The "Mayor of LaSalle Street", Frank Painia, was born in Plaquemine, LA on June 4, 1911. Painia founded the legendary New Orleans music club Dew Drop Inn in 1939. Known as the South's Swankiest Night Spot, the club featured virtually every major black entertainer in the country during it's heyday from 1945-70. The Dew Drop Inn also served as a training ground for local musical legends such as Tommy Ridgley, Earl King, Huey Smith and Allen Toussaint. The club closed in the late 1960's and Painia passed away after a lengthy illness in 1972. The music venue and hotel reopened on 2024 after being closed for nearly two decades. See official web site at dewdropinnnola.com.
1928
Bandleader and bass player "Luscious" Lloyd Lambert was born in Thibodeaux, LA on June 4, 1928. Lambert's band backed Guitar Slim in the studio and on the road in the 1950's. He also worked with Ray Charles and Little Richard, among many others. In later years, he was a fixture at Bourbon Street clubs, toured with Lillian Boutté, and occasionally sat in at Preservation Hall. He was the brother of late piano great Phamous Lambert, the father of bassist Lloyd Lambert, Jr., and the grandfather of blues man Kipori Woods. Lambert died of cancer at his home on October 31, 1995. He was 67. Listen to Lloyd Lambert music on YouTube.
1939
Noted trumpet player Tommy Ladnier died from a heart attack in New York on June 4, 1939 at age 39. The Mandeville, LA native, who was taught by Bunk Johnson, worked with Fletcher Henderson, the New Orleans Footwarmers (which Ladnier co-founded with Sidney Bechet), Mezz Mezzrow, and many others. Read more here and here. See Tommy Ladnier recording credits. Listen to Tommy Ladnier music on YouTube.
1987
Gospel Soul Children of New Orleans founder Albert Hadley (Albert Sylvester Hadley) passed away in New Orleans on June 4 at age 37. Watch Gospel Soul Children videos on YouTube.
1995
Tenor sax player Charles Burbank died of a heart attack in New Orleans on June 4, 1995 at age 67. Burbank, whose career spanned over 50 years, worked with Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Tommy Ridgely, and others. See Charles Burbank recording credits. Listen to Charles Burbank backing Professor Longhair:
1995
Better Than Ezra hosted and performed on MTV's alternative music show "120 Minutes" on June 04, 1995. Watch BTE perform "Good".
1999
Country star Tim McGraw and hundreds of his fans were overcome by the effects of pepper spray at a charity concert in Pontiac, Michigan on June 4, 1999. A woman in the crowd emptied a canister at an alleged groper, and the gas affected others after getting into the club's ventilation system.
2003
Buddy Guy was the musical guest on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" on June 4, 2003. He performed "Crawling King Snake" from his album "Blues Singer". Watch the video here.
2007
Lucinda Williams was the musical guest on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on June 4, 2007. She performed "Everything Has Changed" from her album "West".
2011
The Brentwood, Tennessee home of country music star Trace Adkins was destroyed by fire on June 4, 2011. His children, their nanny, and the family dog were home at the time of the fire. They all made it out of the house safely. Read more here.
