People, Locations, Episodes

Grover Mitchell, Trombonist born

*The birth of Grover Mitchell in 1930 is marked on this date. He was an African American musician and lead trombonist and the third leader of the Count Basie Orchestra.

Otis Spann, Blues Musician born

*On this date in 1930, Otis Spann was born. He was an African American blues singer.

Little Walter, Blues Musician born

On this date in 1930, Little Walter was born. He was an African American blues singer and harmonica player, one of the most influential harmonica improvisers of the late 20th century.

Betty Carter, Singer, and Music Businesswoman born

Betty Carter was born this date in 1930. She was an African American singer and entertainer.

Ahmad Jamal, Jazz Pianist born

Ahmad Jamal was born on this date in 1930. He is an African American jazz pianist.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA., he has been a professional musician since he was 11. In his early years (the late 1940s) Jamal joined trumpeter George Hudson’s orchestra. The pianist formed his first trio, The Three Strings, in 1951. This trio consisted of piano, guitar and bass. Erroll Garner’s melodic technique was an early influence on him. While his crossover success might have buried his reputation in some jazz circles, Jamal’s simplicity in his music had a major impact on late 1950s cool jazz.

Hank Mobley, Saxophonist born

Hank Mobley was born on this date in 1930. He was an African American jazz saxophonist.

Annie Ross, Singer born

*Annie Ross was born on this date in 1930. She was a white British singer and actress.   Annabelle Allan Short was born in Mitcham, London, and was the daughter of Scottish vaudevillians John “Jack” Short and Mary Dalziel Short. Her brother was a Scottish entertainer, theatre producer, and director, Jimmy Logan. At age four, she traveled to New […]

Abbey Lincoln, Singer, and Composer born

*Abbey Lincoln was born on this date in 1930. She was an African American singer, composer and actress.

Sonny Rollins, Jazz Musician born

On this date in 1930, Sonny Rollins was born. He is an African American jazz musician.

Rollins was born in New York City and has been one of the true jazz giants. He was one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists for over 50 years.

Muhal Richard Abrams, Musician and Educator born.

*Muhal Richard Abrams was born on this date in 1930.  He was an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the free jazz medium. Born Richard Lewis Abrams in Chicago, Illinois, his mother, Edna, was born in Memphis. His father, Milton, was born in Alabama. Abrams was the second of nine children. As […]

Ray Charles, Arranger, Musician, Composer, and Singer born

Ray Charles, an African American singer, composer, and arranger, was born on this date in 1930.

Clifford Brown, Jazz Trumpeter born

On this date Clifford Brown, an African American jazz trumpeter, was born in 1930.

Born in Wilmington, DE, Brown attended Delaware State College and Maryland State College. He played in Philadelphia before joining, first, Tadd Dameron’s band in Atlantic City, NJ, then Lionel Hampton’s big band for a European tour, both in 1953. He then played with leading West Coast musicians and the Art Blakey quintet. In 1954, he and drummer Max Roach formed the Brown-Roach quintet, which quickly became one of the outstanding postwar jazz units.

Stormé DeLarverie, Lesbian Singer born

*Stormé DeLarverie was born on this date in 1920. She was a Black singer, butch lesbian, fashion designer, and LGBT activist. She was born in New Orleans to a Black mother and a white father. DeLarverie’s father was wealthy, and her mother worked as a servant for his family. According to DeLarverie, she was never given a […]

Ed Thigpen, Drummer born

*Ed Thigpen was born on this date in 1930. He was a Black Jazz and standards drummer.   Born in Chicago, Illinois, Edmund Leonard Thigpen was raised in Los Angeles and attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where Art Farmer Dexter Gordon and Chico Hamilton also attended. After majoring in sociology at Los Angeles City College, […]

Odetta, American Folk Artist born

*The birth of Odetta is marked on this in 1930. She was an African American singer, song writer and Civil Rights activist.