BIRTHDAYS
1935     Juhani Aaltonen, alto & tenor saxes/flute, b. Finland. Member Finnish rock quintet: "Tasavallan Presidentti" (President of the Republic), formed 1969 consisting of Juhani Aaltonen (sax and flute b. Dec 12, 1935), Mâns Groundstroem (Bassist, b. April 23, 1949) and Frank Robson (vocals, b. April 27, 1946) Jukka Tolonen (Guitar, b. April 16, 1952) and Vesa Aaltonen (drums, b. March 7, 1950)
1944     Alex Acuna, Drums, b. Pativilca, Peru. né: Alejandro Acuna
1929     Toshiko Akiyoshi, Piano/composer/bandleader/arranger, b. Dairen, Manchuria
1909     Emmanuel Edward "Eddie" Barefield, Clarinet/soprano-alto-tenor-baritone sax, b. Scandia, IA, d. Jan 4, 1991. Studied piano at age 10. In 1926 with Edgar Pillows band. 1927 w/West Virginia Ravens; In 1930 studied clarinet at a Chicago conservatory. In 1931 w/TEddy Wilson; '32 w/Art Tatum; '33 was lead alto w/Bennie Moten; In '34 he was playing with McKinney's Cotton Pickers, then with Cab Calloway who also toured '34 Europe. 1937 w/Les Hite orch.; '38 w/Fletcher Henderson; Also '38 w/Don Redman band playing the Savoy Ballroom (NY). '39 w/Calloway again. In '41 with small combos incl. Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter. '42-6 staff arranger with ABC network. '47 w'Duke Ellington at Hurricane Club and on Radio WOR. '48-9 arranger/conductor for Stage play 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. In 1950 w/Sy Oliver at the Zanzibar Club. In 1951 to Brazil and Uruguay with Cab Calloway. Then worked on and off for Calloway in his Las Vegas (NV) and Miami (FL) revues. In 1958, toured Latin America. '59 at Copper Door (NYC). In 1958 toured Europe w/Sammy Price Combo.
1941     Gary Barone, Trumpet, b. Detroit, MI, USA
1943     Dickey Betts, singer/songwriter/guitar, b. Jacksonville, FL, USA. né: Forrest Richard Betts. Member group: 'The Allman Brothers Band' Dickey Betts has told interviewers that he was born "in the back of a Greyhound bus rolling down Highway 41." In the late 1960s. Betts joined the Allman Brothers Band as second lead guitarist and singer. During that time, Betts composed such songs as "Revival" and the instrumental hit "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed". In 1971, when Duane Allman was killed in an auto accident Betts and Allman's brother Gregg became co-leaders of the band, with Betts writing and singing the group's biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man". In 1974, Betts released his first solo album "Highway Call". In 1976, 'The Allmans' split up, and Betts formed "Dickey Betts Band". In 1978, The Allmans reformed, with Betts contributing "Crazy Love", "Angeline", and "Straight From the Heart". In 1988, Betts formed his own group 'Pattern Disruptive', and returned with the 'Dickey Betts Band' (renamed 'Dickey Betts & Great Southern', in 2002).
1950     "Barry Blue" (né: Berry Ian Green), vocals/composer, b: England, UK.
1946     Clive Bunker, guitar/drums, b. Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Member group: Jethro Tull
1944     Michael Carvin, Drums, b. Houston, TX, USA
1942     Declan Clusky, songwriter/guitar, b. Ireland. . Member (leader) group: The Bachelors', their 1994 single "Diane" charted UK No.1. (Words & Music by Erno Rapee & Lew Pollack) The Bachelors were a 1960s pop group from Ireland who -in 1964 - put more records into the UK top ten than The Beatles. Founding members Con & Dec Cluskey dismissed John Stokes in 1984.
CAUTION: Do not confuse band with "The Nevada Bachelors", a Seattle, Washington, USA group.
