BIRTHDAYS
1921     Richard Adler, Lyricist. Worked on such Broadway scores as 'Damn Yankees' and 'Pajama Game'.
1910     Oliver Alcorn, clarinet/tenor sax, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. 1981
1959     Martin Atkins, drums, b. Coventry, England, UK. Member: 'Public Image Ltd'
1944     Harold Austin, saxophone
1953     Ian Bairnson, guitar. b. Scotland, UK. Member group: Pilot.
1895     Edythe Baker, piano, d. Nov. 22, 1965, Wurstboro, NY, USA
1941     Rudy Balliu, Clarinet, b. Ghent, Belgium
1966     Brian Bateman, guitar/vocals, b. Wigan, Lancashire, England. Member group: The Railway Children
1926     Tony Bennett, vocals, b. New York (Astoria), NY, USA. né: Anthony Dominick Benedetto. Among his many super hit releases are "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" [1962], "The Shadow of Your Smile", "I Wanna Be Around", "Stranger in Paradise", " Who Can I Turn To," "In the Middle of an Island", and "Rags to Riches".
1985     Holly Blake, vocals, member: 'Dream'
1902     Ray Bloch, Orchestra Leader, d. March 29, 1982. His bands were heard on the Jackie Gleason, Ed Sullivan, and Larry Storch shows, as well as on The Gay Nineties Revue, and Songs for Sale show.
1953     Ian Brainson, guitarist, b. Shetland Isles Scotland. Member groups: Alan Parsons Project, Pilot. 1975 single "January" charted UK No.1
1956     Kirk Brandon, guitar, b. London, England. Member groups: Theatre Of Hate, Spear Of Destiny.
1907     Lawrence Brown, Trombone, b. Lawrence, KS, USA. d. Sept. 5, 1988, USA. Best recalled for his work with Duke Ellington Orch.
1973     Stephen Carpenter, lead guitarist, Member: Deftones
1956     Ian Crighton, guitar/vocal. Member group: Saga
1928     Lyn Christie, Bass, b. Sydney, Australia
1949     Morris "B.B." Dickerson bass/vocals, b. Torrance, CA, USA. member group: 'War'
1917     Claude Demetruis, songwriter, b. Bath, ME, USA. Worked with Louis Jordan
1949     Morris Dewayne (B. B.) Dickerson, guitar, b. Torrance, CA, USA
1923     Dottie Dillard, vocals, b. Springfield, MO, USA. Member: "Anita Kerr Singers"
1955     Hamid Drake, drums, percussion, Monroe, LA, USA.
1940     Raymond Allen "Ray" Draper, tuba, New York City, NY, d. Nov. 1, 1982. New York, NY, USA. Ray came from a musical family. His mother was a pianist and his dad, Barclay, played trumpet in some well known groups. Ray attended New York's 'High School For The Performing Arts', and went on ('56-7) to lead his own group at two well know NY Clubs, - Birdland, and The Pad. Also in 1957, he was in a documentary film with 'The All City High School Symphony'. Toured with Max Roach group during '58-9. Among his compositions are a symphony and a 'Fugue For Brass Ensemble'.
1967     Deborah Anne Dyer, vocals, b. UK. Member groups: 'Skin', 'Skunk Anansie'. 1996 single "Weak" charted UK No.20.
1918     Les Elgart, Leader/trumpet, b. New Haven, CT, USA. d. July 29, 1995, Dallas, TX, USA. (Heart Attack).
1931     Gordie Fleming, accordion, b, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, d. August, 31, 2002, Toronto, ONT, Canada. ( né: Gordon Kenneth Fleming). Without a doubt, Canada's most popular accordionist. Sadly, Gordie suffered a stroke in July of 2000.
1951     Johnny Graham, guitar, b. Kentucky, USA. Member group: 'Earth, Wind & Fire'. Best known song hits: Got to Get You into My Life, After the Love Has Gone, Shining Star.
