Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

February 17, 1922 Tommy Edwards ("It's All In The Game") is born in Richmond, Virginia.

January 26, 1922 Pianist/vocalist Page Cavanaugh is born in Cherokee, Kansas. He notches a number of hits in the 1940s, including "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," as part of The Page Cavanaugh Trio with guitarist Al Viola and bassist Lloyd Pratt.

January 20, 1922 Trumpeter Ray Anthony (of the Glenn Miller Orchestra) is born in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania.

December 28, 1921 Johnny Otis is born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes in Vallejo, California. A singer and songwriter in his own right, he also works as a talent scout and discovers several artists, including Etta James and "Hound Dog" singer Big Mama Thornton.

November 13, 1921 Composer Joonas Kokkonen, known for his opera The Last Temptations, is born in Iisalmi, Finland.

September 21, 1921 Jimmy Young is born in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England. Before becoming a successful BBC Radio 1 broadcaster, he records a string of pop hits, including "Too Young" in 1951.

September 19, 1921 R&B singer Billy Ward (of The Dominoes) is born Robert L. Williams in Savannah, Georgia.

August 13, 1921 Bluesman Jimmy McCracklin is born in St. Louis, Missouri (or Helena, Arkansas, according to some sources). Known for the hits "The Walk" and "Just Got To Know."

August 8, 1921 Country singer Webb Pierce is born in West Monroe, Louisiana. Known for the popular 1955 cover "In the Jailhouse Now."

August 7, 1921 Big Band trombonist Warren Covington is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

August 6, 1921 Jazz/Blues musician Buddy Collette (tenor saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist) is born in Los Angeles, California. He became a founding member of Chico Hamilton's quintet.

August 4, 1921 Jazz guitarist Herb Ellis is born in Farmersville, Texas. Along with drummer Buddy Rich, he was part of the backing band for comeback albums by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

August 3, 1921 Broadway lyricist/composer Richard Adler (The Pajama Game) is born in New York City. With Frank Loesser, he writes Tony Bennett's "Rags To Riches."

July 24, 1921 Jazz pianist and composer Billy Taylor is born in Greenville, North Carolina. He penned the unofficial civil rights anthem "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" in 1963.

June 1, 1921 Nelson Riddle is born in Oradell, New Jersey. He'll become famous as the orchestrator and arranger behind countless hits for Capitol Records artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, and - decades later - Linda Ronstadt.

May 25, 1921 Lyricist Hal David, frequent collaborator of Burt Bacharach, is born in New York City.

May 25, 1921 Kitty Kallen is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Known for the hit 1954 single "Little Things Mean A Lot."

May 17, 1921 Bob Merrill, a prolific songwriter whose hits include "(How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window?" and "Mambo Italiano," is born in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

May 3, 1921 Traditional pop vocalist Joe Ames (of The Ames Brothers) is born in Malden, Massachusetts.

April 22, 1921 Afro-Cuban jazz percussionist Candido Camero is born in Cuba.

April 12, 1921 Chicago blues musician Shakey Jake Harris is born James D. Harris in Earle, Arkansas, but would be raised in Chicago, Illinois. A professional gambler, he borrows his nickname from the dice players' expression "shake 'em."

April 10, 1921 Actor and novelty singer Sheb Wooley is born in Erick, Oklahoma.

March 31, 1921 Blues guitarist Lowell Fulson is born in Atoka, Oklahoma.

March 15, 1921 Doo-wop musician Les Cooper, known for the 1962 instrumental hit "Wiggle Wobble," is born in Norfolk, Virginia.

January 31, 1921 Italian tenor Mario Lanza is born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He takes his stage name from his mother's maiden name: Maria Lanza.

January 30, 1921 Jazz pianist Bernie Leighton is born in West Haven, Connecticut.

December 31, 1920 Actor Rex Allen, who has a country hit with "Don't Go Near the Indians" in 1962, is born near Willcox, Arizona.

December 14, 1920 Swing trumpeter Clark Terry is born in St. Louis, Missouri. One of the most recorded jazz musicians, he would play with the likes of Charlie Barnet, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones.

December 6, 1920 Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, composer of the standard "In Your Own Sweet Way," is born in Concord, California.

September 7, 1920 Guitarist Al Caiola, a frequent session musician in the '50s, is born in Jersey City, New Jersey.