This Day In Music: August 13
August 12 ~ Birthdays/All ~ August 14
 
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, 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, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and others ~ 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 Somehing 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, Steve Robson, and others
 
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, 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, Bob Dylan, and others
 
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 numerous 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, songwriter 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. 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, 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, 1940 ~ Folk, country, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Sullivan born ~ Appeared as an extra in the cult film Easy Rider. Released two albums, 1969's UFO and 1972's eponymous Jim Sullivan, before disappearing in Mexico, never to be seen again. Over time has attracted a cult following, partly because of his albums' rarity and obscurity. Sullivan's disappearance at age 34 remains a mystery and source for speculation, some claiming he was murdered, committed suicide, and even some saying he was abducted by aliens ~ 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 known as a member of 1950s doo-wop outfits such as 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, 1919 ~ Robert Henry Warren, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Baby Boy Warren, born in Lake Providence, Louisiana, USA ~ Leading figure on the 1950a 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 ~ Pianist, composer George Shearing born in Battersea, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Teddy Wilson and Fats Waller. Wrote or co-wrote over 300 songs, including the jazz standards Lullabye Of Birdland and Conception. Worked with Harry Parry, Stéphane Grappelli, Oscar Pettiford, Buddy DeFranco, Margie Hyams, Chuck Wayne, Toots Thielemans, John Levy, Denzil Best, the Montgomery Brothers, Marian McPartland, Brian Torff, Jim Hall, Hank Jones, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Kenny Davern, Nancy Wilson, Claude Bolling, Dave Brubeck, Michael Feinstein, Mark Isham, John Pizzarelli, Tito Puente, and Joe Williams ~ Shearing passed away in 2011
 
August 13, 1912 ~ Jazz trombonist Big Chief Russell Moore born in USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Lionel Hampton, Eddie Barefield, Papa Celestin, Kid Rena, AJ Piron, Paul Barbarin, Ernie Fields, Harlan Leonard, Noble Sissle, Ruby Braff, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, Wild Bill Davison, Jimmy McPartland, Tony Parenti, Mezz Mezzrow, Sidney Bechet, Buck Clayton, Louis Armstrong, Eddie Wilcox, Cozy Cole, and Keith Smith ~ Moore passed away in 1983