BIRTHDAYS
1955     Frank Banali, drums. Member group: 'Quiet Riot'
1964     Andrew Banfield, vocals, b. London, England. Member group: 'Pasadenas'. His sister, vocalist "Susie Q", is a member of "Cookie Crew".
1905     John Henry Barbee, blues guitar/vocals, b. Henning, TN, USA, d, Nov. 3, 1964.
1915     Billy Bauer, Guitar/banjo, b. New York (Bronx), NY, USA, d. June 17, 2005, Melville, NY, USA. (complications from pneumonia,) Age: 89. né: William Henry Bauer. Played with Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Lee Konitz, and the Metronome All-Stars. During 1944-1946, he was a member of Woody Herman's thundering First Herd. In 1946, he developed much of his solo technique while playing with Lennie Tristano's group. Bauer recorded both with the band and with individual members, such as saxophonists Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. During this time, he founded a publishing company, William H. Bauer Inc., to publish compositions by himself, Tristano, Konitz and Marsh. From 1947-1953, he played with Jack Teagarden, Lennie Tristano, and Jerry Wald. During both 1948-49 and from 1949-50, he was twice named Best Guitar by Metronome's Readers' Poll. He went on to work with Goodman and Parker, and recorded one album as band leader: "Plectrist", in 1956. As the jazz recording industry began to fade, Bauer switched to teaching, opening the Billy Bauer Guitar School in Albertson, NY, on Long Island, in 1970. He continued teaching lessons until shortly before his death.
1936     Carey Bell, Blues harp, b. Macon, MI, USA, d. May 6, 2007, Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 70. (Cardiac Arrest). né: Carey Bell Harrington. Besides his wonderful playing, Bell was one of the very few harmonica players who earned his craft by studying directly under such teachers as "Little" Walter Jacobs, "Big" Walter Horton, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, rather than by listening to old Blues recordings. Bell, the 1998 winner of the Blues Music Award for Traditional Male Artist Of The Year, was a veteran of both Muddy Waters’ and Willie Dixon’s bands, and a guest artist on countless blues recordings.
1937     Joe Billingslea, vocals, b. Hamtramck, MI, USA. Member: 'The Contours' vocal group
1951     Steven Bishop, guitar/clarinet, b. San Diego,CA, USA.
1917     Noel Boggs, (Western Swing) steel guitarist, b. Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
1947     "Buckwheat Zydeco", Cajun/Creole Accordion/piano, b. Lafayette, LA, USA. né: Stanley Joseph Dural, Jr. As a child, "Buckwheat" preferred R&B, and by the mid-1950s was playing keyboards professionally with Lynn August. As a sessions player, he also backed such stars as Joe Tex ,and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. In 1971, Dural formed his own 16-piece 'funk' band, "Buckwheat and the Hitchhikers", which he led on and off for five years. Then in 1976, he signed on as an Organist to back Clifton Chenier on tour. (Chenier was a friend of his father.) Dural, with lessons from the master himself, quickly fell in love with both the accordion, and with Zydeco music. About this time, he also assumed his now famous name "Buckwheat Zydeco". In 1979, he formed his own Zydeco band named 'The Ils Sont Partis Band" (French for: "They're off!", - a cry heard at the beginning of every horse race at the Lafayette track). Today (2004), after more than 20 years, they remain a very popular live attraction wherever they play.
1944     George Cables, Piano, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. Cables was classically trained as a youth, and was still playing the Classics when he entered New York's 'High School of Performing Arts'. Soon, the young Cables was impressed by such keyboardists as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. He later told an interviewer: "I would probably say I've been more influenced by Miles or Trane and their whole bands rather than by any single pianist. The concept of the music is more important than listening to somebody's chops, somebody's technique, The Way Miles' band held together, it was just like magic. You were transported to another world"
1914     Ken Carson, (Western) vocals/guitar, d. April 7, 1994. né: Hubert Ken Carson. One of 'The Sons of The Pioneers' Cowboy band.
1942     "Rockie" Charles, Blues vocals, b. Boothville, LA, USA. Tag: the "President of Soul". Rockie Charles spent the first 36 years of his adult life piloting barges and tankers up and down the Mississippi River. Then one day, when he was 54 years old, he 'chucked' his river job, picked up his guitar, and became a full time Blues singer.
