Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, better known as Vangelis, passed away this past Tuesday at the age of 79. He wrote the score for a number of movies in the 1980’s, starting with the score for the movie Chariots of Fire. The opening theme, originally just named "Titles," spent five months on the Hot 100 before reaching #1 for one week in 1981.

Trombonist Jerry Hyman, who played with Blood Sweat & Tears on their second and third albums (1969’s Blood Sweat & Tears, 1970’s Blood Sweat & Tears 3), was born on this day in 1947. Jerry changed careers after leaving BS&T, becoming a chiropractor. "God Bless The Child," written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, was on their second album.

French singer and songwriter Charles Trenet was born on this day in 1913. One of his most familiar songs is "La Mer," which Bobby Darin recorded in 1960 as "Beyond The Sea," which reached #6 on the Hot 100 that year. Here are Tatiana Eva-Marie and The Avalon Jazz Band. They’ve done a number of Trenet’s songs, which you can hear on YouTube.

Singer Pervis Jackson of the Soul/R&B group The Spinners was born on this day in 1938. "I’ll Be Around" was the group’s first #1 single on the Soul chart, also reaching #3 in the Hot 100 in 1972. It was the B side to "How Could I Let You Get Away," which only reached #14 on the Soul chart and #77 on the Hot 100.

Clarinetist, saxophonist, singer and bandleader Woody Herman was born on this day in 1913. "Blues In The Night" was written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Woody’s 1942 version went to #1 in the US.