a Phil Brodie Band Info Page
"Births & Deaths"
These birthdates and death dates are unique to this site,
I have been working on them for over 6 years now.
PLEASE give credit or link if copied
PAGES UPDATED DAILY
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MARCH: Charts ~ MARCH: On This Day ~ MARCH: Quiz
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RESPECT - OBITUARIES
2010 .. 2009 .. 2008 .. 2007 .. 2006 .. 2005 .. 2004 .. REQUESTS
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MARCH
SADLY DEPARTED
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MORE BIRTHDATES & PASSINGS
January . February . March . April . May . June . July
August . September . October . November . December
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MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Born ~ March 1st
1994: Justin Bieber (Canadian pop/R&B singer).
1989: Sonya Kitchell (US jazz singer-songwriter)
1987: Kesha Rose Sebert (US singer)
1987: Sammie Lee Bush Jr (US R&B singer, actor)
1983: Elan Sara DeFan (Mexican singer-songwriter)
1973: Carlo Resoort (Dutch DJ, remixer, producer; 4 Strings)
1973: Ryan Peake (Canadian guitarist; Nickelback).
1969: Dafydd Leuan (Welsh drummer; Super Furry Animals).
1965: Mary Lou Lord (US singer/songwriter)
1964: Clinton Gregory (US country-bluegrass singer, songwriter, fiddler).
1963: Dan Michaels (US record company owner, saxophonist, lyriconist; The Choir/Galaxy21 Music)
1963: Christina Bergmark (Swedish keyboardist; Wannadies).
1963: Thomas Anders (German singer; Modern Talking)
1963: Rob Affuso (US drummer; Skid Row].
1962: Peter Stephenson (Scottish keyboardist; Shamen).
1960: William Bennett (UK noise musician, guitarist; Essential Logic/Whitehouse)
1958: Nik Kershaw (UK singer, producer, guitar).
1958: Chosei Komatsu (Japanese conductor).
1957: Jon Carroll (US organist, pianoist; Starland Vocal Band).
1955: Jimmy Fortune (US tenor vocalist/guitarist; The Statler Brothers/solo).
1948: Burning Spear/Winston Rodney OD (Jamaican reggae singer)
1947: Alan Thicke/Alan Willis Jeffery (Canadian actor, songwriter, TV host)
1946: Gerry Boulet (French-Canadian singer)*18.July.1990.
1946: Tony Ashton (UK vocalist, keyboardist; Ashton, Gardner & Dyke/others)*28.May.2001.
1944: Roger Daltrey (UK vocalist, actor; The Who/solo)
1944: Mike D'Abo (UK singer, songwriter; Manfred Mann/solo).
1943: Jerry Fisher [vocals; Blood, Sweat & Tears/Jerry Fisher & the Music Company].
1939: Leo Brouwer (Cuban composer, guitarist)
1934: James Edward Brown (US Country singer].
1932: Oliver Sain (US multi-musician, band leader, studio owner)*28.Oct.2003.
1930: Benny Powell (US jazz trombonist;Lionel Hampton/Count Basie/others/ sessionist)*26.June.2010.
1928: Willie Mitchell [US trumpet player; Al Green/Elvis/freelance].
1927: Harry Belafonte (US singer, actor, humanitarian).
1921: Kenny Baker [UK Composer/Trumpet; Ted Heath/freelance/own]*07.Dec.1999.
1917: Dinah Shore [US singer/actress]*24.Feb.1994.
1914: Barrett Deems (US drummer; Dukes Of Dixieland/freelance]*15.Sep.1998.
1911: Kay Finegan/Vivian Blessing (US big band singer;Benny Goodman/Glenn Miller/others)*22.April.2006.
1904: Glenn Miller (American jazz musician; big band leader)*15.Dec.1944 presumably.
1826: John Thomas (Welsh harpist, composer; harpist to Queen Victoria)*19.March.1913.
1810: Frederic Francois Chopin [composer, pianist]*17.Oct.1849.

March 2nd
1989: Will Makar (US singer; American Idol).
1988: Keith Jack (British singer, actor)
1987: Sean Hogan (US bassist; Home of The Brave)
1985: Luke Pritchard (UK singer; The Kooks)
1980: Vincent Walker (US singer, trumpet player; Suburban Legends/Rump Shaker)
1978: Claudio Sanchez (US singer, guitarist; Coheed and Cambria).
1977: Chris Martin (UK guitar, vocals; Coldplay).
1967: Dennis Seaton (lead vocals, percussion; Musical Youth).
1965: Martin Gilks (UK drummer, manager; Wonder Stuff)*03.April.2006.
1962: Jon Bon Jovi/John Bongiovi (US singer, guitar; Bon Jovi).
1962: Scott La Rock/Scott Sterling (US rapper, DJ; Boogie Down Productions)*27.Aug.1987.
1961: Simone Young (Australian conductor)
1956: Mark Evans (Australian bassist; AC-DC/Finch/Contraband/Heaven/freelance).
1956: John Cowsill (US singer, keyboardist, drummer; The Cowsills/The Beach Boys/solo/others)
1955: Dale Bozzio/Dale Frances Consalvi (US singer; Missing Persons).
1955: Jay Wesley Osmond (US singer; The Osmonds).
1950: Karen Carpenter (US singer, drummer; The Carpenters)*04.Feb.1983
1949: Alain Chamfort (French singer)
1948: Rory Gallagher (Irish guitar, slide guitar, vocals, harmonica; Taste/solo)*14.June.1995.
1948: Larry Carlton (US guitarist)
1943: Tony Meehan (UK drummer; Vipers/Drifters/Cliff Richard & The Shadows/sessionist)*28.Nov.2005.
1942: Lou Reed (US singer, guitarist; The Primitives/Velvet Underground/solo).
1942: Luc Plamondon (French Canadian lyricist)
1940: Tony Croatto/Hermes Davide Fastino Croatto Martinis (Italian singer, composer)*03.April.2005.
1938: Lawrence Payton (US singer, songwriter; The Four Tops)*20.June.1997.
1934: Dottie Rambo (American singer, songwriter, and musician)*11.May.2008.
1930: John Cullum (US actor, singer).
1922: Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (US jazz tenor saxophonist)*03.Nov.1986.
1917: Desi Arnaz/Ricky Ricardo (Cuban singer/musician/actor)*02.Dec.1986.
1913: Celedonio Romero (Spanish guitarist, composer, songwriter)*08.May.1996.
1912: Henry Katzman (US composer, pianist)*11.May.2001.
1897: Minor Hall/Ram Hall (US jazz musician)*16.Oct.1959.

March 3rd (not updated)
1977: Ronan Keating [Irish singer; Boyzone/solo].
1975: Albert Fields [US singer; New Mickey Mouse Club/The Party/solo].
1969: John "JB" Bigham [vocals, guitar, slide guitar, keyboards; Fishbone].
1966: Timo Tolkki [Finnish guitarist, songwriter; Stratovarius]
1966: Tone-Loc/Antony Smith [US hip hop artist, actor].
1957: Michael "Mike" Smith (American jazz saxophonist).
1955: Chris Hughes [UK drummer, record producer; Adam & the Ants].
1950: Re Styles/Shirley Marie MacLeod [vocals, guitar; Tubes]
1953: Ricky Helton Wilson [original guitarist with the B-52's]*12.10.1985
1953: Robyn Hitchcock [UK vocals, guitar, bass; Soft Boys/solo/freelance].
1947: Derek "Blue" Weaver [keyboards; Mott the Hoople/Amen Corner/ Strawbs].
1947: Jennifer Warnes [US singer, keyboards].
1947: David Mount [drummer; Mud/Les Gray's Mud]*02.Dec.2006
1944: Jance Garfat [bass, Dr. Hook]*06.Nov.2006
1943: Chris Stainton (UK keyboardist, bassist; Johnny Tempest/Joe Cocker/Eric Clapton/Freelance).
1942: Mike Pender/Michael John Prendergast [vocals, guitar; The Searchers].
1933: Paul Clayton [folk singer, dulcimer; solo/freelance]*30.March.1967

March 4th (not updated)
1979: Jon Fratelli/John Lawler (Scottish songwriter, singer, guitarist; The Fratellis/Codeine Velvet Club)
1971: Fergal Lawlor [Irish drummer, percussion; The Cranberries].
1967: Evan Dando [guitar, drums; The Lemonheads].
1966: Patrick Hannan [drummer; The Sundays].
1965: Richard March [UK bassist; Pop Will Eat Itself]
1963: Jason Newsted [bass, Theremin; Metallica].
1962: Jon Durno [UK bassist; Roman Holliday].
1955: Boon Gould [guitar, multi-musician; Level 42/solo].
1954: Ricky Ford (American jazz tenor saxophonist).
1954: St Clair L. Palmer [singer; Sweet Sensation].
1953: Emilio Estefan [cuban singer; Miami Sound Machine/solo].
1951: Pete John Haycock [guitar; Climax Chicago Blues Band].
1951: Chris Rea [UK singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboards].
1950: Billy Gibbons [guitar; ZZ Top].
1942: Ralph Ellis [guitar, keyboard, Swinging Blue Jeans]
1948: Chris Squire [bassist; Yes].
1948: Shakin' Stevens/Michael Barrett [Welsh pop singer].
1947: Jan Garbarek [Norwegian tenor and soprano jazz saxophonist].
1946: Red Stripe/David Gittins [singer; The Flying Pickets/Brian and Stripe].
1944: Mick/Michael Wilson [drummer; Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich].
1944: Bobby Womack [soul singer, guitar].
1936: Eric Allandale (West Indian trombonist, bandleader; The Foundations/own band)*23.Aug.2001.
1934: Barbara McNair (African-American singer and actress)*04.Feb.2007.
1932: Miriam Makeba/Mama Afrika (South African singer, civil rights activist)*10.Nov.2008.
1925: Paul Mauriat [French conductor, arranger]*03.Nov.2006.

March 5th
1972: Luca Turilli (Italian guitarist, composer; Rhapsody of Fire).
1970: John Frusciante (US guitarist; Red Hot Chili Peppers).
1969: MC Solaar/Claude M'Barali (French rap and hip-hop artist)
1962: Craig Reid (Scottish singer songwriter; Proclaimers).
1962: Charlie Reid (Scottish singer songwriter; Proclaimers).
1960: David Tibet/David Michael Bunting (UK singer; Current 93)
1960: Rico McFarland (US blues guitarist; James Cotton/Lucky Peterson/freelance/solo).
1958: Andy Gibb (UK-Australian singer; youngest brother of Barry, Robin and Maurice-the Bee Gees)*10.March.1988.
1957: Mark E Smith (UK singer, lyricist; The Fall).
1956: Teena Marie (US singer).
1952: Alan Clark (UK keyboardist; Dire Straits/freelance).
1951: Elaine Page (UK singer).
1948: Eddy Grant (Guyana-born singer, guitar, synthesizer reggae/r&b/soul singer; The Equals/solo).
1948: Richard Sidney Hickox CBE (English conductor; choral, orchestral, operatic)*23.Nov.2008
1947: Eddie Hodges (US actor, singer)
1947: Clodagh Rodgers (Irish singer)
1946: Murray Head (UK actor, singer)
1946: Lova Moor/Marie-Claude Jourdain (French singer and dancer)
1946: Richard Bell (Canadian keyboardist, pianist; Full Tilt Boogie Band/The Band/sessionist)*15.June.2007.
1944: Lucio Battisti (Italian singer)*09.Sept.1998.
1939: Johnny Jenkins (US blues guitarist; the Pinetoppers/solo)*26.June.2006.
1938: Paul Evans (US singer, songwriter)
1933: Tommy Tucker/Robert Higginbotham (US blues singer, pianist)*22.Jan.1982.
1931: Barry Tuckwell (Australian horn player)
1887: Heitor Villa-Lobos (Brazilian composer)*17.Nov.1959

March 6th
1988: Agnes Carlsson (Swedish singer)
1980: Ross Mawhinney (British born Italian radio DJ).
1977: Bubba Sparxxx/Warren Anderson Mathis (US hip-hop artist, country rap).
1975: Aracely Arambula Jacques (Mexican actress and singer)
1974: Miika Tenkula (Finnish lead guitarist, vocalist, songwriter; Sentenced)*19.Feb.2009.
1973: Peter Lindgren (Swedish guitarist; ex-Opeth).
1972: Jaret Reddick (US lead vocals, rhythm guitar; Bowling For Soup)
1970: Chris Broderick (US lead guitarist; Megadeth)
1970: Betty Boo/Alison Moira Clarkson (UK singer, rap artist).
1968: Michael James Romeo (US guitar; Symphony-X)
1964: Madonna Wayne Gacy/Stephen Gregory Bier Jr (US keyboardist, Marilyn Manson).
1947: Kiki Dee (UK singer).
1946: Murray Head (UK singer, guitarist).
1946: David Gilmour CBE (UK guitarist, singer, songwriter; Pink Floyd].
1945: Hugh Grundy (US drummer; The Zombies/A&R man for Columbia Records).
1944: Mary Wilson [US singer; The Supremes/solo].
1944: Kiri Te Kanawa [New Zealand singer].
1937: Bennett Keith Schaeufele (US steel guitarist, multi-musician; Neil Young/many sessions/solo)*26.July.2010.
1936: Sylvia Robinson (US singer; Mickey & Sylvia).
1930: Lorin Maazel (French-born American conductor)
1925: Wes Montgomery (US jazz guitarist)*15.June.1968
1927: Norman Treigle/Adanelle Wilfred Treigle (US bass-baritone)*16.Feb.1975
1905: Bob Wills (American Western swing musician, songwriter, bandleader)*13.May.1975.
1904: Joseph Schmidt (Austrian tenor)*16.June.1942
1893: Walter 'Furry'Lewis [US blues guitarist, first to play with a bottleneck]*14.Sept.1981.
1871: Ben Harney (US composer, ragtime pianist)*02.March.1938

March 7th
1985: Thomas Erak [US guitarist, singer; Mukilteo].
1980: Anthony Ocana [Dominican composer & guitarist].
1977: Paul Cattermole [UK vocals; S Club 7].
1974: Larry Bagby 111 (US film, television actor, singer/songwriter)
1973: Sébastien Izambard (French operatic pop singer; Il Divo)
1972: Jang Dong-gun (South Korean actor, musician)
1969: Shin Ae Ra (Korean actress, radio DJ)
1969: Warrel Dane (US singer; Nevermore)
1967: Ruthie Henshall (UK theatre actress, singer)
1967: Jean-Pierre Barda (Swedish singer; Army of Lovers)
1967: Randy Guss (US drummer; Toad The Wet Sprocket).
1966: Paul Davis (UK keyboards; Happy Mondays].
1963: Denyce Graves (US classical, opera singer].
1962: Taylor Dayne/Leslie Wunderman (US pop vocalist, song-writer, dance artist)
1952: Ernie Isley [US guitarist, drummer, vocals; The Isley Brothers].
1951: Francis Rocco Prestia (US bassist; Tower of Power)
1950: Iris Chacon [Puerto Rican singer, dancer].
1946: Peter Wolf [US vocalist; The J Geils Band/Lights Out/Freeze-Frame]
1946: Matthew Fisher (UK keyboards, piano, organ; Procol Harum).
1945: Arthur Lee (US guitar/vocals; The American Four, Love]*03.Aug.2006.
1944: Townes Van Zandt (US country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, poet)*01.Jan.1997.
1943: Chris White [UK bassist, songwriter; The Zombies/Argent].
1942: Hamilton Bohannon (US percussionist, band leader, record producer; Stevie Wonder/own band).
1931: Christopher "Stubb" Stubblefield (US music promoter, barbecue restaurateur)*27.May.1995.
1927: Philippe Clay/Philippe Mathevet (French mime artist, singer, actor)*13.Dec.2007.
1922: Paddy Clancy (Irish folk singer; The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem)*11.Nov.1998.
1917: Lee Young [US jazz drummer; Nat King Cole Trio/Lee Young Band/freelance].
1875: Maurice Ravel [French pianist, composer]*28.Dec.1937.

March 8th
1990: Kristinia DeBarge (US R&B singer)
1988: Elly Jackson (UK singer; La Roux)
1985: Ewa Sonnet (Polish model, pop singer)
1984: Dave Moffatt (Canadian keyboardist, singer; The Moffatts).
1981: Timothy Jordan II (US keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter; All American Rejects/Jonezetta)*13.Dec.2005
1980: Charli Delaney (Australian singer; Hi-5)
1979: Andy Ross (US guitarist; OK Go)
1979: Tom Chaplin (UK vocalist, pianist; Keane).
1979: Jasmine You/Kageyama Yuuichi (Japanese bassist; Versailles)*09.Aug.2009.
1978: Kameelah 'Meelah' Williams [US singer, hip-hop; 702].
1976: Gareth "Gaz" Coombes [UK vocalist, guitarist; Supergrass].
1975: Peggy Zina (Greek singer)
1973: Anneke van Giersbergen (Dutch singer; The Gathering)
1972: Angie Hart (Australian pop singer)
1968: Chris Burdett (US drummer; Anastasia Screamed).
1968: Shawn Mullins [UK singer, guitar].
1964: Peter "Pedro" Gill [UK drummer; Frankie Goes To Hollywood].
1964: Salt/Cheryl James [US singer; Salt-N-Pepa].
1962: Steve Grantley [UK drummer; Stiff Little Fingers/Alarm/the Big Wheel/Freelance].
1960: Richard Darbyshire [UK singer, songwriter; Living In A Box/solo].
1958: Gary Numan [UK singer, keyboards, synthesizer; Tubeway Army/solo].
1957: Billy Childs (US composer, pianist)
1957: Clive Burr [UK drummer; Iron Maiden].
1954: Cheryl Baker/Rita Crudgington [UK singer, TV presenter; Co-Co/Bucks Fizz/musicals]
1953: Bob Brozman (US guitarist, ethnomusicologist).
1949: Antonello Venditti (Italian singer-songwriter)
1949: Dave Lambert [UK guitarist, vocalist; The Strawbs].
1948: Little Peggy March/Margaret Battavio [US singer].
1948: Mel Galley (UK guitarist; Whitesnake/Trapeze/Finders Keepers/freelance)*01.July.2008.
1947: Michael Allsup [US guitar; Three Dog Knight].
1947: Carole Bayer Sager [US singer, songwriter; solo/musicals/films].
1946: Randy Meisner [US singer, bassist; Poco, Eagles].
1945: Mickey Dolenz [US actor, drums, television & Theatre director; The Monkees].
1945: Bruce Broughton (American composer)
1944: Sergey Nikitin (Russian composer)
1944: Palito Ortega (Argentine singer, actor)
1944: Pepe Romero (Spanish guitarist)
1944: Keef Hartley [UK drummer; The Artwoods/John Mayall's Bluesbreakers/Keef Hartley Band].
1943: Shel Macrae/Andrew Semple [Scottish guitarist, vocals; The Fortunes]
1942: Ralph Ellis [UK guitarist, banjo; Swinging Blue Jeans].
1939: Robert Tear (Welsh tenor)
1937: Raynoma Liles (co-founder of Motown with husband Berry Gordy).
1935: George Edward Coleman (US hard bop saxophonist, bandleader, and composer).
1936: Gábor Szabó (Hungarian guitarist)*26.Feb.1982
1933: Luca Ronconi (Italian theater, opera director)
1931: Manohari Singh (Indian saxophonist, composer; Bollywood films)*13.July.2010.
1927: Dick Hyman (US pianist, music director for Arthur Godfrey).
1911: Alan Hovhaness (US composer)*21.June.2000
1892: "Mississippi" John Smith Hurt (US blues singer and guitarist)*02.Nov.1966.(both dates from his gravestone)

March 9th
1989: Taeyeon/Kim Tae-yeon (Korean singer)
1987: Bow Wow/Shad Gregory Moss (US rap artist).
1983: Maite Perroni Beorlegui (Mexican singer; RBD)
1980: Chingy/Howard Bailey (US rapper).
1974: Jimmy O/Jean Jimmy Alexandre (Haitian hip hop artist)*12.Jan.2010.
1971: C-Murder/Corey Miller (US rapper; TRU/solo)
1971: Diego Torres (Argentine singer, composer)
1970: Shannon Leto (US drummer, actor; 30 Seconds to Mars)
1969: Stefie Shock (Quebec singer and songwriter)
1969: Rob Dukes (US singer, guitarist; Exodus/Dukes)
1968: Johnny Kelly (US drummer; Type O Negative)
1968: Andrew Barker [UK keyboardist; 808 State].
1968: Robert Sledge [US bassist, upright bass; Ben Folds Five/International Orange]
1966: Brendan Canty (US drummer; Fugazi)
1958: Martin Fry [UK vocalist; ABC/solo].
1957: Mark Mancina (US composer)
1951: Frank Rodriguez [US organist/keyboard; ? & The Mysterians]
1949: Tapani Kansa (Finnish singer)
1948: Jimmie Fadden [US singer, harmonica, guitar; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band]
1948: Jeffrey Osborne [US singer; Love Men Ltd/solo].
1946: Jim Cregan [UK guitarist, bassist, Family, Cockney Rebel/Rod Stewart/freelance]
1945: Robert Newton Calvert [African born-UK singer, poet; Hawkwind]*14.Aug.1988.
1945: Robin Trower [UK lead guitar; Procol Harum, solo].
1944: Trevor Burton/Trevor Ireson [UK bassist; The Move/Journeyman/Dexy's Midnight Runners/own band].
1942: Mark Linday [US rhythm guitarist; Paul Revere & Raiders].
1940: John Cale (Welsh multi-musician; Theatre of Eternal Music/Velvet Underground).
1938: Lill-Babs/Barbro Margareta Svensson (Swedish singer).
1936: Mickey Gilley (US pianist, country singer].
1933: Lloyd Price [US singer/songwriter].
1932: Keely Smith [US Jazz singer].
1930: Ornette Coleman (US saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, composer).
1910: Samuel Barber (US composer)*23.Jan.1981
1839: Phoebe Knapp (US hymn writer)*10.July.1908.

March 10th
1992: Emily Osment (US actress, singer)
1985: Casey Dienel (US singer-songwriter)
1983: Che'Nelle/Cheryline Lim (Malaysian Australian singer)
1978: Ben Burnley (US lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, main-songwriter; Breaking Benjamin)
1977: Robin Thicke (US singer)
1977: Colin Murray (British radio DJ, presenter; BBC radio and Channel Five TV)
1976: Kisaki (Japanese bassist, composer, producer)
1976: Haifa Wehbe (Lebanese actress, model, singer)
1975: Jerry Horton (US guitarist; Papa Roach)
1973: John LeCompt (US guitarist; Evanescence/We Are the Fallen/Machina).
1971: Timbaland/Timothy Z. Mosley (US rap artist).
1970: Matt Barlow (US singer; Iced Earth)
1970: Michel van der Aa (Dutch composer)
1967: Susie Q/Susan Banfield [UK rap artist; Cookie Crew].
1966: Gráinne Mulvey (Irish composer)
1966: Edie Brickell [US singer].
1964: Neneh Cherry [Swedish singer].
1964: Patrick "Pat" Kane [Scottish singer, arts journalist;Hue & Cry].
1963: Jeff Ament [US bassist, Pearl Jam/Mother Love Bone].
1963: Rick Rubin (US record producer)
1962: Gary Clark [Scottish guitarist, vocals, songwriter].
1960: Uwe/Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen (German keyboardist, songwriter; Nena)
1957: Jim White (US folk singer-songwriter)
1955: Youssra/Civene Nassim (Egyptian actress, singer)
1954: Tina Charles/Tina Hoskins [UK singer].
1952: Mike O'Donnell (US composer)
1950: Ted McKenna (Scottish drummer, percussion; Sensational Alex Harvey Band].
1947: Tom Scholz [US guitar, keyboards; Boston]
1945: Pete Nelson/Peter Lipscomb [vocals; The Flowerpot Men/White Plains].
1940: Dean Torrence [US singer; Jan & Dean].
1938: Norman Blake [mandolin, 6-string banjo, fiddle, banjo; folk & bluegrass groups].
1938: Dave Alexander [US blues pianist, drummer, trumpet, bass; NOT of the Stooges].
1931: Georges Dor (Québécois author, playwright, singer and songwriter)*24.July.2001.
1928: Sara Montiel (Spanish actress, singer)
1920: Boris Vian (French writer, musician)*23.June.1959
1919: Marion Hutton (American singer and actress; Glenn Miller)*10.Jan.1987.
1915: Sir Charles Groves (UK conductor)*20.June.1992
1903: Leon 'Bix' Beiderbecke (US jazz cornetist and composer)*06.Aug.1931.

March 11th
1984: Anna Tsuchiya (Japanese model, actress, singer)
1981: LeToya Luckett [US singer; solo/Destiny's Child].
1981: Russell Lissack (UK guitarist; Bloc Party/Pin Me Down)
1979: Joel Madden [US lead vocalist; Good Charlotte].
1979: Benji Madden [US guitarist, backup vocalist; Good Charlotte].
1977: Andre Nickatina (American rapper)
1969: Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas [Columbian/US singer,songwriter,guitar]*10.May.2006.
1969: Rami Jaffee [US pianist, organist; Wallflowers].
1968: Lisa Loeb [US singer-songwriter].
1964: Vinnie Paul [US drummer; Pantera/Damageplan].
1961: Bruce Watson [Canadian guitarist, Big Country].
1961: Mike Percy [UK bassist; Dead Or Alive].
1957: Cheryl Lynn [US singer].
1955: Nina Hagen [German singer/songwriter].
1955: Flinto Chandia (Zambian bassist; Jimmy the Hoover)
1953: Bernie LaBarge (Canadian guitarist, singer, songwriter; freelance/many bands)
1953: Pim Koopman (Dutch progressive rock drummer; Kayak)*23.Nov.2009.
1951: Katie Kissoon [Trinidad-UK singer; Mac & Katie/freelance/sessionist].
1950: Bobby McFerrin [US singer].
1948: George Kooymans [Dutch vocals, guitar; Golden Earring/The Tornados].
1947: Bill Dickinson [US bassist; LA sessionist].
1947: Mark Stein [US vocalist, keyboardist, composer; Vanilla Fudge].
1947: Tristan Murail (French composer)
1946: Patty Waters (American jazz singer)
1945: Harvey Mandel (US blues guitarist; solo/sessionist).
1944: Eric "Ric" Rothwell [drummer; Mindbenders].
1940: Alberto Cortez (Argentinian singer)
1939: Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez (US Tejano music accordionist; many artists)
1932: Leroy Jenkins (US composer, violinist)*24.Feb.2007
1926: Ilhan Mimaroglu (Turkish electronic music composer)
1921: Ástor Piazzolla (Argentine composer, bandoneón player)*04.July.1992
1908: Sonny Boy Williamson II/Aleck"Rice"Miller/Aleck Ford (US bluesharmonica player, singer-songwriter)*25.May.1965 Sonny Boy claimed to have been born on December 5th 1899, but one researcher, David Evans, claims to have found census record evidence that he was born around 1912. His gravestone has his birthdate as March 11th 1908.
1903: Lawrence Welk (US accordionist, bandleader, TV personality)*17.May.1992.

March 12th
1986: Danny Jones [UK guitarist, vocals, harmonica; McFly].
1984: Shreya Ghoshal (Indian singer)
1983: Atif Aslam (Pakistani singer)
1979: Pete Doherty [UK lead vocals, guitar; Libertines/Babyshambles].
1978: Claudio Sanchez (US singer, guitarist; Coheed and Cambria)
1975: Herman Li (Cantonese guitarist)
1975: Kelle Bryan [UK singer; Eternal].
1970: Roy Khan (Norwegian singer; Kamelot)
1969: Graham Coxon [UK guitarist; Blur].
1965: Liza Umarova (Chechen singer, actress)
1965: Coleen Nolan (UK singer, TV personality; The Nolan)
1960: Kipp Lennon (US singer)
1960: Minoru Niihara (Japanese singer)
1960: Maki Nomiya (Japanese singer; Pizzicato Five)
1957: Marlon Jackson [US singer, guitarist; Jacksons/Jackson 5/sessionist].
1957: Steve Harris (UK bassist, Iron Maiden).
1952: Naomi Shihab Nye (US poet, songwriter, novelist).
1949: Mike Gibbins (Welsh drummer; The Iveys/Badfinger)*04.Oct.2005.
1949: Bill Payne [piano, keyboards, organ; Little Feat/freelance].
1948: Les Holroyd [bassist; Barclay James Harvest].
1948: James Taylor [US singer/songwriter].
1946: Liza Minnelli [US singer, actress].
1942: Brian O'Hara [lead guitarist, vocals; The Fourmost].
1940: Al Jarreau (US singer)
1940: M.A. Numminen (Finnish singer, writer).
1938: Dimitri Terzakis (Greek composer)
1928: Aldemaro Romero (Venezuelan pianist, composer, orchestral conductor)*15.Sept.2007.
1925: Georges Delerue (French film composer)*20.March.1992.
1923: Norbert Brainin (Austrian violinist)*10.April.2005.
1921: Gordon MacRae (US singer, actor)*24.Jan.1986.
1917: Leonard Chess (US company executive, founder of Chess record label]*16.Oct.1969.
1912: Paul Weston/Paul Wetstein (US pianist, arranger, conductor)*20.Sept.1996.
1890: Evert Taube (Swedish author, artist, lute player, composer, singer)*31.Jan.1976.

