BIRTHDAYS
1923   David Allyn, Vocal, b. Hartford, CT, USA.
1902   "Buster" Bailey, Clarinet, b. Memphis, TN, USA. d. April 12, 1967.
1932   Buster Benton, Blues vocals/guitar, b. Texarkana, AR, USA. Benton began playing the blues during the mid-1950s while living in Toledo, OH. By 1959, he was leading his own band in Chicago. During the 1960s, he cut a series of 'Soul' singles for local labels (Melloway, Alteen, Sonic, and Twinight) before joining up with Willie Dixon in 1971. Benton was briefly a member of 'Dixon's Blues All-Stars' (Dixon is credited as songwriter of Benton's biggest hit, the slow blues "Spider in My Stew"). He followed that with another hit, "Money Is the Name of the Game". During his career, Benton had to face extreme physical adversity. Aroound 1983, he lost part of a leg, and a decade later, in 1993, a portion of his right leg was amputated due to poor circulation. He was on kidney dialysis for the last few years of his life as a result of diabetes.
1934   Bobby Bradford, trumpet, b Cleveland, MS, USA. In 1946, he relocated to Dallas, TX, and in 1949, began to study the Cornet. Among the other students in his High School were David Newman, James Clay, and Cedar Walton. In 1952, he and Leo Wright were playing in Sam Houston Coll's dance band. He also gigged around Dallas with Buster Smith, and John Hardee. In 1953, Bradford, who had known Ornette Coleman in Texas, met him again one day when both were riding the old "red car trolley" in Los Angeles, CA, and became he a part of Ornette's quartet. When Bradford was drafted into the U. S. Air Force, he was replaced by Don Cherry. After his service discharge, he rejoined Ornette's group in New York, NY, and remained with him during 19610'63. Bradford then settled in Los Angeles, CA, where he co-led a group with altoist john Carter. In 1971, he toured Europe, recorded with John Stevens and the 'Spontaneous Music Ensemble'. In 1972, he recorded with Ornette Coleman in New York, then to Europe for an extended stay. He returned to California where he raised his family, and taught at Pomona College. During his tenure, his students included Arthur Blythe, David Murray, Mark Dresser, James Newton, and Walter Lowe.
1960   Carmen Bradford, vocals, b. Austin, TX, USA
1912   Eddie Brunner, Alto-Tenor Sax/Clarinet/Piano, b. Zurich, Switzerland, d. July 18, 1960, Zurich, Switzerland. The most important Swiss hot-jazz soloist of his time, Brunner's playing was strongly influenced by Coleman Hawkins and Eddie Miller. He began his career working with local bands. Then, in 1931, he joined saxophonist Rent Dumont's orchestra in Berlin. In 1933, he recorded with brothers Jack and Louis de Vries, and violinist Marek Weber band; during 1936-'37 with the Goldene Sieben; and in 1939 with Louis Bacon. From 1938 onwards, he occasionally recorded as a leader,- usually playing Clarinet. (As leader he recorded Bagatelle (1938), Swing 41, (his own compositions), Smoke-house Rhythm (1940, Columbia ZZ1001); Old and New (1940, Columbia ZZ1003); of the Original Teddies: M�i Stomp (1941, Elite Special 4075); Swingin' with Benny Carter (1942, Elite Special 4140). During 1936-'39, he lived in Paris, France, returning to Switzerland at the outbreak of World War II, where he joined Teddy Stauffer's Original Teddies as a tenor saxophone soloist. In 1941, Stauffer left and Brunner took over leadership until disbanding in 1947. During the 1940s, he recorded prolifically, both with the "Original Teddies" and under his own name. In 1944, he recorded with Philippe Brun. In 1948, he led his own sextet, playing and recording well into the 1950s. He also worked in the radio and television studios.
1941   Vikki Carr, vocals, b. El Paso, TX, USA. né: Florencia Bisenta deCasilla Martinez Cardona
1944   Commander Cody", C&W Vocals/Pianist/Actor/Bandleader. b. USA. nné:George Frayne IV. Member group: 'Commander Code & His Lost Planet Airmen' (perhaps b. July 11, 1944)
1952   Allen Collins, guitar. Member group: 'Lynyrd Skynyrd'
1924   Dick Collins, Trumpet, b. Seattle, WA, USA.
1926   Helen Gallagher, vocals
1948   Keith Godchaux, Keyboards, b. San Francisco, CA, USA. d. 1980 (car accident). Keith Godchaux and his wife Donna (vocals) joined 'The Grateful Dead' making up for the loss of Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, who died in 1973. In 1975 the Godchauxs released their own album on The Dead's 'Round Records' label. Husband and wife left 'The Dead' in 1979, and in 1980, Keith Godchaux was killed in a car accident.
