BIRTHDAYS
1939     Phillip Balsley, vocals, b. Staunton (Roanoke County), VA, USA. né: Philip Elwood Balsley. Member: 'The Statler Brothers'
1918     Rev. Pearly Brown, (gospel) guitar, b. Abbeville, GA, USA.
1920     Owen Bryce, Trumpet, cornet, b. London, England
1928     Don Burrows, Reeds, Flute, b. Sydney, Australia
1907    Benny Carter, Alto Sax, trumpet, arranger, composer, b., New York, NY, USA, d. July 12, 2003. né: Bennett Lester Carter
1976     Joshua Chasez, vocals/guitar, Member group: 'N SYNC. 1999 single "I Want You Back" charted UK No.5. 2000 single "It's Gonna Be Me" charted US No.1.
1909     Rupert Cole, Alto-Baritone Sax/clarinet, b. Trinidad, British West Indies
1942     John "Jay" David, drums, b. Union City, NJ, USA. Member group: 'Dr. Hook'.
1929     Vinnie Dean, Alto Sax, b. Mt. Vernon, NY, USA.
1932     Pete Drake, steel guitar, b. Atlanta, GA, USA. Do you recognized the name? At one point, Drake could be heard playing on 59 of the 75 records on the C&W Singles chart. In addition to Country artists, his work as a sessions man found him recording with such pop singers as Bob Dylan (John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline), and Ringo Starr (Beaucoup of Blues). In addition, besides being a recording artist in his own right, he was also a producer, studio owner, and part owner of a record company.
1957     Dennis Drew, keyboards. Member group: 10,000 Maniacs. 1993 single "Candy Everybody Wants" charted UK No.47.
1944     Edward Ellington, II, Guitar, b. New York, NY, USA.
1961     David Howell Evans, guitar/piano, b. Barking, Essex, England. aka: "the Edge". Guitarist of the Irish rock band U2. Dave Evans, a loner in high school, took piano and guitar lessons and often performed with his brother Dik Evans. Eventually, they both answered an ad posted by Larry Mullen, Jr. seeking musicians for a new rock band. In March 1978, band finally emerged as 'U2' (Dik Evans left the band just before the name change). It was Dave Evans who devised the novel rhythm guitar sound, utilizing a heavy echo effect synchronized with the beat. It became the signature sound of U2. Besides playing regularly with U2, Evans has also recorded with artists like Johnny Cash, B. B. King, Tina Turner, and Ron Wood.
1952     Anton Michael Fig, drums, b. Capetown, South Africa. Worked with Joan Armatrading
1958     Christopher Foreman, guitar. b. London, UK. Member group: Madness, 1982 single "House Of Fun" charted UK No.1 (more than 20 other UK top 40 hits).
1900     Charlie Gaines, Trumpet, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA., d. Nov. 23, 1986
1956     David Grant, vocals. b. Hackney, London. UK. Member group: 'Linx'. 1981 single "Intuition" charted UK No.7.
1926     Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green, trombone, b. Mobile AL, USA.
1900     Herald Goodman, vocals, b. Ohio, USA. Member: "The Vagabonds", a group formed in 1927 with members: Curt Poulton (vocals/guitar, b. 1907, Dulaney, W. VA, USA), Dean Upson (b. Nov. 12, 1900, CHicago, IL, USA), Herald Goodman, who joined the group ca. 1930. For a time they had a show called 'The Vagabond Club' over a fifty-six-station hookup with NBC. In late 1931, radio station WSM Nashville Manager Harry Stone invited the trio to join the station as members of the WSM staff, and to appear on the Grand Ole Opry, (they were the first vocal group to star on the Op'ry) After this that they began to emphasize the Old-Time and Folk element of their repertoire. They formed their own publishing and record company, Old Cabin, which became the first such Country organization in Nashville. However, The Vagabonds’ attempt to sell Pop songs to a Country audience eventually caused problems. In 1934, they decided to split. Herald Goodman went to Oklahoma, Dean Upson returned to Chicago and Curt stayed at WSM to work as a soloist, and occasionally with the Delmore Brothers. WSM had a strong hold, and by 1938, the three men were back at the station and The Vagabonds were briefly reactivated. Herald Goodman subsequently formed a Western Swing band, "The Tennessee Valley Boys" (recorded by Bluebird). Upson worked briefly in WSM’s booking department before becoming Commercial Manager for radio KWKH in Shreveport, LA, where he helped to establish "The Louisiana Hayride" show. Poulton formed a band of West Virginia sidemen and worked briefly on the Opry and over Knoxville radio. Later, he worked as a single in the Midwest and died in 1957. -- Murray Pfeffer
