BIRTHDAYS
Roy Acuff vocals/guitar, b. Maynardsville, TN, USA. d. Nov. 23, 1992, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. (congestive heart failure). né: Roy Claxton Acuff
1928    Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley, alto-soprano sax/leader, b. Tampa, FL, USA, d. August 8, 1975, Gary, IN, USA. "Cannonball" worked with his brother, Nat Adderley, Kenny Clarke, Kenny Dorham, Jimmy Heath, "Philly" Joe Jones, Sam Jones, Wes Montgomery, and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. He is also heard on a Nancy Wilson record. His first real fame came in 1955 when recorded some sessions with a group of young Jazz artists. He was later heard on the Miles Davis Sextet recording of "Kind of Blue".
1896    Bert Ambrose, Violin/Leader, b. London, England, UK. d. June 12, 1971, Leeds, England, UK.
1941    Signe Anderson, rock vocals, b. Seattle, WA, USA. (She was the original Jefferson Airplane female singer)
1973    Alexander Arzamastev, C&W drummer, b. Russia. Member: 'Bering Strait'
1933    Pat Barrett, Tenor vocals, b. Toronto, ONT, Canada. Member: 'Crew Cuts'
1941    Les (William) Braid, Bass/organ. Member: 'The Swinging Blue Jeans'
1915    Phil Brito, singer-songwriter/author, b. Boomer, WV, USA. né: Philip Colombrito. After graduating High School, Phil went on to sing with the Al Donahue, Jan Savitt and Lloyd Huntley orchestras. During his career, he appeared in night clubs, on radio and television, and in films and theatre stages. As a composer, his biggest hit was "Mama", but he did write other songs including "I Could Swear It Was You".
1967    Huw Bunford, guitar, b. Cardiff, UK. Member group: Super Furry Animals.
1915    Albert Aloysius "Al" Casey, guitar, b. Louisville, KY, USA, d. Sept. 11, 2005 (a few days short of his 80th birthday). Best recalled for his work with Fats Waller (a teenager when Waller hired him), but also worked with Sammy Clayton, King Curtis, Sammy Profit, Teddy Wilson, Billie Holiday, and Fats Navarro, among others. Al was the Esquire poll winner for 1944. While remembered most for his long association as rhythm guitarist for Fats Waller, he also had performed and recorded with Armstrong. At the time of his death, Al was the last surviving member of Thomas "Fat" Waller's Rhythm Boys."
1908    George "Kid Sheik" Colar, trumpet, b. New Orleans, LA, USA, d. Nov. 7, 1996, New Orleans, LA, USA. Age 88 One of the wonderful old New Orleans Dixielanders.
1910    Stanley Dance, Writer/Critic, b. Braintree, Essex;, England, UK, d. Feb. 23, 1999, San Diego, California, USA. Age 88 In 1935 he started writing about Jazz for the French magazine "Jazz Hot". In 1937. he moved to the U. S. and from 1948 to 1976 wrote for 'Jazz. Journal'. In 1964, he led the rediscovery of Earl "Fatha" Hines. That same year, .he was co-winner of the first Grammy Award for Best Album Notes.(having contributed liner notes for Duke Ellington, and Count Basie, among others). In 1999, he was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame, before dying later that year. He is well remembered today as a significant biographer of early Jazz greats. In the 1950s, Dance first used the term "mainstream" to describe the music in between Dixieland and bebop (he had a real distaste for bebop).
1894    Jack Denny, bandleader, d. 1950
1960    Mitch Dorge, drums. Member: 'Crash Test Dummies'
1929    Gerald "Jerry" Fuller, clarinet. b. Santa Maria, CA. USA. Fuller hailed from California and began playing clarinet as a youngster. In 1949, he joined the Jimmy Zito band, and played with Will Osborne the following year, before becoming a reed man in a U. S. Army band (through 1953). After his Service discharge, he spent several years with Pete Daily's Chicagoans, before starting his own trio (in Hollywood). He soon joined Jack Teagarden's band, and spent four years with Jack including a lengthy tour of Asia sponsored by the U.S. State Department. In 1959, Fuller began working with the 'Dukes of Dixieland', appearing on the group's sides on the Audio Fidelity label. He is the last surviving member of the original Dukes of Dixieland Jazz band. Over his career, he has also played with Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, and Bobby Hackett, among others. He has appeared on such TV shows as: The Dean Martin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Gary Moore Show, The Jimmy Dean Show, The Bell Telephone Hour, and The Ed Sullivan Show. In addition to his performances at National and International Jazz Festivals as a band member, and as a featured clarinet soloist, he has also recorded for such labels, as RCA Victor, Capitol Records, Decca Records, Columbia Records, and Audio Fidelity. He has recorded movie sound tracks and often worked in the Hollywood studios. A consumate musical artist, his playing is always a delight.
