BIRTHDAYS
1917     Berle Adams, co-founder: Mercury Records, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1970     Eden Atwood, Vocals, b. Memphis, TN, USA.
1935     Ccharles "Chuck" Barksdale, bass vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'The Dells'
1912     Rene Bertschy, Bass/violin/Vocals, b. Bern, Switzerland, d. 1999
1971     Mary J. Blige, vocals, b. Savannah, GA, USA.
1926     Hayward "Chuck" Carbo, vocals, and co-lead group 'Spiders', b. Houma, LA, USA.
1942     Clarence "Big Man" Clemons, tenor sax, b. Norfolk, VA, USA.
1926     Johnny Cowell, Trumpet/composer, b: Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada. In 1956, Cowell received international fame when his composition "Walk Hand in Hand" was recorded by Andy Williams and Tony Martin. In 1963, Cowell composed "Our Winter Love," which became a big hit by Nashville pianist Bill Pursell.
1924     Don Cherry, vocals, b. Wichita Falls, TX, USA. In the 1940s, he got a 'try-out' with the Jan Garber Orch., but was let go after just 15 days. He next worked with the Victor Young Orchestra, which turned out to be a bit more successful. In the 1950s, he did have some very successful hit releases. During his career, Don appeared on The Arthur Godfrey Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Johnny Carson Show, and even The Grand Ole Op'ry, even though he was a Pop vocalist and not a C&W singer. He appeared in the Las Vegas casinos, New Orleans, Reno, Lake Tahoe, and even toured to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
CAUTION: Do Not Confuse with Don Cherry, trumpet, cornet, flute, piano, percussion b. Nov. 18, 1936, d. Oct 19, 1995
1942     Clarence Clemmons, sax, b. Norfolk, Virginia, USA Member group: Bruce Springsteen's 'E Street Band'. Clemmons' father played piano.
1900     Wilbur De Paris, Trombone, b. Crawfordsville, IN, USA. d. Jan. 3, 1973
1968     Tom Dumont, guitar, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member group: 'No Doubt'
1911     Tommy Duncan, C&W vocals/Guitar, Hillsboro, TX, USA, d. July 25, 1967, (Cardiac Arrest). né: Thomas Elmer Duncan. Member of 'The Texas Playboys', one of the pioneer Western Swing bands. From 1933 to 1948, his voice was featured on literally hundreds of records by the Wills band. Perhaps his biggest hit was the 1940 release of "New San Antonio Rose".
1920     Robert Martin "Bob" Enevoldsen, valve trombone/alto-baritone-tenor sax/clarinet, bass/clarinet/trombone/bass trombone/arranger/bass, b. Billings, MT, USA, d. Nov. 20, 2005. uring 1962-64 he both played and arranged for the Steve Allen TV show . Bob has also played with Tal Farlow, Bob Florence, Ella Fitzgerald, Terry Gibbs Dream Band, Herbie Harper, Shelly Mann, Gerry Mulligan, Roger Neumann's Rather Large Band, Lennie Niehaus, Anita O'Day, Art Pepper, Marty Paich, Shorty Rogers, Tom Talbert, Mel Torme, and Bobby Troup. At one time, he was a clarinetist in the Utah Symphony.
1927     Wilton "Bogey" Gaynair, Tenor Sax, b. Kingston, Jamaica, d. Feb. 13, 1995
1949     Dennis (Frederick) Greene, vocals, b. New York, NY, USA. Member rock revival group 'Sha Na Na'
1910     Art Hallman, singer/arranger/sax/piano/voc. coach/leader, b: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, d: 1995. né: Arthur Garfield.
1895     Laurens Hammond, b. Evanston, IL, USA, d. July 1, 1973, Cornwall, CT, USA. Inventor of the 'Hammond Organ', probably the first, and most popular, electronic keyboards.
1924     "Slim" Harpo, (Blues) Guitar/Harmonica/vocals, b: Lobdell, LA, USA, d. Jan. 31, 1970, London, England, UK His 1961 release of "Rainin' In My Heart" reached No. 1 on the R&B Charts. His 1966 "Baby, Scratch My Back" also scored well on the charts.
1945     Michael "Hawkeye" Herman, guitar
1933     Goldie Hill, C&W vocals, b. Karnes County, TX, USA. Tagged: "The Golden Hillbilly"
1934     Egil Johansen, Drums, b. Oslo, Norway, d. Dec. 4, 1998
1923     Osie Johnson, Drums, b. Washington, DC, USA. d. Feb. 10, 1966
1911     Betty Hall Jones, piano/songwriter, b. Topeka, KS, USA.
1946     Naomi Judd, C&W vocals, née: Diana Ellen Judd. Member: 'The Judds'.
1956     Robert Earl Keen, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Houston, TX, USA.
1927     Cal Massey, Trumpet/composer, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA, d. Oct. 25, 1972. (NOT b. 1928)
1969     Maxee Maxwell, vocals, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member group: 'Brownstone', an R&B trio (consisting of Mimi, Nicci, and Maxee) formed in Los Angeles, CA. in 1993 In 1995, health problems caused Mimi to leave. She was replaced by Kina Cosper.
