a Phil Brodie Band Info Page
"Births & Deaths"
These birthdates and death dates are unique to this site,
I have been working on them for over 6 years now.
PLEASE give credit or link if copied
PAGES UPDATED DAILY
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RESPECT - OBITUARIES
2010 .. 2009 .. 2008 .. 2007 .. 2006 .. 2005 .. 2004 .. REQUESTS
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APRIL
SADLY DEPARTED
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MORE BIRTHDAYS & PASSINGS
January . February . March . April . May . June . July
August . September . October . November . December
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APRIL BIRTHDAYS
REGULAR UPDATES

Born ~ April 1st.
1993: Keito Okamoto (Japanese singer)
1988: Sam Mtukudzi (Zimbabwean multi-musician, singer; Ay Band/Oliver Mtukudzi)*15.March.2010.
1986: Shunichi Miyamoto (Japanese singer, voice actor, pianist)
1983: Sergey Lazarev (Russian singer).
1981: Hannah Spearritt (UK singer; S Club 7).
1975: John Butler (Australian guitarist, multi musician, singer-songwriter; John Butler Trio).
1974: Richard Christy (US drummer, stand-up comedian; Death/Iced Earth/Charred Walls of the Damned).
1972: Jesse Tobias (US guitarist; Red Hot Chili Peppers/Alanis Morissette/Splendid/Morrissey
1971: Method Man/Clifford Smith (US rap artist; Wu-Tang Clan).
1967: Phil Demmel (US guitarist; Machine Head).
1968: Julia Boutros (Lebanese singer)
1969: Fadl Shaker (Lebanese singer)
1966: Chris Evans (UK disc jockey, radio-TV personality)
1965: Robert Steadman (UK composer)
1965: Peter O'Toole (Irish bassist, guitar; Hothouse Flowers/Black Velvet Band)?
1964: Leslie Langston (US bassist, vocals; Throwing Muses).
1962: Phillip Schofield (UK TV presenter, DJ, Singer, actor).
1961: Mark White (UK guitarist, keyboards; ABC).
1961: Susan Boyle (Scottish singer; winner 2009 Britain's Got Talent)
1958: D. Boon/Dennes Dale Boon (US singer, guitatist; The Minutemen)*22.Dec.1985
1954: Jeff Porcaro (US drummer; founder of Toto/sessionist)*05.Aug.1992.
1952: Billy Currie (UK keyboards, violin, piano; Visage/ Ultravox).
1949: Gil Scott-Heron (US vocalist, electric piano, guitar, composer)
1948: Simon Cowe (UK guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals; Lindisfarne).
1948: Jimmy Cliff/James Chambers (Jamaican singer, songwriter, reggae artist).
1947: Robin Scott (UK singer).
1946: Ronnie Lane (UK bassist; Faces/Small Faces/Slim Chance/freelance)*04.June.1997.
1945: John Barbata (US drummer; The Turtles/Jefferson Airplane & Starship/sessionist).
1945: Kenny Buttrey (US session drummer)*12.Sept.2004.
1942: Phil Margo (US vocals; The Tokens)
1942: Annie Nightingale (British disc jockey)
1942: Alan David Blakley (UK drummer, rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals; Tremeloes)*10.June.1996.
1939: Rudolph Isley (US singer, songwriter; Isley Brothers).
1932: Debbie Reynolds (US singer, actress; Tammy).
1927: Amos Milburn (US blues & boogie pianist, singer)*03.Jan.1980.
1926: Charles Bressler (American tenor)
1917: Dinu Lipatti (Romanian pianist)*02.Dec.1950.
1906: Carl Martin (US conga, percussion, guitar; Four Keys/others/Own Blues Trio)*10.May.1979.

April 2nd
1983: Yung Joc/Jasiel Robinson (US rapper)
1979: Jesse Carmichael (US keyboards; Maroon 5).
1975: Deedee Magno (US singer; New Mickey Mouse Club/The Party/musicals).
1971: Zeebra/Hideyuki Yokoi (Japanese hip hop artist; King Giddra)
1972: Chico/Yousseph Slimani (Moroccoan-British singer)
1973: Roselyn Sánchez (Puerto Rican singer, model, actress)
1974: Håkan Hellström (Swedish singer)
1967: Greg Camp (US lead singer, guitarist; Smash Mouth).
1966: Garnett Silk/Garnett Damoin Smith (Jamaican reggae singer)*09.Dec.1994.
1961: Keren Jane Woodward (UK singer; Bananarama).
1956: Gregory Abbott (US singer).
1954: Susumu Hirasawa (Japanese electropop musician, keyboard, guitar, amiga; Mandrake/ P-Model).
1953: David Robinson (US drummer; The Cars/The Scabs).
1952: Leon Wilkerson (US bassist, Lynyrd Skynyrd)*27.July.2001.
1952: Pat Drummond (Australian singer-songwriter; The Bushwackers/other projects/solo)
1952: Dave Bronze (UK bassist; Robin Trower Band/Procol Harum/Eric Clapton Band/freelance).
1951: Kiyoshiro Imawano (Japanese rock musician, lyricist, producer, composer; RC Succession/solo)*02.May.2009.
1948: Dimitris Mitropanos (Greek singer)
1947: Emmylou Harris (US country singer).
1946: Kurt Winter (Canadian guitarist; Guess Who)*14.Dec.1997.
1942: Wilfred "Wilfy" Rebimbus (Indian musician, composer, singer)*09.March.2010.
1942: Leon Russell/Claude Russell Bridges(singer,songwriter,m-musician;solo/sessionist).
1939: Marvin Gaye/Marvin Pentz Gay Jr (US singer, songwriter, pianist, drums; Motown/solo artist)*01.April.1984.
1938: Booker Little Jr (US jazz trumpeter; Max Roach/Eric Dolphy/others/own quartet)*05.Oct.1961.
1930: Stefka Sabotinova (Bulgarian folk singer)*30.July.2010.
1928: Serge Gainsbourg/Lucien Ginsburg (French singer, pianist, guitarist)*02.March.1991.
1917: Lou Monte/Louis Scaglione (Italian-American singer)*12.June.1989.
1915: Gica Petrescu (Romanian singer)*18.June.1915.
1912: Herbert Mills (US singer; The Mills Brothers)*12.April.1989.

April 3rd
1970: Matthew Priest (drummer; Dodgy/sessionist).
1968: Sebastian Bach/Sebastian Bierk (singer; Skid Row/Breeder/solo).
1962: Simon Raymonde (bass, producer, mix;Cocteau Twins/solo).
1961: Eddie Murphy (US actor, singer).
1955: Mick Mars/Bob Alan Deal (US guitarist; Mötley Crüe).
1951: Mel Schacher (US bassist; Grand Funk Railroad/? and the Mysterians/Flint).
1949: Richard Thompson (vocals, mandolin, guitar, Dulcimer; Fairport Convention).
1946: Dee Murray (bass, backing vocals; Elton John band)*15.Jan.1992
1944: Barry Pritchard (UK guitar; Fortunes)*11.Jan.1999.
1944: Tony Orlando/Michael Anthony Orlando Cassivitis (US singer; Dawn/solo).
1943: Richard Manuel (Canadian singer, piano; Revols/The Band)*04.Mar.1986.
1942: Wayne Newton (US singer).
1941: Phillipe Wynne (US lead singer, The Spinners/Solo)*14.July.1984
1941: Jan Berry (singer; Jan and Dean)*26.March.2004.
1938: Jeff Barry (singer/songwriter/producer; The Raindrops/The Archies).
1937: Louis Satterfield (US bassist, trombonist; Earth,Wind & Fire/solo)*27.Sept.2004.
1936: Harold Vick (US hard bop and soul jazz saxophonist, flautist; freelance, sessionist)*13.Nov.1987
1936: Jimmy McGriff (US jazz organist; big bands/freelance)*24.May.2008.
1928: Don Gibson (US legendary country singer, guitarist, songwriter)*17.Nov.2003.
1924: Doris Day/Doris von Kappelhoff (US singer/actress).
1919: Ervin Drake (US song writer and musical writer).
1917: Bill Finegan (American jazz bandleader, pianist, arranger, and composer)*04.June.2008.
1886: Arthur "Dooley" Wilson (African American actor and singer)*30.May.1953.

April 4th
1978: Lemar/Lemar Obika (UK R&B solo singer; successful uk fame academy contestant).
1975: Phil A. Jimenez (played multiple instruments with American band Wheatus)?
1974: Andre Dalyrimple (US singer; Soul For Real).
1973: Kelly Price (US singer).
1972: Jill Scott (US singer).
1972: Magnus Sveningsson (Swedish bassist; The Cardigans).
1968: Mark Yates (UK guitarist; Terrorvision).
1966: Mike Starr (US bassist; Alice In Chains/Sun Red Sun).
1963: David Gavurin (UK lead guitarist; Sundays).
1962: Craig Adams (UK bassist; Sisters of Mercy/The Cult/Alarm/Spear of Destiny/Theatre of Hate).
1957: Graeme Kelling (Scottish guitarist; Deacon Blue)*10.June.2004.
1952: Gary Moore (Irish guitar virtuoso, singer, songwriter; Thin Lizzy, solo).
1951: Peter John Haycock (guitarist; Climax Blues Band).
1949: Junior Braithwaite (Jamaican singer; co-founder of/first lead singer of The Wailers)*02.June.1999.
1948: Pick Withers (drummer; Dire Straits/freelance).
1948: Berry Oakley (US bassist; co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band)*11.Nov.1972.
1946: Dave Hill (UK guitar, Slade).
1945: Ian "Knox" Carnochan (UK lead singer; Vibrators/solo).
1941: Major Lance (Soul singer, dancer;The Floats/solo)*03.Sept.1994.
1940: Sharon Sheeley (US songwriter)*17.May.2002.
1939: Danny Thompson (UK double bassist; sessionist, John Martyn, Richard Thompson, Roy Orbison etc, etc).
1939: Hugh Masekela (South Africain vocalist, flugelhorn, trumpet; jazzman).
1915: Muddy Waters/McKinley Morganfield (US blues guitarist,singer)*30.April.1983.

April 5th
1980: Lee Jae Won (South Korean actor, singer, rapper; H.O.T/JTL).
1974: Daniel "Sahaj" Ticotin (Puerto Rican-US guitar, singer, producer; Ra)
1973: Pharrell Williams (US singer; Neptunes).
1972: Pat Green (US singer and songwriter)
1971: Dong Abay/Westdon Martin Abay (Filipino singer, songwriter;Yano/Pan/Dongabay)
1970: Miho Hatori (Japanese singer, songwriter; Cibo Matto)
1968: Paula Cole (US singer).
1966: Mike McCready (US guitarist; Mad Season/Pearl Jam).
1964: Princess Erika/Erika Dobong'na (French singer).
1964: Kid/Christopher Reid (US half of the hip-hop and comedy duo Kid 'N Play).
1955: Janice Long (UK radio presenter; Dream Ticket-BBC 6 Music)
1954: Stan Ridgway (US singer, multi-musician; Wall of Voodoo/Flesh Eaters/solo).
1953: Christopher Franke (German keyboardist, synthesizer; Tangerine Dream).
1951: Everett Morton (UK drummer; English Beat)?
1950: Agnetha Faltskog (Swedish pop singer, keyboards, piano; ABBA).
1948: Dave Holland (UK drummer; Judas Priest/Trapeze/others)
1948: James "Les" Binks (Nth Irish drummer; Judas Priest/David Coverdale/others)
1944: Nicholas Caldwell (US singer; The Whispers).
1942: Alan Clarke (UK vocalist, guitar; The Hollies).
1941: Dave Swarbrick (UK vocalist, violin, mandolin, fiddle; Fairport Convention).
1935: Peter Grant (UK manager,record exec;Yardbirds/Led Zeppelin/Bad Company)*21.Nov.1995.
1939: Ronnie White (US singer, producer, songwriter; Chimes/Miracles/Ron&Bill)*26.Aug.1995.
1939: Crispian St Peters/Robin Peter Smith (UK singer)*08.June.2010.
1934: Stanley William Turrentine (US jazz tenor saxophonist)*12.Sept.2000.
1932: Billy Bland (US singer and songwriter)
1929: Joe Meek (UK record producer; Tornados/many, many more)*03.Feb.1967.
1928: Tony Williams (US lead tenor singer; The Platters)*14.Aug.1992.
1922: Gale Storm/Josephine Owaissa Cottle (US singer, actress)*27.June.2009.
1908: Herbert von Karajan (Austrian conductor)*16.July.1989.
1875: Mistinguett/Jeanne Bourgeois (French vaudeville performer)*05.Jan.1956.

April 6th
1995: Ryutaro Morimoto (Japanese actor, singer)
1984: Max Bemis (US lead singer, songwriter; Say Anything/Two Tongues).
1982: Michael Guy Chislett (Australian-American guitarist; The Academy Is...).
1978: Martin Mendez (Uruguayan-born bassist; Opeth)
1978: Myleene Klass (UK singer, classical pianist, TV presenter; Hear'Say).
1976: Georg "Goggi" Hólm (Icelandic bassist; Sigur Rós).
1975: Damon Pampolina (singer, TV presenter; New Mickey Mouse Club/The Party).
1973: Rie Miyazawa (Japanese actress, singer)
1968: Vanessa Lann (US composer)
1965: Frank Black/Black Francis/Charles Thompson IV (US guitar, vocals; Pixies/Frank Black-Catholics).
1962: Stan Cullimore/Ian Peter Cullimore (UK guitarist; Housemartins/music composer for childrens TV).
1960: Warren Haynes (US guitarist, song writer)
1960: John Pizzarelli (US jazz guitarist, song writer, singer, bandleader)
1957: Jaroslava Maxova (Czech opera singer)
1951: Ralph Cooper (Australian drummer; Air Supply).
1953: Christopher Franke (German drums, keyboards, synthesizers; Tangerine Dream/Sessionist/Solo)
1952: Udo Dirkschneider (German singer)
1947: Tony Connor (UK drummer; Hot Chocolate).
1944: John Stax/John Edward Lee Fullegar (UK bassist; Pretty Things).
1944: Felicity Palmer (English soprano).
1943: Gerry Niewood (American jazz saxophonist; Chuck Mangione Band, freelance)*12.Feb.2009.
1943: Julie Rogers (UK singer).
1941: Gheorghe Zamfir (Romanian pan flute musician)
1937: Merle Haggard (US country singer, guitar, fiddle; songwriter).
1929: André Previn (German-born composer, conductor)
1927: Gerry Mulligan (US multi-musician, one of the all time greatest baritone sax players)*20.Jan.1996.
1926: Sergio Franchi (Italian-born singer and actor)*01.May.1990.
1924: Charlie Rouse (US jazz saxophonist; Thelonious Monk Quartet/& greats)*30.Nov.1988.

April 7th
1981: Watanabe Kazuki (Japanese guitarist and of founder Raphael)*31.Oct.2000.
1981: Kelli Young (UK singer; Liberty X / Solo).
1978: Duncan James Inglis (UK singer; Blue /solo).
1975: Karin Dreijer Andersson (Swedish singer, guitarist; Honey is Cool /solo)
1970: Leif Ove Andsnes (Norwegian pianist)
1967: Artemis Gounaki (Greek-German singer, composer, writer, music producer)
1965: Dave "Yorkie" Palmer (UK bassist, keyboards, vocals; Space).
1957: Simon Climie (UK singer, songwriter, producer; Climie Fisher Duo).
1951: Bruce Gary (US drummer; The Knack)*22.Aug.2006.
1951: Janis Ian/Janis Eddy Fink (US singer, guitar, piano, songwriter).
1950: Steve Ellis (UK vocals; Love Affair / The New Amen Corner).
1949: John Oates (US vocals, keyboards, guitar; Hall & Oates).
1948: Carol Douglas (US singer).
1947: Florian Schneider- Esleben (German flutist; Kraftwerk).
1947: Pat Bennett (US singer; The Chiffons).
1946: Bill Kreutzmann (US drums; Warlocks/Grateful Dead).
1945: Megas/Magnús Þór Jónsson (Icelandic singer, songwriter, writer; Megakukl/freelance)
1944: Pat LaBarbera/Pascel Emmanuel (Canadian jazz tenor, alto, soprano saxophonist, clarinetist, flautist).
1943: Mick Abrahams (UK vocals, guitar; Blodwyn Pig/Jethro Tull).
1943: Alan Buck (UK drummer; Four Pennies/Johnny Kid/Joe Brown 's Bruvvers).
1942: Joel Dorn (US jazz, R&B music producer and record label serial entrepreneur)*17.Dec.2007.
1941: James Di Pasquale (US composer)
1938: Freddie Hubbard (US award winning trumpet player; Jazz artist)*29.Dec.2008.
1938: Spencer Dryden (US drummer, Jefferson Airplane)*11.Jan.2005.
1937: Charlie Thomas (US singer; Drifters).
1935: Bobby Bare (The All-American Boy country singer).
1927: Babatunde Olatunji (Nigerian drummer)*06.April.2003.
1920: Ravi Shankar (Indian sitar player)
1917: Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría (Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist)*01.Feb.2003.
1915: Billie Holiday (American legendary female jazz singer)*17.July.1959.
1914: Ralph Flanagan/Ralph Elias Flenniken (US big band leader)*30.Dec.1995.
1908: Percy Faith (Canadian pianistist, band leader)*09.Feb.1976.
1899: Robert Casadesus/ (French classical pianist)*19.Sept.1972.

April 8th
1990: Kim Jonghyun (South Korean singer; SHINee)
1989: Alex DeLeon (US singer, songwriter; The Cab)
1989: Hitomi Takahashi (Japanese singer)
1986: Erika Sawajiri (Japanese actress, model, singer)
1980: Manuel Ortega (Austrian singer)
1979: Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho (Finnish guitarist; Children of Bodom/Sinergy/Kylähullut).
1974: Chino XL/Derek Keith Barbosa (American rapper)
1974: Nayden Todorov (Bulgarian conductor)
1975: Anouk Teeuwe (Dutch rock singer).
1972: Stretch/Randy Walker (US rapper and hip hop producer)*30.Nov.1995
1972: Paul Gray (US bassist; Slipknot)
1971: Darren Jessee (US drums; Ben Folds Five/Hotel Lights).
1968: Tracy Grammer (US folk singer)
1968: Andy Szabo/Andy Sabo (UK singer).
1964: Salt/Cheryl James (US rap, hip-hop artist; Salt n Pepa).
1964: Biz Markie/Marcel Hall (US rap artist).
1963: Julian Lennon (UK singer, keyboards, John Lennon's 1st son).
1963: Donita Sparks (US guitarist, vocals; L7).
1962: Jem Kelly (UK guitarist; Lotus Eaters).
1962: Izzy Stradlin/Jeffrey Isbell (US guitarist; Guns N' Roses/Izzy Stradlin & the Ju Ju Hounds).
1962: Adam Mole (UK keyboardist; Pop Will Eat Itself)?
1956: Justin Sullivan (UK lead singer, guitar, lyricist; New Model Army).
1949: Brenda Russell (US singer, songwriter)
1947: Larry David Norman (US musician, singer, songwriter "father of Christian rock music")*24.Feb.2008.
1947: Steve Howe (UK guitar; Yes/Flash).
1942: Roger Chapman (UK vocals; Family/Streetwalker).
1941: Peggy Lennon (US singer; The Lennon Sisters)
1933: Fred Ebb (US composer)*11.Sept.2004
1929: Jacques Brel (Brlgium singer, major world songwriter)*09.Oct.1978.
1929: Walter Berry (Austrian opera singer; Vienna Music Academy)*27.Oct.2000.
1928: Monty Sunshine (English jazz clarinetist)
1921: Franco Corelli (Italian opera singer; New York's Metropolitan Opera)*29.Sept.2003.
1920: Carmen Mercedes McRae (US international jazz singer, pianist)*10.Nov.1994.
1904: Raoul Jobin/Joseph Roméo (French-Canadian operatic tenor)*13.Jan.1974
1896: Yip Harburg (US lyricist)*..1981
1889: Sir Adrian Boult (British conductor)*..1983

April 9th
1988: Uee/Kim Yu-jin (South Korean actress, singer; After School).
1987: Jazmine Sullivan (American R&B singer).
1987: Jesse McCartney (US singer, actor) not related to Sir Paul.
1987: Craig Mabbitt (American singer; Escape the Fate).
1986: Leighton Meester (US singer, actress)
1986: Brian Larsen (US musician, record producer; Twilight’s Moon + more).
1985: Tomohisa Yamashita (Japanese singer, songwriter, actor; NEWS/Shuuji to Akira/solo).
1984: Linda Chung (Canadian/Hong Kong actress, singer).
1980: Clueso/Thomas Hübner (German singer, rapper, songwriter, producer).
1980: Albert Hammond Jr (US guitar, rhythm guitar, singer, songwriter; Strokes/solo).
1978: Vesna Pisarovic (Croatian singer).
1978: Rachel Stevens (UK pop singer; S Club 7).
1977: Gerard Way (US singer; My Chemical Romance).
1969: Kevin Martin (US vocalist, guitar; Candlebox)?
1964: DJ Alice/Soyo Oka (Japanese composer, musician, author; Nintendo games/more).
1961: Mark Kelly (UK keyboardist, guitar; Chemical Alice/Marillion).
1953: Hal Ketchum (US country music singer, songwriter, guitarist).
1948: Phillip Wright (UK drummer, lead singer; Paper Lace).
1946: Les Gray (UK vocals, Mud)*21.Feb.2004.
1945: Steve Gadd (American international session drummer).
1944: Emil Stucchio (US lead singer; Classics).
1944: Gene Parsons (US drummer; Byrds/Nashville West/The Flying Burrito Brs).
1943: Terry Knight/Richard Terrance Knapp (US producer, promoter, singer; Grand Funk Railroad)*01.Nov.2004.
1941: Kaye Adams (American country singer).
1932: Carl Perkins (US singer, songwriter, guitarist)*19.Jan.1998.
1932: Armin Jordan (Swiss conductor)*20.Sept.2006.
1928: Tom Lehrer (US singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, mathematician).
1921: George David Weiss (US songwriter, President of the Songwriters Guild of America)*23.Aug.2010.
1920: Art Van Damme (US jazz accordionist; Art Van Damme Quintet)*15.Feb.2010.
1904: Joseph "Sharkey" Bonano (American jazz trumpeter, band leader, vocalist)*27.March.1972
1898: Paul Robeson (US actor, bass-baritone singer)*23.Jan.1976.

April 10th
1991: Amanda Michalka (US actress, singer).
1984: Mandy Moore (US singer).
1981: Elizabeth McClarnon (uk singer; Atomic Kitten).
1979: Sophie Ellis-Bextor (uk singer).
1980: Bryce Soderberg (US bassist, backing vocals; Lifehouse).
1979: Sophie Ellis-Bextor (UK singer, songwriter, model)
1979: Shemekia Copeland (US blues singer)
1978: Sir Christus/Jukka Kristian Mikkonen (Finnish guitarist, vocalist; SnoWhite/Negative)
1975: Chris Carrabba (US singer, guitarist; Dashboard Confessional / Further Seems Forever)
1973: Aidan Moffat (Scottish singer, songwriter; Arab Strap)
1970: Q-Tip/Jonathan Davis (US hip-hop mc, actor, hip hop producer; Tribe Called Quest).
1970: Kenny Lattimore (US singer; Maniquin/solo).
1969: Mike Mushok (US lead guitarist, songwriter; Staind).
1968: Kenediid "Diid" Osman (UK bassist, artist management; Sleeper/Dubstar).
1964: Reni/Alan John Wren (UK drummer; Stone Roses).
1965: Tim "Herb" Alexander (US drummer, multi-musician; Primus/Laundry/others)
1967: David Rovics (US folksinger)
1963: Carlos Varela (Cuban singer, songwriter).
1963: Torch/Warren DeMartini (US guitarist; Ratt/Whitesnake)
1961: Joe Cole (US roadie, author; Black Flag / Rollins Band)*19.Dec.1991.
1959: Katrina Leskanich (US singer; Katrina & The Waves).
1959: Brian Setzer (US singer, guitar; Stray Cats/Brian Setzer Orchestra/solo).
1959: Davy Carton (Irish singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist; Saw Doctors).
1958: Yefim Bronfman (Russian-born pianist)
1958: Babyface/Kenneth Edmonds (US singer, keyboards, guitar).
1957: Afrika Bambaataa (US hip hop artist).
1957: Steve Gustafson (US bassist; 10,000 Maniacs).
1955: Lesley Garrett (British soprano)
1953: Terre Roche (UK folk singer, songwriter, composer; Roches).
1950: Akiko Wada (Japanese singer, television performer).
1950: Eddie Hazel (American guitar; Parliament/Funkadelic)*23.Dec.1992.
1950: Dave Peverett (UK guitarist, vocals; Savoy Brown/Foghat)*07.Feb.2000.
1950: Ernest Stewart (US bassist, KC and the Sunshine Band)*26.April.1997.
1948: Fred Smith (US bassist; Blondie/Television/others).
1947: Bunny Wailer/Neville O'Riley Livingston (Jamaican singer-songwriter, percussionist; Bob Marley/Wailers).
1947: Karl Russell (US vocalist; Hues Corporation).
1940: Ricky Valance/David Spencer (Welsh pop singer).
1936: Bobbie Smith (US lead singer; Detroit Spinners/Spinners).
1934: Paul Brodie (Canadian saxophonist founded the World Saxophone Congress in Chicago)*19.Nov.2007
1933: Rokusuke Ei (Japanese lyricist, author).
1932: Nate Nelson (US tenor and lead singer; Flamingos/Platters)*01.June.1984.
1930: Claude Bolling (French jazz composer, pianist)
1921: Sheb Wooley (US actor, singer)*16.Sept.2003.
1911: Martin Denny (US legendary easy listening pianist)*02.March.2005.

April 11th
1987: Lights/Valerie Anne Poxleitner (Canadian singer-songwriter, synthesizer, keyboard)
1987: Joss Stone/Joscelyn Eve Stoker (UK singer).
1982: Danja/Floyd Nathaniel Hills (US record producer, composer, songwriter)
1979: Chris Gaylor (American drummer; The All-American Rejects).
1979: Sebastien Grainger (Canadian multi-musician; Death from Above 1979/part owner of Giant Studios).
1978: Brown Tom/Tom Thacker (Canadian singer, guitarist, keyboards; Gob/Summit 41).
1974: David Jassy (Swedish R&B, hip-hop singer, songwriter, music producer)
1971: Oliver Riedel (German bassist; The Inchtabokatables/Rammstein).
1970: Dylan Keefe (bassist; Marcy Playground).
1970: Delroy Pearson (UK singer; Five Star).
1969: Cerys Matthews/Cerys Elizabeth Philip (Welsh singer; Catatonia).
1969: Chisato Moritaka (Japanese singer).
1966: Lisa Stansfield (UK singer; Blue Zone/solo).
1964: Johann Sebastian Paetsch (American concert cellist).
1964: Steve Azar (US country music singer-songwriter, rhythm guitar).
1963: Nigel Pulsford (Welsh guitarist; Bush/solo).
1961: Doug Hopkins (American guitarist; Gin Blossoms/The Chimeras)*05.Dec.1993.
1958: Stuart Adamson (UK guitar, vocals, songwriter; The Skids/Big Country/Raphaels)*16.Dec.2001.
1955: Neville Staples (singer, producer; Fun Boy Three/Specials/solo).
1955: Michael Callen (US singer, songwriter, composer, author)*27.Dec.1993.
1951: Paul Fox (British guitarist; The Ruts/Dirty Strangers)*21.Oct.2007
1950: Tom Hill (UK bass guitarist; Geordie)
1946: Bob "Whispering" Harris (DJ, radio host; Old Grey Whistle Test/BBC Radio 2).
1943: Tony Victor (US singer; The Classics)
1938: Kurt Moll (German Grammy Award winning concert/operatic bassist, celloist, singer).
1935: Richard Berry (American singer, composer, songwriter)*23.Jan.1997
1932: Joel Grey (American singer and actor).
1931: Koichi Sugiyama (Japanese composer).
1926: Victor Bouchard (Canadian pianist and composer).
1916: Alberto Ginastera (Argentine composer)*25.June.1983.

