BIRTHDAYS
1920     Ray Abrams, Jazz tenor sax, b. New York, NY, USA. né: Raymond Abramson. His younger brother Lee Abramson was a jazz drummer, who became Lee Abrams.
1956     Harley Allen, C&W singer-songwriter. Harley is the son of C&W vocalist Red Allen
1958     Lori Andrews, Harp/vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Lori has taken the harp into the elements of Jazz, fusion and R&B. She has appeared on TV, in and Films. The 'Lori Andrews JazHarp Quartet' plays award recipients on and off the stage every year while working as the 'house band' at the 'Academy Awards Technical Achievement Division' (the first Oscar Award is given that evening ). In the early 1980s, Lori was playing regularly in the Atlantic City, NJ, area . In 1985, she relocated to Los Angeles, CA, and in 1992 released her solo debut album. She has since recorded 7 more albums.
1925     Ernest Barrier, Bluegrass, 5-string Banjo/Mandolin, b. Hardin County, TN, USA, d. Feb. 3, 1994. Member: 'The Barrier Brothers', comprised of Herman Barrier, Ernest Barrier, and Henry Ray Barrier (Lead Vocals, Guitar, b. March 4, 1939, Hardin County, TN, USA)
1920     Herman Barrier, Bluegrass String Bass/Fiddle, b. Hardin County, TN, USA, d. Sept. 5, 1988. Member: 'The Barrier Brothers'
1917     Fred Lee Beckett, Jazz trombone, b. Nellerton, MS, USA. d. Jan. 30, 1946. Beckett will most likely always be remembered for his trombone work in the Lionel Hampton Big Band prior to the Second World War. Beckett subsequently became a member of the U.S. Army, and sadly contracted tuberculosis while enlisted, and died a few years later.
1938     Monna Bell, vocals, b. Santiago de Chile, Chile. (né: Nora Bell). In 1954, still a teenager, Monna Bell took part in a talent-search contest held at the Chilean 'Radio Minerias', and won a long term contract at the station. In 1955, British band leader Robert Inglez asked her to join his orchestra as a vocalist for a 3-week stint at New York city's famed Waldorf Astoria hotel, which wound up with the band staying for a whole year. In 1956, they toured Europe, where the band appeared in the exclusive 'Pasapoga Hall', in Madrid, Spain. At this time, she left the band after receiving an atractive offer from 'Pasapoga Hall' and her career continued as a soloist. Her "Monna Bell live at the Pasapoga" show broke all previous box office records, and she was soon recording for the Hispavox label. Her many records made her an international star. In 1959, she appeared at the 'First Song Festival of Benidorm', where she sang songs of several young composers. Her rendition of songs like "El Telegrama" (first prize winner), and "La Montana" became hits not only in Europe, but in Latin America as well. By 1965, she was seen on American TV when she appeared on the 'Ed Sullivan Show'. In 1966, she settled in Mexico and signed an exclusive recording contract with Musart, and also appeared in Mexican films. In the 1980s, her career faltered amid rumors that she was blacklisted by Televisa, then Mexico's television monopoly. In the mid 1990s, she recorded an album for Sony, that was written and produced by Mexico's biggest composer, Juan Gabriel, which sadly met with little success. Currently (2006), Bell, though semi-retired and living in a villa she purchased in Pompano Beach, Florida, still performs occasionally in some of Juan Gabriel's shows.
