BIRTHDAYS
1962     Craig Adams, Guitar (Bass)/Vocals (Background. Member group: 'The Mission', and 'Cult'
1922     Elmer Bernstein, Composer, b. New York, NY, USA. d. Aug. 18, 2004, Ojai, CA, USA. (No relation to conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein.) He was educated at the Walden School and New York University, and was a protege of Aaron Copland (who had studied with Roger Sessions and Stefan Wolpe). Early in his career, he composed for United Nation radio programs, and television and industrial documentaries.During WW II, Elmer served in the US Army Air Corps., after which he returned to the Hollywood studios. In 1953, he wrote scores for such notorious ultra-low budget films as 'Robot Monster' (1953) and 'Cat-Women of the Moon' (1953).And yet, only three years later, he did the score for 'Cecil B. deMille's "The Ten Commandments" (1956). His work encompassed a wide range as exemplified by his scores for "The Man With The Golden Arm" (1955 - starring Frank Sinatra), the Western film, "The Magnificent Seven" (1960 perhaps his most familiar) and even light musical comedies such as his Oscar-winning 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' (1967 - for which he won his only Academy Award). His interests covered many different artistic endeavors including painting and the theatre. As a young man, he performed not only as a pianist but as an acting-dancing performer.During his career, Bernstein was nominated for three "Tony Awards": two in 1968, one, as Best Composer and Lyricist, for "How Now, Dow Jones", with his collaborator Carolyn Leigh, and another for his music as part of a 'Best Musical' nomination; and in 1983 for "Merlin," as Best Score, his music with lyrics by Don Black.
1952     Michel Camilo,Piano, b. Dominican Rep.
1945     Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, Vocalist /guitarist. Member group: 'The Vibrators'.In February 1976, this group was formed by Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis and a drummer named only 'Eddie'.
1919     Cy Coben, C&W songwriter, b. Jersey City, NJ, USA. né: Cyrus Coben.
1929     George "Buster" Cooper, Trombone, b. St.Petersburg, FL, USA.
1974     Andre Dalyrimple, R&B vocals.aka: 'dre'. Member group: 'Soul For Real'
1932     Clive Davis, Label owner (Arista).Disheartened by his lack of status as a young lawyer, this Harvard Law School graduate, joined Columbia Records in 1960 as a contract lawyer. One of his first assignments was the renegotiation of singer Bob Dylan's contract, which had become void after the singer had turned 21. Eventually, Davis worked his way through the ranks, becoming vice-president of CBS Records.
1942     Christopher Franke, keyboardist/composer, b. Berlin, Germany. Member group: 'Tangerine Dream'
1913     Cecil Gant, piano/leader/vocals, b. Nashville, TN, USA, d. 1951, USA.In 1944, while a member of the U. S. Army during WW II, he recorded the crooning ballad "I Wonder," (under the name "Private Cecil Gant") and the tune went to the top of the charts.
1951     Steve Gatlin, C&W vocals, b. Olney, TX, USA. Member group: 'The Gatlin Brothers'
1963     David Gavurin, Piano/Flute/Arranger/Organ (Hammond)/Mixing/Producer. Member group: 'The Sundays'
1963     Benny Green, Piano, b. New York, NY, USA.
1931     Jake Hanna, Drums, b. Boston, MA, USA.
1945     Ole Kock Hansen, Piano, b. Osager, Denmark
1952     Peter Haycock, rock guitar, b.Stafford, England. Member group: 'The Climax Blues Band'
1952     Dave Hill, guitar/vocals. Member group: 'Slade'
1904     Arne Hülphers, Piano/Bandleader, b. Trollhatten, Sweden, d. July 24, 1978, Stockholm, Sweden.
1975     Phil Jimenez, Producer. Member group: 'Wheatus'.
????     Ernie Johnson, (soul-blues) vocals, b. Winnsboro, LA, USA. When Johnson was given the opportunity to open for Miss Lavelle White and Guitar James (in Mexia, Texas), he stole the show.That's when he formed his own band, 'The Soul Blenders', and quit his "day job" with the Dallas parks department. In 1968, he recorded his first single, "Lovin You" with "Cold Cold Heart" on the flip side, for Fats Washington's Movin' Records.
CAUTION: Do not confuse with: Soul singer Ernie Johnson who was born October 22, 1945, in Lubbock, TX, USA, and is best known as one half of the duo 'Eddie & Ernie',
Singer-songwriter Ernie Johnson, who worked with Buddy Guy (R&B vocals/guitar, b: July 30, 1936, Lettsworth, Louisiana, USA), and later with guitarist Phillip Guy
Photographer Ernie Johnson who wrote music for gospel groups such as 'The Forbes Family'
1957     Graeme Kelling, guitarist, b. Paisley, Scotland. Member group: 'Deacon Blue'
1941     Major Lance, (Soul) vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA, d. Sept. 3, 1994, Decatur, GA, USA. (heart disease).
