Trumpet player and bandleader Thomas "Papa Mutt" Carey was born in Hahnville, LA on September 17, 1891. Mutt joined brother Jack Carey's band in 1913, then replaced Lewis Matthews in Kid Ory's band in 1914. He briefly played with Lawrence Duhe's band in Chicago in 1918, but returned to New Orleans to escape the cold. He moved to California in 1919 to rejoin Ory and they recorded as Spike's Seven Pods of Pepper in 1922 ("Ory's Creole Trombone" and "Society Blues" were the first jazz recordings by an African-American band from New Orleans). Carey took over Ory's band when he left for Chicago in 1925. He joined Ory's band again in 1944 and toured with him until 1947. Carey passed away in Elsinore, CA on September 3, 1948. Read more about Mutt Carey here and here. See Mutt Carey discography. Watch Mutt Carey videos on YouTube.
1900
Jazz drummer George Henderson was born in New Orleans on September 17, 1900. Henderson played with Camelia Brass Band, Elmer "Coo Coo" Talbert, his own band (The Black Diamonds), Buddy Petit, Kid Punch Miller, Sam Morgan, Isaiah Morgan, Kid Thomas, and others. See George Henderson discography.
1902
Jazz trombonist Louis Nelson (not to be confused with clarinetist "Big Eye" Louis Nelson Delisle) was born in New Orleans on September 17, 1902. Nelson's first gig was with Joe Gabriel's band in Thibodeaux in the early 20s. He next worked in New Orleans with Kid Thomas, Kid Harris, and the Original Tuxedo Orchestra. He then spent 15 years with Sidney Desvigne's big band. Later associations included work with Kid Thomas, Percy Humphrey and at Preservation Hall. Nelson died on April 5, 1990 from injuries suffered in a hit-and-run accident. He was 87. See Louis Nelson recording credits. Check out this performance from Art Ford's Jazz Party in 1958, featuring Nelson, George Lewis, Punch Miller, Alphonse Picou, Sweet Emma Barrett, and others. Watch the video clip Jazz Party at Louis Nelson's home, New Orleans, 1986 (w/ Gregg Stafford, Michael White, Sadie Goodson, Chester Zardis, and Stanley Stephens). Watch more Louis Nelson videos on YouTube.
1951
Vocalist and actor Theryl "Houseman" DeClouet was born in New Orleans on September 17, 1951. He was best known as singer for funk band Galatic. He passed away on July 15, 2018 at age 66. See Theryl "Houseman" DeClouet discography. Watch Theryl "Houseman" DeClouet videos on YouTube.
1959
New Orleans born clarinet and sax player Omer Simeon died of throat cancer in New York City on September 17, 1959 at age 57 (NYT obit). Simeon's career included stints with King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra and Wilbur DeParis. 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".
1988
"Joe Knows How To Live" by Lafayette, LA native Eddy Raven hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart on September 17, 1988. The song was Raven's fourth number one on the country chart.
1995
Rock bands Pearl Jam and The Ramones performed in a concert at New Orleans City Park's Tad Gormley Stadium on September 17, 1995. The concert was rescheduled from July 4, 1995 due to Pearl Jam's ongoing dispute with Ticketmaster over their excessive service charges and monopoly of the music industry. Watch the full Pearl Jam performance on YouTube.
1996
Vocalist and drummer Jessie Hill passed away in New Orleans on September 17, 1996 at age 64. Hill made his mark on history with the 1960 Top 10 R&B classic, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo." He was the grandfather of New Orleans musicians James Andrews, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, and the late Travis "Trumpet Black" Hill (1986-2015). Read more about the musical Andrews family here. See Jessie Hill discography. Listen to Jessie Hill music on YouTube.
1997
Local TV station WNOL (WB 38) premiered their one hour documentary on trumpeter James Andrews on September 17, 1997. The special, titled "Satchmo of the Ghetto", was produced and narrated by Quincy Jones. Watch a clip from "Satchmo of the Ghetto" here.
2001
Swamp blues man Arthur "Guitar" Kelly passed away in Baton Rouge, LA on September 17, 2001 at age 83. The Clinton, Louisiana native had a longtime partnership with fellow Baton Rouge guitarist Silas Hogan. See Arthur "Guitar" Kelley discography. Watch Arthur "Guitar" Kelley videos on YouTube.
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Hurricane Katrina benefit special "Higher Ground: A Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert" aired live on PBS in 2005. Performers included Wynton Marsalis, Irvin Mayfield, Allen Toussaint, Aaron Neville, Art Neville, Terence Blanchard, Buckwheat Zydeco, the Jordan Family (Kent, Marlon, Stephanie, Rachel), and many others. Read more here.
2011
Lil Wayne's ninth studio album "Tha Carter IV" entered the Billboard 200 albums chart at #1 on September 17, 2011. With sales of 964,000 in its first week, the album earned the biggest sales week for a hip-hop album (or any set by a male artist) since his own "Tha Carter III" bowed with 1.01 million in June of 2008. "The Carter IV" was Lil Wayne's third #1 album following "Tha Carter III" and "I Am Not a Human Being".
2011
The world premiere of the film "Dolphin Tale" was held in Los Angeles on September 17, 2011. Among those walking the red carpet were the film's co-stars Morgan Freeman and Harry Connick Jr. Harry was accompanied by his wife, Jill Goodacre, and daughters Georgia, Kate, and Charlotte.
