BIRTHDAYS
1913     Nathan Abshire, (cajun) accordion, b. Gueydan, LA, USA.
1924     Rosalie Allen, C&W singer-songwriter/guitar/yodeler, b. Old Forge, PA, USA. A Country Music Disk Jockey's Hall of Fame member. Best recalled recordings: "He Taught Me How To Yodel", "Yodel Boogie", and "Guitar Polka".
1939     George Braith, reeds (alto/tenor/soprano + "stritch" saxes)
1917     Elton Britt, C&W vocal/guitar, b. Marshall, AR, USA, d. June 23, 1972. né: James Britt Baker.
1933     Gary Crosby, vocals, d. August 24, 1995. né: Gary Evan Crosby (one of Bing Crosby's sons)
1910     Lester "Shad" Collins, Trumpet, b. Elizabeth, NJ, USA. d. 1978.
1963     Litsa Davies, vocals/percussion, b. Hampshire, England
1955     Santi Debriano, bass/composer
1954     Madeline Eastman, vocals
1914     Eddie El, guitar, b. Mound Bayou, MS, USA.
1924     Rev. Lonnie Farris, (gospel) steel guitar, b. Charlotte, NC, USA.
1950     Glenn Ferris, Trombone, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA
1934     Ersel Hickey, 'Rockabilly' vocals/composer/guitar, b. Brighton, NY, USA. d. July 9, 2004, New York, NY, USA. (Cancer, Age:70) vocalist, né: Ersel O'Hickey. His mother was from Kingston, Ontario, Canada and his Father was Irish. Most fans remember him for his ability to strike a 'Rockabilly" pose, as well as for his good looks and for the songs that he composed. Perhaps his best known composition is "Bluebirds Over The Mountain". The tune was again recorded a decade after he wrote it by the 'Beach Boys'. In 1954, after hearing Elvis Presley's release of "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine", Ersel decided to become a "Rockabilly" singer. He did develop a sort of 'cult' following, but never did achieve any great fame as a performer. He did fare better as a composer writing songs for LaVern Baker, Jackie Wilson, and others. In the 1980s, while appearing at a New York city C&W club (O'Lunney's), he attempted to start an ill-fated 'country-disco' movement. In the years shortly before his death, he had been invited to play at Rockabilly revivals in Los Vegas and in Wisconsin.
1917     Ben Homer, arranger, conductor, b. Meriden, Connecticut, USA. Songwriter, composer and arranger, educated at the New England Conservatory of Music. He arranged for the orchestras of Les Brown, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Jimmy Dorsey, and also for films, records and television. His chief musical collaborator was lyricist Bud Green (b. Nov. 19, 1897, Austria, d. Jan. 2, 1981, Yonkers, New York, USA). Among his popular compositions are "Bizet Has His Day", "Shoot the Sherbet to Me Herbert" and "Joltin' Joe Di Maggio". His "Sentimental Journey", recorded by Doris Day and the Les Brown orchestra, was a major hit (No. 1 on the charts for 16 weeks and a perfect theme song for all the young men returning home after World War II).
1923     Elmo Hope, Piano, b. New York, NY, USA. d. May 19, 1967. Leader Elmo Hope Trio
1925     Ronnie Hughes, Trumpet/Flugelhorn, b. Aberystwyth, Wales, UK.
1944     Bruce Johnston, singer/composer. member: The Beach Boys vocal group. best composition: "I Write The Songs". (Grammy Award tune)
1918     Pete Kaye, C&W accordion, b.
1900     Milt Mabie, C&W Bass fiddle, b. Midland, Texas, USA, d. September 1973. Member: "Louise Massey & the Westerners". Louise Massey (1902-1983), Milt Mabie's wife, was perhaps the best known member of the family. Her composition, "My Adobe Hacienda" (1941) enjoyed much success.
1924     Ken Marvin, C&W vocalist, b. Haleyville, Alabama, né: Lloyd Leslie George.
1908     Jimmy Mclin, Guitar, b. Brookesville, FL, USA. d. 1983, USA.
1942     Frank Mills, piano, "Music Box Dancer"
1944     Prince Phillip Mitchell, piano/composer/guitar/vocals, b. Louisville, KY, USA. Curiously, Mitchell has had hits recorded by 'Joe Simon', 'Millie Jackson', 'Norman Connors', 'Mel & Tim', and 'Candi Staton', but on his own as a vocalist, success has eluded him. He was also a dancer with The Bean Brothers in Los Angeles, California, and has sung with both 'The Premiers' and 'The Checkmates' in the late 1950s and early '60s.
