Delectus Clark, better known as "Dee Clark", was born in Nov 1938. In 1953, he joined The Goldentones, who later became the 'Kool Gents'. Initially he successfully imitated the styles of Richard {'Hey Little Girl' - {R&B #2, #20/ 02-59}, then Clyde McPhatter {'Just Keep It Up' - R&B #9, #18/ 05-59}). / His biggest hit was 'Raindrops' {R&B #2, #Pop 3/ 05-61}, unfortunately his last Top 50 hit. He had 16 chart hits total from 1958 to 1965.

Clyde McPhatter was born in Nov of 1932. In 1950, he was discovered in the choir in the Holiness Baptist Church of NYC by Billy Ward, of 'Billy Ward and his Dominoes' and was recruited into the group. He sang tenor lead on the hits 'Do Something for Me ', 'Have Mercy Baby' and 'The Bells'. He left The Dominoes in May 1953, and at Jerry Wexler's suggestion, assembled The Drifters. The initial lineup didn't quite work, but a revised lineup recorded such hits as "Money Honey", "Such a Night", "Honey Love", "White Christmas", and "What'cha Gonna Do". Drafted unto the Army in late 1954, he went solo after he was discharged. His biggest solo hits were 'Treasure of Love' {R&B #1!, #16/ 05-56), 'A Lover's Question {R&B #1!, #6/ 10-58}, and his last major hit 'Lover Please' (#7/ 03-62). In 1987 (the second class ever), he was posthumously (died in 1972, age 39) inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. B+/ ch

Soul singer Garnet MIMMS was born Nov 16th, 1933. In 1958, he formed 'The Gainors' with Howard Tate. In 1963 he began working with producers Bert Berns and Jerry Ragovoy. His biggest hit was his first, "Cry Baby" (R&B #1!, Pop #4/ 08-63). In 1964, Mimms left the Enchanters for a solo career, and had 10 more chart singles through 1966, including 4 Top-30 R&B singles. See LINK above for covers of his recordings, including by Janis Joplin ('Cry Baby') and The Who ... ALSO ... * The co-songwriter, Mort Shuman (usually with Doc Pomus}, was born in Nov of 1938. He wrote big hits for Elvis Presley: 'Surrender', 'Little Sister' and '(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame', all in 1961; his first big songwriting hit was 'A Teenager in Love' by Dion & The Belmonts {#5/ 04/59}. His biggest hit was ' Save the Last Dance For Me' by The Drifters {UK #2, US #1!/ 09-60}. He has 118(!!) chart hits total, including 30 Top-40 hits ...

The writer, producer Billy Sherrill was born Nov of 1936. He produced David Houston, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie Rich, often writing songs specifically for them. His biggest hits were Charlie Rich 'The Most Beautiful Girl' {C&W, Pop #1} and 'a Very Special Love Song', also Tammy Wynette 'Stand By Your Man' {C&W #1!, #19/ 1968}. In 2010, he was inducted into the "Country Music Hall of Fame". // Click on the Link above/ left, to read all 151(!!) of his songwriting efforts to chart. // * - Also recorded by Doug Warren and the Rays; both singles were released about the same time.

Singer Jack Jones died Oct 23rd, at age 88. He had 36 total chart singles from 1962 to 1980, four of them Top 40. His biggest hits were the Bacharach-David 'Wives and Lovers' {#14/ 11-63} and his previous single to this, 'The Race Is On' {AC#1! #15/ 02-65}. He also appeared in several films, starting in 1959 ('Juke Box Rhythm '), and made a cameo in 'Airplane II' (1982), and in 2014 appeared as himself/ the nightclub singer in 'American Hustle'. He also sang the opening theme song for the 1980's TV series 'The Love Boat'. / * - the B-side of 'Seein' the Right Love Go'.

