BIRTHDAYS
1923     Ewart G. Abner, Record company exec., d. Dec. 27, 1997
1928     Burt Bacharach, b. Kansas City, MO, USA. part of the Team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David
1955     Leon Eric "Kix" Brooks, C&W vocals, b. Shreveport, LA, USA.
1913     Hillard Brown, drums, b. Birmingham, AL, USA.
1960     Mark Colwill, bass guitar. Member group: 'Tindersticks', formed in late 1991 out of a band called 'The Asphalt Ribbons'. Members included Stuart A. Staples, b. Nov. 14, 1965 - lead vocals, guitar; Dickon Hinchliffe, b. July 9, 1967 - violin, guitar, vocals;(Hinchliffe has a Ph.D. in Mexican Literature); Neil Fraser - b. Nov. 22, 1962 - guitar; David Boulter, b. Feb, 27, 1965 - keyboards, percussion; Alasdair De Villeneuve Macaulay, b. August 2, 1965 - drums, percussion; and Mark Colwill, b. May 12, 1960 -bass guitar.
1938     Henry Cosby, arranger/producer (for Motown label), b. Detroit, MI, USA.
1927     Barbara Dane, (Folk/Blues/political) vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA. (née: Barbara Jean Spillman). Her career began in the mid-1940s when she became politically involved with civil rights, labor, and feminist movements. At that time, Dane sang with such Jazzmen as Kid Ory, George Lewis, Turk Murphy and with Folk singer Pete Seeger, as well as with others. She hosted her own San Francisco TV show, as well as appearing on other TV shows and also appeared at various festivals. Among the many stars with whom she performed then included "Memphis Slim", "Lightnin'" Hopkins, Louis Armstrong, and even with controversial comedian Lenny Bruce. In 1959, she recorded with the Earl Hines orchestra, and toured with Jack Teagarden's band. Throughout the 1960s and '70s, she continued to appear on television, radio and in concert. Dane became involved in many 'left wing' political demonstrations, including marches in support of the civil rights movement and in protest against American military involvement in Vietnam, even traveling to Vietnam in 1975. This conscious decision to ally her singing to political causes took her more and more out of the mainstream of popular music. Her musical efforts were now concentrated on singing at fund and consciousness raising gatherings in America, Spain, Cuba and Italy.
1928     Don DeMichael, Writer, Drums, vibes, b. Louisville, KY, USA. d. 1982
1936     Klaus Doldinger, Tenor-Soprano sax, keyboards, b. Berlin, Germany.
1942     Ian Dury, singer/songwriter/poet/actor. b. May 12, 1942, Upminster, Essex, England, d. March 27, 2000, Hampstead, North London, England - cancer), founded 'The Blockheads' in 1977. His 1979 single "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" made it to No.1 in the UK.
1901     Benjamin Francis Ford, singer-sopngwriter/banjo/comedy actor, b. Desoto, MO, USA. Tag: "The Duke of Paducah". ( b, May 1, 1901, DeSoto, Missouri, USA, d. June 20, 1986). aka: Whitey Ford. He got the name 'Whitey' while serving in the U. S. Navy, and got his stage name while appearing in vaudville with a Dixieland band.
1950     Ronnie Foster, (funk, jazz,, soul), organ, keyboards, b. ,Buffalo, NY, USA.
1927     Jack Donald Hale, trombone, b. Memphis, TN, USA. Member: 'Memphis Horns'
1936     Daphne Hellman, Harpist, b . New York, NY, USA. d. Aug. 4, 2002, New York, NY, USA. (While recuperating from afall.) née: Daphne Van Beuren Bayne. Please also see: Ving Merlin All Girl Band. She played every kind of song one could imagine. Everthing from Claude Debussy to Roger Miller; from The Beatles to Bach - She was the leader of 'Hellman's Angels' - Although she played at numerous New York City clubs (including CBGB's) she had a fondness for playing on subway platforms. Daphe was also the mother of the late guitarist Sandy Bull.
1936     Jack Holley, Drums, b. Windsor, NC, USA, d. Aug. 2, 2002, Cleveland (Euclid), OH, USA. né: George R. Holley. Among those he worked with are Fletcher Henderson, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, and The Clarence James Quintet.
