BIRTHDAYS
1960    Django Bates, Piano/tenor horn/keyboards/trumpet, b. Beckenham, England
1952    Sheila Biddy, A&R Decca, b. Scottsville, KY, USA. In 1993, Sheila became the first female manager of a country music record label.
1927    Herb Coleman, vocals, b. New York, NY, USA. Member: "Delta Rhythm Boys"
1933    Robert "Bob" Corwin, piano, b. Hollis (L.I.), NY, USA. Bob's brother has played with many big bands while their father was a pianist in the old Silent Movie theatres. Bob has worked with Flip Phillips; Jimmy Dorsey; and Warren Covington. With Don Elliott Quartet on Radio and TV. In 1958 w/Anita O'Day, and others, including working as a single at Eddie Condon's Club (NYC) in 1959.
1969    Damon Gough, guitar, b. Bolton Lancashire, England. Member group: Badly Drawn Boy, In 2002, released an album 'Have You Fed The Fish'
1949    Richard Hell, vocals/bassist, b. Lexington, KY, USA. né: Richard Meyers. Member group: Richard Hell And The Voidoids, His 1977 album 'Blank Generation' featured a track named "Love Comes In Spurts".
1956    Freddie Jackson, Soul singer/songwriter, b. New York (Harlem), NY, USA. Has charted 10 R&B US No. 1's.
1954    Greg Jennings, guitar, b. Nicoma Park, OK, USA. Member: "Restless Heart", a group originally comprised of songwriter Larry Stewart, drummer John Dittrich, guitarist Greg Jennings, pianist Dave Innis and bassist Paul Gregg. In the late 1980s and early '90s, the band was one of RCA's greatest success stories Before dissolving in 1996, the band enjoyed a series of gold-selling albums, garnered a host of award nominations, and even crossed over to the adult contemporary charts Among their hit releases were "Bluest Eyes In Texas", "Tender Lie", "I'll Still Be Loving You," "Why Does It Have To Be (Wrong or Right)", "When She Cries", and "Dancy's Dream."
1949    Allen Kirk, drums, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: "Mississippi Heat"
1948    Chris Ledoux, (Contemporary Country) Singer-Songwriter/Guitar, b. Biloxi, MS, USA.
1945    Don McLean, singer/songwriter, b. New Rochelle, NY, USA. 1972 single "Vincent" charted US and UK No.1, but he is best recalled for his hit composition "American Pie".
1961    Robbie Nevil, (rock) vocals, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. His 1987 single "C'est La Vie" charted UK No.3.
1961    Phil Oakey, rock vocals, b. Sheffield, UK, Member group: Human League Single "Don't You Want Me" charted 1981 UK No.1 and 1982 US No.1.
