BIRTHDAYS
1947     Russ Ballard, Singer/songwriter/guitar.b. Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England. Member: Argent
1956     Bob Belden, tenor sax/composer/arranger/producer, b. Evanston, IL, USA.
1970     Linn Berggren, vocals/keyboards, b. Gothenburg, Sweden. née: Malin Sofia Katarina Berggren. Member group: 'Ace Of Base'. Their 1994 single "The Sign" charted US No.1. Her sister, Jenny Cecilia Berggren, was born May 19, 1972. Their brother, Jonas "Joker" Berggren, was born March 21, 1967. The last member of the group is Ulf Ekberg, -born Dec. 6, 1970.
1956     Tony Bowers, bassist/guitar, b. Manchester, England. Member groups: 'Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias', 'Simply Red', 1986 single "Holding Back The Years" charted US No.1 and UK No.2. In 1973, the comedy rock band 'Alberto y los Trios Paranoias' was formed in Manchester, England, by singer Les Prior, singer/guitarist C.P. "Chris" Lee, singer/guitarist/bassist Bob Harding, guitarist Simon White, guitarist/bassist Tony Bowers, singer/bassist Jimmy Hibbert, and drummers Bruce Mitchell and Ray "Mighty Mongol" Hughes. In 1978, the group scored a very minor hit (charted UK No. 47) with "Heads Down No Nonsense Mindless Boogie" which was a parody of the popular British hard rock group 'Status Quo'. In 1984 , the band 'Simply Red' was formed by singer Mick "Red" Hucknall (born Michael James Hucknall, June 8, 1960, Manchester, England) and three ex-members of the group 'Durutti Column', Tony Bowers (b. October 31, 1952) (bass), Chris Joyce (b. October 11, 1957, Manchester, England) (drums), and Tim Kellett (b. July 23, 1964, Knaresborough, England) (brass, keyboards), plus Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Fritz McIntyre (b. September 2, 1956, Birmingham, England) (keyboards).
1941     Bruce Bromberg, producer, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Worked with 'Hightone Records'
1944     Sumter Bruton, guitar, b. Fort Worth, TX, USA. Member: 'Juke Jumpers'
1905     "Chappy" (né: Jacob Chappel) Drums/Leader, b. Budapest, Hungary, d. March 28, 1973. Worked with Jeno Obendorfer. (Drums/Bandleader)
1964     Colm O'Ciosoig, drums, b. Dublin, Ireland. Member group: My Bloody Valentine, Original members were guitarist/singer Kevin Shields and drummer Colm O'Ciosoig who formed the band in Dublin, Ireland in 1984. . During their 'heyday', they also included singer-guitarist Bilinda Butcher and bassist Debbie Googe. Only on their last two albums ("Isn't Anything" -November 1988, and "Loveless" -November 1991), did they find their sound: a distinct blend of 'White Noise' rock, ambient music, and off-kilter pop, that came to be termed "shoegazing music" by the British press. One admiring critic described their music as "beauty under siege". Leader Kevin Sheilds once told an interviewer. "To be honest, we don't really know what it is we're doing,"
1930     Ray Crane, Trumpet, b. Skegness, England, d. June 29, 1994
1963     Mikkey Dee, drums, b. Stoke, England. né: Mikael Delogelo. Member group: 'Motorhead'. The original Motorhead consisted of The lineup consists of Lemmy Kilmister on bass and vocals, Larry Wallace on guitar and Lucas Fox on drums. During their first recording sessions, Lucas was replaced by Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. Many others would appear with the group during their 30 year history.
1952     Bernard Edwards, Bassist. b. Greenville, NC, USA. Member group: 'Chic'
1930     Booker Ervin, tenor sax, b. Denison, TX, USA, d. August 31, 1970, New York, NY, USA. (kidney disease) Age: 39. (NOTE: some sites erroneously report his date of demise as July 31) né: Booker Telleferro Ervin II. Ervin studied at Berklee College of Music after teaching himself tenor saxophone while in the United States Air Force. He perhaps remains best known for his association with Charles Mingus, with whom he played and recorded from 1956 to 1962. During the 1960s he also led his own quartet and played with Randy Weston.