1917     George "Big Chief Jolley" Landry, vocals, b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
1914     Frances Langford, vocalist, b. Lakeland, FL, USA, d. July 11, 2005 (congestive heart failure). Age: 92.née: Frances Newbern. Best recalled for her days with the Bob Hope show. Her biggest hit was "I'm In The Mood For Love".
1956     Mick Mars, guitar, b.Terre Haute, IN, USA.né: Bob Alan Deal.Member group: 'Motley Crue'
1939     Hugh Masakela, Trumpet/flugelhorn/vocals, b. Witbank, South Africa
1908     Ted McMichael, vocals, b. Marshalltown, IA, USA. d. Feb. 27, 2001, Camarillo, CA, USA. Ted McMichael, will always be recalled as one of the Merry Macs vocal group. Ted was the baritone, and brothers Judd and Joe sang tenor. He and his brothers pioneered four-part vocal harmony and were the first to include a female in that harmonic quartet. He was one of the three brothers and a sister: Mary Lou (d. May 27, 1944, Hollywood, CA), Judd (né: George Edward McMichael b. Aug. 1, 1906, Minneapolis, MN, d. Oct. 30, 1989, Thousand Oaks, CA), and Joe (b. 1916, Minneapolis, MN, d. 1944, Los Angeles, CA). Ted was the baritone, and brothers Judd and Joe sang tenor. In the early 1920s, as teenagers, they began singing together in Minneapolis, MN, -sometimes adding their mother to sing the melody. Organist Eddie Dunsteder heard them and they were hired to sing on his WCCO radio show (in their hometown). Calling them "The Mystery Trio", he had the group wear masks, even though radio listeners couldn't see them. They next began touring with bandleader Joe Haymes, who renamed them 'The Personality Boys'. With Haymes, they adopted their trademark four-part harmony style. This was quite a radical departure from the then-popular barbershop quartet style, consisting of a trio of voices with the fourth harmony part played by an instrument. McMichael once told an interviewer "The saxophones played it, two trumpets and two trombones played it, and we decided to try it vocally". They changed their name to the Merry Macs, and the three brothers hired Cheri McKay, the first of four women who would sing melody on the group's records. (The others were Helen Carroll, their sister Mary Lou Cook and finally Marjory Garland, who remained from 1941 until they disbanded in 1964, and even married Judd McMichael. All through the 1930s and 1940s, the quartet was in great demand for top radio shows of the day, including "Don McNeill's Breakfast Club", "The Maxwell House Showboat Program", "The Lucky Strike Hit Parade", and "Fred Allen's Town Hall Tonight". Along with the Mills Brothers, the Merry Macs, during their 40-year career, recorded myriad hits and set several trends. They pioneered four-part harmony sound and they were the first to use purely rhythmic accompaniment. They were the first 'close harmony' group to appear in a motion picture: "Love Thy Neighbor" (1940 starred Jack Benny and Fred Allen). It may be that they were the first to appear on stage in white tie and tails, thus encouraging others to dress formally. While best known for their pop tunes, the group also won kudos for their polished jazz style, notably for 1940's "Vol Vistu Gaily Star". In 1944, "Mairzy Doats," with lyric inspired by the songwriter's 4-year-old daughter's chatter, remained No. 1 on the pop charts for five weeks. Their other hit songs include: "Pop Goes the Weasel," "Ta Ha Wa Nu Wa (Hawaiian War Chant)," "The Hut Sut Song," "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition," "Jingle Jangle Jingle," "Sentimental Journey," "Laughing on the Outside" and the 1946 "Ashby De La Zooch." The Merry Mac's appeared in the Abbott and Costello's film "Ride 'em Cowboy" and in "Mr. Music", starring Bing Crosby, with whom they also recorded "You Made Me Love You" and "Dolores". They headlined with many of the major big bands including Glenn Miller, Ray Noble, Glen Gray and Paul Whiteman. In 1944, after Joe McMichael was killed while fighting in World War II (a series of others took his place including Clive Erard, Dick Baldwin and Vern Rowe who sang tenor). The second of the founding brothers, Judd McMichael, died in 1989.Ted was age 93 when he died.