1946   Alan Gorrie, R&B vocals/bassist. b. Scotland, UK. Member group: 'The Average White Band'
1924   Kenny Graham, Alto-tenor sax/composer/arranger. b. London, England, UK, .d. Feb. 17, 1997
1959   Chris Greco, soprano, alto, tenor sax, clarinet, bass-clarinet, flute, Greco, is a multi-instrumentalist/composer/performer rooted in a contemporary western/european tradition that is combined with knowledge of, and experience in, multiple jazz idioms. He is a college trained professional with a Doctoral Degree (University of California , Los Angeles), in Music Composition, who balances his time between freelancing, performing, teaching and running a record label, In 1996, he released his first album, 'Trane of Thought', on his GWSFourwinds imprint, followed three years later with 'Well You Needn't', and in 2000, 'Pleiadian Call'.
1944   Paul Griffin, trumpet, b. New York (Jackson Heights), NY, USA. Paul is the product of a very musical family, his father was Chris Griffin, one third of Benny Goodman's 1937-'39 "Biting Brass" trumpet section (Griffin, Harry James, and Ziggy Elman), while his mother was Helen O'Brien, who had sung with the Tommy Dorsey band and others. One of his father's good friends was trumpeter "Pee Wee" Erwin, and when Paul came of age, it was Pee Wee who helped Paul to become a member of Billy Maxted's Manhattan Jazz Band. (In 1966, Paul's father, Chris Griffin, and Pee Wee Erwin went into business together forming 'Erwin-Griffin Studios', a teaching and recording studio in Teaneck, New Jersey.) Maxted was playing a Dixieland swing style with which Paul was not too comfortable. (Paul has said that "......(Billy) was a great guy and a lot of fun"). In 1966, Pee Wee again came to the rescue and helped to place Paul with the Lee Castle orchestra (Lee Castaldo's Jimmy Dorsey Band, then playing in 'The Rainbow Room', a famous New York venue located on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center). During this time, Pee Wee had been urging Paul, without success, to get into the Broadway shows. When Fred Waring offered him the lead trumpet chair, Paul left the Castle band. Paul met his British born wife, Irene Stephens, while they were both touring with Fred Waring's orchestra in 1968-'69. In 1970, Don Menza (tenor sax with Buddy Rich Orch.) offered him the lead chair with Buddy's band, but Paul and his bride were leaving for England. Over the years, Paul has played lead trumpet for people like Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tom Jones, Buddy Greco, Bill Evans, and many others, and did much studio recording (mostly in Great Britain where he lived for twelve years). In 1981, when Irene and Paul, returned to the U.S., Irene "closed" the old show room in Caesar's Palace, Atlantic City. She also performed for Donald Trump and "selected guests" in the Blue Room of The Plaza Hotel, New York City). Paul worked with "Skitch" Henderson, and Ray Anthony, and then finally, although Pee Wee had passed away, succumbed to the lure of "The Great White Way" and sat in on a few Broadway shows. However, lead trumpeters don't always enjoy "pit" work, and in time, Paul found work in various Catskill Mountains venues (vacation suburb of New York city). Unfortunately, his career was cut short when he tumbled from a stage and seriously injured his spine. In 1989, while performing at an "I Love New York" campaign party for then Governor Mario Cuomo, the curtain, instead of falling mid-stage, was at the back edge. Paul unknowingly sat down in a chair and flipped backwards, injuring his cervix. Although he saw 13 specialists, that accident reversed the direction of his neck, and today he feels lucky to be walking around. A high note player, Paul accepted the warning that playing the trumpet would be physically damaging. In 1990, Paul and Irene, bought a 7,000 square foot Catskill mansion in Jeffersonville, New York. They have made "The Griffin House Bed and Breakfast" a romantic inn, abounding in flowers, dolls, holiday decorations, frilly fabrics and musical history. Musicians often drop by, and occasionally, lucky guests can hear beautiful Irene singing.
( The Griffin House, 178 Maple Ave., Jeffersonville, NY 12748 (5 miles from the original Woodstock Festival site) Tel: (914) 482-3371, eMail:info@griffin-house.com Website: http://www.griffin-house.com
1937   George Hamilton IV, Country-folk-pop Vocals/guitar, b. Winston-Salem, NC. USA. né: George Hagy Hamilton, IV. Tag: "The International Ambassador of Country Music" because of his world tours during the 1970s. Since 1977-78, he has mostly concentrated on gospel recordings (for both the Word and Lion & Lamb labels). His son, George Hamilton V, has toured with his father's backup band, even chartinga single during 1988.
1896   William Roy Hardison, C&W banjo, b. Maury Country, TN, USA. d. Feb. 1966. Member: "Paul Warmack's Gully Jumpers", a string band comprised of Warmack (Mandolin/guitar/vocals, b. Aug. 16, 1889, d. July 2, 1954), Hardison (banjo), Charley Arrington (fiddle, b. 1893), and Burt Hutcherson (guitar, b. 1893, d. July 10, 1980). All four men considered themselves only part-time musicians. Warmack worked as a mechanic for the Tennessee state highway garage. -working there until his death. Banjo player, Hardison, was also a mechanic and a garage foreman. Fiddler Arrington, had a farm in the Joelton community (about 20 miles from Nashville). Guitarist Hutcherson was a woodworker by trade and was later employed by the National Life Insurance Company,