1912     Dale Evans, b. Uvalde, TX, USA. née: Lucille Wood Smith but name changed at early age to Frances Octavia Smith. Little remembered today that a very young Dale did sing with the Anson Weeks and Abe Lyman orchestras. She was raised in Texas and in Arkansas. Married at 14 (to Thomas Frederick Fox '27-'29); a mother at 15; divorced at 17. Moved to Memphis TN, found work in insurance agency and also sang on radio. Her second marriage (August Wayne Johns '29-'35) ended in divorce. Relocated to Louisville, KY, USA, and was popular radio vocalist. Her 3rd marriage (Robert Dale Butts '37-'46) would also end in divorce. She went to Chicago, where Fox Films signed her and she soon appeared in some Roy Rogers films as his leading lady. In 1946, Roy's wife died, and so did Dale's marriage to Butts. One year later, she and Roy were married. This time the marriage was very successful, but dogged by tragedy which included the loss of 3 children before they reached their adulthood. During the 1950s, they had a successful TV program. Upon retirement, they opened the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, CA. On Oct. 12, 1999, Dale had heart surgery to replace her pacemaker battery. Few folks know that she composed their theme song, "Happy Trails".
1944     Sherman Ferguson, drums, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA, d. January 22, 2006 (complications from diabetes). In the mid-1960s, Ferguson launched his professional career playing with Charles Earland. At decade's end, he joined guitarist Al Martino for a series of acclaimed LPs In 1970, he and Eddie Green on piano, Odean Pope on saxophone, and Tyrone Brown on bass, formed the group 'Catalyst', and were signed by the Cornerstone label, a Buddah Records subsidiary. In 1975, the group disbanded with Ferguson relocating to Los Angeles. He was a much sought-after sessions player, and appeared on close to 100 sessions in all, including dates in support of Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, and Benny Carter. Ferguson also co-founded a trio with bassist John Heard and pianist Tom Ranier, and taught jazz theory at Jackson State University, UCLA, and the University of California, Irvine. In 2002 Ferguson formed his own label, Jazz-a-nance,
1944     Richard "Kinky" Friedman, singer/songwriter/novelist/Candidate for Governor of Texas b. Chicaco, IL, USA (later settled in Rio Duckworth, TX). He is the author of a series of detective novels that feature himself as the cigar-smoking sleuth. He moved to the Texas hill country as a child. In the mid-1960s, he joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Borneo, where he says he introduced the natives to the game of Frisbee. While in Borneo, he began to write 'Country' music. Upon his return to Texas, he formed the "Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys" band and began performing across the United States with such artists as Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Among his famous - and infamous - songs are such titles as: "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore," "Ride 'em Jewboy," and another title 'Get Your Biscuits In The Oven (And Your Buns In The Bed) that earned him the National Organization for Women's "Male Chauvinist Pig of the Year" award in 1974. (Kinky offered the tune to vocalist k.d. lang who didn't think the song was quite right for her.) His songs have angered some people, but devoted fans say his only goal has always been to poke fun at society's hypocrisies and sacred cows. The outrageousness of some of Friedman's material has always obscured its frequent poignancy. In the mid-1980s, he gave up trying to be a country-music star and began writing mysteries featuring himself as a jaded former musician and fledgling private eye. Perhaps due to his novels, Friedman's music is more popular in Europe than in his own USA. Friedman has said that he will stand for Govenor of Texas in 2006. on a platform of legalizing casino gambling, outlawing the declawing of cats, and the banning of political correctness. He plans to kick off his campaign with a series of 'Kinky's Governor's Balls', and says his first act, if elected, would be to demand a recount.. His list of fans include: First Lady Laura Bush, President Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Larry McMurtry.
1972     Vincent Gardner, trombone, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (New York, NY, USA) Born into a musical family, including his mother, his brother and his father, Burgess Gardner, a trumpeter and music educator (very active in the Chicago).Vincent began playing piano when he was six, and soon switched to the violin, saxophone, and French horn before finally deciding on the trombone at age 12. In 1996, after graduating University of North Florida, he moved to New York. Gardner has either performed, toured, and/or recorded with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Bobby McFerrin, The Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Foster, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Chaka Kahn, A Tribe Called Quest, Nancy Wilson, McCoy Tyner, Nicholas Payton, Illinois Jacquet, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Flanagan, Marcus Roberts, Matchbox 20, Jimmy Heath, Lauryn Hill, the LCJO, and others.
