BIRTHDAYS
1955     Nat Adderley Jr., piano/guitar/clarinet/flute/vocals, b. Quincy, FL, USA, USA". Nat Jr., who is currently -2005- quite active, comes from a very musical family. His father was Nat Adderley Sr (Jazz trumpet/cornet, b. Nov. 25, 1931, Tampa, Florida, USA, d. Jan. 2, 2000, Lakeland, Florida, USA -diabetes) Nat Sr., was the brother of alto saxist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. (né: Julian Edwin Adderley, b. Sept. 15, 1928, Tampa, FL, USA, d. Aug. 8, 1975, Gary, Indiana, USA -Stroke.)
1948     Buddy Alan, C&W vocals/guitar, b.Mesa, AZ, USA. né: Alvis Alan Owens. Buddy is the son of country legends Buck and Bonnie Owens. At age 14, formed his first Rock band, 'The Chosen Few', and then switched to Country. In 1965 (in his late teens), he and his mother and her new husband, Merle Haggard, moved to Arizona. Also, 1965 was the first time he sang at one of his father's Christmas concerts.
1918     Abie "Boogaloo" Ames, Blues pianist. b. Cruger, MS, USA, d. 2001. (Age 83). Ames was born in on the 'Big Egypt Plantation'. At just age 5, he began playing piano. While still a teen-ager, he moved to Detroit and formed his own band, In 1936, he toured Europe with Louis Armstrong. Sometime in the 1940s, the nickname "Boogaloo" became associated with him . Later, he was a well known figure in the "Motown Studios" (Detroit, MI), and was friendly with such other well known musicians as singer Nat "King" Cole, and pianist Erroll Garner. In 1980, Ames relocated to Greenville, MS, and became a regular performer at the local clubs and festivals. In 2000, along with Eden Brent, his protege and 1990s musical partner, Ames performed at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 2001, He won the Artist's Achievement Award of the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts in the state of Mississippi. In October 2001, Ames made his last public performance at the E.E. Bass Cultural Center in Greenville, MS, along with another of his former students, Mulgrew Miller. During his career, he also composed many tunes, one of which, "Darkness in the Delta", was composed for Cassandra Wilson's Blue Note CD tentatively titled "Belly of the Sun".
1947     Richie Beirach, Piano, b. New York, NY, USA.
1918     "Bumps" Blackwell, piano, b. Seattle, WA, USA.
1955     Luka Bloom, vocals, b. Newbridge, Ireland. né: Barry Moore.
1920     Beatrice "Wee Bea" Booze, vocals, b. Baltimore. MD, USA.
1919     Johnny Bothwell, Alto Sax, b. Gary, IN, USA, d. August 2, 1995.
1909     James C. Bracken, label co-owner (Vee Jay), b. Kansas City, MO, USA.
1934     Al "Tnt" Bragg, drums, b. Dallas, TX, USA.
1945     Rodney Buckle, label owner (SONET), b. London, UK
1928     Rosemary Clooney, Vocals, b: Maysville, KY, USA. d: June 29, 2002, Beverly Hills, CA, USA. A difficult childhood spent with parents Andy and Frances Clooney and relatives. Rosie, sister Betty and brother Nick were shuttled between an alcoholic father, and a mother who was often away traveling for a chain of dress shops. When Rosie was just 13, her mother left home, took the son with her, went to California and married a sailor. The two girls were left with the father. At the end of WWII, the father left home one night, with all the money, never to return. In This for Remembrance, her autobiography, Rosie described conditions which included collecting empty sodapop bottles for the deposit money, with which they could buy some food at their schools lunch program. They were about to be evicted when they won a singing audition at the local radio station, which then hired the girls (at $20/per week) for a regular late-night spot. In 1945, bandleader Tony Pastor was passing through town and hired the sisters who then toured with the band until 1948, - with Rosie staying on one more year. At age 21, Clooney headed for New York City on her own, where she was hired by