JANUARY BIRTHDAYS and DEATHS: MUSICIAN BIRTHDATES, CELEBRITY DEATHS

January 1st
1953: Hank Williams/Hiram "Hank" King Williams (29) US legendary country singer, guitarist, songwriter. (died of a heart attack in the backseat of a Cadillac on the way to a gig. It was brought on by a lethal cocktail of pills and alcohol, B12, morphine & whiskey. Over 20,000 mourners attended his funeral).
1984: Alexis Korner (55) French writer, radio presenter , legendary blues and jazz guitarist, "the father of British blues", he was instrumental in bringing together various English blues musicians, such as John Mayall as well as Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who went on to form the Rolling Stones. (cancer).
1991: Buck Ram (73) manager and songwriter to The Platters; he wrote 99% of the Platter's hits such as "Only You", "The Great Pretender", "Twilight Time", he also wrote, produced and/or arranged for The Coasters, The Drifters, Ike and Tina Turner, Ike Cole, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others. He wrote the lyrics to "I'll Be Home For Christmas" as a sixteen year old college student as a gift for his mother. (?)
1997: Townes Van Zandt (52) US country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet. The film "Be Here to Love Me" chronicling the artist's life and legacy was released in the United States in 2006 (massive pulmonary embolus, blood clot in the lungs).
1997: Hagood Hardy (57) Canadian composer, pianist, and vibraphonist. He is best known for the 1975 single, "The Homecoming," and for his soundtrack to the Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea films. (?)
2007: Del Reeves (74) US country singer; he became one of the most successful male country singers of the 1960s, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty-type songs (emphysema).
2007: Tad Jones (54) US music historian and researcher best known for discovering Louis Armstrong's correct birthdate.He was co-author of "Up From the Cradle of Jazz", long anticipated book on the early life of Louis Armstrong was almost complete when he died. (died unexpectedly from a fall).

January 2
1973: Joe Harriott/Joe Arthurlin (44) Jamacian alto saxophonist moved to UK in 1951, big influence in the British Jazz world (died of cancer).
1977: Errol Garner (55) US jazz pianist and composer whose distinctive and melodic style brought him both popular acclaim and the admiration of peers. It is a well-known fact that Garner was never able to read sheet music (?)
1981: David Lynch (52) Original member of the Platters - tenor singer (cancer)
1997: Randy California (45) US guitarist, singer, songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit (drowned when rescuing his 12-year old son when he was sucked into a riptide in the surf off Hawaii).
2000: Nathaniel Adderley (68) American jazz cornetist who played in the hard bop and soul jazz genres. He was the brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley ().
2002: Armi Aavikko (43) Finnish singer; best known for her duets with Ilkka Lipsanen, (artist name "Danny"). She was chosen as Miss Finland in 1977 (pneumonia, brought on by chronic alcoholism)
2002: Zachary Sebastian Rex James 'Zac' Foley (31) UK bassist for the band EMF (died due to an overdose of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, barbiturates and alcohol).
2006: Bill DeArango (84) US jazz guitarist, played and recorded with all icons like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie (dementia).
2008: Ben Marlin (31) US bassist with the brutal death metal band Disgorge (cancer).

January 3
1967: Mary Garden (92) an important Scottish soprano with a substantial career in France and America in the first third of the 20th century. She was described as "the Sarah Bernhardt of opera". (dementia).
1980: Amos Milburn (52) US blues & boogie pianist, singer; one of the greatest pioneers in the history of R&B pounded out some of the most hellacious boogies of the postwar era, usually recording in Los Angeles for Aladdin Records, specializing in good-natured upbeat romps about booze and its effects (good & bad) that proved massive hits during the immediate pre-rock era. (heart problems)
1981: David Lynch (51) tenor vocals; one of the original members of the Platters singing group formed in the 1950's(cancer)
2002: Juan García Esquivel (83) Mexican band leader, pianist, and film score composer. He's known today mostly for creating unique jazz and lounge music. He arranged many traditional Mexican songs like "Besame Mucho", "La Bamba", "El Manisero"(Cuban/Mexican) and "La Bikina"(?)
2002: Zak Foley (31) bassist, EMF (died after a cocktail of drink and drugs while celebrating the New Year festivities)

January 4
1970: Neil Boland () Chauffeur (The Who's drummer, Keith Moon ran over him. Moon was escaping from a Gang of skinheads after a fight broke out at a pub in Hatfield, England. Moon had never passed his driving test).
1981: Ruth Lowe (66) Canadian songwriter, pianist; She wrote the song "I'll Never Smile Again" after her husband died during surgery. The song was later covered by many artists, including Frank Sinatra (his first great hit) and The Ink Spots. Also she composed the Frank Sinatra hit "Put Your Dreams Away", Frank's 'signature' song, and was played at his funeral (?).
1986: Phil Lynott (36) Irish singer, bassist, songwriter, composer, founder member of Thin Lizzy (heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose)
1991: Leo Wright (57) A first-rate bop-oriented alto saxophonist, clarinetist, he was also one of the finest flutists jazz has known.().
1998: John Gary (66) American pop vocalist, crooner; considered by many to be one of the best crooners due to his extaordinary breath control and tonal quality of his voice. He had an exceptionally wide range of three octaves ()
2004: Jake Hess (76) American singer Grammy Award-winning gospel singer in the southern United States and founder of The Imperials (heart attack).
2008: Keith Baxter (36) British rock drummer; founder member of 'Skyclad', recording five albums with them before joining '3 Colours Red' or '3CR'. (liver failure).

January 5
1976: Mal Evans (40) Roadie, Beatles (shot dead by police at his Los Angeles apartment; he pointed a rifle at the police while upset).
1979: Charles Mingus (56) Jazz pianist & bassist, bandleader (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis popularly known as Lou Gehrig's disease).
1997: Burton Lane (84) American composer and lyricist; best known for his Broadway musicals, Finian's Rainbow and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, also credited with discovering the 11-year-old Frances Gumm aka Judy Garland (?).
1998: Sonny Bono (62) Singer duo Sonny & Cher, solo (killed in a skiing accident at a resort near Lake Tahoe).
1998: Ken Forssi (55) US bassist; Love /studio sessionist (brain cancer).
2005: Danny Sugerman (50) US music manager; the second manager of the Los Angeles based rock band The Doors, and wrote several books about Jim Morrison and The Doors, including 'No One Here Gets Out Alive' co-authored with Jerry Hopkins, and the autobiography 'Wonderland Avenue'. He also managed Iggy Pop, and wrote Appetite For Destruction: The Days of Guns 'N Roses (lung cancer).

January 6
1980: Georgeanna Marie Tillman (36) US singer with the Marvelettes, Motown (sickle cell anemia).
1986: Joe Farrell/Joseph Carl Firrantello (48) US jazz saxophonist and flutist; played with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. He is best known for performance with Chick Corea in Return to Forever, as well for a series of albums under his own name on the CTI label. He also recorded with Charles Mingus, Andrew Hill, Jaki Byard and Elvin Jones. (?)
1993: John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (75) US jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer, and composer. He was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz (cancer).
1996: Adrienne Brown (47) James Brown's wife. (suffered a heart attack during a major plastic surgery operation)
1999: Michel Petrucciani (36) French jazz pianist (died at from a pulmonary infection).
2005: Les Robinson (90) American jazz musician; started on the trumpet, but famous for playing and recording alto-sax and sometimes clarenet with the big swing bands of Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Howard Thomas to mention just a few. He was Artie Shaw's lead alto on the classic "Begin the Beguine" and all Artie Shaw's recordings from 1937 to 1939 (?) b. 1915
2006: Lou Rawls (72) US jazz-soul-R&B singer/songwriter (lung cancer).
2007: "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow (72) Pedal steel guitarist, co-founded influential 1960s country rock group the Flying Burrito Brothers (complications of Alzheimer's disease).

January 7
1964: Cyril Davies (32) one of the first UK blues harmonica players and blues musician. (leukaemia).
1980: Larry Williams (44) US singer, saxophone, keyboards, piano; best known for writing and recording some Rock'n'Roll standards from 1957 to 1959 for Specialty Records, including "Bony Moronie" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" (died from a gun-shot wound in his Los Angeles, California home. The death was deemed suicide, though there was much speculation otherwise. No suspects were ever arrested or charged).
2002: Jon Lee (33) the original drummer for the successful British rock band Feeder. (found hanged at his Miami home).
2004: John Guerin (64) Session drummer; Self-taught on drums, percussion and keyboards, an extremely successful "crossover" artist, frequently bridging the gaps between jazz and rock with his expansive drum vocabulary (pneumonia).

January 8
1979: Sara Carter (80) American country musician; known for her deep and distinctive singing voice, she was the lead singer on most of the recordings of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930's. She married A. P. Carter on June 18, 1915 (??).
1991: Steve Clark (30) the co-lead guitarist for British heavy metal band Def Leppard (drug overdose)
2002: David McWilliams (54) Singer, songwriter, guitarist; never had a 'hit' in England, he was very popular on continental Europe, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Japan. (heart attack).

January 9
1995: Peter Cook (57) Comedian, writer, UK TV music show 'Revolver'; he was an English satirist, writer and comedian who is widely regarded as the leading figure in the British satire boom of the 1960s.(internal haemorrhaging).

January 10
1972: Al Goodman (81) Russian songwriter, stage composer, musical director, arranger, conductor, and pianist; wrote some memorable songs such as "When hearts Are Young", "Call Of Love" and "Twlilight". He also worked on several musicals such as 'The Band Wagon', 'Good News' and 'Ziegfeld Follies' (?).
1976: Howlin Wolf/Chester Arthur Burnett (65) Blues guitarist, singer, harmonica player; an experimental bluesman who formulated a wide range of moods and possibilities for his songs. His raw, rasping, fierce voice, combined with his imposing physical presence and wild stage abandon, made him unforgettable. His influence stretched far beyond the realm of the blues (died peacefully, complications arising from kidney disease).
1987: Marion Hutton/Marion Thornburg (67) American singer and actress; Discovered by Glenn Miller while singing with the Vincent Lopez Orchestra (cancer).
1997: Kenneth Pickett (54) UK singer for the psychedelic rock band, The Creation (heart attack).
2001: Bryan Gregory (46) US founder member and guitarist of The Cramps (heart attack).
2008: Dave Day/Dave Havlicek (?) US banjoist and rhythm guitarist with The Monks, a seminal pre-punk band, made up of former American soldiers (died four days after suffering a heart attack).
