BIRTHDAYS
1957     Paul Abler, guitar, b. Pontiac, MI, USA. Married (May 2004) to Carioca singer-songwriter, Yashmin Charnet-Abler (b. Rio de Janeiro (born in Botofogo district, but grew up in Tijuca), Brazil.) As a child, Abler listened to his grandfather practicing his drums to the recordings of Stan Getz and Dave Brubeck. Abler originally wanted to play Saxophone or Bass, but settled on the Guitar after hearing Jimi Hendrix. His first jobs were playing Blues, Funk and R&B. In 1982, he moved to Los Angeles, CA, and studied with Joe Diorio, Carl Schroeder, Ron Eschete and many others at Musicians Institute ('Guitar Institute of Technology'). In 1988, he moved to Boston, MA, where he studied improvisation with Saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi. In 1990, he returned to Detroit and was soon working with such men as Roy Brooks, Marcus Belgrave, Harold McKinney, Leonard King, James Carter, David McMurray, Straight Ahead, and others. He also began leading his own groups that included such artists as Marion Hayden, Bobby Battle, Jaribu Shahid, Gerald Cleaver, Craig Taborn, and William Evans among others. About this time, he recorded his debut album "Goin' Up" for the 'Red Car' label, soon followed by two more recordings: "Lost Generation"(1998) and "In The Marketplace" (1999), both for 'Equinoxmansion'. 1996 saw him composing for Film and Television. His first project, a short film for Learnshare -a division of Owens Corning, was followed by placement of his compositions in music libraries. This led to his association with Transition Music. In July 2003, he returned to New York City, and was soon working and/or recording with such artists as Tomoko Ohno, Charles Davis, Allen Farnham, Cindy Blackman, Michael Cochrane, Ted Rosenthal, Carlton Holmes, Chip Jackson, 'The Spirit of Life Ensemble', Dwayne Burno, Sean Smith, Ugonna Okegwo, Dion Parson, Daoud David Williams, Calvin Hill, Bradford Hayes, and Brazilian vocalist Yashmin Charnet (his wife). He subsequently began writing and playing for Chesky Records film amd TV division.
1968     Sebastian Bach, vocals, b. Bahamas. Member group: 'Skid Row'
1938     Jeff Barry, Pop singer/composer, b.New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. At the time, his competition included such other singers as Neil Diamond, Carol King and Neil Sedaka.
1941     William Jan Berry, vocals, b.Los Angeles, CA, USA. d.March 26, 2004, USA. member group: Jan & Dean (Torrance b.Mar.10, 1940, Los Angeles, CA, USA.): Heard on "The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)", "Dead Man's Curve", "Surf City", "Honolulu Lulu"
1895     "Zez" Confrey, Composer, b.Peru, IL, USA, d.Lakewood, NJ, USA né: Edward Elzear Confrey
1924     Doris Day, Vocals/actress, b.Cincinnati, OH, USA. née: Doris Mary Ann von Kappelhoff.Born to German Catholic parents, Doris had two brothers, Richard, who died before she was born and Paul, a few years older.Her father and mother divorced when she was about eight.She originally wanted to be a dancer, and by age 12, even had a dance act with a yong boy named Jerry Doherty.After winning $500 in a talent contest, Doris went to Hollywood. At age 14, she returned to Cincinnati where she was in a horific automobile crash that ended her dancing career. She started voice lessons, and discovering that she could sing, began working first with local bands, and later touring with the Les Brown orchestra. With Brown, she met Al Jorden, who she married in 1941. He was a violent and abusive husband, and in 1942, soon after the birth of her son Terry Melcher (who later became a record producer), she initiated divorce proceedings. In 1946 Doris married George Weidler, but this union only lasted 8 months.Then, Day's agent talked her into taking a screen test at Warner Bros. The Warner executives liked what they saw and signed her to a contract.In 1948, while making her first film, 'Romance on the High Seas', she met and married Martin Melcher, who became her agent and later, on her 27th birthday, also her husband.In 1958 her brother Paul died. Melcher had her sign to do more films than she desired, and this eventually led to a bout with nervous exhaustion. In 1968, Melcher died, and Doris found herself bankrupt and owing thousands of dollars.It turned out that Melcher had squandered virtually all the money she had ever earmed. However, she was eventually awarded $22 million by the courts.In 1976, she married Barry Comden, and in 1980, this fourth marriage also ended in divorce.Since then, she has devoted her life to animals.Today (2006, at age 82), she runs the 'Doris Day Animal League' in Carmel, California, which advocates homes and proper care of household pets.
