Clarinetist Harry Shields was born at 2319 First Street in New Orleans (two doors down from Buddy Bolden's house) on June 30, 1899. Shields played with Joe Mares, Sharkey Bonano, Santo Pecora, Norman Brownlee, Johnny Wiggs, and others. His brother Larry Shields was also a noted clarinetist who worked with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and others. Harry Shields passed away on January 19, 1971 at age 71. Listen to Harry Shields music on YouTube.
1925
Trumpet player and bandleader Wallace Davenport was born in New Orleans on June 30, 1925. His notable musical associations included stints with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Ray Charles, and Sammy Davis Jr. Davenport passsed away on March 18, 2004 of 2004 at age 78. Read more here. See Wallace Davenport recording credits. Watch Wallace Davenport videos on YouTube.
1961
New Orleans R&B legend Clarence "Frogman" Henry appeared on TV's American Bandstand on June 30, 1961. The Frogman performed "You Always Hurt the One You Love" and "Lonely Street".
1962
Swamp blues vocalist and guitarist Leroy Washington passed away on June 30, 1962 at age 30, shortly after a club performance in Leesville, Louisiana. The Palmetto, Louisiana native recorded for J.D. Miller's Excello and Zynn labels. Listen to Leroy Washington music on YouTube.
1962
"Wolverton Mountain" by Keithville, Louisiana native Claude King hit #1 the Billboard Top Country Singles Chart on June 30, 1962. The tune, written by King and Merle Kilgore, reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
1965
Jerry Lee Lewis appeared on the ABC music show Shindig! on June 30, 1965. Also performing on the show were the Shindogs, featuring James Burton on lead guitar. Lewis and Burton are both Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Jerry Lee Lewis performed "Jenny, Jenny", "Rockin' Pneumonia" and "High School Confidential". The Shindogs performed "My Baby Left Me", "A Hard Days Night" and "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (with Bobby Sherman). Watch the entire episode here.
1968
Heavy metal vocalist Phil Anselmo was born (Philip Hansen Anselmo) in New Orleans on June 30, 1968. Anselmo was lead singer for Pantera from 1987 until they disbanded in 2003. Other Anselmo projects have included the bands Down, Superjoint Ritual, and Scour. He formed his own label, Housecore Records in 2001. Watch Phil Anselmo videos on YouTube.
1969
Better Than Ezra bassist and backing vocalist Tom Drummond was born (Tom Melville Drummond) in Shreveport, LA on June 30, 1969. Drummond has produced albums for Honey Island Swamp Band, Papa Grows Funk, and others. See Tom Drummond recording credits.
1981
Rocker Jerry Lee Lewis underwent emergency surgery in Memphis on June 30, 1981 to repair a gastric perforation. After 2 operations, he was given only a 50-50 chance of survival. However, Lewis returned to the road in just 4 months.
1998
Lucinda Williams' critically acclaimed "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" was released on this day in 1998. The album later won Lucinda a Grammy (Best Contemporary Folk Album) and earned her a Gold record (for sales of over 500,000 copies).
