Multi-talented singer John Littleton was born in Tallulah, Louisiana on June 20, 1922. After serving in World War II, he remained in France and attended the Paris Conservatory of Music. Littleton specialized in southern spirituals, blues, bluegrass and opera. He received many honors in France including the Prix Mahalia Jackson and Le Grand Prix du Disque Charles Cros. He passed away in Reims, France on August 24, 1998. Listen to music on YouTube.
1933
Blues harmonica player, guitarist and vocalist Lazy Lester (Leslie Carswell Johnson) was born in Torras, Louisiana on June 20, 1933. Lester started out playing Louisiana clubs with Big John Jackson and Guitar Gable. He met Lightnin' Slim on a bus in the mid-50's and tagged along with him to a session at J.D. Miller's recording studio in Crowley, LA. When the harmonica player scheduled for Slim's session failed to show, Lester volunteered his talents, initiating a fertile creative relationship with Miller that helped pioneer the Louisiana swamp music style. His most well known recordings include "I'm A Lover Not A Fighter", "Sugar Coated Love", and "I Hear You Knockin'". Lazy Lester was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2012. He passed away in Paradise, California on August 22, 2018 at the age of 85 after a battle with stomach cancer. Read more at lazylester.net. Watch Lazy Lester videos on
Keyboard whiz Bob Andrews was born near Leeds, England on June 20, 1949. Bob worked with Brinsley Schwarz, Frankie Miller Band, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, and many others before relocating to New Orleans in 1992. In NOLA, Bob played with John Mooney, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Royal Fingerbowl, Amy & the Hank Sinatras, Paula and The Pontiacs, Timothea, Marva Wright, and others. He relocated to Taos, NM in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Andrews passed away on June 5, 2025 after a long battle with cancer. Check out Andrews on Nick Lowe's 1978 hit "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass". Read more here and here. Watch Bob Andrews videos on YouTube.
1959
Guitarist and vocalist Evelyn Cox was born in Cotton Valley, Louisiana on June 20, 1959. She was a founding member of the Grammy winning (in 1995 & 2002) bluegrass group The Cox Family, with her dad Willard (1937-2019) and siblings Lynn, Sidney and Suzanne. Evelyn Cox passed away on May 5, 2026 at age 66.
1970
"Hand Clapping Song" by NOLA funk legends The Meters entered the Billboard R&B Chart on June 20, 1970. It later peaked at #26 on the chart.
