August 13, 2024 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Greg Kihn, full name Gregory Stanley Kihn, passed away ~ Active since the early-1970s. Frontman and eponym of the Greg Kihn Band, known best for The Breakup Song (They Don't Write) and the 1981 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Jeopardy. Kihn's backing unit at one time included guitarist Joe Satriani. Kihn is also known as an author, having penned several horror fiction novels starting with Horror Show published in 1996 ~ Kihn was born in 1949
August 13, 2023 ~ Music manager, label executive Clarence Avant, full name Clarence Alexander Avant, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Dubbed “the Black Godfather” for his influence on music. Served as manager for artists such as Little Willie John, Sarah Vaughan, Luiz Bonfá, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Smith, and film composer Lalo Schifrin. Founded Sussex Records, for whom he signed artists such as Bill Withers, Dennis Coffey, and Gallery. Founded Avant Garde Broadcasting, known for operating the first African-American owned FM radio station KAGB-FM airing from Inglewood, California ~ Avant was born in 1931
August 13, 2023 ~ Melvin Barcliff, commonly known as rapper Magoo, passed away ~ Best known for his association with Timbaland, scoring late-1990s, early-2000s hits under the moniker Timbaland & Magoo such as Up Jumps Da Boogie featuring Missy Elliott & Aaliyah, Clock Strikes featuring Skillz, and All Y'All featuring Tweet. Has also worked with Swing Mob, Jodeci, DeVante Swing, Playa, and others ~ Barcliff was born in 1973
August 13, 2021 ~ Folk, country folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Nanci Griffith, full name Nanci Caroline Griffith passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Actively recording since the late-1970s. Best known for a number of 1990s albums, notably 1993's Other Voices Other Rooms and 1994's Flyer. First to record From A Distance, later popularized by Bette Midler. Similarly, Griffith wrote or co-wrote and first recorded songs later hits for others such as Love At The Five And Dime which was covered by Kathy Mattea and Outbound Plane which would later be one of Suzy Bogguss' biggest hits ~ Griffith was born in 1953
August 13, 2020 ~ Jazz fusion, hard bop saxophonist Steve Grossman passed away ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Don Alias, Gene Perla, Marcio Montarroyos, Jan Hammer, Alessio Urso, Patrice Caratini, Mark Egan, Marcus Miller, Lenny White, Jiuni Boot, Joe Chambers, Hugh Lawson, Cedar Walton, Walter Booker, Masahiro Yoshida, Art Taylor, Tom Harrell, Cecil McBee, Harold Land, Johnny Griffin, Alvin Queen, the Stone Alliance, Elvin Jones, Art Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Willie Pickens, Harold Land, Johnny Griffin, and others ~ Grossman was born in 1951
August 13, 2016 ~ Jazz pianist Connie Crothers passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sidewoman. Studied under Lennie Tristano and founded the Lennie Jazz Foundation in his honour. Has worked with artists such as Max Roach, Richard Cabris, Cameron Brown, Roger Mancuso, Lenny Popkin, Bob Casanova, Jessica Jones, Pauline Oliveros, and others ~ Crothers was born in 1941
August 13, 2013 ~ Beatrice Bertha Benjamin, commonly known as jazz, vocal jazz, soul jazz singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, passed away in Cape Town, South Africa ~ Active since the 1950s. Influenced by Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald. Closely associated with Duke Ellington. Worked with Arthur Klugman, Kippie Moeketski, Carlos Ward, Stephen Scott, Kenny Barron, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Ben Riley, and with her husband Dollar Brand ~ Benjamin was born in 1936
August 13, 2007 ~ Jerome Haynes, commonly known as guitarist Jah Jerry, passed away ~ Worked woth the Jocelyn Trott Orchestra, Val Bennett, Prince Buster, Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, King Edwards, Lyndon Pottinger, the Skatalites, Rico Rodriguez, Tommy McCook, Supersonics, Fred Locks, Cornell Campbell, the Abyssinians, the Drumbago All-Stars, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Millie Small, Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, Toots & the Maytals, Derrick Morgan, Stranger Cole, and others ~ Haynes was born in 1921
