November 24, 2021 ~ R&B, pop songwriter Marilyn McLeod passed away ~ Staff songwriter for Motown. Best known for co-penning songs such as Diana Ross's Love Hangover, High Inergy's You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On), and Jermaine Jackson's Let Me Tickle Your Fancy. Others who recorded her songs include Junior Walker & the All-Stars, Millie Jackson, Freda Payne, Anita Baker, and Pepsi & Shirlie ~ MacLeod was born in 1939
November 24, 2017 ~ Maria Clotilde Belo de Carvalho Rosa Franco, commonly known as harpist, flutist, composer Clotilde Rosa, passed away in Lisbon, Portugal ~ Co-founded the Lisbon Contemporary Group in 1970, which also included her second husband Jorge Machado. Formed the Trio Antigua by the end of the decade, working with Carlos Franco and Luisa de Vasconcelos, focusing on ancient music. Member of the Porto Symphony Orchestra. Retired her orchestral career in 1987 to teach harp at The Music School of Lisbon's National Conservatory, Lisbon, the first contemporary harp syllabus taught in Portugal ~ Rosa was born in 1930
November 24, 2016 ~ R&B, soul, dance, house singer, songwriter Colonel Abrams, his real name, passed away ~ Played guitar and keyboards for Heavy Impact. Fronted 94 East, a Minneapolis-based funk unit best remembered for including a then-unknown teenage Prince as its lead guitarist. As a solo artist Abrams is known for a string of 1980s singles including Trapped, which did especially well in Europe, and the Billboard R&B top 10 hits I'm Not Gonna Let You and How Soon We Forget. Upon his death at age 67 on Thanksgiving Day, renowned producer Jellybean, known for Madonna's Holiday and Whitney Houston's Love Will Save The Day, would comment: “It's a sad day for the House music community.” ~ Abrams was born in 1949
November 24, 2006 ~ Bassist Walter Booker passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Played clarinet and saxophone in college. Took up the bass while serving in the same US Army unit as Elvis Presley. Married to pianist Bertha Hope, with whom he formed a trio which also included drummer Jimmy Cobb. Closely associated with both Cannonball Adderley and Nat Adderley, appearing on over half a dozen albums of each of the brothers' individual albums. Underrated stylist, reliable sideman present on albums by Sonny Rollins (On Impulse), Andrew Hill, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan (The Procrastinator), Art Farmer, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, Archie Shepp, Joe Zawinul, Betty Carter, Maria Muldaur (Sweet And Slow), A Tribe Called Quest (Peoples Instinctive Travels & The Paths Of Rhythm), and Roy Hargrove ~ Booker was born in 1933
November 24, 2003 ~ Country singer Teddy Wilburn, full name Thurman Theodore Wilburn, passed away ~ Child performer since the mid-1930s, alongside his older brother Doyle Wilburn under the moniker the Wilburn Children. Discovered by Roy Acuff, who brought them to the Grand Ole Opry in 1940. Following each brother's stints in the Army, the brothers would reconvene as the Wilburn Brothers. They were offered the chance to record Heartbreak Hotel before Elvis Presley, but declined as they felt the song was “strange and almost morbid”. The duo would record well into the 1970s, backing Webb Pierce on the 1954 Billboard Country top 10 hit Sparkling Brown Eyes, and reaching the top 10 on their own with songs such as Which One Is To Blame, Trouble's Back In Town, Roll Muddy River, and Hurt Her Once For Me ~ Wilburn was born in 1931
November 24, 2001 ~ Singer Melanie Thornton, full name Melanie Janene Thornton. passed away inear Bassersdorf, Switzerland ~ Germany-based singer best known as lead singer of 1990s Eurodance duo la Bouche, alongside rapper Lane McCray, working with producer Frank Farian who also masterminded bands such as Boney M and Milli Vanilli. Thornton started a solo career in late 2000, starting with the single Love How You Love Me. She released her sole solo album, Ready To Fly, the next year. Thornton died in a plane crash while touring to promote the album and in particular the holiday-themed single Wonderful Dreams (Holidays Are Coming). The single has since repeatedly hit the German charts around the Holiday season, aided by Coca-Cola using the track for its TV commercials ~ Thornton was born in 1967
