| 1886 | George 'Happy' Schilling Sr., Traditional jazz trombonist and guitarist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was an important dixieland influence, and led his own dance band and orchestra. He and Johnny Fischer played in each others bands. 'Happy' led the band that played at the New Orleans Pelicans baseball games. He died in New Orleans on February 28, 1964. (138) |
| 1921 | Jimmy Giuffre, Saxophonist and clarinetist who had stints with the orchestras of Boyd Raeburn, Jimmy Dorsey and Buddy Rich. His composition "Four Brothers" became a hit for Woody Herman, an orchestra that Giuffre eventually joined in 1949.
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| 1924 | Teddy Edwards, He was, with Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, the top young tenor of the late '40s. Unlike the other two, he chose to remain in Los Angeles and has been underrated through the years but remained in prime form well into his 70s. He died in 2003.
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| 1935 | Roy (Boogie Boy) Perkins (Ernie Suarez), A pianist an singer and a native of Lafayette, Louisiana. He's known for regional hits Here Am I /You're Gone and Just Another Lie.
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| 1942 | Bobby Rydell, One of the most sought-after nightclub and concert acts in the country. His performance in Bye Bye Birdie and his recordings "Wild One" and "Volare" made him a famous show business performer of the '60s.
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| 1943 | Gary Wright, Rock guitarist most closely associated with his atmospheric 1976 smash "Dream Weaver".
(81) |
| 1954 | Billy Ware, A percussionist and a native of Alabama. He is most known for his long-time association with the legendary Grammy winning cajun group BeauSoleil. Billy has also played with a wide variety of other artists including Roswell Rudd, Steve Riley, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Al Berard, Mark Knopfler and Canray Fontenot among others. (70) |
| 1960 | Roger Taylor, Drummer for the 1980's pop group "Duran Duran". - "Hungry Like the Wolf"
(64) |
| 1967 | Matt Lemler, A pianist vocalist, producer & educator, and a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He's been a musician with his father an brothers since he was a child. He studied arranging with Grammy award-winning Tony Klatka and jazz piano with Ellis Marsalis. He played with many local jazz greats such as Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Jr., James Black, George Porter, Jr., Charmaine Neville, Harry Connick, Jr., Rick Margitza, Nicholas Payton, Wess Anderson, Jon Cowherd to name a few. He's also pursued his solo career with his own releases.
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