Freddie Salem, guitarist, singer in Southern rock group The Outlaws from 1977–1983; died Sept 23, at age 70. In 1973 (age 19) he auditioned for the Chambers Brothers, and played on the road for the next year and a half. He replaced Henry Paul in 1977 in The Outlaws, spending 6 years with them. After leaving the group, he did session work (Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Anne Murray). In 1999, he opened "The Thunderdome", a live music club in Akron, OH, and booked such acts as Koko Taylor, Eric Burdon and Tommy Castro. ... ALSO ... Billy Jones, Outlaws guitarist from 1972–1981, was born in Nov of 1949. Initially brought on as a keyboardist, he soon switched to lead guitar. Their biggest hits were 'There Goes Another Love Song ' {#34/ 09-75} and a cover of '(Ghost) Riders in the Sky ' {#31/ 12-80}. He was asked to leave the group shortly after this album was released.

J.D. Souther, who produced this album, died Sept 17th, at age 78. He started in a a folk duo with Glen Frey, "Longbranch Pennywhistle", releasing an album in 1970. After a 1972 solo album, he teamed with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay as the "Souther–Hillman–Furay Band", with 2 albums in 1974, 1975. His songs have been recorded many times, particularly by The Eagles, who had #1 hits with 'Best Of My Love" {1974}, 'New Kid IN Town' {1976} and 'Heartache Tonight' {1979}. His first and biggest solo hit was 'You're Only Lonely' (AC #1!, #7/ 07-79}, a tribute to Orbison's classic 'Only The Lonely' ... ALSO ... Jimmie Haskell, who did the string arrangements, was born in Nov of 1926, as 'Sheridan Pearlman'. He started in The Music Biz in the mid-1950's doing arrangements for Imperial Records; in particular, for Ricky Nelson, becoming his arranger of choice, arranging and producing around 75 of his records, including "Hello Mary Lou". He also did arrangements for the likes of Steely Dan, Elvis Presley, Cheryl Crow, Neil Diamond, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers and was the arranger of choice for The Grass Roots.

Folk singer Bob ( Neale) Lind was born in Nov of 1942. Although known mainly for his big hit 'Elusive Butterfly' {UK, US #5/ 02-66}, several other of his songs were frequently covered: the B-side of his big hit, 'Chery's Going Home (The Blues Project, Cascades {'Bubbled Under}, Sonny & Cher, Adam Faith {his last UK hit in the 1960's}), also 'Remember the Rain' (The Rokes, The Poppy Family). / His songs have been covered by more than 200 artists. including Glen Campbell, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Nancy Sinatra, The Four Tops, The Turtles, Richie Havens, Hoyt Axton, Johnny Mathis and Petula Clark.

Multi-talented record producer, label owner, songwriter (and originally a singer), Bob CREWE wrote and produced for The Four Seasons working with Bob Gaudio, as well as running his own record labels, Dyno-Vox/ Dynovoice (Mitch Ryder, The Toys, Eddie Rambeau, The Poets). He was born in Nov of 1930. / Click on Link above, to viiew all 140(!!) chart appearances of songs he wrote, starting in 1957 with "Silhouettes" by The Rays {#3/ 09-57}. His biggest non-Four-Seasons hit was 'Lady Marmalade' by Labelle {UK #7, R&B, Pop #1!/ 12-74}.

R&B singer Johnny Thunder (* - born as 'Leroy Hamilton') died Sept 6th, at age 93. He briefly toured in The Drifters, then originally recorded as 'GIL Hamilton' (recording the original version of 'Tell Him', a hit for The Exciters, as 'Tell HER'). By the fall of 1962 producer Teddy Vann convinced him to record 'Loop De Loop', a version of a children's nursery rhyme, as 'Johnny Thunder' (and credited to Vann), and it became his first and biggest hit {Pop #4/ 01-63} / In a 1969 "Rolling Stone" interview, Bob Dylan, who had heard Thunder's "I'm Alive" on the radio, was asked if he was impressed by anything in the current rock music scene: "Never heard it either, huh? Well, I can't believe it. Everyone I've talked to, I've asked them if they've heard that record. It was one of the most powerful records I've ever heard. It's called 'I'm Alive.' By Johnny Thunder. Well, it was that sentiment, truly expressed."