2008: Rod Allen/Rodney Bainbridge (63) British lead singer and bassist with The Fortunes; first came to prominence and international acclaim in 1965, when "You've Got Your Troubles" broke into the American and British Top Tens. (liver cancer).

January 11
1952: Aureliano Pertile (67) Italian tenor singer; one of the twentieth century's most important tenors (He died in Milan, where he was teaching at the Conservatory)
1996: Ike Isaacs (73) Burmese guitarist; described as a master, he was the dominant guitarist in English jazz. He played with all the greats, including a 2 year world tour with Stephane Grapelli ()
1999: Barry Pritchard (55) vocal, guitar, keyboard, Fortunes (heart attack).
2002: Mickey Finn (55) percussion, T Rex/Tyrannosaurus Rex.(kidney and liver problems).
2004: Max Duane Barnes (67) singerwith the Golden Rockets, songwriter; his songs recorded by George Jones, Vince Gill, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Vern Gosdin, the Kendalls, Randy Travis, Pam Tillis, Keith Whitley, Waylon Jennings, John Anderson and Eddy Raven, among others. (pneumonia)
2005: Jimmy Griffin (61) Guitarist for Bread, after which he went solo (cancer).
2005: Spencer Dryden (67) drummer for Jefferson Airplane, New Riders of the Purple Sage & Dinosaurs.(cancer).
2007: Puchi Balseiro (81) Puerto Rican singer, guitarist, composer, songwriter, radio & television personality. Among many other things she also originated, produced, and directed the: "Festivales del Filin"...The Feeling Festivals (?).

January 12
1971: Captain John Handy (70) US jazz alto saxophonist & clarinetist. His style was rooted in Dixieland jazz but also incorporated elements of R&B. He played in New Orleans bands from the 1920s, including in his own Louisiana Shakers. In the 60s he played frequently with Kid Sheik Cola and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band & recorded for GHB Records, RCA, and Jazz Crusade(?) b: June 24th 1900.
1983: Anthony "Rebop" Kwaku Baah/Remi Kabaka (37) Nigerian-Swedish percussionist with the UK band Traffic; he joined the German band Can in 1977, playing with them until their breakup in 1979, appearing on the albums Saw Delight, Out of Reach and Can, also played with Ginger Baker's Air Force, Wings and other bands (brain haemorrhage while in Stockholm). b: Feb 13th 1944.
2003: Maurice Gibb (53) UK singier/songwriter in the trio Bee Gees, formed with his brothers Robin and Barry. The trio got their start in Australia, and found major success when they returned to England. The Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time. (heart attack during abdominal surgery) b: Dec 22nd 1949.
2004: Randy VanWarmer (48) US singer, songwriter, composer; best remembered for his hit "Just When I Needed You Most." It reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart and #4 in the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1979. There are several cover versions of this song, including those by Dolly Parton and Smokie. He wrote several songs for the group The Oak Ridge Boys including "I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes." (died after a long battle with leukaemia) b: March 30th 1955.
2007: Alice Coltrane (69) US jazz pianist, organist, harpist, composer, wife of the late saxophone legend John Coltrane After his death she continued to play with her own groups, moving into more and more meditative music, and later playing with her children. She was one of the few harpists in the history of jazz. Her essential recordings were made in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Impulse! Records. (respiratory failure). b: Aug 27th 1937.

January 13
1963: Sonny Clark/Conrad Yeatis (31) American hard jazz & bop pianist: leader/sideman/guest (heroine overdose)
1974: Raoul Jobin/Joseph Roméo (67) Canadian tenor; honoured as a MasterWorks by the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada in 2001 ().
1979: Donny Hathaway (33) Soul singer (apparent suicide falling from a 15th floor New York hotel window)
1983: Barry Galbraith (63) US jazz guitarist; played with all the greats ().
2005: Nell Rankin (81) American mezzo-soprano and opera singer; the first American to win the International Mus


	a Phil Brodie Band Info Page "Births & Deaths" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ JANUARY: Charts ~ JANUARY: On This Day ~ JANUARY: Quiz ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ JANUARY SADLY DEPARTED ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ MORE BIRTHDATES & PASSINGS January . February . March . April . May . June . July August . September . October . November . December ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THESE PAGES ARE CONTINUALLY ADDED TO WEEKLY JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
Born ~ January 1st 1884: Papa Celestin (New Orleans jazz bandleader, trumpeter, singer.)15.Dec.1954 1894: Jasper Taylor* (US drummer; Buffalo Bill's Wild West show/Original Washboard Band)07.Oct.1964 1907: Erich Schmid* (Swiss composer; Tonhalle Orchestra)17.Dec.2000 1919: Al McKibbon* (American bass player; Giants of Jazz)29.July.2005 1923: Milt Jackson* (US vibraphonist)09.Oct.1999 1900: Xavier Cugat* (Spanish violinist, band leader; Latin-American dance music)27.Oct.1990 1931: Helmut Brandt* (German baritone saxophonist)* 26.July.2001 1931: Manny Oquendo (US jazz percussionist) 1936: Sonny Greenwich (Canadian jazz guitarist) 1942: Joe McDonald (vocals, harmonica, guitar; Country Joe and the Fish) 1942: Yoshio Ikeda (Japanese bass player) 1947: Leonid Chizhik (Moldavian avant-garde jazz and post-bop pianist) 1946: Susannah McCorkle (American vocalist)19.May.2001 1948: Paula Tsui (Hong Kong cantopop singer) 1949:* Arthur 'T-Boy' Ross (US songwriter with Motown; brother of Diana Ross)22.April.1996. 1950: Morgan Fisher* (UK keyboardist, producer, writer, artist; Mott the Hoople/Morgan/Solo). 1950: Steve Ripley (singer, songwriter, studio engineer, guitarist, inventor; Tractors) 1951: Andy Gonzalez (US jazz bass player) 1952: Urs Leimgruber (Swiss tenor jazz saxophonist) 1953: Alpha Blondy/Seydou Koné (Ivorian reggae singer) 1953: Greg Carmichael (UK guitarist; Acoustic Alchemy) 1953: Alpha Blondy (reggae singer) 1954: Mikey Dread/Michael Campbell (Jamaican singer, producer, broadcaster)15.March.2008. 1958: Grandmaster Flash/Joseph Saddler* (DJ, rapper) 1958: David Wayne (American singer, Metal Church)09.May.2005. 1961: Eiichi Hayashi* (US alto saxophonist) 1966: Amelia Fletcher (singer, guitarist; Talulah Gosh/Heavenly/Marine Research/Tender Trap) 1967: John Digweed (Brit disc jockey and record producer) 1971: Chris Potter (US alto saxophonist, multi-musician) 1972: Tom Barman (singer, guitar, film director; Belgium band dEUS) 1975: Thomas Bangaltier (keyboards; Daft Punk) 1975: Robert Westerholt (Dutch guitarist; Within Temptation) 1976: Jean Grae/Tsidi Ibrahim (South African rapper; The Roots) 1979: Brody Dalle (Australian guitarist; The Distillers) 1985: Lee Sung Min (Korean vocalist; boy band Super Junior) January 2nd 1936: Roger Miller (US country singer)25.Oct.1992. 1935: Neil Downing* (Irish writer, delta blues musician). 1946: Michael George 'Chick' Churchill (keyboards, Ten Years After). 1950: David Shifrin (American classical clarinetist). 1952: Ricky Van Shelton (US country singer). 1954: Dawn Silva (US singer; The Brides of Funkenstein/P-Funk). 1954: Glenn Goins (singer, guitarist; Parliament/Quazar)29.July.1978. 1958: Vladimir Ovchinnikov* (Russian classical pianist). 1963: Keith Gregory (UK bassist; Wedding Present/Cha Cha Cohen)? 1967: Robert Gregory (UK drummer; Babybird)? 1970: Robert Fertitta (American opera singer). 1970: Sanda Ladosi (Romanian singer). 1971: Renee Elise Goldsberry (American actress and singer). 1971: Skoob/Books/Willie Hines (hip-hop,rapper; Das EFX). 1975: Chris Cheney (Australian singer, guitarist; The Living End). 1975: Douglass Robb (lead singer; Hoobastank). 1981: Kelton "LDB" Kessee (singer; Immature). January 3rd 1902: Preston Jackson (American trombonist)12.Nov.1983 1909: Victor Borge* (Danish pianist, humorist)23.Dec.2000 1916: Maxene Andrews* (US high harmony singer; The Andrews Sisters)21.Oct.1995 1919: Herbie Nichols (American jazz pianist, composer)12.April.1963 1920: Renato Carosone (Italian jazz singer)20.May.2001. 1921: Musa Kaleem* (American tenor saxophonist) 1922: Harold 'Geezil' Minerve (Cuban international freelance alto saxophonist)04.June.1992. 1924: Nell Rankin* (American opera singer)13.Jan.2005 1926: George Martin* (producer; The Beatles/Humphrey Lyttleton many more) 1928: Al Belletto (US alto saxophonist) 1936: Ray Goins (US bluegrass banjoist; Pine Fiddlers/Goins Brothers)07.July.2007. 1938: Noel Crow* (Australian bandleader, clarinetist) 1938: Ian Hunter-Randall (UK trumpeter) 1939: Brian Smith (New Zealand-born flautist, saxophonist) 1941: Van Dyke Parks (US songwriter, producer, keyboards, piano; session player] 1945: Stephen Stills (guitar, keyboards, bass; Crosby, Stills & Nash/Buffalo Springfield/freelance/solo) 1946: Motohiko Hino (Japanese drummer)13.May.1999 1946: John Paul Jones* (bass, keyboards; Led Zeppelin). 