1928     Dave Black, Drums, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA, d. Dec. 4, 2006, Alameda, CA, USA. Age: 78. (pancreatic cancer). At age 3, Black began drumming, banging on cups and cans and a toy drum sent by a Scottish aunt. He was crazy for Gene Krupa's drumming. He played Krupa's records over and over, memorizing the solos. Black was 13 when he first saw his idol perform live, and his fate was sealed. In 2004, Black recalled "I could hardly walk out. My knees were shaking. He had so much stuff, and he was such a showman. When I saw him in that black tuxedo in that white light -- Whoa! Then Buddy Rich came on the scene, and that was the end of the barrier for drummers, man. There was nobody like him in terms of what he could do. Like somebody from another planet". In 1948, after studying with vaudeville percussionist Jess Altmiller, Black won a drum contest sponsored by Krupa. He then worked with various local Philadelphia groups and jammed with tap dancers, who fed his sense of rhythm. He made a name for himself playing with 'The Aristocrats', an early 1950s rock band. When a friend brought drummer Louie Bellson, then with Ellington, to hear him, they became good friends. In 1953, Bellson left the Ellington band and recommended Black as his replacement. After auditioning in New York for Ellington, the young drummer wasn't hired until he joined the band several months later at New York's Paramount Theater. In the interim, Black played in the house band at Philadelphia's Blue Note club, where he worked with bebop stars like Parker, and alto saxophonist/clarinetist Buddy De Franco. Black, toured and recorded with Ellington for two years until he contracted polio. He spent many months in a Portland, Oregon hospital. After his recovery, he settled in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Olga, a waitress at San Francisco's Downbeat Club, and was soon an indispensable player on the local scene. Black next toured with the famed "Frisco'' Jazz trumpeter Bob Scobey for eight years, and then worked with the great pianist Earl "Fatha" Hines, performing with the best Swing musicians in the area. Eight years before his own demise, his wife died, and, in 2004, his son, heavy metal drummer Lawrence "Brintley" Black died.
CAUTION: Do not confuse with:
--- "Black Dave", a rapper
--- David "Jay" Black, who is best recalled as a member of the group "Jay & the
    Americans"
--- Seattle-based engineer Dave Black, associated with the 'Private Radio' studio and
   the 'Home Alive' label.
--- Rock guitarist Dave Black best recalled playing with group "Spiders from Mars"
--- Bassist Dave Black, who worked on the John Tesh Project (rec'd: Pure Orchestra")
1908     Jerry Blake, alto sax, clarinet, arranger, vocal, b. Gary, IN, USA. d. Dec. 31, 1961.
1927     "Professor" Alex Bradford, (gospel) singer-songwriter, b. Bessemer, AL, USA.
1943     Gary Burton, Vibraphone/piano, b. Anderson, IN, USA. Two fine Vibraphonists became known in the 1960s, one of them was Gary Burton (the other was Bobby Hutcherson). Self-taught on vibes. At age 17, made recording debut with "Country" guitarist Hank Garland. In 1961 signed with RCA. In 1963, toured with George Shearing's Quintet. 1964-'66 with Stan Getz's piano-less quartet and then put together his own groups. In 1967 with guitarist Larry Coryell, he led one of the early "fusion" bands; Coryell would later be succeeded by Sam Brown, Mick Goodrick, John Scofield, Jerry Hahn and Pat Metheny. Gary has recorded duet sets with Chick Corea (they also toured together), Ralph Towner, Steve Swallow and Paul Bley. He has collaborated on one album with Stephane Grappelli and also one with Keith Jarrett. Among the sidemen who appeared with him (late 1970s/'80s) were Makoto Ozone, Tiger Okoshi and Tommy Smith. In 1971, he joined the faculty at Berklee. In early 1990s, Burton teamed up with Eddie Daniels for a Benny Goodman/Lionel Hampton tribute tour and recording.
1915     George "Scoops" Carry, Alto Sax/Clarinet, b. Little Rock, AR, USA. d. Aug. 4, 1970
1938     Eugene Church, "DooWop" vocalist, b: St. Louis, MO, USA. d: April 16, 1993, Los Angeles, CA, USA
1937     Polly Williamson Copsey, C&W Vocals, née: Polly Lewis Member: 'The Lewis Family'
1931     Gianni Coscia, accordionist, b. Alessandria, Italy
1926     Curtis Lee Counce, Bass, b. Kansas City, MO, USA. d. July 31, 1963, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1929     Tom Courtney, guitar, b. Waco, TX, USA.
1934     Richie Crabtree, Piano, b. Sidney, MT, USA.
1950     Bill Cunningham, bass, b. Memphis (Sherwood Forest neighborhood), TN, USA. Member group: 'The Box Tops', a group originally comprised of Alex Chilton (vocals guitar, b. Memphis (Sherwood Forest neighborhood), TN, USA), Bill Cunningham (bass), John Evans (keyboards guitar), Danny Smythe (drums), and Gary Talley (lead guitar, b. Memphis (Sherwood Forest neighborhood) TN, USA).
