Trumpeter Yank Lawson was born this day in Trenton, Mo. A regular with the World's Greatest Jazz Band, he cut his jazz teeth with Wingy Manone, Ben Pollack, Bob Crosby, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman.
Drummer Big Sid Catlett was born this date in Evansville, Ind., in 1910. Always in great demand, he was a big man behind the drums, yet as protege Art Blakey once said, Catlett could make the drums sound as soft and light as a butterfly.