March 13th
1981: April Matson (US actress, singer)
1979: Spanky G/Mike Guthier (US drummer; Bloodphart/Bloodhound Gang)
1977: Kay Tse (Hong Kong singer)
1973: Ed Sloan (US singer, guitarist; Crossfade)
1976: James Dewees (US vocals, piano, keyboards, drums; The Get Up Kids/many bands)
1973: David Draiman (US singer, songwriter; Disturbed)
1972: Common/Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr (US rapper; Soulquarians/solo)
1964: João Gordo/João Francisco Benedan (Brazilian singer; Ratos de Porão aka RxDxPx)
1963: Fito Páez (Argentine rock n roll pianist, lyricist, singer, film director)
1963: Billy Yates (US C&W singer-songwriter)
1960: Adam Charles Clayton [Irish bassist; U2].
1959: Greg Norton [US bassist; Husker Du].
1959: Ronnie Rogers [rhythm guitarist, songwriter; T'Pau].
1953: Rustee/Rusty Allen (US bass guitar player; Sly & the Family Stone/others).
1952: Wolfgang Rihm (German composer)
1951: Lester Jerome Williams (US keyboardist, pianist, singer, composer; Motown/solo/freelance).
1949: Julia Migenes (US soprano)
1947: Dave Kelly (UK guitarist, vocals; John Dummer Blues/Tramp/Paul Jones Blues/own band).
1947: Dr. Beat Richner (Swiss pediatrician, cellist)
1942: Scatman John/John Paul Larkin (American singer)*03.Dec.1999.
1939: Neil Sedaka [US singer, songwriter, pianist].
1939: Liz Anderson [US C&W singer-songwriter].
1938: Erma Franklin (US soul, R&B and pop singer, sister to Aretha)*07.Sept.2002.
1933: Mike Stoller [US songwriter, composer; Stoller & Leiber].
1930: Jan Howard (US singer)
1925: Roy Haynes (US jazz drummer)
1914: Robert Sherwood Haggart (US bass,composer,arranger; Bob Crosby Orch)*02.Dec.1998.
1913: Sammy Kaye (US multiple reeds player; big bandleader)*02.June.1987.
1912: Sam 'Lightnin' Hopkins (US legendry blues guitarist)*30.Jan.1982 (1912 as on his statue)
1906: Frank Teschemacher (US clarinet, alto sax, violin; Chicago jazz groups/solo)*01.March.1932.
1890: Fritz Busch (German conductor)*14.Sept.1951

March 14th
1992: Jasmine Murray (US singer)
1993: Julienne Irwin (US singer)
1989: Colby O'Donis (US R&B singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actor)
1988: Chris Feener (Canadian guitarist, composer).
1985: Idaira/Idaira Fernandez Rodriguez (Spanish singer)
1983: Jordan Taylor Hanson [US singer, keyboard, bongos, piano; Hanson].
1982: Kate Maberly (UK actor, singer-songwriter)
1981: Mei-Ting Sun (Chinese-born pianist)
1964: Dario Bisso (Italian conductor)
1962: Steve Lambert [UK singer; Roman Holliday].
1957: Chris Redburn [UK bassist; Kenny]
1950: Rick Dees/Rigdon Osmond Dees III (US disc jockey)
1949: Peter John 'Ollie' Halsall (UK guitarist virtuoso Patto/The Boxer/The Rutles/others)*29 May 1992.
1947: Peter Skellern [UK singer, pianist, songwriter].
1947: Jona Lewie [UK vocals, piano, guitar, songwriter;Thunderbolts/sessoinist/solo].
1945: James O'Rourke (US multi instruments, guitar; Playboy Band/freelance/guest) not Jim O'Rourke from Chicago
1945: Walter Parazaider [US sax, flute, woodwind insts;founder member of Chicago]
1945: Herman van Veen (Dutch singer, theatre performer)
1945: Michael Martin Murphey (US country music singer)
1943: Jim Pons [US bass; The Turtles/The Leaves].
1939: Stavros Xarhakos (Greek composer)
1934: Shirley Scott (US hard bop and soul-jazz organist)*10.March.2002.
1933: Quincy Jones [trumpet player, composer, music producer, business personality].
1931: Phil Phillips (US singer, songwriter)
1926: Lita Roza (UK singer; first UK female singer to top the UK Singles Chart)*14.Aug.2008.
1922: Les Baxter [US saxophonist, pianist; own band]*15.Jan.1996.
1915: Alexander Brott/Joël Brod (Canadian conductor and composer)*01.April.2005
1914: Lee Hays (US folksinger)*26.Aug.1981
1912: Les Brown (US bandleader)*04.Jan.2001

March 15th
1986: Adrianne Leon (US singer-songwriter, actress)
1982: Jordan Hastings (Canadian drummer; Alexisonfire)
1981: Veronica Maggio (Swedish singer)
1981: Young Buck/David Darnell Brown (US rapper)
1977: Joe Hahn (Korean-American turntablist, DJ; Linkin Park).
1975: Will.i.am/William Adams Jr [Jamacian rapper, producer; Black Eyed Peas].
1974: John "Beatz" Holohan (US drummer)*31.Oct.2005.
1973: Boris Ðurdevic (Croatian DJ, electronic musician; Colonia).
1972: Mark Hoppus [US singer, bass guitar; Blink-182].
1969: Timo Kotipelto (Finnish lead singer; Stratovarius/Kotipelto)
1968: Mark McGrath [US lead singer; Sugar Ray].
1968: Sabrina Salerno (Italian singer)
1968: Jon Schaffer (US guitarist; Iced Earth)
1968: Kahimi Karie (Japanese singer)
1964: Rockwell/Kenneth Gordy [US singer, Berry Gordy's son].
1963: Brett Michaels/Bret Michael Sychak [US lead singer, film production; Poison].
1962: Steve Coy/Steve McCoy [UK drummer; Dead Or Alive]
1962: Terence Trent D'arby/Sananda Maitreya [US vocals, sax, keyboards, drums, guitar].
1955: Dee Snider/David Daniel Snider [US lead singer; Twisted Sister].
1955: Etterlene "Bunny" Debarge [UUS soprano vocalist; Debarge].
1948: Stephen 'Grizzly' Nisbett [drummer, Steel Pulse.guest].
1953: Kostas Bigalis (Greek singer, songwriter)
1950: Jørgen Olsen (Danish singer)
1947: Jean Carne [US jazz singer, pianist; Motown, solo].
1947: Hernandez Lugo (US bassist; ? & The Mysterians)
1947: Ry Cooder (US slide, guitar, vocals, mandolin; Buena Vista/Rising Sons/Little Village).
1946: Howard Scott [US guitarist; War]
1944: David Costell [lead guitar; Playboys].
1944: Sly Stone/Sylvester Stewart (US guitar, keyboard; Sly & The Family Stone).
1941: Hughie Flint [drums, McGuinness Flint/Bluesbreakers].
1941: Mike Love (US singer, sax; The Beach Boys).
1940: Phil Lesh [US bassist; Grateful Dead].
1936: Howard Greenfield (US songwriter)*04.March.1986.
UPDATING
1932: Arif Mardin [musical producer/arranger]*26.June.2006.
1931: James Mitchell [saxophone; The Detroit Emeralds/Memphis Horns/session]
1927: Carl Smith (US country music singer, musician)*16.Jan.2010.
1922: Eddie Calvert [UK trumpet player; Stanley Black Orchestra/solo]*07.Aug.1978
1912: Sam "Lightnin" Hopkins (US blues guitarist, singer)*30.Jan.1982.
1864: Johan Halvorsen (Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist)*04.Dec.1935

March 16th
1991: Wolfgang Van Halen (US multi-musician; son of Eddie Van Halen)
1985: Eddy Lover/Eduardo Mosquera (Panamanian singer)
1979: Leena Peisa [Finnish keyboardist; Lordi].
1973: Brant Bjork (US drummer, producer, guitarist; Kyuss)
1972: Andy Dunlop [Scottish guitarist; Travis].
1970: Joakim Berg (Swedish singer; Kent)
1970: Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson (Icelandic singer, songwriter, disc jockey)
1966: H.P. Baxxter/Hans Peter Geerdes (German singer, guitar; Scooter)
1965: Richard Daniel Roman (UK songwriter, record producer)
1964: Patty Griffin [US singer, songwriter].
1963: Jimmy Degrasso (US drummer; F5/Alice Cooper Band)
1963: Stuart Kerr [Scottish drummer; Texas].
1959: Flavor Flav/William Drayton [US rapper, vocals, producer; Public Enemy].
1954: Nancy Wilson [US singer, guitarist; Heart].
1954: Jimmy Nail/James Michael Aloysius Bradford [UK singer, actor].
1949: Elliott Murphy (US singer-songwriter)
1948: Michael Bruce [US guitar, keyboards; Alice Cooper Band].
1942: Jerry Jeff Walker/Ronald Clyde Crosby (US country singer/song writer).
1940: Keith Rowe (UK painter, guitarist; AMM)
1936: Fred Neil [US singer, guitar, songwriter]*07.July.2001.
1935: Teresa Berganza (Spanish soprano)
1931: Betty Johnson (US singer)
1931: Shirley Caddell (US country, rockabilly singer. x-wife of Willie Nelson)*27.Jan.2010.
1930: Tommy Flanagan (US jazz pianist; Ella Fitzgerald backing band)*16.Nov.2001.
1928: Christa Ludwig (German mezzo-soprano)
1926: Jerry Lewis/Joseph Levitch (US actor, comedian, singer).
1920: John Addison (British composer)*07.Dec.1998.
1902: Leon Roppolo [US jazz clarinetist]*05.Oct.1943

March 17th
1986: Miles Kane (UK vocalist, guitarist; The Rascals/Last Shadow Puppets)
1976: Stephen Gately Irish singer, actor; Boyzone)*10.Oct.2009.
1975: Justin Hawkins [UK lead singer, song writer; The Darkness].
1975: Mason Jennings (US folksinger)
1975: Puneet Rajkumar (Indian actor, singer, director)
1974: Oliver Palotai (German keyboard player; Doro)
1973: Rico Blanco (Filipino singer; Rivermaya)
1973: Caroline Corr [Irish drummer; The Corrs].
1972: Melissa Auf der Maur [Canadian bassist, vocals; Hole, Smashing Pumpkins].
1972: Marc Gunn (US poet, podcaster, musician; Brobdingnagian Bards)
1970: Gene Ween/Aaron Freeman (US singer, guitarist; Ween)
1967: Billy Corgan [US guitarist, singer-songwriter, multi-musician; Zwan/Smashing Pumpkins].
1963: Nick Peros (Canadian composer)
1962: Clare Grogan [Scottish actress, lead singer; Altered Images].
1961: Alexander Bard (Swedish artist, singer; Army Of Lovers)
1959: Paul Black (US rock singer; L.A. Guns, Black Cherry)
1959: Mike Kindup [UK keyboards, vocals; Level 42].
1954: Wally Stocker [guitarist; Babys/Humble Pie/Air Supply/freelance].
1952: Nikos Xydakis (Greek pianist, singer, composer)
1951: Scott Gorham [US guitarist, mastering, songwriter; Thin Lizzy].
1950: Patrick Adams (US record producer, songwriter)
1949: Daniel Lavoie (French Canadian singer-songwriter)
1948: Bobby Whitlock [singer,keyboards,songwriter; Derek-the Dominos/sessions/own band].
1948: Pat Lloyd [guitar, bassist; Equals].
1947: Yury Chernavsky (Russian-born composer, producer)
1946: Harold Brown (drums, percussion, vocals; War/Night Shift/Lowrider]
1945: Elis Regina Carvalho Costa (Brazilian singer)*19.Jan.1982.
1945: Katri Helena (Finnish singer)
1944: Pat McAuley [Irish keyboardist, drums, Them/The Other Them]
1944: Tony Jackson [Jamaican high tenor singer; session/backgound/Skatalites]
1944: John Sebastian [US vocals, harmonica, guitar; Lovin Spoonful/ Mugwumps]
1942: Dimitris Poulikakos (Greek composer, singer, actor)
1941: Paul Kantner [US guitarist; Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship].
1941: Clarence Collins [US singer; The Chesters/Little Anthony & the Imperials].
1938: Zola Taylor (US singer; The Platters)*30.April.2007.
1937: Adam Wade (US singer, actor)
1936: Ladislav Kupkovic (Slovakian composer)
1931: Lorraine Ellison (African-American female soul singer)*31.Jan.1983.
1919: Nat "King" Cole [US singer, piano]*15.Feb.1965.
1916: Ray Ellington/Harry Pitts Brown (British singer, band leader; Goon Show)*28.Feb.1985.
1884: Alcide Nunez (US jazz clarinetist)*02.Sept.1934

March 18th
1986: Lykke Li (Swedish singer)
1984: Vonzell Solomon (US singer)
1981: Jang Nara (Korean singer, actress)
1979: Adam Levine [lead singer, guitar; Maroon 5].
1979: Shola Ama [UK singer].
1978: Bryan Ottoson (German born guitarist; American Head Charge)*19.April.2005
1977: Devin Lima [US vocalist; LFO].
1975: Sutton Foster (US actress, singer, dancer)
1975: Rodleen Getsic (US singer, activist, actress, film producer, performance artist).
1974: Stuart Zender [bassist; Jamiroquai].
1970: Queen Latifah/Dana Owens [US rapper].
1970: Dragoljub Milcic (Serbian songwriter)
1969: Andy Cutting (UK folk melodeon player, composer)
1967: Miki Berenyi (UK singer; Lush)
1966: Jerry Cantrell [US guitarist, vocals, producer; Alice In Chains].
1964: Courtney Pine [UK jazz saxophonist, multi-musician; solo/freelance].
1964: Rozalla Miller (Zambian singer)
1963: Vanessa Williams [African-American singer].
1963: Jeff LeBar [US guitar, vocals; Cinderella].
1962: Irene Cara (US actress, singer)
1962: James McMurtry (US folk singer, songwriter)
1962: Taja Sevelle [US singer, songwritr]
1961: Grant Hart [US drummer, vocals; Husker Du].
1959: Irene Cara [US singer].
1957: György Pazdera (Hungarian bassist; Pokolgép)
1951: Bill Frisell (US jazz guitarist, composer)
1950: John Hartman (US drummer; Doobie Brothers)
1949: Åse Kleveland (Norwegian singer, politician)
1947: Barry "B.J." Wilson [drums, percussion; Procol Harum].
1946: Stu Parks (UK bassist; Mickey & the Sapphires/Gary Farr & the T-Bones, Shelley)
1945: Eric Woolfson (Scottish singer, songwriter, lyricist Alan Parsons Project)*02.Dec.2009.
1944: Bob Johnson (UK guitarist, Steeleye Span)
1941: Wilson Pickett [US R&B, soul singer]*19.Jan.2006.
1939: Giannis Markopoulos (Greek composer)
1938: Charley Pride (US country singer, guitarist).
1936: Robert Lee Smith [US singer; Tams].
1930: Patrick Halcox (UK jazz trumpet player; Chris Barber Band)
1929: John Macurdy (US operatic bass singer)
1927: John Kander (US songwriter)
1911: Smiley Burnette/Lester Alvin Burnett (US singer, songwriter)*16.Feb.1967.

March 19th
1983: Ana Rezende (Brazilian film director, guitarist; CSS)
1980: Mikuni Shimokawa (Japanese singer).
1976: Ben Marlin (US bassist; brutal death metal band Disgorge)*02.Jan.2008.
1976: Zach Lind (US drummer; Jimmy Eat World)
1975: Brann Dailor (US drummer; Mastodon/Lethargy).
1975: Vivian Hsu (Taiwanese singer, actress, model)
1973: Bun B/Bernard Freeman (US Rapper; UGK).
1971: Jack Bessant (UK bassist; Reef).
1969: Gary Jules (US singer, songwriter)
1969: Tom McRae (UK singer, songwriter)
1966: James "Big Jim" Wright (US record producer, musician, singer, songwriter)
1964: Yoko Kanno (Japanese composer)
1960: Eliane Elias (Brazilian jazz pianist, arranger, vocalist, songwriter)
1959: Terry Hall (UK singer; Specials/Fun Boy Three/The Colourfield/freelance).
1955: Bruce Willis (US actor, vocals, harmonica).
1953: Ricky Wilson (US guitarist; The B-52's)*12.Oct.1985.
1953: Billy Sheehan (US bassist; Talas/Steve Vai/David Lee Roth/Mr Big/Niacin/guest).
1951: Derek Longmuir (Scottish bassist; Bay City Rollers).
1949: Valery Leontiev (Russian pop singer).
1946: Paul Atkinson (UK guitarist; The Zombies]*01.April.2004.
1946: Ruth Pointer (US singer; the eldest of The Pointer Sisters).
1942: Richard Dobson (US singer, songwriter)
1937: Clarence "Frogman" Henry (US rhythm and blues singer).
1936: Birthe Wilke (Danish singer).
1929: Robert Muczynski (American composer)*25.May.2010.

March 20th
1986: Dean Geyer (Australian singer, actor)
1984: Winta Efrem Negassi (Norwegian R&B, soul singer).
1982: Nick Wheeler (US guitarist; All-American Rejects).
1980: Ock Ju-Hyun (South Korean singer).
1979: Molly Jenson (US singer/songwriter, acoustic guitarist)
1976: Chester Bennington [US vocalist; Linkin Park/Snow White Tan].
1972: Alex Kapranos [Greek-UK lead singer, guitariast; Franz Ferdinand].
1972: Shellie Poole [UK singer; Alisha's Attic/Brian Pooles daughter].
1968: Frederick Schönfelt [Swedish bassist; Wannadies]
1967: Shutty/David Shuttleworth [UK drummer; Terrorvision].
1966: Alka Yagnik (Indian singer)
1964: Ock Ju-Hyun (South Korean singer).
1964: Natacha Atlas (Belgian singer)
1960: Slim Jim Phantom/James McDonnell [US drummer; Stray Cats/Headcat].
1959: Richard Drummie [UK singer; Go West].
1959: Owen If/Owen Rossiter [UK drummer, Stereo MC's]
1956: Alphonso Martin [UK vocalist, percussionist; Steel Pulse].
1953: Stray Straton [US vocalist, bassist; sessionist/freelance].
1951: Jimmie Vaughan [US vocalist, guitar; Fabulous Thunderbirds, SRV's brother].
1950: Carl Palmer [UK drummer; Arthur Brown/Atomic Rooster/Emerson, Lake & Palmer/Asia].
1949: Marcia Ball (US singer, pianist)
1948: Marva Wright (US blues singer)*23.March.2010.
1941: Vito Picone [lead singer; Elegants]
1937: Jerry Reed/Jerry Reed Hubbard (US country singer, guitarist)*01.Sept.2008.
1927: John Joubert (South African-born UK composer).
1922: Larry Elgart (US saxophonist, bandleader)
1918: Marian McPartland (UK jazz pianist)
1917: Vera Lynn (US actress, singer)
1915: Sister Rosetta Tharpe (US singer - the original soul sister)*09.Oct.1973.
1915: Sviatoslav Richter (Ukrainian pianist)*01.Aug.1997.
1906: Oswald George "Ozzie" Nelson (US radio/TV show presenter, entertainer, bandleader)*03.June.1975.

March 21st
1990: Mandy Capristo (German singer; Monrose)
1989: Rochelle Wiseman (UK singer; The Saturdays)
1980: Bizzy D/Deryck Whibley [Canadian lead singer, mult-musician; Sum 41].
1978: Nick Baines (UK keyboardist; Kaiser Chiefs
1978: Kevin Federline (US dancer/hip hop artist
1977: Mark Hamilton [Irish bassist; Ash]
1974: Edsel Dope (US singer; Dope)
1968: Shin Seung Hun (South Korean ballad singer)
1968: DJ Premier/Premo/Christopher Edward Martin (US hip hop artist, producer; Gang Starr)
1968: Andrew Copeland [US singer, acoustic guitar, songwriter; Sister Hazel]
1967: Maxim/Keith "Keeti" Palmer [British MC; Prodigy/solo].
1967: Jonas "Joker" Berggren [Swedish songwriter, vocals; Ace Of Base].
1967: Sean Dickson [Scottish singer, songwriter; Soup Dragons]
1963: Shawn Lane (US guitar virtuoso)*26.Sept.2003
1960: Robert Sweet (US drummer; Stryper/King James/Blissed)
1959: Sarah Jane Morris (English singer; Happy End/solo)
1959: Nobuo Uematsu (Japanese composer)
1957: John Reddington [UK guitarist; King Kurt]
1956: Guy Chadwick (German born-UK guitarist, vocalist, songwriter; The House of Love/solo)
1953: Robert Johnson [US drummer; KC and the Sunshine Band]
1951: Conrad Lozano [US bassist; Los Lobos].
1951: Russell Thompkins Jr [US falsetto vocals; The Stylistics].
1950: Roger Hodgson [UK guitar, vocals;Supertramp].
1949: Eddie Money [US singer, saxophone, keyboards].
1946: Ray Dorset [UK singer, percussion, guitar; Mungo Jerry/Good Earth/guest].
1945: Rose Stone/Rosemary Stewart [US vocalist, pianist; Sly & The Family Stone].
1943: Viv Stanshall [UK vocalist, trumpet, percussion; Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band]*05.March.1995
1943: Hartmut Haenchen (German conductor)
1940: Solomon Burke [US rhythm & blues singer]
1936: Betty Curtis [Italian singer].
1936: Mike Westbrook (UK jazz composer, bandleader, pianist)
1932: Joseph Silverstein (US violinist and conductor)
1921: Arthur Grumiaux (Belgian violinist)*16.Oct.1986
1920: Georg Ots (Estonian opera singer)*05.Sept.1975.
1920: Manolis Chiotis (Greek guitarist, bouzouki, song writer) *21.March.1970 (allegedly died on his 50th birthday)
1914: Paul Tortelier (French cellist)*18.Dec.1990
1904: Nikolaos Skalkottas (Greek composer)*19.Sept.1949
1902: Son House/Eddie James House Jr (US blues singer, guitarist)*19.Oct.1988.

March 22nd
1980: Shannon Bex (US singer; Danity Kane)
1986: Amy Studt (UK singer).
1979: Aaron North (US guitarist, singer; Jubilee/The Icarus Line/Nine Inch Nails)
1973: Beverly Knight [UK soul singer].
1970: Andreas Johnson (Swedish singer)
1968: Euronymous/Øystein Aarseth (Norwegian guitarist; Mayhem)*10.Aug.1993.
1963: Susanne Sulley [UK singer; Human League]
1959: Avraham Fried/Avraham Friedman (US Orthodox Jewish singer, musician)
1958: Pete Wylie [UK singer; The Spitfire Boys/The Mystery Girls/many Wah bands].
1957: Stephanie Mills [US singer, actress, musicals].
1952: Jay Dee Daugherty (American drummer)
1948: Randy Jo Hobbs [US bassist; The McCoys; Edgar & Johnny Winters]*05.Aug.1993.
1948: Andrew Lloyd Webber [UK songwriter/Orchestration/Executive Producer].
1947: Patrick Olive [percussionist; Hot Chocolate].
1946: Harry Vanda [Dutch guitarist, songwriter,record producer; Easybeats].
1943: Keith Relf (UK singer; Medicine Head, Armageddon, The Yardbirds)*14.May.1976.
1943: George Benson [US singer, guitarist].
1942: Jorge Ben Jor (Brazilian singer-songwriter, guitarist)
1941: Jeremy Clyde (UK actor, musician; Chad and Jeremy)
1937: Angelo Badalamenti (American composer)
1936: Roger Whittaker [African-born British pop singer].
1930: Stephen Sondheim (US composer, lyricist)
1929: Fred Anderson (American jazz tenor saxophonist).

March 23rd
1995: Jan Lisiecki (Canadian pianist)
1993: Tristan Gage (UK musician????)
1968: Damon Albarn [UK piano, vocals; Blur/Gorillaz/Good, the Bad and the Queen].
1967: John Strohm [guitarist; Lemonheads].
1965: Marti Pellow [Scottish singer; Wet Wet Wet/solo].
1959: Epic Soundtracks/Kevin Paul Godfrey (UK drummer, pianist; Swell Maps/These Immortal Souls)*05.Nov.1997
1958: El Duce (US singer, drummer; The Mentors)*19.April.1997.
1953: Chaka Khan [US singer, Rufus/solo].
1952: Dave Bartram [UK vocalist; Showaddywaddy]
1951: Phil Keaggy (US finger style guitarist, vocalist; Phil Keaggy Band/solo/freelance].
1949: Ric Ocasek [US vocalist, guitar, keyboards, bass; Cars/ other projects and bands].
1948: David Olney (US folk singer-songwriter; Simpson Band/X-Rays/solo)
1945: Franco Battiato (Italian singer, songwriter, filmmaker
1945: David Grisman (US mandolinist, banjopianist, multi-musician; Jerry Garcia/With Old & in the Way/many others).
1944: Tony McPhee [UK guitarist, vocals; Herbal Mixture/Groundhogs].
1944: Michael Nyman [UK pianist /composer].
1939: Pepe Lienhard (Swiss band leader, composer, entertainer)
1938: Irwin Levine (US songwriter; including "Tie A Yellow Ribbon round The Old Oak Tree")*21.Jan.1997.
1938: Dave Pike (US jazz vibraphone player; Herbie Mann/Lionel Hampton/Milt Jackson/others)
1934: Fernand Gignac (Canadian singer, actor)*18.Aug.2006
1914: Margaret Kitchin (Classical pianist, born in Switzerland, long resident in the UK)*16.June.2008.
1905: Lale Andersen [German singer and cabaretist]*29.Aug.1972
1899: Dora Gerson (German actress, singer)*14.Feb.1943.

March 24th
1983: Kelvin Kwan (Hong Kong singer)
1982: Nivea/Nivea B. Hamilton (US singer)
1977: Corneille/Cornelius Nyungura (Rwandan-Canadian singer)
1975: Krisdayanti/? (Indonesian singer, actress, diva)
1974: Chad Butler [US drummer; Switchfoot].
1970: Sharon Corr [Irish violinist, vocals; The Corrs].
1970: Mase/Vincent Mason (US rap & hip-hop artist; De La Soul)-{NOT Mason Derelle Betha}
1965: Patrick Scales (British-German electric bass guitar player; many bands/projects)
1962: Angèle Dubeau (Canadian classical violinist)
1960: Nena/Gabriele Susanne Kerner [German singer; Nena].
1951: Dougie Thomson [Scottish bassist; Supertramp].
1949: Nick Lowe (UK singer-songwriter, multi-musician, producer).
1947: Meiko Kaji (Japanese singer, actress)
1946: Klaus Dinger (German drummer, songwriter; Krautrock/Neu!/Kraftwerk)*20.March.2008.
1946: Lee Oskar [Danish harmonica player; War/freelance].
1938: Holger Czukay (German bassist, producer, sound engineer; Can)
1937: Billy Stewart (US singer with scat-singing style; The Rainbows/solo)*17.Jan.1970.
1928: Byron Janis [American classical pianist].
1922: King Pleasure/Clarence Beeks (US jazz vocalist, vocalese)*21.March.1981.
1906: Klavdiya Shulzhenko (Soviet jazz and classical singer)*17.June.1984.

March 25th
1987: Jason Castro (US singer)
1985: Carmen Rasmusen (Canadian-American singer)
1984: Katharine McPhee (US singer, actress)
1976: Gigi Leung (Hong Kong singer, actress)
1976: Baek Ji Young (South Korean singer)
1975: Melanie Blatt [UK singer; All Saints/solo].
1975: Juvenile/Terius Gray (US rapper; Hot Boys/solo)
1974: Finley Quaye [Scottish reggae singer].
1973: Anders Fridén (Swedish singer; In Flames)
1971: Michael McKeegan [Irish bassist; Therapy?]
1970: Teri Moïse (US singer)
1969: Jeffrey Walker (UK bassist, vocals; Carcass/Blackstar/solo)
1969: Cathy Dennis [UK singer, songwriter].
1966: Jeff Healey (Canadian blind jazz and blues-rock guitarist, vocalist)*02.March.2008.
1960: Steve Norman [UK saxophonist, guitar, percussion; New Romantic/Spandau Ballet/Cloudfish].
1954: Nathan Watts [US bassist; Motown/Miles Davis/Session/freelance]
1951: Bob Pelander [US keyboardist, vocalist; Michael Stanley Band]
1951: Maisie Williams [Montserratan singer; Boney M].
1950: Chuck Greenberg (US musician; Shadowfax)*04.Sept.1995.
1949: Nick Lowe [UK bassist, vocals; Brinsley Schwarz/Rockpile/solo/guest].
1949: Neil Jones [Welsh guitarist; Amen Corner]
1947: Duncan Browne (UK singer, songwriter)*28.May.1993.
1947: Sir Elton Hercules John/Reginald Kenneth Dwight [UK singer/songwriter/pianist].
1947: Jack Hall [US bassist; Charlie Daniels Band]
1942: Aretha Franklin [US singer, Queen of Soul].
1940: Anita Bryant (US singer, gay rights opponent)
1938: Hoyt Axton [US singer, songwriter, piano, guitar, actor]*26.Oct.1999.
1934: Johnny Burnette [US singer]*14.Aug.1964
1931: Paul Motian (US jazz drummer, percussionist, composer; Thelonious Monk/ Bill Evans/many others)
1931: Thomas Blanchard Wilson Jr (US record producer; Columbia/verve)*06.Sept.1978.
1923: Bonnie Guitar/Bonnie Buckingham (US singer)
1915: Dorothy Squires/Edna May Squires (Welsh vocalist; Billy Reid Orchestra/solo)*14.April.1998.
1910: Magda Olivero (Italian soprano)
1911: Harold Lewis (American flautist, piccolo player; session musician)*05.Jan.2010.
1906: Jean Sablon (French singer)*24.Feb.1994
1903: Frankie Carle (US pianist, bandleader)*07.March.2001

March 26th
1990: Yuya Takaki (Japanese actor, singer)
1989: Josiah Leming (US singer-songwriter)
1987: Yui (Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist)
1986: Jonny Craig (Canadian singer, songwriter)
1984: Stéphanie Lapointe (French-Canadian singer)
1981: Jay Sean (UK R&B singer)
1980: Son Ho Young (Korean singer)
1979: Hiromi Uehara (Japanese jazz pianist)
1971: John Hendy [UK singer; East 17].
1968: James Iha [US guitarist; Smashing Pumpkins].
1968: Kenny Chesney [US country singer/songwriter].
1964: Baz Warne (UK guitarist; The Stranglers)
1963: Roch Voisine (Canadian singer, songwriter)
1957: Paul Morley [UK writer-New Musical Express, co-founder-Art Of Noise,TV presenter].
1956: Charly McClain (US singer)
1955: Martin Price [US keyboardist, co-founder; 808 State].
1953: Billy Lyall [Scottish keyboard, vocals; Pilot/Bay City Rollers]*01.Dec.1989
1950: Teddy Pendergrass (US singer, drums; Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes/solo/freelance)*13.Jan.2010.
1949: Vicki Lawrence (US actress, singer)
1948: Steven Tyler [US lead singer, harmonica; Aerosmith].
1948: Richard Tandy [US bassist, keyboards; ELO].
1949: Fran Sheehan [US bassist, percussion, backing vocals; Boston].
1944: Diana Ross [US singer; Supreme/solos].
1925: James Moody (US jazz saxophonist, composer, actor)
1925: Pierre Boulez (French composer, conductor)
1917: Rufus Thomas [US R&B and soul singer]*15.Dec.2001.
1916: Harry Rabinowitz (South African composer, conductor)
1906: Rafael Mendez (Mexican trumpetist)*15.Sept.1981
1886: Al Jolson/Asa Yoelson (US singer, songwriter, blackface minstrel)*23.Oct.1950.