1957     Cy Curnin, vocals/keyboards, b. Wimbledon, England. né: Cyril John Curnin. Member group: The 'Fixx'
1920     Leroy Dallas, guitar, b. Mobile, AL, USA
1923     Bert "Ladybird" Davis, alto sax, b. San Antonio, TX, USA
1946     Bruce Ditmas, Drums, b. Atlantic City, NJ, USA
1923     Bob Dorough, Vocal/Piano, b. Cherry Hill, AZ. USA
1915    Everette "Leonard" Edstron, bandleader/music publisher, b. Worthington, Minnesota, USA, d. March 19, 2000, Palm Desert, Riverside, California, USA. aka: Hal Leonard
1957     "Sheila E." née: Sheila Escovedo, drums, b. San Francisco, CA, USA. This remarkable African-American & Mexican drummer/percussionist also plays violin, as well as singing. She is the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo, and often performs with him. (Pete Escovedo, worked briefly with "Santana" and led the Latin-jazz fusion band "Azteca", with which Sheila E. sat in while still in high school.) Her uncle is Alejandro Escovedo, formerly with Delphine Neid's first-wave punk rock group 'The Nuns', now with 'The Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra'. In 1984, she became a Prince protegée scoring such hits with him as "The Glamorous Life" (Hot 100 #7), "The Belle Of St. Mark" (#34) and "A Love Bizarre" (#11). As a member of the Prince organization, she served as his drummer and musical director in his backup band, the 'New Power Generation'. She also served as a writer and musician on many of Prince's records, as well as proteges such as Apollonia 6. In 1989, Sheila E left the Prince organization. In 2000, Sheila co-composed (and produced) the music for the first Latin Grammy Awards. She also returned to recording with a Latin Jazz album, "Writes Of Passage". Sheila E. is the "aunt" of socialite Nicole Richie and business partner of singer and former 'Bride of Funkenstein', Lynn Mabry. Together, Lynn and Sheila formed a foundation, the 'Lil Angel Bunny Foundation', to help abused children.
1907     Fred Elizalde, Piano/Leader, b. Manila, Philippines, d. Jan. 16, 1979. (some sources say d. 1972)
1938     Connie Frances, Pops Vocalist, b. Newark, NJ, U.S.A. née: Concetta Franconero
1950     Richard Galliano, bandoneon/accordion/composer
1896     Jay Gorney, Composer, b. Bialystok, Russia, d. June 14, 1990. né: Daniel Jason Gorney. In 1932, Gorney scored musical 'Americana', the big hit from the show was "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" (lyric by E. Y. "Yip" Harburg). This song, played throughout the Great Depression years, is still used as a symbol of hard economic times.
1940     Nelson Harrison, trombone
1941     Tim Hauser, vocals, b. Troy, New York, USA. Best recalled for his work with the wonderful choral group "Manhattan Transfer", founded by Alan Paul (b. Nov. 23, 1949, Newark, New Jersey, USA., Janis Siegel (July 23, 1952, New York (Brooklyn), New York, USA), Laurel Massé (Dec. 29, 1951, Holland, Michigan, USA), and Tim Hauser. (b. Dec. 12, 1941, Troy, New York, USA) Their 1977 release "Chanson D'amour" hit No.1 in the UK (and more or less flopped in USA)
1942     Mike Heron, guitar, b. Glasgow, Scotland. Member group: 'Incredible String Band', UK folk group was formed in 1965 in Glasgow, Scotland, at "Clive's Incredible Folk Club" originally consisting of the duo Robin Williamson (multi-instrruments, b. Nov. 24, 1943, Edinburgh, Scotland), and Mike Heron (b. Dec. 12, 1942, Glasgow, Scotland). Shortly afterwards, the duo became a trio with the addition of Clive Palmer (b. London, England). All the members were fine singer/songwriters. Robin's "October Song" has become a classic and is highly rated by Bob Dylan.
1948     Ray Jackson, Vocals/harmonica/mandolin, b. Wallsend, England. Member: 'Lindisfarne', a group consisting of Alan Hull (Rhythm guitar, vocals, piano, songs. b. Newcastle, b.Feb. 20, 1945), Rod Clements (Bass guitar, violin, songs. b. North Shields, b. Nov. 17, 1947), Ray Jackson (Vocals, harmonica, mandolin. b. Wallsend, Dec. 12, 1948), Ray Laidlaw (Percussion. b. North Shields, May 28, 1948) and Simon Cowe (Lead guitar, mandolin, piano, vocals, songs, b. Jesmond Dene, b. April 1, 1948).
