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 8 years now.
PLEASE
give credit or link if copied
PAGES UPDATED REGULARLY
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SEPT:
Charts ~ SEPT:
On This Day ~
SEPT:
Quiz
~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SEPTEMBER
SADLY
DEPARTED
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~
RESPECT
- OBITUARIES
2011
.. 2010
.. 2009
..
2008
.. 2007
.. 2006
.. 2005
.. 2004
.. REQUESTS
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MORE BIRTHDATES & PASSINGS
& TRIBUTES
January
. February
. March . April
. May . June
. July
August
. September
. October .
November .
December
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SEPTEMBER
BIRTHDAYS
Born
~ September 1st.
1994: Bianca Ryan
(American singer).
1993: Ilona Mitrecey (French singer).
1989: Bill Kaulitz (German singer, guitar;
Tokio Hotel)
1987: Dann Hume (New Zealand singer,
guitarist, drummer; Evermore).
1985: Camile Velasco (Filipino-American
singer).
1984: Joseph Trohman (American musician;
Fall Out Boy).
1980: Sean Stewart (US songwriter, musician,
model, son of Rod Stewart)
1976: Peter McCarrick Brown (US drummer;
Wheatus).
1976: Babydaddy/Scott Hoffman (keyboards/bass; Scissor Sisters)
1975: Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Australian actress and singer).
1975: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (Puerto Rican guitarist, director, actor,
songwriter; The Mars Volta).
1974: Filip
Nikolitch (French singer and actor)*16.Sept.2009.
1973: J. D. Fortune/Jason Dean Bennison (Canadian singer; INXS).
1971: Yoshitaka Hirota (Japanese composer).
1971: Lââm/Lamia (French singer).
1970:
DJ Spigg Nice (US rapper; Lost Boyz).
1970: Mitsou/Mitsou Annie Marie Gélinas (Canadian singer,
TV/radio host, actress).
1970: Vanna/Ivana Ranilovic Vrdoljak (Croatian pop singer).
1965: Craig McLachlan (Australian actor and singer).
1964: Ray D'Arcy (Irish DJ and TV presenter).
1963: Carola Sier-Smit (Dutch singer; BZN aka Band zonder Naam/Band
Without a Name).
1960: Joseph Williams (US singer, film score composer; Toto/solo).
1960: Cass/ Richard Keith Lewis (UK bassist, Skunk Anansie).
1958: Armi Aavikko (Finnish singer, beauty queen)*02.Jan.2002.
1957: Gloria Estefan/Gloria María Fajardo García
(Cuban-US singer, actress;Miami Sound Machine)
1955: Bruce Foxton (UK bassist, vocals; The Jam, Stiff Little Fingers).
1951: Boney James/James Oppenheim (US award winning saxophone player).
1950: Peter Hewson (UK vocals; Chicory Tip)
1949: Russ Field (UK guitarist, vocals; Showaddywaddy).
1946: Greg Errico (US drummer, record producer; Sly & The Family
Stone/session/guest)
1946: Barry Gibb (UK singer, songwriter, guitar; Bee Gees).
1944: Archie Bell (US vocalist; The Drells).
1944: Leonard Slatkin (US conductor)
1942: Marc Moulin (Belgian pianist, journalist, radio personality,
composer of TV music)*26.Sept.2008.
1935: Seiji Ozawa (Japanese conductor; Boston Symphony Orch/Vienna
State Opera/others).
1933: Conway Twitty/Harold Lloyd Jenkins (US country singer, guitarist)*05.June.1993.
1931:
Boxcar Willie/Lecil Travis Martin (US
hobo/country singer, guitarist, songwriter)*12.April.1999.
1927: Tommy Evans (US vocalist; the Drifters)
1925: Art Pepper (American alto saxophonist)*15.June.1982.
1917: Velma
Middleton
(US singer; Louis Armstrong big bands-small groups)*10.Feb.1961.
1886:
Othmar
Schoeck (Swiss
composer and conductor)*08.March.1957.
September
2nd.
1989: Ishmeet Singh Sodhi
(Indian solo singer; winner of Star Voice of India 2007)*29.July.2008.
1987: Spencer Smith (US drummer; Panic!
at the Disco).
1984: Danson Tang/Táng Yuzhé
(Taiwanese actor, model, singer).
1984: Jack Peñate (UK singer,
songwriter).
1983: Aimee Osbourne (UK singer, actress
and columnist).
1979: Alex Chu (Canadian born Korean
singer; Clazziquai).
1977: Ramiro Muñoz (Colombian
music composed
for theatre, television).
