Jazz pioneer Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901. Armstrong celebrated his birthday on July 4th (believing his date of birth to be July 4, 1900). A birth certificate located 12 years after his death indicated his birth date to be August 4, 1901.
1904
Influential piano player Red Cayou was born (Joseph Lewis Cayou) in New Orleans in August 4, 1904. Cayou, who was a mentor to Tuts Washington, passed away from a heart attack at his home in Oakland, California on September 7, 1947. He was 43 years old.
1902
String bass player Eddie Marrero (Edward Joseph Marrer) was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1902. He was the brother of musicians John, Simon, and Lawrence Marrero. His father Billy was also a bass player.
1933
Jazz sax player Sonny Simmons was born (Huey "Sonny" Simmons) in Sicily Island, Louisiana on August 4, 1933. He passed away on April 6, 2021 at aged 87. Read more here, here and here. Watch Sonny Simmons videos on YouTube.
1939
Rock 'n roll crooner Frankie Ford was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1939. Ford is known for his 1959 hit "Sea Cruise" (backed by Huey "Piano" Smith, who also wrote the song). Ford passed away following a lengthy illness on September 28, 2015 at age 76. Read more here and here. Watch Frankie Ford videos on YouTube.
1952
Percussionist and cultural activitist Luther Gray was born in Chicago on August 4, 1952. Gray founded the Congo Square Preservation Society, and is also the founder of percussion group Bamboula 2000.
1962
"You'll Lose a Good Thing" by Barbara Lynn hit #1 on the R&B chart on August 4, 1962. The track, featuring session player Mac Rebennack (aka Dr. John), was produced by Huey P. Meaux at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans.
1965
Pop group The Dixie Cups appeared on TV music series "Shindig!" on August 4, 1965 (performing "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" and "Two Way Pockey Way"). Watch the entire episode, which also featured Billy Preston, The Righteous Brothers, Marianne Faithfull, and others. The Dixie Cups start circa the 27:08 mark.
1988
Country-rap singer Austin Tolliver was born in Shreveport, LA on August 4, 1988. Tolliver, who played fooball in college, is the son of former NFL and CFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver (who was with the Saints in 1998-1999).
1996
Wynton Marsalis (watch video), Little Richard and Buckwheat Zydeco (watch video) were among the performers at the 1996 Olympic Games closing ceremonies in Atlanta on August 4, 1996. The event was beamed around the globe to an estimated one billion viewers.
2001
The concert special "The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration" took place at the UNO Lakefront Arena on August 4, 2001. The event featured Ellis Marsalis, four of his musical sons (Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason), and one of his most famous students, Harry Connick, Jr. The event was taped, and it aired as a PBS special on February 20, 2003. You can watch the entire concert on YouTube.
2003
Songriter, producer, arranger, label owner (KRC Records, Bee Bee Records) and Belle Chasse, Louisiana native Bill Boskent (William Boskent) passed away in Baltimore, MD on August 4, 2003 at age 77. Boskent had long association with Lloyd Price, including writing credits on Price's 1957 "Just Because" (#3 on R&B chart), and producing the #1 hit, "Stagger Lee". He also wrote songs with Fats Domino.
