MARCH 3, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
110 Years Ago Today In 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
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
70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, vocalist Johnny Mercer, with Carl Kress and His Orchestra (although the label credits Paul Weston and His Orchestra), records the titles "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home" and "Li'l Angie Is A Natural Man" at the first session and, with Bobby Sherwood directing Carl Kress and His Orchestra (probably the Bobby Sherwood Orchestra of Bobby Sherwood, Tony Catana, Dick Fultz, Jack Gable, and Johnny Martell on trumpets, Wes Cope, Don Kelly, Bob Leeman, and Skip Layton on trombones, Joe McCarney and Herb Lorden on alto saxophones, Dave Cavanaugh and Marty Glaser on tenor saxophones, Merle Bredwell on baritone saxophone, Hollis Bulger (or Hollis Sulser?) on piano, Basil Hutchinson on guitar, Bart Edwards on bass, and Keith Williams on drums), records the title "It's A Good Day" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 254). International Association of Jazz Record Collectors will issue "It's A Good Day" on the LP "Out Of Sherwood's Forest" (IAJRC 35). Mosaic Select will issue all the titles on the 3 CD set "Johnny Mercer" (MS-028).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Trumpet player Ray Anthony and His Orchestra (Conrad Gozzo, John Audino, Art DePew, and John Dolny on trumpets, Tommy Pederson, Jimmy Priddy, Ray Sims, and Ken Trimble on trombones, Med Flory and Gene Merlino on clarinets and alto saxophones, Georgie Auld and Irv Roth on tenor saxophones, Leo Anthony on baritone saxophones, Buddy Cole on piano, Nick Bonney on guitar, Don Simpson on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums), using arrangements by Don Simpson, record the titles "Swingin' At The Tower", "Flying Home", and "Night Train" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Anthony's album "Jam Session At The Tower" (T 749).
1959 - Betty Comden and Adolph Green sign with Capitol Records
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line", with "In The Palm Of Your Hand" on the flipside, 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
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
50 Years Ago Today In 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 and a double-truck ad that appeared in Billboard magazine. For awhile his sister was the receptionist at the label.