1952    John Otway, vocals/guitar, b. Great Britain.
1954    Barbara Paris, vocals
1927    Leon Rausch, (Western Swing) vocalist, b. Springfield, MO, USA.
1898    Otis Rene, label owner (Excelsior Records), b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
1929    Howard Mancel Roberts, guitar, b. Phoenix, AZ, USA. d. June 28, 1992, Seattle WA, USA.
1913    Walter "Wally" Rose, Piano, b. Oakland, CA, d. Jan. 12, 1997. One of three sons born to Janet Pecansu and Manuel Rodrigues, who had emigrated from Portugal. The family changed their name to Rose before Wally's birth. Born at home in Oakland, California, Wally always gave credit to his mother for encouraging him to learn the piano. He had become interested upon discovering some piano rolls in the attic of a friend's house. He first studied piano at Castlemont High School and after graduation played in dance bands aboard cruise ships in the early 1930s, including a sea-going unit of the Anson Weeks Orchestra. In 1938, Rose joined the short-lived dance band of Harry Barris. (Harry was one of Paul Whiteman's original Rhythm Boys - Barris, Al Rinker and Bing Crosby - Rinker was songstress Mildred Bailey's brother - both were part Native Americans). Barris also composed "I Surrender Dear". Rose joined Lu Watters in 1940. Rose's recording of George Botsford's "Black And White Rag" (Jazz Man Record No. 1, recorded in San Francisco, March 22, 1942) initiated the worldwide 1940s-50s revival of ragtime. Rose remained with Watters throughout the 1940s, except for three years Navy service. After his discharge from the U. S. Navy he began teaching piano. Rose played with Bob Scobey during 1950-51, Turk Murphy 1952-54, and spent many years as soloist in San Francisco. For a decade, Wally was about the only pianist who kept ragtime alive. Pianist Max Morath has said it was Wally Rose "...who pioneered the rediscovery of ragtime"
1933    Ronald "Ronnie" Ross, tenor-bass-bari sax, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, arranger, b. Calcutta, India, d. Dec. 12, 1991, London, UK
1951    Mike Rutherford rock guitar, b. Guildford, Surrey, UK. Member Groups: "Genesis", "Against All Odds", "Mike & Mechanics"
1940    Pat Sky, guitar/producer, b. Live Oak Gardens, GA, USA. (with Vanguard Records)
1940    King S. Solomon, vocals, b. Jackson, MS, USA.
1946    Jo-El Sonnier, (cajun) accordion, b. Rayne, LA, USA.
1951    Sting, rock singer/songwriter/bassist. b. Wallsend, Northumberland, UK. né: Gordon Matthew Sumner. Member group: Police
1964    Tammy Sullivan, C&W vocals, b. Wagarville, AL, USA. Member: "Jerry & Tammy Sullivan"
1945    Neil Frances Tennant, rock vocals. (Pet Shop Boy-West End Girl)
1971    "Tiffany", vocals, b. Norwalk, CA, USA. née: Tiffany Renee Darwisch. 1987 single "I Think We're Alone Now" charted US No.1 and in 1988 UK No.1.
1925    Philip "Phil" Urso, Tenor-alto-baritone saxes/clarinet/arranger, b. Jersey City, NJ, USA.
1928    Bob Weinstock, Founder (1949) of the Jazz Label "Prestige", b. New York (Manhattan), NY, USA. d. Jan. 14, 2006, Boca Raton, FL, USA. (complications of diabetes) Age: 77 (He lived in Deerfield Beach, FL, USA). During his long career, Weinstock's labels included 'New Jazz' - which recorded Lennie Tristano's quintet- and 'Prestige', including those of its related imprints, -Par, Swingville, Moodsville, Bluesville and Tru-Sound. These labels flooded the market with the work of many of the greatest small-group jazz bandleaders of that era such as Miles Davis's quintet, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, the Modern Jazz Quartet, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Gene Ammons, Red Garland, Coleman Hawkins and Annie Ross. When King Pleasure's "Moody's Mood for Love" was released as a 78 single in 1952, it became a national hit that saved the label from financial ruin Weinstock could not read music or play an instrument. Although he grew up listening to King Oliver and Louis Armstrong's Hot Five recordings, he was able to sense the the 1950s evolution toward the bebop pioneers Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, and in the 1960s he sensed an evolution to toward soul-jazz, and recorded many titles by Richard Groove Holmes, Willis Jackson and Charles Earland. In 1972, he sold the company to Fantasy Records which, in 2004, was itself bought by the Concord Music Group.
1967    Gillian Welch, C&W vocals/guitar, b. New York, NY, USA.
1961    Joy Lynn White, (Country) Vocals, b. Turrell, AR, USA.
1951    Willie Williams, vocals, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. With: "The Zion Harmonizers"
1915    "Chubby" Wise, (Bluegrass/Western Swing) fiddle/Guitar/Songwriter/Composer, b. Lake City, Fl, USA. né: Robert Russell Wise.
