BIRTHDAYS
1954     Johannes Bauer, trombone
1944     Estelle Bennett, vocals. Member: 'The Ronettes'
1951     Richard Bennett, (C&W) session guitarist/producer, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1928     Keter Betts, Bass, b. Port Chester, NY, USA. né: William Thomas Betts
1955     Joshua Breakstone, guitar
1953     Jimmy Bruno, guitar
1964     William Calhoun, drums, New York (Bronx), NY, USA. Member: 'Living Colour', a group formed in 1984, and consisting of, Vernon Reid (guitar, b. August 22, 1958, London, England), Muzz Skillings (bass) and William Calhoun (drums, b. July 22, 1964, New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA), and singer Corey Glover. Reid was the only member with prior band experience. His family moved to New York when he was age two, and Reid later studied performing arts at the Manhattan Community College,
1933     Chuck Cassey, choral director, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Perhpas best recalled for his work on the Jimmy Dean Show.
1940     George Clinton, vocals, b. Kannapolis, NC, USA. Mmeber: 'The Parliaments'
1934     Herman "Junior" Cook, Tenor Sax, b. Pensacola, FL, USA. d. 1992.
1944     Richard Davies, Keyboards/vocals Member group: Supertramp
1954     Al Di Meola, Guitar, b. Jersey City, NJ, USA.
1937     Bob Downes, Flute/sax, b. Plymouth, England.
1932     John K. F. Edwards, Australian record collector (with a passionate interest in American Country music), b. Sydney, Australia. d. Dec. 24, 1960, Cremorne, Australia. (Auto accident near his house) Member: The JEMF/UCLA His will named his friend, American record collector, Gene W. Earle, as executor, and instructed that his collection of records (10,000) and all related materials, be used for the "furtherance of serious study, recognition, appreciation and preservation of genuine Country or Hillbilly music..." In 1962, Earle and other correspondents of Edwards, Archie Green, D.K. Wilgus, Fred C. Hoeptner and Ed Khan, formed a non-profit corporation in California, the "John Edwards Memorial Foundation" (JEMF), and found an amenable host at the University of California at Los Angeles, in the person of Wayland Hand, Chairman of the Folklore and Mythology Center. In 1988, the JEMF collection was sold to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where, as the John Edwards Memorial Collection (JEMC), it was incorporated into the Southern Folklife Collection in the Manuscripts Department of the Academic Affairs Library.
1949     Marc Edwards, drums, percussion, b. New York (Jamaica), NY, USA.
1823     Christian August Gütter, instrument maker, b. Markneukirchen, Germany, d. September 21, 1900, Markneukirchen, Germany. (His name was actually Karl, not Christian. The "real" inventor of the "Autoharp". Author Ivan Stiles, did much research on the history of the autoharp which he formally presented in an article that appeared in the Autoharp Quarterly, Volume 3, Number 3.
1924     Al Haig, Piano, b. Newark, NJ, USA. d. Nov 16, 1982, New York, NY, USA. né: Allan Warren Haig
1947     Don Henley, Rock vocals/drums, b. Gilmer, TX, USA. né: Donald Hugh Henley. (Some say b. Linden, Texas.) member: 'The Eagles'. Out of all the original Eagles, Henley would go on to have the most successful 'single' career. Henley and the Eagles reunited in 1994 and went on a worldwide tour. Their release "Hell Freezes Over" sold over 5 million copies, but nevertheless, the group again split up in 1995, with Henley again going his own way.
1929     Mable Hillery, vocals, b. LaGrange, GA, USA. Member: 'Georgia Sea Island Singers'
1975     Sonya Isaacs, C&W vocals.
1937     Chuck' Jackson, vocals, b. Latta, SC, USA.
1973     Daniel Jones, vocals/guitar. Member: Savage Garden. The 1998 single "Truly Madly Deeply" hit No.1 in the USA, and No.4 in the UK.
