SPOTLIGHT for OCTOBER 28TH...

SPOTLIGHT for
OCTOBER 28TH...

BIRTHDAYS

1917 William A. Bolick
C&W Singer/Mandolin
b. Hickory, NC, USA.
Member: "Blue Sky Boys", a duo comprised of Bill and Earl Bollich. (Bill: Singer/Mandolin ,né: William A. Bolick, b. Hickory, NC, USA, and Earl: Singer/Guitar, né: Earl A. Bolick, b. Hickory, NC, USA. d. April 19, 1998)

1919 Richard Brown, vocals
d. Jan. 11, 2002 (Natural causes)
né: Herbert Richard Brown.
This ballad vocalist lived long enough to see Television and to sing on such TV shows as Be My Guest . Prior to that, he was often heard on Radio shows including the famed Stop The Music program. In his later years, he became a full time Rabbi. CAUTION: Do not confuse with Richard Melvin Brown, award winning songwriter & author of the popular songwriting manual "The Lyricist's Assistant" How To TURN Your Words Into a SONG. Another Richard Brown was heard on lead vocals,and guitar/organ for the group "Curses". The other members were Cindy Yogmas: keyboards, vocals, Mike D'allessandro: drums, and David Parker: bass. The band "Heroes Of The Alamo" is a New York City based band (1999) that consists of Richard Brown (Bass, Vocals), Todd Carlstrom (Vocals, Lead Guitar), David Makuen (Vocals, Guitar) and Kevin Slane (Drums, Percussion, Vocals). The group took their name from a B-Movie poster hanging in an East Village Taco shop. And, perhaps the best known Richard Brown was Richard "Rabbit" Brown, one of the most celebrated "Songsters", and the only one from new Orleans to record. Brown was born in New Orleans ca. 1880 and died there in 1937. In his early years, he was a type of musician often called "Songsters", --musicians who sang on the streets for whatever small change that passersby would give them. He used to sing on the streets of Storyville (the bordello district of old New Orleans). "Rabbit" was a regular performer at Mama Lou's "Restaurant", and other bordellos, and he frequently worked as a singing boatman on Lake Pontchartrain. He may have been one of the earliest New Orleans' folk singers to learn the Twelve Bar Blues Pattern. Two of the songs he composed are "The Downfall of the Lion", which told how New Orleans Police Superintendent David Hennessey was shotgunned to death. The other song, "Gyp the Blood" told the story of the murder of restauranteur and bar owner Billy Phillips by Charles Harrison (a.k.a. "Gyp the Blood"), a New York hoodlum on the "lam". In 1927, 'Rabbit' recorded 6 tracks in New Orleans.

1916 William Palmer "Bill" Harris, Trombone
b. Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. Aug 21, 1973, Hallandale, FL, USA.
To quote 'Chubby' Jackson,
"To date, my favorite gentleman on trombone was, and still is without
question, his honor Bill Harris. What a creative musician he was. He
used to play differently every time he stood up to solo. The band used
to impatiently await his turn and when he sat down, the entire band
would visibly let him know how they felt."
Starting in 1938, Harris toured with the big bands of Gene Krupa, Ray McKinley, and Bob Chester. After playing with Benny Goodman (1943-1944) and Charlie Barnet, and guesting on a couple of Eddie Condon's Town Hall concerts, Harris became famous for his work with Woody Herman's First Herd (1944-1946). During 1948-1950, he was one of the few 'First Herd' members to also be in the Four Brothers Second Herd. During 1956-1959, Harris also re-joined Herman a few times. In 1947, he co-led a band with Charlie Ventura, in 1953 teamed up with Chubby Jackson, and during 1950-1954 starred with 'Jazz at the Philharmonic'. During the second half of the 1950s, Harris often collaborated with Flip Phillips, and in 1959 their band formed the nucleus of Benny Goodman's group. Subsequently he mostly retired to Florida, although did appeared briefly in Las Vegas.

1909 Willie Hatcher, Soul vocals
b. Clarksdale, MS, USA. (raised in Cleveland, OH, USA) (also recorded with his brothers Edwin (d. April 2, 2003, England, UK, heart attack ), and Roger Hatcher. Edwin is also known as Edwin Starr).

1892 Oliver "Ollie or Dink" Johnson
piano/drums/clarinet, b. Biloxi, MS, USA.
d. Nov. 29, 1954, Portland, OR, USA
Biography
Dink Johnson was nothing if not versatile, as one can judge from the three instruments that he played. Johnson started out working in New Orleans as a pianist in Storyville. He traveled to Los Angeles where he was a member of Bill Johnson's Creole Band in 1913, as a drummer. Johnson freelanced, played drums during Jelly Roll Morton's stay in California and in 1922 recorded with Kid Ory's band (Spikes' Seven Pods of Pepper), on clarinet! Johnson spent much of his career in California, leading the Five Hounds of Jazz (later renamed the Los Angeles Six) and then mostly working as a solo pianist. Although he ran his own restaurant in Los Angeles, he remained active as a player into the late '40s. Johnson was much better-known locally then he was nationally, performing in an early style that fell between stride and ragtime. Dink Johnson recorded fairly extensively (mostly as a pianist) for American Music during 1946-47, Euphonic (1948) and Nola (1950).
~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

1907 Everard Steven "Rudy or Root" Powell Sr., clarinet/alto sax
b. New York, NY, USA. d: Oct. 30, 1976, New York, NY, USA.
aka: Musheed Karweem
bio
A fine journeyman clarinetist and altoist, Rudy Powell (who in later years would change his name to Musheed Karweem) had a fairly productive career. He studied piano and violin as a child before switching to saxophone. Powell was a professional musician by 1927, playing with June Clark and Gene Rodger's Revellers. His first major job was with Cliff Jackson's Krazy Kats from 1928-30. The altoist (who was influenced a bit by Benny Carter ) had many associations through the years, working with Elmer Snowden ,Dave Nelson ,Sam Wooding , Kaiser Marshall's Trio, Rex Stewart (1933), Fats Waller (off and on from 1935-37), Edgar Hayes ,Claude Hopkins (1938-39 and 1944), the Teddy Wilson big band, Andy Kirk (1940-41), Fletcher Henderson (1941-42), Eddie South ,Don Redman (1943), Chris Columbus , Cab Calloway's Orchestra (1945-48), Lucky Millinder (1949-51), Jimmy Rushing ,Buddy Tate , pianist Benton Heath's New Garden Ballroom Orchestra (1953-61), Ray Charles (1961-62), Buddy Johnson and Duke Ellington's My People show. Powell's last major association was with the Saints and Sinners (1965-69), although he freelanced occasionally into the 1970s. Powell recorded with most of the above names (plus Al Casey in 1960 and Henry "Red" Allen ) but never as a leader.
~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Notable Events
on this date include:

1965.
Earl Bostic, alto sax
died in Rochester, NY, USA.
Age: 52.

1967.
Jody Edwards, vocals
died in Dolton, IL, USA.
Age: 70.
Worked with vaudeville team of 'Butterbeans & Susie'

1979.
Jimmy Skinner
C&W singer-songwriter
died. Age: 70

1980.
Alexander D. Burt
Inventor of 45 rpm record
died in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Age: 75

1985.
Bernard Wolfe, author
died in Woodland Hills, CA, USA.
Age: 70
Wrote book: 'Really The Blues'

Songs Recorded/Released this date include:

1920 “Grieving For You - Feather Your Nest”
- Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/Wh...evnst.ram

1920 “My Wonder Girl
- Coral Sea”
- Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...rcorl.ram

1924 “Undertakers Blues”
- Helen Gross accompanied by the Kansas City Five
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/gr...blues.ram

1925 “Just Around The Corner”
(Featured In The Universal Picture "Oh, Charlie")
- Ted Lewis and his Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/le...r1925.ram

1925 “While We Danced Till Dawn”
- Ted Lewis and his Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/le...ldawn.ram

1926 “It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry”
- Waring's Pennsylvanians
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/wa...MeCry.ram

1927 “One Night In Havana”
(Hoagy Carmichael - )
Hoagy Carmichael and his Pals
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/ho...night.ram

1927 “Dope Head Blues”
(Victoria Spivey)
- Victoria Spivey
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/sp...blues.ram

1927 “Red Lantern Blues”
(Victoria Spivey)
- Victoria Spivey
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/sp...blues.ram

1928 “I'm Sorry, Sally”, - Danny Altier and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/mi...sally.ram

1928 “My Gal Sal”
- Danny Altier and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/mi...alsal.ram

1928 “Down At Jasper's Bar-Be-Que”
- (Frankie Jaxon) Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ja...spers.ram

1929 “Apple Blossoms”
- Joe Venuti's Blue Four/Five/Six
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/ve...ssoms.ram

1929 “Runnin' Ragged”
- Joe Venuti's Blue Four/Five/Six
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/ve...agged.ram

1929 “No More Blues”
- Kentucky Jazz Babies
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/mi...blues.ram

1929 “Old Folks Shake”
-Kentucky Jazz Babies
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/mi...shake.ram

1929 “He's So Unusual”
- Annette Hanshaw
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/ha...sual2.ram

1929 “I Think You'll Like It”
- Annette Hanshaw
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/ha...oull2.ram

1930 “Chocolate To The Bone (I'm So Glad I'm A Brownskin)”
- (Frankie Jaxon) Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ja...olate.ram

1930 “Scuddlin'”
- (Frankie Jaxon) Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ja...dlin'.ram

1930 “My Handyman Ain't Handy No More”
- Edith Wilson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Ed...aint5.ram

1930 “Cracker Jack”
(w/ piano accompaniment)
-Harry Reser
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/re...rjack.ram

1930 “Flapperette”
(w/ piano accompaniment)
~Harry Reser
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/re...rette.ram

1943 "Pistol Packin' Mama "
- Bing Crosby

1943 "Blue Rain "
- Glenn Miller Orch.

1957 "April Love "
- Pat Boone

1957 "You Send Me "
- Sam Cooke

1957 "Little Bitty Pretty One "
- Thurston Harris

1957 "All The Way "
- Frank Sinatra

LYRICS:

My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More

Once I used to brag about my handy man, but I ain't braggin' no more
Somethin' strange has happened to my handy man, he's not the man he was before
Wish somebody could explain to me, about this dual personality
He don't perform his duties like he used to do, he never hauls the ashes 'less I tell him to
Before he hardly gets to work he says he's through, my handy man ain't handy no more
He's forgotten his domestic science, and he's lost of his self-reliance
He won't make a single move unless he's told, he says he isn't lazy, claims he isn't old
But still he sits around and lets my stove get cold, my handy man ain't handy no more
Time after time, if I'm not right there at his heels, he lets that poor horse in my stable miss his meals
There's got to be some changes 'cause each day reveals, my handy man ain't handy no more
He used to turn in early and get up at dawn, and full of new ambitions, he would trim the lawn
Now, when he isn't sleeping all he does is yawn, my handy man ain't handy no more
Once he used to have so much endurance, now, it looks like he needs life insurance
I used to brag about my handy man's technique, around the house he was a perfect indoor sheik
But now the spirit's willing but the flesh is weak, my handy man ain't handy no more

He's So Unusual
~(A. Lewis - A. Silver - A. Sherman, from Sweetie)

You talk of sweeties, bashful sweeties,
I got one of those,
Oh, he's handsome as can be,
But he worries me;
He goes to college and gathers knowledge,
Hooh! What that boy knows!
He's up in his Latin and Greek,
But in his sheikin', he's weak!

'Cause when I want some lovin',
And I gotta have some lovin',
He says, "Please! Stop it, please!"
He's so unusual!

When I want some kissin',
And I gotta have some kissin',
He says, "No! Let me go."
He's so unusual!

I know lots of boys who would be crazy over me,
If they only had this fellow's opportunity.
You know, I would let him pet me,
But the darn fool, he doesn't let me!
Oh, he's so unusual that he drives me wild!

When we're in the moonlight,
He says, "I don't like the moonlight.
Aw, let's not talk in the dark."
Huh, he's so unusual!

And when we're riding in a taxi,
He converses with the cheuffeur,
Oh, why don't he talk to me?
Oh, he's so different!

Others would be tickled pink to bop-op-a-dop-e-dop!
He don't even know what bop-op-op-a-dop's about!
He says love is hokum,
Oh, I'd like to choke, choke, choke him!
'Cause he's so unusual that he drives me wild!

You might as well be by yourself as in his company,
When we're out together, I'm as lonesome as can be.

But still I'm mad about him,
And I just can't live without him;
'Cause he's so unusual that he drives me bop-bop-a-dop-bop!

SPOTLIGHT for OCTOBER 27TH...

SPOTLIGHT FOR
OCTOBER 27TH!!!