March 27th
1984: Laura Critchley (UK singer-song writer).
1981: Lin Jun Jie (Chinese singer)
1975: Fergie/Stacy Ann Ferguson (US singer; Wild Orchid/Black Eyed Peas).
1970: Brent Fitz (Canadian drummer; Theory of a Deadman/freelance/sessionist)
1970: Mariah Carey [US pop diva, singer].
1970: Brendan Hill [UK drummer; Blues Traveler].
1965: Johnny April [US bassist; Staind].
1964: Clark Datchler [UK singer, multi-musician, producer, songwriter; Johnny Hates Jazz/solo].
1964: Derrick McKenzie [UK drummer; Jamiroquai].
1964: Glenn Carter (UK actor, singer-songwriter)
1963: Charly Alberti/Carlos Alberto Ficicchia Gigliotti (Argentinian drummer; Soda Stereo)
1963: Dave Koz (US smooth jazz saxophonist)
1961: Tak Matsumoto (Japanese guitarist; B'z)
1962: Jann Arden (Canadian singer)
1960: Renato Russo/Renato Manfredini Jr (Brazilian punk bassist, singer-songwriter)*11.Oct.1996.
1959: Andrew Farris [Australian keyboardist, songwriter; INXS]
1957: Billy MacKenzie (Scottish singer; The Associates)*22.Jan.1997.
1952: Richard Séguin (Canadian Quebec singer, songwriter)
1950: Tony Banks [UK piano, keyboards, songwriter; Genesis/solo/guest]
1946: Andrew Brown [UK keyboards; Herd].
1946: Olaf Malolepski (German singer; Die Flippers)
1940: Janis Martin (American rockabilly singer)*03.Sept.2007.
1927: Mstislav Rostropovich (Russian cellist and conductor)*..2007
1924: Sarah Vaughan [US jazz singer]*03.April.1990
1915: Robert Lockwood Jr (US blues guitarist)*..2006
1909: Ben Webster (US jazz saxophonist)*..1973
1906: Pee Wee Russell/Charles Ellsworth Russell (US musician)*15.Feb.1969

March 28th
1986: J-Kwon/Jerrell Jones (US rapper)
1986: Lady Gaga/Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (US singer)
1984: Oliver Drake/ (UK guitarist; Evile)
1976: David Keuning (US guitarist; The Killers).
1974: Scott Mills (UK radio disc jockey)
1973: Matt Nathanson (US singer-songwriter)
1971: Mr. Cheeks/Andrew Benson/Terrance Kelly (US rapper)
1969: Rodney Atkins (US country music singer-songwriter)
1969: James Atkin (UK vocalist, guitar; EMF).
1968: Jon Lee (UK drummer; Feeder)*07.Jan.2002.
1965: Steve Turner (US guitarist, Mudhoney/ The Fall-Outs)
1963: Andy Cousin (UK bassist; All About Eve/The Mission/The Lucy Nation)
1962: Ged Grimes (Scottish bassist; Danny Wilson Band).
1958: Edesio Alejandro (Cuban music composer).
1955: Reba McEntire (US singer, actress)
1951: Matti Pellonpää (Finnish actor, singer)*13.July.1995.
1950: Claudio Lolli (Italian singer-songwriter)
UPDATING
1948: Milan Williams (US keyboards, brass, guitar; The Commodores)*09.July.2006.
1948: John Evan/John Spencer Evans, [UK keyboardist; Tallis/Jethro Tull/John Evan Band].
1947: Paul Jackson [US jazz bassist; Headhunters/freelance].
1955: Reba McEntire [US country singer].
1945: Chuck Portz [US bassist; Turtles].
1945: Sally Carr [Scottish singer, percussion; Middle Of The Road].
1941: Charlie McCoy (US hamonica player, guitarist; Area Code 615).
1923: Ike Isaacs (US jazz bassist; many greats/sessionist)*27.Feb.1981
2010: Willie Mitchell (US singer, bandleader, record producer)*05.Jan.2010.
1890: Paul Whiteman [US jazz violinist; own orchestra]*29.Dec.1967.

March 29th
1984: Mai Satoda (Japanese singer)
1983: Luiza da Silva e Sá (Brazilian guitarist, drummer; Cansei de Ser Sexy)
1968: Sue Foley (Canadian singer, guitarist)
1968: Lucy Lawless (New Zealand actress, singer)
1967: John Popper [US singer, harmonica; Blues Traveler/Frogwings].
1959: Perry Farrell [US singer; Psi Com/Porno for Pyros/Jane's Addiction].
1956: Patty Donahue (US lead singer; Waitresses)*09.Dec.1996.
1949: Dave Greenfield [UK keyboards; Stranglers].
1949: Michael Brecker (US saxophonist; Brecker Brs/sessionist/won 11 Grammys)*13.Jan.2007
1947: Bobby Kimball [lead singer; Toto/Kayak].
1946: Billy Thorpe (Australian lead singer, guitar; Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs/solo)*28.Feb.2007.
1945: John 'Speedy' Keen (UK vocals,drums,songwriter;Thunderclap Newman/solo)*21.March.2002.
1944: Terry Jacks (Canadian singer, guitar, record producer; The Chessmen/solo).
1943: Vangelis/Evangelos Odyssey Papathanassiou (Greek keyboardist, synth; Jon & Vangelis).
1943: Eric Idle (UK actor, writer, composer)
1943: Chad Allan/Allan Kowbel (Canadian lead vocals, rhythm guitarist; Expressions, Guess Who)
1942: Eden Kane/Richard Graham Sarstedt (UK pop singer).
1940: Ray Davis (US original bass singer; The Parliaments/Parliament/Funkadelic/Temptations)*05.July.2005
1940: Astrud Gilberto (Brazilian singer)
1918: Pearl Bailey (US singer, actress)*17.Aug.1990.
UPDATING
1907: Abe Lincoln (Jazz trombonist; many bands/session/freelance)*08.June.2000
1907: Braguinha/Carlos Alberto Ferreira Braga (Brazilian songwriter)*..2006
1906: E. Power Biggs (American concert organist)*..1977
1902: William Walton (English composer)*08.March.1983.

March 30th
1986: Beni Arashiro (Japanese singer)
1984: Anna Nalick (US singer and songwriter)
1983: Scott Moffatt (Canadian singer and songwriter)
1983: Hebe Tien (Taiwanese singer; S.H.E)
1982: George Jones (UK guitarist; Man and with The Spectaculars/son of guitarist Micky Jones)
1980: Yalin/Hüseyin Yalin (Turkish singer-songwriter)
1979: Norah Jones [US singer].
1979: Simon Webbe [UK vocalist; Blue].
1976: Mark McClelland (Northern Irish bassist; Snow Patrol/Little Doses)
1973: DJ AM/Adam Michael Goldstein (US DJ, club owner; Crazy Town)*28.Aug.2009.
1968: Celine Dion [Canadian singer].
1967: Ace/Martin Kent [UK guitarist, Skunk Anansie]
1967: Hayashibara Megumi (Japanese voice actress, singer)
1966: Joey Castillo (US drummer; Queens of the Stone Age)
1965: Tim Dorney [keyboards; Republica].
1964: Tracy Chapman [singer, guitar, songwriter].
1963: Eli-Eri Moura (Brazilian composer, conductor)
1962: M.C. Hammer/Stanley Kirk Burrell [rap artist].
1959: Sabine Meyer (German clarinetist)
1955: Randy VanWarmer [singer, songwriter,composer]*12.Jan.2004.
1950: Dave Ball [UK guitarist; Bedlam/Procol Harum/freelance].
1949: Lena Lovich/Lili-Marlene Premilovich [US singer, saxophone].
1948: James "Jim Dandy" Mangrum [lead vocals; Black Oak Arkansas].
1945: Johnny Walker/Peter Dingley [Radio DJ; Radio Caroline/BBC Radio].
1945: Eric Clapton [singer, guitarist, songwriter].
1943: John "Jay" Traynor (US original singer; Jay and the Americans).
1943: Kenny Forssi (US bassist; Love /studio sessionist)*05.Jan.1998.
1941: Graeme Edge [UK drummer; Moody Blues].
1935: Karl Berger (German musicologist, jazz vibraphone, pianist, composer)
1930: Rolf Harris [Australian singer, didjeridu player, pianist, artist].
1926: Werner Torkanowsky (German conductor)*20.Oct.1992.
1914: Sonny Boy Williamson I/John Lee Williamson [US blues harmonica player & pioneer]*01.Jun.1948.
1913: Frankie Laine/Francesco Paolo LoVecchio [US singer]*06.Feb.2007.
1902: Ted Heath (British band leader, trombonist, composer)*18.Nov.1969.

March 31st
1987: Georg Listing (German bassist; Tokio Hotel).
1982: Ryland Blackinton (US guitarist; Cobra Starship)
1982: Lennon Anne Murphy (US rock singer/songwriter)
1979: Amey Date (Indian playback singer)
1978: Tony Yayo/Marvin Bernard (US rapper).
1974: Stefan Olsdal [Swedish bassist; Placebo].
1971: Julian Deane [UK guitarist; Toploader].
1969: Jerry Finn (American record producer)*21.Aug.2008.
1964: Paul Wong Koon-Chung (Hong Kong guitarist; Beyond/Hann/solo).
1959: Ali McMordie (Irish bassist; Stiff Little Fingers).
1959: Robert Holmes [US guitarist; 'Til Tuesday].
1958: Pat McGlynn [Scottish rhythm guitarist; Bay City Rollers].
1958: Paul Ferguson (UK drummer; Pink Parts/Killing Joke/Pigface).
1955: Angus Young [Scottish guitar; AC/DC].
1954: Tony Brock [UK drummer; Babys].
1953: Sean Hopper [US keyboard: Huey Lewis & the News].
1951: Frankie Sabath (Puerto Rican performer, singer)
1948: Thijs van Leer [Dutch organist, flute, singer composer; Focus]
1947: Al Goodman (US baritone soul singer; Moments/Ray, Goodman & Brown)*26.July.2010.
1947: Kristian Blak (Danish musician, composer and recording executive)
1947: John Poulos [US drummer; The Buckinghams]*26.March.1980.
1946: Al Nichol [US lead guitarist; Turtles].
1944: Pascal Danel (French singer, songwriter).
1944: Mick Ralphs [UK guitarist; Bad Company].
1944: Malcolm Roberts [UK actor, solo singer, musicals]*07.Feb.2003.
1944: Rod Allen/Rodney Bainbridge (UK lead vocalist, bass player; The Fortunes)*10.Jan.2008.
1938: Arthur B. Rubinstein (US composer)
1935: Herb Alpert [US trumpet; vocals].
1934: John D. Loudermilk (US singer, songwriter)
1934: Shirley Jones [US acress, Mom on TV's Partridge Family].
1929: Gene Puerling (American jazz musician, singer, musical arranger)*26.March.2008.
1928: Lefty Frizzell/William Orville Frizzell (US country singer, songwriter)*19.July.1975.
1922: Richard Kiley (US actor, singer)*05.March.1999.
1911: Elisabeth Grümmer (German soprano)*..1986
1908: Red Norvo (US jazz vibraphonist)*06.April.1999.
1732: Franz Joseph Haydn [Austrian composer, keyboards, "Father of the Symphony"]*31.May.1809.

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REMEMBER THIS MONTH

March 1st
1932: Frank Teschemacher (25) American jazz clarinetist and alto-saxophonist, along with Jimmy McPartland, Bud Freeman and others, he was associated with the "Austin High" gang. He was mainly self-taught on his instruments and doubled on violin and banjo early in his career. Strongly influenced by cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, he started playing the clarinet professionally in 1925. He began recording under his own name in 1928. His intense solo work laid the groundwork for a rich sound and creative approach, that is credited with influencing a young Benny Goodman and a style of which Pee Wee Russell is perhaps the best-known representative. (killed in a car accident as a passenger in a car driven by his performing associate cornetist "Wild" Bill Davison, just days before of what would have been his 26th birthday) b. March 13th 1906.
1937: Clarence Holiday (38) US jazz guitarist; he worked locally until he became a member of the Fletcher "Smack" Henderson Orchestra in 1928 for 5 years, after which he worked and recorded with Benny Carter in 1934, Bob Howard and also with Charlie Turner in 1935, then Louis Metcalf from 1935, before joining the Don Redman Big Band in 1936 till his early death. Clarence was also the father to the great Billie Holiday (?) b. 1898
1970: Lucille Hegamin (76) American singer and a pioneer of African American blues. At the age of 15 she was touring the US South with Minstrel shows and became a prominent singer, billed as "The Georgia Peach". Settling in Chicago in 1914 she worked with Tony Jackson and Jelly Roll Morton before marrying pianist Bill Hegamin. He led Lucille' band the Blue Flame Syncopators, first in L.A. and then in New York. In November 1920 she became the second ever African American blues singer to record, after Mamie Smith. In 1926 she performed in Clarence Williams' Review at the Lincoln Theater in New York, then in various reviews in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey through to 1934, when she retired from the music business to become a nurse. In 1961 and 1962 she came out of retirement to make more records (died in Harlem Hospital in New York City) b. November 29th 1894.
1974: Robert Henry "Bobby" Timmons (38) US jazz pianist; best known for his role as sideman in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (cirrhosis of the liver)
1991: Frank Smith Air Supply (pneumonia)
2002: Doreen Waddell (36) singer, Soul II Soul/KLF (run over by several cars on the A27, Brighton)
2005: Chris Curtis (63) Searchers
2006: Johnny Jackson (54) American drummer; Jackson 5 (stabbed to death by his girlfriend)
2009: Tony Osborne (86) British musician born in Cambridge, who found success arranging for some of the biggest stars of the 1950s and ’60s. A versatile musician, he was a junior accordion champion, could play the bass, piano and trumpet. After serving in the RAF during the Second World War (during which time he changed his name to Tony to escape the nickname ‘Little Teddy’) he sought work as a session musician in London. He played with top band leaders and also the BBC Orchestra on scores for their radio comedy shows and soon progressed to writing arrangements. He landed work for EMI while his band, the Brass Hats, became the house band on kids' show Six-Five Special and composed the theme for another, Juke Box Jury. This led on to his work with chart stars, Eartha Kitt and Dorothy Squires and helped create some of the biggest hits of the era, including Gracie Fields ’ Around The World, Connie Francis’ Mama and the Beverley Sisters’ Sisters. Most notably Shirley Bassey for whom he wrote several songs, arranged many more and conducted concert performances. I (Who Have Nothing) was his biggest success with Bassey, No.1 in 1963. In the late 60s, he started playing on cruise ships, and settled in Sydney, Australia, where he led a tour with six surviving members of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He spent the remaining years of his life listening to music and enjoying a residency as the pianist at the Sydney Yacht Club (?) b.June 29th 1922.

March 2nd
1938: Benjamin Robertson "Ben" Harney (65) America songwriter, entertainer, and pioneer of ragtime music. His father's military records show Ben was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He toured widely on the Vaudeville circuits in the USA, as well as tours of theatres in Europe, Asia, Australasia and the South Pacific. His 1895 composition "You've Been a Good Old Wagon but You Done Broke Down" is regarded as one of the first published ragtime songs. Other compositions included "Mister Johnson, Turn Me Loose", "Cake Walk In The Sky", "There's A Knocker Layin' Around", "You May Go, but This Will Bring You Back", "Cannon Ball Catcher", "T.T.T. (Treat, Trade or Travel)", "I Love My Little Honey", "The Wagon" and "There's Only One Way to Keep a Gal". In 1924, the New York Times wrote that Ben "probably did more to popularize ragtime than any other person". Time Magazine termed him "Ragtime's Father" in 1938. (Heart attack) b. March 6th 1872
1942: Charlie Christian (24) American jazz guitarist and blues singer; the first important electric guitarist, he was an important early performer on the electric guitar, and is cited as a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra from August 1939 to June 1941. His single-string technique combined with amplification helped bring the guitar out of the rhythm section and into the forefront as a solo instrument. In 1990 Charlie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (tuberculosis) b. July 29th 1916.
1972: James "Spanky" DeBrest (34) US Jazz bassist; terrific discography includes hard bop material from Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk to John Coltrane, Clifford Jordan and many more, liner notes occasionally listing him as Jimmy DeBrest.()
1991: Serge Gainsbourg/Lucien Ginsburg (62) French legendary singer, pianist, guitarist; born in Paris, France, known as the saucey old man of popular music and provocateur notorious for his appetite for alcohol, cigarettes, and women, his scandalous, taboo-shattering output made him a legend in Europe but only a cult figure in America. In late-1967, he had a short but ardent love affair with Brigitte Bardot to whom he dedicated the song and album Initials BB. His early songs influenced by Boris Vian, were largely in the vein of old-fashioned chanson. However, Serge began to move beyond this and experiment with a succession of different musical styles: jazz early on to pop in the 1960s, rock and reggae in the 1970s, and electronica in the 1980s. His many hits include "Bonnie and Clyde", "Lemon Incest", "Je t'aime... moi non plus", "Poupée de cire, poupée de son", "Comment te dire adieu", "Mon légionnaire", "White and Black Blues", and "Les Sucettes". During his career, he wrote the soundtracks for more than 40 films. In 1996, he received a posthumous César Award for Best Music Written for a Film for Élisa, along with Zbigniew Preisner and Michel Colombier. (Serge died of a heart attack, his death virtually lead to national mourning in France) b. April 2nd 1928.
1999: David Thomas Ackles (62) American singer-songwriter of the 1960s and 1970s, born in Rock Island, Illinois. Although he never gained wide commercial success, he influenced many other artists. When Elvis Costello was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, he cited David Ackles in his speech as one of his major influences. Elton John and Phil Collins, are self-declared fans of David too. When Phil Collins was on the British BBC radio show Desert Island Discs, he selected David Ackles' song "Down River" as one of his eight all-time favorite songs. David had also been a child actor, appearing in six of the eight films in Columbia Pictures' Rusty children's film series made 1945-1949. (died of lung cancer) b. February 27th 1937
1999: Dusty Springfield/Mary O'Brien (59) British husky-voiced soul singer; Britain's greatest pop diva, also the finest white soul singer of her era, a performer of remarkable emotional resonance whose body of work spans the decades and their attendant musical transformations with a consistency and purity unmatched by any of her contemporaries. She began her solo career in 1963 with the upbeat pop hit, "I Only Want To Be With You". Her following hits included "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself", "Wishin' and Hopin'" and "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me". Her rendition of "The Look of Love", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, was included on the soundtrack of the James Bond movie Casino Royale and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Dusty in Memphis earned her a nomination for the Grammy Award and it received the Grammy Hall of Fame award. International polls list the album among the greatest of all time. Its standout track "Son of a Preacher Man" was an international Top 10 hit in 1969. Because of her enthusiasm for Motown music, she campaigned to get some little-known American soul music singers a better audience in the U.K. She devised and hosted The Sound Of Motown, a special edition of Ready Steady Go! TV programme on 28 April 1965. The show was broadcast by Rediffusion TV from their studios in Kingsway, London. Dusty opened the two parts of the show, performing "Wishin' and Hopin'" and "Can't Hear You No More", accompanied by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and Motown's in-house band The Funk Brothers. Other guests included The Temptations, The Supremes, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder. In 1987, she sang with the Pet Shop Boys on their single "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" it reached No.2 on both sides of the Atlantic. While in Nashville, Dusty fell ill during the recording her final album A Very Fine Love (breast cancer) b. April 16th 1939.
2003: Hank Ballard/John Henry Kendricks (75) American singer and songwriter born in Bessemer, Alabama, but grew up in Detroit, Michigan with relatives, where he began singing in church. In 1951, he formed a doo-wop group and was discovered by the legendary band leader Johnny Otis, and was signed to sing with a group called The Royals. The group changed its name to The Midnighters to avoid confusion with The "5" Royales. Their debut single in 1953 "Get It" was shunned by many radio stations because it contained sexually oriented lyrics. In 1954, Hank wrote the song "Work With Me Annie", drawn from "Get It", it became The Midnighters' first major R&B hit, going to No.1 on the R&B charts. After a small string of hits, the group dissolved in 1965. Hank tried to launch a solo career, working with James Brown, but he re-formed The Midnighters, and The Midnighters Band, they toured from the mid 1980's til 2002. (throat cancer) b. November 18th 1927.
2003: Malcolm Benjamin Graham Christopher Williamson AO, CBE (71) Australian composer born in Sydney; he wrote seven symphonies; four numbered piano concertos (plus the Concerto for Two Pianos & Strings, the Concerto for Two Pianos & Wind Quintet, after Rawsthorne, and the Sinfonia Concertante), a violin concerto, an organ concerto, a harp concerto and a saxophone concerto; many orchestral works; operas including English eccentrics, to a libretto by Edith Sitwell; Our Man in Havana, after Graham Greene's novel; The Violins of Saint Jacques from Patrick Leigh-Fermor's novel, and which features a volcanic eruption killing all the principal characters except one; Lucky Peter's Journey and The Growing Castle, both of which set plays by August Strindberg). He also wrote several ballets including Sun Into Darkness and The Display, many effective choral works, chamber music, music for solo piano, music for film and television including "Prologue" and "Main Title" of Watership Down. Malcolm also wrote music for children, including the operas The Happy Prince (based on the story by Oscar Wilde) and Julius Caesar Jones; as well as cassations, short operas incorporating audience participation. One of these, The Valley and the Hill, written for the silver jubilee of Elizabeth II, was performed by 18,000 children. After the death of Sir Arthur Bliss, Malclom held the title of Master of the Queen's Music from 1975 to 2003 (He died in hospital in Cambridge after a series of illnesses) b. November 21st 1931.
2005: Martin Denny (93) US easy listening piano; a child prodigy, at age ten he studied piano under Lester Spitz and Isadore Gorn. His last concert was held in Hawaii on February 13, 2005 at a benefit to aid tsunami victims, just three weeks later he passed away. ()
2008: Jeff Healey (41) Canadian jazz-blues-rock guitarist and vocalist born in Toronto, Ontario. Jeff lost his sight to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes. His eyes had to be surgically removed, and he was given artificial replacements. He began playing guitar when he was three, developing his unique style of playing the instrument flat on his lap. At 17, he formed a local band Blue Direction. He was soon hosting a blues show on radio staion CIUT-FM where he became known for playing from his massive collection of vintage 78 RPM gramophone records, after which he formed a trio, "The Jeff Healey Band". In 1988, the band released the album See the Light, featuring the hit single "Angel Eyes" and the song "Hideaway", which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. While recording See the Light, they were also filming and recording for the soundtrack of the Patrick Swayze film Road House. Jeff had numerous acting scenes in the movie with Swayze, as his band was the house cover band for the bar featured in the movie. In 1990, the band won the Juno Award for Canadian Entertainer of the Year. The albums ''Hell to Pay'' and ''Feel This'' gave Jeff 10 charting singles in Canada between 1990 and 1994, including a cover of The Beatles' While My Guitar Gently Weeps which featured George Harrison and Jeff Lynne on backing vocals and acoustic guitar. Over the years, he toured and sat-in with many legends, including, Dire Straits, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, BB King, ZZ Top, Steve Lukather, Eric Clapton and many more. In 2006, Jeff appeared on Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan's CD/DVD ''Gillan's Inn''. He passed away a month before the release of his album, Mess of Blues, which was his first rock/blues album in eight years (sadly died after a couple of years of health problems and a brave battle cancer) b. March 25th 1966.
2009: Ernie Ashworth (80) American country singer, songwriter and longtime star of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He began his career singing on Huntsville radio station WBHP. In 1949, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he worked for several radio stations and was signed by Wesley Rose as a songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music. Among the artists who recorded his songs were Jimmy Dickens, Carl Smith, Johnny Horton and Paul Anka. As a singer his first single, "Each Moment (Spent With You)," became a Top 5 Hit, which was followed by another top 10 hit "You Can’t Pick A Rose In December". Then the release that would become his signature song “Talk Back Trembling Lips” went to No.1 and he was voted "Most Promising Male Artist" by Cashbox, Billboard and Record World in 1963 and 1964 and he was also invited to join the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1964. In 1989, he purchased radio station WSLV in Ardmore, Tennessee. In 1992, Ernie was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.remained active as a recording artist until his death () b. December 15th 1928.

March 3rd
1979: Mike Patto (36) singer, Boxer (throat cancer)
1987: Danny Kaye/David Daniel Kominski (74) Inimitable, multi-talented entertainer, first gained fame on Broadway by upstaging the great Gertrude Lawrence in Lady in the Dark with an unforgettable rendition of the "Tchaikovsky," in which he rapidly fired off the names of 54 Russian composers in 38 seconds (heart attack)
1993: Carlos Montoya (89)Spanish flamenco guitarist; from the age of 14, he played in concert halls across the world. (died in Wainscott, New York)
2002: James Blackwood () gospel singer with the group Blackwoods (stroke)
2002: Harlan Perry Howard (74) American songwriter, principally in country music; born in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up on a farm in Kentucky and he was 12 years old when he began writing songs, starting a career which spanned six decades. His songs include "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down", "Heartaches By The Number", "Everglades, Busted "I Fall To Pieces", his songs were so immediately successful that in 1961 alone, he had fifteen of his compositions on the country music charts, earning himself ten BMI awards. Howard was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997 (?) b. September 8th 1927.
2003: Goffredo Petrassi (98) Italian composer of modern classical music, conductor, and teacher, born in Zagarolo, and is considered one of the most influential Italian composers of the 20th century. After working in a music shop at 15 to help his family financially, in 1928, he entered the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome to study organ and composition. He went on to become musical director of the opera house La Fenice, and from 1959 taught composition at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory and at the Salzburg Mozarteum (?) b. July 16th 1904.
2008: Norman "Hurricane" Smith (85) British singer, songwriter, record producer, also recording engineer with The Beatles, Pink Floyd and many others. Born in Edmonton, North London, he served as a RAF glider pilot during World War II. In 1959 after an unsuccessful career as a jazz musician, he joined EMI as an apprentice sound engineer. He later worked on 180 Beatle tracks, "Rubber Soul" was the last album he worked on before he got promoted to producer. Norman wrote many hits, using a pseudonym of "Hurricane Smith" and he had a UK hit with Don't Let It Die, a song he had written for John Lennon and .. READ MORE .. (?) b. February 22nd 1923.
2010: Michalis Toumbouros (51) Greek singer-songwriter and physician, he wrote the lyrics and music to musicals such as "Trojan Women" (Tragically died in a traffic accident) b. ????
2010: Big Tiny Little/Dudley "Tiny" Little Jr (79) American pianist, he performed and recorded professionally for more than 60 years. Tiny began his career as a musician at an early age touring with his father's band. Although he remained principally a pianist, he also mastered the organ, tuba, bass fiddle and vocals. Tiny was well known for his honky-tonk piano role on the "Lawrence Welk Show" from 1955 to 1959. After which he performed on virtually every music and variety show on the air including the first Mike Douglas Show, Ed Sullivan, Dean Martin and Dinah Shore. A part of that Dinah Shore Show featured four pianists at one time playing different interpretations of songs. Peter Nero playing jazz, Ray Charles playing rhythm and blues, Liberace playing classical style and Tiny playing Dixieland. Besides recording 35 albums, including one gold record, he has played in clubs from coast to coast, and performed on cruises to Australia, Hawaii and South America and he was the first American performer to appear on Japanese TV and he was also invited to perform at President Reagan's Inaugural Ball in 1985. He began touring in 2004 with a Welk alumni in the “Live Lawrence Welk Show” and in 2008 Big Tiny was named Emperor of the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee where he had played piano for the last twenty-seven years. (Passed away in his hometown of Carson City) b. August 31st 1930.

