BIRTHDAYS
1957     Sharon Bailey, percussion, b. England. Member group: 'Amazulu', - The band consisted of Annie Ruddock (b. Ann-Marie Teresa Antoinette Ruddock, July 2, 1961; lead vocals), Claire Kenny (bass), Lesley Beach (b. Sept. 30, 1954; saxophone), Sharon Bailey (b. Nov. 22, 1957; percussion), and Margo Sagov (guitar), plus the lone male of the group, Nardo Bailey (drums). In the mid-1980s, this predominantly female ska band enjoyed a string of UK hit singles.
1901     Paul "Polo" Barnes, Clarinet/soprano-alto saxes/vocals, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. April 13, 1981, New Orleans, LA, USA. One of the great early New Orleans Jazzmen, "Polo:" worked with "Papa" Celestin, "The Original Tuxedo Orchestra", Kid Howard, King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton. CAUTION: "Polo" is the brother of clarinetist Emile Barnes ( b. Feb 18, 1892, New Orleans, LA, USA. d. March 2, 1970, New Orleans, LA, USA. né: Milé Barnes), but is not related to the clarinetist Walter Barnes.
1946     Aston 'Family Man' Barrett, bassist, b. Kingston, Jamaica. Member group: 'Bob Marley & the Wailers'. Their drummer, Carlton Barrett, Aston's brother, was also a member of the Wailers. Aston is one of the most successful reggae musicians of all time.
1911     Ernesto "Ernie" Caceres, Clarinet/baritone sax, b. Rockport, TX, USA. d. Jan. 10, 1971. Ernie Caceres was the product of a very musical family consisting of Emilio Caceres (violinist), Ernie (cl & bs) and Pinero (tp & p), and their cousins Johnny Gomez (g) and Henry Falcon Cuesta (cl & as). Starting in 1928, Ernie worked in local Texas bands, and then with Emilio in Detroit and New York. ( The family's musical tradition continues today (2006) with two of Emilio Caceres' grandsons, David (b. 1967, San Antonio, Texas) and Anthony, both working professionally as Jazz musicians based in Houston, Texas.) In the summer of 1938, he joined Bobby Hackett. In 1939, he played tenor sax in Jack Teagarden's band. In 1940, he joined Glenn Miller and stayed with him until 1942. He appeared with Miller's band in two films, 'Sun Valley Serenade' and 'Orchestra Wives". After leaving Miller, he played with the Johnny Long, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Woody Herman orchestras. In 1945, during World War II, Ernie served in the U.S. Army after which he played at Nick's in New York and with Billy Butterfield. All during the 1940's and '50's, he took part in many Eddie Condon recordings and broadcasts. In 1949, He led his own quartet at the 'Hickory Log' in New York, and worked regularly on TV with the Gary Moore Orchestra. In 1956, Ernie worked with Bobby Hackett's band at the Henry Hudson Hotel in New York. During the '60's, he worked regularly with Billy Butterfield and made many appearances at jazz festivals. Circa 1964, he returned to San Antonio, playing locally. Around 1969, Ernie became ill with throat cancer.
1951     Laddie Cain, gospel vocals, b. Houston, TX, USA. Member: "The Four Guys"
1942     Steve Caldwell, vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member: 'The Orlons'
1899     Hoagy Carmichael, composer/pianist/vocals/leader/attorney, b. Bloomington, Indiana, USA, d. Dec. 27, 1981, Rancho Mirage, California, USA. (heart attack)
1938     Will Connell, Alto Sax-Flute/clarinet, bass clarinet, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1910     William "Billy" Exiner, drums, b. Brooklyn (NYC), NY, a much underrated drummer. Has played with such orchestras as Hudson-DeLange, Mal Hallett, Jan Savitt, G. Auld, H. James, C. Thornhill, etc.
1962    Neil Fraser, guitar, b Nottingham, England. Member group: 'Tindersticks', the band was one of the most original and distinctive British acts of the 1990s. The Nottingham-based indie rock band 'Asphalt Ribbons', included vocalist Stuart Staples, keyboardist David Boulter, and violinist Dickon Hinchcliffe. In 1992, those three men formed 'Tindersticks', adding guitarist Neil Fraser, bassist Mark Colwill, and drummer Al Macaulay.