November 24, 1999 ~ Pianist, songwriter Howard Biggs, full name Howard Maceo Biggs, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Influential in doo-wop and the first days of rock & roll. Perhaps best known for writing or co-writing Bye Bye Baby Blues and Write Me A Letter for the Ravens, and Got You On My Mind for Big John Greer. The latter would later be recorded by Big Joe Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Eric Clapton. Other songs written or co-written by Biggs include I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Roy Hamilton, Elvis Presley), Melancholy Me (Eddy Howard), and If I Could Have Your Love Again (Brook Benton) ~ Biggs was born in 1916
November 24, 1997 ~ Monique Andree Serf, commonly known as singer, songwriter Barbara, passed away in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France ~ Lifelong friend and frequent interpreter of Jacques Brel. Known as a poetic songwriter herself. Best remembered for songs such as Ma Belle Histoire D'Amour C'Est Vous, L'Aigle Noir, Nantes, Solitude, Gottingen, and Petite Cantate. Quintessential to the Nouvelle Chanson genre, influential on artists such as Keren Ann, Benjamin Biolay, Coralie Clément, Emilie Simon, Daphné, and Vincent Delerm. Non-French artists who have covered Barbara's songs include Marc Almond, Martha Wainwright, Conchita Mendivil, Regina Spektor, and Ana Silvera ~ Serf was born in 1930
November 24, 1996 ~ Composer Edison Denisov, full name Edison Vasilievich Denisov, passed away in Paris, France ~ Mentored by Dmitri Shostakovich. Admired by Igor Stravinsky. Gained recognition with Le Soleil Des Incas for soprano and chamber ensemble published in 1964. Other well known works include the operas Lécume Des Jours and Quatre Filles, and the ballet Confession. Had many of his compositions criticized and banned by the Russian authorities for its “Western influences” ~ Denisov was born in 1929
November 24, 1994 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Paul Brunelle passed away in Granby, Canada ~ Considered the pioneer of Quebec country music, especially influential on Willie Lamothe. Known for songs such as Cruel Destiny, On This White Rock, In A Night Of Stars, The Song Of The Vagabond, and In The Distance (There In My Prairie). To American audiences best known for his 1955 novelty yodeling hit The Cowboy Of The Mountains ~ Brunelle was born in 1923
November 24, 1994 ~ Singer, songwriter Reece Mastin born in Scunthorpe, UK ~ Winner of the third season of The X-Factor Australia in 2011. Subsequently released his eponymous Reece Mastin album, spawning the hit single Good Night. Also known for songs such as Shut Up & Kiss Me, Shout It Out and Rock Star, all of which reached the top 20 in both Australia and New Zealand
November 24, 1993 ~ Blues guitarist, singer Albert Collins, full name Albert Gene Collins, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins, who introduced him to the guitar. Dubbed “the Master of the Telecaster”, Collins helped shape the legacy of T-Bone Walker into a straight-forward, modern blues template. Influentual on guitar-driven acts such as Canned Heat, Gary Moore, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Well over a dozen albums to his name, especially acclaimed for 1965's The Cool Sound Of Albert Collins and 1978's Ice Pickin'. To younger blues audiences known for the 1985 Showdown collaborative album with Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland, which earned the trio a Grammy Award ~ Collins was born in 1932
November 24, 1991 ~ Paul Charles Caravello, commonly known as drummer Eric Carr, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Ringo Starr, John Bonham, Keith Moon, Lenny White. Joined rock band Kiss in 1980, taking over from Peter Criss, recording over half a dozen albums with the band until his death of heart cancer at age 41. Co-wrote Don't Leave Me Lonely, recorded by Bryan Adams for his 1983 Cuts Like A Knife album. Carr also guested on the WOW album, recorded by Wendy O Williams in 1984 following her split from the Plasmatics ~ Carr was born in 1950
November 24, 1991 ~ Farrokh Bulsara, commonly known as singer Freddie Mercury, passed away in London, UK ~ Frontman, lead singer for Queen, known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Wrote or co-wrote a vast amount of the band's best known songs including Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody To Love, Seven Seas Of Rye, Don't Stop Me Now, Bicycle Race, Play The Game, We Are The Champions, and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Outside the band Mercury has released two albums, 1985's Mr Bad Guy and 1988's Barcelona, the latter a collaboration with Montserrat Caballé, as well as a number of singles, perhaps most notably the Platters cover The Great Pretender released in 1987 ~ Bulsara was born in 1946