April 12th
1994: Airi Suzuki (Japanese singer; C-ute/Aa!, Hello!/Project Kids/Buono!).
1987: Brendon Urie (American singer; Panic At The Disco).
1985: Olga Seryabkina (Russian singer; Serebro).
1985: Hangry/Hitomi Yoshizawa (Japanese singer; Morning Musume/Hangry & Angry).
1982: Deen/Fuad Backovic (Bosnian singer; Seven Up/ solo).
1980: Erik Mongrain (Canadian composer, guitarist).
1980: Bryan McFadden (Irish singer; Westlife).
1978: Guy Berryman (UK bassist, Coldplay).
1977: Charles Cooper (US musician, one half of Telefon Tel Aviv)*22.Jan.2009.
1972: Sebnem Ferah (Turkish singer; Volvox/solo).
1970: Nicholas Lofton Hexum (US vocalist, rhythm guitarist; 311/Pepper/Zack Hexum).
1967: Sarah Cracknell (UK lead singer; Saint Etienne).
1967: Mellow Man Ace/Ulpiano Sergio Reyes (Afro-Cuban rapper; Cypress Hill).
1965: Sean Welch (UK bassist; Beautiful South).
1964: Amy Ray (US singer, guitar, mandolin, harmonica; Indigo Girls).
1962: Arthur Paul "Art" Alexakis (US vocalist, guitar; Everclear).
1961: Lisa Gerrard (Australian singer, composer; Dead Can Dance/solo).
1958: Will Sergeant (UK guitarist; Echo & The Bunnymen/Electrafixion).
1958: Les Pattinson (bassist; Echo & The Bunnymen).
1957: Vince Gill (US country singer).
1956: Herbert Grönemeyer (German singer).
1954: Pat Travers (Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer; Pat Travers Band/guest).
1951: Alexander Briley (singer; G.I.-Military Man Village People)
1950: David Cassidy (US singer, actor; Partridge Family/solo).
1948: Sandra "Lois" Reeves (US singer; Martha Reeves & the Vandellas/Al Green).
1944: John Kay/Joachim Fritz Krauledat (German-Canadian guitarist; Steppenwolf/solo)
1940: Herbie Hancock (US keyboard player, composer; Miles Davis/ bandleader).
1937: Gulshan Bawra/Gulshan Kumar Mehta (Indian songwriter)*07.Aug.2009.
1935: Jimmy Makulis (Greek singer)*28.Oct.2007.
1933: Montserrat Caballé (Spanish soprano).
1931: Leonid Derbenyov (Russian poet-songwriter)*22.June.1995.
1932: Tiny Tim/Herbert Buckingham Khaury (US singer, ukulele)*30.Nov.1996.
1930: Carol Lindsey Young (vocals; Kaye Sisters).
1919: Billy Vaughn (US singer, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader)*26.Sept.1991.
1917: Helen Forrest/Bonnie Blue/Helen Fogel (American jazz singer)*11.July.1999
1888: Heinrich Neuhaus (Soviet pianist)*10.Oct.1964.

April 13th
1982: Nellie McKay (US singer-songwriter, pianist, ukulele player, comic, actress).
1982: Janice Vidal (Hong Kong singer, twin of Jill).
1982: Jill Vidal (Hong Kong singer, twin of Janice).
1979: Toni Lundon (vocals; Liberty X).
1975: David Philip Hefti (Swiss composer, conductor)
1975: Lou Bega/David Loubega (German singer, producer).
1972: Aaron Lewis (US vocalist, acoustic guitar; Staind)
1971: Valensia/Aldous Byron Valensia Clarkson (Dutch singer, multi-musician).
1967: Olga Tañón (Puerto Rican multi-award winning singer).
1966: Marc Ford (US lead guitarist; Black Crowes/Uninvited/freelance).
1966: Mando/Adamantia Stamatopoulou (Greek singer)
1962: Hillel Slovak (Israeli-US guitarist, founder member; Red Hot Chili Peppers)*25.June.1988.
1961: Hiro Yamamoto (US rock bassist; Soundgarden/Truly).
1959: Kim McAuliffe (guitar, singer; Girlschool)?
1957: Wayne Lewis (singer, keyboardist; Atlantic Starr)
1955: Louis Johnson (bassist; Brothers Johnson).
1954: Niels Olsen (Danish singer)
1954: Jimmy Destri (keyboards; Blondie/solo).
1951: Max Weinberg (drummer; E Street Band/freelance)
1951: Peabo Bryson (US singer).
1947: Thanos Mikroutsikos (Greek composer, former minister)
1946: Roy Loney (singer, guitar; Flamin Groovies/solo).
1946: Al Green (US soul singer)
1945: Rúnar Júlíusson (Icelandic bassist with Thor's Hammer)*05.Dec.2008.
1945: Lowell George (US singer, songwriter, guitarist; Little Feat)*29.June.1979.
1944: Jack Casady (US bassist; Jefferson Starship/SVT/Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna).
1944: Brian Pendleton (UK rhythm guitarist, lead guitar, vocals; Pretty Things/So What)*16.May.2001.
1943: Eve Graham (Scottish singer; New Seekers).
1943: Artie Traum (US folk singer, award-winning guitarist, producer and songwriter)*20.July.2008.
1942: Bill Conti (US singer, producer, conductor, composer).
1940: Lester Chambers (singer; Chambers Brothers).
1936: Tim Field (singer; Springfields)?
1934: Horace Kay (singer; Tams).
1920: John LaPorta (US jazz clarinetist, saxophonist)*12.May.2004.
1919: Howard Keel/Harry Clifford Leek (US singer, actor)*07.Nov.2004.
1906: Bud Freeman/Lawrence Freeman (US jazz musician, bandleader, composer)*15.March.1991.

April 14th
1984: Adán Sánchez (Mexican-American singer)*27.March.2004. (car crash)
1980: Win Butler (American/Canadian vocalist, mandolin, guitar, keyboards, Bass, songwriter; Arcade Fire).
1976: Christian Älvestam (Swedish singer, multi-musician; Scar Symmetry).
1975: Avner Dorman (Israeli composer of contemporary classical music).
1974: Da Brat/Shawntae Harris (US rap artist).
1973: David Miller (American tenor; Il Divo).
1970: Shizuka Kudo (Japanese singer; Onyanko Club/Ushirogami Hikareta/soloi).
1970: Emre Altug (Turkish singer, actor; TV/Films/Musicals).
1969: Martyn LeNoble (Dutch bassist; Porno For Pyros/The Cult/Jane's Addiction).
1967: Barrett Martin (US drummer, composer; Screaming Trees/Mad Season/solo/sessionist).
1965: Carl Hunter (UK bassist; The Farm).
1965: Kirk Windstein (US lead guitarist, bassist, singer; Valume Nob/Crowbar/Down)
1965: Sheila Chandra (Indian-British singer; Monsoon/solo).
1962: Joey Pesce (keyboards; 'Til Tuesday)?
1958: Ronnie Grieco (US saxophone player; Joey Dee and the Starlighters/freelance/solo).
1957: Mikhail Pletnev (Russian award winning pianist, conductor, composer).
1951: Julian Lloyd Webber (English cellist; classical, brother of Sir Andrew).
1949: June Millington (vocals, guitar; Fanny)?
1949: Sonja Kristina (vocals; Curved Air/the musical Hair).
1949: Dennis Bryon (Welsh drummer; Amen Corner/Bee Gees/Blue Weaver/freelance)?
1948: Larry Ferguson (keyboards; Hot Chocolate).
1946: Patrick Fairley (bassist, guitar; Marmalade).
1945: Ritchie Blackmore (UK guitarist; Rainbow/Deep Purple/sessionist/freelance).
1942: Tony Burrows (singer; The Kestrels/First Class/sessioned with many bands).
1935: Loretta Lynn (US country singer, songwriter).
1925: Gene "Jug" Ammons (US jazz saxophonist; Billy Eckstine/Woody Herman/more)*06.Aug.1974
1924: Shorty Rogers/Milton Rajonsky (US jazz trumpeter, flugelhorn)*07.Nov.1994.

April 15th
1991: Daiki Arioka (Japanese actor, singer).
1984: Benjamin Kasica (US guitarist; Christian rock band Skillet)
1982: Anthony Green (US singer; Circa Survive/Saosin/many others)
1978: Francesco Fareri (Italian guitarist, shred guitarist, composer).
1975: Phil Labonte (US lead vocalist; All That Remains).
1968: Ed O'Brien (UK guitar, harmony vocals; Radiohead).
1967: Frankie Poullian (UK bassist; Darkness)
1966: Samantha Fox (UK model; singer).
1966: Graeme Clark (Scottish bassist; Wet Wet Wet/Maggie Pie & The Impostors).
1965: Linda Perry (US singer, producer, guitar, engineer; 4 Non Blondes/solo).
1965: Oscar Harrison (UK drummer, pianiast; Ocean Colour Scene)
1962: Surjit Bindrakhia (Punjabi Bhangra singer)
1962: Nick Kamen (UK model, singer).
1950: Michael Been (US singer, guitarist, actor; The CAll/others/solo)*19.Aug.2010.
1949: Alla Pugacheva (Russian singer)
1948: Michael Kamen (US oboe player; film, rock & classical music composer)*18.Nov.2003.
1947: Stuart "Wooly" Wolstenholme (UK organist, banjo, synthesisers; Barclay James Harvest).
1947: Michael Chapman (UK producer, somgwriter; Chinnichap productions).
1944: Dave Edmunds (Welsh guitar, keyboard, vocals, producer; Love Sculpture/Rockpile).
1940: Clarence "Satch" Satchell (American saxophonist, flutist; Ohio Players)*30.Dec.1995.
1939: Marty Wilde (UK pop singer).
1937: Bob Luman (American country and rockabilly singer)*27.Dec.1978.
1933: Roy Clark (US country singer, guitar, fiddle, banjo).
1930: Herb Pomeroy (US jazz trumpeter;all the greats/own bands)*11.Aug.2007.
1924: Sir Neville Marriner (English conductor)
1908: Eden Ahbez/George Alexander Aberle (US singer-songwriter)*04.March.1995.
1894: Bessie Smith (US blues singer)*26.Sept.1937.

April 16th
1985: Benjamín Rojas (Argentine actor, singer, guitarist; Erreway)
1983: Marié Digby (US singer, pianist, guitar)
1979: Sean Costello (American blues guitarist, singer)*15.April.2008.
1977: Akon/Aliaune Damala Dakha Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam (US R&B, rap singer).
(some sourses give Akon's birthdate as April 30th 1973 and others October 14th 1981)
1976: Sean Maguire (UK actor, singer).
1975: Kelli O'Hara (US singer, actress)
1974: Mat Devine (US singer; Kill Hannah)
1974: Xu Jinglei (Chinese actress, singer, director)
1973: Bonnie Pink/Kaori Asada (Japanese singer)
1971: Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (US singer known as "The Queen of Tejano music")*31.March.1995.
1970: Gabrielle/Louise Gabrielle Bobb (UK singer).
1969: Sean Cook (UK bassist; Spiritualized).
1964: Esbjörn Svensson (Swedish jazz pianist; Esbjörn Svensson Trio aka E.S.T)*14.June.2008.
1964: David Pirner (US guitar, vocals, trumpet; Murphy & Pirfinkle/Soul Asylum).
1963: Little Jimmy Osmond (US singer; The Osmonds/solo).
1963: Nick Berry (UK singer, actor).
1961: Doris Dragovic (Croatian singer)
1956: Paul Buchanan (Scottish vocals, producer, acoustic guitar; Blue Nile).
1953: Peter Garrett (Australian singer, politician; Midnight Oil)
1951: John Bentley (UK bass; Squeeze).
1951: Björgvin Halldórsson (Icelandic singer)
1951: Mordechai Ben David/Mordechai Werdyger (US Hebrew singer)
1949: Bill 'Sputnick' Spooner (guitar; Tubes/Folk-Ups).
1948: Robert Kirby (UK keyboardist, arranger of string sections for rock & folk music)*03.Oct.2009.
1947: Lee 'The Bear' Kerslake (UK drummer; The Gods, Toe Fat, The National Head Band, Uriah Heep).
1947: Gerry Rafferty (UK singer, guitar, songwriter; Stealers Wheel/Humblebums/solo).
1945: Stefan Grossman (US guitarist; Even Dozen Jug Band/Fugs/co-founded Kicking Mule Records).
1943: Dave Peverett (UK singer, rhythm guitarist; Foghat/Savoy Brown)*07.Feb.2000.
1939: Dusty Springfield/Mary O'Brien (UK husky-voiced soul singer)*02.March.1999.
1936: Šaban Bajramovic (Serbian Romani singer, songwriter)*08.June.2008.
1936: Judy Lynn Kelly (US country music singer)*26.May.2010.
1935: Bobby Vinton/Stanley Robert Vintula (US pop singer).
1930: Herbie Mann/Herbert Jay Solomon (American jazz flutist)*01.July.2003.
1929: Ed Townsend (US singer, songwriter)*13.Aug.2003.
1929: Roy Hamilton (US singer)*20.July.1969.
1927: Edie Adams (American singer, Broadway, television and film actress)*15.Oct.2008
1924: Rudy Pompilli (US saxophone, clarenet; Bill Haley & His Comets)*05.Feb.1976.
1924: Henry Mancini (US composer and conductor)*14.June.1994.
1917: Bobby Robinson (African-American independent record producer)
1889: Charlie Chaplin (English composer, comedy actor, actor, producer)*25.Dec.1977.

April 17th
1981: Hanna Pakarinen (Finnish singer)
1977: Phil Jamieson (Australian singer; Grinspoon)
1974: Posh Spice/Victoria Beckham nee Adams (UK singer; Spice Girls/solo).
1974: Mikael Åkerfeldt (Swedish guitarist, singer; Opeth)
1970: Redman/Reggie Noble (US rapper).
1967: Liz Phair (US singer, guitarist).
1964: Maynard James Keenan (US singer; A Perfect Circle/Tool).
1959: Stephen Singleton (UK saxophonist; Vice Versa/ABC/Bleep/Booster).
1957: Afrika Bambaataa/Kevin Donovan (US DJ, hip-hop artist).
1955: Pete Shelley/Peter Campbell McNeish (UK guitarist; Buzzcocks)
1954: Michael Sembello (US guitarist, composer; Stevie Wonder band/sessionist/solo)
1954: Lester Square/Thomas Wilberforce Hardy (Canadian guitarist, keyboard; Monochrome Set/Adam & the Ants)
1948: Jan Hammer (Czechoslovakian keyboard player; Mahavishnu Orchestra/solo).
1947: David Sanger (UK classical organist)*27.May.2010.
1947: Linda Martin (Irish singer)
1943: Roy Estrada (US bassist; Frank Zappa/Captain Beefheart)
1941: Billy Fury/Ronald Wycherley (UK singer mega popstar)*28.Jan.1983
1940: Anja Silja (German soprano)
1934: Don Kirshner (US composer, producer).
1932: Joe Romano (US jazz saxophonist; Woody Herman/Freelance).
1930: Chris Barber (UK jazz band leader, trombonist)
1929: James Last (German orchestra leader).
1923: Gianni Raimondi (Italian international operatic tenor)*19.Oct.2008.
1919: Chavela Vargas (Costa Rican-Mexican singer)
1903: Gregor Piatigorsky (Russian cellist)*06.Aug.1976.

April 18th
1987: Sandra Lyng Haugen (Norwegian singer)
1985: Elena Temnikova (Russian singer; Serebro)
1982: Marie-Élaine Thibert (Canadian singer)
1979: Nuria Fergó (Spanish singer)
1976: Fayray (Japanese singer, acter)
1974: Mark "Tru" Tremonti (US lead guitar; Alter Bridge/Creed).
1974: Millie Corretjer (Puerto Rican singer)
1972: Rosa Clemente (US activist, hip-hop artist)
1971: Fredro Starr (US rapper; Onyx)
1970: Greg Eklund (US drummer; Everclear).
1965: Rob Stenders (Dutch radio discjockey).
1964: Bez/ Mark Berry (UK dancer, percussion, mascot; Happy Mondays).
1964: Jim Ellison (US singer, frontman; Material Issue)*20.June.1996.
1962: Shirley Holliman (UK vocalist; Pepsi & Shirlie/Wham!).
1961: Kelly Hansen (US vocalist, drummer; Foreigner/Hurricane/sessionist/guest).
1958: Andy Kyriacou (UK drummer; Modern Romance).
1950: Zeke Willett (US country singer)??
1946: Lennie Baker (US saxophone; Danny & the Juniors/Sha Na Na).
1946: Alexander "Skip" Spence (Canadian-US drummer, guitarist; Moby Grape/JeffersonAirplane)*16.Apr.1999.
1942: Robert Christgau (US music critic, 'Dean of American Rock Critics')
1940: Mike Vickers (UK saxophone, guitar, flute, clarinet; Manfred Mann/sessoinist/freelane).
1939: Glen D.Hardin (US pianist, guitar; Crickets/sessionist/freelance).
1934: George Shirley (American tenor)
1924: Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown (US blues artist, multi musician)*10.Sept.2005.
1919: Virginia O'Brien (US singer and actress)*16.Jan.2001.
1918: Tony Mottola (US guitarist)*09.Aug.2004.
1906: Little Brother Montgomery/Eurreal Wilford Montgomery (US jazz-blues pianist, singer)*06.Sept.1985.
1907: Miklós Rózsa (Hungarian-born composer)*27.July.1995.
1882: Leopold Stokowski/Antoni Stanislaw Boleslawowicz (UK born US symphonic conductor)*13.Sept.1977.

April 19th
1989: Fiona MacGillivray (Canadian vocalist; The Cottars).
1976: Ruud Jolie (Dutch guitarist; Within Temptation)
1970: Luis Miguel (Mexican pop singer).
1968: Pascal Kleiman (Spanish DJ, producer, musician)
1967: Dar Williams (US singer, guitarist, songwriter).
1966: Julia Neigel (German singer and songwriter).
1966: Véronique Gens (French soprano)
1965: Natalie Dessay (French soprano)
1965: Suge Knight (American record producer)
1957: Tony Martin Harford (UK lead vocalist, multi-musician; Black Sabbath/other projects)
1956: Gary Langan (UK electronic musician, producer; Art Of Noise/ZTT Records label).
1954: Bob Rock (Canadian record producer, guitarist; The Payola$)
1953: Rod Morgenstein (US drummer; Winger/Dixie Dregs/sessionist).
1947: Mark Volman/Phlorescent Leech (US singer; Turtles/Mothers of Invention/Flo & Eddie).
1947: Murray Perahia (US pianist, conductor)
1944: Bernie Worrell (US keyboards, piano, synthesizer, organ; Parliament/Funkadelic).
1943: Eve Graham (Scottish singer; The New Seekers)
1942: Alan Price (UK vocals, piano, keyboards,composer; Animals/Jade Warrior/own band).
1942: David Fanshawe (English composer, ethnomusicologist)*05.July.2010.
1941: Roberto Carlos Braga (Brazilian Grammy Award-winning MPB singer).
1940: Genya Ravan (US vocalist; Goldie & the Gingerbreads/Ten Wheel Drive).
1935: Dudley Moore (UK actor, pianist, comedian, composer)*27.March.2002.
1928: Alexis Korner (French jazz, blues guitarist,"the father of British blues")*01.Jan.1984.
1920: Gene Leis (US jazz guitarist, educator)*15.March.1993.

April 20th
1980: Jasmin Wagner (German singer)
1979: Quinn Weng (Taiwanese singer; Seraphim)
1972: Željko Joksimovic (Serbian singer, songwriter, producer)
1972: Carmen Electra/Tara Leigh Patrick (US singer, actress; Pussycat Dolls).
1972: Stephen Marley (Jamaican singer, guitarist; Melody Makers).
1971: Mikey Welsh (bassist, Weezer/The Kickovers).
1971: Tina Cousins (UK singer-songwriter, model)
1967: Michael Stephen Portnoy (US drummer; Dream Theater/Transatlantic/Avenged Sevenfold/many more)
1965: April March/Elinor Blake (US singer-songwriter)
1961: Barry Smolin (US radio host, writer, composer)
1951: Luther Vandross (US singer)*01.July.2005.
1948: Craig Frost (US keyboardist; Silver Bullet Band/Grand Funk Railroad).
1947: Björn Skifs (Swedish singer; Blue Swede)
1947: Ken Scott (UK record producer, recording engineer)
1945: Jimmy Winston (UK organist, keyboards; the Moments/Small Faces).
1943: John Eliot Gardiner (UK conductor)
1939: Johnny Tillotson (US singer).
1936: William Godvin "Beaver" Harris (American jazz drummer)*22.Dec.1991.
1934: David "Pop" Winans (US gospel singer; Mom & Pop Winans/David & Delores)*08.April.2009.
1929: Bob Braun (US television host)*15.Jan.2001.
1920: Tito Puente (US musician; influential Latin jazz and mambo musician)*31.May.2000.
1908: Lionel Hampton (American jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, bandleader)*31.Aug.2002.
1895: Emile Christian (US jazz trombonist, cornet, string bass)*03.Dec.1973.

April 21st
1988: Mia Permanto (Finnish pop singer and radio host)*19.March.2008
1978: Jukka Nevalainen (Finnish drummer; Nightwish)
1978: Branden Steineckert (US drummer; Rancid/The Used)
1977: Doseone/Adam Drucker (US rapper)
1972: Severina Vuckovic (Croatian singer)
1970: Glen Hansard (Irish songwriter and actor)
1966: Michael Franti (US singer, songwriter, poet; Michael Franti & Spearhead)
1963: Johnny McElhone (Scottish bassist; Altered Images/Texas/Hipsway).
1959: Jerry Only/Gerald Caiafa (US bassist, vocals; The Misfits)
1959: Michael Timmins (Canadian guitarist; Cowboy Junkies).
1959: Robert James Smith (UK guitarist, keyboards, vocals; Siouxsie&The Banshees/The Cure).
1954: Ebiet G. Ade (Indonesian singer)
1951: Nicole Barclay (US keyboards, vocals; Fanny/freelance)
1949: Patti LuPone (US singer and actress)
1948: Paul Davis (US singer)*22.April.2008.
1947: John Weider (US guitarist, bass, violin; Family/The Animals/Stud/sessionist).
1947: Alan Warner (UK guitarist, vocals; Foundations).
1947: Iggy Pop/James Newell Osterburg (US singer; The Phsycodelic Stooges/Stooges).
1945: Diana Darvey/Diana Magdalene Roloff (UK actress, singer, dancer)*11.April.2000.
1938: Ernie Maresca (US singer, record executive)
1933: Ian Carr (Scottish trumpeter, composer and writer; Nucleus/others/sessionist)*25.Feb.2009.
1924: Ira Louvin/Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (US country music singer, songwriter, musician)*20.June.1965.
1919: Don Cornell/Luigi Varlaro (US singer)*23.Feb.2004.

April 22nd
1985: Matt Ballinger (US singer; Dream Street)
1984: Amelle Berrabah (UK singer; Sugababes)
1980: Ginger Sling/Ginger Reyes/Ginger A. Pooley (US bassist; Smashing Pumpkins/solo).
1979: Daniel Johns (Australian vocalist, composer, pianist, guitarist; Silverchair).
1978: Jason Stollsteimer (US singer; The Von Bondies)
1977: Aaron Fink (US guitarist; Breaking Benjamin)
1974: Diego Costa (Brazilian singer-songwriter)
1974: Shavo Odadjian (Armenian/American bassist (System of a Down)
1970: Regine Velasquez (Filipino singer, actress)
1966: Fletcher Dragge (US guitarist; Pennywise)
1969: Craig Logan (Scottish singer; member of the trio Bros).
1956: Kenny Lyons (US bassist; Lemonheads).
1953: Juhani Komulainen (Finnish composer)
1951: Paul Carrack (UK singer, keyboardist; Ace/Squeeze/Mike & the Mechanics/solo).
1950: Peter Frampton (UK guitar, vocals; the Herd/Humble Pie/solo).
1948: Larry Groce (US singer, songwriter)
1945: Demetrio Stratos/Efstratios Demetriou (Italian singer, multi-musician, lyricist; AreA)*13.June.1979
1944: Howard Wyeth (US drummer, pianist; freelance/sessionist)*27.March.1996.
1939: Simon Napier-Bell (UK manager of Wham!, T Rex, Japan + more).
1939: Mel Carter (US singer, actor)
1937: Jack Nitzche (US producer, songwriter, composer, film scores)*25.Aug.2000.
1936: Glen Campbell (US singer, guitarist, banjo player; Beach Boys/solo).
1936: Pierre Hétu (French Canadian conductor, pianist)*03.Dec.1998.
1936: Lucho Barrios/Luis Barrios Rojas (Peruvian bolero singer)*05.May.2010.
1935: Paul Chambers (US jazz bassist)*04.Jan.1969
1929: Erkki Junkkarinen (Finnish singer)*09.April.2008.
1927: Laurel Aitken (Jamaican singer)*17.July.2005.
1922: Charles Mingus (US jazz musician/bandleader)*05.Jan.1979.
1922: Elden C. 'Buster' Bailey (US percussionist; New York Philharmonic)*13.Apr.2004.
1922: Eugene Smith (US gospel baritone/tenor singer; Roberta Martin Singers/solo)*09.May.2009.
1916: Yehudi Menuhin (US-born violinist)*12.March.1999
1912: Kathleen Ferrier (UK singer)*08.Oct.1953

April 23rd
1982: Taio Cruz (UK singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, music producer)
1979: Lauri Ylönen (Finnish singer; The Rasmus)
1979: Barry Fratelli/Barry Wallace (Scottish bassist; The Fratellis)
1975: Jón Þór Birgisson (Icelandic guitarist, vocalist; Sigur Rós)
1974: Carlos Dengler (US bassist; Interpol)
1972: Patricia Manterola (Mexican singer)
1970: Dennis Bayne Culp (US singer/songwriter)
UPDATING
1968: Stan Frazier (US drummer; Sugar Ray).
1968: Paul Clifford (UK bass, Wonder Stuff)?
1966: Neil Wathey (UK drummer; Bitter Suite/TNT/Suite FA/sessionist).
1964: Simon "Gen" Matthews (drummer, percussion; Jesus Jones).
1960: Steve Clark (UK guitarist; Def Leppard)*08.Jan.1991.
1960: David Gedge (vocals, guitar, producer; Cinerama/The Wedding Present).
1955: Mark Schatz (bassist, banjo; The Bluegrass Album Band/freelance).
1952: Narada Michael Walden (vocals, drums; Mahavishnu Orchestra/freelance).
1949: John Miles (vocalist, guitarist and keyboards; The Influence/solo/freelance).
1947: Stu Middleton (guitar, keyboards; Prisoner/Bitter Suite).
1945: John Allen (guitarist; Nashville Teens).
1939: Patrick Williams (US composer of jazz, popular music, concert music, music for film & television).
1939: Ray Peterson (US pop singer)*25.Jan.2005.
1936: Roy Orbison (US pop and country singer, songwriter)*6.Dec.1988.
1924: Bob Rosengarden (Drums; band leader/Rosengarden & Kraus/Walter Wanderley).
1921: Janet Blair (actress, singer; TV musical specials).
1919: "Little" Benny Harris (US trumpet, composer; many jazz bands and sessionist)*11.May.1975.
1915: Joe Lippman (Jazz pianist, composer; band leader/many big bands)??
1903: Bob Garber (piano; band leader)*06.March.1988.
1895: Jimmy Noone (New Orleans clarinet player; bandleader)*19.April.1944.

