Topic: Tim McNamara

The meltdown in the U.S. financial sector is an opportunity for niche businesses designed to squeeze profits out of other people's hard luck.

Contrary to information in many jazz reference materials, today is not the birthday of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. He was born May 26, 1926, in Alton, Ill.

Traditional jazz bass player Pops Foster was born this day in 1892 in McCall, La. He worked with the best in jazz throughout his career, including Fate Marable, Kid Ory, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Mezz Mezzrow and Earl Hines. Pops Foster died in 1969

Cornet player and bandleader Joe "King" Oliver was born this day in 1885 in Louisiana. A young Louis Armstrong was his protege in Oliver's Chicago-based Creole Jazz Band from 1922 to 1924.

Big band drummer Sonny Payne was born this day in New York in 1926. On and off he worked with the Count Basie band between 1954 and 1974, adding a strong degree of showmanship to its presentation.

Drummer Denzil Best was born in New York City this day in 1917. He was a favorite sideman of Ben Webster, George Shearing and Erroll Garner until calcium deposits in his wrists crippled his career. He died in May 1965 after falling down a flight of steps

Bandleader, drummer and vibes master Lionel Hampton was born this day in Louisville, Ky., in 1908. Until shortly before his death last year, he kept a touring schedule in spite of various maladies and tragedies.

Saxophone and clarinet player Bud Freeman was born this day in Chicago in 1906. He first took up the C-melody saxophone in 1923, switching to tenor two years later.

Pianist Dorothy Donegan was born this day in 1924 in Chicago. Her blend of classically trained virtuosity and Victor Borge-like humor made her a very popular entertainer.

English trombonist and bandleader Ted Heath was born this day in London in 1900. Emulating the Swing era sound coming from the bands of Tommy Dorsey and Woody Herman, he led a dance band that was the best known in Britain through the 1950s.