On this day in 1906, jazz musician and composer Eddie Durham was born in Marcos, Texas. He was an accomplished jazz guitarist and trombonist, as well as a composer of swing music.

Durham is credited for recording the world's first jazz electric guitar solo in 1938 on Lester Young's Kansas City Five sessions. He is also hailed for innovating the use of an amplified guitar in jazz music.

Durham composed music for other musical greats including Bennie Moten, Count Basie and Billie Holiday. His most famous compositions include "Moten Swing" for Bennie Moten, "Topsy" for Count Baise and "In the Mood" for Glenn Miller.
He died in New York City on March 6, 1987.
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