BIRTHDAYS
1944     Peter Albin Bass/guitar/vocals. Member of Janis Joplin's band.
1944     Monty Alexander, Piano, b. Kingston, Jamaica
1939     Gary "U.S. Bonds" Anderson, vocals, b. Jacksonville, FL, USA.
1961     Tom Araya, bass/vocals. Member group: Slayer.
1976     Emilie-Claire Barlow, vocal, b. Toronto, ON, Canada. This bop-oriented singewr is the daughter of jazz drummer Brian Barlow (aka: Brian Leonard), who is perhaps best-known for his work with "The Boss Brass" Canadian big band led by trombonist Rob McConnell. As a child, she studied piano, violin, cello, and clarinet. At just age seven, she was already singing for TV and radio commercials. Both father and daughter remain currently (2006) very active in their hometown of Toronto, Canada.
1926     Kristian Bergheim, Tenor Sax, b. Asker, Norway
1959     Paul Bollenback, guitar/composer, b. Hinsdale, IL, USA. Paul is the product of a musical family, his father was a classically trained trumpeter. After graduating from the University of Miami, where he majored in Music, he later studied privately for eight years with Asher Zlotnik, a Baltimore, Maryland, based professor of Theory and Composition. Paul Bollenback currently (2006) lives in New York City, where he teaches at Queens College of the City University of New York, as well as the New School and at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. He is 'Artist in Residence' at the Litchfield (Connecticut, USA) Jazz Festival Summer Music School. Amobg the stars with whom he has appeared are Stanley Turrentine, Herb Ellis, David "Fathead" Newman, Charlie Byrd, Paul Bley, Jack McDuff, Gary Bartz, Shunzo Ohno, Joey DeFrancesco, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Joe Locke, Gary Thomas, Steve Wilson, James Moody, Chris McNulty, Carol Sloane, Melissa Walker, Jimmy Bruno, Carter Jefferson, Dave Valentin, and 'East Meets Jazz' (with Sandip Burman).
1973     Lisa Brokop, C&W singer/songwriter, b. Surrey British Columbia, Canada.
1904     Raymond Burke, Clarinet, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. 1986.
1927     Lennie Bush, Bass, b. London, England
1927     Eddie Cano, piano, d. 1988
1904     Gay Claridge, Leader, d. March 9, 1989.
1931     Charlie Cline, (Bluegrass) Mandolin/Fiddle, b. Gilbert, WV, USA. Member: the "Lonesome Pine Fiddlers", comprised of his two older brothers, Ireland and Curly Ray, and his cousin Ezra.
1939     Billy "Crash" Craddock, (Country) Vocals/Guitar, b. Greensboro, NC, USA.
1955     Larry Cramer, trumpet, b. Toronto, Ont, Canada.
1924     Gil Cuppini, Drums, b. Milan, Italy. d. June 16, 1996.
1962     Feya Faku, Trumpet, b. New Brighton, South Africa
1944     Edgar Froese, keyboard/guitar, b. Germany. A master of the Mellotron (sound produced by key-activated tape loops of actual orchestra recordings). This early keyboard device was made famous by the "Moody Blues". The only continuing (2003) member of the pioneering synthesizer group 'Tangerine Dream'.
1956     Les Goering, guitar
1931     Grant Green, Guitar, b. St.Louis, MO, USA. d. 1979, USA.
1925     Al Grey, Trombone, b. Middleburg (or Aldie), VA, USA, d. March 24, 2000, age 74. né: Albert Thornton Grey (member Count Basie Orch.)
1968     Damion Hall, R&B vocals. Member: Guy.
1959     Robert Hodgens, guitar/vocals. Member: The Bluebells.
1911     George Vaughn Horton, (Country) songwriter, b. Broad Top, PA, USA.
1899     William "Fats" Jefferson, piano, b. Waco, TX, USA.
1934     Bev Kelly, b. vocal
1930     S. P. Leary, drums, b. Dallas, TX, USA. Perhaps best remembered for his work with Muddy Waters
1961     D. C. Lee, vocals. Member: Style Council.
1946     Tony Levin, bass/tuba/guitar bass/electric bass/synth/Chapman Stick, b. Boston, MA, USA (raised in the suburb of Brookline, MA, USA). Tony's brother, Pete Levin, is a New York keyboardist and writer who is best known for his work with Gil Evans. At age 10, Tony began playing the upright bass. In high school, he also began playing the tuba, even soloing with the school's concert band. He primarily played classical music on the double bass, and, most notably, even performed at the U. S. President's White House residence with a youth orchestra, for John and Jackie Kennedy. While in high school, Tony also started a barbershop quartet. Tony next studied at the 'Eastman School of Music' in Rochester, NY, and played in the Rochester Philharmonic. One of the other students at the school was Steve Gadd, now a renowned drummer, who introduced Tony to the world of Jazz and rock. Trading in his Ampeg baby bass for an old Fender Precision bass, Tony moved to New York City, in 1970, where he joined a band called 'Aha, the Attack of the Green Slime Beast', with Don Preston of The Mothers of Invention. Throughout the 1970's, Levin worked as a New York session musician, and played bass on many albums. In 1980, he became a member of the newest incarnation of the 'King Crimson' band. During his career, Tony has played and toured with such stars as Paul Simon (with whom Tony appeared in Simon's 1980 film "One Trick Pony"), singer Judy Collins, Peter Frampton, Herbie Mann, Carly Simon, Gary Burton, Joe Yamanaka, James Taylor, Goro Noguchi, Anderson/Bruford/Wakeman/Howe, Richie Samborra, Tim Finn, and Claudio Baglioni. Currently (2004), Currently, Tony continues to record and tour with 'King Crimson'
1890/2     Ted Lewis, Clarinet/Leader, b. Circleville, OH, USA. d. Aug. 25, 1971, New York, NY, USA.
