1903 | Joe Venuti, The first great violinist of Jazz. The music he made with Eddie Lang would later be a major influence on Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli in France. He played briefly with Red Nichols, toured with Jean Goldkette and played in the orchestra of many Broadway shows. He co-led a band with Eddie Lang off and on through most of the 1920's, that included Jimmy Dorsey, Red Nichols and Frank Signorelli of the Original Dixieland Jass Band. In 1929 he joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra but was injured in an auto accident; he was able to re-join the band in 1930. Venuti was able to keep working as a musician the rest of his life. He died on August 14, 1978 in Seattle, Washington.
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1921 | Jon Hendricks, Jon Hendricks is not only one of the world's favorite jazz vocalists, but is widely considered to be the "Father of Vocalese", the greatest innovator of the art form. Vocalese is the art of setting lyrics to recorded jazz instrumental standards (such as the big band arrangements of Duke Ellington and Count Basie), then arranging voices to sing the parts of the instruments. Thus is created an entirely new form of the work, one that tells a lyrically interesting story while retaining the integrity of the music. In 1957 he teamed with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross to form the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. With Jon as lyricist, the trio perfected the art of vocalese and took it around the world, earning them the designation of the "Number One Vocal Group in the World" for five years in a row from Melody Maker magazine.
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1925 | Charlie Byrd, He was a famous jazz guitarist, born in Suffolk, Virginia. He was the only jazz guitarist of that era whose primary instrument was the classical guitar which gave him his uniquely identifiable sound. He played with Stan Getz - "Meditation". He died in 1999.
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1943 | Bernie Calvert, Bassist for the popular 60's and 70's group 'The Hollies' - "The Air That I Breathe".
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1944 | Betty Kelly, Singer for 'Martha And The Vandellas' - "Dancing In The Street".
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1948 | Kenny Jones, Drummer for the supergroup 'The Who' - "Who Are You".
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1950 | David Bellamy, Singer with 'The Bellamy Brothers' - "Let Your Love Flow".
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1952 | Roshell 'Mike' Anderson, A native of Bogalusa, Louisiana, he was an R&B singer who charted twice in the 1970's on the R&B charts, before becoming a DJ and Television news reporter. He was raised in New Orleans and his two hits were "Know What You're Doing When You Leave", and "Grapevine Will Lie Sometimes".
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1954 | Earl Klugh, Smooth jazz/jazz fusion guitarist. Earl Klugh normally finger picks a nylon and bronze strung guitar. For their album One on One, Klugh and Bob James received a Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1981.
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1957 | Tommy Malone, New Orleans born guitarist raised in Edgard, Louisiana. During the 1980's works with Lil' Queenie, forms the "Continental Drifters", and also forms his long-time band "The Subdudes". He is most well-known for his long association with "The Subdudes".
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