BIRTHDAYS
1919     Joseph Rupert "Joe" Benjamin, Bass, b. Atlantic City, NJ, USA. d. Jan. 26, 1974, Livingston, NJ, USA. Worked with: Artie Shaw; Duke and Mercer Ellington; Fletcher Henderson; Sy Oliver; Louis Armstrong; Billie Holiday; Billy Taylor; Gerry Mulligan; Bob Brookmeyer; Dave Brubeck; and Paul Desmond.
1911     "Memphis Willie B." Borum, guitar/harmonica, b. (Shelby County) TN, USA. Adept at both harmonica and guitar, "Memphis Willie B" early on became a mainstay of the Memphis Blues and Jug Band circuit. His father, medicine show star Jim Jackson, had taught his child to play guitar. By his early teens, Borum was playing for tips on the Memphis streets with Jack Kelly's Jug Busters, before finally becoming a member of the Memphis Jug Band (one of only two such "Jug Bands" then performing professionally). During the 1930s, Noah Lewis, "the best harp blower in Memphis" (and mainstay of Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers - the "other" Jug Band) taught "Willie B." to play the Harmonica. Subsequently, "Willie B." toured (on and off) with such Delta Bluesmen as Garfield Akers, Robert Johnson, Rice Miller, and Willie Brown. In 1934, he finally recorded under his own name for the Vocalion label. With no great success, he drifted back to playing juke joints and gambling houses with Son Joe, Joe Hill Louis and Will Shade. In 1943, during WWII, he became a member of the U.S. Army. After being de-mobilized, he found the world to be quite different, and had to abandon his musical career. Fortunately, 1961 was a Folk and Blues revival time, and Borum was tracked down and recorded a session (at the Sun studios) for Prestige's Bluesville label. "Memphis Willie B," together with his old Memphis buddies Gus Cannon and 'Furry' Lewis, began working the festival and coffeehouse circuit, before suddenly, and completely, dropping out of the music scene. Nobody has ever verified his reported death in the early 1970s.
1927     Bobby Breen, vocals, b. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, d. 1972. né: Isador Borsuk. Bobby is recalled today as a Boy Soprano who played in many films from the mid-to late 1930s.
1944     Willem Breuker, Tenor Sax/reeds/composer/leader, b. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Worked with Misha Mengelberg and Hans Bennink.
1928     Lawrence Benjamin "Larry" Bunker, Drums/vibes, b. Long Beach, CA, USA. d. March 8, 2005
1964     Stephen Cecil, piano, b. Washington, DC, USA.
1946     Les De Merle, Drums, b. Brooklyn, NY, USA
1954     Chris Difford, singer-songwriter/guitar, b. London, England. Member group: 'Squeeze'. In 1973, Chris Difford began writing and performing with singer/composer Glenn Tilbrook, and the following year they formed Squeeze.
1938     Harry Elston, vocals, b. Dallas, TX, USA. Member group: 'Friends Of Distinction' The group began in the 1960's with Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves, and Barbara Love, and became best known for its great vocal Jazz - Soul harmony. They were "discovered" by football player Jim Brown, who brought them to the attention of RCA Records. In 1969, their first album "Grazin'" was released.
1912     Frances Faye, piano/vocals/actress/composer, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA, d. Nov. 8, 1991, Los Angeles, CA, USA. (Multiple Strokes). née: Frances Cohen.
1960     Kim Forester, C&W vocals, b. Lookout Mountain, GA, USA. Member group: 'The Forester Sisters', made up of Kathy Forester June Forester, and Kim Forester.
1944     Eddie Gomez, Bass, b. San Juan, Puerto Rico. (some sources say Oct. 4)
1953     Scott Herzog, guitar, b. Nantucket, MA, USA. Member: 'Cobalt Blues Band'
1977     'Kavana', vocals, b. Manchester, England. né: Anthony Kavanagh. His 1997 single "I Can Make You Feel Good" charted UK No.8.
1943     Bobby King, vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA.
1957     Eric Le Lann, Flugelhorn/trumpet, b. St. Brieuc, France
1911     Dixie Lee, Vocals/Actress, b. Harriman, Tennessee, d. Nov. 1, 1952, Holmby Hills, CA, USA. née: Wilma Wyatt. Dixie married Bing Crosby in 1930, and they remained married till her demise, although it is said that it was a very troubled marriage. (They recorded "A Fine Romance" together). At the time, Dixie and her husband Bing, were suffering from Alcoholism. Although the names were changed, the (1947) movie 'Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman' is based on her life. She suffered from acute alcoholism, contributing to her early death. She bore Bing 4 sons; Gary (1934 to 1995); Twins Phillip and Dennis in 1935 - Dennis died 1991), and Lindsay (1938 to 1989). The boys never spoke well about their father, who was very strict with them. The four sons also suffered from long term effects of drinking; two of them eventually committed suicide. (We leave the sad story of that marriage for a later time.) In some screen roles, Dixie was credited as Dixie Lee Crosby.