August 13, 2005 ~ Singer Francine Peaches Hurd passed away ~ Best known as the original “Peaches” in Peaches & Herb, present on late-1960s recordings such as Let's Fall In Love, Close Your Eyes, For Your Love and Love Is Strange. During this period Hurd also issued a number of solo recordings, using the moniker Francine Barker, including Angels In The Sky and Mister DJ ~ Hurd was born in 1947
August 13, 2003 ~ Singer, songwriter Ed Townsend passed away in San Bernardino, California, USA ~ Has made some records of his own, notably the 1958 hit For Your Love, but is primarily known as a songwriter and producer responsible for songs made famous by Jimmy Holiday (How Can I Forget), Theola Kilgore (The Love Of My Man), and most notably Marvin Gaye (Let's Get It On) ~ Townsend was born in 1929
August 13, 1996 ~ Experimental pianist, composer David Tudor, full name David Eugene Tudor, passed away in Tomkins, New York, USA ~ One of the leading performers of avant garde piano. Premiered Pierre Boulez's Piano Sonata No.2 in the US. Had Karlheinz Stockhausen dedicate his Klavierstuck VI to him. Closely associated with John Cage, premiering several of Cage's works including Music Of Changes, Concert For Piano And Orchestra, and 4'33. Tudor also gave early performances of works by Morton Feldman, Earle Brown, Christian Wolff, and La Monte Young ~ Tudor was born in 1926
August 13, 1993 ~ R&B, hip hop, soul group Xscape release Just Kickin' It, lead single off their Hummin' Comin' At 'Cha debut album ~ The group's debut single would be the first of a about half a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits through the end of the decade. Written by Manuel Seal and Jermaine Dupri, the latter also serving as producer, from the viewpoint of what a man wanted in a woman. Some fans would criticise the song's lyrics, deeming them sexist. Group member LaTocha Scott, however, dismissed the criticism: “I've heard some females say that the song is unreal and that they can tell it was written by a man, but I don't think it makes it sexist. Shoot, everybody knows a man wants a woman who can cook.”
August 13, 1991 ~ Singer Mariah Carey releases Emotions, lead single and title track of her sophomore album of the same name ~ The singer had released her eponymous Mariah Carey debut album the previous year, of which all four American singles, Vision Of Love, Love Takes Time, Someday, and I Don't Wanna Cry, had reached the top position on the Billboard Hot 100. When Emotions off her sophomore effort hit the No.1 position in October 1991, she became the first act to have her first five singles all reach the top spot. The record was previously held by the Jackson 5 who had a hit streak with their first four singles some two decades earlier. Carey would go on to reign the 1990s, and eventually became one of the all-time best selling artists with over 200 million records sold worldwide
August 13, 1988 ~ Frederick Below Jr, commonly known as blues, rock & roll drummer Fred Below, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his work with Chess Records helping define Chicago blues. Closely associated with Little Walter. Backed Chuck Berry on pivotal recordings including School Days, Roll Over Beethoven, Rock & Roll Music and Johnny B Goode. Member of the Aces, which also included blues harpist Junior Wells and brothers Louis Myers and Dave Myers. Has also worked with Bo Diddley, Elmore James, Otis Rush, Howlin' Wolf, Roosevelt Sykes, and Sonny Boy Williamson II ~ Below was born in 1926
August 13, 1984 ~ James Morrison Catchpole, commonly known as soul, pop rock, alternative rock singer, guitarist, songwriter James Morrison, born in Rugby, UK ~ Influenced by Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Al Green. Debuted in 2006 with the single You Give Me Something and the full-length album Undiscovered. In-demand songwriter and collaborator. Has worked with or written for Nelly Furtado, Demi Lovato, Olly Murs, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Marco Carta, Jason Mraz, Ryan Tedder, Dan Wilson, Martin Terefe, Martin Brammer, Chris Braide, and Steve Robson
August 13, 1982 ~ Joseph Arrington Jr, commonly known as singer Joe Tex, passed away in Navasota, Texas, USA ~ Popular Southern soul singer, drew from funk, country, gospel and R&B. Best known for songs such as Hold What You've Got, Skinny Legs And All, I Gotcha and Ain't Gonna Bump No More With No Big Fat Woman ~ Tex was born in 1933
August 13, 1981 ~ Punk rock, garage rock, rock & roll singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, drummer Dan Sartain, full name Daniel Fredrick Sartain, born ~ Active since the early-2000s. Self-released a number of recordings prior to his Dan Sartain Vs The Serpientes major label debut album in 2005. Has opened for the White Stripes and the Hives ~ Sartain passed away in 2021