1923     Robert "Bob" Graettinger, composer/arranger/leader/alto-baritone sax, b. Ontario, CA, USA. d. March 12, 1957, Los Angeles, CA, USA
1915     Chris Griffin, Trumpet, b. Binghamton, NY, USA, d. June 18, 2005, Danbury, CT, USA, (Melonoma). né: Gordon Claude Griffin. 'Chris' Griffin, was part of the "Biting Brass" trumpet section of the great 1937-'38 Benny Goodman band. During the height of the Goodman years, Chris sat between Harry James and Ziggy Elman in what many considered the best trumpet section ever. Duke Ellington was quoted as saying that it was "the greatest trumpet section that ever was." Glenn Miller called it "the marvel of the age." At age 12 he began to study the trumpet, and six years later, was living in New York City and playing professionally in saxophonist Charlie Barnet's band. After two years with Barnet, he played with singers Rudy Vallee, Joe Haymes and Mildred Bailey. He then became a CBS studio musiccian and in May 1936 joined the Benny Goodman band. He found studio work with CBS and joined the Goodman band in May 1936, where he stayed for 3 years. In 1938, when Goodman brought his orchestra into the famed venue for the first performance there by a jazz band, Chris was there. That was the concert that brought a new level of recognition to Jazz and a new legitimacy to the music. Griffin also appeared with the Goodman band in the films "The Big Broadcast of 1937" and "Hollywood Hotel." In 1939, Griffin tired of the touring life and decided to become a sessions musician so that he could spend more time with his wife, former singer Helen O'Brien, then pregnant with his third child. As lead trumpet in various radio and television orchestras, he accompanied Milton Berle Ed Sullivan, and Jackie Gleason. He is credited with playing the beautiful trumpet obbligato on Gleason's theme song, "Shangri-La." As a session musician, Griffin recorded with Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett and Mel Torme. He also worked with Charlie Parker on the "Charlie Parker With Strings" album. In the late 1960s, Griffin ran a trumpet school, and in the 1970s toured Europe before joining Tex Beneke's band. With the passing of Lionel Hampton, Chris was the last living member of the Goodman band which played the famous Carnegie Hall concert in 1939.
1939     John Guerin, Drums, b. Hawaii, USA (raised in San Diego, CA, USA), d. Jan. 5, 2004, West Hills, CA, USA. Age: 64.(heart failure). A self taught drummer, he began performing with Buddy DeFranco in 1960, and subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where, during the late 1960s, Guerin recorded with such musical legends as Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, The Byrds, Thelonious Monk, Lou Rawls, George Shearing, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Nelson Riddle and mny others. Among the many contributions to motion picture and television scores his most celebrated works were on the soundtracks for Clint Eastwood's film biography of Charlie Parker "Bird", and on the score of the Jack Nicholson / Diane Keaton movie "Something's Gotta Give." He also played on the original title theme from the television series "Hawaii Five-O", and the original "Jeopardy", where he was a long time associate of Merv Griffin. Others with whom he worked were Dave Grusin, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams and a long list of other fine composers. Guerin, along with singer Joni Mitchell, founded and co-led the "L.A. Express" band that toured all over the world. His song compositions included "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" (with Mitchell), "Don't Be Blue" (with Michael Franks), and compositions and productions with many other artists. He achieved ProEmeritus status by winning the NARAS M.V.P. award for four years and authored a drum book entitled "Jazz + Rock = John Guerin." In the few years before his demise, his projects included work with Tyrell, Oscar Peterson, John Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Ray Charles, Sonny Rollins, Justin Morell, Andreas Pettersson, David Basse, David Garfield, Gary Lemel, Mike Melvoin and producing a series of jazz CD's for Japan. He was a Clinician for the 'DW Drum Company', and appeared regularly with the trios of Roger Kellaway and Mike Melvoin, two long time friends and fellow jazz performers. Aside from music, Guerin was also known for his love of horses which he continued to own and ride until his death and was an avid fan of sports and history.
