BIRTHDAYS
1969     Jeff Abercrombie, bass, b. Kenton, TN, USA. Member group: 'Fuel', comprised of Brett Scallions - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Carl Bell - Guitar, Vocals, Jeff Abercrombie - Bass, and Kevin Miller - Drums.
1944     George Baker, vocals/Leader, b: Holland. né: Hans Bouwens
1948     Thurman Barker, Drums, percussion, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1937     Shirley Bassey, Pops Vocalist, b. Cardiff, Wales, UK. A fine vocalist whose first fame came as a result of her singing the background music "Goldfinger", - theme song of 'James Bond - 007' picture. (Film also brought actor Sean Connery his fame.)
1944     Bobby Battle, drums, percussion, multi-instrumentalist, b. Dayton (?), Ohio, USA. Battle originally honed his musical skills with a group called 'Ohio', formed 1959 in Dayton, OH. They were originally dubbed the 'Ohio Untouchables', and initially comprised singer/guitarist Robert Ward, bassist Marshall "Rock" Jones, saxophonist/guitarist Clarence "Satch" Satchell, drummer Cornelius Johnson, and trumpeter/trombonist Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks. Bobby does have several albums, but his 2001 release of "Smokin'" perhaps best displayed, his mastery of numerous instruments. In addition, his diverse style of songwriting is perhaps even more impressive. Bobby is capable of writing a Funkadelic-style jam, or a soul-jazz ballad and even Country when needed.
1947     David Bowie, R&R singer/songwriter, b. Brixton, England.
1932     Dick Charlesworth, Clarinet/vocals, b. Sheffield, England
1963     Andy Cleyndert, bass, b. Manchester, England, UK. Cleyndert started as resident bassist at the George Chisolm Club in Manchester, backing visiting Amercians such as Art Farmer and Joe Newman. He has since 1982 worked extensively in UK and international jazz with Bobby Wellins, Don Weller, Red Rodney, Bud Shank, Lee Konitz, Ronnie Scott and many others. He tours extensively with Stan Tracey and his own label, Trio Records, which in 2006 won an award from the (U. K.) Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
1906     Wendell Phillips Culley, Trumpet, b. Worcester, MA, USA. d. June, 1983
1943     Jimmy Elledge, C&W vocs, b: Nashville, TN, USA
1893     Max Freedman, songwriter, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Do you recall his song "Rock Around The Clock" ? First, a big hit for Louis Jourdan, and then a bigger hit for Bill Haley and The Comets.
1942     Bill Goodwin, Drums/Producer, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1941     "Little Anthony" Gourdine , Doo Wop/R&B Vocals, b: New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. né: Jerome Anthony Gourdine. "Little Anthony" came from a musical family. His mother, with her sisters, sang gospel. The name of the group was the Nazareth Baptist singers. and his father played saxophone (tenor, alto). He performed with the Sinclair Orchestra and the Buddy Johnson Orchestra. 'Little Anthony's' three brothers were also involved in music. He is now best recalled as the lead vocalist with "Little Anthony and the Imperials." When 'The Duponts' disbanded, "Little Anthony" and his friends Clarence Collins, Ernest Wright, Tracy Lord and Nat Rogers, formed "The Chesters," but a popular New York disc jockey (Alan Freed) induced them to change the name to 'The Imperials'. In 1964, they scaled down to a quartet, and the sound changed from doo wop to a harder, more uptown R&B sound. Between 1958 and 1974, they had a total of ten entries in the "Hot 100" chart. Happily, the group is still touring.
1903     Edwin (Eddie) Grosso, reeds (all)/flute/electric steel guitar/violin (and many novelty instruments), b. New York, NY, USA. d. July 7, 1971, Mew York (Jackson Heights), NY, USA. In the 1920s, Eddie Grosso went to Europe with the Alex Hyde Orchestra. Upon returning to the USA, he worked with "Fred Hall's Sugar Babies". In the mid-1930s, he played with Russ Morgan Orch, and he also played saxophone and clarinet with the George Olsen Orch.. One of his proudest recordings was the steel guitar solo he did with Russ Morgan's recording of "Blue Hawaii." He left Morgan in 1940 to play with the Korn Kobblers. ( Some information on the Kobblers may had seen in our Freddie Fisher and the Schnicklefritzers, entry. The Kobblers were a novelty band that was broadcast live from 'Rogers Corner', a huge nightclub in New York city, at 50th St. and Broadway. The band also played at Jack Dempsey's Restaurant (in New York) for many years. It also had one of the first TV shows, broadcast live from the New York CBS studio in Grand Central Palace.( The University of Wisconsin has a music museum that has much of the memorabilia from the Korn Kobblers. ) He also was with a radio band "The Rex Cole Mountaineers." It was live on Sunday mornings on New York's radio station WEAF (NBC). (Naturally, Rex Cole of Long Island City, NY. sponsored the show). Eddie Grosso played with a lot of famous musicians doing studio and commercial work (they all did it before they had their bands). Grosso, not wanting to travel, found that he could make a very good living in recording studios. As he grew older, he worked with the New York based 'society' bands of Lester Lanin, and Meyer Davis. Later, he did a lot of advertising commercials and staff work at the radio (and later TV) networks.
