October 13
       TOP   BIRTHDAYS
1969     Rhett Akins C&W singer-songwriter, b. Valdosta, GA, USA.
1927     Edward "Eddie" Baker, piano, b. Chicago, IL, USA
1960     Joey Belladonna, (heavy metal) vocals.
1926     Raymond Matthews "Ray" Brown, Bass, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA. d. July 2, 2002, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Brown was one of the founders of bebop and his style helped to define the 'bop' era. His career started in the 1940s and after relocating to New York in 1945, he began to work with "Dizzy" Gillespie. He also appeared with Gillespie in the 1946 film "Jivin' in Be-Bop." He would later play with Charlie Parker and Bud Powell. While playing in Gillespie's Big Band in 1946 and 1947, he became singer Ella Fitzgerald's music director - and, in the late 1940s, her husband. They divorced in the early 1950s. Brown also played with an early edition of what became the Modern Jazz Quartet. In 1951, he recorded with the Milt Jackson Quartet. He later became a founding member of the Oscar Peterson's Trio, which, during the 1950s and '60s, was one of the most popular Jazz groups. Among his recordings is the solo effort "Something for Lester", and "Night In Tunisia". with Dizzy Gillespie. His career had spanned a half century when he died in his sleep while in Indianapolis for an engagement at the Jazz Kitchen. He was 75.
1909     Scoville "Toby" Browne, alto and tenor sax, flute, Clarinet, b. Atlanta, GA, USA. d. Oct. 4, 1994
1965     "Cherelle", rock vocals. Member: Affair -"First Bite"
1948     John Ford Coley, singer/songwriter, b. McCamey, TX, USA. Member group: 'England Dan & John Ford Coley', 1976 single, "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight" charted US No.2, but only UK No.26. (Other half of team is Dan Seals, singer/songwriter, b. Feb. 8, 1950, McCamey, TX, USA. Dan is brother of Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts)
1927     Prince Cooper, piano/vocal, Chicago, IL, USA. d. Jan. 4, 1998, Elgin. IL, USA (Suburh of Chicago). né: Robert L. Cooper
1946     Lacy J. Dalton, C&W vocals. Best recalled song: "Blue Eyed Blues".
1915     Jack Fallon, Bass/violin, b. London, ON, Canada, d. May 22, 2006, (North) London, England, UK. Age: 90. while serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, he played as a member of the RCAF Streamliners dance band, and remained in Britain when his tour of duty ended. In April 1946 In 1946, Fallon moved to the UK, whre he set up a music agency that booked the Beatles for a concert in 1962, 8 months before their first hit. ( Years later, Fallon played the violin for the "Don't Pass Me By," track on the Beatles " White Album".) He played with Ronnie Scott and Tommy Whittle, with trumpeter Jack Jackson, and in 1948 toured and recorded behind pianist George Shearing. In the spring of 1949, after backing Django Reinhardt, Fallon, guitarist Malcolm Mitchell and drummer Tony Crombie joined the Count Basie band. After leaving Basie, the trio continued working together accompanying American singers Hoagy Carmichael and Maxine Sullivan before going on an eight-week Swedish tour behind Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. In the 1950s, Fallon toured with famed pianist Mary Lou Williams, as well as backing singers Sarah Vaughan, and Lena Horne, and also worked with bandleaders Humphrey Lyttleton, Kenny Baker, and Ralph Sharon. During his career, he also backed such American bluesmen as Big Bill Broonzy and Josh White, and was a member of Johnny Duncan's Blue Grass Boys. In 1952, he founded his own booking agency, Cana Variety, handling both Jazz and rock & roll acts, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. During his long career, he also shared stages with Bob Hope, Marlene Dietrich and Lena Horne.
1940     Chris Farlow, vocals/guitar, b. London, England, né: John Deighton 1966 single "Out Of Time" charted UK No.1. Tune was composed Jagger and Richard.
