July 24, 2022 ~ Rock bassist Bob Heathcote passed away ~ Briefly a member of crossover thrash outfit Suicidal Tendencies during the late 1980s, present on the 1988 How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today album and some tracks of the 1989 Controlled By Hatred (Feel Like Shit/Deja Vu) follow-up album. Previously Heathcote has worked with Los Cycos ~ Heathcote was born ca.1964
July 24, 2022 ~ Progressive rock, hard rock, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Vittorio de Scalzi passed away ~ Key figure in Italian progressive rock. Member of the Trolls and co-founder of its successor the New Trolls. The latter would breakthrough after opening for the Rolling Stones on the Italian leg of their 1967 tour. They would release their debut single Sensazione later the same year, a full-length debut album Senza Orario Senza Bandiera issued the next year. Acclaimed for their 1971 Concerto Grosso Per I New Trolls album, merging early symphonic rock with classical arrangements, and considered a landmark in Italian progressive rock. The band would continue to record and release records into the 2000s ~ De Scalzi was born in 1949
July 24, 2020 ~ Eliza Janet Thomson, commonly known as pop, R&B singer Barry St John, passed away in Hither Green, UK ~ Best known for Come Away Melinda, a modest UK hit in 1965 ~ Thomson was born ca.1943
July 24, 2016 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Keith Gemmell passed away ~ Best known as member of art rock band Audience. Also a member of the short-lived Sammy, whose sole album Sammy was produced by Deep Purple's Ian Gillan. Has also worked with Roy Young, Eddie Thornton, Rico Rodriguez, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, and others ~ Gemmell was born in 1948
July 24, 2016 ~ Margaret Nicon McEathron, commonly known as soprano singer Marni Nixon, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Besides work under her own name Nixon performed as a ghost singer for Deborah Kerr (in The King & I), Natalie Wood (West Side Story), and Audrey Hepburn (My Fair Lady) ~ McEathron was born in 1930
July 24, 2015 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer William C Brown passed away ~ Original member of the Mad Lads, known for Don't Have To Shop Around, I Want Someone, Patch My Heart, and others. Member of the Moments ~ Brown was born in 1946
July 24, 2014 ~ Producer, DJ Christian Falk passed away ~ Member of Madhouse, founding member of post-punk outfit Imperiet. Best known as DJ, producer emerging in the early 1990s Swedish hip-hop, soul and club scene. Worked with Papa Dee, the Stonefunkers, Petter, Timbuktu, the Teddybears, Kayo. Internationally known for the 2008 hit Dream On featuring Robyn. his 2000 single Make It Right featuring Demetreus, and for producing the Neneh Cherry/ Youssou n'Dour collaborative single 7 Seconds which topped the charts in several countries in 1994 ~ Falk was born in 1962
July 24, 2013 ~ Percussionist Steve Berrios passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Toured with Mongo Santamaria at age 19. Member of M'Boom. Member of the Fort Apache Band. Worked with a host of renowned jazz musicians including Kenny Kirkland, Art Blakey, Tito Puente, Paquito d'Rivera, Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers, Michael Brecker, Grover Washington Jr, Hilton Ruiz, Sonny Fortune, Alphonse Mouzon, Wallace Roney, Roseanna Vitro, Randy Weston, and Miriam Makeba ~ Berrios was born in 1945
July 24, 2012 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Larry Hoppen, full name Larry Lewis Hoppen, passed away ~ Best known as co-founding member of Orleans, sang lead on the band's biggest hits Still The One, Dance With Me and Love Takes Time ~ Hoppen was born in 1951
July 24, 2011 ~ Guitarist, bassist, singer Dan Peek, full name Daniel Milton Peek, passed away in Farmington, Missouri, USA ~ Member of folk rock band America, alongside Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, known for songs such as A Horse With No Name. Peek wrote or co-wrote several of the band's singles, Woman Tonight, Don't Cross The River, Today's The Day and Lonely People. Post-America Peek would record solo turning to contemporary Christian music, starting with the album All Things Are Possible in 1979 ~ Peek was born in 1950