1950     Willie Hall, vocals, b. ?Memphis, TN, USA. Member: 'Booker T. & MGs'
1962     Deak Harp, Blues harmonica, b. Jersey City, NJ, USA.
1964     Whitney Houston, vocalist. née: : Whitney E. Houston
1920     Lennart Jansson, alto-baritone sax, cornet, trumpet, drums, b. Karlskrona, Sweden, d. Dec. 3, 2005 né: Lennart Joel Harald Jansson. After completing his studies at the Gothenburg Music Conservatory and the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, he then served some time in the Swedish Army. In the 1950s, Jansson's alto saxophone substituted for Harry Arnold in Olle Gordon's band. In subsequent years, Jansson was one of the sidemen in the Swedish Radio Orchestra, then under the direction of the same Harry Arnold. The band consisted of Harry Arnold director and arranger. Trumpets: Bengt-Arne Wallin, Steven Eriksson, Weine Renliden, Arnold Johansson, Trombones: George Vernon, Åke Persson, Andreas Skjold, Gordon Ohlson, Reeds: Lennart Jansson, Cartl-Henrik Norin, Arne Domnerus, Rolf Lindell, Bjarne Nerem, Rhythm: Egil Johansen, Bengt Hallberg, Simon Brehm,. During his career he also performed and recorded with Malte Johnson, Seymour Osterwall, Arne Domnérus, and others. During 1958, Jansson toured Germany with the famed German lyricist/writer Kurt Weill.
1938     Tommy Jennings, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Littlefield, TX, USA. Brother of Waylon Jennings. Member group: The Waylors
1926     Al King, Blues vocals/piano, b. Monroe, LA, USA. d. Jan. 22, 1999; age 75. né: Alvin Smith.
1949     Airrion Love, vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member group: The Stylistics, 1975 single "Can't Give You Anything But My Love" charted UK No.1 (and 15 more UK top 40 singles).
1950     Andy Fairweather-Low, guitar/singer/songwriter. b. UK. Member group: Amen Corner. 1969 single "If Paradise Is, Half As Nice", charted UK No.1, and 1975 single "Wide Eyed And Legless" charted UK No.6.
1926     Chauvard, Marcel, discographer, b. ?Paris, France
1981     Bradley McIntosh, vocals. Member group: S Club 7, 1999 single "Bring It All Back" charted UK No.1.
1900     Lucky Millinder, singer/dancer/leader, b. Anniston, AL (raised in Chicago, IL), USA, d. Sept. 28, 1966, New York, NY USA. né: Lucius Venable. "Lucky" was essentially a frontman, and occasional singer who went on to conduct several impressive big bands. He first found work in Chicago as a dancer. In 1931, he led his first big band, using his real name at first, but soon changed it to 'Lucky Millinder'. From 1934-'38, he fronted the Mills Blue Rhythm Band (owned by band agent Irving Mills). In 1940, "Lucky" formed his own orchestra for a booking at New York's famed Savoy Ballroom. Among his sidemen were singer/guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe, pianist Bill Doggett and for a brief time in 1942, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and altoist Tab Smith. From 1940-'52, and on a last session in 1955, Millinder fronted studio bands on recordings. By then, the big bands era was all over, and Millinder spent his later years as a liquor salesman and a radio disc jockey.