1977: Sam Rivers
(US bassist; Limp Bizkit).
1976:
Phil Lipscomb (US bassist; Taproot).
1975: MC Chris/Christopher Brendan Ward IV (American rap artist).
1975: Tony Thompson (US lead singer; Hi-Five)*01.June.2007.
1969: Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey (US singer; K-Ci and JoJo
/ Jodeci)
1966: Dino Cazares (US guitarist; Fear Factory/ Divine Heresy/Asesino).
1963:
Mike Baker (American
lead singer; Shadow Gallery)*29.Oct.2008.
1959: Paul Wylie Deakin (US drummer, The Mavericks).
1958: Jerry Augustyniak (US drummer; 10,000 Maniacs).
1957: Steve Porcaro (US keyboards, synthesizer, composer; Toto)
1956: Fritz McIntyre (UK keyboards; Simply Red).
1953: John Zorn (US avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer,
saxophonist, multi-musician).
1951: Mik Kaminksi (UK Violinist; Electric Light Orchestra/Violinski/ELO
part 2)
1950: Michael Rother (German guitarlst, keyboards, multi-musician;
Neu!/Kraftwerk/Harmonia/Cluster).
1947: Richard Coughlan (UK drummer, percussionist; Caravan).
1946: Akira
"Joe" Yamanaka
(Japanese rock singer, actor; Flower Travellin' Band/solo)*07.Aug.2011.
1946: Billy Preston (US singer, songwriter, bandleader)*06.June.2006.
1946: Marty Greb (Keyboards, horns; Buckinghams/Fabulous Rhinestones)
1943: Rosalind Ashford (US vocals; Del-Phis/ Vells/ Martha Reeves
& the Vandellas)
1943: Ðorde
Novkovic (Croatian singer, songwriter, record producer)*06.May.2007.
1943: Joe Simon (US singer).
1941: Bobby Purify/James B. Moore (US soul singer)
1940: Jimmy Clanton (US singer)
1939: Sam Gooden (African-American soul singer; The Impressions)
1935: William
'Liam' Clancy (Irish
singer,guitarist; Clancy Bros/Makem & Clancy/solo)*04.Dec.2009.
1931: Clifford Jordan (US
jazz saxophone; many big named bands)*27.March.1993.
1928: Horace Silver (US jazz pianist, composer)
1925: Hugo Montenegro (US composer, arranger and conductor)*06.Feb.1981.
1925: Russ Conway/Trevor Stanford (UK pop music pianist, composer)*16.Nov.2000.
1917: Laurindo Almeida (Brazilian classical guitarist)*26.July.1995.
1914: Tom Glazer (US folk singer and songwriter)*21.Feb.2003.
September
3rd.
1982:
Andrew McMahon (US
singer, songwriter; Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin).
1982: Kaori Natori (Japanese singer,
model).
1980: Cone/Jason McCaslin (Canadian bassist;
Sum 41).
1980: B.G./Baby Gangsta/Christopher Dorsey (US rapper; Hot Boys/solo)
1979: Tomo Milicevic (Bosnian-born US guitarist; 30 Seconds to
Mars)
1978:
Valfar/Terje
Bakken
(Norwegian
lead singer; Windir)*15.Jan.2004.
1973: David Mead (US singer, songwriter).
1973: Norihiko Hibino (Japanese composer, saxophonist).
1973: Jennifer Paige (US singer, songwriter).
1970: Haydain
Neale (Canadian award winning singer-songwriter;
Jacksoul)*22.Nov.2009.
1965: Vaden Todd Lewis (US guitarist, singer: Toadies).
1964: Junaid Jamshed (Pakistani singer; Vital Signs/solo).
1964: Nigel Rhodes (UK actor, guitarist; AerialDevice).
1963: Jonathan Segel (US composer,multi-musician; Camper Van Beethoven/Dieselhed)
1962: Lester Noel (UK vocalist; Beats International)
1960: Perry Bamonte (UK lead guitarist; The
Cure)
1957: Suzanne Freytag (keyboard; Propaganda)
1955:
Steve Jones (UK vocals,keyboards,guitarist;
Sex Pistols/Neurotic Outsiders/freelance).
1952: Leroy Smith (vocals; Sweet Sensation)
1950: Doug Pinnick (US bassist, singer; King's X/solo/guest).
1948: Donald Brewer (drummer; Grand Funk Railroad)
1947: Eric Bell (Irish guitarist; founder member of Thin Lizzy)
1945: George Biondi (bass; Steppenwolf)
1944: Gary Leeds (drummer, vocals; Walker Brothers)
1942: Al Jardine (US vocalist, producer, guitar; founder member
of The Beach Boys)
1942: Kenneth
Pickett (UK singer; The Creation)*10.Jan.1997.
