Ulitzer95

Finished "H". The Happenings – missing info on one member Harmony Grass – missing info on 5 members Harpers Bizarre – missing info on one member Ronnie Harris – born around 1928, was living in Portsmouth in 2017. Is he still alive? The Hollies – can't find a full DOB for original drummer Don Rathbone. Can't trace him in GRO either. Odd.

Oh she’s totally batshit, but then we knew that already.

Guardian obit for Cliff Holden, British painter who has died at 100.

Judy Collins is 81 today. Still very active from what I can tell and looking good. Wouldn't be surprised if she lived into her 90s. -------------------------------------------------- Also, Rita Coolidge turns 75. One of those singers that the Americans make a big fuss over and bestow lots of awards on, but for anyone across the Pond we just know her for singing a mediocre Bond theme.

And seeing as it is now Friday, Happy Birthday Una Surprised to see that she has never received an honour of any kind...

New Zealand cricketer Alan Burgess turns 100 today. Second oldest first-class cricketer after Vasant Raiji who reached his centenary in January.

A Facebook post from his granddaughter seems to confirm it. Though I don't think he was in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I think she made that part up.

Confirmation.

Another of The Coasters has died. Young Jessie, real name Obediah "Obie" Jessie, died on 27th April aged 83. His stint with the group was brief. However, he also had a successful career as a solo R&B artist and was a member of The Flairs.

Hmm... I've used Scotland's People for years and I always regarded it as pretty complete? Could it be that his name was spelt slightly differently on the birth certificate (often the case before the 50s), or perhaps Robert is a middle name he adopted for his stage career? Could be a variety of things. But yes, suppose we'll find out in his QO.

Cheers @YoungWillz, I've added the info for Aiello. Just found Hilliard. Franklin, Virginia helped as before there were too many to pick from. So the forum that posted the death notice said he was "George E. Hilliard"... Ancestry: George Earl Hilliard b. 8 Oct 1940 in Southampton, Virginia. Residency recorded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1993 and 1996. Must be our guy. Group details are complete, thanks.

Hello Deathray, how's the ban going? No, I'm not a genealogist. I got it to research my Family Tree and just kept the subscription rolling (as you can never "complete" a family tree, it's just something you keep adding to over time). It isn't expensive and the site is hugely popular, in fact it has about 3million+ subscribers. Say, why don't you join? Could potentially be a new audience for you there seeing as those on DL are getting tired of your nightly tantrums.

Fyfe’s age seems to be contentious. Someone claiming to be his son keeps editing his Wiki page to say he was born almost a decade after, making him mid 80s.

If they’re born abroad and emigrate here and the only record of their birth is their passport or an ID card, the relevant authorities just go with it. Eg Karam Chand or whatever he’s called. Also Fauja Singh will be down as 1911. Truth is they’re almost certainly younger but in the absence of a birth record, they’re recorded in the ONS with what they can present.

"T" is up. Quite a few dead ends. The Temperance Seven – what a nightmare they were to research. I'm fairly happy I have the right lineup for their hits. Several of their members seem to have fallen off the face of the earth though. Them – Belfast band. Ronnie Millings left early to raise a family. He'd be about 83 now if 1937 is indeed the correct year of birth. Can't find anything on him. Dead(?) Jamo Thomas – Soul and funk singer. Despite having a huge hit the U.S., he just disappeared. Nobody even seems certain if he was from Chicago or the Bahamas. Strange stuff indeed. David Thorne / Richard Wolfe – Recorded a version of The Alley Cat Song then vanished. Can find a year of birth of 1928 for the orchestra leader Wolfe, but that's it. The Three Good Reasons – A Bradford vocal trio. All three members seem to still be alive but can't find any bio details. Timebox – Missing a full DOD for Holmes. Trash – Scottish group. Missing bio details for two members. Tony Tribe – This one just tops weird. Jamaican singer who had a hit with a cover of Red Red Wine, moves to the UK in '56 then supposedly dies in a car accident in Canada in the 1970s. Just one problem – some people online think it's b/s and there doesn't seem to be anything on Ancestry either. Anyone know how a better place to sieve through Canadian records? The Truth – London duo. Missing bio details for both despite one of them being a relatively prominent stand up comedian now. The Tymes – Just missing the DOB for deceased member George Hilliard.

Bobby Lewis, 95, American R&B singer. Don’t think he ever had a UK hit but Tossin’ and Turnin’ was a #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. If the press pick it up quick enough he may get a UK QO.

82 today. With his lawyer claiming he has less than 18 months to live, this could be his last.

Happy 96th Birthday to dancer Zizi Jeanmaire.

John Ernest Randall, 95, American ichthyologist

I still remember when she enslaved all those poor chimpanzees and made them dig for diamonds down a mine.

Victor Wild, the man behind Yorkshire Tea dead at 96.

Just spent half an hour playing about with this on Ancestry. I got the Litke's parents names (including their mother's maiden name). Can't find "Moore" cousins on either side. Maybe distant cousins, or could've been fabricated for band image.

The c. 1945 year came from this book. I think you're right, so I've amended it and added a note to the section. A few finds on this since... This book states that he lived in England for many years and worked as a bandleader. Unfortunately, due to new tighter restrictions on Google books, I can't see further down the paragraph. In terms of his name, it's possible that his real first name is actually Boysie or Boyse, it's not short for anything, according to Google anyway. Then there's this, photos of him at the Christening of his son in Westminster, 1966. His wife is Yvonne, and their son son Gershwin. I've found Gershwin on the GRO – b. Gershwin GRANT 1965 in Lambeth. Gives Yvonne's maiden name as Lundie. Useful knowing that Grant was his real surname too. Nothing else on any of them in the GRO after this point. That should be enough for Ancestry but all I found was this bleak family tree. A man called Boysie Anthony Grant, b. 1931, Trinidad and d. 1991, Trinidad. Though I can't find any mention of Trindad being linked with him online. There's also a Boysie Grant b. c. 1920 who travelled between Jamaica and New York in the mid 1940s. None the wiser really.

Confirmation from Liverpool FC.

Wilfried de Beauclair, German engineer and computer scientist, dead at 108.