BIRTHDAYS
1878     Ernest R. Ball, composer, b. Cleveland, OH, USA. d. May 3, 1927, Santa Ana, CA, USA.
1974     Terry Caldwell, vocals. Member group: East 17. The 1994 single "Stay Another Day" hit UK No.1 in the UK. (and over 15 other UK top 40 singles.)
1898     Sara Carter, vocals (c&w), b. Flat Woods, VA, USA. d. Jan. 8, 1979. née: Sara Doughtery Member: 'The Carter Family'.
1931     Sonny Clark, Piano/composer, b. Herminie (near Elizabeth), PA, USA. d. New York, NY, USA. January 13, 1963. né: Conrad Yeatis Clark.
1935     Pierre Cullaz, Guitar, b. Paris, France.
1926     Arthur Edghill, Drums b. New York, NY, USA.
1922     "Brother" Claude Ely, (gospel) vocals, b. Lee City, VA, USA.
1942     Kim Fowley, vocals/producer/composer/lyricist. Worked with many groups including The Runaways, Frank Zappa, Slade, Family, and others -with many Gold Albums to his credit.
1970     Emerson Hart, vocals. Member: 'Tonic'
1921     Eddie Hill, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Delano, TN, USA.
1928     Junior Husky, C&W session bassist, b. Knoxville, TN, USA.
1933     Bobby Hicks, Bluegrass Fiddler b. Newton, NC, USA.
1949     Dan Jacoubovitch, Label owner (Modern Blues Records), b. Roslyn, L.I., NY, USA.
1931     Plas Johnson, Tenor Sax, b. Donaldsonville, LA. USA. Among the groups with whom he worked are Henry Mancini, Charles Brown, and Johnny Otis.
1917     Floyd Jones, guitar, b. Marianna, AR, USA.
1944     Orange Kellin, clarinet/tenor sax/arranger/leader, b. Ljungby, Sweden. Kellin is perhaps best known for being one of the creative originators of the 2002 New York mega hit stage musical "One Mo' Time", where he was musical director and clarinetist in the on-stage jazz band. The show toured to Australia and London, where he did a command performance for the Queen. Variety's critic. Charles Isherwood, in his review of the 2002 Broadway production wrote: "Fleet-fingered clarinet player Orange Kellin(s)... solos alone are practically worth the price of admission." Kellin had previously appeared in the 1999 film "Sweet and Lowdown", where he played the part of a Jam Session Musician. Kellin began playing clarinet at age 15 and two years later formed his first band in partnership with pianist Lars Edegran. It was a "Dixieland" band playing music in the New Orleans style. By age 17, Kellin had already made his first recordings in his native Sweden. In 1966, Kellin moved from Sweden to New Orleans where he enjoyed immediate acceptance. Within a month of his arrival, he was working, and recording, with such jazz pioneers as DeDe Pierce, Kid Thomas Valentine, Percy Humphrey and Jim Robinson. He has since traveled the jazz festival circuit, playing or recording with Zutty Singleton, Danny Barker, Teddy Wilson, Ray Bauduc, Georg Brunis, Max Kaminsky and Earl Hines. He even accompanied Louis Armstrong on 'Satchmo's' 70th birthday in Newport, RI, USA. Orange has done jazz festivals in Europe, theatre in New York and performed on the sound track of Louis Malle's film 'Pretty Baby', which was nominated for an Oscar. He has also toured frequently with the New Orleans 'Preservation Hall Jazz Band'.
1956     Franklin Kiermyer, drums
1978     Damian "Junior Gong" Marley, singer-songwriter, b. Kingston, Jamaica
1961     Jim Martin, Guitar. Member: 'Faith No More'
1895     Ken Maynard, Singing cowboy actor, b. Vevay, IN, USA.
1915     Floyd McDaniel, blues vocals/guitar, b. Athens, AL, USA.
1916     Jackson "Flap" McQueen, bass vocals, b. Cincinnati, OH, USA. Member: 'The Ray-O-Vacs'
1929     Helen Merrill, (Jazz) vocals, b. New York, NY, USA. . (some sources say b. 1930 ). née:: Jelena Ana Milcetic. This wonderful veteran Jazz singer has described her release ( titled "Jelena Ana Milcetic, AKA Helen Merrill" ) as a "mini-autobiography" that reflects her American upbringing as well as her affection for the culture that her immigrant parents brought with them from Eastern Europe (Croatian music). Her parents Antoinette and Frank Milcetic were immigrants from the island of Krk in the Adriatic Sea, while Merrill was born and raised in New York city, where, while growing up, she listened to the Jazz, standards she heard on the radio in the 1930s and 1940s. At home, she would gain an appreciation of her parents' native Croatian music, as well as the wonderful American Pop melodies of the Golden age of Big Bands. During 1946-1947 Merrill began her career sanging with the Reggie Childs Orchestra. She was also married for a period to clarinetist Aaron Sachs (b. July 4, 1923. New York, NY, USA,) , and the marriage produced one child, Allan Merrill (né: Allan P. Sachs, b. Feb. 19, 1951, New York (Bronx), NY, USA), who is also a professional musician (guitar). In 1952 she was with the Earl Hines Orchestra. During 1954-1958, she was recording for the EmArcy label (one 1956 release brought Gil Evans out of retirement); In 1959, after recording for Atco and Metrojazz, she moved to Italy, from where she toured Europe and Japan. After 4 years in Europe, she returned to the U.S.A, and teamed with pianist/arranger Dick Katz for a pair of Mlestone recordings (1967-1968), after which she moved to Japan where she was quite popular. In the mid-'70s, Helen Merrill returned to the United States and has since recorded for the Inner City, Owl, EmArcy (including a reunion date with Gil Evans) Antilles, and Verve labels. One interesting note is that her son, guitarist Allan Merrill is also very popular in Japan.