1954     Ruth Davies, bass, b. Oakland, CA, USA.
1940     Joe Dowell, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Bloomington, IN, USA. At age 21, he relocated to Nashville, TN, where 'Smash Records' signed him to a contract, and released his version of "Wooden Heart" ("Muss I Denn"), which, in August 1961, reached No. 1 in the US charts. The recording was notable for it's use of a bass guitar and organ instead of tuba and accordion. After two more USA hits, Joe went into advertising, and also had his own radio show in Illinois.
1935     Raymond Droz, Trombone, b. La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, d. June 23, 2000 ( some say b. 1934, and some say d. June 29,.2000 )
1928     Ken Errair, Vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA.
1963     George Evans, vocals, b. Cincinnati, OH, USA. He first left Cincinnati and settled in New York city. From New York, he traveled to Montreal, Canada, where he achieved his first fame. In 1999, he relocated to Toronto, Canada for the release of his first CD, and since then Evans has become one of Toronto's (and Canada's) most beloved interpreters of Pop Standards, as well as Jazz songs. November 2004 saw the release of George's fifth solo album, "Movie Songs".
1959     Earl Falconer, Bass/Vocals, b. Birmingham, England. Member group: 'UB40'. In 1978, this pop-reggae band was formed in a welfare line, and was named for a British unemployment benefit form, 'UB40' consists of James Brown, drums, (b. Nov. 20. 1957, Birmingham, England), Robin Campbell, Guitar/Vocals (b. Dec.25, 1954, Birmingham, England), his brother is Ali, Ali Campbell, Vocals/Guitar (b. Feb. 15, 1959, Birmingham, England), Earl Falconer, Bass/Vocal (b. Jan. 23, 1959, Birmingham, England), Michael Virtue, keyboards (b. Jan. 19, 1957, Birmingham, England) Astro, trumpet/M.C. (b. June 24th 1957, Birmingham, England), Norman Hassan, Percussion/Vocals/trombone (b. Jan. 26, 1958, Birmingham, England), Brian Travers, Saxaphones/Horn Arrangements (b. Feb. 7, Birmingham, England) Martin Meredith, (b. Jan. 4 1971, Birmingham, England), and Laurence Parry (Trumpet/Fluegelhorn/Trombone, b. May 16, 1966, London, England)
1950     Danny Federici, organ/glockenspiel/piano/accordion, b. Flemington, NJ, USA. Member group: 'E Street Band'. Danny's only solo record is also called "Flemington".
1951     Darrow Fletcher, vocals, b. Inkster, MI, USA.
1934     Bob Freedman, composer, piano, alto and baritone sax
1929     Cassietta George, singer-songwriter, b. Memphis, TN, USA. Member: 'The Caravans'
1930     Erich Kleinschuster, Trombone, b. Graz, Austria
1912     Jack Kluger, Leader, b. Antwerp, Belgium, d. May 26, 1963
1952     Rene Laanen, Bass trombonist, b. The Hague, Netherlands, THis wonderful trombonist has played with just about every major musician and orchestra.
1950     Fapy Lafertin, Guitar, b. Courtraie, Belgium (born into the Gypsy community of Manouches). Began playing guitar at age five. In a trio with his brother (guitar) and father violin) playing traditional Manouches music. Later he played 'Gypsy Style' with the "Piotto" orchestra and the "Hot Club de France" repetoire. "Fappy" also plays the Portuguese style "Fado Music", incorporating the difficult 12 string "guitarra" tuned BB-AA-EE-BB-AA-DD. He is also adept on the violin, mandolin and harp.
1944     Jerry Lawson, R&B vocals, b. Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. Member group: 'The Persuasions'
1936     Bobby Lewis, vocals, b. Oskosh, Wisconsin, USA
1914     Teddy Napoleon, Piano, b. New York, NY, USA. d. July 5, 1964. Teddy Napoleon is the brother of trumpeter Phil Napoleon, and pianist Marty Napoleon. In 1944, Teddy joined Gene Krupa's band, and worked with Gene - on and off- for maybe 15 or so years. The trio (Ventura-Krupa-Napoleon) was a regular attraction at the Jazz At The Philharmonic series of concerts. In 1933, Teddy began his professional career working with the Lee Castle orchestra, and went on to work in the Johnny Messner, Bob Chester and Tommy Tompkins bands. In (ca.) 1960, he joined his older brother Phil in Florida, where Phil had taken up residence. (Teddy led his own trio there, incidentally.)