1910     Gordon Jenkins, Leader, b. Webster Grove, MO, USA, d. May 1, 1984
1910     Jack Jenney, bandleader/trombonist, b. Mason City, IA, USA. d. Dec. 16, 1945, Los Angeles, CA. USA. né:Truman Elliot Jenney
1965     Edward James Kilgallon, Keyboards/Guitar/Sax/(Baritone) Vocals, b. East Greenbush, NY, USA. . Member: "Ricochet", a Contemporary Country group formed in 1994 and comprised of Heath Wright (Lead Singer/Guitar, né: Perry "Heath" Wright, b. April 22, 1967, Vian, OK, USA), Junior Bryant (Fiddle/Mandolin/Guitar/Steel Guitar/(High Tenor) Vocals, né: Duane Mack Bryant, b. October 23, 1968, Pecos, TX, USA), Jeff Bryant (Drums, né: Jeffrey Park Bryant, b. Dec. 27, 1962, Pecos, TX, USA. left 8/99), Greg Cook (Bass Guitar/(Bass) Vocals, né: Gregory Charles Cook, b.January 28, 1965, Vian, OK, USA ), Eddie Kilgallon (Keyboards/Guitar/Sax/(Baritone) Vocals, né: Edward James Kilgallon, b. May 12, 1965,East Greenbush, NY, USA ), Teddy Carr (Steel Guitar, né: Teddy Sloan Carr, b. July 4, 1960, Lafayette, TN, USA. left July 2000), Shannon Farmer (Steel Guitar, b. joined July 2000), and Tim Chewning (Drums, b. joined August 1999).
1953     Donald Kinsey, guitar, b. Gary, IN, USA. Member: 'Kinsey Report'.
1941     Eddy Louiss, organist/piano/vocals, b. Paris, France. (some sources say born May 2)
1921     Otis W. "Joe" Maphis, C&W vocals/guitar, d. 1986. In the late 1940s - early '50s, Joe and wife, Rose Lee, were a very popular Country act. Perhaps, the honky-tonk anthem "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)" was their biggest hit. Until his death in 1986, Joe was a sessions instrumentalist, backing such stars as Rick Nelson, Tex Ritter, and Wanda Jackson. While known as a guitarist, Joe played anything and everything with strings on it, especially the twin-neck guitar.
1946     Ian McLagan, keyboards, b. Hounslow, Middlesex, England, UK. Member group: 'Small Faces'.
1937     Bob Montgomery, singer-songwriter/music producer/publisher, b. Lampasas, Texas, USA. Montgomery was Buddy Holly's best friend and songwriting partner. While teenagers in high school, they performed together as the duo "Buddy and Bob" playing a variety of bluegrass music that evolved into rockabilly. CAUTION: Do not confuse with Bob Montgomery, (Jazz) Trumpeter.
1920     "Tiny" Moore, electric) mandolin/fiddle/banjo/drums, b. Port Arthur, TX, USA. d. Dec. 15, 1987, Jackpot, NV, USA (heart attack while on stage performing) né: Billie Moore. Considered to be one of the three best mandolin players of his era (the other two were Dave Apollon, and Jethro Burns). In 1946, "Tiny" (a nickname due to his large frame) played lead mandolin with Bob Wills's Texas Playboys. In the '50s, while touring with Merle Haggard's band, The Strangers, he invented a five-string electric mandolin
1911     Billy Munn, Piano, b. Glasgow, Scotland, d. May 2, 2000, Scotland
1935     Gary Peacock, Bass, b. Burley, ID, USA.
1944     James Purify, vocals, b. Pensacola, FL, USA. Member group: 'James & "Bobby Purify". James and Bobby (né: Robert Lee Dickey. b. Sept. 2, 1939, Pensacola, FL, USA). were a 'Southern soul' duo, -not actually brothers, but cousins. During the mid-1960s, James Purify and Bobby joined forces for some classic Southern soul vocal duets.