1955: Helen O'Hara/Helen Bevington (Violin, Fiddle; Dexy's Midnight Runners/Whispers) 1964: Raymond McGinley (singer, songwriter, guitarist; Scotland's Teenage Fanclub) 1966: Martin Galway (Irish composer; computer games) 1969: James Carter (US saxophones, flute, bass clarinet; session/freelance) 1975: Thomas Bangalter (French disc jockey of Daft Punk fame) 1978: Kimberley Locke (American Singer) 1980: Rob Arnold (US guitarist; Chimaira) January 4th 1936: John Gorman (singer,director for entertainment; Scaffold/Weekend TV) 1942: John McLaughlin (Jazz guitarist, Mahavishnu Orchestra) 1946: Arthur Conley (soul singer, songwriter)16.Nov.2003. 1944:* Jimmy Campbell (singer, songwriter; The Kirkbys/23rd Turnoff/Rockin' Horse)12.Feb.2007. 1947: Chris Cutler* (drummer; Henry Cow/Pere Ubu/Residents) 1954: Eugene Chadbourne (guitarist; Camper Van Chadbourne/Shockabilly) 1955: Clive Gregson (singer, songwriter, guitar; Clive Gregson & Christine Collister, Any Trouble) 1956: Bernard Sumner (guitarist; Electronic, New Order) 1957: Patty Loveless (singer, guitarist) 1958: Macel King (singer; Sweet Sensation) 1960: Michael Stipe (lead singer; R.E.M.) 1962: Robin Guthrie (guitar, keyboards, programming; Cocteau Twins) 1965: David Glasper (lead singer; Breathe) 1965: Beth Gibbons (singer; Portishead) 1965: David Glasper (lead singer, guitarist; Breathe) 1965: Cait O'Riordan (bassist; Pogues) 1966: Deana Carter (US country singer, guitarist) 1967: Benjamine Darvill (harmonica, mandolin, acoustic, electric guitar; Crash Test Dummies) 1977: Timothy Wheeler (guitar, vocals; Irish band Ash] January 5th 1923: Sam Phillips (founder of Sun Records)30.July.2003 1932: Johnny Adams* (US soul singer)14.Sept.1998 1940: George Malone* (second tenor; Monotones) 1940: Athol Guy (bass player, Australian Seekers) 1941: Grady Thomas (singer; Parliament Funkadelic/Funkadelic) 1944: Jo Ann Kelly (US blues singer, acoustic guitarist)21.Oct.1990. 1949: George Brown* (drummer, Kool & The Gang) 1950: Chris Stein (guitar, song writer; Blondie) 1951: Peter 'Biff' Byford (UK lead singer; Saxon) 1961: Iris Dement (country singer/songwriter) 1963: Grant Young (drummer; Soul Asylum) 1964: Phil Thornalley (songwriter/vocals/guitar; Cure) 1965: Randy Thurman (US guitarist, artist, poet, composer). 1966: Kate Schellenbach (drummer; Beastie Boys/Luscious Jackson) 1969: Marilyn Manson/Brian Warner (US shock-rock singer) January 6th 1924: Earl Scruggs (five-string banjo virtuoso, singer) 1929: Wilbert Harrison (vocals, piano, guitar; Canned Heat/solo)26.Oct.1994 1933:* Hector Rivera (latin soul keyboardist) 1937: Doris Troy (soul/R&B singer, solo/backup/musicals/songwriter)16.Feb.2004 1935: Johnny "Jok" O'Keefe* (Australian singer, TV personality)06.Oct.1978 1940: Van McCoy* (singer and producer)06.July.1979 1946:* Roger "Syd" Barrett (original singer/lead guitar Pink Floyd)07.July.2006. 1947: Shirley Brown* (southern soul singer) 1947: Sandy Denny (singer, piano, guitar; Fairport Convention)21.Jan.1978 1949: Joey Miskulin* (12-bass accordion; sessionist/freelance) 1951: Kim Wilson (frontman, harmonica; Fabulous Thunderbirds/solo) 1953: Malcolm Young (guitar; AC/DC) 1959: Neil Simpson (bass, 7 string bass, midi bass-synthesizer; Climax Blues Band). 1959: Kathie Sledge (singer, Sister Sledge) 1960: Muzz Skillings (bassist, guitar, singer; Living Colour/Medicine Stick) 1962: Michael Houser (US lead guitarist, song-writer; Widespread Panic)10.Aug.2002. 1963: Jazzie B* (singer, DJ, music producer; Soul II Soul) 1964: Mark O'Toole (bass; Frankie Goes To Hollywood) 1969: Tim Garbutt (member of dance-metal duo Utah Saints). 1975: Chase Hampton (singer; Party-Rodeo) January 7th 1922: Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute virtuoso)20.May.2000. 1937: Paul Revere* (keyboards, vocals; Paul Revere & The Raiders) 1935: Kenny Davern (American jazz clarinetist, sax player)12.Dec.2006. 1935: John Thomas Johnson* (US tuba player; 2,000 film soundtracks)16.Oct.2006 1938: Rory Storm/Alan Caldwell* (lead singer; Rory Storm & The Hurricanes)28.Sept.1972 1939: Lefty Baker/Eustace Britchforth* (guitar, banjo, vocals; Spanky & Our Gang)11.Aug.1971. 1942: Danny Williams* (South African singer; solo/Nat King Cole Tribute Show)06.Dec.2005 1943: Leona Williams* (singer, bassist; Helton Family Band/Loretta Lynn's band/solo) 1944: Mike McGear/Michael McCartney (singer, songwriter; Scaffold/McGough & McGear) 1945: Dave Cousins (leader, vocals,guitar: the Strawbs) 1946: Jann Wenner (founder, editor, publisher; Rolling Stone magazine) 1946: Andy Brown (drums, Fortunes) 1948: Kenny Loggins (singer, songwriter, soundtrack king) 1959: Kathy Valentine (bassist; The Go-Go's) 1974: John Rich (bass, vocals; Big & Rich) January 8th 1935: Elvis Presley (The King Of Rock 'n' Roll)16.Aug.1977 1937: Shirley Bassey* (Welsh singer) 1940: Little Anthony/Anthony Gourdune (singer; Little Anthony & The Imperials) 1942: Jon Lucien (US smooth jazz singer-songwriter)18.Aug.2007. 1943: Lee Jackson* (vocals, bass; The Nice) 1943: Marcus Hutson (vocals; The Whispers) 1945: Terry Sylvester (guitarist, Swinging Blue Jeans) 1945: John Petersen (US drummer, Beau Brummels/Harpers Bizarre)11.Nov.2007. 1946: Robby Krieger* (guitar; The Doors/freelance) 1947: David Bowie/David Jones/Ziggy Stardust (singer, multi musician, songwriter, actor, producer) 1947: Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals; Swinging Blue/Hollies/solo) 1948: Paul King (guitar, kazoo, jug; Mungo Jerry/Skeleton Krew/Earl King Boogie Band) 1955: Mike Reno (lead singer; Loverboy) 1959: Paul Hester (Australian drummer; Split Enz/Crowded House) 1967: R. Kelly/Robert Sylvester Kelly (US singer, song writer, producer) 1969: Jeff Abercrombie (founder bassist; Fuel) 1971: Karen Poole (singer; Alisha's Attic] 1973: Sean Paul (singer,vocal arrangement; Reggae star) 1974: Steven King (bassist; Mansun) January 9th 1920: Clive Dunn (singer, actor) 1941: Joan Baez (folk rock singer; songwriter) 1943: Kenneth Kelly (vocals; The Manhattans) 1943: Dick Yount (guitar, bass, drums; Harpers Bizarre) 1944: Jimmy Page (guitarist /producer, Yardbirds/Led Zeppelin/Honeydrippers/freelance) 1943: Scott Engel (vocals; Walker Brothers/solo) 1948: William "Bill" Cowsill Jr. (singer, guitarist; The Cowsills) 1948: Paul King (guitar, banjo, harmonica, kazoo; Mungo Jerry/King Earl Boogie Band/Skeleton Crew). 1948: Tim Hart (vocals, guitar, dulcimer; Steeleye Span) 1948: Cassie Gaines (US singer; The Honkettes/Lynyrd Skynyrd)20.Oct.1977. 1950: Steve McRay* (keyboards, vocals; 38 Special, Ted Nugent, Sessions) 1950: David Johansen (vocals, harmonica; New York Dolls) 1951: Crystal Gayle/Brenda Gail Webb (singer, songwriter) 1963: Eric Erlandson (guitar, Hole) 1964: Phil Hartnoll (one half of the techno duo Orbital) 1965: Haddaway/Alexander Nestor Haddaway (producer, mixing, singer) 1967: Carl Bell (founder , guitarist; Fuel) 1967: Steve Harwell (lead vocals; Smash Mouth) 1967: Dave Matthews (guitar, vocals, Dave Matthews Band) 1978: A.J. McLean/Alexander James McLean (vocals, Backstreet Boys) January 10th 1917: Jerry Wexler (Co-owner of Atlantic records, vice president at Warner Brothers) 1927: Johnnie Ray (US singer)24.Feb.1990 1924: Max Roach* (US bebop/hard bop drummer, composer; the greats/own bands)16.Aug.2007 1935: Ronnie Hawkins* (rockabilly singer, The Hawks) 1935: Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater/Edward Harrington (US blues guitarist,singer). 1939: Scott McKenzie (UK singer) 1939: Sal Mineo (singer/actor)12.Feb.1976 1943: Jim Croce* (US guitarist, songwriter, pianist, singer)20.Sep.1973 1945: Rod Stewart* (singer, harmonica; The Hoochie Coochie Men/Faces/solo] 1946: Aynsley Dunbar (drums; Jefferson Starship/Journey/Whitesnake/sessionist) 1946: Bob Lang (bassist; Mindbenders) 1948: Teresa Graves (US actress, singer)10.Oct.2002 1948: Cyril Neville* (vocals, percussion, Neville Brothers) 1948: Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards, Steely Dan) 1948: Cyril Neville (vocals, percussion; Neville Brothers) 1953: Pat Benatar/Patricia Andrejewski (US singer) 1955: Luci Martin (vocals; Chic/solo) 1955: Michael Schenker (German guitarist; Scorpions/ UFO) 1956: Shawn Colvin (singer songwriter) 1959: Curt Kirkwood (guitarist, singer;Meat Puppets) 1964: Brad Roberts (vocals, guitar, Crash Test Dummies) 1973: Aerle Taree (vocals; Arrested Development) 1979: Chris "Daddy Mack" Smith (hip hop, rapper; Kris Kross) January 11th 1895: Laurens Hammond (inventor of the Hammond organ)3.July.1973. 1924: Don Cherry* (US singer, NOT the trumpet player). 1924: Slim Harpo/Harmonica Slim/James Moore (blues musician)31.Jan.1970. 1942: Clarence Clemons* (saxophonist; E Street Band/freelance). 1946: Tony Kaye/Anthony John Selvidge (UK keyboards; Yes/Circa). 1946: Naomi Judd/Diana Ellen Judd (US country singer, songwriter; The Judds/solo). 1949: Frederick "Dennis" Greene (US singer; The Kingsmen/Sha Na Na). 1956: Robert Earl Keen Jr (US country, folk singer, songwriter). 1958: Vicki Peterson (vocals, guitar; Bangs/The Bangles/freelance). 1963: Simon Cohen (UK drummer; Roman Holliday). 1968: Tom Dumont (US guitarist; No Doubt/Invincible Overlord). 1971: Mary J. Blige (US R&B, hip-hop singer). 1971: Tom Rowlands (member of the Chemical Brothers). 1977: Nadia Turner (US singer, songwriter, actress, radio/television personality). 1981: Jamelia/Jamelia Niela Davis (UK singer). 