Died On This Date (November 13, 2011) Yvonne “Miss Dixie” Fasnacht / Iconic New Orleans Gay Club Owner
themusicsover Yvonne Fasnacht
DOB Unknown – November 13, 2011
Yvonne Fasnacht was an accomplished New Orleans clarinet and saxophone player, as well as the proprietor of Dixie’s Bar Of Music, one of the city’s most revered jazz clubs. Fasnacht first learned to play her instruments while attending trade school, and before she knew it, she was playing in such all girl outfits as Southland Rhythm Girls and the Smart Set. These gigs afforded her the opportunity to tour the US and even appear in a Hollywood short film. In 1949, Fasnacht opened Dixie’s Bar of Music which quickly became one of New Orleans’ hottest clubs where rich and poor; gay and straight; and celebrity and common folk could all co-mingle and have a good time. The club has been cited as one of the country’s first openly gay bars, and it was Fasnacht who created a safe and accepting environment, even in the face of local authorities who raided the joint fairly regularly. The club, which operated until 1964, became a magnet for Hollywood elite as well. It was not uncommon to find the likes of Truman Capote, Rock Hudson, Gore Vidal, or Danny Kaye sitting at a table. The club’s place in New Orleans history is so well-regarded, that the 35-foot mural of jazz greats that hung on one of its walls is now on display at the New Orleans US Mint as part of the Louisiana State Museum. As reported by WWLTV, Yvonne Fasnacht passed away on November 13, 2011. She was 101.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.
Michael Garrick was an influential English pianist and composer who was one of the earliest practitioners of merging jazz with poetry recitations. Mostly self-taught on the piano, Garrick formed his first group while studying English literature in college. During the late ’60s, Garrick began working choral groups into his music, a style which quickly earned him praise. Over the course of a career that spanned five decades, Garrick released over 30 albums and collaborated on numerous others. In 2010, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire. As reported by 
Heavy D was an influential rapper, actor, and producer whose Heavy D & the Boyz became one of the most popular hip-hop groups during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Born in Jamaica, Heavy D moved with his family to New York when he was just a child. Discovering his talent as am MC, he formed Heavy D & the Boyz in 1986, and within a year, the group became the first act signed to Uptown Records. In 1987, they released their debut, Living Large. Although the album barely cracked the Top 100 album chart, The Source later included it on their list of The 100 Best Rap Albums Ever. The group went on to perform the theme song to the popular television program, In Living Color, while Heavy D himself rapped on 
Known to millions around the world as “Smokin’ Joe” inside the boxing ring, Joe Frazier also flirted with a career in music by fronting his own R&B group, the Knockouts. As a fighter, Frazier’s well-documented career included a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics as well as numerous professional victories over the likes of Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Ellis, and of course, Muhammad Ali, in a 1971 fight that has been dubbed the “Fight Of The Century.” His trio of battles with Ali (including the legendary 1975 “Thilla In Manilla”) made up one the greatest rivalries in sports history. Throughout the course of his professional career, Frazier had an impressive record of 32 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. What many didn’t know however, was that Frazier could very well have been a champ of the music charts as well. He loved to sing – both inside the ring and out, and he recorded several decent records over the years. That list includes “If You Go, Stay Gone,” “Little Dog Heaven,” “The Bigger They Come,” and “You Got The Love.” He also formed his own soul revue outfit, Joe Frazier & the Knockouts, who performed regularly in Las Vegas