BIRTHDAYS
1946     Lee Bell, vocals, b. Houston, TX, USA. with 'Archie Bell & Drells'
1941     Charles Bellonzi, drums, b. Nice, France
1900     Charles Bocage, Banjo/Guitar/vocals, b. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, d. Nov. 4, 1963. One of the "musical families" of old New Orleans. Charles and Peter Bocage were brothers, while Henry Bocage was their cousin, but as close as a brother. Peter Bocage played the Cornet, and Henry Bocage played the Tuba, and the double Bass.
1948     "T-Bone" Burnett, guitarist, singer-songwriter/guitarist/record producer, b. St. Louis, MO, USA. né: Henry Burnett. As a songwriter, 'T-Bone' is known for clever lyrics for spiritual themes, as well as for political comment.
1956     Bob Bradbury, guitar/vocals, b. Tottenham/Wood Green (area of North London), UK. Member group: 'Hello', an English music group comprised of Jeff Allen - Drums Bob Bradbury, Vic Faulkner - Bass, and Keith Marshall - Guitar, Vocals. In 1979, they disbanded.
1963     Richard Busiakiewicz, piano, b. Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
1917     Billy Butterfield, Trumpet, b. Middletown, OH, USA. d. Mar. 18,1988, USA. né: Charles William Butterfield
1946     Howard Carpendale, vocals, b. South Africa.
1936     Clarence Carter, 'Soul' vocals, b. Montgomery, Alabama, USA. Carter's earliest releases were as half of the blind duo 'Clarence And Calvin' (.aka: The C And C Boys). In 1966, his partner, Calvin Thomas (aka: Scott), suffered serious injuries in a car accident, and Clarence Carter became a solo act (later, Calvin Scott also reappeared as a solo act).
1908     Russ Columbo, Actor/vocalist, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. 4 Sept 1934, Los Angeles, CA. (accidental shooting). né: Ruggerio Eugenio di Rudolpho Colombo. Composed one song also, "Hello Sister" (1930). "The Romeo Of The Radio" started as a violinist playing background music on Silent Movie sets. Joined Gus Arnheim orchestra in 1928 and made his movie debut with Arnheim's band same year; first record under his own name in 1931; last record ("I See Two Lovers") two days before his death. Sept 2 1934. Russ' mother was never told of his death. She was gravely ill, and it was thought best not to tell her of her son's demise. For the next ten years, she lived believing that he was alive, while her husband wrote her letters - as Russ - telling her fake details of of his life and movie stardom. At the time of his death, Hollywood rumor had Russ and glamourous Carole Lombard romantically linked. Carole later became Mrs Clark Gable, and lost her life in an aircraft accident during WW2.
1910     Jimmy Crawford, Drums, b. Memphis, TN, USA, d. Jan. 28. 1980
1931     Don Cunningham, alto sax, percussion, leader, vibes, arranger, vocals, b. St. Louis, Missouri, USA (some sources say b. Jan 15). After his service in the U.S. Army he played in military bands), Don joined an orchestra (as percussionist) backing the touring Johnny Mathis show. After a few years, he formed his own quartet, in which he also began to sing. In the early 70s he left St. Louis, and moved to Los Angeles where he met and married Alicia Cunningham (b. 5 October 1946, Los Angeles, California, USA), who was a classically trained singer, and pianist. She had worked in studios and as a teacher. They became a vocal duo, and soon had developed a solid reputation in Los Angeles.
1913     Luderin Darbone, (Cajun) fiddler, b. Evangeline, LA, USA. Member (founder): "The Hackberry Ramblers", formed in 1933. In 1935, the group consisted of Darbone, vocalist Lennis Sonnier, guitarists Glenn Croker, Lonnie Rainwater, Floyd Shreve, and Joe Werner, bassist Johnnie Parket, and occasional accordion player Edwin Duhon. Initially, the group were recorded speaking French, but when they began to appear on the Montgomery Ward radio show over station KVOL, they began to record in English as the 'Riverside Ramblers' so named for Ward's brand of tires. In 1936, Joe Werner was providing the English vocals, and he won a solo contract with Decca records after his "Wondering" became a modest hit.