August 13, 1977 ~ In its sixth week on the charts, Rock And Roll Never Forgets by Bob Seger peaks at No.41 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Seger had been struggling for a long time, and though he did enjoy popularity in his native Michigan he would be into his thirties before becoming a household name. Issued as the third single off Night Moves, which gave him his first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit with the title track, Seger considered Rock And Roll Never Forgets his “thank you” to all his fans who stuck by him. Many were his age, early thirties, by this time, and could relate to the sentiment
August 13, 1976 ~ Roderick Woomble, commonly known as singer, tambourinist, guitarist Roddy Woomble, born in Irvine, UK ~ Frontman of alternative rock outfit Idlewild, with whom he has recorded over half a dozen albums since the late-1990s. The band is especially acclaimed for its 2002 The Remote Part album, which spawned the UK top 10 hit You Held The World In Your Arms, and its follow-up Warnings Promises. Woomble, celebrated for his poetic lyrics and warm baritone voice, has explored his love for Scottish folk on a series of solo albums, starting with My Secret Is My Silence released in 2006 which featured several of his bandmates as well as his wife bassist Aildh Lennon of Sons And Daughters
August 13, 1974 ~ Indie rock, rock drummer Mike Marsh born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Member of emo outfit Dashboard Confessional, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most before departing the band by the late 2000s. Marsh has subsequently served as session and touring drummer for the Avett Brothers, starting on the 2009 I And Love And You album
August 13, 1974 ~ Harold Floyd Brooks, commonly known as hard bop, blues, funk tenor saxophonist, composer Tina Brooks, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Brother of saxophonist Bubba Brooks. Known by his nickname “Tina”, a variation of his childhood moniker “Teeny”. Enjoyed a short-lived yet impressive career during the heyday of hard bop mostly from the late-1950s through the early-1960s, appearing on key albums by Jimmy Smith (Cool Blues), Kenny Burrell, Jackie McLean (Jackie's Bag), Freddie Hubbard, and Freddie Redd. Brooks recorded a handful of albums as a leader, perhaps most notably the criminally underrated True Blue released in 1960 ~ Brooks was born in 1932
August 13, 1973 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Andy Griggs, full name Andrew Griggs, born in Monroe, Louisiana, USA ~ Released his You Won't Ever Be Lonely debut album in 1999, which included the Billboard Country top 10 hits You Won't Ever Be Lonely, I'll Go Crazy and She's More. Subsequent well known singles include Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man, She Thinks She Needs Me and If Heaven. Duetted with Martina McBride on the 2002 single Practice Life
August 13, 1971 ~ Curtis Montgomery, commonly known as saxophonist King Curtis, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand collaborator, session musician. Helped shape rock & roll and R&B. As a solo artist best known for the hits Soul Twist and Memphis Soul Stew. Has worked with Buddy Holly, the Coasters (Yakety Yak), Nat Adderley, Aretha Franklin (RESPECT), Ruth Brown, Lionel Hampton, Donny Hathaway, Waylon Jennings, Lavern Baker, John Lennon, and others ~ Curtis was born in 1934
August 13, 1969 ~ Canadian rock outfit the Guess Who record American Woman at the RCA Mid-America Recording Center, Chicago, Illinois ~ The song originated from an on-stage jam session. As Randy Bachman was playing notes while tuning his guitar after replacing a broken string, he realized he was playing a new riff. The other band members returned to the stage to join in with Burton Cummings improvising the lyrics, which they would later revise. The single, released in 1970, would reach No.1 on the American Billboard Hot 100, a first for any Canadian rock band. The song's lyrics have been matter of debate, often interpreted as an attack on US politics. Cummings would later explain: “What was on my mind was that girls in the States seemed to get older quicker than our girls and that made them, well, dangerous.. When I said ‘American woman, stay away from me,’ I really meant ‘Canadian woman, I prefer you.’ It was all a happy accident.”