1949     Paul Lovens, Drums, b. Aachen, Germany
1903     Bert Lown, Leader/violin, b. White Plains, NY, USA. d. Nov. 20, 1962, Portland, OR, USA.
1902     Jimmy Lunceford, Leader, b. Fulton, MO, USA. . d. July 12, 1947. né: James Melvin Lunceford
1949     Juergen Marcus, vocals, b. Herne, Germany né: Jürgen Beumer.
1969     Bardi Martin, R&R vocals.
1911     Dave Matthews, alto-Tenor Sax, b. Chagrin Falls, OH, USA , d. 1997. After his studies at Oklahoma University and Chicago Musical College, his first major job was as an altoist with Ben Pollack's Orchestra from 1935-'36, after which, he played with, and contributed arrangements to each of the following bands. During 1936-'38 with Jimmy Dorsey; 1938 also saw some recordings with Bud Freeman and Eddie Condon; 1938-'39 with Benny Goodman; 1939-'40 with Harry James' first big band; and again with James in 1941; 1941-'42 with Hal McIntyre; 1942-'43 with Woody Herman; 1943 recorded with the Capitol Jazzmen; 1944 with Stan Kenton, then off and on from 1944-'49 with Charlie Barnet. Subsequently, Matthews mostly freelanced as an arranger for the rest of his career. As a leader, he recorded one title ("Sepia Nocturne") for Capitol in 1945, and a V-Disc in 1946. In 1940, while working with Harry James, he contributed the hit "Two O'Clock Jump" arrangement for the James orchestra, and also gave up playing the alto sax, and switched permanently to tenor sax. CAUTION: Do not confuse with the Dave Matthews (Band - singer-guitarist) who was born: Jan. 9, 1967 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
1904     Leroy Maxey, Drums, b. Kansas City, MO, USA
1920     John Mehegan, piano, d. 1984, , Hartford, CT, USA
1936     Raful Neal, harmonica, b. Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
1972     Charles Owens, tenor sax
1928     Pearl Reaves, vocals, b. Raleigh, NC, USA.
1922     Carol Richards, singer, b. Harvard, IL, USA, d. March 16, 2007, Vero Beach, FL, USA. (heart disease) Age: 84. née: Carol June Vosburgh. Richards will perhaps always be remembered for the Christmas classic "Silver Bells," which she recorded with Bing Crosby. Ms. Richards, in an 2003 interview with the Vero Beach Press Journal, said that at age 4, she was already performing, but her mother thought she was acting "like a diva" at 6 and wouldn't let her take the stage again until she was 11. At age 16, she married and was known as Carol Lutzhoff, "a terrible name for show biz," she said in 2003. (In honor of a nephew, she changed her name to Richards.) In 1946, she won a singing contest that was promoted by comedian Bob Hope, and afterwards started appearing with him on television. During that time, she met Bing Crosby. On her demise, Jean Laughlin, one of her daughters, told reporters that Richards dubbed the singing voices of several actresses. One highlight was performing for Cyd Charisse with Gene Kelly in "Brigadoon" (1954), and Fred Astaire in "Silk Stockings" (1957). The duet "Silver Bells" was originally featured in the 1951 film "The Lemon Drop Kid," starring Bob Hope, but it was the version sung by Bing Crosby and Ms. Richards that made the song famous. In the 1950s, Richards was a regular on "The Bob Crosby Show," a daytime TV program featuring Bing's younger brother. She appeared on a number of TV variety shows and worked frequently with comedians Danny Kaye and Jerry Lewis, among others.
