| 1907 | Jane Froman, Began as a singer with Bing Crosby that led to many other opportunities - "I Only Have Eyes for You". She died April 22, 1980.
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| 1916 | Billy May, May began his career as a trumpeter with the Charlie Barnet Band in 1938. He soon was contributing arrangements characterized by what the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz described as “wailing, 'scooping' saxophones voiced in thirds.” The best-known of his arrangements for Barnet was for the hit recording of “Cherokee,” the Ray Noble song that became a standard of the swing era and Barnet's signature tune. He died of a heart attack in 2004.
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| 1932 | Paul Bley, Pianist and founding member of the Jazz Composers Guild. At 17 he formed the Montreal Jazz Workshop, brought Charlie Parker, Lester Young and Ben Webster to Montreal as stage collaborators, and had taken over Oscar Peterson's coveted gig at the Alberta Lounge.
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| 1934 | Houston Person, After learning piano as a youth, Person switched to tenor. While stationed in Germany with the Army, he played in groups that also included Eddie Harris, Lanny Morgan, Leo Wright, and Cedar Walton. Person picked up valuable experience as a member of Johnny Hammond's group (1963-1966) and has been a bandleader ever since, often working with singer Etta Jones.
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| 1935 | Bobby Rush (Emmit Ellis Jr.), He's a blues and R&B guitarist, composer and singer, and a native of Homer, Louisiana. His first band was formed when he became friends with Elmore James, slide-player Boyd Gilmore (Elmore's cousin), and piano-player Moose John Walker, in Arkansas while a teen. Rush received recognition for his music after the release of his 22nd album Rush, when he was awarded "Best Male Soul Blues Artist" at the Blues Music Awards. He also received “best acoustic artist” and “best acoustic album” for his album Raw. His album, Hoochie Mama was nominated for a Grammy award in the blues music section in 2000. (90) |
| 1939 | Andrew Cyrille, He is perhaps the preeminent free-jazz percussionist of the 1980s and '90s. Few free-jazz drummers play with a tenth of Cyrille's grace and authority. His energy is unflagging, his power absolute, tempered only by an ever-present sense of propriety.
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| 1939 | Hubert Laws, A talented flutist whose musical interest was never exclusively straight-ahead jazz, Hubert Laws exceeded Herbie Mann in popularity in the 1970s when he recorded for CTI. He was a member of the early Jazz Crusaders while in Texas (1954-1960) and he also played classical music during those years...
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| 1945 | Stanton Davis, He was a jazz trumpeter and educator and a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He studied at the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. He served as program director for MIT's radio station from 1968-74. He initially played locally in the Boston area, and then with George Russell, Mercer Ellington, Lester Bowie, Charlie Haden, George Gruntz, Jim Pepper, Bob Stewart, Muhal Richard Abrams, Sam Rivers, Gil Evans, Webster Lewis, Jaki Byard, Max Roach, and James Moody. His only major release as a bandleader is 1988's Manhattan Melody.
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| 1947 | David Loggins, Singer who best known for his only hit recording - "Please Come to Boston".
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| 1948 | Greg Lake, Singer and Bassist for progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Lucky Man".
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| 1949 | Donna Fargo, Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter. In the early 70's she was one of the only country stars to cross over into pop.
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| 1950 | Ronnie Hammond, Singer for the popular group called the "Atlanta Rhythm Section".
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| 1968 | Chris Cagle, He is a country music artist and a native of DeRidder, Louisiana. His debut album Play It Loud was certified gold in the United States, also produced the Top 10 hit "Laredo" and "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out", his only Number One hit. It was followed in 2002 by Chris Cagle, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Also a gold album in the U.S., it produced the Top 5 hits "What a Beautiful Day" and "Chicks Dig It". Anywhere but Here, his third album, followed in 2005 and a fourth studio album, titled My Life's Been a Country Song, was released in 2008.
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