A twentieth hundred years American composer whose music features considerable spiritual and mystical infiltration, Richard Yardumian had not been a kid prodigy nor did he even show any particular desire for music until he started the analysis of piano and music theory in his twenties. His function attracted the interest …

Often weighed against Philadelphia-born trumpet participant Ziggy Elman (1914-1968), Julio Cueva played an important part in the evolution of Afro-Cuban music. The first choice of an extremely successful band, through the 1940s, he helped to introduce such later on Afro-Cuban celebrities as vocalist Orlando “Cascarita” Guerra and pianist/arranger Rene Hernandez. …

Inspired by Nancy Wilson, Marlena Shaw and Sarah Vaughan, Denise Ruler can be an expressive, big-voiced singer who combines jazz with components of R&B, blues and gospel. Ruler was created and elevated in Philadelphia, where she was subjected to R&B as a kid and uncovered jazz at 12 because of …

With her vibrant, cheery personality, soprano Beverly Sills always was a favorite of everyone, being among the most effective spokespersons the arts experienced in America. The kid of immigrant parents, Sills (given birth to Belle Miriam Silverman) found out singing young; at four she was on the morning radio system …

This drummer began gigging professionally in the first ’40s, and may be thought to have provided rhythm to get a veritable Mt. Rushmore of jazz legends. Along with bassist Wendell Marshall, Butch Ballard developed among Duke Ellington’s greatest tempo section formations. The drummer, frequently acknowledged as George Ballard, offered an …

If Frank “Franny” Beecher’s lifestyle had followed the profession arc that he’d expected in 1954, he’d oftimes be remembered today by a comparatively small coterie of Philadelphia music enthusiasts for his jazz using, rather than discussed except when he resulted in within a discography. Rather, he’s at night age group …

Michael Skinkus is less popular towards the music globe at large, however in New Orleans he’s a first-call participant. A multi-disciplinary percussionist, he’s comfortable being associated with literally almost any American root base and rock and roll music. Skinkus may very own a name hard to pronounce (or hear), but …

A Philadelphia vocalist who did better (or at least achieved more identification) as an celebrity when compared to a singer, Deborah Washington recorded an LP for Ariola in the later ’70s. It had been heavily created and organized in prototype disco style, but included some sassy, sometimes alluring, vocals. However, …

The sounds of early 20th century New Orleans were imported to Denmark by Philadelphia-born trumpet player and vocalist Costs Dillard. Having set up his early popularity by playing on documenting periods by American jazz pioneer Jelly Move Morton, at age 18, Dillard continued to record with Spike Hughes, Teddy Hill, …

The four members of New Wish were formerly referred to as the Package Kats and had several regional hits in the Philadelphia area in 1966-1967. The Package Kats’ forte was solid original rock and roll ballads with high vocal network marketing leads and harmonies and quasi-classical melodies, keyboards, and creation, …