BIRTHDAYS
1936     David Axelrod, Composer/producer, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1926     Whitney Balliett, Music Writer ('New Yorker' magazine), b. New York, NY, USA, d. Feb. 1, 2007, USA.
1930     Chris Barber, Trombone/leader, b. Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK.
1949     Chris Bartley, vocals, b. New York, NY, USA. Member: 'Soulful Inspirations'
1942     Han Bennink, Drums, b. Zaandam, Holland
1913     "Chief Bey", Afro-percussion/vocals, b. Yamassee, SC, USA. d. April 8, 2004, New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. (Stomach Cancer). né: James Hawthorne. From Yamassee, he moved first to the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY, and then to the Harlem section. As a young man, he sang    Bass and Baritone in various 'Black' choirs, including the 'Hall-Johnson Choir', and the 'Eva Jesse Chorale'. During 1952-'53, he was in the chorus of the revival of Gershwin's Black opera "Porgy and Bess", and toured major U.S. and European cities. Interestingly, during the show's run, the two leads, Leontyne Price and William Warfield, eloped to Harlen where they were married. By the 1950s, 'Bey' was now working as a drummer, and recorded with Pharoah Sanders, Art Blakey, and others. He also recorded three times with the 'World Saxophone Quartet'. Around this time, he converted to a Moorish sect calling themselves "Moorish Science", but finding that unsatisfactory, he next became interested in still another cult, 'Santeria', and eventually became a 'priest' in 'Shango'. Also about this time, someone bestowed the nickname of 'Chief' on him. Over his career, he performed with the 'Charles Moore Dance Company', and 'Alvin Ailey Dance Theater'. He toured the U.S. with performers Herbie Mann, and Harry Belafonte. In the 1960s, he was often the lead drummer for Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji's touring show. In 1973. he appeared in the Broadway musical "Raisin In The Sun", starring Belafonte. During his career, he also worked with Randy Weston, Clifford Jordan and Max Roach. In his later years, he taught traditional African percussion in Brooklyn (NY) schools. He also appeared in two 1995 films, "Smoke" and "Blue in the Face".
1909     Russell Bowles, Trombone, b. Glasgow, KY, USA. d. 1991
1924     Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, singer/composer/guitaristViolin/Viola/Harmonica/Piano/Mandolin/Drums, b.Vinton, LA, USA.
1926     Sam Carr, drums, b. Marianna, AR, USA.
1934     Warren Chiasson, Vibes, b. Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, Canada
1947     Ry Cooder, vocals
1944     Bobby Curtola, vocals. Perhaps, One of Canada's earliest teen idols. (Paul Anka was earlier 1957 vs 1962 for Curtola.)
1932     Art Ellefson, Tenor sax, b. Moose Jaw, Canada
1941     Billy Fury, R&R vocals, b. Liverpool, England. d. Jan. 28, 1983.
1901     J. B. Fusilier, Cajun fiddle pioneer, b. Oberlin, LA, USA. d. August 13, 1975, (Coronary). né: Jean Baptiste Fusilier.
1932     "Genevieve", vocals, b. Paris, France. (Best known for her part of the Jack Paar TV show (U.S.A.)
1901     Clifford Gibson, guitar, b. Louisville, KY, USA.
1906     Claude Grant, Guitar/Vocals, b. Bristol, TN, USA. Founder: 'The Tenneva Ramblers'.
1936     Alexander "Pete" Graves, vocals, b. AL, USA. Member: The Moonglows
1948     Jan Hammer, Jazz-Rock Keyboards, drums, b. Prague, Czechoslovakia
1924     Charles "Chuck" Higgins, sax/ trombone/trumpet, b. Gary, IN, USA. Famed for his composition, "Pachuko Hop", composed while attending the Los Angeles Conservatory, and playing in a school band that included pianist Frank Dunn and Johnny Parker on sax. "Pachuko," is/was slang for a Mexican-American dressed in baggy pants with a key chain. The "B-side", was "Motorhead Baby," which later became the inspiration for Frank Zappa sideman James "Motorhead" Sherwood and the heavy metal band 'Motorhead.' During his career, Higgins played dates in the Los Angeles area with everyone from Charlie Parker to The Orioles, and his band at one point included Johnny "Guitar" Watson.
1934     Don Kirshner, music publisher/promoter, Firm: 'Screen Gems Music'. Co-owner of (with Al Nevins) 'Aldon Music'. Kirshner also recalled for starting 'Bubblegum music' fad with creation of 'The Monkees'.