1934: Freddie King (Afro-American rock blues guitarist, singer)*28.Dec.1976.
1933: Tompall Glaser (US country singer; Tompall & the Glaser
Brothers/solo).
1926:
Zezé Gonzaga (Brazilian singer)*24.July.2008.
1925: Hank Thompson (American
country music singer and songwriter)*06.Nov.2007.
1925: Shoista Mullodzhanova (legendary Tajik Shashmakom singer)*26.June.2010.
1924: Erik
Sædén
(Swedish operatic bass-baritone)*03.Nov.2009.
1921: Thurston Dart (UK harpsichordist, musicologist, conductor)*05.March.1971.
1918: Donna King Conkling (American singer; The King Sisters)*16.June.2007.
1901: Eduard van Beinum (Dutch conductor, pianist, violin)*13.April.1959.
1887: Frank
Christian (American New Orleans jazz
trumpeter)*27.Nov.1973.
1695: Pietro Locatelli (Italian composer, violinist)*30.March.1764.
September
4th.
1984: Camila Bordonaba (Argentine actress,
singer, composer).
1981: Lacey
Sturm/Lacey Mosley (US singer;
Flyleaf).
1983: Yuichi Nakamaru (Japanese singer; (member of Kat-Tun).
1981: Beyoncé Knowles (US singer; Destiny's Child/solo).
1980: Dan Miller (US vocalist; O-Town).
1980: Hitomi Shimatani
(Japanese singer).
1979: MC Mong/Shin Dong Hyun (South Korean hip hop artist; People
Crew/solo).
1979: Pedro Camacho (Portuguese award-winning film and video game
composer).
1977: Mark Ronson (UK DJ/Producer, co-founder of Allido Records).
1977: Lucie Silvas/Lucie Joanne Silverman (UK singer, songwriter).
1976: Katreeya English (Thai singer, actress, model).
1975: Richard Wingo (American R&B singer; Jagged Edge).
1970: Daisy Dee/Desiree Rollocks (Curaçaon born singer).
1970: Igor Cavalera (Brazilian drummer; Sepultura)
1974: Carmit Bachar (US singer, dancer; Pussycat Dolls)
1972: Guto Pryce (Welsh bassist; Super Furry Animals)
1971: Ty Longley (US guitar, vocals; Great White/solo)*20.Feb.2003.
1970: Igor Cavalera (Brazilian drummer; Sepultura)
1969: Sasha/Alexander Coe (Welsh producer/mixing/remixing/ DJ)
1966:
Bireli
Lagrene
(French gypsy-style jazz guitarist).
1966: Yanka Dyagileva (Russian poet, singer-songwriter)*09.May.1991.
1964: René Pape (German opera singer).
1963: Sam Yaffa/Sami Takamäki (Finnish bass guitarist; Hanoi
Rocks/New York Dolls/Michael Monroe band)
1963: Bobby Jarzombek (US drummer; Halford)
1961: Nick Blinko (UK lead singer, lyricist, guitar player; Rudimentary
Peni)
1961: Bernard O'Neill (Irish double bassist, bass; international
sessionist/founder member: Zumzeaux).
1960: Kim Thayil (US guitar;Soundgarden)
1958: George Hurley (US drummer; Minutemen/fIREHOSE).
1956: Blackie Lawless/Steven Edward Duren (US rhythm guitarist,
lead singer; W.A.S.P).
1951: Martin Chambers (UK drummer; The Pretenders/ Miss World).
1951:
Dan Del Santo (US steel guitarist, guitarist,
singer-songwriter)*12.Oct.2001.
1950: Ronald LaPread (US bassist; The Commodores)
1946: Gary Duncan (US guitarist; Quicksilver Messenger Service)
1945: Danny Gatton (US guitarist; Redneck Jazz Explosion)*04.Oct.1994.
1944: Gene Parsons (US drummer, banjoist, guitarist, singer-songwriter;
The Byrds).
1943:
Tony Jarrett (UK
bassist; Vanity Fare).
1942: Merald “Bubba” Knight (US soul singer; Gladys Knight
& The Pips).
1942: Heiner Stadler (Polish arranger, bandleader, composer).
1937: Gene Ludwig (US
jazz organist)*14.July.2010.
1934: Michel Sardaby (French pianist).
1934: Eduard Khil (Russian singer)
1930: Jerry Ragovoy
(US songwriter,
arranger, producer)*13.July.2011.
