BIRTHDAYS
1980     Christina Maria Aguilera, vocals, b. New York (Staten Island), NY, USA.
1941     Sam Andrews, guitar, b. San Francisco, CA, USA. Member group: 'Big Brother & the Holding Company'. Think of Mick Jagger and the 'Rolling Stones', or Freddie Mercury for 'Queen', and you'll soon think of Janis Joplin and 'Big Brother & the Holding Company'. The band will forever be remembered as the group that gave Janis Joplin her start. At the time Joplin joined in mid-1966, the lineup was Sam Andrew and James Gurley on guitars, Peter Albin on bass, and David Getz on drums.
1980     Lyndsay Armaou, vocalist, b. Athens, Greece. Member group: 'B*Witched'.
1915     Grace Barrie, vocalist, d. July 1978, Sang with Abe Lyman and Dick Stabile Orchs. (Married Dick Stabile.)
1933     Lonnie Brooks, (Blues) vocals/guitar, b. (on a farm near) Dubuisson, LA, USA. né: Lee Baker. aka: "Guitar Junior".
1966     Tracy Lynn Byrd, (New) C&W vocals/guitar, b. Vidor, TX, USA.
1904     Wilf Carter, C&W guitar/singer/Yodeler, b. Port Hilford, N.S., Canada, d. Dec. 5, 1996 (aka: "Montana Slim")
1941     Bryan "Chas" Chandler, Producer, b: Newcastle Tyme, Great Britain
1920     Willis Conover, broadcaster, b. Buffalo, NY, USA. d. May 17, 1996, Alexandria, VA, USA. Willis ran "Voice of America's" Jazz programming for many years.
1949     Alyrio Lima Cova, Percussion, b. Salvador-Bahia, Brazil
1914     "Pee Wee" Crayton, Guitar/Vocal, b. Rockdale, TX, USA. d. 1985
1963     Greg D'Angelo, drums, b. New York, NY, USA. Member groups: 'Anthrax', and 'White Lion'.
1966     Steve Dullaghan, bass guitar, b. Coventry, England. Member group: 'Primitives'.
1953     Elliot Easton, guitar/vocals. Member group: 'The Cars'.
1956     Elios Ferre, guitar, b. Paris, France
1924     Alan Martin Franks, Trumpet/Flugelhorn, b. England, UK, d. 1992
1919     Barry Galbraith, Guitar, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA. d. Jan. 13, 1983, Bennington, VT, USA. Age: 63 (cancer ). In the late 1930's, Barry worked with vibraphonist Red Norvo and, during 1941 to 1942, was a featured player with the Claude Thornhill orchestra, before becoming a member of the U. S. Army during WWII, and again in 1946 to 1949, after his service discharge. In 1953, he toured with Stan Kenton's band, but from 1949 through the 1970's, he worked mainly in New York recording studios as a sessions musician. He also played with the Benny Goodman, Tal Farlow, George Russell, Les and Larry Elgart, and Gil Evans orchestras, and helped to back singers Ella Fitzgerald, Sheila Jordan, Sarah Vaughan, Andy Williams, and Tony Bennett, among others. He recorded as part of the 'Music Minus One' series, discs of rhythm-section accompaniments for home players. Galbraith was the featured soloist on "Barry's Tune", and on Gil Evans's "Into the Hot". In the 1970s, he began to teach at the New England Conservatory of Music, and wrote books of guitar studies. While Barry recorded extensively in the 1950's and '60's, he only recorded one album as a leader (for Columbia). CAUTION: Do not confuse this guitarist Barry Galbraith, with trumpeter Gus Galbraith (see the April 18 calendar).
1958     "Geordie", guitar, b. Newcastle, England. né: K. Walker. Member group: 'Killing Joke', the original line-up had 'Jaz' Coleman (vocals and keyboards, b. Cheltenham, England. né: Jeremy Coleman), 'Geordie' (guitar, b. Newcastle, England, né: K. Walker) and 'Youth' (bass, b. Dec. 27, 1960, Africa. n´: Martin Glover). (The band later were joined on drums by Dave Grohl.)