1913     Gorni Kramer, Accordion/Bass/leader, b. Mantua, Italy.
1917     Lou McGarity, Trombone, b. Athens, GA, USA, d. 1971, Alexandria, VA, USA. Age: 54. When he was just seven years old, Lou began to play the violin, and did not switch to trombone until he was 17. From 1934-'36, McGarity studied at the University of Georgia, then gigged locally in the South (including with Kirk DeVore and Nye Mayhew). From 1938-'40, he toured with Ben Bernie's orchestra before hitting the big time with Benny Goodman from 1940-'42. (Incidentally, McGarity not only played with Benny Goodman's BigBand but with Benny's smaller groups as well, -the first trombonist to do so.) From 1942-'44, Lou worked with Raymond Scott's Orchestra at CBS, before joining the U. S. Army during WWII. After his service discharge, he rejoined Benny Goodman for a time in 1946. Starting in 1947 (coinciding with the end of the BigBands era), Lou became a busy studio musician in New York city, often appearing nightly in local clubs with Dixieland-oriented musicians. McGarity was a very talented trombone soloist influenced by Jack Teagarden but possessing his own brassier sound. He was a very strong asset to the many bands and small groups with whom he worked. Through the years, McGarity often teamed up with his friend and fellow trombonist Cutty Cutshall (including with Goodman)
1949     Alan Menken, film score composer/piano/violin/guitar/accordion, b. July 22 1949, New Rochelle, New York, USA. In 2001, he had already won 8 Academy Awards, more than anyone else alive. In November 1972, he married Janice, and that marriage produced 2 children. (They remain married today.)
1915     "Taps" Miller, vocals/trumpet/dancer/drums, b. Indianapolis, IN, USA
1916     Paul Moer, Piano, b. Meadville, PA, USA.
1936     Donald Patterson, Organ, b. Columbus, OH, USA. d. 1988.
1924     Bill Perkins, Bari-alto-Tenor-soprano sax/bass clarinet/clarinet/flute, b. San Francisco, CA, USA, d. Aug. 9, 2003, né: William Reese Perkins.
1874     Obed "Dad" Pickard, C&W vocals/banjo/guitar - but all-string instruments, d. 1954. Founder of the "Pickard Family". He was one of the first "Grand Old Opry" performers. Patriarch of one of the first country singing groups to appear on national network radio. While still a young boy, Obed became proficient on nearly all stringed instruments. In 1926, at age 52, he gained his first fame when he became a soloist in the Grand Ole Opry and began to record for Columbia. In 1928, he brought his family into the act starring on NBC's The Cabin Door, a sort of minstrel show on radio. After that, he returned to the Grand Ole Opry showm and followed that with radio station work in New York, New Orleans, Philadelphia and other cities. 1940 found him in Hollywood where he would eventually make three films: Frontier Vengeance (1940), Riders Of The Dawn (1945), and Sea Of Grass (1947). He later had his own TV show in L.A. During the earliest years of TV, he has his own series "Sunday at Home" (1949)
1956     Mick Pointer, drums. b. UK. Member group: Marillion. The 1985 single "Kayleigh" hit No.2 in the UK.
1939     Mario Rivera, saxophone, flute
1925     Hal Schaefer, piano
1963     Emily Saliers, guitar/vocals. Member group: Indigo Girls.
1945     Bobby Sherman, actor/vocals. b. Santa Monica, CA, USA. Also founded the TAC-5, a paramedics group.
1909     Cassino Simpson, Piano, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. 1952.
1931     Keith Sweat, R&B vocals.
1941     Thomas Wayne (Perkins), vocals.
1924     Margaret Whiting, vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA. Daughter of famed composer Richard Whiting
1952     Dennis Wilson, Trombone, b. Greensboro, NC, USA.
         Notable Events on this date include:
1932.    Famed showman Florenz Ziegfeld died. In poor health, and with no shows on Broadway, his wife, actress Billie Burke, was working in Hollywood to support the family.
