Dixieland jazz trumpeter and vocalist Tommy Yetta (Thomas Alfred Yetta) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 19, 1930. Yetta was a staple of the New Orleans music scene for over 50 years. He performed at Maison Bourbon, Crazy Shirley's, the Famous Door, Court of Two Sisters, and the Old French Opera House, among others. He was a regular at the French Quarter Festival, and appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival over 25 times. Yetta passed away in New Orleans on August 28, 2002 at age 72. Listen to Tommy Yetta music on YouTube.
1936
R&B singer Shirley Goodman (Shirley Mae Goodman) was born in New Orleans on June 19, 1936. Goodman was half of the popular 50's R&B duo, Shirley & Lee (with Leonard Lee). They split in 1963, and Goodman moved to the West Coast, doing session work with the likes of the Rolling Stones and Dr. John (she appeared on the Stones 1972 LP "Exile on Main St." with fellow New Orleanians Dr. John, Merry Clayton and Tami Lynn). Goodman resurfaced in 1975 with the #1 R&B hit, "Shame, Shame, Shame" (as Shirley & Company). Shirley Goodman passed away in Los Angeles on July 5, 2005 at age 69. Listen to Shirley & Lee Top 10 R&B hits "I'm Gone" (#2), "Feel So Good" (#2), "Let The Good Times Roll" (#1), and "I Feel Good" (#3). Listen to Shirley Goodman, Tammi Lynn and Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) backing up The Rolling Stones on "Let It Loose". Watch Shirley & Lee perform "Let The Good Times Roll" on NBC TV music series 'The Midnight Special' (from May 17, 1974).
1947
The New York premiere of the film "New Orleans" was held at the Winter Garden Theatre on June 19, 1947. The film starred Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. Armstrong also performed at the event.
1965
"Ride Your Pony" by Lee Dorsey entered the Billboard R&B Chart on June 19, 1965. It went on to crack the Top 10, peaking at #7 (it reached #28 on the Pop Chart). The track was arranged by Allen Toussaint. It was written by Naomi Neville (a pseudonym used by Allen Toussaint).
1965
Teen idol Jimmy Clanton appeared on ABC TV music series "American Bandstand" on June 19, 1965 (performing "Hurting Each Other" and "Venus in Blue Jeans").
1971
"Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight entered the Billboard Top 40 on June 19, 1971. The tune eventually reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and #1 on R&B Chart. Read more about "Mr. Big Stuff" here.
1971
Sax player Jason Mingledorff was born in Montgomery, AL on June 19, 1971. Jason, who relocated to New Orleans in 1995, has worked with Papa Grows Funk, New Orleans Nightcrawlers, Galactic, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, and others. He has been an instructor at Loyola's College of Music and Fine Arts since 2002. Watch Jason Mingledorff videos on YouTube.
1987
The Neville Brothers were musical guests on NBC's "Late Night With David Letterman" on June 19, 1987. They performed "Forever... For Tonight" from their "Uptown" album. Art Neville sat in with Paul Shaffer and The World's Most Dangerous Band during the show.
2006
The Louisiana State Senate passed a resolution "To commend Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino for his exceptional and unique rock 'n roll singing style, and to designate June 19, 2006, as Fats Domino Day in Louisiana."
Rapper Hurricane Chris (Christopher Dooley Jr.), known for his hit "A Bay Bay", was arrested in Shreveport, Louisiana on June 19, 2020 for second-degree murder and illegal possession of stolen things following a fatal gas station shooting. Dooley was later acquitted of all charges following a trial in Caddo District Court on March 14, 2023. Read more here.
