Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

September 12, 1931 Country singer George Jones is born in Saratoga, Texas.

September 1, 1931 Country singer Boxcar Willie is born Lecil Travis Martin in Sterrett, Texas.

August 28, 1931 Drummer Clem Cattini (of The Tornados) is born Stoke Newington, North London, England.

August 20, 1931 Paul Robi of The Platters is born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

August 20, 1931 Jazz drummer Frank Capp is born in Worcester, Massachusetts.

August 16, 1931 Traditional Pop/Swing singer Eydie Gorme is born in The Bronx, New York.

August 7, 1931 Herb Reed (founding member of The Platters) is born in Kansas City, Missouri.

July 31, 1931 Jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell is born in Detroit, Michigan.

July 18, 1931 Thomas "Papa Dee" Allen (percussionist, vocalist for War) is born in Wilmington, Delaware.

July 11, 1931 Singer-songwriter Thurston Harris is born in Pomona, California.

July 11, 1931 Tab Hunter is born in New York City. He's best known as an actor, but has a huge hit in 1957 with "Young Love."

July 6, 1931 Della Reese is born Delloreese Patricia Early in the Black Bottom neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan.

June 14, 1931 Sax player Junior Walker (of Junior Walker & the All-Stars) is born in Blytheville, Arkansas.

May 31, 1931 Jazz guitarist Dick Garcia is born in New York City.

May 28, 1931 Sonny Burgess, rockabilly guitarist of the Pacers and later The Sun Rhythm Section, made up of former Sun Records' session musicians, is born Albert Austin Burgess of Newport, Arkansas.

May 7, 1931 '50s pop/jazz singer Teresa Brewer is born in Toledo, Ohio.

April 30, 1931 Folk singer-songwriter Peter La Farge is born in New York City.

April 29, 1931 Lonnie Donegan, known as the King of Skiffle, is born Anthony James Donegan in Glasgow, Scotland.

April 22, 1931 Conga drummer Joe Cuba - dubbed the "Father of Latin Boogaloo" - is born Gilberto Miguel Calderón in New York City.

April 21, 1931 Country singer-songwriter Carl Belew, known for '50s hits like "Am I That Easy To Forget" and "Lonely Street" (made popular by Andy Williams), is born in Salina, Oklahoma.

March 15, 1931 D.J. Fontana (drummer for Elvis Presley) is born Dominic Joseph Fontana in Shreveport, Louisiana.

February 16, 1931 Otis Blackwell, composer of the seminal rock 'n roll tunes "Great Balls of Fire" and "All Shook Up," and the R&B sizzler "Fever," is born in Brooklyn, New York.

February 14, 1931 Phyllis McGuire of The McGuire Sisters is born in Middletown, Ohio.

January 27, 1931 Rudi Maugeri (of The Crew-Cuts) is born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

January 20, 1931 Vocalist/pianist Earl Grant is born in Idabel, Oklahoma. Known for '50s singles "The End" and "Ebb Tide."

January 14, 1931 Caterina Valente is born to Italian parents in Paris, France.

December 31, 1930 Blues and folk singer Odetta is born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, Alabama. Named the "Queen of American folk music" by Martin Luther King Jr., Odetta sings "O Freedom" at the 1963 March on Washington.

November 12, 1930 Songwriter and music executive Bob Crewe is born Stanley Robert Crewe in Newark, New Jersey. Co-wrote many Four Seasons hits with Bob Gaudio, including "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man."

November 3, 1930 Mable John is born in Bastrop, Louisiana. She becomes the first female singer to be signed to Berry Gordy's Tamla label, releasing the single "Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That?" in 1960.

October 24, 1930 J. P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) is born Jiles Perry Richardson in Sabine Pass, Texas.