BIRTHDAYS
1904   Herman Autrey, Trumpet/Vocal, b. Evergreen, AL, d. June 14, 1980, Perhaps best recalled for his work with 'Fats Waller and his Rhythm'.
1940   Freddy 'Boom Boom' Cannon, vocals, b. Lynn, MA, USA. né: Frederico Anthony Picariello.
1937   Ernie Carson, cornet
1933   Dennis Charles, Drums, b. St.Croix, Virgin Islands, d. March 24, 1998. He again started spelling his first name "Denis" (which is the name on his birth certificate) in his later years.
1936   Larry Davis, guitar, b. Kansas City, MO, USA.
1926   Lee Dorsey, R&B vocals, b: New Orleans, LA, USA, d. Dec. 1, 1986, New Orleans, LA, USA (complications of emphysema). (né: Irving Lee Dorsey). (some sources claim b. b. Dec. 24. Some sources claim b, 1924)
1921   Deanna Durbin, vocalist/actress, b. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. née: Edna Mae Durbin. In Canada, she is known as "Winnipeg's Sweetheart". By age 14, Deanna had already completed a number of films, including 'Three Smart Girls', 'Mad about Music' and 'That certain Age', and in the process had become the most highly paid female star in the world. By age 18, her income was $250,000/year. Though a true "Star", - honored with Dolls and other toys named for her, her first screen kiss described in every fan magazine, and such, the most unique aspect of Deanna's life was that she abhored the glamour and glitz of 'La La Land' and eventually turned her back on Hollywood and all the it stood for in her mind. Her first two marriages were failures. When she wed film director Charles Henri David (her 3rd), she exacted a promise (in a written contract) that she would not appear in any films and could lead the "life of a nobody". Currently (1999), Deanna resides in the small village of Neauphle-le-Chateau, France, where for over 35 years, she has stubbornly resisted all film offers that have come her way. Deanna permitted her last interview in 1948.
1916   Frank Joseph Flynn, vibes/drums, b. New York, NY, USA.
1955   L. Scott Folks, A&R (Capitol), b. New York, NY, USA
1930   Jim Hall, Guitar, b. Buffalo, NY, USA. Moved to Ohio, and received his Bachelor of Music degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music. After this, he studied with Brenton Banks, whom he credits as a major influence on his musical thinking.
1915   Eddie Heywood (Jr.), pianist/leader/composer, b. Atlanta, GA, USA. d. Jan. 2, 1989, USA. Best recalled today for leading his own Sextet, and for composing the hit song "Canadian Sunset". Eddie's father - Eddie Haywood Sr, a good pianist who was most active in the early 1920s and often accompanied the 'Butterbeans and Susie' vaudeville team, taught his son to play the piano. Eddie Jr, was active professionally by age 14. In 1932, he was working with the Wayman Carver band, in '34-'37 with Clarence Love; in '39 - '40 with Benny Carter in New York; Formed his own group in 1941 and backed Billie Holiday on some records; in 1943 he formed his Sextet (with Doc Cheatham and Vic Dickenson) and also had some solos on a Coleman Hawkins led recording date; His sextet's recording of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" was a big hit.(The "Beguine" rhythm had it's start on the Carribean island of Martinique I believe. ca 1940s.) In 1945, he won the Esquire New Star Award. Beginning in 1947 Hayward suffered from a paralysis of his hands that precluded his playing the piano, but by 1950, he was able to play again (with his trio) and performed into the 1980s.
1942   Chris Hillman, vocals. Member: 'The Desert Rose Band', 'The Flying Burrito Brothers' and 'The Byrds' groups.
1917   Russell Robert Jacquet, Trumpet/Vocal, b. St. Martinville, LA, USA. d. Feb. 28,1990, Los Angeles, CA, USA. age 72 Russell is the older brother of tenor-saxophonist Illinois Jacquet. During 1934-'37, Russell played in the Midwest with the 'California Playboy Band', a group that also included another brother, -Linton Jacquet, on drums. During 1939-'40, Russell worked with the Floyd Ray band, and then spent the next two years studying at Wiley College (1940-'42), and at Texas Southern University (1942-44), and also led a big band at TSU. Meanwhile, big brother Illinois had become famous. After forming his own unsuccessful group, Russell played, on and off, with brother Illinois' band during 1946-'54, even recording with them. During 1965 and 1969, he primarily worked as a schoolteacher, but did occasionally led his own bands. Russell often worked with his brother through the years but never achieved much fame.
