BIRTHDAYS
1925     Gene Ames, vocals, b. Malden, MA, USA. né: Gene Urick. member: The Ames Brothers vocal group.
1954     John Wolf Brennan, piano/composer, b. Dublin, Ireland. Brennan studied music at the University of Fribourg. He later attended the 'Musikhochschule Lucerne' in Switzerland where he studied piano, organ and conducting. He has written numerous works for theatre, dance and multi-media performances, and his music has been performed throughout Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan. Since 1987, Brennan has been artistic director of Switzerland's 'Musiksommer Weggis'. He has recorded over thirty CDs and records as performer and composer.
1920     Boudleaux Bryant, C&W vocals/songwriter, d. June 25, 1987, né: Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant. Best recalled as part of the "Boudleaux and Felice Bryant(wife)" team.
1957     Tony Butler, bass, b. Ealing, London, England. Member group: 'Big Country'
1944     Stockard Channing, actress/vocals, b. New York, New York, USA. née: Susan Antonia Williams Stockard.
1950     Roger Christian, vocals, b. Merseyside, England. Member group: 'The Christians', comprised of Roger, Garry Christian (lead vocals), Russell Christian (keyboards, saxophone, vocals), and Henry Priestman (keyboards, guitars, vocals)
1918     Irv Cottler, drums, b. New York, NY, USA, d. August 8, 1989
1970     Adam Cruz, drums, b New York, NY, USA. Adam's father is the well-known percussionist Ray Cruz.
1951     Rod Dees, bass. Member group: 'Showaddywaddy'
1945     Roy Dyke, drums. Member group: 'Ashton, Gardner & Dyke'
1919     Joan Edwards, Vocal, b. New York, NY, USA. d. 1981. Joan was the niece of the great vaudevillian Gus Edwards. She is best recalled as the vocalist on the "Your Hit Parade" Radio show.
1962     Rob Ellis, Keyboard/Piano. b. Bristol, Somerset, England. Member: 'PJ Harvey'
1920     Eileen Farrell, vocals, b. Willimantic, CT, USA.
1945     King Floyd, vocals, b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
1919     "Tennessee" Ernie Ford, vocals/guitar/actor, b. Bristol, TN, USA, d. Oct. 17, 1991. né: Ernest Jennings Ford
1958     Mark Fox, congas/percussionist. Member group: 'Haircut 100'
1950     Peter Brian Gabriel, R&R Singer-songwriter/drums, b. London, England, UK. Member group: 'Genesis', a group formed in 1969, in Godalming, England. In 1966 with classmates at the British secondary school Charterhouse, he founded a songwriter's collective initially dubbed the 'Garden Wall', which soon became known as 'Genesis'. In May 1975, Gabriel left Genesis to pursue a solo career. Between then and now, Gabriel has had a successful, actve career, not only in music, but also in human rights causes. At the end of 1997 Mark Fisher invited Peter Gabriel to help create a show for the central space of the London Millennium Dome. In 1999, Gabriel composed the music and the show opened on January 1st 2000. An album of this music, entitled "OVO," was released on Real World/Virgin Records on June 5, 2000.
1952     Edward John "Ed" Gagliardi, bass/vocals, b. New York, NY, USA. Member group: 'Foreigner'
1921     Wardell Gray, Tenor Sax, B. Oklahoma City, OK, USA. D. May 25, 1955, Las Vegas, NV, USA. (Some sources say b. Sept. 28th). As a teenager, Gray first played in local Detroit venues. From 1943-1945, he played and recorded with the Earl Hines band, before moving to Los Angeles, CA in 1945. In 1946, he played and recorded with Dexter Gordon. In 1947, he recorded with Charlie Parker. In 1948, he was a part of the Benny Goodman orchestra. In 1949, he recorded "Twisted", and in 1952 recorded "Farmer's Market" with his own groups. In 1951, Gray relocated to New York city, where he played with Count Basie (both the Septet and Big Band). During 1952-1953, he played and recorded with Louie Bellson. Sadly, Gray was just age 34 when his mysterious death may have been caused by drug misuse.
1908    Lennie Hayton, Piano/Leader, b. New York, NY, d. April, 24, 1971, Palm Springs, CA, Wife, Lena Horne, with him when he died.