1940     Davey Graham, guitar, b. Leicester, UK. Recorded for: Kicking Mule Records
1904     Horace Henderson, Piano/Leader/arranger, b. Cuthbert, GA, USA, d. August 29, 1988. Fletcher's Brother. Studied at Atlanta Univ, and then at Wilberforce Univ.
1953     Craig Hundley, Pianist/keyboards. Member: Craig Hundley Trio
1927     Grady "Fats" Jackson, Tenor Sax, b. Asheville, NC, USA. d. Jan. 17, 1994
1906     Guy Kelly, Trumpet/Vocal, b. Scotlandville, LA, USA. d. . Feb. 24, 1940
1927     James M. "Jimmy" Knepper, Trombone, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. d. June 14, 2003, Triadelphia, WV, USA. Studied at L.A. City and State Colleges. with Kenton; Marterie; Herman; Thornhill; Barnet; Spivak and later with many small groups.
1917     Bernie Lowe, Label co-owner (Cameo-Parkway Records), b. Philadelphia, PA, USA.
1941     Ron McClure, Bass, b. New Haven, CT, USA.
1899     "Whistlin'" Alex Moore, piano, b. Dallas, TX, USA. d. 1989. One of the last of the old-time Texas barrelhouse pianists, Alex was an institution in Dallas, Texas, his lifelong home. His first recording session occurred in 1929, and his last session was in 1988, thus giving him the honor of having one of the longest recording careers in Blues history. However, there were very large gaps between sessions. One year before his death in 1989, he recorded a final session for Rounder Records, which was released as the "Wiggle Tail" album.
1921     Lenny Payton, guitar/arranger, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA.
1932     Al Plank, piano. d. April 8, 2003
1959     Jason Ringenburg, vocals/guitar. Member group: Jason & the Scorchers
1979     Scott Robinson, vocals, b. (Pitsea) Basildon, Essex UK. Member group: 'Five', a singing and rapping group consisting of Neville (vocals, b. Birmingham, UK), Scott Robinson (b. Essex, UK, vocals), Abs Breen, J Brown (rap/vocals, b. Cheshire, UK), and Sean Conlon (keyboards, b. Leeds, UK). In 1997, the British magazine 'Smash Hits' voted them "Best New Band".
CAUTION: Do not confuse with another Scott Robinson who was born on April 27, 1959 in New Jersey, who, while still in high school, received the "Louis Armstrong Award", and the "Best Soloist Award" from the National Association of Jazz Educators. In 1981, he graduated from Boston's Berklee College of Music, and a year later became, at 22, Berklee's youngest faculty member. In 1984, Scott relocated to New York city, and has been awarded four fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as playing in some Grammy-nominated recordings.
1925    Gunther Schuller, Composer/musicologist/french horn, b. New York, NY, USA. studied with 1st French Horn Metropolitan Opera (New York City), then at Manhattan (NY) School of Music.
1905     Cecil Xavier Scott, Clarinet/Tenor Sax, b. Springfield, OH, USA. d. Jan. 5, 1964. His older brother, Lloyd who played drums, was born August 21, 1902.
1945     Angela Strehli, singer-songwriter/Blues historian/impresario, b. Lubbock, Texas, USA, the same town that produced Buddy Holly, Joe Ely, Waylon Jennings and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Her love of the Blues and R&B music came from listening to the music that she heard on late-night radio. As a child, Angela took up the harmonica and bass before later becoming a full-time vocalist.
1943     Floyd Sneed, drums, b. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Member group: 'Three Dog Night'
1949     Steve "Miami" Van Zandt, Singer/songwriter/guitar. played with South Side Johnny, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, the Disciples Of Soul, and more. Also plays "Silvio" on the the TV series, 'The Sopranos'.
