BIRTHDAYS
1969     Marc Anthony, vocals/actor.
1935     "Billy Boy" Arnold, harmonica, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1940     Lisle Atkinson, bass, b. New York, NY, USA
1924     Lauren Bacall, Actress/singer, b. New York, NY, USA. né: Betty Joan Perske. Really an actress, but included here because in a couple of her films, she sang songs by (and with) famed composer Hoagy Carmichael. Parents: Father salesman, mother secretary, - divorced when Lauren was age 5. After High School, Lauren studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and had minor roles in some off-Broadway productions. Entered modeling and appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar, where wife of famed director, Howard Hawks spotted the picture and had her husband arrange for a screen test, resulted in Lauren's first role (at age 19) as 'Marie Browning' in TO HAVE OR HAVE NOT (1944), a thriller opposite Humphrey Bogart. The result was both a great career and one of Hollywood's greatest love stories. (She married Bogart in 1945.) In some of her films with Bogart, she sang, - with Hoagy Carmichael on piano, several of Hoagy's tunes. Bacall is active today, and has two films scheduled for release in 1999 - "Diamonds" and "Johnny Hit and Run Pauline". Bacall married Humphrey Bogart (May 21, 1945 - January 14, 1957 till his death - Throat Cancer.) She has a daughter and a son from her marriage to Humphrey Bogart. Her second spouse was Jason Robards (1961 - 1969 divorced). She is the mother of actor Sam Robards. In Oct. 1997, she was ranked #11 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. Also in 1997, She was chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.
1976     Tina Barrett, vocals, b. England. Member group: S Club 7. Group consisted of Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearritt, and Rachel Stevens, and was organized by former Spice Girls' manager Simon Fuller. their 1999 single "Bring It All Back" charted UK No.1.
1953     Alan Lesley Barton, Lead Vocals/Guitar, d. March 23, 1995 (Bus crash). Member group: 'Black Lace', 1984 UK No.2 single "Agadoo".
1938     Gordon Beck, Piano, b. London, England
1903     "Barrelhouse Buck" McFarland, piano, b. Alton, IL, USA.
1950     David Bellamy, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Darby, FL, USA. Member group (duo): 'The Bellamy Brothers'
1926     Fred Below, drums, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Fred studied percussion at Chicago's 'Roy C. Knapp School of Percussion', and became a Jazz drummer. During World War II, he joined the U. S. Army, and became a part of the 427th Army band. In 1951, after receiving his Service discharge, he returned to Chicago, where Muddy Waters' drummer Elgin Evans introduced him to a group called 'The Three Aces' (Junior Wells (vocals, mouth harp), Louis Myers (guitar), and Dave Myers (bass)). In dire need of a drummer, they very quickly became "The Four Aces". An interesting sequence of events then took place. "Little Walter" enjoying a very successful release with his instrumental "Juke", left the Muddy Waters band (he was replaced by Junior Wells) and joined 'The Four Aces", whose uptempo style more closely resembled his own. It was "a marriage made in heaven", because "Little Walter and the Four Aces" (later renamed the 'Jukes') meshed perfectly, and this four-piece electric blues combo became the hottest band in Chicago.
1964     Philip Bent, Flute, b. London, England
1952     Ron Blair, rock Bassist, b. Macon GA, USA. Member group: 'Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers'
