BIRTHDAYS
1915     Van Alexander, leader, b.New York, NY, USA, (Led orchestra for singer Gordon MacRae's Show) né: Alexander Feldman Van once summed up he career for an interviewer in just these few words: "I've been in the music business for seven decades, I started my career as an arranger for the great Chick Webb band. Wrote a big hit song with Ella Fitzgerald called "A Tisket A Tasket" (1938). Had my own big band from '38 thru '43. Studied conducting and orchestration and moved to California in '45. I've scored 22 full length motion pictures and hundreds of TV segments."
1945     R.C.Bannon, C&W vocals, b. Dallas, TX, USA. né: Daniel H.Shipley
1943     Mickey Bass, III, composer, b. Pittsburg, PA.USA. né: Lee Oldis
1924     Theordore Bikel, Folksinger, guitarist, actor, b. Vienna, Austria. né: Meir Bikel. (Not born May 1 or May 3)
1929     Connie Mack Booker, piano
1945     Randy Cain, vocals, b.Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member group: 'The Delfonics''
1955     Jo Callis, vocals, b. Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Member group: 'Human League'.Her 1982 single "single Don't You Want Me" hit No.1 on US charts.
1887     Vernon Castle, dancer d.Feb., 15, 1918. Very few folks today recall that because Vernon, and his partner Irene, made dancing in public popular, they made it possible for musicians to have professional careers.
1917     Herman Clebanoff, violinist, b. Chicago, Illinois, USA. d. Jan. 13, 2004, Sherman Oaks, California, USA. This Chicago native, and son of Russian immigrants, began to study the violin at just age 5. He was the concertmaster in his High School orchestra (and first chair violinist in several string quartets). By age 20, he was both concertmaster of the Chicago Civic Orchestra and youngest member of the Chicago Symphony. . Various positions as concertmaster followed, with the Illinois Symphony, the New Orleans Symphony, where he was also assistant conductor, and the NBC orchestra of Chicago. His "Clebanoff's Strings Orchestra" was the Mercury label's answer to Mantovani and such other string orchestras of the 1960s era.
1897     J.Fred Coots, composer, d.April 8, 1985, New York, NY, USA.
1941     Connie Crothers, piano/composer, b. Palo Alto, California, USA
1930     Jim Dahl, trombone
1926     Terry Dale, vocalist
1914     Frank Fields, bass, b. Plaquemine, LA, USA. Played with Fats Domino, and with Smiley Lewis
1915     Doris Fisher, composer.
1948     Larry Gatlin, C&W vocals, b. Seminole, TX, USA, Member: 'Gatlin Brothers'
1946     Lesley Gore, vocals, b. Tenafly, NJ, USA
1950     Lou Gramm, R&R vocals, b. Rochester, NY, USA. Member group: 'Foreigner'
1898     Henry Hall, dance band leader, b. London, England, UK, d. October 28, 1989, Eastbourne, England, UK
1895     Lorenz "Larry" Hart, Lyricist, b.New York, NY, USA, d.Nov.22, 1943, New York, NY, USA. né: Lorenz Milton Hart.Did you know that Lorenze was a descendant of Heinrich Heine, and initially worked as a translator of German? Today, Hart is best recalled for his work with composer Richard Rodgers.
1946     Bob Henrit, drums, b. Boxbourne, Herts, England, UK. Member Groups: 'Argent', and 'The Kinks'
1962     Ty Herndon, C&W vocals, b. Meridian, MS. USA. né: Boyd Tyrone Herndon.
1931     Richard "Groove" Holmes, Organ, b.Camden, NJ, USA. d. 1991. In 1960 Les McCann was influential in getting 'Pacific Jazz' to sign him, and he then first recorded as the leader of a group that included McCann and Ben Webster. In 1965, he had his greatest commercial success was an up-tempo version of "Misty". He also recorded with big bands and with other artists, notably McCann, Joe Pass, and Jimmy McGriff.Often playing in a trio format, Holmes has on occasion played the piano.
