BIRTHDAYS
1916     Charlie Bailey, (Bluegrass) mandolin/dobro, b. Happy Valley, TN, USA.
1940     Brian Bennett, drums, b. London, England. Member group: 'The Shadows'
1966     Rachel Bolan, bass, b. Toms River, NJ, USA. Member group: 'Skid Row', a group formed in 1986 by Bolan, and (former Bon Jovi guitarist) Dave "the Snake" Sabo. The duo added guitarist Scotti Hill, drummer Rob Affuso, and vocalist Sebastian Bach andthe lineup was complete by early 1987.
1913     Erskine Butterfield, piano/organ. d. May or July 11, 1961
1902     Blanche Calloway, vocal, leader, d. 1978, USA.
1928     Bruno Carr, drums, d. Oct. 25, 1993, Denver, CO, USA. (cancer). One of his daughters, Nikki Carr, is a standup Comedian.
1942     Pat Crumly, Tenor Sax, b. Oxford, England
1922     Joe Dodge, Drums, b. Monroe, WI, USA, d. August 18, 2004.
1942     Barbara Donald, Trumpet, b. Minneapolis, MN, USA.
1914     Arthur Edwards, Bass, b. Ft.Worth, TX, USA. d. USA
1947     Joe Ely, vocals/guitar, b. Lubbock, TX, USA. (some sources say b. Amarillo, Texas.)
1958     Bill Evans, Tenor Sax, b. Clarendon Hills, IL, USA. CAUTION: "Do not confuse with Bill Evans the pianist b. August 16, 1929.
1923     Kathryn Grayson, singer/actress, b. Winston-Salem, NC, USA. née: Zelma Kathryn Hedrick. This coloratura soprano was discovered by MGM talent scouts while singing on the radio. Signed to a contract, and was given acting lessons. In 1941, made her first movie, - a "B" picture 'Andy Hardy's Private Secretary', but was soon cast opposite some of MGM's top musical stars of the 1940's, including Gene Kelly. She was also paired a few times with Mario Lanza, but due to Lanza's hot temper and alcohol abuse, they never got along well. Grayson and lyrical soprano Jeanette MacDonald became great friends. Jeanette became a mentor and an older sister figure for Kathryn. Kathryn's most memorable roles came in the early 1950's. They were, 'Show Boat' (1951) where she played Magnolia, opposite Ava Gardner and in 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953) playing the role of actress Katherine opposite her co-star Howard Keel. In 1956, she left MGM and made a few pictures for Paramount, but soon left the movie industry. She later worked in nightclubs and on stage. In 1941, Grayson married actor John Shelton, there were no offsprings and the couple divorced in 1946. In 1947, she married actor/singer/solngwriter Johnnie Johnston. The marriage produced one daughter before also ending in divorcce in 1951. In 2002, interestingly, Miss Grayson was (happily) still active and teaching Voice.
1947     Major Harris III, vocals, b. Richmond, VA, USA. Member group: 'The Delfonics'. Talk of a musical family, Harris' grandparents worked in vaudeville, his father was a professional guitarist, and his mom led the church choirs. His brother, Joe Jefferson, is a Philadelphia songwriter who penned many of 'The Spinners' hits, including "Mighty Love," "Love Don't Love Nobody," and "One of a Kind Love Affair." Major's cousin is Philadelphia stalwart Norman Harris, a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and former record company owner. Early in Major's career, he sang with 'The Charmers', was briefly a member of 'Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers', and recorded with 'The Jarmels'. During this period, he also had solo single releases on Laurie and Okeh Records. Major later sang with 'Nat Turner's Rebellion' (Philly Grove Records). However, none of these efforts brought him fame or success. Harris' first big break came when he joined 'The Delfonics', when re replaced Randy Cain.
1937     Johnny Heartsman, guitar/organ/flute, b. ??San Francisco, CA, USA.
1910     "Peanuts" Holland, Trumpet/Vocal, b. Norfolk, VA, USA. d. 1979, USA
1942     Carole King, singer/songwriter. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. né: Carole Klein. (best tune: "It Might As Well Rain Until September")
1939     Red Lane, C&W singer-songwriter/guitar, b. Bogalusa, LA, USA. né: "Hollis Rudolph DeLaughter"
1914     Gypsy Rose Lee, 'striptease' actress/writer, b. Seattle, WA, USA, d. April 26, 1970, Los Angeles, CA, USA. (cancer). née: Rose Louise Hovick. Her sister was actress, June Havoc.
1970     Danni Leigh, C&W vocals, b. Strasburg, VA, USA. In 1994, Leigh relocated to Nashville, TN, and found work as a waitress at the popular songwriters' haven the 'Bluebird Cafe'. While working there, she was befriended by Michael Knox, vice president of creative services at Warner-Chappell Publishing. Knox helped to produce her first demo recordings, and, in 1998, also co-produced Leigh's Decca label debut "29 Nights". In early 2001, her "Shot of Whiskey" and "A Prayer" were issued.
