Songwriter, producer, arranger and record label owner William "Bill" Boskent was born in Belle Chasse, Louisiana on September 18, 1925. He wrote and arranged songs for Fat Domino, Lloyd Price, and others. Boskent was the road manager for Price’s band, and the pair (along with Harold Logan) started Kent Recording Co. (KRC Records) in Washingtin D.C. The label's first release, Price's "Just Because", reached #3 on the R&B Chart in 1957. See recording credits. Boskent passed way on August 4, 2003. See William Boskent recording credits. Listen to Bill Boskent music on YouTube.
1938
R&B and jazz drummer Walter "Popee" Lastee born in New Orleans on September 18, 1938. Lastee's family included drummer "Deacon" Frank Lastie, sax man David Lastie, trumpeter Melvin Lastie, and singer Betty Ann Lastie. His nephews Herlin Riley and Joe Lastie are also drummers. Popee died of a heart attack in Jackson Square on December 28, 1980 while playing "When The Saints Go Marching In". Read more on the Lastie Family. See Walter Lastee discography.
1943
Swamp pop singer and songwriter Tommy Warren (Warren Thomas Hecard) was born in New Orleans on September 18, 1943. His writing credits include the "swamp country" classic "Offshore Blues". Warren was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Westbank Musicians Hall of Fame in 2003. He passed away at West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero on July 18, 2005 at age 61. See Tommy Warren recording credits. Listen to Tommy Warren music on YouTube.
1964
Jazz drummer Jerry Anderson was born in New Orleans on September 18, 1964. Jerry has worked with Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers, among others. See Jerry Anderson discography.
1966
Disc jockey Duke "Poppa Stoppa" Thiele passed away in New Orleans on September 18, 1966 at age 45. Thiele hosted the popular "Poppa Stoppa Hour" at radio station WJMR during New Orleans R&B heyday of the late 1940s and early 1950s.
1987
Buckwheat Zydeco appeared on NBC TV's "Late Night with David Letterman" on Septemner 18, 1987 (his national TV debut). Buckwheat and band performed "Ma 'Tit Fille".
1994
Zydeco music legend John Delafose passed away on September 18, 1994 at age 55. His backing band, The Eunice Playboys, featured his sons Geno Delafose and Tony Delafose (1962-2022). Delafose appeared in the 1992 film "Passion Fish", the 1989 documentary "J’ai Été Au Bal", and the 2005 DVD "From La La to Zydeco:
Creole and Zydeco Music From Louisiana" (watch a clip of Delefose). See John Delafose discography. Watch John Delafose videos on YouTube.
1994
Farm Aid VII was held in the Superdome in New Orleans on September 18, 1994. Performers included Willie Nelson, The Neville Brothers (videos), Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms, John Conlee, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Deana Carter, Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, David Allen Coe, and Wayne Toups. See more videos from Farm Aid VII.
1998
President and Mrs. Clinton hosted the nationally televised cultural showcase "Jazz: An Expression of Democracy" at the White House on September 18, 1998. The event, co-hosted by Wynton Marsalis, featured a film clip of Louis Armstrong (the classic performance of "Dinah"), and an appearance by Nicholas Payton. See transcript. Watch the video here.
2002
Hackberry Ramblers founders Luderin Darbone and Edwin Duhon were presented with Heritage Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts in ceremonies held in Washington, DC on September 18, 2002. The Heritage Fellowships are the USA's highest honor in the field of folk and traditional arts.
2004
Farm Aid '04 was held in Auburn, Washington on September 18, 2004. Performers at the event included Lucinda Williams (videos), Jerry Lee Lewis (videos), and Marc Broussard.
2005
Farm Aid 2005 was held in Tinley Park, Illinois on September 18, 2005. Performers at the event included Buddy Guy (video).
New Orleans art-rockers MuteMath made television history on September 18, 2007 by being the first band to perform live backwards. The New Orleans quartet performed their single "Typical" on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" backwards. The idea for the unique performance stemmed from the video for the track, which was a collaborative concept between video director Israel Anthem and the band.
