BIRTHDAYS
1965      Rez Abbasi, guitar, b. Karachi, Pakistan. His parents moved to Los Angeles, CA, when Rez was age 3. In 1987, at age 22, Rez moved to New York, NY, where he still (2004) resides. He remains quite active appearing in local venues at night, while his day job as music teacher pays the rent.
1945      Malcolm Allured, drums, b. England. Member group: Showaddywaddy. 1976 single "Under The Moon Of Love" charted UK No.1. (Over 20 other UK top 40 singles.)
1940      Fernest Arceneaux, (zydeco) accordion, b. Lafayette, LA, USA.
1948      Ann Armstrong, guitar, b. TX, USA. Signed with Heads Up Records
1943      Randy Bachman, Rock guitar/vocals, b. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Member group: Guess Who, Their 1970 single "American Woman" charted US No.1 and UK No.19. Then as member group: Bachman Turner Overdrive, their 1974 single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" charted UK No.2.
1886      Eric Borchard, alto sax, clarinet, leader, b. Berlin, Germany, d. July 30, 1934, Strasbourg, France.
1944      Tim Bogert, bass. Member group: Vanilla Fudge
1975      Lee Brennan, vocals, b. Cumbria, England. Member group: 911, 1998 single "More Than A Woman" charted UK No.2.
1970      Mark Calderon, vocals. Member group: Color Me Bad, 1991 single "I Wanna Sex You Up" charted UK No.1 , and their 1991 single "I Adore Mi Amor" charted US No.1.
1917      Pete Cassell, (blind C&W) singer-songwriter, b. Cobb County, GA, USA.
1958      Shaun Cassidy, actor/vocals,.b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member groups: Hardy Boys, Breaking Away. 1977 single "Da Doo Ron Ron" charted US No.1, Shaun is the half brother of David Cssidy.
1949      Jeff Cook, vocals/lead guitar/fiddle/keyboards, b. Fort Payne, AL, USA. Member Country band: "Alabama". Currently, 2005, Jeff is touring as "Jeff Cook and the AllStar Goodtime Band" (AGB), - doing original tunes as well many favorites from all times
1937      Alice Coltrane, Piano, organ, harp, b. Detroit, MI, USA, d. Jan. 12, 2007, West Hills, CA, USA. (respiratory failure). Née: Alice Mcleod, she was born into a musical family. Her mother, Anna, sang and played piano in the Baptist church choir. Alice's half brother Ernie Farrow was a bassist who played professionally with groups led by saxophonist Yusef Lateef and vibes player Terry Gibbs. By just age 7, she was already studying the Classical piano. She later studied with Bud Powell, then worked in Detroit, MI area with such men as Kenny Burrell, Johnny Griffin, Lucky Thompson and Yusef Lateef. During 1962-'63, she was working with Terry Gibbs, then appearing in New York's famed 'Birdland' club, when she met and married (late 1965) John Coltrane. In December 1965, she replaced McCoy Tyner with Coltrane and worked with him until his death in 1967. (Her husband was one of the pivotal figures in the history of jazz, died of liver disease July 17, 1967, at the age of 40.) Subsequently Alice led groups with such men as Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Joe Henderson, and Carlos Ward, while recording for Impulse and other labels. In 1972, she relocated to California and always performs in Los Angeles, CA, at the annual John Coltrane tributes around his birthday (September 23, 1926). She was one of the rare female Jazz instrumentalists, and was also (along with Dorothy Ashby) one of the few harpists in Jazz. She subsequently developed her own style on piano, organ, and later, Indian instruments such as the tamboura. Alice began recording under her own name, after John Coltrane's death She became a devotee of Swami Satchidananda, and eventually adopted the Hindu name of Turiya. In 1975, she formed the Vedanta Center in California as a center for her spiritual activities. In her spiritual life she was a devotee of living Hindu saint Satya Sai Baba, and went by the name 'Swamini Turiyasangitananda'. In the 1980s and 1990s, she made a number of recordings of devotional music that were never very widely distributed. In the mid-1970s, she moved from the Impulse! label to Warner Brothers, but by the late 1970s, her own recording career waned. She was for a long while the executor of John Coltrane's estate, but eventually, control over John Coltrane's still extant recordings passed to her son--himself a wonderful saxophonist--Ravi Coltrane. On her demise, she was survived by another son, Oren (guitar and alto sax); a daughter, Michelle, who is a singer; and five grandchildren. Her son John Coltrane Jr. died in a 1982 automobile accident.