November 24, 1990 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Tom Odell, full name Thomas Peter Odell, born in Chicester, UK ~ Influenced by Elton John, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen. Released his full-length debut album, Long Way Down, in 2013 and has recorded to critical acclaim since. Best known for the singles Another Love and Real Love, both of which reached the UK top 10
November 24, 1988 ~ Glam metal, pop metal outfit Bon Jovi release Born To Be My Baby, lifted off their New Jersey album ~ Written by singer Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, and songwriter Desmond Child, Born To Be My Baby tells of a young working-class couple struggling through life yet whatever hardships they may endure, they have each other to help them through: “We both got jobs 'cause there's bills to pay, we got something they can't take away, our love, our lives”. Born To Be My Baby reached No.3 Billboard Hot 100. Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi later stated he believed it would have reached No.1 if it had been issued in its original, toned-down acoustic version. Nevertheless, all five of the album's singles would reach top 10, with Bad Medicine and I'll Be There For You both hitting the No.1 spot, making New Jersey the first glam metal album to spawn five top 10 singles
November 24, 1985 ~ Joseph Vernon Turner Jr, commonly known as blues shouter Big Joe Turner, passed away in Inglewood, California, USA ~ Important to development of R&B and rock & roll. Best known for Shake Rattle & Roll, a hit in 1954. Other well known songs include Roll 'Em Pete, Cherry Red, I Want A Little Girl, Wee Baby Blues, SK Blues, Corrine Corrina, and Midnight Special ~ Turner was born in 1911
November 24, 1979 ~ Guitarist, singer Rebecca Barlow born ~ One third of Christian girl group BarlowGirl, formed with her siblings bass guitarist, keyboardist Alyssa Barlow and drummer Lauren Barlow. Initially a backing band for their father Vince Barlow, the trio would become a popular festival act, and aided by a tribute song titled Barlow Girls by fellow Christian rockers Superchick, rose to fame prior to releasing their eponymous 2004 BarlowGirl debut album. They are best known for the singles Never Alone and I Need You To Love Me. They recorded about half a dozen albums, most acclaimed for their 2009 Love & War album, before disbanding the band in the early-2000s
November 24, 1974 ~ R&B, funk, disco outfit Kool & the Gang release Jungle Boogie, lifted off their Wild And Peaceful album ~ A near-instant club hit and their first to reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at No.4. The album itself would do pretty well too, their first to peak inside top 40 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 200. All of the album's three singles did well, the album's lead single Funky Stuff peaked just inside the top 30 Billboard Hot 100, while Hollywood Swinging reached top 10 and hit the No.1 spot on the Billboard R&B charts. Jungle Boogie would remain a fan favorite for the remainder of their career, and one of the best remembered dance tracks of the mid-1970s. The song would also be used in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, repopularizing the song with mainstream audiences
November 24, 1972 ~ Conductor, music director Alexander Smallens passed away in Tucson, Arizona, USA ~ Worked with the Boston Opera Orchestra, the Anna Pavlova Ballet Company, the Chicago Opera Company, the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Radio City Music Hall ~ Smallens was born in 1889
November 24, 1972 ~ Jazz, classical pianist Hall Overton, full name Hall Franklin Overton, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Married to singer, songwriter Nancy Overton. Spent the 1950s in jazz, rarely stepping into the spotlights but treasured as a sideman and particularly as an arranger for the likes of Stan Getz, Teddy Charles, Jimmy Raney, Red Mitchell, Jimmy Raney, and Thelonious Monk. Especially acclaimed for his orchestral arrangements for two of Monk's major dates, both captured on record, 1959's The Thelonious Monk Orchestra At Town Hall and 1963's Big Band And Quartet In Concert. In later years, Overton would focus primarily on classical music, both as an arranger and teacher. Overton also composed the opera Huckleberry Finn opera, premiered by the Juilliard Opera Company in 1971, a year prior to his death at age 52 ~ Overton was born in 1920
November 24, 1970 ~ Julieta Venegas Percevault, commonly known as indie pop, folk rock, pop rock singer, accordionist, guitarist, songwriter Julieta Venegas, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Debuted in 1997 with the Aqui album and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial succes since. Known for songs such as Andar Conmigo, Algo Esta Cambiando, and perhaps her best known Me Voy