1952     Gary Moore, Guitar/vocals, b. Belfast, Northern Ireland.
1895     Arthur Murray, Dance Instructor, b. New York, NY, USA, d. March 3, 1991, Honolulu, HI, USA.né: Moses Teichman. He helped a million people dance to the music you read about here. His spouse was Kathryn Murray b. April 1925
1948     Berry Oakley, bassist, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. Nov. 11, 1972, Macon, GA, USA. (motorcycle accident).Member group: 'The Allman Brothers Band'
1942     Nick Perls, label owner (Yazoo), b. New York, NY, USA.
1973     Kelly Price, R&B vocals.
1913     Eugene Glasco "Gene" Ramey, Bass, b. Austin, TX, USA.d. 1984
1921     Lucy Reed, vocals, b. Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA, d.July 1, 1998.Previously, while still living in Duluth, MN, Reed had been hired (only for local gigs) by Woody Herman when bis big band played Duluth.Subsequently, she became the featured singer on some of Charlie Ventura's Midwestern shows. During the 1950s, this, excellent, but little known jazz vocalist, was performing in and around Chicago, IL, USA. Reed was regularly accompanied by bassist Johnny Frigo and pianist Dick Marx at a club called the Lei Aloha. When the 1950s ended, Reed's career became even more obscure.
1947     Ray Russell, guitar/electric guitar/producer, b. England.Member: 'John Barry Seven'
1900     Bob Shoffner, trumpet, b.Bessie, TN, USA. d. 1983, USA.It's difficult to discern just why Shoffner remains a somewhat obscure trumpeter. Just look at the groups with whom he played. In the 1920's he was a part of the 'Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders', 'Jimmy O'Bryant', Ida Cox, and Luis Russell groups. After his WW1 Army dischage, he played with Charlie Creath and toured the Midwest with Tommy Parker. In 1921, after moving to Chicago, he worked with John H. Wickcliffe, Everett Robbins' Jazz Screamers and Mae Brady.He then briefly returned to St. Louis, MO, where he again worked with Charlie Creath's orchestra.He then returned to Chicago where he found work with Honore Dutrey's group, and in June 1924 replaced Louis Armstrong in 'King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band'.Shoffner remained with Oliver until Feb. 1927, except for some brief stints with Dave Peyton and Lottie Hightower's Nighthawks. In 1928, he played with Charles Elgar, Erskine Tate, and Jerome Carrington. In 1931, he was part of 'McKinney's Cotton Pickers', before again returning to Tate's group.In 1932, he was part of Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon's group. In 1934 he relocated to New York city and worked with Fess Williams, Fletcher Henderson, and "Hot Lips" Page's band.In 1938, Shoffner returned to Chicago, where he soon got a day job with the State of Illinois.After the mid-1940's, he was rarely musically active. However, in 1957, he joined 'Franz Jackson's Original Jazz All-Stars', remaining with Jackson until 1963 when failing health forced him to become a part-time player. He was age 83 when he died.
1956     Gary Smulyan, baritone sax, b. Bethpage, New York, USA
1966     Mike Starr, bassist, b. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Member group: 'Alice In Chains'
1972     Magnus Sveningsson, bassist, b.Malmö, Sweden.Member group: 'Cardigans'
1936     Margo Sylvia, vocals, b. Woburn, MA, USA. Member: 'Tune Weavers'
1939     Danny Thompson, Bass, b. Teigmouth, England
1915     "Muddy" Waters, vocals/guitar, b. Rolling Fork, MS, USA.d. April 30, 1983, Westmont, IL, USA.né: McKinley Morganfield. Best known record: "Hoochie Coochie Man"
1938     Norro Wilson, C&W producer, b. Scottsville, KY, USA.
1948     Pick Withers, drums. Member group: 'Dire Straits'
1968     Mark Yates, drums, b. Jamaica. - Member group: 'Terrorvision'
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1924.    Bessie Smith recorded "Rocking Chair Blues" for Columbia Records.
1943.    Tiny Parham, piano, died in Milwaukee, WS, USA. Age: 43
1960.    Sylvester Weaver, guitar, died in Louisville, KY, USA. Age: 62
1969.    Billy Bizor, harmonica, died in Houston, TX, USA. Age: 52
1977.    Annette Snell, vocals, died in AL, USA.
1983.    Danny Rapp, vocals (with Danny & The Juniors), died in Parker, AZ, USA. Age: 42
1994.    Milton Rector, elec. bass, died in Chicago, IL, USA.
          Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
     1946 "Sioux City Sue", Bing Crosby
     1946 "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop", Lionel Hampton
     1946 "Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy", Dinah Shore
     1947 "My Adobe Hacienda", Eddy Howard
     1953 "Ruby", Richard Hayman
     1953 "Anna", Silvana Mangano
     1960 "Cradle Of Love", Johnny Preston
     1964 "White On White", Danny Williams
     1970 "Turn Back The Hands Of Time", Tyrone Davis
     1970 "Reflections Of My Life", Marmalade
     1970 "Get Ready", Rare Earth
     1987 "Lady In Red, The", Chris De Burgh
     1987 "With Or Without You", U2
     1992 "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)", En Vogue
     1992 "Bohemian Rhaspody", Queen