July 24, 2011 ~ Jazz double bassist Harald Johnsen passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Worked with the Kohn Johansen Sextet, Tord Gustavsen, Sonny Simmons, Sigurd Kohn, Nils-Olav Johansen, Jan Erik Kongshaug, Frode Barth, Per Oddvar Johansen, Ditlef Eckhoff, Silje Nergaard, Monica Borgen, and others ~ Johnsen was born in 1970
July 24, 2009 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Warren Suttles passed away ~ Co-founded the Ravens with lead singer Jimmy Ricks. The doo-wop group would become one of the the most influential vocal quartets of the 1940s and early 1950s, known for songs such as Honey, Ole Man River, Write Me A Letter and Rock Me All Night Long ~ Suttles was born in 1925
July 24, 1997 ~ Blues, R&B pianist, singer, songwriter Bob Gaddy passed away in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Known for recordings such as No Help Wanted, Blues Has Walked Into My Room, Rip & Run, I Love My Baby, Paper Lady and Operator, the latter penned by close friend Champion Jack Dupree. Gaddy worked with Larry Dale, Wild Jimmy Spruill, Sonny Terry and separately with Brownie McGhee ~ Gaddy was born in 1924
July 24, 1991 ~ Rap, R&B, hip-hop singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Jacob Banks born ~ Guested on Wretch 32's Doing OK. Guested on Chase & Status' Alive. Released his full-length Village debut album in 2018
July 24, 1987 ~ Jazz pianist Dick Wellstood, full name Richard Macqueen Wellstood, passed away in Palo Alto, California, USA ~ Worked with Bob Wilber, Sidney Bechet, Jimmy Archey, Roy Eldridge, Conrad Janis, Red Allen, Buster Bailey, Wild Bill Davison, Vic Dickenson, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Bob Dylan, Odetta, Carl Warwick, Gene Krupa, Kenny Davern, Captain John Handy, Punch Miller, Yank Lawson, Bob Haggart, Bobby Rosengarden, Marty Grosz, Joe Muranyi, Dick Sudhalter, and others ~ Wellstood was born in 1927
July 24, 1986 ~ Orchestral conductor Lee Hepner passed away in Vancouver, Canada ~ Founder and music director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, remaining with the orchestra from 1952 through 1960. Also associated with the Edmonton Pops Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hamilton Opera Company, and others ~ Hepner was born in 1920
July 24, 1984 ~ Pop, R&B singer Dhani Lennevald, full name John Dhani Lennevald, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Rose to prominence as member of the A-Teens, originally an ABBA-tribute band known for a number of late 1990s, early 2000s Swedish top 10 hits including Mamma Mia, Super Trouper, Upside Down and Floorfiller. Released his Girls Talk solo debut album in 2004. Has since worked as a producer, collaborating with Måns Zelmerlöw, Anton Ewald and with Carl Falk
July 24, 1984 ~ Jazz drummer Frank Butler passed away in Ventura, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Never became a household name but was held in the highest regard by peers. Has worked with Jo Jones, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Art Pepper, Dolo Coker, Joyce Collins, Curtis Counce, Kenny Drew, Red Garland, Hampton Hawes, Elmo Hope, Red Mitchell, Phineas Newborn Jr, Jimmy Witherspoon, Xanadu All-Stars, and others ~ Butler was born in 1928
July 24, 1981 ~ Alternative pop, alternative rock guitarist Craig Bonich born in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Member of Head Automatica, best known for their Beating Heart Baby hit. Also worked with Rick Penzone, Jaguar Love, the Romans, This Is Ivy League, and others
July 24, 1979 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records Tell Me What It's Like at Woodland Sound Studios, Nashville, USA ~ Written by Ben Peters. Produced by Ron Chancey. Arrangements by Bergen White. Released the following October, paired with Let Your Love Fall Back On Me on the flipside, the single would reach top 10 of the country charts in America, top 20 in Canada
July 24, 1979 ~ Jazz singer, composer Heidi Skjervee born in Rennebu, Norway ~ Worked with the Trondheim Voices, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Northern Alliance, and others prior to recording wih her own ensembles at times featuring artists such as Kjetil Elde, Ole Morten Vågan, Truls Rønning, Espen Reinertsen, Erlend Slettevol, and Roger Arntzen
