Noted clarinet and sax player Omer Simeon was born (Omer Victor Simeon) in New Orleans on July 21, 1902. Simeon's career included stints with King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra and Wilbur DeParis. He died of throat cancer in New York City on September 17, 1959 at age 57 (NYT obit). See Omer Simeon discography. Listen to Omer Simeon music on YouTube. Listen to Omer Simeon (clarinet) with Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers on the 1926 recording "Black Bottom Stomp". Listen to Omer Simeon (soprano saxophone) battle it out with Louis Armstrong (trumpet) on the 1954 calypso track "Skokiaan".
1931
Tenor sax legend Plas Johnson was born (Plas John Johnson Jr.) in Donaldsonville, Louisiana on July 21, 1931. You have probably heard Johnson dozens of times without knowing it. The prolific session player and member of The Wrecking Crew recorded with Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King, Barbra Streisand, Dr. John, Aaron Neville, The Beach Boys (including "Pet Sounds"), and many, many others. He also played the slinky sax intro on the "Pink Panther Theme", heard in both the "Pink Panther" films and in the cartoon series. Plas Johnson passed away on July 15, 2026 at age 94. See former web site at plasjohnson.com. Read more here. Watch Plas Johnson videos on YouTube.
1935
Trad jazz trombonist Honore Dutrey passed away in Chicago on July 21, 1935 at age 41. The New Orleans native played with many local groups (Melrose Brass Band, John Robichaux's Orchestra, Silver Leaf Orchestra) before enlisting in the Navy in 1917. Dutrey settled in Chicago after his release. He worked and recorded with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Johnny Dodds, Louis Armstrong, and others. In the autobiography "Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans", Armstrong said "Honore Dutrey had one of the finest tones there could be had out of a trombone". See Honore Dutrey recording credits. Note: Honore is believed to have played on more Armstrong recordings than he was credited for. Listen to Honoré Dutrey music on YouTube.
1958
"Just A Dream" (Ace 546) by Raceland, Louisiana native Jimmy Clanton (Jimmy Clanton and His Rockets) entered the Billboard Top 40 on July 21, 1958. The song went on to reach the #4 position on the Pop Chart and #1 on the R&B Chart (August, 1958). The track was recorded at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans, with backing from Earl King, Huey "Piano" Smith, Lee Allen and Red Tyler.
1958
"Alone With You" by Shreveport, Louisiana native Faron Young hit #1 on the Country Singles Chart (Most Played C&W by Jockeys chart) on July 21, 1958. The tune, the second #1 for the "Hillbilly Heartthrob", spent 29 weeks on the charts.
1965
Singer, songwriter and musician (banjo, dobro, guitar) Sidney Cox was born in Homer, Louisiana on July 21, 1965. He is a founding member of 2x Grammy winning country/bluegrass group The Cox Family, with his father Willard Cox (1937-2019), and sisters Evelyn (1959–2026), Lynn, and Suzanne Cox. See Sidney Cox discography.
1971
Tenor sax player and longtime Louis Prima sideman Sam Butera appeared on NBC TV's "Late Night with David Letterman" on July 21, 1987. Sam performed the Louis Prima classic "Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody" and chatted with Dave.
1971
Country music singer Robert Mizzell was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on July 21, 1971. He has resided in Ireland for over 20 years.