August 13, 1968 ~ Soul singer Joe Hinton, full name Joseph Hinton, passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Started as a gospel singer in the Blair Gospel Singers. As a solo artist turned to R&B and known for early-1960s singles such as You Know It Ain't Right, Better To Give Than Receive and his biggest hit his R&B rendition of the Willie Nelson-penned Funny How Time Slips Away ~ Hinton was born in 1929
August 13, 1965 ~ Keyboardist John Goetchius born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for his association with seminal ska-core outfit the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, with whom he recorded half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Question The Answers album released in 1994. Briefly a member of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, filling in for Dustin Lanker during his hiatus from the band and present on the band's 2000 Soul Caddy album. Goetchius has also worked with the Dogmatics, Matweeds, Atomic Cocktail, and Pat Johnson
August 13, 1962 ~ Athanasios Kalliris, commonly known as singer Thanos Kalliris, born in Athens, Greece ~ Son of guitarist Titos Kalliris. Member of 1980s pop outfit Bang, internationally best known for representing Greece in the 1987 Eurovision Songfestival where they reached 10th place with the song Stop. Ventured out on his own in the early-1990s, scoring hits with songs such as Giortazo, Poios and Agapi Kalokairini
August 13, 1959 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records Sweet Nothin's ~ Written by Ronnie Self. Produced by Owen Bradley. Released as a single the next month, paired with Weep No More My Baby on the flip side, it would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100
August 13, 1958 ~ Punk pop, new wave, pop singer, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Feargal Sharkey born in Derry, Northern Ireland ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1985 A Good Heart hit single. Member of the Undertones, known for songs such as Jimmy Jimmy, My Perfect Cousin and Wednesday Week. Guest vocalist on the Assembly's only single, Never Never released in 1983
August 13, 1957 ~ Singer Frank Sinatra records All The Way at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California ~ Written by Jimmy van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Introduced in the film Joker Is Wild, for which it received an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Sinatra also sang Chicago That Toddlin' Town in the movie which wound up as the single's flip side. All The Way has since become a standard, covered by numerous artists including Brenda Lee, Sam Cooke, Billie Holiday, Neil Sedaka, James Brown & the Dee Felice Trio, Lou Rawls, Trisha Yearwood, and Bob Dylan
August 13, 1956 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records Hound Dog in RCA/Victor Studios, New York, USA ~ Backed by his regular band of Scotty Moore on lead guitar, Bill Black on bass, DJ Fontana on drums, and the Jordanaires on backing vocals, Presley records Hound Dog, Don't Be Cruel and Any Way You Want Me. The single Hound Dog with Don't Be Cruel would be released later the same month and become Elvis' best-selling single of the year, selling over four million copies
August 13, 1955 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, educator Mulgrew Miller born in Greenwood, Mississippi, USA ~ Influenced by Ramsey Lewis, Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner. Accompanied Betty Carter. Played with Woody Shaw, Art Blakey, Tony Williams. Debuted as a leader in 1985 with the Landmark release The Keys To The City, backed by bassist Ira Coleman and drummer Marvin Smith. Continued to record up to a year before his death, employing sidemen such as bassists Charnett Moffett, Reggie Workman, Peter Washington, Christian McBride, Derrick Hodge, saxophonists Kenny Garrett, Joe Henderson, Oliver Lake, Steve Wilson, percussionists Terri Lyne Carrington, Kenny Washington, Lewis Nash, and others ~ Miller passed away in 2013
August 13, 1952 ~ R&B singer Big Mama Thornton records Hound Dog at Radio Recorders Annex, Los Angeles, California ~ Twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Produced by Johnny Otis. It would become Thornton's sole hit, topping the Billboard R&B charts and selling 500,000 copies. The song would become best known as covered by Elvis Presley in 1956, making his rendition one of the all-time best selling singles with over an estimated 10 million copies sold globally
August 13, 1952 ~ Singer, guitarist, banjoist, pianist Dave Carter, full name David Robert Carter, born in Oxnard, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Tracy Grammer, recording three critically albums as a duo from the late-1990s until his death in 2002. The duo were hailed as “the new voice of folk music” and were admired by peers. A revered songwriter, Carter had his songs recorded by Joan Baez (The Mountain), Darryl Purpose, Chris Smither (Crocodile Man), Rani Arbo, Ellis Paul, Full Frontal Folk, Lucy Kaplanski (Cowboy Singer), Diane Zeigler, Bryan Bowers, the Kennedys, Pat Wictor, Sense Of Wonder, Ronny Cox, Richard Shindell, Julia Ecklar, and Judy Collins ~ Carter passed away in 2002