         Notable Events on this date include:
1972.    Denny Vaughn, pianist, singer, leader, died in Montreal , QC, Canada
1976.    Butter Jackson, trombone, died. Age: 67
1978.    Albert "Abbie" Brunies, cornet, died in New York, NY, USA.
1981.    Famed songstress/pianist Hazel Scott, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 61
1983.    George "harmonica" Smith, harmonica, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 59
1983.    Franc Williams, trumpet, died in Houston, PA, USA. Age: 73
1989.    Joe ("Pleasant Joseph") Cousin, piano/guitar/songwriter, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 81
1990.    Evelyn Young, tenor sax, died in Memphis, TX, USA. (Worked with B. B. King)
1993.    Ahmed Abdul-malik (né: Sam Gill), bass, died in Long Branch, NJ, USA. Age: 66
1993.    Earl Thompson, guitar, worked with both Hank Williams Sr., and Ernest Tubb, died. Age 77
1998.    Gene Autry, Actor/Western Vocalist, died Studio City, CA, USA. Age: 91
2001.    Manny Albam, composer, arranger, died, died in New York, NY, USA.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1907    "Dixie Dan", Arthur Collins voc, Furth tune, ex show: "Great White Way"
1908    "Christmas Morning at Clancey's", Steve Porter voc, Steve Porter tune
1908    "In Grandma's Day", Peerless Quartet, Sutton tune
1908    "Make my Dream Come True", Harry MacDonough Love, Brown tune
1913    "When You and I Were Young Maggie", Charles Harrison voc, --Butterfield tune.
1914    "Memphis Blues", Morton Harvey voc, -William C. Handy tune.
1922    "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate", The Virginians, -- Armand Piron tune
1924    "I Want To See My Tennessee", California Ramblers, Kalmar and Ruby tune.
1924    "All Alone", Al Jolson voc., with Ray Miller's orch,
1925    "Oh Boy, What a Girl", Isham Jones & his orch, Green; Wright; Bessinger Tune
1925    "Bam Bam Bammy", Roger Wolfe Kahn & his orch, --Shore
1925    "Dance From Down Yonder", Bennie Krueger & his orch, de Sylva; Meyer; Hanley Tune
1925    "What Could Be Sweeter Than You", Bennie Krueger &amap; his orch, Brown; Friend
1925    "Original Charleston", Isham Jones & his orch, mack-johnson Tune
1928    "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody", Red Nichols & his orch,
1929    "Beale Street Sheik", Douglas Williams and his orch,
1929    "You've Made Me Happy Today", The Knickerbockers (Ben Selvin 's Orch.)
1929    "Searcy County Rag" Ashley's Melody Men,
1929    "Bath House Blues", Ashley's Melody Makers,
1929    "Aristocratic Stomp", Paul Tremaine and his Aristocats,
1929    "Sighing For The Moon", Paul Tremaine and his orch, tune: Lee Lobdell
1930    "You're Lucky to Me", Duke Ellington & his orch.
1931    "Goodnight Sweetheart" Victor Young & his orch, (voc. N. Lucas)
1931    "Junk Man Blues", Red Nichols & his 5 Pennies, (voc. J.D.)
1936    "It's De-Lovely", Eddy Duchin & his orch
1936    "To Mary With Love", Eddy Duchin & his orch
1939    "Flying Home", Benny Goodman sextet
1939    "Rose Room", Benny Goodman sextet, Composers: A.Hickman-H.Williams tune
1945    "Coffee Time", Kay Kyser Orchestra
1939    "Flying Home", Benny Goodman Sextet (on Col.) (recording date)
1939    "Rose Room", Benny Goodman Sextet (on Col.) (recording date)
1942    "White Christmas ", - Voc: Bing Crosby
1961    "Fly, The ", - voc: "Chubby" Checker
1961    "Runaround Sue ", - Dion
1961    "I Love How You Love Me ", - Paris Sisters
1965    "Yesterday ", - Beatles
1965    "Lovers Concerto, A ", - Toys
1976    "Love So Right ", - Bee Gees
1976    "Nadia's Theme (The Young And The Restless ", - Barry DeVorzon
1976    "Rubberband Man", -The Spinners
1982    "Heartlight ", - Neil Diamond