Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster was born this day in 1909 in Kansas City, Mo. He brought new life to the Duke Ellington Orchestra's saxophone section with his blustery and breathy approach to the horn.

Today's birthdays include Johnny Dollar, who was born in 1933 (age 70); Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees in 1945 (age 58); Randy Meisner, bassist and vocalist with Poco and with the Eagles, in 1946 (age 57); singer/songwriter Carole Bayer Sager and Three Dog

Trumpeter Wendell Culley was born this day in 1906 in Worcester, Mass. He worked with Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton and Count Basie, principally as a section player.

Jo Jones, the jazz drummer who was the Count Basie Orchestra's original rhythm ace, was born this day in 1911 in Chicago. "Papa Jo" forever changed the role of the jazz drummer by transferring the basic beat from the bass drum to the hi-hat cymbals.

Guitarist Howard Roberts was born this day in 1929 in Phoenix. After moving to Los Angeles in 1950, he became a prolific and versatile studio musician.

Trumpeter Fats Navarro was born this day in 1923 in Key West, Fla. This leading bebop soloist settled in New York in 1946 after succeeding Dizzy Gillespie in the Billy Eckstine band, then began a very important association with Tadd Dameron. His career wa

Today is Monday, July 8, the 189th day of 2002 with 176 to follow.

Singer Billy Eckstine, lovingly known to his fans as "Mr. B," was born this day in Pittsburgh in 1914.

Bass player Eugene Wright was born this day in 1923. He signed on with the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1958, where his solid timekeeping became the base for Brubeck's experiments with polyrhythms and unusual time signatures.