BIRTHDAYS

1903 Leslie Carr, alto sax
b. Louisville, KY, USA.
1931 Francis Dominic Joseph "Sonny" Dallas
bass/Vocals, b. Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

1908 George Feyer, Pianist
b. Budapest, Hungary.

1919
"Babs" Gonzales
(bebop) Vocals
b. Newark, NJ, USA.
d. Jan. 23, 1980, New York, NY, USA.
né: Lee Brown. Babs was part of the vocal group "Three Bips and a Bop", and also led bands and/or recordings that featured Tadd Dameron, Johnny Griffin and others. He wrote the self-published "I, Paid My Dues," a colorful (and often-inaccurate) memoir. Gonzales often discribed himself as a "bebop daddy".

1908 DeWitt "Snuffy" Jenkins
(Bluegrass) banjo
b. Harris, NC, USA.
Biography
Bluegrass banjo pioneer DeWitt "Snuffy" Jenkins was born in Harris, NC, on October 27, 1908; the youngest of ten children, all of whom excelled in music, he began playing the fiddle as a child but was too small to use the bow and as a result picked the instrument like a mandolin. He later turned to guitar and by 1927 was playing in a trio with banjo players Smith Hammett and Rex Brooks; Jenkins copied their three-finger style, and in the years to follow the banjo became his primary instrument, honing his skills playing square dances throughout the western North Carolina region. At this time he began mentoring the young Earl Scruggs; while Jenkins' technique bridged the gap between jagged, old-timey picking and the more fluid contemporary style, Scruggs soon surpassed his teacher, forging a thoroughly modernized sound distinguished by its subtlety and grace.

1904 Nisse "Bagarn" Lind
Accordion/piano
b. Stockholm, Sweden, d. Oct. 25, 1941

1924 Bonnie Lou
Country/Rockabilly/vocals/guitarist
b. Towanda, IL, USA. née: Mary Jo Kath.

1913
Sam McCrary
lead vocals
b. Christiana, TN, USA.
Member: 'Fairfield Four'

1922 Loumell Morgan
piano, b. Raleigh, NC, USA.
After Grad. College, joined Tiny Bradshaw orch. Later with 'Slim and Slam', - a novelty duo that was formed in 1936, consisting of guitarist/singer Slim Gaillard and bassist Slam Stewart. Then formed own combo that was in two 1943 Hollywood films, - All By Myself , and Melody Parade .

1913
Boyd Albert Raeburn
Tenor Sax/Leader
b. (on ranch near) Faith, SD, USA
d. August 2, 1966, Lafayette, LA, USA.

1911
Curley Rhodes
C&W guitar/vocals
b. Tomahawk, WI, USA. né: Oral V. Rhodes.

1909
Henry J. Townsend
piano/guitar/vocal.
In 1929, he cut his first record for the Columbia label. That same year saw the start of the great World economic depression, Louis Armstrong recorded "Fats" Waller's song "Ain't Misbehavin'", Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill's "Three Penny Opera" (Drei Pfennig Oper) debuted, and the first "talkie" motion picture was released. Townsend may be the oldest living "Delta Blues" recording artist (2003) and is certainly one of the oldest living recording artists in music history.

1924 George Wallington, Piano
b. Palermo, Italy, d .Feb. 15, 1993.
né: Giorgio Figlia

1917
William Carl "Bama" Warwick
Trumpet
b. Birmingham, AL, USA.

1929 Elmon Wright, Trumpet
b. Kansas City, MO, USA.
d. 1984, - son of Lammar Wright (trumpet)
Biography
Born into a musical family -- his father Lammar Wright Sr. and brother Lammar Wright Jr. were respected big band trumpeters -- Elmon Wright was also a musician, playing trumpet with such bandleaders as Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Bostic, Buddy Rich, Earle Warren, and Roy Eldridge in the '40s and '50s. Later he worked freelance in New York City, and backed R&B acts at the Apollo Theater. He recorded in 1963 with vibist Milt Jackson.
~ Chris Kelsey, All Music Guide

Notable Events
on this date include:

1916.
First published reference
to Jazz appeared in the
entertainment newspaper 'Variety'.

1920.
On August 20, 1920, the Westinghouse corporation was granted a government commercial broadcast license to operate radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA, thus making KDKA the very first Commercial Radio Station in the USA. The term "Commercial radio station" is widely misunderstood. KDKA actually received the very first American official government license, but their early 'commercials' were offered gratis by the station. Westinghouse basically used the station to sell their own brand of radio receivers. In 1923, AT&T's radio station WEAF, in New York, accepted the first legally allowed paid for "radio ad" . Because this station was owned by AT&T, it was the only station then officially allowed to engage in "toll broadcasting" under the RCA agreements. (However, other stations were already selling advertising time "sub rosa" -- because no one could stop them.) Ergo, in the history or "radiodom", WEAF goes down as the first "commercial" station, -that is, the first station to (legally) accept a 'paid-for Ad'.


****1977.
"Peg Leg Sam"
(né: Arthur Jackson), harmonica
died in Jonesville, SC, USA.
Age: 65
*****WATCH THE FILM!
www.folkstreams.net/film,1

1981.
Louis Metcalf, trumpet
died in New York (Jamaica), L.I., NY, USA.
Age: 76
(Worked with early Blues singer Bessie Smith

1983.
"Professor" Nat D. Williams, DJ/WDIA
died in Memphis, TN, USA.
Age: 76

1988.
'Girlie' magazine publisher Larry Flynt
paid a "hitman" 1 Million US$ to kill Hefner
Guccione & Frank Sinatra.

1990.
Bandlander Xavier Cugart
died in Barcelona, Spain. Age: 90.
(Coronary)

Songs Recorded/Released
on this date include:

1921
“Lips”
- The Syncopating Five
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/misc/lips.ram


1922 “Hot Lips” - Dolly Kay
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/kay/hotlips.ram

1925
“Everybody's Doin' The Charleston Now”
- Original Indiana Five
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/oi...inthe.ram

1927

“Dyin' By The Hour”
-Bessie Smith
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/be...ehour.ram

1927 “Foolish Man Blues”
-Bessie Smith
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/be...blues.ram

1927 “I Call You Sugar”
- Alex Jackson's Plantation Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/al...llyou.ram

1927 “Missouri Squabble”
- Alex Jackson's Plantation Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/al...abble.ram

1927 “When Erastus Plays His Old Kazoo”
- Alex Jackson's Plantation Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/al...Plays.ram

1930 “Home Again Blues”
- The Jungle Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/el...again.ram

1930 “Wang Wang Blues”
- The Jungle Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/el...Blues.ram

1933 “Harlem Lament”
- Earl Hines and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/hi...ament.ram

1936 “Brown Gal”
Vocal Chorus by Lil Armstrong
- Lil Armstrong and her Swing Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/li...wngal.ram

1936 “Doin' The Suzie Q”
Vocal Chorus by Lil Armstrong Featuring "Chu" Berry
- Lil Armstrong and her Swing Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/li...uzieq.ram

1936 “It's Murder”
Vocal Chorus by Lil Armstrong
- Lil Armstrong and her Swing Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/li...urder.ram

1936 “Just For A Thrill”
Vocal Chorus by Lil Armstrong
- Lil Armstrong and her Swing Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/li...hrill.ram

1947 "Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong"
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys (recording date)

1950 "Bushel And A Peck, A"
- Perry Como

1958 "Queen Of The Hop"
- Bobby Darin

1962 "Big Girls Don't Cry"
- Four Seasons

1962 "Return To Sender"
- Elvis Presley

Spotlight for October 10, 2007

Spotlight for October 10, 2007

SPOTLIGHT for
OCTOBER 10TH…

BIRTHDAYS...