1954     Kim Clarke, composer/Acoustic Bass/Electric Upright/4 & 5-string Electric Bass Guitar, b. New York, NY, USA.
1900     Aaron Copland, composer, d. Dec. 2, 1990
1964     Nic Dalton, bassist, b. Canberra, Australia. Member group: The Lemonheads
1920     Johnny Desmond, vocalist, d. Sept. 6, 1985, Los Angeles, CA. USA. né: Giovanni Alfredo de Simone. Sang with: Bob Crosby; Gene Krupa; Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band
1947     Stanley Dural, Jr., (Zydeco) accordion/keyboard/vocals, b. Lafayette, LA, USA. Better known as: "Buckwheat Zydeco". Please see entry for "Buckwheat Zydeco" above.
1901     Morton Downey, "The Silver Throated Irish Tenor". b. Wallingford, CT, USA. (Son of the Town's Fire Chief and Eliz. Cox) né: Sean Morton Downey He married dancer Barbara Bennett, (Jan 28, 1929, to June 1941 ended in Divorce) and their son Morton Downey Jr, also became an actor. Downey's greatest success was in the 1920s and 1930s.
1916     Don Ewell, Piano, b. Baltimore, MD, USA, d. Aug. 9, 1983, Pompano Beach, FL, USA. This wonderful stride pianist, originally inspired by Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, and Fats Waller, began leading his own trios in Baltimore in the mid-1930s. In the mid-1940s, during the New Orleans jazz revival, he played with Bunk Johnson, Muggsy Spanier, Sidney Bechet, and Kid Ory (1953); and was with Jack Teagarden during 1957-1964. In the late 1960s, before moving to New Orleans, he played some duets with Willie "the Lion" Smith. Among the many other Jazzmen with whom he worked are Sidney Bechet, George Brunies, Doc Evans, and Don Goldie.
1917     George Fierstone, drums/vocals, b: London, UK, d: March 13, 1984, London, UK. (date of birth not clear. Some sources claim b. Nov. 5, some say b. 1915, or 1916. Some sources claim d. April 13, 1984, or 1985)
1954     Anson Funderburgh, guitar, b. Plano, TX, USA
1940     Freddie Garrity, lead vocals, b. Manchester, England. Member group: Freddie & the Dreamers. In the late 1950s, Freddie began playing in skiffle groups, and in the early '60s, switched to rock & roll (due to the Beatles influence). While they charted well in the U.K., the group's "I'm Telling You Now" which charted No. 1 in the USA was their only one Top Ten hit in in America. Beginning in 1966, their U.K. hits began to fall off (they stopped charting totally in the U.S.), and by 1968 the original group disbanded. Garrity continues to tour with a new version of the Dreamers.
1943     Shelton Gary, Drums, b. Fairfield, AL, USA.
1938     Cornell Gunter, vocals, b. Los Angeles.CA, USA. d. February 27, 1990. Member of the "Doo Wop" groups: 'The Flairs', and 'The Coasters' --in 1958, their "Yakety Yak" reached No. 1 in the US, and in 1959, their "Charlie Brown" reached No. 2 in the USA and No. 6 in the UK.
1908     Clancy Hayes, Banjo/vocals, b. Carney, KS, USA. d. March 3, 1972, San Francisco, CA, USA. The 7th son of a 7th son in a musical family. In 1922, led own 'Harmony Aces'; key man in 1938 Lu Watters 'Yerba Buena Jazz Band'.
1904     Arthur W. "Art" Hodes, Piano, Nikoliev, Ukraine, d. March 4, 1993, Age: 88. Played with: Barney Bigard; Eddie Condon; Joe Marsala; Wingy Manone, and many others.