1920     Dick James, label owner ( DJM Records), b. London, England, UK
1954     Jeff Johnson, bassist, b. Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Johnson was playing rock music in his sixth-grade band, and by just age 15, was already a serious jazz player. By age 20, he was was playing with leading jazz figures in Philadelphia. Over his career, he has played with such Jazzmen as "Philly" Joe Jones, Charlie Rouse, Barney Kessel, Chet Baker, Lew Tabackin, Eddie Daniels, Mark Murphy, among others. His bass has been heard in combos headed by John Bishop, Richard Cole, and Steve Korn, and has also backed singer Kendra Shank. He has led his own group on two albums; "Free" (1994), and "The Art of Falling" (1998).
CAUTION: Do not confuse with:
--1.) Guitarist Jeff Johnson who has played (among others) with the 'Michael Denny Quartet' comprised of guitarist Michael Denny, tenor saxophonist Rick Mandyck, bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer John Bishop. (Michael Denny currently (2005) instructs at the Univ. of Oregon.)
--2.) 'Celtic' vocalist Jeff Johnson, b. 1956, Portland, OR, USA. In 1978, he graduated from Portland State University and began devoting his attention to Ark Studios, which he'd built in 1976 in his family's house near Portland, Oregon. He also established Ark Productions (now ArkMusic), which has been home to every Jeff Johnson project since 1977. Currently (2005), he lives on Camano Island, Washington, with his wife and daughter.
--3.) Contemporary Celtic vocals, and keyboards Jeff Johnson born in 1956 near Portland, Oregon, USA.
--4.) Acoustic rock singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Jeff Johnson. Originally from Detroit, Johnson moved to Mississippi in 2002
1914     Laurence "88" Keyes, piano, b. Kansas City, KS, USA
1941     Terry Kirkman, multi-instruments, b. Salina, KS, USA. Member group: 'The Association'
1928     "Lonesome Sundown" né: Cornelius Green, (swamp blues) guitar. né: Cornelius Green. (his 'Lonesome' moniker was a gift from his producer, J.D. Miller) For a while, 'Lonesome' and Phillip Walker both worked with Zydeco star Clifton Chenier. In 1965, he retired from the Blues music world, and devoted his life to the church. In 1977, 'Sundown' was coaxed back into a studio where he cut the Blues LP "Been Gone Too Long", co-produced by Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker for the Joliet label. It enjoyed rather disappointing sales. After that, he never again recorded and was only heard occasionally in live performance.
1946     Gloria Loring, vocals/actress, b. New York, NY, USA.
1925     Lars Lystedt, Trombone/Valve Trombone/Trumpet/Bandleader/writer, b. Umea, Sweden
1925     Michael "Dodo" Marmarosa, Piano, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA. d. Sept. 17, 2002 Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
1907     Allen Massey, C&W guitar and banjo, b. Texas, USA. d. 1983, Texas, USA. Age: 75. Member: "Louise Massey & the Westerners" The Westerners consisted of Milt Mabie, bass fiddle (1934), Larry Wellington, accordion (1934), Dott Massey, violin and trumpet (1934), Louise Massey Mabie, singer and pianist (1934), and Allen Massey, guitar and banjo specialist ( Louise, Dott and Allen are sister and brothers. Milt was "adopted" by Louise several years prior to 1934.) They grew up on a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico but took up music instead of 'cow-punching'. Their music has been described variously as both "...the rollicking songs of the West..." , and also '...like the soft breeze that whispers across the desert at sunset...' They were also quite adept at playing modern Pop.
1964     Mark Mondesir, Drums, b. Stepney, England
1925     Leighton Noble, leader/vocals, b. Pasadena, California, USA, d. March 6, 1994. né: Faye Leighton Jepsen. Following the divorce of his parents as a child he took on the last name of his stepfather, Joseph Noble, dropping the first name of Faye because he felt it was too feminine sounding. He was taught to play piano by his mother and an older sister, and formed his first band, the Blue Blazers, while attending Pasadena High School.