1903 Lee Blair, Banjo/guitar
b. Savannah, GA, USA. d. Oct.15, 1966, USA.
He was a self taught musician that played left handed banjo and guitar. He took a few lessons from Mike Pingitore but his natural ability landed his first professional job in 1926 with Charlie Keets. Some of the greats he worked with included Jelly Roll Morton, Luis Russell and Louis Armstrong. The Luis Russell Orchestra became the back-up band for Louis Armstrong during the depression and jazz experts feel that Luis' band may have been the first swing band with Blair playing guitar. During the 1950's Blair played banjo again performing and recording with Wilbur De Paris.

1926 Oscar Brown, Jr., Vocal
b. Chicago, IL, USA.
d. May 29, 2005, Chicago, IL, USA.
In a career that spanned more than 50 years, he became a Jazz giant, revered as a lyricist, songwriter, composer, singer and performer. Upon his demise, Joe Segal, owner of the Jazz Showcase in Chicago and a longtime friend. said " He certainly was a genius,...... he was really a dramatist. He was more than a vocal artist because his shows were very easy and dramatic at the same time." At just age 15, Oscar made his professional debut when he appeared on "Secret City", a national radio show. He graduated from Englewood High School and attended classes at the University of Michigan and Lincoln University, a small college in Pennsylvania, but dropped out of both in order to concentrate on writing songs and musicals. In the 1960s, Brown hosted the West Coast television program "Jazz Scene U.S.A.", and began writing musicals such as "Kicks and Company" and "Great Nitty Gritty, It i estimated that Oscar Brown wrote more than 1,000 songs over his career, of which 125 were published. Despite the respect he received from the larger Jazz community, he never received adequate acknowledgment from the recording industry.
BIO:
www.chitown.com/http/word/OBJbiog.html
Wikipedia Bio:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Brown,_Jr.


1918 Robert "Bobby" Byrne
trombone/singer/leader
b: Columbus, OH, USA.
With Dorsey Brothers Orch. and then the Jimmy Dorsey Orch. Worked with Dorothy Claire; Jimmy Palmer.


1903 Vernon Duke, composer
b. Pskov, Russia, d. 1969.
né: Vladimir Dukelsky.
BIO:
www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/s...bio_duke.html

1915 Harry "Sweets" Edison, Trumpet
b. Columbus, OH, USA. d. July 27, 1999.
Harry got his early experience with Alphonso Trent, - one of the great old New Orleans bands. By 1937, he was playing in the Lucky Millender band in New York City. In Sept '37 he became one of the mainstays of Count Basie's band staying with the Count until the Big Band era ended in the 1950s. He then played briefly with the Buddy Rich band, toured with the wonderful vocalist Josephine Baker, and also played with the JATP. 1957 saw him working with Benny Carter in Hollywood, performing on film sound tracks, and also playing club dates and recording with his own Combo. In Jan. '58, he was briefly with Loius Bellson band, and in Feb '58 he worked with singer Pearl Bailey at New York's prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel. In same year he worked with and recorded with Frank Sinatra, and in late '58, he led own quintet in some New York Clubs. Over the years, Harry had played with such men as Dick Hyman, Jimmy Giuffre, Shorty Rogers, Cy Touff, Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Illinois Jacquet, Red Norvo, Barney Kessel, Woody Herman, and many others.
Bio:
www.riverwalk.org/profiles/edison.htm
Bio2:
elvispelvis.com/sweetsedison.htmbio
Bio3:
www.shout.net/~jmh/edison/biography.htm

1908
Johnny Green, composer
b. New York, NY, USA. d. May 17, 1989

1913 Harold Holmes
bass/guitar/tuba/composer
b. Mobile, AL, USA.

1914 "Ivory" Joe Hunter
Singer/pianist/songwriter
b. Kirbyville, TX, USA.

1906 Freddie "Posey" Jenkins
Trumpet, b. New York, NY, USA. d. 1978


1891 Ed Kirkeby, Manager
b: Brooklyn, NY, USA. d. June 12, 1978, Mineola, NY, USA.
Managed the California Ramblers and later on managed Fats Waller.
Ed Kirkeby, who is probably best-remembered for being Fats Waller's manager, had a multifaceted and productive life. A born leader, Kirkeby was a successful businessman with a knack for organization. In 1916 he became a salesman at Columbia Records, and the following year he was promoted to assistant recording manager. Kirkeby recorded some of the first jazz at Columbia and in 1920 helped organize the California Ramblers.
Within a year, the band was recording regularly and it would be one of the most prolific outfits of the 1920's. Kirkeby started singing on their records in Sep. 1926. A few months later Kirkeby (using the pseudonym of Ted Wallace) became a leader on a series of records usually utilizing personnel from the Ramblers. After the Ramblers declined due to turnover, Kirkeby put a greater focus on his own recordings, recording under such names as Ted Wallace, Ed Kirkeby Wallace, Eddie Lloyd and Eddie Loyd. During 1930-32, Kirkeby directed a countless number of studio sessions for ARC although he largely stopped after July 1932. He then spent a couple years managing the Pickens Sisters.
In 1935 he became an A&R person at Victor and, on four sessions with a revived version of the California Ramblers, Kirkeby took some vocals. He also sang on some transcriptions by the Joe Haymes Orchestra and appeared on a final date by Ted Wallace in 1936. In 1938, Kirkeby left Victor and joined the band booking department of NBC. Soon afterward he became Fats Waller's manager, staying with the great pianist-composer until his death in 1943. He spent the remainder of his life as a manager of many groups and personalities including the Deep River Boys, staying active until late 1977. Ed Kirkeby's book Ain't Misbehavin' discusses his years with Fats Waller while the TOM CD Ed Kirkeby Volume One has some of his best recordings from 1927-30.
~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
MORE:
newarkwww.rutgers.edu/ijs/fw/kirkeby.htm