March 4th
1986: Richard Manuel () Canadian singer, piano, keyboards, drums, lap slide guitar in the Rockin' Revols and group, The Band; his is the first voice you hear on The Band's legendary debut album, Music From Big Pink, a rich baritone so soulful and charged with pathos it's hard to believe it could come from the frail Canadian (committed suicide by hanging when his wife briefly stepped out of their room. A bottle of Grand Marnier and cocaine were found alongside his body)
1989: Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes (72) American jazz and R&B guitarist; born in Newport News, Virginia he began his career playing drums and one-fingered piano. In 1938 he took up the electric 4-string tenor guitar. In 1940 he joined the Cats And A Fiddle as guitarist and singer, then in 1943 he joined the Art Tatum Trio as guitarist making a number of recordings. He left Art to form his own bands in New York recording with the likes of Billy Holiday, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet, Roy Eldridge, Pepper Adams, and other noted players, with numbers like "I’ll Always Love You", "Red Cross", "Tiny’s Tempo", "Romance Without Finance", and his jazzed up version of "Loch Lomond". He continued to lead his own groups into the late '70s. It has been suggested that the guitar break, based on the Scottish tune "The Campbells are Coming", on The Crows one hit wonder "Gee" in 1952 may have been played by Tiny. The song which has been credited as the first Rock n’ Roll hit by a rock and roll group and it was the first 1950s doo-wop record to sell over one million records. (?) b. July 7th 1916.
1986: Howard Greenfield (49) American lyricist and songwriter, born in Brooklyn, NY, he worked out of the famous Brill Building with Neil Sedaka. The duo scored their first major pop hit single with Connie Francis' "Stupid Cupid". When, Neil signed to RCA Records as a solo artist, they composed a string of hits including "Oh! Carol", "Stairway to Heaven", "Calendar Girl", "Little Devil", "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen", "Next Door to an Angel" and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" - which sold a combined 25 million records.They wrote hits for other artists, including Patty Drew's, and the The 5th Dimension's "Workin' on a Groovy Thing" and Tom Jones' "Puppet Man". Howard also collaborated with Carole King ("Crying in the Rain"), Helen Miller ("Foolish Little Girl", The Shirelles' final Top Ten hit), and Jack Keller with "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" all hits for Connie Francis and "When Somebody Loves You". They wrote the theme music for TV programs such as Bewitched and The Flying Nun. (brain tumour) b. March 15th 1936.
1992: Mary Osborne (70) American jazz guitarist, violin, bassist and vocalist with many jazz bands touring with Buddy Rogers, Dick Stabile, Terry Shand, Joe Venuti, and Russ Morgan, and recorded with Mary Lou Williams, Beryl Booker, Coleman Hawkins, Mercer Ellington, Ethel Waters, and Wynonie Harris. She also featured on Jack Sterling's daily CBS radio program from 1952 to 1960. Born in Minot, North Dakota, she learned violin as a child and could play guitar and bass by the age of 15. She remained a formidable guitarist late in life; in an appearance with Lionel Hampton at the 1990 Playboy Jazz Festival, she virtually stole the show (?) b. July 17th 1921.
1993: Eugene "Gene" Hall (79) American music educator, saxophonist, and arranger, most known for creating and presiding over the first academic curriculum leading to a bachelors degree in jazz, then called "Dance Band" at an institution of higher learning, being at the University of North Texas College of Music in 1947. Born in Whitewright, TX, he studied the saxophone and played in church, later played saxophone local combo called the Joy Makers. He performed with dance bands in the North Texas area in the 1930s and in 1934 began a two-year European tour as saxophonist with the Clarence Nemir Orchestra, where he developed his arranging skills. Among his many projects he also worked with Stan Kenton and his successor, Leon Breeden, at the Stan Kenton Band Clinics (?) b. June 12th 1913.
1995: Eden Ahbez/George McGrew/George Alexander Aberle () American songwriter, singer and poet from the 1940s-1960s, born in Brooklyn, brought up in Kansas and whose lifestyle in California was influential on the hippie movement. From at least the 1940s, he traveled in sandals and wore shoulder-length hair and beard, and white robes. He camped out below the first L in the Hollywood Sign above LA, studied Oriental mysticism, and claimed to live on three dollars a week, sleeping outdoors with his family, and eating vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Eden composed the song "Nature Boy", which became a No.1 hit for eight weeks in 1948 for Nat "King" Cole, and has since become a pop and jazz standard, his other songs include "Land of Love (Come My Love and Live with Me)" and "Lonely Island". In 1959, he began recording instrumental music, and in 1960, he recorded his only solo LP, Eden’s Island, mixing his beatnik poetry with exotica arrangements.(Tragically he died from injuries sustained in a car accident) b. April 15th 1908.
2001: Glenn Hughes (50) American singer, the original "Biker" character in the disco group Village People from 1977 to 1996. He attended Manhattan College, where he was initiated as a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity in 1969. He responded to an advertisement by composer Jacques Morali seeking "macho" singers and dancers. Glenn and other members of the band were given a crash course in the synchronized dance choreography that later typified the group's live performances. Glenn's powerful bass voice played an important part in the background lyrics of almost all Village People's most known hits. In 1996, he retired from dancing and launched his own successful New York cabaret act, until lung cancer was diagnosed. However, he did continued with management of the band. His iconic handlebar moustache and leather clothing have made Glenn a gay archetype yet Glenn was heterosexual. During his later years, he was known for storming the streets of New York with his Custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle. (Sadly he lost his brave battle with lung cancer) b. July 18th 1950.
2002: Eric Flynn (62) Chinese-born British actor and singer (cancer)
2004: John McGeoch (58) Legendary Scottish guitarist; Magazine/the Banshees/Public Image Ltd/Visage/ sessionist and guest (died in his sleep)
2004: Claude Nougaro (74) French songwriter and singer; born in Toulouse, he was widely regarded as the singer who fused the traditions of the French chanson with the energy and verve of American jazz. Claude never learnt to write music or play an instrument, in the early days he sent his lyrics to Marguerite Monnot, Édith Piaf's songwriter, who put them to music. He started to sing for a livelihood in 1959 in a Parisian cabaret in Montmartre, the Lapin Agile. As well as collaborating with jazz greats including Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman and Nat Adderley, during the 1960s Claude studied Brazilian music, working with Baden Powell and Chico Buarque, some of his noted songs include "Je Suis Sous" ("I Am Drunk"), "Cécile, Ma Fille" ("Cecile, My Daughter"), "Jazz and Java," and "Paris Mai". Although Nougaro's commercial success declined during the 1970s, the 80s saw comeback inspired by the success of Nougaro, an album cut in New York City. At this time, he also experimented with African rhythms. In 1988 Victoires de la musique rewarded him with best album and best artist, and between 1993 and 1997 he released three new albums (cancer) b. September 9th 1929
2009: John "Bowling Green" Cephas (78) American Piedmont blues guitarist, well known as one half of the duo Cephas & Wiggins. He learned the blues from a guitar-playing aunt while his grandfather taught him about eastern Virginia folklore and his cousin David Taleofero, is credited with teaching him the Piedmont blues style of alternating thumb-and-picking method of guitar. Before serving in the Army during the Korean War, he joined the Capitol Harmonizers and toured on the gospel circuit. He met "Harmonica Phil" Wiggins at a jam session in Washington in 1977, and both performed as regular members of Wilbert "Big Chief" Ellis's Barrelhouse Rockers. Wilbert Ellis died later that year, John and Phil carried on together and since 1978, as the duo Cephas & Wiggins, they have performed on tours of Europe, Africa, Asia, South and Central America and the Soviet Union. Their 13 releases from the 1980 include Dog Days of August, Guitar Man and Flip, Flop and Fly. All are great examples of state-of-the-art, acoustic Piedmont blues (natural causes) b. September 4th 1940.
2010: Fred Wedlock (67) British folk singer, songwriter, guitarist, he was best known for his UK hit single, "The Oldest Swinger In Town" and performed at many venues in Britain and Europe. He taught in the East End of London during the 1960s and then at South Bristol College, before taking up music full time in the 1970s. He played the folk circuit for many years, both prior to, and in the wake of, his single chart success. He also presented many programmes on West Country TV. In 1997 Fred took a leading role in Bristol Old Vic's production of Up the Feeder, Down the Mouth, a theatrical history of Bristol Docks. In 2001 the production was remounted on the waterfront. He also appeared in several productions for Bristol theatre company, The Ministry of Entertainment, most recently in December 2009. Fred was also devoted to charitable causes, he performed on numerous occasions for the Variety Club, and raised thousands of pounds over the years (Fred sadly died from a heart attack, after having contracted pneumonia) b. May 23rd 1942
2010: Johnny Alf (80) Brazilian singer, pianist and composer born in Rio de Janeiro. He introduced Brazil to a new way of singing, playing, and composing several years before the term "bossa nova" was even coined. All those who came after such as Tom Jobim, Leny Andrade, Luís Eça, Carlos Lyra, had some Alf influences. Unfortunately Alf, a musical genius, was highly underestimated, his importance in Brazilian popular music as a fundamental precursor is still to be properly regarded, while he has been frequently recorded by international musicians such as Lalo Schifrin, "Rapaz de Bem". In Brazil, his playing is registered on 46 albums, singles, compilations, and participations, but he has recorded only nine solo LPs or CDs in his career (lost his battle with prostate cancer) b. May 19th 1929.
2010: Ron Banks (58) American singer born in Redford, Michigan, Ron was a singer with the soul music vocal group, The Dramatics from the 1960s until his death. The Dramatics originally known as the Dynamics, changed their name around 1967, when they had their first minor hit single, "All Because of You". They did not break through until their single, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get," broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.9, this was their first million selling disc and was awarded gold disc status by the R.I.A.A. in December 1971. Through the 1970s, they appeared on Soul Train and continued to have hits, including the No.1 R&B hit, "In the Rain", "Toast to the Fool", "Me and Mrs. Jones", "I'm Going By The Stars In Your Eyes" and "Be My Girl". Ron with The Dramatics also were guests on the Snoop Doggy Dogg song, "Doggy Dogg World". The song appeared on Snoop's 1993 debut album, Doggystyle. "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" appeared in the 2005 documentary Sunday Driver, as well as the movies, Wattstax and Darktown Strutters, and the 2007 Petey Greene biopic, Talk To Me (sadly died of a heart attack) b. May 10th 1951

March 5th
1963: Patsy Cline/Virginia Patterson Hensley (30) American country singer, who helped blaze a trail for female singers to assert themselves as an integral part of the Nashville-dominated country music industry. Posthumously, millions of her albums have been sold over the past 46 years and she has been given numerous awards, which has given her an iconic status. Only ten years after her death, she became the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2002, she was voted by artists and members of the Country Music industry as #1 on CMT's television special of the 40 Greatest Women of Country Music of all time, and in 1999 she was voted #11 on VH1's special The 100 Greatest Women in Rock and Roll of all time by members and artists of the rock industry. According to her 1973 Country Music Hall of Fame plaque, "Her heritage of timeless recordings is testimony to her artistic capacity." Among those hits are "Walkin' After Midnight", "I Fall to Pieces", "She's Got You", "Crazy", and "Sweet Dreams". (Patsy died in the 1963 plane crash with Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins) b. September 8th 1932.
1963: Hawkshaw Hawkins/Harold Franklin Hawkins (41) American country music singer born in Huntington, West Virginia. He was popular from the 50s into the early 60s known for his rich, smooth vocals, music drawn from blues, boogie and honky tonk. His first two recordings in the late 40s "Pan American" and "Dog House Boogie", were top ten country hits. He recorded his biggest hit, "Lonesome 7-7203" in 1962. At 6 ft 5 inches tall, he had an imposing stage presence, and his tasteful Western suits set him apart from the rhinestone gaudiness of other male country singers. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was married to country star Jean Shepard. (Hawkshaw died in the 1963 plane crash that also killed country stars Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas) b. December 22nd 1921.
1963: Cowboy Copas/Lloyd Estel Copas (49) American country music singer born in Jefferson Township in Adams County, Ohio. He began performing locally at age 14, and appeared on WLW-AM and WKRC-AM in Cincinnati during the 1930s. In 1943, he achieved national fame when he became the vocalist in the Pee Wee King band and began performing on the Grand Ole Opry. His first solo single, "Filipino Baby," in 1946, hit number four on the Billboard country chart and sparked the most successful period of his career. Other hits in the late 40s and 50s included "Tennessee Waltz," "I'm Waltzing With Tears in My Eyes," "Signed, Sealed and Delivered," "Tennessee Moon," "Breeze," "Hangman's Boogie," "Candy Kisses," "The Strange Little Girl." and "'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered," (Lloyd died in the 1963 plane crash that also killed country stars Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins) b. July 15, 1913
1982: John Belushi (33) American comedian, actor and musician, notable for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoon's Animal House and The Blues Brothers. The Blues Brothers were a Grammy Award-nominated American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedians John and his friend Dan Aykroyd as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live. John as lead vocalist "Joliet" Jake Blues and Dan as harpist/vocalist Elwood Blues, they fronted the band, which was composed of well-known and respected musicians. The band made its debut as the musical guest on the April 22, 1978, episode of Saturday Night Live. The band then began to take on a life beyond the confines of the television screen, releasing an album, Briefcase Full of Blues, in 1978, and then having a Hollywood film, The Blues Brothers, created around its characters in 1980. (overdose of cocaine & heroin) b. January 24th 1949.
1995: Viv Stanshall (51) English singer-songwriter, guitarist, trumpeter, percussionist, painter, author, and poet, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Viv was the original tenor in the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, which combined elements of music hall, trad jazz, psychedelic rock, and avant-garde art, the Bonzos came to the attention of a broader British public through a children's television programme, Do Not Adjust Your Set. Their biggest hit came in 1968 with "I'm the Urban Spaceman" with reached No.5 in the UK Singles Chart. (Viv tragically died in a house fire) b. March 21st 1943.
1996: Minnie Pearl/Sarah Ophelia Colley (83) US comedienne, singer, she was a member of the Grand Ole Opry cast from 1940 until her death and on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991. Born in Centerville, Hickman County, Tennessee, her first professional theatrical job was with the Wayne P. Sewell Production Company, a touring theater company based in Atlanta, for which she produced and directed plays and musicals for local organizations in small towns throughout the southeastern United States. Minnie was an important influence on younger female country music singers and rural humorists such as Jerry Clower, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Carl Hurley, David L Cook, Chonda Pierce, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy. In 2002 she was ranked as number 14 on CMT's 40 Greatest Women in Country Music list (Her death was brought on by complications due to a stroke) b. October 25th 1912.
1999: Richard Paul Kiley (76) American stage, television, and film actor born in Chicago. He is best known for his voice work, as narrator of various documentary series, and for having played Don Quixote in the original 1965 production of the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha. Richard was the first to sing and record The Impossible Dream, the hit song from the show. In the 1953 hit musical Kismet, he played the Caliph, and introduced the song Stranger in Paradise () b. March 31st 1922
2004: John McGeoch (49) Guitarist, Magazine (died in his sleep)
2010: Philip Langridge CBE (70) British tenor born in Hawkhurst, Kent, educated at Maidstone Grammar School and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. His repertoire ranged from the operas of Claudio Monteverdi and Mozart to more modern works by Ravel, Stravinsky, Janácek and Schoenberg. Late in his life, he was adding some Wagner roles, including Loge from Das Rheingold. Philip was also a fine concert singer and regularly performed the sacred music of Bach and Handel. He won great acclaim for his assumption of the title role in Elgar's oratorio, The Dream of Gerontius. Other roles in which he excelled included Zivny in Osud, Laca in Jenufa and Gregor in The Makropulos Affair (all by Janacek), Mozart's Tito and Idomeneo, Shuisky in Boris Godunov and King Alonso in Adès's The Tempest and in 2001 the title role in Pfitzner's rarely performed opera Palestrina at Covent Garden, winning plaudits for his capturing of the tortured composer's world-weariness and nihilistic despair, and his final attainment of quiet rapture. Appointed CBE in 1994, he received many other awards, including the Olivier award for Osud, the Singer of the Year award from the Royal Philharmonic Society, The Worshipful Company of Musicians' Santay award and the NFMS/Charles Groves prize of 2001 for his "outstanding contribution to British music". He marked his 70th birthday with a concert at the Wigmore Hall with Owen Norris and the Doric Quartet (?) b. December 16th 1939.

March 6th
1932: John P. Sousa (77) American composer and conductor born in Washington, D.C. he was known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King". He wrote over 100 marches, including "Stars and Stripes Forever". John served in the U.S. Marine Corps, first from 1868 to 1875 as an apprentice musician, and then as the head of the Marine Band from 1880 to 1892; the year he left the US Marine Band, John organized his own band. The Sousa Band toured from 1892–1931, performing at 15,623 concerts. In 1900, his band represented the United States at the Paris Exposition before touring Europe. In Paris, the Sousa Band marched through the streets including the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe – one of only eight parades the band marched in over its forty years. Also the sousaphone was named after him, it was created in 1898 by C. G. Conn at John's request for a tuba that could sound upward and over the band whether it was seated or marching (heart failure) b. November 6th 1854
1951: Ivor Novello/David Ivor Davies (58) Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the early 20th century. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Ivor first became known as a result of the song "Keep the Home Fires Burning". His 1917 show, Theodore & Co was a wartime hit, composed while he was in the Navy. Ivor wrote his musicals in the style of operetta and was one of the last major composers in this form. While he generally wrote his own librettos, Christopher Hassall wrote the lyrics for most of his shows. He also appeared in West End musicals of his own devising. His musicals in the 1930s were expensive, spectacular productions, with several scene changes and a large cast including many extras and dancers. The best known of these were Glamorous Night in 1935 and The Dancing Years in 1939 . Ivor later went to Hollywood and appeared in numerous successful films, but the stage always remained his first love. The Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting are awarded each year by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) and in 2005, the Strand Theatre in London, above which Novello lived for many years, was renamed the Novello Theatre. On 27 June 2009, a statue of Novello was unveiled outside the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay. (coronary thrombosis) b. January 15th 1893.
1961: George Formby OBE (57) UK singer, comedian, ukulele, banjo; a musical comedian among Britain's most popular stars during the first half of the 20th century, with a legacy encompassing over 200 records and more than 20 hit films.(heart attack)
1971: Thurston Dart (49) English harpsichordist, keyboardist, musicologist, conductor and professor; born in Kingston, he was educated at Hampton Grammar School and was a chorister at the Chapel Royal in Hampton Court. He studied keyboard instruments at the Royal College of Music in London from 1938 to 1939. In 1947 he was appointed assistant lecturer in music at the University of Cambridge, lecturer in 1952, and professor in 1962, with a reputation as a dynamic teacher and professor. In 1964 he was appointed King Edward Professor of Music in the University of London. He made numerous appearances on the harpsichord, and made many harpsichord, clavichord and organ recordings, especially for the L'Oiseau-Lyre label; he was also a conductor and he served as editor of the Galpin Society Journal from 1947 to 1954 and was secretary of Musica Britannica from 1950 to 1965. His book The Interpretation of Music in 1954 was highly influential, aas were his numerous seminal articles on aspects of musical sources, performance and interpretation. In the 1950s he participated in annual concerts featuring four harpsichordists, the three others being George Malcolm, Denis Vaughan and Eileen Joyce. In 1957 this group also recorded two of Vivaldi's Concertos for Four Harpsichords, one in a Bach arrangement, with the Pro Arte Orchestra under Boris Ord. They also recorded Malcolm's Variations on a Theme of Mozart (?) b September 3rd 1921.
1986: Richard Manuel (42) Singer, piano, keyboards, drums, slide guitar, The Band; he developed a rhythmic style of piano unique in its usage of inverted chord structures, a naturally talented vocalist, with a timbre often compared to that of Ray Charles. (hung himself from a shower curtain rod in a hotel)
1988: Bob Garber (84) piano; band leader; very big around Washington DC, and a regular on the radio, apparently his band didn't use vocalists.()
2006: Thomas James Robb (57) Bassist; Highly respected and much sort after session bassist; played on hundreds of albums with a wide range of artists, including Alicia Bridges' worldwide hit "I Love The Night Life" (liver cancer)
2006: King Floyd (61) New Orleans soul singer and songwriter, he started his singing career at the Sho-Bar on Bourbon Street. Following a stint in the army, he went to California, where he joined up with record producer Harold Battiste. His debut album, A Man In Love, failed to make an impact on the charts, so he retuned to New Orleans in 1969, where he recorded "Groove Me" which was a B-side to to his, "What Our Love Needs." A New Orleans radio DJ's started playing "Groove Me" and it became a local hit. Atlantic Records picked up national distribution of "Groove Me," which topped the US R&B chart and reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A. (complications of a stroke and diabetes) b. February 13th 1945.
2010: Mark Linkous (47) American singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and multi-musician born in Arlington, Virginia; he graduated from high school in the early 1980s and moved to New York City, where he co-founded the band Dancing Hoods. They released a self-titled EP in 1984, followed by their debut album "12 Jealous Roses" in 1985. In 1988 "Baby's Got Rockets", a single from their "Hallelujah Anyway" album, became a college radio hit. Mark and the band relocated to Los Angeles, but broke up shortly after their move. He moved back to Virginia, and formed the alternative rock band Sparklehorse, releasing their first album, (Sadly, Mark took his own life while in Knoxville, Tennessee, tragically he shot himself) b. ??.??.1962. ... read more

March 7th
1966: Mike Millward (23) UK rhythm guitarist, singer; in the late 50's he played with Bob Evans and the Five Shillings, which become "The Vegas Five", then "The Undertakers", after which he was an original member the Four Jays in 1961. In the summer of 1963, the group, now called The Fourmost - signed up with Brian Epstein. This led to their being auditioned by George Martin and signed to EMI's Parlophone record label. Their first two singles were written by John Lennon. "Hello Little Girl", one of the earliest Lennon songs dating from 1957. Their follow-up single, "I'm in Love" a Lennon/McCartney song, was released on 15 November 1963. Their biggest hit "A Little Loving", written by Russ Alquist, reached Number 6 in the UK Singles Chart in mid 1964. The band appeared in the 1965 film, Ferry Cross the Mersey and are on the soundtrack album of the same name. The group's only album, First and Fourmost, was released in September 1965 (taken ill with throat cancer in '64, he recovered from that only to be tragically struck down by leukaemia) b. May 9th 1942
1985: Gordon Huntley (54) British pioneer pedal steel guitarist, known as the Father of Britsh Pedal Steel guitaring, as heard in his wonderful work with the country rock band Southern Comfort formed in 1970. The group debuted with Frog City, in 1971, which was followed up by self-titled release and Stir Don't Shake in 1972. Gordon played on all Southern Comforts albums and singles. The beautiful velvet tones of his steel on their No.1 hit ‘Woodstock’ was probabley an introduction and inspiration to many guitarists and future pedal steel guitarists. He started his long career out on the road with Felix Mendelssohn & his Hawaiian Serenaders, and by the late 50's before pedals were standard in the UK, Gordon was playing a triple-neck Fender non-pedal guitar. In 1963, he joined ‘The Westernaires’, a band mainly made up of U.S. Servicemen, by this time he had built himself one pedal onto his steel! Soon after he got himself his first model, a six pedal. As well as all the bands he has been a member of he became a much in-demand session player in both the studio and out on the road, which he prefered, with the likes of The Pretty Things, Pilot, Marc Ellington, Bridget Saint Paul, Cliff Richard, Elton John, Clodagh Rogers, Rod Stewart, Pete Green, Demis Roussos, John Renbourn, Al Jones, Fairport Convention and many others, before he was taken too early from us (cancer) b.1930
1988: Divine/Harris Glenn Milstead (42) US female impersonator, actor, singer; he featured in many films including the 1974 movie "Female Trouble", where he played the dual roles of teenage crime queen Dawn Davenport and Earl Peterson, the man who gets her pregnant! He also sang the theme song to "Female Trouble". This flamboyant and talented actor also had a singing career, which started in 1979 when Divine as a disco diva released his first single ‘Born To Be Cheap/The Name Game’. But his best-known hits came in the early and mid-Eighties, with high-energy disco tracks like ‘Shoot Your Shot’ in 1983 and ‘Walk Like A Man’ in 1985. But it is the song ‘You Think You’re A Man’ that was hiss biggest hit, reaching number 16 in the UK charts in 1984. Divine performed this song on well-known UK music show Top Of The Pops on July 19 1984, resulting in a barrage of complaints to the BBC. He released eleven international hit dance singles, and toured the world with his solo cabaret act of disco and outrageous humor, performing over 900 times in more than 19 countries.
(The autopsy found he had died in his sleep of heart failure, or an enlarged heart brought on by sleep apnea. The night he died, he had leaned over his hotel balcony and sang "Arrivederci Roma" before retiring to bed) b. October 19th 1945.
1991: Al Klink (74) American swing jazz tenor saxophonist; played with Glenn Miller from 1939 to 1942, and is heard trading solos with Tex Beneke on "In the Mood". He next played with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, and did work as a session musician after World War II. From 1952 to 1953 he played with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra. In 1955, he recorded his only session as a bandleader, doing six songs for a Bob Alexander album which won a Grammy award. After the 50s he disappeared from record until 1974, when he began playing with the World's Greatest Jazz Band. Later in the 70s he played with Glenn Zottola and George Masso, and continued playing until the mid-1980s, when he retired in Florida. He died there in 1991 (?) b. December 28th 1915.
1919: Murray Grand (87) American songwriter, singer and pianist; born in Philadelphia, US, Murray played piano as a teenager. During World Ward II, he served as and infantryman in U.S. Army and played piano accompaniment for USO Tour stars including Gypsy Rose Lee and Betty Grable. After the war, Grand studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School and worked as a cabaret performer in New York City. In 1952, he wrote “Guess Who I Saw Today” (with lyrics by Elisse Boyd) for the Broadway musical revue New Faces of 1952. The song has been recorded by Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, and Eydie Gorme among others. Grand’s other songs include “Hurry”, “April in Fairbanks” “ Boozers and Losers" (written with Cy Coleman), "Thursday's Child", "Too Old to Die Young", "I Always Say Hello to a Flower", "Everything You Want", “Come By Sunday”, "I'd Rather Cha-Cha than Eat", "Comment Allez-Vous" and “Not a Moment Too Soon”. Grand’s songs have been recorded by Peggy Lee, Eartha Kitt, Paula West, Blossom Dearie, Toni Tennille, Eydie Gorme, and Michael Feinstein. Grand appeared in two Paul Mazursky films: The Tempest and Moscow on the Hudson. In his later years Grand lived for a time in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he ran a pet food business and continued to perform (He died of emphysema in Santa Monica) b. August 27th 2007.
2001: Frankie Carle (98) American pianist and bandleader, nicknamed "The Wizard of the Keyboard" in the 1940s and 1950s. He started out with a number of mainstream dance bands. He received attention when he joined Horace Heidt's band, later becoming co-leader of the band. In 1944 Frankie left Heidt's band to form his own, with his daughter, Marjorie Hughes, as lead female singer. Carle had several major hits in the 1940s and early 1950s, including his theme song, "Sunrise Serenade" but was perhaps best known for the classic "Frankie And Johnnie". His band disbanded after 1955 and he performed mainly as a soloist thereafter. (died of natural causes in Mesa, Arizona) b. March 25th 1903

March 8th
1973: Ron "Pigpen" Mckernan (27) US multi-musician and founding member The Grateful Dead. His musical contributions included vocals, Hammond organ, harmonica, percussion, and occasionally guitar. He began spending time around coffeehouses and music stores, where he met Jerry Garcia. One night Garcia invited him onstage to play harmonica and sing the blues. Garcia was impressed and Ron became the blues singer in local jam sessions. He was a participant in the preceeding groups leading to the formation of the Grateful Dead, beginning with the Zodiacs and Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, which evolved into The Warlocks. Around 1965 Ron urged the rest of the Warlocks to switch to electric instruments after which they became the Grateful Dead. In 1970, Ron began experiencing symptoms of congenital biliary cirrhosis; these were exacerbated by his alcohol abuse. He had a short relationship and longer friendship with Janis Joplin who joined him onstage at the Fillmore West in June 1969 with the Grateful Dead to sing his signature "Turn On Your Lovelight". The two repeated this duet July 16, 1970 at the Euphoria Ballroom in San Rafael. After an August 1971 hospitalization, doctors requested that he stop touring indefinitely, He carried on performing, but sadly after their Europe '72 tour, his health had degenerated to the point where he could no longer continue on the road. His final concert appearance was June 17th 1972 at the Hollywood Bowl, in Los Angelese (gastrointestinal hemorrhage) b. September 8th 1945.
1983: Sir William Turner Walton OM () British composer and conductor, his style was influenced by the works of Stravinsky and Prokofiev as well as jazz music, and is characterized by rhythmic vitality, bittersweet harmony, sweeping Romantic melody and brilliant orchestration. His output includes orchestral and choral works, chamber music and ceremonial music, as well as notable film scores. His earliest works, especially Edith Sitwell's Façade brought him notoriety as a modernist, but it was with orchestral symphonic works and the oratorio Belshazzar's Feast that he gained international recognition. (?) b. March 29th 1902
1993: Billy Eckstine (79) US jazz singer and band leader; his smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular music. After working in many bands, he formed his own big band in 1944 and made it a fountain head for young musicians who would reshape jazz by the end of the decade, including Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, and Fats Navarro. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra was the first bop big-band, and hit the charts often during the mid-'40s, with Top Ten entries including "A Cottage for Sale" and "Prisoner of Love." On the group's frequent European and American tours, Eckstine, popularly known as Mr. B, also played trumpet, valve trombone and guitar. Billy made numerous appearances on television variety shows, including "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Nat King Cole Show", "The Tonight Show" with Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Johnny Carson, "The Merv Griffin Show", "The Art Linkletter Show," "The Joey Bishop Show," "The Dean Martin Show," "The Flip Wilson Show," and "Playboy After Dark." He also performed as an actor in the TV sitcom "Sanford and Son," and in such films as Skirts Ahoy, Let's Do It Again, and Jo Jo Dancer. He recorded his final album in 1984, "I Am A Singer", featuring beautiful ballads arranged and conducted by Angelo DiPippo (?) b. July 8th 1914.
2003: Adam Faith/Terence Nelhams-Wright (62) English singer, actor in television, movies and theatre and financial journalist. He began his musical career in 1957, while working as a film cutter in London, singing with and managing a skiffle group, The Worried Men. They in Soho coffee bars after work, and became the resident band at The 2i's Coffee Bar, where they appeared on the BBC Television live music programme Six-Five Special, which led to a solo recording contract with HMV under the name Adam Faith, but his first two singles failed to chart. In March 1959, John Barry invited him to audition for a BBC TV rock and roll show, Drumbeat, he was given a contract for three shows, extended to the full 22-week run. He recorded six-track EP released by the Fontana record label, again he failed to chart. After taking drama and elocution lessons, he got an acting job appearing as a pop singer in the film, Beat Girl. This led to his third recording contract, with Parlophone. His next record in 1959, "What Do You Want?", this became his first number one hit in the UK Singles Chart. It was also the first number one hit for Parlophone, and Adam Faith the only pop act on the label. He went on to record 37 singles, 24 being chart hits, and nine albums, before going into full time acting. In the 1980s, he became a financial investments advisor. (heart attack) b. June 23rd 1940.
2009: Hank Locklin (91) American country singer, member of Grand Ole Opry. His hits include "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On", "Geisha Girl", and "Please Help Me I'm Falling", which went to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. Billboard Magazine's 100th Anniversary issue also listed it as the second most successful country single of the Rock and Roll era. He had/has a strong following in Europe, and Ireland, so much so in 1963 he recorded an album called Irish Songs Country Style, which includes the beautiful song Wild Irish Rose. Also he has a fanclub situated in Langeli, Norway. In 2006, he appeared on the PBS special, Country Pop Legends in which he performed "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On", and "Please Help Me I'm Falling". Until his passing in 2009, he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 91. He recently released his 65th album, By the Grace of God, a collection of gospel songs.() b. February 15th 1918.

