BIRTHDAYS
1935     Julie Andrews , vocals/actress, b. Walton-on-Thames, England.
1942     Charlie Braugham, Drums, b. Dallas, TX, USA.
1910     "Blind Johnny" Brown, guitar/harmonica, b. Montgomery, AL, USA.
1933     Graham Burbridge, drummer, b. Bow, London, England, UK. d. 2003
1936     "Dr." George Butler, producer (Blue Note/Columbia), b. Autaugaville, AL, USA, While "Dr" Butler is widely known as a producer for CBS records, nevertherless, in his earlier days, he did work in several groups, including the 'Chosen Gospel Singers", then as the drummer in the American band "Eggs Over Easy", which subsequently toured to England where Butler then (1974) joined the English band 'Kilburn & the High Roads'. ( Interestingly, the all-American 'Eggs over Easy' originally arrived in the U.K. in 1970, to cut some records for producer Chas Chandler at Olympic Studios. The work went well but problems with, Cannon Films, their American backers finally ended the project. After touring to some live college gigs, they finally found work playing at the 'Tally Ho' pub in London's Kentish Town neighborhood, where their reputation quickly spread. Today, the band is renowned as the band which launched the entire British pub rock scene.) While working as a producer at Blue Note records, he helped the careers of such men as Noel Pointer, Bobbi Humphrey, Donald Byrd, Ronnie Laws and others. Working at Columbia, he worked with such stars as Harry Connick, both Branford, and Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, and Marlon Jordan. CAUTION: Please note the TWO BUTLERS -this one a Jazz player, and the line just below, a Blues player. (Both born same day, same year, - different cities.
1936     George "Wild Child" Butler, harmonica, b. Hernando MS, USA. d. March 1, 2005, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. (in hospital - pulmonary embolism). Age: 68. As a child age 5, "Wild Child" began playing the harp, but not having a teacher, and not knowing better, he played it 'upside down'. Not until he was well on in age did somebody tell him that the high notes were played on the right side, and the low notes on the left side of the harp. Of course, by then, his playing style was deeply ingrained in his reflexes, and his syncopated singing with that harp style gave him a very unique sound. A fellow Bluesman, Willie Dixon also once told "Wild Child": "You are the moan of the suffering woman, the groan of the dying man. You ain't nothing but the blues."
1960     Paul Cheron, Reeds, b. Toulouse, France
1932     Albert Collins, Blues Guitar, b, Leona, TX, USA.
1958     Martin Cooper, sax/painter b. Liverpool, England. Member group: 'Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark', 1984 single "Locomotion" charted UK No.5. Martin studied at the Laird School of Art in Birkenhead and then at the Sheffield College of Art where he obtained a 'First Class' Honours Degree in Fine Arts. Cooper and Malcolm Holmes made up the OMD core foursome along with Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys. The group found only limited success in the UK and eventually disbanded with each member going off to pursue their own interests. Paul Humphreys and Malcolm Holmes have continued to work in the music business, while Cooper has turned to another of his many talents, that of painting. In recent years he has exhibited at the Williamson Art Gallery (Birkenhead), the Royal Academy of Arts (London), and many other galleries.
1947     Rob Davis, vocals/composer/guitar, b. England. Member group: 'MUD'. 'MUD' consisted of Les Gray - Vocals, trumpet, b. April 9, 1946, England, d. Feb. 21, 2004. (battled throat cancer, but died of a heart attack); Dave Mount - Drums, backing vocals, b. England, March 3, 1947 (currently in the Insurance business); Rob Davis - Guitars and backing vocals, b. England, ; and Ray Stiles - Bass guitar and vocals, b. England, Nov. 20, 1946.
1908     Joe "from Bowling Green" Dean, piano, b. St. Louis, MO, USA. d.
1974     Keith Duffy, guitar/vocals, b. Ireland (Eire). Member: 'Boyzone', an Irish group originally formed by theatrical manager Louis Walsh (who advertised for boys who were interested in joining a band). The final group consisted of lead vocalist Ronan Keating (b: March 3, 1977), Mikey Graham (b: August 15, 1972), Stephen Gately (b: March 17, 1976), Shane Lynch (b: July 3, 1976) and Keith Duffy (b: October 1, 1974).
1955     Tony Dumas, Bass, b. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1933     Willie Egans, piano, b. Minden, LA, USA.
