BIRTHDAYS
1925     Lee Abrams, Drums, b. New York, NY, USA.
1936     Ricky Allen, Blues vocals/leader, b, Chicago, IL, USA, d. May 29, 2005, Chicago, IL, USA. (Coronary)
1943     Barry Altschul, Drums, b. New York, NY, USA.
1946     Syd (Roger) Barrett, Guitarist/vocals. Member group: 'Pink Floyd'.
1943     Tony Barron, band leader, d. Oct. 11, 1998
1947     Jacques Bolognesi, trombone, accordion, b. Gap, France
1907     Vernon Brown, Trombone, b. Venice, IL, USA, d. 1979
1932     John Burch, Piano, b. London, England, UK, d. April 18, 2006. (cancer) né: John Burchell. Studied the piano formally from the age of 12. Stationed in post WWII Germany, he played in army bands. He met Graham Bond in the late 1950s and toured European military bases as the leader of a trio. In 1959, he performed in France with the bassist Jeff Clyne and saxophonist Bobby Wellins. In 1960, he joined drummer and composer Allan Ganley's Jazzmakers. He next worked in a band led by saxophonist Don Rendell, with whom Burch collaborated on the 1961 album Roarin'. On the disc, a Burch composition, "Manumission", stood up well against Miles Davis's "So What". Burch and Rendell continued working together through 1962, while, during the same time, Burch also led a quartet including saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith (b. Sept. 26, 1934, Ludlow, England, d, Dec. 17, 2004). From 1964 to 1966, Burch led his own octet, which included Heckstall-Smith, Ray Warleigh, Peter King, bop trumpeter Henry "Hank" Shaw, and occasionally Ginger Baker and a fledgling Scottish bassist, Jack Bruce. In 1966, he worked with multi-saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, and former Charlie Parker sideman Red Rodney, among others. In 1978, Spotlite Records recorded Burch, expatriate Australian saxophonist Ray Warleigh, hard-bop drummer Tommy Chase and guest American trumpeter Jon Eardley in a fine album of hard-driving standards. In the 1980s, he often accompanied saxist Kathy Stobart and toured with such visitors as the soul-jazz musician Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. In 1984, Burch re-formed the octet, this time with the British saxophonist Dick Morrissey (b. May 9 1940, Surrey, England, d. Nov. 8, 2000). He wrote "Resurrection Ritual Suite" for Morrissey. In the 1990s, he reunited with Rendell on a reprise of "Roarin'". He also taught at the Barry Summer School jazz-education project (a young Keith Tippett was one of his students). In 2006, Burch had plans for regular work with both the trio 'Buscopo' and a quintet called 'Jack's Alive'. Just-a week or so before his demise, he had completed a tribute to Ronnie Scott called "Just By Chance".
1951     Jean-Paul Céléa, bass
1938     Adriano Celentano, vocals, b. Italy.
1931     Keith Christie, Trombone, b. Blackpool, England, UK, d. Dec. 16, 1980 (complications of Alcoholism). His brother Ian Christie was a clarinetist. (b. June 24, 1927, Blackpool, England, UK) They co-led an ensemble called 'Brothers Stompers'
1937     Paolo Conte, composer, vocals, piano, vibes, arranger, b. Asti, Piedmont, Italy
1947     Sandy Denny, vocals/piano/guitar, b. London, England, d. April 21, 1978, (Stroke aged 31). née: Alexandra Elene MacLean. Member group: 'Fairport Convention' (1978)
1905     Louis DeVries, Trumpet, b. Groningen, Netherlands, d. Sept. 5, 1935, Zwolle, Netherlands. In 1920, he started professional career working in Amsterdam's Tuchinsky Theatre Orchestra, then followed stints with the Excellos Five (1925-6), bass player Jack de Vries (1926-9 -his brother), in 1929 he was with violinist Marek Weber Orch., and in 1930 with Ben Berlin. During 1931-'32, he worked with bandleader Juan Llossas, after which he again worked with his brother (1932-5). In 1935, he toured Great Britain, and worked with Valaida Snow.
1907     Roy Hall, guitar/vocals, d. May 16, 1943. né: Roy Davis Hall. Member: The Blue Ridge Entertainers
1910     Bruno Henriksen, Piano/Bandleader, b. Copenhagen, Denmark, d. Feb. 27, 1984
1938     Bev Hill, vocals, b. Birmingham, MI, USA,
1962     Michael Houser, guitar, b. Boone, NC, USA, d. August 12, 2002, Athens, GA, USA (Cancer, age 40). Member group: 'Widespread Panic'.
