BIRTHDAYS
1923     Max Albright, vibes/drums, Max Albright is the product of a musical family; his parents worked in the theater pits for silent movies. He was a very well regarded sideman who worked steadily during the second half of the 1940s and throughout the '50s, including stints with Boyd Raeburn, Charlie Barnet and the NBC staff orchestra. Yet, curiously, after having appeared on many 1950s recordings, he seems to have disappeared from the music scene, -his present (2006) whereabouts is unknown.
1941     Shirley Owens Alston, vocals, b. Passaic, NJ, USA. Member: 'The Shirelles' (R&B group)
1964     Emma Anderson, Rock guitar. Member: Lush
1898     Andy Blakeney, Trumpet, b. Quitman, MS, USA. d. Feb. 12, 1992, USA.
1924     Arelean Brown, vocals, b. Tchula, MS, USA.
1940     Clarence "Juny Boy" Brown, piano, b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
1969     Ed Burleson, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Texas, USA.
1970     Dwayne Burno, Bass, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA
1910     Chester Arthur Burnett - aka: 'Howlin Wolf', harmonica/rhythm guitar/vocals, b. West Point, MI, USA, d. Jan. 10, 1976, Hines, IL, USA.
1970     Dwayne Burno, bass. b. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
1964     Jimmy Chamberlain, Rock drums. Member group: 'Smashing Pumpkins'
1925     Don Costa, composer, b. Boston, MA, USA. d. Jan. 19, 1983, New York, NY, USA
1913     Jeanne D'Arcy, vocalist, sang with the Johnny Messner orch.
1960     M. Doughty, Rock vocals. Member: 'Soul Coughing'.
1891     Al Dubin, Lyricist, b. Zurich, Switzerland, d. Feb. 11, 1945, New York, NY, USA. d. Feb. 11, 1945. Al had his first hit song in 1917, and continued writing hits into the 1940s.
1907     Laura Dukes, banjo, b. Memphis, TN, USA.
1973     Faith Evans, R& vocals. b. USA. Sang with Puff Daddy and with Whitney Houston.
1922     Judy Garland, vocals/actress, b. Grand Rapids, MI, USA. d. June, 1969, London, England. Age: 54. (Accidental overdose of seconal). né: Frances Ethel Gumm
1919     "Rusty" Gill, (cowboy) vocals/guitar/actor.
1931     Joao Gilberto, vocal/guitar
1944     David Goloshchokin, Flugelhorn, violin, sax, piano, bass, drums, composer, b. Moscow, Russia
1916     George "Fats" Gordon, piano, b. Newark, NJ, USA. d. Dec. 26, 1982.
1971     Joel "Jojo" Hailey, vocals. Member group: 'Jodeci'
1928     Carl Halen, cornet
1910     Glenn Hardman, organ, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
1919     Wes Hensel, trumpet
1925     Nat Hentoff, writer
1981     "Hoku", singer-songwriter, actress, b. Honolulu (on Oahu Island), HI, USA. née: Hoku Christian Ho Her name, Hoku, means "Star" in Hawaiian. She is the daughter of Don Ho and the former Patti Swallie, who used to sing in her father's show (at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Honolulu). The union also produced one other daugher, Kaimana Grace Ho. Hoku's debut single "Another Dumb Blonde," appeared on the soundtrack to the movie "Snow Day" and also in the "Total Request Live Top 10". She later appeared on a Nickelodeon special with many other stars, such as Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Sean Combs, and Aaron Carter. 2000 saw the released her eponymously-titled debut album. In 2001 she recorded the song "Perfect Day," which was used as the theme song to the feature film "Legally Blonde". Until his death in 2007, Hoku often returned to Hawaii to perform with her father, at his "Don Ho Show" at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Honolulu,. Currently (2007) Hoku resides in Orange County, California, with her husband Jeremy Clements. Her Song, "Perfect Day", recently gained wide recognition when the J.C. Penney department store, and Sandals Resorts used the song for a series of TV advertisements.
