BIRTHDAYS
1938     Cliff Barbaro, drums,
1937     Roberto Blanco (Zerquera), vocals. b. Cuba. (German extraction)
1922     Beryl Booker, Piano, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. Sept. 30, 1978, USA.
1956     Larry Boone, C&W singer/songwriter, b. Cooper City, Fl, USA.
1932     Harold "Tina" Brooks, Tenor Sax, b. Fayetteville, NC, USA. d. August 13, 1974, USA.
1945     Billy Butler, vocals/guitar, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'The Enchanters'
1952     Royce Campbell, guitar/Composer/Producer, b. Seymour, Indiana, USA
1917     James Leon Comegys, trombone, b. MD, USA. (Worked with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson.) In the late 1930s, Comegys began his career playing with the Lucky Millinder and the Hardy Brothers orchestras. In the early 1940s, he worked with 'Hot Lips' Page, Fletcher Henderson and Les Hite prior to entering trhe U. S. Army during World War II. In 1951, he worked with Count Basie, and a few years later toured Europe with Freddie Mitchell. In the 1960s, his last notable gig was touring with singer Ray Charles' group. He then dropped out of fulltime music following more than two decades of touring.
1902     Ed Cuffee, Trombone, b. Norfolk, VA, USA. d. Jan. 3, 1959, USA.
1921     Talmadge Holt "Tal" Farlow, Jazz Guitar, b. Greensboro, NC, USA, d. July 24, 1998, New York, NY, USA (Esophageal Cancer) Age: 77.
1941     Hotep Idris Galeta, piano, electric piano, educator, b. South Africa. né: Cecil Galeta.
1963     Gordon Gano, R&R vocals. Member group: 'The Violent Femmes'
1924     Delores Gray, vocals. Active in Films and on the Stage. Sang with Richard Himber Orch. Also heard on radio with the Rudy Vallee and Wayne King orchestras.
1906   Glen Gray, Alto Sax/Leader, b. Roanoke, IL, USA. d. August 23, 1963. Plymouth, MA, USA. né: Glen Gray Knoblauch. After Glen graduated from Illinois Westleyan College, he found work playing the saxophone with one of the Jean Goldkette managed bands, -the 'Orange Blossoms'. In 1928 the group had been booked for the opening of the then brand new Casa Loma hotel in Toronto, Canada. The "Orange Blossoms' later disbanded, and the bandsmen adopted the name 'Casa Loma Orchestra' for their Detroit area gigs. In 1929, the co-operative band was formed with Gray as the corporation president and Henry Biagini as their first 'frontman'. Subssequently, the band was 'fronted' by violinist Mel Jenssen, who remained its leader for several years. During the early 30s, Gene Gifford was the band's arranger. In 1937, (still a co-op 0rch.) the members voted Glen Gray to be their 'frontman', and Gray held that position until his retirement in 1950
1961     Wylie Gustafson, (Cowboy) vocals, Yodeler, songwriter, Group: 'Wylie and the Wild West Show'
1955     Howard Hedges, trombone, b. Norfolk Naval Base, VA, USA, (raised in Pompano Beach, FL), d. October 15, 2007 Homer, Alaska, USA. (complications due to a fall from his wheelchair) After his demise, his obituary in the local Alaskan newspaper noted that " Hedges became a musician because he didn't give up, not even when he was told in junior high school that he should stop playing the trombone" From 1978 to 1990, he toured all over the world. Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, The Temptations, the Four Tops, Aretha Franklin:-- he played with them all, including over a year with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. A stroke in 1991 ended Hedges' touring career, but didn't stop his playing. He never gave up. After a diagnosis of diabetes (16 years prior to 2007), a stroke in 1993, a major heart attack, failing organs and the loss of his right foot, he kept on going. Hedges was survived by his wife, Kathy Hedges, and his son, Michael Hedges.
1906     George F, Hirst, trumpet, b. Tonyrefail, Wales, UK
1949     Shirley Johnson, vocals, b. Franklin, VA, USA.
1940     Tom Jones, vocals, b. Pontypridd, Wales, U. K. né: Thomas Jones Woodward. Son of Thomas Woodward, who was a miner from Wales, UK..