1934     Richard Blandon, lead vocals, b. Montgomery, AL, USA. Member: 'The Dubs'
1939     Toto Blanke, Guitar, b. Paderborn, Germany
1976     Andres Javier Blazquez, vocals, b. Puerto Rico, Member groups: 'Menudo', 'Cannonball'.
1940     Hamiet Bluiett, baritone sax, b. Lovejoy, IL, USA.
1908     Charles "Chick" Bullock, Vocal, b. Butte, MT, USA. d. Sept. 15, 1981, CA, USA.
1940     Roger Bush, C&W guitar/bass guitar, b. Hollywood, CA, USA. Member: 'The Country Gazette'
1961     Bilinda Butcher, singer/songwriter/guitar, b. London (?), England
1925     "Charlie" Byrd, guitar, b. Chuckatuck (nr. Suffolk), VA, USA. d. Dec. 2, 1999, Annapolis, Md, USA. Cancer. Age 74. né: Charles L. Byrd. Charlie's wonderful guitar on Stan Getz's 1963 "Jazz Samba" helped kick off the Bossa Nova dance craze in the United States. His father was a guitarist, and Charlie was already playing the guitar by age 10. As a young man, he continued his musical studies at Virginia Tech. Later, after WWII, while a member of the U. S. Army and stationed in France, Byrd met and played with legendary Gypsy Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. After his service discharge and return to the U. S., Byrd performed with pianists Barbara Carroll and Freddie Slack, while also continuing his studies at New York's Hartnett Music School. It is interesting to note, that after playing 'Pop' music all his life, Byrd - in the 1950s - turned to classical music, studying with such noted artists as Andres Segovia and Sophocles Papas. Byrd's first solo release was his excellent 1957 album 'Jazz Recital' for the Savoy label. In the late 1950s, he recorded music for U.S. Department of Agriculture films, and in 1961, was part of a contingent of American musicians sent on a State Department tour of South America. Byrd was deeply affected by the Brazilian music he heard all about him, perhaps best exemplified by the work of composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. Upon his return to the U. S., he played his tapes of Brazilian music to saxophonist Stan Getz, and they soon recorded 'Jazz Samba', which made Jobim melodies "Desafinado" and "Samba de Uma Nota So (One Note Samba)" instant worldwide hits. Over his long and productive career, Byrd toured extensively; performed with symphony orchestras, and was the author of a popular 1973 textbook Charlie Byrd's Melodic Method For Guitar. Among the labels for whom he recorded are the Riverside, Milestone and Columbia labels; and from the 1970s on, he released around 20 albums for Concord label. Before his demise, he was performing with his group the 'Washington Guitar Quartet'.
1893     Earl Carroll, producer/lyricist, b. Pittsburg, PA, USA. d. June 17, 1948, Mt. Carmel, PA, USA.
1943     Bernie Calvert, Bass. Member: The Hollies; 'The Dolphins'
1934     George Chakiris, actor/singer/dancer, b. Norwood, OH, USA. This popular actor, in addition to appearing in many films and TV shows, has also released several records, including: "George Chakiris, Memories Are Made Of These", "The Gershwin Song Book", and "West Side Story's Dynamic".
1968     Chris Cheek, Saxophone, b. St.Louis, MO, USA.
1934     Francis Gary "Gary" Cox, sax/woodwinds, b. Aberdeen, Scotland.
1958     Rodney Franklin, keyboards, vocals, piano, b. Berkeley, CA, USA
1969     Justine Frischmann, vocals/guitar, Member group: 'Suede, Elastica', 1995 single "Waking Up" charted UK No.13. Justine Frischmann had a string of UK top 20 singles in the mid-1990s with her band 'Elastica'
1960     Graham Haynes, cornet, b. Brooklyn, NY, USA.
1921     John Carl "Jon" Hendricks, composer/Vocals, b. Newark, OH, USA. (1 of 17 Children - 15 survived). Best recalled as part of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. Also worked with Bobby McFerrin. Also composed "The Evolution Of The Blues"
1931     Jan Johansson, piano, guitar, organ, vibes, bass, accordion, celeste, cello, percussion, composer, b. Söderhamn, Gävleborgs län, Sweden, d. Nov. 9, 1968 Jönköping, Jönköpings län, Sweden. (road accident)
1948     Kenny Jones, Drums, b. London, England, UK. Member groups: 'Small Faces', 'Faces'; 'The Who'
1944     Betty Kelly, vocals, b. Detroit, MI, USA. Member: 'Martha and the Vandellas'
1925     B. B. King, R&B Elec. Guitar, b. Itta Bena, MS, USA. né: Riley B. King
1954     Earl Klugh, Guitar, b. Detroit, MI, USA.
1946     Sonny Le Maire, C&W vocalist, b. Fort Lee, VA, USA. Member: "Exile"
1929     Rod Levitt, Trombone/arranger, b. Portland, OR, USA., d. May 8, 2007, Wardsboro, Vermont , USA.
1931     "Little Willie" Littlefield, piano, b. El Campo, TX, USA.
1914     Kelly Martin, drums, b. Lake City, SC, USA
1963     Richard Marx, Singer/songwriter, b. Chicago, IL, USA. 1989 single "Right Here Waiting", charted US No.1 and UK No.2.