Columbia Records. At Columbia, she worked with A&R man Mitch Miller, who had her record a song called "Come On-a My House," (Ross Bagdasarian music; William Saroyan lyric). It was a huge success, topped the charts, became a gold record, and made Rosemary Clooney a household name. Her career now included Radio shows and films. In 1953, she eloped with actor Jose Ferrer, 16 years her senior. The couple took up housekeeping in a Beverly Hills home once owned by composer George Gershwin, and often entertained with lavish poolside parties. Their first child was born in 1955, and by 1960, they had five children. From 1956-'57, she starred on her own TV show. However, there was a price to be paid for trying to work and still raise 5 children at the same time. That price was an addiction to tranquilizers and sleeping pills. In 1968, when her close friend Bobby Kennedy, then campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, was assassinated in Los Angeles at the Ambassador Hotel, Clooney was standing just yards away. Perhaps it was that tragedy, together with her drug addiction, that triggered a mental collapse that occurred in public. While appearing at a Reno, NV, engagement she cursed at her audience and stalked off the stage. Subsequently, at a press conference, she announced her retirement while sobbing incoherently. She fled before a doctor could be summoned, and was later found driving on the wrong side of a dangerous mountain road. She admitted herself to the psychiatric ward of Mount Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, remaining in therapy for many years, during which time she did some TV commercials, and worked at some local hotels. In 1976 Clooney joined Bing Crosby on his 50th anniversary tour (it was Crosby's last tour), which also became a comeback for her . Also in 1976, her sister Betty died of a brain aneurysm. As a result, Rosie created the 'Betty Clooney Center' in Long Beach, CA, a facility for treating brain-injured patients; the first of its kind in the U.S. In 1992, she received the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal for her contribution to American Popular Music. In November 1997, she married her longtime companion Hollywood dancer Dante DiPaolo. On December 15, 2001 she gave her last performance at the Count Basie Theatre in Redbank, NJ, and in January of 2002, she underwent lung cancer surgery at the Mayo Clinic, remaining hospitalized until early May. when she was finally able to go home to Beverly Hills. She died on June 29, 2002.
1942     Randolph Colville, Clarinet, b. Glasgow, Scotland
1910     "Scatman" Crothers, vocal/drums, b. Terre Haute, IN, USA. d. 1986, USA. The "Scatman" had an extensive Jazz and later R&B background, performing in many clubs and on radio shows in the 1920s,'30s, and '40s. In 1948, he began a new career as a television actor, remaining an actor for the rest of his life. He had roles in such series as 'The Governor and J.J.', 'Kojak', 'Toma', and 'One of the Boys'. He was also a voice for such cartoon series as 'Hong Kong Phooey', and for 'The Harlem Globetrotters'.
1929     Julian Euell, Bass, b. New York, NY, USA
1953     Rick Fenn, Vocals/Bass/Guitar. Member group: '10cc' lead guitar for 10cc since 1976. Was a sessions man for many artists. Has also toured and recorded with Mike Oldfield, Jack Bruce, Elkie Brookes, Wax and Rick Wakeman. He has scored for T.V. and film, as well as a West End musical. Co-composed (with Mike Oldfield) the Hall and Oates international hit "Family Man"; and an album with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason featuring Dave Gilmore's vocal.
1944     Ramon "'Tiki" Fulwood, Drums, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member group: 'P-Funk'
1919     Betty Garrett, vocals. Spouse: Larry Parks (1944 - 1975 his death); 2 sons. Son Garrett is a composer; Son Andrew, is an actor.
