Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 8 February
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

8 February

Musicians born and died on 8 February: 18 births, 9 deaths and 3 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born18

  • 1899Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnsonguitar, piano, violin, vocal · New Orleans, LADied 16 June 1970 · Blues · Jazz · Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong
  • 1902Bessie Jonesvocal · Smithville, GADied 17 July 1984 · Folk · Gospel · Georgia Sea Island Singers
  • 1902Dudley Fosdickvocal · LibertyDied 17 June 1957 · Gospel · W. C. Elkins Singers
  • 1902Pappy Dailylabel-owner · Yoakum, TXDied 5 December 1987 · Blues · Starday Rec’s
  • 1925Julie Gardnervocal · Augusta, GAJazz · Earl Hines
  • 1926Pony Poindextersaxophone · New Orleans, LADied 14 April 1988 · Jazz
  • 1928Carrie B. Harrisonvocal · TennesseeDied 7 February 1995 · Gospel · Roberta Martin Singers
  • 1928Eddie Burnsguitar, harmonica · Belzoni, MSDied 12 December 2012 · Blues
  • 1928Floyd Dixon (J. Riggins Jr. Dixon)piano, vocal · Marshall, TXDied 26 July 2006 · R&B
  • 1929Al Arnettbass · Colquitt, GAJazz · Have Mercy Rec’s
  • 1929Skeet DixonvocalBlues
  • 1935Nappy Chin (Clarence Richard Evans Chin)guitar · Dallas, TXDied 8 March 1972
  • 1937Otis Leavill (Otis Leavill Cobb Leavill)vocal · Dewey Rose, GADied 17 July 2002 · R&B · Soul
  • 1938Ray Sharpeguitar · Fort Worth, TXR&B · Soul
  • 1940James "Blood" Ulmerguitar · St. Matthews, SCDied 3 June 2026 · Blues · Jazz
  • 1941Tom Rushguitar · Portsmouth, NHBlues · Folk
  • 1946Fito DelaparradrumsBlues · Rock & Roll
  • 1949Merle Watsonguitar · North CarolinaDied 23 October 1985 · Blues · Doc Watson

Died9

  • 1960Archie Brownleevocal · New Orleans, LAGospel · Five Blind Boys of Mississppi
  • 1981Mapletoft Poulle (Eugene Mapletoft Poulle)arranger, band-leader, composer, piano · Kingston, JamaicaBorn 17 July 1923 · aged 57 · Mento
  • 1989Jerry Shifrinmanager · Miami, FLR&B · Soul · Cameo-Parkway Rec’s
  • 1993Murphy Monroe "Pee Wee" Madduxcomposer, fiddle, guitar, producer · Bay St Louis, MSBorn 18 October 1923 · aged 69 · R&B · Fats Domino
  • 1996Mercer Ellingtontrumpet · Copenhagen, DenmarkBorn 11 March 1919 · aged 76 · Jazz
  • 1999Richard Boonetrombone, vocalBorn 24 February 1930 · aged 68 · Jazz · Count Basie
  • 2002Nick Brignolasaxophone · Albany, NYBorn 17 July 1936 · aged 65 · Cancer · Jazz
  • 2005James Oscar "Jimmy" Smithorgan, vocal · Scottsdale, AZBorn 8 December 1928 · aged 76 · Natural causes · Jazz
  • 2021Mary Wilsonvocal · Henderson, NVBorn 6 March 1944 · aged 76 · Hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease · Soul · Primettes, Supremes

Events3

  • 1956The Teenagers' 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love' (Gee) enters the R&B charts.
  • 1957Sonny Boy Williamson records 'Fattenin' Frogs For Snakes' (Checker 864).
  • 1964Aretha Franklin records ‘Soulville’, ‘Lee Cross’ (Columbia).