Musical Calendar for April 1

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CALENDAR
and
Diary of Notable Musical Events

April 1

   BIRTHDAYS
1883     Jules Verne Allen, (Western) vocals, b. Waxahachie, TX, USA. Tag: "The Singing Cowboy"
1917     Johnny Andrews, vocals, b. Boston, MA, USA. singer/host
1945     John Barbata, drums, b. New Jersey, USA. Member group: 'The Turtles', and 'Jefferson Starship'
1897     "Sweet" Emma Barrett, piano, b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
1942     Alan Blakley, guitar/vocals. Member group: 'Brian Poole & the Tremeloes'
1897     Lucille Bogan, vocals, b. Amory, MS, USA. d. Aug. 10, 1948. née: Lucille Anderson
1942     Danny Brooks, vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member: 'The Dovells'
1934     Jim Ed Brown, C&W vocals, b. Sparkman, AR, USA.
1923     Don Butterfield, Tuba, b. Centralia, WA, USA, d. Nov. 27, 2006, Clifton, NJ, USA. Age: 83. (complications of a stroke suffered about a year before). Butterfield wanted to play the trumpet for his high school band but was handed a tuba because there were no more trumpets. He went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York (where he was a student of William J. Bell), and later became a teacher himself. As a teacher on the college/university level, he made a significant contribution serving on the faculties of several major colleges and universities. A truly innovative composer and arranger for the tuba, he made major contributions by showcasing and expanding the range and versatility of the instrument. For 20 years, Don was involved with Columbia University’s Contemporary Music Project, and for many years was a member of the board of directors for the New York Brass Conference For Scholarships. For 57 years, Don Butterfield was also one of New York’s leading studio musicians. His work can be heard on the "Godfather: Part II," and the show "Bullets Over Broadway". His extensive work in radio and television included work with such stars as Gary Moore, Carol Burnet, Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson. He appeared on recordings with "everyone who is anyone" in the entertainment business, including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee and Mel Torme, and was the Tuba player for composers Henry Mancini and John Williams while they were working in New York city. Don practically introduced the Tuba to the world of Jazz, working with, among others, Louis Armstrong, Charles Mingus, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Hampton, Buddy Rich, and Doc Severinsen. He made one of the most significant Jazz recordings ever done on the Tuba, "Top and Bottom Brass", with the Clark Terry Quintet in 1959, at Terry’s request. He significantly increased the awareness of the capabilities of the Tuba to perform in all areas, types and styles of music. It is difficult to sum up Don's career. During his almost six decades in New York, he redefined the term "crossover artist" . He served as the Principal Tubist in Leopold Stokowski's 'American Symphony Orchestra'. For 20 years, he was a member of the 'Radio City Music Hall Orchestra', and also performed under such legendary figures as Dimitri Metropolis, Aurturo Toscanini, and Leonard Bernstein. He was for many years a member of The Goldman Band, and was an original member of the Cities Service Band of America under Paul Lavalle.
1910     Harry Carney, piano/clarinet-alto-baritone Sax, b. Boston, MA, USA. d. Oct. 8, 1974. In 1927 (age 17), he joined Duke Ellington's Orch., remaining there for over 46 years. He did cut two obscure dates as a leader. Harry died just a few months before Ellington's demise.
1948     Jimmy Cliff, Reggae vocals, b. St. Catherine, Jamaica.
1946     Arthur Conley, (soul) vocals, b. Atlanta, GA, USA.
1948     Simon Cowe, guitar. Member group: 'Lindisfarne'
1952     Billy Currie, keyboard, b. Huddersfield, W. Yorks, England. Member group: 'Ultravox'
1909     Eddie Duchin, society pianist/bandleader, b. Mass, d. Feb. 9, 1951 (Leukemia)
1944     Bobby Gebert, (Jazz) pianist/session player, b. Adelaide, Australia
1935     Alan Haven, Piano/Organ/Synthesiser/Vocals, b. Manchester, Lancashire, England
1959     Terri Hendrix, C&W singer-songwriter/guitar, b. (Brooke Army Medical Center) San Antonio, TX, USA.
1895     Alberta Hunter, Vocal/composer, b. Memphis, TN, USA. d. Oct. 17, 1984. aka: Josephine Beatty. One of the "Grand Dames" of early Black Jazz vocalists. She debut'ed at age 15 in a club called "Dago Frank's", staying two years and followed that with appearances at Hugh Hoskin's Panama Club and the Dreamland. While she worked at the Dreamland, she composed "Downhearted Blues" which Bessie Smith sang on her debut record of Feb. 1923. She next went to New York and appeared on the Broadway stage in the show 'How Come?'. She toured the USA and then toured Europe. During the 1920s she made many recordings with such men as Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, "Fats" Waller, Perry Bradford, and Fletcher Henderson. During WW2, she toured both European and South Pacific theaters of operations, entertaining in USO shows attended by soldiers and generals as Douglas MacArthur and Dwight D. Eisenhower. She was again on the New York stage during 1954-'55 (understudying 3 roles in the play 'Mrs Patterson'). This writer recalls seeing her perform in a small restaurant in New York's Greenwich Village area in the early 1950s. In 1956, she attended the YWCA school for Practical Nurses, graduated, and went to work in the Goldwater Memorial Hospital on Welfare Island in New York city.