1981: Tom Meighan (UK lead singer; Kasabian). 1985: Rie Fu (Japanese pop & folk rock singer, songwriter). January 12th 1900: Harry Roy (UK singer, swing clarinetist, bandleader)01.Feb.1971 1928: Ruth Weston* (R&B singer)17.Nov.2006. 1932: Des O'Connor* (UK singer, comedian, TV presenter) 1931: Roland Alphonso (Jamaican tenor saxophonist; The Skatalites/Soul Vendors)20.Nov.1998. 1930: Glenn Yarborough* (singer; Limelighters) 1937: Rene Netto (clarinet/saxophone/flute; solo/session). 1939: William Lee Golden (country singer; Oak Ridge Boys/solo) 1940: Ronald Shannon Jackson (drummer; Music Revelation Ensemble/Last Exit/freelance) 1941: Long John Baldry (blues singer; Bluesology/Steampacket)21.July.2005 1945: Maggie Bell* (Scottish rock singer, Stone The Crows/Midnight Flyer). 1945: Abe Tilmon (American vocalist with Detroit Emeralds)June 1982 1946: Cynthia Robinson* (vocals; Sly & The Family Stone). 1949: Haneken/Kentaro Haneda (Japanese pianist; movies/video game music)02.June.07. 1951: Chris Bell* (US guitarist, co-founder; Big Star)27.Dec.1978. 1954: Felipe Rose* (US singer, dancer; American Indian chief of the Village People/solo). 1959: Per Gessle (producer, acoustic guitar, mixing; Roxette) 1959: Blixa Bargeld/Christian Emmerich (German guitarist; Einstürzende Neubauten/Bad Seeds/freelance). 1960: Charlie Gillingham (keyboards, Counting Crows) 1963: Guy Chambers (Singer/songwriter/producer; Lemon Trees/Robbie Williams). 1965: Rob Zombie/Robert Bartleh Cummings (singer, songwriter, film director; White Zombie). 1970: Zack de la Rocha (US rapper,poet, activist, vocalist, lyricist; Rage Against the Machine). 1970: Raekwon/Corey Woods (Hip-Hop, Rap artist; Wu-Tang Clan/solo). 1973: Dan Haseltine (singer; Jars of Clay). 1973: Matt Wong (Hawaiin bassist; Reel Big Fish). 1973: Hande Yener (Turkish popular music singer). 1974: Mel C /Sporty Spice/Melanie Chisholm (singer; Spice Girls/solo). 1975: Jason Freese (American multi-musician; Green Day/Freelance). 1977: Kris Roe (US Christian rock singer, guitarist and songwriter; The Ataris). 1978: Jeremy Camp (US guiyarist, singer). 1980: Amerie/Amerie Mi Marie Rogers (US R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, model). January 13th 1884: Sophie Tucker/Sonia Kalish (Czarist Russian (born) singer, comedian)09.Feb.1966 1885: James Vincent Monaco (Italian-born American composer of popular music)16.Oct.1945 1890: Steve Brown (US jazz string bassist)15.Sept.1965. 1902: Louis "Putney" Dandridge* (US bandleader, jazz pianist, vocalist)15.Feb.1946. 1909: Quentin "Butter" Jackson* (US jazz trombonist)02.Oct.1976. 1909: Danny Barker (jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, ukelele)13 March 1994. 1926: Melba Doretta Liston (US trombone, composer, musical arranger)23.April.1999. 1929: Joe Pass* (American jazz guitarist)23.May.1994. 1930: "Bobby Lester" Dallas (US lead singer; Moonglows)15.Oct.1980. 1937: William Richard Davis (US christian music composer; over 150 songs/Alfonso Gugliucci). 1946: Al James (UK bass; Showaddywaddy). 1946: Eero Koivistoinen (Finish tenor jazz saxophonist). 1946: Bill Easley (American tenor saxophonist, multi-reed player; sessionist). 1947: John Lees (Uk guitarist, vocals; Barclay James Harvest). 1954: Trevor Rabin (South African guitarist; Yes/solo/sessionist). 1955: Fred White (US drummer; Earth Wind and Fire/Al McKay All-Stars/freelance) 1957: Don Snow (UK keyboards; Squeeze/solo/freelance). 1957: Jim Paris (UK bassist, Carmel)? 1959: James Lomenzo (American bassist with Megadeth). 1961: Suggs/Graham McPherson (UK singer, actor, radio DJ, TV personality; Madness). 1962: Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins (American country music singer-songwriter). 1965: Wayne Coyne (bassist; Flaming Lips). 1964: David McClusky (drums; Bluebells). 1980: Krzysztof Czerwinski (Polish conductor and organist). 1981: Jason James (US bassist; Bullet for My Valentine). 1989: Triinu Kivilaan (Estonian singer; Vanilla Ninja). January 14th 1908: Russ Columbo/Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo (US singer, violinist, actor)02.Sept.1934. 1917: Billy Butterfield (US jazz trumpeter)18.March.1988. 1929: Billy Walker (US country singer, guitarist)21.May.2006. 1925:* Louis Quilico (Canadian baritone opera singer)15.July.2000. 1930: Johnny Grande* (US pianist, accordianist; Bill Haley and The Comets)03.June.2006. 1931: Caterina Valente* (French-born Italian singer, actress, dancer). 1936: Clarence Carter (blind US singer, guitarist) 1937: Billie Jo Spears (US female country singer) 1938: Allen Toussaint (US singer, songwriter, producer) 1938: Jack Jones (US pop & jazz singer). 1943: José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma" (Venezuelan singer). 1944: Linda Jones (US soul singer)14.March.1972. 1948: Tim Harris* (drums; The Foundations). 1948: Joseph Henry "T-Bone" Burnett (US guitar, singer, songwriter, sessionist). 1956: Ben Heppner (Canadian tenor singer; (opera and classical). 1956: Étienne Daho (French singer, songwriter, record producer). 1956: Bob Bradbury (UK lead singer, guitar; Hello). 1959: Carl Smyth aka Chas Smash (UK hornist, percussion; Madness). 1959: Geoff Tate (US singer; Queensryche). 1962: Patricia Morrison (US bassist, singer; Sisters Of Mercy). 1961: Mike Tramp/Michael Trampenau (Danish singer; White Lion/Freak of Nature). 1965: Slick Rick/Richard D. Walters (UK rapper). 1967: Zakk Wylde (US guitarist; Black Label Society/Ozzy Osbourne Band). 1967: Steve Bowman (US drummer, songwriter; Counting Crows). 1968: LL Cool J/James Todd Smith (US rapper). 1969: Dave Grohl (drummer, guitarist; Queens of the Stone Age/Foo Fighters/Nirvana). 1979: John Reuben (Christian hip hop artist). 1981: Rosa López (Spanish popular singer). 1982: Caleb Followill (US lead singer, rhythm guitar; Kings of Leon). 1988: Mikalah Gordon (US singer: American pop idol). January 15th 1893: Ivor Novello (Welsh singer, composer & actor)06.March.1951. 1909: Gene Krupa* (US jazz & big band drummer)16.Oct.1973. 1941: Captain Beefheart/Don Van Vliet* (US singer, multi-musician; Frank Zappa/The Magic Band). 1942: Edward "Sonny" Bivens (vocals; The Manhattans). 1945: Joan Johnson (US Singer; Dixie Cups). 1947: Pete Waterman, OBE (pop writers, producer, TV presenter) 1948: Ronnie Van Zandt (lead vocalist, Lynyrd Skynrd)20.Oct.1977 1951: Martha Davis* (vocals, The Motels). 1952: Melvyn Gale (UK celloist, pianist; Electric Light Orchestra). 1952: Boris Blank (Swiss keyboards, sampling, percussion, vocals,composer, arranger; Yello). 1953: Rob Gretton (UK manager; New Order/Joy Division)15.May.1999. 1959: Peter Trewavas* (UK bassist; Marillion). 1961: Damian O'Neill (Irish guitarist; The Undertones). 1963: Cronos/Conrad Thomas Lant (UK vocalist, bassist; speed metal band Venom). 1964: Saúl Hernández (Mexican singer, guitarist; Caifanes/ Jaguares). 1965: Adam Jones (US guitarist, songwriter, make-up artist; Tool/The Melvins). 1967: Lisa Lisa/Lisa Velez (vocals, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam) 1971: Max Beesley (UK percussionist, pianist, actor; sessionist/Robbie Williams/Take That/Paul Weller). 1981: Howie Day (US pop singer). January 16th 1913: Vido Musso (tenor sax/clarinet, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey) 1917: Sandy Block (jazz bassist, Chick Webb Band, Van Alexander Orchestra) 1934: Bob Bogle (bass guitar/lead guitar, The Ventures) 1939: Ray Phillips (lead singer; Nashville Teens). 1942: William Francis (keyboards, Dr. Hook) 1942: Barbara Lynn (US singer). 1943/44: Ronnie Milsap (US piano, keyboards, singer). 1944: Jim Stafford (guitar, multi-musician, all round entertainer). 1959: Sade Adu/Helen Folasade Adu (UK singer, songwriter, composer, record producer). 1960: Mark C. Deren (DJ, Mark From Holland). 1961: Paul Raven (UK rock bassist; Ministry/Killing Joke)20.Oct.2007. 1962: Paul Webb* (bass, Talk Talk). 1965: Maxine Jones (singer, En Vogue). 1970: Brendan O'Hare (Scottish drummer; Teenage Fanclub). 1976: Stuart Fletcher (UK bassist; Seahorses/The Yard). 1978: Charles Richard "Ricky" Wilson (lead singer; Kaiser Chiefs). 1979: Aaliyah/Aaliyah Dana Haughton (US singer, dancer, actress and model)25.Aug.2001. 1981: Nick Valensi* (US guitar; Strokes). 1982: Samuel Dylan Murray Preston (UK lead singer; The Ordinary Boys). January 17th 1910: Sidney Catlett (US swinging jazz drummer)25.March.1951. 1916: Tommy Reynolds* (American jazz clarinetist)?? 1927: Eartha Kitt (US singer). 1934: Cedar Anthony Walton, Junior (American hard bop jazz pianist). 1943: Chris Montez/Ezekiel Christopher Montanez (Mexican American singer). 1945: William Hart (vocals; Delfonics). 1948: Mick Taylor (guitar, slide guitar; John Mayalls Bluesbreakers/Rolling Stones/freelance). 1953: Sheila Hutchinson (vocals; Emotions). 1953: Jeff Berlin (US international electric bass player; freelance/sessionist/guest). 1954: Cheryl Bentyne (US singer; Manhattan Transfer/solo). 1955: Steve Earle (US singer, songwriter). 1955: Kazumasa Akiyama (Japanese guitarist). 1956: Paul Antony Young (UK bassist, singer; Streetband/Kat Kool & The Kool Kats/Streetband/Q-Tips). 1958: Jez Strode (UK drummer; Kajagoogoo). 1959: Susanna Hoffs (US rhythm guitarist, vocals, The Bangles). 1959: Momoe Yamaguchi (Japanese actress and pop singer). 