1911     Ticker Freeman, piano, b. Paterson NJ, USA. Best recalled as the pianist on singer Dinah Shore's Show
1922     Alexej Fried, Trumpet, composer, arranger, b: Brno, Czechoslovakia
1924     Terry Gibbs, Vibes/leader, b. New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA - né: Julius Gubenko. As a youth, Terry played drums, while, Sol, his older brother, played xylophone. Terry would sneak into Sol's room and play the off-limits xylophone whenever the opportunity arose. He won an amateur contest at one of the local resorts. As a result, he returned home and began xylophone lessons with Fred Albright, then a well respected percussionist and teacher. By age 12, he was already an accomplished vibraphonist. He entered the popular Major Bowes Amateur Hour, radio program and won. It was the start of Gibbs' professional career. He Served in the U. S. Army during WWII (Tank Driver - later musician), and then free-lanced in New York City, often appearing in the 52nd Street clubs. (While on a furlough from the Army, he spent some free time on 52nd St., and discovered ReBop.) From 1946-'47 with Tommy Dorsey. Also in 1947, he toured the Scandinavian countries with "Chubby" Jackson. In 1948, he was with drummer Buddy Rich. From late '48-'49, with Woody Herman (2nd Herd). In 1950-'52, with Benny Goodman's band. In 1957, he re-located to Los Angeles, CA, first freelancing, and then leading his own band (Terry Gibbs' Dream Band). The band had some great charts by Cohn, Flory, Sy Johnson, Marty Paich, Wes Hensel, Manny Albam and Bob Brookmeyer. Among the sidemen were vibes and leader: Terry Gibbs; trumpets: Conti Candoli, Williamson, Katzman; trombonists: Burgess and Bob Enevoldsen; tenors: Bill Perkins, Bill Holman and Med Flory; altos: Maini and Charlie Kennedy; pianists: Levy, Pete Jolly and Ben Aronov, and drummer: Mel Lewis. During the 1980s, he found work as Musical Director for the Steve Allen, and Regis Philbin TV Shows. In the '90s, he worked in a quintet with Buddy DeFranco. Among the men that Gibbs has played with are Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, Tito Puente,and others. He has composed 100s of songs that have been recorded by Count Basie, Les Brown, and Nat King Cole, among others.Gibbs happily is still active today (2002). His son, Gerry, is a fine drummer and leader of his own band, the 'Thrasher Band'.
1949     Sammy Hagar, vocals. Member: Van Halen
1920     Albert Hague, Composer, b: Berlin, Germany
1919     Paula Kelly, vocalist , d. 1992. Best recalled as member of Tthe Modernaires -Glenn Miller vocal group.
1927     Anita Kerr, vocals, b. Memphis TN, USA.
1927     Lee Konitz, Alto-soprano-tenor-baritone Sax, clarinet, flute, piano,vocal, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Lee Konitz is among the last living legends from the early days of 'cool jazz' when he was a featured soloist with Lennie Tristano and Miles Davis. He started his career with the Gay Claridge Orch, and also played with other bands in Chicago, IL, and briefly played with Jerry Wald Band.. He then studied at Roosevelt College and, in '47-8, he toured with the Claude Thornhill, band. During '48-50, he played with Miles Davis, and became very closely associated with Lennie Tristano. In Aug.'52, joined Stan Kenton band. In '54-55, led his own combo in NYC and Boston. In late '55, played in Germany with Hans Koller, Lars Gullin and others. Back in NYC, he worked as a teacher while also performing at the Half Note Cafe.
1935     Alexksey Semyonovich Kozlov, Alto-soprano Sax, b. Moscow, Russia
1944     Robert Lamm, lyricist, keyboards/lyrics. He wrote many lyrics for group "Chicago Transit Authority" now called "Chicago".
1853     Lillie Langtry, vaudevillian actress/singer, b. England, UK. aka: "The Jersey Lily"
1903     Julia Lee, Piano/Vocals, b. Oct. 13, 1903, USA, d. Dec. 8, 1958, USA.
1932     Johnny Lytle, Vibes, b. Springfield, OH, USA. d. Dec. 15, 1995, Springfield, OH, USA.
1921     Harper MacKay, orchestra leader, b. Boston, MA, USA. Best recalled as leader of the 'NBC Follies' orchestra.
1900     Gerald Marks, Composer, b. Saginaw, MI, USA. d. Jan. 27, 1997, New York, NY, USA. Age: 96. Composed "All of Me" and "Is It True What They Say About Dixie". Self-taught Pianist who began writing songs in the 1920s for Broadway and later for Hollywood. He composed "All I Want For Christmas" for Shirley Temple (1936 film: Stowaway).
1962     Rob Marche, guitar. Member group: Jo Boxers, 1983 UK No.3 single Boxer Beat.
1961     Jocelyn Menard, saxophone, b. Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. A 1980 graduate (Jazz studies) of Concordia University. In 1988, began teaching saxophone and flute at the 'Centre Musical de Robert Mavounzy.' on the carribean island of Guadeloupe. 1987 found him traveling to New York where he studied with George Coleman. He also studied Harmony with Bernard Maury in Paris, France. In 1990, he was a member of the 'Mozaik Jazz Quintet', and opened for Chucho Valdés and Stanley Jordan at the Festival de Jazz de la Guadeloupe. In 1992, he was resident in Paris, France, where he participated in workshops given by Dave Liebman He also attended workshops given by Arturo Sandoval, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and Max Roach in Martinique in 1993. In 1993, he returned to Guadeloupe where he was Jazz studies department coordinator of the 'Ecole de Musique Armand Siobud', During a short stay in Paris, he became a member of both Tito Puente's Orchestra and the Paris Jazz Orchestra. He also played with Norman Deveault, Norman Guilbeault, Francois Theberge & the Medium Band, Charito, and Sylvain Gagnon. He has performed with Guadelupean musicians Charly Chomereau-Lamotte, Edouard Benoirt, Happy Lewis, André Condouant, les freres Bernard, Michel Sardaby, Philippe d'Huy, Raymond d'Huy, and Raymond Grego.