1927     Buck Hill, tenor sax, b. Washington, DC, USA. Buck is one of those rare musicians who prefered staying at home rather than constantly touring. During the day, he worked as a civil service postal worker (his original "Day Job" was a cab driver). At night, Hill performed at various local Washington, D.C. venues. While he did record with guitarist Charlie Byrd in 1958, and with trumpeter Allan Houser in 1973, it wasn't until 1978 (age 50) that Hill released his first independent album on the Steeplechase label. His group included pianist Kenny Baron, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Hart. Buck Hill still resides in Washington, D.C.
1903    Les Hite, Leader, alto sax, b. DuQuoin, IL, USA. d. Feb. 6. 1962, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
1956     Peter Hook, bass. b. Manchester, England. Member groups: 'Joy Division', 'New Order', 'Revenge', 'Monaco'
1926     Ron Jefferson, Drums, b. New York, NY, USA. d. May 7, 2007, Richmond, VA, USA. Age: 81.. From the early 1940s through the mid-'60s, Jefferson performed and/or recorded with some of bop, hard-bop and soul-jazz's lodestar figures including Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Randy Weston, Freddie Redd, Joe Roland, Joe Pass and Oscar Pettiford. He was part of Jazz Modes, a group with Charlie Rouse and Julius Watkins that released records on Atlantic During the late 1950s. Jefferson recorded and toured extensively with pianist Les McCann's trio, cut albums with organist Groove Holmes n the early 1960s and appeared on Lou Rawls' 1962 Blue Note offering Stormy Monday. While living in Los Angeles, where he recorded with Zoot Sims and the Joe Castro Trio, Tricky Lofton and Victor Feldman, among others. In 1962, he recorded, as a leader, for the Pacifica label called "Love Lifted Me" and in 1976 he recorded again as leader( for Catalyst) "Vout Etes Swing! ("You are swing!")" -a loving sentiment directed at him by the Paris jazz community he took part in beginning with his relocation there in the 1960s/ . During the mid-'60s, while giving a free concert with his Jazz Choir group in Paris he met Ms. S. Jenika, whom he later married. The mariage produced one child, a daughter, now, Ms. Serene Prat.
1957     Doris King, vocals, b. Nashville, TN, USA.
1940     Rodney Paul Lay, C&W singer-songwriter/guitar/actor, b. Coffeeville, KS, USA.
1900     "Wingy" Manone, Trumpet, B: New Orleans, LA, USA. d. July 9, 1982, USA. né: Joseph Mathews Manone. (some sources say b. 1904)
1967     Arik Marshall, guitar.
1930     Dorothy McGuire, vocals, Member group: McGuire Sisters. Best songs: "Sincerely", and "Somethings Gotta Give"
1958     David McLaughlin, C&W vocals, member: 'The Johnson Mountain Boys'
1927     Jim McReynolds, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Coburn, VA, USA. né: James Monroe McReynolds. Best recalled as part of the "Jim and Jesse" group.
1946     Liza Minelli, actress/singer, b. USA. Judy Garland's and film director Vincent Minelli's daughter.
1935     Charles B. "Charley" Moore, Jr., (bluegrass) vocals, b. Piedmont, SC, USA, d. Dec. 24, 1979.
1945     Keith Nichols,Trombone/piano/keyboards/accordion/soprano sax/tuba/vocals/arranger, b. London, England, UK
1939     Janice Lewis Phillips, C&W vocals, b. Lincoln, GA, USA. née: Janice Lewis. Best recalled as member of 'The Lewis Family'
1947     Ferdinand Povel, Tenor Sax/flute, b. Haarlem, Netherlands
1912     Arthur Rollini, Tenor Sax, b. New York, NY, USA, d. Dec. 30 1993. Adrian Rollini's younger brother. Arthur began his career in the late 1920s playing in New York city, where he had attended Columbia University and worked with The California Ramblers. He spent most of 1929 in London, playing with Fred Elizalde's Orchestra and then returned to New York where he freelanced for a few years, recording with his brother and working with the Bert Lown, The California Ramblers, Paul Whiteman and George Olsen orchestras. But, he is best remembered as a member of the Benny Goodman Orchestra (1934-'39) where his playing and solos contributed to the Goodman band's success. After leaving Goodman, Arthur played with the Richard Himber (1940-41) and Will Bradley (1941-42) bands before becoming a longtime ABC staff member. Regretfully, he played very little jazz in later years, although he appeared on a record date with Brad Gowans in 1946. In 1987, he wrote his autobiography "Thirty Years with the Big Bands". He never led a group of his own.