CAUTION: Do not confuse with:
** Jerry Fuller, Singer-Songwriter/producer, b. Nov. 19, 1938, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
** Jerry Fuller, jazz drummer (b. April 5, 1939, Calgary, Alberta, Canada), d. July 13, 2002, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Among those with whom he worked are Paul Perry, Duke Ellington, Greg Clayton, Ron Collier and Rick Wilkins. Jerry came from a musical family. From 1937 through 1944, his father (James) 'Jerry' was a saxophonist/clarinetist, arranger (b. Banff, Alta, July 17, 1911), who led a big band at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary. When the family moved to Vancouver, his dad became the leader at 'The Cave' from 1944 into 1947.
1940    Jimmy Gilmer, vocals. Member group: 'Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs'
1956    Jaki Graham, vocals, b. London, England, 1985 single "'Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" charted UK No.5.
1918    Max Harris, piano accordion/arranger/composer, b. Bournemouth, Hampshire, UK. Worked with both Ronnie Muro and with Jack Parnell bands.
1911    Silas Hogan, guitar, b. Westover, LA, USA
1904    Gideon J. Honore, Piano, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d.
1910?    "Rhythm Willie" Hood, harmonica
1976    'KG', vocals. Member group: MN8, 1995 single "I've Got A Little Something For You" charted UK No.2. The group consisted of 'Dee-Tails', 'G-Man', 'KG', 'Kule-T'. Mercifully, the group disbanded in 2000.
1947    Ronn Matlock, violin, b. Detroit, MI, USA.
1937    Charles Middleton, vocals, b. Lafayette, LA, USA. Member: 'The Jaguars'
1924    Robert Joseph "Bobby" Nichols, trumpet, b. Boston, MA, USA
1931    Richard Payne, bassist, b. New Orleans, LA, USA, d. May 17, 2000, New Orleans, LA, USA. Though Payne at one time played a little piano, bassoon, French horn and violin, he finally chose the Bass as his main instrument. Interestingly, his true love was Classical music, particularly Mozart, and studied music at the Xavier Junior School of Music before moving on to Xavier Preparatory School, under the tutelage of Clyde Kerr, Sr. One of his classmates, Edward Frank, introduced him to Jazz, but throughout his career, Payne would drift back and forth between Jazz and the Classics. Payne became a music teacher at Colton Junior High, where most of the students preferred playing the Pop songs, but Payne maintained his love of classical music by playing with the Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Alexandria, and New Orleans symphony orchestras, as well as with the Jackson Symophony in Mississippi. He also enjoyed trying to draw various forms of aircraft. In 1956. Payne, Ellis Marsalis, Alvin Battiste, Ed Blackwell and clarinetist Alvin Batiste formed the 'American Jazz Quintet' (AJQ), and made the first modern Jazz record in New Orleans for the Specialty Records label.
CAUTION. Do NOT confuse with:
Richard Payne, the Southern California guitarist, who began performing popular music at age twelve, and moved through surf, rock, R&B, Blues and soul bands, before starting to write songs for his group 'Northern Sound'. He had picked up double bass in high school and was soon a sessions player. Another of his groups was 'City Blues'. He was studying classical guitar and jazz bass in college, and also negotiating a recording contract for his folk group "Ananda" when his pacifism led him to emigrate to Victoria, BC, Canada, as a classical guitar instructor. He has since built a career in that country.
Or, the English Richard Payne, who, in 1991, was educated under a Music Scholarship at Aldenham School in Hertfordshire, England. At early age, he played the piano, and later played the trumpet as a member of the National Children’s Wind Orchestra, the National Youth Wind Orchestra, and the National Youth Music Theatre.
Then, there is the 'Richard Payne Trio', a group based in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, playing a blend of Jazz, gospel, and classical music. The group is comprised of pianist Richard E. Payne, bass guitarist Rudy Spruill, and drummer, Dominic F. Taylor. Each member of the group is highly trained in his respective musical genre.
Lastly, there is a Dr. Richard W. Payne, one of the foremost American authorities on the construction and history of the Native American flute.
1902    Sammy Penn, drums/vocals, b. Morgan City, LA, d. Sept. 18, 1969, FL, USA. This early New Orleans Jazzman worked with the Eureka Brass Band, Chris Kelly Brass band, Kid Rena Brass Band, and with Kid Thomas.