1895    Reginald De Koven, Composer, b.April 3, 1859 Middletown, Ct.USA. d.Jan.15, 1920, New York, NY, USA.
1919     Ervin Drake, Composer, b.New York, NY, USA. né: Ervin Maurice Druckman
1917     Bill Finegan, Piano/Arranger/Composer/Leader, b.Newark, NJ, USA. Best recalled as co-leader of the "Sauter-Finegan Band"
1920     Stan Freeman, comic, vocals, piano, celeste, arranger, b. Waterbury, CT, USA. d. January 13, 2001, Los Angeles, California. USA. (emphysema)
1928     Don Gibson, Country Composer/Singer, b.Shelby, NC, USA. d. Nov.18, 2003, age: 75.In 1955, he had begun to write a tune that would become a huge hit for Patsy Cline in 1963, "Sweet Dreams". On a single afternoon in June 1957, Gibson composed two of 'Country' Music's greatest hits; "Oh Lonesome Me" and "I Can't Stop Loving You".At that moment , he was living alone in a Trailer outside of Knoxville. A 'Repo' man had just picked up his Vacuum Cleaner and Television set.In later years, Gibson remarked "When I wrote those two songs, I couldn't have been any closer to the bottom." Gibson, a shy and moody boy from Shelby, NC (the son of a poor 'sharecropper' family) dropped out of school in the second grade. Somewhere along the line, he began to pick at the guitar. After World War II ended, a friend returned home with a Django Reinhardt recording which completely captivated Gibson, who, now in his mid-teens, began to experiment with differernt styles. In 1948, a friend helped him land a job on a Knoxville, KY radio station.Shortly afterwards, he had already formed his own band "The King Cotton Kinfolks" and was heard over a 25 station network. During the '50s, he was featured on such shows as 'The Tennessee Barn Dance', and 'Mid-Day Merry Go Round'. He struggled to make ends meet on $30.00 a week earned from playing 'Beer Joints'.Gibson was called 'the sad poet'.His tunes combined riveting melodies with plain language to communicate strong emotions. He usually wrote about solitude and sadness involving love. His own rich baritone voice beautifully enhanced his tunes.His works were recorded by many C&W artists. A good example is his "I Can't Stop Loving You" which was recorded by over 700 different artists. (In 1962, Ray Charles had the biggest hit version.) He once told an interviewer "Simple is the only way I can write." Interestingly, the late guitarist Chet Atkins produced most of Gibson's works. In 2001, Gibson was inducted into the 'Country Music Hall of Fame'.
1962     Steve Grossman, C&W Drums/Percussion, b.West Ipswich, NY, USA. Member: "The Gibson/Miller Band". CAUTION: Do not confuse with Steve Grossman, Tenor/soprano sax, b.Jan.18, 1951, New York, NY, USA.
1958     Adam Gussow, harmonica, b.Congers, NY, USA. Member: 'Satan & Adam'
1927     Artur Sidney Harris, piano, French horn, vocals, arranger, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA
1945     Mike Harrison, vocals, b.Carlisle, UK. Member: 'Spooky Tooth'
1923     P. T.Hayes, harmonica, b.Byhalia, MS, USA.
1898     George Jessel, Basically and actor who later on was called 'The Toastmaster General' Included here mostly due to his big hit recording of "My Mother's Eyes".
1916     Ken Kersey, Piano, b.Harrow, ONT.Canada, d.1983
1949     Eric Kloss, Alto-soprano-tenor Sax, b.Greenville, PA.USA
1936     Scott LaFaro, Double Bass, b.Newark, NJ, USA. d.July 6, 1961, Geneva, NY, USA. Member: 'The Bill Evans Trio' (1961)
1962     Dennis Mackrel, drums
1943     Richard Manuel, Vocals/Piano/composer, b. Stratford, Ontario, Canada, d.March 4, 1986, Winter Park, FL, USA.(Suicide by hanging.) Best recalled for his work with 'The Band' (originally the Hawks).Performed and/or recorded with Bob Dylan, Bobby Charles, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Kinky Friedman, Happy Traum, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, and others.
1936     Jimmy McGriff, Organ, b.Philadelphia, PA, USA. His formal studies were at New York's famed Juilliard, and at Philadelphia's Combe College of Music
1903     James Wesley "Bubber" Miley, Jazz Trumpeter, b. Aiken, SC, USA.d, May 20, 1932, New York, NY, USA (tuberculosis -age 29).Will always be remembered as a member of the Noble Sissle and Duke Ellington orchestras. "Bubber", a master with the plunger mute, was largely responsible for Duke Ellington's early success, and was the most prominent voice in Duke's 1926-1928 'Jungle Band', where he was teamed with trombonist "Tricky" Sam Nanton. His "Growling Turmpet" greatly helped in the success of Duke Ellington's band.Upon Bubber's demise, his place was filled with another trumpeter, "Cootie" Williams.
