BIRTHDAYS
1974     Nicole Appleton, vocals, b.Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Member group: 'All Saints', a group originally consisting of the Appleton sisters (Nicole, Lori, Lee and Natalie), Melanie Blatt, and Shaznay Lewis.
1924     Boyd Bennett, (Rockabilly) vocals/bass, b. Muscle Shoals, AL, USA.
1938     Charles Bevel, singer-songwriter, b. Swifton, MS, USA.
1963     Claudia Brucken, vocals, b. Berchenz, Germany. Member group: 'Propaganda'
1908     Thomas Hoyt "Slim" Bryant, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Atlanta, GA, USA.
1958     Tim Butler, bassist, b. Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England. Member group: 'The Psychedelic Furs', formed in London, the original 1978 members were Richard Butler (vocals -b. June 5, 1956, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England), Tim Butler (bass), Duncan Kilburn (sax), Roger Morris (guitar), and John Ashton (guitar).
1937     Mike Carr, Organ, b. South Shields Co, Durham, England, U.K. Brother of Ian Carr (trumpet). After serving (Cyprus) in RAF 1956 to 1958, turned professional. Starting Dec. 1963, worked two years in Cape Town, South Africa on piano and vibes with Nolan Ranger Orch., then moved to Salisbury (1965) (then called Rhodesia) playing vibes for two months with pianist Jeremy Lubbock. Relocated to London and freelanced. Briefly accompanied Lita Roza. In March 1966, he changed from piano and vibraphone to organ. Worked with Ronnie Scott. Still in 1966, after working with Herbie Goins and the Nightimers, he formed own trio and found work in Europe often accompanying visiting American musicians. In 1967, he toured Britain with famed saxman Coleman Hawkins. In 1968, he worked in Portugal with with Don Byas, and with the Academic Quintet Plus Two. In 1969, he spent five months working in Mozambique with the Pendulum duo with Tony Crombie (drums). In 1970, back to Portugal where he led own trio (Ronnie Scott and Tony Crombie) and then, from 1971 until 1975, became part of Ronnie Scott's Trio; originally with Tony Crombie on drums, later with the South African drummer Bobby Gien (who died in 1983 aged 44). One of the Highlights was a 1974 appearance in New York's Carnegie Hall, followed by a weeks work at Buddy Rich's club in New York. Carr left Ronnie Scott in mid-1975, when he again led own group. In 1976. he toured Europe with drummer Sonny Payne, and in 1978, toured Britain with drummer Kenny Clarke. In the 1980s and 1990s Carr has led own trio, quartet and group Cargo. Has also accompanied such visiting Americans as tenor saxists Illinois Jacquet, Plas Johnson, Johnny Griffin, Arnett Cobb, and Buddy Tate. Carr owns his own recording labels: Cargo and Birdland. From 1996, he has led own groups and continued to back such visiting musicians as Terry Gibbs, Art Farmer, and Buddy De Franco. Illinois Jacquet, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Johnny Griffin, Sonny Payne and many more. He has toured the world including Australia, South Africa, Rhodesia, Mozambique, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Portugal, England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland.
1942     Harry Chapin, singer/songwriter, b: New York, NY, USA, d. 1981
1913     "Blind" John Davis, piano, b. Hattiesburg, MI, USA, d. October 12, 1985, Chicago, IL, USA. It is interesting to note that in the 1970's, John, a very good person. spent much of his time and money looking after another Bluesman 'Tampa Red', who was then living in the 'Sacred Heart Nursing Home', in Chicago, IL.