1916     Maxwell Davis, Tenor Saxophone, arranger, producer, piano, vocal, b. Independence, MO, USA. d: Sept, 18, 1970, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Over his long career, Davis played with such bands and stars as Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, Percy Mayfield, Louis Jordan, Amos Milburn, Helen Humes, B.B. King, "T-Bone" Walker, Charles Brown, Floyd Dixon, and Lowell Fulson,.
1931     Wray Downes, Jazz Piano, b: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1951     Mark Egan, Bass/keyboards/composer, b. Brockton, MA, USA.
1930     Siggi Gerhard, Clarinet/violin/leader, b. Dortmund, Germany. Siggi is the co-founder of the long-lived "Siggi Gerhard-Swingtett". During World War II, the two founders, Siggi Gerhard and Hilbert Homberg, secretly listened to Radio London where they heard all the Swing orchestras playing. They were especially taken with the Benny Goodman band playing "Moonglow". Both men soon became avid Jazz enthusiasts With the war's end, the two men formed a 'Swingtett'. This little group laid the foundations for Post-war Jazz in Germany. Soon, they were making appearances on WDR (West German Radio) television and radio productions. In 1958, their big breakthrough came when they were invited to perform at the German Jazz-Festival in Frankfurt. Over the years, this wonderful group has made countless appearances and worked with a great many Jazzmen from countries around the world, during which time the Swingtetts's distinctive manner of playing has developed. Their records have been released by both "Metronom" and "Ariola". Some milestones in their career were the concerts at the Festival of the Ruhr ('Ruhrfestspiele') in Recklinghausen, and joint appearances with the Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra. Features and workshops at the WDR, NDR and Radio Bremen increased the national popularity of the band. Currently (2006), the group remains very active with a lineup of Martin Auer (trumpet, winghorn), Jan Freund (drums), Siggi Gerhard (clarinet, tenor/alto Sax, violin), Hilbert Homberg (guitar, vocals), Jochen Kittan (bass), Christof Neubronner (piano), Erich Schilling (trombone), and Theodor Sewin (vibraphone)
1969     Dave Grohl, drums/guitar, b. Washington, D.C., USA. Member groups: 'Nirvana', and 'Foo Fighters'
1948     Tim Harris, drums. Member group: 'The Foundations', a group first formed in January 1967 in the basement of a local coffee bar in Bayswater, England. They were comprised of Lead singer Clem Curtis (a former boxer from Trinidad), lead guitarist Alan Warner (worked in the printing trade in London), Flutist/saxman Pat Burke (b. Jamaica, West Indies), tenor saxman Mike Elliott (had played with Colin Hicks -brother of Tommy Steele and in several jazz bands), Jazz trombonist Eric Allan Dale. Tony Gomez (keyboards), Peter Macbeth (bass), and Tim Harris (drums) rounded out the lineup. Because their rehearsal space was in the basement of a building. they selected the name 'Foundations' In 1970, they disbanded.
1956     Ben Heppner, opera singer, b: Murrayville, B.C., Canada
1942     Jerome Hunter, bass, b. Spartansburg, South Carolina, USA
1959     Jesse Hunter C&W singer-songwriter.
1938     Tony Inzalaco, Drums, b. Passaic, NJ, USA.
1915     Bob Jeffery, guitar/piano, b. Tulsa, OK, USA.
1938     Jack Jones, vocals. b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. the son of singer Allan Jones and actress Irene Hervey. Jack won two Grammys for best Male Vocal Performance, as well as the Billboard Award. He has been married 5 times, and divorced 4 times.