1930     Mel Wanzo, Trombone, b. Cleveland, OH, USA, d. Sept. 9, 2005, Detroit, MI, USA. (prostate cancer).Age: 74. From 1963-'66, Mel performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra (under the direction of Ray McKinley), and from 1966-'68, he was a part of Woody Herman's Swinging Herd. While perhaps most widely known as the longtime "lead trombonist" for the Count Basie Orchestra (1969-'96), Mel's career actually spanned over 40 years, touring, playing and recording with many of music's greatest Jazz artists, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan. During the Korean War, Mel played with the U. S. 36th Army Band (with the Adderly Brothers and Junior Mance). After his Service discharge, Mel played at Cleveland's 'Ebony Lounge', with Joe Cooper's All Stars. In 1956 he toured with Choker Campbell, whose band backed Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, and other Rhythm and Blues artists. After leaving Choker's band, he studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and later joined the staff at WEWS-TV as a studio musician in Cleveland. He subsequently converted to Islam and was renamed El-Hajji M. Wahid Muhammad. His resume includes six Grammy Awards, and performances for Queen Elizabeth II of England, the king of Thailand and the president of Finland. He taught at Wayne State University, where he endowed a scholarship for needy music students. In 1996 he retired, but continued to play with Metro Detroit big band leader Johnny Trudell and others.
1950     Tina (Martina) Weymouth, Bass. Member group: 'Talking Heads'
         Notable Events on this date include:
1938.    Bunny Berigan and his orchestra recorded "Jelly Roll Blues" on the Victor label.
1943.    Lorenz Hart, lyricist, died in New York< NY, USA. (liver failure). Age: 48.
1951.    William "Ragtime Millionaire" Moore, guitar, died in Warrenton, VA, USA. Age: 58
1952.    The first Disc Jockey Convention is held in Nashville, TN, USA
1959.    Leslie "Jives" Hutchinson, trumpet, died in Weeting, England, UK, Age: 53
1959.    Sam M. Lewis, lyricist, died in New York. NY, USA
1965.    Edythe Baker, piano, died in Wurstboro, NY, USA
1968.    Johnnie Temple, guitar, died in Jackson, MS, USA. Age: 62
1971.    Fred Guy, guitar, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 72. Perhaps best recalled for his work with Duke Ellington Orch.
1984.    Denis Rose, piano, trumpet, tenor horn, died
1986.    "Scatman" Crothers, vocals, drums, died in Van Nuys, California, USA. (lung cancer). n´: Benjamin Sherman Crothers
1988.    Duncan Campbell, trumpet, died
1989.    Stanley Morgan, guitar, died in Honolulu, HI, USA. Age: 76. Member: 'The Ink Spots'
1993.    Robert Reed, vocals, died in Memphis, TN, USA. Age: 76. Member: 'Spirit Of Memphis Quartet'
1993.    Boyd Rivers, guitar, died in Jackson, MS, USA. Age: 58
1994.    L. V. Johnson, guitar, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 45
1995.    Sam,Ambrose, (zydeco) accordion, died in Lawtell, LA, USA. Age: 76
1995.    Royal Abbit, piano, died in Washington, DC, USA. Age: 63. Member: 'The 5 Royales'
2001.    Norman Granz, producer, label owner, concert promoter, manager
2002.    Taswell Baird. trombone, died in Oakland, California, USA (after 50 years as a touring musician, who worked with musicians "from Dizzy Gillespie to Lena Horne", and played on recordings by Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong, he death was a homicide. He was attacked by robbers on his way home after a gig.) (b. 1922, St Louis, Missouri, USA)
2005.    Ken Mackintosh, leader, alto sax, died in London, England, UK. Age: 86 (died as a result of accident in his home)
.    2006 Warren Bell, Sr. alto, tenor, baritone sax died in New Orleans, LA. USA. Age; 77. (complications while undergoing kidney dialysis treatment). Bell was one of the first black musicians to be invited to play with all-white bands in New Orleans, LA, USA.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
     1940 "We Three", Tommy Dorsey
     1940 "Handful Of Stars",Glenn Miller
     1945 "It Might As Well Be Spring", Paul Weston
     1946 "Ole Buttermilk Sky", Hoagy Carmichael
     1946 "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", Nat "King" Cole
     1946 "Old Lamplighter, The", Kay Kyser
     1969 "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", B. J. Thomas
     1975 "I Write The Songs", Barry Manilow
     1975 "Love Rollercoaster", Ohio Players
     1975 "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You Are)", Diana Ross
     1975 "Fox On The Run", Sweet
     1980 "Celebration", Kool and The Gang
     1980 "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da", Police
     1986", Control", Janet Jackson
     1986 "Victory", Kool & The Gang