BIRTHDAYS
1896     Vic Berton, Drums, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. Dec. 26, 1951. (Note: various sources say b. May 5, 6 or 7th, or July 5, --take your pick.) Vic's father was the violinist in the pit orchestra of Milwaukee's Alhambra Theatre, and this is where the 7 year old Vic Berton first publicly played the drums. During the first World War, he studied under Josef Kettleman of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and later played in Sousa's U. S. Navy Band. In 1922, Berton composed "Sobbin' Blues" (co-composed with Art Kassell) which became a standard for many bands including 'King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band'. Also in the 1920's, Vic and Bix Beiderbecke played together in the 'Wolverines Orchestra', with Vic even managing the band for a while. Later, Vic worked in the the Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra, both Bix and Vic also played together in Paul Whiteman's orchestra. During 1926-1929, some of Berton's best work was done while recording with Red Nichols. The 1930's found Vic working in Hollywood doing studio work for Paramount and Twentieth Century Fox. In 1931 he was arrested with Louis Armstrong for smoking marijuana. In the late '30's he played with the New York Philharmonic, and was a featured soloist with The Los Angeles Philharmonic. His reputation was that of being a fast talker and a hard sell in business dealings. Very few folks now recall that Vic was the inventor of the 'High Hat cymbals', which he patented, and which ever since have been a part of every drummer's kit.
1971     Sarah Blackwood, vocals. Member group: 'Dubstar'
1908     Martha Boswell, vocals, d. July 2, 1958, Peekskill, NY, USA. Oldest sister of Connee Boswell and Vet Boswell. Together they formed the Boswell Sisters singing group until 1936 when Vet and Martha left to get married. In addition to singing, she was also the group's pianist.
1967     Mark Bryan, Rock guitar, Member group: 'Hootie & The Blowfish'
1939     Eddie C. Campbell, guitar, b. Duncan, MS, USA.
1904     Cliff Carlisle,, (C&W) guitar/dobro, b. Taylorville, KY, USA.
1913     Carmen Cavallaro, pianist/leader, b. New York, NY, USA, d. Oct. 12, 1989.
1939     Herbie Cox, lead vocals, b. Cincinnati, OH, USA. Member: 'The Cleftones' (Best recalled release: "Heart And Soul")
1916     Harry Douglass, vocals, b. Bridgeville, DE, USA. Member "Deep River Boys"
1953     Paul Dunmall, Tenor-soprano-alto-c-melody and baritone sax, clarinet, bagpipes, b. Barnhurst, England
1942     Colin Earl, vocals/piano, b. Hampton Court, London, England, UK. Member group: 'Mungo Jerry'. His 1970 single "In The Summertime" hit No.1 on UK charts.
1939     Isla Eckinger, Bass, b. Dornach, Switzerland
1960     John Flansburgh, producer/Engineer/Guitar (12 String)/vocals. Member group: They Might Be Giants, Their 1990 single "Birdhouse In Your Soul" made it to No. 6 in the UK.
1942     David Friesen, Bass, b. Tacoma, WA, USA
1945     Jimmie Dale Gilmore, singer-songwriter/guitar, b. Amarillo, TX, USA. Member: 'Flatlanders', and solo artist,
1916     Homer Harris, guitar, b. Drew, MS, USA.
1927     Ronnie Hilton, vocals, b. U.K., d. Feb. 20, 2001. Had over 20 Top 40 hits on the UK charts.
1899     Charlie Irvis, trombone, d. ca. 1939
1951     Davey Johnstone, guitarist.
1944     Bill Legend, drums, b. Essex, England, UK. Member group: 'T-Rex'
1948     Mary MacGregor, vocals, b. St. Paul, MN, USA.
1917     Kal Mann, Lyricist/label co-lwner (Cameo-Parkway), b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. Nov. 28, 2001, Philadelphia, PA, USA. co-writer Elvis Presley's hit: "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear."