1925    Robert Lee "Bob" Petersen, bass, b. Davenport, IA, USA
1921    "Snooky" Pryor, harmonica, b. Lambert, MS, USA.
1913    Roger "Ram" Ramirez, Piano/Composer, b. Puerto Rico, d. Jan. 11, 1994
1960    George Robert, saxophone/clarinet/composer/arranger/educator, b. Geneva, Switzerland.
1921    Gene Roland, composer, trumpet, mellophonium, trombone, arranger, b. Dallas, TX, USA. d. August 11, 1981, New York, NY. USA.
1956    Ned Rothenberg, alto sax/bass clarinet, b. Boston, MA, USA.
1923    Arvell Shaw, bass, b. St. Louis, MO, USA, d: Dec. 5, 2002, New York, NY, USA. Best known for his work with Louis Armstrong's All Stars, during 1945-53 (short interruption in 1951, when he traveled to Europe to study harmony and composition), and again at various times from 1957 until Armstrong's demise in 1971. He freelanced in New York, and also played in the pit bands for Broadway shows Ain't Misbehavin' and 'Bubbling Brown Sugar', during the late 1970s and early '80s. Among the many Jazzmen with whom Arvell worked during his career are Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Wild Bill Davison, Earl Hines, Coleman Hawkins, Sidney Bechet, and Barney Bigard.
1924    Bobby Short, piano/vocals, b: Danville, IL, USA. d. March 20, 2005. New York, NY, USA (Leukemia). né: Robert Waltrip Short. With his mother's permission, Bobby left home at just age 11, to perform in Chicago, IL. He worked the midwest circuit during the 1940s, where he met such other performers as singers Hildegarde, Mabel Mercer, Nat "King" Cole and pianist Art Tatum. Over the years, he became the quintessential cabaret performer (of the 1950s - 2000s), singing Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, and other classic composers of the "golden age of American Popular song". In 1968, Short replaced pianist George Feyer at New York City's famed Cafe Carlyle, and become an institution, working 8 months of the year, for the next 20 or so years at that hotel (during which time he became the "darling" of the 'Society Set', - or as the New York Times obiturary said, -" a symbol of civilized Manhattan culture").
1976    Ivette Sosa, actress/vocals, b. Edison, NJ, USA. Member group: Eden's Crush, 2001 single "Get Over Yourself" charted US No. 8.
1947    Larry Sparks, bluegrass vocals/strings. member: The Clinch Mountain Boys
1921    Robert J. (Bob or Muggsy) Sprecher, cornet, Independence, WI, USA.
1924    Les Strand (né: Leslie Roy Strandt), organ/piano, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1903    Eddie Summers, Trombone, b. New Orleans, LA, USA, d. Oct. 27, 1977, New Orleans, LA, USA. This early New Orleans Jazzman worked with Eureka Brass Band, Armand J. Piron Band, and the Young Tuxedo Brass band.
1955    Gib Wharton, pedal steel guitar, b. Mineral Wells, TX, USA. Member: 'Holmes Brothers'
1958    Tim Whelan, guitar/vocals, b. London, England. Member group: Furniture (Not to be confused with Screenwriter/Director Tim Whelan (b. Nov. 2, 1893, Cannelton, IN, USA, d. August 12, 1957, Los Angeles (Beverly Hills), CA, USA.) In 1981 by vocalist Jim Irvin, guitarist/pianist Tim Whelan and drummer Hamilton Lee founded 'Furniture' in London. The group soon grew to a five-piece band with the additions of bassist Sally Still and keyboardist Maya Gilder.
1951    Carla White, Jazz singer, b. Oakland, California, USA, d. May 9, 2007, New York, NY, USA (Cancer - peacefully in her sleep) Among her frequent musical collaborators were Dean Johnson, Peter Madsen, Matt Wilson and her good friend, Lew Tabackin, who made a guest appearance on a few numbers with her. .
         Notable Events on this date include:
1930.    Composer Hoagy Carmichael recorded "Georgia on My Mind" (RCA Victor label). It has been the official state song of Georgia since 1922.
1934.    NBC radio presented "The Gibson Family", the first musical comedy to be broadcast. The show originated from the New York City studios of WEAF (NBC's Blue Network Flagship startion).
