February 26 Birthdays

There are lots of natal anniversaries at this time of year for luminaries this blog and blogger are crazy about. Kicking off the Happy Birthday list: British stage, screen and radio actress Madeleine Carroll, star of British and American movies, including The 39 Steps, Secret Agent, The Prisoner Of Zenda and My Favorite Blonde, who chucked a lucrative and successful showbiz career for the callings of humanitarianism and international activism, born on February 26, 1906. The life story of Madeleine Carroll is covered in detail by John Pascoe's book Madeleine Carroll: Actress and Humanitarian, from The 39 Steps to the Red Cross.



The comedy kings born on February 26 include Tex Avery.



That's right, Tex Avery, a.k.a. The King Of Cartoons, the ringleader of Termite Terrace who brought Bugs Bunny from bucktoothed chortling grotesque to the suave Oscar-winning rabbit.



Betty Hutton



Tony Randall



Jackie Gleason



William Frawley



Wrote a post about this topic, These Showbiz Greats Were Born on February 26, three years ago - and, indeed, as the blog posted nine years ago, The End Of February Is A Comedy Geek Birthday Bonanza. In addition, there are many incredible musicians born on this day.

Turns out this blog somehow overlooked TWO February 26 birthdays. First and foremost, forgot all about the great New Orleans pianist, vocalist, songwriter and entertainer Fats Domino (1928-2017), who brought the boogie woogie riffology of pianists Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis into 1950's rock n' roll and led countless music lovers to his fellow New Orleans entertainers Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, James Booker and The Meters. Here's an excerpt from the American Masters documentary Fats Domino & The Birth Of Rock & Roll.



Fats Domino's appearance on the Austin City Limits show is outstanding.



The other giant of 20th century music born on February 26 was Johnny Cash (1932-2003).



My favorite TV program in the early 1970's, hands down, was Johnny's.



Love the Pops & Johnny rendition of the 1930 Louis Armstrong & Jimmie Rodgers recording of Blue Yodel #9!



As Fats Domino did, Johnny Cash had an extended career, stretching into the 21st century. For more on the man in black's music, check out the Johnny Cash Archive on YouTube.



All of the above stalwarts born on February 26 (and several more who, unfortunately, slipped our minds - Godfrey Cambridge, Erykah Badu, Marilyn Michaels, Alan Bridge, Bob Hite and Mitch Ryder) merit mucho thanks and appreciation for making the world a better place.

Louis Armstrong And . . .

Decades before celebrity duets would become a fashionable marketing gimmick, Satchmo cuts it up with Danny Kaye in The Five Pennies. Just disregard the fact that Danny is essentially portraying himself here (Red Nichols, subject of this biopic, dubbed in the cornet parts) - and enjoy. And I'll bet the best stuff from this shoot ended up on the cutting room floor.



Even more wonderfully, here's Louis playing Blue Yodel #9 - which Satchmo recorded in Hollywood with country & western icon Jimmie Rodgers back in 1930 - with Johnny Cash, as special guest on his ABC prime-time music program on October 28, 1970 (episode 38).





I watched Johnny, Glen Campbell, This Is Tom Jones and ABC-TV's In Concert religiously as a young music geek in the early 70's. I'm thrilled that Johnny's top-notch program has finally made it to DVD.