1960   Kevin Haskins, Rock Drums. Member groups: Love & Rockets, 'Bauhaus'
1906   Harry "Tiny" Hill, Leader/vocals b. Sullivan, IL, d. Dec. 13, 1971, Denver, CO.
1902   Cliff Jackson, Piano, b. Culpepper, VA, USA. d. May 24, 1970, New York, NY, USA. This Harlem stride pianist first performed professionally in Washington, D.C., then moved to New York in 1923. In 1927, he formed the 'Krazy Kats Orchestra', which, in 1930, recorded 12 sides for the Grey Gull label (and their sub-labels). Throughout the 1930s, he performed as a soloist and a bandleader in New York through. In the 1940s, he recorded under his own name, as well as with bands led by others. in 1946, he toured with Eddie Condon. During the 1950s, he played in different clubs. In 1959, he performed with Garvin Bushnell, in 1960, with J.C. Higginbotham, and in 1962 with Joe Thomas. From 1963 onwards he performed often with Tony Parenti.
1936   Carmell Jones, Trumpet, b. Kansas City, MO, USA. d. 1996.
1940   "Little" Freddie King, Blues vocals, b. McComb, MS, USA. "Little" Freddie is the cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins. His daytime job is at an auto repair shop, and at night he plays music at local bars. He doesn't own car, and rides his bicycle to work from the poorer part of town where he lives with his wife. His body carries the scars of the five bullets it has taken. Through it all, King has remained true to the familiar Southern blues he grew up with.
1947   Bernie Leadon, C&W Vocals/Mandolin/Guitar/Banjo/dodbro/songwriter, b. Minneapolis, MN, USA. member: Dillard & Clark; The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Eagles, and Bernie Leadon & Michael Georgiades Band
1944   Didier Levallet, Bass, b. Arcy-sur-Cure, France.
1947   Brian Harold May, R&R guitar/singer/songwriter. b. UK. Member group: 'Queen'
1905   Boyd Neel, pianist/conductor/Dr. of Medicine, b. London, England, UK. d. Sept. 30, 1981, Toronto, Ont. Canada.
1937   Billy Parker, C&W singer-songwriter/deejay, b. Okemah, OK, USA.
1962   Bill Prince, trumpet/arranger
1909   Floyd Ray, Leader
1916   Ernie Shepard, Bass, b. Beaumont, TX, USA. d. 1965 USA.
1963   Kelly Shiver, C&W vocals Member: Thrasher Silver
1926   Sue Thompson, C&W vocals, b. Nevada, MO, USA. née: Eva Sue McKee.
1913   Charles Teagarden, Trumpet/bandleader, b. Vernon, TX, USA. d. 1984. (Brother of Jack Teagarden)
1926   Sue Thompson, vocals. né: Eva McKee. (Biggest hit: "Make Me Cry")
1941   Phil Upchurch, Guitar, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1966   Leroy Wolfgrann, R&B vocals. Member group: 'The Jetts'
         Notable Events on this date include:
1966.   Frank Sinatra and actress Mia Farrow were married on this day.
1970.   Barry Wood, vocals, reeds died.in Miami Beach, Florida, USA Age: 61 Best recalled as singer on America's "Your Hit Parade" radio show. (b. 12 February 1909, New Haven, Connecticut, USA )
1977.   "Big" Jim Wynn, tenor/bari sax, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 65 Worked with T-Bone Walker
1975.   "Lefty" Frizzell, guitar/songwwriter, died in Nashville, TN, USA. Age: 47
1990.   Murray Sporn, owner: Big 3 Publishing, died in Manhasset, NY, USA. Age: 62
1992.   Steve Rye, harmonica, died in the UK, Age: 46 /PRAGER & RYE
1993.   "Red" Prysock, tenor sax, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 67
1995.   Sidney Lipton violin, leader, died in Florida, USA. Age: 87
2002.   Alan Lomax, folklorist, engineer, vocals died in Sarasota, Florida, USA.
2006.   Adrian "Lazy Ade" Monsbourgh, trumpet, clarinet, alto sax, leader, died in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. (b. Feb. 17, 1917, Melbourne, Australia.)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1929   "Black And Blue", - Louis Armstrong Orch.
1934   "Panama", - Casa Loma Orch.
1934   "Moon Glow", - Casa Loma Orch.
1934   "And Still I Do", - Ina Ray Hutton and her Melodears.
1938   "Nagasaki", - Gene Krupa Orch.
1939   "Aunt Hagar's Blues", - Jack Teagarden Orch.
1940   "Only Forever", - Eddy Duchin Orch.
1940   "Trade Winds", - Eddy Duchin Orch.
1945   "On The Atchison, Topeka & The Santa Fe", - Bing Crosby
1945   "If I Loved You", - Como, Perry
1947   "Please Don't Play Number Six Tonight", - Gene Krupa Orch.
1975   "Wasted Days And Wasted Nights", - Freddy Fender
1975   "Fallin' In Love", - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
1975   "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", - James Taylor
1980   "All Out Of Love", - Air Supply
1986   "Venus", - Bananarama
1986   "Take My Breath Away", - Berlin
1986   "Baby Love", - Regina
1986   "Dancing On The Ceiling", - Lionel Richie
1986   "Edge Of Heaven, The", - Wham