April 24th
1984: Tyson Ritter (US lead vocalist, bass guitarist; The All-American Rejects)
1982: Kelly Clarkson (US singer; winner of the US TV show Pop Idol).
1980: Danny Gokey (US singer)
1973: Brian Marshall (US bass guitar; Creed/Alter Bridge).
1971: Alejandro Fernández (Mexican singer)
1971: Mauro Pawlowski (Belgian guitarist, singer)
1968: Aaron Comess (drums; Spin Doctors)?
1967: Patty Schemel (drums; Hole/freelance).
1964: Witold Smorawinski (Polish musician, composer
1963: Paula Frazer (US singer/songwriter
1963: Tony Blackplait/Tõnu Trubetsky (Estonian singer, guitarist; Vennaskond/several others)
1963: Mano Solo/Emmanuel Cabut (French singer; les Chihuahuas/solo)*10.Jan.2010.
1963: Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez (Cuban drums/percussion; Yerba Buena)?
1963: Billy Gould (bass; Faith No More).
1960: Paula Yates (UK music presenter, TV host)*17.Sept.2000.
1957: Boris Williams (French drummer; Thompson Twins/The Cure).
1957: David Jay Haskins (bass; Bauhaus/The Jazz Butcher/Love & Rockets).
1955: Captain Sensible/Raymond Burns (vocals, guitar, bass; King/The Damned/solo).
1948: Steve York (bass, Manfred Mann/Earth Band)?
1947: Glen Cornick (bassist; Jethro Tull).
1947: Hubert Ann Kelly (US singer; Hues Corporation).
1945: TBT (That's Me!).
1945: Doug Riley (Canadian keyboardist; Famous People Players)*27.Aug.2007
1945: Doug Clifford (US drums;Creedence ClearwaterRevival/Creedence Clearwater Revisited).
1943: Glen Dale/Richard Garforth (UK guitar/vocals; Fortunes).
1943: Ross Kettle (Australian singer, songwriter, guitar; Singing Kettles)*12.Sept.2007.
1942: Barbra Streisand (US singer, actress).
1937: Joe Henderson (saxophone; Horace Silver/Blood, Sweat & Tears)*30.June.2001.
1937: James "Spanky" DeBrest (US bass; Art Blakey/Thelonious Monk/more)*02.March.1973
1933: Freddie Scott (US singer-songwriter: famous for "Hey Girl")*04.June.2007.
1928: John Arnold Griffin III (American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist)*25.July.2008.
1926: Joe Segal (US jazz promoter, owner of 'The Jazz Showcase' nightclub in Chicago).
1922: Samuel Aaron Bell (US tuba, bass; Duke Ellington/many jazz bands)*28.July.2003.

April 25th
1980: Jacob Underwood (singer; O-Town).
1965: Eric Avery (bassist; Jane's Addiction/freelance).
1965: Simon Fowler (vocalist, acoustic guitarist Ocean Colour Scene).
1964: Andy Bell (vocals, producer, arranger; Erasure/solo).
1964: Maya Gilder (keyboards; Furniture)?
1960: Paul Baloff (US singer, frontman; Exodus)*02.Feb.2002
1958: Fish/Derek William Dick (singer; Marillion/solo/Radio presenter).
1950: Steve Ferrone (drummer; Average White Band/freelance).
1949: Michael Brown/Michael Lookofsky (US singer, songwriter).
1946: Ron Gilbert (bassist; Blue Magoos)?
1945: Bjorn Ulvaeus (Swedish guitarist, vocals, composer; ABBA).
1945: Stu Cook (bass; Creedence Clearwater Revival/Creedence Clearwater Revisited).
1945: Michael Kogel (singer; Los Bravos, first Spanish rock band with UK & US hit single).
1944: Charlie Harper/David Charles Perez (lead singer; UK Subs)
1943: John Bryson Eulenberg (songwriter/voice box pioneer).
1943: Tony Christie/Antony Fitzgerald (UK singer).
1937: Bubba Groce (US jazz drummer).
1933: Jerry Leiber (Leiber/Stoller songwriting and producing partnership).
1923: Albert King/Albert Nelson (Blues guitar virtuoso, composer)*21.Dec.1992.
1917: Ella Fitzgerald (US legendary jazz singer)*15.June.1996
1913: Earl Bostic (US alto saxophonist; own R&B, soul, jazz bands)*28.Oct.1965.

April 26th
1982: Jon Lee (vocals, S Club 7).
1981: Ms Dynamite/Niomi MacLean-Daley (UK rapper, singer).
1976: Jose Pasillas (drummer; Incubus).
1975: Joey Jordison (drums, guitar; Slipknot).
1970: T-Boz/Tionne Tenese Watkins (lead vocals; TLC)
1970: Ruth-Ann Boyle (vocals; Olive/solo).
1961: Mike Francis (Italian pop singer, composer)*30.Jan.2009.
1961: Chris Mars (drums; Golden Smog/The Replacements).
1960: Roger Taylor (drums; Duran Duran/Frebass) not Queen's drummer.
1952: Neol Davies (guitar, vocals, songwriter; The Selecter)
1951: Nick Garvey (lead vocalist, guitarist; Ducks Deluxe/Motors/solo).
1945: Tony Murray (bassist; Troggs/sessionist)?
1943: Gary Wright (singer, keyboards, violin, piano Spooky Tooth/solo/guest).
1942: Bobby Rydell/Robert Louis Ridarelli (US singer).
1940: Giorgio Moroder (Italian producer, disco sound, composer; film music/own studios).
1938: Duane Eddy (legendary US guitarist).
1938: Maurice Williams (lead singer; Royal Charms/Zodiacs).
1936: William Godvin "Beaver" Harris (American jazz drummer)*22.Dec.1991.
1933: Richard Engquist (US lyricist)*25.March.2010.
1924: Teddy Edwards (saxophone, Dexter Gordons/sessionist/freelance)*20.April.2003.
1921: Jimmy Giuffre (American jazz composer, arranger, saxophonist, clarinetist)*24.April.2008
1915: Johnny Shines (Delta Blues Slide Guitar)*20.April.1992.
1894: Charles Edward "Cow Cow" Davenport (US boogie woogie piano player)*03.Dec.1955.

April 27th
1992: Allison Iraheta (US singer)
1986: Elena Risteska (Macedonian singer)
1984: Patrick Stump (US lead vocals, guitar; Fall Out Boy).
1984: Yonah Higgins (UK vocals; Cleopatra).
1981: Fabrizio Faniello (Maltese singer)
1979: Will Boyd (US bassist; Evanescence/The Visitors/American Princes).
1976: Isobel Campbell (Scottish singer,cello,piano;Gentle Waves/Belle-Sebastian).
1972: Rob Coombes (UK keyboardist; Supergrass).
1969: Mica Paris (UK singer, actress).
1967: Tommy Smith (Scottish jazz saxophonist, composer, educator)
1959: Marco Pirroni (UK guitar; Adam And The Ants).
1959: Scott Robinson (US saxophone, flute, clarinet; Jazz musician).
1959: Sheena Easton (Scottish singer).
1959: Louis Lortie (French Canadian concert pianist)
1956: Douglas P/Douglas Pearce (UK vocalist; Death in June/Crisis)
UPDATING
1956: Bryan Harvey (US singer, guitarist; House Of Freaks)*01.Jan.2006.
1951: Paul "Ace" Frehley (US guitar, vocals; Kiss).
1949: Clive Taylor (Welsh bassist; Amen Corner)?
1948: Kate Pierson (US singer; The B-52's).
1947: Peter Ham (Welsh singer, guitar; Badfinger/The Iveys)*23.April.1975.
1947: Herb Murrell (US singer; Stylistics).
1947: Ann Peebles (US soul-rhythm & blues singer).
1946: Gordon Haskell (UK singer, songwriter; Ravens, League of Gentlemen/King Crimson/solo).
1944: Cuba Gooding Sr (US singer; Main Ingredient).
1932: Casey Kasem (US host of the weekly US Top 40 radio program & many other things).
1923: Lelio Luttazzi (Italian musician and singer)*07.July.2010.
1927: Sal Mosca (American jazz pianist and educator)*28.July.2007.

April 28th
1986: George Nozuka (Canadian singer, songwriter)
1978: Lauren Laverne/Lauren Cecilia Gofton (UK disc jockey, TV presenter, singer)
1974: Vernon Kay (UK disc jockey, TV presenter)
1972: Violent J/Joseph Bruce (US rapper, R.P, wrestler, actor; Insane Clown Posse).
1969: Mica Paris (UK singer).
1968: Howard Donald (UK singer; Take That / solo).
1968: Daisy Berkowitz/Scott Mitchell Putesky (US bass; Marilyn Manson).
1966: Too Short/Todd Shaw (US West Coast rapper).
1964: Noriyuki Iwadare (Japanese composer)
1961: Anna Oxa (Italian singer)
1957: Wilma Landkroon (Dutch singer)
1956: Jimmy Barnes (Scottish-born singer)
1955: Eddie Jobson (UK violin, keyboards, synthesizers; Curved Air/Roxy Music/Frank Zappa).
1953: Kim Gordan (US bassist; Sonic Youth/Ciccone Youth).
1950: Willie Colón (Puerto Rican salsa musician, singer, trombone, trumpet)
1948: Dorothée Berryman (French Canadian actress, singer)
1946: Ginette Reno (French Canadian singer, songwriter, actress)
1945: John Wolters (drummer; Dr.Hook and the Medicine Show)*16.June.1997.
1943: Jacques Dutronc (French singer, actor)
1940: Phil Guy (American blues guitarist; Raful Neal/Junior Wells/solo)*20.Aug.2008.
1926: Blossom Dearie (American jazz singer and pianist)*07.Feb.2009.

April 29th
1988: Go Younha (Korean pop singer)
1982: Travis Smith (US drummer; Trivium)
1980: Kian Egan (Irish singer; Westlife).
1979: Jo Velda O'Meara (UK vocals, S Club 7).
1979: Matt Tong (UK drummer; Bloc Party)
1976: Jay Orpin (Swedish composer, producer)
1975: Béres Zoo (Hungarian radio DJ)
1974: Anggun Cipta Sasmi (Indonesian singer)
1974: Jasper Wood (Canadian violinist)
1973: Johan Hegg (Swedish heavy metal vocalist; Amon Amarth)
1973: Mike Hogan (Irish bassist; The Cranberries).
1971: Tamara Johnson-George (US singer; Sisters with Voices aka SWV)
1970: China Forbes (US singer, songwriter; Pink Martini)
1969: Izel Çeliköz (Turkish singer)
1968: Carnie Wilson (US singer)
1967: Master P/Percy Miller (US hip hop, rap artist).
1960: Phil King (UK bassist, sometimes drummer; Lush).
1958: Simon Edwards (UK guitar; Fairground Attraction)?
1957: Mark Kendall (US guitarist; Great White)
1956: Ketil Stokkan (Norwegian singer; Zoo / solo)
1955: Gino Quilico (Canadian classical baritone)
1953: King Boy D/Bill Drummond (Scottish producer, A&R man, writer, drummer: KLF).
1948: Michael Karoli (German guitarist, violin, composer; Can)*17.Nov.2001.
1947: Tommy James (US singer. guitar; Shondells)
1947: Joel Larson (US drums; Grass Roots)
1945: Tammi Terrell (US singer; The Sherrys/Motown artist)*16.March.1970.
1943: Duane Allen (US lead singer; Oak Ridge Boys).
1940: George Rufus Adams (US jazz jazz tenor saxophonist, flute, bass clarinet)*14.Nov.1992.
1938: Klaus Voormann (German multi-musician, record producer;sessionist/Manfred Mann/Plastic Ono Band/more)
1937: Lefty Dizz/Walter Williams (US powerful blues guitarist, singer)*07.Sept.1993.
1936: Zubin Mehta (Indian-born conductor)
1936: April Stevens (US singer)
1934: Otis Rush (US blues guitarist, singer).
UPDATING
1931: Lonnie Donegan (UK singer, guitar, banjo, songwiter, composer)*03.Nov.2002.
1929: Ray Barretto (Puerto Rican percussion,congas; sessionist/Fania All-Stars)*17.Feb.2006.
1928: Carl Gardner (US singer; The Coasters).
1925: Danny Davis (US country vocalist, bandleader, producer; Nashville Brass)*12.June.2008
1899: Duke Ellington/Edward Kennedy Ellington (US jazz pianist, bandleader, songwriter, composer)*24.May.1974

April 30th
1985: Ashley Dupré/Kristen/Ashley Youmans (US journalist, singer, call girl)
1987: Nikki Webster (Australian pop singer, entertainer).
1982: Cleo Higgins (UK vocals; Cleopatra).
1982: Lloyd Banks/Christopher Lloyd (US singer, rapper; G-Unit/solo)
1982: Emma Anzai (Australian bass player; Sick Puppies)
1982: Drew Seeley (Canadian actor, singer)
1979: Sean Mackin (US vocals, violin; Yellowcard)?
1976: Amanda Palmer (US singer, pianist; The Dresden Dolls)
1973: Akon/Aliaune Damala Dakha Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam (US R&B, rap singer).
(some sourses give Akon's birthdate as April 16th 1977 and others October 14th 1981)
1973: Jeff Timmons (US singer; 98 Degrees/solo).
1972: John R. Richards (US singer, guitar; Dishwalla/guest).
1971: Chris "Choc" Dalyrimple (US singer; Soul For Real).
1971: Darren Emerson (UK dance DJ, keyboards, Underworld).
1969: Clark Vogeler (US guitarist; The Toadies).
1968: Ben Ayres (UK guitar, keyboards, tamboura; Cornershop)?
1969: Warren Defever (US bassist, composer)
1969: Paulo Jr/Paulo Xisto Pinto Junior (Brazilian bassist; Sepultura)
1967: Turbo B/Durron Maurice Butler (US rap artist; Snap).
1964: Barrington Levy (Jamaican reggae artist)
1962: Robert Reynolds (US bassist; The Mavericks).
1953: Merrill Osmond (US bassist, singer; Osmonds).
1951: Des Tong (UK bassist; Sad Cafe)?
1948: Wayne Kramer (US vocals, guitar; MC5 / solo).
1947: Finn Kalvik (Norwegian singer)
1943: Bobby Vee/Robert Thomas Velline (US singer).
1941: Johnny Farina (US guitar, vocals, composer; Santo & Johnny).
UPDATING
1934: Jerry Lordan (UK composer, singer)*..1995
1933: Willie Nelson (American country singer, guitar, songwriter, actor).
1925: Johnny Horton (US honky tonk singer, guitarist)*05.Nov.1960
1923: Percy Heath (US jazz musician; Modern Jazz Quartet)*..2005
1914: Dorival Caymmi (Brazilian songwriter and singer)*16.Aug.2008.
1916: Robert Shaw (US conductor)*..1999
1896: Reverend Gary Davis (US blind blues/gospel singer, guitarist)*05.May.1972.

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LOST THIS MONTH

April 1st
1917: Scott Joplin (49) was an African-American composer and pianist, born in Bowie County, Texas, into the first post-slavery generation. Settling in Sedalia, Mo., in 1895, he studied music at the George R. Smith College for Negroes and hoped for a career as a concert pianist and classical composer. He achieved fame for his unique ragtime compositions, and was dubbed the "King of Ragtime." During his career, he wrote forty-four original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas. One of his first pieces, the "Maple Leaf Rag", became ragtime's first and most influential hit, and remained so for a century. Moving to New York City in 1907, Scott wrote an instruction book, The School of Ragtime, outlining his complex bass patterns, sporadic syncopation, stop-time breaks, and harmonic ideas, which were widely imitated. Scott and ragtime was stimulated in the 1970s by the use of his music in the Academy Award-winning score to the film The Sting. Also in 1970 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame by the National Academy of Popular Music and in 1976 he was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for his special contribution to American music (Scott suffered a nervous breakdown and collapse in 1911, and by 1916, he was suffering from tertiary syphilis, then in January 1917, he was admitted to a mental institution, Manhattan State Hospital, where he sadly died a few months later) b. November 24th 1868.
1979: Bruno Coquatrix (68) French songwriter and music impresario born in Ronchin. He made himself known as songwriter-composer, writing over 300 songs including Mon ange; Clopin-clopant; Cheveux dans le vent, as well as some operettas. He was also the impresario of some French singers, e.g. Jacques Pills and Lucienne Boyer. Bruno also managed the variety theatre Bobino before he took over the Olympia, Europe’s biggest music hall in 1954. He then staged all the era’s celebrities, including Georges Brassens, Jacques Brel, Gilbert Bécaud, Johnny Hallyday, Dalida, Édith Piaf, Annie Cordy, Mireille Mathieu, Yves Montand, and so many others. He also co-founded a record company, the Disques Versailles (?) b. August 5th 1910.
1984: Marvin Gaye/Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. (44) Legendary Motown singer, pianist, drummer, songwriter, with a three-octave vocal range. Starting as a member of the doo-wop group The Moonglows in the late fifties, he ventured into a solo career after the group disbanded in 1960 signing with the Tamla subsidiary of Motown Records. After a year as a session drummer, Marvin ranked as the label's top-selling solo artist during the sixties. Due to solo hits including "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", "Ain't That Peculiar", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and his duet singles with singers such as Mary Wells and Tammi Terrell, he was crowned "The Prince of Motown" and "The Prince of Soul". Notable for fighting the hit-making but restrictive Motown process in which performers and songwriters and producers were kept separate, he proved with albums like his 1971 What's Going On and his 1973 Let's Get It On that he was able to produce music without relying on the system, inspiring fellow Motown artists such as Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to do the same. (shot dead by his father during a violent argument, the day before his 45 birthday. Gaye's relatives claimed that he had purposely pushed his father to the edge instead of having to commit suicide) b. April 2nd 1939.
1992: Nigel Preston (32) UK drummer; a founding member of The Death Cult and The Cult. He also played and recorded with Sex Gang Children, Theatre of Hate, The Gun Club, and The Baby Snakes. His biggest hit was "She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult from their "Love" L.P. In March 1985, The Cult recorded their fourth single, "She Sells Sanctuary", which charted at #15 in the UK charts. It re-entered the charts at #56 in September 1986, spending 14 consecutive weeks on the charts. The song was recently voted No.18 in VH1's Indie 100. Preston refused to accept being put on wages after the song became a hit and parted company with the band in June of 1985 (an apparent overdose) b. July 1959
1992: Walter Andreas Schwarz (78) German singer, songwriter, novelist, Kabarettist, author of radio dramas and translator. In 1956, he competed with his own composition "Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück" in the German national final for the Eurovision Song Contest and won. Along with Freddy Quinn, he therefore became the first German entrant in the competition. The song was released as a single but commercially, it was not very successful. Other notable records were not released. He went on to become a successful author of novels and especially radio dramas. One of his last contirbutions was an adaption of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in 1990 and 1991, which included 17 episodes (?) b. June 2nd 1913.
1998: Rozz Williams/Roger Alan Painter (34) American deathrock vocalist, a pioneer of deathrock, most famous for fronting the bands Christian Death and Shadow Project, the latter with his then wife, Eva O. He took the name of Rozz Williams from a gravestone he found in Pomona cemetery. His first bands were called The Crawlers, The Upsetters, The Asexuals and Daucus Karota before he went on to form Christian Death in late 1979. The band broke up temporarily in 1981, and Rozz formed Premature Ejaculation. Other musical projects he was involved in include Heltir and EXP Premature Ejaculation. He also recorded several solo albums including ''Every King a Bastard Son'', ''The Whorse's Mouth'', ''Live In Berlin'', ''Accept The Gift of Sin'' (Suicide, found by Ryan Wildstar, his roommate of 7 years, hanged to death in their West Hollywood apartment) b. November 6th 1963.
2004: Paul Atkinson (58) UK guitarist for legendary rock band The Zombies along with Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Chris White and Hugh Grundy, scoring US hits in the mid- and late-1960s with "She's Not There", "Tell Her No", and "Time of the Season". He later became an artists and repertoire executive, discovering and signing such bands as ABBA, Bruce Hornsby, Mr. Mister, Judas Priest, and Michael Penn. On 25 November, 1997, all five Zombies reunited at the Jazz Cafe in London's Camden Town as part of a solo show by Colin Blunstone, to perform "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season". (sadly died in a Santa Monica, California hospital of a liver and kidney disease) b. March 19th 1946.
2004: Danilo Soruco (76) Bolivian singer-songwriter; a communist, he was banned under the Bolivian leadership of the 1970s and was in exile in Caracas, Venezuela until 1978. He wrote more than 300 songs, including “Instantánea”, "La vida es linda", "Ya la pagarán", “Duraznero”, and particularly "Caraqueña", composed in his Venezuelan exile. Danilo won Bolivia's National Culture Prize in 2003 (?) b. July 6th 1927.
2005: Jack Keller (68) American songwriter native of Brooklyn, New York; after writing hits for the Chordettes and the Poni-Tails, he got his big break in late 1959 when he joined Al Nevins and Don Kirshner's publishing company, Aldon Music. Here, together Jack and Howard Greenfield wrote 'My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own', 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool' and 'Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart', all smash hits for Connie Francis, and Jimmy Clanton's 'Venus In Blue Jeans'. With Gerry Goffin he wrote 'No One Can Make My Sunshine Smile' and 'How Can I Meet Her' for the Everly Brothers, 'Run To Him' and 'A Forever Kind Of Love' for Bobby Vee, plus hits for Brenda Lee, Little Eva, the Cookies and others. In 1963, he moved to LA and began writing theme tunes for Columbia's TV shows, including Bewitched, Gidget, Hazel, The Flying Nun and, later, Here Come The Brides, out of which came the Perry Como hit 'Seattle'. His compositions continued to be recorded by Frank Sinatra, Patti Page, Mama Cass and other stars. He also worked with the Monkees, co-producing both their first album and the theme song from their hit TV series. His other producer credits included records by Tony Orlando, Hoyt Axton, Jewel Akens, Sally Field and the Lewis & Clarke Expedition. In later years he was a staff writer with United Artists Music in Hollywood before moving his family to Nashville in 1984 (leukemia) b. November 11th 1936.
2009: Duane Jarvis (51) American guitarist, singer-songwriter; influenced by BB King, The Who, The Kinks, and The Rolling Stones he was part of a blues band and a power pop group while in his teens. He went on to record songs with many rock and roll and country music performers, including Frank Black, Peter Case, Rosie Flores, John Prine, Amy Rigby, Lucinda Williams and Dwight Yoakam. In addition to his collaborations, which included co-writing "Still I Long For Your Kiss", a song on Lucinda Williams's Grammy-winning album "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road", he also released a number of solo albums including "D.J.'s Front Porch", "Far From Perfect" and "Certified Miracle" (colon cancer) b. August 22nd 1957.
2009: Pedro Infante Jr. (59) Mexican actor and singer, son of Pedro Infante (pneumonia) b.??
2009: Margreta Elkins AM (78) Australian mezzo-soprano; she sang at Covent Garden and with Opera Australia, Dublin Grand Opera Company, the Carl Rosa Opera Company and other companies. She made a number of recordings, including singing alongside sopranos such as Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland. She went freelance in 1980 and recorded Elgar's Sea Pictures with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in 1983, a recording which is often compared favourably with Dame Janet Baker's; 11 June 1984, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia and awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Queensland in 1986. In 1990 she appeared as Azucena in Il trovatore for Queensland Lyric Opera. She returned to the stage once more in 2002, as Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria rusticana for Opera Queensland where she was an honorary life member (cancer) b. October 16th 1930.

April 2nd
1987: Buddy Rich/Bernard Rich (69) American jazz drummer, bandleader and former Marine. He was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuoso technique, power, and speed. He began playing drums in vaudeville when he was 18 months old, billed as "Traps the Drum Wonder" and by the time he was 11, he was performing as a bandleader. At the peak of his childhood career, he was reportedly the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world, after Jackie Coogan. He expressed great admiration for, and was influenced by the playing of Chick Webb, Gene Krupa, Dave Tough and Jo Jones among others. He first played jazz in 1937 with Joe Marsala's group, with Bunny Berigan in 1938 and with Artie Shaw 1939. In 1939, Buddy taught drums to a young Mel Brooks, and persuaded Artie Shaw to allow a 13-year-old Mel to attend Shaw's recording sessions in Manhattan. In October 1944, at the Paramount Theatre Rich mentioned to Frank Sinatra that he was interested in starting his own band. Frank wrote him a cheque for $40,000 and said "Good Luck. This'll get you started." Between 1940 to 1966 he played with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Carter, Harry James, Les Brown, Charlie Ventura, and Jazz at the Philharmonic, as well as leading his own band and performing with all-star groups. For most of the period from 1966 until his death, he led a successful big band in an era when the popularity of big bands had waned. He also served as the session drummer on many recordings with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstron and Oscar Peterson. He was also a frequent guest on The Steve Allen Show, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show and The Merv Griffin Show, among others. Only a few weeks prior to his death he appeared with his Big Band on Michael Parkinson's British talk show Parkinson (brain tumour) b. September 30th 1917.
1998: Robert 'Rob' Pilatus (32) Afro-German model, stripper, singer of the duo Milli Vanilli. The son of an African American soldier and a German mother, he was later adopted by a German family and raised in Munich. He worked as a model and break dancer before joining Milli Vanilli, a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. Their debut platinum album "Girl You Know It's True" became a worldwide hit and produced five hit singles including 3 No.1 hits, "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You", "Baby Don't Forget My Number" and "Blame It On The Rain". The album won them the 1990 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. On November 12th 1990, Frank Farian confessed to reporters that Rob and Fab did not actually sing on the records. As a result of US media pressure, Milli Vanilli's Grammy was withdrawn, their three American Music Awards were never withdrawn, but Arista Records dropped the act from its roster and deleted their album and its masters from their catalog, taking "Girl You Know It's True" out of print. After a failed comeback attempt, Rob turned to a life of crime and in 1996, he served three months in jail for assault, vandalism and attempted robbery. He also spent six months on drug rehabilitation, before returning to Germany. On February 14, 2007, it was announced that Universal Pictures was developing a film based on the story of Milli Vanilli's rise and fall in the music industry (drug overdose) b. June 8th 1965.
2003: Edwin Starr (61) US soul singer (heart attack)
2006: Buddy Blue /Bernard Seigal (48) US guitarist with the legendary San Diego punktry band the Beat Farmers (heart attack).
2009: Bud Shank (82) American alto saxophonist; he began with clarinet, but had switched to saxophone before attending the University of North Carolina. In 1946 he worked with Charlie Barnet before moving on to Kenton and the West coast jazz scene. He also had a strong interest in what might now be termed world music, playing bossa nova in the early 1950s, and in 1962 fusing jazz with Indian traditions in collaboration with Indian composer and sitar-player Ravi Shankar. As well as releasing 12 albums as a leader, the last to date being 2007's Beyond the Red Door, he has also recorded with The Mamas & the Papas, Ravi Shankar and Gene Clarke. In 2005 he formed the Bud Shank Big Band in Los Angeles to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Stan Kenton's Neophonic Orchestra (pulmonary failure) b. May 27th 1926.
2010: Kelvin Henderson (62) British country musician, hailing from Bristol, he was a singer, guitarist, banjo player, songwriter and BBC broadcaster and promoter of Country and Folk music. For many years he and many talented musicians that formed several different formations of his backing band, which toured both home and abroad and performing with some of the biggest names in country music, appearances at the Wembley Country Music Festivals and the Albert Hall, a successful television series "Country Comes West" and his own weekly, networked radio show "My Style Of Country" for BBC. Kelvin was inducted into the BCMA Hall of fame in 2009, the award was presented by Chris Jackson and collected by Johny West. Johny bought the award back to Bristol where the award was then presented to Kelvin In person By Tom Russell at Tom Russells concert (died after an eight year brave battle with progressive supranuclear palsy which gradually robbed him of his and mobility) b.????