1930: John Cephas (US
Piedmont blues guitarist; Cephas & Wiggins)*04.March.2009.
1921:
Ariel Ramírez
(Argentine
composer and pianist)*18.Feb.2010.
1920: Teddy Johnson (UK singer, drummer; solo/Pearl Carr &
Teddy Johnson)
1918: Gerald Wilson (US jazz trumpeter)
1907:
Jan Savitt/Jacob Savetnick (Russian arranger,
bandleader, violinist, and vocalist)*04.Oct.1948.
1905: Meade "Lux" Lewis (American
pianist)*07.June.1964.
1894:
Darius Milhaud (French
composer, teacher; Les Six)*22.June.1974.
1891: Sam
Lanin (American
bandleader; own bands/session leader)*05.May.1977.
1890: Naima Wifstrand (Swedish actor, operetta singer, troubadour,
director, composer)*23.Oct.1968.
September
5th.
1984: Justin "Trey" Hill (US guitarist,
singer/songwriter, producer; SONICFLOOd/guest/sessionist).
1982: Sondre Lerche (Norwegian singer, guitarist, songwriter).
1980: Kevin
Simm (vocals; Liberty X)
1977: Alexey Harkov (Russian bassist; Kipelov/Sergey Mavrin).
1975: Jamie Madrox/James Spaniolo (US horrorcore rapper; Twiztid/Dark
Lotus/Psychopathic Rydas).
1970: Liam Lynch/William Patrick Niederst (US guitarist, puppeteer,
musical director).
1969: Dweezil Zappa (US vocalist, guitar, son of Frank Zappa; solo/guest/sessionist).
1968: Brad Wilk (US drummer; Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave).
1966: Ricky
Parent (American drummer; Enuff Z'nuff)*27.Oct.2007.
1966: Terry Ellis (American R&B singer; En Vogue).
1964: Kevin Saunderson (US mixer, producer, member of; Reese &
Santonio/Inner City/Kreem/Es'Ray).
1963: Juan Alderete (US bassist; The Mars Volta/Racer X).
1961: Marc-André Hamelin (Canadian classical pianist, composer).
1958: Lars Danielsson (Swedish bassist, composer and producer;
own band/sessionist).
1956: Roine Stolt (Swedish guitarist; The Flower Kings).
1954: Sal Solo/Charles Peter Smith (lead singer; Classix Nouveaux).
1951: Jamie Oldaker (US country musician; The Tractors/Eric Clapton
Band).
1949: Dave "Clem" Clempson (UK guitarist, keyboards;
Colosseum/Humble Pie/guest)
1947: Buddy Miles (US drummer; Ink Spots/Band of Gypsys/session/guest)*26.Feb.2008.
1947: Charles Bobo Shaw (US drummer, co-founder
of the Black Artists Group, a musical collective).
1946: Freddie Mercury/Farrokh Bulsara (Zanzibar-born singer, pianist,
songwriter; Queen)*24.Nov.1991.
1946: Dean Ford/Thomas McAleese (Scottish
lead singer; Marmalade).
1946: Loudon Wainwright
III (US singer, songwriter)
1945: Al Stewart (Scottish Vocals, Keyboards,
Trumpet, Guitar).
1940:
Giancarlo Bigazzi (Italian record producer,
composer, lyricist, bandleader; Squallor)*19.Jan.2012.
1939: John Stewart (US singer, songwriter; Kingston Trio/solo)*19.Jan.2008.
1936: Willie Woods (US vocalist, guitar; Junior Walker &
the All Stars)
*27.May.1997.
1935:
Paul Yandell (US country finger style guitarist;
Chet Atkins/top sessionist/solo)*21.Nov.2011.
1934: Carol Lawrence (US actress, singer)
1931:
Richie
Powell (US
bebop jazz pianist;The Clifford Brown & Max Roach Quintet)*26.June.1956.
1928: Albert Mangelsdorff (German
bandleader and trombonist)*25.July.2005
1927: Nick Ayoub (Canadian tenor saxophone
player).
1927: Joki Freund (German aerophone multi-instrumentalist).
1913: Conny
Stuart/Cornelia van Meijgaard (Dutch
singer, actress)*22.Aug.2010.
1912: John Cage (American composer)*12.Aug.1992.
1910:
Ralph Berkowitz (US composer, pianist)*02.Aug.2011.
1892:
Joseph Szigeti (Hungarian
violinist)*19.Feb.1973.
1494: Hans
Sachs (German meistersinger)*19.Jan.1576.