1965     Jeannette Jurado, vocals, b. El Rancho, CA, USA. Member All-Girl group: 'Expose'
1924     Arthur "Guitar" Kelley, guitar, b. Clinton, LA, USA.
1934     Ellis Marsalis, Piano, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. Originally, Ellis studied clarinet and saxophone at the then-Xavier School of Music, a high school under the auspices of Xavier University and Gilbert Academy. Ellis’ peers included singer Germaine Bazzle, Richard Payne, pianist Edward Frank and pianist Roger Dickerson. While still in school, Marsalis and Dickerson formed the 'Groovy Boys’ Band' (with Ellis playing the bass). He later replaced Plas Johnson as a saxophone player in the Johnson Brothers band. About this time, Marsalis took some piano lessons and then enrolled at Dillard University. More and more, he gravitated toward the piano, while still playing the sax. Ellis relocated to Los Angeles, where he worked with Ornette Coleman, but after a short time, Marsalis returned to New Orleans and helped his father operate a motel (one of the few such places for Black people during segregation). He also performed briefly with the 'American Jazz Quintet' before becoming a member of the U. S. Marines. After his Service discharge, Ellis, drummer James Black and Marshall Smith formed a trio that performed regularly at the Playboy Club in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and then became a quartet when Nat Perrillat joined. This quartet performed at 'The Music Haven', a club that Marsalis’ father had opened at his motel. The quartet disbanded when Marsalis began working with Al Hirt. Subsequently, Marsalis first began teaching music at a performing arts high school (NOCCA -the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts), and then went on to teach music at the Virginia Commonwealth University and at the University of New Orleans. In 2001, Ellis retired from his active music career, but his children have carried on the family's musical traditions. Trumpeter Wynton has won Grammys in both Classical and Jazz categories, won a Pulitzer Prize for his brilliant work, "Blood on the Fields", and heads the renowned New York city 'Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra'. Drummer Jason's work with the Latin-jazz group "Los Hombres Calientes" has earned him multiple awards and accolades. Saxophonist Branford was "The Tonight Show" bandleader. and performed with rock artist Sting, and winner of several Grammys. Trombonist Delfeayo has produced numerous work for his father and brothers as well as other artists
1930     Jay Migliori, Tenor saxophone/clarinet/flute, b. Erie, PA, USA, d. Sept. 2, 2001, Mission Viejo, CA, USA. (Colon Cancer). Best recalled as a member of the group 'Supersax'. On his 12th birthday, Jay was given an alto saxophone as a present and soon developed a passion for Jazz. He attended the St. Louis Institute of Music, then played in the 571st Air Force Band in Texas in 1951-2. On demobilization, he enrolled at Berklee. In early 1957, he joined Woody Herman's orchestra, remaining with the band for 18 months, including an extended tour of South America. In late 1959, he relocated to Los Angeles, CA, and freelanced as a sessions man, backing such stars as Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Celine Dion, The Beach Boys, and Frank Zappa. A great Jazz man, during his life he worked with band leaders Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Miles Davis, Terry Gibbs, and Louie Bellson, among others. He led his own groups, even recording some albums under his own name.
1954     Alexander O'Neal, vocals, b. Natchez, MS, USA.
1944     Sherrie Payne, vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA. Member group: 'Diana Ross and The Supremes'. "The Supremes" were Sherrie Payne & Lynda Laurence.(b. Philadelphia, PA, USA) The group dominated music charts all around the world in the 1960's & '70's.
1950     Colleen Peterson, vocals, b. Peterborouogh, ONT, Canada. d. Oct. 9, 1996
1904     Dick Powell, actor/vocalist, d. Jan. 2, 1963. né: Richard E. Powell
1977     "Shyheim", rapper, b, New York (Staten Island), NY, USA. Member rapper group: 'Wu Tang Clan', consisting of Ghostface Killah, GZA/Genius, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, RZA, and U-God.
1966     Joseph 'Run' Simmons, talker, b. New York (Queens), NY, USA. Member group: Run DMC, a "rap" group. On April 9, 2004, the BBC reported that "Hip-hop pioneer Joseph "Run" Simmons, of the rap group Run-DMC, has applied to become poet laureate of the New York borough of Queens, where he was born." "Simmons is the brother of Def Jam record label owner Russell Simmons, who created the successful Def Poetry Jam events, which combine poetry and hip-hop."
1922     Jim Somerville, piano/leader/composer/arranger, b. Sydney-NSW, Australia. né: James Anquetil. Among the many men with whom Jim played are Merv Acheson; Lennie Evans; Alan Geddes; Marsh Goodwin; Mike Hallam; Harbour City JB; Ken Harrison's Compass 1985; Dick Hughes; Georgia Lee; Jack Maittlen 1952-53; John McCarthy; Ade Monsbourgh; PJJB 1947 (and Rejoined the PJJB 1949); Ray Price's Dixielanders 1956; Tom Pickering; Jazz Rebels; Doc Willis; Wally Johnson; Harry Shoebridge; Nellie Small; Kelly Smith; Clive Whitcombe; Played in New Orleans, LA, in 1980.
1965     Stuart Staples, Baritone vocals. Member group: Tindersticks, comprised of Stuart Staples (lead vocals, guitar), Dickon Hinchcliffe (violin, guitar, vocals), Neil Fraser (guitar), David Boulter (keyboards, percussion), Alasdair Macauley (drums, percussion), and Mark Colwill (bass guitar).