1912     Marshall Royal, Alto Sax, b. Sapulpa, OK, USA. d. May 9, 1995, Los Angeles, CA, USA. n&eaccute;: Marshall Walton Royal. Member: Count Basie Orchestra
1992     Matthew "Matt" Savage, pianist. CAUTION: Do not confuse with percussionist Matt Savage.
1907     Boston Smith, piano, b. Dallas, TX, USA.
1950     Billy Squier, R&R vocals/guitar, b. USA.
1944     Billy Swan, vocals/guitar, b. Cape Girardeau, MO, USA. For over a decade, Billy had been toiling in the music business, In the early 1960s, Clyde McPhatter scored a hit with Swan's "Lover Please". The rest of the decade was spent working as a Jack-of-all-trades roadie, and engineer's assistant. He was also songwriting for such C&W stars as Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Mel Tillis. In the '70s, Billy played with Kris Kristofferson, Kinky Friedman, and Billy Joe Shaver. In 1974, he finally scored a No. 1 hit with his rockabilly "I Can Help", one of the best hit singles of the mid-'70s. lthough Swan, working as a solo act, did record a few more albums, he never again hit the Top 40, and after a few years, he returned to Kristofferson's band, remaining with Kris until 1992. His sound was an eclectic mix of Country, Soul, and Pop more often than out-and-out rockabilly.
1900     Billy Thorburn, British dance band leader
1941     Trevor Tompkins, Drums, b. London, England
1943     David Walker, keyboards.
1932     Walter Wanderley, organist, pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, b. Recife, Brazil, d. Sept. 4, 1986, San Francisco, CA, USA. (cancer). né: Walter José Wanderley Mendonça. At age 5, he reportedly learned to play organ from his aunt, and at age 15, his family moved to São Paulo, Brazil, where he spent a year studying music theory, harmony and arranging at the prestigious Lyceu de Artes. By age 18, he had already gained some notoriety by working with the top names in Brazilian modern music, including Jo&acedil;o Gilberto, for whom he did arrangements, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, whose tunes he recorded. In 1958, he appeared at such S&acedil:o Paulo clubs as the Captain's Bar, the Claridge, and Oásis. August 1959 was the date of Wanderley's first recording for Odeon, with Carlos Lyra's "Lobo Bobo." The singer was his wife, Isaurinha Garcia (with whom he had a daughter, Monica). One month later, he recorded for the second time. Wanderley subsequently recorded (for different labels) another six LPs accompanying Garcia and another 19 solo albums; he was left out of some of the credits due to his contract with Philips. He next recorded three albums with João Gilberto for the Odeon label. In 1963, Wanderley became arranger and accompanist for singer Claudette Soares. His own marriage to Isaurinha Garcia now also fell apart. During this period, Wanderley recorded with other Brazilian singers, among them Dóris Monteiro and Geraldo Vandr&eadcute;. It was, without a doubt, the Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto's 1964 recording of "The Girl From Ipanema" that truly infused the American (and world) mainstream with samba and bossa nova beats. And, in the mid-1960s, Wanderley was one of the foremost avatars of Brazil's "New Swing," that helped to sweep the Bossa Nova and Samba onto American dance floors. It came about when American singer Tony Bennett heard Wanderley during a Brazilian tour and urged him to move to the U.S., where Bennett was instrumental in obtaining a recording contract for Wanderley from Verve Records producer Creed Taylor. In 1966, Wanderley recorded "Samba de Verão" ("Summer Samba", composed by the brothers Marcos and Paulo Sérgio Valle). It was an instant success, with radio stations playing it four or five times per hour. (It is interesting to note that famed drummer/percussionist Claudio Slon, who played drums for Wanderley in Brazil, also came to the States with him in 1965). Also in 1966, the trio accompanied Astrud Gilberto on her "A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness album". Wanderley remained mostly resident in the San Francisco area recording and playing in local venues, interspersed with some tours to Mexico. He never did return to Brazil after moving to the U.S.A. Besides his original instrumental version of "The Girl From Ipanema", his other hit releases included "Desafinado," and "Song of the Jet".
1941     Jayotis Washington, vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA. Member: 'The Persuasions'
1940     Norman Whitfield, producer/arranger, b. (Harlem), NY, USA.
1937     Ronny Whyte, piano, vocals, songwriter, celeste, kazoo,
1922     Gerald Wiggins, Piano/organ, b. New York, NY, USA.
1948     Steve Winwood, vocals/keyboards, b. Birmingham, England, UK. Member group: 'Spencer Davis Group' and also 'Blind Faith'. Enjoyed No. 1 (in the UK) hits with each group.