1912     James Mays, singer-songwriter/religionist, b. Crawfordville, GA, USA. aka: "Big Bo James".
1958Terry McBride, C&W singer-songwriter/bassist, b. Austin, TX, USA. Member: "McBride and the Ride", a Country trio comprised of McBride, Ray Herndon (who can play accordion, guitar, and can also sang and tap-dance), and drummer Billy Thomas. They are well noted for close harmony and a contemporary honky-tonk sound. In early 1994, the band was then renamed 'Terry McBride & the Ride' when Herndon and Thomas left, and were replaced by Kenny Vaughn, Randy Frazier and Keith Edwards. They released one album before disbanding in September 2000.
1906     Jack McCormick, Leader, b: Bootle, Liverpool, England; d: 1953 age: 47 (Coronary Arrest)
1928     Ralph Mooney, C&W steel guitarist/songwriter, b. Duncan, OK, USA.
1954     Colin Newman, vocals/guitar, b. Salisbury, England. Member group: 'Wire'
1951     Stuart Lane Norton, harmonica, b. Oak Bluffs, MA, USA. Member: 'Cooler Kings'
1901     Jean Paques, Piano, b. Liege, Belgium, d. 1974
1952     Bobby Randall, singer-songwriter, b. Midland, MI, USA. Member group: "Sawyer Brown", whose founding members included leader Mark Miller. (b. Oct. 25, 1958, just outside Dayton, Ohio, USA), Bobby ("Rockin'") Randall (raised in Midland, Michigan, where his father was a Country singer), Jim ("Starbuck") Scholten, who had played in a Rock band and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and "Curly" Joe Smyth, who had played with both the Maine and Miami Symphony Orchestras as a percussionist, and was able to play some 300 percussion instruments.
1924     Joe Reisman, tenor and baritone saxes/clarinet/leader/conductor/arranger, b. Dallas, TX, USA. d. Sept. 15, 1987, Los Angeles, CA, USA. (Heart Attack.) Studied at Baylor University, and the University of Texas at El Paso. Early in his career, he played sax with such bands as Glen Gray's Casa Loma, Louis Prima, Bob Crosby, and Jack Teagarden's Orchestra. In the late 1940s, he gave up playing and found work in the studios as an arranger and producer. He helped Patti Page with her hit releases of "How Much is That Doggy in the Window?", "Tennessee Waltz", and others. Among the 'others' were Eartha Kitt ("Sho-Jo-Ji (The Hungry Raccoon "), In the mid-1950s, he served as musical director for several TV shows including "NBC's Shower of Stars", and "The Oldsmobile Hour". He served at RCA Victor, and then at Roulette Records. In the early 1960s, Reisman returned to RCA and became Henry Mancini's producer for nearly 30 years (starting in 1964 with Mancini's "our Man In Hollywood).
1897     Leo Frank Reisman, Leader/Violin, b. Boston, MA, USA. d. Dec. 18, 1961, Miami, FL, USA.
1939     Hans Rettenbacher, bass, cello, piano, percussion, b, Vienna, Austria, d. Dec. 19, 1989
1953     Michael Rhodes, C&W (sessions) bassist, b. West Monroe, LA, USA.
1920     Andy Russell, vocals, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA, d. April 16, 1992, Phoenix, AZ, USA. né: Andres Rabajos (or Rabago). A son of Mexican-Spanish parents, Russell was a popular singer in the USA during the 1940s. Among the bands with which he sang are Sonny Dunham, Gus Arnheim and Johnny Richards, In 1942, he was with the Alvino Rey orchestra. In 1944, he signed with Capitol Records and a string of hits followed including romantic ballads such as "What A Diff'rence A Day Made", "I Dream Of You", "I Can't Begin To Tell You", "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)", "They Say It's Wonderful", "Pretending" and "Anniversary Song". He also recorded Billy Reid's "I'll Close My Eyes" and Bud Flanagan's "Underneath The Arches", on which he was accompanied by Tommy Dorsey's old vocal group, the Pied Pipers. During the mid-late 40s, Russell appeared on the Old Gold Show and Lucky Strike Hit Parade radio shows. He also appeared at many top venues, including New York's Paramount Theatre. In 1947, he was in Los Angeles where he sang one of the nominated songs at the annual Academy Awards Ceremony. (Both Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, had declined.) Andy was also seen in such films as 'Copacabana' (starred 'Groucho' Marx), 'The Stork Club' (he and Betty Hutton sang "If I Had A Dozen Hearts"), 'Make Mine Music', a series of short Walt Disney cartoons, and 'Breakfast In Hollywood', derived from a radio series of the same name, and featuring artists such as "Spike Jones And His City Slickers", and the "Nat "King" Cole Trio". Russell subsequently moved to Mexico City, where he was successful on radio, television and in movies. Ghe late 1960s saw him back in the USA where he continued to sing, and appear on television.
