Trumpet player and vocalist Elmer "Coo Coo" Talbert was born in New Orleans on August 8, 1900. Talbert studied under Kid Rena, and played with Rena's brass band in the early 1930's. He later replaced Bunk Johnson in George Lewis's band and recorded with Lewis in the late 1940's. He died in New Orleans on December 13, 1950 at the age of 50.
1912
Cajun accordionist Alphee Bergeron (Alphé Bergeron) was born in Point Noire, Louisiana on August 8, 1912. Bergeron worked with Nathan Abshire, Amadie Ardoin, Joseph Falcon, Happy Fats, and others. His backing band, the Veteran Playboys, included his son Shirley Bergeron (1933-1995). Alphee Bergeron passed away on October 15, 1980 at age 68. Read more here. See Alphee Bergeron discography. Watch Alphee Bergeron videos on YouTube.
1913
Dixieland jazz drummer and bandleader Phil Zito was born (Philip Anthony Zito) in New Orleans on August 8, 1913. 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. Zito passed away at his home in New Orleans on August 2, 1998 at age 84. Read more here.
1921
Legendary honky tonk vocalist Webb Pierce was born (Michael Webb Pierce) in West Monroe, LA on August 8, 1921. Pierce racked up 13 #1 singles on the Country charts during his career, placing a total of 97 singles on the charts between 1952 and 1982. His 1954 single "In the Jailhouse Now" topped the Billboard country chart for an amazing 21 weeks. Pierce passed away in Nashville on February 24, 1991 at age 69 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Pierce was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. See Webb Pierce discography. Watch Webb Pierce videos on YouTube.
1923
Blues vocalist Al King was born (Alvin K. Smith) in Monroe, LA on August 8, 1923. King's 1966 single "Think Twice Before You Speak" reached #36 on the R&B Chart. His last album, "It's Rough Out Here", was nominated for Comeback Album of the Year at the 1999 W.C. Handy Awards. King died in Oakland, California in January 1999 at the age of 75. Listen to Al King music on YouTube.
1940
New Orleans clarinet legend and bandleader Johnny Dodds passed away in Chicago on August 8, 1940 at age 48. Johnny, the brother of drummer Warren "Baby" Dodds, worked with Kid Ory, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, and others. He was also featured on Louis Armstrong's classic Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings. Read more here. Watch Johnny Dodds videos on YouTube. See Johnny Dodds discography.
1965
Country music singer Trini Triggs was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana on August 8, 1965. He is currently a host (Trini Triggs & The Cajun Krewe) on Shreveport radio station KRMD-FM. See Trini Triggs discography. Watch Trini Triggs videos on YouTube.
1975
Country crooner Hank Williams Jr. suffered a near-fatal fall while mountain climbing with friends in Montana on August 8, 1975. Williams crushed his face and skull after a 500 foot fall down Mount Ajax. It took several reconstructive surgeries to repair the injuries.
1997
Aaron Neville's 1991 album "Warm Your Heart" was certified Platinum (sales of 1 million units) by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) on August 8, 1997.
2001
Alt rock band Better Than Ezra were musical guests on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on August 8, 2001. They performed "Extra Ordinary" from their album "Closer". Watch the video here.
2009
Country duo Steel Magnolia were named winners of CMT's "Can You Duet" music competition on August 8, 2009. The duo consisted of Joshua Scott Jones and Ponchatoula, Louisiana native Meghan Linsey Moore.