R&B/ Soul entrepreneur Andre Williams was born the first day in Nov of 1936. He started his career in the 1950s at Fortune Records in Detroit (located at the back of a barber shop), becoming friends with owners Jack and Devora Brown. He then became lead singer for The 5 Dollars in 1955, who already had a contract with Fortune Records. Besides this song, he had hits with 'Jail Bait" and 'Greasy Chicken' on Fortune. In 1968, he had his final chart hot, 'Cadillac Jack' on Chess {R&B #46/ 010-68}. He was also a successful songwriter, with 14 of his songs making the charts, the biggest being 'Twine Time' by Alvin Cash {R&B #3, #14/ 12-64} and 'Shake a Tail Feather' by The Five Du-Tones {#51/ 05-63}, but a bigger hit for James & Bobby Purify {#25/ 04-67}. In the 1960s, he was the manager and roadie for Edwin Starr. / * - Picked up for national distribution by Epic Records, Dec 1956

Lee Freeman, the rhythm guitarist and harmonica player in The Strawberry Alarm Clock, was born in Nov of 1949. From Glendale, CA, they were originally called 'Thee Sixpence', who released the original version of '"Incense and Peppermints' in early 1967, which became the first single by the SAC, and _by far_ their biggest hit {#1!/ 09-67}. No "one-hit wonder" though, they had 4 more chart singles and 4 albums total. He was with the group from 1967, till they broke up in late 1971. // * - They were also in the1970 film 'Beyond the Valley of the Dolls' (directed by Russ Meyer, written by Roger Ebert), performing their big hit, and two other songs.

The "Texas Jewboy", Richard Samet "Kinky" Friedman (singer/ performer/ songwriter/ novelist/ humorist/ politician), was born the first day in November, in 1944. He formed his first band "King Arthur & the Carrots" {Surf-parody}, in 1965, while a student. By 1973, he'd formed his second band, "Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys", which many took to be a play on "Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys". He recorded three LP's for three major labels in three years, mixing social commentary {'"We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You"} with off-color/ often controversial humor {"Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed", not a favorite of feminists} ... ... ALSO ... Unfortunately, he recently died, on June 27th, 2024, at age 79. In early 1976, he joined Bob Dylan on the second leg of "The Rolling Thunder Revue tour". He was the musical guest on the Season 2 of 'Saturday Night Live' {October 23, 1976}, playing 'Dear Abbie'. He was one of two independent candidates in the 2006 Texas gubernatorial election. finishing 4th out of 6 candidates, with 12.6% of the vote. // They sure ain't making Jews like Kinky anymore.

Bass player Jerome Arnold was born in Nov of 1936. He played/ recorded with Howlin' Wolf ('Three Hundred Pounds of Joy', 'Built For Comfort') in the early 1960's. He was with TPBBB from 1963 to 1967 and was on their first two albums - self-titled (Oct 1965) and 'East-West (Aug 1966). He sang lead on their version of 'I Got My Mojo Working'., on their first LP. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, as an original member of TPBBB. / Also, he supported Bob Dylan for his controversial amplified performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. /// He is the younger brother of Billy Boy Arnold, who played with Bo Diddley, and recorded 'I Wish You Would' and 'I Ain’t Got You'. // * But before Cream's version! (Cream's UK LP release: Dec 1966)

Their drummer, Kenny Hyslop, died Sept 15th, at age 73. He joined the Glasgow-based band 'Salvation' in March 1972, and along with future Ultravox member James "Midge" Ure; they became "Slik" in 1974. They had a big English hit in early 1976, 'Forever And Ever' {UK #1!/ 01-76}. He was then in Scottish power pop/ new wave band 'The Zone' from late 1977 to 1979, then joined The Skids, then in 1981, he joined Simple Minds, replacing Brian McGee. He later moved to Canada with the blues band, Big George and the Business. // * - Promo-only in the US; released in Oct 1974 in England.