1910     "Howlin' Wolf", Please see: Chester Arthur Burnett, above
1958     Aaron J. ("AJ") Johnson, trombone/bass trombone/tuba/composer/arranger/shells, (yes, -large conch shells). Among the groups with whom "AJ" has played are Steve Turre (and his CD "Sanctified Shells"), Frank Lacy Vibe Tribe, Reggie Workman Legacy Ensemble, Charles Tolliver Big Band, many others. In 2000, Johnson was awarded a New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship in Music Composition.
1965     Michael "Dr. Mike" James, guitar, b. Cleveland, MS, USA.
1958     Aaron J. Johnson, ; trombone Bass Trombone, Tuba, Shells, b.
1941     Mickey Jones, member 'The First Edition'
1921     Porter Kilbert, alto sax, b. Baton Rouge, LA, USA, d. Oct. 23, 1960. Often worked with Red Saunders
1927     Bertell Knox, drums, b. New York, NY, USA. Studied privately with "Specs" Wright, and worked with Frank Wess, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, and Arnette Cobb. In 2003, the 'Bertell Knox Group' appeared in concert at Washington D.C.s Kennedy Center for the Arts, as a jazz combo, led by Knox on drums, and consisting of piano, string bass, and saxophone. Knox has also toured with stars such as Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, and Charlie Byrd.
1905     Willie Lewis, Alto Sax, b. Cleburne, TX, USA. d. Jan. 13, 1971, New York, NY, USA.
1904     Frederic "Fritz" Loewe, Composer, b. Vienna, Austria, d. Feb. 14, 1988, Palm Springs, CA, USA. Songwriting team of Lerner and Loewe
1886     "Chink" Martin, Tuba/Bass, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. 1981, USA.
1901     Eric Maschwitz, Lyricist/composer, b. Birmingham, England, UK. d. Oct. 27, 1969, London, Eng. UK. aka: Holt Marvell. Married to actress Hermione Ferdinanda Gingold (b. Dec. 9, 1897, London, UK, d. May 24, 1987 -cardiac problems). They were divorced in 1945. He then married Phyllis Gordon same year.
1895     Hattie McDaniel, vocals, b. Wichita, KS, USA, d. Oct. 26, 1952, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA. (breast cancer). Most folks remember Hattie for her wonderful film portrayal as the stereotypical Black "Mammy" in the film "Gone With The WInd". However, very few folks today recall that she began her career in the 1910s as a band vocalist. In fact, she may have been the first African-American woman to sing on radio (1915, with "Professor George Morrison's Negro Orchestra", Denver, CO, USA).
1965     Ken Mellons, C&W singer/songwriter.
1894     Ernest "Punch" or "Kid Punch", Miller, Trumpet, b. Raceland, LA, USA. d. Dec. 2, 1971, New Orleans, LA, USA.
1967     Charnett Moffett, bass/bass guitar/leader, b. .New York, NY, USA, Charnett's father, drummer Charles Moffett Sr., was a member of Ornette Coleman’s trio of the mid 1960s as well as leader of the Moffett Family Band. Interestingly, Charnett's name is a contraction of Charles and Ornette. (Charles Moffett born September 6, 1929 Fort Worth, Texas, USA, died February 14, 1997, USA) Charnett is the product of a very musical family. As mentioned, His father was a jazz drummer, while the other children are drummer Codaryl, singer Charisse, trumpeter Mondre, and tenor saxophonist Charles Jr. His given name is derived from the combination of his father's name (Charles) and saxophonist Ornette Coleman. While still a child, he played in his father's band, and by age 16 was in Wynton Marsalis' quintet, playing with the trumpeter regularly during 1983-1985. Before he turned 20, Moffett, had already appeared on 17 recordings. Charnett later studied at New York's famed Juilliard School of Music. Among those with whom he has worked are Arturo Sandoval, Sonny Sharrock, Tony Williams, Slide Hampton, Stanley Jordan, Mulgrew Miller, Monty Alexander, David Sanborn, and Diane Reeves, among many others. During 1993-1995, he played regularly with Ornette Coleman.