1906 Les Lambert, trumpet
b. London, U.K., d, Dec. 24.

1910 Milton "Tippy" Larkin
Trumpet/valve t'bone/Leader
b. Houston, TX, USA.
d. Aug. 31, 1996. Age: 85.

1911 'Zeke' Manners
Leader/vocals/guitar/composer
b. San Francisco, CA, USA
d. Oct. 14, 2000.
né: Leo Ezekiel Mannes.
aka: The Jewish Hillbilly, and sometimes as 'Zeke Craddock'.
BIO:
delilama.tripod.com/zeke/

1906 Leo Mathiesen
leader/arranger/composer/piano/accordion/vocals
b. Copenhagen, Denmark, d. Dec. 16, 1969.
né: Hans Leo Mathisen.
Leo was very strongly influenced by the American pianist Thomas "Fats" Waller. His band had a core of good musicians and their recordings exhibited this excellence. After the band era had passed, Leo worked as a solist. He was an important pioneer in Danish jazz and dance music, and had the best known Danish band after Kai Ewans'.


1917 Thelonious Sphere Monk, Piano
b. Rocky Mount, NC, USA.
d. Feb., 17, 1982, Weehauken, NJ, USA.
Composed: "Straight, No Chaser"; "In Walked Bud"; "Well, You Needn't"; "Epistrophy"; "Ruby My Dear"; "Rhythm-a-ning"; "'Round About Midnight"; "Off Minor"; "Stickball (I Mean You)"; "Thelonious"; "Misterioso"; and "Introspection".
PBS Bio:
www.pbs.org/jazz/biograp...helonious.htm
Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelonious_Monk

1921 William Howard "Monk" Montgomery, Electric Bass
b. Indianapolis, IN, USA. d. May 20, 1982

1915 Don Pierce
producer/label owner
(Hollywood Records)
b. Ballard, WA, USA.
BIO:
www.countryworks.com/artist_full.asp
Bio 2:
www.washington.edu/alumni/c...erce.html

1907 Raymond Pinder
bass vocals
b. Nassau, Bahamas.
Member: 'The Pinder Family', consisting of Raymond, his wife Edith on lead vocals, and their daughter Geneva singing treble. Edith is the sister of another Bahamian singer, Joseph Spence "The Voice from Heaven".

1899 Billy Ternent
Violin/Saxes/Multi-instrumentalist/Arranger/bandleader
b. Whitley Bay, Northumberland, England, UK. d. March 23. 1977


1904 "Lovin'" Sam Theard
(Blues) vocals/songwriter
b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
d. Dec 7, 1982, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
His composition, " Hey, Spo-Dee-O-Dee", has been recorded (King 4383) by the Paul Williams Sextet (Paul Williams (as, bs); John Lawton (tp); Walter Cox (as, ts); T.G. Fowler (p); Hank Ivory (b); Clarence Stamps (d), and other groups as well, including .Clifton Chenier, -The "King of Zydeco"

1921 Julius Watkins
(Jazz) French Horn.
Watkins began playing French horn at just age nine. Still, during 1943-1946, he was playing trumpet with the Ernie Fields orchestra. He took some French horn solos in the late 1940s, when recording with Kenny Clarke and Babs Gonzales. 1949 found him working in the Milt Buckner big band. The next 3 years were spent studying at New York's Manhattan School of Music, after which he again returned to performing. During 1953-1954, he recorded with Thelonious Monk, as well as on some other dates. In 1956-1959, he co-led "Les Jazz Modes" with Charlie Rouse. During 1959-1961, he was working in the studios (including Miles Davis-Gil Evans collaborations), and also toured with Quincy Jones' big band. From 1965 on, he recorded with such stars as Charles Mingus (1965 and again in 1971), John Coltrane (the Africa sessions), Freddie Hubbard, and the Jazz Composer's Orchestra, and others.

Notable Events
on this date include:

1935.
"Porgy and Bess"
composer George Gershwin's
American opera, opened on
Broadway in New York City.

1958.
"Kid Sox" Wilson, vocals
died in Cape May Court, NJ, USA
Age: 65

1960.
June Lawrence Cole, bass
died in New York, NY, USA,
Age: 45

1964.
Eddie Cantor
comedian/Vocals, died.
Age: 72

1964.
Russ Case, orchestra, arranger for many
bands including the Jackie Gleason show, died.
Age: 52

1976.
Connie Boswell, vocals
died in New York, NY, USA
Age: 68
Member: 'The Boswell Sisters'

Songs Recorded/Released
on this date include:

1927
"Did You Mean It?"
~Lee Morse
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...eanit.ram

1928
"All Of The Time"
~Edwin J. McEnelly's Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Mc...eTime.ram

1928
"A Siren Dream"
(Vocal refrain by Elliot Shaw)
~Edwin J. McEnelly's Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Mc...Dream.ram

1928
"Gates Blues"
~Jimmy Wade and his Dixielanders
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/mi...luesa.ram

1928
"Mississippi Wobble"
~Jimmy Wade and his Dixielanders
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/mi...obble.ram

1928 "You're The Cream In My Coffee" ex Broadway show: 'Hold Everything'.

1929
"You Want Lovin' And I Want Love"
~Noble Sissle and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/si...lovin.ram

1929
"Sunny Side Up"
~Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/tr...ideup.ram

1929
"Turn On The Heat"
~Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/tr...eheat.ram

1929
"Collegiate Sam"
~Harry Reser and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/re...amhrs.ram

1930
"A Big Bouquet for You"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
Listen:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...buqet.ram

1930
"Body and Soul"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
Listen:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...ysoul.ram

1930
"Choo-Choo"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
Listen:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...ochoo.ram

1930
"In My Heart - It's You"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
Listen:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...yhrtu.ram

1930
"Something to Remember You By"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
Listen:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...emuby.ram

1940 "Moonlight And Roses", recorded this date by vocalist Lanny Ross. (Victor label.)
1941 "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire ", - Ink Spots
1947 "I Wish I Didn't Love You So ", - Betty Hutto
1947 "Near You ", - Larry Green
1947 "Apple Blossom Wedding, An ", - Sammy Kaye Orch.
1947 "Feudin' And Fightin' ", - Jo Stafford voc.
1952 "Why Don't You Believe Me ", - Joni James voc
1953 "Many Times ", - Eddie Fisher
1960 "Georgia On My Mind ", - Ray Charles
1960 "You Talk Too Much ", - Joe Jones

LYRICS:

You're The Cream in My Coffee
~Lyrics and Music by B.G. De Sylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson
~Originally published in 1923.

You're the cream in my coffee,
You're the salt in my stew
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.