1937      J.D. Crowe, (Bluegrass) banjo/vocals, b. Lexington, KY, USA.
1925      Anthony John "Tony" Crombie, Drums, b. London, England, d. Oct. 18, 1999.
1933      Rudolf Dasek, Guitar, b. Prague, Czechoslovakia
1930      Jack Michael Delaney, trombone, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. Sept. 21, 1975, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
1953      Mink De Ville, vocals. 1977 single "Spanish Stroll" charted UK No.20.
1947      Barbara Dickson, vocals/actress, 1985 single (with Elaine Paige) "I Know Him So Well" charted UK No.1 .
1925      Bill English, Drums, b. New York, NY, USA.
1927      Malachi Favors, Bass, b. Lexington, MS, USA, d. Jan. 30, 2004, Chicago, IL, USA. (Panacreatic Cancer.) Many believed that Favors was age 76 when he died, yet curiously, there is a fair amount of uncertainly regarding his birth. Most jazz reference books list his birth year as August 27, 1937, however his daughter, Malba Favors Allen, was quoted in the Chicago Tribune's obituary as saying he was born in 1927. Favors' birthplace is still another point of argument. Virtually every printed source says Chicago, IL, USA, Yet the same Chicago Tribune obituary stated that Favors was one of 10 children born to a religious family in Lexington, MS, USA. (presumably, this information also came from his daughter). Regardless of his date and place of birth, Favors developed, from his initial studies at age 15, into an excellent bassist. After playing with such bandleaders as Freddy Hubbard and 'Dizzy' Gillespie, and other 'bebop' players, he joined Chicago saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell's band. Eventually, Mitchell's band evolved into the 'Art Ensemble of Chicago'. Favors stayed with this group for 35 years. Although founded in Chicago, IL, USA, the group was based in Europe until 1971. In addition to playing bass, Favors also added banjo, zither, harmonica, and vocals to the group's repetoire, which included elements of West African music, Jazz, Blues, ritual, chanting, abstract sound and even silence. -- Murray Pfeffer
1926      Meredith Irwin "Med" Flory, alto- tenor-baritone sax, clarinet, arranger, vocal, leader, b. Logansport, IN, USA.
1923      Leonard Graham, trumpeter: b. St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, d. July 28, 2002, St. Petersburg , FL, USA..(bladder cancer) (various sources have claimed he died on July 23, 25, and 28, --but he died on a Sunday, which was the 28th. Some sources claim he was born Aug. 27-1923 ). After converting to Islam, Graham changed his name to Idrees Dawud ibn Sulieman. During his long career, he first worked with 'The Carolina Cotton Pickers' (1939), and subsequently worked with Earl "Fatha" Hines, Mercer Ellington, Cab Calloway, Coleman "Juicy Fruit" Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Sabby Lewis, Mary Lou Williams, Eric Dolphy, Erskine Hawkins and Max Roach, among others.. He was one of the first trumpeters to master "circular breathing", -theoretically - a method of playing the instrument whereby a note can be held indefinitely. In a 1957 recording, "Juicy Fruit", Sulieman can be heard holding a note for 57 seconds. In 1961, he settled in Europe firstly in Sweden, then in Denmark. From 1963,- 1973, he was part of the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band and also worked with the Danish Radio Big Band, under Thad Jones. Other American expatriates that he worked with included Eric Dolphy, Bud Powell and Don Byas. In 1982, he returned to his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, USA , where he later died. -- Murray Pfeffer
1927      Dickie Hawdon, Trumpet, b. Leeds, England
1927      Morris Levy, Label owner, b. New York (Bronx), NY, USA. Roulette/Gee/Rama Records
1953      Alex Lifeson, guitar. b. Toronto, Ont., Canada. Member group: Rush, 1980 single "Spirit Of Radio" charted UK No.13.
1937      Alice McLeod, vocals, b. Detroit, Michigan, USA, d. Jan 12, 2007, Los Angeles, CA, USA.(respiratory failure)
1956      Glen Matlock, bass. Member group: Sex Pistols (early and reformed versions), the Rich Kids, 1978 UK No.24 single Rich Kids.
1927      Jimmy 'Cajun' Newman, vocals. High Point, LA, USA, né: Jimmy Yves Newman.
1926      Odie Payne, drums, b. Chicago, IL, USA. with Elmore James
1936      Val Poliuto, vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA. Member: 'The Jaguars'
1934      Frances Williams Preston, CEO of BMI b. Nashville, TN, USA. She opened the first BMI Nashville office in her home.
1946      Roland Prince, Guitar, b. St.John's, Antigua
1913      Martha Raye, Actress/vocalist, b. , d. Oct. 19, 1994. Few folks now recall that Martha was as good a singer as she was a comic actress. She debuted in show business in 1919, and during her career sang with the Paul Ash and Louis Prima orchestras. Probably her biggest hit record was Sam Coslow's "You'll Have To Swing It", more popularly known as "Mr. Pagannini", which she sang in the 1936 film 'Rhythm on The Range' that also starred Bing Crosby. Another of her hits was 1939s, "Once In A While". Tommy Dorsey had originally introduced the song as instrumental by his violinist Michael Edwards. It was called "Dancing With You." TD then asked the well known lyricist Bud Green ("Alabammy Bound", "Flat Foot Floogie", "Sentimental Journey") for words, and it became a hit under the new title of "Once In A While". Martha's hit was on the Columbia label, no. 35260 LA2020
1937      Tommy Sands, vocals/actor. Later, Nancy Sinatra's husband.
1940      Sonny Sharrock, Guitar, b. Ossining, NY, USA. d. May 25, 1994, Ossining, NY, USA. (heart attack) Age: 53
1937      Phil Shulman, saxophone, b. Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Member group: 'Simon Dupree And The Big Sound'. Out of the ruins of "Simon Dupree & the Big Sound", a new group, "Gentle Giant", was born, an R&B-based outfit led by brothers Derek (vocals/guitar/bass), Ray (vocals/bass/violin), and Phil Shulman (sax). They were augmented by Kerry Minnear (keyboards), and Gary Green (guitar). Drummer Martin Smith was part of the original lineup, but the group went through several percussionists during the first three years of their existence. In 1967, the group switched to psychedelia and scored the only major hit, the single "Kites", which charted UK No.9, after which "Gentle Giant" abandoned both the R&B and psychedelic orientations of the previous band.