1928     Ira Gitler, Writer, b. New York, NY, USA. (also producer for Prestige Records)
1916     Betty Grable, actress/vocals, b. St. Louis, MO, USA. d. July 2, 1973, Santa Monica, CA, USA. Lung Cancer. née: Ruth Elizabeth Grable. aka: Frances Dean in her early films. Her mother Lillian, a materialist female, was the driving force. She enrolled "Ruth" in dancing school at just age 3, and ten years later, she and "Ruth" set out for Hollywood. Lillian, lying about her daughter's age, got her some very minor film parts. (This writer recalls her walk-on performance of "Let's Knock Knees" with Edward Everett Horton in the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers flick -"Top Hat".) In 1930, she was seen (minor roles) in 'Whoopee'; 'New Movietone Follies', 'Let's Go Places', and 'Happy Days'. In 1932, Betty signed with RKO and got a major part in the 1934 film 'By Your Leave' was featured again in 1936 film 'College Swing'. In 1936, she married Jackie Coogan, who helped her career. (They were divorced in 1940.) Finally, in 1940, stardom came her way when she was featured in 'Down Argentine Way' with Don Ameche. Her 1943 films "Sweet Rosie O'Grady' and 'Coney Island' further boosted her fame. Also in 1943, Betty married bandleader Harry James, who had established his fame as a trumpeter in the Benny Goodman band. She became the leading star of Hollywood's Lavish musicals, - replacing Alice Faye (Mrs Phil Harris) who had held that position. In 1944, a still photo of her backside became perhaps the best known Pin-Up", in WW2 barracks. In 1946-47, the Treasury Department noted that she was the highest paid woman in America, receiving $300,000 a year. During the late 1940s, 20th Century-Fox insured her legs with 'Lloyds of London' for a quarter million dollars. She was a successful film star until Hollywood musicals went into decline in the mid-1950s. (Her last film was 1955s 'How To Be Very, Very Popular'. She then concentrated on the Cafe circuit and on Broadway.) In 1965, she and Harry James were divorced. Their marriage had lasted 22 years, - a long time by Hollywood standards. Betty died on July 5, 1983 (Lung Cancer) exactly 30 years (to the day) after she and James had wed. She had believed in 'Family' more than stardom.
1964     Robson Green, vocals/actor, b. Hexham, Northumberland - England.
1927     Dick Grove, Arranger, Piano,composer, educator, b. Lakeville, IN, USA.
1922     Buddy Hagans, tenor sax, b. Bogalusa, LA, USA
1932     Don Heckman, alto sax, clarinet, writer, critic, b. Reading, PA, USA
1897     Fletcher Henderson, Piano, Leader, arranger, accompanist, composer, b. Cuthbert, GA, USA. d. Dec. 29, 1952, New York, NY, USA.. né: Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. A graduate of Atlanta University, Fletcher relocated to New York city in 1920, ostensibly for Post-Graduate work in Chemistry, but instead played for the Black-owned Pace-Handy Music Company, where he worked both as the recording dir. for its Black Swan label, and as a pianist with the W.C. Handy orchestra. For a time, he led band on tour with the wonderfully talented singer Ethel "Sweet Mama Stringbean" Waters before forming his own band. His 1920's orchestra was far ahead of it's time. In the mid-1930's, he contributed two of his own band's arrangements ( "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "King Porter Stomp") to the then brand new Benny Goodman Orch. He would later join Goodman's band, contributing the entire "book" of his own original band while also writing new arrangements for Goodman. He not only contributed greatly to the success of the Goodman band, but is a much under-rated as one of the 'founders' of the modern "Swing" sound. Besides Goodman, Fletcher also contributed arrangements to the orchestras of Isham Jones, and the Dorsey Brothers Perhaps his best known composition is "Down South Camp Meeting", but he also composed "Stampede", "It's Wearing Me Down", "No, Baby, No", "Wrapping It Up'', and "Bumble Bee Stomp", and the stage score for "The Jazz Train" (Bop City, New York, NY).
