BIRTHDAYS
1919     Amy Arnell, Vocals. Same birthdate as her boss - bandleader Tommy Tucker.
1936     Leon Ashley, C&W singer-songwriter, b. Covington, GA, USA. né: Leon Walton. In the 1960s and '70s, Leon had a modestly successful performing career as a Country/Pop singer, but basically his biggest influence was as a songwriter. Perhaps his best known song is "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)," which became a Country standard of the 1960s and '70s, when it was recorded by a variety of artists, including Marty Robbins and Kenny Rogers. He has also found a small place in C&W music history as the first artist to write, record, release, distribute, and publish his own material.
1926     Lou Bennett, Organ, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. Feb. 10, 1997
1948     Joe Bonsall, C&W tenor vocals, b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. Member group: "Oakridge Boys" The group began in 1945 as a quartet singing Gospel music only. By the 1970s, the band's lineup consisted of lead singer Duane Allen, tenor Joe Bonsall, baritone William Lee Golden, and bass singer Richard Sterban. In 1977, they went from Gospel to Country and released of their "Ya'll come Back Saloon" album. They are perhaps best known for their 1981 hit song "Elvira".
1912     Perry Como, vocalist, b: (some say: b. May 18, 1913) Canonsburg, PA, USA. d: May 13, 2001, Jupiter, FL, USA. né: Pierino Roland Como. Como died while sitting in a chair in his bedroom. For the past two years he had been in ill health (Alzheimer's). This charming Italian-American, whose name was synonymous with 'mellow', performed through seven decades, starting in the 1930s. His idol, the late singer Bing Crosby, once called Como ''the man who invented casual.'' The middle offspring of 13 children of Italian immigrants, by age 11, he was sweeping floors after school at a barber shop in the town just south of Pittsburgh. It was there that he was taught how to cut the hair of the local coal miners and others. By age 14, he had his own barber shop earning $150 a week, but during the great 1930s Economic Depression he worked for another barber. In the early 1930s, he got an offer to sing with Freddie Carlone's band in Cleveland, but his big break came in 1936 when he signed with the Ted Weems big band, remaining with Weems for six years. In 1943, he recorded of the song "Goodbye Sue" for RCA-Victor Records, amd this began a 50-year contract with the label. Perry's recordings were a mainstay of radio and jukeboxes in the late 1940s. In the 1950s, he pioneered variety shows on the new medium of television, and for four decades was seen on various TV shows and Specials. He worked briefly in Hollywood, during the WW2 years, but found film work unappealing. In 1929, when he was 16, he met his wife to be, Roselle, at a picnic and they were married in 1933. In his semi-retirement, they divided their time between the North Carolina mountains and the Palm Beach County town of Jupiter, FL. Roselle died at age 84, in August 1998, less than two weeks after she and Como celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Perry was one of the best-known American singers. He sold more than 100 million records over his 60-year career, with 27 of his records going gold. Como's death was also mourned by fans in Japan where his television shows triumphed over the language barrier
1957     Michael Cretu, Multi Instruments, b. Ibiza, Spain. Member group: 'Enigma',
1942     Rodney Dillard, banjo/Dobro/Guitar (Rhythm)/Vocals, b. East St. Louis, IL, Member: "The Dillards", the original group consisted of Doug Dillard (b. March 6, 1937, East St. Louis, IL, USA, né: Douglas Flint Dillard Banjo, Guitar, Vocals), Rodney Dillard (b. May 18, 1942,East St. Louis, IL, USA, né: Rodney Adean Dillard Guitar, Dobro, Vocals), Mitch Dillard (b.Hammond, IN, USA. né: Mitchell. Bass, Vocals), and Jayne Dean Webb (b. Independence, MO, USA, né: Roy Dean Webb, Mandolin, Vocals). Later Members included Byron Berline (Fiddle), Herb Pedersen (Banjo, Vocals), Paul York (Drums), Billy R. Lathum (Guitar), Irv Dugan (Bass), Jeff Gilkinson (Bass, Banjo, Cello, Bass Harmonica, Vocals), Doug Bounsall (Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle, Vocals), Ray Parks (Fiddle), Eddie Ponder (Drums), Joe Villegas (Bass), and Peter Grant Steel, (Banjo).
1892     George "Pops" Foster, Bass, b. McCall, LA, USA. d. 1969
1946     Bruce Gilbert guitar, b. Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK. Member group: 'Wire'
1938     Frick Guin, Trombone, b. Contres, France
1942     Albert Hammond, pop/rock songwriter, b. London, England, UK. (Some sources claim b. 1944)
1949     Walter Hawkins, (gospel) vocals, b. Oakland, CA, USA.
1909     Al Hewitt, guitar/piano/organ/Harmonica/Banjo/Mandolin, b. Denver, CO, USA, d. June 1, 1957, (just outside of) Palmdale, CA, USA. Al had played with the Hal Cord Orch. and was quite active all throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
1894     Lou Hooper, Piano, b. North Baxton, Ont., Canada, d. 1977
1928     Dorothy Labostrie, songwriter, b. Rayland, KY, USA. Among her compositions: "Trutti Frutti"
1900     "Little Son Joe", guitar, b. Hughes, AR, USA. Played with "Memphis Minnie"
1969     Martika, vocals, b. Whittier, California, USA. née: Marta Marrero. After a USA No. 1 hit ("Toy Soldiers" -1989), and some other No. 1 hits in Europe, Martika has somewhat faded from public attention.
1894     Sara Martin, vocal, d. 1955
1892     George "Pops" McCall, Bassist
1949     Jim McNeely, Piano, b. Chicago, IL, USA.
1905     Dick McPartland, Guitar/banjo, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. Nov 30, 1957. Dick was the older brother of trumpeter Jimmy McPartland. In the 1920s, both brothers were early members of the 'Austin High School Gang', a group that helped establish Chicago Jazz. Jimmy began on the violin before switching to banjo and guitar. Among the groups with whom he worked during the 1920s in Chicago, included Red McKenzie (he was Eddie Lang's replacement). In 1928, he recorded with Irving Mills and with Jack Teagarden in 1929. In 1936 and 1939, Dick's rhythm guitar was heard on sessions led by bis brother Jimmy. In his early '30s, a heart attack forced Dick to retire from full-time music. He subsequently earned his living as a cab driver, only appearing at an occasional concert, including in 1955 when he played his final gig. He never led his own record date.
1949     Gary Scruggs, Bluegrass Bass/Harmonica b. Knoxville, TN, USA. Member group: "Earl Scruggs Revue". Gary is one of Earl Scruggs' sons, and is married to Gail Davies (née: Patricia Gail Dickerson, b. June 5, 1948, Broken Bow, OK, USA), - one of country music's most influential female artists. It was her second marriage, her first marriage to a Jazz musician quickly ended in divorce. Gary and Gail have a son, Christopher.
1961     Russell Senior, fiddle/vocals, b. Sheffield, England, UK. Member group: 'Pulp'
1952     George Strait, C&W vocals, b. Poteet (near San Antonio), TX, USA. One of his hit songs was "Beyond the Blue Neon"
1927     Duane Tatro, composer/arranger
1953     "Butch" Tavares, vocals, b. New Bedford, MA, USA. Member group: 'Tavares', a five-brother vocal group of Arthur Tavares, Ralph Vierra Tavares, Perry Lee Tavares, Antone Tavares, and Feliciano Tavares, - with nicknames of Chubby, Tiny, Ralph, Pooch, and Butch.
1913     Charles Trenet, Composer/Vocals/actor, b. (near) Narbonne, France, d. Feb. 18, 2001, Creteil (S.E. Suburb of Paris). Stroke.
1908     Tommy Tucker, Leader, né: Gerald Duppler
1911     "Big Joe" Turner, Vocals, b. Kansas City, MO, USA. d. Nov. 24, 1985. né: Joseph Vernon Turner, Jr.
1949     Rick Wakeman, piano, b. Perivale, Middlesex, England. né: Richard Christopher Wakeman. Rick's father, Cyril Wakeman, was also a musician, as is Rick's son, Adam Wakeman (b. 1974, by Rick's first wife, Ros Woolford).
1949     Bill Wallace, bassist, b. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Member group: 'Guess Who'
1961     Hugh Whittaker, bassist, b. Hull, England, UK. Member group: 'The Housemartins'
1958     Toyah Willcox, vocals/TV presenter, b. King's Heath, Birmingham, England, UK. née: Victoria Willcox. (Her name is regularly mis-spelled with just one "l". ) This well-known ex-British punk/romantic singer and performer is now (2005) a successful actress and TV presenter. Toyah is well remembered for her hits "I Want to be Free", and "It's a Mystery". In 1983, she was voted Best Female Singer at the 'British Rock and Pop Awards', and in 1986. she married avant-garde musician, Robert Fripp.
1902     Meredith Willson, Composer/lyricist/flute,piccolo/piano/arranger/leader, b. Mason City, IA, USA, d. June 15, 1984 and also listed in our Tunesmith's Database entry, né: Robert Meredith Reiniger. He is perhaps best known for his score for the Broadway play "Music Man" - that starred Robert Preston. The Buffalo Bills barbershop quartet sang Meredith's lovely tune "Lida Rose".
1954     Wreckless Eric, R&R vocals/songwriter/bandleader, b. Newhaven, East Sussex, England, UK. né: Eric Goulden. This R&R singer couldn't carry a tune, but he did have a lot of energy, which made his performances enjoyable.
1922     Kai Winding, trombone/leader/composer, b. Aarhus, Denmark, d. May 6, 1983, Yonkers, NY. né: Kai Chresten Winding. Worked with: Shorty Allen 1940; Bobby Day; Sonny Dunham; J.J.Johnson; Stan Kenton; Alvino Rey; Buddy Stewart; Charlie Ventura; (sidemen)Brew Moore(ts); George Wallington; Gerry Mulligan(bs); Curley Russell(b); Roy Haynes(dm)
1930     Mike Zwerin, trumpet, bass trumpet, arranger, b. New York, NY, USA.
         Notable Events occuring this date include:
1954.    "Willie Rhythm" (né: Willie Hood), harmonica Age: 43
1968.    "Tiny Tim's" version of "Tiptoe through the Tulips" was released. Originally, a 1929 hit for singer Nick Lucas.
1974.    Tyree Glenn, trombone, died in Englewood, NY, USA. Age: 62
1980.    Lucius Smith, banjo, died in Sardis, MS, USA. Age: 95
1982.    Frances Brown, vocals, died in Boston, MA, USA. Age: 66
1984.    Ray Copeland, trumpet, died in Sunderland, MA, USA. Age: 57
1984.    John Hardee tenor sax died in Dallas, TX, USA. ( Dec. 20, 1918, Corsicana, Texas, USA,)
1984.    John "Badman" Hardee, tenor sax, died in Dallas, TX, USA. Age: 65
1985.    Robert Shaw, piano, died in Austin, TX, USA. Age: 76
1986.    John Bubbles, vocals/dancing, died in Baldwin Hills, CA, USA. Age: 84. 'Member famous team of Buck & Bubbles'
1986.    Charles Albertine, tenor sax/composer/arranger, died in Los Angeles, California, USA. ( b. Feb. 24, 1929, Passaic, New Jersey, USA)
1990.    Eje Thelin, trombonist, died. (b. June 9, 1938, Sweden)
1990.    Sing Miller, pianist and vocals died ( né: James Edward Miller. b. June 17, 1914, New Orleans, LA, USA )
2004.    Elvin Jones, drummer, died in Englewood, NJ, USA. ( né: Elvin Ray Jones, b. Sept. 9, 1927 in Pontiac, MI, USA.)
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1944    "I'll Be Seeing You", - Bing Crosby
1944    "I'll Get By", - The Ink Spots
1963    "It's My Party (And I'll Cry If I Want To)", - Lesley Gore
1968    "Tiptoe Through the Tulips", "Tiny Tim" voc. released. (#1 for Nick Lucas in 1929. Tiny Tim's made #20.)
1968    "Yummy Yummy Yummy", - Ohio Express
1974    "Be Thankful For What You Got", - William DeVaughn
1974    "Hollywood Swinging", - Kool & The Gang
1985    "Raspberry Beret", - Prince
1985    "Voices Carry", - Til Tuesday
1991    "Playground", - Another Bad Creation
1991    "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)", - UB40