January 19

Huddie Ledbetter, better known to the music world as “Lead Belly” was born January 20, 1889, in Mooringsport, Louisiana (near Shreveport). Lead Belly was the only child of Wesley and Sally Ledbetter....

Jazz saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman died on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at the age of 75 at a hospital in Kingston, New York. According to his wife and manager, Karen Newman, Mr. Newman died after a...

Ms. Eartha Kitt was born on January 17, 1927 on a cotton plantation in the tiny town of North, South Carolina. Her mother (black cotton picker) was of Cherokee and African-American descent, and her fa...

Southern Soul and Blues artist, Aubles “O.B.” Buchana was born to L.C. and Marina Buchana on January 17, 1972 in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Elias “Bo Diddley” Bates-McDaniel is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the second annual induction dinner. The members of ZZ Top are his presenters.

William Thomas Dupree, known to the world as “Champion” Jack Dupree died on January 21, 1992 of complications from cancer at his home in Hanover, Germany at the age of 82. Considered one of the most p...

Alvin Batiste, a widely respected jazz clarinetist, composer and educator who played across the musical spectrum, from traditional to avant-garde styles, and was a prolific figure on the jazz festival...

Fernest Arceneaux, "The New Prince of Accordion" passed away on this day of September 4, 2008 at the age of 68. Fernest Arceneaux , born August 27, 1940, died in Lafayette of natural causes. Known for...

James Joseph Brown, commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business", died on December 25, 2006 at approximately 1:45 a.m. from congestive heart failure r...

Mr. Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin, internationally known Creole accordionist, singer, and one of the Zydeco Nation’s last living link to the old Creole musical tradition called “la la music” or “la musiq...

Geno Delafose, Cedric Watson, & Terrance Simien were announced as the final nominees of the first Grammy category for Zydeco and Cajun Musicians. Seven finalist were choose for the Best Zydeco and Caj...

Zydeco Musician and lead singer J.J. Caillier III of J.J. Caillier & the Zydeco Knockouts was born October 27, 1967 in Lafayette, Louisiana.