BIRTHDAYS
1935     "Chubby" Anthony, vocals. d. Feb. 5, 1980. né: Donald Lee Anthony
1957     Billy Bragg, singer/songwriter/guitar, b. Barking, Essex, England. né: Steven William Bragg.
1939     William Bradford "Bill" Keith, vocals.
1947     Gigliola Cinquetti, Vocals, b: Italy
1944     Bobby Colomby, drums, b.New York, NY, USA. Member group: 'Blood, 'Sweat & Tears'.
1907     'Cousin Joe' (né Pleasant Joseph), Please see 'Pleasant Joseph' below.
1947     Peter Criss, drums, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. né: Peter George Criscoula. Member group: 'KISS'
1930     Ralph Dollimore, Piano/Arranger/Composer, b. Ealing, London, England, UK, d. August 25, 1988.
1924     Arne Domnerus, Alto Sax/clarinet, b. Stockholm, Sweden
1898     Irene Dunne, actress/vocalist, b. Louisville, KY, USA. d. Sept. 4, 1990, Los Angeles, CA, USA. (Heart Failure). née: Irene Marie Dunne. Daughter of Joseph Dunne, a steamships inspector, and Adelaide Henry, a musician who prompted Irene in the arts. She was just 12 when her father died the remaining family moved to Madison, Indiana to live with her maternal grandparents. While in Madison, Irene studied voice and took piano lessons and earned some extra money singing in the Christ Episcopal Church choir on Sundays. In 1916, she graduated from Madison High School and continued studying until 1917 in an Indianapolis music conservatory. Irene then won a one year scholarship contest, enabling her to study at the Chicago Music College, after which she headed for New York City, then the entertainment capital of the world. Her first goal in New York was to add her name to the list of luminaries of the Metropolitan Opera Company. She auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera Comany, but was rejected for being too young and inexperienced. She did manage to join a road theater company. She had continued to study at the Chicago Music College and, in 1926, graduated with high honors. In 1928, Irene met and married a young dentist from New York named Francis Dennis Griffin. She remained with Dr. Griffin until his death in 1965, almost unheard of with Hollywood's elite. In 1929, while appearing in the first national touring company of "Show Boat," where she played and sang the role of Magnolia, she was discovered by Hollywood. She repeated her performance in the 1936 film version. There followed a long string of film successes, with her last film appearance in 1952, after which she was only occasionally seen on TV. In many of her films, theater-goers were treated to her truly beautiful voice. Her public appeal was such that in 1959, President Eisenhower named her an alternate delegate to the 12th U.N. General Assembly. She died at the age of 91.
1922     Walter Eichenberg, trumpet, b. Grossburschla, Germany
1933     Sam Falzone, Tenor Sax, b. Buffalo, NY, USA.
1900     Ted Fio Rito, Leader/piano, b. Newark, NJ, USA. d. July 22, 1971, Scottsdale, AZ, USA. And for his songs, see this Tunesmiths - FioRito, entry.
1918     John Hardee, Tenor Sax, b. Corsicana, TX, USA. d. May 18, 1984. During 1937-1938, he toured with Don Albert. In 1941, Hardee graduated from Bishop College. He first worked as a band director at a Texas school, and in 1942 entered the U. S. Army, serving until WWII ended. In early 1946, while he was playing with the Tiny Grimes orchestra, he also signed with the Bluenote label and ddurning 1946-1948, he led his own group and recorded 18 titles. Over his career, Hardee also recorded with Lucky Millinder, Earl Bostic, Russell Procope, Billy Kyle, Billy Taylor, and Helen Humes. Also in 1946, he teamed up with Jimmy Ford to play at the "845," the most important African-American club in the Bronx borough of New York city. In the early 1950s, he returned to Witchita Falls/Dallas area in Texas, where he taught as a band director at local high schools. Hardee provided instruction to such future stars as Leo Write (from Wichita Falls) and James Clay )from Dallas). (Hardee taught at the Wichita Falls High School, and he also taught at the Lincoln High School in Dallas.) During the last 30 years of his life, he only rarely played, and then only in local venues. In his formative years, he had been greatly influenced by Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry. Although brief, Hardee's time as a major Jazz star remains quite memorable.
1930     Pat Hare, guitar, b. Cherry Valley, AR, USA. Played with both Howlin' Wolf/Muddy Waters, among others.
1975     Graham Hopkins, drums, b. Clane, Co Kildare, Ireland. Hopkins' cousin is Ronan Keating, vocalist in the band 'Boyzone'. His father is the drummer of the 'Guinness Jazz Band'. Member group: Therapy?', a band formed (1989) in Larne, Northern Ireland, originally comprised of Andy Cairns (vocals/guitar, b. Sept. 22, 1965.), Dyfe Ewing (drums), and and Michael McKeegan (bass, b. March 25, 1971). Subsequently Ewing left early in 1996 (due to the strain of touring) and was replaced by Graham Hopkins (drums), with Martin McCarrick (guitar/cello/vocals) added at the same time.
