BIRTHDAYS
1917   John Adriano Acea, Piano, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. ca. late 1980s In early 1930s, was playing trumpet with Sammy Price and Jimmy Gorham bands, tenor sax with Don Bagley and also freelanced as a pianist..!944-'46, served in U.S.Army after which (1947) he played with Eddy "Lockjaw" Davis at Minton's in NYC. In 1950 with Dizzy Gillespie's big band. With Illinois Jacquet band 1 year, and a year acc. Dinah Washington. Worked with Cootie Williams briefly and then rejoined Jacquet June'53 and toured Europe with Jacquet after which he freelanced in NYC. To most of his friends Acea was known simply as "John" and several nicknames including "Johnny Acey" and "Acey." CAUTION. Do not confuse with the rhythm and blues performer Johnny Ace.
1929   Curtis Amy, Tenor/soprano Sax, b. Houston, TX, USA. d. June 5, 2002
1919   Arthur "Art" Blakey, Drums, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA. d. Oct. 16, 1990, - aka: Abdullah ibn Buhaina. Played in Billy Eckstine band and others.
1891   Amzy Asbell, piano, b. Fulton County (Havana), IL USA. d. ca. 1962, Dayton, OH, USA. (Buried in the Veterans Cemetary). Amzy is perhaps best recalled for playing the Piano with Clyde "Sugar" McCoy's orchestra. His wife was Laura Belle (née: Hughes), b. Nov. 3, 1909, Corydon, Harrison, IN, USA; d. March 23, 2000, New Albany, Floyd, IN, USA. One of their sons, Charles G. Asbell (now deceased) was a cousin to William Foley Jr., the son of William James Foley who played organ, piano, and calliope. (See our September 17 Calendar entry for Foley)
1955   Linda "Lindy" Boone, vocals. Singer Pat Boone's daughter. member: 'The Boone Family'
1947   Mwata Bowden, clarinet, bass clarinet, sopranino clarinet, tenor and baritone sax, vocal, b. Memphis, TN, USA.
1941   Lester Bowie, Trumpet/Flugelhorn, composer, b. Frederick, MD, USA. d. Nov. 8. 1999. Age: 58
1952   Paulette Carlson, vocals, b. Northfield, MN, USA. Best recalled release: "Highway 101"
1920   Loys Choquart, Clarinet/soprano-alto sax/Leader, b. Geneva, Switzerland
1956   Blair Cunningham, drums, b. Memphis, TN, USA. Member group: 'Haircut 100', 1982 single "Love Plus One" charted UK No.3.
1918   Robert "Bobby" Dukoff, tenor sax, b: Worcester, MA, USA. - raised in Sioux City, IA, USA.
1949   Daryl Hall, singer/songwriter, b. Pottstown, PA, USA. né: Daryl Hohl. Member group: Hall and Oates. The group had many hit releases including the 1982 single "Maneater" which charted US No.1 and UK No.6 (and five other US No.1's) As a young child, Hall studied voice and piano. and during his teens occasionally ventured into Philadelphia, PA to sing with 'doo-wop' groups. Without a doubt, Hall, as part of Hall and Oates, is responsible for more pop hits than any other duo in the history of rock 'n' roll.
1936   Billy Higgins, Drums, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA. d. May 3, 2001
1947   Fred Hopkins, bass, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. Jan. 7, 1999, Chicago, IL, USA.
1929   Ludek Hulan, Jazz bassist, b, Prague, Czech Republic, d. Feb. 22, 1979
1962   Scott Johnson, guitar, b. Tempe, AZ, USA. Member group: 'Gin Blossoms', the group consisted of Bill Lean (March 1, 1962, bass), Doug Hopkins (Died: Dec. 5, 1993, guitar), Jesse Valenzuela (May 22, 1962, guitar), Phillip Rhodes (Born: May 26, 1968, drums), Robin Wilson (Born: July 12, 1965, vocals), and Scott Johnson. (Jesse did the songwriting. When the Gin Blossoms disbanded, he formed his own band called the "Low Watts".)
1957   Chris Joyce, drums, Manchester, England. Member: Simply Red, a group formed in 1984 by singer Mick "Red" Hucknall (born Michael James Hucknall, (b. June 8, 1960, Manchester, England) with three ex-members of the band 'Durutti Column', -Tony Bowers (bass, b. Oct. 31, 1952), Chris Joyce (drums, b. Oct. 11, 1957, Manchester, England) and Tim Kellett (brass/keyboards, b. July 23, 1964, Knaresborough, England), plus Sylvan Richardson (guitar), and Fritz McIntyre (keyboards, b. September 2, 1956, Birmingham, England). The group signed to Elektra Records.