BELOW - following The Easybeats with an Easybeats COVER! - I am brilliant {and modest!}:

George YOUNG was born in Nov of 1946. He was a founding member, main songwriter (with Harry Vanda) and rhythm guitarist. They were the biggest Pop band in Australia up till then, rivalling The Beatles for the intensity of their fans. They were H U G E stars in Australia, with 7 singles, 3 EPs and 3 full albums released there, all BEFORE 'Friday On My Mind' (US #16/ 03-67}. They had 18 Australian chart singles, from early 1965 to late 1969. ... ALSO ... Amen Corner's tenor sax player, Mike Smith (not the DC5 singer), was born in Nov of 1947. Much more successful in England, they had no hits in the US, but 7 English chart hits, including 4 Top-10 hits such as the 1961 Nina Simone recording 'Gin House Blues' {UK #12/ 07-67}. Their biggest hit was '(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice' {UK #1!/ 02-69} ... UNFORTUNATELY ... Drummer Dennis Bryon, who co-founded English group Amen Corner, died Nov 14th, at age 75. They appeared as themselves in the 1969 horror film 'Scream and Scream Again', singing the theme song. He later played for The Bee Gees from 1974 to 1980, and also recorded or performed with Barbra Streisand, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Ruffin, Dave Edmunds and bandmate Andy Fairweather Low.... And FINALLY ... Unfortunately, Dick Diomonde (born 'Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs'), founding member, bassist for The Easybeats (who did the original version), died Sept 18th, at age 75. He emigrated from Holland at age 4. Their biggest Australian hits, besides 'Friday On My Mind' and this one, were: 'She's So Fine', 'Wedding Ring', 'Women (Make You Feel Alright)', 'Sorry' (my favorite of theirs), 'Land of Make Believe' and 'Heaven And Hell', all of them Top-20 Aussie hits. // * - then on their 'Virgil' (5th) LP, July 1968, titled 'Falling Off the Edge of the World' in the US.

The Ro-D-Ys's producer, Hans van Hemert, died Oct 7th, at age 79. He produced Q65, The Motions, Group 1850 and other Dutch artists such as Big Wheel, Somerset, Kamahl and American Gypsy. His biggest direct success was with Mouth & McNeil, and their worldwide hit 'How Do You Do?' {#8/ 04-72} . Several of his songs were used by artists from the dance and techno scene, such as 'How Do You Do', sampled by Party Animals in 2006 // Ro-D-Ys were from Oude Pekela, Groningen, Holland.

Canadian singer-songwriter Ken Tobias died Oct 2nd, at age 79. He was a regular performer from 1966 - 1968 on the national Canadian variety show "Singalong Jubilee", dueting with fellow cast-member Anne Murray. He released 14 Canadian singles between 1969 and 1976, 8 of them making the Canadian charts, the biggest being 'I Just Want to Make Music', from late 1972, a Top-10 Canadian hit. He wrote the Canadian #1 1971 hit 'Stay Awhile' by The Bells {US #7/ 03-71}. In 1978, he toured Europe, and worked on the soundtrack of the Italian Spaghetti Western "Silver Saddle/They Died with Their Boots On) // The (US) label listed, was owned by Pierre COssette & BURT Sugarman. // Click on the Link above, to view the original Canadian single

James Darren died Sept 2nd, at age 86. He was a film ('Guns of Navorone', 'Gidget', 'The Gene Krupa Story') , TV ('The Time Tunnel', 'T.J. Hooker', 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' - as singer 'Frank Fontaine') actor and singer. He grew up in South Phlily, in the neighborhood near where Al Martino, Eddie Fisher, Fabian and Frankie Avalon lived. He had 16 chart singles from 1959 to 1978. His biggest hit was 'Goodbye Cruel World' {UK#28, US #3/10-61} / Click on the Link above, to view the original single, with a picture sleeve.

Brian Hyland was born in Nov of 1943. He was only 16 years old when he recorded his first and biggest hit, 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini' {UK #8, US#1!/ 07-60}. His second-biggest hit was my favorite, 'Sealed with A Kiss' {UK, US #3 / 06-62}. Hardly a two-hit wonder, he had 7 more Top-40 hits, and a total of 27 chart hits from 1960 to 1971, including a career comeback in 1970, with a cover of 'Gypsy Woman' {produced by Del Shannon}, a Top-3 hit ... ALSO ... The singer under an assumed name, songwriter Buzz Cason (but _not_ of this song), died June 16th, at age 84. He wrote 56 songs that appeared on the charts, his biggest being 'Everlasting Love', which charted an incredible 17 times between 1967 (Robert Knight - #13/ 09-67) and 2004 (Jamie Cullum). The most successful version was by English group Love Affair {UK #1!/ 01-68}; Cason also co-wrote Love Affair's follow-up hit 'Rainbow Valley' {UK #5/ 04-68}. / * - Full title: 'The Soundalike Kings Present Cover Hits & Misses'