1971     Marc Nelson, R&B vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Marc is the son of Phyllis Nelson, best-known for the dance hit "I Like You." While still attending Philadelphia's renowned High School of Performing Arts, Marc became one of the original members of the group 'Boyz II Men'.
1929     Harold Lomax Ousley, Tenor Saxophone, b. Chicago, Il, USA.
1925     Marty Paich, piano/leader/arranger, b. Oakland, CA, USA. d. Aug.,12,1995, Santa Ynez, CA, USA. (Cancer)
1948     Anita Pointer, vocals/songwriter, b. Oakland, CA, USA. Member group: 'The Pointer Sisters'
1910     Django Reinhardt, Gypsy Guitarist, b. Liberchies, Belgium, d. May, 16, 1953. né: Jean Baptiste Reinhardt, Member of the Quintette Du Hot Club De France, a group of musicians who played Jazz as well as anyone in the world, - and were w orld famous. (Stephane Grapelli on violin; Django on guitar, Joseph and Roger Chaput on rhythm guitars, and Louis Vola on Bass Fiddle. See Stephane Grappelli below - Jan. 26). Django was the first "foreign" musician (and the Quintet of The Hot Club of France was the first "foreign" group) to exert an influence on American jazz. Two of his left hand fingers were useless due to a 1928 fire, yet he was still able to somehow adapt and continued playing a virtuosic guitar in a style drawn from his Gypsy background. In 1946, he toured the USA with Duke Ellington.
1933     Chita Rivera, Dancer/actress/vocals, b. Washington, D.C., USA. n&eacaute;e: Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero.
1940     Johnny Russell, C&W Singer-Songwriter/Comedian, b. Moorehead, MS, USA. d: July 3, 2001, Nashville, TN, USA. As a songwriter, his million-selling classics have been recorded by everyone from folk singer Burl Ives, Country singers Dolly Parton and Jim Reeves, and even the Beatles.
1950     Patrick Simmons, guitar, b. Aberdeen, WA, USA.
1911     Rev.Dan Smith, harmonica, b. Per-Due Hill, AL, USA.
1949     David Stahl, Trumpet, b. Reading, PA, USA.
1911     Mac Ward, C&W/Folk vocals, b. Buck Mountain, VA, USA, d. Oct. 26, 1987. né: Fields Mac Ward
1911     Michel Warlop, Violin, b. Douai, France, d. March 20, 1947
1902     Benny Waters, Tenor-soprano-alto sax, clarinet, arranger, b. Brighton, MD, USA. d. August 11, 1998. Age: 96. From 1918-1921, he worked with Charlie Miller, studied at the New England Conservatory, and became a teacher (one of his students was Harry Carney). From 1925-1932, he played, arranged for, and recorded with 'Charlie Johnson's Paradise Ten'. In the 1920s, Benny mostly played the tenor saxophone, and occasionally the clarinet, while recording and playing with the "King" Oliver's and Clarence Williams orchestras. In the 1930s, he played with groups led by such Jazzmen as "Hot Lips" Page, Claude Hopkins, Fletcher Henderson (for a few months), and Jimmie Lunceford. In the 1940s, he briefly led his own group, and also played with Roy Milton's R&B band. In 1949, he was a member of the Jimmy Archey Dixieland group that toured to France. For the next 30 years, Waters lived in Paris, where he found steady work. In the 1980s, he began visiting the U.S. more frequently, before going completely Blind. His blindness did not intefere with his performing and touring. He now began to play the alto saxophone exclusively. In 1995, he toured with the 'Statesmen of Jazz' , and remained very active right up to his demise. At the time of his death (age 96), Benny Waters was the second oldest active Jazz musician (Eubie Blake made it to 100). Waters' personal history covered virtually the entire history of recorded Jazz.
1887     Percy Wenrich, composer, b. Joplin, MO, USA. d. Mar. 17, 1952, New York, NY, USA.
1955     Billy Wiles, guitar, b. Jacksonville, NC, USA.
1944     Sid Wingfield, piano/organ, b. Cedar Rapids, IA, USA.
1953     Robin Zander, vocals, b. Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. (raised in Loves Park, Illinois). Member group: 'Cheap Trick'. Zander's father led a Jazz band. Robin began as a folk singer, but later switched to Rock. He is sometimes called "The man with a thousand voices."