1968     Ian Moore, guitar, b. Berkley, CA, USA.
1950     Jamie O'Hara, C&W songwriter/guitar/drums, b. Toledo, OH, USA. Member: 'The O'Kanes', a group comprised of Kieran Kane (b. Oct. 7, 1949, New York (Queens), NY, USA) and Jamie O'Hara (b. Aug. 8, 1950, Toledo OH, USA) with Richard Kane on fiddle and Jay Spells on accordion.
1904     Peter Packay, Trumpet/leader, b. Brussels, Belgium, d. Dec. 26, 1965 (Led 'Peter Packay and His Swing Orchestra)
1918     John W. "Knocky" Parker Jr., Piano, b. Palmer, TX, USA, d. Sept. 3, 1986, USA. "Knocky" Parker, Dick Wellstood and the "Galvanized Washboard Band". Sidemen included: Peter Ecklund, cornet; Howard Vidal, trombone; Tommy Sancton, clarinet; Mark Finks, banjo, guitar and vocals; Arthur Hovey, tuba; Julie Hovey washboard; Kathy Finks played tambourine occasionally.
1918     Kenny Parker, (hip hop) DJ, b. Palmer, TS, USA
1967     Lorraine Pearson, vocals/guitar, member group: 5 star. The 1986 single "System Addict" charted UK No.3 (and 15 other UK top 40 singles).
1921     Tom Pickering, Clarinet, tenor sax, leader, composer, b. Burra, Australia
1921     Webb Pierce, C&W vocals/Guitar, b. West Monroe, LA, USA. d. Feb. 24, 1991, USA. During the 1950s, this flamboyant "honky tonk" vocalist racked up more No. 1 hits than his contemporary C&W artists such as Hank Williams, Eddy Arnold, Lefty Frizzell, and Ernest Tubb.
1932     John Richardson, Drums, percussion, b. London, England
1959     Rikki Rockett, b. PA, USA. Member group: Poison. 1988 single "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" charted US No.1 and in 1989 charted UK No.13.
1956     Ali Score, vocals/guitar, b. UK. Member group: A Flock Of Seagulls, 1982 single "Wishing, If I Had A Photograph Of You" charted UK No.10.
1911     Louise Spence, vocals, b. Cat Island, Bahamas. She was the wife of another fine guitarist, Joseph Spence (b. Aug. 12, 1910, Andros, Bahamas, d. March 18, 1984, Nassau, Bahamas.)
1938     Connie Stevens, vocals, b,. Brooklyn, NY, USA. née: Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingolia. Attended Sacred Heart Academy and the Hollywoood Professional School in Los Angeles, CA. Despite her film credits, Connie has always been primarily a singer. In 1957, she made her unbilled film debut in 'Eighteen and Anxious'. She must have been "anxious" enough because very soon later her screen persona metamorphosed from the "girl-next-door" to "sex kitten". While both her marriages to James Stacey (actor) and Eddie Fisher (vocalist) ended in divorce; the Fisher union did produced two daughters: Joely and Tricia Leigh. In both 1969 and 1970, she and Neil Armstrong were part of Bob Hope's troupe that toured Viet Nam upholding the morale of the young soldiers serving there. Interestingly, in 1995, she returned to VietNam and filmed the documentary "The Healing", a film about the women who worked in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of the U.S.Army.
1913    Axel Stordahl, Leader, b. New York, NY, d. Aug. 30, 1963, Encino, CA, USA.
1904     Nat Story, Trombone, b. Oak Station, KY, USA. d. 1968
1939     Henry Strzelecki, C&W sessions bassist, b. Birmingham, AL, USA.
1933     "Joe Tex", guitar/songwriter, b. Rogers (near Baytown), TX, USA. d. Aug. 13, 1982 (Coronary). né: Joseph Arrington, Jr.
1932     Mel Tillis, Country/Western vocals/composer, b. Tampa, FL, USA. né: Lonnie Melvin Tillis
1927     Frank Traynor, Trombone, b. Melbourne, Australia, d. 1985
1920     Jimmy Witherspoon, vocals, b. Gurdon, AR, USA, d. Sept. 18, 1977. NOTE: (not b. 1923). One of the great, post-World War II, Blues shouters.