March 9th
1985: Robert Alexander "Bumps" Blackwell (62) American songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work overseeing the early hits of Little Richard. He produced and co-wrote hits for Little Richard including: "Long Tall Sally"; "Good Golly Miss Molly"; "Ready Teddy"; and "Rip It Up". He also produced Sam Cooke's hit "You Send Me". Earlier in his career in the 1940s he led a jazz group that included pianist Ray Charles and trumpeter Quincy Jones. He moved to Hollywood, California and took a job at Art Rupe's Specialty Records as an arranger and producer. He worked with Larry Williams, Lloyd Price and Guitar Slim before "discovering" Little Richard in 1955. In 1981 he produced some songs for Bob Dylan's album, Shot of Love, including the title track. Not be confused with another songwriter, Otis Blackwell (pneumonia) b. May 23rd 1922.
1993: Bob Crosby (79) American dixieland bandleader and vocalist with a singing voice remarkably similar to his brother Bing, but without its range; best known for his group Bob Crosby & the Bob Cats. He began singing with Anson Weeks in 1931, then Dorsey Brothers in 1934, before he led his first band in 1935. His most famous band, the Bob-Cats, was a Dixieland jazz group with members from the Bob Crosby Orchestra. Both the Bob Crosby Orchestra and the smaller Bob-Cats group specialized in Dixieland jazz, showcasing the traditional jazz revival of the 1940s. Over the years members included Yank Lawson, Billy Butterfield, Muggsy Spanier, Matty Matlock, Irving Fazola, Ward Silloway, Warren Smith, Eddie Miller, Joe Sullivan, Bob Zurke, Jess Stacy, Nappy Lamare, Bob Haggart, Walt Yoder, Jack Sperling, and Ray Bauduc. During World War II, he spent 18 months in the Marines, touring with bands in the Pacific. His radio variety series, The Bob Crosby Show, aired on NBC and CBS in different runs between the years 1943 to 1950, followed by Club Fifteen on CBS from 1947 through 1953 and a half-hour CBS daytime series, The Bob Crosby Show from 1953 to 1957. Also in 1952, Bob replaced Phil Harris as the bandleader on The Jack Benny Program, remaining until Benny retired the radio show in 1955 (complications from cancer) b. August 23rd 1913.
1997: Notorious BIG/Biggie Smalls/Christopher Wallace (24) American gangsta-rapper, a central figure in the East Coast hip-hop scene and increased New York's visibility at a time when hip hop was mostly dominated by West Coast artists. He began rapping when he was a teenager, entertaining people on the streets, as well as perform with local groups, the Old Gold Brothers and the Techniques. He had also lived a life of crime since he was 12 selling drugs and guns. After a prison sentence, Chris made a demo tape under the name Biggie Smalls which led his signing with Uptown who immediately gave him an appearance on Heavy D & the Boyz' "A Buncha Niggas". In mid 1992, he signed to Bad Boy Records. By 1996, he was headlining shows, enjoying MTV appearances, No.1 hit singles, and his debut album, Ready to Die, was selling remarkably well. He focused his energies on his second album, Life After Death, where, rather than relying on hardcore narratives and beats, he opted for midtempo and pop grooves, spawning hit singles such as "Hypnotise" and "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems". But when his former friend, Tupac Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas in September of 1996, and fingers were soon pointing at Chris and his East Coast associates, especially by the LA Times newspaper, which ran a campaign accusing the rapper of paying the Crips gang £1m to kill Shakur. Less than a year later, on a promotional tour in Los Angeles, Chris was dead, which many believed was in retaliation for Tupac's death. (After leaving a party in L.A. a black Chevy Impala pulled up alongside Chris's truck. The driver of the Impala, an African-American male neatly dressed in a blue suit and bow tie, rolled down his window, drew a 9 mm blue-steel pistol and fired numerous rounds into the GMC Suburban; four bullets hit Chris in the chest. He was rushed to Cedars -Sinai Medical Center by his entourage but was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m.) b. May 21st 1972.
1999: Mike Anthony (68) US guitarist with 5th Dimension (heart attack) b. ????
2005: Chris LeDoux (56) American singer, guitarist and rodeo performer. As well as being a solo artist he recorded and played with his pal Garth Brooks. He has recorded thirty-six albums and was awarded one gold album certification from the RIAA, and was nominated for a Grammy Award and the Academy of Country Music Music Pioneer Award. When his rodeo career ended, he continued to write and record his songs, and began playing concerts, which often featured a mechanical bull. He worked independenly until 1989, when he shot to national prominence when he was mentioned in the debut song of future superstar Garth Brooks, the Top-10 country hit "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)". In 1991Chris signed with Capitol Records and released his first national album, Western Underground, and his follow-up album, Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy, was certified gold and reached the top ten. The title track, a duet with Brooks, became LeDoux's first and only Top Ten country single, reaching #7 in 1992. In 2000, Chris suffered an illness that required a liver transplant. Garth Brooks volunteered to donate part of his liver, but it was found to be incompatible. n donor was located, and LeDoux did receive a transplant. After his recovery he released two additional albums (complications from ongoing treatment for cancer of the bile duct and liver) b. October 2nd 1948.
2007: Brad Delp (55) American multi-musician, lead singer, frontman of the rock band Boston, he is also known for his extremely high range, and often cited as a key influence in the rock music vocal scene. He began performing in Tom Scholz' band 'Mother's Milk' in 1969. Eventually they signed with Epic Records and renamed the band 'Boston'. Their debut album, Boston, released in August 1976, was an enormous success, selling over 17 million records and produced future rock standards such as "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind", it ranks as the best-selling debut album in United States history. Brad performed all lead and backing vocals, including all 'layered' vocal overdubs on the album. They went on to record 4 more studio albums .. READ MORE .. (suicide) b. June 12th 1951.
2009: Jimmy Boyd (70) US actor, singer on a small farm in McComb, Miss; at age 4 he started guitar and harmonica lessons, at 7, he was playing and singing at barn dances. Texas Jim Lewis, a country-western bandleader, heard Jimmy sing and signed him up for his Saturday night radio show. That led to a winning performance in a radio talent show in LA and the contract to sing “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus“, this led to appearances on television shows hosted by Ed Sullivan, Perry Como, Doris Day, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, among others. At 15, he was cast by Universal Pictures as the kid brother in "The Second Greatest Sex," a musical set in the Old West. In 1957, he played the title role in The United States Steel Hour's telecast of a musical version of "Huckleberry Finn." For 25 episodes, from 1958 to 1962, he was in the sitcom "Bachelor Father." Among his film roles was "Inherit the Wind," the 1960 movie classic. Jimmy co-starred on Broadway in Neil Simon's play Star Spangled Girl with George Hamilton and Deana Martin (cancer) b. January 9th 1940.
2010: Wilfred "Wilfy" Rebimbus (67) Indian musician, born in in Mangalore and became known as Konkan Kogul ("the nightingale of Konkani"). A highly talented composer and singer, he starting his career at 15, a career spanning over 50 years. Mog Tuzo Kitlo Axelom, Maria Tuzo Moga Maka Maria, and Philomena, are just a few among the 3,000 of songs Wilfy has written. He has staged more than 500 shows, 248 'Wilfy Nights' and released 40 albums, 6 devotional albums and 1 Instrumental album. Wilfy had also brought out a book, "Kogul Gaaithaa’’, comprising 40 volumes in four editions. He has written three Konkani musical plays, Hazaar Umaalyamche Kazaar, Vechik Pooth and Mother Teresa. His compositions not only in Konkani, but Tulu too are cherished by millions worldwide (sadly lost his fight with lung cancer) b. April 2nd 1942.

March 10th
1988: Andy Gibb (30) UK-Australian solo singer, the youngest of the Gibb brothers but he was not a member of The Bee Gees. In 1977, he began his career as a solo singer, following his brothers' disco style. His first 3 singles "I Just Want to Be Your Everything," "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water," and "Shadow Dancing" all reached the No.1 spot. Three more consecutive Top Ten hits followed, cementing his overnight sensation status. Despite the number four "Desire," Gibb's streak of Top Ten hits began to slip in 1980; the following year he had his last Top 40 hit, "Me (Without You)." After a stint as the host of Solid Gold, Andy turned to acting, but he did not replicate the enormous success of his recording career. Sadly he developed a massive cocaine addiction, which helped lead to his death (sadly died from the virus myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle) b. March 5th 1958
1989: Doc Green Jr. (54) US bass & baritone singer; The Five Crowns/Drifters ()
1995: Ingo Schwichtenberg (29) German drummer and founding member of the power metal band Helloween, formed in 1984 in Hamburg, Germany. He was famous for his high-energy drumming, and between 1985 - 1993 Ingo recorded 6 albums with Helloween, their self titled debut album in 1985, followed by Walls of Jericho, Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1, Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2, Pink Bubbles Go Ape, and Chameleon (a sufferer of schizophrenia, and rarely taking his medication, Ingo tragically ended up committing suicide by jumping in front of a subway train) b. May 18th 1965.
1997: Lavern Baker/Delores Williams (57) R&B singer; one of the sexiest divas gracing the mid-'50s rock & roll circuit (coronary complications)
2001: Massimo Morsello (42) Italian far-right political activist and singer-songwriter. He was the main figure of Italian far-right political music and, with Roberto Fiore, a co-founder of the Italian nationalist movement Forza Nuova. He began his career as a musician in the '70s, with his first performance being at the first Hobbit Camp. During the so-called "Anni di Piombo" or Lead Years he became involved in various violent episodes and is thought to have possibly been a member of the neofascist terrorist organization Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari. After the Bologna Massacre of August 2, 1980, Massimo, Roberto Fiore, leader of Terza Posizione and seven other people were accused of subversive association. They escaped first to Germany, then, after a few months, to London. Italy called for their extradition but it was refused by England because the crimes they were accused of were only political (cancer) b. November 10th 1958.
2002: Shirley Scott (67) US hard bop and soul-jazz organist; she played played piano and trumpet before moving to the Hammond organ, her main instrument, though on occasion she still played piano. Shirley became known in the 1950s for her work with saxophone player Eddie Davis, particularly the song "In the Kitchen" and went on to play with many greats. Shirley recorde 23 albums as a leader and six albums with Stanley Turrentine (Shirley died of heart failure, believed this had been hastened by the diet drug fen-phen) b. March 14th 1934.
2005: Jacqueline "Jazzy Jackie" Neal (37) American blues singer, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, her father Raful Neal, was also a blues musician, as were eight of her ten siblings. She was best known for her hit "Right Thang, Wrong Man". Jackie released 4 albums, Blues Won't Let You Go; Lookin' for a Sweet Thang; Money Can't Buy Me Love; and lastly Down in Da Club. (Tragically, she was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, James White, in Baton Rouge) b. July 7th 1967.
2008: Charles "Chuck" Day (65) American blues guitarist, singer and bassist born in Chicago his musical talents began to develop at age 3, and at age 15 in 1957, he recorded the single "Pony Tail Partner" under the name Bing Day at Federal Records. He recorded several singles over the next ten years as 'Bing Day' and, also, 'Ford Hopkins', before moving to L.A. in 1965. He worked with the likes of
the Johnny River band on the tracks "Here We GoGo Again" and "Rivers Rocks the Folk", Chuck wrote the distinctive riff in "Secret Agent Man". He next joined the Mamas and Papas as their bass guitarist and was second guitarist on "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin'" before forming his own band. Chuck also recorded with The Young Gyants, Shel Silverstein and more recently in 2006 with Steve Wolf (died in Healdsburg District Hospital after a long illness) b. August 5th 1942
2008: Dennis Irwin (56) American jazz double bassist, born in Birmingham, Alabama but grew up in Atlanta and Knoxville. His older brothers were jazz fans, and with their encouragement Dennis began playing clarinet. In the mid-1960s the family relocated to Houston, where as a teenager he played alto sax in a series of local R&B bands and while studying classical clarinet at North Texas State University he began playing upright bass in the school's Two O'Clock Big Band. In 1975, Dennis started working with trumpeter Ted Carson, quickly emerging as the bassist of choice for vocalists including Mose Allison, Betty Carter, Annie Ross and Jackie Paris. He made his recorded debut the following year, supporting pianist Dom Salvador's album "My Family". In 1977, he signed on with Blakey's Jazz Messengers and went on to play with many greats including John Scofield, Stan Getz, Johnny Griffin, Horace Silver, Chet Baker and Mel Lewis, whose group also included up-and-coming saxophonist Joe Lovano (He died from complications of cancer on the same day as a Jazz at Lincoln Center benefit concert was held in his honor which featured performances by Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Jon Hendricks, Joe Lovano and Joe Scofield) b. November 18th 1951.
2009: Ralph Mercado (67) American promoter of Latin American music — Latin Jazz, Latin rock, merengue and salsa — he established a network of businesses that included promoting concerts, managing artists, a record label, film company, nightclubs and restaurants. He out started promoting "waistline parties", live music events in apartment building basements where women were charged in proportion to their waist size, with himself measuring at the door. Soon he was promoting Latin jazz at Manhattan clubs such as The Village Gate. These expanded into concerts at major venues with stars such as James Brown, who appeared with Latin acts such as Mongo Santamaría. He turned to managing performers, founding RMM Management in 1972, where his clients included Celia Cruz and Tito Puente, achieving acclaim as the biggest salsa manager in the United States by the 1970s. He developed new talent, such as La India Marc Anthony, presenting salsa concerts at major venues across the country, from Madison Square Garden to the Hollywood Bowl. Ralf started RMM Records in 1987, which had in excess of 130 artists performing across the Latin music spectrum, representing merengue, salsa, Latin jazz and Latin rock. He rode the expanding size and economic power of the nation's Hispanic population and a general interest in salsa music. Mercado brought in international groups and influences from Africa, Brazil and even Japan. He achieved acclaim as the most successful promoter of salsa music, and in 1991, Billboard magazine described him as "the entrepreneur who took salsa from New York to the world" (cancer) b. September 29th 1941
2010: Evelyn Dall (92) American singer and actress, born in The Bronx, New York City. In 1935 she was invited to become the female vocalist for Bert Ambrose and his Orchestra, in the UK, where she remained until 1946. Over her career she has worked in musical films such as Sing as You Swing, Kicking the Moon Around, He Found a Star, and King Arthur Was a Gentleman, and in supporting roles on Broadway and Londons's West End in.. Something for the Boys, Parade, Follow the Girls, and Present Arms. She was known there as England's "Original Blonde Bombshell" (died after a long illness) b. January 8th 1918.
2010: Micky Jones (63) British singer and guitarist with the legendary Welsh pychedelic, progressive rock, blues and country-rock band "Man", formed in 1968 as a reincarnation of Welsh rock harmony group ‘’The Bystanders’’ from Merthyr Tydfil. Micky has played in every incarnation of Man until his illness in 2002 and again in 2005. In 1960, whilst still at school, Micky formed his first band The Rebels, before he formed his first professional band The Bystanders in 1962. He adopted the stage name of Mike Martin and later Mike Steel. They released eight singles, including "98.6" in February 1967, which featured in the 2009 film, The Boat That Rocked and "When Jesamine Goes", written by their manager Ronnie Scott and 60's pop star Marty Wilde under the pseudonyms of Frere Manston and Jack Gellar .... READ MORE .... In 2002 Micky was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had to take time off for treatment. A trooper till the end in 2004 Micky was back with Man but tragically the following year his health deteriorated due to the re-occurrence of his brain tumour and Micky sadly remained in hospital for the next 5 years. (passed away peacefully) b. June 7th 1946 John Burtenshaw is currently writing a book about the life of the amazing but sadly sometimes over-looked musician Micky Jones. Any information please email john.burtenshaw1@ntlworld.com

March 11th
1978: Claude Francois (39) French pop singer and songwriter, born Ismaïlia, Egypt; he wrote "Comme d'habitude," the original version of "My Way." A young François worked as a bank clerk and at night earned extra money playing drums with an orchestra at the luxury hotels along the French Riviera. He was offered a chance to sing at a hotel in the fashionable Mediterranean resort town of Juan-les-Pins. His show was well received and eventually he began to perform at the glamorous night-clubs along the Côte d'Azur. After moving to Paris he had a major hit with "Belles Belles Belles" topping the French charts, selling close to 2 million copies, making him a star overnight. He had hit after hit recording UK and US hits in French. He worked non-stop, touring across Europe, USA, Africa and Canada. However, his workload caught up with him in 1971 when he collapsed on stage from exhaustion. After a brief period off, he returned to the recording studios, releasing several best-selling hits throughout the early 1970s. (Officially Claude electrocuted himself adjusting a light bulb while standing in his bathtub, but some suspect foul play) b. February 1st 1939.
1986: Sonny Terry/Saunders Terrell (75) blues singer, harmonica; Brownie McGhee and his Jook House Rockers or Sonny Terry and his Buckshot Five ()
2010: Paul Dunlap (90) American composer, he wrote the scores for more than 200 films and television programs including The Three Stooges Meet Hercules, The Three Stooges in Orbit, The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze and The Outlaws Is Coming. He also scored the last Abbott and Costello film Dance With Me, Henry (?) b. July 19th 1919.

March 12th
1955: Charlie Parker (34) US j azz saxophonist; considered one of the greatest and influential jazz musicians, ranked with such players as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. He began playing the saxophone at age 11 and at age 14 joined his school's band using a rented school instrument. He spent 3 to 4 years practicing up to 15 hours a day, playing many tunes in all 12 keys. In this wood-shedding period, he mastered improvisation and developed some of the ideas of be-bop. He became an icon for the hipster subculture and later the Beat generation, personifying the conception of the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual, rather than just a popular entertainer. His style – from a rhythmic, harmonic and soloing perspective – influenced countless peers on every instrument, he changed the sound of jazz music forever. His numerous awards, inductions and achievements include four recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame - 1945's "Billie's Bounce", 1946's "Ornithology", 1953's "Jazz at Massey Hall" and 1950's "Charlie Parker with Strings", a Grammy Award for Best Performance By A Soloist in 1974, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984, in 1995 a 32 cents Commemorative stamp was issued in his honor and in 2002, the Library of Congress honored his recording "Koko" (1945) by adding it to the National Recording Registry (died in his friend and patron Nica de Koenigswarter's Stanhope Hotel suite while watching Tommy Dorsey on television. The official causes of death were lobar pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer) b. August 29th 1920.
1999: Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE (82) American born violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the UK. He was born in New York City, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985. Yehudi began violin instruction at age four under violinist Sigmund Anker. He displayed extraordinary talents at an early age. His first solo violin performance was at the age of seven with the San Francisco Symphony in 1923. He went on to be considered twentieth century's greatest violin virtuosi. He used a number of famous violins including the Giovanni Bussetto 1680, the Giovanni Grancino 1695, the Guarneri filius Andrea 1703, the Soil Stradivarius, the Prince Khevenhüller 1733 Stradivari, the Guarneri del Gesù 1739, and the Lord Wilton 1742 Guarneri del Gesù. (He died in Berlin, Germany following a brief illness, from complications of bronchitis) b. April 22nd 1916.
2005: Stavros Kouyioumtzis (72) Greek composer, one of the most significant Greek music composers of the 20th century. He worked with some of the most important Greek singers, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Anna Vissi, Haris Alexiou, Yiannis Parios, and Giorgos Kalatzis and also collaborated in many songs with the poet-lyricist Manos Eleftheriou. His last appearance on television was in the music show of Spyros Papadopoulos on NET TV. During his last few years he left Athens and moved back to his birthplace, Thessaloniki, where he continued working on music and songs (?) b. 1932
2009: Kalman Bloch (95) American clarinetist; he was principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for more than 40 years. He studied with Simeon Bellison, a notable clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic. Kalman left New York for Los Angeles during the Great Depression, and wrote out over 100 job applications. Otto Klemperer, then music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was the only one to respond. Kalman also performed on several film soundtracks, including those of Sunset Boulevard and North by Northwest (?) b. May 30th 1913.
2010: Lesley Duncan (66) British singer-songwriter born in in Stockton-on-Tees, her songs were often about life and its problems, "Everything Changes" and "Sing Children Sing". Elton John covered a duet with her on his album Tumbleweed Connection, which was similar to her own version of "Love Song". She also appeared onstage with John in a 1974 concert at the Royal Festival Hall to once again perform the duet. Lesley contributed backing vocals to Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon album as well as singing lead on the song "If I Could Change Your Mind" on the Alan Parsons Project album Eve. As well as writing and singing her own material, Duncan was a backing vocalist in the mid to late 1960s and 1970s, most notably for Dusty Springfield (cerebrovascular disease) b. August 12th 1943.

March 13th
1946: Thomas Frederick Dunhill (69) English composer and writer on musical subjects, born in Hampstead, London, maybe best-known for his song-cycle 'The Wind among the Reeds'. In 1893 Thomas attended the Royal College of Music, London, and studied pianoforte under Franklin Taylor and composition under Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. He won an open scholarship for composition in 1897 and became a music-master at Eton College for several years, before becoming a professor at the Royal College of Music in 1905. From 1907 to 1919 he gave concerts of chamber-music in London, the Thomas Dunhill Concerts, at which important chamber music by English composers was performed. He himself wrote chamber music and also songs and song-cycles. His song-cycle The wind among the reeds, for tenor voice and orchestra, was first performed by Gervase Elwes with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Queen's Hall in 1912. His setting of W.B. Yeats's 'The Cloths of Heaven' is deservedly famous. Elwes (with Frederick B. Kiddle) recorded his song 'A Sea Dirge', a setting of Shakespeare's lyric Full fathom five (?) b. February 1st 1877.
1987: Gerald Moore CBE (87) English pianist best known for his career as one of the most in-demand accompanists of his day, accompanying many of the world's most famous musicians. Born in Watford but received most of his musical education in Toronto, Canada, to which country his family emigrated when he was a child, and where he was an organist at St Thomas' Church, Huron Street, in Toronto. He accompanied notable instrumentalists such as Pablo Casals and the child prodigy Josef Hassid, but is perhaps best remembered for his work with his notable partnerships including Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Victoria de los Ángeles, Elisabeth Schumann, Maggie Teyte and Kathleen Ferrier. He retired from public performances in 1967, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1954 (?) b. July 30th 1899.
1990: Karl Münchinger (74) German conductor of European classical music born in Stuttgart, Münchinger. He helped to revive the now-ubiquitous Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel, through recording it with his Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra in 1960. Karl is also noted for restoring baroque traditions to the interpretation of Bach's oeuvre, his greatest musical love: moderate-sized forces, judicious ornamentation, and rhythmic sprightliness, though not period instruments. In 1977, his Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra became the first German ensemble to visit the People's Republic of China. Karl retired in 1988 (?) b. May 29th 1915.
1994: Danny Barker (85) US jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, ukelele player and author from New Orleans, founder of the locally famous Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band (cancer).
1998: Judge Dread/Alex Hughes (52) English reggae and ska artist; the first white recording artist to have a reggae hit in Jamaica, and has the most banned songs of all time. He worked as a bouncer, a bodyguard, professional wrestler, debt collector and radio DJ before he released his first record, "Big Six" which reached No.11 in the UK Singles Chart and spent six months on the chart, despite getting no radio airplay due to its lyrics. Further hit singles followed with "Big Seven" and "Big Eight", both following the pattern of rude versions of nursery rhymes over a reggae backing, as well as "Y Viva Suspenders" and "Up With The Cock". He was the first white recording artist to have a reggae hit in Jamaica with "Big Six", which lead him to travel to Jamaica to perform live, where many were surprised that he was white. He released 13 albums and he had 11 UK singles chart hits in the 1970s, which was more than any other reggae artist, including Bob Marley. The Guinness Book of World Records credits Judge Dread for having the highest number of banned songs of all time, 11! He helped organize a benefit concert for the famine in Ethiopia featuring The Wailers and Desmond Dekker, and released a benefit single "Molly". Despite this single not featuring Dread's trademark innuendos, it was still banned from radio airplay. He tried releasing singles under the pseudonyms JD Alex and Jason Sinclair, but the BBC still banned them (He was finishing a performance at Penny Theatre in Canterbury, as the set finished, he turned to the audience and said, "Let's hear it for the band." They were his final words, as he walked offstage, he suffered a fatal heart attack) b. May 2nd 1945.
2002: Marc Moreland (44) guitarist, Wall Of Voodoo (kidney failure)
2008: Martin Fierro (66) American tenor saxophonist who played in the jazz, freeform rock, and avant-garde traditions with musicians as diverse as the Sir Douglas Quintet, Legion of Mary to the Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead (cancer).
2009: Alan W. Livingston (91) American music executive; he began his career leading his own college orchestra at the University of Pennsylvania. After the war he obtained his first position with Capitol Records, as a writer/producer. He wrote and produced many children's series of storytelling record-album including the debut of Bozo the Clown with the September 1946's "Bozo at the Circus"; many products for Walt Disney; Walter Lantz's Woody Woodpecker; Hopalong Cassidy including "Hopalong Cassidy and The Singing Bandit" in 1950; Bugs Bunny and all of the Warner Bros characters and he wrote the 1951 pop hit "I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat". Alan moved on to the adult music and became Vice President. He signed Frank Sinatra, who agreed to work with Nelson Riddle, with an immediate impact, producing the classics "I've Got the World on a String." and "Young-at-Heart". Alan was also officially credited as the inspiration for the distinctive Capitol Records Tower, completed in April 1956, noted for being the first circular office building in the world. In the 60's he turned Capitol Records into a more rock-oriented company with such artists as The Beach Boys, Steve Miller, The Band, and others. He signed The Beatles, agreeing to release 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in 1963 and bringing them to the United States in 1964, after rejecting their previous singles as unsuitable for the U.S. market despite Capitol being owned by The Beatles' U.K. record company, EMI. Alan was the creative force responsible for Capitol Records' growth from net sales of $6 million per year to sales in excess of $100 million per year. He later sold his stock in Capitol Industries to form his own company, Mediarts Inc., for the production of motion pictures, records and music publishing. Aug '76, he joined 20th Century Fox as Senior Vice President and President, Entertainment Group. He left in 1980 to accept the presidency of Atalanta Investment Company, but resigned in 1987 to produce a one-hour film for television and to form Pacific Rim Productions, Inc (?) b. October 15th 1917.
2010: Jean Ferrat/Jean Tenenbaum (79) French singer, songwriter and composer born in Vaucresson, Hauts-de-Seine and studied at the Jules Ferry College. In the early 1950s he started in Parisian cabaret. In 1956, he set "Les yeux d'Elsa" ("Elsa's eyes"), a Louis Aragon poem to music. Its rendition by popular artist André Claveau brought Jean some recognition as a songwriter. He released his debut album, Deux Enfants du Soleil in 1961, followed by Nuit et Brouillard in 1963, and was awarded the Académie Charles Cros's Grand Prix du Disque. Jean retired from performing on stage in 1973. In 1990, he received an award from the Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique, (SACEM) the French association of songwriters, composers and music publishers (passed away after a long illness) b. December 26th 1930.