1966     Eric Kretz, Rock drummer. Member group: Stone Temple Pilots.
1917     Dean Martin, vocals/actor. b. Steubenville, OH, USA. d. Dec. 25, 1995, Beverly Hills, California, USA. (lung cancer and emphysema). né: Dino Paul Crocetti.
1942     Mel Martin, Tenor Sax/flute, b. Sacramento, CA, USA
1957     Paddy Mcaloon, guitar/vocals. Member group: Prefab Sprout.
1904     Don Murray, Clarinet/saxophone, b. Joliet, IL, USA. d. June 2, 1929, USA, ((five days short of his 25th birthday - head injuries apparently caused by his falling against a parked car in a drunken stupor.). Among those with whom he worked are Benny Goodman, Ted Lewis, Joe Venuti, Adrian Rollini and Chauncey Morehouse. In 1923, he played tenor sax briefly with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings (NORK), and from 1923-'27 with with the Jean Goldkette Orchestra in Detroit, MI. The band at that time included Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer (1926-'27). In 1927, he was part of Adrian Rollini's legendary orchestra. From 1927-'28, he worked with Joe Venuti. He subsequently found work in Broadway's pit orchestras, and then with the Ted Lewis orchestra.. In his last year of live, Murray appeared in the Lewis film short "Is Everybody Happy"
1967     Dave Navarro, Rock vocals. Member group: Red Hot Chili Peppers.
1928     Anthony Ortega, reeds/flute, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA
1910     Gene Porter, Reeds, b. Pocahontas, MS, USA
1968     MC Potts, (C&W) vocals, née: Mary Christina Potts
1958     "Prince", vocals. né: Prince Rogers Nelson
1951     Rainer (né: Rainer Ptacek), guitar, b. East Berlin, Germany
1958     L. A. Reid, record producer.
1944     Miguel Rios, vocals, b. Spain
1902     Prince Robinson, Clarinet/tenor sax, b. Portsmouth, VA, USA. d. July 23, 1960, USA.
1985     Charlie Simpson, R&R vocals. Member group: Bustd.
1934     Wynn Stewart, C&W vocals, b. Morrisville, MO, USA, d. July 17, 1985. né: Wynnford Lindsey Stewart
1928     Charles Strouse, composer.
1924     "Butch" Watanabe, trombone, d. Nov. 7, 2002
1944     Clarence White, C&W guitar, b. Lewiston, ME, USA, d. July 14, 1973. member: The Kentucky Colonels; The Byrds
1944     Townes Van Zandt, singer/songwriter, b. USA
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1939.    The Larry Clinton Orchestra recorded "In A Perisan Market" (Victor)
1964.    Meade Lux Lewis, piano, died in Minneapolis, MN, USA. Age: 59
1968.    Hank Duncan, piano, died, Long Island, NY, USA.
1971.    Ben Pollack, drums/bandleader died in Palm Springs, CA, USA. (suicide)
1972.    Hezekiah Roby, drums, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 28
1976.    Bobby Hackett, cornet, died in Chatham, Massachusetts, USA (heart attack)
1993.    Milwaukee Slim (né: Angelo Chambers), drums, died in St. Paul, MN, USA. Age: 68
1994.    Willie Humphrey, clarinet, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 93
1999.    James Eugene "Rosy" McHargue, clarinet, died in Santa Monica, CA, USA. (some sources say d. June 8) Age: 97 (b. April 6, 1902)
2000.    Clint Houston, bass died in New York City, New York, USA. ( né: Clinton Joseph Houston. b. June 24, 1946, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA). Perhaps best recalled for his long association with pianist Joanne Brackeen (1978-'86)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1938   "When My Sugar Walks Down The Street", - Duke Ellington Orch.
1939   "'Swonderful", - Jack Marshard Orch.
1945   "Bell Bottom Trousers", - Kay Kyser Orch.
1945   "Bell Bottom Trousers", - Louis Prima Orch.
1969   "Spinning Wheel", - Blood, Sweat & Tears
1969   "Israelites", - Dekker, Desmond & The Aces
1969   "Good Morning Starshine", - Oliver
1975   "Dynomite Part 1", - Bazuka - Toni Camillo`s
1975   "Listen To What The Man Said", - Paul McCartney
1980   "Tired Of Toein' The Line", - Rocky Burnette
1986   "Invisible Touch", - Genesis
1986   "Danger Zone", - Kenny Loggins
1986   "Nasty", - Janet Jackson