BIRTHDAYS
1911   Billy Amstell, Clarinet/Tenor-Alto saxes, b. London, England, England, UK, d. Dec. 19, 2005 London, England, England, UK. né: Barnet Amstell. Clarinettist and saxophonist Billy Amstell's career stretched from the nascent days of British Jazz in the 1920s up to the 1990s. Amstell (his sister nicknamed him Billy) grew up in Stepney, London's East End Jewish community, and he rose to prominence in the 1930s as a sideman and soloist in the Ambrose Orchestra. (Amstell joined Ambrose in 1931, remaining with him until the start of WW II when he enlisted in the Royal Air Force.) His brother, Micky, also became a dance-band saxophonist. His swinging tenor sax solos graced many of the Bert Ambrose band recordings (one of the few British outfits that could truly rival the top American swing bands of the 1930s). Included among the many Jazzmen with whom Amstell played during his long career were George Chisholm, Freddy Gardner Spike Hughes, and such visiting Americans as Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and, Stan Getz. In 1937, while working on the set of 'Kicking the Moon Around', a feature film for the Ambrose Orchestra, he met Tessa, an actress and model, and they were soon married. In 1943, while on wartime duty with the RAF, he suffered a mental breakdown and was declared unfit for duty and discharged. He returned to London, and in 1944, became a member of Geraldo's band (voted Britain's top dance band in a 1944 Melody Maker poll). From 1947 until 1954, he worked mainly in Stanley Black's Orchestra, In 1947, aided by a young David Jacobs, he directed his own small Jazz band for a radio series, 'The Amstell Way'. From the mid-1950s, Amstell mostly freelanced, although he did lead his own small Jazz outfits into the 1990s, usually playing clarinet. In 1986, Amstell published an autobiography, 'Don't Fuss, Mr Ambrose'. Listening to his many solos with the big bands, as well as his orther work, it is surprising to note that he was self-taught on the sax and clarinet. His fame wasn't limited only to Britain. In 1939, his solo on "Caravan" (a Duke Ellington composition) topped a Down Beat magazine poll.
1931   Frank Capp, Drums/Leader, b. Worcester, MA, USA. né: Frank Cappuccio. Member group: Capp-Pierce Juggernaut.
1944   Terry Clarke, Drums, b. Vancouver, Canada
1952   John Clayton Jr, bass
1966   Dimebag Darrell, vocals/guitar. Member group: Pantera, 1994 single "I'm Broken" charted UK No.19.
1916   Art Drelinger, Tenor Sax, b. Gloucester, MA, USA.
1971   Fred Durst, vocals. Member group: Limp Bizkit. 2001 single 'Rollin' charted UK No.1, and 2000 album 'Chocolate Starfish' charted US and UK No.1.
1952    Doug Fieger, guitarist/vocals. Member group: 'The Knack. 1979 single "My Sharona" charted US No.1 and UK No.6.
1923   Ruby Fisher, songwriter, b. Long Island, NY, USA. Worked with Otis Blackwell
1952   Rudy Gatlin, vocal/guitar, b. Olney, TX, USA. né: Rudy Michael Gatlin. Member: The Gatlin Brothers
1941   Milford Graves, Drums/percussion, b. Jamaica, NY, USA.
1942   Isaac Hayes, piano/singer/songwriter. Grammy and Academy Award-winner. Best recalled score: Shaft (and the "Theme from Shaft".)