1909     Johnny Messner, leader/composer, b: New York, NY, USA. d. Jan. 1986, Ridgefield Park, NJ, USA. Composed: "Catching the 802 Local"; "Toy Piano Minuet"; "Toy Piano Jump"; "Piano Roll Rock"; "Sing For Joy".
1921     Yves Montand, vocals/actor, b. France
1946     Dorothy Moore, (Soul and R&B) vocals. b. Jackson, MI, U.S.A. Among her charted releases were (for Malaco -1976) "Misty Blue" (No.2 R&B, and No.3 Pop chart). and "Funny How Time Slips Away" (No.7 R&B charts), and (for Malaco -1977) "I Believe You." In the late '80s (for Volt label) "Time Out for Me" and "Winner" both charted. She recorded for Malaco in the 1990s, and for the Farish Street label in 2002.
1934     Nana Mouskouri, vocals, .b. Greece (Nana had great many hits during the 1970s.)
1950     Simon Nicol, guitar. Member group: 'Fairport Convention', 1969 single "Si Tu Dois Partir" ("If you must leave") charted UK No.21.
1959     Olive "Marie" Osmond, vocals/actrress, b. Ogden UT, USA.
1960     Orphy Robinson, Vibes/marimba/xylophone/guitar/bass/percussion/Sax, b. London, England, UK
1940     Farrell "Pharoah" Saunders, Tenor-soprano Sax, b. Little Rock, AR, USA.
1922     Alan Scott, TV host/songwriter, b. Haddonfield, NJ, USA.
1948     Geoff Simkins, Jazz alto-soprano-tenor sax, b. Brighton, Sussex, England, UK.
1942     Paul Simon, songwriter/vocals/actor, b. Newark, NJ, USA. Paul is from a very musical Jewish-Hungarian family. His mother was a music teacher. His father, Louis Simon, was a radio musician (bassist) who worked in the television show orchestras for the Arthur Godfrey and Jackie Gleason shows, and others. Interestingly, Simon has recorded--either as a solo artist or with former partner Art Garfunkel--approximately 125 original songs. Many of his lyrics can stand alone -without music- as true poetry. Something becoming increasing rare these days.
1948     Peter David Spencer, vocals, Member group: Smokie, 1975 UK No.3 single If You Think You Know How To Love Me.
1909     Art Tatum, Piano, b. Toledo, OH, USA. d. Nov 5, 1956, Los Angeles, CA, USA. This wonderful pianist was blind in one eye, only partial vision in other.
1947     Alan Wakeman, Tenor-Baritone-Soprano Sax/Clarinet, b. England, UK.
1926     Tommy Whittle, Tenor Sax/clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, b. Grangemouth, Scotland
1962     John Wayne Wiggins, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Nashville, TN, USA. Member: "John & Audrey Wiggins"

       TOP   Notable Events on this date include:
1958.     Lorraine Geller, piano, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA (b. Sept 11, 1928, Portland, Oregon, USA)
1963.     The term "Beatlemania" is coined after a Beatles appearance at the Palladium.
1969.     Booker Pittman, alto and soprano sax, clarinet, arranger, vocal, died in Brazil. (laryngeal cancer) (b.Oct. 9, 1909, Fairmont Heights MD, USA) His daughter, Eliana Pittman, is a find singer. He was the son of Portia Washington, and Booker T. Washington's grandson.
1971.     Joe Sullivan, piano, died in San Francisco, CA, USA. Age: 64
1972.     Phil Seamen, drums died in London, England, UK.
1974.     Ed Smalls, owner: Small's Paradise, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 92
1977.     Shirley Brickley, vocals, died in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Age: 32. Member: The Orlons
1979.     Clarence Muse, Afro-American songwriter, died in Perris, CA, USA. Age: 90
1980.     Gabby "Pop" Pahinui, (Hawaiian) guitar, died in Honolulu, HI, USA. Age: 59
1984.     Kjeld Bonfils, piano, vibes, died in Denmark.
1993.     Wade Flemons, singer/songwriter, died in Battle Creek, MI, USA. Age: 53
2000.     Britt Woodman, trombonist with Duke Ellington Orchestra in the 1950s, died at age 80.
2002.     Horace "Hoss" Logan, who founded the "Louisiana Hayride" C&W radio show, died in Victoria, TX, USA.
2004.     Tommy Vaden, C&W fiddler for County vocalist Hank Snow died. Age: 79

       TOP   Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1939   "On a Little Street In Singapore", Harry James Orch. (recording date)
1956   "Blueberry Hill ", - Domino, Fats
1956   "Cindy, Oh Cindy ", - Martin, Vince
1958   "To Know Him, Is To Love Him ", - Teddy Bears
1962   "Gina ", - Johnny Mathis
1973   "I Got A Name ", - Jim Croce
1973   "Space Race ", - Billy Preston
1979   "Heartache Tonight ", - Eagles
1979   "Still ", - Commodores
1979   "Tusk ", - Fleetwood Mac
1984   "All Through The Night ", - Cyndi Lauper
1984   "Penny Lover ", - Lionel Richie
1990   "Knockin' Boots ", - Candyman