1907     Pleasant Joseph, singer-songwriter/piano, b. Wallace, LA, USA, d. Oct. 2, 1989, New Orleans, LA, USA. Also known as 'Cousin Joe', 'Smiling Joe', etc.
1925     Tiny Kennedy, vocals, b. Chattanooga, TN, USA.
1939     Bill Keith, C&W banjo, b. Boston, MA, USA.
1944     Alvin Lee, guitar/leader. b: England. ('Ten Years After')
1914     Evelyn Overstake, C&W/"hillbilly" vocals, b. Decatur, IL, USA. Member: "The Three Little Maids". Evelyn had a lovely voice and was variously known as the "Melody Maid", "The Little Maid", and "the singer of Dreamers Bay". In addition to appearing on Nashville's "Barn Dance", she also had her own solo programs, including a Saturday morning radio show, on which she often sang "Just a Little Street Where Old Friends Meet"
1966     Chris Robinson, (Hard rock) singer/songwriter, b. Atlanta, GA, USA. Chris was born into a musical family. His parents, Stan and Nancy, are former singers and music was a constant fixture in their home. In 2001, Chris married actress Kate Hudson. (née: Kate Garry Hudson, b. April 19, 1979, Los Angeles, CA, USA.) Her mother is Goldie Hawn (actress; b. Nov. 21, 1945). Member group: 'The Black Crowes', a band formed by Chris and his brother Rich in 1984.
1912     Frank Reysen, piano, organ, bandleader, b. New York (Manhattan), NY, USA, d. June 14, 2006, Nyack, NY, USA. One of the last of the Big Band leaders from the Swing Era, Reysen entertained hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers during a 60-year career as a professional musician.
1949     Marilyn Scott, vocalist
1920     Reinhold Svensson, Piano, Composer, arranger, b. Husum, Sweden, d. 1968
1960     Efrem Towns, trumpet, b. New York (Queens), NY, USA. Member: 'The Dirty Dozen'
1964     Kris Tyler, (C&W) vocals, b. Omaha, NB, USA.
1957     Anita Ward, vocals, b. Memphis, TN, USA. Anita is mostly recalled today as one of the "one-hit wonders" that littered the 1970s disco scene. (The hit was "Ring My Bell".)
1943     Walter "Wolfman" Washington, guitar, b. New Orleans, LA, USA
1907     Paul Francis Webster, composer, b. New York, NY, USA, d. March 22, 1984, Los Angeles (Beverly Hills), CA, USA
1939     Kim Weston, vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA.
1917     Charles "Skeeter" Willis, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Colton, OK, USA.
1940     Larry Willis, Piano, b. New York, NY, USA.
1906     Benjamin "Benny" Winestone, reeds, b. Glasgow, Scotland, Father was a Cantor, Pianist brother killed 1941 London air raid.
1948     Stevie Wright, vocalist, b: Australia. Member: 'Easybeats' vocal group.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1932.    Al Jolson recorded "April Showers" for Brunswick Records.
1945.    E. F. Stevens, Jr., label Co-founder: (Decca)
1952.    Jimmy Boyd's recording of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" reached the #1 spot on the Pop charts
1957.    Walter Page, bass, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 57
1965.    Charlie Burse, guitar, died in Memphis, TN, USA. Age: 64. Member: 'Memphis Jug Band'
1969.    Chris Hunter, drums, died in 1969, in Texas, USA. (member of 'Cold Blue Steel'). CAUTION: Do not confuse with: 1.) Chris Hunter who plays Rhythm/Lead guitar with the band 'Cross Swords'. 2.) Chris Hunter b. Feb 21, 1957, London, England, and who plays the alto sax and flute. (best known in the U.S. for his work with Gil Evans.)
1973.    Bobby Darin (né Walden R. Cassoto) singer-songwriter, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 37 (open-heart surgery)
1976.    Ned Washington, lyricist, died in Los Angeles (Beverly Hills), California, USA.
1977.    "Big Chief" Ellis, piano, died in Birmingham, AL, USA. Age: 63
1981.    Lou Krefetz, manager (The Clovers), died in Baltimore, MD, USA. Age: 74
1982.    Don Law, producer/A&R, died in La Marque, TX, USA. Age: 80
1984.    Leo Robin, lyricist, died Woodland Hills, California, USA. Age: 84
2006.    Peter Sidney "Mick" Mulligan, trumpet, leader, died in Chichester, West Sussex, England, UK Age: 78 (stroke)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1945     "Don't Blame Me", Stan Kenton Orch
1945     It Might As Well Be Spring, - Sammy Kaye Orch.
1946     Winter Wonderland, - Perry Como Voc.
1969     Jingle Jangle, - Archies
1969     Venus, - Shocking Blue
1975     Love To Love You Baby, - Donna Summer
1980     Giving It Up For Your Love, - Delbert McClinton
1980     9 To 5, - Dolly Parton
1986     Touch Me (I Want Your Body), - Samantha Fox
1986     Keep Your