1950     Robbie Mcintosh, vocals/guitar. Member group: 'Average White Band'
1966     David Narcizo, drums, Member group: Throwing Muses
1926     Marguerite Piazza, vocals. nee: Marguerite Luft. Best recalled for her work on 'Your Show of Shows', starring Sid Caesar.
1921     Freddy Randall, Trumpet, leader, cornet, piano, vocal, b. London, England, d. 1999 In the 1950s, Freddy's was one of the most popular U.K. bands. His 1951 band included: Bernie Stanton on clarinet, Stan Butcher-piano, Don Cooper-guitar, and Ronnie Stone-percussion. Randall's trumpet work exhibited a strong Muggsy Spanier influence.
1959     David Ray Robbins, (C&W) guitar/vocals, b. Atlanta, GA, USA. Member group: "BlackHawk"
1936     Sylvia Robinson, vocals/guitar, b. New York, NY 'Member: Mickey & Sylvia'
1964     Tony Scalzo, R&R vocals.
1945     Bob Seger, Folksinger/songwriter/guitar, b. Dearborn, MI, USA.
1960     Larry Steinbachek, vocals/guitar. Member group: 'Bronski Beat'
1895     Rudolph Valentino, actor/vocals/dancer b. Castellaneta, Italy
1924     Denny Wright, Guitar, b. Brockley, England, d. 1992
1968     Tony Wright vocals, Member: 'Terrorvision'. "Tequila" was a 1999 UK No.2 single.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1966.    Paul Webster, trumpet, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 56
1970.    Al Jarvis, DJ (show: 'Jivin' With Jarvis), died in Newport Beach, CA, USA. Age: 60
1979.    Milton Ager, composer, died in Inglewood, CAc85
1988.    Paul Wilson, vocalist with 'The Flamingos', died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 53
1992.    Marlene Dietrich, actress/singer, died in Paris. Age 90.
1994.    "Cool Papa" Sadler, guitar/songwriter, died in Berkeley, CA, USA. Age: 59
1995.    Billy Hughes, C&W fiddler/songwriter, died. Age: 86
1995.    Clarence Paul, songwriter/arranger/producer, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 67
1995.    Leonard "Red" Truss, vocals, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 48 Member: 'The Steelers'
2002.    Songwriter Otis Blackwell died in Nashville, TN, USA (Coronary. Age: 70). Some of his over 1,000 songs were recorded by such performers as "Little Willie" John ("Fever"), Jerry Lee Lewis ("Great Balls Of Fire"), Elvis Presley ("All Shook Up," "Don't Be Cruel," "Return To Sender"), and 'The Who' ("Daddy Rollin' Stone").
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
      1949 "Baby, It's Cold Outside", - Dinah Shore
      1949 "Baby, It's Cold Outside", - Margaret Whiting
      1950 "The Third Man Theme" - Alton Karas plays his Zither.
      1950 "My Foolish Heart" - The Gordon Jenkins Orchestra (vocal: Eileen Wilson)
      1957 "I'm Walking", - Ricky Nelson
      1958 "Tequila" - The Champs
      1958 "The Witch Doctor" - David Seville voc.
      1966 "Sloop John B" - The Beach Boys
      1966 "Monday Monday" - The Mamas and The Papas
      1967 "Respect", - Aretha Franklin
      1967 "Somebody To Love", - The Jefferson Airplane
      1967 "Mirage", - Tommy James
      1967 "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?", - Paul Revere & The Raiders
      1967 "Groovin'", - The Rascals
      1972 "Sylvia's Mother", - Dr. Hook
      1972 "Tumbling Dice", - The Rolling Stones
      1974 "The Loco-Motion" - Grand Funk
      1978 "Dance With Me", - Peter Brown
      1978 "Take A Chance On Me", - Abba
      1978 "You Belong To Me", - Carly Simon
      1982 "I Love Rock 'N Roll" - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
      1982 "Chariots of Fire" - Titles - Vangelis
      1989 "Buffalo Stance", - Neneh Cherry
      1989 "Satisfied", - Richard Marx
      1989 "Cry", - Waterfront
      1990 "How Can We Be Lovers" - Michael Bolton
      1990 "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinead O'Connor