1911     Arthur "Peg Leg Sam" Jackson, harmonica, b. (on a farm near) Jonesville, SC, USA, d. Oct. 27, 1977, Jonesville, SC, USA. né: Arthur Jackson. He first began to play the harmonica as a child after his father bought him a 10-cent harp for Christmas". Worked on his fathers farm until running away at just age 10. In the summers, he hoboed into Canada and New Englandn and in the winters toured to California and Florida. He made his living doing odd jobs, such as digging potatoes in Maine, cutting cane in Florida, preaching in Maryland, and working on a boat in the Caribbean. In between he also served time in a reform school and on a Georgia prison farm. Intermittently, Jackson enjoyed some brief flings at marriage. In 1930, during his 'hobo' days, he lost the lower part of his right leg, when, hungry and half asleep, he fell from a freight train near Raleigh, N.C. After his accident he sometimes "busked" for small change on the street corners. Over the years, his harp playing was greatly helped by local musicians and from Elmon "Keg-Shorty" Bell, a harmonica player in Atlanta, GA. In 1922, Jackson met the Spartanburg guitar player "Pink" Anderson, who was then playing in Dr. Frank "Smiley" Kerr's medicine show. Anderson taught Jackson the medicine-show routine, showing him first how to "crossfire" lines as a straight man. Soon, Jackson was able to take over as the comic. Medicine shows paid well, and for many years Jackson performed in various troups such as those run by "Dr. Kerr", "Dr. Thompson", "old Jeffries" (who weaseled out of paying Peg Leg Sam), and "Dr. Silas Green". Peg's last regular medicine-show performances were with "Chief Thundercloud" (Leo Kahdot, a Potawatomie from Oklahoma, who began his long career playing piano and trumpet in vaudeville). Jackson retired from the road after Kahdot's death in 1973, making him one of the last medicine show minstrels. Interestingly, during 25 years of his career, Peg Leg returned annually to Rocky Mount, N.C. where, for the four month period that the tobacco market was in session, he played on a 15-minute morning radio program sponsored by Fenner's Tobacco Warehouse. (Apparently, Mr. Fenner really liked his harmonica playing.) Toward the end of this period, Peg Leg even appeared on local television. In 1970, Pete Lowry (of Trix Records) and Bruce Bastin (of Flyright Records) met Peg Leg Sam (when they were visiting "Baby" Tate), and these two men subsequently recorded Peg Leg, and also introduced him to the College and festival circuit. In 1970, he was first recorded, playing with "Baby" Tate and Pink Anderson. Before he died in 1927, Peg Leg had appeared at UNC and Duke University, then at Philadelphia, Wolf Trap, Boston, and Washington, at the National Folk Life Festival.
1954     Ellen Joy Johnson, vocals, b. Chicago, Illinois, USA At the American Conservatory of Music, she studied both Classical and Jazz music, and later received her Master's degree in Voice at San Diego State University. Johnson began her jazz singing career in Chicago backed with Willie Pickens, John Campbell, and Paul Wertico. She has since performed at numerous venues throughout the USA. Ellen was also a featured soloist for Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts. Among the artists with whom she has performed are drummer Louie Bellson, Charles McPherson, Jerry Hahn, and Pete Christlieb.
1950     Martha Johnson, vocals, b. (?Toronto), Canada. Member group: 'Martha & the Muffins' were neighbourhood friends from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. In 1975 they all relocated to downtown Toronto hoping for a break in the Toronto music scene.