1960: John Crawford (US bassist, keyboards; Berlin). 1961: Dave Collard (keyboards; Jo Boxers)? 1963: Cyrus Chestnut (American international jazz and blues pianist; sessionist/freelance/solo). 1963: Kai Hansen (German power metal guitarist, vocalist; Gamma Ray/Iron Savior/Freelance). 1964: Andy Rourke (UK bassist, The Smiths). 1966: Shabba Ranks/Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon (Jamaican singer, rapper). 1971: Kid Rock/Robert James Ritchie (US singer, multi-musician). 1971: Jon Wysocki (US drummer; Staind). 1972: Ken Hirai (Japanese R&B and pop singer). 1978: Ricky Wilson (lead singer; Kaiser Chiefs). 1981: Ray J/William Ray Norwood Jr (American actor and R&B singer). 1982: Alex Varkatzas (American metalcore vocalist; Atreyu). 1985: Simone Simons (Dutch mezzo-soprano singer; symphonic metal band Epica). 1986: Chloe Rose Lattanzi (Australian actress and singer). January 18th 1904: Anthony Galla-Rini (US concert accordionist)30.July.2006. 1913: Danny Kaye/David Daniel Kominski (singer/actor/entertainer)03.March.1987. 1915: Paul Gunter (drummer; Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown)1996. 1915: Vassilis Tsitsanis (Greek singer and songwriter)18.Jan.1984. 1921: Ray Sims (American jazz trombonist). 1926: Johnny Bragg (vocals, songwriter; Johnny Bragg & the Prisonaires)31.Aug.2004 1931: Chuck Metcalf* (US jazz bass player) 1932: Irene Kral (US jazz singer)15.Aug.1978. 1940: Don Thompson* (Canadan bassist, vibraphonist, pianist; Rob McConnell/freelance/award winner). 1941: Bobby Goldsboro (US country-pop singer, guitar, composer). 1941: David Ruffin/Davis Eli Ruffin (US vocalist; The Temptations/solo)01.June.1991. 1942:* Martin Fierro (US tenor saxophonist; highly sort after sessionist)13.March.2008. 1943: Dave Greenslade* (UK keyboard; Thunderbird/If/Colisseum/Greenslade). 1944: Al Foster (UK jazz drummer; many greats/freelance). 1944: Larry "Legs" Smith (UK drummer; Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band). 1951: Steve Grossman (American soprano saxophonist; Elvin Jones/Miles Davis/freelance) 1951: Adrian Baker (UK singer, guitarist, songwriter; solo/sessionist/freelance). 1952: Russell Ferrante (US jazz pianist; Yellowjackets). 1952: Robert Steven Moore (US multi-musician, singer, multi-genre). 1953: Brett Hudson (US singer; Hudson Brothers). 1954: Tom Bailey (UK singer, keyboardist; Thompson Twins). 1956: Mark Collie (US country music singer, actor). 1957: Roman Schwaller (Swiss tenor saxophonist). 1959: Bob Rosenberg (music producer, remixer, DJ; Will To Power). 1961: Bobby Broom (US jazz guitarist; Kenny Burrel/Deep Blue Organ Trio/Sonny Rollins/solo). 1961: Frits Landesbergen (Dutch vibraphonist; solo/freelance). 1962: Darren 'Wiz' Brown (UK lead-singer, guitarist; Serpico/Mega City Four/Ipanema)06.Dec.2006 1962: Jeremy Healy/Jeremiah Healy* (UK guitarist, dj, mixer; Haysi Fantayzee/ E-Zee Possee). 1963: Jojo Mayer (Swiss drummer; Monty Alexander’s Group/guest/sessions/solo). 1967: Peter Epstein (American alto jazz saxophonist). 1969: Jim O'Rourke (US experimental rock guitarist, R.P; Sonic Youth/Illusion of Safety/freelance). 1969: Jesse L. Martin/Jesse Lamont Watkins (American actor, broadway singer). 1970: DJ Quik/David Martin Blake (American rapper and record producer). 1971: Jonathan Davis (US vocalist, multi-musician; KoRn/Sexart). 1973: Crispian Mills/Crispian John David Boulting (UK guitar, vocals; Kula Shaker). 1974: Christian Burns (acoustic guitar, vocals; BBMak). 1979: Jay Chou (Taiwanese multi-instrumentalist,vocalist, actor). 1982: Quinn Allman (US guitarist; The Used). 1983: Samantha Mumba (Irish singer, actress). 1986: Robert O'Connor (Irish singer-songwriter). January 19th 1919: Ray Eberle (US vocalist with Glenn Miller Orchestra/The Modernaires)25.Aug.1979. 1919: Israel Crosby (American jazz double bassist)11.Aug.1962. 1931: Horace Parlan (US hard bop & post-bop piano player). 1935: Johnny O'Keefe (Australian singer)06.Oct.1978. 1937: Phillips Elder Wilson Jr.* (US jazz trombonist, arranger, teacher). 1939: Sam T. Brown (American session guitarist; Keith Jarrett/others)28.Dec.1977. 1939: Phil Everly* (singer, songwriter, Everly Brothers). 1941: Joe Butler (vocals; Lovin Spoonful). 1942: Michael Crawford/Michael Patrick Dumbell-Smith (UK actor, singer). 1943: Ray Pizzi (US jazz bassoonist and multi-reedist). 1943: Janis Joplin (singer, songwriter; Big Brother & The Holding Company)4.Oct.1970 1944: Shelley Fabares* (US actress, singer). 1944: Laurie London (UK actor, boy singer). 1946: Dolly Parton (US singer, songwriter, actress). 1947: Rod Evans (UK singer; Deep Purple/ Captain Beyond/ The Maze/ The Horizons). 1948: Harvey Hinsley (UK guitarist, singer; Hot Chocolate). 1949: Robert Palmer (UK guitarist, singer, and songwriter,)26.Sept.2003. 1951: Dewey Bunnell* (Anglo-American singer; America). 1951: Martha Davis (UK vocalist; The Motels). 1954: Francis Buchholz (German bassist; Scorpions). 1954: Katey Sagal (American actress, singer, writer). 1955: Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE, FRSA (English conductor; Birmingham S.O/Berlin Philharmonic). 1956: Carman Dominic Licciardello (US Contemporary Christian multi-musician, writer). 1957: Mickey Virtue (UK keyboardist; UB40). 1960: Joe Magnarelli (American trumpeter). 1963: Caron Wheeler (UK vocalist, Soul II Soul). 1964: Ricardo Arjona (Guatemalan composer, singer, basketball player). 1966: Lena Philipsson (Swedish singer; Eurovision Song Contest 2004). 1968: Whitfield Crane (US lead singer; Ugly Kid Joe). 1969: Trey Lorenz (US singer, songwriter). 1971: John Wozniak (US lead singer, guitarist, song writer; Marcy Playground). 1978: Ricky Wilson (UK lead singer; Kaiser Chiefs). 1978: VL Mike/Michael Allen (American rapper)20.April.2008. 1983: Utada Hikaru* (American-Japanese pop singer, songwriter). 1985: Rika Ishikawa (Japanese pop vocalist; Morning Musume). January 20th 1867: Yvette Guilbert (French music-hall singer and actress)04.Feb.1944. 1876: Josef Hofmann (Polish-American virtuoso pianist, composer)16.Feb.1957. 1914: Roy Plomley (Desert Island Discs radio presenter)28.May.1985. 1918: Juan García Esquivel* (Mexican band leader, pianist, film score composer)03.Jan.2002. 1923: Nora Brockstedt* (Norwegian singer; Eurovision Song Contest 1960/61). 1924: Slim Whitman (American country singer, guitarist, songwriter). 1924: Johnny Hawksworth (UK composer, double bassist; Ted Heath Band). 1926: David Eugene Tudor (US pianist and composer of experimental music)13.Aug.1996 1927:* Bill LeSage (UK pianist, vibraphonist; Johnny Dankworth Seven/others)31.Oct.2001. 1929: Jimmy Cobb* (American jazz drummer; freelance/sessions/guest). 1933: Ron Townson (singer; Fifth Dimension)02.Aug.2001 1942: William Powell* (US vocalist; The O'Jays)26.May.1977. 1943: Rick Evans* (US singer, guitarist; Zager and Evans). 1943: Valery Ponomarev (Russian born jazz trumpeter). 1944: Chuck Domanico (US bass player; West Coast sessionist)17.Oct.2002. 1945: Eric Stewart* (guitar, keyboards, vocals, Mindenders/ Hotlegs /10cc). 1946: Jimmy Chambers (US singer; Londonbeat). 1947: George Grantham (US drummer; Poco). 1948: Mel Pritchard (drummer; Barclay James Harvest)28.Jan.2004 1951: Ian Hill* (UK bassist; Judas Priest). 1952: Paul Stanley (guitar, vocals; Kiss). 1956: Riccardo Del Fra (Italian session bassist). 1957: Andy Sheppard (Award winning UK flautist and tenor saxophonist). 1960: Scott Thunes (US guitarist; Frank Zappa/Steve Vai/ The Waterboys). 1965: Nathan Moore (vocals, Brother Beyond/ Pop Idol manager) 1965: John Michael Montgomery (US country singer, rhythm). 1965: Greg Kriesel (UK bass; The Offspring). 1965: Heather Small (UK singer, M People). 1969: Nicky Wire/Nicholas Allen Jones (Welsh bassist; Manic Street Preachers). 1969: Tina O'Neill (UK drummer; We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It). 1970: Edwin McCain (US pop/rock singer, guitarist, composer). 1970: Mark Trojanowski (drummer; Sister Hazel). 1971: Questlove/Ahmir Thompson (US drummer, DJ, music journalist; The Roots). 1971: Derrick Green (US singer; heavy metal band Sepultura). 1971: Gary Barlow (UK singer, pianoist, songwriter, Take That/solo). 1979: Will Young (UK singer). 1979: Robert Gregory Bourdon (drums; Linkin Park). STILL ADDING TO THIS PAGE January 21st 1925: Telly Savalas (singer, actor)22.Jan.1994. 1938: Wolfman Jack/Robert Weston Smith* (American howling DJ)01.July.1995. 1931: Rudi Maugeri* (Canadian baritone singer, Radio DJ; Crew Cuts)07.May.2004. 1941: Richie Havens* (US folk singer). 1941: Placido Domingo (Spanish tenor opera singer). 1942: Edwin Starr (motown/soul singer)03.April.2003. 1942: Mac Davis* (UK singer, songwriter). 1947: Pye Hastings (Scottish guitarist, singer; Caravan). 1947: Jimmy Ibbotson (US multi-musician; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/solo)? 1945: Chris Britton (guitar; Troggs). 1950: Billy Ocean/Leslie Sebastian Charles (Trinidadian singer). 1954: Nigel Glockler (UK drums; Saxon). 1956: Rob Brill (US drummer; Berlin). 1965: Jam Master Jay/Jason Mizell (DJ, rapper; founder & DJ of Run-DMC)30.Oct.2002 1965: Cordell Crockett* (bassist; Ugly Kid Joe) 1966: Robert Del Naja (founder member of The Wild bunch and Massive Attack) 1966: Wendy James (UK vocals; Transvision Vamp/Racine)? 