1920     Bob Mitchell, Trumpet, b.Apr., 3,1920, Houston, TX, USA.
1955     John Mooney, guitar, b.East Orange, NJ, USA.
1946     Dee Murray, bass, b. Gillingham, Kent, England. Member group: 'The Spencer Davis Group'
1962     Mike Ness, vocals/guitar, b. Stoneham, MA, USA. Member group: 'Social Distortion'
1905     Hank Newman, C&W Vocals/Guitar/String Bass, b.Cochran, GA, USA, d.July 1978. Member: "The Georgia Crackers" (aka: 'The Newman Brothers') consisting of Hank Newman, (né: Henry J.Newman), "Slim" Newman (Vocals/Guitar, né: Marion Alonzo Newman, b.June 18, 1910, Cochran, Georgia, USA), and Bob Newman (singer-Songwriter/String Bass/Guitar, né: Robert Newman, b.October 16, 1915, Cochran, Georgia, USA)
1942     Wayne Newton, vocals, b.Roanoke VA, USA.One of his big hits was "Danke Schoen".He was a "regular" in the Las Vegas, NV, casinos.
1934     Jimmy Nolen, guitar, b.Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
1944     Tony Orlando, vocals, b.New York, NY, USA. né: Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis.Part of the team of 'Tony Orlando and Dawn'
1906     Walter "Fats" Pichon, piano/ vocals, b.New Orleans, LA, USA, d. Feb.26, 1967
1928     William Orie "Bill" Potts, Piano/Arranger, b.Arlington, VA, USA. d.Feb.16, 2005, Florida, USA. (at home)
1929     Jane Powell, Portland Oregon, singer/actress.
1970     Matthew Priest, drums/vocals. Member group: 'Dodgy'
1944     Barry Pritchard, guitar, b.Birmingham, England. Member group: 'The Fortunes'
1962     Simon Raymonde, bassist. Member group: 'Cocteau Twins'.Simon is the son of noted pop songwriter and arranger Ivor Raymonde.
1945     Billy Joe Royal, C&W, Singer, b.Valdosta, GA, USA
1957     Louis Satterfield, trombone, b. Shaw, MS, USA. Member group: 'Earth, Wind & Fire'
1951     Mel Schacher, bassist, b.Owosso, MI, USA. Member group: 'Grand Funk Railroad' ("We're An American Band")
1958     Martin Speake, Alto Saxophone, b.Barnet, England
1950     Curtis Stone, C&W vocals/mabndolin/guitar, b.North Hollywood, CA, USA. Member group: 'Highway 101'
1958     Scott Stroman, Trombone, b.Kendalville, IN, USA.
1906     Billy Taylor, Sr., Tuba/String bass/arranger, b. Washington, D.C., d. Sept 2, 1986, Fairfax, VA, USA. In 1919, bassist Billy Taylor, Sr. began studying the Tuba. 1924 found him in New York City. During the 1920s, he played with Charley Johnson; Elmer Snowden and Willie Gant. From 1929-'31, he played with McKinney's Cotton Pickers. About this time he switched from Tuba to String Bass. He rejoined Charley Johnson but by 1934, he was playing with 'Fats' Waller. He also switched from the Brass bass (Tuba) to the String bass and returned to Johnson's band. From 1935 to 1939, he played with Duke Ellington's orchestra, --the very same band where his son Billy Jr, would later find world-wide fame. During the 1940s, he worked at various clubs in New York including the famed Cafe Society, with pianist Joe Sullivan. During 1943-'46, he worked in the New York area 'studios' with such men as Teddy Wilson, Johnny Guarnieri and Don Byas.
CAUTION: There are TWO Billy Taylor Jr's. There is a +Pianist+ Billy Taylor Jr, born on July 24, 1921, and there is the Billy Taylor Jr, (b. Dec.30, 1925, died February 1977 (age 51) in Fairfax, Virginia), who was also a bassist, also very famous, and the son of THIS Billy Taylor Sr.