1967.    Sam Hamilton,piano, died in Danville, IN, USA. Played with singer Mabel Mercer
1975.    Leon Abbey, fiddler, died in Minneapolis, MN, USA. Age: 75
1977.    "Driftin' Slim" (né ELmon Mickle), harmonica, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 58
1980.    Bill Evans, pianist and leader, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 51.
1981.    "Chick" Bullock, vocal, died in California, USA (b. Sept 16, 1908 , Mutte, MA, USA )
1983.    Willie Bobo, (Latin) Drums, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 49
1983.    Johnny Hartman, vocals, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 60
1985.    "Cootie" Williams, trumpet, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 74
1987.    Joe Reisman, tenor and baritone sax, clarinet, conductor, arranger, died in Los Angeles, California, USA.
1991.    Andre Baruch, Announcer, died in Beverly Hills, CA, USA. Age: 83. His wife was singer Bea Wain.
1994.    Haywood Henry, baritone sax/clarinet, died in New York (Bronx), NY, USA. Age: 81
1998.    Barrett Deems, drums, died in Chicago, Illinois, USA (Pneumonia) (b. March 1, 1914, Springfield, IL, USA)
2001.    Billy Hilfiger, musician and younger brother of fashion mogul Tommy Hilfiger, died at age 45 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Although Hilfiger worked primarily as a New York City landscape architect, he was best known as a guitarist who had played (among others) with the rock band 'Blue Oyster Cult' and with another brother, Andy Hilfiger.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1908    Virginia Two Step, -Arthur pryor's band. tune: ringleben
1910    Girl of my Dreams, -Haydn quartet. tune; hoschna
1913    My Wonderful Dream Girl, -John b Wells. tune: Schertzinger. ex show: "tik tok man"
1914    It's A Long, Long Way to Tipperary, -American quartet. tune: jack judge-harry williams
1924    Some Other Day Some Other Girl, -Isham jones and his orch.tune: gus kahn-isham jones
1924    Tell Me Dreamy Eyes (ft), -Paul whiteman and his orch. tune: kahn-spitalny-gordon
1925    The Co-ed (v.ml), -Art Kahn and his orch.
1925    Peaceful valley, -Art kahn and his orch.
1925    Ida - I do, -Paul whiteman and his orch.
1925    Close Your Eyes, -Max dolin and his orch. (Maybe rec'd Aug. 26, 1925)
1925    Days of Hearts and Flowers, -Paul whiteman and his orch.
1925    Oh miss Hannah, -Revelers.
1925    Collegiate, -Revelers.
1925    Spanish Dance, -Max Dolin and his orch.    
1927    Clementine, -Jean Goldkette and his orch. tune: Henry Creamer-Harry Warren
1928    Jug Band Waltz, -Memphis Jug Band. tune: Will Shade
1930    Old Fashioned Girl (vik), - Ben Selvin and his orch.
1930    Georgia on my Mind, -Hoagy Carmichaeland his orch.tune: h.carmichael-stuart gorrell
1930    One Night in Havana, -Hoagy Carmichaeland his orch.tune: carmichael-porter
1930    Bessie Couldn't Help It, -Hoagy Carmichaeland his orch.tune: warner-richmond-bayha
1931    You Call it Madness, -Kate Smith voc.
1931    You Call it Madness (but I call it love), -Mildred Bailey voc.
1931    When it's Sleepy Time Down South, -Mildred Bailey w Casa Loma.
1931    Who Am I? (vps), -Jacques Renard and his orch.
1932    Let's put out the Lights (And Go to Sleep), - Ben Bernie and his orch.
1932    Someday We'll Meet Again, -Isham Jones and his orch.
1932    'Twas Only a Summer Night's Dream, -Isham Jones and his orch.
1932    I've found a New Baby, -New Orleans feetwarmers.
1932    Shags, -New Orleans feetwarmers.
1933    Me For You Forever, - Casa Loma orchestra.
1933    When You're Away (w), -Victor Young and his orch.
1934    Out of the Night, -Ted Weems and his orch.
1936    Song of the Islands, - Ben Pollack and his orch.
1938    I Can't Get Started, - Billie Holiday voc.
1938    Goin' to Ride de Chariot, - Paul Robeson voc. with Les Brown orch.
1940    I've Got a One Track Mind, - Kay Kyser and his orch.
1941    Modern Design, - Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye
1941    Rancho Pillow, - Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye
1950    Thinking Of You, - Don Cherry vocal.
1958    Tea For Two Cha Cha, - Tommy Dorsey Orch.
1962    Monster Mash, - Bobby (Boris) Pickett,
1973    Midnight Train To Georgia, - Gladys Knight and The Pips
1973    Keep On Truckin' (Part 1), - Eddie Kendricks
1979    Dim All The Lights, - Donna Summer
1984    On The Dark Side, - John Cafferty
1984    Some Guys Have All The Luck, - Rod Stewart
1990    Black Cat, - Janet Jackson