1919     Ed McCurdy, folksinger/songwriter, b. Oklahoma City, OK, USA, b d. March 23, 2000, Age 81. Ed was one of the most popular solo singers of the 1950s-'60s Folk Music Revival.
1930     Jack Nimitz,(some sources claim b. March 5, 1928) reeds, has toured with the Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, bands, and helped found Supersax, Has played with Oliver Nelson, Bill Berry and Gerald Wilson.
1930     Johnny Parth, Label owner (Document Records), b. Vienna, Austria
1958     Vicki Peterson, vocals/guitar, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member group: 'The Bangles', an all girl vocal group originally comprised of sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson on drums and bass respectively, and singer/guitarist Susanna Hoffs started the group when the sisters responded to a want-ad placed by Hoffs; later they added Annette Zilinskas on bass. Vicki Peterson sang with the 'Continental Drifters' and filled in for Charlotte Caffey during 1994's Go-Go's reunion tour.
1950     Kenny "Blue" Ray, guitar/leader, b. California, USA. Kenny's interest in music was forged by his father, who played guitar, harmonica, accordion, piano and fiddle.
1936     Bill Reed, bass, b: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. with band: 'Diamonds'
1952     Lee Ritenour, Jazz Guitar, b. Hollywood, CA, USA.
1939     Mary Rodgers, composer, b. New York, NY, USA. (Daughter of Richard Rodgers)
1971     Tom Rowlands, vocals, b. Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England) and Edward Simons. Member group: 'The Chemical Brothers', a vocal duo comprised of Tom and Edward Simons. In the late 1980s, Tom and and Edward Simons (b. Dulwich, London, England) met while studying history at Manchester Polytechnic.
1955     Ed Schuller, bass
1890     Bud Scott, Guitar/banjo/Vocal, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. July 2, 1949
1892     Lewis Sloden, dancer, b. Warsaw, Poland, d. Oct. 20, 1961, Highgate, Surrey, England, UK
1909     Tab Smith, Alto-soprano-tenor sax, clarinet, arranger, vocal, leader, b. Kinston, NC, USA. d. Aug. 17, 1971. USA. Played with the Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Lucky Millinder orchestras and backed vocalist Billie Holiday.
1870     Joseph W. Stern, Composer, b. Jan. 11,1870, New York, NY, USA, d. Mar. 31, 1934, Long Island, NY, USA
1930     Johnny Varro, Jazz Pianist, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. Johnny has said that his main influences were Jess Stacy, Teddy Wilson, and Eddie Miller. Beginning his career in the 1950s, he has been one of the top swing-oriented pianists ever since.
1936     Katie Webster, vocals, b: Houston, TX, USA, d: Sept. 5, 1999, League City, TX, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1952.    Henry Red Allen Sr., cornet, died in Algiers, LA, USA. Age 75.
1964.    'Whisky A Go-Go' nightclub opened on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard. Jimmy Rivers led the house band, with continuous dancing by the 'Go Go Girls'. Among the many international favorites who would appear there were Jimi Hendrix, the Byrds, Led Zeppelin and the Who.
1984.    Jeno Beamter, drums, vibraphone, marimba, percussion, died in Budapest, Hungary.
1985.    Kenny Clare, drums, died in England, UK.
1991.    William John Godrich, co-author ('Blues and Gospel Records Book), died in Swansea, Australia. Age: 64
1992.    Following the end of the United Nations cultural boycott, singer-songwriter Paul Simon became the first major international star to perform in South Africa (Johannesburg).
1994.    Ram Ramirez, piano/songwriter, died in New York (Queens), NY, USA. Age: 80
1994.    Ellariz Thompson-Lucas, alto sax, died in Detroit, MI, USA. Age: 78
1996.    Ike Isaacs, guitar, died CAUTION: Do Not Confuse with bassist Ike Isaacs (aka: Isaacs. b. March 28, 1923, Cleveland, OH, USA, d. 1981)
2001.    George Jinda, percussion, died (Stroke complications).
2005.    Jimmy Griffin, C&W singer-songwriter, died Nashville, TN, USA. Age: 61
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
       1945    Don't Fence Me In, - Sammy Kaye
       1945    There Goes That Song Again, - Kay Kyser
       1945    Don't Fence Me In, - Kate Smith
       1952    Tiger Rag, - Les Paul
       1960    Where Or When, - Dion
       1960    He'll Have To Go, - Jim Reeves
       1964    You Don't Own Me, - Lesley Gore
       1964    Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, - Major Lance
       1964    For You, - Ricky Nelson
       1975    Black Water, - Doobie Brothers
       1975    #9 Dream, - John Lennon
       1986    Living In America, - James Brown
       1986    Life In A Northern Town, - Dream Academy
       1986    Kyrie, - Mr. Mister