April 3rd
1887: Johannes Brahms (63) Austria-Hungarian composer, pianist; his works blend classical tradition with a romantic impulse and include concertos, four symphonies, chamber music, and choral compositions.()
1978: Ray Noble (74) UK bandleader, composer, arranger and actor; became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day. The most popular vocalist with Noble's studio band was Al Bowlly, he also provided music for many radio shows like The Charlie McCarthy Show and Burns and Allen ().
1986: Peter Pears (75) English opera singer born in Farnham, Surrey; he attended Keble College, Oxford, studying music and served as organist at Hertford College, but left without taking his degree. In 1936, he met Benjamin Britten; the following year, they gave their first concert together with Peter singing and Benjamin on piano at Balliol College in Oxford, to support the Government in the Spanish Civil War. From 1939 to 1942, the two men lived in the United States and in Canada. On their return, Upon their return to England in 1942, they performed Britten's Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo together at Wigmore Hall and then recorded them for EMI, their first recording together. Peter went on to take the principal tenor roles in all of Britten's operas, including Midsummers Night Dream, Billy Bud, Peter Grimes and Death In Venice. He sang regularly at the Royal Opera House and other major opera houses in Europe and America. In 1946 they founded the English Opera Group and in 1948 founded the Aldeburgh Festival. He was knighted in 1978. Peter and Benjamin are buried next to each other in Aldeburgh churchyard (?) b. June 22nd 1910.
1990: Sarah Vaughan/Sassy (66) US jazz singer, considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th Century. (lung cancer)
1999: Lionel Bart (69) UK composer of songs and musicals; his first professional musical was the 1959 'Lock Up Your Daughters', based on the 18th century play 'Rape Upon Rape', followed by, 'Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be' produced by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, was notable for encouraging the use of authentic Cockney accents on the London stage. His 1960 musical 'Oliver!' and became the first British musical to transfer successfully to Broadway and has sustained its popularity to the present day. It contained such song hits as "As Long As He Needs Me" and "Consider Yourself" and is also notable for featuring Australian satirist Barry Humphries in his first major stage role as Mr Sowerberry and future rock stars Steve Marriott, who became the lead singer of The Small Faces and Humble Pie and Phil Collins of Genesis fame. His next musical, Blitz! produded the hit Far Away. Lional did 3 further musicals Maggie May,
Twang! and La Strada. He also wrote many pop songs including "Living Doll" for Cliff Richard and "Rock with the Cavemen","Handful of Songs", "Butterfingers" and "Little White Bull" for Tommy Steele. He wrote the theme song for the 1963 James Bond film From Russia With Love,"Do You Mind?" recorded by both Anthony Newley and Andy Williams, "Easy Going Me" for Adam Faith and "Always You And Me" with Russ Conway. In 1957, he won three Ivor Novello Awards, a further four in 1958, and two in 1960. He continued writing songs and themes for films, and in 1986 he received a special Ivor Novello Award for his life's achievement. A musical play based on Lionel Bart's life and using his songs, "It's a Fine Life" was staged at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch in 2006 (died after a long hard struggle with cancer) b. August 1st 1930.
2002: Fad Gadget/Frank Tovey (45) An influential British avant-garde electronic musician, he was an exponent of both New Wave and early industrial music. His music was characterized by a distinctive use of synthesizers in conjunction with sounds of found objects, including drills and electric razors. He was known for his confrontational live performances, which included covering himself in tar and feathers, leaping into the audience, and playing instruments with his head or spreading his naked body in shaving cream onstage. In 1989, he changed musical tactics in his criticism of industrialization, recording a mostly acoustic album of protest and labor songs Tyranny and the Hired Hand including such standards as "Sixteen Tons." (he had suffered from heart problems since his childhood, and died of a heart attack) b. September 8th 1956.
2003: Homer Banks (61) African-American songwriter, singer and record producer; born in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 16 he formed the Soul Consolidators gospel group which toured around the southern states, He went on to become a songwriter at Stax. He began working with co-writer Allen Jones, placing songs with Johnnie Taylor and Sam and Dave, also writing "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down", later a UK hit for Elvis Costello. He had success with the Staple Singers, writing their first Stax single "Long Walk To DC", and then some of their biggest hits including "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)". In 1968 he formed a songwriting trio with Bettye Crutcher and Raymond Jackson, calling themselves We Three. Their first song was "Who's Making Love", which was recorded by Johnnie Taylor. Homer also wrote, with Jackson and Carl Hampton, "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right". The song was first recorded by The Emotions, became a smash hit when recorded by Luther Ingram, and later became a key song for both Isaac Hayes and Millie Jackson as well as being recorded by many other singers including Barbara Mandrell, Rod Stewart and Cassandra Wilson. After Stax, Homer and Carl Hampton moved to California and worked with A&M Records. In 1977, the two recorded the album Passport To Ecstasy for Warner Bros Records. In the 1980s Homer formed the Two's Company recording company with Lester Snell, which released albums by J. Blackfoot and Ann Hines (cancer) b. August 2nd 1941
2004: Gabriella Ferri (61) Italian singer; born in Rome, she began her career in a Milan nightclub in 1963, and by 1965, she had successfully broke onto the Rome singing scene by singing popular Roman songs. One of her biggest hits was "Sempre" ("Always"). During her career, she also performed Neapolitan and Latin American pieces. During the 1970s, she starred on several popular TV shows. By the 1990s, however, she had largely left the spotlight. (She died in Corchiano, province of Viterbo, after falling from a third-floor balcony in an apparent suicide. Family members dispute this, saying she may have fallen ill after taking anti-depression medication and lost her balance.) b. September 18th 1942.
2005: Tony Croatto/Hermes Davide Fastino Croatto Martinis (65) Italian singer, composer and TV presenter born in Attimis, Italy and moved to La Paz, Uruguay at aged 9. He is best known for his interpretations of Puerto Rican folk music. In 1959, at 19, he created his first pop music group with his brother Edelweiss, nicknamed "Tim" and his sister Argentina, nicknamed "Nelly" which was named "TNT". In 1960, TNT recorded their huge hit, "Eso, eso, eso". They moved to Spain in 1963 and represented the country in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 in Copenhagen, billed as "Nelly, Tim and Tony". Nelly and Tony then became a duo and in 1968, after travelling across South America and spending two years in Venezuela they moved to Puerto Rico. He went on to become well known and highly regarded for his interpretations of Puerto Rican folk music. (Sadly died as a result of lung and brain cancer. His funeral was held at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and he was given a state funeral) b. March 2nd 1940
2006: Martin Gilks (41) English drummer for the alternative rock band The Wonder Stuff. Born in Stourbridge, he was originally the drummer with the band The Mighty Lemon Drops before leaving in 1985. After which he along with singer Miles Hunt, guitarist Malcolm Treece, vocals, Rob "The Bass Thing" Jones formed the band Wonder Stuff in March of '86. They went on to have a string of top-forty singles and album as well as Martin being voted the best drummer on the planet in an NME poll in 1989. They also backed UK comedian Vic Reeves on a great remake of "Dizzy" in the early 90s. He left the group at the end of 1995 to join his brother "Tank" in forming Furtive Mass Transit Systems, a management company who looked after Reef, Cable, A and Hundred Reasons (Died tragically in a motorcycle accident, after losing control of his motorbike in London) b. March 2nd 1965.
2008: Wayne "Frosty Freeze" Frost (44) American B-boy, breakdancer and member of the hip-hop group Rock Steady Crew, known for his comedic, acrobatic and inventive style; his trademark move is known as, "The Suicide", also known as "The Death Freeze Drop" (He was stricken with an undisclosed illness during early 2008, went on life support on March 27).
2009: Charlie Kennedy (81) American alto saxophonist; he played with Louis Prima's big band orchestra in the 1940s. After a brief stint in his own band, he joined Gene Krupa's big band. Over the course of his long career, he played with Terry Gibbs's Dream Band, Charlie Ventura, Flip Phillips, Chico O'Farrill, and Bill Holman among others. In addition to live performances and recordings with big name bands, he also was a frequent studio musician. He played in the orchestras for popular movies including My Fair Lady and West Side Story. In the 1970s, for more stable income to support his family with six children, he gave up his career as a full-time musician, but continued to perform in clubs near his home in Southern California (pulmonary disease) b. July 2nd 1927.

April 4th
1995: Kenny Everett (50) UK radio DJ, TV presenter; he began his show biz career as a DJ for Radio London, a pirate radio station, where he teamed up with Dave Cash for the 'Kenny & Cash Show' one of the most popular programmes on pirate radio (aids)
1997: Gene Ames (74) American singer born in Malden, Massachusetts, he along with his brothers formed the Amory Brothers, touring US Army and Navy bases entertaining the troops and were offered a job at The Fox and Hounds nightclub in Boston. After which they took their act to New York, changed their name to The Ames Brothers and got a job with bandleader Art Mooney. They went on to star in their own TV show, The Ames Brothers Show, which was seen on Friday nights and acheive 50 U.S. chart entries and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998 (?) b. February 13th 1923.
2009: Eduardo Parra (90) Chilean folk singer (septic shock) b. ??
2010: Sugar Lee Hooper/Marja van der Toorn (62) Dutch party singer best known for her powerful voice and extravagant, colourful look. She made her biggest hits in the Netherlands in the 1990s. In 2008 she had to retire due to health issues. She was the first Dutch celebrity to be married to a same-sex partner, Andrea van der Kaap (Sugar fell into a coma during surgery on her broken hip. Sadly she didn’t recover) b. February 23rd 1948.

April 5th
1981: Bob Hite (36) American lead singer, harmonica with Canned Heat. In 1965, aged 22, he formed a band with Alan Wilson and their mutual friend Henry Vestine joined soon after and this trio formed the core of the blues-rock band Canned Heat. Bob remained the lead singer until his death. Canned Heat appeared at most major musical events of the late 1960s including the two legendary '60s concerts Monterey and Woodstock, which gained them international fame. Their songs - "Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again" - became international hits; both were re-workings of obscure blues (heart attack) b. February 26th 1943.
1983: Danny Rapp (41) American front man with Danny and the Juniors; although his birth certificate states his birth was May 10, he was born at home on May 9 and registered the following day. (an apparent suicide by gunshot)
1994: Kurt Cobain (27) founder, singer, guitarist of Nirvana (His death was officially ruled a suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wound. Since then, the circumstances surrounding his death have fueled much analysis and debate)
1998: Cozy Powell/Colin Flooks (50) British legendary drummer, born in Cirencester, England, he started playing drums at age 12 in the school orchestra. He played with swamp rocker Tony Joe White at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 and went on to work with the Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Graham Bonnet & The Hooligans, Gary Moore, Whitesnake, and as a soloists, top session player and freelance drummer. Considered to be one of England's best drummers and very much in demand for rock and pop records, Cozy is legendary for his heavy-hitting style that he made to work with many kinds of rock music, whether it be for the thundering pop productions or the softer rock ballads (Cozy died in hospital following a car crash, driving his Saab 9000 in bad weather on the M4 motorway near Bristol. While talking to his girlfriend on his mobile phone, he lost control and crashed into the central barriers) b. December 29th 1947.
2002: Layne Staley (34) American lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice in Chains, which was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by Layne and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. The band became known for its distinct vocal style, which often included the "snarl-to-a-scream" vocals of Layne, as well as the harmonized vocals of Layne and Cantrell. He was also a member of the supergroups Mad Season and Class of '99. He struggled throughout his career with severe drug addiction. (tragically died of a lethal overdose of heroin and cocaine) b. August 22nd 1967.
2005: Alexander Brott/Joël Brod (90) Canadian conductor, composer, violinist and music teacher; born in Montreal, he was leader of the Montreal Orchestra, Les Concerts symphoniques de Montréal and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1945 to 1958. In 1939, he joined the Faculty of Music at McGill University, where he remained until 1980. His compositions included Arabesque, Circle, Triangle, 4 Squares, and Paraphrase in Polyphony. He was also the founder and musical director of the McGill Chamber Orchestra and conducted the Kingston Symphony Orchestra from 1965 to 1981. In 1979 Joël was made a Member of the Order of Canada and in 1988 he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec (?) b. March 14th 1915
2006: Gene Pitney (66) American singer songwriter, born, in Hartford, Connecticut; he learned to play the guitar and piano and formed a schoolboy band with friends from high school, leading the band Gene and the Genials, with Richard "Dick" Spurling and Robert "Bob" Terry. Gene had his first success as a songwriter with "Rubber Ball," a Top 10 hit for Bobby Vee in 1961. Later that year, Ricky Nelson had a hit with his "Hello Mary Lou." As a performer, Gene had his first success "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away" ..READ MORE.. (Died of natural causes in his sleep at The Hilton Hotel, Cardiff Wales, UK, after a sold out show at St. Davids Hall) b. February 17th 1940.
2007: Mark St. John/Mark Leslie Norton (50) American guitarist and teacher from Hollywood, California; he started out as a school teacher and guitarist for the Southern California cover band Front Page, before joining the rock band Kiss. Mark was featured on the album Animalize, the second album of the "unmasked" period. This turned out to be one of Kiss's most successful studio albums, aside from those made by the original lineup. Mark's only video appearance with Kiss is in the video for the hit single "Heaven's on Fire". After leaving Kiss, he formed a band called White Tiger, featuring singer David Donato, Glenn Hughes on bass, and J. R. Saenz on the drums. (he died of a cerebral hemorrhage) b. February 7th 1957.
2009: Nancy Overton (83) American singer; first formed a group with her sister Jean Swain and two college friends, in 1946, touring with orchestra leader Tommy Tucker for 6 months, as Tommy Tucker's Two Timers, and recorded the song "Maybe You'll Be There". They next sang with singer and band leader Ray Heatherton, they were then known as The Heathertones. The Heathertones disbanded in 1953. In 1957, Janet Ertel of The Chordettes, though still recording with the group, elected not to continue touring, Nancy was invited to appear with The Chordettes for live appearances and did so until the group broke up in the early 1960s. After her husband Hall Overton died in 1972, she retired from show business and worked for Prentice-Hall Publishers as an editorial assistant. In the early 1990s, The Chordettes regrouped with Nancy, Doris Alberti, and original members Lynn Evans and Jean Swain, doing shows ranging from a doo wop concert to touring with Eddy Arnold (esophageal cancer) b. February 6th 1926.
2009: Tony D/Anthony Depula (42) American hip hop DJ and musician; He was the first artist to have a record released on Mark Rae's burgeoning British Grand Central Records independent record label, then called Gone Clear Records. His other albums were released on Cha-Ching Records and 4th & B'way Records, and he was a part of the group Crusaders for Real Hip Hop, which released one album on Profile Records. He had also worked as a producer for DJ Muggs, Outsidaz, Scott Lark, Poor Righteous Teachers, Young Zee, King Sun, Blvd Mosse, and Pace Won. He was last reported to be working on a band project called The WBs (car accident) b.??

April 6th
1977: Benny Featherstone (65) Tasmanian drummer, trumpet player and legendary bandleader (?) b. July 30th 1912.
1984: Ral Donner (41) US singer; a most successful Elvis sound-alike, getting a career, a year's worth of charting singles, and years of steady work out of the fact that his singing bore an uncanny resemblance to the King of Rock & Roll's ballad style.(cancer)
1998: Wendy Orlean Williams (48) lead singer; Plasmatics (died in a wooded area near her home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound)
1998: Tammy Wynette/Virginia Wynette Pugh (55) American country music singer-songwriter born near Tremont, Mississippi, Tammy was one of country music's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists. She was known as the First Lady of Country Music, and one of her best-known songs, "Stand by Your Man," was one of the biggest selling hit singles by a woman in the history of the country music genre. Many of Tammy Wynette's hits dealt with classic themes of loneliness, divorce and the difficulties of male-female relationships. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, she dominated the country charts, scoring 17 number one hits, including "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad", "My Elusive Dreams", "I Don't Wanna Play House", "Take Me to Your World," "D-I-V-O-R-C-E", "Singing My Song" and "The Ways to Love a Man", "He Loves Me All the Way", "Run Woman, Run", "The Wonders You Perform", "Good Lovin' (Makes it Right)", "Bedtime Story", "My Man (Understands)", "'Til I Get it Right", "Kids Say the Darndest Things" and "The Wonders You Perform". Though the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and the 2000s, Tammy has been gained dozens of awards and honours and has been inducted into several Halls of Fame (After years of medical problems, approximately twenty-six major surgeries and an addiction to large doses of pain medication, Tammy sadly died, while sleeping on her couch. There was no autopsy held until 1999 when the coroner declared that she died of a cardiac arrhythmia) b. May 5th 1942.
2001: Charles Pettigrew (37) African-American singer, best known as half of R&B duo Charles and Eddie, who had a worldwide hit in 1992 with "Would I Lie To You?." The track is amongst the most well-recognised of early '90s r'n'b tracks. Pettigrew met singing partner Eddie Chacon in New York. Previously, Mr. Pettigrew lived in Boston and was lead singer of the band Down Avenue. Down Avenue was the winner of radio station WBCN's 1985 Rock 'n Roll Rumble. (sadly died from cancer) b. May 12th 1963.
2003: Michael Olatunjil/Babatunde Olatunji (75) Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist and recording artist born in Ajido, Lagos State. He read in Reader's Digest magazine about the Rotary International Foundation's scholarship program, and applied for it. He went to the United States of America in 1950. He went on to work with many prominent musicians, including Santana, Cannonball Adderley, Pee Wee Ellis, Horace Silver, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Randy Weston, and with Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln on the pivotal Freedom Now Suite aka We Insist, and with Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart on his Grammy winning Planet Drum projects. He is also mentioned in the lyrics of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Free" as recorded on the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. Babatunde favoured a big percussion sound, and his own band 'Drums of Passion' typically featured more than 20 players. His debut album also "Drums of Passion" became a major hit and it introduced many Americans to world music. He toured the American south with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr and joined King in the march on Washington. He was also a music educator, and invented a method of teaching and recording drum patterns which he called the "Gun-Dun, Go-Do, Pa-Ta" method after the different sounds made on the drum (passed away in Salinas, California from diabetes) b. April 7th 1927.
2006: Augustyn Bloch (75) Polish composer and organist, student of Feliks Raczkowski and Tadeusz Szeligowski. He was an active concert organist, conducted his own music, and wrote music for the Polish Radio Theatre (?) b. August 13th 1929.
2009: Jan "Tollarparn" Eriksson (69) Swedish jazz pianist (?) b. July 25th 1939.
2010: Luigi Waites/Lewis Waites (82) American jazz drummer and vibraphonist from Omaha, Nebraska. He performed weekly gigs in the Omaha area both solo and with ensembles such as Luigi, Inc. He served the Omaha music community for over 60 years. He toured Europe twice and performed with jazz legends such as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington. Luigi, Inc has shared the stage with Jean-Luc Ponty, James Brown and Dizzy Gillespie. (Luigi passed away at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska of natural causes) b. July 10th 1927.

April 7th
1981: Kit Lambert (45) English record producer and the manager for The Who. After serving in the army, he became assistant director for the films The Guns of Navarone and From Russia when he met The Who and became The Who's manager. He also replaced Shel Talmy as the group's producer in 1966. While mainly associated with The Who, he worked with other bands, including Jimi Hendrix and Arthur Brown. In 1980 he began writing a book on his life, of how he found The Who, and with many never-before-told stories about The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Brian Epstein, Jimi Hendrix and friends like Princess Margaret and Liberace. Days before Kit was to sign a publishing deal, the publisher was contacted by the Official Solicitor who was in charge of Lambert's life, and who said all monies must be paid into the court to be doled out to Kit. This was the beginning of his downward spiral (died of a cerebral hemorrhage after falling down a flight of stairs at his mother's home in London) b. May 11th 1935.
1994: Lee Brilleaux (41) South African singer, harmonica player, slide-guitarist and the power-driving front man, and founder member, of the traditional rock and electric blues fusion Dr Feelgood; born in Durban, South Africa, but at 13, he moved with his family to Canvey Island, the oil refinery community in the Thames Estuary, UK. Lee co-founded Dr Feelgood in 1971, with the guitarist Wilko Johnson and went on to co-found the Stiff record label in 1976, and the band's own record label Grand Records. Their breakthrough 1976 live album, Stupidity, reached No.1 in the UK albums chart and their Top 10 hit single "Milk and Alcohol" charted in 1979. Every year since Lee's death, a special concert, known as the Lee Brilleaux Birthday Memorial, is held on Canvey Island (sadly died from throat cancer) b. May 10th 1952.
2000: Heinz/Heinz Henry Georg Schwartze (57) German vocalist and bass player, born in Germany but raised in Southampton, UK. His biggest solo hit was "Just Like Eddie", a tribute to Eddie Cochran. He was initially backed by The Saints. His later backing groups "The Wild Ones", and "The Wild Boys" featured Ritchie Blackmore and Mick Underwood among others. Before he went solo in early 1963, he was a member of The Tornados. (he died of a stroke, from the effects of motor neurone disease) b. July 24th 1942.
2006: Derek Jamerson (39) US drummer and keyboardist very active in the Detroit Techno Music Scene, he is also the son of bassist James Jamerson.(died in the Presbyterian St. Lukes Hospital, Denver, Colorardo) b. December 22nd 1966... read more
2008: Phil Urso (82) American jazz tenor saxophonist and composer, sadly he was never well-known, missed by the media, but he backed Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra with the Eliot Lawrence Orchestra and played with Woody Herman, Jimmy Dorsey, Miles Davis, Terry Gibbs, Oscar Pettiford and many others in the late 1940's until the early 70s (?).
2009: Mari Trini/Maria Trinidad Perez Miravete (61) Spanish pop singer and actress; she learned to play guitar and compose songs at a young age. After meeting American film producer Nicholas Ray she moved to London to improve her natural skills and later to Paris in 1963 where she signed her first record deal. In 1969 Mari debuted with the release of a self-titled album featuring songs in both Spanish and French. Amores, Escuchame and Ventanas followed soon after. Her songs "Cuando Me Acaricias," "Canción de Otoño," and "Yo No Soy Esa," became classics in the Latin pop music field. She released 25 albums over her long career, her intensity, with a strong undercurrent of melancholy, expressed in an intimate, slightly rasping voice, brought comparisons with Edith Piaf. (cancer) b. July 12th 1947.
2010: Graciela Grillo-Perez (94) Cuban latin jazz singer born in Havana. In the early 1940s, Graciela moved to New York City to seek success and became known as 'The First Lady of Latin Jazz'. Her best-known songs include "This is Graciela", "Intimate and Sentimental" and "That's the Way I Am" (Passed away due to renal and pulmonary failure) b. August 23rd 1915.