September
6th.
1987:
Ramiele Malubay (US
singer and former American Idol contestant).
1985: Webbie/Webster Gradney Jr (US rapper, hip-hop artist).
1981: Yumiko Cheng (Hong Kong singer).
1980: Kerry Katona (UK singer; Atomic Kitten).
1979: Foxy Brown/Inga Marchand (US rapper).
1978: Tony Thaxton (US drummer; Motion City Soundtrack)
1978: Marlen Angelidou (Greek singer)
1978:
Cisco Adler (US singer, producer; Whitestarr).
1977: Kiyoshi Hikawa (Japanese enka singer).
1976: Hyun Young (South Korean actress, pop singer)
1976: N.O.R.E./Victor Santiago (American rapper and reggaeton performer).
1976: Rodrigo Amarante (Brazilian singer; Little Joy/Los Hermanos)
1974: Nina Persson (Swedish singer; The Cardigans).
1972: Eugene Hütz (Ukrainian singer and composer; Gogol Bordello).
1972: Anika Noni Rose (US actress, singer)
1971: Dolores O'Riordan (Irish singer; The Cranberries).
1971: Kathy Wolfgramm/Kathi
Jet (American vocalist; The Jets).
1969: CeCe Peniston (US dance music singer).
1969: Darryl Anthony (American R&B singer; Az Yet).
1968: Paddy Boom/Patrick Secore (US drummer; Scissor Sisters)
1967: Claire Martin (Award winning British jazz singer).
1967: Macy Gray/Natalie Hinds/Natalie Renee McIntyre (US singer-songwriter)
1967: William DuVall (US singer; Alice In Chains)
1963: Mark Chesnutt (US country music singer).
1961: Pål Waaktaar Gamst (Swedish guitarist, songwriter;
A-Ha)
1961: Colin Ferrguson (Scottish bassist; H2O)
1960: Perry Bamonte (English-Italian bassist, keyboardist; with
The Cure).
1961: Scott Travis (US drummer; Judas Priest/Racer X).
1958: Nigel Westlake (Australian musician, composer).
1958: Buster Bloodvessel/Douglas Trendle (UK singer; Bad Manners).
1957: Joe Smyth (American drummer; Sawyer Brown).
1954: Stella Barker (UK rhythm guitarist; Belle Stars).
1954: Banner Thomas (American bassist for Molly Hatchet).
1952: Buddy Miller (American country music singer-songwriter).
1949: Jimmy Litherland (English guitarist; Colosseum)
1948: Roger
Dean (UK avant-garde jazz pianist, double
bassist, vibraphonist).
1948: Claydes Charles Smith (US lead guitarist, co-founder
of Kool & The Gang)*20.June.2006.
1947: Bent Persson (Swedish international cornet player).
1947: Sylvester James (US disco and soul singer, gay drag performer)*16.Dec.1988.
1943: Roger Waters (UK bass, vocals; Pink Floyd)
1942: Mel McDaniel (American country music singer, member of the
Grand Ole Opry).
1942: Dave Bargeron (US trombonist, tuba player; Blood, Sweat &
Tears/session/guest)
1942:
Mel McDaniel (US country music singer)*31.March.2011.
1940: Jackie Trent (UK songwriter, singer, actress)
1939:
Don
DeVito (US
record producer, music executive, guitarist; Columbia Records)*25.Nov.2011.
1939: David Allan Coe (American country music singer and songwriter/composer).
1937: Bosse Broberg (Swedish trumpeter).
1932: Gilles Tremblay (Canadian composer).
1928: Evgeny Svetlanov (Russian conductor, composer)*03.May.2002.
1926: Aaron Schroeder
(American
songwriter; Elvis Presley/Roy Orbison/many more)*02.Dec.2009.
1925: Jimmy Reed (US blues singer, guitarist, harmonica)*29.Aug.1976.
1919: Aaron Shearer (American classical guitarist)*21.April.2008.
1899:
Billy Rose/William Rosenberg (US impresario,
theatrical showman, lyricist)*10.Feb.1966.
1891: John Charles Thomas (American baritone vocalist)*13.Dec.1960.
1877: Buddy Bolden/King Bolden (US cornet player, first jazzman)*04.Nov.1930.
September
7th.
1986: Spectacular Blue Smith (US rapper with
R&B Group Pretty Ricky).
1981: Paul McCoy (American lead singer; 12 Stones).
1979: Owen Pallett (Canadian violinist, singer; Final Fantasy).
1972: Slug/Sean Daley (American rapper; Atmosphere).