(The BigBands Database Plus is indebted to Mr. Edw. Grosso for this information on his father.)
1959     Paul Hester, drums, b. Melbourne, Australia. Member group: 'Crowded House'. Paul's father was an Australian Bushman, while his mother was a Jazz drummer. After leaving Crowded House, Paul was a guest host on various Australian radio and TV shows. He also opened a tea house in Elwood Beach (Australia). Never very far from music, he has collaborated with Richard Pleasance, Deborah Conway (in the group 'Ultrasound') and Penny Flanagan, and is writing songs with John Clifforth, out of the group 'Deckchairs Overboard'.
1943     Marcus Hutson, vocals, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member group: 'The Whispers', an R&B vocal group.
1943     Lee Jackson, bass/vocals, b. England. Member group: 'The Nice', a pioneering keyboard-oriented group that only lasted 3 years. In early 1967 Keith Emerson (keyboards, b. Nov. 2, 1944, Todmorden, Lancashire, England), Lee Jackson (), David O'List (guitar), and Brian Davison (drums) were recruited as a backing group for the touring American soul singer PP Arnold. The group evolved into 'The Nice', -who never hesitated to play rocked-up Sibelius one moment, a twelve-bar blues the next; an original jazz/classical blend or a rearranged Bob Dylan song. In autumn 2002, the reformed 'The Nice' were playing again.
1918     Edward Joseph Julian,drums, b. (?) Boston, MA, USA. d. Oct. 30, 1997. Age: 79. From 1939-'41, Eddie played drums for Les Brown; from 1941-'42, with Alvino Rey, and then was hired by Vaughn Monroe, whose band had been formed just two years earlier. He remained with Monroe for about 11 years, except for service in the U. S. Army during WW!! (starting in early 1943, then re-joining Monroe in Nov. 1945 and stayed until Vaughn disbanded in 1953). 'The Moon Maids' were one of the vocal groups that appeared with Monroe. Over time, their membership varied, and in 1952, Ruth Wetmer became one of the "Maids". She and Eddie were married on July 11, 1953. (After Eddie's demise, Ruth married the trumpet player from the Russ Morgan band. He and Eddie had been very good friends.) Subsequently, Eddie joined the Russ Morgan orchestra ("Music in the Morgan Manner"). In 1969, Russ Morgan died, and in Dec. 1970, Eddie joined 'The Russ Morgan Orchestra directed by Jack Morgan' (Russ' son), playing with the band until he passed away on Oct. 30, 1997.
1969     R. Kelly, songwriter, producer and remixer, b. Chicago, IL, USA. né: Robert S. Kelly. Among the stars for whom 'R. Kelly' has written and/or produced are Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Kelly Price, Toni Braxton, Mary J Blige and Luther Vandross, among others. He has also won Grammy Awards, sold multi-platinum albums across the world, achieved No.1 singles and performed sell-out tours wherever he performed.
1975     Stove King, bass, b. Ellesmore Port, Merseyside, England. Stove's 'real' name has always been clouded in mystery, but rumor has it that 'Stove' was a typo on his birth certificate that was supposed to say 'Steve'. Member group: 'Mansun', formed in the summer of 1995, by Paul Edward Draper, Dominic Chad and Stove King, friends from the city of Chester in the North of England (about 15 miles outside of Liverpool). Draper hailed from the Wavertree area of Liverpool, King from Ellesmere Port on the outskirts of Merseyside and Chad from Cheltenhams. At the time, they were all living in the city of Chester although none came from Chester with the exception of Andie Rathbone.
1946     Robert Krieger, guitar, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member group: 'The Doors', comprised of Krieger, James Douglas Morrison (b. Dec. 8, 1943, Melbourne FL, USA, d. 1971, Paris, France -heart problem), John Densmore. (b. Dec. 1, 1944 in Santa Monica, CA, USA),and Raymond Manzarek (piano, b. Feb. 12, 1939, Chicago, IL, USA) In 1993, Krieger was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Doors). Interestingly, Krieger is the only rock guitarist who intertwines Flamenco music into his guitar playing.
1940     Christy Lane, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Peoria, IL, USA. Christy also has a number of Line Dancing and other dance videos released.
1916     Tom Lindsey, trumpet, b. Sylacauga, AL, USA.
1940     "Little Anthony", See: "Little Anthony" Gourdin, above.