April 8th
1938: Joe "King" Oliver (57) US cornet player; born in Aben, Louisiana, he pioneered in the use of mutes, including the plumber's plunger, derby hat, bottles and cups in the bell of his horn. His recording "WaWaWa" with the Dixie Syncopators can be credited with giving the name wah-wah to such techniques. He gave Louis Armstrong the first cornet that Louis was to own. Louis called Oliver his idol and inspiration all his life. Joe was also noted as a composer, having written many tunes still regularly played, including "Dippermouth Blues", "Sweet Like This", "Canal Street Blues", and "Doctor Jazz". Two of Armstrong's most famous recordings, "West End Blues" and "Weather Bird", were Oliver compositions. Joe was inducted as a charter member of the Gennett Records Walk of Fame in Richmond, Indiana in 2007. (The Great Depression was harsh on him and Joe "King" Oliver , one of the most influential pioneer icons, died in poverty in a Chicago rooming house at 508 Montgomery Street) b. December 19th 1885
1985: John Frederick Coots (87) American songwriter born in Brooklyn, New York, he wrote over 700 songs including 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town' a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history. John offered the song to Eddie Cantor who used it on his radio show that November and it became an instant hit. The morning after the radio show there were orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music, and, by Christmas, sales had passed 400,000. Other songs included Love Letters In The Sand, You Go To My Head, Louisiana Fairy Tale, For All We Know, and I Still Get a Thrill (Thinking of You). (?) b. May 2nd 1897.
1986: Yukiko Okada (18) Japanese singer; in March 1983, she was the winner of "Star Tanjo!", on Nippon Television, similar to American Idol. Yukiko debuted with a single, "First Date" in April of '84. That year, she won Rookie of the Year, and was awarded the 26th Japan Record Awards' Grand Prix Best New Artist Award for her third single, "Dreaming Girl: Koi, Hajimemashite". Yukiko played the leading role in her first television drama Kinjirareta Mariko /The Forbidden Mariko, in 1985 and in her 1986 single "Lip Network", reached number one on the Oricon weekly singles chart (Yukiko was found with a slashed wrist in her gas-filled Tokyo apartment, crouching in a closet and sobbing. Two hours later, the singer jumped to her death from the seven-storey Sun Music Agency building. The reason for her suicide is still unknown) b. August 22nd 1967.
1991: Dead/Per Yngve Ohlin (22) Swedish black metal vocalist born in Stockholm, Sweden best known for his work with Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. In the late '80s Dead worked as vocalist with the Swedish death metal band Morbid, recording demos Morbid Rehearsal and December Moon both in 1987. He joined the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem in 1998 and can be heard on their albums Dawn of the Black Hearts, Live in Leipzig, Freezing Moon/Carnage, and Out from the Dark. Allegedly Dead used to smell a dead crow he kept in a jar before performances so that he could “sing with the smell of death in his nostrils” and would regularly cut himself with knives and bottles on stage. When he killed himself via neck and wrist slitting and shotgun to the head, it is rumoured his band member took some pictures and made necklaces out of the skull fragments. Then, one of the pictures was stolen and made in to the cover of the bootleg album Dawn Of The Black Hearts. Many people say that the Norwegian black metal scene realized it’s true potential when Dead died. (suicide) b. January 16th 1969.
1995: Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes (59) US Bluesman, harmonica player; born in Longwood, Mississippi, he started out with the Swinging Gold Coasters in 1960, a Mississippi blues outfit, before relocating to Chicago in 1964, where he played in bars and clubs. By the early 70s he was back in Mississippi playing locally. In 1985 he opened a nightclub, the Playboy Club, where he would play with his backing band called the Playboys. They became regional blues favorites, and eventually signed to Rooster Blues. Booba released his debut album "The Heartbroken Man" in 1990. The album was hailed by Allmusic as "an instant modern classic". He toured the U.S. and Europe following the album's release (lung cancer) b. September 25th 1936
1997: Laura Nyro (49) singer, guitar, piano, songwriter (ovarian cancer)
2008: Cedella Booker (81) Jamaican mother of the great Bob Marley (natural causes).
2009: David "Pop" Winans (74) American gospel singer; the patriarch of the award-winning gospel music family, The Winans. A native of Detroit, he began singing with a gospel quartet at the age of 18. He met his wife Delores while in the Lucille Lemon Choir conducted by James Cleveland. They recorded together as "Mom and Pop Winans" and separately at various times as "Mom", "Pop", "David" or "Delores". They received a Grammy nomination for their CD "Mom & Pop Winans" in 1989 and in 1999, David was nominated for a Grammy for his solo album, "Uncensored". The Winans family gospel group earned six Grammy awards. They were well known for the yearly Christmas concerts they organized at Mercy Hall in which their ten children participated (heart attack) b. April 20th 1934.
2010: Malcolm McLaren (64) English performer, impresario, self-publicist and former manager of the Sex Pistols. He had been attracted early in his life to the Situationist movement, which promoted absurdist and provocative actions as a way of enacting social change. In 1968 Malcolm had tried unsuccessfully to get to Paris to take part in the demonstrations there. He was raised by his grandmother, Rose, in Newington Green, North London, who home-schooled him and fed him slogans such as "To be bad is good... to be good is simply boring", and after having been expelled from several art colleges, he opened a clothes shop on the King's Road, with his then girlfriend Vivienne Westwood in 1971. The shop, which had a few names, became a focal point of the fledgling punk movement. It was here that he first encountered a young John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten of the future Sex Pistols. After a trip to New York in 1972 he brought back exciting images in his mind, images to add to, and blast on to the British public, images of this distressed, strange thing called Richard Hell, and the phrase, 'the blank generation'. Malcolm credits American musician Richard Hell, an originator of the punk fashion look, the first to spike his hair and wear torn, cut and drawn-on shirts, often held together with safety pins, as a definite, 100% inspiration, for his accessorized clothing he sold in his London shop, and the Sex Pistols' look and attitude. In 1975, he breifly worked with The New York Dolls ... Read More (Sadly died after a long and brave battle with mesothelioma cancer) b. January 22nd 1946.

April 9th
1976: Phil Ochs (35) US folk singer songwriter (afflicted with serious depression, he hung himself at his sisters home in Queens, New York)
1988: Dave Prater (50) one half of Sam & Dave; most of their hits were penned by Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter. In most recordings they were backed by Hayes on piano with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and the Memphis Horns.(car crash at Syracuse, Georgia).
1988: Brook Benton/Benjamin Franklin Peay (56) Silky smooth US soul singer, rhythm & blues singer (complications from spinal meningitis)
1991: Martin Hannett (42) Record producer, The Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Magazine, and U2, The Psychedelic Furs (discovered dead in his chair, a victim of heart failure)
1997: Mae Boren Axton (82) Known in the music industry as the 'Queen Mother of Nashville'. She was one of the co-writers of the song Heartbreak Hotel, made popular by Elvis Presley. She was an influential member of the Nashville music industry. For decades she used her influence to contribute to the success of many musical careers including Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson and Blake Shelton to name only a few. She wrote some 200 songs, 14 of which made the charts (drowned in her hot tub at her home) b. September 14 1914.
1998: Tom Corra (44) American cellist and composer; he made his musical debut as drummer on a local TV program and in the mid-1970s he played guitar for a Washington, D.C. jazz club house band. He took up the cello while at the University of Virginia, during this time he formed his own group, The Moose Skowron Tuned Metal Ensemble and began constructing instruments for it. In 1979 he moved to New York where he worked with Shockabilly guitarist Eugene Chadbourne, introducing the cello to the honky tonk circuits of North America. He performed and/or recorded with John Zorn, Fred Frith, Andrea Centazzo, Butch Morris, Wayne Horvitz, David Moss, Toshinori Kondo and others. He also collaborated with George Cartwright and Bill Laswell which led to the formation of the art rock band Curlew in 1979. In 1982 he and Fred Frith formed Skeleton Crew, touring Europe and Japan and was also a member of the improvising trio Third Person, formed in 1990. Tom performed with a number of other bands, including Nimal and post-rock quartet Roof. In 1990, he played two concerts with Dutch anarcho-punk band, The Ex, and the success of this collaboration resulted in him performing hundreds of concerts with The Ex and appearing on two of their CDs. (malignant melanoma) b. September 14th 1953.
1999: Red Norvo/Kenneth Norville (91) American jazz vibraphonist known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone and later the vibraphone as viable jazz instruments. His major recordings included "Dance of the Octopus", "Bughouse", "Knockin' on Wood", "Congo Blues", and "Hole in the Wall". Born in Beardstown, Illinois, he started out in Chicago with a band called "The Collegians", in 1925. He played with many other bands, including an all-marimba band on the vaudeville circuit, and the bands of Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, and Woody Herman. Red recorded with Mildred Bailey (his wife), Billie Holiday, Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, among others. (sadly died from a stroke) b. March 31st 1908
2008: Bob Kames (82) American polka musician, songwriter and is credited with developing and popularizing the modern-day version of the song "Dance Little Bird," which is much better known by its more common name, The Chicken Dance. He is a member of the Wisconsin Area Music Industry's Hall of Fame (prostate cancer).
2008: Erkki Aukusti Junkkarinen (78) Finnish singer; he established his musical career in 1950 with his successful album Yksinäinen harmonikka. He made only one album in the 1960s, Ruusut hopeamaljassa. In 1975, he released the same songs under the different name Ruusuja hopeamaljassa. The new edition sold very well, and Junkkarinen received the first Finnish platinum record ever. As he grew to an unually large fame for an artist in Finland, he helped spread the humppa style of music. (?) b. April 22nd 1929.
2008: Choubeila Rached (75) Tunisian singer, decorated with the insignia of the Order of the National Merit in the cultural sector by President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali (?).
2009: Duke D'Mond/Richard Palmer (66) British singer; founder member and lead singer of 46 years with the The Barron Knights, he retired from performing 4 years ago after a bad fall. The Barron Knights, a British humorous pop group, was originally formed in 1959 as The Knights of the Round Table, they became the Barron Knights on October 5th 1960. They toured with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Pet Clarke and others. Of their many humorous songs recorded, they achieved 14 chart hits, including "Come to the Dance", "Pop Go the Workers", "Merry Gentle Pops", "Live in Trouble", "The Topical Song", "A Taste of Aggro" and their first and best known hit 1964's "Call Up The Groups", written in response to the end of national service in the UK. (pneumonia - Duke was rushed to a hospital in Oxford with internal bleeding, then went into a coma before having a severe heart attack and developing pneumonia) b. February 25th 1943
2009: Randy Cain/Rudy Cain (63) American singer; soul singer and founder member of the The Delfonics whose hits included “La La Means I Love You”. Randy along with brothers William and Wilbert Hart formed the band while attending Overbrook High School in Philadelphia in the 1960s. The group, one of the earliest to define the smooth, soulful “Philadelphia” sound, won an R&B Grammy in 1970 for its song “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time). He left the Delfonics in 1971 and later helped form the group Blue Magic, who had a hit in 1974 with the quirky love song "Slideshow", when he brought singer and songwriter Theodore Mills to his production company. He rejoined The Delfonics in the 1980s. The group enjoyed renewed popularity in later decades after their music was sampled by several major hip-hop artists, including Notorious BIG, Missy Elliott and The Fugees. The chorus of Ready or Not by The Fugees, which topped the UK charts in 1996, is based on The Delfonics' song, Ready Or Not, Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love) (died at his home in Maple Shade, New Jersey) b. May 2nd 1945.
2010: Kenneth McKellar (82) Scottish tenor singer; after studying forestry at the University of Aberdeen, he trained at the Royal College of Music as an opera singer. He did a short stint with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, but left to pursue a career singing traditional Scottish songs and other works. His albums of the songs of Robert Burns are considered by musicologists to be definitive interpretations. In 1966 Kenneth was selected to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in Luxembourg, the song "A Man Without Love". In the 1960s and 1970s he appeared many times on the BBC Television Hogmanay celebration programme, alongside Jimmy Shand and Andy Stewart and other programmes and toured widely, including New Zealand. On 31 December 1973, the first Scottish commercial radio station Radio Clyde began broadcasting to Glasgow. The first record they played was "Song of the Clyde" sung by Kenneth McKellar. The same recording featured over the opening titles of the 1963 film, Billy Liar. He also recorded several classical works, including Handel's Messiah alongside Joan Sutherland in a performance conducted by Sir Adrian Boult (pancreatic cancer) b. June 23rd 1927.

April 10th
1958: Chuck Willis/Harold Willis (30) American blues, rhythm and blues, and rock singer and songwriter; he was born in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1951, Willis signed with Columbia Records, in 1956, he moved to Atlantic Records where he had immediate success with "It's Too Late", "Juanita", and "Love Me Cherry". His most successful recording was "C.C. Rider", which topped the rhythm and blues chart in 1957 and also crossed over and sold well in the pop market, and inspired the emergence of the popular dance, The Stroll. Willis's follow-up to "C. C. Rider" was "Betty and Dupree", another "stroll" song, which did very well. (Chuck had suffered from stomach ulcers for many years, sadly he died suddenly and premarurly of peritonitis while at the peak of his career) b. January 31st 1928.
1970: Rafael "Ralph" Escudero (71) Puerto Rican bassist and tubist active on the early jazz scene. At aged 12 he began playing bass in a school band, before moving to New York to play with the New Amsterdam Musical Association in 1920-21. In 1923 he was playing with Wilbur Sweatman at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C., then with Fletcher Henderson until 1926. After which he joined McKinney's Cotton Pickers, where he played and recorded until 1931. In the 1930s he played with Kaiser Marshall, the Savoy Bearcats, and W.C. Handy. Ralf then returned to Puerto Rico, playing there into the 1960s (?) b. July 16th 1898.
1979: Nino Rota/Nino Rinaldi (67) Italian composer born in Milan; he is best known for his film scores, notably for the films of Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti. He also composed the music for two of Franco Zeffirelli's Shakespeare films, and for the first two films of Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather trilogy. During his long career Nino was an extraordinarily prolific composer, especially of music for the cinema. He wrote more than 150 scores for Italian and international productions from the 1930s until his death in 1979, an average of three scores each year over a 46 year period. Alongside his great body film work, he composed ten operas, five ballets and dozens of other orchestral, choral and chamber works, the best known being his string concerto. He also composed the music for many theatre productions by Visconti, Zeffirelli and Eduardo de Filippo as well as maintaining a long teaching career at the the Liceo Musicale in Bari, Italy, where he was the director for almost 30 years (coronary thrombosis) b. December 3rd 1911.
1960: Arthur Leslie Benjamin (66) Australian composer, pianist, conductor and teacher. He is well known as the composer of Jamaican Rhumba, composed in 1938. Born in Sydney and brought up in Brisbane, he made his first public appearance as a pianist at the age of six. As well as his career teaching music in Australia, Britain and other parts of the world, tutoring students including Muir Mathieson, Peggy Glanville-Hicks, Miriam Hyde, Joan Trimble, Stanley Bate, Dorian Le Gallienne, Bernard Stevens, Lamar Crowson, Alun Hoddinott, Natasha Litvin, and Benjamin Britten, his many chamber, opera and orchestral works, Arthur also wrote music for films. This began in 1934 with The Scarlet Pimpernel and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much. Other scores included An Ideal Husband, The Conquest of Everest, The Cumberland Story, Steps of the Ballet, The Crowthers of Bankdam, Above Us the Waves and Fire Down Below to mention a few (he died at the Middlesex Hospital, UK, from a re-occurence of the cancer that had first attacked him three years earlier) b. September 18th 1893.
1962: Stuart Sutcliff (22) UK bassist for The Beatles; an art school friend of John Lennon and was the original bassist of the The Beatles for two years. He is also credited with naming the group after Buddy Holly's band the Crickets. (died of a brain haemorrhage in an ambulance on the way to hospital)
1986: Linda Creed/married name Linda Epstein (37) Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, born in Philadelphia. Linda's big break came in 1970, when UK singer Dusty Springfield recorded her song "Free Girl". That same year, she teamed up with songwriter and producer Thom Bell. Their first songwriting collaboration, "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", became a Top 40 pop hit for the Stylistics, this began an extended collaboration that also yielded the group's symphonic soul classics "You Are Everything", "Betcha by Golly, Wow", and "I'm Stone in Love With You". The duo also paired on a number of hits for the Spinners, including "Ghetto Child", "I'm Coming Home", "Living a Little, Laughing a Little", and, most famously, the 1976 blockbuster "The Rubberband Man". Linda Creed also worked with fellow Philadelphia native Phyllis Hyman on many of her songs, most notably "Old Friend". Although Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer at 26, she bravely kept on working, teaming with composer Michael Masser to write "Greatest Love of All" for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest; then in the spring of 1986, the song topped the charts for singer Whitney Houston. Sadly, just weeks before Whitney reached the No.1 spot, Linda had lost her long battle with cancer. She also wrote the theme for the TV series, "Simon and Simon". Over the years, cover recordings of her songs were major hits for Roberta Flack, Rod Stewart, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and many, many others. In 1992, Linda was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. (cancer) b. December 6th 1948.
2003: Little Eva/Eva Narcissus Boyd (59) US singer; after the success of "The Loco-Motion", she was unfortunately stereotyped as a dance-craze singer and was given limited material.(died after a two year battle with cervical cancer).
2003: Douglas 'Noel' Fox (63) US bass singer with the country and gospel band The Oak Ridge Boys, he went on to work as booking agent, talent manager and publisher. In 1978, he began managing the Oak Ridge Boys' publishing entity (died after surgery following a series of strokes).
2005: Wally Tax (57) Dutch singer and songwriter, best known as founder and frontman of the Nederbeat group The Outsiders. They were influenced by the harder-edged British groups like The Pretty Things and The Rolling Stones. In November 1965, The Outsiders opened for Stones' second Dutch concert. The band released thirteen singles, including 1967's "Summer Is Here," which reached the Top Ten on the Dutch charts. After commercial and artistic success with The Outsiders in the late 1960s, Wally had a brief solo career in the 1970s, after which he went on to become a successful songwriter, producing a number of hit songs for Dutch artists. He faded into obscurity in the 1980s, but after his death two benefit concerts in Amsterdam proved his lasting popularity and influence. (?) b. February 14th 1948.
2005: Norbert Brainin (82) Austrian violinist, the first violinist of the Amadeus Quartet. In 1947 he formed the Brainin Quartet, which was renamed the Amadeus Quartet in 1948. Amadeus was one of the most celebrated quartets of the 20th Century, and its members were awarded many honours, including: The Order of the British Empire, presented by the Queen; Doctorates from the Universities of London, York, and Caracas; The highest of all German awards, the Grand Cross of Merit; and The Austrian Cross of Honour for Arts and Sciences; They disbanded in 1987 upon the death of Peter Schidlof, who was regarded as irreplaceable by the surviving members. Norbert continued to perform as a soloist, often performing with pianist Günter Ludwig. His instruments included the 1734 "Rode" Guarnerius del Gesu, the "Chaconne" Stradivarius of 1725 and the "Gibson" Stradivarius of 1713. (cancer) b. March 12th 1923.
2007: Dakota Staton (76) American jazz vocalist, who was also known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a short period. She studied music at the Filion School of Music in Pittsburgh, after which she performed regularly in the Hill District, a jazz hotspot, as a vocalist with the Joe Wespray Orchestra. She next spent several years in the nightclub circuit in such cities as Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland and St. Louis. While in New York, she was noticed singing at a Harlem nightclub called the Baby Grand by Dave Cavanaugh, a producer for Capitol Records. She was signed and released several singles, including her 1957 No. 4 hit, "The Late, Late Show". She relocated to England in the mid-1960s, where he continued to record semi-regularly, her recordings taking an increasingly strong gospel and blues influence (?) b. June 3rd 1930
2010: William Walker (78) American baritone opera singer, whose career ranged from the State Fair of Texas to more 360 performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York from March 1962 to June 1978. He appeared over 60 times on TV's "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and also sang on Broadway. From 1969 to 1976, William gave more than 250 solo recitals in the United States and Canada, performing classical operatic arias, art songs and American musical show stoppers, most memorably "Soliloquy" from Carousel and "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" from Oklahoma!. In 1980, he became the Hearndon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music at Texas Christian University and taught master classes in performance for several years. He also taught master classes as the Carol Kyle Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas from 1980 to 1984. In 1991, he accepted the position of General Director of the Fort Worth Opera (William was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, but cause of death has not yet been disclosed) b. 1931

April 11th
2000: Diana Darvey/Diana Magdalene Roloff (54) British actress, singer and dancer, who is most famous for her appearances on The Benny Hill Show. She made her first appearance on The Benny Hill Show on 7 February 1974, and became an instant hit with fans. Her self-designed often gravity-defying costumes became as famous as her show-stopping performances singing such Continental music standards as "Sway," "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás" and "Perfidia" on the show. Prior to Benny Hill, in 1962, Diana was part of a London ballet troupe which travelled Sweden, Germany and Spain. After the tour ended, she settled in Spain, where she became a popular revista performer under famed Spanish impresario Colsada. Then for several years she appeared in musical theatre productions in and around Spain. It was during a performance, in Madrid in the early 1970s, that she was discovered by British comedian Benny Hill. After Benny Hill, she travelled around the world with her cabaret act, in tandem with her husband, Terry Gittings, who had been a drummer in Georgie Fame's backing band (?) b. April 21st 1945
2006: Proof / DeShaun Holton (32) US rapper, member of the hip hop groups D12, Promatic, 5 Elementz, and Goon Sqwad. He rose to prominence alongside Eminem and other D12 members, he was a steady hand for Detroit's then up-and-coming hip-hop scene. It was his idea to assemble a collection of Detroit's best hip-hop talent and call it D12. We may never have heard of Eminem if Proof hadn't taken under his wing years ago, it was his hand that helped push Eminem to become one of the world's biggest pop stars, including serving as his on-stage hype man on concert tours. In 2000, Proof toured along with Eminem, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in the Up In Smoke Tour. He appeared in Eminem's autobiographical film "8 Mile", after which he was hired to host a national search for the next best battle rapper by Showtime Networks. Proof released his long-in-the-works solo debut, "I Miss the Hip Hop Shop" recorded between 2002 and 2004, which was followed by "Searching for Jerry Garcia" in August 2005 on his own Iron Fist Records. His mother read poetry on the song "Billie Holiday" on the album (shot to death at the Detroit club, C.C.C. on Eight Mile Road) b. October 2nd 1973
2009: Johnny Roadhouse (88) British saxophonist; he joined Teddy Foster's orchestra in 1946, two years later he became leader of the sax section for the BBC Northern Variety Orchestra. In 1953 this was transformed into the Northern Dance Orchestra, he remained a member until its demise in the 1980s. He has also played with the Hallé Orchestra and the Liverpool Philharmonic. As well as his musical performing career, in 1955 he opened "Johnny Roadhouse Music" on Oxford Street, the best-known musical instrument shop in Manchester. Eventually the business grew offshoots, such as a team of specialist instrumental teachers and a band agency. In 2005 he was presented with Lifetime Achievement awards by the Lord Mayor of Manchester and the Variety Club of Great Britain (passed away in his sleep after a short illness) b.January 13th 1921.
2010: Julia Tsenova (61) Bulgarian composer, pianist and musical pedagogue; she was a member of the Union of the Bulgarian Composers, the International Society for Contemporary Music, and a President of the Bulgarian section. She wrote in the field of symphonic, chamber, choral and scenic music and her compositions have been performed in different musical forums in Bulgaria, Austria, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Norway, Poland, Czech Republik, Slovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Greece, Russia, India, Australia, USA, Canada and other countries. (Sadly lost her battle with cancer) b. July 30th 1948.

April 12th
1963: Herbie Nichols (44) American jazz pianist, composer; his first known work was with the Royal Barons in 1937, where he became friends with fellow pianist Thelonious Monk. After the war he worked in various bands , beginning to achieve some recognition when Mary Lou Williams recorded some of his songs in 1952. He recorded for Blue Note in 1955 and 1956, which led to the issue of three albums. Other tracks from these sessions were not issued until the 1980s. His tune "Serenade" had lyrics added, and as "Lady Sings the Blues" became firmly identified with Billie Holiday. In 1957 he recorded his last album for Bethlehem Records "Love, Gloom, Cash, Love". All of his recordings as leader have been released on CD. In recent years his music has been heavily promoted by Roswell Rudd, who worked with Herbie in the early 1960s. Roswell has recorded or programmed at least three albums featuring Nichols' compositions, including "The Unheard Herbie Nichols" and a book "The Unpublished Works". Obscure during his lifetime, he is now highly regarded by many musicians and critics (leukemia) b. January 3rd 1919.
1967: William "Buster" Bailey (64) American jazz musician specializing in the clarinet, but also well versed on saxophone, he was one of the most respected session players of his era. He started with W.C. Handy’s Orchestra in 1917 when he was 15 years old. In 1919 he joined Erskine Tate’s Vendome Orchestra in Chicago until 1923 when he joined up with Joe "King" Oliver and became friends with Louis Armstrong, who was also a member of that band at the time. In 1924, Armstrong left the band to join Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra in New York. Within a month Armstrong extended an invitation for Buster to join him as a member of the band, he accepted and moved to New York City. He went on to record and/or tour the US and Europe with many greats including Perry Bradford, Clarence Williams, Noble Sissle’s Orchestra, the John Kirby Band, Edgar Hayes, Dave Nelson, Midge Williams and Her Jazz Jesters, Big Chief Russell Moore, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Wilbur de Paris, Henry "Red" Allen, Wild Bill Davison, Saints And Sinners as well as his own band Buster Bailey and His Rhythm Busters. In 1965 he rejoined his old friend Armstrong and became a member of Louis Armstrong and His All-Stars (heart attack) b. July 19th 1902.
1968: Stephen Henry Sholes (57) American recording executive with RCA Victor, born in Washington, D.C. then moved to Camden, New Jersey, where his father got work in the RCA plant. Stephen started work at RCA as a part-time messenger boy in 1929 while a student at Rutgers University. After which he worked in RCA's radio division, but his experience playing saxophone and clarinet in dance bands led him to the record division. In 1945, he became head of the country division in Nashville, Tennessee and was responsible for recruiting such talent as Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, The Browns, Hank Locklin, Homer and Jethro, Hank Snow, Jim Reeves, and Pee Wee King. In 1955, he signed Elvis Presley for RCA. He convinced RCA to build its own recording studio in Nashville on Seventeenth Avenue South in 1957. In 1963, Stephen became RCA Records vice president for pop A&R. He also served on the Country Music Association, and Country Music Foundation boards of directors. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, which he had worked to create, in 1967 (heart attack) b. February 12th 1968.
1971: Wynton Kelly (39) US jazz pianist; he started his professional career as a teenager, playing with R&B groups. He recorded 14 titles for Blue Note with his trio, and worked with Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lester Young during 1951-1952. After serving in the military, he worked with Dinah Washington from 1955-1957, Charles Mingus from 1956-1957, and the Dizzy Gillespie big band in 1957. Maybe he was most famous for his work with Miles Davis from 1959-1963, recording such albums as "Kind of Blue", "At the Blackhawk" and "Someday My Prince Will Come" (epileptic fit) b. December 2nd 1931.
1973: Arthur Freed/Arthur Grossman (78) American lyricist and a Hollywood film producer; born in Charleston, SC, he began his career as a singer- pianist in Chicago. After meeting Minnie Marx, he sung as part of the act of her sons, the Marx Brothers, on the vaudeville circuit, he also wrote material for the brothers, and was eventually hired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Arthur brought masses of talent from the Broadway theatres to the MGM soundstages including Kay Thompson, Vincente Minnelli, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Roger Edens, Zero Mostel, June Allyson, Nancy Walker, choreographer Charles Walters, orchestrators Conrad Salinger, Johnny Green, Lennie Hayton, and many others. He also helped shape the careers of stars including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Lena Horne, Jane Powell, Esther Williams, Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Cyd Charisse, Ann Miller, Vera-Ellen, and many others. He brought Fred Astaire to MGM after Astaire's tenure at RKO and coaxed him out of semi-retirement to star with Garland in Easter Parade. Arthur produced nearly 50 movies, and helped elevate MGM as the studio of the musical. His team of writers, directors, composers and stars produced a steady stream of popular, critically acclaimed musicals until the late 1950s. Just few of his credits are "Babes in Arms" (1939), "Lady Be Good" (1941), "Cabin in the Sky" (1943), "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944), "The Harvey Girls" (1946), "Good News" (1947)," Easter Parade" (1948), "On the Town" (1949), Annie Get Your Gun" (1950), "An American in Paris" (1951), "Show Boat" (1951), "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), and "Gigi" (1958). He was presented the Irving G. Thalberg Award for "Creative producers, whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production" in 1951; two of his films won the Academy Award for Best Picture: 'An American in Paris' and 'Gigi'; he received an Honorary Oscar and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972 (?) b. September 9th 1895.
1989: Herbert Mills (77) American tenor singer born in Piqua, Ohio and co-founder of The Mills Brothers; Herburt and his brothers Donald, Harry, and John began practicing in their father’s barbershop quartet and singing in the choir of the Cyrene African Methodist Episcopal Church and in the Park Avenue Baptist Church in Piqua. In the late ‘20s the quartet was signed to perform in a variety of shows, they sang as the Steamboat Four, the Tasty East Jesters, and Will, Willie, Wilbur and William, among other names, finally they went under the name the Mills Brothers and by 1931 they were recording for Brunswick Records. In 1934, The Mills Brothers became the first African-Americans to give a command performance before British royalty. They performed at the Regal Theatre for a special audience: King George V, Queen Mary, and their mother. They went on to make more than 2,000 recordings that combined sold more than 50 million copies, and garnered at least three dozen gold records. By 1950 they had 50 chart hits. Their last number one was 1952’s “Glow Worm,” adapted from the German operetta Lysistrata. It also became a hit in England, reaching No.10 at the beginning of 1953. The Mills Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998 (?) b. April 2nd 1912.
1999: Boxcar Willie/Lecil Travis Martin (67) American "hobo music" / country singer; he was the son of a railroad man who used to play his fiddle on the porch while Lecil played guitar. By his teens he was performing in jamborees all over the state until he gave up show business to enlist in the Air Force, where he spent 22 years, logging some 10,000 hours as a flier. He performed under the nickname of "Boxcar Willie" for the first time at a talent contest in San Jose, California, while he was still in the Air Force, he won the first prize of $150. In 1976, Lecil left the Air Force and became a full-time performer, he went on to become a star in country music, selling more than 10 million records worldwide, with hits such as "Lonesome Whistle Blues", and "Wabash Cannonball". In 1981, he achieved a professional landmark by being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry as its 60th member. In 1985, he moved to Branson, Missouri and purchased a theatre on Highway 76 / 76 Country Music Boulevard, calling it the Boxcar Willie Theatre. He opened a museum and had two motels, both bearing his name. The overpass at Interstate 35E and Farm to Market Road 664 in Red Oak, Texas was renamed "Boxcar Willie Memorial Overpass" after a major reconstruction project (leukemia) b. September 1st 1931.
2006: June Pointer (52) American Pop/R&B singer and was a founding member of the vocal group The Pointer Sisters. (bone, liver and lung cancer) b.
2009: Ruben "Zeke" Zarchy (93) American jazz trumpet legend; he joined Joe Haymes orchestra in 1934, then played with Benny Goodman in 1936 and Artie Shaw in 1937. From 1937 to 1942, he worked and recorded with the bands of Red Norvo, Bob Crosby, Mildred Bailey, Frank Sinatra, Helen Ward, Judy Garland, Tommy Dorsey, and Ella Fitzgerald. Zeke's trumpet can be heard on recordings such as Benny Goodman's "Bugle Call Rag", Bob Crosby's "South Rampart Street Parade", and Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Cocktails". When World War II broke out, he was chosen by Glenn Miller for what became Miller's Army Air Force Band, officially, the 418th Army Band, where he played lead trumpet and was Master Sergeant from 1942 to 1945. After the war, singer Frank Sinatra invited Zeke to move to Los Angeles, where he became a first-call studio musician. He played on the recordings of hundreds of vocalists, including Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Dinah Shore, and The Mills Brothers. His trumpet is heard in the soundtracks of many classic Hollywood movies, including West Side Story, Dr. Zhivago and the The Glenn Miller Story. During the 1960s and '70s, he played in the house bands of several CBS TV variety shows, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Danny Kaye Show and The Jonathan Winters Show, and was a member of the NBC Staff Orchestras in Los Angeles and New York. In his later years, Zarchy made many music tours of Europe, South America, and Australia, as well as 32 concert trips to Japan (complications from pneumonia) b. June 12th 1915.

