MARCH 3, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1906 - Barney Bigard, songwriter and clarinet player with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, The Barney Bigard Sextet with future Capitol Records artist Les Baxter, and in the Capitol Records bands Freddie Slack and His Orchestra, Zutty Singleton's Creole Band, Zutty Singleton's Trio, The Capitol Jazzmen, and Sonny Greer and The Duke's Men, is born in New Orleans, Louisiana
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Jance Garfat, bass player and singer with the Capitol Records group Dr. Hook, is born Robert Jance Garfat in California. If anyone knows where in California, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Johnny Mercer's Capitol Records single "Personality", with "If I Knew Then" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Betty Comden and Adolph Green sign with Capitol Records
1966 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line", with "In The Palm Of Your Hand" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1987 - Danny Kaye, radio, television, motion picture and Broadway actor, singer, dancer, comedian, and Capitol Records artist, dies in Los Angeles, California at the age of 74
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - J. J. Johnson signs with Capitol Records
2008 - Hurricane Smith (born Norman Smith), RAF glider pilot, singer, songwriter, drummer, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass and vibes player, EMI recording engineer (for The Beatles recording sessions from 1962 through those for the group's "Rubber Soul" album in 1965 as well as for sessions with Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Billy J Kramer, Helen Shapiro and Manfred Mann) and producer (The Pink Floyd, Barclay James Harvest, and The Pretty Things) and EMI and Capitol Records artist (best remembered for the track "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?") and author (his autobiography "John Lennon Called Me Normal"), has died of cancer at age 85 in East Sussex, England. A video of him performing "Who Was It?" (written by Gilbert O' Sullivan) is on YouTube . Seth Swirsky interviewed Norman at his home in March, 2006, for his upcoming movie (Fall, 2008) called "A Year In The Life" and a clip from the interview is also on YouTube.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1966 - Tone Loc, singer, motion picture and television actor and voice artist, and Delicious Vinyl solo artist is born. I designed the packaging and ads for Loc's second Delicious Vinyl album "Loc'ed After Dark" including the LP Sleeve, Cassette, CD, and CD 6x12 longbox, as well as the packaging for the first single including the 12" sleeve and cassette single o-card. For awhile his sister was the receptionist at the label.