1928     Derek Williams "Eggy" Ley, Soprano Sax, b. Streatham-London, England, d. Dec. 20, 1995, Delta, BC, Canada. Emigrated to Canada in 1980s and worked with Cy Laurie
1952     Jeff Lorber, Keyboar/leader, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Studied at Berklee School of Music and recorded his first album in 1976. He formed the Jeff Lorber Fusion band which received a Best R&B instrumental Grammy nomination for the hit "Pacific Coast Highway." Currently (2004) a very popular Smooth Jazz artist and producer.
1906     Willie Love, Blues pianist, b. Duncan, MS, USA. d. Aug 19, 1953, Jackson, MS, USA. In 1942, harpist Rice Miller (better known across the Southern U.S.A. as "Sonny Boy Williamson") first met Willie. The two men formed a team, and it was Williamson who later brought Love to Trumpet Records (Love's entire recorded legacy as a leader was for this label). Deeply influenced by pianist Leroy Carr. Love was equally adept at playing the Blues as well as Boogies. Curiously, Love never used his friend "Sonny Boy" on any of the records he made as a leader. Sadly, Love suffered from alcoholism. Backed by a White bassist and drummer (then quite rare), he recorded his last session in April 1953. Four months later, he was dead.
1932     Tommy Makem, 5 string banjo, tin whistle, border pipe, vocals, b. Keady, County Armagh, Ireland, d. August 1, 2007, Dover, NH, USA. (lung cancer). Age: 74. Perhaps best recalled as a member of "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem"
1921     Phyllis Marshall, singer/actress, b: Barrie, ONT, Canada, d. Feb. 2, 1996, age 75 Worked with Canadian Bandleaders Bert Niosi; Cliff Mckay; and Trump Davidson
1927     Cora Martin-Moore, vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'Sallie Martin Singers'. (Sallie Martin, called "The Mother of Gospel" by the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, was born Nov. 20, 1895 in Pittfield, GA, USA. She died in Chicago on June 18, 1988, and the years in between make for some very interesting reading for interested parties.)
1963     Andrea McArdle, actress/singer. b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. A 12 year old Andrea was cast as Annie in the Broadway show 'Annie', where she introduced the hit songs "Tomorrow" and "Maybe". She became the youngest person ever to receive a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Subsequently, Andrea starred as young Judy Garland in the TV musical bio film 'Rainbow' (1978), and made a special appearance in Liberace's nightclub act. After finishing her education, Andrea returned to Broadway with starring parts in many shows including Andrew Lloyd Webber's roller skating spectacle Starlight Express (1987), and in 1993 appeared as Fantine in 'Les Miserables'. Besides starring in the touring company of 'Annie Get Your Gun', she originated the role of Margy Frake in the Broadway adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'State Fair' (1996, singing "It Might As Well Be Spring.") In 1999, she took over the role of Belle in the New York production of Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast', remaining for several seasons. She also had a cameo appearance as "The Star to Be" in Disney's TV version of "Annie". McArdle's daughter Alexis Kalehoff (b. 1989) has appeared as little 'Cosette' in the Broadway production of 'Les Miserables.'
1940     Delbert McClinton, C&W singer-songwriter/harmonica/guitar, b. Lubbock, TX, USA. Among his tunes are: "I Received a Letter" (co-composed with Glen Clark), and "Sandy Beaches".
1899     Kirk McGee, C&W guitar/banjo, b. Franklin, TN, USA, d. Oct. 21, 1983. Member: "Sam and Kirk McGee and The Dixieliners"
1974     Louise Nurding, actress/model/singer, b. Lewisham, England.
1938     Lillian Offitt, (Blues) vocals, b. Nashville, TN, USA.
1937     James Peterson, guitar, b. Russell City, AL, USA.
1971     Shawn Rivera, R&B Vocals. Member group: 'Az Yet'
1926     Laurence Rosenthal, Composer, b. Detroit, Michigan, USA.
1919     Peter Schilperoort, Sax/Clarinet/leader, b. The Hague, Netherlands, d. Nov. 18, 1990. (Sometimes known as Pat Bronx)
1878     Jean Schwartz, composer, b. Budapest, Hungary, d. Nov. 30, 1956, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1957     James Honeyman-Scott, Guitar/Backup Vocals/Songwriter, b. Hereford, Hereford, England, d. June 16, 1982 (complications due to heroin overdosing). Member group: 'Pretenders' (1982)
1947     Mike Smith, saxophone. Member group: Amen Corner, 1969 single "If Paradise Is Half As Nice" charted UK No.1. The 'Amen Corner' consisted of Dennis Bryon - drums; Andy Fairweather Low - guitar, vocals; Alan Jones - saxophone; Neil Jones - guitar; Mike Smith - saxophone; Clive Taylor - bass; Blue Weaver - guitar.