March 14th
1972: Linda Jones (27) US soul singer;the biggest of several hits was "Hypnotized" (diagnosed with diabetes, died after she collapsed backstage at the Apollo Theater).
1976: Busby Berkeley/William Berkeley Enos (80) US film director, musical choreographer, famous for his elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. His quintessential works used legions of showgirls and props as fantastic elements in kaleidoscopic on-screen performances (natural causes)
1991: Doc Pomus/Jerome Solon Felder (66) American blues singer and songwriter, found success as one of the finest white blues singers of the 1940s before becoming one of the greatest songwriters in the history of American popular music; elected to Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (cancer)

March 15th
1959: Lester Young (49) American saxophone, clarinet, he was also known to play the trumpet, violin, and drums; Billie Holiday gave him his nickname “Prez”, short for president, he was one of the three most important tenor saxophonists of all time. Born in Woodville, Mississippi, he came to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra which he joined in 1936 and was hailed as a new stylist on the instrument. His small-group recordings from the late 1930s with Basie and vocalist Billie Holiday are classics. Lester formed his own band in 1941, playing at the club Kelly's Stable in New York. He then co-led a band in California and New York with his brother Lee. He rejoined Basie in 1943 and was featured in an art film called Jammin' the Blues, which portrays him as a bohemian of the jazz age. In September 1944, while playing with drummer Jo Jones in a California club, he was served his army call up papers, where he spent a traumatic 15 months. His experiences with racism in the military were horrifying, he spent a year confined at Fort Leavenworth, Texas, where the only relief he had came from Gil Evans (who later joined Miles Davis), who was stationed there and did what he could to help him. His army experience had a devastating effect on his mental state of mind, the brutal humiliation, remained with him for the rest of his life. In 1946, Lester joined Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) troupe, touring regularly with them over the next 12 years and he made many studio recordings under Granz's supervision for his Verve Records label, including more trio recordings with Nat King Cole. He also recorded extensively in the late 1940s for Aladdin Records in 1946-7, and for Savoy in 1944, '49 and '50, some sessions included Basie on piano. He gave some brilliant performances during the second half of the 40's and early 50s, particularly with JATP in 1946, 1949, and 1950 and his solo on "Lester Leaps In" at the 1949 JATP concert at Carnegie Hall is perhaps one of the greatest solos by any jazz musician ever. One of Lester's personal favorite pieces, was DB Blues, (Detention Barracks Blues), released 1946. Throughout the 40s and 50s Lester had sat in on many Count Basie Orchestra gigs, the best-known of these is their July 1957 appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival. By the end of the 50' he was eating less, drinking heavily, and suffering from liver disease and malnutrition. He made his final studio recordings and live performances in Paris in March 1959 with drummer Kenny Clarke at the end of a European tour during which he virtually drank himself to death. Lester is remembered as one of the finest, most influential players on his instrument, playing with a cool tone and sophisticated harmonies. He also became a jazz legend, inventing or popularizing much of the hipster ethos which came to be associated with the music (After becoming ill in Paris in March 1959 suffering with internal bleeding, he was flown back to New York and died in his hotel bedroom shortly after his return) b. August 27th 1909.
1988: Dannie Richmond (52) US drummer; Charles Mingus/own band ().
1991: Lawrence "Bud" Freeman (84) American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, he is known mainly for playing the tenor saxophone, but also able at the clarinet. He was one of the most influential and important jazz tenor saxophonists of the Big Band era. His major recordings were "Tillie's Downtown Now", "The Eel", "Crazeology", "The Buzzard", and "After Awhile", composed with Benny Goodman. Bud was one of the original members of the Austin High School Gang which began in 1922, they began to formulate their own style, becoming part of the emerging Chicago Style of jazz. In 1927, he moved to New York, where he worked as a session musician and band member with Red Nichols, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Ben Pollack, Joe Venuti, among others. After WW2, he worked with groups such as Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff, Vic Dickenson and Jo Jones, and was a member of the World's Greatest Jazz Band between 1969 and 1970. In 1974, he moved to England for 6 years where he made numerous recordings and performances there and in Europe. Bud was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1992 (?) b. April 13th 1906.
1993: Gene Leis (73) American jazz guitarist, teacher, bandleader, composer, and entrepreneur, born into a musical family in Sedgwick, Kansas. Known primarily for his influential publications and recorded guitar courses in the 1960s, including The Complete Nexus Method Course, which included 10 records, a 132-page instruction book, a 36-page chord book and three Chord Maps. Gene was also a popular performer and a mentor to a large number of musicians through his teaching studios in Manhattan Beach, California (?) b. April 19th 1920
2004: Rust Epique (35) guitarist in the band Crazy Town (heart attack)
2008: Mikey Dread/Michael Campbell (54) Jamaican singer, producer, and broadcaster, his music attracted the attention of British punk rockers The Clash, who invited him over to England to produce some of their music (brain tumor).
2009: Edmund "Ted" Hockridge (89) Canadian singer and actor; he first visited the UK in 1941 with the Royal Canadian Air Force and helped set up the Allied Expeditionary Forces Network, which supplied entertainment and news for troops in Europe. He was loaned to the BBC, often working with the Glen Miller Band and the Canadian band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces led by Robert Farnon. He sang and produced more than 400 shows with the BBC Forces Network and as the war ended he sang with big bands such as Geraldo’s. After the war and back in Canada he played leading roles in operas such as Don Giovanni, La bohème, Peter Grimes and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, as well as having his own radio show in Toronto. In 1951 he returned to Britain to take the part of Billy Bigelow in Carousel at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London, which had rave reviews. He went on to play leading roles in a string of popular musicals including Guys and Dolls, Can Can and The Pajama Game and had recording hits with songs such as ''Young and Foolish'', ''No Other Love'', ''The Fountains of Rome'' and ''More than Ever''. A song from The Pajama Game, ''Hey There'', gave him his biggest hit and became his signature tune. He appeared in early editions of The Benny Hill Show, Sunday Night at the London Palladium and he starred in a six-month, sell-out variety season again at the Palladium. In 1953 he was in the Royal Variety Show and the same year he was Canada’s representative in the Westminster Abbey choir at the Coronation. Edmond headlined in cabaret on the QE2’s maiden voyage and he toured Europe in revivals of musicals. He also turned to British summer seasons and Sunday concerts, becoming one of Blackpool’s most popular stars. He topped the bill on Blackpool’s North Pier for seven years and appeared in several of Harold Fielding’s Opera House concerts in the 1960s. In the early 1980s he appeared in revivals of The Sound of Music and South Pacific but he made a spectacular comeback in 1986 when he played the part of the elderly Buffalo Bill in the big revival of Annie Get Your Gun. In the 1990s he was back on the road with his show, The Edmund Hockridge Family, in which he was joined on stage by Jackie and their two sons, Murray and Stephen. He never really retired and even in his eighties he was still making public appearances and giving talks about his long career (?) b. August 9th 1919.
2009: Jack Lawrence (96) American Academy Award-nominated songwriter. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. (complications from a fall) b. April 7th 1912
2010: Sam Mtukudzi (21) Zimbabwean acoustic guitarist, saxophone player, singer, multi-musician and also the son of legendary Zimbabwean singer, Oliver Mtukudzi. Born into a musical family in Kwekwe, Sam started playing with one of his Fathers guitars at four years, he gradually taught himself to play the guitarist. At aged 10 after seeing his son perform at an annual school concert for the first time, Sam's father was so impressed he bought Sam his first guitar. Sam entered Prince Edward High school at the age of 13 where he widened his musical interests and learnt to play alto saxophone, marimba, bass guitar, electric guitar, percussion including congas, hosho and drums, nyunga nyunga mbira, all of which he would soon play professionally, but the acoustic guitar always remained his first instrument. Sam has quoted as well as his family, Youssou N'Dour as one of his big musical influences. After finishing High School, Sam has joined his father on several foreign tours playing the saxophone with along with the Black Spirits. He has perfomed in Zambia, Malawi, the UK, the USA, Mozambique, Kenya, Canada, Lesotho, Swaziland, Nigeria, and Ireland and played many of the major festivals in Africa including South Africa’s Cape town International jazz festival, Victoria Falls International jazz festival, Zimbabwe’s Harare International Festival of the Arts, Winter jazz festival, and Jo’burg International jazz festival. Sam also formed his own band called Ay Band Sam with whom he recorded his debut album, Rume Rimwe in 2008. The week before his sudden tragic death he had returned from South Africa where he was overseeing the mixing of his second album. His last show was at the Sports Diner, Saturday night, March 13th 2010 (Sam was travelling as passenger with his sound engineer, Owen Chimhare, driving from Harare to Norton, when at 1.20am they were involved in a car accident, tragically both were killed instantly) b. April 1st 1988.
2010: Dan Achen (51) Canadian guitarist and founder member of the alternative rock band Junkhouse. He formed the band in 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario, with himself on guitar, vocalist and guitarist Tom Wilson, bassist Russ Wilson and drummer Ray Farrugia. In September 1993 they released their official debut, Strays, and promoted the album by touring as an opening act for The Waltons and Soul Asylum. The album produced radio hits for the band with "Out of My Head", "Prayin' for the Rain" and "Big Brown Turtle". The band was also featured on the soundtrack to the television show Due South. Their cover of the song "Oh, What a Feeling" is on the first soundtrack from the Paul Haggis show. (tragically died of a heart attack while playing hockey) b. 1959

March 16th
1970: Tammi Terrell/Thomasina Montgomery (24) American singer, a member of The Sherrys, and Motown singer, born in Philadelphia, she entered the music business at the age of 13, regularly performing live. Tammi was a Grammy Award-nominated American soul singer, most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter/Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in 1965 and enjoyed success as a solo singer. Once she was paired with Gaye in 1967, her stardom grew, but later that year she collapsed on stage into Marvin Gaye's arms during their duet of 'That's All You Need To Get By'. Tammi was diagnosed with a brain tumor (sadly died from the brain tumour) b. April 29th 1945.
1975: T- Bone Walker/Aaron Thibeaux Walker (64) American blues guitarist, pianist and singer songwriter born in Linden, Texas; In the early 1920s, as a teenager learned his craft amongst the street-strolling stringbands of Dallas. His songs included "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)", "T-Bone Shuffle" and "Let Your Hair Down, Baby, Let's Have a Natural Ball". He was the idiom's first true lead guitarist, and undeniably one of its very best. Modern electric blues guitar can be traced directly back to this pioneer, who began amplifying his sumptuous lead lines for public consumption circa 1940 and thus initiated a revolution so total that its tremors are still being felt today. He was the childhood hero of Jimi Hendrix, and Hendrix imitated some of Walker's ways throughout his life including T-Bone's flamboyant playing style with the guitar behind his back and legs and with his teeth on stage. He won a Grammy Award in 1971 for "Good Feelin'" and was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. (He died of bronchial pneumonia following a second stroke) b. May 28th 1910.
1991: Reba Mcentire's BAND... All seven members of country star Reba Mcentire's band and her road manager were tragically killed in a plane crash after a show in San Diego.
1992: Johnny Cymbal (48) Scottish born American songwriter, singer, and record producer the time he was 15 until his death, Johnny made a meaningful impact on popular music worldwide as a songwriter, singer, performer and record producer. During those years, in addition to his rock and roll anthem, "Mr. Bass Man", he was responsible for hit records including: "Teenage Heaven", "Cinnamon", "Mary In The Morning", "Rock Me Baby" and "I'm Drinking Canada Dry". In 1963, with his smash hit "Mr. Bass Man" all over the top of the charts from the US to Asia, Johnny was recognized as a teen star. While continuing to record, he toured the U.S., Europe and Japan performing as both a solo headlining act and in rock and roll package shows. Later, as a songwriter and record producer, he found success in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville. (he died in his sleep of a heart attack) b. February 3rd 1945
1996: Joseph Pope (62) American singer and the founder of The Tams which he formed in 1960, he took their long lasting name from the Tam o'shanter style of hat that the group choose to wear on stage. By 1962, they had a hit single "Untie Me", a Joe South composition, became a Top 20 US R&B success. In 1964, their single "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)", reached the Top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song spent three weeks at number one on the Cash Box R&B chart. "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" was also a hit the same year and rocketed to No.1 in the UK charts. The Tams next major US hit was in 1968 "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy", which also made the UK Top 40 in 1970 (?) b. November 5th 1933.
2007: Frederick Tupper Saussy III (70) American keyboardist, composer and artist, born in Statesboro, grew up in Tampa, Florida and graduated from the University of the South at Sewanee, in 1958. While at Uni, he formed a jazz combo recording the album, Jazz at Sewanee, Tuppy co-founded an advertising agency, McDonald and Saussy, and kept his musical career alive with recording dates and club sessions. In 1965, he composed 'The Beast with Five Heads' for the Nashville Symphony,. For its 1968/69 season, they commissioned him to write a piano concerto for Bill Pursell. Tupper was perhaps best known as the songwriter and keyboardist for the psychedelic pop band The Neon Philharmonic, whose vocalist was Don Gant. The Neon Philharmonic's single "Morning Girl" rose to Top 20 status and was nominated for two Grammy awards in 1969. Their two albums, The Moth Confesses and The Neon Philharmonic were released in 1969, but the group disbanded in 1972. He has released several albums of his jazz compositions: "Discover Tupper Saussy," "Said I to Shostakovitch," and The Swingers' Guide to Mary Poppins. In the 70s, he continued to composed works for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the Chattanooga Symphony. He also composed two pop songs for The Wayward Bus, "The Prophet: Predictions by David Hoy" and "Love Hum". He has also worked with Chet Atkins and Ray Stevens, and he wrote arrangements for Mickey Newbury's Harlequin Melodies, Boudleaux Bryant, Bobby Bare, and Roy Orbison. In April 2006, Tupper resumed his musical persona with the Nashville and started work on a new album "The Chocolate Orchid Piano Bar," which includes new and vintage songs, his first new musical release in 37 years, but sadly he died two days before it's release. (heart attack) b. July 3rd 1936
2008: Ola Brunkert (61) Swedish session drummer; born in Örebro, Örebro län, Sweden; he began his musical career as a jazz drummer. His first professional job was with the Slim's Blues Gang, before joining the pop group Science Poption in the mid '60s. He then joined the jazz-pop group Opus III with his friend, guitarist Janne Schaffer. By the 70s Ola had become one of the most sort after session musicians in Sweden. His first session with Abba was on their first single, "People Need Love," in 1972. Over the next 10 years Ola recorded 62 singles and all 8 studio albums with Abba and accompanied them on all their tours (bled to death in a tragic accident at his home in Mallorca, when he fell into a glass door, cutting his throat) b. September 15th 1946..read more
2008: Daniel MacMaster (39) US rock vocalist for American/British hard rock band Bonham releasing two albums with them The Disregard of Timekeeping and Mad Hatter (died from a staph infection).
2010: Herb Cohen (77) American record company executive, manager, and music publisher born in New York; he managed many artists, including Screamin' Jay Hawkins, George Duke, Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Tim Buckley, Lenny Bruce, and Linda Ronstadt. He was best known as the manager of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention from 1965, arranging their first club dates and, after encouraging record producer Tom Wilson to see them perform, securing their first record deal. He and Zappa went on to set up and jointly own the Straight, Bizarre, and DiscReet Records labels. Herb also handled Montreux Jazz Festival tours of Japan and the US, and produced the US portion of the Nelson Mandela concert in Wembley Stadium upon Mandela's release (died from undisclosed causes) b. December 30th 1932
2010: Ksenija Pajcin (32) Serbian singer and dancer, sometimes referred to as Xenia, Ksenija was known for her sometimes sexually appealing image on stage. She started her career as a go-go dancer and was offered the opportunity to join a pop group, The Duck. As a dancer, she was famous in Greece, where she performed in numerous night clubs. Ksenija later went on to have a solo music career, and while her vocals were not too impressive, she garnered attention for her dancing and outfits. She released four albums, Too Hot to Handle in 1997, Extreme in 2001, Magije in 2004 and a Best Of... in 2006. Ksenija also owned a dance studio in Belgrade and worked as a model. She frequently appeared in tabloids and was known for her outrageous statements. (She was found dead along with her boyfriend Filip Kapisoda, a 22-year old model, in her apartment in Belgrade, both had gunshot wounds to the head. Police suspect a murder-suicide, with Filip Kapisoda as the shooter. Police were called to the house several nights earlier as the couple were reported by neighbors because Filip had broken into Ksenija's apartment, by knocking down the door) b. December 3rd 1977

March 17th
1958: Carl Perkins (27) US jazz pianist; he was born in Indianapolis but worked mainly in Los Angeles. He is best known for his recordings and performances with the Curtis Counce Group, which also featured Harold Land, Jack Sheldon and drummer Frank Butler. He also performed and recorded with the Clifford Brown-Max Roach group in 1954. His playing was influenced by his polio-affected left arm, which he held sideways over the keyboard. He composed the jazz standard "Grooveyard", which he recorded with Counce, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, Art Pepper. As a leader Carl's recordings included Savoy in 1949, Dootone in 1956 and Pacific Jazz in 1957 (drug related) b. August 16th 1928.
1979: Zenon de Fleur Heirowski (28) guitarist, Count Bishops (heart attack)
1982: Samuel George Jr (39) lead singer, Capitol (stabbed during a family argument)
1983: Gigi Gryce/Basheer Qusim/George General Grice Jr (58) jazz saxophonist ()
1990: Rick Grech () bass player, Traffic (kidney and liver failure)
1997: Jermaine Stewart (39) American singer; born in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Chicago with his parents. It is here where started out as a backup singer and dancer for several artists and groups such as Howard Gallant The Chi-Lites, The Staple Singers and Shalamar and recording backup vocals for such artists as Culture Club, before launching his solo career. He had a string of hits including "The Word Is Out", "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off", "Frantic Romantic", and "Versatile". Also his singles "Get Lucky", "Don't Talk Dirty to Me" and "Is It Really Love" found European success, especially in Germany (liver cancer attributed to AIDS) b. September 7th 1957.
1999: Ernest Gold/Ernst Sigmund Goldner (77) American composer. Born in Vienna, Austria; he wrote around 100 film and television scores between 1945 and 1992. Among his credits are Too Much, Too Soon, Exodus, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, On the Beach, A Child is Waiting, Fun with Dick and Jane, and Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff. His contributions were honored with four Academy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations. He won a Golden Globe in 1960 for Best Motion Picture Score for 1959's On the Beach, and won an Academy Award a year later for Best Music: Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, for Exodus. His work on On the Beach also won Gold a Grammy Award. The Hollywood Walk of Fame has also recognized Ernst with a star on famed Hollywood Boulevard. (died from complications from a stroke) b. July 13th 1921.
2004: Ernst Haefliger (84) Swiss tenor, born in Davos, he studied at the Zürich Conservatory and studied with Fernando Capri in Geneva and Julius Patzak in Vienna. He had a lengthy and extensive international career and recorded many oratorios and operas. Starting in 1971, he taught at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Munich, Germany. Ernst made his Boston debut in 1965 for the Peabody Mason Concert series (died from acute heart failure) b. July 6th 1919.
2006: Professor X/Lumumba Robert Carson (49) US rapper with X-Clan known for its Afrocentrism and militant activism (spinal meningitis)
2010: Alex Chilton (59) American singer, songwriter and guitarist, born in Memphis, Tennessee, best known for his work with the pop-music bands the Box Tops and Big Star. In 1966, while at Memphis' Central High School, Alex was invited to join a local band The Devilles as their lead singer, after learning of the popularity of his vocal performance at a talent show; this band was later renamed Box Tops. He was 16 years old when he and the Boxtops had their No.1 international hit "The Letter". In 1971 Alex along with Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel formed the rock band Big Star. They released two albums "No.1 Record" and "Radio City" before breaking up in 1974. He continued as a solo artist and in 1979 he co-founded, played guitar with, and produced some albums for Tav Falco's Panther Burns, which began as an offbeat rock-and-roll group deconstructing blues, country, and rockabilly music. From the late-1980s through the 1990s with bassist Ron Easley and eventually drummer Richard Dworkin, gaining a reputation for his eclectic taste in cover versions, guitar work, and laconic stage presence. After which he performed live yearly, with sporadic solo, Box Tops and Big Star shows in theatres and at festivals around the world. (died of a suspected heart attack) b. December 28th 1950.
2010: Charlie Gillett (68) British radio presenter, musicologist and writer, mainly on rock and roll and other forms of popular music. Born in Morecambe, Lancashire, England, and was brought up in Stockton-on-Tees where he attended Grangefield Grammar School. He was particularly noted for his influential book 'The Sound of the City', for his promotion of many forms of "world music", and for discovering and promoting such acts as Dire Straits and Ian Dury. He began in journalism in 1968 with a weekly column in the Record Mirror and wrote for a variety of music magazines including Rolling Stone and New Musical Express and contributed to The Observer. He began a weekly radio programme, Honky Tonk, on Radio London in 1972, he brought Ian Dury to public attention, and was the first DJ to play demos by Graham Parker, Elvis Costello and Dire Straits ("Sultans of Swing"). In the latter case, significant numbers of London's A&R men had contacted Charlie's studio by the time he had finished playing the song - sending Dire Straits on their journey to global stardom. Over his long career, he worked also on Capital Radio, and many BBC stations. In 2006, Charlie was awarded The John Peel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio by the Radio Academy. In July 2006, after eleven years of broadcasting his regular Saturday Night show of world music, Gillett had to end his weekend slot due to ill health, but until his death, he continued to present his half hour show, Charlie Gillet's World of Music. Every year from 2000 to 2008, he compiled a world music double album, World 2000, World 2001, World 2003 etc, (sadly died of series of health problems, including being diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome in 2006) b. February 20th 1942.
2010: Johnnie High (80) American country music impresario, singer, musician, and businessman. In 1974 converted an old movie theatre in Grapevine, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, into the Grapevine Opry and created The Johnnie High's Country Music Revue, a weekly country music variety show. The revue has been a tremendous success for 34 years and introduces at least 20 or 25 new performers each month. Over the years, Johnnie High's Country Music Revue has opened the door for many successful singers including LeAnn Rimes, Steve Holy, Lee Ann Womack, Gary Morris, Linda Davis, Box Car Willie, John Anderson, Shoji Tabuchi and many others. Since 1995, Johnnie's revue has been held at a former Arlington movie theatre (passed away after bravely battling heart disease) b. ????

March 18th
1984: Paul Francis Webster (76) American Academy Award-winning lyricist; before going freelance, Twentieth Century Fox signed him to a contract to write lyrics for Shirley Temple's films()
1984: Joseph Spence (73) Bahamian fisherman-turned-guitarist, singer; several modern folk, blues and jazz musicians, including Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, Woody Mann and John Renbourn were influenced by and have recorded variations of his arrangements of gospel and Bahamian pop tunes.()
1988: Billy Butterfield (61) US jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and cornetist; gained attention working with Bob Crosby and later worked with Artie Shaw ().
2001: John Phillips (65) singer, guitarist, songwriter. Founder member of The Mamas and The Papas and the Journeymen (heart failure)
2009: Eddie Bo/Edwin Joseph Bocage (79) American singer and one of the last New Orleans junker-style pianists. He was known for his wild R&B, soul and funk recordings, compositions, productions and arrangements. After leaving school and a stint in the army he studied piano, music theory, sight reading and music arrangement at the Grundwald School of Music inNew Orleans. He was influenced by Russian classical pianist Horowitz and bebop pianists Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. Eddie began playing in the New Orleans jazz scene and went under the name of Spider Bocage, later forming the Spider Bocage Orchestra. In the 1950s he and a group of New Orleans musicians toured the country supporting singers Big Joe Turner, Earl King, Guitar Slim, Johnny Adams, Lloyd Price, Ruth Brown, Smiley Lewis, and The Platters. He debuted on Ace Records in 1955 and released more single records than anyone else in New Orleans other than Fats Domino. His song "Hook & Sling" was featured on the breakbeat compilation "Ultimate Breaks and Beats". In the 70's he can be heard with the likes of Curly Moore & The Kool Ones and Roy Ward. Through the 1980s and 1990s he recorded with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, he played, toured and recorded with Willy DeVille, Victory Mixture and Big Easy Fantasy. He later joined up with Raful Neal and Rockin’ Tabby Thomas playing and recording under the names The Louisiana Legends, The District Court and The Hoodoo Kings. As well as his busy career as a recording and performing musician, he also produced and arranged records by such artists as Art Neville, Chris Kenner, Chuck Carbo, Irma Thomas, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Johnny Adams, Mary Jane Hooper, Robert Parker, The Vibrettes, and The Explosions. He was honoured on May 22, 1997 when it was declared "Eddie Bo Day" in New Orleans by mayor Marc Morial while Bo was playing in Karachi, Pakistan. He won many music awards including two Lifetime Achievement awards from the South Louisiana Music Association and Music / Offbeat Best of the Beat and was named New Orleans' music ambassador to Pakistan (heart attack) b. September 20th 1930.

March 19th
1913: John Thomas (87) Welsh harpist and composer, highly honored throughout Europe with memberships in the Societa di S. Cecilia in Rome, Societa Filharmonica of Florence,the Philharmonic Society of London and he was appointed harpist to Queen Victoria 1872. He taught at the Royal College of Music, where he eventually became professor, and at the Guildhall School of Music. He wrote many pieces for the harp that are very popular today and are used in the exam syllabus. He also wrote an opera, a symphony, two harp concertos, overtures, chamber music, and two cantatas, Llewellyn and The Bride of Neath Valley. He played one of his own harp concertos at a Philharmonic concert in 1852 (?) b. March 1st 1826.
1976: Gary Thain (28) bass, Uriah Heep (drug overdose)
1976: Paul Kossoff (25) UK rock guitarist; born in Hamstead, London, he started playing in the mid 1960s, his first professional band was Black Cat Bones with drummer Simon Kirke. The band did many supporting shows for Fleetwood Mac. Paul spent hours jamming with Peter Green and discussing blues music. Black Cat Bones also played with touring blues piano player Champion Jack Dupree. Both Paul and Simon played on Dupree's album When You Feel the Feeling. Paul and Simon next teamed up with Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser to form Free in 1968 with a debut album Tons Of Sobs, followed by their self-titled album in 1969. Their third album, Fire and Water in 1970, produced the massive hit "All Right Now", with a tour of UK, Europe and Japan. The band split later that year after a 4th album. Paul and Simon then teamed up with Texan keyboard player John "Rabbit" Bundrick and Japanese bass player Tetsu Yamauchi to release the 1971 album Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit. Free reformed and released the album Free At Last in 1972. Fraser decided to quit, so Tetsu and Rabbit were drafted in for Free's 1973 album Heartbreaker after which the group disbanded. Paul then accompanied John Martyn on a 1975 tour before assembling a group called Back Street Crawler releasing two albums: The Band Plays On in 1975 and Second Street in 1976. Paul's guitar playing was also much in demand for session work and he contributed solos on several albums including: Jim Capaldi's Oh How We Danced (1972), Martha Veléz's Fiends and Angels (1969); Blondel's Mulgrave Street (1974); Uncle Dog's Old Hat (1972), Michael Gately's Gately's Cafe (1971) and Mike Vernon's 1971 album Bring It Back Home. He also played on four demos by Ken Hensley, which were eventually released on the 1994 album entitled From Time To Time and three tracks which appear on the CD-only issue of John Martyn's Live At Leeds album from 1975. An unreleased guitar solo also surfaced in 2006 on the title track to the album All One by David Elliot who recorded with Paul in the 70s. Paul was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" (died from a drug-related heart attack while on a plane flight from Los Angeles to New York) b. September 14th 1950.
1982: Randall "Randy" Rhoads (25) American rock guitarist; born in Santa Monica, California, he started playing guitar at age six on his grandfather's old Gibson "Army-Navy" classical acoustic guitar. At the age of 14, he and his older brother Kelle formed a cover band called Violet Fox, after which he taught his best friend Kelly Garni to play bass, and together they formed a band called The Whore. Together the pair went on to form Quiet Riot when Randy was 16. In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was forming his new band, the Blizzard of Ozz, and invited him to play lead guitar. Randy enjoyed the freedom he was allowed which bought his guitar playing to a different level. Their self titled debut album was an instant hit. Randy is cited as an influence by many contemporary heavy metal guitarists. A devoted student of classical guitar, Randy often combined his classical music influences with his own heavy metal style. (killed in a freak airplane accident, whilst buzzing the bands tour bus from a light aircraft, the plane's wing clipped the bus and crashed) b. December 6th 1956.
1989: Alan Civil (59) English French horn player; he was engaged by Thomas Beecham to play second horn to Dennis Brain in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, when Brain left for the Philharmonia, Alan took over leadership of the section. In 1955, he joined the Philharmonia himself, becoming principal horn player when Brain died in a car crash in 1957. In the 1960s, Alan became the first non-German to be approached by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to become a member, but he stayed with the Philharmonia, who were reshaping themselves into the New Philharmonia. In 1966 he became principal hornist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, remaining there until his retirement in 1988. As a soloist, Civil recorded the horn concertos of Mozart, and his recording of Benjamin Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings with Robert Tear is also quite well known. He also played chamber music in the Alan Civil Horn Trio. Alan He was awarded an OBE in 1985 (?) b.
1990: Andrew Wood (24) American singer born in Columbus, Mississippi, as a teenager he and his brother Kevin Wood formed the band Malfunkshun, their only released material during's the bands existence was on the compilation, Deep Six. After moving to Seattle, Washington, Andrew along with Jeff Ament, Bruce Fairweather, Stone Gossard and Greg Gilmore formed the band Mother Love Bone. As frontman Andrew's personality and compositions helped to catapult the group to the top of the Seattle music scene. Sadly he died just before the release of Mother Love Bone's debut album "Apple". Fellow band members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament formed a side project band Temple of the Dog, in remembrance of Andrew, dedicating their self titled album to him, they went on to form Pearl Jam. Also The Alice in Chains dedicated their song "Would? "to Andrew (tragically died of a heroin overdose coupled with a cerebral hemorrhage) b. January 6th 1966
2007: Luther Ingram (69) American R&B, soul singer, songwriter; best known for his hit, "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right", which was placed number one on Billboard magazine's R&B chart, and peaked at No.3 on the Hot 100 chart in 1972. Other popular tracks include "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)" and "I'll Be Your Shelter". He was also responsible for the classic 1966 Northern Soul stormer "If It's All The Same To You" and it's instrumental "Exus Trek". He also co-authored the Staples Singers hit, "Respect Yourself". (heart failure) b. March 19th 2007.
2008: Mia Permanto (19) Finnish singer, radio host and was placed sixth in the Idols finals of 2007. She can be heard on the single "Rising Sun" released by Heikki Liimatainen in October 2007. She can also be heard on The Prophecy album by Cristal Snow. She had started to record an album with Helsinki Music Works just before her death (cause of death not released) b. April 21st 1988.
2009: Ion Dolanescu (65) Romanian singer and politician; popular East European traditional folk music singer having recorded 9 hit singles, the last 3 of which feature Maria Ciobanu. Since 2000 he has also been a member of parliment as deputy of the Committee for Culture, Arts, and Mass Media (heart attack) b. January 25th 1944.