1964     David Michael Sabo, rock guitar/vocals, b. Perth Amboy, NJ, USA. Member groups: Skid Row and Psycho Love.
1946     "Sylvester", Disco diva, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1952     Frank Szabo, Trumpet, b. Budapest, Hungary
1903     Giuseppi "Joe" Venuti, violin, b. shipboard on way to America, d. August 14, 1978 Seattle, WA, USA. Perhaps the very first truly great Jazz violinist. Little recalled now, but in 1929, he and his good friend, guitarist Eddie Lang joined Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, and appeared with him in the very early "talkie" film "The King of Jazz". Lang and Venuti were inseperable friends, and in 1933, Lang's premature death proved a major psychological blow to Venuti who, for awhile, seemed to lose all interest in music. In 1935 (after visiting Europe), Venuti formed a big band which never achieved great success. The band recorded four sides (titled: "Flip," "Flop," "Something" and "Nothing!"). However, the band did introduce both singer Kay Starr and drummer Barrett Deems. At about this time, -sadly- Joe began a slow drift into Alcoholism. The band ended when he was called up for Army service during World War II. After receiving his Service discharge, Joe settled in Los Angeles, CA, where he became a popular "sessions" man, and he was also regularly featured on Bing Crosby's early 1950s radio show. (Bing was another renowned Alcoholic.) Happily, 1967 saw Venuti making a major comeback, playing at the peak of his powers at 'Dick Gibson's Colorado Jazz Party'. Despite increasingly bad health, Venuti's final decade was a triumph. He began actively recording again, and worked with such Jazz stars as Marian McPartland, Earl Hines, Zoot Sims, George Barnes, Dave McKenna and Bucky Pizzarelli, among others.
1922     Murray Wald, saxophone, b. New York, NY, USA. Murray began playing saxophone in grade school and attended New York's "Music and Art High School", and then the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music. He first found work playing in Phil Napoleon's group on the "Lucky Strike Hit Parade" radio show. Later, Murray toured with Jerry Wald's, original band which had been started in New York (the two men were not related). The Jerry Wald orchestra was reorganized in Los Angeles, and worked it's way back to New York city. Subsequently, Murray would go on to work with such well known bands as Paul Tremaine, Will Osborne, Jan Savitt, Joe Venuti, Ted Fio Rito, and Jack Teagarden. He toured theaters for 20 weeks with the Vic Schoen orchestra and the Andrews Sisters, and also worked with Charlie Barnet, and Perez Prado -right after Prado came from Cuba. In 1942, Glenn Miller was inducted into the U. S. Army, where he formed the 'Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band'. Murray was one of the original six musicians chosen to go to New Haven, CT as the nucleus of that band (and was a part of the band from 1943-'45). Today (2005) Murray remains very active. In June 2004, he founded (and directs) "The Glenn Miller Young Americans Orchestra" in Camarillo, California. The band, comprised of only high school students, plays gigs at local venues such as the Camarillo Air Show, etc. Murray's goal is to expose youngsters to the great music of the Big Bands era. While they play mostly Miller charts, they have added a few Kenton and others. Today (2005), Murray lives with his wife, Fran, in Camarillo, CA and continues to enjoy and share the Glenn Miller sound, and the wonderful music of the Big Bands, with a flair that only someone who has been there can offer.
1915     Cy Walter, pianist, b. Minneapolis, MN, USA.
1969     Kathi Wolfgram, rock vocals/guitar, b. Minneapolis, MN, USA. Member groups: Jets and, You Got it All.
          Notable Events on this date include:
1946.    Mamie Smith, vocals, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 63
1958.    Andy Russo, trombone, died in San Diego, CA, USA.
1964.    The shown 'Shindig' premiered on ABC-TV. The program presented 'go-go girls' and rock bands in a dance party environment. Stars of the first show included Sam Cooke, The Everly Brothers, Bobby Sherman, The Righteous Brothers, The Wellingtons, comic Alan Sues, and -of course - the Shindig Dancers.
