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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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 ~ 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, 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