March 20th
1978: Robert Gilbert/Robert David Winterfeld (78) German composer of light music, lyricist, singer, and actor (?) b. September 29th 1899
1981: Sonny Red Kyner (48)American alto saxophonist (?).
1987: Norman Harris (39) an American guitarist, producer, arranger, songwriter, and orchestra conductor associated with Philly soul; a founding member of MFSB and one-third of the production trio of Baker-Harris-Young (heart attack)
1988: Gil Evans/Ian Ernest Gilmore Green (75) Canadian jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, in Toronto, active in the United States. He played an important role in the development of cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz and jazz fusion, and collaborated extensively with Miles Davis. From 1957 onwards Gil recorded over 2 dozen albums under his own name, debuting with the album Big Stuff aka Gil Evans & Ten in 1957. His 1986 album, Bud and Bird, won the Grammy award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band in 1989. In the 1970s, he worked in the free jazz and jazz-rock idioms, he had a particular interest in the work of rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix. and in 1974, he released an album of his arrangements of music by Hendrix. In 1986, he produced and arranged the soundtrack to the film Absolute Beginners, thereby working with such contemporary artists as Sade Adu, Patsy Kensit's Eight Wonder, The Style Council, Jerry Dammers, Smiley Culture, Edward Tudor-Pole, and, notably, David Bowie. In 1986, he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame and in 1987, Gil recorded a live CD with Sting, featuring big band arrangements of songs by and with The Police (he sadly died in the Mexican city, Cuernavaca) b. May 13th 1912.
1991: Coner Clapton (4) Eric Clapton's son (fell from a 53rd floor window in New York)
1991: Billy Butler (65) US soul-jazz and blues guitarist; sessionist/freelance ().
1992: Georges Delerue (67) French film composer born in Roubaix. He composed over 350 scores for cinema and television and won numerous important awards including Rome Prize in 1949, Emmy Award in 1968 - Our World, Genie Award in 1986 - Sword Of Gideon, ACE Award in 1991 - The Josephine Baker Story and an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1979 for A Little Romance and 4 other Academy Nominations for Anne of the Thousand Days, The Day of the Dolphin, Julia and Agnes of God. Georges was the first and perhaps the only composer to win 3 consecutive Cesar Awards together and an Academy in the same year in 1979 with Get Out Your Handkerchiefs and A Little Romance; 1980 - Love on the Run; and 1981 - The Last Metro plus 5 other Cesar Nominations (died of a heart attack) b. March 12th 1925.
1998: George Howard (41) American jazz soprano saxophonist born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; George originally trained on clarinet and bassoon before deciding on the soprano sax. He had been inspired by the likes of John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Harris, Grover Washinton Jr and Wayne Shorter and worked as session player for Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Leon Huff, Dexter Wansel, First Choice and Blue Magic, before 1979 when the great Grover Washinton Jr invited him on a tour, a tour which helped establish his name. George concentrated on the soulful side of jazz, and released his first solo studio album, Asphalt Gardens in 1982, followed by Steppin' Out in 1984, both albums charted on the Billboard jazz album charts at No. 25 and No. 9. But his third album, Dancing in the Sun, had scaled the Billboard Jazz Album chart to No.1. by 1985. This fine acheivement was repeated by his next three albums, Love Will Follow-1986; A Nice Place to Be-1986; and Reflections-1988. George recorded seven more studio albums before "There's a Riot Goin' On", his final album, was released by Blue Note Records on April 21st 1998, one month after his death. This tribute to Sly Stone was well ahead of it's time in the smooth jazz genre. (George sadly died of lymphoma) b. September 15th 1956.
2008: Klaus Dinger (61) German drummer and songwriter most famous for his contributions to the seminal Krautrock outfit; the band Neu! and his invention of the Motorik beat. Less known is that he was the former percussionist and founding member of Kraftwerk (heart failure).
2009: Mel Brown (69) American blues guitarist, he started guitar in his early teens while battling meningitis, studying the music of idols like B. B. King and T-Bone Walker. In 1960, he toured with The Olympics, followed by a two years with Etta James. By 1963 he had become a wanted session musician playing/ recording for artists from Bobby Darin to T-Bone Walker. In 1971 he paired up with fellow guitarist Herb Ellis recording a series of LPs including ''Big Foot Country Gal'', ''The Wizard'', and ''I'd Rather Suck My Thumb'', they worked on various projects over 12 years. In the years to follow, he backed artists from Buddy Guy to Stevie Ray Vaughan to Clifton Chenier. In 1986, Brown accepted Albert Collins' offer to join his band the Icebreakers, recording Cold Snap before returning to Antone's. In 1989, he resumed his solo career with "If It's All Night, It's All Right". Then in early 1990, Mel relocated to Canada, where he formed a new band, the Homewreckers. He was nominated for a Juno Award in both 2001 and 2002 and on April 3 2008 Mel performed on stage with Buddy Guy in Kitchener Ontario mesmerizing the crowd. Buddy Guy left the stage for Mel to finish the show to a Standing Ovation (emphysema) b. October 7th 1939.

March 21st
1970: Manolis Chiotis (50) Greek singer, Rebetiko composer and a virtuoso on the guitarist and bouzouki. He first started playing on the violin, then eventually moved on to the guitar and the bouzouki. From very early on, he was recognized as a great talent. Manolis began his stage and recording career in 1937, at age of 16, playing with Bayanderas. A year later, in 1938, he recorded his first song "De les to nai kai 'sy". As a result of the shut down of the record companies in Greece, because of the German Occupation, he was already one of the major musicians and played Bouzouki and Guitar in many recordings, besides his own. His career took-off after the German Occupation. He has composed many great songs that became timeless hits, including "O Pasatémpos" , "Apópse Fíla me", "Miázis san Thálassa", "Vouno me vouno" to mention a few. He also started to play and popularized the four-course bouzouki (type of bouzouki with 8 metal strings which are arranged in 4 pairs) after 1959. His second Mary Linda also sang many of his hits. Manolis is known as an incredible virtuoso on both the bouzouki and the guitar. (?) b. March 21st 1920.
1981: King Pleasure/Clarence Beeks (58) American jazz vocalist and an early master of vocalese, where a singer sings words to a famous instrumental solo. Born as in Oakdale, Tennessee, he moved to New York City in the mid-1940s where he first achieved popularity by singing the Eddie Jefferson vocalese classic "Moody's Mood for Love," based on a James Moody saxophone solo to "I'm in the Mood for Love". His recording in 1952 is considered a jazz classic. He cites Jefferson as an influence and predecessor. He and Betty Carter also recorded a famous vocalese version of "Red Top," a jazz classic penned by Kansas Citian Ben Kynard and recorded by Gene Ammons and others. He recorded King Pleasure 'Sings/Annie Ross Sings', 'Moody's Mood for Love' and 'Golden Days' King was cited as a significant influence by Van Morrison, especially on his album Astral Weeks (?) b. March 24th 1922
1987: Dean Paul Martin Jr (35) American singer, tennis player, actor, a military pilot, and son of the legendary Dean Martin; born in Santa Monica; at the age of thirteen he joined Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche in the pop group Dino, Desi, & Billy, which had a few minor nationwide hits between 1965 and 1968, landing in the Top 30 twice. After which in his late teens he began to go by his given name of Dean Paul instead of the nickname "Dino". He became a successful tennis player, competing in a junior competition at Wimbledon; and an actor. He co-starred with Ali MacGraw in the 1979 film Players, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best New Star of the Year-Male and later starred in the TV series Misfits of Science (He had obtained his pilot's license at age 16 and became an officer in the California Air National Guard in 1981. He died when his National Guard F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed in California's San Bernardino Mountains during a snowstorm, killing him and his Weapons Systems Officer, Ramon Ortiz.) b. November 17th 1951.
1991: Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender (81) Greek-American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, now known as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and later founded MusicMan and G&L Musical Products (G&L Guitars). His guitar, bass, and amplifier designs from the 1950s continue to dominate popular music more than half a century later. "The Strat" he asked his customers what new features they would want on the Telecaster. The large number of replies, along with the continued popularity of the Telecaster, caused him to leave the Telecaster as it was and to design a new, upscale solid body guitar to be sold alongside the basic Telecaster instead. Western swing guitarist Bill Carson was one of the chief critics of the Telecaster, stating that the new design should have individually adjustable bridge saddles, four or five pickups, a vibrato unit that could be used in either direction and return to proper tuning, and a contoured body for enhanced comfort over the slab-body Telecaster's harsh edges. Leo and draughtsman Freddie Tavares began designing the new guitar in late 1953, which would address most of Carson's ideas and would also include a rounder, less "club-like" neck and a double cutaway for easier reach to the upper registers. Released in 1954, the Stratocaster has been in continuous production ever since. The Electric Bass: Leo also conceived an instrument that would prove to be essential to the evolution of popular music with the Precision Bass (or "P-Bass"), released in 1951,. Up until this time, bassists had been left to playing acoustically resonating double basses/upright basses. Unlike double basses, the Telecaster-based Precision Bass was small and portable, and its solid body construction and four magnet, single coil electronic pickup allowed it to be amplified at higher volumes without the feedback issues normally associated with acoustic instruments. Along with the Precision Bass, so named because its fretted neck allowed bassists to play with 'precision'.the P-Bass and its accompanying amplifier were the first widely-produced of their kind, and the P-bass was the first bass to be fretted like a guitar; arguably, the P-Bass remains one of the most popular basses in music today. 1960 saw the release of the Jazz Bass, a sleeker, updated bass with a slimmer neck, and offset waist body and two single coil pickups, as opposed to the Precision Bass and its split-humbucking pickup that had been introduced in 1957. Like its predecessor, the Jazz Bass/"J-Bass" was an instant hit and has remained popular to this day, and early models are highly sought after by collectors (complications of Parkinson's disease) b. August 10th 1909.
2002: John "Speedy" Keen (57) UK vocalist, songwriter, drummer for Thunderclap Newman, a band The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend created in 1969, to play and record songs written by 'Speedy' who had been The Who's roadie and chauffeur for Peter. Originally Peter Townsend played bass for the band under the pseudonym Bijou Drains. Speedy wrote The Who's "Armenia City in the Sky", the only song The Who ever performed that was specifically written for the group by a non-member. Speedy's mega hit song "Something In The Air" appeared on the soundtracks of the films The Magic Christian (1969),The Strawberry Statement (1970) Kingpin (1996), Almost Famous (2000), The Dish (2000) and The Girl Next Door (2004). Speedy went on to be record producer for The Heartbreakers and Motörhead.(died suddenly of heart failure) b. March 29th 1945.
2004: Johnny Bristol (65) US singer, songwriter and record producer for the Motown label, later signing with MGM. He started out recording locally, with the Detroit label Anna in 1959, owned by Gwen Gordy and Billy Davis and also for Gwen Gordy and Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label. The 2 labels were absorbed by Berry Gordy's Motow, here Johnny had many hits both as a producer and songwriter including Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love", Edwin Starr's "Twenty-Five Miles", Gladys Knight & the Pips' "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" and David Ruffin's "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)". After leaving Motown in 1973 he joined CBS as a producer, before signing a recording contract with MGM. Later he had much success in Europe especially with the release of "Man Up in the Sky", and a cover of the his penned "What Does it Take to Win Your Love", originally a hit for Jr. Walker & the All Stars. Johnny 's last releases were a 12" single in 1991 for Whichway Records, "Come to Me", and an album Life & Love released for the Japanese market in 1993 (natural causes) b. February 3rd 1939.
2005: Robert Waltrip "Bobby" Short (80) American cabaret singer and pianist known for his interpretation of songs by 20th century composers such as Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke and George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. He also championed African-American composers of the same period such as Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller and Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. In 1972 he sung the theme song in James Ivory's film "Savages" and in 1986 he appeared in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters", then Woody Allen used his recording "I Happen To Like New York" for opening title of '''Manhattan Murder Mystery'' in 1993. (leukemia) b. September 15th 1924
2008: Shusha 'Shamsi' Guppy (72) Persian writer, editor and a singer of Persian and Western folk-songs. At the age of 17 she studied Oriental languages and philosophy in Paris and also trained as an opera singer. In Paris she encountered artists, writers and poets such as Louis Aragon, Jose Bergamin, Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus and encouraged by Jacques Prévert to record albums of Persian folk songs, and subsequently chansons and old French songs. Her first British release, in 1971, was an album of traditional Persian music, previously released in France. In 1976 Shamsi relocated to London, and was very influenced by the Folk Revival, she wrote and sung some of her own songs, as well as covering the works of many contemporary singer/song-writers. She recorded 9 albums and gave successful concerts in Britain, America and Europe (?) b. December 24th 1935.
2008: John Fowler (42) American drummer; he was a member of the band Rage of Angels, before becoming a founding member of Steelheart playing on the bands first two albums ''Steelheart'' & ''Tangled In Reins''. He left the band to play with ''Voodoo Jets'' and ''Smoke and Hipnotic'' with whom he was playing with when sadly, he fell into a fatel coma (brain aneurysm) b. 1965
2008: Klaus Dinger (61) German drummer, multi-musician and songwriter born in Scherfede, brought up in Düsseldorf. Influenced by UK rock acts such as The Kinks and The Rolling Stones, in 1966 he formed a band The No, with friends Norbert Körfer, Lutz Bellman and Jo Maassen. In 1969 The No split up and he joined cover band The Smash and began touring southern Germany. In 1970 he joined Kraftwerk as their drummer. After which he began the recording sessions with the band which would become Neu!. He made 3 albums with Neu!. Klaus's most famous, successful, and acclaimed post-Neu! act would be La Düsseldorf. They released a string of successful albums, with sales totaling over a million, in the late 70's and early 80's: La Düsseldorf, Viva, and Individuellos. Klaus then released two solo albums "Neondian" and "Blue". In the 90s he launched the band La! Neu?, releasing 7 albums on Captain Trip Records (Sadly he died from heart failure 3 days before his birthday) b. March 24th 1946.

March 22nd
1991: Dave Guard (56) American folk singer, songwriter, arranger and recording artist. Along with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane, he was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio. While an undergraduate at Stanford, Dave started a pickup group with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane. He called his group Dave Guard and the Calypsonians. He kept the group together after Reynolds and Shane left, changing the name to The Kingston Quartet. Then in 1957, when Reynolds and Shane agreed to team up with him again, the group changed its name to The Kingston Trio. Under contract with Capitol Records, the Trio became a huge commercial and influential success with hits such as songs include "Tom Dooley," "A Worried Man," "Hard Travelin'," "Tijuana Jail," "Greenback Dollar," "Reverend Mr. Black," "Sloop John B.," "Scotch And Soda," "Merry Minuet," "M.T.A.", "Zombie Jamboree", "Hard, Ain't It Hard," "Three Jolly Coachmen," and "Raspberries, Strawberries". In 1961, shortly after leaving the Trio, Dave formed a new group, The Whiskeyhill Singers, They toured and released an album and were asked to perform several folk songs on the Academy Award winning soundtrack of How the West Was Won. Their voices can be heard on "The Erie Canal", "900 miles", "The Ox Driver", "Raise A Ruckus Tonight". Dave performed solo on the tracks "Wanderin'" and "Poor Wayfarin' Stranger". In late 1962 he moved to Sydney, Australia. There he hosted a national TV variety show called Dave's Place. Until his return to the United States in 1968. Through the '80's he continued to make solo performances, along with several "reunions" of the old Kingston Trio. In 2000 The Kingston Trio was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (lymphatic cancer) b. October 19th 1934.
1994: Dan Hartman (43) American singer, songwriter and record producer; he joined his first band, The Legends, at the age of 13, as keyboardist and wrote much of the band's music, releasing several records. He next joined the Edgar Winter Group and played guitar on three of their albums; he wrote the band's second biggest pop hit "Free Ride" in 1972. A re-recorded version of "Free Ride" was used in the movie, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, in 1995 and Charizard the Dragon in 1998. He launched his solo career in 1976 and in 1978 he reached No.1 on the Dance Charts with the single, "Instant Replay". This was followed by his second chart topper, "Relight My Fire", which later became the theme for the NBC talk show Tomorrow. In 1984, Dave also performed "Heart of the Beat" under the band name 3V with Charlie Midnight for the soundtrack of Breakin' directed by Joel Silberg. In 1985, he scored a third No.1 single on the Dance Music charts, with "We Are The Young." (brain tumor caused by AIDS) b. December 8th 1950.
2005: Rod Price (58) UK guitarist; at 21, he joined the British blues band Black Cat Bones, replacing Paul Kossoff, recording one album, 'Barbed Wire Sandwich'. Rod is best known for his years with the band Foghat, he joined Foghat when the group was first formed in London in 1971. He played on the band's first ten albums, released from 1972 through to 1980. Rod began a solo career at the beginning of the 21st century, and returned to his blues roots. He released two CD's, Open in 2002 and West Four in 2003. He toured and performed in blues clubs across the United States, and was featured at guitar seminars and workshops as well during this period. Known as the "Magician of slide" he worked with many other musicians over his career, such as Champion Jack Dupree, John Lee Hooker, Duster Bennett, Eddie Kirkland, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Honey Boy Edwards (died after falling down a flight of stairs and suffering a massive coronary) b. November 22nd 1947.
2006: Pío Leyva/Wilfredo Pascual (88) Cuban singer; he is the author of the well-known guaracha El Mentiroso ("The Liar") and composed some of Cuba’s best known standards. At the age of six he won a bongo contest and made his singing debut in 1932. He recorded over 25 albums since he signed his first contract with RCA Victor in 1950. He also sang with other Cuban artists such as Benny Moré, Bebo Valdés and Noro Morales and was a member of Estrellas de Areito and "Compay Segundo y Sus Muchachos". Pío was part of the Buena Vista Social Club, and took part in the 2004 film Música Cubana, which was marketed as a sequel to Buena Vista Social Club (heart attack) b. May 5th 1917
2008: Israel "Cachao" López (89) Cuban mambo musician, bassist and composer, who has helped bring mambo music to popularity in the United States of America in the early 1950s. From an eight year old bongo player to one of the 2 most sort after bass player in New York, Cachao has played with artists such as Celia Cruz, Bebo Valdes, Tito Puente, Willy Chirino, Paquito D'Rivera, Willie Colon, and his music has been featured on movies such as The Birdcage, and on the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City soundtrack. Andy García produced two documentaries about this music, Cachao ... Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos ("With A Rhythm Like No Other") in 1993 and Cachao: Uno Más, which premiered in April 2008 at the San Francisco International Film Festival. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and has been described as "the inventor of the mambo" winning several Grammy Awards for both his own work and his contributions on albums by Latin music stars, including Gloria Estefan. In 1994 he won a Grammy for Master Sessions Volume 1. In 2003 he won a Latin Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album together with Bebo and Patato Valdés for El Arte Del Sabor and he won a further Grammy in 2005, again for his own work (renal failure) b. September 14th 1918.
2008: Jason Rae (31) Scottish saxophonist, who played with his band Haggis Horns for the late 8 years of his life. The group have played backing band and toured with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Mark Ronson, Nightmares On Wax and Corinne Bailey Rae, who was also Jason's wife. His band had recently released a debut album, "Hot Damn!", at the time of his death. (found dead in his flat in Leeds, UK; a toxicology test has proved inconclusive but West Yorkshire Police suspect he died of a drugs overdose). b. October 19th 1976.
2010: Valentina Tolkunova (63) Russian singer born in Armavir; at the age of 18 she entered Moscow State University and in 1966 became a member of Yury Saulsky's jazz band VIO-66 as a soloist and jazz singer. A performance in 1972 at Moscow's Kolonny Concert Hall, where she sang several songs by Soviet composer Vladimir Shainsky is considered the performance that catapulted her career. Over the next 3 decades or more, Valentina released at least thirteen albums. She also won many awards in Soviet republics and was a 23-time winner of the "Song of the Year" competition on television. She was also bestowed the title of Honored Artist of RSFSR in 1979 and People's Artist of RSFSR in 1987. (On February 16th 2010, Valentina became ill during a concert in Mogilev, Belarus, and went to a local hospital before being transferred to the Botkin Clinic in Moscow. On 22 March, she went into a coma and sadly died two hours later of a brain tumor) b. July 12th 1946.

March 23rd
1980: Jacob Miller (23) Jamaican reggae artist well known for his work with Inner Circle; he featured in the film Rockers, alongside many other musicians including Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth and Burning Spear. In the movie, he plays the singer of a hotel house band, in reality Inner Circle, who are joined on drums by the films hero, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace and play an awesome live version of Inner Circle hit "Tenement Yard". One of his biggest Jamaican hits "Tired Fe Lick Weed" showed his political leanings as can be seen in his performance of the song in the film "Heartland Reggae", where his open enjoyment of a 'ganja spliff' on stage was intended to be seen as a militant statement. He was due to perform along with Bob Marley and Inner Circle in Brazil and then to tour with them; this tour was canceled after Miller's untimely death (car crash) b. May 4th 1952.
1982: Sonny Greer (86) American jazz drummer; he started his career with Elmer Snowden's band and the Howard Theatre's orchestra in Washington, D.C. He met Duke Ellington in 1919 and became the Duke's first drummer, playing in his quintet, the Washingtonians. He moved with Ellington into the Cotton Club, and because of his then second job as a designer with the Leedy Drum Company, he built up a huge drum kit worth over $3,000, as well as chimes, a gong, timpani, and vibes. He stayed with the Duke for over 30 years. In 1950 the two musicians fell out to due to Sonny's heavy drinking and unreliability and they went their separate ways. Sonny worked as a freelance drummer playing with the likes of Johnny Hodges, Red Allen, J. C. Higginbotham, Tyree Glenn, and Brooks Kerr, as well as appearing in films, and briefly leading his own band. He was part of a tribute to The Duke in 1974, which achieved great success throughout the United States (?) b. December 13th 1895
1995: Alan Barton (41) English lead singer of hit-making duo Black Lace, alongside Colin Routh, with hits including "Agadoo", "The Music Man" and "Superman". They also represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 in Jerusalem, with the song "Mary Ann", which finished seventh. In 1986, Alan replaced Chris Norman in Smokie recording six albums with them, and touring extensively as their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. He was also the lead singer on Smokie's revival of their hit, "Living Next Door To Alice", recorded with British comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown, as "Who The Fuck is Alice". In 1991 he released his only solo album, "Precious" and two singles: "July 69" and "Carry Your Heart" ft Kristine Pettersen (Tragically on his way to Dusseldorf airport the band tour bus careered off the road in a freak hailstorm. Alan died 5 days later while in intesive care) b. September 16th 1953.
2002: Eileen Farrell (82) American opera and concert soprano singer, she preferred the concert hall and radio to the theatre. Born in Willimantic, Connecticut, but raised in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, in 1942 she made her concert debut on CBS radio where she soon presented her own radio program. During 1947–1948, she toured the US as a concert singer, and in 1949 she toured South America. Her song recital in New York in October 1950 was enthusiastically acclaimed and secured for her immediate recognition. That year, she also appeared in a concert performance of Berg's Wozzeck as Marie. In 1952, she was engaged by Toscanini for his first and only studio recording of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. In the 1955 film Interrupted Melody, which starred Eleanor Parker as Australian soprano Marjorie Lawrence, Eileen supplied the singing voice for Ms. Parker. Throughout the 1960s she was a frequent soloist with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. From 1971 to 1980, Eileen was professor of music at the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington. In the 1980's she recorded some pop albums and also made several recordings of blues music as well as the duet with Frank Sinatra on his "Trilogy" album, in which they sang a version of the country music hit "For the Good Times" (?) b. February 13th 1920.
2006: Cindy Walker (87) American singer, songwriter, dancer. The list of artists who have recorded Cindy's work reads like a "who's who" of American giants: from frequent collaborator Bob Wills to Roy Rogers, Webb Pierce, Eddy Arnold and Elvis, her co-writers and musical partners turned to her often for her signature hooks and poignant story-telling. Cindy's renowned pieces include "Take Me in Your Arms (and Hold Me)," "Cherokee Maiden," "You Don't Know Me,""In the Misty Moonlight," "Dream Baby", "Sugar Moon," "Distant Drums" and "I Don't Care." She wrote over 50 songs for Wills, the bandleader for the Texas Playboys, and garnered a new wave of media attention in recently (2006)because of Willie Nelson's newest album, Songs of Cindy Walker. Many are calling the project Nelson's best work in decade. Cindy was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997 (?) b. 20 July 1918.
2006: Pio Leyva/Wilfredo Pascual (88) Cuban singer, born in Morón, Cuba; he was part of the Buena Vista Social Club, and author of the well-known guaracha El Mentiroso ("The Liar"). He won a bongo contest at the age of six and made his singing debut in 1932. Pio recorded over 25 albums since he signed his first contract with RCA Victor in 1950. He sang with other Cuban artists including Benny Moré, Bebo Valdés, Noro Morales and was a member of Estrellas de Areito and "Compay Segundo y Sus Muchachos". He also took part in the 2004 film Música Cubana, which was marketed as a sequel to Buena Vista Social Club (heart attack) b. May 5th 1917.
2010: Blanche Thebom (91) American mezzo-soprano born in Monessen, Pennsylvania. Blanche sang with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for almost twenty years and is well known for her performance of the role of Brangane in Tristan und Isolde in a recording with Kirsten Flagstad and Ludwig Suthaus, conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler . After her retirement from the Metropolitan 1960, she taught and directed opera performance in Atlanta and Little Rock until around 1980. She also appeared in summer theatre revivals of Broadway musicals such as The Sound of Music, as the Mother Abbess in Atlanta (?) b. September 19th 1918.
2010: Marva Wright (62) American blues singer, Marva sang all her life, starting as a child at home and in church, but she didn’t start her professional career as a blues singer until 1987, when she began singing on Bourbon Street and became the powerhouse of New Orleans' blues and gospel scene. She made her first recording, "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" in 1989 and made her debut on national television in 1991. Also that year her debut album "Heartbreakin' Woman", was honored by the Louisiana Music Critics Association as Blues Album of the Year. Marva went on to gig across the world, in France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Russia, Norway, Sweden, and Brazil. Her appearances in the U.S. include Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York, Texas, California, Vermont, Colorado, and Florida. She has worked with many artists including Joe Cocker, Glen Campbell, Allen Toussaint, Harry Connick Jr., Bobby McFerrin, Aaron Neville, Fats Domino, Lou Rawls, and Marcia Ball. Marva released 9 albums over her career, the last being "After the Levees Broke" in 2007, one of the first albums by a New Orleans artist to fully address the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (Marva sadly died from complications after suffering two strokes last summer) b. March 20th 1948.

March 24th
1972: Linda Jones (26) American soul singer; she started in her family's gospel group the Jones Singers at the age of six. Her first recording was "Lonely Teardrops" under the name Linda Lane, on Cub Records in 1963, and she had unsuccessful singles on Atco Records in 1964 and Blue Cat Records the following year. She signed with Warner Bros. Records subsidiary Loma Records in 1967 at age 27 and released the biggest of several hits, "Hypnotized". Soon after her career took off, however, she was diagnosed with diabetes (slipped into a diabetic coma while at home resting between shows, she was rushed to hospital, but sadly passed away) b. December 14th 1944.
1997: Harold Melvin (57) soul singer; was one of the driving forces behind Philadelphia soul, leading his group the Blue Notes (he suffered a stroke and never fully recovered)
2008: Neil Aspinall (66) UK school friend of George Harrison and Paul McCartney; he started out running them to local gigs in his van. He soon became road manager, then personal assistant, later he became a record producer and chief executive of their company, Apple Corps. (lung cancer)
2008: Chalmers "Spanky" Alford (53) American jazz guitarist and three time Grammy award winner. He had a illustrious career as a gospel quartet guitar player in the 1960s, 70's, and 80's with groups such as the Mighty Clouds of Joy among others. Later in life he found a new career in the neo-soul movement of the 90's and 2000's, most notably contributing to the sounds of D'Angelo and Tony Toni Toné. Spanky played guitar as part of The Soultronics, (D'angelo's highly regarded band for his 2000 "Voodoo" tour), alongside Questlove, James Poyser, Pino Palladino and Anthony Hamilton among many others. He was an amazing teacher and is credited with teaching Raphael Saadiq among many others to play guitar. He played on several albums with artists such as Joss Stone, John Mayer, Mary J Blige, Raphael Saadiq, D'Angelo and Roy Hargrove (diabetes) b. May 22nd 1955.
2010: Johnny Maestro/John Mastrangelo (70) American lead singer born in New York began his career in 1957 as the original lead singer of The Crests, one of the first interracial groups of the recording industry. After a regional hit with "My Juanita"/"Sweetest One", and two years of chart success with "16 Candles", "Step by Step", "The Angels Listened In", and "Trouble in Paradise", Johnny left the Crests for a solo career, with Top 40 hits "What A Surprise" and "Model Girl" in 1961 and 1962. He next joined and toured with another New York group, as lead singer, called the Del-Satins. In 1967 they joined forces with the 7 piece brass group The Rhythm Method calling themselves the Brooklyn Bridge. Their first release, a version of the Jimmy Webb song "The Worst That Could Happen" reached No. 3 on the Billboard pop chart. The follow up, "Welcome Me Love", and its flip side, Blessed is the Rain, both charted. A dramatic version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" and the controversial "Your Husband, My Wife" also reached the middle ranges of the charts. The group sold over 10 million records by 1972, including LP sales. Appearances on Ed Sullivan, The Della Reese Show and other programs helped to bring the group to the national stage. Johnny with the Brooklyn Bridge continued to perform and tour until his passing, but on a scaled down size after their haydays. More recently, Johnny and the Brooklyn Bridge were featured in one of PBS's biggest fundraising events ever, "Doo Wop 50", performing both "The Worst That Could Happen" and "Sixteen Candles", the entire program was released on VHS and DVD. In 2004 they released a CD titled "Today", featuring more re-recordings of their hits and versions of other groups' songs of the 1950s and 60's and in 2005, the Brooklyn Bridge released a full concert-length DVD as part of the "Pops Legends Live" series. Johnny recorded his last album with the Brooklyn Bridge in 2009, Today Volume 2. His final performance was January 17th 2010, when The Brooklyn Bridge was among groups appearing at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, billed as "The Ultimate Doo-Wop Party". They were honoured in 2005 being inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame, and again in 2006 when they were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15th (Sadly died after battling cancer) b. May 7th 1939.