1915     "Liltin'" Martha Tilton, b. Corpus Christi, TX, USA. d. Dec. 8, 2006, Los Angeles, CA, USA. née: Martha Ellen Tilton. Tilton was a band singer who worked for two years with Benny Goodman at the height of his fame, including at his groundbreaking Carnegie Hall concert of 1938. She appeared on radio, where she was first announced as "The Liltin' Miss Tilton", and later enjoyed a brief but important career as a solo vocalist in the early post World War II years. Martha was a product of a musical family: her mother played piano and her father was an amateur singer. Martha later told interviewers that her favorite singers at the time were Ruth Etting and Connee Boswell. Very few people today recall that Martha also had a younger sister named Liz (b. 1918, d. 2003). Liz was also a talented singer, who worked with Jan Garber's orchestra in the mid-1940s and also Bob Crosby's band. Her career ended when her husband returned home after serving in the U. S. Army during WWII, and Liz left the music business. Martha grew up in Hollywood, where, while still a student at Fairfax High, she joined a U.S.C. college band that was heard on local radio, after which she joined Sid Lippman's Band then playing at the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove. After Lippman, she joined the Hal Grayson Band, remaining with Hal for three years. While with Grayson, 18 year old Martha married a Canadian named Dave Thomas. The marriage lasted only long enough for Martha to become pregnant. She sang for one engagement with Jimmy Dorsey's band. In the 1937 Martha was seen in the classic comedy film "Topper" starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett. She appeared, uncredited, in the nightclub scene. She also had an uncredited film part as a lounge singer, fronting the group "Three Hits and a Miss." Over the years, she appeared in such films as "Irene," "You'll Never Get Rich," "Sunny," "Strictly In The Groove," "Crime Inc.," "Swing Hostess" and "The Benny Goodman Story." Her last film, "The Queen of the Stardust Ballroom," was made in 1975. Later in 1937, Tilton was part of a vocal group on the "Camel Caravan" radio program alongside Benny Goodman and his orchestra. Goodman was on the lookout for new talent because his longtime "girl singer," Helen Ward, had recently left the band because of "creative differences." Goodman walked out in the middle of Tilton's audition, leaving her in tears, but she got the job anyway. Between 1937 and 1939, Tilton sang for Goodman and appeared on about 45 records with the group. Like Ward before her, Tilton had the sound that Goodman demanded from a singer: not fancy or extravagant, but simple, straight ahead, and tuneful. On the night of January 16, 1938, the 23 year old Martha was a part of the Goodman band that broke tradition when they played Swing music to a packed house at New York's famed Carnegie Hall. She sang (arranger Claude Thornhill's jazz version of the traditional Scottish song) "Lock Lomond", and "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon", a traditional Jewish "Frahlich" that was transformed by trumpeter Ziggy Elman into a Swing number. Martha remained with Goodman until he disbanded in April 1939. During her time with the Goodman band, she met her second husband, Leonard Vannerson, who was Goodman's manager. In 1940, they were wed at the 'Wee Kirk of the Heather' chapel in Forest Lawn (Hollywood). Her only attendant was sister Liz, and Benny Goodman stood as Leonard's best man. Tilton's departure, she later said, came because she was worn down by the band's relentless touring. Between 1939 and 1942, Tilton freelanced, recording with bandleaders Bob Crosby and Artie Shaw (recording one song with his band, "Dreamin' Out Loud"). She also worked on Paul Whiteman's radio show Hall of Fame, sponsored by Philco on NBC. During this time she also dubbed the singing voices for film some actresses including Barbara Stanwick, Maria Montez, Anne Gwynne and Martha O'Driscoll. She also sang briefly with Artie Shaw, recording one song with his band, "Dreamin' Out Loud". In 1942, Johnny Mercer who had just co-founded the Capitol label with Buddy DeSylva and Glenn Wallichs, signed Martha as the first artist on his new label; her first recording was Mercer's own "Moon Dreams," with music by Glenn Miller's pianist, Chummy MacGregor, that was later immortalized by Miles Davis. She recorded 43 masters for Capitol going up to 1949, nine of which were chart hits. The most successful was the lovely, World War II-themed song of separation, "I'll Walk Alone." During the World War II years of 1943 and 1944, Martha, accompanied by Carol Landis, traveled with Jack Benny's U.S.O. Show in hoth the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. In 1947, Martha's marriage to Leonard Vannerson ended in divorce, with Martha retaining custody of her two sons. In 1948, she was a regular on crooner Jack Smith's popular show, but the year before that, she served as female singer on the most popular of all musical radio shows, "Your Hit Parade," the "American Idol" of its day. In 1949, Martha left Capitol, but continued to sing on radio shows including 'The Jack Benny Show', and 'The Bob Hope Show', among others. She also recorded for the Coral, Crown, and Majestic labels. After 1950, she continued to broadcast and record intermittently, although she hosted a show on local Los Angeles TV. She also occasionally reunited with Goodman over the next 30 years, including the film "The Benny Goodman Story" (1955) and a 40th-anniversary re-creation of the classic Carnegie Hall concert in 1978. In 1952, during a U.S. Treasury Bond drive at a North American Aircraft plant, Martha met a pilot named Jim Brooks, who had fought in World War II, and was now a test pilot for North American. Their marriage lasted for over 50 years. She performed for the last time in the mid-1990s. Martha was age 91 when her beautiful voice fell silent.