April 13th
2004: Elden C. 'Buster' Bailey (81) American percussionist; he attended the New England Conservatory and graduated from Juilliard. During WW II he was a member of the U.S. Army 154th Ground Force Band. After the war Buster became a member of the New York Philharmonic, a career which would span 42 years and he was also a percussion teacher at Juilliard for 24 years. He was one of the original members of both the Little Orchestra Society and the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra. He wrote two books on percussion instruments and was a member of the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame. Buster was also an avid fan of circus music and was a member of Windjammers Unlimited, an organization devoted to music of the circus (died after long illness) b. April 22nd 1922.
2005: Johnnie Johnson (80) American piano player and blues musician born in Fairmont, West Virginia. His work with Chuck Berry led to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While serving in the US Marine Corps during WW II, he was a member of Bobby Troup's all serviceman jazz orchestra, The Barracudas. After his return, he moved to Detroit, Illinois and then Chicago, where he sat in with many notable artists, including Muddy Waters and Little Walter. He moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1952 and put together a jazz and blues group, The Sir John Trio. On New Years Eve that year, Johnnie called on a young Chuck Berry to help him out on a gig, after which Johnnie hired him permantly. Eventally Johnnie became part of Chuck's band. Over the next twenty years, the two collaborated in the arrangements of many of Berry's songs including "School Days", "Carol", and "Nadine". The song "Johnny B. Goode" was a tribute to Johnnie, with the title reflecting his usual behavior when he was drinking.Although never on his payroll after 1973, Johnnie played occasionally with Berry until Johnson's death. In 1987 he recorded his first solo album, Blue Hand Johnnie. He later performed with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley and George Thorogood appearing on Thorogood's 1995 live album Let's Work Together Live. In 1996 and 1997, Johnson toured with Bob Weir's Ratdog, playing 67 shows. In 1999, Johnnie's biography was released, Father of Rock and Roll: The Story of Johnnie B. Goode Johnson (?) b. July 8th 1924.
2010: Steve Reid (66) American jazz drummer from New York, he started drumming in his teens, and worked at the Apollo Theatre under the direction of Quincy Jones. After graduating at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, he spent 3 years in Africa, opening up his influences even more. He affirms Africa is the heart of drumming. He went on to work with artists including Miles Davies, Sun Ra, James Brown, Fela Kuti and Ornette Coleman, as well as being a prolific session musician for Motown Records. In the early seventies he started his own label, Mustevic Sound Inc., and later lived in Switzerland working in Europe for a number of years. Steve was named JAZZIZ's "Percussionist of the Year" in both 1993 and 1995. In 2006, he teamed up with the groundbreaking electronic musician Kieran Hebden, better known as Four Tet, with whom he released four albums, The Exchange Session Vol.1 & 2, Tongues and NYC – between 2006 and 2008 (Steve sadly passed away following a battle with cancer) b. January 29th 1944.
2010: Manos Xydous (57) Greek singer-songwriter, musician and record producer (sadly died from a cardiac arrest) b. May 15th 1953

April 14th
1954: Lil Green (34) American blues vocalist noted for superb timing and a distinctively sinuous voice (pneumonia)
1983: Pete Farndon (30) UK bassist in the band The Pretenders (found drowned in his bath due to a drug overdose)
1995: Burle Ives (85) American actor, writer folk music singer and musician, born in Hunt City, Illinois, where he attended Eastern Illinois State Teachers College. Playing his banjo on the streets, he was jailed in Mona, Utah, for vagrancy and for singing “Foggy, Foggy Dew,” which the authorities decided was a bawdy song. Around 1931 he began performing on WBOW radio in Terre Haute, Indiana. Then in 1940 Burle began his own radio show, titled The Wayfaring Stranger after one of his ballads. Over the next decade, he popularized several traditional folk songs, such as “Foggy, Foggy Dew”, an English/Irish folk song; “Blue Tail Fly”, an old Civil War tune; and “Big Rock Candy Mountain”, an old hobo ditty. He went on to have dozens of hits such as "Riders In the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)", "Lavendar Blue, Dilly Dilly", "A Little Bitty Tear", "On Top Of Old Smokey", "Wild Side of Life", "Call Me Mister In-Between", and "Funny Way of Laughing." As an actor, his work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theatre, television, and motion pictures. His movie credits include East of Eden, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Desire Under The Elms, Wind Across The Everglades, The Big Country, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; and Our Man in Havana. Berle's Broadway career included appearances in The Boys From Syracuse, Heavenly Express, This Is the Army, Sing Out, Sweet Land, Paint Your Wagon, and Dr. Cook's Garden and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His folk sing career (sadly died of complications of mouth cancer) b. June 14th 1909.
1998: Dorothy Squires/Edna May Squires (83) Welsh singer born in her parents' carnival caravan in Pontyberem, UK. She taught herself to play a ukulele and at 16 began to perform professionally as a singer in local working men's clubs. She soon relocated to London; while working as a nurse she met agent Joe Kay, who got her night time work in clubs. It was a club in the East End which gave her the name stage Dorothy. In 1936, Dorothy joined the Billy Reid's orchestra, he was her partner for many years. Immediately after the war, she worked on the BBC radio show Variety Bandbox, which made her the highest paid female singer in the UK. Working with Billy Reid, who also wrote many songs for her, Dorothy recorded the original version of Reid's composition, "A Tree in the Meadow", and other Reid penned songs including "I'm Walking Behind You" and "The Gypsy". After 8 years in the US and a marrage to actor Roger Moore, Dorothy returned to the UK, recording albums and performing to sold out concerts. But in 1971 she began an apparent love affair with the law courts, and undertook 30 cases over the next 15 years. In 1988 she lost her home in Bray following bankruptcy proceedings. Her last concert was in 1990, to pay her poll tax. She retired to Trebanog, Rhondda, South Wales in a home provided by a fan, Esme Coles, where she became a recluse (Sadly died of lung cancer in Llwynypia Hospital, Rhondda) b. March 25th 1915.
1999: Anthony Newley (67) UK singer, actor, composer. (cancer).
2005: Benny Bailey/Ernest Harold Bailey (79) American bebop and hard-bop jazz trumpeter. He learnt the piano and flute in his youth, then switched to trumpet, and concentrated on the instrument while at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In the early 1940s he worked with Bull Moose Jackson and Scatman Crothers and later worked with Dizzy Gillespie and toured with Lionel Hampton. During a European tour with Hampton he decided to stay in Europe and spend time in Sweden where he worked with Harry Arnold's big band and The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band. Later he began to work with Quincy Jones and that led to a brief return to the US in 1960. After that he migrated to Germany, and later the Netherlands. In 1969 he played on Eddie Harris and Les McCann's album Swiss Movement which was recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, even though it was not normally his style of music. Then in 1988 he worked with Tony Coe and he kept producing albums until 2000 when he was in his mid-70s. (he died at home in Amsterdam) b. August 13th 1925.
2005: John Fred/John Fred Gourrier (63) American singer; his group, John Fred and the Playboys, was formed in 1956 having their first hit single "Shirley" in 1958's. In 1967, Fred and band member Andrew Bernard co-wrote "Judy in Disguise", a parody of The Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". The song knocked another Beatles song ("Hello, Goodbye") out of the No.1 chart position on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in January 1968. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Although Fred actually had a well-rehearsed and talented group honed by years on the road, he was branded as a novelty act and never had another success. Fred continued to perform in bands, and remained a fixture at concerts and shows in his hometown, and hosted a popular local radio show, The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll. In 2002, he released his final album, Somebody's Knockin (He sadly died from complications from a kidney transplant the year previous to his death) b. May 8th 1941.
2007: Don Ho/Donald Ho Tai Loy (76) Legendary Hawaiin pop singer, keyboardist, he was originally signed to Reprise Records and released his debut album, Don Ho Show, in 1965 and began to play high profile locations in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and New York City. In 1966 he released his second album, a live compilation called Don Ho — Again!, which charted in the early part of that year. In the fall of 1966, he released his most famous song, "Tiny Bubbles", which charted on both the pop and easy listening charts and caused the subsequent Tiny Bubbles LP to remain in the album Top 20 for almost a year. Another song associated with Don was "Pearly Shells". From 1964 to 1969, Don's backing group was The Aliis: Al Akana, Rudy Aquino, Benny Chong, Manny Lagodlagod and Joe Mundo. In the 70s he landed a television series on ABC from October 1976 to March 1977 with the Don Ho Show variety program which aired on weekday mornings (heart failure) b. August 13th 1930.
2010: Mississippi Slim/Walter Horn Jr (66) American blues singer born in Shelby, Mississippi; raised in Greenville and he worked on a plantation before leaving for Chicago in 1968. His trademark style was bright-coloured hair, multi-coloured suits and mix-matched shoes and socks. He returned to Mississippi in 1994. In 1999, he recorded "Miracles" with LaJam Records. With his remarkable stage presence, Mississippi Slim was a crowd favorite at the Mississippi Delta Blues Festival in 2008 (?) b. August 13th 1943.
2010: Peter Steele/Petrus T. Ratajczyk (48) American multi-musician and composer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he started taking guitar lessons at age 12, moving on to bass six months later. Pete played for the metal group Fallout, which would later reform as Type O Negative, and the thrash band Carnivore, before reforming the gothic metal band Type O Negative, with himself as lead singer, bassist, and main composer. Type O Negative's debut album, Slow, Deep and Hard, was released in 1991. The band went Platinum with 1993's "Bloody Kisses", and gained an enormous following with seven studio albums, two best-of compilations, and concert DVDs. Peter and the band's last album was 2007's "Dead Again". He went on to appear as a guest on the talk shows Ricki Lake, The Jerry Springer Show, and The Howard Stern Show. In 2003, he had an acting role in an episode of the HBO drama series Oz. He followed this with a role in the 2005 film Bad Acid. He is among the musicians featured in the upcoming documentary Living the American Nightmare, set for release in 2011. (Peter died of heart failure) b. Jan 4th 1962.

April 15th
1957: Pedro Infante/José Pedro Infante Cruz (39) Mexican actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and an idol of the Mexican people. As well as his vast career in films, as a singer he recorded about 350 songs. Waltzes, cha-cha-chas, rancheras and boleros placed him among the most popular singers of the mariachi famed for his mariachi shout and ranchera music. Some of his most popular songs include: Amorcito Corazón/My Little Love and Heart; Te Quiero Así/I Love You Like This; La Que Se Fue/She Who Left; El Durazno/The Peach; Dulce Patria/Sweet Fatherland; Maldita Sea Mi Suerte/Cursed Be My Luck; Así Es La vida/Life Is Like This; Mañana Rosalía/Tomorrow Rosalía; Mi Cariñito/My Little Darling; and ¿Qué Te Ha Dado Esa Mujer?/What Has That Woman Given You?). His world famous song Bésame Mucho ("Kiss Me a Lot" or "Give Me a Lot of Kisses"), was the only melody that he recorded in English and he interpreted it in the movie A Toda Máquina (At Full Speed), with Luis Aguilar. Pedro was very often accompanied by the great musical ensembles of the time like the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, Noé Fajardo's Orchestra, the Trío Calaveras and Antonio Bribiesca, among others. (Tragically he died in a plane crash when he was piloting a Consolidated Aircraft X B-24-D, which crashed 5 minutes after take-off from Mérida, Yucatán) b. November 18th 1917.
1968: Borys Mykolayovych Lyatoshynsky (73) Ukrainian composer, conductor, teacher, and leading member of the new generation of twentieth century Ukrainian composers. He finished his musical studies at the new Kiev Conservatory in the composition class of Reinhold Gliére, with whom he was to continue a life-long relationship. He graduated in 1919 and he soon took up a position as a teacher and later professor. As a composer he wrote a variety of works, including five symphonies, symphonic poems and many shorter orchestral works, choral and vocal music, two operas, chamber music and a number of works for solo piano (?) b. January 3rd 1895.
1988: Youri Egorov (33) Soviet classical pianist; born in Kazan, USSR, but feeling politically and being gay, sexually constrained by the Soviet system, he defected from the Soviet Union in 1976 while on a concert tour in Rome, Italy and travelled to Amsterdam where he was to meet his long term partner. In July, 1978, Musical America Magazine selected Youri as their "Musician of the Month". He made his Carnegie Hall debut on December 16, 1978 once again under the aegis of Gershunoff. The concert was recorded live. In August 1979, two of his albums appeared on Billboard Magazine's Best-Selling Classical LP chart. He made his home in Amsterdam and throughout the 1980s he played primarily in Europe. His last American appearance was in Florida in 1986. (complications of AIDS) b. May 28th 1954.
1995: Cleo Brown/C. Patra Brown (85) US jazz singer; made recordings in the '30s and '40s, then entered the studios once again in the late '80s after being rediscovered living in the hinterlands of Colorado (?)
2001: Joey Ramone (49) lead singer of The Ramones; the 1970s band that was credited with beginning the punk rock movement. The Ramones played raw tunes, fast and furious. (lymphatic cancer)
2004: Ray Condo/Ray Tremblay (53) Canadian rockabilly singer, saxophonist, guitarist, born in Hull, Quebec. He taught himself to play the guitar at 11 and by the time he was 16 had co-written and released his first recording, 'If You Only Knew' with a band in the style of the British invasion called The Peasants. He went on to form the band The Hardrock Goners, they performed a variety of styles, rockabilly, jazz, blues, country and western swing. Their first album was "It Came From Canada". They then established their own record label, "Crazy Rekkids". In 1991 they merged with a group called The Five Star Hillbillies, to create The Ricochets (sadly died from a heart attack) b. May 16th 1950.
2005: Benny Bailey (79) American bop trumpeter; in the early 1940s he worked with Bull Moose Jackson and Scatman Crothers. He later worked with Dizzy Gillespie and toured with Lionel Hampton. During a European tour with Hampton he decided to stay in Europe (died at home in Amsterdam)
2008: Clifford Davies (59) American musician, former drummer for Ted Nugent and member of the jazz band "If" (died from a self inflicted gun shot wound).
2008: Brian "Blinky"Davison (65) British drummer and former member of the now legendary progressive rock band The Nice. Born in Leicester, he played drums in various Skiffle groups in and around the youth clubs and pubs in North-west London, especially around Baker Street in the late 1950s and part of the 60's. (he had been diagnosed with an inoperable tumor earlier this year, of which he sadly died from) b. May 25th 1942... read more
2008: Sean Costello (28) American blues guitarist singer and songwriter, born in Philadelphia, but moved to Atlanta at the age of 9. He won the Memphis Blues Society's Talent Award aged 14. He released his first album "Call The Cops" when he was 17 and in 2000, he released his second album "Cuttin' In", earning him a Gold Record before his 21st birthday. Tinsley Ellis called him ‘the most gifted young Blues guitarist on the scene. He toured widely in the USA and Europe and his reputation as a brilliant live performer enabled him to play alongside blues luminaries such as Buddy Guy, B. B. King and Hubert Sumlin. (tragically found dead in his Atlanta hotel room, he died from an overdose of drugs including prescribed anti-anxiety medication) b. April 16th 1979.

April 16th
1973: Nino Bravo/Luis Manuel Ferri Llopis (28) Spanish singer, born near Valencia, he began singing at a hotel, where he sang his favorite English song, "Only You". In the late 60s he went on to appeared at the Barcelona Music Festival and received favorable reviews from a festival audience in Athens, Greece, after which he sang at the Rio de Janeiro Festival. After being exposed to these international audiences in Europe and Latin America, Nino's first solo album was soon released, and the song "Te quiero, te quiero", became an international hit, which is now considered a classic by many Hispanic music critics. His first album, "Tu Cambiarás" /"You Will Change", sold well, particularly in Colombia, where Bravo became very popular. He then sang on the Spaniard television contest show, "Pasaporte a Dublín" / "Passport to Dublin" in which the winner would represent Spain in 1971's Eurovision. After the show, he went on tour in Colombia and Brazil, where he participated, for a second time in the Rio de Janeiro Festival. (Nino was driving his car along with the Humo duo and Miguel Diurni when his car was involved in a tragic accident about 100 km southeast of Madrid. He died on the way to the hospital as consequence of his injuries) b. August 3rd 1944.
1999: Alexander "Skip" Spence (52) US-Canadian drummer, guitarist born in Windsor, Ontario, his family relocated to San Jose, California in the late 1950s; he was best known for his work with Moby Grape and Jefferson Airplane. Skip was a guitarist in an early line-up of Quicksilver Messenger Service before Marty Balin recruited him to be the drummer for Jefferson Airplane. After one album with Jefferson Airplane, their debut Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, he left to co-found Moby Grape, once again as a guitarist. It was with Moby Grape that Spence found his greatest musical fame, writing among other songs, "Omaha", from Moby Grape's first album in 1967, a song identified in 2008 by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 100 greatest guitar songs of all time. Mental illness, drug addiction and alcoholism prevented him from sustaining a full time career in the music industry. He remained in and around San Jose and Santa Cruz, California. (sadly died from lung cancer) b. April 18th 1946.
2010: C. P. Rele/Chandrashekhar P. Rele (82) Indian classical singer born in Mumbai, he specialized in singing, teaching, and composing khyal. He studied vocal music along with the legendary Kumar Gandharva under the well-known musicologist Prof. B.R. Deodhar. He also witnessed at close quarters, the training and the growth of Kumar Gandharva. His compositions are very popular among younger musicians today. Critics and musicians have acclaimed his collection of 135 compositions. Among his others writings, Dr. Rele is also the author of an extremely significant work on Raga Sangeet, entitled 'Svara Pravaaha' (?) b.????

April 17th
1960: Eddie Cochran (21) Singer/songwriter, multi-musician, one of the greatest, and the most talented of the early pop stars (car crash near Swindon, UK, on the way to London Airport after his successful UK tour)
1971: Carmen Lombardo (67) Canadian singer and composer, born in London, Ontario, he was the younger brother of bandleader Guy Lombardo. His compositions included the 1928 classic "Sweethearts on Parade", which was No.1 for three weeks in 1929 on the U.S. pop charts; "Ridin' Around in the Rain", written with Gene Austin in 1934; the jazz and pop standards "Coquette", "Boo Hoo", and "Some Rainy Day", and "Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile, Smile, Smile)", written with Stanley Rochinski in 1948-49, As a child he took flute lessons, and later learned to play saxophone. He later formed a band with his brother Guy as conductor, which developed into The Royal Canadians in 1923, Carmen both sang and wrote music. Carman also wrote the words and music with John Jacob Loeb for Guy Lombardo's stage productions of Arabian Nights 1954/1955; Paradise Island 1961/1962, and Mardi Gras 1965/1966, at Jones Beach, New York (Sadly died of cancer) b. July 16th 1903.
1974: Vinnie Taylor (24) American lead guitarist with Sha Na Na (heroin overdose after a concert at University Hall at the University of Virginia)
1983: Felix Pappalardi (43) American music producer, songwriter, vocalist, and bassist; born in the Bronx, NY. a classically trained musician, he attended the University of Michigan. In 1964 he was a member of Max Morath's Original Rag Quartet. As a producer, he is perhaps best-known for his work with British psychedelic blues-rock power trio Cream, beginning with their second album, Disraeli Gears. As a musician, Felix is widely known as a bassist, vocalist, and founding member of the American hard rock band Mountain The band's signature song, "Mississippi Queen" is still heard regularly on classic rock radio stations. Felix was forced to retire because of partial deafness, ostensibly from his high-volume shows with Mountain. He continued producing throughout the 1970s and released a solo album and recorded with Japanese hard rock outfit Blues Creation. (He was tragically shot dead by his wife Gail Collins during a jealous rage. She claimed it was an accident, and was found guilty of the lesser criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to 16 months to 4 years in prison and was released on parole in April 1985.) b. December 30th 1939.
1987: Carlton Barrett (36) bassist with the Impact All-Stars, Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Wailers, The Upsetters; furnished the rock steady rhythm section of Bob Marley And The Wailers from 1969 until Marley's death in 1981.(shot dead outside his house in Kingston)
1998: Linda McCartney (56) American vocalist and keyboardist in Wings and other Paul McCartney projects; not only performed with her husband but was also an acclaimed photographer as well as a prominent advocate of vegetarianism and animal rights. (breast cancer)
2003: Earl King/Earl Silas Johnson IV (69) New Orleans Blues guitar virtuoso and songwriter most active in blues music. He was the composer of well known standards such as "Come On" (covered by Jimi Hendrix), and Professor Longhair's "Big Chief". He started to play guitar at 15. Soon he started entering talent contests at local clubs. It was at one of those clubs where he met his idol Guitar Slim. Earl started imitating Slim, his presence gave a big impact on his musical directions. In 1954, when Slim was injured in an automobile accident, Earl was deputized to continue Slim's band tour, representing himself as Slim. After succeeding in this role, he became a regular at the Dew Drop Inn. Earl is considered to be one of the most important figures in New Orleans R&B music. (complications of diabetes in New Orleans) b. February 7th 1934.
2008: Danny Federici (58) American musician; life long friend and over 40 years as keyboardist with Bruce Springsteen in bands Child, Steel Mill and The E Street Band. Danny started to play accordion when he was seven years old, and was soon playing at parties, clubs and on radio. He attended Hunterdon Central High School in New Jersey, when he, along with Vini Lopez started the band, Child at the end of the '60s, with Bruce Springsteen their chosen singer a friendship and working friendship that lastrd throughout his life. During the '90s, Tony recorded a solo album of jazz instrumentals called Flemington, re-worked and re-issued as Danny Federici on in 2001. This was followed up with a smooth jazz album Sweet in 2004, was also re-issued as Out of a Dream in 2005. Danny performed on other artist's records as well, including those of Graham Parker, Joan Armatrading, Gary U.S. Bonds and Garland Jeffreys. He made his last appearence on March 20, 2008, for portions of a Springsteen and E Street Band performance in Indianapolis at Conseco Fieldhouse (died after a three year battle with melanoma) b. January 23rd 1950

April 18th
1973: Willie "The Lion" Smith (79) American jazz pianist; one of the masters of the stride style. Duke Ellington stated "Willie The Lion was the greatest influence of all the great jazz piano players who have come along. He has a beat that stays in the mind". Born in Goshen, New York and by the early 1910s he was playing in New York City and Atlantic City, New Jersey. After serving in WW1 he returned to working in Harlem clubs and in rent parties, he worked for decades, often as a soloist, sometimes in bands and accompanying blues singers such as Mamie Smith. Although working in relative obscurity, he was a "musician's musician", influencing countless others including Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Artie Shaw. In the 1940s his music found appreciation with a wider audience, and he toured North America and Europe through to 1971. (?) b. November 25th 1897
1996: Bernard Edwards (42) producer, also bassist with Chic, ABC, Power Station and Rod Stewart (died in a Tokyo Hotel room after complaining that he was feeling ill)
2008: Peter Howard/Howard Weiss (80) American musical theater arranger, conductor and pianist. Coming to prominence in the 1960s, Howard served as the conductor and dance music arranger for the original Broadway productions of Hello, Dolly!, 1776 and Annie and served as the dance music arranger for the original Broadway productions of Chicago, The Tap Dance Kid and Crazy for You. (Parkinson's Disease) b. July 29th 1927.
2009: Bruno Adams (46) Australian singer, songwriter, guitarist born in Bacchus Marsh, and moved to Melbourne in 1978. There, he became part of the embryonic Punk/New Wave scene, playing with musicians from The Saints, Crime & The City Solution, and Laughing Clowns. In 1984 he formed his own band Once Upon A Time. They played Melbourne's clubs from 1985 to 1988, building a reputation for apocalyptic live shows with their avantgarde psychedelic blues sound. They moved to Berlin, Germany in 1989 and supported Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds throughout Europe on "The Good Son"- Tour of 1990. A European tour supporting Swans followed in the early 1990's. They recorded 3 CDs "Once Upon A Time", "In The Blink Of An Eye" and "Don't Look Down" before braking up in 1996. Since then they have done reunion concerts in Berlin and Prague in 2004 and 2005 () b. 1963.
2010: Devon Clifford (30) Canadian drummer with the five piece dance-punk band from Abbotsford, British Columbia, You Say Party! We Say Die!. The band was birthed out of a bike gang known as "The Smoking Spokes". December of 2003 was too cold to ride bikes, so a band was born, You Say Party! We Say Die! played their first show in April 2004. They went on release four albums thr last to date 2009's XXXX. Their albums produced eight singles. Devon and the band toured relentlessly in the USA, Europe, the UK and Canada (Devon collapsed on stage during the band's set at The Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver, Canada, he sadly died of complications from a sudden brain hemorrhage) b. 1979

April 19th
1944: Jimmy Noone (48) New Orleans clarinet/leader; considered one of the three top New Orleans clarinetists of the 1920s, with a smoother tone than his contemporaries that appealed to players of the swing era (died suddenly of a heart attack while in L.A. California)
1993: Steve Douglas (54) US saxophone, flute, clarinet, drums; one of the most sort after session musicians in L.A, a member of The Wrecking Crew, who worked with Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. He can be heard on records by Duane Eddy, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, BB King, Ike & Tina Turner, Bobby Darin and so many others (heart failure)
1997: El Duce/Eldon Hoke (39) American singer and drummerwith the heavy metal band The Mentors noted for its deliberately sexist shock rock lyrics. El and the Mentors worked to gain attention through farcical demonstrations of political incorrectness. Their guitarist renamed himself "Sickie Wifebeater," and the group often appeared in public wearing black executioner hoods. The Mentors released their first EP, The Trash Bag, in 1983. Their first live album, Live at the Whiskey/Cathey de Grande, came out the following year. This was followed by five more albums before his death. In the mid-nineties, after the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, El began making the claim that Cobain's wife, Courtney Love, had offered to pay Hoke $50,000 to kill Cobain. He promoted his story in such media outlets as TV's Jerry Springer Show, The National Enquirer weekly tabloid, and in Nick Broomfield's documentary film, Kurt & Courtney. Authors Max Wallace and Ian Halperin of Who Killed Kurt Cobain? claim that El secretly informed Drew Gallagher that he had "killed Kurt Cobain". (Died horridly in Riverside, California after being hit by a train while intoxicated) b. March 23rd 1958.
2003: Conrad Leonard (104!) pianist, composer; The oldest working musician in Britain. At 99 years old, his doctor advised him to "ease up a bit", and he accordingly cut his engagements to 75 gigs a year. Until the age of 103 years, he played the piano every Thursday at lunchtime in the Plantation Cafe at Squire's Garden Centre in Twickenham.
2005: Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (58) Danish double bassist; known for his impressive technique and an approach that could be considered an extension of the innovative work of Scott LaFaro.(heart failure)
2005: Bryan Ottoson (27) German born lead guitarist with the US nu-metal/industrial metal band American Head Charge from Minneapolis, Minnesota; he had also played in the bands Black Flood Diesel and A:POD (he was battling walking pneumonia with prescribed penicillin and pain medication, but was found dead in a bunk of their tour van as a result of these two drugs; his death was tragically accidental)
2009: Tilahun Gessesse (68) Ethiopian singer; regarded as one of the most popular of his country's "Golden Age" in the 1960s. During the 1960s he became famous throughout the country, nicknamed "The Voice". He raised money for aid during the famines of the 1970s and 1980s and earned the affection of the nation, being awarded a doctorate by the University of Addis Adaba and also winning a lifetime achievement award from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust. In his later years he suffered from diabetes (He died in Addis Adaba shortly after returning from America. Tilahun was honoured with a state funeral attended by tens of thousands of his fellow citizens) b. September 29th 1940.