1944     Barbara Lewis, vocals. b. Salem, MI, USA. Best recalled singles: "Make Me Your Baby", "Hello Stranger", and "Baby Im Yours"
1927     Joe Maneri, Sax/Clarinet, b. New York (Brooklyn), USA. né: Joseph Gabriel Esther Maneri.
1939     Barry Mann, singer-songwriter, b. New Yori (Brooklyn), NY, USA. Mann, collaborating with Cynthia Weil, composed dozens of 1960s & '70s hit songs. Perhaps his best recalled composition is "Blame In On The Bossa Nova", a big hit for singer Edye Gorme. However, he also composed the heart rending tune "Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp Ba Bomp Bomp)"
1906     Freddie Martin, leader/sax, b. Cleveland, Ohio, USA d. September 30, 1983, Newport Beach, California, USA.
1970     Rich McCready, C&W vocals/guitar. né: Richard Wayne McCready.
1909     Carmen Miranda, vocals/actress, b. Marco de Canavezes, Portugal (near Lisbon), d. Aug. 5, 1955, Los Angeles, CA, (Beverly Hills) USA (heart attack). née: Maria do Carmo Miranda Da Cunha. Her Tagline: "The Brazilian Bombshell". "The lady with the tutti-frutti hat" was immediately identifiable by her bare-midriff costumes and elaborate, fruit-covered headwear. She delighted movie audiences with her energetic singing and dancing, and with her endless, often hysterical malapropisms. While still a very young child, her parents moved from Portugal to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which is where the young Carmen later became a popular singer in clubs and on radio. During this time, she adopted the costume with the distinctive "fruit hat" from the traditional headdress seen on black women fruit sellers seen on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. In 1933, she appeared in her first film (produced in Brazil) 'A Voz do Carnaval', and was so popular, that other films followed in quick succession. In the mid-1930s, famed theatrical producer Lee Shubert saw her act in Brazil and offered her a spot in his new Broadway show. She played Broadway and New York nightclubs before being signed by 20th Century-Fox in 1940. Her 1940 American film debut in "Down Argentine Way" (co-starring Betty Grable and Don Ameche) was a smashing success. Carmen appeared with her own Brazilian band (in Technicolor segments photographed in New York). From that moment on, she was a star, becoming a fixture in Fox musicals during the World War II years. Unfortunately, Carmen became trapped in the image of a foreign bimbo who didn't know English. On March 17, 1947, Carmen married David Sebastian, who had produced one of her films, "Copacabana". This abusive and opportunistic brute made Carmen's life hell, but Carmen , a good Catholic, never considered a divorce. She maintained a grueling schedule of shows, taking 'uppers' and 'downers' to remain functional, all of which soon damaged her health. Eventually, after collapsing, she returned to her native Brazil for a complete rest. Recovering her health, she again returned to America and resumed the grind. This lovely and talented lady died of a heart attack just hours after performing a dance number, on comedian Jimmy Durante's show.
1900     Walter Page, Leader/Bass, b. Gallatin, MO, USA, d. Dec. 20, 1957. né: Walter Sylvester Page. Leader: Page Blue Devils orch., and later with the Count Basie band.
1955     Jimmy Pursey, vocals, b. Surrey, England. Member group: 'Sham 69', was formed in Hersham (South London) and consisted of Pursey, Neil Harris (lead guitar), Johnny Goodfornothing (guitar), Albie Slider (bass) and Billy Bostik (drums).
1908     Howard Ra, C&W guitar. Member: "The Fruit Jar Drinkers"
1963     Dave Rotheray, Songwriter/guitar, b. Birmingham, England. Member group: 'The Beautiful South'. While popular in Great Britain, the group never caught on in America.
1937     Len Skeat, Bass, b. London, England
1951     Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas, vocals, b. Jersey City, NJ, USA. Member group: 'Kool & the Gang'
1963     Travis Tritt, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Marietta, GA, USA.
1914     Ernest Tubb, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Crisp, TX, USA, d. Sept 6, 1984. né: Ernest Dale Tubb
1961     Steve Wilson, tenor sax/flute, b. Hampton, Virginia, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1939.    Herschel Evans, tenor sax, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 30
1964.    Beatles appear on the Ed Sullivan TV show.
1964.    Willie Bryant, piano, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 55
1977.    Buddy Johnson, piano/songwriter, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 62
1980.    Charlie Fowlkes, bari sax, died in Dallas, TX, USA. Age: 63
1981.    Bill Haley died in Harlingen, TX, USA. Age: 55. 'Bill Haley and The Comets' recorded "Rock Around the Clock", which became the rock and roll anthem.
1981.    Bill Haley, guitar/leader/vocals, died in Harlingen, TX, USA. Age: 55
1987.    Gabe Prince, guitar, died in Memphis, TN, USA. Age: 57
1988.    "Big Bob" Phifer, guitar, died in Los Angeles, CA
1991.    "Guitar Slim" (né: James Stephens), guitar, died in Greensboro, NC, USA. Age: 75
1991.    Rev. James Cleveland, piano/songwriter, died in Culver City, CA, USA. Age: 59
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1944    "Pistol Packin Mama", - Al Dexter vocal
1951    "Mockin' Bird Hill", Les Paul
1952    "Slowpoke", - Pee Wee King
1952    "Cry", - Johnnie Ray vocal
1952    "Anytime", - Eddie Fisher vocal.
1957    "Marianne", Gilkyson, Terry & The Easy Riders
1957    "Marianne", Hilltoppers
1959    "I've Had It", Bell Notes
1959    "It's Just A Matter Of Time", Brook Benton
1959    "Charlie Brown", Coasters
1960    "Teen Angel", Mark Dinning vocal.
1963    "Blame It On The Bossa Nova", Eydie Gorme
1963    "What Will Mary Say", Johnny Mathis
1974    "Seasons In The Sun", Jacks, Terry
1974    "Come And Get Your Love", Redbone
1976    "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" - Paul Simon vocal.
1980    "Him", Holmes, Rupert
1980    "Too Hot", Kool & The Gang
1980    "Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)", Pink Floyd
1980    "How Do I Make You", Linda Ronstadt
1985    "High On You", Survivor
1991    "Get Here", Oleta Adams
1991    "Hold You Tight", Tara Kemp
1991    "Signs", Tesla