BIRTHDAYS
1905     Tony Almerico, DJ, trumpet, cornet, vocal, leader, club owner, b. New Orleans, LA, USA, d. Dec. 5, 1961. In 1936, Tony formed his first band. During the 1940s, he played for dancing on the Strekfuss Steamship Lines (Mississippi River Paddle steamers). From 1948-'60. he ran the Persian Room club on Royal Street, New Orleans, LA. He enjoyed a weekly coast-to-coast Dixieland radio broadcast playing Dixieland live on clear channel WWL radio in New Orleans, as well as at many downtown hotels, and was a tireless promoter of the music.
1945     Kevin Ayers, singer/songwriter/bass, b. Herne Bay, Kent, England. Member group: 'Soft Machine', 1970 album 'Third' charted UK No.18.
1931     Alberto Ballestero, lyricist (Argentinian Tangos), b. San Eugenio del Cuareím, Uruguay, d. Oct. 20, 1931, Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Heart Attack)
1951     Eric Bibb, guitar, b. New York, NY, USA Signed for: Opus 3 Records
1959     Cecil Brooks III, drums, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA. (some sources claim b. 1961)
1930     Phyllis Brown, C&W piano/vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. née: Boltz. She originally signed with the Canadian 'Axe' label, -had just one release with them, and eventually signed with 'A & M Records', and changed her professional name to Charity Brown
1984     Keisha Buchanan, vocals. Member group: 'Sugarbabes'. 2002 single "Round Round" charted UK No.1, and 2002 album 'Angels With Dirty Faces' charted UK No.2.
1980     Venessa Carlton, vocals. 2002 single "A Thousand Miles" charted UK No.6.
1941     Chris Curtis, drums, b. Liverpool, England. Member group: 'The Searchers'. né: Christopher Crummey.
1948     Randy Eckert, trumpet,
ca.1908     Alfred Elkins, (Blues) bass. Exact year and place of birth unknown. - Often played his 'One String Bass'). Elkins worked (and recorded) with such men as guitarist Robert Petford (b. ca, 1908, Yazoo City, MS, USA, d. unknown), Pianist Curtis Jones (b. Aug. 18, 1906, Naples, TX, USA), Lorenzo Tucker (tenor sax), L. C. McKinley (electric guitar), "Judge" Riley (drums), "King Kolax" (trumpet, né: William Little. b. Kansas City, MO, USA, Nov. 6, 1912. He often claimed b. 1918, but his death certificate in the files of the 'Chicago Federation of Musicians' confirms 1912).
1943     Serge Ermoll, piano, b. Shanghai, China
1972     Emily Erwin, vocals. Member group: Dixie Chicks
1959     Ellery Eskelin, tenor, cabassa, b. Baltimore, Maryland, USA. His mother "Bobbie Lee" played Hammond B3 organ professionally in Baltimore in the early 1960s. Eskelin earned a bachelor's degree in music from Towson University in Baltimore after which he spent a year and a half on the road with swing era trombonist Buddy Morrow. In 1983 Eskelin moved to New York City and began studies with saxophonists George Coleman and David Liebman while performing with a wide variety of musicians from the jazz world. He has since played and recorded with many Jazz stars. DownBeat Magazine named Eskelin as one of the 25 Rising Stars for the Future in its January 2000 issue ("...young players who not only insure the music's survival but promise to take it to the next level") as well as including him in the "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition" category of their Annual Critics Poll in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Eskelin was also a nominee for the prestigious Jazzpar award in 2003. In Miller Band for many years. He passed away in 1993
1929     William John "Bill" Evans, piano, composer, leader, b. Plainfield, NJ, USA. d. 1980. One of the most influential pianists in modern Jazz, who is perhaps best known for his trio with the late bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. Also worked with Tony Scott and Miles Davis.