1923     Erma Ethridge, vocals, b. Newark, NJ, USA. (worked with comedian Redd Foxx)
1943     Herb Fame, vocals. né: Herbert Feemster. The "Herb" of group: Peaches & Herb
1902     Edna Fischer, piano, b: Oakland (?), CA, USA, d: Nov. 2, 1997. This child prodigy was playing the piano before she was old enough to even attend school. After graduating from Berkeley High School she toured with the show, "Topsy and Eva" starring the Duncan Sisters. Her friendship with the Duncan sisters would last a lifetime, even collaborating with them on several of her own compositions. While still in her teens, she performed at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. At a very early age, she was first heard on radio station KRE. In 1926, after recuperating from a multiple fracture of her right wrist (due to a auto accident), she became a regular on Radio Station KFRC and was heard on the "Happy Go Lucky Hour", and the "Blue Monday Jamboree," where she co-starred with Morey Amsterdam (Cellist/Actor) and Tommy Harris (Vocs). (Here's a photo of Tommy Harris, a singer who later had his own club Tommy's Place, where he led his own small group with Ernie Filice on accordion, Jimmy Davis on guitar, Lyle Daniels on violin, Truman Johnson on Bass, and Tommy on vocals. Harris was just age 14 when he was heard singing on Station KFRC. He and Joaquin Garay were the regulars on the station's show called Feminine Fancies.) In 1928, Fischer married Milton C. Hayes, then a purser for Oceanic Lines steamship company, and later general manager of the Press Club of San Francisco. (Hayes passed away in 1981.) After her days at station KFRC, she went on to play on a great many radio shows including one of her own. In the late 1930s, her radio program "Stars in the Making" (heard on NBC's station KPO) showcased San Francisco's budding musical talents. (She would reprise the show in 1983.) For the next 2 decades, Fischer was heard on NBC and KPO, -often on the Signal Oil Company's show Carefree Carnival, co-starring Meredith Willson and Tommy Harris (with whom she had worked at station KFRC.) A reader has sent this photo (which was credited to David Alexander, son-in-law of Alice Sizer.) of Meredith Willson and the William Sisters, rehearsing for a 1937 episode of the Carefree Carnival Show. (L-R: Laura Williams is standing, next to her is Alice Sizer, and Ethelyn Williams is seated. Here's a 1930s NBC station KPO publicity photo of Edna Fischer. In addition to playing the piano, Fischer also composed several tunes including 1929's, "Someday Soon" with lyrics by the Duncan Sisters (Columbia label: Anson Weeks and his Orchestra). In 1930, She and Anson Weeks co-composed the tune "Sorry", with the lyric again by the Duncan Sisters (Vivian and Rosetta ). Among the other tunes she composed are "Bored To Tears", (Edna Fischer), "Dream in My Heart", (Edna Fischer), "Driftwood", lyric by Al Garman and Vick Knight, "God Had His Arm Around Me" with Al Garman lyric, and "That Man In My Life", (Edna Fischer). She also composed the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition Theme Song, "There's Lots of Fun Over on Treasure Island". In 1942, Decca Records recorded Bing Crosby singing her composition "My Great, Great Grandfather". During WWII, she entertained at various Service Camps, Bond Rallies, and such. With the advent of television in the late 40s and early 1950s, Fischer became music director of KPIX-TV, where, she worked with bandleader Del Courtney's Orch., among others. By the mid-'50s, her career tapered off and she was mostly inactive. But in 1983, two years after her husband's demise, Fischer again appeared in a new edition of "Stars in the Making", this time on San Francisco's National PublicRadio station KALW-FM. In 1997, she died in her sleep, age 95.
1893    Cliff Friend, composer/piano, b. Cincinnati, OH, USA. d. June 27, 1974, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
1956     Dave Gibson, C&W guitar, b. El Dorado, AR, USA. Member: "The Gibson/Miller Band", a group formed in the early 1990s by guitarists Dave Gibson and Bill "Blue" Miller, two men from very different backgrounds. Gibson, born and raised in Arkansas, grew up listening to the music of Eddy Arnold, Hank Williams and Elvis Presley. As a young man, he worked with John Prine and Steve Goodman before becoming a well-known songwriter in Nashville, TN. Miller grew up in Detroit, MI, and played on recordings by "Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band". He composed - and sang - advertising jingles, traveled with Isaac Hayes, and won an Emmy for providing the theme of an ABC documentary. After traveling about the U.S.A., he eventually settled in Nashville (despite having never before played country music). After meeting Epic Records Vice President Doug Johnson. they put together a band that included bassist Bryan Grassmeyer, who had previously played with Vince Gill and Suzy Bogguss; drummer Steve Grossman, who had worked closely with Grassmeyer; and steel guitarist Mike Daly, who had worked with Gibson for several years. In 1992, The Gibson/Miller Band debuted with the single "Big Heart". Since then their albums have always been in the Top 20 -40 charts.
