Hanging out with Cecil Taylor, Jackson Krall, Albey Balgochian, and Chris Felver in Albuquerque in 2005, one thing I observed was Mr. Taylor's penchant for assigning nicknames to jazz musicians. Betty Carter, born on this date in 1929, was referred to, without any obvious rancor, as "The Beast." The master drummer Billy Cobham is 77 today. Smartass punk snarkmeister Jonathan Richman is the big 70 today. UK alt-rock guitar genius and visionary Robert Fripp is 75 today. Janet Jackson is 55 today. And...M was born on this date. Good company!