         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1936.    John Mills Jr., bass vocals/guitar/arranger, died in Bellefontaine, OH, USA. Age: 25. Member: ' The Mills Brothers'
1972.    "Big Maybelle", vocals, died in Cleveland, OH, USA. Age: 47. née: Maybelle Louise Smith
1972.    T. Texas Tyler, C&W singer/guitar, died in Missouri. (cancer) Age: 55
1972.    Big Maybelle.    vocal, died
1973.    "Kid" Ory, trombone, died in Honolulu, HI, USA. Age: 82
1976.    Paul Robeson, vocals, died in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Age: 77
1980.    Babs Gonzales, vocals, died in Newark, NJ, USA. Age: 60. né: Lee Brown
1981.    Carl Feaster, vocals, died in New York, NY, USA. Member: 'The Chords'
1981.    Bobby Sherwood, guitar, leader, died in Auburn, Massachusetts, USA
1982.    R&B pianist/singer-songwriter Tommy Tucker died in Newark, NJ, USA. Age 48. né: Robert Higginbotham. (b. 1933 in Springfield, OH, USA.)
1989.    Samuel "Baby" Lovett, drums, died in Leavenworth, KS, USA. Age: 94 Worked with singer/pianist Julia Lee (b. Oct. 31, 1902, Boonville, MO, USA, d. Dec. 8, 1958 in San Diego, CA, USA. Lee frequently teamed with drummer Samuel "Baby" Lovett. In 1949, Lee and Lovett played at the White House at the invitation of President Harry Truman. For a time, Lee was married to baseball player and manager Frank Duncan, of the Kansas City Monarchs.)
1990.    Texas Jim Lewis, leader of the "Lone Star Cowboys" died. Age: 80
1990.    Allen Collins, guitar, died in Jacksonville, FL, USA. Age: 37. Worked with 'Lynyrd Skynyrd'
1993.    Thomas A. ("Georgia Tom") Dorsey, piano/gospel, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 93
1993.    Wayne Raney, "The Harmonica Wizard", died. Age: 72
2001.    Lou Levy, piano, died in Dana Point, California, USA. ( né: Louis Abraham Levy. b. March 5, 1928, Chicago, IL, USA) CAUTION: Do not confuse with music publisher (Leeds Music, Inc) Lou Levy (1912-1995), American music publisher who is credited with the discoveries of Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin, Bob Dylan, Charles Strouse, Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and Henry Mancini. He also either discovered, managed, or developed the careers of such artists as the Ames Brothers, Petula Clark, Bobby Darin, Eddie Fisher, Connie Francis, Woody Herman, Steve Lawrence, Les Paul, The Andrews Sisters, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and Charles Aznavour
2001.    "Brother" Jack McDuff, organ, died
2001.    Frank Parker, drums, died in New Orleans, LA, USA.
2001.    Bill Reinhardt, clarinet, French horn,died in San Diego, California, USA.

         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
       1941    "Moonglow" recorded by the Artie Shaw orch. (Victor).
       1942    I Said No, - Jimmy Dorsey Orch.
       1942    Remember Pearl Harbor, - Sammy Kaye Orch.
       1946    "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie", - Louis Jordan Orch. recorded for Decca Records.
       1948    Now Is The Hour, - Bing Crosby Vocal.
       1948    Now Is The Hour, - Gracie Fields Vocal.
       1948    Manana, - Peggy Lee vocal
       1948    I'm My Own Grampaw, - Guy Lombardo Orch.
       1954    Till Then, - Hilltoppers
       1961    There's A Moon Out Tonight, - Capris
       1961    Wheels, - String-A-Longs
       1962    "I Left My Heart In San Francisco.", - Tony Bennett vocal
       1963    You've Really Got A Hold On Me, - Miracles
       1965    This Diamond Ring, - Lewis, Gary & The Playboys
       1965    I Go To Pieces, - Peter & Gordon
       1971    If You Could Read My Mind, - Gordon Lightfoot vocal.
       1971    One Bad Apple, - The Osmonds
       1982    Open Arms, - Journey
       1988    Never Gonna Give You Up, - Rick Astley
       1988    I Get Weak, - Belinda Carlisle
       1988    Father Figure, - George Michael
       1993    Ordinary World, - Duran Duran
       1993    I'm Every Woman, - Whitney Houston