Jazz clarinetist and bandleader Albert Nicholas was born in New Orleans on May 27, 1900. Nicholas recorded with King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Red Allen, and many others. He moved to Europe in 1953 where he happily toured and resided for his final 20 years. Nicholas passed away in Basle, Switzerland on September 3, 1973 at age 73. Listen to Albert Nicholas music on YouTube.
1900
Jazz bassist Chester Zardis was born in New Orleans on May 27, 1900. As a youngster, Zardis played with Louis Armstrong in the Colored Waif's Home band. His early work included stints with Kid Rena, Buddy Petit, Chris Kelly, Jack Carey, Fats Pichon, Bunk Johnson, and others. He was later a fixture at Preservation Hall for over a quarter of a century. Zardis was featured in the 1989 documentary "Chester Zardis: The Spirit of New Orleans", which was filmed shortly before his death on August 14, 1990. Watch Chester Zardis videos on YouTube.
Singer and bandleader Darcy Malone was born in New Orleans on May 27, 1978. Darcy formed Darcy Malone and The Tangle in 2003 with her now husband Christopher Boye. She has also provided backing vocals for Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, The Radiators, and others. Her dad, Dave Malone, is lead singer and guitarist for The Radiators. Watch Darcy Malone and The Tangle videos on YouTube.
1994
Country singer Tim McGraw's album "Not A Moment Too Soon" was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA on May 27, 1994. The album went on to be Billboard's best selling country album of 1994 and was also named ACM Album of the Year (it has since been certified 6x Platinum).
1996
Trad jazz clarinet, sax, and trumpet player Albert "Pud" Brown passed away in New Orleans on May 27, 1996 at age 71. Read more here and here.
1999
The 20th Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards were handed out in Memphis on May 27, 1999. Winners included Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and former New Orleans resident Keb' Mo'. Performers included Kenny Wayne Shepherd (with Double Trouble's Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon), who payed a musical tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Homer, Louisiana native Bobby Rush, who gave a heart-felt memorial to blues greats Lowell Fulson, Charles Brown, and other pioneers of the genre who died in the previous year.