1961     Robert Downes, guitar, b. England. - Then Jerico', an '80's UK Band. Among those who were in the band are Mark Shaw (frontman/vocals), Jasper Stainthorpe Rob't Downes (his brother Doug Downes was in 'Fetish Faye' band), Chris Childs (bassist - b. Writtle, Essex, England)
1938     Johnnie Dyer, harmonica, b. Rolling Fork, MS, USA.
1924     Bent Fabricius-Bjerre, Piano/Arranger/Bandleader, b. Copenhagen, Denmark
1879     Rudolf Friml Jr., composer, b. Prague, Bohemia (Now, Czech Republick), d. Nov. 12, 1972, Hollywood, California
1965     Brian Futter, vocals/guitar. Member group: 'Catherine Wheel', with singer/guitarist Rob Dickinson (b.July 23, 1965), guitarist Brian Futter, drummer Neil Sims (b. Oct. 4/6, 1965, Great Yarmouth, England ), and bassist Dave Hawes. At one point, Ben Ellis (b. England. July 23, 1975) replaced bassist Dave Hawes.
1935     Darrell Glenn, (Country Pop) vocals, b. Waco, TX, USA. Darrell's 1953 debut recording of "Crying In the Chapel", was composed by his father, Artie Glenn, and also later 'covered'.by Elvis Presley, who also had a hit with the tune.
1909     Teddy Hill, Tenor Sax/Leader, b. Birmingham, AL, USA. d. 1978. He is now best recalled as tbe operator of Harlem's (New York) Minton Playhouse (The Home of 'Bop'). 1929-31 with Luis Russell band. In 1934, his own band frequently played the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem (NY). Personel included Dickie Wells, Bill Coleman, Roy Eldridge and Chu Berry. Toured England and France in 1937.
1902     Cecil Irwin, soprano sax, saxello, clarinet, arranger, b. Evanston, IL, USA, d. May 3, 1935
1906     George James, alto, baritone and bass sax, b. Beggs, OK, USA, d. Jan. 30, 1995, age 88
1905     Mager Johnson, guitar, b. Crystal Springs, MS, USA. Played with Clyde Bernhardt.
1910     Morry R. Kaplan, label owner (Danceland), b. Chicago, IL, USA
1922     Don Maddox, vocals/guitar, b. Boaz, AL, USA. né: Kenneth Chalmer Maddox - Member: 'The Maddox Brothers and Rose'. Country/Western vocalists.
1942     Johnny Mars, harmonica, b. Laurens, SC, USA.
1917     Billy Moore, Arranger/Piano, b. Parkersburg, WV, USA. d. ??1989.     Billy is recalled not so much for his piano playing but rather as one of the better Big Band arrangers. Moore began his career writing for the great Jimmy Lunceford orchestra where he replaced Sy Oliver, who had left Lunceford to write for Tommy Dorsey. He was soon also writing for other bands including the Charlie Barnet, and Jan Savitt orchestras. In the late 1940s, Moore became a music publisher. In the early 1950s, Moore relocated to Europe where he wrote music for various French groups. From 1953-60, he worked as musical director and pianist for both 'The Peters Sisters', and the 'Delta Rhythm Boys' vocal groups then touring Europe. Subsequently, Moore found work as a staff arranger for a Berlin radio station. In the 1970s, he was working in Copenhagen, Denmark as a freelance arranger.
CAUTION: There are other well known Billy Moore's. There's this Billy Moore, the pianist/arranger, then there's Billy Moore, the well known percussionist, and finally, there's guitarist Billy Moore who played with Slam Stewart among others back in the Swing Era.
Drummer Billy Moore (b. Jacksonville, FL, USA) began playing drums at the age of 10, followed by piano lessons through Stanton Senior High School. He then went on to earn his B. A. in Music and Music Education from Florida A & M University, and his Master's degree in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University (New York city). He has added a Doctoral Degree from Columbia State University in Music and Music History. In 1980, Billy moved to Los Angeles, CA, where he became a busy sessions musician in the records, film and TV studios, as well as operating his own 'Billy Moore School of Percussion'. During this time, he also met musician/composer, Ross Haber and produced/played on three albums with him. He has played for Count Basie, Ray Charles, Earl Bostic, Lena Horne, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr., Nellie Lutcher, Stevie Wonder, Dakota Staton, Redd Foxx, Oscar Brown Jr., Earl Grant, Billy Taylor, Percy Mayfield, The Four Tops, The New Christy Minstrels, Billy Daniels, Diana Ross, George Kirby plus countless others. Drummer Billy Moore has performed in many shows and movies, among them: "The Wiz", "Lee Wiley Story", "The Sopranos", "Bob Hope Specials", "Some Kind of Wonderful", "Larry King Live", "Family Matters", "Uptown", "Lady Sings The Blues", "Evolution Of The Blues", "The Lucy Show" and "Midnight Special" to mention just a few. (He may also have studied at Butler University, Berklee College of Music, and Indiana University. While at IU, he toured throughout the Midwest in a jazz-fusion band as their drummer.)
