BIRTHDAYS
1959     Bryan Adams, R&R guitar, b. Kingston, ONT, Canada. Perhaps the most successful recording star in Canadian history. (Currently resided in Britain.)
1974     Ryan Adams, C&W guitar/vocals, b. Jacksonville, NC, USA. In 1994, he formed the band 'Whiskeytown'; in 1999 they disbanded.
1896     Anselmo Aieta, Argentine bandleader, Buenos Aires, Argentina. d. September 25, 1964, Buenos Aires, Argentina. né: Anselmo Alfredo Aieta.
1946     Herman Brood, piano/vocals/painter, b. Zwolle, The Netherlands. d. July 11, 2001, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In 1977, Brood (pronounced 'Broat') started his own group, "Herman Brood and His Wild Romance". He had previously played piano in 'Cuby and the Blizzards', and several other bands. Regretfully, Brood, the Dutch personification of sex and drugs and rock 'n roll, became better known for his outspoken statements about sex and drug use than for his musicianship. In the earl 1980s, he was romantically involved with Nina Hagen, a similarly outrageous German artist, and they appeared together in the movie "Cha Cha" In the 1900s, he became an equally successful painter. On July 11. 2001, his body destroyed by drugs, and with only months to live, Brood ended it all by stepping out of an Amsterdam Hilton hotel window.
1952    Eddie Cole, piano/arranger, b. Chicago, IL, USA. This son of Ike Cole has also worked with another "Cole" - Natalie, -famed singer Nat "King" Cole's daughter.
1939     Fionna Duncan, Vocalist, b: Garelochhead-Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK.
1917     George Fierstone, Drums/Vocals, b. London, England, UK, d. March 13, 1984. (various sources claim b. Nov. 14. - some say 1916)
1919     Myron Floren, accordion, b. on a farm in between the two towns of Roslyn, SD and Webster, SD, USA.d. July 23, 2005. Rolling Hills Estates (Los Angeles County), CA, USA. (cancer). Age: 85. Born of Norwegian parents, he joined the Lawrence Welk Orchestra in 1950, and soon became the band's star performer. The accordion was also Welk's primary instrument.) While still a child, Floren took up the instrument after hearing an accordionist at a State Fair. In 1945, he married his former student Berdyne Koerner, and first played with Welk when the couple saw the band leader play at a ballroom in St. Louis. Myron was an inspiration to many musicians, including parody singer "Weird Al" Yankovic who has called Floren an inspiration in his youth. ("Weird Al" also plays the accordion).
1897     Jan Garber, Leader, violin, b. Morristown, PA, USA. d: Oct. 5, 1977, Shreveport, LA, USA.
1941     Art Garfunkel, singer-songwriter/guitar. né: Arthur Ira Garfunkel, Well recalled also as member of duo: 'Simon and Garfunkel'. Among his hits are "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", "Me and Julio", "Mrs. Robinson", "Scarborough Fair", "The Sounds of Silence", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "Homeward Bound", "I Am a Rock", "Cecilia", "Kodachrome", and "Slip Slidin' Away". In 1970, the Simon and Garfunkel team dissolved, and Garfunkel launched a solo career, that included over a dozen albums. His "Everything Waits to Be Noticed" album, was the first of his releases that includes many of his own lyrics. Garfunkel has also had a Hollywood career, appearing in such films as 'Catch-22' and 'Carnal Knowledge'. (His partner, Paul Simon, was born.October 13, 1941, Newark, New Jersey, USA)
1971     Jonny Greenwood, Ondes Martenot/keyboards/guitar/xylo/harmonica, b. Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. né: Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood. He is also the brother of fellow band member Colin Greenwood.(bass guitar, b. June 26, 1969). Member group: 'Radiohead'. In addition to Jonny and Colin Greenwood, other Radiohead members were Phil Selway (drums, b. May 23, 1967), Thom Yorke (vocals/rhythm guitar/keyboards, b. Oct. 7, 1968, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England), Ed O'Brien (guitar/vocals, b. April 15, 1968). NOTE: For information on the Ondes Martenot, see: http://ondesmartenot.free.fr/site%20anglais/ondes%20martenot%20uk.html
1965     Paris Grey, Vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Kevin Saunderson (b. Sept. 5, 1967, New York, NY, USA, teamed up with Paris Grey to form 'Inner City'. Their "Big Fun" took 'techno/house' to a new commercial audience.
