April 13          BIRTHDAYS 1967     Paul Bryan, bass, b. Worcester, MA, USA. 1951     Peabo Bryson, R&B vocals, b. Greenville, SC, USA. Best recalled release: "I'm So Into You" 1952     Sam Bush, Bluegrass mandolin, b. Bowling Green, KY, USA. 1944     Jack Casady, bass. b. Washington, DC, USA. Member groups: 'KBC Band', 'Hot Tuna'; 'Jefferson Airplane'. 1940     Lester Chambers, vocals/harmonica, b. Flora, MI, USA. Member group: 'The Chambers Brothers' ("Time Has Come Today"), solo artist. 1928     Teddy Charles, Vibes, composer, arranger, piano, xylophome, marimba, leader b. Chicopee Falls, MA, USA. né: Theodore Charles Cohen. Composed "Blue Greens." He worked with Herbie Hancock, and John Coltrane, as well as leading his own 'Teddy Charles Quintet'. 1942     Bill Conti, Movie/TV composer, b. Providence, Rhode Island, USA. In July of 1977, his composition "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from 'Rocky')" reached #1 and the American charts. At Louisiana State University, he majored in piano and composition, and later earned a master's degree at New York's famed Juilliard School of Music. In 1995, Conti was awarded the Golden Soundtrack Award for his lifetime achievements by ASCAP. 1941     Robert Covington, drums/vocals, b. Yazoo City, MS, USA. 1926     Tommy Crank, (Bluegrass/Gospel) vocals, b. McKee, KY, USA. 1954     Jimmy Destri, Guitar/Vocals. Member group: 'Blondie' 1926     Rev. Tommy Crank, (Bluegrass/Gospel) Singer-Songwriter/Guitar, b. McKee, KY, USA. né: William Thomas Crank. Crank has also been a minister, Gospel DJ, and record producer. He is from the same part of Appalachian Kentucky that produced such men as 'Stringbean', 'Rusty' Gabbard, and Joe Isaacs. In 1971, Tommy Crank, was the artist and repertoire representative of Jessup Records in Jackson, Michigan, and was still instrumental in recording many Bluegrass artists for the Jessup label. He still continues (2005) to travel with his sons (George (Ace,) Charles (Chuck,) Gary, (another member of the group is "Dusty" Bowman) and is planning to record his 26th album at the age of 79 years old. CAUTION: Do not confuse the San Francisco - Bay Area "Tommy Crank" band, -a cover band specializing in Blues, R&B, funk, and mainstream rock hits. (One of the men who worked with that Funk band was Les Claypool (b. Sept. 29, 1963, Richmond, CA, USA)). 1928     Mike Daniels, Trumpet/Leader, b. Stanmore, England 1922     Roy Dunn, guitar, b. Eatonton, GA, USA. 1936     Tim Field, vocals/guitar, b. UK. Member group: 'The Springfields', a Folk music trio comprised of Dusty Springfield (b. London, England, UK. d. March 2, 1999, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, U.K.), her brother Tom ((né: Dion O'Brien, b. July 2, 1934, Hampstead, London, England), and a friend, Tim Field. 1906     Laurence "Bud" Freeman, Tenor Sax, Chicago, IL, USA. d. March 15, 1991, age: 84. One of the great early Chicago style Jazzmen. 1921     Frank Emilio Flynn, piano/composer, b. Havana, Cuba, d. Aug, 23, 2001. A legend among Cuban musicians for over 60 years, his career spanned the Cuban 'descargas' (jam sessions) of the 1930's, the orquesta tipicas (Tango bands) of the 1950's, and modern Cuban Jazz. He started as a Classical pianist with the Cuban symphony orchestra, before turning to Pop. Renowned Cuban pianist "Chucho" Valdes has told interviewers: "In the Fifties and Sixties, Frank Flynn and his quintet nurtured the Latin jazz style. They were a model for a lot of groups and for individual musicians." All during the 1960's -1980's, Flynn played in virtually every Cuban venue; in nightclubs, restaurants, and symphonies, as well as appearing at international functions. His performances, compositions and dedication to teaching and developing teaching methods for the blind, earned him numerous awards in his native Cuba. Flynn remained active right up to his demise in August 2001. In May 2001, he had appeared at a concert in the San Francisco, California Bay area. 1945     Lowell George, guitar, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. d. 1979, USA. 1943     Eve Graham, vocals, b. Perth, Scotland, UK. Member group: 'The New Seekers' 1946     Al Green, singer-songwriter. b. Forrest City, AR, USA. "You Ought to be with Me", "Tired of Being Alone", "Here I Am", "Call Me". 