1976: Emma Lee Bunton/Baby spice (UK singer; Spice Girls) 1978: Nokio/Tamir Mateen Raheem Hameed Ruffin (US singer, rapper; Dru Hill). January 22nd 1917: 1996: Albert "Pud" Brown (US jazz clarinetist and saxophonist)27.May.1996. 1931: Sam Cooke (US soul singer)11.Dec.1964 1940: Addie Harris (vocals, Shirelles)10.June.1982 1946: Malcolm Mclaren* (Sex Pistols manager, vocals, solo artist) 1949: Nigel Pegrum (drummer; Small Faces/Uriah Heep/Steeleye Span/sessionist) 1952: Teddy Gentry (vocals, bass; Alabama) 1949: Steve Perry (lead singer, Journey) 1960: Michael Hutchence (lead singer; INXS)22.Nov.1997 1965: D.J.Jazzy Jeff/Jeffrey A. Townes* (US hip hop DJ/turntablist, keyboardist, producer) 1965: Steve Adler (drums; Guns N' Roses, Adler's Appitite) 1965: Andrew 'Roachford' (UK soul singer, songwriter) 1981: Willa Ford/Amanda Lee Williford (US dance-pop singer-songwriter) 1981: Ben Moody (US guitarist, multi-musician; Evanescence). January 23rd 1888: Huddie William"Lead Belly"Ledbetter (12 string guitar, blues multi-musician)06.Dec.1949 1910: Jean-Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt (Belgium gypsy jazz guitar virtuoso)16.May.1953. 1932: Cyril Davies (UK blues harmonica player and blues musician)07.Jan.1964. 1933: Chita Rivera* (singer/actress) 1944: Jerry Lawson (singer; Persuasions) 1948: Anita Pointer (singer, Pointer Sisters) 1950: Bill Cunningham (bass, up-right bass, piano; The Box Tops) 1950: Danny Federici (US keyboardist, glockenspiel, accordion; E Street Band)17.April.2008 1953: Robin Zander* (guitar, vocals; Cheap Trick/freelance) 1955: Reggie Calloway (trumpet, flute, singer, songwriter; Midnight Star/freelance) 1959: Earl Falconer (bass; UB40) January 24th 1917: Avery Parrish (American pianist and Alabama Music Hall of Fame inductee)10.Dec.1959. 1924: Martti Pokela* (Finnish folk kantele player, composer)23.Aug.2007 1933: Zeke Carey (lead vocals, tenor vocals; Flamingos)2001 1936: Doug Kershaw (Fiddler, guitar, singer; Cajun musician) 1938: Kip Anderson (American R & B singer, songwriter, disc jockey)29.Aug.2007. 1939: Ray Stevens/Harold Ray Ragsdale* (US singer, piano, songwriter) 1941: Neil Diamond (singer, songwriter) 1941: Aaron Neville (vocals, Neville Brothers) 1947: Warren Zevon (singer,songwriter, vocals,keyboards,guitar,bass)7.Sept.2003 1949: John Belushi* (Blues Brothers)5 March.1982 1958: Jools Holland* (piano, keyboards; Squeeze/own jazz band) 1959: Vic Reeves/James "Jim" Roderick Moir (Comedy song 'Wonder Stuff'). 1963: Keech Rainwater (drums; Lonestar) 1975: Paul Marazzi (vocals; A1) 1984: Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka (Polish drummer; Decapitated/Dies Irae/Panzer X)02.Nov.2007. January 25th* 1915: Ewan MacColl (UK folk singer, songwriter, father of Kirsty MacColl)22.Oct.1989 1927: Tom Jobim* (Brazilian composer singer, pianist, guitarist, arranger)08.Dec.1994 1931: Stig Anderson* (producer of Abba, founder of Polar Music record label)12.Sept.1997 1938: Etta James* (US R&B singer) 1949: John Cooper Clarke (Manchester, poet laureate/songwriter) 1950: Michael Cotten (synthesizer; Tubes) 1953: Malcolm Green (UK drums; Split Enz) 1954: Richard Finch (bassist; K.C. & The Sunshine Band) 1956 Andy Cox (UK guitar; Fine Young Cannibals) 1958: Gary Tibbs (bassist; Roxy Music /Adam And The Ants) 1962: Peter Coyle (vocals; Lotus Eaters) 1963: Carl Fysh (vocals; Brother Beyond) 1973: Chris Wilkie (guitarist; Dubstar) 1977: Christian Ingebrigtsen (vocals; A1) 1981: Alicia Keys (US singer, songwriter) January 26th 1908: Stéphane Grappelli (French Jazz violinist)01.Dec.1997 1926: Ronnie Hilton* (UK singer, TV presenter)20.Feb.2001 1932: Clement Seymour "Coxsone" Dodd* (Jamaican record producer)05.May.2004. 1934: Huey "Piano" Smith* [US R&B pianist] 1939: Marshall Lieb (singer, guitar, musical supervisor; Teddy Bears/Hollywood Argyles) 1945: Ashley Hutchings (bass;Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, The Albion Band) 1946: Deon Jackson (US soul singer) 1949: Derek Holt (guitarist; Climax Blues Band). 1950: Paul Pena (multi-genre singer, multi-musician)01.Oct.2005 1951: Andy Hummell* (rock bassist; Big Star) 1951: David Briggs (Australian group, Little River Band) 1951: Lucia Mendez (Mexican actress, singer) 1953: Lucinda Williams (US singer, songwriter) 1955: Eddie Van Halen (guitar, keyboards; Van Halen) 1958: Norman Hassan (percussion, trombone; UB40) 1958: Anita Baker (US singer). 1958: B James Lowry (guitar; Boys Band/freelance) 1961: Tom Keifer (guitarist, vocalist; Cinderella) 1963: Andrew Ridgeley (singer; Wham!) 1963: Jazzie B /Beresford Romeo (DJ, producer, Soul II Soul) 1970: Kirk Franklin (gospel singer; Georgia Mass Choir) 1972: Ya Kid K/Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi (R&B singer from Zaire) 1975: Willie Adler (US guitarist; Lamb of God). 1981: Todor "Toše" Proeski (Macedonian singer, songwriter, humanitarian)17.Oct.2007. January 27th* 1756: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Austrian composer)5.Dec.1791 1908: Oran 'Hot Lips' Page* (singer, trumpeter; Kansas City Jazz Band +many)05.Nov.1954. 1918: Elmore James* (US blues guitarist, singer)24.May.1963. 1918: Skitch Henderson/Lyle Russell Cedric Henderson* (founder of NewYork Pops Orchestra)01.Nov.2005 1919: David Seville/Ross Bagdasarian* (inventor of The Chipmunks, songwriter)16.Jan.1972 1925: Doc Pomus/Jerome Solon Felder* (US blues singer, songwriter)14.March.1991 1930: Bobby "Blue" Bland* (R&B singer) 1937: Buddy Emmons (pedal steele guitar, bass; Roger Miller Band/sessionist/solo) 1944: Nick Mason (drums, Pink Floyd) 1946: Nedra Talley (singer; Ronettes) 1948: Kim Gardner (bass; Ashton Gardner & Dyke) 1951: Brian Downey (drums, percussion; Thin Lizzy) 1951: Seth Justman (keyboards, vocals; J. Geils Band) 1953: Bob Mintzer (US sax player; Yellowjackets/Bob Mintzer Big Band/Buddy Rich/guest). 1955: Richard Young (rhythm guitar, vocals; Kentucky Headhunters) 1961: Gillian Gilbert (keyboards, guitarist; New Order) 1961: Margo Timmins (Canadian singer; Cowboy Junkies) 1961: Martin Deguille (vocals, guitar; Sigue Sigue Sputnik) 1964: Migi Drummond (drums; Curiosity Killed The Cat) 1968: Tricky/Adrian Thawes (singer, trip-hop artist, actor) 1968: Mike Patton (vocals, bass; Faith No More) 1972: Mark Owen (vocals; Take That) January 28th 1887: Arthur Rubinstein (Polish pianist; 5 time Grammy award winner)20.Dec.1982. 1927: Ronnie Scott/Ronald Schatt* (UK jazz saxophonist, Ronnie Scott's night club)23.Dec.1996 1936: Jack Scott/Giovanni Dominico Scafone Jr* (Canadian-born songwriter, rockabilly singer). 1941: King Tubby/Osbourne Ruddock (reggae producer)06.Feb.1989. 1943: Dick Taylor* (UK bassist, vocals; Rolling Stones/The Pretty Things). 1943: Brian Keenan (UK drummer, Chambers Brothers/The Losers/Manfred Mann)05.Oct.1985. 1945: Robert Wyatt-Ellidge* (UK singer; Soft Machine/Matching Mole/solo). 1946: Rick Allen (US keyboardist; Box Tops). 1947: David Byron/David Garrick (lead singer; Uriah Heep/solo)28.Feb.1985 1948: Corky Laing* (drums, Mountain/West, Bruce and Laing) 1951: William "Billy Bass" Nelson (bassist; P Funk/Funkadelic/freelance) 1954: Tony Stough (lead guitarist; Plush/The Edge/Wabash)28.May.2004 1959: Dave Sharp* (guitar, vocals, The Alarm) 1962: Leslie "Sam" Phillips (guitar, singer, songwriter, solo) 1963: Dan Spitz (guitarist; Anthrax) 1968: Lawrence Muggerud (DJ Muggs, Cypress Hill) 1968: Rakim/William Griffin Jr (US rapper) 1968: Sarah McLachlan (singer songwriter) 1975: Lee Latchford- Evans (singer - Steps) 1977: Joseph Fatone (N'SYNC) 1977: Tweety (singer; Next) 1980: Nicolas Carter (singer; Backstreet Boys) January 29th 1929: Acker Bilk (clarinet, jazz bandleader) 1930: Derek Bailey (guitarist, founder of Incus records)25.Dec.2005. 1933: Sacha Distel* (French singer, guitarist)22.July.2004. 1938: James Jamerson* (US bassist; Funk Brothers/session). 1943: Tony Blackburn [UK radio, pirate, & TV DJ; first D.J. on BBC Radio One). 1943: Mark Wynter/Terence Lee Lewis (UK singer, theatre actor). 1944: Andrew Loog Oldham (UK producer, impresario, author; first Rolling Stones manager). 1945: Joe Beck (US guitarist; international sessionist/solo). 1947: David Byron (UK singer; Uriah Heep)28.Feb.1985 1952: Tommy Ramone/Thomas Erdelyi* (Hungarian born drummer; The Ramones). 1953: Louie Perez (US percussionist, guitarist; Los Lobos/Latin Playboys). 1954: Rob Manzoli (UK singer; Right Said Fred). 1959: Johnny Spampinato (US bassist; NRBQ/sessionist). 1961: Eddie Jackson (US bassist; Queensrÿche). 1961: Dave Baynton-Power (UK drummer; James). 1961: Pauline Henry (Scottish singer; Chimes). 1962: Marcus Vere (UK synthesizers; Living In A Box). 1964: Roddy Frame (Scottish guitarist, singer, songwriter; Aztec Camera). 1968: Richard Battersby (UK drummer; The Wildhearts)? 1981: Jonny Lang/Jon Gordon Langseth, Jr (US blues guitarist, singer). January 30th 1928: Ruth Brown (US R&B singer)17.Nov.2006 1936: Horst Jankowski* (German jazz & easy listening pianist; band leader/guest)29.June.1998. 1941: Joe Terranova* (US singer; Danny & The Juniors). 1942: Marty Balin (US singer; Jefferson Airplane). 1943: Sandy Deane/Yaguda (US singer; Jay and the Americans)? 1947: Steve Marriott (UK singer, guitarist, songwriter; Small Faces/Humble Pie)20.April.1991. 