1945     Nanette Natal, vocals. In the early 1960s, she began her career as a Classical singer while a member of the Helen Hayes Young People's Theater Guild. In the mid-'70s, she began performing her own material, which soon devolved into blues and rock, singing and playing guitar and performing at universities and concert halls. In the '70s, she recorded for Vanguard and later for Evolution Records. Natal has subsequently worked with such stars as Mahalia Jackson, Odetta, Bonnie Raitt and Rick Nelson along with TV appearances including one with Barbara Walters.on The Today Show.
1930     Guy Pedersen, Bass, b. Grande-Fort-Philippe, France
1970     Gray Sargent, Guitar, b. Attleboro, MA, USA
1952     Thom Schuyler, C&W singer-songwriter/music executive, b. Bethlehem, PA, USA.
1914     Rosita Serrano, vocals, b. Vina del Mar, Chile, d. April 6, 1997, Santiago de Chile, Chile. née: Maria Martha Esther Alduante Del Campo. In 1937, Rosita made her Berlin debut in the Operetta "Maske in Blau", and soon became one Germany's (and Europe's) most popular female singers. Known as the "Chilenische Nachtigallo" ("Chilean Nightingale"), Rosita spent a good deal of her career working in Germany, - primarily as the "girl" singer with trumpeter Kurt Hohenberger's orchestra. Many of her hit songs were composed by Michael Jary ("Roter Mohn", "Der Onkel Jonathan") and Theo Mackeben ("Bei Dir War Es Immer So Schoen", and "Mein Kleiner Teddyber"). For many years, Serrano had lived and worked in Germany and felt perfectly at home. However, during a WWII concert engagement in Sweden, the Nazi goverment accused her of being a spy. Rosita never returned to Germany, and many years later died in her home country of Chile, South America, where she had first become popular as a singer of beautiful Argentine Tangos.
1961     Mark Shaw, vocals. Member group: Then Jerico.
1960     Boyd Small, harmonica, b. Springfield, OR, USA.
1940     John William Stevens, Drums, b. Brentford, England, d. Sept. 13, 1994
1961     Gary Thomas, Tenor Sax/flute, b. Baltimore, MD, USA
1960     Mark-Anthony Turnage, composer.
1921     Jack Turner, C&W vocals/guitar. Tag: "The Singing River Boy".
1942     Janet Vogel-Rapp, vocals, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA
1907     "Dicky" Wells, Trombone, b. Centerville, TN, USA, (raised in Louisville, KY), d. Nov. 12, 1985, New York, NY, USA. né: William Wells. In the late 1920s, Dickie was the co-owner of a cellar club ('The Theatrical Grill') in Harlem, New York city. The first band he played with (1927) was Lloyd Scott's Orchestra in Springfield, OH. (Lloyd's brother. Cecil, also led a band in Springfield, 'Cecil Scott's Bright Boys'). In the early 1930s, Wells played with Fletcher Henderson (1933,), Benny Carter and Spike Hughes. In the mid-1930s, he played with Teddy Hill's band (b. 1909, Birmingham, AL, USA, d. May 19, 1978, Cleveland, OH, USA -Colon Cancer). From 1938 to 1945 he played in Count Basie's band. Later he played toured with Jimmy Rushing and B.B. King. Elmer Snowden, Charlie Johnson, and Luis Russell.
