BIRTHDAYS
1925   Marie Adams, vocals, b. Linden, TX, USA.
1939   Tommy Ambrose, vocals, b. Toronto, ON, Canada.
1959   Ronnie Burrage, drums/piano/vibes/keyboards/marimba/vocal, b. St. Louis, MO, USA.
1911   George Cates, leader/sax/arranger. b. New York, NY, USA, d. May 12, 2002, Santa Monica, California, USA. Between 1939 and 1943, he worked as a saxophonist and arranger with such bands as Russ Morgan, Henry Busse, and Dick Stabile. During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy where he conducted some service bands. After being demobilized, he settled in Los Angeles, rose to become head of one of Coral Record's divisions, and worked with such stars as the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby. While at Coral, he met Lawrence Welk, whose show he would join in the 1960s, remaining with Welk until the show closed in 1983. Cates had five gold records, all of which were covers of then-current movie hits. Cates also worked with Steve Allen.
1940   Larry Chance vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member: 'The Earls'
1924   Pete Chilver, guitar, b. Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK.
1937   John Reginald Crocker, clarinet, saxes, flute, vocal, harmonica, b: Nottingham, UK. Has worked with Chris Barber and others.
1904   Hugh Ballard Cross, C&W Singer-Songwriter/Guitar/Banjo/Announcer, b. Oliver Springs, TN, USA. Member: 'The Cumberland Ridge Runners'
1941   Edward Kenneth "Eddie" Daniels, Clarinet/tenor sax, b. New York, NY, USA.
1956   Nino DeFranco, vocals. Member: The DeFranco Family
1933   Jimmy Dotson, guitar/bass, b. Ethel, LA, USA.
1966   Tim Garland, Tenor-soprano Sax, bass clarinet, flutes, synthesizer, arranger, director, b. Ilford, England
1931   Billy Gayles, drums, b. Silkeston, MO, USA.
1955   Jesse Graham, reeds/flute/arrnger/composer, b: Sydney-nsw, Australia. Has Played with Mike Bartolomei; 1977 Compared to What; Daly-Wilson Big Band; John Hoffman Big Band; Led backing band for Kerrie Biddell; Julian Lee.
1938   Ronnie Greb, drums, b: Duryea, PA, USA. né: Ronald David Grabowski
1934   David Guard, guitar, b. Honolulu, HA, USA, March 22, 1991 in Rollinsford, NH, USA.(lymphatic cancer. Age: 57). Member group: Kingston Trio In 1956, David graduated from Stanford University (CA) with a B.A. in Economics. While in school, he formed the Kingston Trio with Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds, and the group performed until 1961. Subsequently, Guard formed the 'Whiskeyhill Singers' with former Trio bassist David "Buck" Wheat, Cyrus Faryar and Judy Henske. In 1962, he and his family relocated to Australia where he taught guitar, and hosted his own "Dave's Place" TV program. During this time, he authored several books; "Color Guitar", a teaching manual for the guitar, also "Deirdre" and "Hale-Mano", the former book on Celtic myths, and the latter on Hawaiian mythology. David also recorded Gabby Pahinui, the legendary 'slack-key' Hawaiian guitarist, producing "Pure Gabby" in 1979. David passed away on March 22, 1991 in Rollinsford, New Hampshire of lymphatic cancer. He was 57.
1959   Dave Guardala,-saxophone/engineer
1908   Patrick Cairns "Spike" Hughes, Leader/Composer/bass/arranger/piano, b. London, England, d. Feb. 2, 1987, London, UK
1947   Wilbert Hart, vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member: The Delfonics
1960   Jennifer Holliday, vocals, b. Houston, TX, USA.
1909   Art Jarrett, Vocals, leader, banjo, guitar. b: New York, NY. USA. Vocalized with the Earl Burtnett; Phil Harris; Isham Jones; Ted Weems; Red Nichols Bands, and worked with many other folks.
1922   Tommy "Madman" ('Mad Dog') Jones, Tenor Sax, b. Chicago, IL, USA. né: Thomas Douglas Jones Jr. At one time, he even owned a record label, but is today mainly recalled as a nightclub performer (Chicago area), who was most active as a Jazz player all during the 1940s, and 1950s.
1907   Roger Wolfe Kahn, Leader/alto-tenor sax/composer, b: Morristown, NJ, USA. d. July 12, 1962, New York, NY, USA
1948   Carol Delaney Kidd, Vocals, b: Glasgow, Scotland. Carol has played with Humphrey Lyttelton; Alex Moore; Murray Smith; Sandy Taylor
1903   Hans Jan Lengsfelder, lyricist, b. Vienna, Austria., d. Feb. 6, 1979, Hallandale, FL, USA. Perhaps best known as co-lyricist of the Duke Elington Orchestra's big hit, "Perdido"
1908   Sylvester Lewis, Trumpet, b. Kansas City, MO, USA. d. 1974. Played with Claude Hopkins band.
1966   Alphonso McClain, vocals, Member: 'Mighty Clouds Of Joy'
1944   George McCrae, vocals/producer, b. West Palm Beach, FL, USA.
1910   John Mills, Jr., vocals, Piqua, OH, USA. d. Jan, 24, 1936. Age 24 -tuberculosis. Member group: Mills Brothers. The four brothers were all born in Piqua, Ohio -- John, Jr. in 1910, Herbert Mills in 1912, Harry Mills in 1913, and Donald Mills in 1915.
