BIRTHDAYS
1953     Rich Alves, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Pleasanton, CA, USA.Member group: "Pirates of the Mississippi"
1924     Charles Aznavour, Vocals/actor, b. Paris, France
1926     Elek Bacsik, Guitar, b. Budapest, Hungary, d. Feb. 14, 1993
1930    Kenny Ball, Trumpet/Leader/vocals, b. London, England
1970     Jimmy Bennington, drums. - Raised in Detroit, MI, USA, until age nine, when his family moved to Houston, TX, Bennington developed there as a musician starting with clarinet and switching to drums three years later. He has studied with Malcolm Pinson, Ron Enyard, late Coltrane drummer Elvin Jones (whom he eventually worked for as bandmanager/drumtech 2000-2002). Based in Chicago, IL, after an eight year residence on the West Coast, Bennington performs in the US, Canada, South America, and Europe with his group, "Colour and Sound". He has performed and recorded with many notable artists including Bert Wilson, Perry Robinson, and Julian Priester.
1939     Dick Berk, Drums, b. San Francisco, CA, USA.
1955     Mary Black, vocals, b. Dublin, Ireland. She was born into a musical family, the daughter of a fiddler and a singer. Mary is equally at home singing traditional Irish folk tunes and contemporary music including blues, rock, jazz, country and soul.
1921     Gustav Brom, bandleader, arranger, b. Czechoslovakia, d. September 25, 1995, . Czechoslovakia, né: Gustav Frkal. aka: Gustava Broma. June 1940 saw Brom and his band’s first professional engagement when they obtained a residency at the Radhost Hotel in Roznov-pod-Radhostem. With the end of World War II, Brom's band performed in Brno and Bratislava and also for several months in 1947 in Switzerland. The other top big band leaders in Prague at this time were Karel Vlach, (October 8, 1911 – February 26, 1986) , Prof. Ladislav Habart, (b. June 26, 1914, clarinet/tenor sax/leader), and Kamil Běhounek (1916-1983), . In 1995, when Brom died, the band started a new phase under a slightly changed name, conducted by Vladimír Valovic, who was appointed by Brom himself as successor. From the 1940’s right through to his death in 1995, his band remained very popular. Brom was never mired in any one particular style, he worked prolifically and remained true to Jazz, beginning with Dixieland and Swing and later, with contributions from his musicians, the band moved into the West Coast Jazz sound.
1953     Jon Burr, bass, b. Huntington, Long Island, NY, USA. He studied at Berklee College of Music and the University of Illinois. Worked With such stars as Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Art Farmer, Dorothy Donegan, and Stéphane Grappelli. Burr was also an original member of violinist 'Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio', with guitarist Frank Vignola. He has toured with Tony Bennett; and also worked with Lainie Kazan, Rita Moreno, Barbara Cook, Eartha Kitt, David Campbell, and Debbie Gravitte, among others. In 1993, Burr made his debut as a leader when the Cymekob label recorded his set "In My Own Words". Jon also has Broadway performance credits, and has played at many of the great hotels and clubs in New York.
1906     Eva Busch, singer, b. Berlin, Germany, d. July 21 (?25), 2001, Munich, Germany (née: Eva Zimmermann). She was the illegitimate daughter of Franz Beidler, the son of Wagner, and a then famous singer, Emmy-Zimmerman Burg. In Berlin she met her first husband, actor Ernst Busch (a Communist sympathizer) when they sang cabaret songs together at the Berliner Volksbuehne. In the early 1930s, she recorded her first disc. In 1933, after the Nazis seized power, the couple fled to Holland. Two years later, they separated, by mutual consent, when Ernst left to fight for the Spanish Loyalists against Generalissmo Franco, who was supported by Germany. Eva returned to Paris, France, where she sang in various cabarets, and in 1940, recorded probably her most famous song: "Bel Ami" ("Beautiful Friend"). After the German invasion in France, she became an internee in 'Camp Gurs'. In late 1944, after the defeat of the Nazis, she was released and briefly performed songs for civilians and military personnel in Germany. She then returned to Paris and resumed her international career. For the next 30 years, she sang in cabarets, on the radio and on television. In the USA she toured with Bing Crosby. In Zurich, Switzerland, she appeared at Erika Mann's Pfeffermühle - "Pepper Mill". Eva remained active until the 1970s. Among her best-known songs are "Es sprechen so viele von Liebe, die gar nichts von Liebe verstehen" ("You talk so much about love, but know nothing of love") and "Der Wind und das Meer" ("The wind and the sea").
1928     Jackie Cain, Vocalist, b. Milwaukee, WI, USA.In 1946, she was introduced to Roy Kral (born October 10, 1921, Chicago, IL, USA) who was able to help the teenager to start her career as a singer.
1954     Jerry Dammers, keyboard, b. Coventry, England, UK. Member group: 'The Specials;
1966     Iva Davies, Guitar/vocals, Member group: 'Icehouse'
1924     Eric Delaney, drummer, b. London, England
1924     Ed Downs, Trumpet. b. Phillipsburg, NJ, USA. His first wife was Ann Korte, and he is presently married to Billie Jo Harder-Downs. Left home at age 19 to play with Tommy Tucker band.Later played with Mal Hallett's, Benny Strong's and Jess Stacy's orchestras. Worked with Dick Taylor (arranger for Tommy Tucker), Buddy Wise and "Toots" Mondello, among others.Currently (May 2004) blowing his trumpet in Angell & Phelps Cafe and Wine Bar an upscale bistro in Daytona Beach, FL.USA. His latest CD entitled "That's All" can now be heard on aregular basis on Daytona's #1 Big Band station WROD, AM 1340.
