Bandleader Claude Thornhill was born this day in 1909 in Terre Haute, Ind. He died in July 1965.

Drummer Jack DeJohnette was born this day in 1942 in Chicago. He began playing piano when he was 4 and didn't take up the drums until age 18.

Two influential jazz bandleaders were born this day, Lucky Millinder in 1900 in Anniston, Ala., and Benny Carter in New York City in 1907.

Guitarist George Van Eps was born this day in 1913 in Plainfield, N.J. This innovator, who invented the seven-string guitar in the 1930s, died in 1998.

Pianist and bandleader Luis Russell was born this day in 1902 in Careening Cay, Panama. In the 1930s, he led a hot band in Harlem's Saratoga Club. Sidemen included Henry "Red" Allen, Paul Barbarin and Albert Nicholas, and a decade later, young drummer Roy

Trombonist, violinist and singer Lou McGarity was born this day in 1917 in Athens, Ga. He worked extensively with Benny Goodman, the Yank Lawson-Bob Haggart Jazz Band and was a founding member of the World's Greatest Jazz Band. He died in 1971 of a heart

Cornet player and bandleader Joe "King" Oliver was born this day in 1885 in Louisiana. A young Louis Armstrong was his protege in Oliver's Chicago-based Creole Jazz Band from 1922 to 1924.

Today is Feb. 24. Pianist Clyde Hart was born this day in 1910 in Baltimore. After working with Stuff Smith, Roy Eldridge and Oscar Pettiford, ...

Today is Feb. 17. Clarinetist Buddy DeFranco was born this day in 1923 in Camden, N.J.