April 11

          TOP   BIRTHDAYS
    1925     Nick Acquaviva's, composer, conductor and strings, b. April 11, 1925, Rhode Island, USA, d. October 14, 1998.
    1958     Stuart Adamson, singer-songwriter/guitar, b. Manchester, England, UK. (raised in Dunfermline, Scotland). d. Dec. 16, 2001, Honolulu, HI, USA. (hanged himself in his hotel room). Member groups: 'Skids', 'Big Country'
    1964     Steve Azar, (C&W) singer-songwriter/guitarist/cover photographer, b. Greenville, MS, USA.
    1935     Richard Berry, vocal/guitar. d. Jan. 23, 1997. How could we ever omit the composer of "Louie Louie" - how indeed. Frank Zappa dubbed this three-chord rock song "an archetypal American musical icon." The FBI investigated Berry because they were convinced the song was obscene. But, the agents dropped the case concluding that the song was "indecipherable at any speed", when Berry explained that the song was about a Jamaican sailor talking to a bartender named Louie about his girl friend.
    1935     Johnnie Billington, guitar, b. Crowder, MS, USA.
    1922     Ralph Blaze, Guitar, b. New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
    1948     Maurice D. Commander, vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'Chicago Soul 7'
    1954     Chris Difford, vocals, b. Mississipppi (Delta region), USA. Member group: 'Squeeze'
    1913     Millie Good, (Western) vocals/guitar, b. Mount Carmel, IL, USA. née: Mildred Goad. Member: 'The Girls of the Golden West', a duo of Dorothy Laverne "Dolly" Good (b. 1915), and Mildred Fern "Millie" Good (b. 1913). One of the most popular acts in early country music,'The Girls of the Golden West' achieved nationwide fame in the 1930s with appearances on such shows as the 'National Barn Dance', the 'Boone County Jamboree' and the 'Midwestern Hayride'. The girls continued performing heavily through the 1940s, with occasional appearances up until 1967 when Dolly died. They were recorded by RCA, Columbia and Conqueror labels. in the 1980's, the 'Old Homestead' label released some of their work.
    1913     John Lee Granderson, harmonica, b. Ellendale, TN, USA.
    1946     Anita Gravine, vocals, b. Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA
    1932     Joel Grey, actor/vocals, né: Joel Katz. His best known vocal: "Wilkommen" from show 'Cabaret'
    1961     Douglas Hopkins, guitar, d. Dec. 5, 1993, Tempe, AZ, USA. (He shot and killed himself at his home) Member group: 'Gin Blossoms'.
    1939     Luther "Guitar" Johnson Jr., guitar, b. Benna, MS, USA.
    1970     Dylan Keefe, bass/vocals (background). Member group: 'Marcy Playground'
    1889     Nick La Rocca, Cornet, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. Feb. 22, 1961
    1957     Jim Lauderdale, (C&W) singer-songwriter. b. Troutman, NC, USA. His songs have been recorded by George Strait, Vince Gill, Mark Chesnutt, Patty Loveless and Mandy Barnett, among others.
    1930     Anton LaVey, multi-instrumentalist/satanist, b. starting at age 5, he studied violin, drums, trombone, oboe, piano, organ, and the calliope. By age 16, he was already playing oboe with the San Francisco Ballet Orch., and went on to become the city's official organist for all civic functions. The liner notes to his Satan Takes A Holiday, states that LaVey "......"applies his kaleidoscopic vision to conjure forth occult musical treasures, sending them out into the ethers, to haunt and delight us." During his life, he has also worked as a criminologist, police photographer, lion trainer, cage boy, "mitt camp" worker (a "midway" term for a palmistry booth), clinical hypnotist and psychological researcher. LaVey is not a hyper, insane, drug-crazed lunatic, but instead was a calm and smart man, who has told interviewers that he conceived Satanism as a system based on rational self-interest. He subsequently declared Satanism as his religion, becoming the head of the Church of Satan.