1949     Richard Thompson, Folk-rock vocals/guitar, b.London, England, UK.
1943     Joey Vann, vocals. d.Feb.28, 1984. Member group: 'The Duprees'
1936     Harold Vick, soprano-tenor sax, b. Rocky Mount, NC, USA. d. Nov 13, 1987, New York, NY, USA. né: Harold Edward Vick. At age 13, he received a clarinet from bis uncle, tenor saxist Prince Robinson (b. June 7, 1902, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA, d. July 23, 1960, New York, NY, USA), who, during the 1920s and '30s, had played with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and others. At 16, Vick began playing the tenor sax, and soon after began working in local R&B bands. In the 1950s, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he studied psychology at Howard University, while continuing to play his sax, mostly with R&B bands. In the early 1960s, he was leading his own groups, with such players as trumpeter Blue Mitchell and guitarist Grant Green. In 1963, the Blue Note label released his debut album as a leader, "Steppin' Out!". During 1966 -1974, he led dates for the RCA, Muse, and Strata East labels. In 1972, he recorded with Jack DeJohnette's band 'Compost'. In the mid-1970s, Vick, no longer recording as a leader, was an in-demand sideman. In 1987, shortly before his death, he recorded a pair of Billie Holiday tributes with singer Abbey Lincoln for the 'enja' label. In 1998, Sonny Rollins paid tribute to Vick by composing and recording a tune entitled "Did You See Harold Vick?
1905     "Homesick" James (Williamson), Blues guitar/vocals. b.Somerville, TN, USA. d.Correct age in doubt.He claimed 1905.
1951     Mitch Woods, Blues Guitar/singer. b.New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA.
1941     Philippe Wynne, (gospel) Vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA. d. July 14, 1984, Oakland, California, USA. a.k.a. Phillip Walker. Member group: 'The Detroit Spinners'(1984). 1980 UK No.1 and US No.2 single "Working My Way Back To You". The "Detroit Spinners" were formed in 1955 at Ferndale High School, near Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., and originally known as 'The Domingos', 'The Detroit Spinners' were originally comprised of: Henry Fambrough (b. 10th May 1935, Detroit, MI, USA.), Robert 'Bobbie' Smith (b. April 10, 1937, Detroit, MI, USA.), Billy Henderson (b. Sept 8, 1939 (some claim b. Sept. 8), Detroit, MI, USA. d. Feb. 2, 2007, Daytona Beach, FL, USA, Pervis Jackson, (b. May 17, 1938) and George Dixon. Later, Philippé Soul Wynn (a.k.a. Phillip Walker. b. April 3, 1941, Detroit, MI, USA. d. July 14, 1984, Oakland, California, USA.), and G.C. Cameron (b. Jackson, Mississippi, USA.) joined. Although not a member, producer and songwriter Harvey Fuqua b. July 27, 1929, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. sang lead on the group's single, 'That's What Girls Are Made For', which reached number 5 in the USA R & B charts and reached the Pop Top 30. Edgar 'Chico' Edwards then replaced Dixon in 1963, and in 1970. G.C. Cameron replaced Chico Edwards,
1970     Rusty Zinn, Blues Guitar, b. Long Beach, CA, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1950.    Composer Kurt Weil died. Age: 50.
1958.    Alvin Red Tyler died in New Orleans, CA, USA.Age: 72.
1960.    Forrest City Joe (né: Joe Bennie Pugh), harmonica, died in Horseshoe Lake AR, USA.Age: 33
1961.    Florence Cole-Talbert, vocals, died in Memphis, TN, USA.Age: 70
1963.    Gene Sedric, tenor sax, died in New York, NY, USA.Age: 55
1965.    Hy Heath, songwriter, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA.Age: 74
1972.    Jack Drake, C&W session bass player, died in Nashville, TN, USA.
1988.    Candy Green, piano, died in Galveston, TX, USA.Age: 59
1990.    Sarah Vaughan died in Los Angeles, CA, USA.Age: 66.
1993.    Harley "Red" Allen, bluegrass singer/songwriter, died. Age: 63.
1990.    Billy (Billy Beret) Branson, piano, died in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.Age: 67
1993.    Eugene Church, vocals, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA.Age: 55
1996.    Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes, guitar/harmonica, died in Chicago, IL, USA.Age: 59
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
     1941    "Do I Worry?", Tommy Dorsey Orch.
     1941    "Music Makers", Harry James Orch.
     1961    "Mother-In-Law", Ernie K-Doe
     1961    "You Can Depend On Me", Brenda Lee
     1961    "Portrait Of My Love", Brenda Lawrencex
     1961    "Hundred Pounds Of Clay, A", Gene McDaniels
     1961    "I've Told Every Little Star", Linda Scott
     1965    "I Know A Place", Petula Clark
     1965    "Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap), The", Shirley Ellis
     1971    "If", Bread
     1971    "I Am...I Said", Neil Diamond
     1976    "Fooled Around And Fell In Love", Elvin Bishop
     1976    "Sara Smile", Hall & Oates
     1976    "Shannon", Henry Gross
     1982    "Did It In A Minute", Hall & Oates
     1982    "Get Down On It", Kool & The Gang