1858   Chauncey Olcott, composer, b. Buffalo, NY, USA. d. March 18, 1932, Monte Carlo
1951     Martin Pahinui, vocals, b. Waimanalo, HI, USA. Member: Pahinui Bros' (Cyril Lani, b. April 21, 1950, and Bla. Their father was Gabby ('Pops') Pahinui), leader of the legendary Hawaiian band.
1958     Henry Priestman, Rock vocals/keyboards. b. UK. Member of many groups: 'The Christians', 'Stock Aitken & Waterman', Paul McCartney, and others.
1956     Ron Prince, bass, Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'Kinsey Report'
1902     Omer Simeon, Clarinet/ bass clarinet/soprano-alto-tenor-baritone saxes, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. Sept. 17, 1959,New York, NY, USA (throat cancer). né: Omer Victor Simeon.
1922     Kay Starr, vocalist, b. Dougherty, OK, USA. née: Katherine LaVerne Starks. Her father Harry was a full-blooded Iroquois Indian, and her mother Annie was Irish. When Kay was three, her family moved from Doughert, (pop. circa 400), to Dallas, TX, USA, where her father found work installing sprinkler systems. After a winning a singing contest at a local Dallas theater, she won a weekly show on the local radio station. When her family moved to Memphis, TN, Kay landed her own show on WREC , - Starr Time. Now she also changed her name to Kay Starr. In 1937, her big break came when bandleader/violinist Joe Venuti hired her for his appearance at the Peabody Hotel. She would continue sing with Venuti's band each summer for the next two years when school let out. Since she was only fifteen years old, her mother traveled with her and the band. In June 1939, Kay was hired by Gil Rodin, then manager of the Bob Crosby band, on the strength of Venuti's recommendation. Kay made her network radio debut in New York singing "Memphis Blues". Just two weeks later she was replaced by Helen Ward. The band thought that they needed a "seasoned" performer. Just a few days later ,In July 1939, Kay joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra replacing the bands ailing Marion Hutton. She also made her first recordings on the Bluebird label. With her two weeks with the Miller Orchestra finished, Kay and her mother returned to Memphis and Kay finished high school. in 1940, Kay moved to California and returned to work with Joe Venuti. In 1941, WWII forced Venuti to disband, and Kay briefly joined Wingy Manone's New Orleans Jazz Band until -in late 1943, she was hired away by Charlie Barnet replacing Lena Horne. She often recorded with the Barnet band. In 1945, she caught pneumonia and collapsed during an Army camp show, ending her association with the Barnet orch. Interestingly, after her recovery, she found she had lost her voice. She completely refrained from singing (and even from speaking) for six months. She chose this treatment from a fear that a surgical operation might her vocal cords and ability to sing. In time, she found herself again able to sing, but no w with a deeper and huskier voice that has since become her trademark. She found work in clubs, and recording for such labels as Capitol, and such smalll independent labels as Lamplighter, Standard and Jewell. During a hometown visit to Dougherty, Kay heard Pee Wee King's fiddle tune "Bonaparte's Retreat". In April 1950, her Capitol release of the tune became a near million seller. Her next Capitol release, "Wheel Of Fortune" (1952), hit number two on the charts, and her first "gold" record. She went on to record over two dozen top forty successes between 1948 and 1954. In 1955, she joined the RCA label. Her gold record, "The Rock And Roll Waltz," gave her the distinction of being the first female vocalist with a top hit in the 'Rock and Roll' era. In 1959, she was released by RCA, and returned to Capitol. In the 1960s, the advent of Rock and Roll changed the public's musical tastes, and the popularity of many 1940s stars began to wane. However, Kay continued to tour, play Las Vegas, appear in shows and generally kept active. This truly gifted and unique performer has been successful in every musical genre, Jazz, Pop, Country or R&B, she has tackled. Happily, she is still quite active today (2003).