1900     "Fiddlin' Joe" Martin, violin, b. Edwards, MS, USA. Worked with Son House, and others
1955     Marilyn Mazur, Drums/percussion, b. New York, NY, USA.
1928     Luther Perkins, C&W vocals/guitar, b: Memphis, TN, USA, d: Aug. 5, 1958. Nashville, TN, USA
1971     Karen Poole, vocals, b. Essex, England. Member group: 'Alisha's Attic', comprised of Shelly and Karen Poole, sisters and the daughters of 1960's musician Brian Poole.
1935     Elvis Aron Presley, vocals/guitar, b. Tupelo, MS, USA. d. Aug. 16, 1977, Memphis, TN, USA. né: Elvis Aron Presley. Immensely popular rock and roll singer whose singing style and stage presentation changed the shape and direction of American popular culture.
1903     Bill Quinn, label founder (Gold Star), b. Aimsbury, MA, USA.
1955     Mike Reno with band: 'Loverboy'
1909     Hoke Rice, C&W guitarist, b. Gainesville, GA, USA. Member: "The Rice Brothers"
1945     Terry Sylvester, vocals, b. Liverpool England. Member groups: 'Swingin Blue Jeans', and 'The Hollies'. His father, James, a jazz trombone player, introduced him to music at an early age.
1948     Tomasz Szukalski, Tenor/soprano Sax/Bass Clarinet, b. Warsaw, Poland.
1904   "Tampa Red", (Blues) Guitar/vocals/kazoo/songwriter., b: Smithville, GA, USA. d: March 19, 1981, Chicago, IL, USA.
1946     Holly Tashian, (Bluegrass) Singer-Songwriter/Fiddle/Guitar/Bass, b. New York (Manhattan), NY, USA. née: Holly Paige Kimball Member: "Barry & Holly" (Formed: 1970. Barry Melcon Tashian, b. August 5, 1945, Oak Park, Illinois, USA, Singer-Songwriter/Guitar/Piano/Drums/Accordian/Bass/Harmonica
1923     Bobby Tucker, Piano, b. Morristown, NJ, USA. Worked with singer/leader Billy Eckstine
1960     Dave Weckl, Drums, b. St.Louis, MO, USA
1949     Bobby Worth, drums, b. Bermondsey, London, England, UK. CAUTION: Do not confuse with composer/lyricist Bobby Worth, Sept. 25, 1912, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, d. July 17, 2002, Mission Hills, California, USA. (natural causes).
1941     Ernie Wright Jr, vocals, b. New York, NY, USA. Member: 'The Imperials'
1911     Marvin Wright, piano, d. Dec. 7, 1980. Not well remembered anymore but among the stars with whom he played are Harry Geller (ldr), Alvin Stoller (dr), Sam Weiss (dr), Rubin Zarchy (tr), Conrad Gozzo (tr), Emanuel Klein (tr), Morris L. Bercov (sax), Pullman Pederson (tbn), Alvino Rey (steel gtr), and such vocalists as the Bell Sisters (Cynthia and Kay Strothers), Clark Yocum, and Gloria Wood.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1973.    "Archibald" (né: Leon T. Gross), piano, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 60
1974.    "Kiss" signs with Casablanca Records.
1979.    Sara Carter Bayes, Guitar/Autoharp/Vocals with the "Carter Family" died in Lodi, CA, USA. Age: 79
1983.    Robert West, label owner (Lupine), died in Las Vegas, NV, USA.
1984.    Walter F. Bishop, songwriter, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 78. Worked with Louis Jordan
1986.    Gilmore Daniel, sax, died in Memphis, TN, USA. Age: 50
1988.    Ray Baduc, drums, died in Houston, TX, USA.
1988.    George William Kay, author ('2nd Line'), died in St. Petersburg, FL, USA. Age: 77
1990.    Georgie Auld, tenor sax, leader, died in Palm Springs, California, USA
1991.    Nat Duroff, label owner (Monarch), died in Palm Springs, CA, USA. Age: 75
1997.    George Handy, piano, arranger, composer, died in Harris, NY, USA. (b. Jan 17, 1920, New York, NY, USA. né: George Joseph Hendleman.)
1998.    Jimmy Butts, bass, died
2003.    Stewart Allan Barnett, trumpet, died in Vancouver, Canada. (b. Winnipeg, Canada in 1926 or maybe 1932)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
       1955    Melody Of Love, - David Carroll
       1955    Sincerely, - McGuire Sisters
       1966    Men In My Little Girl's Life, The, - Mike Douglas
       1966    Jenny Take A Ride!, - Ryder, Mitch & The Detroit Wheels
       1966    As Tears Go By, - Rolling Stones
       1972    Never Been To Spain, - Three Dog Night
       1977    Fly Like An Eagle, - Steve Miller
       1977    Evergreen (A Star Is Born Theme), - Barbra Streisand
       1983    Stray Cat Strut, - Stray Cats