1948     Gary Morris, (C&W) vocals/guitar, b. Fort Worth, TX, USA.
1954     Mike Nolan, vocals, b. Dec. 7, 1954, Dublin, Eire (raised in Essex, Eng.). Member group: Bucks Fizz', consisted of Mike Nolan, Bobby Gee (b. August 23, 1953, Epsom, Surrey, Eng. né: Bobby Gubby), Cheryl Baker (b. March 8, 1954, Bethnal Green, England, née: Rita Crudgington) and Jay Aston (She came from a theatrical family; her dad was a comedian, her mother an ex-dancer). In others joined the band including Karen Logan (b. May 26, 1970, b. Glasgow, Scotland), and .Shelley Preston (b. May 4, 1964).
1931     Bobby Osborne, C&W Vocals/guitar, né: Robert Van Osborne, Jr. Member: 'The Osborne Brothers'.
1936     Sonny Phillips, Organ/piano/keyboards/arranger, b. Mobile, AL, USA.
1927     Gene Phipps, tenor-alto sax, b. Newark, NJ, USA
1911     Louis Prima, Leader/Trumpet/Vocal, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. Aug., 24, 1978, New Orleans, LA, USA. Died after being in Coma for several years.
1910     Edmundo Ros, Leader, b. Caracas, Venezuela
1901     Irene Scruggs, vocals, b. MS, USA
1948     Ronnie Sessions, Country Singer-Songwriter/Guitar, b. Henrietta, OK, USA.
1960     Matthew Shipp, piano, b: Delaware, USA. Young pianist (active 2002 and 2003) has already released some records. His style combines elements of Jazz, BeBop, and Hip Hop. Studied piano as a child. Often works in group including Gerald Cleaver, Chris Flam, and Khan Jamal.
1957     Anthony Space, keyboards, b. Chicago, IL, USA
1928     Rosemary Squires, vocals, b. Bristol, Avon, England, UK. né: Joan Rosemary Yarrow.
1928     Dick Sutton, trumpet/composer/leader, b. New York, NY, USA. né: Richard Schwartz.
1901     Jack Taylor, guitar, b. Summershade, KY, USA, d. August 4, 1962, USA. Member: "The Prarie Ramblers" (originally called The Kentucky Ramblers, but changed their name when they began to back Western singer Patsy Montana). The group originally consisted of Charles "Chick" Hurt (Mandolin, Mandola, Tenor Banjo, b. May 11, 1901, d. October 9, 1967), Jack Taylor (guitar, b. December 7, 1901, d. August 4, 1962), Shelby David "Tex" Atchison (Fiddle, Vocals, b. February 5, 1912, d. August 4, 1892) and Floyd "Salty" Holmes (Guitar, Harmonica, Jug, b. March 6, 1909, d. January 1, 1970). Subsequently, other members were: Willie Thawl (Clarinet), Alan Crockett (Fiddle), Patsy Montana (Guitar, Vocals), Ken Houchens (Guitar), Bob Long (Guitar), Rusty Gill (Guitar), George Barnes (Guitar), Wade Ray (Fiddle), and Wally Moore (Fiddle).
1948     Mads Vinding, Bass, b. Copenhagen, Denmark
1949     Tom Waits, Vocals, b. Pomona, CA, USA.
1963     Barbara Weathers, vocals, b. ??Greenville, NC, USA. Member group: 'Atlantic Starr', their 1987 single "Always" charted US No.1 and UK No.3.