August 13, 1951 ~ Alberto de Castro Guedes, commonly known as rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Beto Guedes, born in Minas Gerais, Brazil ~ Co-founding member of Clube da Esquina. Member of 14 Bis. Debuted as a solo artist in 1977 with the album A Pagina Do Relampago Eletrico. Best known for Amor De Indio of his 1978 sophomore album of the same name
August 13, 1951 ~ Hubert Dwane Hester, commonly known as bluegrass, country fiddler Hoot Hester born near Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Member of the Bluegrass Alliance. Co-founding member of Western swing outfit the Time Jumpers. Longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry staff band. In-demand backing musician for acts such as Alabama, Hank Williams Jr, Conway Twitty, Randy Travis, Vern Gosdin, Earl Scruggs, and others. Outside country circles has also worked with Ray Charles and with the Manhattan Transfer ~ Hester passed away in 2016
August 13, 1951 ~ Rock, progressive rock, metal drummer Ric Parnell, full name Richard J Parnell, born in London, UK ~ Perhaps best known for portraying the role of drummer Mick Shrimpton in the rock parody This Is Spinal Tap. Son of jazz drummer Jack Parnell. Has worked with acts such as Horse, Atomic Rooster, the Tritons, Nova, Toni Basil, Jon Anderson, the Deviants, Zoo Drive, and others ~ Parnell passed away in 2022
August 13, 1948 ~ Operatic soprano Kathleen Battle, full name Kathleen Deanna Battle, born in Portsmouth, Ohio, USA ~ Initially gained attention as a concert singer in the early-1970s with major orchestras, going on to become one of the most acclaimed singers in contemporary opera. Battle made her professional opera debut in 1975 portraying the role of Rosina in The Barber Of Seville with the Michigan Opera Theatre, followed by engagements with the New York City Opera, the San Francisco Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera through the end of the decade. Battle has also performed with the Zurich Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, the English National Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin. As a recording artist, she has earned Grammy Awards for the albums Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart, Salzburg Recital, and Ariadne Auf Naxos. To audiences not primarily focused on opera and classical music, she is perhaps best known for various projects in the 2000s, interpreting the works of Vangelis, Stevie Wonder, and George Gershwin
August 13, 1940 ~ Jazz drummer Allen Blairman born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ To rock audiences perhaps best known as a member of 1970s jazz-rock group Embryo. Has also worked with Charles Mingus, Chet Baker, Archie Shepp, Mal Waldron, Albert Ayler, and Karl Berger ~ Blairman passed away in 2022
August 13, 1940 ~ Folk, country, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Sullivan, full name James Anthony Sullivan, born ~ Appeared as an extra in the cult film Easy Rider. Drawing critical comparison to Richie Havens, Gram Parsons, and Nick Drake, the enigmatic Sullivan has recorded two albums, 1969's UFO and 1972's eponymous Jim Sullivan, before disappearing in Mexico, never to be seen again. Over time, Sullivan has attracted a cult following, because of the rarity and obscurity of his albums as well as the mystery of his disappearance, which has remained a source for speculation since with claims of murder, suicide, and even alien abduction ~ Sullivan disappeared in 1975
August 13, 1938 ~ David Cortez Clowney, commonly known as organist, pianist, singer Dave Baby Cortez, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known for his instrumental 1959 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit The Happy Organ, the first pop, rock hit to feature the organ as a lead instrument. As a singer, Cortez was previously a member of several 1950s doo-wop outfits, perhaps most notably the Pearls and the Valentines
August 13, 1932 ~ Howard Richard Allen, commonly known as drummer Richard Pistol Allen, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Influenced by Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Benny Benjamin. Member of Motown house band the Funk Brothers. Present on recordings by Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, and others ~ Allen passed away in 2002
August 13, 1930 ~ Composer, conductor John Cacavas, full name John Harry Cacavas, born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA ~ Best known for his work for TV and film including on TV series such as Hawaii Five-O, The Bionic Woman and Kojak, as well as television films such as Superdome, The Time Machine and The Executioner's Song ~ Cacavas passed away in 2014
August 13, 1927 ~ Guitarist Joe Puma born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Joe Roland, Cy Coleman, Louie Bellson, Artie Shaw, Eddie Bert, Herbie Mann, Mat Mathews, Chris Connor, Paul Quinichette, Lee Konitz, Dick Hyman, Morgana King, Bobby Hackett, Gary Burton, the New York Jazz Ensemble, Carmen McRae, Chuck Wayne, and others ~ Puma passed away in 2000