1952     "Studebaker" John Grimaldi, guitar/harmonica/drums/songwriter, b. Nov. 5, 1952, Chicago, IL, USA. His first group was "Studebaker John and the Hawks". The band name referenced the 'Studebaker Hawk', a car Grimaldi still owns today, and was also intended as a tribute to his friend, 'J.B. Hutto and the Hawks'.
CAUTION: DO NOT CONFUSE WITH: This John Grimaldi above, with the English John Grimaldi, guitarist, b. May 25, 1955, St Albans, England, who played with the group "Argent" among others.
1948     Peter Hammill, rock singer/songwriter, b. Ealing, UK. né: Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill. Member group: 'Van Der Graaf Generator'
1959     Joni Harms, C&W vocals, b. Canby, OR, USA.
1914     Roy Horton, C&W vocals/guitar/bass, b. (near) Broad Top, PA, USA. d. Sept. 23, 2003. Roy was largely responsible for the creation of the Country Music Association and the Country Music Foundation. While an excellent artist in his own right, his career was greatly overshadowed by the success of his brother Vaughn Horton. (George Vaughn Horton, b. June 6, 1911, Broad Top, PA, USA) Vaughn later became an R&B-specialty producer for a number of New York companies (Continental, National, Majestic, MGM, London, and Varsity among others).
1968    Mark Hunter, keyboards, b. Cleveland, OH, USA. Member group: James, original members included Jim Glennie - bass guitar b. Oct. 10, 1963, David Baynton Power - drums b. Jan. 29, 1961, Saul Davies - guitar, violin b. June 28, 1965, Mark Hunter - keyboards b. Nov. 5, 1968, and Adrian Oxxal - lead guitar b. March 20, 1965.
1978     Heather Kinley, C&W guitar/singer-songwriter, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member group: The Kinleys
1978     Jennifer Kinley, C&W piano/singer-songwriter, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member group: The Kinleys, Twin sisters with delightful harmonies and a great sense of 'Country' Swing.]
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.'
1931     Harold McNair, Alto-Tenor-soprano sax, vocal. flute, b. Kingston, Jamaica, d. March 7, 1971, Maida Vale-London, UK
1914     Jack McVea, Tenor-alto-baritone sax, clarinet, vocal, Leader, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. d. Dec. 27, 2000, age 86. His father played banjo.
1965     Angelo Moore, Rock vocals/sax, b.Los Angeles, CA, USA. aka: Dr. Madd Vibe. Member group: Fishbone (a Funk/Punk/Ska band). In 1979, Moore formed 'Fishbone' with Chris Dowd (trombone, keyboards), Walter Kibby (trumpet, horn, vocals), Kendall Jones (guitar), John Norwood Fisher (bass), and Philip "Fish" Fisher (drums). In 1995, Moore, using the name 'Dr. Madd Vibe' began to write and to perform poetry, and released an album, a book, and a video collectively named "The Missing Link Presents...Dr. Madd Vibe's Comprehensive Linkology".
