Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 17 May
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

17 May

Musicians born and died on 17 May: 15 births, 15 deaths and 3 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born15

  • 1880Olivia Shippbass · New Orleans, LADied 18 June 1980 · Jazz
  • 1909Joe Montgomerypiano · Kentwood, LABlues · R&B · J. B. Lenoir
  • 1911Joshua Altheimerpiano · Pine Bluff, ARDied 18 November 1940 · Blues · Jazz · Bluebird Rec’s
  • 1922Vance "Tiny" Powellvocal · Warren, ARDied 4 February 1984 · Blues · Gospel · Soul · Golden Harp Singers, My Time After Awhile
  • 1925Ira Tuckervocal · Spartanburg, SCDied 24 June 2008 · Gospel · Dixie Hummingbirds
  • 1925Peter Badiebass · New Orleans, LADied 15 April 2023 · Jazz · Lionel Hampton
  • 1930Curtis Griffinguitar · Poole, LABlues
  • 1931Dewey Redmansaxophone · Fort Worth, TXDied 2 September 2006 · Jazz
  • 1932Jackie McLeansaxophone · New York, NYDied 31 March 2006 · Jazz
  • 1933Isidoro Lopezsaxophone · Bishop, TXDied 16 August 2004 · Blues · Country
  • 1933Ivan Symondsguitar · Hammonds, NsDied 16 March 1991 · Jazz
  • 1938Pervis Jacksonvocal · New Orleans, LADied 18 August 2008 · Soul · Spinners
  • 1942Taj Mahalguitar, piano, vocal · New York, NYBlues
  • 1944Esse Winchestercomposer, guitar · Bossier City, LADied 11 April 2014 · Country
  • 1953George JohnsonLos Angeles, CABrothers Johnson

Died15

  • 1964Stick Horse Hammondguitar · Shreveport, LABorn 16 April 1896 · aged 68 · Blues · Gotham Rec’s, Job
  • 1967John Wesley Work IIIcomposerBorn 15 June 1901 · aged 65 · Gospel · Fisk Jubilee Singers
  • 1974Romeo Nelson (Nelson Iromeio Nelson)piano · Chicago, ILBorn 12 March 1902 · aged 72 · Blues
  • 1976Charles Stepneyproducer · Chicago, ILBorn 26 March 1931 · aged 45 · Soul · Chess Rec’s
  • 1980John E. Howelltrumpet · Oak Park, ILJazz · Count Basie
  • 1986Freddy DonovanvocalBorn 26 June 1939 · aged 46 · Cancer · Doo-wop · Five Willows
  • 1989Good Rockin' Charlesharmonica · Chicago, ILBorn 4 March 1933 · aged 56 · Blues
  • 1989Jack Halllabel-owner · Granada Hills, CAStinson Rec’s
  • 1990Frank Wrightsaxophone · Wuppertal, GermanyBorn 9 July 1935 · aged 54 · Jazz
  • 1995Dambuza Pimvillevocal · S. AfricaBorn 23 April 1923 · aged 72 · Jazz · Manhattan Brothers
  • 1996Johnny "Guitar" Watsonguitar, piano, vocal · Yokohama, JapanBorn 3 February 1935 · aged 61 · R&B · Soul
  • 2000Richard PaynebassBorn 16 September 1931 · aged 68 · Jazz · R&B
  • 2002"Little" Johnny Taylor (Johnny Lamont Merrett Taylor)vocal · Conway, ARBorn 11 February 1943 · aged 59 · Gospel · R&B · Soul · Mighty Clouds Joy
  • 2012Donna Summervocal · Naples, FLBorn 31 December 1948 · aged 63 · Lung cancer · Funk · R&B
  • 2022Pluggy Satchmo (John Gilbert Peck)vocal · Toronto, CanadaReggae · Ska · Sparky, Pluggy and Beryl

Events3

  • 1953The 'New' Ray Charles enters the studio and records rock'n'roll - 'Mess Around', 'It Should've Been Me' (Atlantic).
  • 1967Sam & Dave record the Valentinos’ ‘Soothe Me’ (Stax).
  • 1972Bill Brandon records 'Self Preservation' (South Camp 7006).