1949: William King* [trumpet; Commodores] 1951: Phil Collins (drums, piano, vocals, Genesis/solo). 1952: Steve Bartek (US guitarist, film composer, conductor, orchestrator.Oingo Boingo). 1959: Jody Watley (vocals,songwriter, dancer; Shalamar). 1959: Mark Eitzel (US guitarist, singer, songwriter; American Music Club/solo). 1964: Angie Stone (UK singer, songwriter, keyboards; Vertical Hold/Mantronix/Devox/solo). January 31st 1892: Eddie Cantor (American singer, vaudeville performer)10.Oct.1964 1902: William Thornton Blue* (American jazz and blues clarinetist)1968. 1906: Roosevelt "Honeydripper" Sykes* (Jazz Pianist)17.July.1983. 1907: Benny Morton* (American jazz trombonist)28.Dec.1985. 1907: Emmanuel "Manny" Sayles* (American jazz banjoist, guitarist)05.Oct.1986. 1915: Bobby Hackett* (American trumpeter)07.June.1976. 1915:* Alan Lomax (US singer, guitarist, folklorist, musicologist)19.July.2002. 1921: Mario Lanza* (US tenor singer, actor)07.Oct.1959. 1928: Chuck Willis/Harold Willis* (Blues, R&B singer)10.April.1958 1932: Ottilie Patterson* (Irish jazz singer; Chris Barber's band). 1936: Garnett Brown (US jazz trombonist; The Crusaders/Herbie Hancock/Lionel Hampton). 1936: Lester George Sterling (Jamaican saxophone player, trumpet; The Skatalites/solo). 1940: Sandy Yaguda/Sandy Deane (US vocalist; Jay & The Americans). 1942: Tony Mann (UK session drummer). 1944: Charlie Musselwhite (American blues singer, harps). 1946: Terry Kath (guitarist, Chicago)23.Jan.1978 1951: Phil Manzanera* (guitar, keyboards; Roxy Music/The Explorers/Quiet Sun) 1951: Harry Wayne Casey (keyboards; KC & Sunshine Band) 1951: Dave Benton/Efren Eugene Benita (Estonian singer; Eurovision Song Contest 2001 winner). 1952: William "Curley" Smith (drums, vocals, harp; Jo Jo Gunne) 1954: Adrian Vandenburg (guitar; Whitesnake/Manic Eden/Little Caesar) 1956: Johnny Rotten/John Lydon (Sex Pistols/Public Image Ltd/Time Zone) 1961: Lloyd Cole (UK lead vocals, guitar; Lloyd Cole and the Commotions). 1964: Billey Shamrock Gleissner (Swedish singer, stand-up comedian, songwriter). 1964: Jeff Hanneman (US guitar; Slayer). 1966: Al Doughty/Alan Jaworski (UK bass; Jesus Jones). 1967: Chad Channing (original drummer; Nirvana/The Fire Ants/Redband/East Of The Equator) 1967: Jason Cooper (drummer; The Cure) 1967: Fat Mike/Michael John Burkett (US bassist; NOFX/Me First/Gimme Gimmes). 1981: Justin Timberlake (singer; N'Sync) 1982: Elena Paparizou (Greek singer; Eurovision Song Contest 2005 winner).
		Back to Top ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ LOST THIS MONTH January 1st 1953: Hank Williams/Hiram "Hank" King Williams (29) US legendary country singer, guitarist, songwriter. (died of a heart attack in the backseat of a Cadillac on the way to a gig. It was brought on by a lethal cocktail of pills and alcohol, B12, morphine & whiskey. Over 20,000 mourners attended his funeral). 1984: Alexis Korner (55) French writer, radio presenter , legendary blues and jazz guitarist, "the father of British blues", he was instrumental in bringing together various English blues musicians, such as John Mayall as well as Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who went on to form the Rolling Stones. (cancer). 1991: Buck Ram (73) manager and songwriter to The Platters; he wrote 99% of the Platter's hits such as "Only You", "The Great Pretender", "Twilight Time", he also wrote, produced and/or arranged for The Coasters, The Drifters, Ike and Tina Turner, Ike Cole, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others. He wrote the lyrics to "I'll Be Home For Christmas" as a sixteen year old college student as a gift for his mother. (?) 1997: Townes Van Zandt (52) US country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet. The film "Be Here to Love Me" chronicling the artist's life and legacy was released in the United States in 2006 (massive pulmonary embolus, blood clot in the lungs). 1997: Hagood Hardy (57) Canadian composer, pianist, and vibraphonist. He is best known for the 1975 single, "The Homecoming," and for his soundtrack to the Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea films. (?) 2007: Del Reeves (74) US country singer; he became one of the most successful male country singers of the 1960s, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty-type songs (emphysema). 2007: Tad Jones (54) US music historian and researcher best known for discovering Louis Armstrong's correct birthdate.He was co-author of "Up From the Cradle of Jazz", long anticipated book on the early life of Louis Armstrong was almost complete when he died. (died unexpectedly from a fall). January 2 1973: Joe Harriott/Joe Arthurlin (44) Jamacian alto saxophonist moved to UK in 1951, big influence in the British Jazz world (died of cancer). 1977: Errol Garner (55) US jazz pianist and composer whose distinctive and melodic style brought him both popular acclaim and the admiration of peers. It is a well-known fact that Garner was never able to read sheet music (?) 1981: David Lynch (52) Original member of the Platters - tenor singer (cancer) 1997: Randy California (45) US guitarist, singer, songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit (drowned when rescuing his 12-year old son when he was sucked into a riptide in the surf off Hawaii). 2000: Nathaniel Adderley (68) American jazz cornetist who played in the hard bop and soul jazz genres. He was the brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (). 2002: Armi Aavikko (43) Finnish singer; best known for her duets with Ilkka Lipsanen, (artist name "Danny"). She was chosen as Miss Finland in 1977 (pneumonia, brought on by chronic alcoholism) 2002: Zachary Sebastian Rex James 'Zac' Foley (31) UK bassist for the band EMF (died due to an overdose of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, barbiturates and alcohol). 2006: Bill DeArango (84) US jazz guitarist, played and recorded with all icons like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie (dementia). 2008: Ben Marlin (31) US bassist with the brutal death metal band Disgorge (cancer). January 3 1967: Mary Garden (92) an important Scottish soprano with a substantial career in France and America in the first third of the 20th century. She was described as "the Sarah Bernhardt of opera". (dementia). 1980: Amos Milburn (52) US blues & boogie pianist, singer; one of the greatest pioneers in the history of R&B pounded out some of the most hellacious boogies of the postwar era, usually recording in Los Angeles for Aladdin Records, specializing in good-natured upbeat romps about booze and its effects (good & bad) that proved massive hits during the immediate pre-rock era. (heart problems) 1981: David Lynch (51) tenor vocals; one of the original members of the Platters singing group formed in the 1950's(cancer) 2002: Juan García Esquivel (83) Mexican band leader, pianist, and film score composer. He's known today mostly for creating unique jazz and lounge music. He arranged many traditional Mexican songs like "Besame Mucho", "La Bamba", "El Manisero"(Cuban/Mexican) and "La Bikina"(?) 2002: Zak Foley (31) bassist, EMF (died after a cocktail of drink and drugs while celebrating the New Year festivities) January 4 1970: Neil Boland () Chauffeur (The Who's drummer, Keith Moon ran over him. Moon was escaping from a Gang of skinheads after a fight broke out at a pub in Hatfield, England. Moon had never passed his driving test). 1981: Ruth Lowe (66) Canadian songwriter, pianist; She wrote the song "I'll Never Smile Again" after her husband died during surgery. The song was later covered by many artists, including Frank Sinatra (his first great hit) and The Ink Spots. Also she composed the Frank Sinatra hit "Put Your Dreams Away", Frank's 'signature' song, and was played at his funeral (?). 1986: Phil Lynott (36) Irish singer, bassist, songwriter, composer, founder member of Thin Lizzy (heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose) 1991: Leo Wright (57) A first-rate bop-oriented alto saxophonist, clarinetist, he was also one of the finest flutists jazz has known.(). 1998: John Gary (66) American pop vocalist, crooner; considered by many to be one of the best crooners due to his extaordinary breath control and tonal quality of his voice. He had an exceptionally wide range of three octaves () 2004: Jake Hess (76) American singer Grammy Award-winning gospel singer in the southern United States and founder of The Imperials (heart attack). 2008: Keith Baxter (36) British rock drummer; founder member of 'Skyclad', recording five albums with them before joining '3 Colours Red' or '3CR'. (liver failure). January 5 1976: Mal Evans (40) Roadie, Beatles (shot dead by police at his Los Angeles apartment; he pointed a rifle at the police while upset). 1979: Charles Mingus (56) Jazz pianist & bassist, bandleader (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis popularly known as Lou Gehrig's disease). 1997: Burton Lane (84) American composer and lyricist; best known for his Broadway musicals, Finian's Rainbow and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, also credited with discovering the 11-year-old Frances Gumm aka Judy Garland (?). 