| 1891 | Cole Porter, Composer and Lyricist - "Anything Goes". Many arguments could be generated over whether Cole Porter or Irving Berlin should be considered America's greatest tunesmith. The list of Porter shows and films is immense; his lyrics were literate, sophisticated, yet could be charming, suggestive, even naughty. He died in 1964.
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| 1900 | Fred Waring, Choirmaster and Bandleader - "The Whiffenpoof Song". It would probably be stretching the definition considerably to put Fred Waring in the jazz category, though he was very popular utilizing some concepts from the improvisational school. Waring led a dance-based banjo band at 18; he attended Penn State, then formed Fred Waring's Collegians, who ultimately became the Pennsylvanians, although they were based in Detroit. He died in 1984.
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| 1916 | Les Paul, Grammy Award winning guitarist - "Vaya Con Dios". He had such a staggeringly huge influence over the way American popular music sounds today that many tend to overlook his significant impact upon the jazz world. Before his attention was diverted toward recording multi-layered hits for the pop market, he made his name as a brilliant jazz guitarist whose exposure on coast-to-coast radio programs guaranteed a wide audience of susceptible young musicians.
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| 1921 | Henry (Duke) Thiele (Poppa Stoppa), He was the second of 3 Dj's who used the name "Poppa Stoppa" in New Orleans. He was described a a charismatic white shouter, and was creating a white audience for what were called "race records" in the early 1950's. He passed away at the age of 45 in 1966.
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| 1922 | Melvin Yancy, Traditional jazz bassist from New Orleans Louisiana. Melvin played for forty years in established jazz bands. During the 1980's, he played in the 'Society Jazz Band' with Andrew Hall.
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| 1934 | Jackie Wilson, Singer - "Lonely Teardrops". He was one of the most important agents of black pop's transition from R&B into soul. In terms of vocal power (especially in the upper register), few could outdo him; he was also an electrifying on-stage showman. He died in 1984.
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| 1937 | Willard Cox, Vocalist, and fiddler from Cotton Valley in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. He was a member of the family bluegrass band with is son and 3 daughters called The Cox family. The Cox Family recorded two records on Rounder Records: Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone (1993) and Beyond the City (1995). They also collaborated with Alison Krauss on an album entitled I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, which won a Grammy in 1994 for "Best Country/Gospel/Bluegrass Album." (89) |
| 1945 | Mick Goodrick, One of many significant guitarists to be featured at one time or another with vibraphonist Gary Burton's groups (including Larry Coryell, John Scofield, and Pat Metheny), Mick Goodrick has not achieved the fame of the others due to his focusing on a career as a jazz educator. However, Goodrick has long had his own distinctive sound.
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