BIRTHDAYS
1948     Jean-Jacques Avenel, bass
1904     Joe Brown, label co-owner (Job), b. Wagoner, OK. USA.
1939     Billy "Crash" Craddock, Country vocals, b. Greensboro, NC, USA. né: William Wayne Craddock
1938     Albert "Al" Dailey, Piano, b. Baltimore, MD, USA. d. 1984.
    Diana DeGarmo, singer, actress, b. Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
1941     Lamont Dozier, singer/songwriter, Member: 'Holland, Dozier, and Holland'. Among the stars for whom he composed tunes are Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Four Tops, and Freda Payne.
1958     Dominique Eade, vocals
1905     'Bud' Fisher, Leader, b. New York, NY, USA, d. August 2, 1972, Flemington, NJ, USA.
1927     Jimmy Ford, alto sax, clarinet, d. 1994, USA
1939     Lou Gare, Tenor Sax, violin, flute, b. Rugby, England
1946     Tom Harrell, Trumpet, b. Urbana, IL. USA.
1970     Gregory Hutchinson, jazz drummer, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. He first heard Jazz, Soul, and Pop music listening to his mother's large record collection. Then a very young Gregory first played in his percussionist father's reggae band, 'The Triadics'. Gregory subsequently studied at the 'Manhatten School of Music' under Justin Diccicio, as well as lessons with Marvin 'Smitty' Smith and Kenny Washington. While still in school, Hutchinson toured the U.S. and abroad with Red Rodney's group, before pianist Stephen Scott recommended him to Betty Carter, and the young drummer rose to prominence during his two-year stint with Carter. After his work in the 'Betty Carter Trio', Hutchinson began a successful association with the 'Roy Hargrove Quintet'. In 1995 Hutchinson joined the 'Ray Brown Trio' taking the seat of Jeff Hamilton. CAUTION: DO NOT CONFUSE WITH Gregory Fernan Hutchinson, 'gangsta rapper', b, Aug. 2, 196?, Pomona (east L.A. suburb), California, USA. aka: 'Big Hutch'; aka: Cold 187um
1965     Javon Jackson, tenor sax.
1934     David "Little Caesar" Johnson, vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'The Romans'
1954     Sergey (Anatol'yevich) Kuryokhin, Piano, percussion, b. Murmansk, Russia. d. July 9, 1996. Age: 42. One of Russia's foremost virtuoso Jazz pianist, composer, artist, and founder of 'Pop Mechanika' orchestra
1981     Ben Kweller, singer-songwriter, b. San Francisco, California, USA. (raised in Greenville, Texas). Member group: 'The Bens'
1942     Eddie Levert, vocals, Member: "The O'Jays"
1947     Tom Malone, Trombone, b. Honolulu, HI, USA
1910     Ilona Massey, actress/singer. b. Budapest Hungary, Appeared in several Hollywood films, including one where she played the villianess. It is a shame that Hollywood never took advantage of her wonderful singing voice. (Try to hear her version of "At The Balalaika".) Ilona also had her own: Ilona Massey Show
1946     Ian Matthews (McDonald), guitar/singer, b. Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England.
1933     George McCormick, C&W guitar, b. (rural) Carthage, TN, USA
1941     Robbie Montgomery, vocals, b. Columbus, MS. USA. Member: 'The Ikettes'
1931     Marilyn Moore, Vocalist, b. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, d. March 1992. In 1953, she became the first wife of saxophonist, arranger, composer. Al Cohn (b. Nov. 24, 1925, d. Feb. 15, 1988, and who played on her 1957 Bethelem album "Moody Marilyn Moore"). She is the mother of guitarist Joe Cohn.