1950   Willie Hayes, drums, b. Clarksdale, AR, USA. Worked with both Junior Wells and Son Seals
1952   John Hiatt, singer/songwriter, b. Indianapolis, IN, USA.
1946   Ralf Hutter, vocals/guitar. Member group: 'Kraftwerk'. 1982 single "Computer Love" charted UK No. 1.
1954     Barry Johnson, bassist, b, Kingston, Jamaica. Member band: 'Sweet Sensations', comprised of vocalist Junior Daye, (b. 26 June 1950, Kingston, Jamaica), drummer Roy Flowers (b. 4 August 1951, Kingston, Jamaica) , vocalist Vincent James (b. 12 February 1951, St. Mary's, Jamaica), bassist Barry Johnson (b. 20 August 1954, Kingston, Jamaica), vocalist Marcel King (né: Marcel Neville King, b. 4 January 1958, Manchester, d. 5 October 1995- Stroke), vocalist St. Clair L. Palmer (b. 4 March 1954, St. Kitts), guitarist Gary Shaugnessy (b. 25 July 1953, Manchester), and keyboardist Leroy Smith (b. 3 September 1952, Kingston, Jamaica). In September 1974, their (2nd) single "Sad Sweet Dreamer" was UK No.1, and the following spring reached No. 14 on the 'Billboard Hot 100'. In January 1975, their follow up "Purely by Coincidence" reached No.11 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1977 the band participated in 'Song For Europe' in an attempt to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Their song "You're My Sweet Sensation" ended in eighth place. In 1940, King's son, Zeus, 19, was shot dead in an outbreak of gang warfare in South Manchester. .CAUTION: Do not confuse with the American R&B vocal group of the same name of :"Sweet Sensations", consisting of 4 ladies, Mari Fernandez, Margie Fernandez, Sheila Bega, and Betty Lebron. (One of the most popular female groups in Latin freestyle (namely salsa and merengue) and hip-hop.)
1955   Gary Lalonde, bassist, b. Canada. Member: 'Honeymoon Suite', originally a canadian hard rock quintet consisting of Johnnie Dee (lead vocals, b. Niagara Falls, Ont, Canada), Derry Grehan (lead guitarist, backing vocals, b. St. Catherines, Ont, Canada) - Dee and Grehan were the co-founders, Ray Coburn (keyboards; left 1986, rejoined 1989), Gary Lalonde (bass guitar), Dave Betts (drums), Rob Preuss (keyboards, backing vocals; replaced Coburn in 1986), Peter Nunn (keyboards; replaced Coburn the second time), Steve Webster (bass; replaced Lalonde 1991), Tom Lewis (bass; replaced Webster 1992), Tim Harrington (bass; replaced Lewis 1993), Steve Skingley (bass, vocals; replaced Harrington 1996), Jorn Anderson (drums; replaced Betts 1989), Creighton Doane (drums; replaced Anderson 1992), Troy Feener (drums; replaced Doane 1996), and Brett Carrigan (drums; replaced Feener)
1940   John Lantree, vocals. Member group: 'The Honeycombs'. 1964 single "Have I The Right", charted .UK No. 1
1947   David Lasley, vocals, b. Sault St. Marie. MI, USA.
1951   Phil Lynott, bassist/singer/composer, b. Dublin, Ireland, d. Jan. 4, 1986. né: Philip Parris Lynott. Member group: 'Thin Lizzy'. Product of a Brazilian father and Irish mother, Phil was raised mostly by his grandmother, Sarah. As a teen, he discovered rock n' roll and began singing in his first band, the Black Eagles. About this time Lynott met future Thin Lizzy drummer, Brian Downey. All through the '60's, his music was heavily influenced by such landmark artists as Van Morrison and Jimi Hendrix, which would shape the sound of his next band, -Thin Lizzy (officially formed in the early-70's). Lynott was one of the first to merge poetry with rock music.
1935   J. J. Malone, (Blues) guitar, b. Peter's Corner, AL, USA.
1908   Joe Mares, Clarinet, b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
1955   Mike McKenzie, guitar/backing vocals. Member: 'Child' and 'The Red Chord'.
1900   Freddie Moore, Drums/Vocal, b. Washington, NC, USA, d. Nov. 3, 1992.
1947   Jim Pankow, trombonist/songwriter, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member group: 'Chicago'. 1976 single "If You Leave Me Now" charted UK and US No. 1.
1948   Robert Plant, vocals, b. West Bromwich, England, UK. Member group: 'Led Zeppelin'.
1944   Jon Povey, bass, b. London, England, UK. Member: 'Pretty Things'
1961   Rick Rael, rock guitar.
1927   James Elbert "Jimmy" Raney, guitar, b. Louisville, KY, USA, d. May 10, 1995 né: James Elbert Raney
1943   Enrico Rava, Trumpet, flugelhorn, b. Trieste, Italy
1923   'Gentleman' Jim Reeves, C&W vocals, b. Galloway (Panola County), TX, USA, d. July 31. 1964, (airplane crash near Nashville, TN, USA. His manager, Dean Manuel, was in the plane and also died. né: Dockie Dean Manuel, 1934-1964). né: James Travis Reeves
1926   Frank Rosolino, Trombone, b. Detroit, MI, USA. d. Nov. 26, 1978, Los Angeles, CA, USA. His death was a suicide by gunshot Some time before, his wife had committed suicide over an affair he had been having. Before turning the gun on himself, Rosolino shot his two young sons, killing one and wounding the other.