1903     Roosevelt Thomas Williams, (barrelhouse) pianist , b. Bastrop, TX, USA. (aka: "Grey Ghost") Active from the 1920s on, but known to very few people outside of his home town of Austin, TX. Over his 75 year music career, Williams supported himself at various times by laboring in the cotton fields and cotton gins, bootlegging, gambling, working as a chauffeur, and driving an Austin school bus. However, when the Catfish label re-issued some of his 1965 field recordings, as an LP record labeled 'Grey Ghost', even the poor quality of the recording didn't deter folks from appreciating his talent, and his fame finally spread beyond Austin. He was heard on a "Bluestage" show for National Public Radio as late as 1994, when he was then age 91.
1941     Valerie "Val" Wilmer, Writer/Photographer, b. Harrogate, England
        Notable Events occuring this date include:
1972.    W.C. Handy Jr., died in New York City at age 68.
1977.    Bill Boyd, guitar, died in Dallas, TX, USA. Age: 67. Worked with "Johnny Gimble and his Texas Swing" group.
1977.    Peter Goldmark, Electronic Enginner and father of the LP record, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 71
1980.    Marvin Wright, piano, died. (Not well recalled now but among the stars with whom he played are Harry Geller, Alvin Stoller (dr), Sam Weiss (dr), Rubin Zarchy (tr), Conrad Gozzo (tr), Emanuel Klein (tr), Morris L. Bercov (sax), Pullman Pederson (tbn), Alvino Rey (steel gtr), and such vocalists as the Bell Sisters (Cynthia and Kay Strothers), Clark Yocum, and Gloria Wood.)
1981.    Harry Chapin, (Folk) singer-songwriter/guitarist, died in a car wreck. Age: 38
1981.    "Little" Willie Brown, harmonica, died in East St. Louis, IL, USA. Age: 59. Worked with Charley Patton; Son House, and others.
1982.    Tommy Cogbill, bass, died in Nashville, TN, USA. Age: 50
1982.    "Lovin'" Sam Theard, singer-songwriter, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 78
1987.    Richard Taylor, vocals, died in Kansas City, KS, USA. Age: 47. Member: 'The Manhattans'
1990.    Dee Clark, vocals, died in Smyrna, GA, USA. Age: 52
1997.    Jack Buck, (Dixieland) trombonist, died. Worked with the Frisco Jazz band and with Bob Scoby, etc.
1999.    Kenny Baker, trumpet, flugelhorn, died in (Felpham) Chichester, West Sussex, England
CAUTION: Do not confuse with:
--- Bluegrass fiddler Kenny Baker, b. June 26, 1926, Jenkins, KY. USA. (Both his father and grandfather were fiddlers)
--- Kenny Baker who was a member of the British 'rock' band 'Unicorn'
--- Ken "Big Papa" Baker who played for many years with John Lee Hooker
--- British saxophonist Ken Baker who was mainly active in 1930s British dance bands, (most notably the band: 'Krakajax ')
2006.    Jay McShann, piano, vocal, died in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
        Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1944     Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall, - Ella Fitzgerald
1959     Way Down Yonder In New Orleans, - Freddy Cannon
1959     Why, - Frankie Avalon
1959     Among My Souvenirs, - Connie Francis
1963     Nitty Gritty, The, - Shirley Ellis
1963     Quicksand, - Martha and The Vandellas
1963     Popsicles and Icicles, - Murmaids
1963     Forget Him, - Bobby Rydell
1963     Midnight Mary, - Joey Powers
1963     There! I've Said It Again, - Bobby Vinton
1968     Soulful Strut, - Young-Holt Unlimited
1974     Please Mr. Postman, - The Carpenters
1974     Never Can Say Goodbye, - Gloria Gaynor
1974     Mandy, - Barry Manilow
1974     Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, - Elton John
1991     Tell Me What You Want Me To Do, - Kevin Campbell
1991     Smells Like Teen Spirit, - Nirvana