1930     Al Jones, Drums, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. 1976
1908     Jeanette S. Kimball, piano, vocal, b. Pass Christian, MS, USA.
1955     Jacek Kochan, drums, composer, arranger, producer, b. Krakow, Poland
1928     Harold Land, Tenor Sax, b. Houston, TX, USA. d. July 27, 2001. né: Harold de Vance Land. Best recalled for his work with the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet
1907     Lawrence Lucie, (Jazz) guitar, b. Emporia, VA, USA. Mostly, a non-soloing rhythm guitarist throughout his career, but appeared on many important recording sessions. He studied banjo, mandolin and violin as a child, and played in a family band at dances. Later, even though he studied banjo at the Brooklyn Conservatory (New York city), he became a working guitarist when he started playing professionally. Among the orchestras in which he worked and recorded are Duke Ellington (1932 -he didn't record with the Duke), Benny Carter (1932-'34), Fletcher Henderson (1934), the Mills Blue Rhythm Band (1934-'36), Henderson again (1936-'39), Coleman Hawkins (1940) and Louis Armstrong (1940-'44). Lucie was also on record dates with Teddy Wilson & Billie Holiday, 'Spike' Hughes, Putney Dandridge, 'Big Joe' Turner, 'Red' Allen and 'Jelly Roll' Morton. In the 1950's, besides being a busy studio sessions man, he also gigged with the Luis Russell, Louie Bellson (1959) and Cozy Cole orchestras. When the Big Band era ended, Lucie often worked in a quartet with his wife, guitarist-singer Nora Lee King. He recorded (on his own 'Toy' label) some 'easy-listening' LP's during the 1970's-'80's that often featured his wife.
1929     Galt MacDermot, Composer, b. Montreal, Que, Canada. The son of a Canadian diplomat, Mr. MacDermot attended Bishop's University, and later studied at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. In 1964, he moved to New York City, where, just three years later, he wrote the music for the landmark Broadway production, Hair, which he subsequently adapted for the screen. (Interestingly, in 1972, Dude, his musical follow-up to megahit Hair, was roasted by the critics and ran only for 16 performances.) A prolific and distinguished composer who is perhaps best known not only for his music in Hair, but also for his Tony Award-winning score for Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Human Comedy). MacDermot's work spans the gamut of performing arts. In addition to the above mentioned musicals, he has composed film scores (Cotton Comes To Harlem, Fortune and Men's Eyes, Mistress), ballet scores (La Novela, Salome), chamber music (Wind Quintet), the Anglican Liturgy (The Mass in F), poetry (The Thomas Hardy Songs), drama accompaniments (The Sun Always Shines For The Cool, The Shooting of Dan McGrew), and band repertory. His musical interests run the gamut from Classical styles to Jazz, folk, Gospel, and even Reggae. In 1979, MacDermot formed the 'New Pulse Jazz Band' which included Vincent MacDermot (trombone), Allen Won (tenor and soprano saxophone), Charlie Brown (guitar), Wilbur Bascomb (Fender bass), and Bernard Purdie (drums). Many young rap artists find his music to be a good setting for their lyrics. Some good examples of this are Run DMC's Grammy award-winning "Down With The King", and Busta Rhymes' "Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check", a Billboard's top chart-buster (which was derived from MacDermot's Martine's Movie/Woman is Sweeter). Galt has also performed twice at New York's famed Carnegie Hall, - to sold out audiences.
1959     Grant Marshall, guitar, b. Canada. a.k.a. "Daddy G". Member group: 'Massive Attack', "MA" was.a loose UK collective, formed by rapper 3D (b. Robert Del Naja), Daddy G (b. Grant Marshall) and Mushroom (b. Andrew Vowles, Knowle West, Bristol, England), emerged from Bristol's experimental music scene.
1968     Andy Miller, guitar, b. Birminham, England. Member group: 'Dodgy', a trio, formed in the late 1980s, including Andy Miller, Matthew Priest (drums, b. April 3, 1970, Birmingham, England), and Nigel Clark (vocals, bass, b. Sept. 18, 1966, Birmingham, England): Among the other men who have played with the group are Nick Abnett, David Bassey, Mathew Priest, Richard Payne, and Nigel Clark. The band, with their rather catchy, and silly power-pop tunes, was able to maintain a devoted cult following into the late 1990s.