1970: Chad Ronald Sexton (US drummer for rapcore/punk rock/reggae
act 311).
1969: Little Jimmy Urine (American singer; Mindless Self Indulgence).
1966: Christopher John Dyke Acland (UK drummer; Lush)*17.Oct.1996.
1965: Ron Blake (American tenor saxophonist).
1965: Angela Gheorghiu (Romanian opera singer).
1964: Eazy-E/Eric Wright (American rapper; NWA)*26.March.1995.
1963: Brent Liles (US punk rock bassist; Social Distortion)*18.Jan.2007.
1962: Paul Tobey (Canadian jazz pianist).
1961: LeRoi
Moore (American saxophonist; Dave Matthews Band)*19.Aug.2008.
1961: Jean-Yves Thibaudet (French Pianist).
1960: Brad Houser (US bassist, woodwinds; Edie Brickell & New
Bohemians)
1958: Hamilton Lee (UK drummer; Furniture)
1957: Margot Chapman (US singer; Starland Vocal Band).
1957: Jermaine Stewart (US singer, dancer; backup/solo)*17.March.1997.
1956:
Diane Warren (US songwriter)
1956: Michael Feinstein (American archivist, pianist and singer).
1956:
Ryszard Riedel (Polish singer; blues-rock band Dzem)*30.July.1994.
1955: Leonard Haze (US rock drummer, songwriter and producer; Y&T)
1954: Dave King
(American bassist).
1953: Benmont Tench (US keyboardist, piano, organ; Tom Petty &
Heartbreakers).
1952: Allison Rayner (UK bass player with Deirdre Cartwright).
1951: Morris Albert (Brazilian singer).
1951: Chrissie Hynde (US singer, guitarist, songwriter; The Pretenders).
1951: Mark Isham (American composer).
1951: Danny Doriz (French vibraphonist).
1950: Mark
'Moogy' Klingman (US
keyboards, producer, songwriter; Rundgren/Utopia/others)*15.Nov.2011.
1949: Gloria Gaynor/Gloria Fowles (US Rhythm & Blues singer).
1946: Alfa Anderson (US member of the band Chic).
1943: Lena Valaitis (Lithuanian-German Schlager singer).
1941: Michael Peter Smith (US singer, songwriter; writer of The
Dutchman)
1936: Buddy Holly/Charles Hardin Holley (US singer, guitar, songwriter;
The Crickets)*03.Feb.1959.
1935: Ronnie Dove (US singer; Ronnie
Dove & the Belltones)
1934: Little Milton/Milton Campbell (US blues singer, guitarist, songwriter)*04.Aug.2005.
1932:
Johnny Duncan
(US skiffle music star)*July
15th 2000.
1931: Makanda Ken McIntyre/Ken McIntyre (US
jazz saxophonist, multi-musician, composer)*13.June.2001.
1931: Helen Gray (Canadian soprano singer;
The Travellers).
1930: Sonny
Rollins/Theodore Walter Rollins (American
jazz tenor saxophonist).
1930: Francis Coppieters (Belgian pianist).
1924: Bridie Gallagher (Irish singer)*09.Jan.2012.
1922: Joe Newman (American
composer, trumpeter)*04.July.1992.
1921: Arthur Ferrante (American pianist of Ferrante and Teicher
fame).
1920: Al Caiola (American jazz, country, rock, western, and pop
guitarist).
1914: Graeme Bell MBE (Australian bandleader and pianist).
1897: Al Sherman (Russian-American
Tin Pan Alley songwriter)*16.Sept.1973.
September
8th.
1988: Gustav Schäfer (German drummer;
Tokio Hotel).
1987: Wiz Khalifa/Cameron Jibril Thomaz (American hip-hop artist).
1980: Slim Thug/Stayve Jerome Thomas (American rapper).
1979: Pink/Alicia Moore
(US singer)
1976: Brendan Kelly (US singer, bassist, background singer; The
Lawrence Arms/sessions).
1975: Richard Hughes (UK drummer; Keane).
1973: Troy Sanders (US bassist, frontman; Mastodon).
1971: Andie Rathbourne (US drummer; Mansun).
1971: Vico C/Luis Armando Lozada Cruz (American/Puerto
Rican hip-hop and reggaeton artist).
1971: Dustin O'Halloran (American pianist and composer).
1970: Neko Case (US country singer-songwriter, guitarist).
1966: Peter Furler (Australian singer, guitarist; Newsboys)
1966: Carola/Carola
Maria Häggkvist (Swedish singer).
1965: Darlene
Zschech (Australian Christian singer-songwriter).