March 25th
1767: Georg Philipp Telemann (86) German composer, one of the first composers to concentrate on the business of publishing his own music ()
1918: Achille-Claude Debussy (55) Important French composer (rectal cancer)
1951: Sidney Catlett (40) US swinging jazz drummer; worked with Elmer Snowden, Benny Carter, Louis Armstrong's All Stars, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman and more (a stroke).
1957: Red Brown/Tom Brown (69) An early New Orleans dixieland jazz trombonist; born in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, he started out playing trombone with the bands of Papa Jack Laine and Frank Christian. By 1910 Tom was leading bands under his own name, playing in a style then locally known as "hot ragtime" or "ratty music". In early 1915 his band was heard by Vaudeville dancer Joe Frisco, who arranged a job for his band in Chicago, Illinois. On May 15, 1915, Tom Brown's Band from Dixieland opened up at Lamb's Cafe at Clark & Randolph Streets in Chicago, with Ray Lopez, cornet and manager; Tom Brown, trombone and leader; Gussie Mueller clarinet, Arnold Loyacano piano and string bass; and Billy Lambert on drums. In Chicago Gussie Mueller was hired by bandleader Bert Kelly, and his place was taken by young New Orleans clarinetist Larry Shields. This band seems to be the first to be popularly referred to as playing "Jazz", or, as it was spelled early on, "Jass". His band was soon to be callled "Brown's Jass Band". He spent the next decade between New York, Chicago and New Orleans. In the mid 1920s he returned home to New Orleans where he played with Johnny Bayersdorffer and Norman Brownlee's bands, making a few excellent recordings. During the Great Depression he supplemented his income from music by repairing radios and openedup a music shop and a junk shop on Magazine Street. He played string bass in local swing and dance bands. With the revival of interest in traditional jazz he played in various Dixieland bands in the 1950s, notably that of Johnny Wiggs. A local television station thought it would be a good idea to invite Tom and Nick LaRocca to talk about how jazz first spread north from New Orleans, but the show had scaresly started before the two old men got into an argument that turned into a fist-fight. Tom made his last recording just weeks before his death, his trombone playing apparently not suffering from the fact that he had neither teeth nor dentures at the time (died in New Orleans) b. June 3rd 1888.
1978: Bill Kenny (63) American lead singer with he Ink Spots; he joined the Inkspots in 1936 replacing Jerry Daniels. Their popularity grew through radio programs and tours, having their hit with "If I Didn't Care", in 1939, followed by songs such as "My Prayer" "Address Unknown" "I Can't Stand Losing You" "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" "Whispering Grass" and more. Many of their records made No.1 on early versions of the US pop charts, "The Gypsy" being their biggest chart success, staying at the No.1 in 1946. In 1954 Billy sang solo with a live backing band, consisting of Harry Prather, Everett Barksdale, and Andrew Maze, touring as "Bill Kenny and his Ink Spots". This group appeared on Ed Sullivan. He also performed with Joe Boatner's Ink Spots in the summer of 1962. The Ink Spots were the subject of a 1998 book by Marv Goldberg: "More Than Words Can Say: The Ink Spots And Their Music". (?) b. 12 June 1914.
1979: Anton Heiller (55) Austrian organist; he combined work as répétiteur and choirmaster at the Vienna Volksoper, with further study of piano, organ, harpsichord, music theory and composition at the Vienna Music Academy. He carried out his military service, mostly as a medical aide, graduating from the Academy in 1945, the same year he became an organ teacher at that institution. By 1957 he held the title of professor. After World War II he had an uninterrupted list of concerts, lectures, records, jury service at contests, and professional honors. In 1952 he won the International Organ Competition in Haarlem, and he toured the United States and Europe, he was awarded the Vienna Culture Prize in 1963, the Vienna Cross of Honor for Arts and Science in 1968 , and the Grand Austrian State Prize in 1969. He was probably the 20th-century's finest Bach organist. (he collapsed, probably of a cardiac arrest, after choking on food) b. September 15th 1923.
1980: Jan "Walter" Susskind (66) Czech-born British conductor, born in Prague, he fled to Britian before the German invasion. In 1942 Walter joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company as a conductor, working with singers such as Heddle Nash and Joan Hammond. In 1944 he made his first recording for Walter Legge of EMI conducting Liu’s arias from Turandot with Hammond. After the war, he became a naturalised British citizen. His first appointment as a musical director was to the Scottish Orchestra from '46 to '52. From '53 to '55 he was the conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. After free-lancing in Israel and Sth America he was appointed to head the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from '56 to '65. While with the TSO he taught conducting at The Royal Conservatory of Music where among his pupils were Milton Barnes and Rudy Toth. From 1968 to 1975 he was conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. In 1971 he opened the New York City Opera’s season with The Makropulos Affair (Walter died in Berkeley, California ) b. May 1st 1913.
1991: Royal G. "Rusty" Bryant (61) American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist; born Royal G. Bryant in Huntington, West Virginia but grew up in Columbus, OH. Inspired by the likes of Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt, he took up the saxophone and soon became an important part of the local jazz scene. In the 40s he worked as sideman to both Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes and Stomp Gordon until 1952 when he formed his own band. A few years later he had a major R&B hit with "All Night Long" after which he settled back to his home town, playing locally for the next 10 years. Emerging again in 1968 and releasing his hit song "That Healin' Feelin'" and his 1970 release of "Soul Liberation" charted on both U.S. Black Albums chart and the Top Jazz Albums chart. Rusty recorded extensively for Prestige Records from 1969 until 1974, being a sideman with Boogaloo Joe Jones, Johnny Hammond Smith, Sonny Phillips and recording 8 of his own albums. He continued to record into the early 1980s, recording his final album, "With the Boss 4" in 1981, after which Rusty again returned to Columbus to play locally (?) b. November 25th 1929.
2006: Rocío Dúrcal (60) Spanish singer and actress; in 1959 at the age of 15 years old she to part in a television program and sang a traditional song “La Sombra Vendo”, Luis Sanz, a “talent seeker” of Madrid was impressed by her talent and personality. He placed her in the care of private tutors to complete her secondary education and begin singing, dancing and acting lessons and her singing career was launched. At the age of 17 she was offered a role in Canción de Juventud. After acting in several films she married Filipino singer Antonio Morales, a member of the Pop group Los Brincos. In 1975, after having two of her three children, she retired from the film industry and in 1977 re-launched her singing career. Rocio has sold more than 53 million records worldwide and her style has influenced many female mariachi and ranchera singers from Mexico as well as the Hispanic community of the United States (cancer) b. October 4th 1944.
2006: Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens Jr (76) American singer and guitarist; in 1945, Buck co-hosted a radio show called Buck and Britt. He relocated to Bakersfield, California, frequently traveling to Hollywood for session recording jobs at Capitol Records, playing backup for Tennessee Ernie Ford, Sonny James, Wanda Jackson, Del Reeves, Tommy Sands, Tommy Collins, Faron Young and Gene Vincent, and many others. In the late 50's he recorded a rockabilly record called "Hot Dog" for the Pep label, using the pseudonym Corky Jones. He used the pseudonym because he did not want the fact he recorded a rock n' roll tune to hurt his country music career. In the early 60's he formed his legendary band, the Buckaroos, producing 21 No.1 hits on the Billboard country music charts. Buck and the Buckaroos pioneered what has come to be called the Bakersfield sound, a reference to Bakersfield. He originally used fiddle and retained pedal steel guitar into the 1970s, he can be heard harmonising with his longtime friend and guitarist Don Rich until he died in a motor cycle accident in 1974. Devastated, Buck didn't perform again until 1988 when he teamed up with Dwight Yoakam for a duet of "Streets of Bakersfield", his first No.11 single in 16 years. This led to lots of re-issues, gigs and tours. Buck was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996. He was ranked No.12 in CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003 and named the Buckaroos as 2nd greatest country music band in history (heart attack) b. August 12th 1929.
2008: Gene Puerling (78) American jazz musician, singer, musical arranger for the Hi-Los and Singers Unlimited, awarded a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices in 1982 for his arrangement of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" as performed by The Manhattan Transfer (?).
2009: English Dan/ Danny Wayland Seals (61) American vocalist, guitarist, saxophonist, bassist and the younger brother of Jim Seals from the duo Seals & Crofts. Dan joined with fellow W.W. Samuell High School classmate and longtime friend John Ford Coley to perform first as part of Dallas pop/psych group Southwest "Freight on Board"/" F.O.B", before going under the name of England Dan, and forming the soft rock duo England Dan & John Ford Coley in 1970. They were best known for their hit single "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight". He began a solo career in country music. releasing 16 studio albums and charted more than twenty singles on the country charts. Eleven of his singles reached No.1: "Meet Me in Montana" (with Marie Osmond), "Bop" (also a #42 pop hit), "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)", "You Still Move Me", "I Will Be There", "Three Time Loser", "One Friend", "Addicted", "Big Wheels in the Moonlight", "Love on Arrival", and a cover of Sam Cooke's "Good Times". Five more of Dan's singles also reached Top Ten on the country charts (died following treatment for mantle cell lymphoma) b. February 8th 1948 read more...
2010: Richard Engquist (76) American lyricist, born in Scandia, Minnesota, he earned a bachelor’s degree in education and speech from Hamline University in St. Paul in 1954. Richard joined the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop in the early 1970s and he composed topical songs for the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolish. He went on to write the lyrics for “Elizabeth and Essex,” a musical version of Maxwell Anderson’s blank-verse drama, “Elizabeth the Queen.” which opened at the South Street Theatre in 1980. He later collaborated with the composer Raphael Crystal on several musicals at the Jewish Repertory Theatre including “My Heart Is in the East” in 1983, “Half a World Away” in 1987 and the highly popular “Kuni-Leml” in 1984. More recently Richard collaborated with Judd Woldin on the musical Little Ham (lung cancer) b. April 26th 1933.

March 26th
1827: Ludwig van Beethoven () German composer/pianist. Mozart aside, Beethoven is the most famous classical composer of the western world. He is remembered for his powerful and stormy compositions (cirrhosis of the liver, plus dropsy)
1933: Eddie Lang (30) American jazz guitarist; although he died so young, he is still regarded as the most important Chicago jazz guitarist and the Father of the Jazz Guitar, playing a Gibson L-4 and L-5 guitar, he was a huge influence for many guitarists, including Django Reinhardt. He played with the bands of Venuti, Adrian Rollini, Roger Wolfe Kahn and Jean Goldkette in addition to doing a large amount of freelance radio and recording work. 1927 saw Eddie featured in the recording of "Singin' the Blues" by Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra trading guitar licks while Bix Beiderbecke solos on cornet in a memorable landmark jazz recording of the 1920s. In 1929 he joined Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, and can be seen and heard in the movie The King of Jazz. In 1930, he played guitar on the original recording of the jazz and pop standard "Georgia On My Mind", recorded with Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra. When Bing Crosby left Paul Whiteman, Eddie went with Bing as his accompanist and can be seen with him in the 1932 movie Big Broadcast. He also played under the pseudonym Blind Willie Dunn on a number of blues records with Lonnie Johnson. (Sadly died from a sudden hemorrhage following a tonsillectomy) b. October 25th 1902.
1971: Harold McNair (39) Jamaican saxophone player and flautist player started out at the Alpha Boys School under the tutelage of Victor Tulloch, whilst playing with lifelong friend Joe Harriott, Wilton 'Bogey' Gaynair, and Baba Motta's band. He spent the first decade of his musical career in The Bahamas, where he used the name "Little G" for recordings and live performances. In 1960, he went to Miami to record his first album, a mixture of jazz and calypso numbers entitled Bahama Bash, and later that year he left for Europe. He toured Europe with Quincy Jones and worked on film and TV scores in Paris, before settling in London, where he was invited to a regular spot at Ronnie Scott's nightclub. He also worked with Charles Mingus, Zoot Sims, Tony Crombie, Jack Costanzo and many visiting Americans including vocalists Jon Hendricks and Blossom Dearie, Philly Joe Jones and saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis among others (lung cancer) b. November 5th 1931.
1973: Noel Coward (73) UK actor, playwright, composer of popular music (died in Jamaica of natural causes)
1976: Anthony Duster Bennett (29) Welsh singer, musician; John Mayall /solo/ sessionist and played as a one-man blues band (fatal car accident, when he fell asleep at the wheel).
1980: Jon-Jon Poulos (32) drummmer for the Buckinghams (drug overdose)
1995: Eazy-E/Eric Wright (31) US rapper, a member of N.W.A. the unapologetically violent and sexist pioneers of gangsta rap. He dropped out of high school in the tenth grade and supported himself by selling drugs, later receiving a high school equivalency diploma. He used the profits from his drug sales to establish Ruthless Records. In this period, Ruthless Records released the compilation N.W.A and the Posse (1987), N.W.A's proper debut Straight Outta Compton (1988), and one month later, Eazy-E's solo album, Eazy-Duz-It. The album sold two million copies, certifying it as a double platinum album, and spawned the hit singles "We Want Eazy" and "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn" (a remix of "Boyz-n-the-Hood" was also included). The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella and largely written by Ice Cube, with contributions from MC Ren and The D.O.C.. On the final N.W.A album, Niggaz4Life (1991), some of the lyrics provoked outrage. Eazy-E included pistols and shotguns in videos for both "Alwayz into Somethin'" and "Appetite for Destruction". He also hosted a hip-hop radio show on L A-based radio station KKBT (AIDS) b. March 26th 1995.
1998: Denis Charles (64) Jazz drummer born in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, he began playing bongos at age seven with local ensembles in the Virgin Islands. In 1945 he moved to New York, and gigged frequently around town. In 1954 he began working with Cecil Taylor, and the pair collaborated through 1958. Following this he played with Steve Lacy, Gil Evans, and Jimmy Giuffre. He recorded with Sonny Rollins on a calypso-tinged set, before returning to Steve Lacy until 1964. He worked with Archie Shepp and Don Cherry in 1967. In the 1970s and 1980s Denis played regularly on the New York jazz scene with Frank Lowe, David Murray, Charles Tyler, Billy Bang, and others, and also played funk, rock, and traditional Caribbean music. He released three discs as a leader between 1989-1992, and in 1998. (died in New York City) b. December 4th 1933.
2002: Randy Castillo (51) drummer, Ozzy Osbourne band (cancer)
2002: Joe Schermie (57) American bassist born in Madison, Wisconsin; Joe was the original bass player for Three Dog Night and played on most of the group's 21 hits. Disillusioned with his role in the group, he left the band in 1973 and formed a group called S.S.Fools that included former members of Three Dog Night and Toto vocalist Bobby Kimball. He later played some shows with former Three Dog Night vocalist Chuck Negron's band. He also worked with Stephen Stills, Yvonne Elliman and others. Joe appeared on the cooking show Food Rules in 2000 with original Three Dog Night drummer Floyd Sneed. This was his last television appearance (heart attack) b. February 12th 1946.
2004: Jan Berry (62) singer/songwriter; Jan and Dean (a seizure)
2005: Paul Hester (46) Australian musician and television personality born in Melbourne; his mother a jazz drummer, encouraged him at an early age to learn the drums. After playing in local bands as a teenager, he formed the band Cheks and in 1982 they moved to Sydney renaming themselves Deckchairs Overboard. He did a brief spell with Split Enz, before he along with Neil Finn formed a new band with guitarist Nick Seymour. They were signed by the US label Capitol and moved to LA. At first, they called themselves the Mullanes (Finn's middle name), but after record company pressure the name Crowded House. Thier first album in 1986 which included the US top-10 hit Don't Dream It Over, catapulted them into major attraction on the international touring circuit (he committed suicide, died by strangulation, found hanged in a park in Melbourne, Australia) b. January 8th 1959... Read More
2006: Nikki Sudden/Adrian Nicholas Godfrey (49) English singer, guitar; he co-founded the post-punk band Swell Maps with his brother Epic Soundtracks/Kevin Paul Godfrey, while attending Solihull School. The band went on to record six albums before splitting in 1980. Around this time Nikki met up with Dave Kusworth, they formed the Six Hip Princes, but it wasn't until 1984, after Nikki had already issued two solo releases, that the duo adopted the name Jacobites. At the time of hid death, he was writing his autobiography, as well a history of The Wick, an estate in Richmond once owned by Ronnie Wood, currently owned by Pete Townshend. (died hours after a show at New York's Knitting Factory, causes unknown) b. July 19th 1956.
2006: Pete Wells (58) Slide guitarist, Rose Tattoo (cancer)

March 27th
1972: Joseph "Sharkey" Bonano (68) American jazz trumpeter, band leader, vocalist; a well regarded professional player by his mid teens, in his youth mostly playing in New Orleans other than a period with Eddie Edwards' band in New York City in 1920. He then started traveling widely, seldom staying in one place or with one band for more than a few months. He briefly replaced Bix Beiderbecke in the Wolverines Orchestra, and Nick LaRocca in the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. He first recorded in New Orleans with Norman Brownlee's band in 1925, and soon after had a band under his own name. He returned to New York for work in Jimmie Durante's band, then with the Jean Goldkette Orchestra in 1927, returned to his home town to play with Leon Prima, to Los Angeles, California to work with Larry Shields, then back in New Orleans to play with the Ben Pollack Orchestra in 1936. After leaving Pollack's band he led his own band on 52nd Street in New York for three years. After World War II he toured Europe, Asia, and South America, played residencies in Chicago and New York and he was a regular on Bourbon Street in the New Orleans French Quarter until he retired through ill health in the 1960's (died in New Orleans) b. April 9th 1904.
1975: Gertrude Niessen (63) American vocalist, actress and Broadway star; she was in the 1936 edition of Ziegfeld Follies. She appeared in films and stage musicals including the Broadway musical "Follow The Girls", where she sang what became one of her biggest hits "I Want To Get Married". Among her hit recordings were "Where Are You", and "Legalize My Name", In 1946, she appeared on the Philco Radio program starring Bing Crosby. She also appeared on other radio shows including 'Duffy's Tavern'. (?) b. July 8th 1911.
1977: Benny Moten (60) American swing-style bass player (?)
1993: Clifford Jordan (61) American jazz saxophone player and leader; he played gigged around Chicago with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and a few R&B groups before moving to New York in 1957; where he made a strong impression, leading three albums for Blue Note. Between 1957 and 1964 he toured and recorded with Horace Silver, followed by J.J. Johnson, before Kenny Dorham and then Max Roach. After performing in Europe with Eric Dolphy in the '64 Charles Mingus Sextet, he worked mostly as a leader, but tended to be overlooked since he was not overly influential or a pacesetter in the avant-garde. A reliable player, Jordan toured Europe several times, in a quartet headed by Cedar Walton in 1974-1975, and during his last years, he led his own big band (?) b. September 2nd 1931.
1996: Howard Pyle Wyeth (51) American drummer and pianist born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He learned drums by age 4 and soon on a piano could repeat songs he had heard and he attended the Wilmington Friends School. Fats Waller was Howard's greatest influence, leading him to learn stride piano and music theory. He studied percussion with Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and received a bachelor's in music at Syracuse University in 1966. He played at various times in the bands after moving to New York City in 1969. In 1972 on a solo album by John Herald co-produced by Bob Neuwirth for Paramount, he played with Amos Garret, Steven Soles, Ned Albright and Rob Stoner. Howard was a very respected an much in demand session musician and is remembered for his work with the saxophonist James Moody, the rockabilly singer Robert Gordon, the electric guitarist Link Wray, the rhythm and blues singer Don Covay, and the folk singer Christine Lavin. He has worked with so many other great artists, but maybe most well known as drummer for Bob Dylan. (died of cardiac arrest at St. Vincent's Hospital) b. April 22nd 1944
2000: Ian Dury (57) English singer, songwriter, poet, and actor, born in London, at the age of seven, he contracted polio during the 1949 polio epidemic. In 1964 he studied art at the Royal College of Art under British artist Peter Blake, and from 1967 he taught art at various colleges in the south of UK. Ian formed the band Kilburn & the High Roads in November 1970, he was vocalist and lyricist, co-writing with pianist Russell Hardy. But Ian rose to fame later in the 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music, as founder, frontman, and lead singer of the British band Ian Dury and the Blockheads, who were amongst the most important groups of the New Wave era in the UK. As a lyricist, his authorship of popular songs of the time, in particular the single, "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll", was underplayed at the time by critics, though it has been performed and quoted by countless musicians since it was written. Other hits included "What a Waste", "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick", "Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3". In 1999, Ian collaborated with Madness on their first original album in fourteen years on the track "Drip Fed Fred". Suggs and the band cite him as a great influence. Ian Dury & The Blockheads' last performance was a charity concert in aid of Cancer BACUP on Feb 6th 2000 at The London Palladium, supported by Kirsty MacColl and Phill Jupitus. Ian was noticeably ill and had to be helped on and off stage (Sadly died after a brave battle with cancer) b. May 12th 1942.
2002: Dudley Moore (66) English actor, musician, comedian, composer he first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s and became famous as half of the popular television double-act he formed with Peter Cook. Dudley was bullied from an early age, and had an unhappy family life; seeking refuge from his problems he became a choirboy at the age of six and took up piano and violin. He rapidly developed into a talented pianist and organist and was playing the pipe organ at church weddings by the age of 14. He attended Dagenham County High School where he received musical tuition from a dedicated teacher, Peter Cork, who became a friend and confidant. His musical talent won him an organ scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford. He soon became an accomplished jazz pianist and composer. He began working with such leading musicians as John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. In 1960, he left Dankworth's band to work on Beyond the Fringe. During the 1960s he also formed the "Dudley Moore Trio". His early recordings included "My Blue Heaven", "Lysie Does It", "Poova Nova", "Take Your Time", "Indiana", "Sooz Blooz", "Bauble, Bangles and Beads", "Sad One for George" and "Autumn Leaves". The trio performed regularly on British television, and had a long-running residency at Peter Cook's London nightclub, The Establishment. In 1965. Pete was offered his own series on the BBC. Not Only... But Also, when he invited Peter Cook on as a guest, their comedy partnership was so notable that it became a fixture of the series. His fame as a comedic actor was later heightened by his success in Hollywood movies such as 10 with Bo Derek and Arthur in the late 1970s and early 1980s, respectively. He was often known as "Cuddly Dudley" or "The Sex Thimble", a reference to his short stature and popularity with women. Pete also composed the soundtracks for films including Bedazzled, Inadmissible Evidence, Staircase and Six Weeks among others. (He sadly passed away from fatal bout of pneumonia due to complications from progressive supranuclear palsy) b. April 19th 1935.
2004: Adán Santos Sánchez Vallejo (19) Mexican-American singer; recorded his first full-length album in 1994, entitled Soy el Hijo de Chalino (I'm the Son of Chalino) at 10 years old, notable for it's rousing title track, which evokes the classic style of celebrated ranchera singers from Mexico's Golden Age. As he grew into his teens, the majority of Adán's album titles began to revolve around the loss of his father - such as La Corona de Mi Padre (The Crown of My Father), and Homenaje a Mi Padre (Homage to My Father). These references gave Adán credibility in the Banda music scene, where the macho image and untimely death of his father had stirred a resurgence of popularity among young Mexican-American men. But Adán was also able to widen the genre's popularity even further to teenage girls, thanks to his teen idol persona and focus on contemporary romantic ballads instead of the edgier themes of crime and drugs covered by his father. Adán made history on March 20, 2004 when he became the youngest headliner and first Regional-Mexican recording artist to practically sell out the world-famous Kodak Theatre in Hollywood (died in a car crash when the 1989 Lincoln Town Car on 22 inch rims that he was traveling in blew a tire. According to police, the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled)*April 14th 1984.
2005: Grant Johannesen (83) American concert pianist born in Salt Lake City and was discovered at the age of only five by an irate piano teacher who lived across the street, when he used to imitated whatever he heard her play. He made his Manhattan recital debut when he was 23, and won the Concours International when he was 28. He toured extensively, both with the New York Philharmonic under Dmitri Mitropoulos, and as a solo performer. His performances in Moscow were especially well received. He was once encored 16 times. He was known as an interpreter of French piano music and recorded the complete piano works of Gabriel Fauré. Grant also served as director of the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1974 to 1985, and was a frequent soloist with both the Cleveland Orchestra and the Utah Symphony (He died in Germany, where he had been visiting friends) b. July 30th 1921.
2010: Linda William (45) French model and pop singer. Linda released her debut single Traces in 1989, which reached N°.21 in the French Top 50. The same year, she released her album, also named Traces & including 3 other singles, "L'Autre Soleil", "Rebelle" & "Boulevard Des Rêves". She continued releasing singles until "Un Coeur Qui Bat" in 1993. More recently Linda had been a backing vocalist for Demis Roussos & Alessandro Safina (sadly commited suicide, Orvieto Italy) b. November 20th 1964.

March 28th
1974: Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup (69) blues singer, guitarist, songwriter; Elvis Presley's favourite blues artist. (stroke)
1974: Dorothy Fields (68) American librettist and lyricist, born in Allenhurst, New Jersey and grew up in New York City. She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. Along with Ann Ronell, Dana Suesse, Bernice Petkere, and Kay Swift, she was one of the first successful Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood female songwriters. Songs included "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby", "Exactly Like You", and "On the Sunny Side of the Street". She teamed up with her brother Herbert Fields, with whom she wrote the books for three Cole Porter shows, Let's Face It!, Something for the Boys, and Mexican Hayride. Together, they wrote the book for Annie Get Your Gun, a musical inspired by the life of Annie Oakley. In the 1950s, her biggest success was the show Redhead in 1959, which won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. When she started collaborating with Cy Coleman in the 1960s, her career took a new turn. Their first work together was Sweet Charity. Her last hit was from their second collaboration in 1973, Seesaw. Its title song was "It's Not Where You Start, It's Where You Finish" (Sadly died of a stroke) b. July 15th 1905.
1980: Richard "Dick" Haymes (63) Argentine actor and one of the most popular male vocalists of the 1940s and early 1950s. Born in Buenos Aires to British parents, brought up in Paris by his mother, who related to America. Dick sang with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey before signing to Decca in 1943. He went on to have hits such as "It Can't Be Wrong", "You'll Never Know", "The Devil Sat Down and Cried", Look at Me Now!, "A Sinner Kissed an Angel", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "I Wish I Didn't Love You So". He also appeared in many films including Four Jills in a Jeep, Irish Eyes Are Smiling, State Fair, Diamond Horseshoe, Do You Love Me, The Shocking Miss Pilgrim. He never became a US citizen, he kept his status as a citizen of Argentina (lung cancer) September 13th 1918.
2001: Moe Koffman (71) Canadian saxophone, clarinet, composer; born in Toronto he attended the Toronto Conservatory of Music, but dropped out of school to perform in dance bands. In 1950, he moved to the US, where he played with big bands including those of Sonny Dunham and Jimmy Dorsey. In 1955, he returned to Toronto where he formed a quartet and later a quintet. He recorded Swinging Shepherd Blues in 1958 which helped establish his reputation as a flutist and ranked him alongside Herbie Mann and Yusef Lateef and later Jeremy Steig as great influential jazz flute players. During the 1970s, Moe recorded several popular albums with arrangements of works by composers including Bach, Mozart and Vivaldi. He also was a guest performer with a number of symphony orchestras across Canada. He performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Peter Appleyard during the 1980s. He often performed with Rob McConnell's Boss Brass. From 1956 to 1990, Moe booked performers for George's Spaghetti House in Toronto, where he performed weekly (cancer) b. December 28th 1928.
2010: Herb Ellis (88) American jazz guitarist, born in Farmersville, Texas. Hearing George Barnes on the radio inspired Herb to take up guitar, and he majored in music at North Texas State. University. After gaining recognition with Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra he joined the Jimmy Dorsey band where he played some of his first recorded solos. He remained with Dorsey until 1947, traveling and recording extensively. Then Herb, with pianist Lou Carter and jazz violinist/bassist John Frigo, formed The Soft Winds group, staying together until 1952. Herb became prominent after performing with the Oscar Peterson Trio from 1953 to 1958 along with Peterson and bassist Ray Brown. He was a somewhat controversial member of the trio, because he was the only white person in the group in a time when racism was still very much widespread. They also served as the "house rhythm section" for Norman Granz's Verve Records, supporting the likes of tenormen Ben Webster and Stan Getz, as well as trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, and Sweets Edison and other jazz stalwarts. With drummer Buddy Rich, they were also the backing band for popular "comeback" duo albums Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Also along with fellow jazz guitarists Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, and Charlie Byrd, he created another ensemble, the Great Guitars. (Alzheimer's disease) b. August 4th 1921.

March 29th
1980: Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (74) Italian orchestra leader, a popular conductor and light orchestra-style entertainer, cascading strings technique developed by Binge became Mantovani's hallmark and is mostly associated with the light orchestra genre. His family moved to England in 1912, where he studied at Trinity College of Music, London. After graduation, he formed his own orchestra, which played in and around Birmingham. By the time World War II broke out, his orchestra was one of the most popular in England, both on the BBC and in live performances. He recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, and then London Records. He recorded over 50 albums on that label, many of which were top-40 hits. These included Song from Moulin Rouge and Cara Mia, which reached No. 1 in Britain in 1953 and 1954, respectively. In the United States, between 1955 and 1972, he released over 40 albums with 27 reaching the Top 40 and 11 the Top Ten. His biggest success was with the album Film Encores, which made it to No. 1 in 1957. Similarly, Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes made it to No. 2 in 1961 and sold over one million albums. He made his last recordings in 1975 (died while at a care home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent) b. November 15th 1905.
1995: Jimmy McShane (37) Irish singer, dancer and front man for the Italian New Wave dance outfit Baltimora, although it is alleged that Maurizio Bassi was actually the vocalist. They released 2 albums and 9 singles including "Tarzan Boy", released in the summer of 1985. It was a huge success, debuting in the top 5 of the Italian charts and performed well in many other European countries, including Denmark, Germany, and The Netherlands, reaching No.3 in the UK and No.13 in the USA. Baltimora performed on the American TV show Solid Gold, wh