1920     Al Goyans, Trumpet, baritone sax, leader, b. Wetteren, Belgium
1913     Charles Grean, C&W songwriter/producer/record company executive, b. NY, USA.
1907     Richard Kazuo Hamada, saxophone, b. Penryn, CA, USA, d. Oct. 25, 2003, Loomis, CA, USA. Age: 96. As a young man, he first played the tuba with a group called the "Night Hawks". In 1927, after receiving a degree from Heald's Engineering and Automotive School (San Francisco), he opened an automotive garage, which he operated until America's entry into World War II. In 1942, he, and many other American's of Japanese descent, were forced into the Tulelake Relocation Center. While in the camp, he played his saxophone as part of the "Starlighters", a camp band that played for social dances for his fellow Japanese-American internees. (Hamada is mentioned, for his work with the Starlighters, in a 1997 book written by George Yoshida: "Reminiscing in Swingtime," a look at Japanese Americans' contributions to popular music between 1925 and 1960.) When WWII ended, Hamada, after a brief stay in Boise, Idaho, opened the 'Hamada Garage and Mercury Outboard Motors' store in Loomis, California. While this was his full time "day job:, he continued to play music during nights and weekend gigs. Sadly, in his later years, a stroke paralyzed his left arm, and he was forced to abandon his horns. Even so, though well into his 80s, he never gave up music. moving instead to the drums. Using his one good arm, he would suit up in the same tuxedo he wore at age 21 to play a snare drum and cymbal set while performing with a pianist for special events at the "Health for All" adult day care center in Auburn, California.
1933     Richard Harris, actor/vocals, b. Limerick, Ireland, 1968 single "MacArthur Park" charted US and UK No.4.
1945     Donny Hathaway, (soul) vocals/composer, b. Chicago, IL, USA. d. Jan. 13, 1979, Age: 33.(committed suicide by jumping from a 15th floor hotel window) 1972 singles with Roberta "Flack Where Is The Love", and "The Closer I Get To You" charted US Top 10.
1950     Mark Helias, bass
1946     Dave Holland, Bass, b. Wolverhampton, England, UK.
1890     Stanley Holloway, actor/singer b: Great Britain
1913     Santiago "Don" Jimenez, accordion, b. San Antonio, TX, USA. d. December 18, 1984 San Antonio, TX. USA.
1941     LaMont Johnson, piano, b. New York, NY, USA. d. Oct. 21, 1999. Played in the hard bop and post-bop era, and has recorded extensively with Jackie McLean, also with Ornette Coleman, Kenny Burrell, Bud Shank, Paul Beaver, and Bernie Krause, among others. CAUTION: Do not confuse with Lamont Johnson, b. Detroit, MI, USA, a self-taught musician, singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and electric bass instructor Lamont played in various local bands including the nine (9) piece pop band "Brainstorm". There is also the well known film director Lamont Johnson, born Sept. 30, 1922 in Stockton, California, U.S.A.
1969     Ori Kaplan, reeds/leader, b. Tel Aviv, Israel. At age 11, Ori was exposed to the clarinet teaching of klezmer and classical teachers in Jaffa, Israel. In 1991, he emigrated to the USA (New York) and matriculated (BFA- 1995) at the Mannes College of Music. He then formed his own "Trio Plus" (Tom Abbs on tuba and bass and Geoff Mann on drums). In 1997, he became a member of William Parker's 'Little Huey Orchestra', was involved with some other avant jazz projects related to the 'Knitting Factory' (a New York City venue) and the 'Vision Festival's' Visions Orchestra (with Karen Borca (bassoon), and Alan Silva -bass, cello, violin, synthesizer, b. January 29, 1939 Bermuda). In 1998, he toured the U.S. and Europe as member of the rock band 'Firewater'. In 1999, Kaplan expanded the trio into a quartet with the addition of Steve Swell on trombone. About this time, he formed his own "Ori Kaplan Percussion Ensemble", with Susie Ibarra and Geoff Mann on percussion, and Andrew Bemkey (formerly with Reggie Workman's band) on piano. In 2001, Kaplan received the Jerome award for Young Jazz Composers. He also joined the band 'Gogol Bordello'. The band, self described as "Gypsy Punk Cabaret", has spearheaded a sort of Eastern European cultural style that is somewhat popular in New York City.