1901     Etta Moten, vocals, b. Weimer, Texas, USA, d. Jan. 2, 2004, Chicago, IL, USA. (pancreatic cancer) Age: 102 Etta will always be remembered for her wonderful rendition of the song "The Carioca" which she sang in an early Hollywood 'talkie', that starred Lupe Velez and Gene Raymond, and co-starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (who appeared together on screen for the first time). She went on to do some vocal dubbing in other films, -not always credited. At the personal request of composer George Gershwin, Moten also played the role of 'Bess' in the 1942 revival of "Porgy and Bess" However, she told George Gershwin that she wouldn't sing the word "nigger," and Ira Gershwin subsequently wrote the word out of the libretto. The daughter of a Methodist minister (in Texas), Moten's immediate plans for college were derailed when she married one of her high school teachers. However, when the marriage fell apart, Etta left her three young daughters with her parents, and enrolled in the University of Kansas. After graduating (at age 30) with a degree in voice and drama, she moved to New York City, and first found work singing with the 'Eva Jessye Choir' after which she starred in the Broadway show ``Zombie'', and then into films after the show had toured in Los Angeles. In Hollywood, Etta dubbed songs for actresses and sang a ballad ('My Forgotten Man' -she was not credited) in the Busby Berkeley film ``Gold Diggers of 1933.'' On January 31, 1933, Etta Moten became the first African-American stage and screen star to sing and perform at the White House (at the personal invitation of President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt). In 1934, Etta married Claude Barnett, the head of the Associated Negro Press, a wire service for black newspapers. (Claude Barnett died in 1967.) In 1957, Etta and Claude served as U.S. representatives to the independence celebrations of Ghana and several other African countries. In 1942, she appeared as Bess in the Broadway production of ``Porgy and Bess'', touring with the show until 1945. After many appearances in symphony concerts and music festivals, a strained voice forced her to give up performing in 1952. She later became active in many civic organizations, including the National Council of Negro Women, the Chicago Lyric Opera and Chicago's Field Museum, as well as hosting a radio show for many years in Chicago. (Station: WMAQ, -NBC) As a singer and actress, Etta played romantic, sexy figures in movies at a time when most other black actresses were relegated to roles as nannies or maids. The Pittsburgh Courier, a black newspaper, dubbed Barnett ``the first Negro woman to play a dignified role in pictures.'' Upon her demise at age 102, she was survived by Sue Ish, a daughter from her first marriage, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
1957     David Moyse, guitar, b. Adelaide, Australia. Member group: 'Air Supply', this soft rock group was for most intents and purposes, the vocal duo of Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell. Over the years, others passed through the group, but basically only functioned as backing musicians.
1947     Peter Noone, guitar/piano/vocals, b. Manchester, England. né: Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone Member: Herman's Hermits. Among his hit sogns are "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter", "I'm Henry VIII, I Am"
1956    Helen O'Hara, fiddle, b. UK. Member group: 'Dexy's Midnight Runners', a group formed by vocalist Kevin Rowland (b. August 17, 1953, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England), rhythm guitarist Al Archer, Pete Williams (bass), Bobby Junior (drums), Pete Saunders (piano/organ), Jeff "JB" Blythe (tenor saxophone), Steve "Baby Face" Spooner (alto saxophone), and Big Jim Paterson (trombone). (Their name was taken from the amphetamine 'Dexedrine', however, the band had an almost puritanical reputation for their aversion to drink and drugs.) Early 1982 saw the band augmented by a fiddle section, the 'Emerald Express', featuring Helen O'Hara, Steve Brennan and Roger McDuff. Rowland finally dissolved 'Dexys Midnight Runners' in 1987.
1946     Gram Parsons, vocals/guitar, b. Winter Haven, FL, USA. d Sept. 19, 1973, Joshua Tree, CA, USA. (heroin overdose). né: Ingram Cecil Connor III. Called "The Father of Country Rock". Member groups: 'The Byrds', 'Flying Burrito Brothers', 'International Submarine Band', and others. He pioneered the concept of a rock band playing Country music, and blended the two genres to the point that they became virtually indistinguishable. As a solo artist he moved even further into Country music. After the release of his next to last album, "G.P.", Parsons toured with his backing band, the "Fallen Angels". With the tour completed, Parsons recorded another album, "Grievous Angel". Just a few weeks later, Parsons went on vacation near the Joshua Tree National Monument in California, and spent most of his time consuming drugs and alcohol. On September 19, 1973, he overdosed on morphine and tequila, and was pronounced 'dead on arrival' after being rushed to the Yucca Valley Hospital. The funeral plans called for his body to be flown back to New Orleans for a burial. However, following the funeral, his road manager, Phil Kaufman and another friend stole the body out of the funeral chapel, and loaded it into their car. Both men were slightly drunk at the time, and almost had an auto accident on their way back to the Joshua Tree desert, where they cremated the body. Kaufman was subsequently arrested but could not be convicted for stealing the body, since California did not have any such applicable laws on the books at that time. However, he was conficted for stealing and burning the coffin. A minor offense.