1959     Lorrie Morgan, C&W vocals, b. Nashville, TN, USA. née: Loretta Lynn Morgan
1912     Red Murrell, C&W vocals/guitar,singer/DJ, b. Willow Springs, MO, USA.
1916     Robert Normann, Guitar, b. Sarpsborg, Norway
1897     Maceo Pinkard, songwriter, d. June 21. 1962
1925     Jerome "Doc" Pomus, songwriter, d. March 14, 1991
1897     Tony Sbarbaro, Drums, Kazoo, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. 1969. aka: Tony Spargo. (drummer with the ODJB)
1948     Bill Saxton, saxes, flute, arranger. Basically a hard bop Tenor saxophonist, he first began playing with Dannie Richmond in 1979, and subsequently worked with Charlie Persip's big band and Errol Parker.
1976     Doug Urie, C&W vocals, b. Claremore, OK, USA. Member: country group known as 'South Sixty-Five', and later as 'South 65'. Members of South Sixty-Five are singers; including the brothers Brenton "Brent" Michael Parker ( b. March 8, 1977, CA, USA), and Stephen Phillip Parker ( b. Jan. 31, 1970, CA, USA), Jerimy Pat Koeltzow (singer, drums, guitar, and piano. b. June 21, 1977, Hobart, OK, USA), Alfred "Doug" Douglas Urie, Lance Aaron Leslie ( b. Nov. 14, 1976, Dallas, TX, USA). In June 2001, Doug Urie left the group to begin a solo career of his own.
1927     Johnny "Big Moose" Walker, piano, b. Stoneville, MS, USA.
1926     Ivan Leroy "Little Roy Wiggins", C&W steel guitarist, b. Nashville, TN, USA.
1909     Leon Washington, alto and tenor sax, clarinet, b. Jackson, MS, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1957.    Dudley Fosdick, vocals. Age: 55. Member: 'W. C. Elkins Singers'
1974.    Cliff Friend, piano/songwriter, died in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Age: 80
1978.    Alexander Louis "Alex" Bigard, drums died in New Orleans, LA, USA. (b. Sept. 25, 1902)
1980.    Barney Bigard, clarinet, died in Culver City, CA, USA. Age: 74
1986.    Joe Maphis, C&W Guitar, member of "Joe & Rose Lee Maphis, died in Nashville, TN, USA. Age: 65. (b. May 12, 1921 in Suffolk, Virginia, USA. né: Otis William Maphis )
1990.    James M. Walker, flute, died. ( b. Dec. 18, 1915)
1992.    Charles Tyler, altosax/barisax, died in Toulon, France. Age: 50
1994.    Edna (Sarie) Wilson, vocals ann member of "Sarie and Sally" died. Age: 97. (b. July 15, 1896)
1995.    Prez "Kidd" Kenneth, guitar, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 61
2001.    Chico O'Farrill, composer, arranger, died in New York, NY, USA. ( né: Arturo O'Farrill, b. Oct. 28, 1921, Havana, Cuba).
2002.    Russ Freeman, piano, composer, died in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Age: 76. (b. . May 28, 1926, Chicago, Illinois, USA)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1927   "Let's Make Believe", - Ernie Golden and his Hotel McAlpin Orch.(NYC)
1935   "In A Little Gypsy Tea Room", - Louis Prima and His Gang.
1939   "Pagan Love Song", - Glenn Miller Orch.
1940   "A Ghost of A Chance", - Cab Calloway Orch.
1941   "Things I Love, The", - Jimmy Dorsey
1941   "The Very Thought Of You", Ray Noble Orch.
1941   "Hut-Sut Song, The", - King Sisters
1941   "Intermezzo", - Martin, Freddy
1946   "Surrender", - Como, Perry
1946   "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly", - Freddy Martin
1946   "The Gypsy", - The Ink Spots
1947   "New Spanish Two Step", - Bob Wills
1947   "Peg O' My Heart", - Buddy Clark
1947   "That's My Desire", - Frankie Laine
1953   "Gambler's Guitar", - Rusty Draper
1953   "Oh!", - Pee Wee Hunt
1954   "Little Things Mean A Lot", - Kitty Kallen voc.
1954   "Hernando's Hideaway", - Archie Bleyer cond.
1954   "Three Coins In The Fountain", - The Four Aces
1960   "When Will I Be Loved", - Everly Brothers
1960   "Tell Laura I Love Her", - Ray Peterson
1964   "Rag Doll", - Four Seasons
1964   "Keep On Pushing", - Impressions
1970   "Close To You, (They Long To Be)", - The Carpenters
1981   "Slow Hand", - Pointer Sisters
1987   "Only In My Dreams", - Debbie Gibson
1987   "Cross My Broken Heart", - Jets
1987   "Wot's It To Ya", - Robbie Nevil
1992   "Giving Him Something He Can Feel", - En Vogue
1992   "November Rain", - Guns N' Roses
1992   "Baby-Baby-Baby", - TLC