1957     Tim Farriss, guitar, Member group: INXS. 1988 single "Need You Tonight" charted UK No.2 and US No.1.
1920     Lennie Felix, Piano, b. London, England, d. Dec. 29, 1980. né: Leonard Jacobus Felix.
1946     Gordon "Snowy" Fleet, drums, b. Bootle, Lancashire, England. Member group: 'The Easybeats'. 1966 single "Friday On My Mind" charted UK No.6.
1948     Danny Flowers, C&W guitarist/songwriter, b. Henderson, NC, USA.
1922     Ernie Freeman, piano/arranger/vocals. b. Cleveland, OH, USA. Best recalled vocal: "Raunchy".
1942     Barbara George, vocals. b. New Orleans, LA, USA. Best recalled vocal: "I Know".
1931     Eydie Gormé:, vocalist, née: Edith Gomezano; sang with Tommy Tucker and Tex Beneke bands. This wonderful lady now often sings duet with hubby Steve Lawrence. Her list of Top Hit releases is too large to show here.
1915     Albert "Al" Hibbler, Singer, Little Rock, AK, USA, d. April 24, 2001. Sang with The Duke Ellington Orchestra and others.
1877     Karl Hoschna, Composer, b. Kuschwarda, Bohemia, d. Dec. 23, 1911, New York, NY, USA.
1943     T. K. Hulin, (Cajun) vocals, b. St. Martinville, LA, USA.
1915     "Little Son" Jackson, Blues guitar/vocals, b. Barry, TX, USA, d. May 30, 1976, Dallas, TX, USA. (Cancer). né: Melvin Jackson. aka: Lil' Son Jackson. Exact year of birth is not known.
1928     Eddie Kirkland, guitar/harmonica, b. Kingston, Jamaica
1934     Ketty Lester, vocals. Best recalled vocal: "Love Letters".
1916     Howard Lucraft, guitar, vocal, leader, London, England, UK
1917     Emil Ludvik, Piano, arranger, composer, leader, b. Prague, Czechoslovakia
1964     Matt Lukin, bass, Member group: Mudhoney
1959     'Madonna', vocals, b. Rochester, MI, USA. née: Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.
1916     Emory Martin, C&W banjo, b. (Hickman County), TN, USA.
1915     Murray McEachern, Trombone/reeds/trumpet, b. Toronto, Canada, d. April 28, 1982 During the 1930's and '40s Swing era, he played with the bands of Benny Goodman, Glen Gray and the Casa Loma, Bob Crosby and Paul Whiteman. When the Big Band era faded, McEachern became a Hollywood studio musician. He played the trombone solos in the movies "The Glenn Miller Story," "The Benny Goodman Story" and "Paris Blues"
1935     Bobby Mitchell, vocals, b. Algiers, LA, USA. Member: 'The Toppers'
1927     Danny Moss, Tenor Sax, b. Redhill, England
1928     Carl Perkins, Piano, b. Indianapolis, IN, USA. d. 1958
1888     Armand J. Piron, Violin, leader, composer, b. New Orleans, LA, d. Feb. 17, 1943, New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 55. This very well known old New Orleans musician worked with the Olympia Brass Band; Papa Celestin's band, and with composer W.C.HANDY
1950     Alvin Queen, Drums, b. New York, NY, USA.
1972     Emily Robison, vocals. Member: "Dixie Chicks". The original members of the Dixie Chicks were the sisters Martie Erwin and Emily Erwin, Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. Martie and Emily later married and their names are currently (2005) Martie Maguire and Emily Robison.
1939     Joe Sealy, Piano, b. Montreal, Que., Canada. (Oscar Peterson's sister, Daisy Peterson Sweeney, taught her brother Oscar, Oliver Jones, and Joe Sealy to play the piano)