1965     Simon Gilbert, drums, b. London, England, UK. Member group: 'Suede'
1926     Arthur Gunter, guitar, b. Nashville, TN, USA.
1897     Fred Guy, Banjo, b. Burkesville, GA , d. 1971
1910     John Harrington, Clarinet, b. Denver, CO, USA. d. Sept. 28, 1989.
1904     Edgar J. Hayes, Leader/piano, b. Lexington, KY, USA. d. June 28, 1979, San Bernadino, CA, USA.
1919     Charles Wesley Hill, vocals, b. Danville, VA, USA. Member: 'Southern Sons'
1904     Libby Holman, vocals, b. Cincinati, OH, USA. d. June 18, 1971, Stamford, CT, USA. (suicide - carbon monoxide poisoning). née: Elizabeth Lloyd Holzman. This very talented jewish lady was an exceedingly complex; bisexual who is recalled today as a Broadway actress and torch singer of the 1920s-'30s. Very few folks recall now that she was the first lady to introduce the the strapless evening gown (it became one of her trademarks). Holman's life can be summed up as one of early poverty, extraordinary talent, scandal, then fabulous wealth and finally tragedy. Her life is the stuff of books and movies. Libby was born into a prosperous Jewish family in Ohio. In 1904, her uncle disappeared after embezzling nearly $1 million from her family's stock brokerage business, leaving her innocent father scandalized and bankrupt. Her mother raised her 3 daughters in anger over their loss of wealth and position. Her theatrical career began when she toured in "The Fool". Channing Pollock (the play's author) advised her to drop out of college and pursue a theatrical career. In 1925, she joined the Theatre Guild, and appeared in the chorus of "The Garrick Gaieties" (the show that gave us the lovely Rodgers and Hart song "Manhattan") before gaining notice in "The Greenwich Village Follies" the following year. She subsequently appeared in "Merry-Go-Round" (1927), "Rainbow," (1928) and "Ned Wayburn's Gambols" (1929). Libby starred with Clifton Webb in "The Little Show" (1929; Libby sang 'Moanin' Low,' -her earliest trademark song) and "Three's A Crowd" (1930, Libby introduced the standard, 'Body and Soul' -which made her and Webb top-ranked musical stars). In 1938, she starred in the Cole Porter musical flop, 'You Never Know', with Clifton Webb, Lupe Velez (whom Libby despised - Velez called Libby "joo beech") and Toby Wing (another actress with a fascinating life). Her early breakthrough successes would result from her associations with Howard Dietz, one of her greatest benefactors, and Clifton Webb. Libby thrived on the immediate rewards of a live audience. She was a woman who could wrap a live audience around her little finger with any of her sexually charged "torch" songs. Wuth the advent of 'talkies', she could have easily succeeded in Hollywood, but Libby was decidedly "east coast", sharing her clique's snobbish disdain for film. During 1968, after a long, tortuous, successful and complex career, Libby sank into alcoholism. In June 1971, she committed suicide, a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning from her Rolls Royce at her Connecticutt mansion.
1938     Daniel Humair, Drums, b. Geneva, Switzerland
1947     Bill Hunt, French horn, b. Birmingham, England, UK. Member group: 'Electric Light Orchestra'
1944     Ken Irwin, co-founder of Rounder Records, b. New York, NY, USA.
1974     Singer Jewel, vocals, b. Payson, Utah. née: Jewel Kilcher.
1940     Bjorn Johansen, Saxophone, b. Fredrikstad, Norway
1943     General Johnson, R&B songwriter/producer, b. Norfolk, VA, USA. Member group: 'Chairmen of the Board'
1974     Richard Jones, bass/harmonica, b. Wales, UK. Member group: 'The Stereophonics', a group comprised of Kelly Jones (vocals/guitar), Richard Jones (bass), and Stuart Cable (drums). They were formed in Cwmaman, South Wales, England, UK. The two Jones's are not related.
1956     Steve Kirby, bass, b. St. Louis, MO, USA
1946     Daniel "Gucciman" Klein, Keyboards/Producer. Member group: 'The J. Geils Band'
1972     "Lorenzo", vocals, b. Havana (near Tallahassee), FL, USA, né: Lorenzo Smith.
1921     Humphrey Lyttelton, Trumpet/leader, b. Eton, England. Also played with 'George Webb's Dixielanders'
1952     James Mankey, guitar, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Member group: 'Concrete Blond'
1933     Ichiro Masudo, Vibes, b. Tokyo, Japan
1973     Maxwell, R&B vocals, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. Uses his middle name as his stage moniker, in order to keep his real identity a secret (out of concern for his family's privacy).
1935     Bob Mitchell, Trumpet, b. Birmingham, AL, USA.
1934     Robert Moog, inventor (Moog Synthesizer), b. New York, NY, USA.
1945     Misty Morgan, keyboard/piano/vocals, b. Buffalo, NY, USA. Member group: "Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan," a country duo of songwriter/saxophonist/keyboardist Jack Blanchard and his wife, keyboardist Misty Morgan. Between 1969 and 1975, they had 15 singles on the Country charts . Interestinly, the two were born (three years apart) in the same hospital in Buffalo, NY, and both moved to Ohio during childhood. However, they didn't meet until they were on the club circuit in Hollywood, FL, where Morgan worked as a pianist and singer, while Blanchard was performing as a pianist and comedian.