1927   Joya Sherrill, vocals/lyricist, b. Bayonne, NJ, USA. One of Duke Ellington's favorite vocalists (he thought her diction and articulation to be excellent). Her only two records (as a Leader) had personnel: Frank Rosolino/Trombone; Ritchie Kamuca/Tenor Sax; Vince Guaraldi/Piano; Monty Budwig/Bass; and Stan Levey/Drums. Earlier, she worked with worked with Stan Kenton, Harold Land, Bob Cooper, Clarke-Boland Big Band. In 1942, she worked briefly with Ellington. In 1944 , after she wrote the lyric to "Take The A Train", she joined the Ellington band. In 1946, she married Richard Guilmenot. In 1948, she left Ellington to become a solo vocalist. Rejoined Ellinton in 1956 for the TV Show 'A Drum Is A Woman'. In 1959, she toured the USA. In 1962, she went to the USSR with Benny Goodman In 1963, performed and recorded with Ellington in Chicago, and also recorded her two albums as a leader (1960, 1965).
1978   Ralph Stanley II, singer/guitarist/Grammy nominee. He is the son of Bluegrass banjoist Ralph Edmond Stanley. (b. Feb. 25, 1927, Big Spraddle Creek (near Stratton, Dickenson County), Virginia, USA. His style of banjo playing has been copied by many young musicians and was one of the most important artists in the popularization of bluegrass music.)
1905   Jack Teagarden, Trombone/Leader/vocals, b. Vernon, TX, USA. d. January 15, 1964 New Orleans, LA, USA. né: Weldon John Teagarden (aka: "Big T"). In 1920, at just 15 years of age, Jack was already a "Pro" working in San Antonio, TX, USA, There, he played with several local bands, most notably with Peck Kelly during 1921-'22. He also briefly led his own outfit in Kansas City, MO. In 1927, he was the trombonist in the "Doc Ross Band" when that band arrived in New York city. Jack also found work with a Dixieland outfit that was part of the Elizabeth Bryce Show. After Ross, Teagarden recorded with the Roger Wolfe Kahn, Red Nichols, Louis Armstrong and Sam Lanin orchestras, and made his vocal debut on the 1928 Eddie Condon recording "Making Friends". That same year, he joined Ben Pollack's band, where he earned his reputation as a trombonist and vocalist. He worked with Pollack intermittently from 1928 to 1933. From 1933-'38, he was a part of the Paul Whiteman Orch. (though he had briefly worked with Mal Hallett's orch. before joining Whiteman). Leaving Whiteman in early 1939, he formed his own orchestra.with such top sidemen as Charlie Spivak, Ernie Caceres, Lee Castle, and Davey Tough. The Female vocalists were Dolores O'Neill and Kitty Kallen. Jack led his own bands - on and off - till 1947. The Big Band era was now coming to a close, and while Jack's band was musically successful, it was never financially successful, and in 1946 Jack disbanded. In 1947, he became a founding member of the Louis Armstrong All-Stars Orch. He stayed with them until they disbanded and then he went on the road again with his own band, a Dixieland sextet that often featured his brother, Charlie, on trumpet and his sister, Norma, on piano. He, and famed pianist Earl Hines also co-led an all-star group. Teagarden was very active right up to his death in 1964 (pneumonia). One of the True Legends of Jazz!
1935   Justin Tubb, C&W vocals/songwriter, b. San Antonio, TX, USA. d. Jan. 24, 1998. Ernest Tubb's son. Member of the 'Grand Ole Opry' show. Many hit compositions including , "Lonesome 7-7203", "Love is No Excuse", and "Keeping Up with the Joneses",
1943   "Jiggs" Whigham, Trombone, b. Cleveland, OH, USA.