You're the starch in my collar,
You're the lace in my shoe
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.

Most men tell love tales,
And each phrase dovetails
You've heard each known way,
This way is my own way:

You're the sail in my loveboat,
You're the captain and crew,

You will always be my necessity
I'd be lost without you.

You're the cream in my coffee,
You're the salt in my stew
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.

You're the starch in my collar,
You're the lace in my shoe
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.

You give life savor,
Bring out its flavor,
So this is clear, dear,
You're my worcestershire, dear!

You're the sail in my loveboat,
You're the captain and crew,
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.

You will always be my necessity
I'd be lost without you.

Currently listening : The Columbia House Bands: Ed Kirkeby, Vol. 1 By Ed Kirkeby Release date: 04 February, 1997

SPOTLIGHT for OCTOBER 9TH...

SPOTLIGHT for
OCTOBER 9TH...

BIRTHDAYS

1940
John Lennon
Rock vocals
b. Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
d. Dec. 8, 1980, New York, NY, USA.
né: John Winston Lennon.
Member: The Beatles His son, Julian Lennon was born on April 8, 1963; his mother was Cynthia Lennon, His son, Sean Lennon was born on October 9, 1975; his mother: Yoko Ono. (Yoko Ono was born on February 18, 1933; she married John on March 20, 1969).


1899 Milton "Mezz" Mezzrow, Clarinet
b. USA, d. Aug. 5, 1972, Paris, France.
Although he was a decent clarinetist and saxophonist, Mezz Mezzrow is remembered today primarily for his autobiography "Really the Blues", and for rejecting White society and embracing African-American culture, to the extent that he actually believed that he was Black. In the 1920s he was part of the White Chicago jazz scene, played with the Austin High Gang and recorded with the Jungle Kings and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. In 1927 he moved to New York and played with Eddie Condon.
In the 1930s he led a few swing-oriented dates with his integrated band The Disciples of Swing and recorded his signature tune Really The Blues with the Tommy Ladnier Orchestra. The French critic Hugues Panassie put together some sessions that featured Mezzrow and others. Mezzrow had his own King Jazz label during 1945-47. In 1948 Mezzrow moved to France where he recorded with Lee Collins and others.
RHJ Bio:
www.redhotjazz.com/mezz.html
WIKI Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezz_Mezzrow

1899 Gobel Reeves
C&W/Wester vocals/guitar
b. Sherman, TX, USA.
Tag: "The Texas Drifter"

1900 Elmer Chester "Pops" Snowden
Leader/Banjo/saxes
b. Baltimore, MD, USA, d. May 14, 1973
His band introduced Duke Ellington to New York, - and the world.
A fine banjo player, Elmer Snowden was the original leader of the Washingtonians, a group that would become the Duke Ellington Orchestra; a dispute over money in the mid-'20s soon found him "at liberty." Snowden had met Ellington in 1919 and before that he had worked with Eubie Blake in Baltimore. He was quite active in the 1920s as a businessman, agent, and musician, running several bands and recording occasionally. But, although he worked steadily in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, he was essentially a minor figure during those years. In 1963, Snowden moved to California to teach at Berkeley, he toured Europe with George Wein in 1967, and made a few final recordings.
~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
RHJ Bio:
www.redhotjazz.com/elmer.html

1903 Mynie Sutton
Saxophone/Bandleader
b. Niagara Falls, Canada
d. June 17, 1982

1915 Lee Wiley, Vocals
b. Ft. Gibson, OK, USA.
d. Dec. 11, 1975, New York, NY, USA.
Her father was a missionary who married a 'Genuine American', - an Oklahoma Cherokee princess, and Lee was one of the offsprings of that marriage (her friends often called her, "Princess"). Ran away from home at age 15 and by age 17 was already a top singer in Chicago and New York, where she soon found herself singing and recording with Leo Reisman's Orchestra, as well as doing some dramatic work on radio. After finishing the 1930s, singing with Victor Young, Johnny Green and other commercial radio orchestras (such as Paul Whiteman and later Willard Robison), she worked her way into the New York Jazz clubs (started working with Eddie Condon in 1939).
During the '30s, one of her original compositions "Any Time, Any Day, Anywhere" became a huge hit (due to a Joe Morris-Laurie Tate record release). Lee's sister, Pearl, was married to Jimmy Doane, who managed both "The Famous Door" and "The Onyx Club" on New York's famed 52nd Street ("Jazz Street"). And so, in 1936, Lee began visiting the clubs and meeting all the "Jazz" musicians, including such 'Dixielanders" as Joe Bushkin, Eddie Condon, Billy Butterfield, and Jess Stacy. In 1943, she married Jess Stacy, - the marriage lasting 5 years during which time she toured with his band. She appeared at some of the Eddie Condon's TownHall concerts during the remainder of that decade. In the late 1940s, she was working as a 'Single' in night clubs, and continued to make occasional appearances on TV during the 1950s. There was an absolutely delightful husky and erotic warmth to Lee's voice that the Gershwins and Cole Porter had in mind when they wrote their songs and she soon became the first singer to devote an entire album to the music of one composer. Her warm voice with a wide vibrato, together with her ability to select superior tunes, interpreting the lyrics sensitively, made her one of the truly distintive feminine voices in the Jazz world. Her classic recordings of Rodgers and Hart, Gershwin, Porter, and Arlen are considered the highpoints of her career."
Wikipedia Bio:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Wiley
Mr. Lucky Bio:
www.mrlucky.com/songbirds/...lwiley.html
Lee Wiley Web-Page:
members.aol.com/nanalbrown...ly/Lee.html

1921 Dennis "Boots" Woodall
C&W songwriter/guitar
b. Paulding County, GA, USA.
Founder of group: "The Radio Wranglers"

Notable Events
on this date include:

1941.
Famed "Torch" Singer
Helen Morgan died.

1943.
The Musicians Union strike
(began August 1, 1942) ended.
One year later, the Record
companies again began recording.

1961.
Julius Jacquet, tenor sax,
died in Oakland, CA, USA.
Age: 54

1967.
"Chick Hurt"
Member: "The Prarie Ramblers," died.
Age: 56

1973.
"Sister" Rosetta Tharpe
gospel vocals/guitar
died in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Age: 57.