November 24, 1969 ~ Pop rock singer, actor Tim Howar born in Spirit River, Canada ~ Best known as musical singer and actor, appearing in numerous West End and Broadway productions, ranging from rock musicals such as Rent and Rock Of Ages to classical ones such as Les Miserables. To pop rock audiences best known for serving as co-lead singer, alongside Andrew Roachford, for Mike Rutherford's side project Mike + the Mechanics since 2010
November 24, 1966 ~ Abner Silberman, commonly known as songwriter Abner Silver, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-wrote Young And Beautiful, Lover Doll, and What's She Really Like, all recorded by Elvis Presley at the tail end of the 1950s. Active since the late-1910s, Silver has also co-written songs recorded by Al Jolson (I'm Goin' South), Eddie Cantor, Marion Harris, Blossom Seeley (I Found A Roundabout Way To Heaven), Helen Kane, Isham Jones (There Goes My Heart), Kay Kyser (For Sentimental Reasons), Lionel Hampton, Fats Waller (My Window Faces The South), the Mills Brothers, Tony Bennett, Mahalia Jackson, and the Five Keys ~ Silberman was born in 1899
November 24, 1966 ~ Classical crossover tenor singer Russell Watson born in Irlam, UK ~ Released his The Voice debut album in 2001, a mixture of operatic arias and covers of pop songs. The album would top the UK Classical charts and eventually reach top 10 of the pop charts. The album is best known among pop audiences for its two duets. Shaun Ryder, frontman for the Happy Mondays, duetted on a remake of the Freddie Mercury-Montserrat Caballé hit Barcelona, while pop group Cleopatra's Cleo Higgins appeared alongside Watson on Someone Like You
November 24, 1965 ~ Mandolinist Adam Steffey born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Won the the International Bluegrass Music Association's Mandolin Player of the Year eleven times, more than any other player. Present on albums by Tony Trischka, Alison Krauss (Every Time You Say Goodbye), Jerry Douglas, Dolly Parton, the Cox Family, David Grier (Lone Soldier), Bill Frisell (Nashville), Clint Black (Nothin' But The Taillights), Dan Tyminski, the Dixie Chicks (Home), Jeannie Kendall, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Alecia Nugent, Rhonda Vincent, Jim Lauderdale (Could We Get Any Closer), Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, and Dwight Yoakam
November 24, 1964 ~ Rock group the Who begin their Tuesday night residency at the Marquee Club, London, UK ~ The band begin their residency at the famed London club. The following sixteen weeks, they broke attendance records, and were booked for another seven weeks. Following the chart success of their I Can't Explain debut single released in December, which would eventually reach top 10 in the band's native UK, they began to tour nationally. By September the band would play their first concerts outside the UK, playing gigs in the Netherlands and Scandinavia
November 24, 1960 ~ Bassist, composer Edgar Meyer born ~ Virtuoso double bassist equally at home in classical music, bluegrass, newgrass, jazz, and world music. Member of the house band at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, an annual event held in the town of Tellurides, Colorado, since 1973. Well over a dozen albums to his name, especially acclaimed for the 1996 collaborative album Appalachia Waltz with Yo-Yo Ma and Mark O'Connor. Meyer's compositions have been premiered and recorded by the likes of Joshua Bell, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Emerson String Quartet. An in-demand sideman, Meyer has appeared on albums by Chet Atkins, Vince Gill, Béla Fleck, the New Grass Revival, Lyle Lovett (Pontiac), Jerry Douglas, Leo Kottke, Sandi Patty, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks (No Fences), Alison Krauss, and Beth Nielsen Chapman
November 24, 1957 ~ Pop, rock guitarist, singer Chris Hayes born in California, USA ~ Lead guitarist for Huey Lewis & the News, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums through 2001. The band is best known for their 1985 The Power Of Love Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit single, first used for the soundtrack of the hugely successful Back To The Future film. Their Fore album released the following year would spawn five more top 10 hits, Stuck With You, Hip To Be Square, Jacob's Ladder, I Know What I Like, and Doing It All For My Baby