August 13, 1925 ~ Ernest Harold Bailey, commonly known as trumpeter Benny Bailey, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Influential on later musicians such as Albert Ayler, Bob Cunningham, Bobby Few, Bill Hardman, and Frank Wright. Active since the early-1940s. Felt particularly at home in big band settings though he would occasionally play in smaller settings. Stuck around in Europe after a tour with Lionel Hampton. Also worked with Bull Moose Jackson, Scatman Crothers, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Lionel Hampton, Kenny Clarke, Quincy Jones, Freddie Redd, Eddie Harris, Count Basie, Eric Dolphy, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Rouse, Sahib Shihab, and Jimmy Witherspoon ~ Bailey passed away in 2005
August 13, 1922 ~ Ragtime composer Tom Turpin, full name Thomas Million John Turpin, passed away ~ Early ragtime composer, dubbed “the Father of St Louis Ragtime” and known for songs such as Bowery Buck, Ragtime Nightmare, St Louis Rag, Buffalo Rag, and perhaps his best known Harlem Rag. The latter is reportedly the first published rag by an African-American ~ Turpin was born ca.1871
August 13, 1921 ~ Mary Ann McDevitt, commonly known as jazz, dance band, pop singer Mary Lee, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Performed locally from a young age, including doing impressions of popular stars of the day such as Gracie Fields and Maurice Chevalier. At age 13, McDevitt lied about her age and entered into a competition for a singing spot with dance band leader Roy Fox, one of the most popular ensembles of the 1930s. She was asked to join the band, but as the minimum age was 14 her father responded she was not available until her next birthday. After turning 14, McDevitt joined the band where she would become known as Little Mary Lee. Notable recordings include Mickey's Son And Daughter, Truckin', If I Had Rhythm In My Nursery Rhyme, Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, and This Year's Kisses. Due to her young age, the rest of the band were told not to swear in front of her or tell “unsavoury” stories. McDevitt would go on to work with a wide array of musical acts, notably with Bert Ambrose during World War II, and later work mostly in variety shows ~ McDevitt passed away in 2022
August 13, 1919 ~ Robert Henry Warren, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Baby Boy Warren, born in Lake Providence, Louisiana, USA ~ Leading figure on the 1950s Detroit blues scene. Active since the 1930s, first recording in the late-1940s. Perhaps best known for his 1954 single Stop Breakin' Down featuring pianist Boogie Woogie Red and guitarist Calvin Frazier ~ Warren passed away in 1977
August 13, 1919 ~ Jazz pianist George Shearing, full name George Albert Shearing, born in Battersea, UK ~ Praised for his inventive, melodic and romantic solos, Shearing has enjoyed popularity both in his native UK and abroad from the 1950s through the 1990s. Shearing is perhaps most remembered for composing Lullaby Of Birdland, originally commissioned by Morris Levy to be used as a theme song to be played regularly at shows in his renowned New York jazz club Birdland. It has since become a standard recorded by over 400 artists, including Erroll Garner, Coleman Hawkins, Astor Piazzolla, Chet Atkins, and Sonny Stitt. Shearing has commented he wrote the jazz standard in a mere ten minutes. As a leader, Shearing has recorded prolifically since the mid-1940s with over an estimated 100 albums to his name including collaborations with Red Norvo, Billy Eckstine, Peggy Lee, Stéphane Grappelli, Carmen McRae, and Mel Tormé ~ Shearing passed away in 2011
August 13, 1913 ~ Anna Mae Darden, commonly known as jazz singer, bandleader Anna Mae Winburn, born in Port Royal, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as bandleader of the all-female the International Sweethearts Of Rhythm, one of the few racially integrated dance-bands of the swing era ~ Darden passed away in 1999
August 13, 1912 ~ Jazz trombonist Big Chief Russell Moore born in Gila Crossing, Arizona, USA ~ Moore is perhaps best remembered for his tenure with Louis Armstrong from 1944 until the orchestra broke up in 1947. Studied trumpet, piano, drums, and horn before settling on the trombone. Relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1930s, where he worked with Lionel Hampton and Eddie Barefield. After relocating again to New Orleans, Moore would become a fixture on the Louisiana scene playing with the likes of Oscar Phillip Celestin, Kid Rena, AJ Piron, Paul Barbarin, Ernie Fields, Harlan Leonard, and Noble Sissle. Following his tenure with Armstrong, Moore toured with Sidney Bechet, Ruby Braff, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, Mezz Mezzrow, Frank Sinatra, and Buck Clayton. Moore continued to work into the early 1980s, including performances at the inaugurations of presidents John F Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson, and Richard Nixon, and leading his own band in the 1970s. Moore has recorded two albums as a leader, Russell Big Chief Moore's Powwow Jazz Band released in 1973 and its successor Russell Big Chief Moore Vol.2 two years later. Proud of his Native American heritage, Moore often participated in events for the Native American community and is well known for his own composition Chant For Wounded Knee ~ Moore passed away in 1983