1939     Rudolph Isley, vocals, b. Cincinnati, OH, USA. Member group: 'The Isley Brothers'
1922     Duke Jordan, Piano, b. New York, NY, USA.
1938     Eddie King, vocals, b. New York, NY, USA. Member: 'The Flares'
1920     John LaPorta, (Jazz) clarinet/composer/educator, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA, d. May 12, 2004, Sarasota, FL, USA. Age: 84. He had played with the big bands of Bob Chester (1942-1944) and Woody Herman (1944-1946). In 1947, he recorded with Lennie Tristano. In 1953, LaPorta, along with with Charles Mingus and Teo Macero, was a part of the 'Jazz Composers' Workshop', In 1954, he recorded with Charlie Mingus, and during 1954-1958 led sessions for the Debut, Fantasy, and Everest labels. Shortly afterwards, LaPorta began a new career as a teacher (at the Manhattan School of Music and Berklee College). During his 40 year teaching tenure, he had an enormous influence on countless students
1946     Ronnie "Plonk" Lane, R&R; bassist/vocals, b. Plaistow, London, England. d. June 4, 1997, Trinidad, CO, USA (multiple sclerosis). Age: 51. Member groups: 'Small Faces', and later, 'The Faces'.
1964     Leslie Langston, bass. Member group: 'Throwing Muses'
1968     Woody Lee, (Country) vocals.
1935     Jorge Lopez Ruiz, Bass, b. Buenos Aires, Argentina
1915     Art Lund, Vocal, b. Salt Lake City, UT, USA. d. May 30, 1990. Also appeared on the Ken Murray Radio Show.
1920     John LaPorta, Saxophone, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. May 12, 2004.
1927     Amos Millburn, piano, b. Houston, TX, USA, d. 1979, Houston, TX, USA. During WWII, served in US Navy, and saw overseas action. During his career he had 19 Top Ten R&B hits; the first coming in 1948 with "Chicken Shack Boogie". He recorded mostly for the Alladin label and even called his band 'The Aladdin Chickenshackers'. In 1950, after his "Bad, Bad Whiskey" hit number 1 on the charts, he followed with a string of 'booze' hit releases including "Thinking and Drinking," "Let Me Go Home Whiskey," "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" and, his last hit in 1954, "Good Good Whiskey". In retrospect, Millburn's own Alcoholism gives a grimly ironic twist to these numbers. As his career faded, his health also deteriorated, and he suffered a string of strokes which limited his mobility. Eventually, his left leg was amputated. Not too long afterwards, this great R&B pioneer died.
1908     Bob Nolan, leader, b. New Brunswick, Canada, d. June 15, 1980. né: Robert Clarence Nobles. Member (The Leader): 'The Sons of The Pioneers'
1965     Peter O'Toole, Guitar (Bass). Member group: 'Hothouse Flowers'
1921     Rev. Louis Overstreet, (gospel) guitar, b. Lakeland, LA, USA.
1954     Jeff Porcaro, drums, b. Hartford, CT, USA. Member group: 'Toto' (1992)
1928     Jane Powell, vocals/actress. b. Portland OR, USA. Seen in films 'Royal Wedding' (with Fred Astaire) and in '7 Brides for 7 Brothers' among others.
1932     Debbie Reynolds, actress/vocals, b. El Paso, TX, USA. née: Mary Frances Reynolds
1921     Steve Race, Piano/broadcaster, b. Lincoln, England
1963     Antoine Roney, Tenor-soprano-alto sax, bass clarinet, b. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Antoine is the brother of trumpeter Wallace Roney.
1935     Jorge Lopez Ruiz, Bass, b. Buenos Aires, Argentina
1947     Robin Scott, vocals, b. Croydon, (London suburb), England, UK. Member group: 'M'. 1979 single 'Pop Muzik', charted US No.1 & UK No.2.
1949     Gil Scott-Heron, Vocals, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1928     Harry Sheppard, Jazz vibraphonist, b. Worcester, MA, USA.
1921     Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, C&W guitar, b. Clinton, SC, USA.
1981     Hannah Louise Spearritt, vocals. Member group: 'S Club 7'
1925     Kathy Stobart, Tenor Sax, b. Lancashire, England née: Florence K Stobart.
1928     Bob Strasen, Voc., b. Strasbourg, France
1926     Phillip Palmer Thomas, b. Drums, Chicago, IL, USA, d. Aug. 23, 2002, Chicago, IL, USA, The men he worked with include Buddy Guy, Preston Lov, Red Saunders, The Johnny Young Trio, Memphis Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Muddy Waters, Zoot Sims and Chuck Berry.
1947     Frank Tusa, Bass, b. New York, NY, USA.
1961     Mark White, vocals, b. Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK. Member group: 'ABC', a group formed by Martin Fry (Born March 9th, 1958), Mark White (Born April 1st, 1961) and Stephen Singleton (Born April 17th, 1959).
1955     Keith Whitley, b. Sandy Hook, KY, USA.
1930     Joan Williams, piano/viola/composer, b: Brooklyn, WA, USA, d: Jan. 30, 2003, Seattle, WA, USA. ( Jazz ) Born 9-29-1940 (Complications from Parkinson's disease) This Avant-Garde composer's works included frogs croaking ("Frogs"), city sounds (nails being hammered and clanks of wooden boards). She founded The New Dimensions In Music organization.
1945     Lesak Zadlo, Tenor-soprano sax/clarinet/flute, b. Krakow, Poland