November 24, 1954 ~ Clement Anthony Bozewski, commonly known as drummer Clem Burke, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Has on occasion gigged with the Ramones using the moniker Elvis Ramone. Influenced by Earl Palmer, Hal Blaine, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon. Best known as longtime member of Blondie, scoring hits such as Denis, I'm Always Touched By Your Presence Dear, Heart Of Glass, One Way Or Another, The Tide Is High, Atomic, and Rapture. An in-demand collaborator, Burke is present on albums by Joan Jett, Iggy Pop, Chequered Past, Eurythmics (Revenge), Bob Dylan, Dramarama, Thom MacFarlane (Longtime), Gilby Clarke, John Easdale (Bright Side), Nancy Sinatra, Wayne Kramer, Iggy Pop, and Carla Olson
November 24, 1950 ~ Drummer Bob Burns, full name Robert Lewis Burns Jr, born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Co-founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Present on the band's first two albums, Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd and it's follow-up Second Helping. Well known songs from this era include Simple Man, Free Bird, and Sweet Home Alabama. Between his departure in 1974, after reportedly suffering a mental breakdown on the band's UK tour, and his one-off reunion performance at the band's 1996 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Burns disappeared from public view ~ Burns passed away in 2015
November 24, 1950 ~ Singer Vivian Blaine introduces the song A Bushel And A Peck in the musical Guys And Dolls ~ Written by Frank Loesser. Although Blaine later reprised her role in the 1955 film version of the play, the song would be omitted in the film. A number of artists also recorded the song in 1950, some even while the show was still in rehearsal, the most popular version recorded by Perry Como and Betty Hutton with backing from Mitchell Ayres orchestra, which would reach top 5 on the pop charts. Other early versions would be recorded by Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely, Doris Day, Johnny Desmond, the Andrews Sisters, and Richard Hayes with Kitty Kallen. Blaine would release her studio version the next year
November 24, 1947 ~ Gospel singers Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight record Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In The Sky) in New York, New York ~ Written by Tharpe, drawing in part on the traditional spiritual Over My Head. Recorded as a duet, Tharpe and Knight engaging in call and response vocals. Tharpe on guitar, Sammy Price piano, Pops Foster bass, Wallace Bishop drums
November 24, 1946 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Tony Clarkin, full name Anthony Michael Clarkin, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Guitarist, sole songwriter for Magnum, known best for their 1988 Wings Of Heaven album and its 1990 follow-up Goodnight LA. Well known songs include Days Of No Trust, Start Talking Love, It Must Have Been Love and Rockin' Chair, all of which reached top 40 in the band's native UK. The band folded in 1995, yet Clarkin and the band's lead singer Bob Catley would record two more albums through the end of the decade going by the moniker Hard Rain ~ Clarkin passed away in 2024
November 24, 1943 ~ Manuel Muñoz Alcón, commonly known as flamenco guitarist, composer Manolo Sanlúcar, born in Sanlúcar De Barrameda, Spain ~ Alongside Paco de Lucia, Tomatito and Vicente Amigo considered one of the key figures in the evolution of the flamenco guitar. Actively recording since the late-1960s. Especially acclaimed for the albums Tauromagia and Locura De Brisa Y Trino ~ Muñoz passed away in 2022
November 24, 1943 ~ Folk singer, multi-instrumentalist Robin Williamson, full name Robin Duncan Harry Williamson, born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Worked with Clive Palmer, Mike Heron, the Incredible String Band, Licorice McKechnie, the Merry Band, Sylvia Woods, Jerry Macmillan, Chris Caswell, John Renbourn, Mat Maneri, Barre Phillips, Ale Möller, Ches Smith, and Paul Dunmall
November 24, 1942 ~ Singer, actor, comedian Billy Connolly born in Glasgow, UK ~ Member of folk rock outfit the Humblebums alongside Gerry Rafferty and Tam Harvey, known for the singles Saturday Round About Sunday and Shoeshine Boy. Has recorded as a solo artist since the early-1970s, over time gravitating more towards comedy rock eventually focusing on his stand-up comedy and acting career
November 24, 1942 ~ Producer, songwriter, music manager Jack Rieley, full name John Frank Rieley III, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Managed the Beach Boys from 1970 through 1973, guiding them back to popular acclaim. Co-wrote a number of the band's best known songs from this period, including Sail On Sailor. Subsequently worked with artists such as Kool & the Gang, Ride, and Jaye Muller ~ Rieley passed away in 2015
