Mohair Slim / Blue Juice Calendar / 20 May
Blue Juice Calendar · On this day

20 May

Musicians born and died on 20 May: 10 births, 16 deaths and 3 recording milestones from blues, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and ska.

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Born10

  • 1896Jaybird Colemanharmonica · Gainesville, ALDied 28 January 1950 · Blues
  • 1901Jimmy Blythepiano · South Keene, KYDied 14 June 1931 · Blues
  • 1911Milt Gablerarranger · New York, NYDied 20 July 2001 · Jazz · Commodore Rec’s, Decca
  • 1922Wally Heiderengineer · Sheridan, ORDied 22 March 1989 · Jazz · Rock & Roll
  • 1931Bud Spiresharmonica · Anding, MSDied 20 March 2014 · Blues · Jack Owens
  • 1933Charles Davissaxophone · Goodman, MSDied 15 July 2016 · Jazz
  • 1936Sterling Mageecomposer, guitar, percussion, vocal · Mount Olive, MSDied 6 September 2020 · Blues · Satan & Adam
  • 1940Frederick Earl "Shorty" Longvocal · Birmingham, ALDied 29 June 1969 · Soul
  • 1948Watty Burnett (Derrick Burnett)bass, drums, guitar, percussion, vocal · Port Antonio, JamaicaReggae · Soul Twins, Jimmy & Derrick, Black Ark
  • 1956Tyrone Ralph Downiearranger, guitar, keyboards, organ, piano · Kingston, JamaicaDied 5 November 2022 · Reggae · Bob Marley & Wailers, Impact All Stars

Died16

  • 1964Rudolph "Rudy" Lewis (Charles Rudolph Harrell Lewis)vocal · New York, NYBorn 23 August 1936 · aged 27 · Heart attack/drug overdose · R&B · Soul · Drifters
  • 1975Bon Bon Tunnellvocal · Philadelphia, PABorn 29 June 1912 · aged 62 · Jazz · Jan Savitt, Three Keys
  • 1977Lafayette "Thing" Thomasguitar · Brisbane, CABorn 13 June 1928 · aged 48 · Heart attack · Blues
  • 1978Ivan H. Browningvocal · Altadena, CABorn 20 February 1891 · aged 87 · R&B · Four Harmony Kings
  • 1982Monk Montgomerybass · Las Vegas, NVBorn 10 October 1921 · aged 60 · Jazz · El. B
  • 1982Pinell Currydrums · Chicago, ILBorn 9 August 1934 · aged 47
  • 1985Johnny Fullerguitar · Oakland, CABorn 20 April 1929 · aged 56 · Blues
  • 1986Clyde E.B. Bernhardttrombone, vocal · Newark, NJBorn 11 July 1905 · aged 80 · Jazz
  • 1988Dick Jacobsarranger, producer · New York, NYBorn 29 March 1918 · aged 70 · Soul · Jackie Wilson
  • 1993Clarence "Swamp Blues" EdwardsBiographyguitar · Baton Rouge, LABorn 25 March 1933 · aged 60 · Blues
  • 1998Ronald Shaabarranger, composer, owner · Baton Rouge, LABorn 7 September 1941 · aged 56 · R&B · Soul · Ron Records (baton Rouge)
  • 2001Willie Fosterharmonica, vocal · Jackson, TNBorn 19 September 1921 · aged 79 · Blues · Muddy Waters
  • 2002Clarence SamuelsBiographyvocalBorn 30 October 1923 · aged 78 · Blues · R&B
  • 2003Joe "Guitar" Hughesguitar · Houston, TXBorn 29 September 1937 · aged 65 · Blues
  • 2012Carrie Smithvocal · Englewood, NJBorn 25 August 1925 · aged 86 · Cancer · Blues · Jazz
  • 2026Jimmy HughesvocalBorn 3 February 1938 · aged 88 · Cancer · Gospel · Soul · Singing Clouds

Events3

  • 1960Alan Freed (now DJ on KDAY L.A.) indicted for accepting $30,650 from record companies pleaded guilty - $400 fine and suspended sentence).
  • 1965Wes Montgomery records the title track to his 'Bumpin' album (Verve V6-8625).
  • 1967Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' (Atlantic) reaches R&B #1.