1891     "Eddie" Edwards, Trombone, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. April 9, 1963. né: Edwin Branford Edwards. Edwards started playing violin at age 10, and took up trombone in addition at 15. He is one of the legendary old New Orleans musicians. In early 1916, was a member of Johnny Stein's band that went to Chicago, IL. In 1917, he was on the first jazz recordings ever made, playing with the 'Original Dixieland Jazz Band'. Many years later, Johnny Wiggs told an interviewer he had "......never heard another trombonist who could give a band the rhythmic punch that Edwards could."
1946     Léon Francioli, bass/cello.
1966     Johnny Gill, R&B vocals, b. Boston, MA, USA. Member group: 'New Edition'
1973     Dallas Good, vocals, b, Toronto (?), ONT, Canada. Member: 'Good Brothers'
1948     Doug Gray, vocals, b. Spartanburg, SC, USA. Member group: 'Marshall Tucker Band'
1973     Susan Morrison Hill, C&W songwriter, b. Nashville, TN, USA.
1932     Mertis John Jr., songwriter/label owner (Meda), b. Detroit, MI, USA.
1927     Francis W. Johnson, Trumpet, b. Melbourne, Australia
1973     Donell Jones, singer/songwriter/producer, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1930     Jimmy Keyes, vocals, b.New Yrok (Bronx), NY, USA. d. July 22, 1995, USA. (Aneurysm).With 'The Chords', formed 1951, consisted of Carl and Claude Feaster (lead and baritone), Jimmy Keyes (first tenor), Floyd "Buddy" McRae (second tenor), and Ricky Edwards (bass).(best hit: "Sh-Boom")
1947     Franz Koglmann, composer/trumpet/flügelhorn/label owner ('Between the Lines'), b. (near) Vienna, Austria
1944     Thomas LaVelle, piano, b. Kankakee, Illinois, USA CAUTION: Their is also R&B singer Lavelle White, aka "Miss Lavelle", born in Amite, LA, USA. During the 1950's & '60's, she was very popular on the Texas R&B circuit. She subsequently relocated to Chicago, IL, and is still (2006) quite active. Lavelle has toured extensively, playing with artists such as Bobby "Blue" Bland, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Otis Redding, and Junior Park.
1926     Elaine Leighton, Drummer, played with Billie Holiday
1926     Omega "Miggie" Lewis, C&W vocals, b. Richmond County, GA, USA. Member group: "The Lewis Family"
1935     Giuseppi Logan, Alto Sax/bass clarinet/flute/piano, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA.
1905     Corner Morris, guitar, b. Suffolk, VA, USA.
1959     "Morrissey", vocals, b. Manchester, England. né: Steven Patrick Morrissey. Member group: 'The Smiths', and solo artist.
1917     (Charles R.) "Charlie" Munro, Reeds , Flute, b. Christchurch, New Zealand, d. Dec. 9, 1985
1889     Willie Narmour, C&W fiddler, b. Carroll County, MS, USA.
1934     Peter Nero, piano, b. New York, NY, USA. né: Peter Bernard Nierow
1892     Ralph Peer, Victor Records executive, Peer was the first country music talent scout.He recorded Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family and many other early C&W artists.
1914     Sun Ra, Piano/Leader/organ/keyboard/composer, b. Birmingham, AL, USA. d. 1993. né: Herman Sonny Blount
1940     Jerry Ricks, (Blues) guitar, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA.
1967     Dan Roberts, vocals. Member: 'Crash Test Dummies' (He was the bass voice.)
1928     Roscoe Robinson, vocals, b. Dumont, AL, USA.
1905     Roger Segure, Arranger, b. New York, NY, USA.
1942     Calvin Simon, vocals, b. Beckley, W.VA. USA. Member: 'Funkadelic'
1916     Joseph Springer, Piano, b. New York, NY, USA.
1950     Bernie Taupin, lyricist, b. Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England. (Elton John's own lyricist for such songs as "Your Song,", and "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long Long Time.)". Also with "Bennie And The Jets", and a solo artist.
1936     Dallas Taylor, vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'The Danderliers'
1969     Dave Thompson, guitar, b. Jackson, MS, USA.
1962     Jesse Valenzuela, vocals/guitar, b. Tempe, Arizona, USA.Member group: 'Gin Blossoms'
1934     Lasse Werner, Piano/Leader, b. Malmo, Sweden
1961     Dana Williams, bassist, b. Dayton, OH.USA.Member group: 'Diamond Rio'.

         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1954.    Bob Dylan's Bar-Mitzvah took place.
1967.    Langston Hughes, author, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 65
1977.    Hampton Hawes, piano, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 49
1979.    Alvin Thomas Jr.piano, died in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Age: 49
1982.    T. J.Fowler, piano, died in Detroit, MI, USA.Age: 71
1998.    Royce Kendall, one half of the father and daughter team of the Kendalls died while on tour (stroke).