November 24, 1941 ~ Donald Dunn, commonly known as bassist Donald Duck Dunn, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of the Mar-keys, known for their 1961 Last Night hit single. Would go on to become a member of noted Stax/Volt house band Booker T & the MG's, appearing on hundreds of fondly remembered tracks by Otis Redding (Respect), Rufus Thomas, William Bell, Sam & Dave (Hold On I'm Coming), Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Albert King (Born Under A Bad Sign), Johnnie Taylor, and Bill Withers. After his tenure with Stax/Volt Dunn has worked with Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Stevie Nicks (Stop Draggin' My Heart Around), Eric Clapton, Levon Helm, and the Blues Brothers ~ Dunn passed away in 2012
November 24, 1941 ~ Randolph Peter Scanland, commonly known as drummer, singer, songwriter Pete Best, born in Madras, India ~ Member of the Quarrymen which morphed into the Beatles. Soon after the band's first recording session, having played live sets with the band for nearly two years, Best would be fired by manager Brian Epstein at the request of the other band members to be replaced by Ringo Starr. In the 1990s, after the release of their Anthology Vol.1 album consisting of early recordings, Best received a major monetary payout for his early work with the band
November 24, 1941 ~ R&B, soul trumpeter Wayne Jackson, full name Wayne Lamar Jackson, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of the Mar-keys, singing lead on the 1961 hit single Last Night. Studio musician for Stax/Volt, appearing on numerous records by Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave. Formed the Memphis Horns with Andrew Love, the duo employed by artists such as Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, Al Green, Dusty Springfield, the Doobie Brothers, and the Robert Cray Band ~ Jackson passed away in 2016
November 24, 1936 ~ Music manager Ken Kragen, full name Kenneth Allan Kragen, born in Alameda, California, USA ~ Personal manager to artists such as Lionel Richie, Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, Dottie West, Kenny Rogers. To pop audiences perhaps best known for his pivotal role in the mid-1980s charity project, album and single We Are The World, bringing together a group of pop musicians under the moniker USA For Africa ~ Kragen passed away in 2021
November 24, 1934 ~ Lyricist, theater director, actor Martin Charnin born in New York, New York, USA ~ Got his start in entertainment performing as one of the Jets in the original production of West Side Story, playing the role for an estimated 1,000 performances both on Broadway and on the road. Would go on to write music and lyrics for numerous revues, direct and produce nightclubs acts for Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, and Mary Travers, and conceive, produce and direct several TV specials. Wrote The Best Thing You've Ever Done, recorded by Barbra Streisand for her 1974 multi-platinum The Way We Were album. Charnin is also well known for co-writing the musical Annie, which opened on Broadway in 1977 and was later adapted into a film ~ Charnin passed away in 2019
November 24, 1934 ~ Singer, guitarist, actor Sven-Bertil Taube, full name Sven-Bertil Gunnar Evert Taue, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Son of songwriter Evert Taube, whose songs he frequently recorded. Well over thirty albums to his name starting with 1954's Swedish Folk Songs And Ballads. Especially known for his interpretations of 18th-century songwriter Carl Michael Bellman, collected on two albums released in the early-1960s ~ Taube passed away in 2022
November 24, 1932 ~ Composer, pianist, trombonist, conductor Andrzej Kurylewicz, full name Andrzej Roma Kurylewicz, born in Lwów, Poland ~ Composed chamber music, orchestral music, and music for stage, ballet, and films. Pioneered Polish jazz. Well known for writing the score for the Polish TV series Polskie Drogi. Has collaborated with Tomasz Stańko, Pat Metheny, Kasia Nosowska, and Magda Umer ~ Kurylewicz passed away in 2007
November 24, 1931 ~ Thomas Douglas Allsup, commonly known as singer, guitarist, producer Tommy Allsup, born in Owasso, Oklahoma, USA ~ Played with Buddy Holly, including lead guitar on It's So Easy and on Lonesome Tears. Member of Bob Wills's backing unit the Texas Playboys. Lost a toin coss and his seat on the plane that killed Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP Richardson. Produced the one-hit-wonder In The Year 2525 for Zager & Evans as well as several albums for Asleep At The Wheel ~ Allsup passed away in 2017