1954     Freddie "Steady" Krc, drums, b. Houston, TX, USA. Decended from a line of talented Czechoslovakian musicians. né: Alfred Edward Krc (rhymes with birch).
1929     James Last, Leader, b. Bremen, Germany
1962     Greg Lewis, bass, b. Syracuse, NY, USA.
1966     Eric McKinnie, drums, b. Washington, DC, USA. Member: 'Blind Boys Of Alabama'
1973     Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, (Electronic/Avant-Garde/Minimalist) Keyboard, b.Tembia, Johannesburg, South Africa, d. Feb. 13, 2001
1890     Gustave "Gus" "Gussie" Mueller, Jazz clarinetist,.b. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, d. Dec. 16 1965, Hollywood, CA, USA. Gussie first played wiith "Papa" Jack Laine's bands in New Orleans. In early 1915, he went to Chicago, Illinois as a member of Tom Brown's band During World War I , he served in the U. S. Army, and after de-mobilization, became part of an early Paul Whiteman Orchestra.that was located in New York City. Mueller is well heard on Whiteman's recording of "Wang Wang Blues", -for which Mueller shares composter credit.. In 1924, Mueller left Whiteman in disgust saying "You call yourselves a jazz band, but you can't play the blues worth a damn". (By this time, Whiteman's arrangers were leaving very little room for individual improvisation, in their charts.) Subsequently, Mueller relocated to California, where he and his old friend (and fellow Tom Brown Band alumnus) Ray Lopez joined the Abe Lyman Orchestra. Mueller would spend the rest of his career in the Los Angeles area where, in addition to his work in the motion picture studios, he also played with various local novelty and dance bands. Shortly after World War II.ended, Gussie retired, - one of the original founding fathers of what we today call Jazz.
1928     Jimmy Nelson, R&B vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. In 1951, Modern Records' RPM subsidiary released his only hit, "T-99 Blues", which topped the R&B charts.
1930     Sam Noto, Trumpet, b. Buffalo, NY, USA.
1926     Ray Patterson, C&W vocals, b. Clayton, NM, USA. 'Ray & Ina Patterson'
1967     Liz Phair, singer/songwriter, b. New Haven, CT, USA.
1901     Willie Guy Rainey, guitar, b. Calhoun City, AL, USA.
1931     Bill Ramsey, vocals/guitar, b. USA. Jazz Singer, b. Cincinnati, OH, USA. This American born vocalist has had a great European career. During the 1950s, he was the first American Jazz singer to tour of Yugoslavia and appear at the "Polish Jazz Jamboree II" Sopot and Warsaw. In addtion to about 30 archive recordings for West German Network, he was a part of a series of concerts, including the German Jazz Festival, with the Kurt Edelhagen band, that toured Germany; Holland; Belgium; the "Olympia", Paris; and the Casino in Monte Carlo. During the 1960s, he played at the Prague Jazz Festival, with Paul Kuhn (p), Pierre Favre (dr) and Jimmy Woode (bass). His Jazz LP "Ballads & Blues" (COLUMBIA SMC 84065) with Paul Kuhn, the great German jazz pianist, together with an international, All-Star Septett. was released. Russell alsp appeared at the 11th Warsaw Jazz Jamboree, with the Zbigniew Namyslowski Quartett. During the 1970s, He and Art Farmer were featured during a Solo Evening on Austrian Radio (ORF), with the ORF Big Band. Ramsey appeared at the Zurich Jazz Festival and as soloist with the Basie Alumni Orchestra, with Joe Newmann (tp); Hal Singer (ts); Gene "Mighty Flea" Conners(tb); Jimmy Woode (bs); Michael Silva (dr); Lennie Felix (p). He sang at Milan's (Italy), Jazz-rock concert in the Plaza de Scala, during the "Frankfurt-Milano Culture Week", and also appeared at the "Fabrik", Hamburg, presentation, with Eric Clapton and others. During the 1980s, his show "BIG BILL-Jazz with Bill Ramsey" was on German national and regional television, and he was part of well over 100 live concerts and three television shows with Ron Wilson Trio. Ramsey was in over 250 live concerts and five television broadcasts with the jazz guitarist, Juraj Galan, between 1978 and 1985. In December 1980, he had two LPs released. One LP was "Ramsey & Galan - Live im Mainzer Unterhaus" (Stockfisch SF 5027 - which was awarded German Jazz Critics' Prize), and also the LP "When I See You", with Toots Thielemans (harmonica + guitar); Rob Franken (piano+ Hammond); Isla Eckinger (bass); Billy Brooks (dr) (LP JETON/ERUS digital 0907 332). In 1984, he co-founded, produced, directed, and served as host and occasional soloist for the annual Jazzband Ball, Kurhaus, Wiesbaden. In 1985, he hosted one of the oldest jazz shows on German radio (Hessian Radio, Frankfurt), the weekly show "Swing Party". During the 1990s, Ramsey served as President (1985-'89) of the Association supporting the Hessian Youth Big Band (Landes Jugend Jazz Orchestra Hessen). In September '94, 'Bear Family Records' released his CD "Gettin' Back to Swing" (BCD 15813 AH). He was also heard with the Stuttgart Radio Big Band. In 1995, the "Bill Ramsey Show" ennjoyed a two-week engagment at VIenna's Metropol Theater. He also enjoyed a "Barrelhouse" Jazz-Cruise (Mediterranean), aboard the MV 'Aegean Dolphin', with his old friend pianist Paul Kuhn. In November 1998, Bill sang at the Nov. 1998 "Salzburg Jazz-Fall", on the same program with his old friend and mentor, Joe Williams. Two weeks later, on Dec. 13th, Ramsey sang at Joe's 80th birthday party in Las Vegas, NV, USA. On June 26, 1999, He appeared with Achim Kück Quartett at the "5th New Orleans Festival" in Magdeburg. On Nov. 11th, He and the Achim Kück Trio were at the "7th Bremerhavener Jazz festival". Ramsey remains quite active in this new Millenium appearing and recording with many groups.
1923     Joe Romano, Tenor/alto Sax, b. Rochester, NY, USA.
1954     Michael Sembello, songwriter/guitarist/vocalist, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. His composition, "Maniac" (from the movie #Flashdance), was a huge early-1980s dance hit.
1955     Pete Shelley, guitar. Member group: 'The Buzzcocks'.
1956     Lonnie Shields, guitar, b. West Helena, AR, USA.
1959     Stephen Singleton, saxophone. b. Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. Member group: 'ABC'
1933     Byther Smith, guitar/vocals, b. Monticello, MS, USA.
1890     Johnny St. Cyr, banjo/guitar, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. June 17, 1966. Best recalled for work in the Louis Armstrong Hot Five's and Hot Seven's.
1922     Paul Smith, Piano, b. San Diego, CA, USA. né: Paul Thatcher Smith
1942     "Buster" Williams, Bass, b. Camden, NJ, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1960.    Eddie Cochran, guitar, died in Chippenham, UK. Age: 21
1964.    Noah Ryder, piano, died in Norfolk, VA, USA. Age: 50 Member: 'Deep River Boys'
1967.    Henry "Red" Allen, trumpet, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 59
1978.    Napoleon Brown, (gospel) piano, died in St. Louis, MO, USA.
1983.    Felix Pappalardi, bass/arranger, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 43
1990.    Ernie Leaner, label co-owner (One-Derful), died in Kalamazoo, MI, USA. Age: 68
1992.    Hank Penny, singer-songwriter, died in Camarillo, CA, USA. Age: 73. He was one of the best known Western Swing performers of the 1940s-'50s.
1999.    Brazilian singer Nelson Goncalves (b. 1919).
2004.    Dave Kirby, C&W singer/songwriter/guitar session player, died in Branson, MO, USA. Age: 65. Dave was husband of Country singer Leona Williams.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1942   "Among My Souvenirs", "Coquette". "I Never Knew ", Louis Armstrong Orch. .
1942   "I Remember You", Dorsey, Jimmy
1942   "Sleepy Lagoon", James, Harry
1947   "Heartaches" - The Ted Weems Orchestra (whistler: Elmo Tanner)
1947   "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed" - Merle Travis
1947   "How are Things in Glocca Morra" - Buddy Clark
1955   "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" - Perez Prado Orch.
1955   "In the Jailhouse Now" - Webb Pierce
1955   "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" - Fess Parker
1963   "He's So Fine" - The Chiffons
1963   "Can't Get Used to Losing You" - Andy Williams
1965   "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter", Herman's Hermits
1965   "Silhouettes", Herman's Hermits
1965   "Count Me In", Lewis, Gary and The Playboys
1965   "Just Once In My Life", Righteous Brothers
1971   "Joy to the World" - Three Dog Night
1971   "Empty Arms" - Sonny James
1976   "Silly Love Songs", McCartney, Paul
1976   "Get Up And Boogie (That's Right)", Silver Convention
1979   "(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" - Barbara Mandrell
1979   "What a Fool Believes" - The Doobie Brothers
1987   "You've Got" the Touch - Alabama
1987   "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" - Starship