CAUTION: Another Mike Smith, was born Aug 13, 1938 in Tiline, KY, USA, and played alto saxophone. He was influenced by Cannonball Adderley.
Still another Mike Smith played drums with the group 'Paul Revere and the Raiders', a group consisting of .drummer Mike Smith, founder Paul Revere, lead vocalist Mark Lindsay, keyboardist Jim Wangen, bassist Mike "Doc" Holiday, and guitarist Drake Levin. Mark left the group in 1975. Others who have appeared with the band are Leon Russell, Charlie Coe, Phil Volk, Jim Valley, Freddy Weller, Joe Correro, Jr., and Keith Allison.
Another Mike Smith, keyboards/vocals, (b. 1943) was one of The Dave Clark Five. (Mike was pulled of stage by fans at a Chicago concert, breaking two ribs.) Still another Mike Smith has played Bass with a Bill Brovold group, consisting of Bill Brovold (guitars, steel guitar, bass, percussion, vocals), Toby Summerfield (guitar, bass), Marco Smith (drums), Genevieve Padgett (cello), Kurt Zimmerman (violin), and Shumit Das Gupta (bass). and Nick Collins (piano, b. Washington D.C., USA).
NOTE on Collins: From Michigan's noted Community High School Jazz Program, Collins later toured throughout the U.S. and Canada. Toured twice in Europe, and was heared at the prestigious 'North Sea Jazz Festival'. He recently (ca. 2003) graduated (with academic honors) from the 'New School Jazz & Contemporary Music Program' in New York City.
CAUTION: there is also a Nick Collins who is a freelance computer musician, and lecturer, who is self taught as a composer, and heavily involved in the scientific SuperCollider community.
There is also a Nick Collins, drums, with the group 'Eye Guy' that also includes Ben Levy - Vocals, Charlie Sutherland - Guitar, Keyboard, Ben Jenkins - Bass, and Nick Collins - Drums.
1953     Van Stephenson, C&W Songwriter, b. Hamilton, OH, USA. d. April 9, 2001, Nashville, TN, USA. (skin cancer). Age: 47. né: Van Wesley Stephenson. Member group: BlackHawk, -a group consisting of Stephenson, Dave Robbins, and Henry Paul. 'BlackHawk' made its bow on the country charts in 1993. The group's eponymously titled debut album produced no less than five Top-10 hits: "Goodbye Says It All", "Every Once in a While" , "I Sure Can Smell the Rain", "Down in Flames", and "That's Just About Right". BlackHawk were named Star of Tomorrow at the 1995 fan-voted TNN Music City News Country Awards. Stephenson was still a child when he met his first songwriting mentor composer Kenny O'Dell ("Behind Closed Doors"). Stephenson would go on to become a staff writer at 'House of Gold', where his first cut, Crystal Gayle's "Your Kisses Will" went to #7 in 1979. Among the many hit songs composed by Stephenson are "You've Got a Good Love Coming" (charted No. 79), "Modern Day Delilah" (charted No. 22), "What the Big Girls Do" (charted No. 45). Still other tunes include "Back to the Heartbreak Kid", "Bluest Eyes in Texas", "New York (Hold Her Tight)", and "Big Dreams in a Small Town."
