Late cornet and alto horn player Alfred "Baby" Laine (also known as "Pantsy" Laine) was born (Alfred John Laine) in New Orleans on July 12, 1895. Laine played with the Reliance Brass Band (founded by his father Papa Jack Laine), Jimmy Durante's Jazz Band, and also led his own bands, including Pantsy Laine and his Wampus Cats. Laine passed away on March 1, 1957 at age 61. Listen to Alfred Laine music on YouTube.
1920
Late gospel vocalist Paul Foster (Rev. Paul Foster, Sr.) was born in Grand Cane, Louisiana on July 12, 1920. Foster recorded with The Golden Echoes in the late 40's, and was a long time member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members, The Soul Stirrers (which also featured Sam Cooke). He passed away on August 20, 1995 at age 75. Read more here. See Paul Foster discography. Listen to Sam Cooke and Paul Foster trading verses on "Be With Me Jesus".
1934
Celebrated classical pianist Van Cliburn was born (Harvey Lavan Cliburn) in Shreveport, LA on July 12, 1934. Cliburn (at age 23) skyrocketed to fame in 1958 during the height of the Cold War when he conquered the heart of the Russian people as winner of the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, the Order of Friendship from President Vladimir Putin in 2004, and the National Medal of Arts in 2010. Cliburn died of bone cancer on February 27, 2013, at his home in Fort Worth, Texas.
1940
Blues, funk and soul man Ernie Vincent was born in New Orleans on July 12, 1940. Read more here and here. See Ernie Vincent and the Top Notes Facebook page. Listen to Ernie Vincent music on YouTube.
1952
"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" by Lloyd Price and His Orchestra hit No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Chart on July 12, 1952. It held the top position for a total of 7 weeks. The single, featuring Fats Domino, Earl Palmer and Herb Hardesty, was one of the best-selling R&B records of 1952. Read more here.
Dr. John performed at the 1996 North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague on July 12, 1996. Watch his performance here.
2002
Traditional Cajun accordion player and vocalist Milton Adams passed away on July 12, 2002 at age 83. The Kaplan, Louisiana native was the leader of Milton Adams' Midnight Playboys. Listen to Milton Adams music on YouTube.
2003
New Orleans-based musicians Susan Cowsill and Russ Broussard were married at Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana on July 12, 2003.
2020
Swamp pop legend Rod Bernard passed away on July 12, 2020 at age 79. Bernard was born in Opelousas, LA in 1940. His classic cover of King Karl's "This Should Go On Forever" made both the Pop (#20) and R&B (#12) charts in 1959. Read more here. Watch Rod Bernard videos on YouTube.