1923     Albert King, guitarist/singer, b. Indianola, MS, USA. né: Albert Nelson
1948     Cub Koda, guitar/author/critic, b. Detroit, MI, USA.
1911     Irwin Kostal,Leader, b. Chicago, IL, USA. Best recalled as bandleader on the 'Garry Moore' show. (USA)
1913     Harry Lookofsky, violin, tenor violin, viola, b. Paducah, KY, USA. d. June 8, 1998, York, PA, USA. 85 yrs old.
1912     Sherwood Mangiapane, bass/sousaphone/ tuba, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. Worked with 'Blue Parody Orch'; Johnny Wiggs; "Papa" Laine, and a military service Band in England (1944)
1915     "Skeets" McDonald, C&W vocals/guitar. b. Greenway, AR, USA. né: Enos William McDonald.
1945     Ellen McIlwaine, guitar, b. Nashville, TN, USA.
1912     Johnny Meyer, Accordion, b. Amsterdam, Netherlands
1926     Max Morath, pianist/vocals, b. Colorado Springs, CO, USA. best known for playing the early 'Rags'
1959     Youssou N'dour, vocals, b.Dakar, Senegal, 1994 single "7 Seconds" (featuring Neneh Cherry) charted UK No.3. Youssou has also worked with Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon. N'Dour has served as an ambassador for UNICEF (in conjunction with the Year Of The Child). In July 1993, an African opera composed by N'Dour premiered at the Paris Opera.
1926     André Paquinet, Trombone, b. Arcueil, France. André is the son of Trombonist Guy Paquinet
1944     Barbara Parritt, vocals, b. Wilmington, NC, USA. Member: 'The Toys'
1925     Sullivan Pugh, vocals/guitar, b. Morehaven, FL, USA.
1944     Herbert "Toubo" Rhoad, vocals, b. Bamberg, SC, USA. Member: 'The Persuasions'
1935     Ann Richards (Mrs Stan Kenton), singer, b. San Diego, CA, USA. d. April 1, 1982. née: Margaret Ann Borden Mother taught her to play piano at age 10, and later had singing lessons. Career began with 4 months with Charlie Barnet's band and then with George Redman band (Hollywood). In 1955, she toured with the Stan Kenton band and married Stan that summer of '55. Also in 1955, she won the Downbeat poll as best band vocalist, then gave up her career to be a housewife. She did some occasional club and record dates (in Los Angeles).
1919     Jessie Mae Robinson, songwriter, b. Call, TX, USA.
1940     Marc Savoy, accordion, b. Eunice, LA, USA.
1904     Terry Shand, composer, b. Uvalde, TX, d. Nov. 11, 1977
1915     Johnny Shines, guitarist, b. Frayser, TN, USA. d. April 20, 1992, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
1947     Martin Turner, guitar/bass, b. Torquay, England. Member group: 'Wishbone Ash'
1948     Mariska Veres, vocals, b.Hague, Holland. Member group: Shocking Blue, 1970 single "Venus" charted US No.1 and UK No.8.
1926     Roger Williams, piano, b. Omaha, NB, USA. né: Louis Wertz
1968     Kelly Willis, C&W singer-songwriter/guitar, b. Lawton, OK, USA.
1893     Wesley "Kid Sox" Wilson, vocal/piano/organ, b. Jacksonville, FL, USA, d. Oct 10, 1958, Cape May Court House, NJ, USA. Leola B. Pettigrew, a classic blues singer and guitarist from Alabama became Leola Wilson following her marraige to her performing partner Wesley Wilson. Ironically, the pair were born in the same year, met and began performing together in 1905 and were wed seven years later. They performed in vaudeville, travelling shows, musical comedies, and revues. You may not recognize the name Wesley Wilson. Perhaps you know him by some of his other performing names which include "Catjuice" Charlie, "Pigmeat" Pete, "Kid" Wilson, Jenkins, "Socks", and either "Sox" Wilson or "Socks" Wilson. His wife Leola was better known as "Coot" Grant, and while the pair sometimes appeared as 'Grant and Wilson', many other names were placed on their marquees and on their record labels, including 'Hunter And Jenkins' and 'Kid and Coot'. The pair both appeared and recorded with such Jazz artists as Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, and Mezz Mezzrow. In 1933, they appeared in the film Emperor Jones starring singer Paul Robeson. Along the way, the husband and wife team composed well over 500 songs, including "Gimme A Pigfoot and A Bottle of Wine" that was made famous by Bessie Smith's recording. Grant, on her own, also recorded some Blues, and in 1926 collaborated with guitarist "Blind" Blake. In the mid-1930s, with the world-wide depression at it's peak, their careers faltered. In the mid-1940s, Mezz Mezzrow hired them to perform and write material for his new King Jazz label. In 1958, Wesley retired, but Leola continued to perform. She eventually dropped from sight, and regretfully no details are known about her death.