April 20th
1920: Tony Jackson (44) American jazz and ragtime pianist and singer born in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana; he got his first musical job at age 13, when he began playing piano during off hours at a Tonk run by bandleader Adam Olivier. By age 15 he was already considered by many musicians the best pianist in town. His singing voice was also exceptional, and he was said to be able to sing operatic parts from baritone to soprano range. Fellow musicians and singers were universal in their praise of Tony Jackson, most calling him "the greatest", and even the far-from-modest Jelly Roll Morton ranked Jackson as the only musician better than Morton himself. He also wrote many original tunes, a number of which he sold rights to for a few dollars or were simply stolen from him; some of the old time New Orleans musicians said that some well known Tin Pan Alley pop tunes of the era were actually written by Tony. A legend from the ragtime years who sadly never recorded, but portions of his style are no doubt to be found in the recordings of younger musicians he influenced, like Jelly Roll Morton, Clarence Williams, and Steve Lewis (Impaired by disease, probably syphilis, he died in Chicago) b. June 5th 1876.
1969: Benny Benjamin/Papa Zita (43) American drummer for the Motown studio band known as The Funk Brothers, noted for his dynamic style. Motown record producers, including Berry Gordy, refused to work on sessions unless Papa Zita was the drummer and James Jamerson was the bassist. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Among the Motown songs he performed the drum tracks for are early hits such as "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong and "Do You Love Me" by The Contours; as well as later hits such as "Get Ready" by The Temptations, "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" by Stevie Wonder, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Gladys Knight & the Pips and "Going To A Go-Go" by The Miracles. Benny was inducted into the "Sidemen" category of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 (sadly he had been struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and died from a stroke) b. July 25th 1925.
1932: Ronnie Boykins (44) US jazz bass player, freelance; most noted for his work with the Sun Ra Arkestra in the 1950s and 1960s ()
1991: Steve Marriott (44) UK singer-songwriter and guitarist; best remembered for his powerful singing voice which belied his small stature and for his guitar play in groups the Small Faces and Humble Pie. At 13, he appeared as the Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!, (he lost his life in a house fire at his home in Essex).
1992: Johnny Shines (76) American Delta Blues slide guitarist; born in Frayser, Tennessee. He spent most of his childhood in Memphis, Tennessee playing slide guitar at an early age in local “jukes” and for tips on the streets. He is best known as a traveling companion of Robert Johnson, but his own contributions to the blues have often been unfairly shortchanged, simply because Johnson's legend casts such a long shadow. (heart complications) b. April 26th 1915.
2001: Giuseppe Sinopoli (54) Italian conductor and composer; best known for his intense and sometimes controversial interpretations of opera, especially works by Italian composers and Richard Strauss. Every October since 2005, Taormina Arte has dedicated a festival to Giuseppe Sinopoli, the artistic director of the Music section of the Taormina Festival from 1989 to 1997. The Giuseppe Sinopoli Festival does not only celebrate the man as a musician and as a conductor but also as a composer, a doctor, an archaeologist and intellectual, with a variety of events from music and literature, theatre and art to conferences, exhibitions, publications and, of course, concerts. Every year the Festival welcomes the most important orchestras in the country (he died of a heart attack while conducting Giuseppe Verdi's Aïda at the Deutsche Opera in Berlin) b. November 2nd 1946.
2002: Alan Dale/Aldo Sigismondi (76) US singer, own TV & radio show during the 50's; he was placed second to Frank Sinatra in a radio poll, Battle of The Baritones, in 1948. His baritone was heard on Perez Prado's million-selling 1955 hit, "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White", while his tune, "Sweet And Gentle", introduced the cha-cha-cha to North America.(?)
2003: Teddy Edwards (78) American jazz saxophonist, a top L.A. sessionist and highly sort after freelance player, some people consider him to be one of the most influential saxophonists in American history. Born in Jackson, he learned to play at a very early age, first on alto sax and then clarinet. His first professional job was with The Royal Mississippians with Doc Parmley. Teddy relocated to Los Angeles, which became his city of residence. He got a job playing at Club Alabam on Central Ave, and went on to become an A list session player, playing with many Jazz notables, including his personal friend Charlie Parker, Roy Milton, Wynonie Harris, Vince Guaraldi, Joe Castro and Ernie Andrews. A classic 1947 recording with Dexter Gordon, The Duel, helped set him up as a legend, a status he liked to maintain by challenging other worthy sax players to similar duels whenever possible, including a recording with Houston Person. One such memorable duel took place in the 1980s at London's 100 Club with UK tenor Dick Morrissey. In 1964, Edwards played with Benny Goodman at Disneyland, and at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Teddy also did a lot of work with Tom Waits, appearing on albums and toured with him on the Heart Attack and Vine tour (prostate cancer) b. April 26th 1924.
2008: Orish Grinstead (27) Irish-American rhythm and blues singer, member of the platinum-selling and multi award winning female R&B trio 702 (cancer and kidney failure).
2008: VL Mike/Michael Allen (32) American rapper, had been portraying himself as a gangster for years through his music when he wasn't (shot to death in New Orleans).

April 21st
1978: Alexandra "Sandy" Denny (31) English folk singer, piano, guitar; she emerged in the mid 1960s while still a teenager, performing on the folk revival scene where she displayed her mastery of traditional singing and interpretation. Her song, "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?", written during these early years, has been covered by numerous artists and is regarded as a classic of its type. She worked the folk club circuit with an American-influenced repertoire, including songs by Tom Paxton, together with folk songs. At the Troubadour club, a member of Strawbs heard her. In 1967, she was invited to join the band, and recorded one album with them in Denmark. She joined Fairport Convention breifly in 1968, after recording and, touring Liege & Lief she left to form her own band, Fotheringay, which included her boyfriend, Australian born Trevor Lucas, but dissolved the group after one album to concerntrate on a solo career. "The North Star Grassman and the Ravens" and "Sandy" remain her most popular solo albums and Melody Maker twice voted her the "Best Female Singer" in 1971 and 1972. In 1973, she married Lucas and returned to Fairport Convention in 1975 for a world tour and another album, "Rising for the Moon", which featured several of her own compositions (While on holiday with her parents in Cornwall, Sandy was injured when she fell down a staircase. A month after the fall she collapsed at a friend's home; four days later she died in Atkinson Morley Hospital as a the result of a traumatic mid-brain hemorrhage) b. January 6th 1947.
1999: Charles "Buddy" Rogers (94) American actor and jazz musician, born in Olathe, Kansas. He studied at the University of Kansas where he became an active member of Phi Kappa Psi. In the mid-1920s he began acting professionally in Hollywood films. As well as his film career, he was a talented trombonist and skilled on several other musical instruments, he performed with his own jazz band in motion pictures and on radio (natural causes) b. August 13th 1904.
2000: Neal Matthews (70) American singer; after serving with the US Army during the Korean War and receiving a Bronze Star, in 1953, he became a member of the Nashville-based singing group, The Jordanaires. Neal developed the Nashville Number System for chords in music that was instrumental in creating the Nashville sound. With The Jordanaires, he worked with artists such as Patsy Cline, Red Foley, Johnny Horton, Ferlin Husky, Jim Reeves and George Jones. They also served as backup vocalists for pop music artists such as Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Connie Francis and Julie Andrews. They are best known, however, as the backup vocalists for Elvis Presley for 15 years. Neal and The Jordanaires also toured extensively around the world and recorded a number of their own albums, winning a Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Album (heart attack) b. October 26th 1929.
2003: Nina Simone/Eunice Kathleen Waymon (70) American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist. Born in Tryon, North Carolina, Nina originally aspired to become a classical pianist, but her work covers an eclectic variety of musical styles that include classical, jazz, blues, soul, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop. She recorded over 40 live and studio albums, the greatest body of her work being released between 1958, when she made her debut with Little Girl Blue and 1974. She became known as The High Priestess of Soul, and her most well known songs include "My Baby Just Cares for Me", "I Put a Spell on You", "Four Women", "I Loves You Porgy", "Feeling Good", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", "Sinnerman", "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", "Mississippi Goddam", "Ain't Got No, I Got Life" and "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl". Musicians who have covered her work or her specific renditions of songs include J.Viewz, Carola, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Manson, Donny Hathaway, David Bowie, Elkie Brooks, Roberta Flack, Jeff Buckley, Jhelisa Anderson, The Animals, Muse, Cat Power, Timbaland, Katie Melua, Feist, Shara Worden, and Michael Bublé. Nina's music has featured in soundtracks of various motion pictures and video games, including but not limited to the The Big Lebowski, Point of No Return aka The Assassin, Notting Hill, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Dancer Upstairs, Before Sunset, Cellular, Inland Empire, Sex and the City, Revolutionary Road, and Watchmen. Her music is frequently used in remixes, commercials and TV series. Nina's last performance in Britain was at the Bishopstock Festival in August 2001. (?) February 21st 1933.
2007: Lobby Loyde/Barry Lyde/John Baslington Lyde (65) Australian rock music guitarist, songwriter and producer born in Longreach, Queensland. He first came to prominence in the Brisbane rhythm and blues band Purple Hearts in 1965. In January 1967, he left to join the second incarnation of the Melbourne band Wild Cherries, and wrote most of the songs that made up the band's four singles for the Festival label. In the 70s he was a member of The Coloured Balls. Dances and concerts around Melbourne became battlegrounds between rival skinhead gangs, fuelled by the music of the Coloured Balls. He spent several years in the UK then joined Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs on his return to Australia, his musical influence proved crucial in steering Thorpe in a completely new direction, into the blues-based heavy-rock genre. He also did a stint with the band Rose Tattoo. Lobby went on to work as a record producer, producing albums for such bands as Machinations, The Sunnyboys, The Red Crayons, Tablewaiters, Kevin Borich, X and Painters and Dockers (Sadly lost his brave battle with cancer) b. April 21st 2007.
2008: Aaron Shearer (88) American classical guitarist; he has several publications including his well known Classical Guitar Technique method books. He has been director of the guitar programs at both Peabody Conservatory and North Carolina School of the Arts. He holds an honorary doctorate from Duquesne University. His former students include Manuel Barrueco, Ricardo Cobo, David Tanenbaum, and David Starobin (?).
2008: Al Wilson (68) American soul singer best known for the hit song "Show and Tell" and "The Snake", which has been very popular on the Northern Soul music circuit in the UK and is currently being featured in a Lambrini advert on British TV (kidney failure).
2010: Ludvigsen/Gustav Lorentzen (62) Norwegian singer, guitarist and entertainer born in
He is best known from being half of the successful duo Knutsen & Ludvigsen, alongside Øystein "Knutsen" Dolmen, having several No.1 hits, including "Grevling i taket" ("Badger in the ceiling"), "Hallo! Hallo!" and "Dum og deilig" ("Stupid and gorgeous"). Gustav went solo in 1986, winning four Spellemann awards and one nomination for his 5 albums. He also has a degree in acoustics from the Norwegian Institute of Technology. In addition to music, Gustav has made several TV series and books, mostly intended for children and he relentlessly worked for children and children's charities. (Gustav collapsed during an orienteering competition and went into cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead a few minutes later) b. September 28th 1947.

April 22nd
1980: Jane Froman (72) American singer, actor; she moved to New York in 1933 where she appeared on Chesterfield's "Music that Satisfies" radio program with Bing Crosby. She also joined the Ziegfeld Follies... lavish revues, between alater Broadway show and a more elaborate high class Vaudeville variety show. By the time she was 27, she had become the top-polled "girl singer." She is credited with three films.. Kissing Time, Stars Over Broadway and Radio City Revels. From 1952 to 1955, she hosted her own TV show on the CBS network, "The Jane Froman Show". "I Believe", was written for Jane by the show's musicians, Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl, and Al Stillman and earned her a gold record in 1953.She performed on stage, radio and television despite chronic injuries that she sustained from a 1943 plane crash. The 1952 film, With a Song in My Heart, is based on her life (cardic arrest) b. November 10th 1907.
1996: Arthur 'T-Boy' Ross (46) US songwriter, brother of Diana Ross; he and Leon Ware wrote hits for acts such as Michael Jackson, The Miracles and Marvin Gaye. (T-Boy and his new wife Patricia Robinson, were found murdered in a basement of a house in Detroit's Oak Park area, the double murder is still unsolved).
1999: Apostolos Nikolaidis (60) Greek singer whose career spanned four decades. He was born in Drama, Greece and grew up in Thessaloniki. He is best known for being the first Greek artist to record or re-record the authentic, "prohibited" rebetika songs in the early 1970s with their original lyrics at a time when this type of music was censored in Greece due to the military junta of 1967–1974 in power. His biggest early hit was 1968's "Asimorfoti". In 1998, Apostolos recorded and released "Magia mou pou 'me Paoktzis," a 2-track ode to the Thessaloniki soccer team PAOK. He moved to America and continued to give performances in New York, Toronto, Houston, San Francisco, Vancouver and Germany into the late 80s and early 90s. In April 1999, Apostolos released "Allagi Frouras," a collection of laika tragoudia with a decidedly contemporary feel (sadly died of complications from cancer) b. 30 June 1938.
2003: Felice Bryant/ Matilda Genevieve Scaduto (77) US songwriter; one half of the wife and husband country music songwriting team who were also at the forefront of the evolution of pop music. With her husband, Boudleaux, they wrote numerous Everly Brothers' hits including "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Bye Bye Love". Their prolific and quality compositions would produce hit records for many stars from a variety of musical genres including Tony Bennett, Bob Moore, Simon and Garfunkel, Sonny James, Eddy Arnold, Charley Pride, Nazareth, Jim Reeves, Leo Sayer, Sarah Vaughan, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, the Grateful Dead, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan among many others. They formed one of the most potent songwriting teams in country history (cancer) b. August 7th 1925.
2006: Kay Finegan/Vivian Blessing (95) Amerian singer and arranger of the big band era who later became one of New York's top caterers; she began singing in speakeasies of the 1920's, using the name Kay Ray. In her music career she worked with Benny Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers, Glenn Miller, Ted Fioritto and any others. She called herself the hyphen in the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, of which her husband, Bill Finegan, was a co-founder. After her divorce she reinvented herself and became one of New York's top caterers; she was one of the first to popularize take-out meals (old age) b. March 1st 1911.
2008: Monna Bell/Nora Escobar (70) Chilean singer; reportedly one of Juan Gabriel's muses. She enjoyed a successful career in Spain, Mexico and other parts of Latin America. She moved to Mexico in the 1970s after launching a successful career in Spain (stroke) b. January 22 1938.
2008: Paul Davis (60) American singer and songwriter, best known for his radio hits and solo career which started worldwide in 1970. His career encompassed soul, country and pop music, and he wrote many memorable country music hits. Best known for hits like "I Go Crazy," "'65 Love Affair," "Cool Night" (heart attack just one day after his 60th birthday) b. April 21st 1948.
2010: Fred Panopio (71) Filipino folk singer, who rose to fame in the 1970s. He is known for having made the yodeling style of music famous in the Philippines. This particular kind of music is evident is many of his hits, such as "Pitong Gatang," "Markado," and "Tatlong Baraha." He was also an occasional actor, and appeared in some movies along Jess Lapid and Fernando Poe, Jr. In 1999, Fred, along with Victor Wood released an album, Certified Jukebox Kings. He appeared in an episode of noon-time variety show Wowowee in 2009 as a special guest, during which host Willie Revillame addressed him as a "Living Legend". (cardiac arrest) b. 1939.

April 23rd
1975: Peter Ham (27) Welsh singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of the group Badfinger and is often credited as being one of the earliest purveyors of the power pop genre. He formed a local rock group in Swansea called The Panthers around 1961. This group underwent several name and lineup changes before it became The Iveys in 1965 and by 1969 they had relaocted to Londan and had evolved into Badfingers having hits including "Maybe Tomorrow", "Come and Get It", a composition written by Paul McCartney, which became a Top Ten hit worldwide, other hits were "No Matter What", "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue" (hung himself) b. April 27th 1947.
1983: Earl "Fatha" Hines (79) US jazz pianist; once called "the first modern jazz pianist," he differed from the stride pianists of the 1920s by breaking up the stride rhythms with unusual accents from his left hand. In 1928, for 11 years, his was "The Band" (The Earl Hines Orchestra) in The Grand Terrace Cafe in Chicago. The Grand Terrace was controlled by Al Capone, Fatha Hines was Capone's "Mr Piano Man". He recorded endlessly till his death both solo and with jazz notables like Louis Armstrong, Cat Anderson, Harold Ashby, Barney Bigard, Lawrence Brown, Jaki Byard, Benny Carter, Buck Clayton, Cozy Cole, Wallace Davenport, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Vic Dickenson, Roy Eldridge, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Panama Francis, Bud Freeman, Dizzie Gillespie, Paul Gonsalves, Stephane Grappelli, Sonny Greer, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Budd Johnson, Jonah Jones, Gene Krupa, Ellis Larkins, Marian McPartland, Ray Nance, Oscar Peterson, Russell Procope, Pee Wee Russell, Jimmy Rushing, Stuff Smith, Rex Stewart, Maxine Sullivan, Buddy Tate, Jack Teagarden, Clark Terry, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Venuti, Earle Warren, Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Jimmy Woode and Lester Young. Possibly more surprising were Alvin Batiste, Teresa Brewer, Richard Davis, Elvin Jones, Vi Redd, Etta Jones, The Inkspots, Peggy Lee, Helen Merrill, Charles Mingus, Dinah Washington and Ry Cooder (?) b. December 28th 1903.
1984: Red Garland/William Garland (60) American hard bop jazz pianist whose block chord style, in part originated by Milt Buckner, influenced many forthcoming pianists in the jazz idiom. Born in Dallas, Texas, after the Second World War, he performed with Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Eddie Vinson, John Coltrane and Lester Young, before, in 1955 he joined the Miles Davis Quintet featuring John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones and Paul Chambers. Together the group recorded their famous Prestige albums, Workin, Steamin', Cookin', and Relaxin'. In 1958 he formed his own trio, among the musicians the trio recorded with are Pepper Adams, Nat Adderley, Ray Barretto, Kenny Burrell, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Jimmy Heath, Harold Land, Philly Joe Jones, Blue Mitchell, Ira Sullivan, and Leroy Vinnegar. The trio also recorded as a quintet with John Coltrane and Donald Byrd (heart attack) b. May 13th 1923.
1986: Harold Arlen (81) US composer of popular music; an important composer of 20th century popular music, with over 400 songs written, his 1938 song "Over the Rainbow” was voted the twentieth century's No.1 song by the Recording Industry Association of America (?).
1991: Johnny Thunders/John Anthony Genzale Jr (38) American guitarist, vocals, with The New York Dolls. Born and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, his first musical performance was at Quintano's School for Young Professionals with "Johnny and the Jaywalkers", under the name Johnny Volume. In the summer of 1970, he went to England for the Isle of Wight Festival, it was in London that he met Arthur Kane and Rick Rivets. He joined their band, "Actress", which became the New York Dolls with David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain and Billy Murcia. At this time John renamed himself Johnny Thunders. After the Dolls he formed The Heartbreakers touring the US and UK, releasing one official album, L.A.M.F., in 1977. The group relocated to the UK, where their popularity was significantly greater than it was in the U.S., particularly among punk bands. In late 1979 Johnny began performing in a band called Gang War and recorded a number of solo albums beginning with So Alone in 1978. The notoriously drug-fueled recording sessions featured a core band of Johnny, bassist Phil Lynott, drummer Paul Cook, and guitarist Steve Jones, with guest appearances from Chrissie Hynde, Steve Marriott, Walter Lure, Billy Rath, and Peter Perrett of The Only Ones. The CD version of the album contains four bonus tracks, including the single "Dead or Alive". After its release, Thunders and Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious played in the Living Dead for a short time (He died primarily from methadone and alcohol poisoning, although doctors had diagnosed leukemia in him earlier in the year) b. July 15th 1952.
1993: Daniel Jenkyn Jones OBE (80) Welsh composer of classical music, born in Pembroke, Wales. He studied at the University of Wales and the Royal Academy of Music, and a Mendelssohn Travelling Scholarship allowed him to study in Czechoslovakia, France, Holland and Germany, and to develop his skills as a linguist. He used these skills during the Second World War as a cryptographer and decoder of Russian, Romanian and Japanese at Bletchley Park. Daniel composed the music for the 1954 radio production of his childhood friend Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, as well as editing several collections of Dylan's poetry and prose. Daniel's fourth symphony is dedicated to Dylan's memory, and he also wrote a biography of the poet, My Friend Dylan Thomas, in 1977. Daniel wrote twelve numbered symphonies in all, plus a later Symphony in Memory of John Fussell. Among his other works are chamber music, including eight string quartets and a sonata for three timpani, orchestral and choral works, and several operas. He was made an OBE in 1968 (died in Swansea) b. December 7th 1912.
1999: Melba Doretta Liston (73) American trombone, composer, musical arranger; toured and worked with Count Basie, Billie Holliday, Randy Weston, Ray Charles, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie and many others (heart problems).
2010: Engin Yörükoglu (65) Turkish drummer and founding member of the pioneering Turkish Anatolian rock band Mogollar. Engin was born in the southern province of Kahramanmaras, he graduated from the Haydarpasa High School in Istanbul and began producing music in 1963. He joined the Selçuk Alagöz Orchestra in 1964 and worked with the band Kurtalan Ekspress, before founding the rock band Mogollar, recording two albums, after which they disbanded in 1976. He relocated to France for a number of years and formed various trios and quartets. He returned to Turkey in 1991 and opened a local venue called Jazz Stop in Istanbul, which provided an opportunity for those making alternative music. He also operated a restaurant called Farm Stop in Bodrum’s Kizilagaç village. After a 17-year absence, Engin, together with Cahit Berkay, and Taner Öngür reformed Mogollar in 1993, joined by keyboard player Serhat Ersöz. Engin also performed in and produced music for theatre plays, attending around 15 theatre festivals in Europe (Sadly he lost his long battle with cancer, he died of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at his home in the Kizilagaç village in Bodrum. Engin had been undergoing treatment in hospital for lung cancer since 2007) b. January 7th 1945.
2010: Alan Rich (85) American music critic who served on the staff of many newspapers and magazines on both coasts. Originally from Brookline, Massachusetts, he first studied medicine at Harvard before turning to music. He was music director of KPFA, the Berkeley radio station, and successively a music critic for publications including The New York Times, the New York Herald Tribune, New York magazine, Newsweek, California magazine, the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, and from 1992 to 2008 LA Weekly magazine. He subsequently worked briefly as music critic for Bloomberg News. (?) b. June 17th 1924

April 24th
1969: Rene Compere (62) Belgian jazz trumpet player (?) b. December 28th 1906.
2001: Al Hibbler (85) US blind Jazz, pop, r&b singer; Al was blind from birth, born in Tyro, Mississippi, he attended a school for the blind in Little Rock, Arkansas where he joined the school choir. He won an amateur talent contest in Memphis, Tennessee, where he first worked with local bands, before starting his own band. He also joined a band led by the Kansas City based bandleader, Jay McShann, where he became lead singer and was on tour with him for the next two years, then in 1943 he replaced Herb Jeffries in Duke Ellington's orchestra, where he won the Esquire New Star Award as best male singer in 1947, and the Downbeat award as best band singer in 1948-49. He worked eight years with Duke Ellington before becoming a soloist, his biggest solo hit was "Unchained Melody", Other hits include "He," "11th Hour Melody", "Never Turn Back" and "After the Lights Go Down Low". He performed at Louis Armstrong’s funeral in 1971. Al's last public appearance was at the Lincoln Center, New York, in January 1999, with a group of old Ellington alumni, where he sang, "Time After Time". He has a star at 1650 Vine Street on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (died in Chicago) b. August 16th 1915
2008: Jimmy Giuffre (86) American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist born in Dallas, Texas and graduated of Dallas Technical High School and North Texas State Teachers College. arranger for Woody Herman's big band, for which he wrote the celebrated 'Four Brothers'. His first trio consisted of himself, guitarist Jim Hall and double bassist Ralph Pena. They had a hit in 1957 when "The Train and the River" was featured on the television special The Sound of Jazz. He continued with different line-ups and to write creative, unusual arrangements throughout his career. He was a central figure in West coast jazz. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease and in his last years he no longer performed (pneumonia) b. April 26th 1921.
2009: Rev. Timothy Wright (61) American gospel singer; he started on piano at age 12, and sang and composed for his church choir as a teenager at the St. John's Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God in Brooklyn. He played piano for F.D. Washington and Isaac Douglas in the 1960s and 1970s, including on recordings, and he formed his own gospel ensemble in the mid-1970s, the Timothy Wright Concert Choir. He eventually became pastor of Grace Tabernacle COGIC in Crown Heights, New York, and issued albums regularly from 1990. His 1994 album Come Thou Almighty King, with the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, as was his 1999 release Been There Done That. He has recorded 20 albums from 1984 until his death (On July 4th 2008, he was critically injured in a car crash on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, a crash which killed his wife and grandson as well as the driver of the oncoming car. He died as a result of these injuries) b. June 17th 1947.