1975     Faye Tozer, vocals, b. Northampton. England. n&ecute;e: Faye Louise Tozer-Irn. Member group: 'Steps'
1956     Alec John Such, bass guitar/violin, b. Perth Amboy, NJ, USA. Member group: Bon Jovi. It is interesting to note that his hobbies are antique guns, motorcycles, and horses. In 1994, Alec left Bon Jovi.due to things not going well between them, although some observers felt that Alec had also tired of life as a rockstar. Happily, he and Bon are friends again. When Alec left Bon, he managed a few local New Jersey bands before finally opening his own Motorcycle shop, a business which he still pursues. In September 1996, Alec had a motorcycle accident, but has since recovered.
1969     Bradley Glenn "Butch" Walker, vocals/guitar. Member group: Marvelous 3
1959     Valerie Wellington, Blues vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA, d. Jan 2, 1993, Maywood, IL, USA. née: Valerie Eileen Hall. In 1982, this classically trained opera singer took the Chicago Blues scene by surprise. In the studios, she was much in demand for TV and Radio Commercials. She was also seen on stage portraying famous Blues Shouters Ma Rainey, and Bessie Smith. Valerie, at age 33, suddenly died of a brain aneurysm.
1932     Masao Yagi, Piano/Composer/arranger, b. Tokyo, Japan, d. March 4, 1991
1954     "Yanni" (né: Yanni Chryssomallis), vocals, b. Kalamata, Greece
1932     Masao Yagi, Piano/Composer/Arranger, b. Tokyo, Japan
1949     James Young, guitar, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member group: 'Styx'. Young began playing piano at age 5, and continued through to age 15. He then played clarinet from 8th grade through high school. Up to that point he didn't enjoy playing any of the instruments, but when one of his uncles purchased a new classical guitar, Young fell in love with the instrument. It would lead him into a fascinating career in music.

          Notable Events on this date include:
1944.    Tommy Dorsey orchestra recorded "Opus No. 1", (Victor 20-1608). On the date were saxmen Al Klink and Buddy DeFranco, Nelson Riddle on trombone, and drummer Buddy Rich. (Sy Oliver arrangement)
1992.    George Adams, tenor sax, died in New York (Brooklyn) NY, USA. Age: 52
1965.    "Buster" Harding, piano/arranger, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 48
1968.    Hilton Jefferson, alto sax, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 65
1961.    "Little Son Joe" (né: Ernest Lawler), guitar, died in Memphis, TN, USA. Age: 61. Worked with "Memphis Minnie"
1992.    Teddy Riley, trumpet, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 68 Worked with Roy Brown
1974.    Richard J. Smith, trumpet, died in Kansas City, MO, USA. Age: 65. Worked with Harlen Leonard Orch.
1986.    Dallas Taylor, vocals, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 50. Member: 'The Danderliers'
          Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
     1947      "Civilization", Andrews Sisters
     1947      "How Soon? (Will I Be Seeing You)", Monroe, Vaughn
     1960      "Sailor (Your Home Is The Sea)", Lolita
     1960      "Are You Lonesome Tonight", Presley, Elvis
     1964      "Mountain Of Love", Rivers, Johnny
     1987      "Tell It To My Heart", Dayne, Taylor
     1987      "Cherry Bomb", Cougar, John
     1987      "Got My Mind Set On You", Harrison, George
     1992      "I Will Always Love You", Houston, Whitney
     1992      "Saving Forever For You", Shanice