1832     Henry Clay Work, Composer, b: Middletown, CT, USA, d. June 8, 1884, Hartford, CT, USA.
            Notable Events on this date include:
1905 .    The Julliard School of Music was founded in New York City.
1928 .    Duke Ellington recorded "The Mooche" on the Okeh label.
1949 .    Buddy Clark, vocals, died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. (b. July 26, 1912, Dorchester, MA, USA. né: Samuel Goldberg). CAUTION: Do not confuse with Big Band leader Buddy Clarke- né: Buddy Kreisberg.
1975 .    Al Jackson Jr, drums/producer, died in East Memphis, TN, USA. Age: 39
1982 .    "Slim" Newman, member of "The Georgia Crackers" died. "The Georgia Crackers" (aka: The Newman Brothers) were a Straight-Ahead Country group comprised of "Hank" (Henry J. Newman, Vocals/Guitar/String Bass, b. April 3, 1905, d. Oct. 8, 1979), "Slim" (Marion Alonzo Newman, Vocals/Guitar, b. June 18, 1910, d. Oct. 1, 1982), and "Bob" (Robert Newman, Vocals/Songwriter/String Bass/Guitar, b. Oct. 16, 1915, d. Oct. 8, 1979)
1990 .    Lee Rogers, vocals, died in ?Memphis, TN, USA.
1991 .    Stuart Lee Williamson, trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, valve trombone, died in Studio City, California, USA. (b. May 14, 1933, Brattleboro, VT, USA). He was the younger brother of pianist Claude Williamson.
1992 .    Harry Ray, vocals, died in Bound Brook, NJ, USA. Age: 45
1994 .    Scott Dunbar, guitar, died in Centreville, MS, USA. Age: 90
1995 .    David II, tenor sax/percussion, died in CA, USA. (Hightone Records)
2003 .    Chubby Jackson, bass, died in San Diego, California, USA (b. Oct. 25, 1918, New York, NY, USA. )
            Songs Recorded/Released this date include:
1913    "Underneath the Tango Moon," Arthur Collins-Byron Harlan vocs. --Carroll tune.
1919    "Happy", Joseph C.Smith's Orch, --Hugo Frey tune.
1924    "How Come You Do Me Like You Do", -- Original Memphis Five, --Austin-Bergere tune
1925    "What Do We Care if it's One O'clock", --International Novelty Orch
1925    "Remember", Isham Jones and his Orch. Irv. Berlin tune
1928    "My Blue Heaven", - Whispering Jack Smith vocal.
1928    "The Mooche", Duke Ellington & his Orch, Ellington-Mills
1928    "Come On, Baby!", Cliquot Club Eskimos (Reser orch) (voc.t.s.) --A.Gottler-S.Clare-M.Pinkard tune
1928    "Little Red Caboose", Paul Warmack's Gully Jumpers,
1929    "Moaning the Blues", Victoria Spivey voc., --Victoria Spivey-Acuff Rose tune
1929    "Walk Right In", Cannon Jug Stompers, --Hosea Woods-Gus Cannon tune.
1929    "Sweet and Hot", Bob Effros & his Orch. --M. Mosiello-F.Signorelli tune
1930    "Lonely", Lloyd Huntley and his Orch.
1930    "Three Little Words", Jacques Renard and his Orch --Bert Kalmar/Harry Ruby tune
1930    "Wond'ring", Lloyd Huntley and his Orch, -Sherman and Lewis tune
1932    "On a Little Street Where Old Friends Meet", Bud Billings (Frank Luther),
1940    "Sophisticated Lady", Duke Ellington and Jimmy Blanton --Parish-Mills-Ellington tune
1940    "Pitter Panther Patter", Duke Ellington (piano), --Duke Ellington tune
1955    "Shifting Whispering Sands, The ", - Rusty Draper
1955    "Suddenly There's A Valley ", - Gogi Grant
1955    "Only You (And You Alone) ", - Platters
1966    "See See Rider ", - Animals
1966    "Hooray For Hazel ", - Tommy Roe
1969    "Coal Miner's Daughter", - recorded this date by Loretta Lynm
1977    "It's Ectasy When You Lay Down Next To Me ", - Barry White
1983    "All Night Long (All Night) ", - Lionel Richie
1988    "Bad Medicine ", - Bon Jovi
1988    "How Can I Fall? ", - Breathe