April 25th
1974: Pamela Courson (27) wife of the late Jim Morrison (died of a drugs overdose)
1975: Mike Brant/Moshe Brand (28) Israeli pop star who achieved fame after moving to France. At 17, Moshe Brand joined his brother's band, "The Chocolates," as lead singer, he sang in English and in French, although he spoke only Hebrew. He relocated to Paris July 9th 1969, singer Sylvie Vartan introduced him to the producer Jean Renard. Under Renard's guidance, he changed name to Mike Brant, and recorded his biggest hit, "Laisse-moi t'aimer" ("Let Me Love You"). The song was a success at the Midem music festival in January 1970. "Laisse-moi t'aimer" sold 50,000 copies in two weeks. By 1972 - 1975 he was giving 250 concerts a year, some attended by 6,000-10,000 people, as well as his work in the studio. This led to lonliness and a deep depression, he attempted suicide in 1974 while in Geneva (At the height of his career and on the day his final album Dis-lui ("Tell Her", french version of "Feeling") was released, Mosha committed suicide by jumping from the window of a Paris apartment) b. February 1st 1947.
1988: Carolyn Franklin (43) singer, younger sister of Aretha (cancer)
1990: Dexter "Long Tall Dexter" Gordon (67) American saxophone virtuoso; standing at 6ft 6ins, he was considered one of the greatest jazz saxophonists ever, during his heyday, `45-`80, he played tenor sax with many of the all-time jazz greats, including Lionel Hampton, Louis Armstrong, Billy Eckstine and many others. In the 60s. He played in Europe extensively where he was very popular and lived there for the most part during the 60s and the early to mid 70s. Around 1977, he returned to America and made some well-received records. Round Midnight was his only feature role, playing a character not unlike himself, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. He has influenced subsequent generations of musicians with his artful approach to jazz. His feel and subtle nuances are sorely missed in the world of jazz. (kidney failure) b. February 27th 1923
1992: Yutaka Ozaki (26) Japanese singer, songwriter (pulmonary edema)
1999: Roger Troutman (47) American vocalist with the band Zapp (After shooting his brother dead, he was found shot and critically wounded outside a recording studio in Dayton, Ohio; he died during surgery at a local hospital)
2002: Lisa Nicole Lopes/Left Eye (30) singer, songwriter, rapper, in the group TLC (car accident in La Ceiba, Honduras).
2007: Bobby "Boris" Pickett (69) American singer, songwriter born in Somerville, Massachusetts, who sang and co-wrote the Halloween anthem "Monster Mash" which has put him in the history books making him pop music's most enduring Top 20 one-hit wonder ever. The song was a spoof on the dance crazes popular at the time, including the Twist and the Mashed Potato, which inspired the title. The Christmas-themed follow-up, "Monster's Holiday," also released in 1962 reached No.30 in December that year. Among his other novelty songs there was also an early 1980s musical "sequel" to the monster mash called "the Monster Rap" which featured Bobby teaching the creature to speak through "rapping" and in October 2005, Bobby protested inaction on global warming by releasing "Climate Mash," a new version of his hit single. Back in 1967, Bobby and television author Sheldon Allman wrote the musical "I'm Sorry the Bridge Is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night" which has been produced by local theatres around the USA. They followed it up later with another musical, "Frankenstein Unbound". In 1995 the co-writers of Disney's Toy Story, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolov, produced a movie of it, originally entitled Frankenstein Sings, but later released in the US under Monster Mash the Movie. Bobby starred in it with Candace Cameron, Jimmie Walker, Mink Stole, John Kassir, Sarah Douglas, Anthony Crivello, Adam Shankman and Carrie Ann Inaba. (leukemia) b. February 11th 1940.
2008: Humphrey Lyttelton (86) British Jazz patriarc, trumpeter, cartoonist, BBC radio broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio programme 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'. (died peacefully following heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm).
2008: Canhoto da Paraíba (79) Brazilian musician and violinist (heart attack)
2010: Susan Reed (84) Irish-American folk singer, harpist and zitherist who delighted nightclub and radio audiences in the years after World War II. She performed in New York venues such as Cafe Society, where she starred for two years, and the Blue Angel and toured the country under the auspices of Columbia Concerts, making 107 concert appearances alone in one year that brought her the title "America's Concert Favorite". Susan was also a regular at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall in New York, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in LA, and Chicago's Palmer House. Susan also starred with drummer Gene Krupa in the Columbia musical "Glamor Girl" in 1948 and in numerous TV shows including "The Firestone Hour". On Broadway, she starred in the 1946 production of "Billy the Kid" and co-starred with her husband James Karen in regional theater productions of "Brigadoon" and "Finnian's Rainbow" (died of natural causes at San Simeon by the Sound, a nursing home in Greenport, N.Y) b. January 11th 1926.

April 26th
1984: Count Basie (79) American jazz pianist, organist, and bandleader. He led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years. Many notable musicians came to prominence under his direction, including tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison and singers Jimmy Rushing and Joe Williams. His theme songs were "One O'Clock Jump" and "April In Paris". Count Basie introduced several generations of listeners to the Big Band sound and left an influential catalog. The Count Basie Theatre and Count Basie Field in his hometown of Red Bank, New Jersey were named in his honor. The street on which he lived, Mechanic Street has the honorary title of Count Basie Way. On September 26, 2009, Edgecombe Avenue and 160th Street in Washington Heights, Manhattan, were renamed as Paul Robeson Boulevard and Count Basie Place. The corner is the location of 555 Edgecombe Avenue, also known as the Paul Robeson Home, a National Historic Landmark building where Count Basie and Paul Robeson lived (pancreatic cancer) b. August 21st 1904.
1991: Léo Arnaud (86) French-American composer of film scores, best known for Bugler's Dream, which is used as the theme by television networks presenting the Olympic Games in the United States. Born in Lyon, he studied composition at conservatories in Lyon and Paris and after playing as a jazz trombonist in France using the name Leo Vauchant and arranging for the Jack Hylton band in England from 1928 to 1930, he immigrated to the United States in 1931. He worked in Hollywood as an arranger for Fred Waring before joining MGM as an arranger, composer, and orchestrator from 1936 to 1966. In 1980, Leo left Hollywood and retired to Yadkin County, North Carolina (?) b. July 24th 1904.
1991: Carmine Coppola (80) American award winning composer, director songwriter and flute player; he studied at Juilliard and later at the Manhattan School of Music. During the 1940s, he worked under Arturo Toscanini with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Then in 1951, Carmine left the Orchestra to pursue his dream of composing music. During that time he mostly worked as an orchestra conductor on Broadway and elsewhere, working with his son, legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, on additional music for his Finian's Rainbow. Together with Nino Rota, Carmine composed music for The Godfather, and for The Godfather Part II, for which they won Oscars for Best Score. Carmine then scored Francis' Apocalypse Now, for which he won a Golden Globe award for best original score. He also composed three and a half hour score for Francis' 1981 reconstruction of Abel Gance's 1921 epic Napoleon (?) b. June 11th 1910.
1997: Ernest Stewart (47) US keyboardist with KC and the Sunshine Band (asthma attack)
1999: Adrian Borland (41) English singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer; he co-founded his first band, the Wimbledon-based punk rock trio The Outsiders, with himself on vocals and guitar, Bob Lawrence was on bass, and Adrian 'Jan' Janes on the drums. Adrian formed the punk band Sound in 1979 which had gradually evolved from The Outsiders. Their debut album Jeopardy, received favorable reviews. After the band split in 1987, he created a substantial solo career spanning five albums by April 1999 (he succumbed to the symptoms of schizoid-affective disorder and committed suicide) b. December 6th 1957.
2010: Willy Caron (75) Dutch tenor opera singer; he came to fame at the 1964 edition of the International Verdi Concours in Venice where he was hailed by the audience as the Dutch Caruso. Willy performed across Europe and for ten years worked at the Städtische Oper in Cologne. In the Netherlands, he made many recordings as soloist with the Maastrechter Staar Choir and sang as soloist with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra directed by André Rieu Sr. In 1998, he founded the Willy Caron Musical Theatre to make classical music accessible to a wide audience. (?) b. June 15th 1934

April 27th
1999: Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (76) Legendary New Orleans trumpeter & bandleader (liver failure)
2000: Vicki Sue Robinson (45) US singer and broadway star; a strong, vibrant vocalist, her records were among some of the best produced and arranged '70s disco releases with solid beats built on solid songs (cancer). b. May 21st 1954
2008: "Big" Ron O'Brien (56) American disc jockey (pneumonia)
2008: Marios Tokas (54) Cypriot composer (long struggle with cancer)
2010: Morris Pert (62) Scottish composer and percussionist who worked with Yamash'ta. Born in Arbroath, Angus, he graduated with a BMus from Edinburgh University in 1969, and went on to study composition and percussion at the Royal Academy in London. He wrote three symphonies, "The Rising of the Moon", premiered in Tokyo under Hiroyuko Iwaki in 1981; "The Beltane Rites", was commissioned and performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and "The Ancient Kindred", was premiered by the Munich Opera Orchestra under Eberhard Schoener on German television in 1980. He also worked for eighteen years as a session musician in recording studios, he worked with many artists, including Paul McCartney, Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Williams, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield, Peter Gabriel, Bryan Ferry, Phil Collins, Elkie Brooks, Talk Talk and the jazz-rock band Brand X. He also arranged for the Classic Rock series of records by the London Symphony Orchestra. In 1977 Morris was voted the fourth jazz and rock percussionist in the world by America's Billboard magazine. He has received five gold albums, an American ASCAP award for a hit song and a nomination by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for his performances on record. Among his other many, many works were an electronic ballet score Continuum for the London Contemporary Dance Theatre at Sadlers Wells; Voyage in Space, twenty short piano pieces; The Ancient Pattern for chamber ensemble, a McEwen commission from Glasgow University and, more recently, incidental music for Eden Court Theatre's production of Peter Pan in Inverness and Aurora, a work for taped electronics. Morris had just completed his fifth album for release, "Chromosphere" (?) b. September 9th 1947.

April 28th
1975: Tom Donahue (46) American FM disc jockey; was a pioneering rock and roll radio disc jockey, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 as a non performer, as one of only three disc jockeys to receive that honor.(heart attack)
1980: Tommy Caldwell (30) bassist, Marshall Tucker Band (died of injures from a car accident)
1981: Steve Currie (33) English electric bass player born in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, and was best known as a member of the English glam rock band T.Rex. His first worked with a local jazz rock band "The Rumble Band", before joining T.Rex as bass guitarist in 1970 and continued to play with them until late 1976. He appeared on all of Bolan's most memorable hit singles from "Ride a White Swan" in 1970 to "Laser Love" in 1976 , as well as all the albums from 1971's Electric Warrior to Dandy in the Underworld released in 1977. After leaving T.Rex, Steve went into session work, and moved to Portugal to live. (car accident) b. May 19th 1947.
1982: Murray McEachern (66) Canadian jazz and swing trombonist and alto saxophonist best known for having played trombone for Benny Goodman, the trombone and alto saxophone for the Casa Loma Orchestra and his studio work in his later career for Hollywood films, including solo performances in The Glenn Miller Story, Paris Blues and The Benny Goodman Story. He studied the violin at the Toronto Conservatory of Music as a boy, and played his first concert recital at Massey Hall at age 12. As a teenager he studied both the saxophone and clarinet, playing with Lucio Agostini and also appearing on CRBC with Percy Faith. He got his big break in 1936 when he went to Chicago and secured the job as soloist on trombone for Benny Goodman's big band. Over time McEachern became proficient on several instruments, including the trombone, trumpet saxophone, bass and violin. He also worked with the Jack Hylton orchestra, the Paul Whiteman orchestra and the Phil Moore orchestra, he toured Europe in 1972 and briefly worked with the Duke Ellington orchestra in 1973 and was owner/director of the Tommy Dorsey orchestra from 1974 to 1977 (?) b. August 16th 1915.
1988: B W Stevenson (38) US singer, songwriter, guitarist (died shortly after undergoing heart surgery)
2007: Tommy Newsom (78) American bandleader and a saxophone player in the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, for which he later became assistant director and was frequently the band's substitute director. Tommy joined the band in 1962, and left it when Carson retired in 1992. Tommy was often a foil for Carson's humor, who nicknamed him "Mr. Excitement" as a sarcastic take on his low-keyed, often dull persona. He was as well known within the music industry as an arranger as he was a performer. He arranged for groups as varied as the Tonight Show ensemble and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and musicians Skitch Henderson, Woody Herman, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Byrd, John Denver, and opera star Beverly Sills (died of bladder and liver cancer) b. February 25th 1929
2009: Valeria Peter Predescu (62) Romanian popular/folk singer (heart attack) b. 1947
2009: Vern Gosdin (74) American country music singer; in 1961 he moved from Alabama to California, where he joined the West Coast Country music movement, first as a member of the Golden State Boys, then the Hillmen before forming The Gosdin Brothers with brother Rex. The duo hit the charts in the late '60s with "Hangin' On" and "Till The End". In the '80s he teamed with Max D. Barnes as a songwriting collaborator, he had hits with "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)"; "Way Down Deep", his first No. 1 single with "I Can Tell by the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)" in 1984; "Do You Believe Me Now"; his 2nd No. 1 hit "Chiseled in Stone," which won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year award in 1989. From 1989-1991, he released a number of songs and three more made the Billboard top 10: "Right in the Wrong Direction," "That Just About Does It" and "Is It Raining at Your House." In 2008, Gosdin released "40 Years of the Voice," a four-CD career retrospective. The boxed set on VGM Records features 101 songs, including 14 previously unreleased tracks recorded 35 years ago (he suffered a stroke at the beginning of this April (2009), died peacefully in his sleep at a Nashville hospital) b. August 5th 1934.
2010: Corrado "Connie" Codarini (80) Canadian pop-gospel bass singer and a founding member of the The Four Lads. In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the singing quartet earned many gold singles and albums. Their first single was "The Mocking Bird" on Columbia's Okeh label was released in 1952. This was followed by many hits including 5 gold records "Istanbul", "Moments to Remember," "Standin' on the Corner," "No, Not Much," and "Who Needs You," They made many television appearances including the award-winning PBS special, Moments to Remember. In 1984 The Four Lads were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003 (?) b. ????

April 29th
1953: Alice Ernestine Prin (52) French nightclub singer, artists' model, actress, painter; She was a symbol of bohemian and creative Paris, she flourished in, and helped define, the 1920s liberated culture of Paris. At age 28 she was declared Queen of Montparnasse and was one of the century's first truly independent women. Kiki's music hall performances in black hose and garters included crowd-pleasing risqué songs, which were uninhibited, yet inoffensive. For a few years during the 1930s, she owned a Montparnasse cabaret, which she named Chez Kiki. As an artists' model she poses for dozens of artists, including Chaim Soutine, Julian Mandel, Tsuguharu Foujita, Francis Picabia, Jean Cocteau, Arno Breker, Alexander Calder, Per Krohg, Hermine David, Pablo Gargallo, Mayo, and Tono Salazar. Moise Kisling painted a portrait of Kiki titled Nu assis, one of his best known. (Kiki died in Sanary-sur-Mer, France, from complications of alcoholism or drug dependence. A large crowd of artists and fans attended her Paris funeral and followed the procession to her interment in the Cimetière du Montparnasse) b. October 2nd 1901.
1961: Cisco Houston/Gilbert Vandine Houston (42) American folk singer and songwriter who is closely associated with Woody Guthrie due to their extensive history of recording together. He was a regular recording artist for Moses Asch's Folkways recording studio. He also performed with such folk/blues musicians as Lead Belly, Sonny Terry, and the Almanac Singers. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, but moved to California while he was still young, and he attended school in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles where began to play the guitar. In 1938 he pursued a career in acting. During this time he visited folk singer Woody Guthrie at a radio studio in Hollywood, which was the beginning of the close friendship with Guthrie. The two men began traveling together, touring migrant worker camps, singing, and promoting unionism and workers’ rights, eventually making their way to New York City. Cisco toured India in 1959 with Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, and Marilyn Childs. In 1960 he hosted the television special, “Folk Sound U.S.A.” on CBS, and appeared later that year at the Newport Folk Festival (sadly died of stomach cancer) b. August 18th 1918.
1990: Floyd Butler (52) American vocalist; member of the musical group, 'The Vocals' from 1963 until they disabanded in 1965, their first single, 'Lonesome Mood,' was released in '64. He next joined 'The Fifth Dimension,' before co-founding the group, 'The Friends of Distinction,' in 1968. The group had several hits including 'Grazing In The Grass,' 'Going In Circles,' 'Time Waits For No One,' I Need You,' and 'Love Or Let Me Be Lonely,' (heart attack) b. June 5th 1937
1993: Mick Ronson (46) English guitarist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer; after several attempts through the '60s of making it in London, he got his break in early 1970, when he joined David Bowie's new backing band called The Hype. The Hype played their first gig at The Roundhouse on 22 February 1970. They also went under the names 'Harry The Butcher' and 'David Bowie's New Electric Band' before they became known as The Spiders From Mars. Mick was a key part of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album. He co-produced Lou Reed's album Transformer with Bowie, playing lead guitar on the album and piano on the song "Perfect Day". Again with Bowie, he recut the track "The Man Who Sold The World" for Lulu, released as a single in the UK, and played on a few tracks on the Dana Gillespie album "Weren't Born a Man". He appeared on the 1972 country-rock album Bustin' Out by Pure Prairie League, and on Bowie's Aladdin Sane and 1973's covers album "Pin Ups". After leaving Bowie after the "Farewell Concert" in 1973, Mick released three solo albums. After a short stint with Mott the Hoople he became a long-time collaborator with former Mott the Hoople leader Ian Hunter. Mick went on to work as a musician, writer and record producer with many other acts including Slaughter & The Dogs, Morrissey, The Wildhearts, The Rich Kids, Elton John, Johnny Cougar, T-Bone Burnett, Dalbello, Benny Mardones, Iron City Houserockers and the Italian band Moda and many others. His last, high profile, live performance was his famed appearance at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992. Poignantly, he played on "All The Young Dudes" with David Bowie and Ian Hunter, and "Heroes" with Bowie. His s last ever recorded session was as a guest on the 1993 Wildhearts album Earth Vs The Wildhearts, where he played the guitar solo on the song "My Baby Is A Headfuck" (cancer) b. May 26th 1946.
2000: Jonah Jones (90) American jazz trumpeter; he began in the 1920s playing on Mississippi riverboats, in 1928 he joined with Horace Henderson, before working with Jimmie Lunceford and from 1932-1936 he had a successful collaboration with Stuff Smith. In the 1940s he worked in big bands like Benny Carter's and Fletcher Henderson and spend most of the decade with Cab Calloway's band. In the 1950s he had his own quartet, his most mentioned accomplishment of this style is perhaps their version of "On The Street Where You Live." which led to his quartet performing on An Evening With Fred Astaire in 1958 and won at the Grammy Awards of 1960. In 1972 he made a return to more "core" jazz work with Earl Hines. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999 (died in New York City) b. December 31st 1909.

April 30th
1982: Lester Bangs (33) American rock critic; he began writing freelance in 1969, after reading an ad in Rolling Stone soliciting readers' reviews. His first piece was a negative review of the MC5 album Kick Out The Jams. In 1973, Jann Wenner fired him from Rolling Stone over a negative review of Canned Heat, after which he moved to Detroit to edit and write for Creem, which is where his legendary stature as a rock critic really began to grow. After leaving Creem, he wrote for The Village Voice, Penthouse, Playboy, New Musical Express and many other publications. Lester was not only involved as a critic of music but as a musician in his own right. He teamed up with Joey Ramone's brother, Mickey Leigh to put together a New York group named Birdland. In 1980 he traveled to Austin, Texas and met a punk rock group named the Delinquents. During his stay in Austin he recorded an album as Lester Bangs and the Delinquents entitled "Jook Savages on the Brazos" (overdosing, through drug interaction, after treating a cold with Darvon and Valium) b. December 13th 1948.
1983: Andy Cavaliere (36) UK manager of Steve Winwood and others (heart attack) b. ??
1983: Muddy Waters/McKinley Morganfield (68) American legendary Blues Man born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, he taught himself harmonica as a child. He later took up guitar, eagerly absorbing the classic delta blues styles of Robert Johnson and Son House and went on to be known as "the Father of Chicago blues". In 1940, Muddy moved to Chicago for the first time. He played with Silas Green a year later, and then returned to Mississippi. In the early part of the decade he ran a juke joint, complete with gambling, moonshine and a jukebox; he also performed music there himself. In 1943, Muddy headed back to Chicago were he eventually recorded including "Baby Face", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Rollin' and Tumblin'", "I Just Want to Make Love to You", "I'm Ready", "Got My Mojo Working" and "Long Distance Call". Muddy headed to England in 1958 and shocked audiences with his loud, amplified electric guitar and thunderous beat, he was a major inspiration for the British blues explosion in the 1960s. His performance at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival, recorded and released as his first live album, "At Newport 1960", helped turn on a whole new generation to his sound. In the 70s he won six Grammy Awards, plus recieving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. In the 90s and 2000s he won 4 Blues Foundation Awards. Muddy has also been inducted into both the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was ranked #17 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. (Sadly passed away in his sleep) b. April 4th 1913.
1988: James McCracken (61) US tenor vocalist; he made his professional opera debut in 1952 with the Central City Opera in Colorado as Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème. He sang minor roles at the Metropolitan Opera from 1953 to 1957, while he was still a student. In 1957, he moved to Europe and made his debut at the Vienna State Opera. He had great success with the Zürich Opera. Starting in 1963, he became one of the Met's principal dramatic tenors. Productions that he starred in included Otello, Carmen, Aida, Le prophete and Tannhaeuser. James left us a number of recordings, such as "Le prophète", with Marilyn Horne and Renata Scotto; "Carmen", conducted by Leonard Bernstein; "Fidelio" with Birgit Nilsson; "Otello" with Dame Gwyneth Jones; "Pagliacci", and Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder with Jessye Norman, Tatiana Troyanos and David Arnold, from 1979. James was a member of the Metropolitan Opera's final U.S. tour, where he sang the role of Canio in Pagliacci (?) b. December 16th 1926.
1999: Darrell Sweet (51) English drummer for the Scottish hard rock band, Nazareth. He was a co-founder of Nazareth, which was formed in 1968. The band moved to London in 1970 and released their eponymous debut album in 1971. After their second album Exercises, in 1972, Nazareth supported Deep Purple on tour, and issued the Roger Glover produced, Razamanaz, in early 1973. This collection spawned two UK Top Ten hits, "Broken Down Angel" and "Bad Bad Boy". This was followed by Loud 'N' Proud in late 1973, which contained another hit single with a hard-rocking cover of Joni Mitchell's song "This Flight Tonight". Then came Rampant, in 1974, that was equally successful with the single, "Shanghai'ed in Shanghai". Their 1975 album, Hair of the Dog, title track, popularly though incorrectly, known as "Son Of A Bitch", became a staple of 1970s rock radio. The American version of the album included the The Everly Brothers, and Roy Orbison, the melodic ballad "Love Hurts", that was released as a hit single in the UK and in the U.S., where it went platinum. The track became the band's only U.S. Top Ten hit and it spent a record-breaking 60 weeks on the Norwegian chart. Darrell toured, performed and recorded with Nazareth for 31 years and performed on 29 albums (and any best ofs) before his untimely death. (The band had arrived at Indiana's New Albany Amphitheater when Darrell began to feel ill, within minutes he had gone into cardiac arrest and was taken to Floyd Memorial Hospital in New Albany, where so sadly, doctors pronounced him dead) b. 16 May 16th 1947.
2007: Zola Taylor (69) American singer born in Los Angeles, California. She was the only female member of The Platters from 1954 to 1962, when the group produced most of their popular singles such as "My Prayer", "Twilight Time", "Harbor Lights", "To Each His Own", "If I Didn't Care" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1998. The Platters were the first rock and roll group to have a Top Ten album in America. They were also the only act to have three songs included on the American Graffiti soundtrack that sparked an oldies revival in the early to mid-1970s: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "The Great Pretender" and "Only You (and You Alone)". (died from pneumonia, following a series of strokes) b. March 17th 1938.
2007: Grégory Jean-Paul Lemarchal (23) French singer who rose to fame by winning the fourth series of the reality TV programme Star Academy France, broadcast on the TF1 television network. In March 2005, Gregory released his debut single, "Écris l'histoire", which peaked at number 2 in French Singles Chart. His debut album sold over 1 million albums in France, "Je deviens moi", becoming the second highest-selling album of Star Academy France winner, behind Jenifer Bartoli. At the 2006 NRJ Music Awards, Gregory won the award "Breakthrough Artist of the Year". His posthumous album, La Voix d'un ange, was released one month and a half after his death, with profits going towards the Association Grégory Lemarchal, again reached No.1 in the charts. (Tragically he died prematurely from complications of cystic fibrosis, a hereditary disease which affects the lungs, liver, pancreas and intestine of which he was diagnosed with at the age of twenty months. Gregory died while waiting for a lung transplant) b. May 13th 1983.
2010: Gerry Ryan (53) Irish disc jockey and radio-television presenter born in Dublin. He presented The Gerry Ryan Show on radio station RTÉ 2fm each weekday morning from 1988 until his death. Gerry hosted several series of television shows, including Secrets, Gerry Ryan Tonight, Ryantown, Gerry Ryan's Hitlist and Operation Transformation and Ryan Confidential, which recently finished its seventh series on RTÉ One. He was also noted for co-presenting the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest from the Point Theatre, Dublin and presenting an edition of the long-running chat show The Late Late Show in 2008 (On April 29th Gerry had mentioned feeling ill and cancelled all his appointments. He was found dead in the bedroom of his Leeson Street, Dublin apartment by his partner and a builder the following afternoon. The alarm was raised when he failed to turn up to present his radio show that morning) b. June 4th 1956.

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