November 24, 1927 ~ Southern gospel singer Jake Hess, full name William Jake Hess, born in Limestone County, Alabama, USA ~ Lead singer with the Statesmen Quartet from 1948 through 1963. After his departure from the band founded the Imperials. Major influence on Elvis Presley, who was so impressed with Hess' singing that he tried to emulate the vocal style and phrasing for the remainder of his life. Hess has sung backup on several Elvis albums and performed at Presley's funeral ~ Hess passed away in 2004
November 24, 1925 ~ Saxophonist Al Cohn born in New York, New York, USA ~ Came to prominence in the band of Woody Herman. Also known for his longtime association with fellow saxophonist Zoot Sims and for his work as a respected arranger including on the Broadway musicals Raising and Sophisticated Ladies. As a sideman Cohn played with artists such as Manny Albam, Mose Allison, Art Blakey, Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Burrell, Coleman Hawkins, Quincy Jones, Gary McFarland, Joe Newman, and Oscar Pettiford ~ Cohn passed away in 1988
November 24, 1923 ~ Jazz saxophonist Serge Chaloff born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Son of pianist Julius Chaloff and piano teacher Margaret Chaloff. Considered one of the finest baritone saxophonists of the bop era, playing professionally since his mid-teens with musicians twenty years or more his senior. Best known for his association with Woody Herman, forming the reed section of Herman's band alongside Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, and Herbie Steward. Recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader until his untimely death at age 33 of spinal cancer, and is noted especially for the collaborative Serge Chaloff & Boots Mussulli album released in 1954. Chaloff has also worked with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Boyd Raeburn, Oscar Pettiford, Georgie Auld, and Sonny Stitt. According to his brother Richard Chaloff, Chaloff could play the baritone like a tenor saxophone, “the only time you knew it was a baritone was when he took it down low, he played it high, he had finger dexterity, I used to watch him, you couldn't believe the speed he played, he was precise, he was a perfectionist” ~ Chaloff passed away in 1957
November 24, 1920 ~ Orchestral conductor Lee Hepner born in Edmonton, 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, and the Hamilton Opera Company ~ Hepner passed away in 1986
November 24, 1918 ~ William Strethen Davis, commonly known as jazz pianist, organist, guitarist, arranger Wild Bill Davis, born in Glasgow, Missouri, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for pioneering the electronic organ prior to Jimmy Smith's emergence and as a member of Louis Jordan's backing unit the Tympany Five. Also worked with Milt Larkin, Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Tom Archia, Buster Bennett, Claude McLin, Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Ray Brown, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Floyd Smith, and Sonny Stitt ~ Davis passed away in 1995
November 24, 1912 ~ Pianist Teddy Wilson born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Described as “the definitive swing pianist” by noted jazz critic Scott Yanow, Wilson has backed some of the biggest names in jazz in concert and on record including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Gene Krupa, Helen Ward, Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Sarah Vaughan, Ben Webster, Mildred Bailey, and Buck Clayton ~ Wilson passed away in 1986
November 24, 1907 ~ Steve Edward Nelson, commonly known as songwriter Steve Nelson, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for co-writing Frosty The Snowman with Jack Rollins. First recorded by Gene Autry in 1950, it would become a Holiday classic recorded by over 400 artists including Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, the Ronettes, Brenda Lee, George Strait, and Leon Redbone. Other songs written or co-written by Nelson have been recorded by Eddy Arnold (Bouquet Of Roses), Hank Snow, Art Mooney, Samantha Sang, and Barbra Streisand (Songbird) ~ Nelson passed away in 1981
November 24, 1896 ~ Rosa Deschamps, commonly known as jazz, blues singer, vaudeville entertainer Rosa Henderson born in Henderson, Kentucky, USA ~ Known for 1920s recordings such as Afternoon Blues, Doggone Blues, He May Be Your Dog But He's Wearing My Collar and Papa If You Can't Do Better I'll Let A Better Papa Move In. Worked with the Virginians, Fletcher Henderson, the Choo Choo Jazzers, the Kansas City Five, and the Four Black Diamonds ~ Deschamps passed away in 1968