   Notable Events occuring this date include:
1917.    Scott Joplin died in a New York City mental institution at the age of 49.
1927.    RCA (Germany) introduced the world's first fully automatic record changer.
1947.    Freddie Webster, trumpet, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 30
1970.    Paul Cohen, former Country Music Association President, died in Bryan, TX, USA.
1983.    Kenny Kersey, piano, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 67
1984.    Marvin Gaye, singer-songwriter, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 45
1988.    Coleman Pettis Jr. guitar, died in Chicago, IL
1989.    Lem Johnson, tenor sax, died in NY, USA. Age: 79
1991.    Eddie Miller, tenor sax, died in Van Nuys, CA, USA. Age: 79
1992.    Phillip Wilson, drums New York, NY, USA. Age: 50
1993.    Jake Porter, trumpet/label owner ('Combo'), died in Desert Hot Springs,CA, USA. Age: 76
1996.    Harold "Sonny" Wright, vocals, died in NY, USA. Member: 'The Diamonds'
2001.    Ted McCarty, retired president of the Gibson Guitar Company, died in Idaho. Age: 91

   Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
     1949 "A You're Adorable", Perry Como
     1967 "Sweet Soul Music", Arthur Conley
     1978 "This Time I'm In It For Love", Player
     1989 "Forever Your Girl", Paula Abdul
     1989 "After All (Love Theme From Chances Are)", Cher
     1989 "Real Love", Jody Watley

** Calendar editor: Mr. Ron Hearn Return To: