BIRTHDAYS
1914     Lester Alexis, drums. b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
1963     Rick Allen, r&r. Member: 'Def Leppard'
1937     Bill Anderson, C&W vocals/guitar, b. Columbia, SC, USA. né: James William Anderson III.
1905     Jacob "Papa Jac" Assunto, Trombone, b. Lake Charles, LA, USA. d. Jan. 5, 1985. Father of Frank and Fred whose Dukes Of Dixieland Orch he joined in 1955
1904     Louis Bacon, Trumpet/Vocal, b. Louisville, KY, USA. d. Dec 8, 1967, New York NY, USA. Worked the singer Bessie Smith, among others.
1929     Gabe Baltazar, Alto Sax, b. Hilo, HI, USA.
1951     Ronald Bell, sax, b. Youngstown, OH, USA. né: Ronald Nathan Bell. He later adopted the name of Khalis Bayyan. Member group: Kool & The Gang. Their 1981 single "Celebration" charted US No.1 and UK No.7, and over 15 other top 40 hits. Ronald was the brother of Robert 'Kool' Bell (bass, b. Oct. 8, 1950, Youngstown, OH, USA) In 1964, the brothers formed the "Jazziacs" in Jersey City, NJ, USA which included such future Kool & the Gang members as Dennis Ronald "Dee Tee" Thomas (alto sax, b. Orlando, FL, USA), Robert "Spike" Mickens on trumpet, (His father also played trumpet). Rickey Westfield on keyboards and George "Funky" Brown on drums. When 'Kool & The Gang' formed, they consisted of Khalis Bayyan (né: Ronald Bell; b. Nov. 1, 1951, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.), Robert "Kool" Bell (b. Oct. 8, 1950, Youngstown), Claydes Smith (b. Sept. 6, 1948, Jersey City), George "Funky" Brown (drums, b. Jan. 5, 1949, Jersey City), Dennis "DT" Thomas (sax, b. Feb. 9, 1951, Jersey City), Robert "Spike" Mickens on trumpet, (His father also played trumpet) Rick Westfield (keyboards).
1938     Henry "Pucho" Brown, drums/percussion/leader, b. New York (Harlem), NY, USA. Member group: 'Pucho and his Latin Soul Brothers.'
1944     Mike Burney, tenor sax, b. England. Member group: Roy Wood's Wizzard His varied career has taken in stints with such diverse aggregations as the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and Roy Wood's Wizard, but he is most at home making great Jazz in settings like the 1998 Birmingham International Jazz Festival, where he picked up the HMV 'Top Dog for Jazz' prize as one of the 'Hot Horns'.
1901     Lew "Doc" Childre, C&W trombone/trumpet/drums/vocals, b. Nov. 1, 1901, Opp, AL, USA. d. Dec. 3, 1961. Lew Childre was a holdover from the early days of vaudeville shows and one-man bands, who managed a successful career during the 1930s and '40s playing radio broadcasts and doing his own advertising transcriptions. In high school, he played trombone, trumpet, and drums and then attend the University of Alabama. After graduation, he joined a tent show as a singer/performer. He subsequently formed the 'Alabama Cotton Pickers' his own Jazz band, which also included a very young Lawrence Welk, and recorded several sides. "Country" music was then in its commercial infancy, and Lew became fascinated with the genre. Childre learned to play guitar and then returned to the tent shows. In 1930, he was working in a Texas radio station. During September 1930, he recorded several sides for Gannett Records, and then toured Texas with Wiley Walker as "The Alabama Boys". (Wiley later became part of the 'Wiley & Gene' duo.) In 1934, Lew moved to New Orleans and began broadcasting over WWL and recording for the ARC label. In the late 1930s, he played with the Carter Family broadcasting on the Mexican (on Texas border) radio station XERA. In the early 1940s, he was with West Virginia's 'Wheeling Jamboree'. In 1945, he joined the 'Grand Ole Opry', and soon was also producing transcriptions for General Foods and Pepsi, and other companies. In the mid-1950s, he recorded an LP for the Starday label, and in 1959 retired from music. Two years later, he died. (CAUTION: Do not confuse with: Lew Houston Childree, b. Oct, 23, 1936, d. June 4, 2001, Plattsburg, MO, USA.)
1941     Robert Curnow, Composer/Arranger, b. Easton,PA, USA.
1966     Willie D', vocals, b. Vineland, NJ, USA, né: William Dennis. Member group: "Sweet Willie D And The Continental Walk" was founded in 2000.
1913     Denny Dennis, Vocalist, b. Derby, England, d. Nov. 2, 1993. Age: 80. né: Ronald Dennis Pountain. Sang with the Roy Fox Orch. (1933 - 1938), Ambrose (1938 - 1939), Stanley Black and his Orch (1946), Tommy Dorsey (1948 - 1949), and other English groups.
1926     Lou Donaldson, Alto Sax, b. Badin, NC, USA. Studied Greensboro College, but Musical training while in U.S. Navy. Played with 'The Jazz Messengers'.
1944     Keith Emerson, keyboards, b. Todmorden, England, UK. Founded group: 'Emerson, Lake & Palmer' whose music often included excerpts from pieces by Bach, Janacek, Bartok, Ginastera, Copland, Mussorgsky and other classical composers. He has also composed film soundtrack music.
1956     Marco Eneidi, alto sax, b. Portland, OR. USA.
1949     David Foster, producer, b. Victoria, B.C., Canada. One of the most successfull Canadian Pop/Rock record producers. Among the stars whom he helped are Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, George Harrison, Alice Cooper Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Kenny Loggins, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Lionel Ritchie, Hall and Oates, and the group 'Chicago'.
1915     Preston Fulp, guitar, b. Stokes City, NC, USA. d.Oct. 23, 1993, Winston Salem, NC, USA.
1961     Mags Furuholmen, r&r, b. Norway. Member group: a-ha
1972     Andrew Gonzales, drums, b. Hawaii. Member group: Reel Big Fish. At one time or other, the group consisted of Aaron Barrett (vocals/guitar b. August 30, 1974, Hawaii), Carlos de la Garza (drums), Scott Klopfenstein (trumpet/vocals, b. May 31, 1977), Dan Regan (trombone, b. May 9, 1977, Long Beach, CA, USA), Matt Wong (bass, b.Jan. 12, 1974, Hawaii), Grant Barry (trombone, b. Feb. 2, 1977), Adam Polakoff (saxaphone), Andrew Gonzales (drums, b. Nov. 1, 1972, Hawaii. Attended high school with Aaron and Matt.), Robert Quimby (trombone - in 1998, he earned a BS degree from UC Berkeley. Currently works in a U.S.government lab as an astro-physicist), and Tavis Werts (trumpet/ flugelhorn b. July 8, 1977)
1946     Rick Grech, bassist/violinist, b. Bordeaux, France. d. March 17, 1990. Member groups: Family, Traffic
1911     Woody Harris, songwriter, b. New York, NY, USA.
1959     Conrad Herwig, trombone, b. Tulsa, OK, USA. While attending University of North Texas Jazz studies program, he played with noted pianist Red Garland at gigs in the nearby Dallas-Fort Worth area. After graduation, Herwig joined Clary Terry's big band, before moving on to the big bands of Buddy Rich, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Mel Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra, and the Mingus Big Band. He also worked in smaller bands with such musicians as Jack DeJohnette,Joe Henderson, and many Latin groups, - including bands led by legends Eddie Palmieri and Mario Bauza.
1966     Mary Hanson, vocals, b. Maryborough, Queensland, Australia. d. Dec. 9. 2002, London, England (cycling accident).
1912     Franz Jackson, soprano-alto-tenor Sax/clarinet/vocals/leader/arranger, b. Rock Island, IL, USA. studied Chicago Music College
1968     Alex James, piano/violin/boas guitar, b. Bournemouth, England. né: Steven Alexander James. Member group: Blur Played piano and violin as a child. Later studied at Goldsmith's University, but left with unfinished studies. In 1996, he led his group called 'Me Me Me' (Alex, Stephen Duffy, Justin Welch and Charlie Bloor). Their single "Hanging Around".reached #19 on the UK charts. He composed the song "Hang It On Your Heart" for Marianne Faithfull, and also appears on Marianne Faithfull's video "Sex With Strangers".. In 2000, he collaborated with film composer Simon Boswell on the score to the British football film 'There's Only One Jimmy Grimble'. Alex has also worked with vocalist Sophie Ellis-Bextor on two tracks of her debut solo album 'Read My Lips'. James can also be heard playing bass on both Stephen Duffy's album "I Love My Friends", and on S E-B's album, "Shoot From The Hip". With Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Ben Hillier, James, besides playing bass, co-wrote and co-produced, "Move This Mountain", and co-produced "I Believe". He co-wrote,and plays bass on, "Love Is It Love".
1924     "Little" Johnny Jones, (Blues) pianist, b. Jackson, MS, USA, d. Nov 19, 1964 in Chicago, IL, USA. Worked with Otis Spann, and with Elmore James, and others.
1939     Roger Kellaway, Piano, b. Newton, MA, USA,
1962     Anthony Kiedis, lead vocals, b. Grand Rapids, MI, USA. Member group: Red Hot Chili Peppers
1964     Joe Leste, r&r vocals. b. San Diego CA, USA. Best work: "Bang Tango"-"Dancin' on Coals"
1925     Alonzo H. Levister, composer/piano/arranger, b. Greenwich, CT, USA. studied Boston Conserv. of Music. Has written much music for Dance troupes. Has stated his goal is to write Opera using Jazz-derived material.
1914     Sabby Lewis, Piano, b. Middleburg, NC, USA. d. July 9, 1994 (some claim d. July 10)
1919     Louis Lorillard, founder: Newport Jazz Fest., b. Newport, R.I., USA.
1960     Lyle Lovett, c&w vocals
1954     Carmen Lundy, Vocal, b. Miami, FL, USA.
1959     Eddie MacDonald, bassist, b. Texas, USA. Member group: 'The Alarm'
1948     Raphe Malik, trumpet, b. Cambridge, MA, USA, d. March 8, 2006, Brattleboro, VT, USA. Age: 57. né: While still in high school, he became Northeast Regional tennis champion for New England, and also studied Mandarin Chinese through a U. S. State Department intensive language course, pursuits which he maintained throughout his life. After graduating from high school, he first studied at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, then Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he studied and played music with Cecil Taylor-p , Jimmy Lyons-as, and Andrew Cyrille-dr. These men, plus Raphe Malik, would continue to work together for many years. Malik has remained an underground figure, playing avant garde music (free form), from his early days working with Cecil Taylor and Jimmy Lyons on through to his first recording as a leader ( 21st Century Texts, FMP, 1989). He invented his own name (”raphe” means “the seam of a seed,” something that he picked up out of the dictionary after having a vision under the stars in Ohio). And, his playing has never really settled into any sort of predictable groove. Raphe's career as composer and trumpeter really began in the 1970s, when he also adopted the stage name of Raphe Malik. During the 1970s, Malik was a regular member of the pianist Cecil Taylor and altoist Jimmy Lyons ensembles. In 1976, Makik was playing in Europe (the first of 4 tours), and even appeared at the Montreaux Festova. While in Europe, he worked with such stars as Diane McEntyre, Alvin Ailey, with a larger group, with Craig Harris. Other musicians he worked with while in Europe included Andy Bey, Rashied McCarr, Alan Silva, and Sun Ra. All during the 1970-'80s, Malik both played in concert and recorded with Jimmy Lyons, Syd Smart, William Parker and Cecil Taylor. In 1992, he married Marguerite Serkin, relocated to Southern Vermont, and found work teaching music at Bennington College, while also performing and recording in a wide spectrum of musical genres. Over his career, Raphe has had to work at day jobs to support himself, while still playing music at night. Among the work he did was as a setter of ceramic tile and marble. In later years, he worked as a meat cutter in the supermarket, Price Chopper in his home town of Brattleboro, VT. Sadly, his health began to decline, although he continued to play live, and even toured as his health permitted. Included among the musicians with whom Malik work are Cecil Parker (piano), Jimmy Lyons (alto sax), Frank Wright (tenor saxophone), William Parker (bass), Syd Smart (drums), Joe McPhee (Soprano Sax, Pocket Trumpet cornet), Frank Wright ( tenor sax), Donald Robinson (drums), Glenn Spearman (tenor sax), Ronald Shannon Jackson (drums), Sirone (bass), and Ramsey Ameen (violin) among others.
1923     Samuel D. "Sam" Margolis, Tenor Sax/clarinet, b. Boston, MA, USA. d.. March 10, 1996
1926     John Gordon "Johnny" Markham, Drums, b. Oakland, CA, USA. '50-2 with/ Chas. Barnet; B. May '53; KGO-TV staff '58-9; also acc. Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald in '58; Toured Europe in '59 w/Norvo and Benny Goodman.
1923     Dr. Alan Merriam, ethnomusicologist, b. Missoula, MT, USA.
1926     Consuela Moorehead, piano, b. Tallahasse, FL, USA.
1944     Chris Morris, guitar, b. Nottingham, England. Member group: Paper Lace, 1974 single "The Night Chicago Died" charted US No.1. In 1969, Paper Lace was formed in Nottingham, and consisted of Philip Wright, Cliff Fish, Chris Morris, Carlo Santanna, and Michael Vaughan.
1969     Darren Partington, guitar, b. Manchester, England. Member group: '808 State', 1989 UK No.10 single Pacific State. 809 State consisted of Andrew Barker ( March 9, 1968), Darren Partington (Nov. 1, 1969), and Graham Massey (Aug. 4, 1960), Martin Price, and Andy Baker. They took their name from the Roland drum machine TR 808 and the state-of-mind that they shared.
1950     Dan Peek, guitar/vocals, b. Panama City, FL, USA. Member group: America, 1972 single "Horse With No Name" charted US No.1 and UK No.3.
19??     Mark Pollock, guitar, b. TX, USA. With: 'Cold Blue Steel' (Texas roadhouse style music)
1917     Gail Reese, vocals, b. Jamaica Plains, NY, USA, d. April 11, 1997, Ft Myers, FL, USA, Gail will always be recalled for her beautiful vocals with the Glenn Miller and Bunny Berigan orchestras during the 1930s.
