BIRTHDAYS
1934     Jan Allan, Trumpet, b. Falun, Sweden
1963     Rick Allen, drums. Member: Def Leppard
1932     Alvin Batiste, clarinet, jazz educator, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. May 6, 2007, While still a student at Booker T. Washington High School, Batiste was a guest soloist with the New Orleans Philharmonic playing Mozart's Concerto in Bb, the first time that a Black student ever had such an honor. Years later, the Philharmonic debuted his "North American Idio-syncrasies for Jazz Players", and later was also commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts to compose a concerto for African instruments and orchestra. Batiste received his undergraduate degree from Southern University and his master's degree from Louisiana State University (both in Baton Rouge, Louisiana). In 1969, Batiste returned to Southern Univ., where he created the Jazz Institute. He also has served as artist-in-residence for the New Orleans Public School system, and developed a multi-ethnic music curriculum. The Jazz Institute at Southern University has welcomed such artists as "Cannonball" Adderley, James Black, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter, George Duke, Quincy Jones, Edward "Kidd" Jordan, Ellis Marsalis, Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry and a host of other jazz luminaries. The program continues today and has musically supported such artists as Branford Marsalis, and others. Batiste continued to perform with his group, "The Jazztronauts", up to his demise. . In 1958, Batiste toured with Ray Charles but was considered an obscure legend until he made three albums with Clarinet Summit in the 1980s - a quartet also including John Carter, David Murray, and Jimmy Hamilton.
1951     Ronald Bell, saxophonist, Member: Kool & The Gang
1900     Cyril Blake, Trumpet, b. Trinidad, WI, USA. d. Dec. 3, 1951
1937     Camille "Lil Bob" Bob, (Zydeco) violin, b. Arnaudville, LA, USA.
1948     Ray Brown, Flugelhorn, b. Oceanside, NY, USA ( Caution -don't confuse with the bassist Ray Brown born Oct 13, 1926 )
1916     Joseph "Joe" Bushkin, Piano/Leader. b. New York, NY. USA, d. Nov. 3, 2004, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. (pneumonia). Age: 87. First professional job (1935) was playing piano at the 'Famous Door' club on New York's famed 52nd Street. Played with Louis Prima, Bunny Berigan, Joe Marsala, and Muggsy Spanier. During 1936-'39, he often recorded with vocalist Lee Wiley, Eddie Condon, and Sharkey Bonnano. 1940 saw his first solo session recording for Commodore Records. 1940 joined Tommy Dorsey's Orch. While with Tommy, he and John DeVries composed the song "Oh Look At Me Now", which became a huge hit. From Dorsey he entered the U. S. Army (WWII Jan. 1942), where he played Trumpet in Air Force band, then assisted David Rose with the famous Air Force show 'Winged Victory', -and eventually replaced David Rose as the Musical Director. He saw service in the South Pacific and Japan. After WWII, he joined Benny Goodman's band (Spring 1946). Freelanced during '47, and also toured South America with his own group. On his return, he gave solo concerts and wrote arrangements, -and originals, for various dance bands. In 1949, had acting role in Broadway show "The Rat Race". In 1951 led his own group at club called 'The Embers' in New York City. In 1953, briefly joined Louis Armstrong, then led his own group called Joe Bushkin and His Swinging Strings. In early '50s, he was a popular performer at 'Society' gatherings. He also recorded with actress Tallulah Bankhead, and was heard singing on Radio and TV. Joe went into semi-retirement in late 1950s
1914     "Archie" Jaames Campbell, C&W vocals, b. Bulls Gap (Greene County), TN, USA, d. Aug 29, 1987 in Knoxville, TN, USA. In 1959, Campbell made his 'Grand Ole Opry' debut, and was signed by RCA shortly afterwards. His 1960 release "Trouble in the Amen Corner" made it to the Top 25. Other singles after that were not successful, and 1962 found him recording for the 'Starday' label, also with no success. In 1966, re returned to RCA and his "The Men in My Little Girl's Life" reached the Top 20 chart, while two other singles, "The Dark End of the Street" and "Tell It like It Is" reached the Top 30 in 1968. That same year, he joined he joined Hee Haw In 1976, he recorded two albums for the Elektra label. During 1984, he was the host for the TNN interview show "Yesteryear".