1965.    Singer/Actress Dyan Cannon married screen legend Cary Grant. Seven months later, the marriage produced one child (his only child), daughter Jennifer Grant. In 1968, Dyan and Cary divorced.
1967.    "Windy", by 'The Association', was the most popular record in the U.S. for the fourth straight week, according to the Billboard singles chart Just a week later, Jim Morrison and The Doors release of "Light My Fire" became
1971.    Ted Fio Rito leader, songwriter, died in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. (heart attack) (b. Dec. 20, 1900, Newark, New Jersey, USA )
1977.    Richie Kamuca, tenor sax died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. (b. July 23, 1930, Philadelphia, PA, USA)
1979.    R&R vocalist/pianist "Little Richard", became a Pastor, -the Reverend Richard Pennman. In his first sermon, he told his congregation about the evils of rock & roll music, and declared 'If God can save an old homosexual like me, he can save anybody'.
1979.    "Candyman" Mcguirt, guitar, died in San Francisco, CA, USA.
1982.    Sonny Stitt, alto/tenor sax, died in Washington, DC, USA. Age: 58
1983.    Robert L. "Bobby" King, guitar, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 42
1987.    Nick Perls, Label founder (Yazoo Records), died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 45
1987.    Hugh Bryant, vocals, died in Helsinki, Finland. Age: 58 Member: 'The Delta Rhythm Boys'
1993.    Ben Karol, vocals/founder Karol Records, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 79 Member: 'King Karol '
1995.    Dave Clark, promoter/songwriter, died in Madison, MS, USA. Age: 86 With: Malaco Records
1995.    Jimmy Keyes, vocals, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 65 Member: 'The Chords'
1995.    Percy Humphrey, trumpet, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 90
2002.    Marian Montgomery, vocals, died in Bray, Berkshire, England, UK. (cancer) (née: Marian Maud Runnells. b. Nov. 17, 1934, Natchez, Mississippi, USA )
2003.    Gary Carden, trumpet, flugelhorn, died (b. 1937) (Gary Carden Big Band)
2004.    Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax, died in , New York, NY, USA. (heart attack) (b. Oct. 31, 1922, Broussard, Louisiana, USA )
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1918   "After You've Gone", - Marion Harris voc.
1922   "Louisiana", - Carl Fenton Orch.
1924   "Please", - Ray Miller Orch.
1926   "Flapperette", - The Harold Leonard Waldorf Orch.
1926   "She Belongs To me", - The Clevelanders.
1926   "While The Years Go Drifting By", - The Harold Leonard Waldorf Orch.
1939   "The South American Way", - Desi Arnaz and His Conga Orch.
1921   "Bring Me Back My Blushing Rose", - The Shilking Orch.
1934   "Malahini Mele", - Sol Bright's Hawaiians.
1935   "Is It Just A Summer Romance", - Jan Garber Orch.
1937   "Got A Date With An Angel", - Hal Kemp Orch, Skinnay Ennis voc.
1938   "Don't Cross Your Fingers, Cross Your Heart", - Sammy Kaye Orch.
1940   "Harlem Airshaft", - Duke Ellington Orch.
1943   "In My Arms", - Dick Haymes
1943   "I Heard You Cried Last Night", - Harry James
1943   "You'll Never Know", - Frank Sinatra
1949   "Jealous Heart", - Al Morgan
1957   "Tammy", - The Ames Brothers
1957   "It's You I Love", - Fats Domino
1957   "Tammy", - Debbie Reynolds
1967   "Girl Like You, A", - The Rascals
1972   "Goodbye To Love", - The Carpenters
1972   "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", - Jim Croce
1978   "Everlasting Love, An", - Andy Gibb
1978   "Shame", - Evelyn King "Champagne"
1978   "Hopelessly Devoted To You", - Olivia Newton-John
1978   "Boogie Oogie Oogie", - A Taste Of Honey
1989   "Angel Eyes", - Jeff Healy
1989   "Don't Wanna Lose You", - Gloria Estefan
1989   "Hangin' Tough", - The New Kids On The Block