Cajun & country singer, songwriter and steel guitarist Jim Trahan (James Trahan, Sr.) was born in Bayou Little Caillou, Louisiana on July 14, 1938. He played with Charles and The Jolly Troubadours in Houma before joining the military. He later played with Dinky & The Jolly Boys and Jules Gaspard and The Country Classics. He was inducted into the Westbank Musicians Hall of Fame in 2005. Trahan passed away on April 15, 2007 at age 68. Listen to Jim Trahan music on YouTube.
1951
Influential Cajun fiddler Harry Choates was arrested in Austin, Texas on July 14, 1951 for failing to make child support payments. Choates would die in jail 3 days later, at age 28. Circumstances surrounding his death are unclear, but officials determined Choates, a heavy deinker, died from liver and kidney ailments.
Piano player, vocalist and popular music composer Spencer Williams passed away in Flushing, NY on July 14, 1965 at age 75. His extensive composing credits include "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Squeeze Me", "Basin Street Blues", "Royal Garden Blues", "I've Found a New Baby", and "Everybody Loves My Baby". Williams was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Listen to Spencer Williams music on YouTube.
1975
Noted jazz drummer Arthur "Zutty" Singleton passed away in New York on July 14, 1975 at age 77. The Bunkie, LA native's extensive resume included stints with Jimmie Noone, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and many others. Singleton was an important link from the New Orleans style to the swing drummers who came on the scene in the 1930's, and he was one of the first drummers to use wire brushes and the sock cymbal. He appeared in the films "A Song Is Born", "Stormy Weather", "New Orleans", and "Turned-up Toes". See discography. Watch Zutty Singleton videos on YouTube.
1975
Trombonist and bandleader Corey Henry was born in New Orleans on July 14, 1975. Corey has played with Lil' Rascals Brass Band, Treme Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers, and his own band, The Treme Funktet. He won a Grammy in 2012 as part of Rebirth Brass Band's "Rebirth of New Orleans" album. The Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet album "Live at Vaughan's" was nominated for a Grammy in 2025. See Corey Henry recording credits. Watch Corey Henry videos on YouTube.
1981
Sax player and bandleader Devin Phillips was born in New Orleans on July 14, 1981. The NOCCA grad has been based in Portland, Oregon since Hurricane Katrina. See Devin Phillips recording credits. Watch Devin Phillips videos on YouTube.
1986
New Orleans based singer, songwriter and musician Sam Doores was born in San Francisco, California on July 14, 1986. Sam worked with Hurray for the Riff Raff in their early days in New Orleans (video). He formed Sam Doores & Riley Downing and the Tumbleweeds, which later became The Deslondes (named after Deslonde Street, where he lived in New Orleans). Watch Sam Doores videos on YouTube. Watch The Deslondes videos on YouTube.
2018
The Recording Academy presented New Orleans funk band The Meters with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the "Grammy Salute to Music Legends" awards ceremony and live tribute concert on July 14, 2018. The band performed "Cissy Strut" and "Fire On The Bayou" at the event. Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award were Cyril Neville, George Porter Jr., Leo Nocentelli, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, and Ian Neville (filling in for his dad, Art Neville). Watch the video here. Note: Singer and New Orleans native Ledisi performed a tribute to Louis Jordan at the ceremony (see video clip). The show was taped, and aired on the PBS series "Great Performances" on October 5, 2018. Other Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients with Louisiana ties include Louis Armstrong (1972), Fats Domino (1987), Mahalia Jackson (1972), Van Cliburn (2004), Jerry Lee Lewis (2005), Jelly Roll Morton (2005), Clifton Chenier (2014), and Buddy Guy (2015). The Meters' funk instrumental "Cissy Strut" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. See Louisiana Music at the Grammy Awards.