July 24, 1979 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Jerrod Nieman born in Harper, Kansas, USA ~ Influenced by Whitey Shafer, Dean Dillon, Paul Overstreet. In-demand songwriter. Has co-written That Girl Is A Cowboy, Midnight Sun and the Chris LeDoux-tribute song Good Ride Cowboy for Garth Brooks. Others who have recorded his songs include Lee Brice, Blake Shelton, Diamond Rio, the Cadillac Three, Mark Chesnutt, Neal McCoy, and others. As a singer active since his 1999 Long Hard Road debut album. Best known for his 2012 hit Shinin' On Me and Drink To That All Night the following year
July 24, 1978 ~ Jazz pianist Arne Hulphers passed away in Norkoping, Sweden ~ Active from mid-1920s onwards. Founded own ensemble in 1934, which became one of Sweden's most important dance bands. It included at times, Miff Gorling, Zilas Gorling, and Thore Jederby. Married to Zarah Leander from 1956 until his death ~ Hülphers was born in 1904
July 24, 1974 ~ Heavy metal, avant-garde metal singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer Carl-Michael Eide born in Norway ~ Worked with acts such as Ved Buens Ede, Aura Noir, Cadaver, Dødheimsgard, Satyricon, Ulver, Infernö, Virus, Dimmu Borgir, and others
July 24, 1970 ~ Singer, songwriter Anja Garbarek born in Oslo, Norway ~ Daughter of jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek. Debuted with the album Velkommen Inn in 1992. Has been recording regularly since. Worked with Steve Wilson, Mark Hollis, Satyricon, Rita Marcotulli, Robert Wyatt, Wibutee, Steve Jansen, and others
July 24, 1970 ~ Ellie Papathanasopoulou, commonly known as laika, folk, dance-pop singer Elli Kokkinou, born in Athens, Greece ~ Active since the mid-1990s. Among Greece's most popular contemporary singers. Best known for her the albums Sto Kokkino released in 2003 and Ta Genethia Mou released in 2011
July 24, 1969 ~ Singer, actress, dancer Jennifer Lopez, full name Jennifer Lynn Lopez, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Gained attention in the early 1990s acting in various films, notably starring in the leading role in the Selena 1997 bio-pic of the same name. As a singer best known for her first two albums, On The 6 released in 1999 and its equally successful sophomore album J Lo two years later. Has since become a pop cultural icon. Known best for songs such as If You Had My Love, Waiting For Tonight, Love Don't Cost A Thing, I'm Real, Jenny From The Block featuring Jadakiss and Styles and On The Floor featuring Pitbull
July 24, 1967 ~ Pop, rock band the Beach Boys record You're Welcome at CBS Columbia Square, Hollywood, USA ~ Written by Brian Wilson. Used as the B-side of Heroes And Villains, released in 1967. Later included on compilation sets
July 24, 1964 ~ Gabriel Julio Fernandez Capello, commonly known as rock singer, songwriter Vicentico, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Lead singer, co-founder of Los Fabulosos Cadillacs with Astor Cianciarulo
July 24, 1962 ~ Jazz guitarist Andrei Ryabov born in Leningrad, USSR ~ Worked with Jim Hall, Tal Farlow, Joe Pass, Attila Zoller, Gene Bertoncini, Titi Paulus, Dave Brubeck, David Friesen, Dusko Gojkovic, John Stowell, Roger Frampton, Sal Nistico, Richie Cole, Billy Taylor, Ted Dunbar, Yusef Lateef, Ted Levine, David Goloschekin, and others
July 24, 1962 ~ R&B, pop, funk singer, keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist, songwriter Toshinobu Kubota born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan ~ Pioneered Japanes hip-hop and soul, drawing from funk, pop, R&B and go-go. Influenced by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Sly Stone. Best known for songs such as Dance If You Want It, Missing, Love Rain (Koi No Ame), You Were Mine and La La La Love Spng
July 24, 1961 ~ Country singer, songwriter Joy Lynn White born in Kansas, USA ~ Critics' darling. Admired by peers. Released her Between Midnight And Hindsight debut album in 1992. Had her songs recorded by the Dixie Chicks (Tonight The Heartache's On Me), Will Kimbrough, Duane Jarvis
July 24, 1961 ~ Drummer, artist manager Paul Geary born in Medford, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known as co-founder and drummer for Extreme. Left the band in 1994, succeeded by Michael Mangini, to pursue a career in artist management. Geary first signing was Godsmack in 1995. Other artists represented by Geary include the Smashing Pumpkins, Alter Bridge, Creed, the Scorpions, Fuel, Steel Panther, Jason Bonham, Hoobastank, Joe Perry, and others
