1^st

1988: A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is dedicated to Mahalia Jackson.

1920: Henry Bossard bass singer for the Swan Silvertones is born.

3^rd

1956: Doug Williams of the Williams Brothers is born in Smithdale, MS.

2008: Vaughn Vonzell "Teddy Bear" Williams,  a former member of Revelation Gospel Group and played guitar with several gospel groups, including the Gospel Keynotes, died in Salisbury, NC. 

4^th

2006: George "G. G." Bowen died at Baptist Medical Center in Montgomery, AL. 

1968: Rev. Richard Bush, formerly of the Flint Cavaliers and currently with The Jackson Southernaires,  is born.

Linda Ellis, of The Bell Singers of Memphis, TN, is born.

6^th

1989: Leon "Pop" Williams dies.

9^th

1980: Rev. Donnie Addison is born in Charleston, SC.

10^th

1929: The Soul Stirrers are formed in Houston, TX.

11^th

1935: Jessie B. Swindell of the Swindell Brothers is born.

2007: Bobby Byrd, former gospel singer and member of James Brown band, died in Loganville, GA.

13^th

1931: Professor Archie Swindell Sr., founder of the Swindell Brother and a Member of The Bethlehem Gospel Singers, is born.

2002: Thermon Ruth of the Selah Jubilee Singers passes in Far Rockaway, NY.

14^th

2004: Archie B. McGee, an original member of the Gospel Keynotes, passes in Tyler, TX. 

15^th

1932: Tommy Ellison is born, Salley, South Carolina.

16^th

2004: Alphonzo Norris Martin, radio broadcaster, dies in Winston-Salem, NC.

17^th

1980: Torrance "Poochie" Walker, keyboard player for The EchoAires, was born.

18^th

2009: Bishop Nathaniel L. “Mickey” Henry, Sr., formerly of The Gospel Ambassadors, died in Wilmington, DE. 

19^th

1931: Brook Benton (actual name Benjamin Franklin Peay) was born in Camden, SC.

1939: The Dixie Hummingbirds make their first recording.

1963: Rev. James Cleveland records "Peace Be Still."

1969: Titus "Lil Blair" Stallworth, lead singer of Lil Blair & The Violinaires, is born in Chattahoochee, FL.

Rev. Andrew Cheairs of Rev. Andrew Cheairs and The Songbirds is born.

Angelina Cheairs of Rev. Andrew Cheairs and The Songbirds is born.

2009:  Joseph L. Smalls, Sr., died in Moncks Corner, SC.

Stella Alexander, of The Bell Singers of Memphis, TN, is born.

21^st

Huey Williams of The Jackson Southernaires is born in Smithdale, MS.

Dora Bell, Founder of The Bell Singers of Memphis, TN, is born.

2009: Lucille Barbee, Radio Angel for over 50 years, died in Nashville, TN.

22^nd

1973: The Dixie Hummingbirds debut on R&B charts with "Loves Me Like a Rock."

1994: Dr. Mattie Moss Clark dies.

24^th

1943: Bishop Nathaniel L. “Mickey” Henry, Sr., formerly of The Gospel Ambassadors, is born in Stockton, AL.

1950: Robert L. Harris announces that he is leaving the Soul Stirrers.

25^th

1921: Margaret Allison of the Angelic Gospel Singers is born in McCormick, SC.

27^th

1927: The Harmonizing Four are formed in Richmond, VA.

28^th

1960: The Mighty Clouds of Joy record "Ain't Got Long Here."

2003: Bob Robinson of the Prodigal Sons dies in Fort Washington, MD.

2009: Quintin Washington of The Texas Boyz died in Dallas, TX.

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1918, Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke studied music at Temple University.  In 1938, while working as a schoolteacher, she began her career as a gospel singer in the Washington, D.C. area.  In later years she was billed as "the Sweetheart of the Potomac."  While her recordings are very scarce her influence was great.  She played an integral part in the fame of groups such as The Sensational Nightingales, Dixie Hummingbirds, and Pilgrim Jubilees.