1922     "Big" Miller, Vocal/Trombone, b. Sioux City, IA, USA. d. June 9, 1992. né: Clarence Horatius Miller. Miller was perhaps the last of the old time 'blues shouters', men with voices so powerful they could sing over an entire big band without using a microphone. In the days before the wide spread use of microphones and audio amplifiers, only those performers who could be clearly heard by theatre-goers sitting in the back row of seats had any chance of employment. On the female side, such names as Bessie Smith, and Sophie Tucker ("Last of the Red Hot Mamas") came to mind. It is not well known, but Miller was also a good trombonist, sometimes playing in a big band section, and occasionally using the trombone in a solo feature. While still a teenager, Miller was singing in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) and the city became his adopted home from the 1970s to his demise in the early 1990s. He became an integral part of the city's music scene, -playing in local venues, and often with the Tommy Banks orchestra. (Currently, 2005, Tommy is a Senator in the Canadian congress.) Savoy was one of the first labels to record Miller, who was usually backed by a group first called 'The Clovers', and later called 'The Five Pennies'. In the 1950s, he was a part of the Jon Hendricks revue entitled 'The Evolution of the Blues', which resulted in Miller's Columbia Records contract. Miller was also one of the men who helped to form 'The Edmonton Jazz Society'. which has since grown to be the sponsor of dozens of city-wide festival concerts each summer. (The Edmonton city fathers did have a plan to erect (in 2003) a life-sized statue of Miller in one of Edmonton's city parks.) In the early 1970s, Miller began working in a Jazz program with 'The Banff Centre for Fine Arts', located in the Rocky Mountains a few hundred miles to the southwest of Edmonton. In time, Miller became a member of the faculty. (Interestingly, one of his fellow faculty members was virtuoso jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.) During his long career, Miller also appeared in some films, including a cameo in the Hollywood comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". He also appeared in a Canadian produced surrealistic film titled 'Big Meat Eater' (directed by Chris Windsor). Here is a direct quote of the script synopsis: "Bob's life is thrown into turmoil when he decides to hire Abdullah (The Big Meat Eater) -- a massive human blockhouse of a man -- as an apprentice in his butcher shop. Unbeknownst to Bob, Abdullah has just murdered the Mayor of Burquitlam in a fit of pique -- and the corpse is hidden in Bob's freezer...Abdullah sings the blues while he charcoal grills gangsters and turns dalmatian dogs into spotted spam..." Fortunately, in 1987, the National Film Board of Canada issued a documentary short on Miller, which gave a much better view of the man and his life.
1935     Al Molina, trumpet/flugelhorn, b. San Francisco, California, USA
1885     Sam Morgan, leader, trumpet, cornet, b. Bertrandville, LA, USA, d. Feb. 25, 1936, New Orleans, LA, USA. Sam Morgan was one of only two black bands recorded in New Orleans during the 1920s (Original Tuxedo Orchestra was the other. Only 25 sides were cut during the entire decade!). Morgan's recordings wonderfully demonstrate the early "New Orleans ensemble style" of playing that has now all but vanished. It was surplanted by the "Chicago Style" of Dixieland Jazz, which featured hard-driving solos by talented sidemen. At age 30, Sam suffered a stroke. He died on Mardi Gras day eleven years later.
1941     Bram Morrison, vocals, b. Canada. Member group: 'Sharon, Lois and Bram' (Sharon Hampson b. March 31, 1943, Canada, Lois Lilienstein b. July 10, 1936, Canada)
1956     Chris Murrell, vocals, b. Winston-Salem, NC, USA. In 1991, Chris became the featured vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra. That same year 'Downbeat Magazine' readers voted Basie's orchestra 'Best Big Band'. While with the band, Chris toured throughout the world, including stops at Carnegie Hall, the White House and Albert Hall in London.
1948     Bill Nelson, guitar, b. Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. Member group: 'Be Bop Deluxe', a 1970s British rock group.
1947     Rod Piazza, harmonica, b. Riverside, CA, USA
1908     Buck Ram, composer, b: USA. Best known tune: "Only You"
1923     Bill Reichenbach, Drums, b. Washington, DC, USA.
1908     Raul Sanchez Reinoso, Guitar/Banjo/Leader, b. Buenos Aires, Argentina, d. Sept. 7, 1957
1943     Keith Richards, guitar/singer/songwriter, b. Dartford, Kent, England. Member group: 'The Rolling Stones'.
1918     Clarence Clifford "CC/Peg" Richardson, vocals/guitar, b. Sumter, SC, USA. As a child, he was performing in his uncle's quartet in the Brown Chapel Church. He later told interviewers that his earliest influence was Bluesman 'Blind Boy' Fuller. While still a child, he lost part of one foot in a train accident. During his career, he would play in such bands as Jay McShann, and with Nat "King" Cole.