1950   Bjorn Kjellemyr, bass, electric bass, bass-guitar, b. Bamble, Norway.
1964   "Little" Jimmy King, guitar, b. Memphis, TN, USA. né: Manuel Gales
1933   John Lamb, Bass, b. Vero Beach, FL, USA.
1947   Andy LaVerne, piano, b. New York, NY, USA.
1948   'Southside' Johnny Lyon, rock vocals/harmonica, b. Neptune, NJ, USA. - Southside Johnny & the Asburry Dukes
1981   Lila McCann, C&W vocals, b. Steilacoom, WA, USA. At age 5, she first began to sing with her father Pat McCan's local Country music band. Since then, Lila has performed for England's Queen Elizabeth II, shared the stage with such giants of Country music as Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and has appeared on many TV and radio shows.
1944   Anna McGarrigle, b. St-Sauveur-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada. Anna and her sister Kate are one of Canada's most creative and celebrated family duets. At an early age they both learned to play guitar, banjo, and accordion. Subsequently they became singer/composers too. Music critic Gil Asakawa has written of them: "Here were two intelligemt, whimiscal and decidedly quirky women, who wrote often witty, often wrenching songs that show straight for the heartstrings without a hint of cheap hamming."
1948   Flaco Medina, bass, b. Torrence, CA, USA
1944   Dick Miller, Reeds/Composer, b. Melbourne, Australia
1954   Michael Moore II, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Saxophone, b. Eureka, California, USA
1942   Bob Mosley, bass/vocals, b. Paradise Valley, CA, USA. Member: 'Moby Grape', a group whose members include Peter Lewis (b. July 15, 1945, Los Angeles, CA, USA), guitar and vocals; Jerry Miller (b. July 10, 1943, Tacoma, WA, USA), guitar and vocals; Bob Mosley (b. Dec. 4, 1942, Paradise Valley, CA, USA; left band 1969 and rejoined in 1971), bass and vocals; Alexander "Skip" Spence (b. April 18, 1946, Windsor, Canada, d. April 16, 1999; left group 1968 and rejoined periodically till his demise) guitar and vocals; and Don Stevenson (b. Oct. 15, 1942, Seattle, WA, USA), drums and vocals.
1910   Alex North, songwriter, b. Chester, PA, USA. Perhaps his biggest hit was "Unchained Melody"
1955   Brian Prout, guitar/vocals. Member: 'Diamond Rio Band'
1917   Dick "Pixie" Roberts, tenor and bari. sax/clarinet/bagpipes/percussion/background vocal, b. Melbourne, Australia
1939   Sonny Rodgers, guitar, b. Hughes, AR, USA
1951   Gary Rossington, guitar/drums, b. Jacksonville, FL, USA. Member groups: 'Lynyrd Skynyrd' / 'Rossington-Collins Band'
1946   Eddie St. Julian, vocal/guitar, b. Lafayette, LA, USA. Member group: 'Buckwheat Zydeco'
1928   Frank Tiberi, Tenor Sax, b. Camden, NJ, USA.
1935   Lionel Torrence. tenor sax, b. Oxford, LA, USA. né: Lionel Prevost
1972   Justin Welch, drums, b. Nuneaton, West Midlands, England. - Elastica / 'Me Me Me' (consisting of Alex James, Stephen Duffy, Justin Welch and Charlie Bloor.) In 1991, after leaving the band 'Suede', Justine Frischmann (b. Twickenham, Middlesex, England. Sept. 16, 1969, guitar and vocals) formed 'Elastica' with Justin Welch (b. Nuneaton, West Midlands, England, Dec. 4, 1972, drums -formally of 'garage rock' band 'Spitfire'), Annie Holland (b. Brighton, East Sussex, England, August 26, 1965, bass), and Donna Matthews (b. Newport, Gwent, England, Dec. 2, 1971, guitar). In 1995, Dave Bush (keyboards) was added, and Holland also left and was replaced by Abby Travis. Travis later left and was replaced by Sheila Chipperfield (b. June 17, 1976). They disbanded in Sept. 2001. (Frischmann has gone on to write TV commercial jingles.)