1961     Henry Rollins, vocals, Washington, D.C., USA. né: Henry Garfield. Member group: 'Black Flag', 'Rollins Band'
1934     George Segal, actor/banjo. While he is best known as an actor, Segal very often plays his banjo with different groups.
1971     "Sonia", actress/vocals, b. Liverpool, England. née: Sonia Evans.
1944     Peter Tork, vocals, b. Washington, D.C., USA. né: Peter Halsten Thorkelson. Member group: 'The Monkees'
1961     Les Warner, drums. Member group: 'The Cult'
1919     "Chickie" Williams, C&W Singer-Songwriter/Bass Fiddle b. Bethany, WV, USA. né: Jessie Wanda Crupe. Member: "Doc & Chickie Williams", a duo of Chickie and "Doc" né: Andrew John Smik, Jr., Singer-Songwriter/Guitar/Harmonica, b. June 26, 1914, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
1966     Freedom Williams, rapper, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. Member group: 'C+C Music Factory'
1974     Robbie Williams, vocals, b. Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, England. Member group: 'Take That'
1957     John Wilsteed, vocals, b. Australia. Member group: 'The Go-Betweens'

         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1867.    The "Blue Danube Waltz" by Johann Strauss first played at a concert in Vienna, Austria.
1914.    ASCAP, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, was formed in New York City.
1941.    "Blind Boy Fuller" né: Fulton Allen, guitar, died in Durham, NC, USA. Age: 33
1974.    Reuben Phillips, alto sax, died in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Age: 53
1982.    Chiemi Eri, vocals, died in Tokyo, Japan. Age: 45. Member: 'The Delta Rhythm Boys'
1983.    Al Perkins, guitar/producer, died in Detroit, MI, USA. Age: 50
1984.    Purvis Scott, bass, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 52
1989.    "Hip Linkchain" né: Willie Richard, guitar, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 52
1996.    Daniel K. Womack, guitar/piano/harmonica, died in Peabody, MA, USA. Age: 91
1998.    Buddy Lee, C&W vocals, died (Respiratory failure). Age: 65
2002.    Waylon Jennings, died in his sleep in Chandler, AZ, USA. Age: 64

         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
      1942    "Moonlight Cocktail", Glenn Miller Orch.
      1942    "Blues In The Night", Dinah Shore
      1942    "White Cliffs Of Dover, The", Kate Smith
      1948    "Slap 'Er Down, Agin, Paw", Arthur Godfrey
      1948    "I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover", Russ Morgan Orch.
      1948    "Ballerina"", - Vaughn Monroe vocal and Orch.
      1948    "Now Is The Hour", Margaret Whiting
      1954    "Young-At-Heart", Frank Sinatra
      1961    "Ebony Eyes", Everly Brothers
      1961    "Walk Right Back", Everly Brothers
      1961    "Don't Worry", Marty Robbins
      1964    "I Want to Hold Your Hand", - The Beatles
      1965    "Hurt So Bad", Little Anthony & The Imperials
      1965    "Ferry Across The Mersey", Gerry & The Pacemakers
      1956    "Rock and Roll Waltz", - Kay Starr
      1956    "No, Not Much!", - The Four Lads
      1971    "For All We Know", Carpenters
      1971    "Proud Mary", Turner, Ike & Tina
      1971    "Sweet Mary", Wadsworth Mansion
      1980    "Coward of the County", - Kenny Rogers
      1982    "We Got The Beat", Go-Go's
      1982    "I Love Rock 'N' Roll", Joan Jett
      1988    "Hysteria", Def Leppard
      1988    "Man In The Mirror, The", Michael Jackson
      1988    "Rocket 2 U", Jets
      1993    "Nuthin' But A G Thang ", Dr. DRE
      1993    "Comforter", Shai