1906     Joe Sullivan, Piano/composer/Leader, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. Oct. 13, 1971, San Francisco, CA, USA. (some sources say b. Nov. 5). né: Dennis Patrick Terence Joseph O'Sullivan. During 1922 and 1923, Sullivan, (one of 9 children in the O'Sullivan family -all taught to play the piano) attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music, and began to associate with other Chicago Jazzmen such as members of the Austin High School Gang, Muggsy Spanier, drummers George Wettling and Gene Krupa, banjoist Eddie Condon and cornetist Bix Beiderbecke. At age 17, he got his 'union card' and played in the orchestras of Louis Panico, Sig Meyers and Enoch Light. He was deeply influenced by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, and other Chicago musicians including pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Joe "King" Oliver, Jimmie Noone, Freddy Keppard, with his particular favorites being Earl Hines and Thomas "Fats" Waller He often 'jammed' with members of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in the basement of the "Three Deuces" club on State Street. In 1927, he first recorded (Okeh) with "McKenzie and Condon's Chicagoans". Among the musicians with whom he associated during these years were pianists Willie "The Lion" Smith, James P. Johnson, and "Fats" Waller. He frequently 'jammed' with trombonists Miff Mole, Jack Teagarden, Tommy Dorsey, and with Jimmy McPartland, Frank Teschemacher, Bud Freeman, Jim Lanigan and Gene Krupa. Among the songs he wrote were "Little Rock Getaway", "Just Strollin'", "Minor Mood" and "Gin Mill Blues", to name a few. In 1933, he became Bing Crosby's accompanist, and worked with Bing in Films, on recordings, and on radio. In 1936, he was hired by Bing's younger brother, bandleader Bob Crosby, but by now, Sullivan was suffering from marital difficulties. In addition, excessive drinking caused him to become increasingly unreliable and unable to hold a steady job, Only a few months after joining Bob Crosby, Sullivan contracted tuberculosis, and spent the next two years out of the music business recovering. In 1938, he rejoined Bing, and in 1939, briefly rejoined Bob Croshy. After this, he relocated to New York where he found work in the 52nd Street clubs. In 1943, he was working in Los Angeles, CA. In May, 1945 he returned to New York city. where he found work in Eddie Condon's club. By 1949, he had formed a formidable temper, and was still plagued with alcoholism. Three of his marriages had failed, and he was suffering with deep depressison over the deaths of many of his long time musical friends. Irritable and withdrawn, thereafter he performed only sporadically until his death.
1922     Ralph Earl Sutton, Piano, b. Hamburg, MO, USA. d. Dec. 30, 2001, Evergreen, CO USA. Discovered by Jack Teagarden at Kirksville State Teachers' College prom. when he joined JT's band for 3 years.
1926     Carlos "Potato" Valdez, Percussion, b. Havana, Cuba, - to NYC in 1953; Played with Machito, Tito Puente, and Herbie Mann's Afro-Cuban Combos.
1929     Dickie Valentine, vocals, b. London, England, UK. d. 1971 (auto accident). né: Richard Bryce. Best recalled for his work with the Ted Heath Orchestra (where he also worked with another popular British singer, Dennis Lotis, b. March 8, 1928, Johannesburg, South Africa). Began his career as a child actor, where he learned to sing and to imitate other famous singers of the day. Perhaps "Christmas Alphabet" and "Finger of Suspicion" are his biggest hit releases. His 1956 ATV "The Dickie Valentine Show" was partnered with actor Peter Sellers.
1896     Harry M. Woods, composer, b. North Chelmsford, MA, USA. d. Jan. 4, 1970, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
1954     'Yanni', keyboard/composer ("New Age" music), b. Kalamata, Greece. né: Yanni Chisomallis, Yanni is not fluent in the standard scale notation, but has that remarkable gift of perfect pitch. He composes his pieces in a shorthand form of his own devising.
1954     Horace Young, tenor sax, b. Houston, TX, USA.

          Notable Events on this date include:
1908.    'Brooklyn Academy of Music', opens in New York City.
1931.    Buddy Bolden, cornet, died in Jackson, LA, USA. Age: 54
1941.    Amede(e) Ardoin, (Zydeco) accordion, died in Alexandria, LA, USA. Age: 45
1963.    Joe Gordon, trumpet, died in Santa Monica, CA, USA. Age: 35
1963.    Charles Bocage, guitar, banjo, vocals, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. (b. ca.1895. the brother of Peter Bocage (1887-1967). Charles sang, and played banjo and guitar. After World War I, he played with Armand J. Piron and recorded with him in 1923. In later years, he played mostly with bands led by his brother Peter, and remained active into the 1950s.
1969.    Deek Watson, vocals, died in Washington, DC, USA. Age: 60. Co-lead with 'Ink Spots' vocal group.
1980.    Ronnie Goodson, vocals, died in Jersey City, NY, USA. Age: 33. Member: 'Ronnie & Hi-Lites'
1992.    Chester Foy Lee, producer, died in Booneville, MS, USA. Age: 63. (Produced for Huey P. Meaux "The Crazy Cajun", b. March 10, 1929, (outside of) Kaplan, LA, USA, (near Lafayette, LA, USA)
2004.    Dale Noe, C&W songwriter/guitarist, died Phoenix, AZ, USA. Age: 76
2005.    Milt Holland, drums, percussion, died in Los Angeles, California, USA. (Alzheimer's disease, plus kidney failure. né: Milton Olshansky b. 1917, Chicago, IL, USA.