Zydeco accordionist, vocalist and songwriter Willis Prudhomme was born in Kinder, Louisiana on September 22, 1931. Prudhomme worked with Leo Thomas before forming his own band, the Zydeco Express. The band appeared briefly in the 1992 film "Passion Fish" (video). He passed away on August 31, 2020 at age 88 due to complications related to Covid-19. See Willis Prudhomme discography. Watch Willis Prudhomme videos on YouTube.
1942
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Lenny Capello was born (Leonard Arthur Capello, Jr.) in New Orleans on September 22, 1942. Capello joined The Dots, a popular Baton Rouge band of the late 1950s and 60s, while still in high school. Thier first success came in 1958, with the regional hit "Cotton Candy". Capello was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009. See Lenny Capello discography. Watch Lenny Capello videos on YouTube.
1970
Platinum selling rapper, 3x Grammy nominee, and Persian Gulf War veteran Mystikal (Michael Lawrence Tyler) was born in New Orleans on September 22, 1970. Tyler has faced several criminal charges over the years. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 16, 2026 after pleading guilty to third-degree rape. See Mystikal discography. Watch Mystikal videos on YouTube.
1975
Trombonist and bandleader Jack Delaney passed away in New Orleans on September 22, 1975 at age 45. Delaney worked with Alvin Alcorn, Sharkey Bonano, Tony Almerico, George Girard, Pete Fountain, Leon Kelner, and others. He passed away on September 22, 1975 at age 45. See Jack Delaney discography. Listen to Jack Delaney music on YouTube.
1979
"Just Good Ol' Boys" by Moe Bandy and (Springhill, LA native) Joe Stampley hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart on September 22, 1979.
1997
The Hackberry Ramblers appeared on Fox television's "The Vicki Lawrence Show" on September 22, 1997.
Winners at the 1999 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards included Tim McGraw (3 awards including Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for "A Place In The Sun") and Brooks & Dunn (who won the Vocal Duo Award for the 8th year in a row). The awards show, broadcast on CBS, was held on September 22, 1999 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
2004
Texas bluesman U.P. Wilson (aka the "Texas Guitar Tornado") passed away in Paris, France on September 22, 2004 at age 70. The Shreveport native was raised in Dallas, Texas and later settled in Fort Worth. In later years, he was a regular on the European blues circuit. Stevie Ray Vaughan called Wilson, "My greatest guitar inspiration for real blues". Check out Wilson's famous one handed guitar playing. See U.P. Wilson discography. Watch U.P. Wilson videos on YouTube.
2005
Alt rock band Better Than Ezra were musical guests on daytime TV's "Tony Danza Show" on September 22, 2005. The New Orleans rockers performed "Juicy". Watch the video here
2009
The "Louisiana" episode of TV series "Jamie's American Road Trip" aired on the U.K.'s Channel 4 on September 22, 2009. Segments included Chef Jamie Oliver visiting with Leah Chase, talking with Kermit Ruffins at Sidney's Saloon, touring the Katrina damage in the Lower 9th Ward with Kermit, dishing out his version of gumbo at a second line, and more. The show aired in the USA on the BBC America channel in January of 2012. Watch the episode on YouTube.
2011
Dr. John appeared on the King-5 Seattle TV show 'New Day Northwest' on September 22, 2011. He performed the Earl King classic "Big Chief" and chatted with host Margaret Larson about his musical influences, his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, not owning a tv, and New Orleans' recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Watch the video here.
