People, Locations, Episodes

Ermine Hall Allen, Vocalist born

*Ermine Hall Allen was born on this date in 1910.  She was a Black classical vocalist and educator. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota’s Rondo community, she was the youngest of two daughters to S.Edward. and Harriet ‘Hattie’ Grissom Hall.  Her older sister Dorothy was a music teacher.  Ermine’s first performances were impromptu affairs. At age […]

Harry Carney, Musician born

On this date in 1910, Harry Carney was born. He was an African American jazz musician.

When one thinks of the sound of the Duke Ellington band, one recalls the sweet alto saxophone tone of Johnny Hodges, the growling plunger mute trumpet sound of Cootie Williams and the deep, thick, licorice quality of Harry Carney’s baritone sax. For 45 years, Carney was the low voice in the Ellington orchestra and, perhaps, the greatest baritone player of all time.

Zilphia Horton, Musician and Educator born.

*Zilphia Horton was born on this date in 1910. She was a white-American musician, community organizer, educator, activist, and folklorist. Zilphia was born Zilphia Mae Johnson in the coal mining town of Spadra, Arkansas. She was the second child of Robert Guy Johnson and Ora Ermon Howard Johnson. Her father was superintendent of the local […]

Mary Lou Williams, Pianist, and Composer born

This date in 1910 marks the birth of Mary Lou Williams, an African American jazz composer, arranger, and pianist.

T-Bone Walker, Musician, and Songwriter born

T-Bone Walker was born on this date in 1910. He was an African American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the most influential musicians of the early 20th century.

Howlin Wolf, Blues Singer born

This date marks the birth of Howlin’ Wolf in 1910. He was an African American blues singer and composer.

Chester Arthur “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett was from West Point, Mississippi. He was brought up on a cotton plantation and heard the traditional music of the region. He started singing professionally when quite young and in the 1920s and 1930s, performed throughout Mississippi, playing in small clubs. He was influenced by the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Charley Patton.

Dorothy Maynor, Singer, and Educator born

*Dorothy Leigh Maynor was born on this date in 1910. She was an African American opera singer and educator.

John H. Hammond II, Music Critic, born

*John Hammond II was born on this date in 1910. From the 1930s to the early 1980s, he was a white-American record producer, civil rights activist, and music critic.   John Henry Hammond II was born in New York and christened John Henry Hammond Jr., the youngest child and only son of John Henry Hammond and Emily Vanderbilt Sloane. […]

Sy Oliver, Jazz Bandleader born

Sy Oliver was born on this date in 1910. He was an African American jazz trumpeter, composer, band leader, and one of the leading musical arrangers of the 1930s and 1940s.

Slim Gaillard, Musician born

Slim Gaillard, was born on this date in 1911. He was an African American singer, guitarist, pianist, vibist, tenor saxophonist, and composer.

He made a name for himself as one-half of the famous Slim & Slam, with bassist Slam Stewart. Gaillard, born in Detroit, emerged in a big way in the mid-1930s as part of a variety act, tap dancing and playing his guitar. From 1938-43, he did the Slim & Slam act with Stewart, heard on a WNEW radio show. Gaillard’s routines centered around humor, alliteration, and much wordplay, as he entertained on such subjects as food, machinery, and nonsense.

Truck Parham, Musician born

*Truck Parham was born on this date in 1911. He was an African American jazz bassist and drummer.

A longtime fixture in the Chicago music scene, Charles “Truck” Parham played in a countless number of settings during his long career. A fine athlete in his early days (including spending time playing professional football with the Chicago Negro All Stars and as a boxer), Parham was originally a drummer before switching to bass picking up early experience with Zack Whyte’s band in Cincinnati from 1932-34.

Roy Eldridge, Musician born

*On this date Roy Eldridge was born in 1911. He was an African American jazz musician.

A fiery trumpet player and a key figure in the instrument’s lineage, Roy Eldridge was an outstanding improvisational stylist. Eldridge was born in Pittsburgh, and after paying his dues with regional bands in the Midwest, moved to New York in 1930. In 1935 he joined Fletcher Henderson’s orchestra, then led his own group before joining Gene Krupa in 1941. Through extensive tours and recordings, the Krupa engagement brought him to prominence.

Robert Johnson, Blues Musician born

On this date in 1911, Robert Johnson was born. He was an African American singer, guitarist, and was among the most famous of the blues musicians.

Johnson was born in Hazelhurst, MS, but it is not known how he learned music. Like many blues singers, he moved frequently, playing on street corners and at parties in various towns. Eventually, his style came to Chicago and New York City. His southern roots enabled him to record 29 songs in Texas during 1936 and 1937.

Maxine Sullivan, Vocalist born

*Maxine Sullivan was born on this date in 1911. She was a Black jazz vocalist and performer.   Born Marietta Williams in Homestead, Pennsylvania, Sullivan was active as a vocalist for half a century. Throughout her career, Sullivan also appeared on film and stage and is considered one of the best jazz vocalists of the 1930s. Singer Peggy Lee named Sullivan a key […]

Big Joe Turner, Blues Singer born

On this date, we celebrate the birth of Big Joe Turner in 1911. He was an African American blues singer, or “shouter,” whose records were imitated by White musicians in the early days of rock and roll.