A Month of Blues History
May
This is the history of the blues – one month at a time.
1880-1909
May 26, 1883 – Mamie Smith, American vaudeville singer, dancer and actress (Crazy Blues), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1946).
May 11, 1885 – [Joe] King Oliver, American jazz musician (Dippermouth Blues), born in Aben, Louisiana (birth date disputed – could be Dec. 19) (d. 1938).
May 12, 1899 – Sonny Boy Williamson II [Aleck Miller], American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, born in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi (d. 1965) (year of birth disputed)
1910-1919
May 28, 1910 – T-Bone Walker, American blues guitarist (Funky Town, Well Done), born in Linden, Texas (d. 1975).
May 3, 1911 – John Rhea “Yank” Lawson, American jazz trumpeter (Dogtown Blues, Stormy Weather), born in Trenton, Missouri (d. 1995).
May 8, 1911 – Robert Johnson, American blues singer (King of Delta Blues Singers), born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi (d. 1938).
May 18, 1911 – Joe Turner, KC, blues singer (Corrine Corrina, Shake Rattle & Roll).
April 4, 1913 – Muddy Waters [McKinley Morganfield], American blues guitarist (Hoochie Coochie Man), born in Jug’s Corner (Issaquena County) or Rolling Fork, Mississippi (d. 1983).
May 28, 1917 – Papa John Creach, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, American blues violinist (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane).
May 5, 1918 – Erbie Bowser, American blues and jazz pianist, born in Davila, Texas (d. 1995).
1920-1969
May 1, 1930 – Little Walter [Marion Walter Jacobs], blues singer-songwriter and harmonica player, born in Marksville, Louisiana (d. 1968).
May 13, 1945 – Louis “Blue Lou” Marini, American saxophonist, arranger, and composer (Blues Brothers), born in Charleston, South Carolina.
May 19, 1948 – Tom Scott, American saxophonist and composer (L.A. Express, The Blues Brothers) born in Los Angeles, California.
May 24, 1963 – Elmore James, blues guitarist, dies at 45 of a heart attack.
May 25, 1965 – Sonny Boy Williamson II [Aleck Miller], American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, dies at 65
May 22, 1967 – Langston Hughes, American poet (Weary Blues) and playwright (Mulatto), dies at 65
May 29, 1969 – Chan Kinchla, Canadian musician (Blues Traveler) born this day.
1970-Present
May 5, 1972 – [Reverend] Gary Davis, American blues and folk guitarist (A Little More Faith), dies of a heart attack at 76.
May 29, 1983 – Rama Claproth, Indonesian blues guitarist born this day.
May 6, 1994 – Haskell Sadler, American blues singer and guitarist, dies at 59.
May 11, 1994 – Danny Overbea, American singer and guitarist (40 Cups of Coffee), dies at 68.
May 15, 2004 – Clint Warwick [Albert Eccles], English bassist (Moody Blues), dies at 63.
May 13, 2011 – Bruce Ricker, American jazz and blues documentarian (b. 1942) dies.
May 1, 2012 – Charles “skip” Pitts, American soul and blues guitarist, dies from lung cancer at 65.
May 14, 2015 – [Riley B.] B.B. King, American blues guitarist and singer (The Thrill is Gone), dies at 89.
May 30, 2019 – Leon Redbone [Dickran Gobalian], American blues and jazz musician (Seduced, Theme to Mr. Belvedere), dies at 69.