1955   Cassandra Wilson, vocals.
1944   Dennis Wilson, vocals, d. Dec. 28, 1983. One of 'The Beach Boys' vocal group.
1947   Terry Woods, Vocals/Cittern/Concertina/Mandolin/Banjo, b. Dublin, Ireland. Member: 'The Pogues'. Terry and his wife Gay Woods first co-founded the band "Steeleye Span" with ex-Fairport Convention bassist Ashley Hutchings. In 1970, they left Steeleye and formed their own "Gay and Terry Woods Band", with guitarist Ed Deane, drummer Pat Nash and Gay's brother Austin Corcoran. In 1971, not long after releasing an eponymous-titled album, Gay and Terry Woods returned to live in Ireland. Their repertoire included traditional folk songs, -many with a strong Irish feel. In the 1970s, after a couple of independent label releases, Terry and Gay divorced in 1980, and Gay relocated to Holland where she formed a rock band, 'Auto Da Fe', with Trevor Knight. Terry settled in the Irish country side with his new wife Marian and their two kids. In 1985, Terry Woods joined 'The Pogues', greatly aiding that group to establish their niche somewhere between punk and Irish traditional music. Terry left the group in the early-1990s. In 2000, hereleased 'Music From The Four Corners Of Hell', which received critically-acclaim.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1927.    Duke Ellington's big band opened at New York city's famed Cotton Club in Harlem. This was the first appearance of Dukes new large group (which continued at that venue until 1932).
1934.    Songbird Ethel Merman, backed by the Johnny Green Orchestra, recorded (for Brunswick label) "I Get a Kick Out of You", from Cole Porters musical, "Anything Goes". She was the show's star.
1952.    Rabon Delmore, Singer-Songwriter/Tenor Guitar/Fiddler, died. Age: 36. Member: The Delmore Brothers, consisting of Rabon (b. Dec. 3, 1916, Elkmont, Alabama, and his brother Will Alton Delmore (Singer-Songwriter/Guitar/Tenor Guitar/Fiddler, b. Dec. 25, 1908, Elkmont, Alabama)
1965.    Composer, lyricist, and singer, Jacques Brel made his American debut at NEw York's Carnegie Hall.
1969.    Jack Payne, leader, vocal, died in Tunbridge Wells. England, UK
1972.    Melvin Lastie, trumpet, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 42
1975.    Bill Quinn, producer/Label owner (Gold Star), died in Houston, TX, USA. Age: 72
1977.    Jimmy Heap, Western Swing/bandleader/guitarist , died. Age: 55
1989.    Connie Barriot Gay, C&W Broadcasting Entrepreneur, and Promoter, died (cancer). Age: 75. b. August 22, 1914, Lizard Lick, North Carolina, USA. He was an advisor to five Presidents and pioneered the use of the term "Country music." In 1935, he graduated from North Carolina State University, and (during the world-wide economic depression) first found work as a street corner salesman, selling pocket knife sharpeners in Washington, D.C. At one time, Gay owned nine radio stations, all playing Country music.
1993.    Frank Zappa, guitar/songwriter/producer, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 52
1998.    Egil Johansen, drums died. (b. 1934)
1999.    Edward Vesala, drums, percussion, died (outside of) Helsinki, Finland. (Age: 54. Heart Failure)
2006.    Dave Black, drums, died in Alameda (near Oakland), CA, USA. (Age: 78. pancreatic cancer)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1954     Let Me Go, Lover! , - Joan Weber
1961     Unchain My Heart , - Ray Charles
1961     Peppermint Twist - Part 1 , - Dee, Joey and The Starliters
1961     When The Boy In Your Arms Is The Boy In , - Connie Francis
1961     When I Fall In Love , - The Lettermen
1965     Sounds Of Silence, The , - Simon and Garfunkel
1971     Sunshine , - Jonathan Edwards
1971     Hey Girl , - Donny Osmond
1971     American Pie , - Don McLean
1976     Lost Without Your Love , - Bread
1976     I Wish , - Stevie Wonder
1982     Baby, Come To Me , - Patti Austin