Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 4 February
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

4 February

Musicians born and died on 4 February: 12 births, 23 deaths and 3 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born12

  • 1851Ella SheppardpianoDied 9 June 1914 · Gospel · Fisk Jubilee Singers
  • 1909Artie Bernsteinbass · Brooklyn, NYDied 4 January 1964 · Blues · Ida Cox
  • 1915Ray Evanscomposer · Salamanca, NYDied 15 February 2007 · Livingston &
  • 1924Bob Gaddypiano · Vivian, WVDied 24 July 1997 · R&B
  • 1930Bernie Westvocal · Newport News, VADied 22 December 2018 · R&B · Five Keys
  • 1931Gil Bernalsaxophone · Watts, CADied 17 July 2011 · Jazz · R&B · Rock & Roll · Spark Rec’s
  • 1938Joe Beardguitar · Ashland, MSBlues
  • 1942Florence Laruevocal · Plainfield, NJSoul · Fifth Dimension, Versatiles, Vocals
  • 1942Johnny Gambalevocal · New York, NYR&B · Classics
  • 1945John Stubblefield Ivsaxophone · Little Rock, ARDied 4 July 2005 · Soul
  • 1950James Dunnvocal · Philadelphia, PASoul · Stylistics
  • 1952Nat Riddlesharmonica · Bronxville, NYDied 11 August 1991 · Blues · Larry Johnson, Spivey R

Died23

  • 1951Cecil "Private" Gantpiano, vocal · Nashville, TNBorn 4 April 1913 · aged 37 · Pneumonia · Blues · R&B
  • 1974Henry "Rufe" Johnsonguitar, piano · Union, SCBorn 2 October 1908 · aged 65 · Kidney failure · Blues
  • 1974Henry Johnsonguitar, piano · Union, SCBorn 8 December 1908 · aged 65 · Kidney failure · Blues
  • 1974Rufe Johnsonguitar · Union, SCBorn 8 December 1908 · aged 65 · Kidney failure · Blues · Trix Rec's
  • 1975Louis Jordanband-leader, saxophone, vocal · Los Angeles, CABorn 8 July 1908 · aged 66 · Heart attack · R&B
  • 1976Columbus Brooksguitar · Jackson, MSBlues · Sam Myers
  • 1982Alex Harveyvocal · BelgiumBorn 5 February 1935 · aged 46 · Blues · Rock & Roll
  • 1983Walt Uncle Phelpsharmonica · Asheville, NC
  • 1984Vance "Tiny" PowellvocalBorn 17 May 1922 · aged 61 · Cirrhosis of the liver · Blues · Gospel · Soul · Golden Harp Singers, My Time After Awhile
  • 1991Pearl Williams Jonesvocal · Washington, DCBorn 28 June 1931 · aged 59 · Gospel
  • 1992Herman "Junior" Cooksaxophone · New York, NYBorn 22 July 1934 · aged 57 · Jazz
  • 2000Doris Coley Jackson-Kennervocal · Sacramento, CABorn 2 August 1941 · aged 58 · Breast cancer · R&B · Soul · Shirelles
  • 2000Johnny Vincent (John Vincent Imbragulio Vincent)label-owner, producer · Jackson, MSBorn 3 October 1925 · aged 74 · Heart failure · Blues · R&B
  • 2001J.J. Johnson (James Louis Johnson)band-leader, composer, trombone · Indianapolis, INBorn 22 January 1924 · aged 77 · Suicide · Jazz
  • 2003Charlie Biddlebass · Montreal, CanadaBorn 28 July 1926 · aged 76 · Jazz
  • 2007Barbara McNairvocal · Los Angeles, CABorn 4 March 1934 · aged 72 · Throat cancer · Jazz · R&B · Soul
  • 2011Clay Hammondcomposer, vocal · Houston, TXBorn 21 June 1936 · aged 74 · Cancer · Soul
  • 2013Alva "Reggie" Lewisguitar · Kingston, JamaicaReggae · Ska · Hippy Boys, Upsetters
  • 2013Donald Byrdflugelhorn, trumpet · Dover, DEBorn 9 December 1932 · aged 80 · Jazz · R&B
  • 2016Maurice Whitedrums · Los Angeles, CABorn 19 December 1941 · aged 74 · Parkinson's disease · Jazz · Soul · Ramsey Lewis Trio
  • 2017Scully (Noel Bartholomew)percussion, vocal · Alligator Reef, FLBorn 18 March 1935 · aged 81 · Cancer · Reggae · Ska · Simms & Robinson, Studio One, Prince Buster
  • 2019Bunny Brown (Noel Brown)vocalCancer · Reggae · Chosen Few
  • 2024Henry GreenvocalBorn 23 March 1943 · aged 80 · Gospel · Williams Brothers

Events3

  • 1944The Drifters record 'White Christmas' (Atlantic).
  • 1956James Brown and The Famous Flames first recording 'Please, Please, Please' (Federal).
  • 1967‘Dark End of the Street’ (Goldwax) by James Carr hits R&B charts.