1964.    Ernest "Bass" Hill, bass, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 64
1965.    The first concert of sacred music by Duke Ellington presented at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral.
1977.    Marc Bolan, Singer/songwriter/guitarist, died in London, England, UK. Age: 29.
1986.    Louise Parker, vocals, died in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Age: 60. Sang with the 'Hall Johnson Choir'
1986.    "Stewie" Speers, drums, died
1988.    "Washboard Doc", washboard player (did you guess?), died in New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA. Age: 77
1989.    Billy Thompson, 'fronted' Hank Thompson's Brazos Valley Boys, died.
1994.    Bernie Leighton, piano, died in Coconut Creek, Florida, USA. né: Bernard Lazaroff.
2003.    Sheb Wooley, (aka: Ben Colder), character actor and singer, died. Age: 82. (best known for his 1958 novelty hit "Purple People Eater".) Sheb, as close to a real 'Cowboy' as one can get, was born in Erick, OK, USA. He loved horses and riding and was competing in local rodeos before he was ten years old. By his teenage years, he had become one of the best young riders on the Rodeo circuit. Eventually, he left the Rodeo, and turned first to music and then to acting. He had already appeared in such Western films as 'High Noon', before becoming known as a singer. While pursuing a career in Country music, he also spent six seasons playing cowhand Pete Nolan on the television series Rawhide. His repertory included Cowboy songs, traditional Country music, and hillbilly tunes. In the 1960s, he found great success when he developed a drunken comic persona named Ben Colder, whose success in satirizing various elements of Country music, and Country music audiences, actually threatened to eclipse his own Sheb Wooley persona.
          Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1908    Artful Artie, -Arthur Pryor's band. tune: arthur pryor
1916    My Honolulu Hula Girl, - Horace Wright-Rene Dietrich. tune: cunha
1916    O'Briens Trying To Learn To Talk Hawaiian, - Horace Wright voc. tune: mccormack
1924    Tell Me, Dreamy Eyes, - Isham Jones and his orch. tune: kahn; spitalny; gordon
1926    Pretty Cinderella, - Fred Rich and his orch.
1925    Lonesome Me, - Paul Specht and his orch.
1927    The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, - Regent club orch (Haring Orch.).
1929    Swanee Shuffle, -Duke Ellington and his orch.
1927    Are You Thinking of me Tonight, -Gene Austin and his orch.
1929    Are You Lonesome, -Blue Steele and his orch.
1929    Another Night of Happiness, -Blue Steele and his orch.
1930    Tell Me You Love Me Dear, -Bud Billings and Carson Robison.
1930    Song of the Silver Dollar, -Bud Billings and Carson Robison.
1931    Blue Kentucky Moon, -Casa Loma orchestra. tune: walter donaldson
1931    Love letters in the sand (vsl), - Victor Young and his orch. tune: n. kenny; c. kenny; coots
1931    Oh Peter (you're so nice), -Red Nichols and his 5 Pennies. tune: wiedoft-rose-stafford
1932    Pagan Paradise, -Don Tedman and his orch. tune: koehler; parker
1935    Hawaiian Drinking Song, -Andy Iona islanders.
1934    Mr. and Mrs. Is the Name, -Dick Powell and his orch.
1934    Flirtation Walk, -Dick Powell and his orch.
1938    Carolina Moon, -Tommy Dorsey and his orch.
1938    Boogie Woogie, -Tommy Dorsey and his orch. tune: Pinetop Smith
1940    Dancing on a Dime, -Orrin Tucker and his orch.
1940    Gotta Big Date With a Little Girl,-Orrin Tucker and his orch.
1946    I've got my love to keep me warm, -Les Brown's Band of Renown.
1946    Blue Moon of Kentucky, -Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys
1949    I Can Dream, Can't I?, - Andrews Sisters
1949    Don't Cry Joe (Let Her Go, Let Her Go) - Gordon Jenkins Orch.
1949    That Lucky Old Sun, - Vaughn Monroe ORch and vocal.
1957    Just Between You And Me, - Chordettes
1957    Chances Are, - Johnny Mathis
1957    My Heart Reminds Me, - Kay Starr
1967    Little Ole Man (Uptight-Everything's Alright), - Bill Cosby
1972    Garden Party, - Ricky Nelson
1989    Love In An Elevator, - Aerosmith
1989    Rock Wit'cha, - Bobby Brown