BIRTHDAYS
1952     Tuck Andress, guitar, B. Tulsa, OK, USA
1931     Harold Raymond Battiste, Jr., composer/arranger/performer/reeds/piano/teacher, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. In 1949, after graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Battiste attended New Orleans' Dillard University, earning a B.S. in Music in 1953. As a studio arranger/producer, his work includes Barbara George's "I Know", Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe", Joe Jones' "You Talk Too Much", and Lee Dorsey's "Ya Ya". Battiste introduced New Orleans artist Mac Rebbenack as "Dr. John" to the world, producing his first albums. Later, Battiste spent thirty years in Los Angeles, including fifteen years with Sonny and Cher. Besides his musical scoring and conducting for film and TV, Battiste has been a lecturer at several colleges including Southern University, UCLA and USC, Mozartium Music School in Innsbruck, Austria and Le Torri Montanare in Lancano, Italy. In 1989, he joined Ellis Marsalis on the Jazz Studies faculty of the University of New Orleans. He has tutored many music professionals. In 1998, the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, Marc Morial, issued a proclamation officially naming his birthday as 'Harold Battiste Day'. Over his career, Batrtiste has received the Beau Arts Award, the Governor's Arts Lifetime Achievement Award, the Mayor's Arts Award, and many others.
1939     Andy Bey, Vocals/Piano, b. Newark, NJ, USA.
1934     Cecil Blackwood, C&W vocals, b. Ackerman, MS, USA. Member: "Blackwood Brothers"
1917     William A. Bolick, C&W Singer/Mandolin, b. Hickory, NC, USA. Member: "Blue Sky Boys", a duo comprised of Bill and Earl Bollich. (Bill: Singer/Mandolin ,né: William A. Bolick, b. Hickory, NC, USA, and Earl: Singer/Guitar, né: Earl A. Bolick, b. Hickory, NC, USA. d. April 19, 1998)
1937     Graham John Clifton Bond, alto sax/organ/piano/vocals, b: Romford-Essex, England, UK, d: May 8, 1974, Finsbury Park-London, UK. age: 37.
1919     Richard Brown, vocals, d. Jan. 11, 2002 (Natural causes) né: Herbert Richard Brown. This ballad vocalist lived long enough to see Television and to sing on such TV shows as Be My Guest. Prior to that, he was often heard on Radio shows including the famed Stop The Music program. In his later years, he became a full time Rabbi. CAUTION: Do not confuse with Richard Melvin Brown, award winning songwriter & author of the popular songwriting manual "The Lyricist's Assistant" How To TURN Your Words Into a SONG. Another Richard Brown was heard on lead vocals,and guitar/organ for the group "Curses". The other members were Cindy Yogmas: keyboards, vocals, Mike D'allessandro: drums, and David Parker: bass. The band "Heroes Of The Alamo" is a New York City based band (1999) that consists of Richard Brown (Bass, Vocals), Todd Carlstrom (Vocals, Lead Guitar), David Makuen (Vocals, Guitar) and Kevin Slane (Drums, Percussion, Vocals). The group took their name from a B-Movie poster hanging in an East Village Taco shop. And, perhaps the best known Richard Brown was Richard "Rabbit" Brown, one of the most celebrated "Songsters", and the only one from new Orleans to record. Brown was born in New Orleans ca. 1880 and died there in 1937. In his early years, he was a type of musician often called "Songsters", --musicians who sang on the streets for whatever small change that passersby would give them. He used to sing on the streets of Storyville (the bordello district of old New Orleans). "Rabbit" was a regular performer at Mama Lou's "Restaurant", and other bordellos, and he frequently worked as a singing boatman on Lake Pontchartrain. He may have been one of the earliest New Orleans' folk singers to learn the Twelve Bar Blues Pattern. Two of the songs he composed are "The Downfall of the Lion", which told how New Orleans Police Superintendent David Hennessey was shotgunned to death. The other song, "Gyp the Blood" told the story of the murder of restauranteur and bar owner Billy Phillips by Charles Harrison (a.k.a. "Gyp the Blood"), a New York hoodlum on the "lam". In 1927, 'Rabbit' recorded 6 tracks in New Orleans.
