People, Locations, Episodes

Bakers Keyboard Lounge in Detroit Opens

*Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, one of the oldest running jazz clubs in America, was established on this date in 1934.  In Detroit, MI, Chris Baker originally opened it as a beer and sandwich restaurant. His son Clarence Baker began to work for him at 15. In 1939, the elder Baker suffered a stroke, and Clarence took […]

Jackie Wilson, Soul Singer born

*On this date in 1934, Jackie Wilson was born. He was an African American soul singer.

Born Jack Leroy Wilson in Detroit, Michigan, he was well known in the R&B arena in his early years. In 1953 he replaced Clyde McPhatter in the group Billy Ward & the Dominoes, one of the top R&B vocal groups of the ’50s. Wilson had his first big R&B hit in late 1956 with Reet Petite, which was co-written by Detroit songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr. Gordy would also help write a few other hits for Wilson in the late ’50s, To Be Loved, Lonely Teardrops, That’s Why (I Love You So), and I’ll Be Satisfied.

Steve Lacy, Saxophonist born

Steve Lacy was born on this date in 1934. He was a White American Jazz soprano saxophonist.

Born Steven Lackritz in New York City, he started his musical training as a child at the piano. From there he moved on to clarinet, eventually leading to soprano saxophone. He studied with Cecil Scott, and in 1953, went on to Schillinger School of Music (now Berklee School of Music). In 1954 he attended the Manhattan School of Music.

Freddie King, Blues Musician born

*Freddie King was born on this date in1934. He was an African American Blues musician and singer.

Little Milton, Blues Musician born

*Little Milton was born on this date in 1934. He was an African American musician and singer.

Abdullah Ibrahim, Musician, and Bandleader born

*Abdullah Ibrahim was born on this date in 1934, formerly known as Dollar Brand, he is a Black South African pianist and composer.  Ibrahim was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and was baptized Adolph Johannes Brand. He attended Trafalgar High School in Cape Town’s District Six, and began piano lessons at the age of […]

Eddie Harris, Jazz Saxophonist born

On this date in 1934, Eddie Harris, an African American jazz saxophonist and vocalist was born in Chicago.

Houston Person, Musician born

*Houston Person was born on this date in 1934.  He is a Black jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer.  Person grew up in Florence, South Carolina, and first played piano before switching to tenor saxophone.   He studied at South Carolina State College before joining the military. In the United States Air Force, he joined […]

Ellis Marsalis Jr., Musician, and Teacher born

*Ellis Marsalis Jr. was born on this date in 1934. He is a Black jazz pianist and educator.

Grace’s Little Belmont (Nightclub) Opens

*On December 20, 1934, we celebrate Grace’s Little Belmont. This was a jazz music bar and lounge in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Located at 37 North Kentucky Avenue, it was one of the four popular Black nightclubs between the mid-1930s and mid-1970s. The Little Belmont was located across the street from Club Harlem, where it […]

Sam Cooke, Lyricist and Vocalist born

*On this date in 1935, Sam Cooke was born. He was an African American songwriter and performer.

The Village Vanguard Jazz Club Opens

*On this date in 1935, the Village Vanguard opened. This was a pivotal cultural music location for the 20th century African American Jazz scene and remains open.

It is a jazz club, located at 178 Seventh Avenue South (just below West 11th St.) in New York City. It was founded by Max Gordon and is now run by his wife, Lorraine Gordon. At first it also featured other forms of music such as folk music and beat poetry, but it has been known as the home of live jazz since it switched to an all-jazz policy in 1957.

George Coleman, Jazz Musician born.

*George Coleman was born on this date in 1935. He is a Black jazz saxophonist. George Edward Coleman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. In his teens, his older brother, Lucian Adams, taught him to play the alto saxophone. Among his schoolmates was Charles Lloyd. After working with Ray Charles and B.B. King in 1953, he switched to tenor […]

Sylvia Robinson, Music Producer born

*Sylvia Robinson was born on this date in 1935. She was a Black singer and music producer. Born Sylvia Vanderpool in New York City, she made her first record when she was 14, backed by the veteran jazz trumpeter ‘Hot Lips’ Page. By the time she enrolled at Washington Irving High School, she was already […]

Paul Chambers, Jazz Bassist born.

*Paul Chambers was born on this date in 1935. He was a Black jazz double bassist. Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr. was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Paul Lawrence Chambers and Margaret Echos. He was raised in Detroit, Michigan, following his mother’s death. He began playing music on the baritone horn with several of his schoolmates. Later, […]