BIRTHDAYS
1915     Van Alexander, b. New York, NY, USA. d. né: Al Feldman. Films include: 'Baby Face Nelson', 'The Private Lives of Adam and Eve', and 'Tarzan and the Valley of Gold'.
1924     Marshall Allen, Alto Sax/flute
1875     Dr. Humphrey Bate, C&W harmonica, b. Castalian Springs, TN, USA. Member group: 'Dr. Humphrey Bate and the Possum Hunters', This old-time string band was led by a great harmonica player, -a graduate of Nashville's Vanderbilt University, and who was also a practicing physician. His daughter, Alcyone Bate Beasley, played the Ukulele in the band. The other members were Oscar Stone and Bill Barret on the fiddles; Staley Walton and James Hart on guitars; Walter Leggett on banjo; and Oscar Albright on bowed bass. Playing a very early style of 'old-time' music, the band stayed together and was active well into the 1940s.
1926     Milt Bernhart, Trombone, b. Valpariso, IN, USA. d. Jan. 22, 2004, Glendale, CA, USA. (Complications due to Congestive Heart Failure) During his career, Milt played with the Benny Goodman, Henry Mancini, and Stan Kenton orchestras, -and many others. Once, in the late 1940s, Milt was playing in Benny Goodman's band for a gig in Las Vegas, NV. One night, Benny literally threw tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray off the stage right in the middle of Wardell's solo. (Milt later told interviewers "You music teacher never warned you that things like that might happen.") During the 1950s, Milt became a 'studio' musician for the Columbia label, and for other TV and film studios. During the late 1950s, his work was heard on TV soundtracks in which the trombone was to indicate a sleaze factor in crime shows. Bernhart was a special favorite of Jazz connoisseurs for his brillant solo on Stan Kenton's "Peanut Vendor". In 1956, he also added a wonderful trombone solo to singer Frank Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin". In 1973, with his music career winding down, he purchased the 'Kelly Travel Service', In Los Angeles, CA. In 1986, he formed the Big Band Academy of America, and was planning to retire this March 2004.
1849     "Blind Tom" (né: Thomas Green Bethune), piano, b. Columbus, GA, USA.
1900     Angel D'Agostino, Tango Composer, b: Argentina, d: Jan. 16, 1991, Argentina
1947     Jessi Colter, C&W vocals, b. Phoenix, AZ, USA. né:e: Mirian Johnson. Married to Duane Eddy, and to Waylon Jennings.
1899     Charlie Cordilla, clarinet, b. Baton Rouge, LA, USA. d. March 21, 1990, New Orleans, LA, USA. Ca. 1905, his family moved to New Orleans. Although by age 15, he was already playing the cornet, he soon switched to clarinet and tenor saxophone. While still in his teens, he was working professionally, playing at the lakeside venues at Milneburg, West End, and Bucktown, as well as Toro's Cabaret in New Orleans. In late 1919, trumpteter Abbie Brunies put together a band to play at the Halfway House, (halfway between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain) and for the next 5 years, Cordilla played clarinet and doubled on sax, with the band. He next played in the Bienville Roof Orchestra (with Sharkey Bonano and Monk Hazel), and then with Irving Fazola and Abbie Brunies at the Silver Slipper club. In 1926, Cordilla married, and while the couple had no children, it was a very happy marriage. In 1930, at the start of the great world-wide economic depression, Cordilla, Sid Arodin and Chink Martin found work at a Catskill Mountains resort (a vacation suburb of New York city) . During WWII, Cordilla worked in the very busy New Orleans shipyards. Sadly, by the end of WWII, the public's musical tastes had drastically changed, and Cordilla retired from his active music career, to become a full time truck driver. . Upon his demise, he was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans.
1912     James Crutchfield, piano, b. Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
1921     Hal David, Pianist/lyricist/composer, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. Best recalled as part of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David composing team.
1942     Brian Davison, drums. Member group: 'The Nice', a group formed in May of 1967 comprised of Davison, Keith Emerson (founder), a keyboard, bassist Lee Jackson, and guitarist David O'List. O'List left the group during the recording of "Ars Longa-Vita Brevis", and 'The Nice' continued as a trio. In 1969 (just 3 years later), having achieved little success, the band broke up. In 2002, 'The Nice' reformed for a series of live concerts.
1936     Bill Dicey, harmonica b. Annapolis, MA, USA.
1936     Donnie Elbert, vocals, b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
1936     Gary Foster, Soprano-Tenor-Alto Sax, b. Leavenworth, KS, USA.
1951     Dennis 'Fergie' Frederiksen, vocals, b. Grand Rapids, MI, USA. Member group: 'Toto', a Los Angeles group formed in 1978 by David Paich (b. June 21, 1954, Los Angeles; keyboards, vocals), Steve Lukather (b. October 21, 1957, Los Angeles; guitar, vocals), Bobby Kimball (b. Robert Toteaux, March 29, 1947, Vinton, LA; vocals), Steve Porcaro (b. September 2, 1957, Connecticut; keyboards), David Hungate (b. Texas; bass), and Jeff Porcaro (b. April 1, 1954, Hartford, CT; d. August 5, 1992, Hidden Hills, CA; drums). Paich was the son of arranger Marty Paich; the Porcaros were the sons of percussionist Joe Porcaro. In 1984, after his introduction to Jeff Porcaro, Fergie joined 'Toto', taking over as the new lead singer after Bobby Kimball and was the lead singer on Toto´s fifth album "Isolation" (1984), but left the band in 1986. In 1995, Fergie Frederiksen, together with Ricky Phillips, released an album, and in 1999, Fergie had his first 'real' solo album "Equilibrium. Besides his touring with many bands, Fergie has sung on several movie soundtracks.
1955     John Grimaldi, guitar, b. St Albans, England, UK. Member group: 'Argent', originally comprised of Rod Argent (keyboards, vocals, songwriter, b. June 14, 1945), Russ Ballard (guitar, b. Oct. 31, 1947, in Waltham Cross, England), Robert Henrit (drums, b. May 2, 1945, in Broxbourne, England), and Jim Rodford (bass, b. July 7, 1945, St. Albans, England), Later, Ballard was replaced by guitarists John Verity and John Grimaldi. In 1976, Grimaldi left the band and Argent decided to call it quits. (Argent was originally with 'The Zombies', a group comprised of Rod Argent, vocalist Colin Blunstone, guitarist Paul Atkinson, bassist Chris White and drummer Hugh Grundy. The Zombies had disbanded in 1967.)
CAUTION: DO NOT CONFUSE WITH: "Studebaker" John Grimaldi, guitar/harmonica/drums/songwriter, b. Nov. 5, 1952, Chicago, IL, USA. John Grimaldi's his first car was a 'Studebaker Hawk', which accounts for his nickname. His first group was called "Studebaker John and the Hawks".
1907     George "Creole" Guesnon, banjo/guitar/vocals, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. May 5, 1968
1936     Tom T. Hall, Singer/Songwriter, b. Olive Hill, KY, USA. His biggest hit composition: "Harper Valley PTA"
1917     Jimmy Hamilton, Sax/Clarinet, b. Dillon, SC, USA. d. Sept. 20, 1994, Played with Teddy Wilson, Benny Carter, then joined Duke Ellington. Winner Downbeat Bronze (New Star) award -Clarinet, 1946
1975     Lauryn Hill, vocals, b. South Orange, NJ, USA. (Some claim Born: May 26, 1975). Member group: 'The Fugees'
1846     Patty Smith Hill, composer. d. 1924 (age 78). Best recalled tune: "Happy Birthday To You"
1922     Kitty Kallen, Vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. née: Genevieve Agostinello. Tag: "Pretty Kitty Kallen". In 1938, she first worked with the Artie Shaw Orchestra. In 1940, she joined Jack Teagarden's band, and soon married Teagarden's clarinetist Clint Garvin. After leaving Teagarden, she briefly sang with Bobby Sherwood's band. In 1942, she joined Jimmy Dorsey, replacing the recently-departed Helen O'Connell in duets with Bob Eberly. In 1943, during WWII, Eberly became a member of the U. S. Army, and Kallen also left Dorsey, becoming a member of the Harry James Orch. Among her other work, Kitty also appeared in a "Short" subject film, singing with bandleader/pianist Jan August.
1953     Christof Lauer, Tenor Sax, b. Melsungen, Germany
1944     Pepi Lemer, Vocal, b. Ilfracombe, England
2003     Marie Marcus, piano, b. Roxbury, Massachusetts USA, d. Oct. 10, 2003, Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA. Age: 89. née: Marie Eleanor Doherty Marcus. At just age 4, she started piano studies. While still attending high school, she both attended the New England Conservatory and also played for children's radio shows. After graduation relocated to New York city, where she played for NBC Radio network programs. During this period, she met Fats Waller, and became his protegé.. Under his tutelage she expanded her technique and began working on New York's famed 52nd Street ("Jazz Street"). In New York, she met her first husband, singer Jack Brown. In the late 1940s she returned to Massachusetts, where she found a 40 year residency at Falmouth's "Coonamessett Club". She married her second husband, trumpeter/lawyer Bill Marcus, who died in 1965 (heart attack. He was a society-band trumpet player, who had worked for Meyer Davis and the Lanins and Ruby Newman). Marcus regularly gigged in Miami Beach, Florida, and in addition, she and Alma Gates White often performed as "the piano mamas" at the Hyannis (Cape Cod) Panama Club. During the 1950s, she appeared on many TV shows, including those hosted by Steve Allen and Dave Garroway.
