Did you know ...

• the American Chicago blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter, Golden "Big" Wheeler, got his enthusiasm for playing the harmonica when he was working as a taxicab driver?
• the American Delta blues pianist and singer, Willie Love, never employed his musician friend, Sonny Boy Williamson II, on any of his own recordings?
• the jazz singer Eva Olmerová was persecuted by the State Security service of the Czechoslovak communist regime?
• the Detroit blues singer Calvin Frazier's "This Old World's in a Tangle" was both the title of the first song he recorded, and of a 1993 compilation album issued by Laurie Records?
• the Australian singer Jade MacRae started learning the piano at age 8?
• the Czech trumpeter and singer Jiří Jelínek was nicknamed "The Czech Satchmo"?
• the American Detroit blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Eddie "Guitar" Burns was originally known as a harmonica player?
• the American Detroit blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, Bobo Jenkins, penned the politically motivated "Democrat Blues" on US Election Day in 1952?
• the American soul blues and electric blues singer Earl Gaines received no credit on his biggest-selling single?
• the popular Israeli singer Aya Korem works part-time as a bartender in Tel Aviv in between recording and performing?
• the American soul blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jimmy Burns, issued a number of singles in the 1960s, but waited over 25 years to release his debut album?
• the American Piedmont and country blues singer and guitarist Alec Seward was one of at least five musicians billed as 'Guitar Slim'?
• the American electric blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Johnnie Bassett, played on The Miracles 1958 debut single, "Got a Job"?
• the American electric blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, Little Sonny, often boosted his earnings by photographing customers between his on-stage appearances?
• Brazilian singer Maria Bethânia released her first recording the same year as her brother Caetano Veloso, even though he was four years older?
• Virgil Johnson, the lead singer of the doo wop group The Velvets, retired from his career as a school principal and is now a deejay in Lubbock, Texas?
• Japanese singer and actress Junko Sakurada was part of a trio on Star Tanjō! with musicians Momoe Yamaguchi and Masako Mori?
• Russian singer and actress Alla Pugacheva has had a career lasting over 40 years, remaining one of the most popular musical artists to this day?
• Jack Benny was so impressed with native Canadian singer Gisele MacKenzie that he was co-executive producer of her NBC variety show, The Gisele MacKenzie Show?
• Czech singer and pianist Jiří Šlitr died from coal gas poisoning?
• Academy Award-winning American singer Barbra Streisand filled in a tooth gap with Aspergum when she started out in theater?
• blues scholars seem undecided if the American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter Ramblin' Thomas's nickname referred to his style of playing, or itinerant nature?
• Ryan Adams cited Irish singer-songwriter Adrian Crowley (pictured) in a 2005 Rolling Stone interview when asked "Who's the best songwriter that no one's heard of"?
• American country blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Son Bonds was accidentally shot to death in August 1947 by his short-sighted neighbor?
• Russian opera in the 18th century was dominated by Italian composers and singers?
• Shruti Haasan, the daughter of Indian actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, is a singer turned model who is now also venturing into acting?
• Gord Bamford, a country music singer, was one of only two Canadian artists invited to perform at the Global Artist Party at the 2007 CMA Music Festival?
• Erin Bode performed with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for three seasons before starting her recording career as a singer?
• Wilco's 2007 album Sky Blue Sky was named after an encounter that singer Jeff Tweedy had with a Memorial Day parade?
• Corona Schröter, an 18th century German singer, composed musical settings for several works by Friedrich Schiller, as well as two dramas, hundreds of arias and duets, and an autobiography given to Johann Wolfgang Goethe, but that all of these works are now lost?
• "On the very first of May", a work composed by singer and organist William Savage, was set to nonsense verses by his wife?