Delta bluesman and member of the Mississippi Sheiks, Sam Chatmon.
Music history and highlights that have happened on February 2nd… from the birthplace of the blues… and rock n’ roll.
Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz.
1731: George Frederic Handel’s opera “Poro” opens in London.
1926: Three men dance the Charleston for 22 hours in a dance marathon.
1927: Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz (Bennie Goodman, Tommy Dorsey) born in Philadelphia.
1937: Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers born in New York City.
1940: Frank Sinatra singing debut in Indianapolis with The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
1942: The Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash singer, Graham Nash born in Blackpool, England.
1951: Jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report) born in Philadelphia.
1952: B.B. King’s “# O’Clock Blues” hits Billboards Hit Parade as his first national hit.
1959: Buddy Holly performs for the last time at the Suf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.
1973: “Midnight Special” television rock show debuts on NBC.
Tom and Dick Smothers.
1974: Barbara Streisand’s first No. 1 hit, “They Way We Were”.
1979: Sex Pistols bassist Syd Vicious (John Simon Ritchie) succumbs to an overdose.
1980: The Specials hit No. 1 on the British charts with a live E.P. (“Too Much Too Young”).
1992: Willie Nelson and the IRS settle on a $9M tax bill (it was $16.7M).
1997: Singer Paula Abdul marries Brad Beckerman in Beverly Hills.
1983: Mississippi Shieks blues pioneer Sam Chatmon leaves the building.
Gene Kelly.
1994: Gospel singer Willie Mae Ford passes on.
1996: Dancer and actor Gene Kelly dances no more.
2007: The Spinners soul singer Billy Henderson passes away.
2007: Motown and Funk Brothers keyboard player Joe Hunter plays no more (Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Martha and the Vandellas).