1944     Linda Jones, vocals, b. Newark, NJ Member: 'Hypnotized'
1957     Steve Jordan, drummer, b. New York, NY, USA
1959     Nguyen Le, (electric) guitar, synthesizer, zither, b. Paris, France
1947     Barry Melton, guitar, b. Member group: 'Country Joe McDonald & The Fish', a group co-founded in 1965, by McDonald and Melton. Melton began his career as a guitarist and singer,and then recording and touring with "Country Joe" McDonald as a duo, and as a solo artist under the name Barry "The Fish" Melton. In 1982, Melton was admitted to practice law before all courts of the State of California and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Subsequently, he has been admitted to practice before most other U.S. District Courts in California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is certified as a specialist in criminal law by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California. Melton recently served as a Deputy State Public Defender with the Office of the State Public Defender for the State of California, and I'm presently serving as Public Defender of Yolo County, California. He has continued to play music during the course of his legal career, including a long stint with 'Dinosaurs', a band of 1960s veterans that has at various times included Peter Albin and David Getz ( 'Big Brother and the Holding Company'), John Cipollina and Greg Elmore ('Quicksilver Messenger Service'), Papa John Creech ('Hot Tuna' and 'Jefferson Starship'), Spencer Dryden ('Jefferson Airplane' and 'New Riders of the Purple Sage'), Robert Hunter ('Grateful Dead' lyricist), David LaFlamme ('It's a Beautiful Day'), Jerry Miller ('Moby Grape') and the incomparable Merl Saunders on keyboards.
1962     Patricia Morrison, bass, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member groups: 'Gun Club', and 'Sisters Of Mercy'. Pat is the only child of an Irish immigrant mother and Sicilian born Italian father.
1928     Joe Muranyi, Clarinet, b. Martins Ferry, OH, USA.
1905     Ace Pancoast, arranger, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Perhaps best recalled for his work on the 'American Bandstand 'show.
1944     Paul "Little Buck" Senegal, (zydeco) guitar, b. LA, USA.
1896     Seymour Simons, composer, b. Detroit, MI, USA, d. Feb. 12, 1949, Detroit, MI, USA. Simons had hits from teens to late 1930s.
1959     Chas Smash, guitar, b. London, England. né: Cathal Smyth. Member group: 'Madness'
1968     James Todd Smith, rap vocals, b. Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA aka: 'LL Cool J'
1937     Billy Jo Spears, C&W vocals, b. Beaumont, TX, USA.
1959     Geoff Tate, singer-songwriter/producer, b. Stuttgart, West Germany. Member group: 'Queensryche'
1932     Grady Tate, Drums/Vocal, b. Durham, NC, USA.
1922     Al Terry Country/rockabilly vocals, b. Kaplan, LA, USA. né: Allison Joseph Theroit.
1948     Ivory Tilmon, vocals/guitar, b. Little Rock, AR, USA. Member group: Detroit Emeralds, were a group that began as The Tilmon Brothers, -a Little Rock, Arkansas, Gospel vocal group. In 1968, brothers Abrim (lead vocals, b. Little Rock, AR, USA. d. July 6, 1982, Southfield, MI, USA heart attack) Ivory Tilmon, together with their friend James Mitchell ( b. May 27, 1949, Ashland, MS, USA) formed the Detroit Emeralds. Perhaps their best known songs are "You Want It, You Got It" (Westbound, 1971) , "Show Time", and "Feel the Need in Me" (Westbound, 1972).
1961     Michael Tramp, Vocals/Guitar, b. Copenhagen, Denmark. Member group: 'White Lion'
1938     Allen Toussaint, R&B pianist/songwriter/producer, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. A good 'sessions' musician, his first album 'A. Tousan' was released in 1958. His funky piano style was formed by hearing such New Orleanean performers as Fats Domino, Huey "Piano" Smith, and Professor Longhair. In 1960, be joined Joe Banashak's new 'Minit' label as an A&R man and became a leading figure in New Orleans music. He either wrote, arranged, played or produced hits for Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe, Benny Spellman, Chris Kenner, Jessie Hill, Barbara George, and The Showmen, among many others, including 'The Meters'. Curiously, his own solo vocal releases have never the same success as his productions for others. Still, stars such as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Robert Palmer and Bonnie Raitt have 'covered' his original compositions.