1941     Billy Joe Shaver, C&W Singer-Songwriter/Guitar, b. Corsicana, TX, USA
1928     Richard G. "Dick" Shreve, piano, b. Kansas City, KS, USA.
1932     Pervis Spann, DJ, b. Itta Bena, MS, USA.
1939     Mary Stallings, vocal, b. San Francisco, California, USA.
1959     Andy Strickland, vocals/guitar, b. Newport, Isle Of Wight, England. Member group: 'Caretaker Race'.
1911     Don Talty, Label owner (Formal Records), b. IL, USA.
1953     James "J.T." Taylor, vocals, b. South Carolina, USA. Member vocal group: 'Kool and the Gang'
1936     Huey Thierry, vocals, b. Jennings, LA, USA. Member: 'Cookie & His Cupcakes' (Huey was Cookie)
1944     Russ Titelman, producer, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA Prod. for: Eric Clapton, and Ry Cooder
1920     Gloria Van, vocal, d. Dec. 24, 2002. In the big-band era of the 1940's and 50's, Gloria Van was heard on radio and stages singing with such orchestras as Gene Krupa, Hoagy Carmichael, and Hal McIntyre. She was a regular singer on the NBC nationally-televised "Wayne King Show". Over her career, she also sang with such other well-known groups as the Art Van Dam Quintet and the Johnny "Scat" Davis band. Hoagy Carmichael personally chose Gloria to sing his great standard "Star Dust" before 25,000 fans at Soldier's Field, Chicago. She made guest appearances with Bob Hope on the "Tonight Show", "Chance of A Lifetime" and dozens of radio shows including Don McNeil's popular "Breakfast Show" Gloria's husband, Lynn, was a top musician and played in the Gl
1939     Don Vickery, drums, b. Halifax, Canada. Member: 'The Travellers'
1926     Malcom Earl "Mal" Waldron, piano/arranger/composer, b. New York, NY, USA, d. Dec. 2, 2002, Brussels, Belgium (Cancer age 77) Born in New York City, as a child, he aspired to be a classical pianist. As a very young man, he began to play Jazz alto saxophone, only switching to piano while attending the Queens College of the City University of New York, where he earned a degree in composition. After graduation, he worked with various local New York bands, making his first recording with saxophonist Ike Quebec in 1950. In 1954, he joined Charles Mingus' Jazz Workshop. He also worked as the last accompanist for famed vocalist Billie Holiday, working with her from 1957 until her death in 1959, and in the final analysis, he may be best recalled for that. In the late 1950s, he frequently recorded as a leader, sideman and musical director for the Prestige label. He also arranged for other artists including Coltrane and trumpeter Art Farmer. In the early 1960s, Mr. Waldron turned to avant-garde Jazz as a member of an influential quintet led by Eric Dolphy and Booker Little that played at 'The Five Spot', a New York club. Mr. Waldron also recorded with Dolphy. In 1963, his career was interrupted for a year due to overdosing on drugs. One result of this 'nervous breakdown' was that he had to completetly re-learn how to play Jazz piano, which he did mainly by listening to his own recordings. In 1965 he became permanently resident in Europe, where he found Jazz work more plentiful. He first settled in Munich, Germany, and learned to speak French, German, Italian and Japanese. He lived in Germany for several years before moving to Brussels, Belgium. He became a prolific recording artist for many fine European labels. Still, he often returned to the U.S.A. for regular appearences. One of Mr. Waldron's best-known compositions, "Soul Eyes," was written for Coltrane. As a composer, Mr. Waldron also worked in film, and wrote music for two plays by LeRoi Jones (aka Amiri Baraka): The Slave, and The Dutchman. During his long and varied career, Mr. Waldron played with some of the giants of jazz, In the 1950s, he played with Della Reese, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Jackie McLean, Pepper Adams, Billie Holiday, Abbey Lincoln, and many others. Born a year before John Coltrane and Miles Davis, he often recorded with bassist Charles Mingus, and saxophone legend John Coltrane.