1933     Glenn Honeycutt, (Rockabilly) vocals, b. Belzoni, MS, USA.
1937     Torbjörn Hultcrantz, double bass, b. Stockholm, Sweden
1936     Englebert Humperdinck, vocalist/actor, né: Arnold George Dorsey
1915     Leroy E.Hurte, label owner ("Bronze"), b.Muskogee, OK, USA.
1918     Don Hustad, organist. Accompanist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on their worldwide tours.
1913     Willie Johnson, vocals, b.Washington, NC, USA. Member: 'Golden Gate Quartet'
1947     Gunther Klatt, tenor and soprano sax/percussion/vocal,
1881     "Uncle" Bud Landress, C&W fiddle, b. (Gwinnett County) GA, USA. Member group: "The Georgia Yellow Hammers,"
1941     Betty Lastie, piano, b.New Orleans, LA, USA.
1969     Ben Leach, vocals. Member group: The Farm
1941     Eddie Louiss (Louise), Piano/organ, b.Paris, France.(Some sources claim b.May 12)
1967     David McAlmont, vocals. Member: McAlmont and Butler. Their 1995 release "Yes" hit No.8 in the UK.
1945     Goldy McJohn, (rock) keyboards. Member: 'Steppenwolf'
1925     Bob Myers, guitar, b.Byhalia, MS, USA.
1954     Prescott Niles, vocals. Member grroup: 'The Knack'
1963     Eric Person, alto/tenor/soprano saxes, flute, 1963, St.Louis, MO.USA
1922     Serge Reggiani, Actor/singer, b.May 2 1922, Reggio nell' Emilia., Italy. d.July 22 2004, Paris, France.(heart attack). For half a century, this Italian-born star worked as an actor in French films before developing a second career as a singer.He was one of the last monstres sacrés of the chanson, and the cinema who emerged in France during the first half of the 20th century. Reggiani was a big part of the heady leftwing postwar St Germain-des-Prés scene, that also included such writers and actors as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Yves Montand, Simone Signoret and Boris Vian.One of his good friends was composer Georges Moustaki, author and interpreter of "Sarah", "Ma Liberté", "Ma Solitude" and many other standards.It was Moustaki who paid the profoundest and most generous tribute to his old friend:
      "He was and always will be an integral part of my personal history, as I was
      of his........The great bond between us was the fact that we were both
      immigrés, and always when we were together, we no longer felt strangers
      in France.He was "The Italian" and we talked our hearts out in that language
      that is the very soul of music."
1917     William O.(Bill) Smith, clarinet, d.1991
1923     Pat Smythe, Piano, b. Edinburgh, Scotland, d. May 6, 1983
1952     Isla St.Clair, vocalist.
1902     Teddy Stauffer, Saxophone, violin, conductor, leader, b. Morat am Murtensee, Switzerland (some sources claim birthdate is 1909.)
1943     Hilton Valentine, guitar, b. North Shields, Tyne & Wear, England, UK. Member group: 'The Animals'
1944     John Verity, guitar. Member group: 'Argent'
1903     Newell "Spiegle" Willcox, Trombone, b.Sherburne, NY, USA (near Cortland, NY); d: August 25, 1999, Cincinnatus, NY, USA (a suburb of Cortland NY).né: Newell Lynn Willcox. He was the last surviving member of the Jean Goldkette Orchestra.His career began just after World War I, when he started playing in Syracuse, NY. In 1922, he was playing with "The Big Four", in Ithaca, NY. (actually an Octet). Paul Whiteman discovered the band and renamed them "The Collegians".Spiegle joined the Whiteman band and had his first recording with Whiteman.("That Red-Head Gal" -New York, March 23, 1923, Victor 19049.) Spiegle stayed with the Whiteman organization until early 1925, when he left Whiteman and returned to Cortland, NY, re-joining his coal family's firm briefly.In the summer of 1925, he was a member of a local band playing in a dance hall in Auburn's (NY) Owasco Lake area.He became friendly with a member of the Jean Goldkette Orchestra, trumpet player Fred "Fuzzy" Farrar, who was then vacationing in the area.Farrar mentioned that Tommy Dorsey was quitting the Goldkette band and a replacement was needed.In October 1925, Spiegle joined the Jean Goldkette Victor Recording Orchestra.In May 1926, Bix Beiderbecke and Frank Trumbauer joined Goldkette's band.In 1927, Goldkette disbanded his Victor Recording band, and Spiegle again returned to his family's coal business, this time remaining there for several decades.In the 1970's, Spiegle -now in his Seventies - toured Europe with famed Jazz violinist Joe Venuti.It was the beginning of a wonderful "second" career.He toured with various Jazz bands playing at festivals, recording CD's (his very first recording had been an acoustic 78!), started singing, told stories, and very often cracked jokes.He was a mainstay at the Davenport, IA, annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festivals.On June 30, 1999, Spiegle was a special guest with Lino Patruno and the "Red Pellini Gang" in a "Tribute to Bix Beiderbecke" at the Ascona Jazz Festival.Spiegle was also idolized all over Europe, where he played at several festivals.Lovers of good music will always remember his Goldkette days when he played with "Bix" and "Tram".A great trombonist, a thoughtful and a considerate man, he is sorely missed.He was a gentleman and a classy individual.Once, after playing a number at Bix's graveside, Spiegle turned toward Bix's grave stone and asked "How am I doing, Bix?"