1928     "Schoolboy" White, harmonica, b. Baton Rouge, LA, USA. Worked with "Lightnin' Slim"
1936     Bob Yellin, (bluegrass) banjo, b. New York, NY, USA. Member: "The Greenbriar Boys"
              Notable Events occuring this date include:
1962.    Jeanne M. Bass, Label owner (Beta Records), died in Hollywood, CA, USA. Age: 45
1965.    Carl Kress, guitar, died in Reno, NV, USA. Age: 57
1970.    Earl Grant,organ, died in Lordsburg, NM, USA. Age: 39
1972.    The Sammy Davis Jr. release of "Candy Man" reached No. 1 on the USA charts. (His first No. 1)
1974.    Gil Rodin alto and tenor sax died in Palm Springs, California, USA. (some sources say died June 17) Gil was born Dec. 9, 1906/9, Russia
1982.    Micki Harris, vocals, died in Atlanta, GA, USA. Age: 41. Member: 'The Shirelles'
1986.    Robert" B.J." Johnson, harmonica, died in Portsmouth, NH, USA. Age: 80
1987.    Mitchell "Booty" Wood, trombone, died in Dayton, OH, USA. Age: 68. Worked in Count Basie orch
1988.    Herman Crook, harmonica player for the Crook Brothers, died. Age: 89
1989.    John Kendall, vocals, died in London, UK. Age: 56
1990.    Hubert Rostaing, clarinet died in Paris, France. (b. September 17, 1918, Lyons, France, In 1962 Rostaing left the world of Jazz for film composing and classical music. Before his demise, he was an orchestrator, conductor, or arranger for over 20 French films. He began his career in Algiers, Morocco, playing with the "Red Hotters" before moving to Paris, France. . Curiously, his film work not withstanding, he is still best known for playing clarinet or saxophone in Django Reinhardt's quintet.
1992.    Nat Pierce, piano, arranger, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. (b. July 16, 1925 in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA. né: Nathaniel Pierce). Perhaps best recalled as co-leader of Los Angeles' "Frank Capp-Nat Pierce Juggernaut".
1993.    Jimmy Weston, vocals, died in New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. Age: 57. Member: 'The Danleers'
1997.    Carolina Cotton, died from cancer. Age: 70
1998.    Guy Lafitte, tenor sax died in Paris, France. ( b. Jan. 12, 1927, St. Gaudens, France,)
1998.    Bobby Bryant trumpet died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. ( b. May 19 1934, Hattiesburg, MS, USA.) ..
1998.    Steve Sanders, died in his Florida home, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Age: 45
2004.    Ray Charles, died in Los Angeles, CA. Age: 73
              Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1914   "The Girl I Left Behind Me", - Arthur Pryor's Band
1921   "Emaline", - Vernon Dalhart voc.
1924   "Patsy", - Art Hickman's Orch.
1925   "My Sweetie Turned Me Down", - Frank Crumit voc.
1928   "'Taint So Honey 'Taint So", - Paul Whiteman Orch.
1929   "Oh Baby Where Can You Be", - Ben Bernie Orch.
1932   "The Night When Love Was Born", Jacques Renard Orch.
1935   "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans", - Ray Noble Orch.
1938   "Lady of The Night", - Will Hudson Orch.
1939   "Shabby Old Cabby", - (Swing and Sway with) Sammy Kaye Orch.
1940   "Ziqeuner", - Eddie South and his Orch.
1940   "La Cumparsita", - Eddie South and his Orch.
1941   "Dodger's Fan Dance", - Harry James Orch.
1941   "Lamant To Love", - Harry James Orch.
1942   "(I've Got Spurs That) Jingle Jangle Jingle", - Gene Autry voc.
1943   "Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer", - The Song Spinners
1943   "All Or Nothing At All", - Frank Sinatra voc
1945   "Sentimental Journey", - Les Brown Orchestra - Doris Day voc.
1945   "Dream", - The Pied Pipers vocal group.
1949   "You're Breaking My Heart", - Vic Damone voc
1949   "The Four Winds And Seven Seas", - Sammy Kaye Orch.
1949   "Room Full Of Roses", - Sammy Kaye Orch.
1949   "Hucklebuck, The", - Frank Sinatra voc.
1953   "Song from Moulin Rouge", - The Percy Faith Orchestra
1953   "April in Portugal", - The Les Baxter Orchestra
1953   "Pretend", - Nat King Cole
1961   "Stand by Me", - Ben E. King
1967   "San Francisco", - Scott McKenzie
1972   "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast", - Wayne Newton voc.
1977   "Luckenbach, Texas", - Waylon Jennings
1978   "Miss You", - The Rolling Stones
1989   "Express Yourself", - Madonna
1989   "Toy Soldiers", - Martika