1911     Roy Rogers, cowboy Actor/vocalist, b. Cincinnati, OH, USA, d. July 6, 1998, Apple Valley, CA, USA. (Cardiac Arrest). né: Leonard Franklin Slye. Roy Rogers ("The King of the Cowboys") and his wife, Dale Evans, acted and sang in a large number of 'Western' films, often with the 'Sons Of The Pioneers' band.
1941     Barry Sadler, singer/songwriter, best recalled for his "Ballad of the Green Berets"
1957     Mike Score, lead vocals/keyboards, b. Liverpool, England. Member group: 'A Flock Of Seagulls'. In 1980, hairdresser Mike Score formed A Flock of Seagulls with his brother Ali (drums), and fellow hairdresser Frank Maudsley (bass), and several months later added guitarist Paul Reynolds. The group became one of those 'one-hit wonders' of the 'new wave' era.
1975     Lisa Scott-Lee, vocals, b. St. Asaph, Wales, U.K. Member group: Steps, 1998 single "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" charted UK No.1.
1929     Terrence "Terry" Shannon, Piano, b. London, England, was playing at age 11. Founding member Jazz Couriers. Worked with Vic Ash; Vicot Feldman; Tubby Hayes; Dizzy Reece; and Ronnie Scott.
1936     Billy Sherrill, C&W piano/songwriter/saxophone/producer/A&R man, b. Phil Campbell, AL, USA. During the 1960s and '70s, Sherrill was one of the most influential non-performing figures in Country music. Sherrill was responsible for shaping the lush 'Countrypolitan' sound by recording with string sections and vocal choruses. He often overdubbed parts giving the music a grandiose, epic quality.
1906     Joe Sullivan, Piano/composer/Leader, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. Oct. 13, 1971, San Francisco, CA, USA. (some sources say b. Nov. 4. Please see our Nov. 4 calendar for details). né: Dennis Patrick Terence Joseph O'Sullivan.
1931     Ike Turner, vocals/guitar/piano. b. Clarksdale, MS, USA.. né: Izear Turner. Best recalled as the "Ike" part of the 'Ike and Tina Turner' vocal duo.
1917     George Dale "The Fox" Williams, arranger, piano, leader, composer, b. New Orleans, LA, USA, d: . Williams worked as the staff arranger for such orchestras as Sonny Dunham, Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, and also contributed arrangements to the Benny Goodman, Buddy Morrow, Ralph Flanagan, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Hal McIntyre, Vaughan Monroe, Jimmy Lunceford, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown, Les and Larry Elgart, Charlie Spivak, Art Mooney, Eddy Duchin, Count Basie, Vincent Lopez, and perhaps for as many as 45 other great name bands. He did virtually all of Ray Anthony's band arrangments. This arranger created the lush string sound of all those romantic Jackie Gleason albums and helped Bobby Hacket record a distinctive "Serenade In Blue". Williams toured the world as musical director for Bobby Hackett and Tony Bennett. He wrote hits for Barbra Streisand, including "Happy Days", her first gold record. Among other vocalists for whom he scored are Johnny Desmond, Ray Kellogg, Tommy Mercer, Jane Morgan, Anita O'Day, Frank Rosolino, Lena Horne, Dinah Washington - and many others. Among the many tunes he composed are "Whamboogie", "It Must Be Jelly" (for Miller, RCA Vic.), "Hamp's Boogie" (Lionel Hampton), "Gene's Boogie" (Gene Krupa Orch.), "Lackawanna Local", "The Fox" and "The Bunny Hop" (both for Ray Anthony Orch.), - and dozens more. Although he is not well remembered, the legacy of George "The Fox" Williams, a prolific and revered big band arranger, is preserved today on the more than 9000 recordings by famous bands.