1888     John Hays Hammond Jr., Hammond Organs, b. San Francisco, CA, USA. 1955     Louis Johnson, bassist, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member group: 'The Brothers Johnson'. 1945     Stacy Johnson, vocals, b. St. Louis, MO, USA. Member; 'The Sharpees' 1932     "Rusty" Jones, Drums, b. Cedar Rapids, IA, USA. Great nephew and Godson of famed bandleader Isham Jones 1907     Wilmore "Slick" Jones, Drums, b. Roanoke, VA, USA. d. Nov. 2, 1969, New York, NY, USA. 1934     Horace Kay, vocals, b. Atlanta, GA, USA 1917     Howard Keel, Singer/actor. b. Gillespie, IL, USA. d. Nov. 7, 2004, Palm Desert, CA, USA. né: Harry Clifford Leek. He is a natural talent (musically untrained). He worked as a singing waiter, and also for Douglas Aircarft Corporation before turning to the stage. Perhaps the role he is most remembered for was Cole Porter's 'Kiss Me Kate' (Co-star Kathryn Grayson). Annie Get Your Gun (1950), co-starring Betty Hutton, was his start as a handsome leading man. But among his other films are: Pagan Love Song (1959), the 1951 version of Show Boat (he played the riverboat gambler Gaylord Ravenal to Kathryn Grayson, his leading lady playing the heroine Magnolia), Callaway Went Thataway (1951), Desperate Search, Lovely to Look At (both 1952), Calamity Jane (as Wild Bill Hickok),Kiss Me, Kate (both 1953), Deep in My Heart, Rose Marie and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (all 1954), and both Kismet and Jupiter's Darling (1955). With the end of both the 1950s, and the lavish Hollywood musicals, he appeared mostly in undistinguished "Westerns'. He also played "Clayton Farlow" in the Dallas TV series. 1957     Wayne Lewis, Keyboards/Programming/Vocals/Vocals (Background)/Arranger/Producer. Member group: 'Atlantic Starr' 1946     Roy Loney, vocals, b. San Francisco, CA, USA. Member group: 'The Flamin' Groovies', and solo artist. 1936     Henryk Majewski, Trumpet, b. Poland, d. June 17, 2005 1938     Eddie Marshall, Drums, b. Springfield, MA, USA. 1961     Joey Mazzola, Slide Guitar/Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals. d. 1999. Member group: 'Sponge' 1944     Brian Pendleton, guitar, b. Wolverhampton, UK, d. May 25, 2001. Member group: 'The Pretty Things'. 1946     Jim Pons, bass, Santa Monica, CA, USA. Member groups: 'Mothers of Invention', 'The Turtles' 1902     Del Porter, singer/composer/bandleader, b. Newberg, OR, USA. d. Los Angeles, CA, USA (Cancer). né: Delmar Smith Porter. Do you know the name? Del was one-fourth of a unique vocal quartet, 'The Foursome', that appeared on Broadway, packed nightclubs, sang in movies and radio, toured with Glenn Miller, and recorded with Bing Crosby and Dick Powell. He was also a driving force behind the zany "Spike Jones and His City Slickers" band. Yet, unbelievably, Del Porter is largely forgotten today. In the late 1920s, he worked as a singer in various bands in America's northwest area, before joining 'The Foursome' quartet in 1928. The group appeared in two Broadway shows starring vocalist Ethel Merman, -George and Ira Gershwin's "Girl Crazy", and Cole Porter's "Anything Goes". They appeared in the Eleanor Powell movie "Born to Dance", as well as some films. Beside acting in films, Porter also contributed some songs including "Pass the Biscuits, Mirandy", for the 1954 film 'Fireman Save My Child'. For the 1946 film 'Colorado Serenade', he contributed the song "Riding On Top of the Mountain" (the song title was uncredited). During this period, the Foursome were recording for the Decca label, and the drummer in the group that often backed the Foursome was a young "Spike" Jones. It was 'Spike' who suggested that Porter start a band. The result, the 'Feather Merchants', a sextet patterned after the musical humor of Freddie Fisher's Schnickelfritzers.. However, Spike, who was then making 10 dollars a week as manager of the band, had bigger things in mind, and soon, the Feather Merchants morphosed into "Spike Jones and The City Slickers". Without question, Porter was a prime influence on their repertoire. He was the band's clarinetist, composer, arranger ("Hotcha Cornia," "Der Fuehrer's Face") and their lead vocalist. Two of his songs - "Siam" and "Pass the Biscuits, Mirandy" - became staples of the band's repertoire. In later years, Porter's lifelong friend Raymond M. Johnson, who sang alongside him in the 'Foursome', told interviewers that "It was supposed to have been a partnership, but it didn't turn out that way, Spike just took it over and Del was left out in the cold." Near the end of his life, Porter once said "Spike was a slick guy. Of course, I didn't care; I didn't want all the trouble of looking for jobs and all that sort of thing. I was too busy creating. I was a lousy salesman, as far as that goes." In 1945, he left the Slickers, but later returned long enough to sing on two albums: "Spike Jones Plays the Charleston" and "Bottoms Up". During this period, Porter has formed his own music publishing business. -'Tune Town Tunes'. With the Foursome's Ray Johnson, Porter co-composed "My Pretty Girl," a tune recorded by Jones, Lawrence Welk and Cliffie Stone. Later, with fellow City Slicker and songwriting partner Carl Hoefle, Porter wrote advertising jingles for Paper Mate pens. With his own group "Sweet Potato Tooters", Porter recorded (for Capitol transcriptions), as well as with Mickey Katz and Spade Cooley ("Chew Tobacco Rag," alias Andy Climax). Porter continued composing right up to he final years. 1951     Thom Rotella, guitar 1938     Shelly Rusten, drums, percussion 1934     Kirk Stuart, Piano, b. Charleston, WV USA, d. Dec. 17, 1982. 1965     Lisa Umbarger, bass/background vocals. Member group: 'Toadies' 1951     Max Weinberg, drums. Member group: E Street Band 1905     John (Overton) Williams, Saxophone/Clarinet, b. Memphis, TN, USA. d. 1996          Notable Events occuring this date include: 1963.    'The Kingsmen' recorded "Louie Louie" (in Portland, OR, USA.) 1965.    Roger Miller set a "Country" music record winning 5 Grammies. 1970.    "Kid Thomas" (né: Louis Thomas Watts), harmonica, died in Beverly Hills, CA, USA. Age: 35 1973.    Lammar Wright Sr, trumpet, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 65 1979.    Margo Henderson, vocals, died in London, UK. Age: 33 1981.    Guy Willis, C&W Guitar/Vocals, and member of 'The Willis Brothers', died. Age: 65 1983.    Dolo Coker, piano, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 55 1986.    Johnny Dollar, C&W Guitar/Vocals, died. Age: 53 né: John Washington Dollar, Jr. 1992.    Martin Williams, author/critic, died in Washington, DC, USA. Age: 67          Songs Recorded/Released this date include:      1944 "I Love You", - Bing Crosby vocal      1944 "I'll Get By", - Harry James Orch      1944 "Besame Mucho", - Andy Russell vocal      1951 "When You And I Were Young Maggie Blues", - Bing Crosby vocal      1951 "If" - Perry Como - vocal      1951 "Mockingbird Hill -Patti Page vocal      1951 "Sound Off", - Vaughn Monroe Orch      1957 "So Rare", - Jimmy Dorsey Orch      1957 "Mangos", - Rosemary Clooney vocal      1957 "Rock-A-Billy", - Guy Mitchell vocal      1959 "Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)", - Impalas      1959 "Come Softly to Me" - The Fleetwoods      1959 "Pink Shoe Laces" - Dodie Stevens vocal      1963 "Surfin' U.S.A.", - Beach Boys      1963 "Watermelon Man", - Mongo Santamaria      1967 "Somethin' Stupid" - Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra vocals      1968 "Tighten Up", - Bell, Archie & The Drells      1974 "Midnight At The Oasis", - Maria Muldaur vocal      1974 "You Make Me Feel Brand New", - Stylistics      1974 "Show Must Go On, The", - Three Dog Night      1975 "Poetry Man" - Phoebe Snow vocal      1975 "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" - B.J. Thomas      1983 "Billy Jean" - Michael Jackson vocal      1983 "We've Got Tonight" - Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton vocals      1985 "Axel F", - Harold Faltermeyer      1985 "Suddenly", - Billy Ocean      1985 "Everybody Wants To Rule The World", - Tears For Fears      1991 "I Don't Wanna Cry", - Mariah Carey      1991 "More Than Words", - Extreme      1991 "Down Home" - Alabama      1991 "Silent Lucidity", - Queensryche      1991 "Hold You Tight" - Tara Kemp