1961     Daniel O'Donnell, Guitar/Vocals, b. Kincasslagh, County Donegal, Ireland.
1942     Mike Pinder, vocals/piano/mellotron, b. Birmingham, England, UK Member: 'Moody Blues', formed in Birmingham, England, May 1964, and first known as "The Moody Blues Five (M&B5)". They took their name from the M&B brewing company hoping for company sponsorship. The group consisted of Graeme Edge (b. 30 March 1941, Rochester, Staffordshire, England; drums), Denny Laine (b. Brian Hines, 29 October 1944, Jersey, Channel Islands; vocals/harmonica/guitar. He left in 1966), Mike Pinder (vocals/piano/mellotron), Ray Thomas (b. 29 December 1942, Stourport on Severn, England; flute/vocals/harmonica), and Clint Warwick (b. Albert Clinton Eccles, 25 June 1940, Birmingham, England, d. 15 May 2004, Birmingham, England; bass. He left 1966). Warwick and Laine departed in November 1966 to be replaced by Justin Hayward (b. 14 October 1946, Swindon, Wiltshire, England) and John Lodge (b. 20 July 1945, Birmingham, England).
Definition MELLOTRON: Originally called the 'Chamberlin MusicMaster', after it's inventor, it used pre-recorded tapes mounted inside a keyboard instrument in such a way that, whenever you pressed a key, whatever sound recorded on the tape emerged through the instrument's amplifier and speakers. Patented in 1949, the Mellotron has had a chequered history, from a 1960s 'must-have' to 1980s has-been. ( Norm Leete's,website http://members.aol.com/tronpage/, has a technical explanation, including diagrams and pictures, which can be found under the 'How It Works' link on the left-hand menu bar.)
1932     Charlie Rich, piano/songwriter, b. Colt, AR, USA
1942     Peter Sarstedt, vocals, b: England
1963     Eric Schenkman, Guitar/violin/Songwriter. Member: 'The Spin Doctors', and 'Cork'. Cork included Eric Shenkman, Noel Redding (violin/mandolin/guitar, b. Dec. 25, 1945, Folkstone, Kent, England), Mark White (bass/guitar/keyboards/trumpet/vocals, b. July 7, 1962, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.), Charles Karp (guitar, b. April 13, 1953, Washington , D.C., USA), Ed Canova (bass guitar/vocals/acoustic guitar, b. April 26, 1949, New York (Staten Island), NY, USA), and Windsor (Tito) Pediford II (multi-instruments, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA) Talk of a musical family, Eric's mother is a flutist. His father, Peter Schenkman played cello with the St. Lewis, Boston, and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, and has even performed with Gordon Lightfoot. Eric's grandfather, Edgar Schenkman won the 1917 viola contest at Carnegie Hall. He was the Conductor for the Richmond, Virginia Orchestra.
1915     Frank Sinatra, Vocals, b. Hoboken, NJ, USA. d. May 14, 1998, Los Angeles, CA, USA (Heart Attack). né: Frank Sinestro (his grandfather's name). In 1945, his mother had his birth certificate altered to Francis A. (for Albert) Sinatra Americanizing his name. Little recalled today, Frank's cousin, Ray Sinatra was a bandleader in New York City.
1943     Mike Smith, keyboards/vocals, b. London, England. Member group: 'Dave Clark Five'
1959     Belouis Some, vocals. b. UK. né: Neville Keighley. His booming voice, and spiky hairdo, enabled Some to earn his own 15 minutes of MTV fame in 1986.