1926     John Henry "Johnny" Windhurst, Trumpet, b. New York, NY, USA. self taught and never did learn to read music. Played with Bechet, Hall, Louis Armstrong, Condon, Wettling, and others
1921     Lawrence B. "Red" Wooten, Bass, b. Social Circle, GA, USA.
          Notable Events on this date include:
1942.    George M. Cohan composer/actor dead at age 64.
1950.    Tommy Gaither, guitar, b. Baltimore, MD, USA. Member: 'The Orioles'
1954.    "Hot Lips" Page, trumpet, b. New York, NY, USA. Age: 46
1956.    Art Tatum, piano, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 47
1956.    Robert Nighthawk, guitar, b. Helena, AR, USA. Age: 57
1960.    Johnny Horton Country singer, dead - car accident- at age 33 (b. April 30, 1925)
1964.    Buddy Cole, piano,organ, died in Los Angeles (Hollywood), California, USA
1970.    Albert Ayler, tenor and alto sax, died in New York, NY, USA. (suicide)
1986.    Louis Lorillard, founder: Newport Jazz Festival, b. Providence, RI, USA. Age: 67
1986.    Bobby Nunn, vocals, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 61 Member: The Robins/Coasters.
1988.    David "King" Odom, lead vocals. Member: 'King Odom Quartet'
1989.    Lu Watters, trumpet, leader, died in Santa Rosa, California, USA.
1990.    Bobby Scott, piano, composer, vocals, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 53. (lung cancer) (b. 1937, Mt. Pleasant, New York, NY, USA) This child prodigy studied composition, conducted an orchestra and by age of 20 had already performed with Louis Prima, Gene Krupa. and then appeared with his own group at Birdland (NY) and the New York Jazz Club. In 1956, he had his biggest hit as a singer with "Chain Gang". He composed "A Taste of Honey" for Shelagh Delaney's play of the same name by. He arranged and conducted music for singer Bobby Darin and was also A&R director for Darin's music-publishing company. Scott also produced records for the Columbia and Mercury labels. Among the artists whose records Mr. Scott produced were Michel Legrand, Harry Belafonte, Dick Haymes, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Quincy Jones. He wrote film scores, music for TV commercials, symphonies, chamber music, operas, and hundreds of other compositions. His book, "Musicians on Music," was published by the Oxford University Press.
1995.    Max Abrams, drums, vibes, died in Scotland, UK
1996.    Eddie Harris, tenor sax, leader, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. (b. Oct 20, 1934, Chicago, IL, USA)
2000.    Jimmie Davis, C&W singer-songwriter, and two-term Governor of Louisiana, died in Baton Rouge, LA, USA. Age: 101.
2003.    Bobby Hatfield, vocalist with "The Righteous Brothers", died in a Michigan Motel Room. Age: 63.
          Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
     1929 "Plain Dirt", rec'd: McKinney's Cotton Pickers (Victor label. Among the Cotton Pickers that day were Fats Waller, Benny Carter and Coleman Hawkins.
     1942 "There Are Such Things", Tommy Dorsey orch.
     1942 "Praise The Lord & Pass The Ammunition!", Merry Macs
     1948 "My Darling, My Darling", Jo Stafford
     1955 "Love And Marriage", Frank Sinatra
     1966 "Lady Godiva", Peter & Gordon
     1966 "Winchester Cathedral", New Vaudeville Band
     1966 "You Keep Me Hangin' On", Supremes
     1977 "Slip Slidin' Away", Paul Simon
     1988 "Welcome To The Jungle", Guns N' Roses