July 24, 1958 ~ Bassist, producer Mick Karn born in Nicosia, Cyprus ~ Best known as bassist for Japan. Formed Dali's Car with Peter Murphy. Formed NiNa. Member of Rain Tree Crow. Also worked with Gary Numan (She's Got Claws), Midge Ure (After A Fashion), David Torn, Andy Rinehart, Bill Nelson, Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading, Gota Yashiki, Vivian Hsu, Masahide Sakuma, Masami Tsuchiya, and others ~ Karn passed away in 2011
July 24, 1957 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, designer, designer Larry Gott, full name James Lawrence Gott, born in Manchester, UK ~ Member of James from 1985 through 1995, rejoining the band on occasion in later years. Present on the band's best-known including Sit Down, Come Home and Sound
July 24, 1957 ~ Singer, songwriter Pam Tillis born in Plant City, Florida, USA ~ Daughter of renowned country singer Mel Tillis. Originally a demo singer and a songwriter whose songs were recorded by Gloria Gaynor, Darry; & Don Ellis, Tim Ryan, Molly & the Heymakers, and Chaka Khan. Debuted with single Every Home Should Have One in 1981, followed by the debut LP Above And Beyond The Doll Of Cutey in 1983
July 24, 1956 ~ Bass clarinetist, composer Denis Colin born in Vanvess, France ~ Clasically trained. Worked with Steve Lacy, François Cotinaud, Alan Silva, the Celestrial Communication Orchestra, François Tusques, Archie Shepp, Didier Petit, Pablo Cueco, and others
July 24, 1955 ~ Joseph Reynaerts, mononymously known as pop singer Reynaert, born in Seraing, Belgium ~ Internationally best known for representing Belgium at the 1988 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 18th place with Laissez Briller Le Soleil. Other well-known songs include Cerf-volant and Pas Assez ~ Reynaerts passed away in 2020
July 24, 1953 ~ Funk, R&B guitarist Garry Shider, full name Garry Marshall Shider, born in Plainfield, New Jersey, USA ~ Backed gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, the Five Blind Boys and the Mighty Clouds Of Joy in his youth. Best known for his association with funk icon George Clinton, serving as guitarist and music director for P-Funk, Parliament and Funkadelic for 15 years starting in the early 1970s. Notably present on songs such as Cosmic Slop, Gettin' To Know You and One Nation Under A Groove ~ Shider passed away in 2010
July 24, 1953 ~ Bebop, jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Mentored by Dizzy Gillespie. Has worked with George Benson, Anthony Braxton, Kenny Burrell, Michel Camilo, Ron Carter, Hank Crawford, Bo Diddley, Charles Earland, Gil Evans, Jerry Fielding, the Players Association, Grant Green, Michael Franks, Richard Groove Holmes (New Groove), Billy Joel, Chaka Khan, Odonel Levy, Les McCann, Tina Turner, Jack McDuff, Mick Jagger (Primitive Cool), Jimmy McGriff, Patti Austin (The Real Me), Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Charles Mingus, Phoebe Snow, Blue Mitchell, David Fathead Newman, Carly Simon, Oscar Peterson, Lalo Schifrin, Paul Simon (Graceland), Lonnie Liston Smith, Leon Spencer, Bette Midler, Gábor Szabó, Charles Tolliver, Cedar Walton, Lou Reed (Sally Can't Dance), Gerald Wilson, Tatsuro Yamashita, and others
July 24, 1951 ~ John Phlip Cawthra, commonly known as guitarist, bassist, singer Gypie Mayo, born in Subiton, UK ~ Member of Dr Feelgood from 1977 through 1981. Co-wrote the band's best-known, the UK top 10 hit Milk And Alcohol, with Nick Lowe. Also present on songs such as She's A Wind Up, Down At The Doctor's, As Long As The Price Is Right and Put Him Out Of Your Mind. Worked with a latter day incarnation of the Yardbirds from 1996 through 2004 ~ Cawthra passed away in 2013
July 24, 1951 ~ Actress, singer, songwriter, model, activist Lynda Carter, full name Lynda Jean Cordova Carter, born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ 1972 Miss World USA. Advocate and spokeswoman for several women's and gay rights groups. Best known for starring in title role of TV series Wonder Woman which aired from 1975 through 1979. Also appeared in other TV series, TV movies, feature films including Apocalypse Now. As a singer, songwriter released a full-length album, Portrait, in 1978 and has recorded steadily since. Hosted several musical TV shows throughout the 1980s