1927   Cyril Anthony "Tony" Kinsey, Drums, b. Sutton Coldfield, England
1956   Doug Lawrence, tenor sax, Lake Charles, LA, USA.
1967   Nicki Leighton-Thomas, Jazz vocals, b. Bath, Somerset, England, UK.
1962    Andy McCoy, guitar, b. Finland. Member group: Hanoi Rocks. In 1980, singer Michael Monroe (born Matti Fagerholm) and guitarist Andy McCoy (born Antti Hulkko) founded "Hanoi Rocks". After some changes, the group solidified with guitarist 'Nasty Suicide' (born Jan Stenfors), bassist Sam Yaffa (born Saki Takamäki), and drummer 'Gyp Casino' (born Jesper Sporre). With the exception of Monroe, all members had previously played with one or both of the Finnish punk bands "Briard", and "Pelle Miljoona Oy". The group disbanded in 1985.
1952   Claude Morrison, tenor vocals, b. Toronto, ON, Canada. Member: 'Nylons'
1952   Jimmy Murphy, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Republic, AL, USA.
1918   Jerome Robbins, choreographer/composer, b. New York, NY, USA, d. July 29, 1998, New York, NY, USA. né: Jerome Rabinowitz. He won an Oscar for the Broadway (and film) musical 'West Side Story'. Robbins is included here for although known as a choreographer, he could, and did, compose music. It was just his karma that none of his music ever became popular.
1955   Peter Sprague, guitar, b. Cleveland, OH, USA. (Raised in Colorado. In 1963, family moved to Del Mar, CA, USA.)
1943   Gene Watson, 19521952vocals, b. Palestine, TX, USA.
1903   Teddy Weatherford, Piano, b. Pocahontas, VA, USA. USA. d. April 25, 1945
1932   Dottie West, C&W vocals. née: Dorothy Marie Marsh. Grammy Award winner.
1950   Andre Woolfolk, Reeds, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member group: Earth, Wind and Fire, a group formed in Chicago in 1969 by jazz drummer Maurice White, the band eventually solidified to include singers Philip Bailey and former 'Friends of Distinction' member Jessica Cleaves (who was gone by 1975), and band members Al McKay, Ralph Johnson, Larry Dunn, John Graham, Fred White and Andrew Woolfolk.
   Notable Events on this date include:
1961.    Leonard "Chico" Marx, of The Marx Brothers, died at age 74. A good pianist as well as comic actor.
1963.    Edith Piaf (b. Dec. 19, 1915, Paris, France) died in Paris, France. Age: 47. née: Edith Giovanna Gassion, she was called the 'Sad Little Sparrow of Paris'. Among her hits were "Milord", "L'hymne a l'amour", and "Mon Legionnaire".
1958.    Rex Griffin, C&W songwriter, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 46
1975.    Jimmy Sherman, piano, died (He is perphaps best recalled as the co-composer (with Jimmy Davis and Roger Ramirez) of the jazz standard "Lover Man.",
1976.    Connie Boswell, vocals, died in New York, NY, USA, Age: 68 Member: 'The Boswell Sisters', and solo artist.
1985.    Tex Williams, famed C&W singer, died, USA. Age: 68.
1988.    Buck Clarke, drums, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 56. Worked with Arnett Cobb
1988.    Jesse J. Farley, vocals, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 73. Member: 'The Soul Stirrers'
1991.    Redd Foxx, vocals/comedian actor, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 68. Recorded for the Savoy label.
1994.    Iola Pugh, vocals, died in Miami, FL, USA. Age: 68
2001.    Billy Maxted, piano, arranger, leader, died in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
   Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1939   "Body and Soul", recorded this date by Saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. (RCA-Bluebird) A great classic.
1945   "It's Been A Long, Long Time ", - voc: Bing Crosby
1945   "It's Been A Long, Long Time ", - Harry James Orch.
1975   "Calypso ", - John Denver
1975   "Sky High ", - Jigsaw
1975   "Low Rider ", - War
1986   "You Give Love A Bad Name ", - Bon Jovi
1986   "Next Time I Fall, The ", - Peter Cetera
1986   "Rain, The ", - Oran "Juice" Jones.