1900     Victor Young, Violinist/Composer/leader, b. Aug. 8, 1900, Chicago, IL, USA. d. Nov 11, 1956, USA. composed many hit tunes including "Sweet Sue". M.D. at Brunswick Records 1930-34, then followed Jack Kapp to Decca Records.
         Notable Events on this date include:
1923.    14 year old Benny Goodman began his professional career playing clarinet in a band on a Chicago-based Lake Michigan excursion boat.
1934.    Bing Crosby became the first singer to record for the newly created Decca Records. ( Decca number D-100. "Just A-Wearyin' For You", and "I Love You Truly")
1940.    Johnny Dodds, clarinet, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 48
1975.    Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, alto sax, died in Gary, IN, USA. Age: 47
1976.    Ady Rosner, trumpet, brombone, violin, vocal, leader, died in Berlin, Germany.
1983.    John Roberts, vocals, died in Fresh Creek, Andros, Bahamas. Age: 71
1989.    Irv Cottler, drums died in , Rancho Mirage, California, USA.
1991.    Sam Goody, Founder ( Sam Goody Record Stores, died in New York (Queens), NY, USA. Age: 87
1997.    Dardanelle, piano, vocal, vibes, leader, died
1997.    Duncan Swift, piano trombone, died (b. Feb. 21, 1943 )
2002.    Wilber Morris, bass, died in New York, NY, USA. (He was the older brother of the cornetist, composer, and conductor Lawrence "Butch" Morris.)
2002.    Ronnie Stephenson drums died in Scotland, UK. (b. Jan. 26, 1937, Sunderland, England, UK )
2006.    Duke Jordan, piano, died in Valby, Denmark (a suburb of Copenhagen)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1916     "The Eye's Of Heaven (My Mother's Star), - Henry Burr vocal.
1917     "Mighty Lak A Rose/Sweet and Low", - Boston Quintet
1924     "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More", - International Novelty Orch.
1924     "Charley My Boy", - Jack Shilkret Orch.
1924     "Choo Choo", - Gus Van and Joe Schenck Vocal.
1924     "Go 'Long Mule", - Billy Jones and Ernie Hare voc. (The Happiness Boys)
1928     "I'm A Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas)", - Jay C. Flippen and His Gang
1928     "Ace In The Hole", - Jay C. Flippen and His Gang
1928     "When You're Smiling", - The Clevelanders
1929     "Sweetheart's Holiday", - Tom Clines and His Music
1929     "Tanguay Blues", - Jabbo Smith and his Rhythm Aces
1930     "It Seems To Be Spring", - Meyer Davis Orch.
1932     "Moonlight On The River", - Victor Young Orch.
1933     "Close Your Eyes", - Eddie Duchin Orch.
1933     "To Be Or Not To Be In Love", - Eddie Duchin Orch.
1938     "Blue Interlude", - Benny Goodman Orch.
1938     "By A Wishing Well", - Jan Garber Orch.
1938     "Think It Over", - Jan Garber Orch.
1940     "Moon Over Madison Square", - Ray Noble and his Orch.
1940     "A Prairie Fairy Tale", - Ray Noble and his Orch.
1940     "Harlem Nocturne", - Ray Noble Orch.
1941     "A City Called Heaven", - Les Brown Orch.
1946     "To Each His Own", - Freddy Martin
1946     "To Each His Own", - Tony Martin
1960     "In My Little Corner Of The World", - Anita Bryant
1960     "Twist, The", - Chubby Checker
1960     "Theme From The Apartment", - Ferrante & Teicher
1964     "Because", - Dave Clark Five
1964     "How Do You Do It?", - Gerry & The Pacemakers
1981     "Hold On Tight", - E.L.O.
1981     "Step By Step", - Eddie Rabbitt
1987     "Didn't We Almost Have It All", - Whitney Houston
1987     "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", - Michael Jackson
1987     "Here I Go Again", - Whitesnake
1992     "Humpin' Around", - Bobby Brown
1992     "Please Don't Go", - K.W.S.