Timeline May 1953

Events in May 1953 7

• 1910 – 1953 Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) Died 16 May 1953, aged 43 Django Reinhardt was a Belgian-born Romani guitarist who pioneered jazz manouche, developing a virtuosic playing style despite the loss of use of two fingers in a fire. He co-founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France, influencing generations of jazz and rock guitarists. He is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of the twentieth century.
• 1953 Joseph McConnell becomes the top US ace 16 victories in Korea Captain Joseph McConnell scores his last victories over Korea to finish as America's highest-scoring ace of the war, with 16 MiG-15s.
• 1953 – present The Drifters American vocal group Atlantic Records vocal group with ever-changing members — Clyde McPhatter, Ben E. King, Rudy Lewis — and songs by the Brill Building writers.
• 1953 The Drifters formed by Clyde McPhatter Atlantic Records McPhatter forms the group after leaving the Dominoes.
• 1953 First Successful Use of Heart-Lung Machine Open-heart surgery breakthrough Surgeon John Gibbon performed the first successful open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine of his own design, repairing an atrial septal defect in an 18-year-old patient. The machine took over the functions of the heart and lungs, allowing surgeons to operate on a still, bloodless heart. The achievement opened the way for modern cardiac surgery.
• 1953 Charlie Parker plays Jazz at Massey Hall Toronto With Gillespie, Powell, Mingus and Roach — the greatest jazz concert ever, it is said.
• 1953 Jacqueline Cochran breaks the sound barrier Canadair Sabre Flying a Canadian-built Sabre, Jacqueline Cochran becomes the first woman to fly faster than sound, with Chuck Yeager flying chase.