1903     Margaret "Sallie" Waters, C&W vocals, b. Chattanooga, TN, USA. Member group: "Sarie and Sallie".The ladies also appeared (as themselves) in the 1939 movie "In Old Monterey" starring Gene Autry.
1935     Link Wray, guitar/composer, b.Dunn, NC, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1938.    Vocalist Ella Fitzgerald recorded "A-Tisket, A-Tasket".
1950.    Leo Watson, 'scat' vocals, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA.Age: 52 Member: 'Spirits Of Rhythm'
1953.    Oscar Oldham, drums, died in Chicago, IL, USA.
1971.    Willie C.Moore ("Boll Weenie Bill"), guitar, died in Albany, NY, USA.Age: 58
1972.    Doles Dickens, bass, died in New Jersey, USA. Member: '5 Red Caps'
1974.   Roy Lee Centers, C&W vocals/rhythm guitar, member of the Clinch Mountain Boys, was shot and killed in a fight. Age 29.
1979.    Cassell Burrow, drums, died in Chicago, IL, USA.Age: 65
1983.    P. T.Hayes, harmonica, died in Chicago, IL, USA.Age: 60
1986.    Wallace Bishop, drums, died in Hilversum, Netherlands.Age: 80
1989.    Bennie Benjamin, Afro-American songwriter, died in New York (Manhattan), NY, USA.Age: 81
1990.    William L.Dawson, (gospel) arranger, died in Tuskegee, AL, USA.Age: 90
1993.   Millie Good, C&W vocalist with the "Girls of the Golden West" died. Age: 86
2001.   Robert M. Douglas, a past winner of the Smithsonian Institutions national fiddling contest, died in Dayton, TN, USA. . Age: 101
2003.   George Wyle, composed theme for "Gilligan's Island," and music director for "Andy Williams Show," died in California. Age: 87
2004.   Edward Curtis Gordon, , RCA recording artist, died in Moultrie, GA, USA. Age 73
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
      1925    "Ah Ha!", - Harry Reser Orch.
      1941    "Let's Get Away From It All", - Tommy Dorsey
      1946    "Gypsy, The", - The Ink Spots"
      1946    "Gypsy, The", - Dinah Shore
      1946    "Oh, What It Seemed to Be", - Frankie Carle Orch.with vocal: Marjorie Hughes
      1946    "Day by Day", - Frank Sinatra voc.
      1946    "Guitar Polka", - Al Dexter
      1946    "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)", - Andy Russell
      1946    "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti Put-Ti)", - Alvino Rey
      1947    "Mam'selle" --- Pied Pipers
      1953    "I'm Walking Behind You", - Eddie Fisher
      1960    "Paper Roses", - Anita Bryant
      1960    "He'll Have To Stay", - Jeanne Black
      1960    "Cathy's Clown", - The Everly Brothers
      1964    "Love Me With All Your Heart", - Ray Charles Singers
      1964    "Love Me Do", - The Beatles
      1964    "Little Children", - Billy J.Kramer
      1964    "Romeo & Juliet (Just Like)", - The Reflections
      1970    "Up Around The Bend", - Creedence Clearwater Revival
      1978    "Can't Smile Without You", - Barry Manilow
      1978    "Every Time Two Fools Collide", - Kenny Rogers & Dottie West
      1986    "Kiss - Prince & The Revolution",
      1986    "Now and Forever (You and Me)", - Anne Murray vocal
      1981    "America", - Neil Diamond
      1981    "Stars On 45", - Stars On 45
      1987    "Diamonds", - Herb Alpert
      1987    "In Too Deep", - Genesis
      1987    "Head To Toe", - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
      1992    "Tennessee", - Arrested Development
      1992    "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover", - Sophie B.Hawkins
      1992    "In The Closet", - Micahael Jackson
      1992    "Baby Got Back", - Sir Mix-A-Lot