Cissy Houston died Oct 7th, 7 days after her 91st birthday. Born as 'Emily Drinkard', she was the mother of Whitney Houston, and aunt of both Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick. She was in The Sweet INSPIRATIONS (1963 to 1969) - they sang background for many many artists, including Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, James Gang, Aretha Franklin, Petula Clark, Lou Rawls and Dusty Springfield. They were on 'Brown Eyed Girl' and 'Burning of the Midnight Lamp". They also had a lengthy recording career of their own; biggest hit was 'Sweet Inspiration' {R&B #5, #18/ 03-68}. They sang behind Elvis Presley, on his return to live performances during July/ August 1969, her final job with them, as she went solo in 1970. // Click on the Link above, left; to read the many artists they sang background vocals for. ... ALSO .... The co-songwriter, David Porter, was born in Nov of 1941. Although he released 11 singles and 7 albums, he is much better-known as a songwriter {initially for Stax Records}, often with Isaac Hayes. He has over 1700 songwriter credits, including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Otis Redding, ZZ Top, Bonnie Raitt, Patsy Cline and Albert King. His biggest hit was by Sam & Dave 'Soul Man' {R&B #1!, #2/ 09-67}. Click on the Link above, to view all 80 of his songs that made appearances on various singles charts. // * - Originally released on the English "Major Minor" label, Sept 1970

Their drummer, Kenny Hyslop, died Sept 15th, at age 73. He joined the Glasgow-based band 'Salvation' in March 1972, and along with future Ultravox member James "Midge" Ure; they became "Slik" in 1974. They had a big English hit in early 1976, 'Forever And Ever' {UK #1!/ 01-76}. He was then in Scottish power pop/ new wave band 'The Zone' from late 1977 to 1979, then joined The Skids, then in 1981, he joined Simple Minds, replacing Brian McGee. He later moved to Canada with the blues band, Big George and the Business. // * - Promo-only in the US; released in Oct 1974 in England.

BELOW - Biography of Kris Kristofferson is quite L O N G, but his career was quite multi-faceted, right? - LsA:

Donnie Fritts, longtime keyboard player for Kristofferson for over 40 years, was born in Nov of 1942. He was involved in many of the early songs and recordings created in the "Muscle Shoals" music industry. Through Kristofferson, he appeared in three of Sam Peckinpah's movies: 'Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid' (1973), 'Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia' (1974), and 'Convoy' (1978), as well 'A Star Is Born' (1976). In 2008, he was inducted into the "Alabama Music Hall of Fame." ... ALSO ... The writer, Kris Kristofferson, died Sept 28th, at age 88. Several of his songs from his debut album became classics: 'For The Good Times', hit for Ray Price, May 1970, 'Sunday Morning Comin' Down; first recorded by Ray Stevens in Oct 1969, and 'Help Me Me Make it Through The Night,', first recorded by Percy Sledge in July 1970, but a hit for Sammi Smith several months later. / His biggest solo hit was 'Why Me' {C&W #1!, #16/ 04-73}. /// He was at various points in his life a Rhodes Scholar (1958), an Army second lieutenant (1960) , a commercial helicopter pilot (1961), an aspiring but unsuccessful songwriter in the mid-1960's sweeping floors at CBS Recording Studios in Nashville, gradually a successful songwriter (1966 - 1970), a major recording artist, and also an in-demand film actor, with 12 films between 1971 and 1978, including 'Pat Garrett & The Kid', 'A Star Is Born' (1976) and 'Semi-Tough' (1978).