1946     Famoudou Don Moye, Drums, b. Rochester, NY, USA.
1920     Helen O'Connell, Vocal, b. Lima, OH, USA. d. Sept. 9, 1993, San Diego, CA, (Cancer). Died as wife of Frank DeVol Gained fame as a 1940's Big Bands vocalist with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Her duetting with singer Bob Eberly for the Dorsey band resulted in such million-selling hit records as "Green Eyes" and "Tangerine" as well as hit solo performances for (for Dorsey) like "Six Lessons from Madame LaZonga." A vivacious blonde, she also appeared with Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra in some early 1940's films. Later became a TV personality. Spouses included: 1943-1951 Clifford Smith Jr. divorced (2 daughters); 1957-1960 Tom Chamales till his death (2 daughters); 1965- 1965 Bob Paris annulled same year; and 1991-1993 Frank DeVol until her death in 1993.
1959     Ken Peplowski, Clarinet/Tenor Sax, b. Cleveland, OH, USA.
1951     Judy Rodman, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Riverside, CA, USA.
1949     Randy Sandke, trumpet, b. Chicago, Illinois, USA Randy's older brother Jordan (also a trumpeter) first introduced Randy to Jazz and Swing.
1910     Artie Shaw, Clarinet, b. New York, NY, USA. d. Dec. 30, 2004. né: Arthur Jacob Arshawsky.
1950     Dick Shurman, producer/author, b. Los Alamos, NM, USA.
1932     Les Spann, Guitar/Flute, b. Pine Bluff, AR, USA. d. Jan. 24, 1989
1939     Marvin Louis Stamm, Bop Trumpet, b. Memphis, TN, USA. Started trumpet at age 12, and later continued at North Texas State University. 1961-'63 with Stan Kenton's Mellophonium Orch. 1965-'66 with Woody Herman's orch. 1966-'72 often appeared with Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orch. 1974-'75 with Benny Goodman's orch. 1987 toured with the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, - but most of the '80s and '90s found him working as a session's man.
1958     Shelly West, C&W vocals, b. Cleveland, OH, USA. Shelley, a popular singer of the 1980s, is the daughter of the legendary Dottie West and her first husband Bill, a noted steel guitar player,
1925     Mac Wiseman, Bluegrass vocals, b. Crimora, VA, USA. His wonderfun tenor voice was heard with such Bluegrass and traditional bands as Molly O'Day, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, and the Osborne Brothers. Mac was also a founding member, and served as the first Secretary of the Country Music Association in 1958.
1918     Billy Wright, vocals, b. Atlanta, GA, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1934.    Fugitives Bonnie (Parker) and Clyde (Barrow), caught in a police ambush near Sailes, Louisiana, were killed in a fusillade of 187 bullets. Photos showed their lifeless bodies still clutching a shotgun and a revolver, and there was also a saxophone in their car. (One wonders - which was the more dangerous weapon. )
1938.    Singer Ray Eberle became bandleader Glenn Miller's vocalist, - for $35 a week.
1940.    Tommy Dorsey Orchestra recorded "I'll Never Smile Again", with Frank Sinatra doing the vocal.
1975.    Jackie "Moms" Mabley, vocals/comedy, died in White Plains, NY, USA. Age: 78
1978.    Marie Bryant, vocals, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 59
1983.    Rex Gosdin, C&W vocals, and member of The Gosdin Brothers (Vern and Rex), died. Age: 45
1985.    Lloyd Glenn, piano, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 75
1994.    Joe Pass, guitar, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 65
1991.    Ernie Lee, died in Florida. Age: 75 Member: 'Ernie Lee's Pleasant Valley Boys'
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1940    "I'll Never Smile Again", - Tommy Dorsey Orch. (Frank Sinatra's first major voc.)
1941    "Yours", - Jimmy Dorsey Orch.
1952    "Somewhere Along The Way", - Nat King Cole
1952    "Walkin' My Baby Back Home", - Johnnie Ray
1953    "Limelight (Terry's Theme)", - Frank Chacksfield Orch.
1953    "Ruby", - Les Baxter Orch.
1964    "People", - Barbra Streisand
1970    "Long And Winding Road, The", - The Beatles
1970    "Ride Captain Ride", - Blues Image
1970    "Wonder Of You, The", - Elvis Presley
1981    "One That You Love, The", - Air Supply
1981    "All Those Years Ago", - George Harrison
1981    "Still Right Here In My Heart", - Pure Prarie League
1987    "Alone", Heart
1992    "Achy Breaky Heart", - Billy Ray Cyprus
1992    "Just Another Day", - Jon Secada