Early jazz cornetist and composer Natty Dominique (Anatie Dominique) was born in New Orleans on August 2, 1896. Natty worked with Manuel Perez before moving to Chicago. He later worked with Carroll Dickerson, Jimmie Noone, Johnny Dodds, Baby Dodds, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, and others. Dominique was the cousin of clarinetist Barney Bigard and drummer Alex Bigard. He passed away in Chicago on August 30, 1982 at age 86. See Natty Dominique discography. Listen to Natty Dominique music on YouTube.
1929
The Harlem Footwarmers (a pseudonym for the Duke Ellington Orchestra) recorded "Jungle Jamboree" and "Snake Hip Dance" for the Okeh label in New York on August 2, 1929. The Footwarmers sessions featured Louisiana natives Barney Bigard on clarinet and Wellman Braud on bass.
1956
R&B, soul and swamp pop singer Gregg Martinez was born in Lafayette, LA on August 2, 1956. Martinez has been performing, recording and writing for five decades. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2019. Martinez released his latest single, "Everything I Had", on July 30, 2026. See Gregg Martinez discography. Watch Gregg Martinez videos on YouTube.
1969
Musical guests on ABC's "The Johnny Cash Show" on August 2, 1969 included Merle Haggard, Merrilee Rush, O.C. Smith, and Carl Perkins. Watch the entire episode here.
1974
The Ragin' Cajun Doug Kershaw appeared on the NBC music series "The Midnight Special" on August 2, 1974. Kershaw performed "Louisiana Man" and "Cajun Joe". Others appearing in the episode included Leon Russell, Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band, Michael Murphy, David Carradine and John Hartford. Watch the entire episode here (Kershaw performance starts at the 15:54 mark).
1980
Fiddle player and Cajun music pioneer Leo Soileau passed away in Ville Platte, Louisiana on August 2, 1980 at age 76. Soileau first recorded in 1928, with Mayuse LaFleur, becoming the second Cajun musicians to record their music (the first were Joe Falcon & Cléoma Breaux Falcon). See Leo Soileau discography. Listen to Leo Soileau music on YouTube.
1988
Fats Domino appeared on NBC TV's "Late Night with David Letterman" on August 2, 1988. Fats performed "I'm In Love Again" and chatted briefly with Dave. Watch the video here.
1990
Fiddle player, singer, bandleader and actress Amanda Shaw was born in Fitchburg (Boston), Massachusetts on August 2, 1990. Shaw grew up in Mandeville, Louisiana. Her first performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was in 1999, at the tender age of eight. See Amanda Shaw discography. See official web site at amandashaw.com. Watch Amanda Shaw videos on YouTube.
1998
Dixieland drummer and bandleader Phil Zito (Philip Anthony Zito) passed away in Metairie, LA on August 2, 1998 at age 84. Zito founded the Original Dixieland Jazz Band Foundation in 1935 to honor Nick LaRocca and other Italian-American musicians. Phil Zito's New Orleans International City Dixielanders featured Pete Fountain, George Girard, Emile Christian, Joe Rotis and Roy Zimmerman. Read more here.
2001
The New Orleans International Airport was renamed as the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on August 2, 2001. The event was held in conjunction with Armstrong's 100th birthday and the Louis Armstrong Centennial Conference.
