Olympia Brass Band bass drummer Nowell "Papa" Glass was born in New Orleans on May 18, 1927. His father, Booker T. Glass, was a also brass band drummer. Papa Glass passed away in April, 2001 at age 73.
Faron Young (host and performer) and Rusty & Doug (brothers Rusty Kershaw & Doug Kershaw) appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on May 18, 1957. Listen to audio from the show here and here.
1959
"Personality" by future Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Lloyd Price entered the R&B Chart on May 18, 1959. It went on to reach #1 on the chart in June of '59. "Personality" reached the No. 2 spot on the pop chart.
1961
Piano player and Campti, Louisiana native Floyd Cramer's rollickin' single, "On the Rebound", hit No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart on May 18, 1961. It reached No. 4 on the U.S. charts.
1973
Jimmy Clanton (perfoming "Just a Dream") and Lloyd Price ("Personality" and "I'm Gonna Get Married") were among the guests on NBC's late night music show "The Midnight Special" on May 18, 1973. Watch the complete episode on YouTube.
1985
"My Toot Toot" by Jean Knight entered the Billboard R&B Chart on May 18, 1985. The crossover Zydeco classic was originally a hit for Rockin' Sidney Simien (who won a Grammy for his "My Toot Toot" album in 1985).
1988
Bass player James Harvey was born (James Edward Harvey IV) in Pensacola, Florida on May 18, 1988. Harvey plaed bass with New Orleans metal band Goatwhore from 2009-2017. Prior to joining Goatwhore, he worked with Ritual Killer and Psychon Vex. Harvey passed away unexpectedly on July 26, 2023 at age 35.
1990
Preservation Hall piano player and vocalist Sing Miller (James Edward Miller) passed away in New Orleans on May 18, 1990 at 75. Listen to Sing Miller music on YouTube. Watch Sing Miller performing "Amen" with the Preservation Hall Band here.
2003
New Orleans jazz musician (clarinet, saxophone, flute) Norman Meyer (Norman Arthur Meyer) passed away on May 18, 2003 at age 88. Meyer played with the Leon Kelner Orchestra and many others over the years. See Norman Meyer recording credits.
2008
Irma Thomas appeared in an episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on May 18, 2008. The team rebuilt a home and church for a pastor and his family who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Irma Thomas performed "Singing Hallelujah" in the new sanctuary (with Dwight Franklin and Diane Peterson). Watch the video here.
2011
New Orleans R&B and gospel group Trin-i-tee 5:7 (the duo of Chanelle Haynes and Angel Taylor) appeared on BET TV's "The Mo'Nique Show" on May 18, 2011. They sat down for an interview and performed "Heaven Hear My Heart". Watch the video here.