1925      Carter Stanley, vocals/guitar, b. Stratton, VA, USA. d. Dec. 1, 1966. né: Carter Glenn Stanley. member 'The Stanley Brothers' (C&W group)
1898      Bob Thomas, trombone, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. Played with 'Tony Parenti's New Orleans Shufflers', among other New Orleans Dixieland groups. CAUTION: Do not confuse with Bob E. Thomas, the American dancer.
1909      Lester Willis "Prez" Young, tenor sax/clarinet, b. Woodville, MS, USA, d. March 15, 1959, New York, NY, USA.
         Notable Events on this date include:
1962.     Homer "Slim" Miller of the "Cumberland Ridge Runners" died.
1963.     Jimmy Denny, (C&W) A&R/Producer, died in Nashville, TN, USA. Age: 52
1967.     Brian Epstein, manager of the Beatles, died in London, UK, USA. Age: 32
1971.     Lil Hardin Armstrong, piano, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 69
1971.     Sam Dutry, clarinet, died
1975.     Bob Scholl, lead vocals, died in NY, USA. Age: 37. Member: The Mello-Kings
1975.     "Hop" Wilson, steel guitar, died in Houston, TX, USA. Age: 54
1980.     Gene Kardos, leader, died
1981.     Bob Graf, tenor sax, died in St. louis, MO, USA. Age: 54
1984.     The Minetta Lane Theatre (in Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City) opened becoming the first new off-Broadway theatre to be built in 50 years in New York City. "America's First Lady of the Stage", Helen Hayes, cut the ribbon.
1987.     Ben Branch, tenor sax, died in Memphis, TN, USA
1988.     Irene Higginbotham, songwriter, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 70
1990.     Stevie Ray Vaughan, guitar, died in East Troy, WS, USA. Age: 35 (helicopter crash)
1993.     James Chambers, director/Chicago Mass Choir, died in Chicago, IL, USA.
1995.     "Big Dee" Irwin, songwriter/producer, died in las Vegas, NV, USA. Age: 63. Member: Pastels
2001.     Cal Collins, guitar, died in Dillsboro, Indiana, USA. ( liver failure) (b. May 5, 1933, Medora, Indiana, USA)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
    1923     "Jubilee Blues", - Belle Baker voc., acc. by the Virginians Orch.
    1923     "Potomac River Blues", - Gertrude Saunders vocal.
    1923     "That Old Gang of Mine", - Benson Orch., of Chicago
    1925     "Desdemonia", - Sam Lanin and His Orch.
    1926     "Any Ice Today Lady", - Ben Selvin Orch.
    1926     "She Knows Her Onions", - Ben Selvin Orch.
    1927     "Sometimes I'm Happy", - The Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orch.
    1927     "There's A Trick In Pickin' A Chick Chick Chicken", - The Jumping Jacks (Reser Orch.)
    1927     "I'm Coming Virginia", - Jules Herbeveaux Orch.
    1927     "Moonlit Waters", - Colonial Club Orch.
    1927     "Dawning", - Lee Morse and Her Bluegrass Boys.
    1927     "Diane", - Hurtado Brothers Marimba Orch. (Guatemalan Orch. rec'ding USA)
    1928     "You Tell Me Your Dream (And I'll Tell You Mine)", - Tom Gerum Orch.
    1930     "Who", - Red Nichols Orch.
    1930     "Beside The Shalimar", - Red Nichols Orch.
    1934     "Wish Me Good Luck - Kiss Me Goodbye", - Henry King Orch.
    1934     "What About Me", - Henry King Orch.
    1936     "It All Begins and Ends With You", - Frankie Froeba Orch.
    1936     "What'cha Goin' To Do When There Ain't No Swing", - Frankie Froeba Orch.
    1936     "Rhythm Lullaby", - Frankie Froeba Orch.
    1940     "Zombie", - Xavier Cugat Orch. (rec'd NYC)
    1940     "Frenesi", - Xavier Cugat Orch. (rec'd NYC)
    1948     "Underneath The Arches", - Andrews Sisters
    1955     "Gum Drop", - The Crew-Cuts
    1955     "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing", - The Four Aces
    1966     "Yellow Submarine", - Beatles
    1977     "Boogie Nights", - Heatwave
    1977     "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band", - Meco
    1977     "Nobody Does It Better", - Carly Simon
    1983     "King Of Pain", - Police
    1983     "True", - Spandau Ballet
    1987     "Paper In Fire", - John Cougar
    1987     "U Got The Look", - Prince
    1988     "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)", - Information Society