1964: Jokke/Joachim Nielsen (Norwegian singer, guitarist;
Jokke & Valentinerne)*17.Oct.2000.
1962: Jay Ziskrout (US punk bassist, record executive; Bad Religion/Epitaph
Records/Arista Records)
1960: Aimee Mann (US singer, bass, guitar; 'Til Tuesday/solo).
1960: David Steele (UK bassist, producer; The {English} Beat/Fine
Young Cannibals)
1959: Daler Nazarov (Tajik composer, actor)
1959: Carmen Campagne (Canadian singer, children's entertainer)
1958: Michael Lardie (US keyboards, vocals, guitar; Great White/Night
Ranger).
1958: David Lewis (US guitarist, singer;Atlantic Starr)
1956: Fad Gadget/Frank John Tovey (British
avant-garde electronic musician)*03.April.2002.
1956: Mick Brown (US drummer; Dokken/Lynch Mob/Xciter)
1951: Nikos Karvelas (Greek composer)
1950: Zachary Richard (US singer and songwriter).
1947: Valery Afanassiev (Russian pianist).
1947: Benjamin Orr/Benjamin
Orzechowski (US
bassist, singer; The Cars)*03.Oct.2000.
1946: Dean Daughtry (US rock keyboardist; Atlanta Rhythm Section)
1945: Ron "Pigpen" McKernan
(US vocalist, harmonica, organ, Grateful Dead)*08.March.1973.
1945: Kelly Groucutt (UK bassist, vocals, songwriter; Electric
Light Orchestra/ELO spin-offs)*19.Feb.2009.
1944: Peter Franklyn
Bellamy (UK
guitarist, folk singer; The
Young Tradition/solo)*24.Sept.1991.
1942: Brian Cole (US vocalist, bass, clarinet; The Association)*02.Aug.1972.
1942: Sal Valentino/Sal
Spampinato
(US
singer; The Beau Brummels)
1939: Guitar Shorty/David William Kearney (American Blues guitarist).
1934: Peter Maxwell Davies CBE (UK composer, conductor; Master
of the Queen's Music).
1934:
Peter Maxwell Davies (British composer)
1933: Eric Salzman (American composer)
1933: Asha Bhosle (Indian singer, Bollywood playback singer).
1932: Patsy Cline/Virginia Patterson Hensley
(US country singer)*05.March.1963.
1928: Earl Nelson (US R&B singer; Bob & Earl/The Hollywood
Flames/Jackie Lee)*12.July.2008.
1927: Harlan Howard (US country music songwriter)*03.March.2002.
1926: Arthur "Artie" Anton (conga drums, drums, timbales;
freelance/guest)*27.July.2003.
1926:
Bhupen
Hazarika (Indian singer, composer, lyricist, music director, filmmaker)*05.Nov.2011.
1925: Peter Sellers/Richard
Henry Sellers
(UK comic actor, musician, singer)*24.July.1980.
1918:
William Henry "Bill" Graham (US
jazz saxophonist).
1897: Jimmie Rodgers/Yodeling Cowboy (US singer, guitar, banjo,
songwriter)*26.May.1933.
1896: Howard Dietz (US pop and Broadway lyricist)*30.July.1983.
September
9th.
1992: Damian McGinty (Irish Singer)
1983: Katy Steele (Australian guitarist, singer, songwriter; Little
Birdy)
1982: Ai Otsuka (Japanese singer, pianist, songwriter).
1980: Jani Liimatainen (Finish power guitarist; Altaria/Sonata Arctica/Graveyard
Shift).
1979: Nikki DeLoach (US actress, singer; Innosense).
1977: Soulja
Slim/James Tapp Jr (US rapper; Master
P's No Limit/solo)*26.Nov.2003.
1977:
Chae Jung An (South Korean actress and singer).
1976:
Joey Newman (US film-TV
composer, orchestrator, arranger, conductor)
1976: Kristoffer Rygg/Garm/Trickster G/God Head (Norwegian singer,
keyboards; Ulver/Borknagar).
1975: Michael Bublé (Canadian/Italian pop jazz singer)
1974: Ana Carolina (Brazilian singer, composer, musician).
1974: Marcos Curiel (US guitarist, songwriter; P.O.D/Accident
Experiment/Daylight Division).
1974: Divine Brown (Canadian singer, theatre performer)
1974: Mathias Färm (Swedish guitarist, singer; Millencolin/Franky
Lee).
1969:
Liam "Skin" Tyson (UK guitarist,
Cast)
1967: Chris Caffery (US guitarist, singer; Savatage/Trans-Siberian
Orchestra).