1941     Jay Clayton, vocals, b. Youngstown, OH, USA.
1936     Charlie Daniels, C&W guitar/fiddle, b. Wilmington, NC, USA. Member: Charlie Daniels Band.
1945     Elton Dean, Alto Sax, b. Nottingham, England, UK, d. Feb 8, 2006, London, England, UK. Dean was one of the key figures in British free jazz for decades. He began his professional career with Long John Baldry's Bluesology in 1967 --the pianist in that band was Reginald Dwight, who found later stardom under the Elton John stage name formed by combining the "Elton" from Elton Dean and "John" from Long John Baldry. In 1969, Dean left the group to join Soft Machine. In 1972, Dean left the band and in 1973, joined the Brotherhood of Breath, then in 1977, the Carla Bley Band, and was with Keith Tippett's Ark from 1978-1979. He also formed Soft Heap in 1978 and became a member of the London Jazz Composers' Orchestra in 1982. During the 1990s, he collaborated with Paul Rutherford, Annie Whitehead, Roswell Rudd, Marcio Mattos, and Keith Tippett's big band.
1945     Wayne Fontana, vocals.Manchester, Lancashire. England. née: Glyn Geoffrey Ellis. Member: 'The Mindbenders'
1969     Ben Harper, guitar, b. Pomona, CA, USA.
1916     William Palmer "Bill" Harris, Trombone, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. Aug 21, 1973, Hallandale, FL, USA. né: Willard Palmer Harris.
To quote 'Chubby' Jackson,
       "To date, my favorite gentleman on trombone was, and still is without
       question, his honor Bill Harris. What a creative musician he was. He
       used to play differently every time he stood up to solo. The band used
       to impatiently await his turn and when he sat down, the entire band
       would visibly let him know how they felt."
Harris is best known as the featured trombone soloist with Woody Herman's big band, off and on from 1944 to 1959. He also co-led groups with Charlie Ventura and Chubby Jackson. In 1938, he began his professional career touring with the Gene Krupa, Ray McKinley, and Bob Chester orchestras. During 1943-'44, he played with Benny Goodman, and Charlie Barnet, as well as guesting on a couple of Eddie Condon's Town Hall concerts, From 1944-1946, Harris worked with Woody Herman's 'First Herd'; the tune "Bijou" was a showcase for him, and it was his work with Herman that brought him his greatest fame. He was also one of the few First Herd members to also be in the 'Four Brothers Second Herd' (1948-1950). All during 1945-1957, Harris led dates for various labels including Capitol, Mercury, Verve, EmArcy, Dial, Fantasy, and Mode, usually featuring alumni from the Woody Herman Orchestra. During 1956-1959, he re-joined Herman several times. In 1947, he co-led a band with Charlie Ventura. In 1953, he worked with Chubby Jackson. During 1950-1954, he starred with 'Jazz at the Philharmonic'. During the second half of the 1950s, Harris often collaborated with Flip Phillips, and, in 1959, their band formed the nucleus of Benny Goodman's newest group. The 1960s found him mostly retired and living in Florida, although he briefly appeared in Las Vegas, and occasionally led his own groups as well as playing with Red Norvo.
CAUTION: Do not confuse with Guitarist Bill Harris
1969     Ben Harper, (Folk-Blues) singer/songwriter/slide acoustic guitar, b. CA, USA.
1909     Willie Hatcher, Soul vocals, b. Clarksdale, MS, USA. (raised in Cleveland, OH, USA) (also recorded with his brothers Edwin (d. April 2, 2003, England, UK, heart attack ), and Roger Hatcher. Edwin is also known as Edwin Starr).
1936     Ted Hawkins, C&W guitar/songwriter, b. Lakeshore, MS, USA
1948     Telma Louise Hopkins, vocals. Member: 'Dawn' ('Tony Orlando and Dawn')
1959     Neville Henry, sax, b. London (?), England. Member group: The Blow Monkeys. 'The Blow Monkeys', a British pop/rock quartet, was led by singer/guitarist "Dr. Robert" (b. Bruce Robert Howard, May 2, 1961, Norfolk, England), Tony Kiley (drums, b. Feb. 16, 1962), Mick Anger (bass, b. July 2, 1957), and Neville Henry on saxophone. The Blow Monkeys are perhaps best known in the United States for "You Don't Own Me", a track that appeared on the 1987 multi-platinum soundtrack album 'Dirty Dancing'.