    1912     John O. Levy, Bass, b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
    1918     Jimmy Lewis, Bass, b. Nashville, TN, USA.
    1932     "Little Richard", vocals/piano, b. Macon, GA, USA. né: Richard Wayne Penniman. (Among his hit releases are "Tutti Frutti," "Long Tall Sally," "Good Golly, Miss Molly," "Lucille," "Slippin' And Slidin' (Peepin' And Hidin')")
    1925     Emil Mangelsdorff, Alto Sax, b. Frankfort am Main, Germany
    1947     Frank Mantooth, piano/arranger/composer/leader/educator, b. Tulsa, OK, USA. d. Jan. 30, 2004, Garden City, KS, USA. In 1969, he graduated North Texas State University. From 1969 to 1973, he contributed arranfgements as a member of the Air Force Academy Falconaires, and then spent the next 7 years in Europe earning his piano "Diplom" from the 'Austrian Akadamie fuer Musik', in 1977. During his career, he was commissioned to write music for 'Doc' Severinson, The Madison Symphony Orchestra, Pete Christlieb, Louie Bellson, and the 'Airmen of Note', and The Kansas City Symphony. Starting in 1978, he composed over 165 works for Jazz combos and ensembles. Frank's five albums "Suite Tooth", "Persevere", "Dangerous Precedent", "Sophisticated Lady", and "A Miracle" have garnered a total of eleven Grammy nominations in both writing and playing categories.
    1969     Cerys Matthews, singer-songwriter, b. Cardiff, Wales, UK. née: Cerys Elizabeth Philip Matthews. Member group: 'Catatonia'
    1970     Delroy Pearson, drums/keyboard/bass/producer, b. Romford, Essex, England, UK. Member group: '5 Star'
    1965     Nigel Howard Pulsford, guitar, b. UK. Member group: 'Bush'
    1952     Mark Sallings, harmonica/sax, b. White County, AR, USA.
    1921     Dorothy Shay, vocals, b. Jacksonville, FL, USA. d. Oct. 22, 1978, Santa Monica, CA, USA. (Coronary). A New York City debutante who liked to sing. She was called "The Park Avenue Hillbilly", for her propensity to sing Country and Western genre tunes. In one of her three films, 'Coming 'Round The Mountain', she played Dorothy McCoy (of the feudin' McCoys and Hatfields). Among other tunes she introduced was "Buttons and Bows", which later became a big hit for Dinah Shore. In the '40's, she sang humorous "hillbilly" songs, while dressed to the nines in an evening gown. Very similar to her role in Comin' Round the Mountain.
    1925     George Shuffler, (C&W) guitar, b. Burke County, NC, USA.
    1957     Daryl Simmons, Songwriter/keyboard.
    1923     Nevil Skrimshire, Guitar, b. Sydenham,England
    1966     Lisa Stansfield, singer/songnwriter. b. Rochdale, England. Best recalled tunes: "All Around the World", and "This is the Right Time"
    1934     Cleotha Staples, vocals, b. Drew, MS, USA. Member: 'The Staple Singers'
    1956     Neville Staples, vocals. Member group: 'The Specials'.
    1897     Henry Stuckey, guitar, b. Bentonia, MS, USA.
    1905     Harty Taylor, (C&W) guitar/vocals, b. Mt. Vernon, KY, USA. Member shows: 'Cumberland Ridge Runners', and WLS's 'National Barn Dance',
    1969     Chalee Tennison, (C&W) vocals, b. Freeport, TX, USA. Before arriving in Nashville, this country singer worked as a prison guard with the Gatesville Unit and Mountainview Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; among her wards was death row inmate Karla Faye Tucker.
    1905     Paul "Hezzie" Trietsch, (hillbilly) vocals, b. Arcadia, IN, USA. Member group: "Hoosier Hot Shots,"
    1926     Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, blues singer, b. Montgomery, AL, USA. d. June 25, 1984
    1931     Frank Vicari, tenor sax/flute. b. Newark, New Jersey, USA. d. October 20, 2006, New York, NY, USA. Upon his demise (after a long illness), his good friend Phil Barone (http://www.philbarone.com/) wrote:

          "Although only known through specialized circles of Jazz aficionados,
          saxophone legend Frank Vicari has truly earned the title of master.
          Starting on clarinet, Frank's dad influenced him to practice hard
          every day. When he was fourteen Frank added tenor sax to his repertoire
          and started hanging out in the Newark Jazz clubs with cats three times
          his age who gladly accepted the talented teenager into their group and
          showed him the ropes."

          "By the time Frank was 15 he joined the local union in order to be able
          to do gigs but when he was eighteen drafted into the (U.S.) Air Force where he
          played in various Service bands from 1951-'55. After serving in the Air
          Force Frank played around New York City where he rapidly became known
          as a respected musician, and played in various ghost bands until 1960
          when he was recruited by Maynard Ferguson for the lead tenor chair, and
          where he remained until 1965. This band is said to be the pinnacle of
          Maynard's big band era."

          "After the Ferguson band was dismantled Frank joined Buddy Rich but soon
          was convinced by Woody Herman to join him and his Thundering Herd in
          1965. He remained as lead tenor player and eventually became the leader
          until 1970, when he moved to St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) so he could play
          in small Jazz ensembles seven nights a week and just blow and escape the
          hectic New York music business."

          "Upon his return from St. Thomas Frank toured and recorded with Dave
          Matthews, 'White Elephant', J.Giles, George Benson, Tony Bennett, Dionne
          Warwick, Billy Eckstein, Tom Waits, John Lennon, and on the 'Saturday
          Night Live Band'. Frank was also nominated for his solo on "Mary
          Ann" while with Maynard Ferguson."
    1899     Sonny Boy Williamson, Blues singer/harmonica, b. Glendora, MS, USA. d. May 25th, 1965. (heart attack). né: Aleck "Rice" Miller.
    1904     Dave Wilborn, Banjo/Guitar, b. Springfield, OH, USA. d. 1982
          TOP   Notable Events occuring this date include:
    1968.    Ethel Park Richardson, (C&W) singer/autoharp,, died. Age: 84
    1976.    Albert T. Frisch, sax/songwriter, died in New York (Bronx), NY, USA. Age: 60
    1977.    Eddie Miller, (C&W) songwriter, died. Age: 83
    1983.    Catherine ("Princess Aloha") Basie, vocals, died in Freeport, Bahamas, Age: 67
    1994.    In the first of several such incidents, a 28-year-old Seattle, WA, USA, man blew his head off with a shotgun, despondent over the suicide of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain a few days earlier.
    1994.    Sammie "Sticks" Evans, drums, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 70
    1995.    Andrew "Flying Black Eagle" Logan, harmonica, died in Hughes, AR, USA. Age: 74
          TOP   Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
         1933 "Shuffle Off To Buffalo", Dorsey Bros. Orch., Boswell Sisters voc.
         1941 "I Cover the Waterfront", Louis Armstrong Orch. (betw, March 10-April 11)
         1941 "Wise Old Owl, The", Al Donahue, Al
         1941 "Intermezzo", Wayne King Orch.
         1946 "One-zy Two-zy", Phil Harris Orch
         1946 "I'm A Big Girl Now", Sammy Kaye Orch.
         1947 "Mam'selle", Art Lund
         1949 "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" - Vaughn Monroe
         1949 "Cruising Down the River" - The Blue Barron Orchestra (vocal: ensemble)
         1949 "Sunflower" - The Russ Morgan Orchestra (vocal: The Skylarks)
         1949 "Candy Kisses "- George Morgan
         1952 "Kiss Of Fire", Georgia Gibbs vocal
         1957" Party Doll" - Buddy Knox
         1960 "Stuck On You", Elvis Presley
         1960 "Night", Jackie Wilson
         1964 "Do You Want To Know A Secret", Beatles
         1964 "Bits & Pieces", Dave Clark Five
         1964 "My Guy", Mary Wells
         1965 "King of the Road" - Roger Miller
         1970 "Vehicle", Ides Of March
         1973 "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" - Vicki Lawrence
         1973 "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" - Gladys Knight & The Pips
         1981 "Bette Davis Eyes", Kim Carnes
         1981 "Watching The Wheels", John Lennon
         1981 "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" - David Frizzell & Shelly West
         1981 "Sukiyaki", Taste Of Honey
         1987 "Heat Of The Night", Bryan Adams
         1987 "Right On Track", Breakfast Club
         1987 "Big Love", Fleetwood Mac
         1987 "I Know What I Like", Lewis, Huey & The News
         1987 "Talk Dirty To Me", Poison
         1989 "Like a Prayer" - Madonna
         1989 "The Look" - Roxette
         1989 "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" - Keith Whitley
         1992 "Jump", Kris Kross