July 24, 1951 ~ Guitarist, singer Lynval Golding born in Coventry, UK ~ Best known as rhythm guitarist and singer for the Specials. Co-founded the Fun Boy Three, teaming up with Terry Hall and Neville Staple
July 24, 1947 ~ Drummer Alan Whitehead born in Oswestry, UK ~ First played profesionally as drummer for Crispian St Peters. Best known as member of the Attack and of Marmalade, the latter scoring with songs such as Ob-la-di Ob-la-da and Reflections Of My Life. Left the band to pursue a career in artist management and has represented artists such as Lipps Inc, Mel & Kim, Modern Romance, Rikki Peebles, Amazula, and Belle Stars
July 24, 1947 ~ Rock drummer Chris Townson born in London, UK ~ Best known as co-founding member of 1960s rock band John's Children, which also included future T.Rex-frontman Marc Bolan. Substituted for Keith Moon on a 1967 the Who tour after Moon injured himself. Also a member of Jook, Jet, Radio Stars ~ Townson passed away in 2008
July 24, 1947 ~ Pop, rock, classical bassist Jan Hollestelle born in Den Helder, the Netherlands ~ Worked with the Torero's, Tower, Autopilot, Robinson Cruiser, Spin, Ekseption, the Cats, Margriet Eshuijs, Boudewijn de Groot, Nick Mackenzie, and others
July 24, 1947 ~ Classical pianist Peter Serkin, full name Peter Adolf Serkin, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Praised for his pristine playing and commitment to contemporary classical music. Has worked with renowned orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell and the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy. Other notable credits include recording Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations no less than five times, the first at age 18. Has worked with Claudio Abbado, James Levine, Yo-Yo Ma, Alexander Schneider, the Budapest Quartet, and others ~ Serkin passed away in 2020
July 24, 1944 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Jim Armstrong born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Member of Them, known for their association with singer Van Morrison. Armstrong has also played with the Doors, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Truth, Light, and others
July 24, 1944 ~ William O'Neill Spencer, commonly known as O'Neill Spencer, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of the John Kirby Sextet. Member of the Mills Blue Rhythm Band ~ Spencer was born in 1909
July 24, 1942 ~ Heinz Burt, mononymously known as bassist, singer Heinz, born in Detmold, Germany ~ Protégé of producer, engineer Joe Meek who would style his image. Member of the Tornados, known for their instrumental hit Telstar. As a solo artist best known for Just Like Eddie, a tribute to Heinz's biggest influence Eddie Cochran produced by Meek ~ Burt passed away in 2000
July 24, 1940 ~ Jazz saxophonist, composer Kim Richmond born ~ Has worked professionally since the mid-1950s. Has played with artists including Stan Kenton, Clare Fischer, Louie Bellson, Lalo Schifrin, Bob Florence, Les Brown, Bill Holman, Vinny Golia, Johnny Mandel, Chris Walden, Clay Jenkins, and others. Has arranged for Schifrin, Buddy Rich, and Ernie Watts
July 24, 1939 ~ Jazz saxophonist Charles McPherson born in Joplin, Missouri, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his work with Charles Mingus, appearing on over a dozen albums starting in the early 1960s. Has also worked with Barry Harris, Pepper Adams, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ray Appleton, Kenny Drew, Art Farmer, Lionel Hampton, Eddie Jefferson, Lamont Johnson, Bobby Jones, Dave Pike, Jimmy Raney, Red Rodney, Sonny Stitt, Charles Tolliver, Don Patterson, Larry Vuckovich, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and others
July 24, 1936 ~ Singer Bing Crosby, backed by Georgie Stoll & Orchestra, records Pennies From Heaven at Recordings Incorporated, California, USA ~ Written by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke for the 1936 film Pennies From Heaven. Release d as a single, b/w Let's Call A Heary A Heart, it would top the pop charts. The song would go on to be recorded by numerous artists including Doris Day, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Big Joe Turner, the Skyliners, Guy Mitchell, and others
July 24, 1935 ~ Pianist, conductor, songwriter Les Reed born in Woking, UK ~ Known for songs such as It's Not Unusual, Delilah, The Last Waltz and Leeds Leeds Leeds (Marching On Together) ~ Reed passed away in 2019