1947     Mitch Margo, vocals. Member groups: 'Cross Country', and, 'The Tokens'
1950     Jean Millington, Bass/Vocals (Background). Member group: 'Fanny', a quartet of women including guitarist June Millington, bass guitarist Jean Millington, keyboardist Nickey Barclay (b. Washington, DC, USA), and drummer Alice de Buhr. The Millingtons were sisters, born in Manila, Republic of the Philippines, where their father, an American serviceman was stationed at the time.
1912     Eddie Maxwell, Vocals. Perhaps his best recording was "Yes We Have No Bananas"
1952     Klaus Meine, vocals, b, Hanover, Germany. Member group: 'The Scorpions'
1932     Piet Noordijk, Alto Sax, b. Rotterdam, Netherlands
1927     Paul Oliver, Writer, b. Nottingham, England
1897     Buddy Petit, Trumpet,b. Whitecastle, LA, USA. d. 1931
1939     Phil Ranelin, trombone
1878     Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, dancer/(some) vocals, b. Richmond VA USA, d. 1949
1960     Wallace Roney, Trumpet, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA.
1929     Beverly Sills, Operatic Vocals, née: Belle Miriam Silverman. Her nickname is "Bubbles".
1916     Virginia "Ginny" Simms, vocals. b. San Antonio, Texas, d. April 4, 1994, Palm Springs, CA, USA. Spouses: 'Don Eastwold' (1962 - 1994 her death); Bob Calhoun (1951 - 1952 divorced); Hyatt von Dehn (1945 - 1951 divorced - 2 children). Ginny was a frequent escort of MGM chief Louis B. Mayer after his divorce.
1959     Rick Smith, guitar, b. London, England, UK. Member: 'Underworld', Formed 1988 in London, England, with Smith, vocalist Karl Hyde, and drummer unknown.
1893     Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman, (Trad.Country) autoharp/harmonica/guitar/Jew's harp/clawhammer banjo, b. Monarat, VA, USA. Member group: "Stoneman Family". Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman was born in 1893 in Carroll County, Virginia near the mining community of Iron Ridge. In 1919 he married Hattie Frost, also from a musical family. During the daytime, he worked as a carpenter, and at night played music for local dances and in the homes of friends. Over the years, "Pop" and Hattie Stoneman had 23 children, and raised them during the great economic depression years.
1910     Pha Terrell, Vocal, b. Kansas City, MO, USA. d. 1945 Best recalled for his work with the Andy Kirk Orch.
1912     Willie B. Thomas, guitar, b. Lobdell, MS, USA.
1923     Lloyd Trotman, Bass, b. Boston, MA, USA.
1943     Leslie Uggams, vocals/actress, b. New York, NY, USA.
1958     Paul Weller, vocals/guitar, b. Woking, Surrey, England, UK. with 'The Jam'
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1955.    Wardell Gray, tenor sax , died in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Age: 34
1965.    Sonny Boy Williamson, (#2) harmonica, died in Helena, AR, USA. Age: 65
1981.    Roy Brown, songwriter, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 55
1983.    Paul Quinichette, tenor sax, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 67
1988.    Monte Kay, label owner (Birdland/Royal Roost), died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 63
1994.    Eric Gale, guitar, died in Baja California,Mexico, Age: 55
1995.    Dick Curless, C&:W vocals, aka: 'The Baron of Country Music', died. Age: 63
1996.    Barney Wilen, tenor sax, died in Paris, France. Age: 59
1997.    A report was released showing Elvis Presley, who died owing $3 million, was the world's best selling posthumous entertainer, with worldwide sales of over $1 Billion.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
      1944 "I'll Be Seeing You", - Tommy Dorsey
      1944 "Amor", - Andy Russell
      1951 "My Truly, Truly Fair", - Guy Mitchell
      1951 "I Get Ideas", - Tony Martin
      1959 "Tallahassee Lassie", - Freddy Cannon
      1963 "Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer", - Nat King Cole
      1963 "18 Yellow Roses", - Bobby Darin
      1963 "Hello Stranger", - Barbara Lewis
      1963 "Sukiyaki", - Kyu Sakamoto
      1968 "This Guy's In Love With You", - Herb Alpert
      1968 "Think", - Aretha Franklin
      1968 "MacArthur Park", - Richard Harris
      1974 "You Won't See Me", - Anne Murray
      1985 "View To A Kill, A", - Duran Duran
      1991 "Right Here, Right Now", - Jesus Jones