1933     Ted Roberts, guitar, b. St. Boniface, Canada. mamber group: Travelers
1946     Vagif Sadykov, Piano, b., Baku, Azerbaijan
1930     Alex Scorier, tenor/soprano sax, flute, composer/arranger. b: Brussels, Belgium. At age 18, after completing his studies at the Brussels Royal Conservatory, Scorier began his professional career. In 1952, he formed his first big band with some touring American musicians - "Slide" Hampton, guitarist Jimmy Gourley, and Jay Cameron (former saxist with Woody Herman band). In 1952, and '53, he won the Hot Club of Belgium's International Competition. (He, Bobby Jaspar and Jack Sels also won the Hot Club poll) From 1954 to 1956, he worked in the Fud Candrix, Fred Bunge, and Werner Muller bands (in Germany). Back in Belgium, he freelanced and played with some well known American soloists touring the continent, including Clark Terry, Don Byas, Buck Clayton, Steve Lacy, Taps Miller, Bill Coleman, Richard Boone, and Ernie Wilkins. In 1955, he took part in a Faun (Hamburg) Jam session with Duke Ellington and "Slide" Hampton. From 1964 to 1991, Scourier was a member of the Flemish Big Band (radio and TV - BRT), co-led by Francis Bay and Freddy Sunder. During 1973 to 1975, he played in Marc Moulin's "Placebo" (with Richard Rousselet, Philip Catherine and others). The Jazz festivals at which he has appeared include Frankfurt, Paris, Comblain la Tour Bilzen, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Today (2002) Scourier continues to tour with his orchestra, - and a new group "Jazz Friends/Jazz For Fun", that includes Herman Sandy (trumpet), Roger Asselberghs (clarinet), Robert Pernet (drs), Pierre Bochner, Greacute;goire Perilleux (piano) and Daniel Zanello (bass).
1946     Zbigniew Seifert, Violin, Alto Sax, synthesizer, organ, piano, b. Kraków, Poland. d. 1979, Buffalo, New York, USA.
1970     Names Shaffer, Guitarist. Member group: 'Korn'.
1906     Asher Sizemore, (Country) vocals, b. Manchester, KY, USA. During the great depression of the 1930s, Asher Sizemore and "Little Jimmie", his 5 year old son, were very popular radio personalities, broadcasting mostly from Louisville KY.
1943     Joe Stampley, C&W vocals, b. Springhill, LA, USA.
1936     Levi Stubbs (né: Stubbles), vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA. Member: 'The Four Tops'.
1885     Gid Tanner, fiddle, b. Thomas Bridge, GA, USA, d. May 13, 1960. né: James Gideon Tanner (Member: 'The Skillet Lickers').
1944     David Taylor, Bass Trombone, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA.
1951     Dwight Twilley, Vocals.
1960     Steve Vai, Rock Guitar. Workded with Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake.
1888     Pete Wendling, Composer, d. April 1974., USA His first song "Yakka Hula, Hickey Dula" sold over 1,000,000 copies.
1944     Clarence White, Guitar, d. July 14, 1973. Member group: The Byrds.
1947     Terry Williams, best recalled for his work with The New Christy Minstrels and The First Edition
1955     Curtis Wright, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Huntington, Pennsylvania, USA. Member 'The Super Grit Cowboy Band'
1892     Jack Yellen, Composer, b. Poland, d. April 17. 1991, Concord, NY, USA
1966     Sean Yseult, R&R. Member group: White Zombie.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1956.    Vocalist Gogi Grant (née: Audrey Brown) single "The Wayward Wind" hit No. 1 on USA charts. It was only her 2nd release, and the only one of her records to reach No. 1.
1960.    Bing Crosby received a Platinum disc commemorating his 200,000,000 record sold. 10 years later, he received a 2nd Platinum disc when Decca had sold 300,650,000 records. During Bing's lifetime career, sales, on 179 labels in 28 countries, totaled over 400,000,000 records. Today, much of the world no longer recalls his name. Someone once said "Fame is Fleeting."
1968.    George Wettling, the great Dixieland drummer, died in New York, NY, USA. (b. Nov 28, 1907, Topeka, Kansas, USA.) né: George Godfrey Wettling.
1968.    Shad Collins, trumpet, died in New York, NY, USA. (b. June 27, 1910, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA )
1986.    Preston Sandiford, piano, died in Boston, MA, USA. Age: 77
1990.    Lou Blackburn, trombone, died. (b. Nov. 12, 1922, Rankin, Pennsylvania, USA )
1991.    Stan Getz, tenor sax, died in Malibu, CA, USA. Age: 64
1996.    William A. Palmer, inventor of the magnetic tape recorder, died.
2001.    Marvin Montgomery, banjo player for the Light Crust Doughboys, died in Dallas, TX, USA. Age: 88
2006.    Hilton Ruiz, piano, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. (result of a fall - never came out of the coma) ( b. May 29, 1952, New York, NY, USA)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1942   "Jersey Bounce", - Jimmy Dorsey Orch.
1942   "One Dozen Roses", - Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orch.
1947   "I Understand", Harry James Orch.
1961   "Boll Weevil Song, The", - Brook Benton
1961   "Quarter To Three", - Gary "U.S." Bonds
1961   "Every Beat Of My Heart", - Gladys Knight & The Pips
1965   "Mr. Tambourine Man", - Byrds
1965   "Wonderful World", - Herman's Hermits
1965   "For Your Love", - Yardbirds
1971   "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Shou", - Carly Simon
1976   "Get Closer", - Seals & Crofts
1976   "Afternoon Delight", - Starland Vocal Band