R&B vocalist Oliver Morgan was born in New Orleans on May 6, 1933. He released his debut single ("I'll Make A Bet" b/w "I've Got A Feeling For You Baby") in 1961 under the pseudonym "Nookie Boy", a childhood nickname. However, he is most well known for his 1964 hit "Who Shot The LaLa" (penned by Eddie Bo). Morgan died on July 31, 2007 at his home in Atlanta, where he moved after Hurricane Katrina. He was 74. Read more here and here. Listen to Oliver Morgan music on YouTube.
1957
Guitarist, singer, songwriter, sideman and record producer Papa Mali was born (Malcolm Welbourne) in Vicksburg, Mississippi on May 6, 1957. Welbourne grew up in Shreveport, spent time in Austin, and now calls New Orleans home. He has released several solo albums, and has fronted or been a part of many bands including Killer Bees, 7 Walkers (w/ Bill Kreutzmann, Matt Hubbard and George Porter Jr.), The M&M's and Shantytown Underground. Read more here. See Papa Mali recording credits. Watch Papa Mali videos on YouTube.
1993
IRS agents seized possessions from the Mississippi home of Jerry Lee Lewis in 1993 for failing to pay more than 1.6 million dollars in overdue taxes.
1996
Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville performed for President and Mrs. Clinton on the White House South Lawn on May 6, 1996. The concert was taped and aired as a PBS special ("In Performance at The White House") on 07/03/96. Read President Clinton's remarks. Watch Aaron and Linda performing "All My Life":
1997
Ahmet Ertegun payed tribute to late Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson as she was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (as an early influence) on May 6, 1997. The singer's family declined to attend the event, not wanting Jackson's name associated with rock & roll. Read more here.
2007
Jazz clarinetist, composer and educator Alvin Batiste passed away in Baton Rouge, LA on May 6, 2007 at age 74. Batiste performed with Ed Blackwell, Ornette Coleman, American Jazz Quintet, the New Orleans Philharmonic, and Wynton Marsalis, among many others. His students at Southern University, and later the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, included Randy Jackson, Branford Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Henry Butler, Herlin Riley, Wessell Anderson, Maurice Brown, Conun Pappas, Joe Dyson, Max Moran, and Khris Royal. See alvinbatiste.net. See Alvin Batiste recording credits. Watch Alvin Batiste videos on YouTube.
Blues guitar legend Buddy Guy was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Blues Foundation on May 6, 2010. The ceremony took place at the 31st annual Blues Music Awards held in Memphis. Bonnie Raitt presented the award to Buddy, and he also performed at the event.
2026
The 2026 Blues Hall of Fame Inductions took place in Memphis on May 6, 2026. New inductees included swamp blues man Kenny Neal, swamp boogie queen Marcia Ball, and singer, songwriter and guitarist Barbara Lynn. See other Blues Hall of Fame members from Louisiana here.
