Wardell Quezergue

Arranger, composer, trumpeter, band leader and record producer Wardell Joseph Quezergue was born in New Orleans’ Seventh Ward on March 12, 1930 into a musical Creole family. He loved jazz music especially Harry James, Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, and is regarded as an influential musician who left an indelible mark on rhythm and blues, soul, funk and pop music. In the 1940s he began playing in Dave Bartholomew’s band. In 1951 he was called up and served in Korea. In 1964 he formed Nola Records and one of the initial releases, “Barefootin'” by Robert Parker, was an international success. Other successes he achieved included King Floyd’s “Groove Me” and Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff”. He was associated closely with the Malaco studio, and was particularly keen on establishing standout bass lines.

Wardell Quezergue died congestive heart failure in New Orleans on September 6, 2011.

Image: Jacob Bickenstaff

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Anita Wood

Anita Wood | Copyright Control | 25007 Anita Marie Wood Brewer was born in 1937 and was a girl friend for a time to Elvis Presley. Her recording of "Dream Baby"/ “This has happened before” (US Santo 9054, 1964) was issued on Sue WI 328. She sang with Andy Williams, uncredited, on his 1959 hit of “The Hawaiian Wedding Song” and appeared regularly in his television series. Anita Wood died of pneumonia at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, on 29 June 2023, age 85.

June Bateman

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Owen Gray

Owen Grey | Copyright Control | 25006 Singer and song writer and musician Owen Gray was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 5 July 1939 and is regarded as a pioneer of Jamaican popular music. He won his first talent contest aged nine. By twelve he had joined a band, playing drums, guitar and keyboards. He became associated with Chris Blackwell in 1960, and was one of the first artistes to be produced by Blackwell. In 1962 he emigrated to the United Kingdom, toured Europe in 1964, and since 1966 became recognised as a soul as well as reggae singer. In the 1970s he relocated to New Orleans and then back to Jamaica. Since the 1980s he lived in Miami, Florida. Owen Grey died in London, UK, on 20 July, 2025.

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