1929     Autry Inman, C&W Singer-Songwriter/Guitar/String Bass/Comedy, b. Florence, AL, USA.
1946     Roger Keith, Lead guitarist. Member group: 'Pink Floyd'
1933     John Kendall, noted for his work in the 'Basement Of Dobell's Jazz Record Shop', b. London, UK. NOTE: Dobell's jazz record shop was at the bottom end of Charing Cross Road in the West End of London, and featured a great selection of second-hand records in a cluttered basement. The upstairs listening booths all had such graffiti as "Bird Lives!" and "Coltrane is God!" Few now recall that it was Dobell's own record label. '77 Records' (named for the street number of the shop), that released Bob Dylan's first recording when Dylan was still calling himself 'Blind Boy Grunt'. Dobell's label also recorded (ca. 1966) 'Gwigwi's Band', when it featured Gwigwi Mrwebi and Dudu Pukwana on alto saxophones, Ronnie Beer on tenor saxophone, Chris McGregor on piano, Coleridge Goode on bass and Laurie Allan on drums.
1949     Chris Laurence, Bass, b. London, England
1934     Bobby Lord, C&W Vocs, b: Sanford, FL, USA
1959     Alex Maguire, Piano/organ/keyboards/Composer, b.1959, London, England
1944     Van McCoy, songwriter/leader, b. Washington, DC, USA, d. 1979 ('soul' music group)
1949     Joey Miskulin, C&W//Polka Singer-Songwriter/Accordion/Record Producer, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: "Riders In The Sky", who tagged him as the "Cow-Polka King"
1941     Danny Moore, Trumpet, b. Waycross, GA, USA. d. Feb. 14, 2005, New York, NY, USA. (buried in Waycross GA, USA)
1964     Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar/Songwriter, b. Liverpool, England. Member group: 'Frankie Goes To Hollywood'. It's hard to say if it was their music, or their political views; or that they were Homosexual Icons, that made then a popular 1980s group. The members were former 'Big In Japan' vocalist Holly Johnson (né: William Johnson, Feb. 19, 1960, Khartoum, The Sudan), Paul Rutherford, vocals (b. Dec. 8, 1959, Liverpool, England), Nasher Nash, Rhythm (né: Brian Nash, May 20, 1963), Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar (b. Jan. 6, 1964, Liverpool, England), and Peter Gill, drums (b. March 8, 1964, Liverpool, England). The promotion behind Frankie Goes To Hollywood was really quite "slick", smart and inventive. It was handled by former music journalist Paul Morley, who utilized such marketing techniques as single word slogans ,and selling T-shirts that offered the enigmatic message "Frankie Says..."
1924     Earl Scruggs, Bluegrass Banjo, b: Flintville, SC, USA
1944     Don Sickler, Trumpeter/arranger/composer/Jazz record producer, b. Spokane, Washington, USA
1917     Harvey Silver, Piano, b. Toronto, ON, Canada
1966     Muzz Skillings, bass, b. St. Albans, NY, USA. Member group: 'Living Colour', in addition to Muzz, members were Vernon Reid, guitar (b. August 22, 1958, London, England); Corey Glover, vocals (b. Nov. 6, 1964, Brooklyn, NY, USA); and Doug Wimbish (b. Sept. 22, 1956, Hartford, CT, USA) may also have worked with the group. and William Calhoun, drums. In 1989; the group earned the MTV Video Music Award for best new artist.
1959     Kathy Sledge, vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Singer with group: 'Sister Sledge'
1906     Bobby Stark, Trumpet, b. New York, NY, USA, d. Dec. 29, 1945
1938     Keith Sterling, Trumpet, b. Melbourne, Australia,
CAUTION: Do not confuse with
--- Reggae keyboardist/pianist Keith Sterling ('Lion Zion'and 'The Wailers')
--- Tombonist Keith Sterling
1924     Earl Eugene Scruggs, banjo/vocals, b. Flint Hill, NC, USA. A bluegrass legend who developed a unique instrumental style that helped to make the five-string banjo a popular instrument. Best remembered as 'The Blue Grass Boys'- Lester Flatt (d. May, 11, 1979) and Earl Scruggs, whose vocal voicings were quite unique.