1982     Monica & Gabriela Irimia, vocals, b. Transylvania, Romania. These identical twins came to England in 2001, where they now reside. Member group: Cheeky Girls, 2002 single "Cheeky Song" charted UK No.2.
1922     Batiste "Illinois" Jacquet, Tenor-alto sax, bassoon, vocal, arranger, leader, b. Broussard, LA, USA. d. July 22, 2004, New York, NY, USA. Played with Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, and Count Basie (among others)
1915     Jane Nossette Jarvis, piano and organ, b. Vincennes, Indiana, USA Jarvis was a child prodigy who was already playing piano and studying at Vincennes University at the age of nine. She later graduated from the Chicago Conservatory of Music. At just age 12, she was the staff pianist at a Chicago radio station, losing the job because ofo her age. In her early '20s, she was a member of Johnny Bothwell's band, before returning to radio as staff pianist at a number of stations, and also hosting her own radio shows. In the early 1940s, she made New York city her home, and began playing with Milt Hinton. In the 1950s, she played with violinist Eddie South's band, among others. Jarvis had earlier played intermission organ at the Milwaukee Braves baseball sports stadium, and now she became the staff organist for the New York Mets baseball team at their Shea Stadium, remaining with them for almost 20 years. In the early 1960s, she joined Dick Clark's rock band. In 1973 Jarvis became vice-president of the Muzak corporation, remaining with them for six years, and producing albums for the company with such stars as Bucky Pizzarelli, Lionel Hampton and Clark Terry. In the early 1980s, she played in the Terry's big band, among other smaller, traditional jazz groups. In the 1980s, she toured Japan with the 'Statesmen of Jazz'. She was also active teaching, leading her own groups and working with symphony orchestras and various jazz groups. Iin the mid-'80s, she began recording under her own name, -- this at a time when most of her contemporaries had either retired or passed on, She continued recording into the '00s. Jarvis has recorded with such other artists as Bob Haggart, Jay Leonhart, Bill Berry, Dan Barrett and Frank Wess. She has also toured extensively, appearing at music festivals in Europe and in North and South America. .
1927     Anita Kerr, Piano/vocals/composer/record producer, b. Memphis, TN, USA. née: Anita Jean Grilli. Member: 'The Anita Kerr Singers'.
1954     Denise King, R&B vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA.
1966     'King Ad-Rock', né: Adam Horowitz r&r vocals. b. New York (Manhattan), NY, USA. Member: Beastie Boys.
1902     Julia Lee, Vocalist/piano, b. Boonville, MO, USA. d. Dec. 8, 1958, Kansas City, MO, USA.
1965     Annabella Lwin, vocals, b. Rangoon, Burma. n&eacaute;: Myant Myant Aye (Burmese for "cool, cool, high"). Member group: 'Bow Wow Wow'
1936     James Maddox, vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Member: 'The El Doradoes'
1968     Alistair McErlaine, guitar, b. Glasgow, Scotland. Member group: Texas
1921     Toshiyuki Miyama, tenor-alto sax, bass clarinet, flute, piccolo, Clarinet, Leader, b. Chiba, Japan
1922     Theodore Malcolm "Ted" Nash, tenor-alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, piccolo, b. Somerville, MA, USA.
1963     Johnny Marr, r&r vocals. b. Manchester, England. Member: 'The Smiths'
1917     Melvin Moore, trumpet, b. Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Worked with Lucky Millinder
1961     Larry Mullen Jr, drums. b. Dublin, Ireland. Member: U2. 1987 album "The Joshua Tree" charted No. 1 world-wide.
1939     Simon Napier, co-founder: 'Blues Unlimited', b. Manchester, England, UK
1922     Ted Nash, all reeds, piano, b. Somerville, MA, USA. ( CAUTION: Do not confuse with his nephew Ted Nash, saxes born Dec. 28, 1959 _
1945     David Parlato,Bass, electric bass, piano, percussion, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1937     Tom Paxton, folk singer/songwriter. b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1955     Marcello Sebastiani, bass
1935     Ken Sims, trumpet/leader, b: Wallasey-Cheshire, UK. Played with Acker Bilk; Cy Laurie; Terry Lightfoot and Alex Revell.