July 24, 1935 ~ Max Duane Barnes, commonly known as country songwriter Max D Barnes, born in Hard Scratch, Iowa, USA ~ Noted songwriter who penned or co-penned songs for Conway Twitty (Red Necking Love Making Night), Delbert McClinton (Every Time I Roll The Dice), Keith Whitley (Ten Feet Away), Randy Travis (Storms Of Life, I Won't Need You Anymore (Always & Forever)), Vern Gosdin (Chiseled In Stone, If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong Do It Right), Pam Tillis (Don't Tell Me What To Do), Vince Gill (Look At Us), Eddy Raven (Joe Knows How To Live), and others ~ Barnes passed away in 2004
July 24, 1922 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Lawton Williams born in Troy, Tennessee, USA ~ Penned Fraulein, a hit for Bobby Helms in 1957. Also wrote Hank Locklin's Paper Face and Geisha Girl, Jim Reeves' Senor Santa Claus, Floyd Tillman's It Just Tears Me Up, and Bobby Bare's Shame On Me. As a singer known for just two charting singles, Anywhere There's People and Everything's OK On The LBJ ~ Williams passed away in 2007
July 24, 1921 ~ Operatic tenor Giuseppe di Stefano born in Motta Sant' Anastasia, Italy ~ Dubbed “the Golden Voice” and generally regarded as one of the all-time greatest Italian singer active from the 1940s through the 1990s. Served as an inspiration and role model for Luciano Pavarotti. Frequent counterpart to Maria Callas, notably in 1950s recordings of operas such as Lucia Di Lammermoor, Tosca, Pagliacci, and Rigoletto ~ Di Stefano passed away in 2008
July 24, 1918 ~ Singer, songwriter, actor Jean-Roger Caussimon born in Paris, France ~ Closely associated with Leo Ferré. Known best for half a dozen 1970s albums and as an actor for having appeared in over 90 films ~ Caussimon passed away in 1985
July 24, 1917 ~ Conductor, trumpeter, composer, arranger Robert Farnon born in Toronto, Canada ~ Revered by his peers. Influential on Quincy Jones. Called “the greatest writer for strings in the world” by André Previn. Arranged and conducted for artists such as Frank Sinatra (Frank Sinatra Sings Great Songs From Great Britain), Lena Horne (Lena (A New Album), Tony Bennett (Snowfall), and Sarah Vaughan (Vaughan With Voices). Composed scores for over 40 movies. ~ Farnon passed away in 2005
July 24, 1916 ~ Singer Bob Eberly born in Mechanicville, New York, USA ~ Brother of the Glenn Miller Orchestra singer Ray Eberly. Bob is best known for his work with Jimmy Dorsey including on classics such as It's The Dreamer In Me, and for his duets with Helen O'Connell such as Green Eyes and Tangerine. Other notable recordings include Besame Mucho with Kitty Kallen and Love Letters with Enoch Light's Orchestra ~ Eberly passed away in 1981
July 24, 1911 ~ Saxophonist, songwriter Guy Wood born in Manchester, UK ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Till Then with Eddie Seiler and Sol Marcus, a hit for the Mills Brothers and covered by numerous artists including Ray Peterson, Sammy Davis Jr, James Brown, Al Martino, Pat Boone, Ruby & the Romantics, Micheal Bublé, and others ~ Wood passed away in 2001
July 24, 1911 ~ William Eschol Dacus, commonly known as drummer Smokey Dacus, born in Quinton, Oklahoma, USA ~ Early member of Bob Wills' backing unit the Texas Playboys ~ Dacus passed away in 2001
July 24, 1909 ~ Swing, jazz trumpeter Joe Thomas, full name Joseph Lewis Thomas, born in Webster Groves, Missouri, USA ~ One of the most in-demand trumpeters of the 1930s and 1940s. Worked with Cecil Scott, Fletcher Henderson, Fats Waller, Benny Carter, Joe Sullivan, Teddy Wilson, Claude Hopkins, Buck Clayton, Vic Dickenson, Coleman Hawkins, Rex Stewart, and others ~ Thomas passed away in 1984
July 24, 1904 ~ Film composer Leo Arnaud born in Lyon, France ~ Best known for composing Bugler's Dream, used as theme music for the Olympic games by networls ABC and NBC starting in 1964. Has worked as a film composer, arranger, orchestrator for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1936 through 1966 ~ Arnaud passed away in 1991
July 24, 1880 ~ Composer Ernest Bloch born in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Regarded as on the all-time greatest Swiss composers. Composed for orchestra, piano, strings, cello, flute, chamber music. Especially noted for his Concerto Grosso No.1 for string orchestra with piano premiered in 1925 ~ Bloch passed away in 1959