1901     Irene Scruggs, vocals, b. MS, USA
1904     "Montana Slim", (Western) vocals/guitar/yodeler. d. Dec. 5, 1996. né: Wilf Carter
1941     Leo "Wadada" Smith, flugelhorn, pocket trumpet, flute, Trumpet, Vocal, b. Leland, MS, USA.
1900     Suzy Solidor, vocals, b. Saint-Servan-sur-Mer, Brittany, France, d. March 31, 1983, Cagnes-sur-Mer (Nice), France. née: Suzanne Rocher. Suzy, the original singer of "Lili Marlene", in France, began her professional career on May 12, 1933 when she opened "Parisian life", an exclusively all female cabaret. She openly sang songs which openly affirmed her tastes and her choices as regards sexuality. In the late 1920's, Suzy changed her name to Suzy Solidor when she moved to Paris. There, early in 1930, ahe became a popular singer and opened a chic nightclub called 'Boite de Nuit'. One of the singer's most famous publicity maneuvers was to become heralded as the "most painted woman in the world". She posed for a great many artists, including Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, with the stipulation that she would be given the paintings to hang in her club Eventually, 33 artists contributed portraits of her, and the 'Boite de Nuit' became one of the trendiest night spots in Paris. Perhaps, the best known portrait of Suzy was done by Tamara de Lempicka whom Suzy had met in the early 1930s. Tamara agreed, but only if she could paint Solidor in the nude.
1929     Nick Stabulas, Drums, b. New York, NY, USA. d. Feb. 6, 1973
1946     Elmer Lee Thomas, guitar, b. Oakland, CA, USA. Played with Brownie McGhee
1917     Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Alto Sax/Vocal, b. Houston, TX, USA. d. July 2, 1988
1915     James M. Walker, flute, d. June 27, 1990
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1934.    Willie Smith sang "Rhythm is Our Business" with Jimmy Lunceford and his orchestra. Decca Records (serial number 369).
1957.    Al B. Green, bass, label owner (National Records), died in New York, NY, USA.
1966.    Nick Esposito, guitar, died in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Age: 52
1966.    Marshall Winslow Stearns, author, died in Key West, FL, USA. Age: 58
1977.    Sam Weiss, drums, died
CAUTION: Do not confuse with:
guitarist Sam Weiss, who, in 2001, recorded with the "Scandinavian Hot Club de Norvège,"
Label owner ('Old Town') and producer Sam Weiss, one of the three Weiss brothers.
or even with similarly named bassist Sid Weiss.
1983.    Jimmy Nolen, guitar, died in Atlanta, GA, USA. Age: 49
1987.    Warne Marsh, tenor sax, died in Los Angeles, CA. USA. (while on stage at Dante's a club playing one of his favorite standards "Out Of Nowhere")
1984.    Santiago "Don" Jimenez, (Tex-Mex) accordion, died in San Antonio, TX, USA. Age: 71
1991.    "King Kolax" (né William Little), trumpet, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 80
1994.    Smiley Winters, drums, died in Oakland, CA, USA. Age: 69
2000.    Kristy MacColl, British singer-songwriter, died in Mexico. Age: 41. (Killed when a speedboat ran over her.)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1961     Wanderer, The , - Dion
1961     I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) , - Barbara George
1961     Can't Help Falling In Love , - Elvis Presley
1965     We Can Work It Out , - Beatles
1965     She's Just My Style , - Lewis, Gary and The Playboys
1971     Day After Day , - Badfinger
1971     I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing , - New Seekers
1976     Walk This Way , - Aerosmith
1976     Blinded By The Light , - Manfred Mann
1982     Shame On The Moon , - Bob Seger