1934     Ray Smith, C&W vocals, b. Melbar, KY, USA. ("Rockin' Little Angel").
1906     Louise Talma, composer.
1930     Les Tomkins, Writer, b. London, England
1968     Vanilla Ice', 'Rapper" (Ice Ice Baby). né: Robert Van Winkle.
1940     Reimer von Essen, Clarinet/Bandleader, b. Hamburg, Germany.
1948     Eddie Walker, guitar, b. UK
1896     Ethel Waters, Vocals, b. Chester, PA, USA. d. Sept. 1, 1977, Chatsworth, CA, USA. "Sweet Mama Stringbean" was one of the greatest vocalists of the 1920s-'30s. In Films, On Records, Clubs and the Stage
1925     Tommy Watt, pianist/bandleader/arranger/composer, b. Glasgow, Scotland, UK, d. May 20, 2006, Bristol, England, UK. né: Thomas Mitchell Watt. Watt, an avowed Atheist, left a legacy of great recorded music. His son, Ben Watt, is one half of the 'Everything But the Girl' duo. (Tracey Thorn is the other half, and her lyrics and vocals are always interesting.)
1936     Johnny Williams, Saxophone, b. Orangeburg, SC, USA.
1964     Darryl Worley, C&W vocals, b. Pyburn, TN, USA.
         Notable Events on this date include:
1930.    William "Count" Basie sang "Somebody Stole My Gal", with Bennie Moten's orch. (a rare Victor recording).
1958.    George E. Lee, baritone sax, leader, vocals died in San Diego, CA, USA.
1969.    Tony Pastor, tenor sax, vocal, leader, died in Old Lyme, Connecticut, USA.
1977.    Eva Taylor, vocals, died in New York (Jamaica), NY, USA. Age: 82. Worked with Clarence Williams
1990.    Carl Belew, died in Salina, OK, USA (cancer). Age: 59
1991.    Garvin Bushell, alto sax/clarinet, died in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Age: 91
1993.    Bob Atcher, died. (Member WLS National Barn Dance Show). Age: 79
1994.    Lester Sill, producer/publisher, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 76
1995.    "Dr. Hepcat" (né: Lavada Durst), piano, died in Austin, TX, USA. Age: 82
1995.    Lloyd Lambert, bass, died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 67
1995.    Lou Levy, founder: Leeds Music, died in New York (Manhattan), NY, USA. Age: 84
1998.    Johnny Catron, leader, died
1999.    Wyatt "Bull" Ruther, bass, died in San Francisco, CA, USA. Age: 76
2001.    Bill LeSage, vibraphone, piano, leader died in London, England, UK.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1927 Hoagy Carmichael and 7 members of Emil Seidel's band cut first recording, of "Stardust" (in Richmond, IN, for Gennett Records). Recorded as a 'Stomp' with no lyric, it was a poor seller.
1940 "Our Love Affair ", - Tommy Dorsey Orch
1940   "Our Love Affair ", - Glenn Miller Orch
1940   "Call Of The Caynon, The ", - Glenn Miller Orch
1941   "Tonight We Love ", - Rony Martin voc.
1941   "Elmer's Tune ", - Glenn Miller Orch
1947   "I Wish I Didn't Love You So ", - voc: Dick Haymes
1947   "Too Fat Polka ", - voc: Arthur Godfrey
1947   "How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You) ", - Jack Owens
1947   "Ballerina", - Vaughn Monroe Orch
1953   "You Alone", - Perry Como
1960   "New Orleans ", - Gary "U.S." Bonds
1960   "Last Date", - Floyd Cramer
1960   "Thousand Stars, A ", - Kathy Young
1970   "Tears Of A Clown, The ", - Miracles
1970   "I Think I Love You ", - Partridge Family
1970   "Heaven Help Us All ", - Stevie Wonder
1981   "Let's Groove ", - Earth, Wind and Fire
1981   "Young Turks ", - Rod Stewart
1987   "Faith ", - George Michael
1987   "Catch Me (I'm Falling) ", - Pretty Poison