1941     Ruud de Wolff, vocals/guitar, Big hit record: "Blue Diamonds"
1924     Bill Woods, guitar, b. Denison, TX. USA. aka: "Father of the Bakersfield Sound of Country music". Curiously, "Bill Woods & the Orange Blossom Playboys", - "the hottest honky-tonk band in town" - then playing at the celebrated honky-tonk bar 'The Blackboard', seem to be best remembered for one of their members. Buck Owens, had moved to Bakersfield, CA, in 1951, and within a few months was playing his guitar, and singing with the band. They are also recalled as being the first group significantly influenced by rock & roll, and relying heavily on electric guitars (Fenders), and playing with a well-defined backbeat.
1940     Billy Young, Leader/Sax, b. Daingerfield, TX, USA. Did you know that Ben Webster (1909-1973) started his musical career while still a teenager, playing piano for silent movies in Amarillo, TX. Then, when he began touring with the Billy Young Orchestra, he borrowed an instrument and began learning it, practising with Billy's son, Lester Young. So, while still in adolescence, two of the great figures of the tenor saxophone, Webster and Lester Young, were apprentices together.
CAUTION: Do NOT confuse with another Billy Young, - keyboard/vocals, b. May 25, 1942, Buffalo, NY, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1952.    Little Walter recorded "Juke" with Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers on guitar. (Checker #758)
1959.    'The Swan Silvertones' gospel group recorded their classic "Mary Don't You Weep".
1969.    W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, founder of the "Light Crust Doughboys", and later Governor of Texas, died. Age: 59
1972.    "Big" John Greer, tenor sax, died in Hot Springs, AR, TX, USA. Age: 48
1976.    Joe Bishop, trumpet/fluegehorn, died in Houston, TX, USA. Age: 68
1972.    Earnest "Flunkey" "44" Johnson, piano, died in Greenville, MS, TX, USA. Age: 69
1972.    Joe Mooney, vocal, accordion, organ, died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. (b. March 14, 1911 in Paterson, New Jersey, USA)
1976.    Wynona Carr, piano/songwriter, died in Cleveland, OH, TX, USA. Age: 51
1981.    Frank Weir, alto sax, clarinet, leader died (b. 1911? )
1982.    George Bledsoe, bass, died in Honolulu, HI, TX, USA. Age: 82. Member: 'Ink Spots' vocal group.
1987.    Victor Feldman, piano, vibes., drums, percussion died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. ( b. April 7, 1934, London, England, UK )
1993.    Albert Macon, guitar, died in Society Hill, AL, TX, USA. Age: 73
1997.    Louis Barbarin, drummer, died in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. (b. May 5, 1899, New Orleans, Louisiana , USA.)
2001.    Ed Finckel, piano, arranger, composer died
2003.    Bross Townshend, piano died
2005.    Monica Zettlerlund, vocals died in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. (apartment fire, b. Sept. 20, 1937, Hagfors, Värmlands län, Sweden )
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
      1927 "South Wind", - Roger Wolfe Kahn Orch.
      1932 "Lullaby of The Leaves", - Ben Selvin Orch.
      1932 "Crazy People", - Ben Selvin Orch.
      1932 "Is I In Love, I Is", - Ben Selvin Orch.
      1938 "Music Maestro Please", Tommy Dorsey Orch.
      1954 "Three Coins In The Fountain", - The Four Aces
      1958 "Sugar Moon", - Pat Boone
      1958 "What Am I Living For", - Chuck Willis
      1973 "Right Place Wrong Time", - Dr. John
      1979 "Chuck E.'s In Love", - Rickie Lee Jones
      1979 "Makin' It", - David Naughton
      1979 "She Believes In Me", - Kenny Rogers
      1979 "We Are Family", - Sister Sledge
      1979 "You Take My Breath Away", - Rex Smith
      1984 "Jump (For My Love)", - The Pointer Sisters
      1990 "Hold On", - En Vogue