1889     Paul Warmack, C&W Mandolin/Guitar/Vocals b. Whites Creek, TN, USA, d. July 2, 1954 Member: "Paul Warmack and his Gully Jumpers". The group was formed 1927, and was comprised of leader Paul Warmack, Charley Arrington (Fiddle, b. 1893, TN, USA. d. unknown), Roy Hardison (Banjo, b.July 19, 1896, TN, USA. d. Feb. 1966), and Burt Hutcherson (Guitar, b. 1893, TN, USA. d. July 10, 1980). The 1920s and '30s were the heyday for Southern string-band music, and one of the best was Warmack and his Gully Jumpers. Some other groups active at the same time include 'Dr. Humphrey Bate and the Possum Hunters', ' McGee Brothers (Sam and Kirk)', 'Binkley Brothers' Dixie Clodhoppers', ' Uncle Dave Macon & Sam McGee', 'Sid Harkreader & Grady Moore', and the 'Arthur Smith Trio'.
1925     Sol Wells, trumpet/vocals, b. Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. né: Colin Charles Wells
         Notable Events on this date include:
1925.    Edna Hicks, vocals, died in Chicago, IL, USA, Age: 29 (died at home in a Petrol fire accident)
1938.    Robert Johnson, guitar/songwriter ("King of the Delta Blues"), died in Greenwood, MS, USA, Age: 27
1939.    New York City's famous vaudeville house, The Hippodrome, closed it's doors. There were several places called the Hippodrome around the USA and in England. In the USA, they were not theatres, per se, but rather designed for the wide variety of vaudeville, and Circus acts then so popular. (Incidentally, in 1905, The Hippodrome opened its doors with the gala musical revue, A Yankee Circus on Mars.)
1946.    Mamie Smith, vocal, died in New York, NY, USA.. (née: Mamie Robinson. b. May 26, 1883, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA )
1967.    Dan Pickett, guitar, died in Boaz, AL, USA, Age: 59
1971.    "Too Tight Henry" (Henry Lee Castle), guitar, died in Chicago, IL, USA, Age: 71
1977.    Elvis Presley died in the bathroom of his home, Gracelands, in Memphis, TN, USA. Age: 42 (heart attack)
1983.    Singer-Songwriter Paul Simon marries actress Carrie Fisher (singer Eddie Fisher's daughter, by wife Debbie Reynolds).
1989.    John B. Carn, III critic, died in Indianapolis, IN, USA, Age: 41
1995.    Bobby Debarge, vocals, died in Mansfield, OH, USA, Age: 39
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1909   "Dixieland I Love You", - Billy Murray vocal. (S.Brown/Nat Ayer tune)
1916   "Siam", - American Quartet.
1916   "Somewhere In France", - Burt Howell vocal with Arthur Pryor Orch.
1916    "Girl Who Waits At Home: Laddie In Khaki", - Burt Howell vocal with Arthur Pryor Orch.
1916   "Uncle Tom Two Step", - Victor (Records) Band.
1926   "Looking At The World Through Rose Colored Glasses", - Vaughn DeLeath vocal
1926   "The Good Bad Girl", - Vaughn DeLeath vocal
1927   "Give Me A Night In June", - Sam Lanin and his Ipana Troubadors.
1929   "Jones Laws Blues", - "Shorty George" (Stump Johnson)
1929   "The Duck's Yas Yas Yas", - Oliver Cobb and His Rhythm Kings.
1929   "Hot Stuff", - Oliver Cobb and His Rhythm Kings.
1932   "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans", - Paul Whiteman Orch.
1932   "You Excite Me", - Paul Whiteman Orch., presents Ramona
1932   "Come Up and See Me Sometime", - Paul Whiteman Orch., presents Ramona
1935   "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart", - Patsy Montana vocal.
1937   "I'm Confessin", - Lionel Hanpton Orch.
1937   "I Surrender Dear", - Lionel Hanpton Orch.
1939   "Blue Orchids", - Benny Goodman Orch.
1939   "What's New", - Benny Goodman Orch.
1947   "When You Were Sweet Sixteen", - Como, Perry
1947   "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)", - Phil Harris
1969   "Sugar, Sugar", - Archies
1969   "Easy To Be Hard", - Three Dog Night
1980   "Late In The Evening", - Paul Simon
1986   "Dreamtime", - Daryl Hall
1986   "Walk This Way", - Run D.M.C.
1986   "Two Of Hearts", - Stacey Q