BELOW - "Songs The Grateful Dead Taught Us"; original versions of songs The Dead covered:

Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh died Oct 28th, at age 84. In 1963, while working at Berkeley's KPFA, he met bluegrass banjo player Jerry Garcia and invited him to perform on the station, and despite their different musical interests (Lesh had studied avant-garde classical music in college; Steve Reich was a classmate), they became friends. In the spring 1965, he saw Garcia's new band "The Warlocks" play live, was impressed, and a few weeks later Garcia invited him to become bass player, even though Lesh had never played bass. They became "The Grateful Dead" in Dec 1965. /// After their break-up, he continued to play the band's music in "The Other Ones" and "The Dead". He released 3 albums as "Phil Lesh and Friends" between 1999 and 2006. // Jesse Fuller: Twelve-String Guitar, Harmonica, Kazoo, Cymbal, Vocals

Country singer Jamey Ryan was born in Nov of 1945. Following the success of her second single 'You're Lookin' For A Plaything' {C&W #62/ 08-67}, she joined the Del Reeves Country Carnival syndicated TV show. She was married to Patsy Cline's widower, Charlie Dick, from 1965 to 1970. Later she managed Country singer Billy Dean, who had 18 C&W chart singles in the 1990's ... UNFORTUNATELY .... * - the co-songwriter, Will Jenning, died Sept 6th, at age 80. He won three Grammy Awards, two "Golden Globe" Awards, and two Academy Awards. His biggest songwriting hits were 'My Heart Will Go On' by Céline Dion {#1/ 12-97} and 'Tears in Heaven' by Eric Clapton {UK #5, #2/ 01-92} // Click on the above link/ left, to view his 103(!) songwriting appearances on various charts.

Folk singer Bob ( Neale) Lind was born in Nov of 1942. Although known mainly for his big hit 'Elusive Butterfly' {UK, US #5/ 02-66}, several other of his songs were frequently covered: the B-side of his big hit, 'Chery's Going Home (The Blues Project, Cascades {'Bubbled Under}, Sonny & Cher, Adam Faith {his last UK hit in the 1960's}), also 'Remember the Rain' (The Rokes, The Poppy Family). / His songs have been covered by more than 200 artists. including Glen Campbell, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Nancy Sinatra, The Four Tops, The Turtles, Richie Havens, Hoyt Axton, Johnny Mathis and Petula Clark.

Betty Weiss, older sister of Mary Weiss, was born in Nov of 1946. She is now the only surviving member of the group, two sets of sisters: younger sister Mary and Betty Weiss, and identical twins Marge and Mary Ann Ganser. All 11 of their singles on the Red Bird label charted, 5 in the Top-30, and three of them in the Top-10, including the true classics 'Remember (Walking In The Sand) {R&B #9, #5/ 08-64} and 'Leader Of The Pack {UK #11, #1!/ 11-64} Betty did not like to perform on stage, so oftenthree members performed live, instead of all four. Post-Shangs, she married and lived and worked on Long Island. ... ALSO ... The Shangri-Las lead singer, Mary Weiss, died Jan 15th, 2024, at age 75. After they broke up in early 1968, Mary went to college, then worked in the accounting department of a NYC architectural firm for many years. The three remaining Shangs (Mary Ann Ganzer died in 1970/ aged 22, of a drug overdose) briefly reunited in 1976, performing and making several recordings for Sire Records produced by Andy Paley, but not released. The original group performed for the last time at a reunion show hosted by "Cousin Brucie" in East Rutherford, New Jersey, June 3, 1989.

NOT one, not two, but three members of this San Fransisco group were born in Nov: 1941 - Joe Kooken; 1946 - Craig Tarwater (replaced Randy Holden on guitar) and in 1948, the songwriter, bass player Mike Port. They recorded 3 singles from late 1965 to fall 1966, including a cover of The Yardbirds ' You're A Better Man Than I' and their best-known single, Arthur Lee's 'Feathered Fiash'. // Tarwater left to join The Daily Flash, and by June 1967, the Sons of Adam had disbanded. Kooken and Port formed a new band, Genesis, but it soon collapsed.