1941   Mayf Nutter, C&W Singer-Songwriter/Producer, b. Jane Lew, W.Va, USA. né: "Mayfred Nutter"
1933   Don Parmley, banjoist, b. Monticello, KY, USA. Member: "Bluegrass Cardinals".
1911   "Piano Red" (aka: Dr. Feelgood), (honky tonk) piano, b. Hampton, GA, USA. né: Willie Perryman. Both Willy and his older brother, Rufus Perryman (who performed and recorded as "Speckled Red"), showed an aptitude for the piano at a very early age.
1878   Alphonse Floristan Picou, Clarinet, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. Feb. 4, 1961, - played in Accordiana Band in 1894 and with all the New Orleans "Greats" including Buddy Bolden; Papa Celestin; Bunk Johnson; Freddie Keppard; "Wooden Joe" Nicholas; Manuel Perez and Dave Peyton.
1931   Robert Plunkett, drums, b. Benton, MS, USA. Worked with Eddie Shaw.
1912   Charles Coleridge "Red" Richards, piano, b: New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. d: March 12, 1998, age 85. Began to study piano after hearing Fats Waller playing at Parlor Socials. recorded (debut) with Skeets Tolbert. Toured France and Italy (4 months) recording with Buck Clayton, and Mezz Mezzrow. During '53-7 toured with Muggsy Spanier. Then spent some time in Columbus OH, and in San Francisco, CA (with Wild Bill Davison). In '57 appeared at Great South Bay (NY) festival. In 1958 in re-union of Fletcher Henderson band, and rejoined Will Bill Davison in '59.. Just some of the Jazzmen with whom he work incls. Herman Autry; Sidney Bechet; "Wild Bill"Davison; Vic Dickenson; Roy Eldridge; Herbie Hall; Jimmy McPartland; Mezz Mezzrow; Muggsy Spanier; Tab Smith (4 years); Bob Wilbur.
1945   Sharon Redd, vocals, b. New York, NY, USA.
19??   T.C., Richards, jazzler/sax/penny whistle/bass/guitar/piano, b. Toronto, ON, Canada.
1945   Jeannie C. Riley, vocals, b. Anson, TX, USA. née: Stephenson
1922   Leon Sash, accordion/vibes/guitar, b. Chicago, IL, USA. - né: Leon Robert Shash
1889   "Uncle" Art Satherley, A&R/C&Wproducer, b. Bristol, England, UK
1941   Harry Shelor, C&W bassist, b. Louisville, KY, USA. Member: "New Grass Revival"
1950   Patrick Simmons, guitar, b. Aberdeen, WA, USA Member group: 'The Doobie Brothers'
1966   Sinitta, vocals, b. Seattle, WA, USA. née: Sinitta Renet Malone. Sinitta is the daughter of disco singer Miquel Brown. Aided by 'Stock, Aitken and Waterman', she had 4 top ten hits between 1986 and 1989 with "So Macho", "Toy Boy", "Cross My Broken Heart" and "Right Back Where We Started From".
1910   Howard Smith, Piano, b. Ardmore, OK, USA.
1970   Toby Graffety Smith, composer/keyboards, b. London, England. Member group: Jamiroquai, 1996 single "Virtual Insanity" charted UK No.3. Other members of Jamiroquai include bassist Stuart Zender (b: March 18, 1974 b.Sheffield (England), drummer Derrick Mckenzie (b: March 27, 1962, Essex Road, London, England), vibes and Digeridoo Wallis Buchannan (Oct. 29, 1965, Crouch end, London, England), composer/vocalist Jason Kay (b: Dec. 30, 1969, Stretford, Manchester, England) Nick Fyffe, Sola Akingbola, and Rob Harris.
1976   Cyndi Thomson, C&W vocals, b. Tifton, GA, USA.
1944   Peter Tosh, vocals, b. Westmoreland, Jamaica. né: Winston Hubert McIntosh.
1957   Karl Wallinger, keyboards/guitar. b. Prestatyn, North Wales, UK. Member: World Party
1960   Dan "Woody" Woodgate, rock drums, b. Maida Vale, London, England. Member group: Madness
   Notable Events on this date include:
1956.    Isham Jones, tenor sax, piano, leader, composer, died in Hollywood, Florida, USA
1985.    Nelson Boyd, bass, died
1986.    Moses Asch, Label owner (Folkways), died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 81
1967.    Henderson Chambers, trombone, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 59
1967.    Billy Banks, vocals, died in Tokyo, Japan59
1969.    William Langford, vocals, died in Winston-Salem, NC, USA. Age: 60. Member 'Golden Gate Quartet'
1975.    Six years and one child (Lisa Marie) later, Elvis and Priscilla Presley were divorced.
1982.    Jesse Powell, Tenor sax, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 58
1984.    Buddy Moss, guitar, died in Atlanta, GA, USA. Age: 70
1988.    Son House, guitar, died in Detroit, MI, USA. Age: 86
1989.    Eric Dixon, tenor sax, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 59
1990.    A. D. "Zuzu" Bollin, guitar, died in Dallas, TX, USA. Age: 68
1993.    "Little" Robert Weaver, guitar, died in St. Louis, MO, USA. Age: 60
1995.    Don Cherry, trumpet, died in Malaga, Spain. (né: Donald Eugene Cherry b. Nov 18, 1936 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA)
2004.    Johnny Faulk, (Background) Vocals, (Acoustic) Bass, died. Age: 79 Member: 'Hackberry Ramblers'
   Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1944   "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral ", - Bing Crosby
1959   "Heartaches By The Number ", - voc: Guy Mitchell
1963   "She's A Fool ", - Leslie Gore
1968   "White Room ", - Cream
1974   "Longfellow Serenade ", - Neil Diamond
1974   "When Will I See You Again ", - Three Degrees
1985   "Broken Wings ", - Mr. Mister
1991   "When A Man Loves A Woman ", - Michael Bolton