Blues legend Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup was born today in 1905 (d. 1974). He’s best-known for a song he wrote that became Elvis Presley’s first hit, “That’s All Right, Mama.”
Blues-belter Wynonie Harris was born today in 1915 (d. 1969). Wynonie was also an influence on Elvis and, like Big Boy, a precursor of the mid-’50s explosion of rock music.
Piano maestro Louis Teicher, one half of the Ferrante and Teichner duo, was born today in 1924 (d. 2008). Although nearly forgotten today, their lush piano ballads were high on the pop charts in the ’50s and ’60s.