Brass band bass drummer Emile Knox (Emile Anthony Knox) was born in New Orleans on May 02, 1902. Knox was a longtime member of the Young Tuxedo Brass Band. He passed away on August 20, 1976. Listen to Knox and Young Tuxedo Brass Band on the Paul McCartney & Wings track "Baby Face" and read about the recording here.
1914
Pioneering bass player Frank Fields was born in Plaquemine, LA on May 2, 1914. Fields helped define the "New Orleans Sound" of the 1950's as a member of Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studios house band with Alvin "Red" Tyler, Lee Allen, Earl Palmer, and Justin Adams. He performed on hits by Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Smiley Lewis, Shirley & Lee, Lloyd Price, Huey "Piano" Smith, and many others. Fields passed away on September 18, 2005.
1918
Clarinet and sax player Manny Crusto was born (Manuel Mitchell Crusto) in New Orleans on May 2, 1918. He worked with a who's who of local jazz artists, including Harold Dejan, Fats Pichon (on the SS Capitol riverboat), Wardell Quezergue, Teddy Riley, Heritage Hall Jazz Band, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Crusto passed away in New Orleans on March 18, 2002 at age 83. Crusto can be heard playing tenor sax on the Professor Longhair classic, "Big Chief". Watch Manuel Crusto and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band performing in Norway in 1986.
1941
Singer, pianist and organist Betty Ann Lastie was born in New Orleans in 1941. Betty was the daughter of late drummer "Deacon" Frank Lastie, and mother of drummer Herlin Riley. Her brothers were Chester, Melvin, David, Joseph, and Walter "Popee" Lastie. Her nephew is Preservation Hall drummer Joseph Lastie Jr. Betty Ann Lastie Williams passed away on August 7, 2017 at the age 76. Read more about the Lastie family.
1964
"Chapel of Love" by female trio The Dixie Cups entered the Billboard R&B Chart on May 2, 1964. It eventually reached #1 during it's 13 week run on the R&B chart. It also reached #1 on the Pop Chart. "Chapel of Love" was ranked No. 279 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.
1992
Jazz drummer and vibraphonist Godfrey Hirsch (Godfrey Mayor Hirsch) passed away in New Orleans on May 2, 1992 at age 85. Hirsch played with Louis Prima, Richard Himber, WWL Dawnbusters orchestra, and others. He was also a longtime member of Pete Fountain's band. He released two albums, "Godfrey Hirsch at Pete's Place" and "Happiness is Godfrey Hirsch and His Vibes". See recording credits. Listen to Godfrey Hirsch music on YouTube.
1996
Buddy Guy was the musical guest on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on May 2, 1996. The episode was part of a weeklong run of "Tonight Show" broadcasts from the Rosemont Theatre in Chicago. No video available, but here's a photo.