1931     Caterina Valente, vocals/guitar, b. Paris, France. Perhaps her biggest hit recordings are "Malaguena" and "The Breeze and I". Hers was a 4th generation Show-Business family of musicians. Her parents, brothers and sister were all musicians. Caterina had her prof. debut at just age 5 when she appeared on the vaudeville stage with her mother. In 1945, after studying guitar, joined (1946) combo (in Toulouse) led by Chalin Ferret (Django Reinhart's cousin). In 1957-8, in Sweden with with Erling Gronsted group, and later appeared on stage with her brother Silvio. During the early-mid 1950s, she was a popular multi-lingual Cafe and Stage act on the 'Continent', and, starting in 1954, began appearing in many films. During 1955-6, she was working in various Hotels and and TV shows in the U. S. A.
1929     Marvin "Billy" Walker, C&W Vocals, b: Ralls, TX, USA
1930     Kenny Wheeler, Trumpet, flugelhorn, composer, b. Toronto, ON, Canada In 1952, this Canadian avant-garde jazz trumpeter and composer moved to England achieving prominence in both Britain and on the European continent. From 1971 to '76, Wheeler performed with American reedman Anthony Braxton, often appearing with him in North America.
1881     "Princess White Deer”, vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. 1992. Born Esther Deer, a full-blooded Mohawk woman, she is now called the first American Indian to gain fame as a dancer and vocalist. Originally, she toured around the world as part of 'Texas Jack’s Wild West Show', but later broke away, and with her own family, formed 'The Deer Family Troupe' western show, usually billed as "The Famous Deer Brothers Champion Indian Trick Riders of the World," which performed across Europe and America in the early 1900's. However, Esther Deer only gained national fame when she left the show, and became a solo act working in the "Florenz Ziefeld Follies", where she sang and danced, - crossing over from "Wild West" to straight ahead vaudeville.
1967     Zakk Wylde, guitar, b. Bayonne, NJ, USA. né: Jeffery Philip Wielandt. Member group: 'Ozzy Osbourne Band'
1912     David A. Young, Tenor Sax, b. Nashville, TN, USA. d. Dec. 25, 1992.

         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1942.   Fred Fisher, songwriter, died in New York, NY, USA (suicide by hanging)
1949.    George Baquet, cornet, died in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Age: 66
1952.    The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) was formally incorporated, with original members pianist John Lewis, vibraharpist Milt Jackson, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Kenny Clarke. In their 42 years of existence, the MJQ had only one personnel change - Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955. Their unique partnership agreement had stipulated that the quartet would have no leader.
1964.    For the first time, a "hootenanny" was held at the White House, as the New Christy Minstrels entertained President and Lady Bird Johnson, as well as Italy's President.
1966.    David Jones changed his last name to Bowie to avoid confusion with Monkees member Davy.
1973.    An estimated one billion viewers in 40 countries watched Elvis Presley's TV special "Elvis - Aloha From Hawaii" which was beamed via satellite.
1987.    Alton Purnell, piano, died in Inglewood, CA, USA. Age: 76
1992.    Frank "Left Hand" Craig, guitar, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 55
1995.    Sollie McElroy, vocals, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 61. Worked with the 'Flamingos', and the 'Moroccos'
2006.   Bob Weinstock, producer, label owner (Prestige), died

         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
       1943    Why Don't You Fall In Love With Me, - Johnny Long
       1949    Galaway Bay, - Bing Crosby
       1949    Red Roses For A Blue Lady, - Vaughn Monroe
       1956    See You Later, Alligator, - Bill Haley
       1989    What I Am, - Brickell, Edie & The New Bohemians
       1989    You Got It (The Right Stuff), - New Kids On The Block