Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

March 12, 1917 Leonard Chess, co-founder of Chess Records, is born Lejzor Shmuel Czyż in Motal, Poland.

January 29, 1917 Singer/actor John Raitt, known for his roles in the stage musicals Carousel and Oklahoma!, among others, is born in Santa Ana, California.

January 22, 1917 Jazz reed player Albert "Pud" Brown is born in Wilmington, Delaware, but grows up in Shreveport, Louisiana.

January 21, 1917 Jazz pianist Billy Maxted is born in Racine, Wisconsin.

January 14, 1917 Jazz trumpeter Billy Butterfield is born in Middletown, Ohio. In 1940, he plays a legendary solo on Artie Shaw's hit rendition of "Stardust."

January 10, 1917 Jerry Wexler is born in New York City. As a producer and executive with Atlantic Records, he plays a key role in the success of Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin and Wilson Pickett.

December 15, 1916 Buddy Cole is born Edwin LeMar Cole in Irving, Illinois. The jazz pianist will accompany the likes of Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby.

December 11, 1916 Perez Prado, the "King of Mambo," is born in Matanzas, Cuba.

December 2, 1916 Tenor saxophonist Charlie Ventura is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

November 16, 1916 Herb Abramson, co-founder of Atlantic Records, is born in Brooklyn, New York.

November 10, 1916 Billy May - trumpeter, composer, and arranger - is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Arranged Frank Sinatra's acclaimed concept albums Come Fly with Me (1958), Come Dance with Me! (1959) and Come Swing with Me! (1961).

November 6, 1916 Ray Conniff, a trombonist and composer known for his '60s-era Ray Conniff Singers, is born in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

July 24, 1916 Big Band vocalist Bob Eberly is born in Mechanicville, New York.

May 26, 1916 Louis Thomas Hardin, aka Moondog, is born in Marysville, Kansas. Aside from forging a career as a musician, composer, and inventor, he becomes well-known as a street musician in New York City, where his cloak and Viking-style helmet earns him the nickname "the Viking of 6th Avenue."

May 14, 1916 Jazz saxophonist Skip Martin is born in Robinson, Illinois.

April 12, 1916 Composer and arranger Russ Garcia (The Benny Goodman Story (1956), The Complete Porgy and Bess (1956)) is born in Oakland, California.

February 29, 1916 Dinah Shore is born Frances Rose Shore in Winchester, Tennessee. She starts out as a successful singer in the Big Band era before becoming a popular TV host.

February 16, 1916 Bill Doggett, composer of the hit R&B instrumental "Honky Tonk," is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

January 27, 1916 Swing jazz pianist Milt Raskin is born in Boston, Massachusetts.

January 3, 1916 Maxene Andrews of The Andrew Sisters is born in Mound, Minnesota, to a family that already includes older sister LaVerne and will welcome younger sister Patty in two years.

December 25, 1915 Pete Rugolo, jazz composer and arranger, is born Pietro Rugolo in San Piero Patti, Sicily, Italy, but moves to Santa Rosa, California, by age 5. Known for his work with big band leader Stan Kenton.

December 19, 1915 Charlie Ryan, who co-wrote and was the first to record the 1955 rockabilly hit "Hot Rod Lincoln," is born in Graceville, Minnesota.

December 14, 1915 Actor/dancer Dan Dailey is born in New York City. Known for his roles in There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), It's Always Fair Weather (1955) and Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956).

December 4, 1915 Jazz pianist Eddie Heywood, Jr. is born in Atlanta, Georgia.

November 30, 1915 Folk-blues singer Brownie McGhee is born Walter Brown McGhee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Known for his longtime collaboration with harmonica player Sonny Terry.

November 28, 1915 Jazz trumpeter Dick Vance is born in Mayfield, Kentucky, but will be raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He blows his horn for a number of prominent Big Bands, including Chick Webb's orchestra.

November 14, 1915 Pop singer Martha Tilton is born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Known for "And the Angels Sing" with Benny Goodman (1939).

August 24, 1915 Blues singer Wynonie Harris is born in Omaha, Nebraska. He'll land his first R&B chart-topper in 1945 with "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well."

August 16, 1915 Al Hibbler (former singer for Duke Ellington's orchestra) is born in Tyro, Mississippi.

July 28, 1915 Accordionist Frankie Yankovic is born in Davis, West Virginia. No relation to fellow accordionist Weird Al Yankovic, though the parody master says his parents chose the instrument for him because "they figured there should be at least one more accordion-playing Yankovic in the world."