1938     Dee Clark, vocals, b. Blythsville, AR, USA.
1955     Shirley Eikhard, singer/songwriter, b. sackville, N.B., Canada. Child of a musical family. Her mother, June, was first woman participant in the 'Canadian Open Old Time Fiddler's Contest', and her father played bass in the family band then called 'Tantramar Ramblers'.
1944     Keith Emerson, keyboardist, b. England. Member: Emerson, Lake & Palmer (biggest hit: "Brain Salad Surgery")
1952     Johannes Faber, Trumpet, b. Munich, Germany. Has worked with Wolfgang Dauner; Dusko Goykovich; Sal Nestico; Billy Cobham and Mal Waldron
1971     Robin Finck, guitarist. Member: 'Nine Inch Nails', colloquially known as NIN, they are a "band" formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988 by Trent Reznor (né: Michael Trent Reznor. b. May 17, 1965, Mercer, PA, USA). It may be inaccurate to call NIN a band inasmuch as the only official member is singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Trent Reznor, who has always been solely responsible for NIN's musical direction (but always backed with a band). Finck, who began playing the guitar at an early age, is one of Trent Reznor's most consistent musical partners, usually appearing dressed in black, covered in mud, with his dreadlocks tied back. At one time, Finck left NIN to become the musical director for Cirque du Soleil, a position he occupied for nearly two years. In 1998, Finck joined the reincarnated 'Guns'N Roses', but eventually returned to NIN for the Fragility tour. Subsequently, Finck made several more appearances with "Guns 'N Roses", although still committed to NIN.
1970     Neil Hannon, singer-songwriter (lyric and music)/keyboard/piano/guitar(main instrument), b. Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Founder band: 'Divine Comedy', formed in 1989.
1912     Percy Huff, guitar, b, Fannin, MS, USA.
1922     Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt, Trumpet/Leader. d. April 27, 1999, New Orleans, LA, USA. age 76 Among the men with whom Al worked are: Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey; Ray McKinley, Horace Heidt and Billy May
1907     Ernest Jansen "Red" Ingle, vocals/comic/saxes/clarinet/leader, b: Toledo, OH, USA. d: Sept. 7, 1965, Santa Barbara, CA, USA (internal haemorrhage.). "Red" worked with such musical greats as Bix Biederbecke, and Jean Goldkette; Paul Mertz; The Dorsey Brothers; Ted Weems 1931-1941; and "Spike" Jones 1943-1946
1927     Roland Kovac, piano, celeste, harpsichord b. Vienna, Austria, - a musical family. Has worked in Radio,Concerts, films. Doctor of Muciscology from Vienna Univ.
1921     Steve Lane, Cornet/Leader, b. London, England.
1953     Robin Lee, C&W singer-songwriter/piano, b. Nashville, TN, USA. née: Robin Lee Irwin. She is has the distinction of being one of the very few Country music singers to have been born in Nashville, TN. While most of her releases have been in the Top 40 - Top 75 charts, her "Black Velvet" album reached the Top 25, while the title track of the album reached the Top 15.
1964     Joe Leste, r&r vocals, b. San Diego, CA, USA.
1929     Ronald Arnold "Ron" Loughead, piano/arranger/composer, b: Gawler-Sa. Australia. Played with Winifred Atwell; Lotu Bamford; Jack Brokensha1948; Errol Buddle; John Foster; David Hughes; Ken Lester; Laurie Parr; "Splinter " Reeves; Judy Robertson; Freddy Thomas's concert bands; to England, 1955; BBC TV; Don Harper; Returned Sydney 1962; and became studio arranger for Channel 9
1951     Kevin Scott MacDonald, guitar. d. Dec. 31, 2002, Nova Scotia, Canada (Cancer). Age: 51. Member: 'Cutting Crew', a pop/rock band formed in England in 1985, and comprised of singer Nick Van Eede, guitarist Kevin MacMichael, bassist Colin Farley and drummer Martin Beedle. In 1993, the group disbanded.
1964     Karl E. Maij, guitar/composer. Karl originally received instruction on the Classical guitar, and also played the flute as a child. As a young man, he was performing in concerts, and subsequently toured Asia, including appearances in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Penang. Back in Europe, he found time to do some touring and played with groups of Gypsies. In 1993, he was back in Switzerland freelancing with various groups including "Jimmy Woode", "Anny's B-Zug", "Toni Todesco", "Undecided Swing Group", "String Jazz Quartett", and the "P.Krijnen-Band", etc. ). His work mostly included small groups such as the "Acoustic Jazz Trio" (Karl E. Maij - guitar, Christoph Grab - tenor sax, and Thomas Reinecke- Contra bass), "The Hammond-Projekt", and his own "K.Maij-Trio" (Karl E. Maij - guitar, Léon Duncan - contra bass, and Peter Preibisch - drums). He recorded ( CD: "The Party Is Over") with the "Organic Quartett" (Elmar Kluth - organ, Sahrah Peng - vocals, Karl E. Maij - guitar, and Alberto Canonico - drums). He was also heard at a number of Jazz festivals. Maij has also done quite a bit of MIDI work. He currently (2005) works as a teacher, and programmer, as well making frequently appearances. Maij's Jazz style is very much akin chamber-music, and he is heavily influenced by pianists such as Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. He interprets their, and his own, concepts on the guitar and sees himself following in the tradition of such great Jazz guitarists as Charlie Christian und Barney Kessel.
1963     Clint Mansell, vocals/guitar/sosngwriter, b. Coventry, England, UK. Member: 'Pop Will Eat Itself'. His friend, director Darren Aronofsky, gave Clint the opportunity to score his debut film, " π ", following which he scored other Aronofsky films.
1955     Kitty Margolis, vocals
1955     Rene Marie, vocal
1965     Kevin Menard, vocals, b. Lafayette, LA, USA. Worked with 'Buckwheat Zydeco'.
1883     Elder Solomon Lightfoot Michaux, gospel vocals, b. Newport News, VA, USA.
1943     Joni Mitchell, Pop vocals. née: Roberta Joan Anderson.
1944     Chris Morris, guitarist. Member: 'Paper Lace'
1909     Ernie Newton, C&W Acoustic Bass, b. Hartford, CT, USA. Did you know that in 1937, guitarist Les Paul first recorded with a trio consisting of Les on guitar, bassist Ernie Newton and rhythm guitarist Jim Atkins (the older half-brother of Chet Atkins, with whom (in 1995) Paul would cut the album 'Chester and Lester'). (Note: Originally, Les Paul had a country-music act working in Chicago, IL, billing himself as "Rhubarb Red". Les played harmonica and guitar, and recited "rube" humor. By the early 1930s, Les was earning $1000 a week. But,.. Chicago is a 'bustling' town with much music to hear and to play. Les once said 'In the morning I was hillbilly, and at night I was playing Jazz with Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Nat Cole and Art Tatum.' In 1936, Paul cut his first record, backing blues singer-pianist Georgia White as she belted out Andy Razaf's raunchy "If I can't sell it, I'll keep sittin' on it, before I give it away." The next year, he formed a C&W trio with Newton and Atkins.