1977.
Johnny Wiggs, cornet
died in New Orleans. LA, USA.
Age: 78.

1982.
Jimmy Cain, tenor sax
died in Detroit, MI, USA.
Age: 86

1988.
Samuel H. Clark, Label owner
(ABC Paramount Records)
died in New York, NY, USA.
Age: 74

1993.
Greely Walton
tenor-barisax, died.
Age: 89

2001.
Smoky Dacus
Member: "Texas Playboys," died.
Age: 90

Songs Recorded/Released
on this date include:

1923
"An Orange Grove in California"
(Irving Berlin)
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...ngegr.ram

1923
"Dancing Honeymoon"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...ymoon.ram

1923
"Great Day"
(Youmans / Rose / Elisen)"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...atday.ram

1924 "Show Me The Way"
~Ted Lewis and his Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/le...heway.ram

1928 "Bull Fiddle Rag"
~Midight Rounders
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/bl...lerag.ram

1928
"Shake Your Shimmy"
~Midight Rounders
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/bl...himmy.ram

1929 "Blue Room"
~Blind Willie Dunn and Lonnie Johnson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/La...eroom.ram

1929
"Deep Minor Rhythm Stomp"
~Blind Willie Dunn and Lonnie Johnson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/La...Stomp.ram

1929
"Hot Fingers"
~Blind Willie Dunn and Lonnie Johnson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/La...ngers.ram

1929
"Midnight Call (Blues)"
~Blind Willie Dunn and Lonnie Johnson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/La...tcall.ram

1929
"Nobody's Sweetheart"
(Kahn / Erdman / Meyers / Schoebel)"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...wthtc.ram

1929
"Without a Song"
(Rose / Eliscu / Youmans)"
~Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/wh...tsong.ram

1930
"Fickle Fay Creep"
~Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...Creep.ram

1930
"Gambling Jack"
~Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...Jack2.ram

1930
"Dallas Blues"
~Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds Of Joy
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ki...blues.ram

1930
"Honey, Just For You"
~Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds Of Joy
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ki...oryou.ram

1930
"Travelin' That Rocky Road"
~Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds Of Joy
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ki...yroad.ram

1930
"You Rascal, You"
~Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds Of Joy
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ki...alyou.ram

1930
"Body And Soul"
(From "Three's A Crowd")
~Louis Armstrong and his Sebastian New Cotton Club Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/Lo...dsoul.ram

1931
"Prisoner of Love"
~recorded this date
by singer Russ Columbo.
(Victor records)
LISTEN:
www.youtube.com/watch

~Prisoner Of Love~
**Words by Leo Robin and Music by Russ Columbo and Clarence Gaskill

Alone from night to night you'll find me
Too weak to break the chains that bind me
I need no shackles to remind me
I'm just a prisoner of love

For one command I stand and wait now
From one who's master of my fate now

I can't escape for it's too late now
I'm just a prisoner of love

What's the good of my caring if someone is sharing those arms with me
Although she has another, I can't have another for I'm not free

She's in my dreams awake or sleeping
Upon my knees to her I'm creeping
My very life is in her keeping
I'm just a prisoner of love

What's the good of my caring if someone is sharing those arms with me
Although she has another, I can't have another for I'm not free

She's in my dreams awake or sleeping
Upon my knees to her I'm creeping
My very life is in her keeping
I'm just a prisoner of love

Currently listening : Lee Wiley Sings the Songs of George & Ira Gershwin & Cole Porter By Lee Wiley Release date: 11 August,

Spotlight for October 7, 2007

SPOTLIGHT for
OCTOBER 7TH…

BIRTHDAYS...

1917 June Allyson, Actress/Singer
b. New York (The Bronx), USA
American leading lady whose sweet smile and sunny disposition made her the prototypical girl-next-door of American movies of the 1940s. Raised in semi-poverty in Bronx neighborhoods by her divorced mother, Allyson (nee Ella Geisman) was injured in a fall at age eight and spent four years confined within a steel brace. Swimming therapy slowly gave her mobility again, and she began to study dance as well. She entered dance contests after high school and earned roles in several musical short films. In 1938, she made her Broadway debut in the musical "Sing Out the News." After several roles in the chorus of various musicals, she was hired to understudy Betty Hutton in "Panama Hattie." Hutton's measles gave Allyson a shot at a performance and she impressed director George Abbott so much that he gave her a role in his next musical, "Best Foot Forward." She was subsequently hired by MGM to recreate her role in the screen version. The studio realized what it had in her and offered her a contract.
Her smoky voice and winning personality made her very popular and she made more than a score of films for MGM, most often in musicals and comedies. She became a box-office attraction, paired with many of the major stars of the day. In 1945, she married actor-director Dick Powell, with whom she occasionally co-starred. Following Powell's death from cancer in 1963, she retreated somewhat from film work, appearing only infrequently on screen and slightly more often in television films. Occasional nightclub appearances and commercials were her only other public performances since, and she died of pulmonary respiratory failure and acute bronchitis on July 8, 2006, after a long illness.

BIO:
www.classicmoviemusicals.com/all....htm
BIO:
www.reeljewels.com/allyson/
MORE:
www.members.tripod.com/j-hall...son.htm
WIKIPEDIA Bio:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Allyson

1914 Alfred Drake
Vocals/Actor

b. New York (The Bronx), NY, USA
d. July 25, 1992, New York, NY, USA.

One of Broadway's most venerable, respected musical leading men, Alfred Drake created the male leads in "Oklahoma!" (1943), "Kiss Me Kate" (1949) and "Kismet" (1953), winning Tonys for the latter two. Sadly, he re-created none of these roles on screen. Very much a man of his beloved live theater, he never did go to Hollywood, except for the staring role in "Tars and Spars" (1946) for Columbia Pictures, a post-war comedy.

And so, apart from a scattered handful of TV appearances, his name and art can only live on in the memories of those who saw him work his particular brand of magic on stage during the golden years of the Broadway musical, his performances on Broadway cast albums giving only a partial idea of just how potent that magic was.
~Biography By: Bob Sorrentino
WIKIPEDIA Bio:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Drake
PBS Bio:
www.pbs.org/wnet/broadwa.../drake_a.html
*LISTEN:
www.pbs.org/wnet/broadwa...drake_a.html

1924 Marty Flax, Baritone Sax
b. New York, NY, USA. USA.
d. May 3, 1972
né: Martin Flachsenhaar
Verve Bio:
www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx

1930 George Girard, trumpet
b. New Orleans, LA, USA.
d. Jan. 18, 1957, New Orleans, LA, USA


1911 Jo Jones, Drums
b. Chicago, IL, USA.
d. Sept. 3, 1985, New York, NY, USA.
né: Jonathan Jones.
Jo had studied music for 12 years becoming proficient on Piano, Trumpet and Saxes. Upon leaving school, he joined a Carnival touring the Chatauqua circuit, working as a Tap Dancer and Vocalist. He then settled in Omaha for 3 years before joining the Tommy Douglas combo in Kansas City (1933). From '35 to late '36 he worked with Count Basie, - then briefly left Basie to work in St. Louis before rejoining Basie when the Count got a good gig at the Reno Club in Kansas City. He remained with Basie (except for duty in US Army during WW2) until 1948. Among his other work, Jo appeared in '47 with the JATP; '48-9 with Illinois Jacquet; '50-1 with Lester Young, '51-3 with Joe Bushkin; then freelanced in NYC for several years before touring Europe in 1957 with Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. During '57-'60, he led his own trio in NYC clubs, and also in '60 toured Puerto Rico. Looking back on his career, we see that with his rim shot subtleties and hi-hat nuances, Jo Jones helped create the concept of the drums as more than just a device for timing beats.
DrummerWorld Bio:
www.drummerworld.com/drummer...nes.html
WATCH:
www.drummerworld.com/Videos/...ter.html

1916 Johnny Long, Leader/Violin
b: Newell, NC,USA.
d. Oct. 31, 1972, Parkersburg, WV, USA.
Tag:. The "Old Left Handed Fiddler".
Worked with The Beachcombers; Paul Harman; Bob Houston; Helen Young; Julie Wilson.


1870 "Uncle" Dave Macon
Banjo/comic entertainer
b. Smart Station, TN, USA.
d. March 22, 1952, Readyville, Tennessee, USA.
né: David Harrison Macon Member: 'Grand Ole Opry' Show.

BIO:
www.countrymusichalloffame.com/in...tml
PBS Bio:
www.pbs.org/americanroot...avemacon.html
Uncle Dave Macon – Wikipedia Bio:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Dave_Macon
***LISTEN! (GREAT STUFF!!)
www.folkways.si.edu/search/A...ails.aspx

1908 Alton Moore, Trombone
b. Selma, AL, USA. d. 1978

1889 Clarence Muse
Actor/Composer/Film Writer
b. Baltimore, MD, USA,

d. Oct. 13, 1979, Perris, CA, USA.
(cerebral hemorrhage).

Clarence was the first African-American to "star" in a film. Very early in his career, Muse found work as an opera singer, a minstrel performer and a vaudeville actor. He was considered a pioneer in the 'Black theatre' movement, composisng songs and writing sketches for plays. In his later years, Clarence, who held a law degree from Pennsylvania's Dickerson University, often requested that he be addressed as Dr. Muse.
NYT Bio:
movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movi...aphy.htmlAfrican American Registry:
www.aaregistry.com/african_...ilm_actor

1906 Wilson "Serious" Myers
Bass/Vocals/Arranger
b. Germantown, PA, USA.
né: Wilson Ernest Myers.

1896 Philmore Wellington Ohman, Piano
b. New Brittain, CT, d. Aug. 8, 1969.
Best recalled as part of the Arden and Ohman Two Piano team. But hey also co-led B'way Pit bands.
Bio:
nfo.net/usa/o1.htmlOhman

1912 Beverly Peer, Bass
b. New York, NY, USA.
d. Jan. 16, 1997, New York, NY, USA.


1901
Ralph Rainger
composer
b. New York, NY, d. Oct., 23, 1942, Palm Springs, CA, USA.
SOLID! Bio:
www.parabrisas.com/d_ohmanp.php

1907 Mike Riley
Leader/Trombone/Trumpet/Vocals/Composer
B: Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Composed: "The Music Goes 'Round And 'Round"; "Laughing Through Tears"; work with: Bill Crow: as told in his book "From Birdland To Broadway". With bands: Irving Aaronson; Ben Bernie; Rudy Vallee; Vincent Lopez; Will Osborne. & others.

1909 Jimmy Shirl, C&W songwriter
b. New York, NY, USA.
He might have been "Country", but he also worked with Louis Jordan and Jimmy Dorsey.

1922 Martha Stewart, vocals/actress.
b. Bardwell, KY, USA. (née: Martha Haworth.)

1925 Alvin Stoller, Drums
b. New York, NY, USA
d. Oct. 19, 1992.
Strangely, Alvin is little recalled today, but he played with such stars as Bing Crosby, Georgie Auld, Ella Fitzgerald, guitarist George Van Eps, Mel Torme, Joe Mondragon (Sax): Ben Webster, pianist Paul Smith, Guitarist Barney Kessel, violinist Stuff Smith, bandleader Paul Weston, leader/trumpeter Billy May, Barney Kessel, Sammy Davis, Jr., flutist Shelly Manne, and just too many others to name.
VERVE BIO:
www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx

Notable Events
on this date include...

1962.
"Scrapper" Blackwell
guitar
died in Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Age: 59
(some sources show him d. Oct. 8.)

1966.
Smiley Lewis, guitar
died in New Orleans, LA, USA. Age: 53

1987.
Will Mercer Cook, songwriter
died in Washington, DC, USA.
Age: 84

1988.
Billy Daniels, vocals
died in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Age: 73

2000.
Jazz guitarist Dennis Sandole died at 87.
He was a mentor to John Coltrane, and others.

2001.
Jimmie Logsdon
C&W singer-songwriter
died. USA. Age: 79

Songs Recorded/Released
on this date include:

1924
"Alone At Last"
~Lee Morse
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...tlast.ram

1924
"Bring Back Those Rock-A-Bye Baby Days"
~Lee Morse
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...those.ram

1924
"Mail Man Blues"
~Lee Morse
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mo...blues.ram

1924
"Big Boy"
~The Wolverine Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Bi...igboy.ram

1924 "Tia Juana"
~The Wolverine Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Bi...Juana.ram

1924 "Lenox Avenue Shuffle"
~The Texas Blue Destroyers
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/bu...xave2.ram

1924 "Down In The Mouth Blues"
~The Texas Blue Destroyers
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/bu...outh2.ram

1924 "Go 'Long, Mule"
~Fletcher Henderson Orchestra
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/he...gmule.ram

1924 "Too Tired"
~Ted Lewis and his Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/le...tired.ram

1924
"San Francisco Blues"
~Clara Smith
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/cl...blues.ram

1925 "Riverboat Shuffle"
~Jack Hylton's Kit-Cat Band
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ki...uffle.ram

1926 "Everything That Happens Just Pleases
Me"
~Margaret Johnson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Ma...sesMe.ram

1926 "Mama, Papa Don't Wanna Come Back Home"
~Margaret Johnson
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/Ma...kHome.ram

1927 "Mokus"
~Walter Anderson and his Golden Pheasant Hoodlums
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/misc/mokus.ram

1927 "Make My Cot Where The Cot-Cot-Cotton Grows"
~California Ramblers
LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ca...mycot.ram

Currently listening : Musical Portrait