Legendary Swing/ Bebop / Jazz fusion drummer Roy Haynes died Nov 12th, at age 99(!!!). He played with Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Stan Getz and Sarah Vaughan. He recorded 29 solo albums, from 1955 to 2011. / Esquire named him one of the "best-dressed men in America" in 1960, along with Fred Astaire, Miles Davis and Cary Grant. // * _ PERSONNEL: Roland Kirk - tenor saxophone, manzello, stritch, C flute / Tommy Flanagan - piano / Henry Grimes - bass / Roy HAYNES - drums

Folk/Blues singer Barbara Dane (born as 'Barbara Jean Spillman') died Oct 20th, at age 97. She worked with Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Clara Ward and Mama Yancey. She recorded 9 albums from 1957 to 1966, and in1970, she founded Paredon Records with her then-husband Irwin Silber. A committed activist, after High School she sang regularly at demonstrations for racial equality and economic justice. She was part of a successful campaign in the early 1960s to prevent Pacific G&E from constructing the Bodega Bay Nuclear Power Plant. / In January 1964, Bob Dylan praised Dane's commitment in an open letter he wrote to Broadside magazine: "the heroes of this battle are not me an Joan [Baez] and The Kingston Trio... but there's some that could use the money I mean people like Tom Paxton, Barbara Dane an Johnny Herald... they are the heroes if such a word has to be used here ... . ... ALSO ... Jazz stride pianist Don Ewell, who played on this, was born in Nov of 1916. He played with Sidney Bechet, Kid Ory, Bunk Johnson, Jack Teagarden and others. From 1956 to 1962, Ewell was a member of the Jack Teagarden band ... FINALLY ... The producer, Al Levitt (a Jazz drummer), was born in Nov of 1916. He studied with Lennie Tristano, along with Max Roach. He recorded with Sidney Bichet, Lennie Tristano, Stan Getz and Lee Konittz.

Amen Corner's tenor sax player, Mike Smith (not the DC5 singer), was born in Nov of 1947. Much more successful in England, they had no hits in the US but 7 English chart hits, including 4 Top-10 hits such as the 1961 Nina Simone recording 'Gin House Blues' {UK #12/ 07-67}. Their biggest hit was '(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice' {UK #1!/ 02-69} ... UNFORTUNATELY ... Drummer Dennis Bryon, who co-founded English group Amen Corner, died Nov 14th, at age 75. They appeared as themselves in the 1969 horror film 'Scream and Scream Again', singing the theme song. He later played for The Bee Gees from 1974 to 1980, and also recorded or performed with Barbra Streisand, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Ruffin, Dave Edmunds and bandmate Andy Fairweather Low....

The producer, Shel TALMY, died Nov 13th, at age 87. Although born in Chicago, IL and raised in LA, he produced some of the biggest English acts of the mid/ late 1960's, including The Who, Manfred Mann, Chad & Jeremy, Amen Corner and (very) early David Bowie. HOW did he END UP in England? - he took a vacation in the summer of 1962 to England. His friend Nick Venet, a producer at Capitol, gave him a stack of acetates to take along with him and use as if he had produced them, if it could get him a job. He approached UK Decca records, and the ploy worked! He was hired as one of the first independent producers in England. // Click on the Link above/ left, to view a discography of his. ... ALSO ... Founding member Conleth 'Con' Cluskey was born in Nov of 1935. They formed their first band in 1957: "The Harmonichords", and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show "St. Patrick's Day" special (filmed in Dublin, broadcast 15 March 1959). They became "The Bachelors" in 1960. They had 17 English Top-40 singles from early 1963 to late 1967; in the US 9 chart singles, 4 of them Top-40. Their biggest hit was ' Diane' {UK #1!, US #10/ 01-64} ... FINALLY ... The songwriter, Buck Ram, was born in Nov of 1907. He was one of BMI's top five songwriters/air play in its first 50 years, alongside Paul Simon, Kris Kristofferson, Jimmy Webb, and Paul McCartney. His biggest songs were 'Twilight Time' {1st a hit in 1944 for The Three Suns}, 'Only You' and 'The Great Pretender' by The Pretenders, and also 'I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams)' by Bing Crosby {R*B #8, #3/ 12-43}. B+++

Fritz Escovão (born as ' Luiz Carlos Fritz', singer and guitarist for Brazilian Samba group Trio Mocotó, died Oct 1st, at age 81. They were originally formed in 1968 in São Paulo . In 1969, they backed Jorge Ben, then played on some of his seminal albums. The group was influential in forming the musical style that became known as "samba rock" or "sambalança", a fusion of samba, soul, and rock.

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