Legendary Texas blues and soul songstress "Miss" Lavelle White was born (Lillia Lavell White) in Amite, Louisiana in 1929. Read more here. Watch Lavelle White videos on YouTube.
1930
Clarinet legend Pete Fountain was born (Peter Dewey Fountain, Jr.) in New Orleans on July 3, 1930. Fountain studied under Johnny Wiggs at McDonough 28. He first recorded with the Basin Street Six (which also featured George Girard, Joe Rotis and Roy Zimmerman) in the early 50's, and later worked with the Dukes of Dixieland. Fountain came to national prominence when featured on The Lawrence Welk Show in the late 50's. He also appeared an amazing 58 times on NBC's "Tonight Show". He performed for 4 U.S. presidents and also for Pope John Paul II on his 1987 visit to New Orleans. Fountain led the Half-Fast (Half-Assed) Walking Club, a marching krewe who paraded every Mardi Gras day. Pete passed away from heart failure on August 6, 2016 at age 86. Watch Pete Fountain and Al Hirt swinging out on The Lawrence Welk Show in 1958 below.
"Even Tho" by West Monroe, Louisiana native
Webb Pierce reached #1 on the Billboard Top Country Singles chart on July 3, 1954.
1960
New Orleans born trumpet player and band leader Lee Collins passed away in Chicago on July 3, 1960 at age 58. Collins studied under Professor Jim Humphrey and began playing in brass bands as a teen. His lengthy career included stints with King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Davey Jones (this pair co-led the Jones & Collins Astoria Hot Eight sessions in 1929), Johnny and Baby Dodds, and a host of others. Listen to Lee Collins music on YouTube. Listen to Jones and Collins Astoria Hot Eight music on YouTube.
1971
The Stax Records single "Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight hit No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Chart on July 3, 1971. The tune, arranged and produced by Wardell Quezergue, was recorded at the same session as King Floyd's No. 1 hit "Groove Me". Read more here and here.
1976
"All These Things" by Springhill, Louisiana native Joe Stampley hit #1 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart on July 3, 1976. The song was written by Allen Toussaint (using the pseudonym Naomi Neville), and it was first recorded by Art Neville in 1962 (listen on YouTube). Louisiana based rock band The Uniques recorded the song in 1966, with Joe Stampley singing lead (listen on YouTube).
1997
Blues singer and guitar player Johnny Copeland passed away in New York City on July 3, 1997 at age 60. Copeland's commercial breakthrough came in 1985 with "Showdown!", a collaboration with Albert Collins and Robert Cray that won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Recording. The Haynesville, LA native (and father of Shemekia Copeland) was born with a congenital heart defect which ultimately led to a transplant in 1997. He passed away after surgery to repair a defective valve in the new heart. Listen to Johnny Copeland music on YouTube.