1913     Don Stovall, Alto Sax, b. St. Louis, MO, USA, d. Nov. 20, 1970, New York, NY, USA.
1946     Chad Stuart, singer, b: USA. member: Chad & Jeremy
1940     Frank Swan, drums/bass, b. Amory, MS, USA
1960     Sebi Tramontana, trombone, electronics, vocals, b. Rosolini, Sicily. This 'avant garde' trombonist recorded a number of Italian Jazz albums (with Stefano Maltese and Mario Schiano) before deciding to continue his musical education at Rome's 'A. Casella Conservatorio' in L'Aquila. 1990 was a busy year for Sebi. He graduated, formed his own trio, and joined the all-star Italian Instabile Orchestra. In 1995, he toured Europe with pianist Georg Graewe's quintet (and recorded a duo album with Graewe). In 1996, he played at some North American festivals, and also recorded several albums with the Italian Instabile Orchestra,
1944     Rob Tyner, lead vocals, b.Detroit MI, USA, d. Sep. 18, 1991, (heart attack while sitting in his car in driveway). né: Robert W. Derminer. Member group: 'MC5'
1945     Alan Ward, guitar, b. UK. Member group: 'The Honeycombs', formed in London in 1963, by hairdressers Martin Murray and Ann Lantree., they were one of the first rock groups to have a female drummer. The group included Dennis D'Ell - vocals (né: Dennis Dalziel), Martin Murray - lead guitar, Alan Ward - rhythm guitar, John Lantree - bass guitar, and Honey Lantree - drums (née: Ann Lantree)
1940     Dionne Warwick, Pops Vocalist, b. Orange, NJ. USA. In 1971, The Newport Jazz Festival's reputation destroyed when gate crashers stormed the stage. As a result of this mob action the citizens of Newport, Rhode Island forced the show to leave, and never return. (The festival moved to New York City.) Dionne Warwick was on stage singing "What the World Needs Now is Love" at the time of the incident.
1943     Grover Washington Jr., Tenor-alto-soprano Sax, b. Buffalo, NY, USA. d. Dec. 17, 1999, New York, NY, USA. (Heart Attack - in radio studio waiting to perform) Age: 56.
1927     John "So Blue" Weston, harmonica, b. Helena, AR, USA
1950     Tim Whitehead, Tenor Sax, b. Liverpool, England
1945     Anthony "Tony" Williams, drums, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. Feb. 23, 1997, Daly City, CA, USA. Age: 51. (heart attack following routine gall bladder surgery). From the early 1960s onward, Williams (at age 17) recorded and toured constantly with both his own, and other bands until his death. He worked with such stars as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock.
1918     Joe Williams, Vocals, b. Cordele, GA, USA, d. March 29, 1999, Age 80. né: Joseph Goreed. Vocals first w/Benny Moten Orch (Kansas City, MO), and then with Count Basie Orch.
1972     Hank Williams III, C&W vocals, b. Houston, TX, USA. He is the son of Hank Williams Jr.
1931     Willie Willis, guitar, b. Fairfield, TX, USA
1936     Reggie Young, C&W sessions guitarist, b. Caruthersville, MO, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1951.    Mildred Bailey, vocals, died in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA. Age: 44
1962.    Leon "Abner" Weaver, member: "The Weaver Brothers & Elviry" died. Age: 76,
1967.    William C. Smith, gospel vocals, died in Suffern, NY, USA. Age: 52
1974.    John Lomax Jr., folklorist, died in Houston, TX, USA. Age: 67
1985.    Ian Stewart, piano, died in London, UK. Age: 47. Member: 'Rolling Stones'
1987.    Clifton Chenier, accordion, died in Lafayette, LA, USA. Age: 62. Tag: "The King of Zydeco"
1988.    Jim Bulliet, label founder (Bullet Records), died in Nashville, TN, USA. Age: 79
1991.    Ronnie Ross, alto-tenor-baritone sax, clarinet, arranger, died in London, UK, Age: 58
1991.    Joe Nay, drums, percussion, died in Munich, Germany. (car crash).
1997.    Irving "Mouse" Randolph, trumpet, died
2006.    Dolores O'Neill, vocal, died (She was married to (and divorced from) trumpeter Alec Fila, when both were in Bob Chester's band)
2006.    Kenny Davern, clarinet, soprano sax, died in Sandia Park, New Mexico, USA.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
      1941     Two In Love , - Tommy Dorsey Orch.
      1947     I'll Dance At Your Wedding , - Ray Noble Orch.
      1947     Serenade Of The Bells , - Jo Stafford
      1960     Angel Baby , - Rosie and The Originals
      1960     Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow , - The Shirelles
      1960     Rubber Ball , - Bobby Vee
      1964     She's A Woman , - Beatles
      1964     How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You , - Marvin Gaye
      1964     Amen , - Impressions
      1970     Groove Me , - King Floyd
      1970     Stoney End , - Barbra Streisand
      1981     Shake It Up , - Cars
      1987     Hungry Eyes , - Eric Carmen
      1987     I Want To Be Your Man , - Roger
      1987     Could've Been , - Tiffany