1937     Nino Tempo, Sax/vocals. Singer with April Stevens
1963     Christine Tobin, Jazz and Pop vocals, b. Dublin, Ireland.
1937     Doris Troy, (Soul) singer-songwriter, b. New York, NY, USA. d. Feb. 16, 2004, Las Vegas, NV, USA. (Emphysema). née: Doris Higgensen. Rarely recalled now, but Doris Troy was backing vocalist on Pink Floyd's album "Dark Side Of The Moon"
1918     Jack Varney, Piano/banjo/guitar/vibes, b. Melbourne, Australia
1960     Eric Williams, vocals, b. Englewood, NJ, USA. Member group: 'BLACKstreet', this platinum R&B/Soul supergroup quartet was formed in 1993 by Riley, Hannibal and vocalists Levi Little and David Hollister; Levi and Hollister left the band shortly after the release of Blackstreet's 1994 self-titled platinum-selling debut. Today, the group is comprised of Teddy "Street" Riley, composer/producer/singer and leader, (b. Oct 8, ca. 1964, New York (Harlem), NY, USA) power-crooner and group co-founder Chauncey "Black" Hannibal (b. Nov. 24, ca. 1964, Patterson, NJ, USA), and new members Eric Williams and Mark Middleton. There have been so many members of 'Blackstreet' that it is unbelievable that they have made threee albums.
1953     Jett Williams, vocals, b. Montgomery, AL, USA. Five days after the death of legendary C&W singer Hank Williams, his illegitimate daughter, Jett Williams, was born to a woman named Bobbie Jett. The next year, his widow (and second wife) Billie Jean (née: Eshliman), married country singer Johnny Horton. Hank's son, Hank Williams, Jr. (whom the elder Williams referred to by the nickname of "Bocephus", which has stuck), daughter Jett Williams, and grandson Hank Williams III are also country musicians. Jett is a fine lady, and a wonderful singer.
1951     Kim Wilson, Harmonica/Vocals/composer, b. Detroit, MI, USA. 'Frontman' for 'The Fabulous Thunderbirds' but his own solo records use bands of his own choosing. Wilson grew up in California. His parents were singers who woked on the radio, and while Wilson took trombone and guitar lessons. He discovered blues in high school. His solo albums are favorites with lovers of classic Texas blues and rhythm & blues, and with Harmonica students as well. His style is heavily influenced by such men as Tampa Red, Roosevelt Sykes and Lonnie Johnson.
1935     Paul Wilson, vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'The Flamingos'
1956     Malcolm Young, R&R guitar, b. Australia. Member group: 'AC/DC'
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1969.    Johnny Moore, guitar, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 62. Member: 'Three Blazers'
1972.    George Boy Simpkins, vocals, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 64
1977.    Keith Coleman, C&W fiddle player with the group "Bob Wills, & the Texas Playboys" died.
1978.    Dick Porter, vocals, died in Sedalia, MO, USA. Age: 46. Member: The Ink Spots
1978.    "Popsie" Randolph, photographer, died in Phoenix, AZ, USA. Age: 57
1979.    Mary Mcbride, vocals, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 87
1980.    Marie Tillman Gordon, vocals, died in Inkster, MI, USA. Age: 35. Member: 'The Marvelettes'
1981.    Bobby Fields, tenor sax, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 52
1993.    Trumpeter, "Dizzy" Gillespie died in Englewood, NJ, USA. Age: 75 (cancer). He and Charlie Parker co-founded 'bebop' style music. They claimed that "lesser" (White) musicians couldn't play such music. Bebop never caught on with the larger public, and soon died the death that it deserved. "Dizzy" also composed some Jazz tunes including "Salt Peanuts", and "Night in Tunisia".
1994.    Harold Lucas, vocals, died in Washington, DC, USA. Age: 61. Member: 'The Clovers'
1995.    James Clay, tenor sax, died in Dallas, TX, USA. Age: 59
1996.    Chubby Wise "Robert Russell Dees," C&W fiddler, died. Age: 80
1998.    William "Owen" Bradley, C&W Piano/Organ/Trombone/Arranger/Bandleader/Record Producer, died. Age: 82 (b. Oct. 21, 1915, Westmoreland, TN, USA.
1999.    Michel Petrucciani, piano, died
2002.    Bobby Austin "Robert Allen Austin Sr.", C&W singer-songwriter who co-wrote "Apartment #9." died in Camas, Washington, USA. Age: 68
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
       1944 Besame Mucho, - Jimmy Dorsey
       1944 My Ideal, - Jimmy Dorsey
       1950 Rag Mop, - Ames Brothers
       1958 Stroll, The, - Diamonds
       1958 Sugartime, - McGuire Sisters
       1962 Little Bitty Tear, A, - Burl Ives
       1962 Baby It's You, - Shirelles
       1968 Nobody But Me, - Human Beinz
       1968 Goin' Out Of My Head / Can't Take My Eye, - The Lettermen
       1973 Rocky Mountain High, - John Denver
       1979 Don't Cry Out Loud, - Melissa Manchester
       1979 Somewhere In The Night, - Barry Manilow