1935     Kaye Stevens, Singer and comedienne on the Jerry Lewis Show
1947     Cat Stevens, folk-rock singer/songwriter, b. England, U.K. né: Steven Demeter Georgiou (Muslim name: Yusuf Islam). Cat is the son of a Greek father (who ran a restaurant in London, Eng., and a Swedish mother. Cat's greatest musical fame was in the early 1970s. In 1977, Stevens, changed his name to Yusuf Islam when he became a Muslim. Islam changed his name again in the 1970s after converting to the Muslim faith and dropping his music career. On September 24, 2004, he sent an letter urging Islamic militants in Iraq to free British hostage Kenneth Bigley, seized 10 days earlier and threatened with death. A few day later, he was detained after a flight to the United States, and sent back to England because his name is on a U. S. government anti-threat watch list.
1928     George Syran, piano
1955     "Taco", vocals, b. Jakarta, Indonesia, né: Taco Ockerse. Born to Dutch parents, his formative years were spent traveling the world with his parents, before they finally settled in Germany, where Taco studied dance and theatre. He is perhaps best known for his pop rendition of the Irving Berlin song "Puttin' on the Ritz".
1953     Melvin Williams, vocals, b. Smithdale, MS, USA. Member: "Williams Bros"
1946     Barry Whitwam, Drums. Played with: 'Herman's Hermits'
         Notable Events on this date include:
1931.    Singer Kate Smith, composer George Gershwin and New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker were featured on the very first CBS-TV program. Veteran announcer Ted Husing was master of ceremonies.
1935.    Honore Dutrey, trombone, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 41
1942.    Louis Jordan recorded "What's The Use Of Getting Sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again)" and "Five Guys Named Moe" for Decca Records.
1942.    Frank Guarente, trumpet,,died in New York, NY, USA. (b. Oct. 5, 1893, Montemiletto, Italy)
1962.    Maceo Pinkard, songwriter, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 65
1969.    Yesterday, July 20, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Today, Duke Ellington and some of his band performed a 10-minute composition on ABC-TV titled, "Moon Maiden".
1975.    Theodore "Wingie" Carpenter, trumpet, died in ew York, NY, USA. Age: 77
1981.    "Snub" Mosley, reeds, died in New York (Harlem), NY, USA. Age: 76
1986.    Sam Gray, vocals, died in Aiken, SC, USA. Age: 67 Worked with: 'Josh White's Carolinians'
1987.    Bert Keyes, piano, died in Central Islip,LI NY, USA. Age: 56
1990.    Joe "Stride" Turner, piano, died in Montreuil, France. Age: 82
1991.    Louise Spence, vcoals, died in Nassau, Bahamas. Age: 79. Louise was the wife of another famous guitarist, Joseph Spence, and often sang and recorded with him (Louise Spence, b. August 8, 1911, b. Cat Island, Bahamas. Joseph Spence, b. Aug. 12, 1910, Andros, Bahamas, d. March 18, 1984 in Nassau, Bahamas)
1993.    Richard Tee, piano/producer, died in New York (Bronx), NY, USA. Age: 49
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1921   "Dangerous Blues", - The Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
1921   "In My Tippy Canoe", - Hackel-Berge Orch.
1921   "Where The Lazy Mississippi Flows", - Hackel-Berge Orch.
1926   "Camille", - The Park Lane Orch.
1926   "That's Annabelle", - Ben Selvin Orch.
1930   "Bye bye Blues", - Bert Lown Orch.
1936   "Pennies From Heaven", - Eddy Duchin Orch.
1937   "Once In A While", - Tommy Dorsey Orch.
1937   "Canadian Capers", - Tommy Dorsey Orch.
1938   "Shoe Shiner's Drag", - Lionel Hampton Orch.
1939   "Moonlight And Roses", - Wayne King ("The Waltz King") Orch.
1939   "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", - Wayne King ("The Waltz King") Orch.
1941   "Love Walked In", - Leo Reisman Orch.
1941   "April In Paris", - Leo Reisman Orch.
1941   "Penthouse Serenade", - Leo Reisman Orch.
1950   "Sam's Song", - Bing Crosby
1950   "Play A Simple Melody", - Bing Crosby
1950   "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena", - Vic Damone
1954   "High And The Mighty, The", - Les Baxter
1954   "High And The Mighty, The", - Leroy Holmes
1958   "Just A Dream", - Jimmy Clanton
1958   "Everybody Loves A Lover", - Doris Day
1958   "Fever", - Peggy Lee
1962   "Things", - Bobby Darin
1962   "Little Diane", - Dion
1962   "Party Lights", - Claudine Clark
1962   "Loco-Motion, The", - Little Eva
1973   "Uneasy Rider", - Charlie Daniels
1973   "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)", - Al Green
1973   "Live And Let Die", - Paul McCartney
1979   "Devil Went Down To Georgia, The", - Charlie Daniels
1979   "My Sharona", - Knack
1984   "Warrior, The", - Scandal
1984   "Glamorous Life, The", - Sheila E.
1984   "Missing You", - John Waite
1990   "Do Me!", - Bell Biv Devoe
1990   "Have You Seen Her", - M. C. Hammer
1990   "Release Me", - Wilson Phillips