1964    Liam O'Maonlai, vocals, b. Eire. Member: 'The Hothouse Flowers'. In the early 1980s. Liam O'Maonlai and Fiachna O'Braonain met at their Gaelic speaking secondary school. The pair joined with Peter O'Toole on bass, Jerry Fehily on drums and Leo Barnes on saxophone to form the 'Benzini Brothers'. Their folk-rock performances soon won them a local following. Changing their name to 'Hothouse Flowers' after a Wynton Marsalis album, and impressed U2's Mother label enough to net them a single deal. But, it was their performance at the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest, where they performed, 'Don't Go', that brought them a wider fame. London Records signed them, and the song became the band's first UK hit, reaching No. 11.
1950     Dan Peek, guitar/vocals.
1942     Johnny Rivers, r&r singer-songwriter/guitar/producer. b. New York, NY, USA. (raised in Baton Rouge, LA) né: John Ramistella.
1917     Howard Rumsey, Bass/leader, b. Brawley, CA, studied Los Angeles City College. Played in Vito Musso's band where Kenton was pianist. He played in Kenton's orig. band.
1966     Martin Shaw, trumpet, flugelhorn, b. Birmingham, England, UK. Martin was born into a family of musicians, both his mother and Father being accomplished pianists. At age 9, he started piano lessons, and at age 11, started studying the trumpet. At age 15, he became a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, - remaining there for 3 years. Among those with whom Shaw has worked are such well known stars as Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Pete King, Dick Morrisey, Tim Garland and numerous big bands including the BBC Big Band, led by trombonist Jiggs Whigham. Martin has also recorded, performed live and toured extensively with various pop artists including Sting, Jamiroquai, Natalie Cole, Paul Young and the Brand New Heavies. He has also toured with French artist Patricia Kaas. In 2001, Martin was appointed professor of Jazz Trumpet at the Birmingham Conservatoire, a faculty of the University of Central England.
CAUTION. Do not confuse with:
---Martin Shaw, (Rock) fiddle, Viola, who has appeared on the Canadian TV shows The Pig & Whistle and The Bob McClean Show.
---Martin Shaw, actor, b. January 21, 1945 in Birmingham, England, UK.
---Martin Shaw (1875-1958), an English composer of church music
1918     Lew Simpkins, A&R/producer, b. MS, USA. With the Premium/United labels
1890     Phil Spitalny, leader (all Girl orchestra), b: Odessa, Russia d. 1970
1967     Sharleen Spiteri, vocals, b. Glasgow, Scotland. Member: 'Texas'. Sharleen fronts the band where she found success in 1986. In 2005, the German 'Band Rammstein' used her talents when she sang the background in their release "Stirb nicht vor mir" ("Don't Die before I do") on the album Rosenrot. The year before, Sharleen separated from her partner, magazine executive Ashley Heath The couple had one daughter, Misty Kyd, born Sept. 10, 2002.
1938     Christopher "Chris" Staunton, bass, b. Wood Green-London, UK. Played with Ronnie Ross; Eddie Thompson; Alex Welsh; Tommy Whittle.
1914     Gene Sullivan, Singer-Songwriter/guitar, b. Carbon Hill, AL, USA, d. October 24, 1984. Member: "Wiley & Gene" Wiley, né: Wiley Walker, b. Nov. 17, 1911, Laurel Hill, FL, USA, d. May 17, 1966.
1962     Mark Anthony Taylor, drums, b: Hampstead-London, UK. Mark has worked with Frank Strazzeri and Bill Perkins and played on a number of recordings with Mike Carr, -the UK's top Hammond organist. Also with Gordon Beck; Geoff Castle, Johnny Dankworth, Alec Dankworth; Dick Morissey; Eddie Thompson; John Taylor
1936     Mary Travers, vocals. née: Mary Allin Travers. The "Mary" in the 'Peter, Paul and Mary' vocal group.
1949     David S. Ware, Tenor Sax, b. Plainfield, NJ, USA.
1937     Vishnu Wood, bass
1934     Lewis Worrell, bass
          Notable Events on this date include:
1927.    Florence Mills, dancer and singer, died in New York City. age: 32.
1945.    Gus Edwards, songwriter/producer/vaudevillian, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 66
1947.    The first "Aloha Week Parade" held in Hawaii.
1956.    Una Mae Carlisle, piano, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 40
1960.    Alvin Pleasant Delaney "A.P." Carter, (The Carter Family), died in Kingsport, TN, USA. Age: 69
1970.    Eddie Peabody, banjo, died in Covington, Kentucky, USA. (né: Edwin Ellsworth Peabody
1971.    John Thomas, trombone, died b. September 18, 1902. Louisville, KY USA. This Hohn Thomas played with such aJazzmen as Louis Armstrong, and others.
CAUTION: Do not confuse with
--- John Charles Thomas, (1891?, Meyersdale, PA, USA, – 1960), singer.
--- John Thomas (singer), 1950s Antiguan Singer
--- "Big" John Thomas, English Rock guitarist who worked with Welsh band 'Budgie'
1972.    Ace Black, guitar, died in Fort Worth, TX, USA. Age: 66
1973.    Rev Odie M. Hoover Jr., gospel, died in Cleveland, OH, USA. Age: 52
1982.    Duke Groner, bass, died in Chicago, IL, USA.
1987.    Charles Holland, vocals, died in Amsterdam, Holland. Age: 77. Worked with Benny Carter
1991.    Carter Cornelius, vocals, died in Dania, FL, USA. Age: 43. Member: 'Cornelius Brothers & Rose'
1992.    Duke Groner, bass, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 82
1992.    Theodore Thomas, tenor sax, died in Hartford, CT, USA. Age: 84
1993.    Adelaide Hall, vocals, died in London, UK. Age: 92
1994.    Shorty Rogers, trumpet/arranger/producer, died in Van Nuys, CA, USA. Age: 70
1994.    Bobby Sykes, Country guitarist, died. Age: 66
1995.    Melvin "Alappy" White, MC/comedy, died in Brigantine, NJ, USA. Age: 74
1995.    Jerry Daniels, guitar, died in Indianapolis, MN, USA. Age: 79. Worked with the 'Ink Spots' vocal group.
1995.    Jimmy Jones, bass, died in Texas City, TX, USA. Age: 52.
2000.    Vernell Fournier, drums, died in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. (b. 1928?)
2001.    Gene Wooten, Dobro virtuoso, died. Age: 49
2002.    "Butch" Watanabe, trombone, died in Toronto, ON, Canada. (blood clot on his lung). Age of 78. (b. June 7, 1924, New Westminster, B.C., Canada)
2006.    Sonny Cohn, trumpet, died in Chicago, IL, USA. (He was the trumpeter/manager of the Count Basie Band for over 30 years.)
          Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
     1924, "Shanghai Shuffle", Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
     1947 "Whiffenpoof Song", Bing Crosby
     1947 "Serenade Of The Bells", Sammy Kaye Orch.
     1947 "Civilization", Louis Prima Orch
     1947 "Mickey", Ted Weems Orch.
     1953 "That's Amore", Dean Martin
     1960 "He Will Break Your Heart", Jerry Butler
     1964 "Ringo", Lorne Greene
     1964 "I'm Gonna Be Strong", Gene Pitney
     1964 "Time Is On My Side", Rolling Stones
     1964 "Mr. Lonely", Vinton, Bobby
     1964 "She's Not There", Zombies
     1970 "Share The Land", Guess Who
     1981 "Trouble", Lindsey Buckingham
     1981 "Don't Stop Believin'", Journey
     1981 "Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known), "The Juice" Newton
     1981 "Leather And Lace", Nicks, Stevie
     1981 "Harden My Heart", Quarterflash
     1987 "So Emotional", Whitney Houston
     1987 "Is This Love", Whitesnake
     1987 "Valerie", Steve Winwood