Philadelphia, PABorn 4 September 1936 · aged 61 · Heart attack · R&B · Sensations
  • 1998Blue Lu Barker (Louisa Dupont Barker)vocal · New Orleans, LABorn 13 November 1913 · aged 84 · Jazz · Danny Barker
  • 2007Carolyn JohnsonvocalR&B · Soul · Exciters, Peaches
  • 2012Ernest Warrenvocal · Gary, INBorn 2 December 1933 · aged 78 · R&B · Spaniels
  • 2014Jerry "Count" Jackson (Jerry Lacroix Jackson)vocal · Lufkin, TXBorn 10 October 1943 · aged 70 · R&B · Soul · Boogie Kings
  • 2024Phil Wigginsharmonica · Takoma Park, MDBorn 8 May 1954 · aged 69 · Multiple organ cancers · Blues · Cephas & Wiggins
  • 2025Joseph"Jo Jo" WallacevocalBorn 4 October 1926 · aged 98 · Gospel · Sensational Nightingales
  • 2026Earl-Jean (Earl-Jean McCrea Reavis)organ, vocalBorn 9 July 1942 · aged 83 · R&B · Cookies, Colpix, Dimension

Events7

  • 1936Meade Lux Lewis records 'Honky Tonk Train Blues'/'Whistlin' Blues' (Victor) in Chicago.
  • 1941Pete Johnson and Albert Ammons first Victor session - 'Barrelhouse Boogie', 'Cuttin' The Boogie'.
  • 1953Ahmet Ertegun signs Clyde McPhatter.
  • 1955'I Got a Woman' by Ray Charles (Atlantic) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (1 week at the top).
  • 1955Clyde McPhatter receives draft notice.
  • 1965Johnny "Hammond" Smith records 'The Stinger' (Prestige) at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs.
  • 1966'When a Man Loves a Woman' by Percy Sledge (Atlantic) reaches No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (4 weeks at the top).