1892     Oliver "Ollie or Dink" Johnson, piano/drums/clarinet, b. Biloxi, MS, USA. d. Nov. 29, 1954, Portland, OR, USA
1958     Kent Jordan, Flute, b. New Orleans, LA, USA
1947     Julie Kelly, vocals, b. Oakland, CA, USA.
1927     Cleo Laine, Vocalist, b.Southhall-Middlesex-London, England. Married Johnny Dankworth.
1941     Curtis Lee, vocals.
1928     Iry Lejeune, (cajun) accordion, b. Point Noir, LA, USA.
1941     Hank Marvin, guitar. né: Brian Rankin, b. Newcastle, Northumberland. né: Brian Rankin. Member: The Shadows
1941     Glen Moore, Bass/Piano, b. Portland, OR, USA
1957     Stephen Morris, drums, b. New York, NY, USA. Member group: New Order
1921     Arturo "Chico" O'Farrill, Trumpet/Composer/arranger, b. Havana, Cuba, d. 2001
1945     Michael Pilz, Bass Clarinet, b. Bad Neustadt, Germany
1907     Everard Steven "Rudy or Root" Powell Sr., clarinet/alto sax, b. New York, NY, USA. d: Oct. 30, 1976, New York, NY, USA. aka: Musheed Karweem
1958     William Reid, R&R vocals/guitar, b. Scotland. Member group: 'The Jesus & Mary Chain', formed by the brothers Jim and William Reid, together with bassist Douglas Hart, and drummer Murray Galglish. Their 1987 single "April Skies" charted UK No.8.
1948     Rickie Reynolds, guitar/vocals, b. Manilla, AK, USA. Member group: Black Oak Arkansas, a sextet formed in the late 1960s, that took its name from the US town and state where singer Jim "Dandy" Mangrum (b. March 30, 1948) was born. The other members of the group came from nearby towns: Ricky Reynolds (b. Oct. 28, 1948, Manilan, AK, USA; guitar), Stanley Knight (b. Feb. 12, 1949, Little Rock, AK, USA; guitar), Harvey Jett (b. Marion, AK, USA; guitar), Pat Daugherty (b. 11 November 1947, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA; bass) and drummer Wayne Evans, replaced on the third album by Thomas Aldrich (b. 15 August 1950, Jackson, MS, USA). In 1975, guitarist Jett was replaced by James Henderson (b. May 20, 1954, Jackson, MS, USA),
1970     Kurt Rosenwinkel, guitar, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA (Attended Berklee School of Music for 2 years)
1956     Barbara Sfraga, vocals.
1929     Mitchell Torok, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Houston, TX, USA
1934     Johnny Western, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Two Harbors, MN, USA. One of the last singing cowboys.
         Notable Events on this date include:
1965.    Earl Bostic, alto sax, died in Rochester, NY, USA. Age: 52.
1967.    Jody Edwards, vocals, died in Dolton, IL, USA. Age: 70. Worked with vaudeville team of 'Butterbeans & Susie'
1970.    Huey Baby (né: James Ramey), vocals, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 26 Member: 'Babysitters'
1975.    Oliver Nelson, tenor sax/arranger, died in View Park, CA, USA. Age: 43
1979.    Jimmy Skinner, C&W singer-songwriter died. Age: 70
1980.    Alexander D. Burt, nventor of 45 rpm record, died in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Age: 75
1985.    Bernard Wolfe, author, died in Woodland Hills, CA, USA. Age: 70 Wrote book: 'Really The Blues'
1990.    Mel Foree, C&W songwriter (Acuff Rose Publishing), died.
1991.    Billy Wright, vocals, died in Atlanta, GA, USA. Age: 73
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1943   "Pistol Packin' Mama ", - Bing Crosby
1943   "Blue Rain ", - Glenn Miller Orch.
1957   "April Love ", - Pat Boone
1957   "You Send Me ", - Sam Cooke
1957   "Little Bitty Pretty One ", - Thurston Harris
1957   "All The Way ", - Frank Sinatra
1967   "I Can See For Miles ", - Who
1972   "If You Don't Know Me By Now ", - Melvin, Harold & The Blue Notes
1972   "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone ", - Temptations
1989   "Living In Sin ", - Bon Jovi
1989   "Don't Know Much ", - Linda Ronstadt