1998: Sonny Bono (62) Singer duo Sonny & Cher, solo (killed in a skiing accident at a resort near Lake Tahoe). 1998: Ken Forssi (55) US bassist; Love /studio sessionist (brain cancer). 2005: Danny Sugerman (50) US music manager; the second manager of the Los Angeles based rock band The Doors, and wrote several books about Jim Morrison and The Doors, including 'No One Here Gets Out Alive' co-authored with Jerry Hopkins, and the autobiography 'Wonderland Avenue'. He also managed Iggy Pop, and wrote Appetite For Destruction: The Days of Guns 'N Roses (lung cancer). January 6 1980: Georgeanna Marie Tillman (36) US singer with the Marvelettes, Motown (sickle cell anemia). 1986: Joe Farrell/Joseph Carl Firrantello (48) US jazz saxophonist and flutist; played with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. He is best known for performance with Chick Corea in Return to Forever, as well for a series of albums under his own name on the CTI label. He also recorded with Charles Mingus, Andrew Hill, Jaki Byard and Elvin Jones. (?) 1993: John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (75) US jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer, and composer. He was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz (cancer). 1996: Adrienne Brown (47) James Brown's wife. (suffered a heart attack during a major plastic surgery operation) 1999: Michel Petrucciani (36) French jazz pianist (died at from a pulmonary infection). 2005: Les Robinson (90) American jazz musician; started on the trumpet, but famous for playing and recording alto-sax and sometimes clarenet with the big swing bands of Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Howard Thomas to mention just a few. He was Artie Shaw's lead alto on the classic "Begin the Beguine" and all Artie Shaw's recordings from 1937 to 1939 (?) b. 1915 2006: Lou Rawls (72) US jazz-soul-R&B singer/songwriter (lung cancer). 2007: "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow (72) Pedal steel guitarist, co-founded influential 1960s country rock group the Flying Burrito Brothers (complications of Alzheimer's disease). January 7 1964: Cyril Davies (32) one of the first UK blues harmonica players and blues musician. (leukaemia). 1980: Larry Williams (44) US singer, saxophone, keyboards, piano; best known for writing and recording some Rock'n'Roll standards from 1957 to 1959 for Specialty Records, including "Bony Moronie" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" (died from a gun-shot wound in his Los Angeles, California home. The death was deemed suicide, though there was much speculation otherwise. No suspects were ever arrested or charged). 2002: Jon Lee (33) the original drummer for the successful British rock band Feeder. (found hanged at his Miami home). 2004: John Guerin (64) Session drummer; Self-taught on drums, percussion and keyboards, an extremely successful "crossover" artist, frequently bridging the gaps between jazz and rock with his expansive drum vocabulary (pneumonia). January 8 1979: Sara Carter (80) American country musician; known for her deep and distinctive singing voice, she was the lead singer on most of the recordings of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930's. She married A. P. Carter on June 18, 1915 (??). 1991: Steve Clark (30) the co-lead guitarist for British heavy metal band Def Leppard (drug overdose) 2002: David McWilliams (54) Singer, songwriter, guitarist; never had a 'hit' in England, he was very popular on continental Europe, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Japan. (heart attack). January 9 1995: Peter Cook (57) Comedian, writer, UK TV music show 'Revolver'; he was an English satirist, writer and comedian who is widely regarded as the leading figure in the British satire boom of the 1960s.(internal haemorrhaging). January 10 1972: Al Goodman (81) Russian songwriter, stage composer, musical director, arranger, conductor, and pianist; wrote some memorable songs such as "When hearts Are Young", "Call Of Love" and "Twlilight". He also worked on several musicals such as 'The Band Wagon', 'Good News' and 'Ziegfeld Follies' (?). 1976: Howlin Wolf/Chester Arthur Burnett (65) Blues guitarist, singer, harmonica player; an experimental bluesman who formulated a wide range of moods and possibilities for his songs. His raw, rasping, fierce voice, combined with his imposing physical presence and wild stage abandon, made him unforgettable. His influence stretched far beyond the realm of the blues (died peacefully, complications arising from kidney disease). 1987: Marion Hutton/Marion Thornburg (67) American singer and actress; Discovered by Glenn Miller while singing with the Vincent Lopez Orchestra (cancer). 1997: Kenneth Pickett (54) UK singer for the psychedelic rock band, The Creation (heart attack). 2001: Bryan Gregory (46) US founder member and guitarist of The Cramps (heart attack). 2008: Dave Day/Dave Havlicek (?) US banjoist and rhythm guitarist with The Monks, a seminal pre-punk band, made up of former American soldiers (died four days after suffering a heart attack). 2008: Rod Allen/Rodney Bainbridge (63) British lead singer and bassist with The Fortunes; first came to prominence and international acclaim in 1965, when "You've Got Your Troubles" broke into the American and British Top Tens. (liver cancer). January 11 1952: Aureliano Pertile (67) Italian tenor singer; one of the twentieth century's most important tenors (He died in Milan, where he was teaching at the Conservatory) 1996: Ike Isaacs (73) Burmese guitarist; described as a master, he was the dominant guitarist in English jazz. He played with all the greats, including a 2 year world tour with Stephane Grapelli () 1999: Barry Pritchard (55) vocal, guitar, keyboard, Fortunes (heart attack). 2002: Mickey Finn (55) percussion, T Rex/Tyrannosaurus Rex.(kidney and liver problems). 2004: Max Duane Barnes (67) singerwith the Golden Rockets, songwriter; his songs recorded by George Jones, Vince Gill, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Vern Gosdin, the Kendalls, Randy Travis, Pam Tillis, Keith Whitley, Waylon Jennings, John Anderson and Eddy Raven, among others. (pneumonia) 2005: Jimmy Griffin (61) Guitarist for Bread, after which he went solo (cancer). 2005: Spencer Dryden (67) drummer for Jefferson Airplane, New Riders of the Purple Sage & Dinosaurs.(cancer). 2007: Puchi Balseiro (81) Puerto Rican singer, guitarist, composer, songwriter, radio & television personality. Among many other things she also originated, produced, and directed the: "Festivales del Filin"...The Feeling Festivals (?). January 12 1971: Captain John Handy (70) US jazz alto saxophonist & clarinetist. His style was rooted in Dixieland jazz but also incorporated elements of R&B. He played in New Orleans bands from the 1920s, including in his own Louisiana Shakers. In the 60s he played frequently with Kid Sheik Cola and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band & recorded for GHB Records, RCA, and Jazz Crusade(?) b: June 24th 1900. 1983: Anthony "Rebop" Kwaku Baah/Remi Kabaka (37) Nigerian-Swedish percussionist with the UK band Traffic; he joined the German band Can in 1977, playing with them until their breakup in 1979, appearing on the albums Saw Delight, Out of Reach and Can, also played with Ginger Baker's Air Force, Wings and other bands (brain haemorrhage while in Stockholm). b: Feb 13th 1944. 2003: Maurice Gibb (53) UK singier/songwriter in the trio Bee Gees, formed with his brothers Robin and Barry. The trio got their start in Australia, and found major success when they returned to England. The Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time. (heart attack during abdominal surgery) b: Dec 22nd 1949. 2004: Randy VanWarmer (48) US singer, songwriter, composer; best remembered for his hit "Just When I Needed You Most." It reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart and #4 in the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1979. There are several cover versions of this song, including those by Dolly Parton and Smokie. He wrote several songs for the group The Oak Ridge Boys including "I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes." (died after a long battle with leukaemia) b: March 30th 1955. 2007: Alice Coltrane (69) US jazz pianist, organist, harpist, composer, wife of the late saxophone legend John Coltrane After his death she continued to play with her own groups, moving into more and more meditative music, and later playing with her children. She was one of the few harpists in the history of jazz. Her essential recordings were made in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Impulse! Records. (respiratory failure). b: Aug 27th 1937. January 13 1963: Sonny Clark/Conrad Yeatis (31) American hard jazz & bop pianist: leader/sideman/guest (heroine overdose) 1974: Raoul Jobin/Joseph Roméo (67) Canadian tenor; honoured as a MasterWorks by the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada in 2001 (). 1979: Donny Hathaway (33) Soul singer (apparent suicide falling from a 15th floor New York hotel window) 1983: Barry Galbraith (63) US jazz guitarist; played with all the greats (). 2005: Nell Rankin (81) American mezzo-soprano and opera singer; the first American to win the International Mus