1942     Kenny Rice, drums, b. ST. Louis, MO, USA. Worked with Albert King
1952     Lee "Captain Fingers" Ritenour, guitar, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1903     Don Robey, Label owner (Duke/Peacock/Back Beat), b. Houston, TX, USA. Among the men who recorded for his labels are Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, the Dixie Hummingbirds, O.V. Wright, Johnny Ace, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Big Mama Thornton, Joe Hinton, Carl Carlton, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Inez Andrews, Memphis Slim, Little Junior Parker, and still more.
1907     Joseph Augustine "Joe" Rushton, Jr., baritone/Bass Sax/clarinet, b. Evanston, IL, USA. d. 1964, One of few musicians to make truly effective use of Bass sax (as did Adrian Rollini).
1930     Patrick John O'Hara "Johnny" Scott, tenor sax, flute, b. Bristol, England, Mostly a studio man now. Played w/W. Herman's Anglo-American Herd April '59; Wrote for Rex Harrison's 'Bright One' production.
1954     Keith Stegall, C&W singer/songwriter/drums/guitar, b. Wichita Falls, TX, USA.
1893     Henry Thies, bandleader/violin, b. Nov. 1, 1893, d. 1935
1898     Sippie Wallace, Vocal, b. Houston, TX, USA. d. Nov. 1, 1986, Detroit, Michigan, USA. née: Beulah Thomas
1936     Andre "Mr Rhythm" Williams, vocals, b. Bessamer, AL, USA. "Andre Williams makes "Little Richard" sound like Pat Boone" --Lux Interior Early on, Andre recorded under such pseudonyms as 'The Five Dollars' and 'The Don Juans', before becoming known as a record producer and songwriter. Among his best known compositions are such tunes as: "Shake A Tailfeather", "Cadillac Jack", "Funky Judge" and "Twine Time". Motown's Barry Gordy hired and fired him numerous times while he was working for the label as staff producer and A&R man. It was comedian Redd Foxx who gave him the nick name of "Mr. Rhythm". As a producer, Andre helped such singers as Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, The Dramatics, The Chi-Lites, Ike & Tina Turner, and even composed material for George Clinton’s Funkadelic! His career eventually ended due to his horrendous drug addiction. At one point, he was begging for money from passersby on the street.
1917     "Mississippi" Johnny Woods, harmonica, b. Looxahoma, MS, USA.
1946     Robert Yeazel, guitar/vocals. Member group: 'Sugarloaf'
         Notable Events on this date include:
1937.    Songwriter 'Whispering' Bill (James) Anderson born this date. Perhaps best recalled as a member of the 'Grand Ole Opry' show. Among his compositions are "For Loving You", "If It's All the Same to You", "Three Times a Lady", "City Lights", and "Someday We'll be Together".
1956.    Tommy Johnson, guitar, died in Crystal Springs, MS, USA. Age: 60
1963.    "Daddy Stovepipe" (né: Johnny Watson), (Blues) Mouth Harp, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 96 Often worked with his wife "Mississippi Sarah" playing the "Jug". There is a very rare Vocalion label recording of "Greenville Strut" (Music: Watson) where the two of them are called an "Instrumental Jug Band"
1970.    James "Peck"Curtis, drums, died in Helena, AR, USA. Age: 58. Member: King Biscuit Boys
1976.    Joe Tillman, tenor sax, died in New Orleans, LA. USA. Worked with "Guitar Slim"
1978.    Larry Hiller, Bessie Smith's sound engineer, died in New York, NY, USA. Age: 55
1982.    Ray Draper, tuba, died in New York, NY, USA.
1986.    James "Middle Water" Jones, guitar/harmonica, died in Gary, IN, USA. Age: 51 (b. July 16, 1935, Augusta, AR, USA)
1986.    Beto Villa, (Tejano) alto sax, died in Corpus Christi, TX, USA. Age: 71
1986.    Sippie Wallace, vocals, died in Detroit, MI, USA. Age: 88
1999.    Carl Erca, trumpet, leader, died in Rowayton, CT, USA. (Pancreatitis).
2005.    "Skitch" Henderson, piano, arranger, conductor, leader, died in New Milford, Connecticut, USA.
         Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
     1946 "Rumors Are Flying", - Betty Rhodes
     1969 "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday", - Stevie Wonder
     1975 "That's The Way (I Like It)", - KC and The Sunshine Band
     1975 "My Little Town", - Simon and Garfunkel
     1975 "Let's Do It Again", - Staple Singers
     1980 "Love On The Rocks", - Neil Diamond
     1980 "Starting Over, (Just Like)", - John Lennon
     1986 "Walk Like An Egyptian", - Bangles
     1986 "Stand By Me", - Ben E. King
     1986 "Don't Get Me Wrong", - Pretenders