1963     James Hetfield, guitar, vocals, member group: 'Metallica'
1936     Kenny Hodges, bass, vocals, b. Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Member: "Spanky And Our Gang", a group comprised of Hodges, Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane (vocals - b. June 19, 1942, Peoria, Illinois, USA) , Nigel Pickering (rhythm guitar, vocals - b. June 15, 1929, Pontiac, Missouri, USA), * Paul "Oz" Bach ( bass guitar, vocals (during 1966-67) - b. June 24, 1939 - Sept. 21, 1998, Asheville, North Carolina, USA), Malcolm Hale (lead guitar, trombone, vocals - b. May 17, 1941, Butte, Montana, USA, d. Oct. 30, 1968, Chicago, IL, USA (carbon monoxide poisoning), John "The Chief" Seiter (drums, vocals (during 1967-69) b. August 17, 1944, St Louis, Missouri, USA), and Lefty Baker (lead guitar, banjo, vocals (during 1968-69) --b. Jan. 7, 1939, Roanoke, Virginia - d. August 11, 1971, California, USA)
1918     Eddie Jefferson, Vocals, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA, d. May 9, 1979 Began his career as a tap dancer, but by the late 1940s was singing and writing lyrics. 1949 found him pioneering a technique now called "vocalese", -putting recorded solos to words.
1941     Beverly Lee, vocals, b. Passaic, NJ, USA. member 'Doo Wop' group: 'The Shirelles'
1966     Shirley Manson, singer; b. Scotland, UK. Member: Garbage
1922     Marilyn Maxwell, vocalist/actress. b. Clarinda, IA, USA. (Glenn Miller born same town) d. March 20, 1972, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, USA. (heart attack). née: Marvell Marilyn Maxwell; sang with Ted Weems and Buddy Rogers; and in movie 'Presenting Lily Mars', among others. Early in her career, she was a big bands singer. Later, working as a 'solo' performer, she was active on radio and in the nightclubs, - most particularly New York's popular "Latin Quarter", which was owned by famed TV interviewer Barbara Walters' father, Lou Walters. When MGM boss Louis B. Mayer signed her, he insisted she drop the "Marvel" part of her real name. In the film 'The Lemon Drop Kid', she sang "Silver Bells", which has since become a Christmas 'standard'. During WWII, Marilyn was one of the regulars in Bob Hope's legendary world-wide tours of American and Allied military installations. One part of her act included her wearing a tight sweater and singing " I Want to Love You." One of her friends was actor Rock Hudson, and she often helped in keeping his homosexuality in the closet. Once, when she was compared to Marily Monroe, Maxwell replied, "Hey, I'm a blond with her clothes on!"
1940     Roscoe Mitchell, saxes, clarinets, flute, piccolo, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member group: 'Art Ensemble Of Chicago'
1894     Julian Niman, Piano/Leader, b. Upholland (Nr. Wigan), Lancashire, Eng. UK. d. June 15, 1953, Prestwich Manchester, Eng. UK.
1960     Greg Osby, Soprano-alto sax, clarinet, flute, piano, keyboards vocals, b. St.Louis, MO, USA.
1961     Art Porter Jr, saxophonist, b. Little Rock, AR, USA. d. Nov. 23.1996, Thailand (capsized boat - on way to perform in a jazz festival).. His father was:pianist Art Porter Sr,, former accompanist for Carmen McCrae and John Stubblefield.
1916     Jake Porter, trumpet/label owner (Combo Records), b. Oakland, CA, USA
1925     Dom Um Romao, Percussion, b. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, d. July 26, 2005, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Age: 79 (stroke, during a recording session with pianist Ricardo Leão).
1934     Alex "Easy Baby" Randall, Blues harmonica, b. Memphis, TN, USA.
1963     Ed Roland, rock vocals. Member group: 'Collective Soul'.
1971     Deirdre Roper, vocals, b. UK. Member groups: 'Spinderella','Salt-n-Pepa'. 1991 single "Let's Talk About Sex" charted UK No.2.
1966     Dean Sams, C&W guitar/vocals, b. Garland, TX, USA. Member: 'Lonestar'.
1953     Randy Scruggs, C&W singer-songwriter/guitar, b. Nashville, TN, USA. Son of the legendary Bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs.
1917     Charles James "Charlie" Shavers, trumpet, b. New York, NY, USA, d. July 8, 1971, New York, NY, USA. In 1937, after having played with some local groups, Shavers briefly joined Tiny Bradshaw's band, and in the same year, went on to play with Jimmie Noone, Lucky Millinder, and John Kirby. He would remain with Kirby for some seven years. In 1944, he left Kirby and joined Tommy Dorsey's orchestra, and stayed with Tommy for 10 years. During the 1950s and '60s, Shavers played mostly in small groups, sometimes as leader. He also toured as a "single" with Jazz At The Philharmonic. While with Kirby, Shavers composed the song "Undecided", a huge hit for Ella Fitzgerald, and "Why Begin Again" (original title was "Pastel Blue").
1910     Joseph Spence, guitar, b. Small Hope, Andros, Bahamas. d. March 18, 1984. Spence is often called a master folk artist. However, he developed his totally unique guitar style to express his largely religious repertoire. In 1958 folklorist Sam Charters first recorded (for Folkways label) Joseph Spence's delightful guitar improvisations. The recording caught the attention of folk music enthusiasts the world over. In 1971, Spence was invited to make several concert appearances in the north-eastern United States, and some of his appearances were also recorded.
1924     Gordon Stoker, vocals, b. Gleason, TN, USA. né: Hugh Gordon Stoker. Member: 'The Jordanaires' (Backed Elvis Presley)
1947     Sean Tyla, vocals. Member group: Tyla Gang
1913     Enrique Villegas, Piano, actor, b. Buenos Aires, Argentina, d. July 20, 1986 (some sources claim b. July 10) and (some sources claim d. July 11, 1986)
1935     Vic Vogel, Piano-Leader, b. Montreal, Canada. né: Victor Stefan Vogel. Often considered the epitome of a modern day jazz composer, arranger, and conductor continuously evolving to achieve higher standards. May be the only musician to perform 21 consecutive years at The International Jazz Festival of Montreal. At age 5, he started playing piano by ear. At 16, he was already playing the local Montreal clubs. He then bought a used Steinway Concert Grand piano, and began formal lessons with Paul de Marky, then also Oscar Peterson's teacher. de Marky's health was failing, and he introduced Vogel to Michel Hirvy. Under Hirvy's tutelage, Vogel began to concentrate on composing and arranging. His original score was played for the official ceremonies of the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal. He has had both 'Gold' and 'Platinum' albums. Over the years, Vic has worked with such Jazzmen as Gerry Mulligan, Chucho Vald�, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton, and "Cannonball" Adderly, He has backed such singers as Sammy Davis, Jr., Eartha Kitt, Ann Margaret, "Tennessee" Ernie Ford, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Shirley Maclaine, Michel LeGrand, Andy Williams, Paul Anka, and many others.
1909     Cedric Wallace, Bass, b. Miami, FL, USA. d. 1985. Best recalled for his work with Fats Waller.
1915     Mercy Dee Walton, piano, b. Waco, Texas, USA. d. Dec. 1962. Perhaps best recalled for her 1957 cover of Mose Allison's "One Room Country Shack" She often recorded under the name of "Mercy Dee". Mercy was also a talented songsmith who wrote everything from lowdown Blues to R&B tunes. In 1955, the Bihari brothers', recording for the Flair label, cut her composition, "Come Back Maybellene," a rocking sequel to Chuck Berry's then-current hit "Maybelline".
1936     Jack Wilson, Piano, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1929     Arthur Wood, (original) keyboardist, b. .Stafford, England, UK. Member: Climax Blues Band
1938     Terry Wogan, DJ, TV presenter (European Song Contest), b. Limerick, Ireland.
1946     John York, 12 string guitar, bassist, (backup) vocals. b. USA. Member group: The Byrds. 1965 single "Mr. Tambourine Man", UK and US No.1.
         Notable Events on this date include:
1929.    Emile Berliner, inventor/flat 78rpm, died in Washington, DC, USA. Age: 78
1943.    Corky Cornelius trumpet, died. Age: 29. (kidney ailment)
1963.    Warner Brothers Records released Comedian Allan Sherman's summer camp parody, "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter from Camp)". The music was Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours" from his opera "La Giaconda". This same dance was also in the Walt Disney movie 'Fantasia', where it was danced by ostrich, hippopotamus, elephant ballerinas, and some villainous crocodiles in red capes.
1978.    Ed Pratt, barisax, died in Pomona, CA, USA. Age: 48
1979.    Carl Donnell "Kansas" Fields, drums, (b. Dec. 5, 1915, Chapman, KS, USA)
1986.    Joe Thomas, tenor sax, died in Kansas City, MO, USA. Age: 77
1987.    David A. Martin, bass, died in Dallas, TX, USA. Age: 50. Bestrecalled for his work with 'Sam the Sham'. ("Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs" hailed from Dallas, Texas where Domingo "Sam" Samudio was born in 1937 and raised. Their biggest hit was "Wooly Bully". In 1982, Sam performed two self-penned songs in the film soundtrack of "The Border", starring Jack Nicholson.)
1987.    Bert Niosi, clarinet, alto sax, leader, diedin Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
1991.    Richard Nickens, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Sang with groups: "El Dorados", and 'The Moroccos'
1990.    Wilbur Schwartz, clarinet, alto sax, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1991.    Richard Nickens, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Sang with groups: "El Dorados", and 'The Moroccos'
1993.    Bob Tate, arranger, died in Arizona, USA. Worked with "Guitar Shorty"
1995.    Kansas Fields, drummer, died in Chicago, IL, USA.
1999.    Ivan Leroy "Little Roy" Wiggins, steel guitarist for Eddy Arnold (and session musician), died in Sevierville, TN, USA. Age: 73
1999.    Leroy Vinnegar, bassist, died in Portland, Oregon, USA.,
2002.    Jerry Underwood, tenor and soprano sax, flute, died in n Chambery, France, Age: 45 (inoperable brain tumor)
2006.    Warren Barker, composer, arranger, died in Greenville, SC, USA.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1914   "California and You", - Conway's Band (tune: Puck)
1917   "Patriotic Airs of the Allies", Deiro Pietros Band
1925   "I Want You All For Me", - The Clover Garden Orch. (Polla)
1925   "A Kiss In The Moonlight", - Russ Gorman's Earl Carroll Orch.
1932   "As You Desire Me", - Russ Columbo vocal release
1934   "Then I'll Be Tired of You", - Freddy Martin Orch.
1939   "Are You Having Any Fun", - Tommy Dorsey Orch.
1941   "Yo te Amo. Oh Baby", - Kay Kyser Orch.
1941   "I Love You More Every Day", - Kay Kyser Orch.
1944   "I'll Walk Alone", - Dinah Shore
1946   "The Gypsy" - The Ink Spots
1946   "Doin' What Comes Naturally" - Dinah Shore
1954   "Sh-Boom" - The Crewcuts
1954   "Hey There" - Rosemary Clooney
1959   "Three Bells, The", - Browns
1962   "Roses are Red" - Bobby Vinton
1962   "Wolverton Mountain" - Claude King
1962   "Sealed with a Kiss" - Brian Hyland
1963   "Mockingbird", - Inez Foxx
1968   "I Can't Stop Dancing", - Archie Bell & The Drells
1968   "Light My Fire", - Jose Feliciano
1968   "You Keep Me Hangin' On", - Vanilla Fudge
1970   "(They Long to Be) Close to You" - The Carpenters
1974   "I Shot The Sheriff", - Eric Clapton
1974   "Nothing From Nothing", - Billy Preston
1974   "Then Came You", - Dionne Warwick
1978   "Shadow Dancing" - Andy Gibb
1978   "Only One Love in My Life" - Ronnie Milsap
1978   "Miss You" - The Rolling Stones
1985   "Pop Life", - Prince
1985   "Freedom", - Wham
1986   "Glory of Love" - Peter Cetera
1986   "Papa Don't Preach" - Madonna
1991   "Love Of A Lifetime", - Firehouse