Noted banjo player, guitar player and vocalist "Father" Al Lewis was born Alfred Lewis in Houma, Louisiana on August 9, 1904. Lewis played with King Oliver, Lars Edegran, New Orleans Joymakers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and others. He passed away in Galliano, Louisiana on April 12, 1992 at age 87. See "Father" Al Lewis recording credits. Watch Father Al Lewis videos on YouTube.
1908
String bass player and music educator at several Orleans Parish schools Louis "Sherman" Masinter (Joseph Louis Masinter) was born in St. Louis on August 9, 1908. Masinter lived in New Orleans for 70 years. He worked with Louis Prima & His New Orleans Gang in the 1930's (video clip), and he appeared in 3 films with Prima's band. Masinter also played with Leon Kelner's Orchestra in The Blue Room at the Roosevelt Hotel, and with Frank Federico's Medicare Madcaps, who were featured annually at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He was a charter member of the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony. See old photos here. He passed away in New Orleans on October 11, 1994 at age 86. See Sherman Masinter recording credits. Listen to Sherman Masinter music on YouTube.
1934
Country music giant Merle Kilgore was born (Wyatt Merle Kilgore) in Chickasha, OK on August 9, 1934. Kilgore, who was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, got started in the music business as a studio guitarist on the Louisiana Hayride in 1950. His lengthy career included work as a deejay, performer, songwriter (credits include "More and More", "Wolverton Mountain" and "Ring of Fire"), actor, and artist manager (Hank Williams, Jr.). He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1998, and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2022. Kilgore passed away on February 6, 2005 at age 70. Read more here. See Merle Kilgore discography. Listen to Merle Kilgore music on YouTube.
1980
Big Chief Jolly (George Landry) of the Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indian tribe passed away in New Orleans on August 9, 1980 at age 63. Landry was uncle to the Neville Brothers, and was a major influence in their musical development. The 1976 recording of the landmark The Wild Tchoupitoulas album led to the formation of the band that became the Neville Brothers.
1992
Noted jazz writer, historian, musician and composer Bill Russell (Russell William Wagner) passed away in New Orleans on August 9, 1992 at age 87. The Missouri native helped "rediscover" Bunk Johnson in 1942 and he documented many New Orleans musicians on his American Music record label. In 1958, he became the first curator of the Hogan Jazz Archives at Tulane University where his interviews helped document the early history of jazz. In later years, Russell played violin with the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra. Read more here.
1994
Saxophone and clarinet player Clarence Ford (Clarence Joseph Ford, Sr.) passed away in New Orleans on August 9, 1994 at age 64. The long time member of Fats Domino's band (1955-1970) began his career working with the Eureka Brass Band and Wallace Davenport in the 1940's. A prolific session player, Ford recorded with Fats Domino, Little Richard, Art Neville, Shirley & Lee, Frankie Ford, Professor Longhair, Roosevelt Sykes, and many others (see discography). Read more here and here. Listen to Clarence Ford music on YouTube. Check out Roosevelt Sykes' "Dirty Double Mother" featuring Clarence Ford, Justin Adams, George French, and Alonzo Stewart.
