BIRTHDAYS

1909
Emmanuel Edward "Eddie" Barefield
Clarinet/soprano-alto-tenor-baritone sax
b. Scandia, IA, d. Jan 4, 1991.

1915
Everette "Leonard" Edstron
bandleader/music publisher
b. Worthington, Minnesota, USA
d. March 19, 2000, Palm Desert, Riverside, California, USA.
aka: Hal Leonard

1907
Fred Elizalde
Piano/Leader
b. Manila, Philippines
d. Jan. 16, 1979.
(some sources say d. 1972)
Connections between the Philippines and the jazz scene are slight -- but here is one for sure, half of a pair of brothers born into one of that island nation's wealthiest families. Both Fred Elizalde and Manuel Elizalde led dance bands in London, England, beginning in the second half of the '20s; they were sent there to attend posh Cambridge, naturally. The Elizalde brothers eventually dipped into the pool of brilliant New York City recording session players to bolster the staff of their band, certainly one reason that an ensuing Savoy Hotel stint was such a smash.

Fred Elizalde laid the groundwork for his later in-depth studies with the brilliant composer Maurice Ravel by himself scribbling out a minuet at the ripe age of four. Both brothers were shipped around to only the best schools -- besides the aforementioned Cambridge there was Stanford University in California where, at only 16, Elizalde assumed leadership of the Stanford University Band for a Biltmore Hotel gig in Los Angeles. Moving from there to England only furthered his career as a bandleader and arranger: but his parents had meant otherwise, apparently horrified at their sons' interest in performing popular music.

An ensemble bravely called the Quinquaginta Ramblers was the first group Fred Elizalde took over upon arrival in England. The noted bandleader Bert Ambrose, often credited under just his surname, took a liking to the Filipino lad's piano playing as well as his ideas for compositions, and was an early employer. Near the end of the '20s, Elizalde disbanded his British-American ensemble and moved elsewhere in Europe, studying classical music in Spain and working privately with Ravel in France. In the early '30s there were some further Elizalde recordings done in England, but in later years he would return there only for classical concerts, basically settling back in the Philippines where he ran his own radio station.
~ Eugene Chadbourne
jabw_vintage/report no. 11 - Fred Elizalde, influential musician and band leader:
www.jabw.demon.co.uk/elizal2.htm
~John Wright

1938
Connie Frances
Pops Vocalist
b. Newark, NJ, U.S.A.
née: Concetta Franconero

1896
Jay Gorney, Composer
b. Bialystok, Russia
d. June 14, 1990.
né: Daniel Jason Gorney.
In 1932, Gorney scored musical 'Americana', the big hit from the show was "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" (lyric by E. Y. "Yip" Harburg). This song, played throughout the Great Depression years, is still used as a symbol of hard economic times.
WIKI BIO:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Gorney

1920
Dick James
label owner
( DJM Records)
b. London, England, UK
WIKI BIO:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_James

1914
Laurence "88" Keyes, piano
b. Kansas City, KS, USA

1907
Allen Massey
C&W guitar and banjo
b. Texas, USA.
d. 1983, Texas, USA.
Age: 75.
Member: "Louise Massey & the Westerners" The Westerners consisted of Milt Mabie, bass fiddle (1934), Larry Wellington, accordion (1934), Dott Massey, violin and trumpet (1934), Louise Massey Mabie, singer and pianist (1934), and Allen Massey, guitar and banjo specialist ( Louise, Dott and Allen are sister and brothers. Milt was "adopted" by Louise several years prior to 1934.) They grew up on a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico but took up music instead of 'cow-punching'. Their music has been described variously as both "...the rollicking songs of the West..." , and also '...like the soft breeze that whispers across the desert at sunset...' They were also quite adept at playing modern Pop.

1913
Don Stovall, Alto Sax
b. St. Louis, MO, USA, d. 1970
One of the great alto-saxophonists of the 1940's, Don Stovall's decision to retire completely from music while still in his prime has led to him being quite obscure in jazz history books. Stovall started out playing violin before switching to alto. In St. Louis early on he worked with Dewey Jackson, Fate Marable (on riverboats) and Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks (1932-33). Stovall moved to Buffalo for a few years where he mostly led his own groups and had a short stint with Lil Armstrong. After relocating to New York City in 1939, Stovall worked with Sammy Price, Snub Mosely, Eddie Durham's Big Band and the Cootie Williams Orchestra (1941). His most famous association was with Red Allen's Sextet, a rambunctious group that mixed together Dixieland with early R&B and jump/jazz. The altoist was featured on many records with Allen. Don Stovall decided in 1950 to retire from music and he spent the rest of his life working for the phone company! Unfortunately he never led his own record date but he did record with Allen, Lil Armstrong, Pete Johnson, Sammy Price and Snub Mosley among others. ~ Scott Yanow

1918
Joe Williams, Vocals
b. Cordele, GA, USA
d. March 29, 1999, Age 80.
né: Joseph Goreed.
Vocals first w/Benny Moten Orch (Kansas City, MO), and then with Count Basie Orch.
WIKI BIO:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_...zz_singer)

Notable Events occuring
on this date include:

1951.
Mildred Bailey, vocals
died in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA.
Age: 44

1962.
Leon "Abner" Weaver
Member: "The Weaver Brothers & Elviry" died. Age: 76,

1974.
John Lomax Jr., folklorist
died in Houston, TX, USA.
Age: 67

1988.
Jim Bulliet
label founder
(Bullet Records)
died in Nashville, TN, USA.
Age: 79