1957   Richard Zatorski, keyboard, b. Australia. Member: 'Real Life'. Australian band formed in the early 1980s comprising vocalist/guitarist David Sterry, drummer Danny Simcic, bassist Allan Johnson and keyboard player Richard Zatorski
         Notable Events on this date include:
1937.    Johnny Dunn, trumpet, died in Paris, France, Age: 40
1949.    Louis "Big Eye" Nelson, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. né: Louis Nelson DeLisle, (CAUTION: No relation to trombonist Louis Nelson, although they sometimes played together)
1958.    General Morgan, piano, died in Chicago, IL44. Played with violinist Stuff Smith
1972.    Michael Neely Bryan, guitar, died in Los Angeles, CA56. Played with "Slam" Stewart
1979.    George Maycock, piano, died
1982.    Louis Innis, guitarist/session player, died. Age: 1982
1982.    Zachariah Valentine Morgan, C&W musician, (b. March 1,1892, Humphreys County, TN, USA) died in Barberton, OH, USA. (When he was a young man, his leg was cut off in a train accident in the Trace Creek area of Humphreys County.)
1986.    Thad Jones, trumpet, died in Copenhagen, Denmark, Age: 63
1988.    Leon Mcauliffe, C&W steel guitar, died in Tulsa, OK71. Played with Bob Wills
1995.    Paul Foster,vocals, died in Shreveport, LA75. Member: 'The Soul Stirrers'
1995.    John Gilmore, tenor sax, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
2002.    Chris Columbus, drums/leader, died in New Jersy, USA,
2004.    Martin Banks, trumpet, died in Austin, Texas, USA ( heart-attack). (b. June 21, 1936, Austin, Texas, USA)
2005.    Bill Trussel, trombone, died. (b. November 16, 1934, Canada).
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1924    "Saxophun", - Rudy Wiedoeft (sax) acc. w. George Olsen Orch.
1925    "You're In Wrong With The Right Baby", - Aileen Stanley vocal.
1926    "Would Ya", - The Buffalodians Orch.
1926    "She's Still My Baby", - The Buffalodians.
1926    "Sleepy Head", - The Cavaliers (Ben Selvin Orch.)
1926    "Falling In Love With You", - The Cavaliers (Ben Selvin Orch.
1928    "Sonny Boy", - Al Jolson vocal.
1929    "At Twilight", - Ruth Etting Vocal.
1929    "Ain't Misbehaving", - Ruth Etting Vocal.
1929    "When I See My Sugar (I Get A Lump In My Throat)", - Jane Purcell voc. with Roy Fox Orch.
1937    "Travelin' Down The Trail Back Home", - Hudson-DeLange Orch.
1939    "Oh Johnny, Oh", - "Wee" Bonnie Baker voc. with Orrin Tucker Orch.
1939    "How Many Times", - Orrin Tucker Orch. (Berlin tune)
1935    "Got A Brand New Suit", - Fats Waller and His Rhythm. (Dietz/Schwartz tune)
1935    "Thief In The Night", - Fats Waller and His Rhythm. (Dietz/Schwartz tune)
1935    "Rhythm and Romance", - Fats Waller and His Rhythm. (Johnson/Whiting tune)
1939    "Oh, Johnny, Oh, Johnny, Oh!", - Orrin Tucker's orchestra (recorded on Columbia label.)
1945    "I Can't Begin To Tell You", - Kitty Kallen voc. with Harry James Orch.
1945    "Waiting For The Train to Come In", - Kitty Kallen voc. with Harry James Orch.
1948    "Hair Of Gold, Eyes Of Blue", - Gordon MacRae
1955    "Maybellene", - Chuck Berry
1955    "Seventeen", - Fontane Sisters
1955    "Longest Walk, The", - Jaye P. Morgan
1955    "Autumn Leaves", - Roger Williams
1964    "Goldfinger", Shirley Bassey vocal hit.
1966    "Wouldn't It Be Nice", - Beach Boys
1966    "Bus Stop", - Hollies
1966    "You Can't Hurry Love", - Supremes
1977    "That's Rock 'N' Roll", - Shaun Cassidy
1983    "Far From Over", - Frank Stallone
1983    "Sexy + 17, (She's)", - Stray Cats
1988    "Don't Be Cruel", - Cheap Trick
1988    "Don't Be Cruel", - Bobby Brown
1988    "Love Bites", - Def Leppard