1953     Ian Moseley, drums. b. Paddington, London, England, UK. Member rock group: 'Marillion'.
1954     Doane Perry, Drums, b. Mt. Kisco, New York, USA. (Drummer for Jethro Tull)
1954     Gerry Roberts, guitar. b. UK. Member group: 'The Boomtown Rats'.
1926     Clarence "Gene" Shaw, Trumpet, b. Detroit, MI, USA. d. 1970s
1950     James Smith, vocals, b. New York, NY. USA. Member: 'The Stylistics'
1940     Nolan Struck, vocals, b. Dunson, LA. USA.
1948     Fredy Studer, Drums, b. Lucerne, Switzerland
1933     Joe Thomas, Flute/Tenor Sax, b. Newark, NJ. USA.
1924     Eli "Lucky" Thompson, Tenor/soprano sax, b. Detroit, MI, USA. d. July 30, 2005, Seattle, WA, USA. (some sources claim b. Columbia, South Carolina, USA). Taught by Bobby Byrne's Father as well as with Francis Hellstein (Detroit Symphony) and with John Phelps (Harmony and Theory). Toured with the "Bama State Collegians" (college band) then led by the Trenier Twins. 1943 found him in New York City where he worked along side such other musicians as Lionel Hampton; Don Redman; Sid Catlett; and Ray Parker, as well as working in Billy Ekstine's orig (1944) band. During 1944-'45, he worked with Erroll Garner, Lucky Millinder and bassist Slam Stewart. '44-5 found him in the Count Basie orch. In 1946-7, he lived in Los Angeles, CA, and was a prolific recording musician working with (among others) vocalist Dinah Washington, Dizzy "Gillespie, Buddy Baker, Boyd Raeburn, and Ike Carpenter. He also won the Esquire "New Star Award for 1947". In 1948 back to New York City. In 1951, formed his own band which gigged fairly steadily at the famed Savoy Ballroom (in Harlem). He decided to write songs, and formed his own publishing company (Great Music). He was in Europe in 1956, and even subbed Baritone Sax in Stan Kenton's band. Back in the USA, he played Tenor on some Kenton Recordings. From 1957 on, Thompson has made France his home due to both finding enough work to keep him going, as well as for the greater acceptance of his work there as compared to the USA. In 2003, he was again living in Seattle, WA, USA.
1952     Gino Vanelli, singer-songwriter, b. Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1919     Al Viola, Guitar, b. New York, NY, USA, d. Feb. 21, 2007, Los Angeles, CA, USA (Complications due to Cancer). Al's mother and older brother taught him the basics of playing the guitar. In 1941, during WWII, he entered the U.S. Army and was assigned to play in the army band, in Sacramento, CA. There he met a young piano player, Page Cavanaugh, and the Page Cavanaugh Trio was formed (with Lloyd Pratt as bassist). With the end of WWII, the Page Cavanaugh Trio moved to Los Angeles where they found work in the local clubs. A number of Trio recordings (always with a nice solo by Al) came out of during this period on the RCA Victor, Signature and ARA labels. In 1946, the Page Cavanaugh Trio accompanied Frank Sinatra to New York where they played nightly behind Sinatra at the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Later that same year Al Viola returned to Los Angeles, where he first played with Bobby Troup and Buddy Collette, toured and recorded with Julie London (later Mrs Bobby Troup) and played in the great Harry James Swing Band. He also freelanced in the recording and television studios where he worked with Ray Anthony and Steve Allen. During this time Al Viola began playing with Frank Sinatra again, along with pianist Bill Miller, and this association continued for many years. In the late 1940's, Al Viola took up the classical guitar and in the next three decades made the solo guitar recordings for which he was best known; "Solo Guitar", "Guitar Lament" and "Alone Again". These recordings ably displayed his remarkable versatility and musicianship. Al remained active in the LA music scene well into the 21st century, where he was frequently heard at places like Monteleone's West and the 72 Market Street Restaurant. In retrospect, we can see Al as a complete musician. He was an early pioneer of the electric guitar who could swing with the best of them, and still play the Classic guitar. His backup enhanced singers, yet he could also provide a solid rhythm for other soloists.
1958     Patrick Waite, vocals. b. UK. d. Feb, 13, 1993. Member group: Musical Youth. In 982, his single "Pass The Dutchie" made it up to No. 1 in the UK.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1939.    Chick Webb, drums/leader, died in Baltimore, MD, USA. Age: 30
1970.    Lonnie Johnson, guitar/piano/violin, died in Toronto, ON, Canada. Age: 71
1975.    Don Robey, label owner (Duke/Peacock), died in Houston, TX, USA. Age: 71
1980.    Bob Nolan (né: Robert Clarence Nobles), member 'Sons of the Pioneers'," died. Age: 72
1985.    Laurent Goddet, music critic, died in Paris, France. Age: 38
1986.    Joe Greene, songwriter, died in Pasadena, CA, USA. Age: 71
1987.    Patricio Serrano, guitar, died in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Age: 78
1987.    "Kid" Valentine, trumpet, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 91
1988.    John Jordan, vocals, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 74. Member: 'The Four Vagabonds'
1996.    Gil Cuppini drummer, died ( b. June 6, 1924)
1997.    Rolf Ericson, trumpet, flugelhorn died in Stockholm, Sweden. (b. Aug. 29, 1922, Stockholm, Sweden)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1913   "Aloha Oe/Hawaii Ponoi", - Hilo Hawaiians (Arthur Pryor band)
1916   "By Heck", - Deiro Pietro's Band.
1921   "You're The Sweetest Girl", - Paul Whiteman Orch.
1928   "When You Said Goodnight", - Nick Lucas voc.
1932   "(Here's My Heart) Please Handle It With Care", - Isham Jones Orch.
1932   "You're Blase", - Jack Hylton Orch.
1932   "Just Another Dream of You", Russ Columbo Orch., w/ Russ Columbo voc.
1950   "Nola", - Paul, Les
1954   "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight", - McGuire Sisters
1956   "Sweet Old Fashioned Girl, A", - Teresa Brewer
1956   "More", - Como, Perry
1956   "Allegheny Moon", - Page, Patti
1962   "Wolverton Mountain", - King, Claude
1962   "Roses Are Red (My Love)", - Vinton, Bobby
1973   "Yesterday Once More", - Carpenters
1973   "Smoke On The Water", - Deep Purple
1973   "Diamond Girl", - Seals & Crofts
1984   "Sad Songs (Say So Much)", - John, Elton
1984   "Breakin'...There's No Stopping Us", - Ollie & Jerry
1990   "Vision Of Love", - Carey, Mariah