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

23 January

Musicians born and died on 23 January: 19 births, 18 deaths and 2 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

Search the calendar

Born19

  • 1902Benny Watersclarinet, saxophone, vocal · Brighton, MDDied 11 August 1998 · Jazz · Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson
  • 1907Mae Barnesvocal · New York, NYDied 13 December 1996 · R&B
  • 1908Jerry Blakesaxophone · Gary, INDied 31 December 1961 · Jazz · R&B · Lucky Millinder
  • 1910Django Reinhardtband-leader, guitar · Liberchies, BelgiumDied 16 May 1953 · Jazz
  • 1911Rev. Dan Smithharmonica · Per-Due Hill, ALDied 16 November 1994 · Blues · Folk · Gospel
  • 1915George "Scoops" Carrysaxophone · Little Rock, ARDied 4 August 1970 · Jazz · Les Hines
  • 1917Fred Becketttrombone · Nellerton, MSDied 30 January 1946 · Jazz · Lionel Hampton
  • 1920Ray Abramssaxophone · New York, NYDied 6 July 1992 · R&B · Paul Gayten
  • 1926Curtis Councebass · Kansas City, MODied 31 July 1963 · Jazz · R&B · Johnny Otis
  • 1927Alex "Professor" Bradfordcomposer, vocal · Bessemer, ALDied 15 February 1978 · Gospel
  • 1928David "Boots" Bowersvocal · South CarolinaDied 23 October 1995 · R&B · Larks
  • 1929Harold Ousleysaxophone · Chicago, ILDied 13 August 2015 · Jazz · Soul
  • 1931Sylvester "Piggy Back" Boinesbass · Port Gibson, MSDied 16 December 1992 · Blues · Jimmy Dawkins
  • 1938Eugene Churchvocal · St. Louis, MODied 16 April 1993 · R&B · Cliques, Fellows
  • 1944Jerry Lawsonvocal · Fort Lauderdale, FLDied 10 July 2019 · Soul · Persuasions
  • 1944Sid Wingfieldorgan, piano · Cedar Rapids, IABlues
  • 1948Anita Pointervocal · Oakland, CADied 31 December 2022 · Soul · Pointer Sisters
  • 1951Darrow Fletchervocal · Inkster, MISoul
  • 1955Billy Wilesguitar · Jacksonville, NC

Died18

  • 1936John Mills Jr.arranger, guitar, vocal · Bellefontaine, OHBorn 19 October 1910 · aged 25 · Jazz · Mills Brothers
  • 1966Tom the Great Sebastian (Thomas Wong)DJ, sound-system · JamaicaBorn 24 May 1924 · aged 41 · Suicide · Reggae · Ska · Tom the Great Sebastian
  • 1972Big Maybelle (Mabel Louise Smith)vocal · Cleveland, OHBorn 1 May 1924 · aged 47 · Diabetic coma · R&B · Soul
  • 1973Edward "Kid" Oryband-leader · Honolulu, HIBorn 25 December 1886 · aged 86 · Jazz
  • 1976Paul Robesonvocal · Philadelphia, PABorn 9 April 1898 · aged 77 · Jazz
  • 1980Babs Gonzales (Lee Brown Gonzales)vocal · Newark, NJBorn 27 October 1919 · aged 60 · Comedy · Jazz
  • 1987Bob "Bob-A-Lew" LewisDJ · New York, NY
  • 1989Baby Lovettdrums · Leavenworth, KSJazz · R&B · Julia Lee
  • 1993Herbert "Kat" CowensdrumsBorn 24 May 1904 · aged 88 · Jazz · Sammy Price
  • 1993Rev. Dr. Thomas A. "Georgia Tom" Dorseycomposer, piano, vocal · Chicago, ILBorn 1 July 1899 · aged 93 · Alzeheimer's disease · Blues · Gospel
  • 1993Wayne Raneyharmonica · Arkansas, ARBorn 17 August 1921 · aged 71 · Cancer · Blues
  • 1997Richard Berrypiano, vocal · Los Angeles, CABorn 11 April 1935 · aged 61 · R&B · Crowns, Dreamers, Flairs, Hollywood Blue Jays, Pharoahs, Robins
  • 1998Johnny FunchesvocalBorn 18 July 1935 · aged 62 · Soul · Dells
  • 2001Brother Jack McDuff (Eugene McDuff McDuff)organ · Minneapolis, MNBorn 17 September 1926 · aged 74 · Jazz
  • 2003Nell Cartervocal · Beverly Hills, CABorn 13 September 1948 · aged 54 · Heart attack · Jazz
  • 2017Bobby Freemanvocal · Daly City, CABorn 13 June 1940 · aged 76 · Heart attack · R&B · Soul · Romancers
  • 2017Marvell Thomascomposer, piano, producer · Memphis, TNBorn 22 August 1941 · aged 75 · Soul
  • 2018Hugh Masekelatrumpet, vocal · Johannesburg, South AfricaBorn 4 April 1939 · aged 78 · Prostate cancer · Jazz

Events2

  • 1956Ralph Bass (King) signs James Brown & his Famous Flames at Barbershop in Macon.
  • 1967Sam and Dave’s ‘When Something Is Wrong With My Baby’ (Stax 210) and the Markeys "Philly Dog’ (Stax 185) released.