1966: Gregory Kane
(Scottish singer, pianist, saxophonist,
guitarist; Hue and Cry/The Big Dish/sessions)
1962: Mark
Linkous (US
multi-musician, singer, songwriter; Sparklehorse)*06.March.2010.
1959:
Eric Serra (French bass player, film music composer).
1957: Pierre-Laurent Aimard (French classical pianist).
1952: Dave A. Stewart (UK guitarist, songwriter, producer; Eurythmics/Longdancer/solo/guest).
1952: Manuel Göttsching (German Kosmische
guitarist, singer; Ash Ra Tempel/solo).
1951: Tom Wopat (American actor and singer).
1950: John McFee (US guitarist; Clover/Elvis Costello/Doobie Brothers).
1948: Miss
Pamela/Pamela Des Barres nee
Miller (US
rock'n'roll groupie, singer, writer; The GTOs).
1947: Morris Pert
(Scottish composer, percussionist; freelance/world
sessionist)*27.April.2010.
1947: David Rosenboom (US composer).
1947: Freddy Weller (US guitarist, country singer; Paul Revere
and the Raiders/solo)
1946: Trevor Oakes (UK guitar; Showaddywaddy).
1946: David Gavin (drums, percussion;Heads Hands & Feet/Vinegar
Joe/Freelance).
1946: Bruce Palmer (Canadian bassist; Buffalo Springfield/Neil
Young's Trans Band)*01.Oct.2004
1946: Doug Ingle (US organist, vocals, composer; Iron Butterfly)
1946: Billy Preston (US R&B singer, keyboard player)*06.June.2006.
1945: Dee Dee Sharp/Dione LaRue (US R&B singer).
1942: Danny Kalb (US guitarist; Blues Project/Danny Kalb Trio).
1942: Inez Foxx (US lead vocalist; The Inez & Charlie Foxx
Duo)
1942: Luther Simmons Jr (soul, R&B, gospel singer; Main Ingredient)
1941: Otis Redding (US soul singer, Bar-Keys)*10.Dec.1967.
1940: Joe Negroni (US
baritone vocalist; Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers)*05.Sept.1978.
1929:
Claude Nougaro (French singer-songwriter)*04.March.2004.
1927: Elvin Ray Jones (American
jazz drummer; John Coltrane/freelance/own bands)*18.May.2004.
1922: Hoyt
Curtin (US composer, music producer;
Hanna-Barbera
animation studio)*03.Dec.2000.
1920: Aldo Parisot (US cellist, teacher)
1901:
James Blades (UK percussionist)*19.May.1999.
1894: Arthur Freed/Arthur Grossman (US songwriter, musical film producer)*12.April.1973.
September
10th.
1987: Nana Tanimura (Japanese singer)
1985: Matthew Johnson (UK singer, One True Voice/State Warning/solo).
1985: Aya Kamiki (Japanese rock singer)
1986:
Hiroki Uchi (Japanese singer; Kanjani8/NEWS).
1979: Jacob Young (US actor, singer).
1972: Katarína Hasprová (Slovak singer; sang "Modlitba"
at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998).
1970: Paula Kelley (US singer-songwriter, multi-musician, orchestral
arranger/composer).
1970: Ménélik/MNLK/Albert Tjamag (French rapper).
1969: Ai Jing (Chinese singer)
1968: Big Daddy Kane/Antonio Hardy (American rap artist, producer).
1966: Miles Zuniga (US guitarist, vocals; Fastball).
1966: Robin Goodridge (UK drummer, percussionist Bush/Elyss/Stone
Gods).
1964:
Cristian Paturca (Romanian
composer)*18.Jan.2011.
1963: Bill Stevenson (US drummer,
percussionist, music producer; Descendents/sessionist).
1960: Dave Lowery (US singer guitarist; Camper Van Beethoven/Cracker).
1958: Siobhan Fahey (Irish vocals; Bananarama/Shakespear's Sister/solo).
1957: Carol Decker (UK vocalist, songwriter; T'Pau).
1956: Johnny Hickman (US guitarist The Unforgiven/The Dangers/Cracker/solo).
1956: Johnny Fingers/John Moylett
(Irish keyboardist; Boomtown Rats/music
writer-production in Japan)
1955: Pat Mastelotto (US drummer; Mr Mister/King Crimson/XTC/guest)
1951: Peter Tolson (UK lead guitar; Pretty Things)
1950: Joe Perry (US guitarist; Aerosmith)
1949: Barrie Barlow (UK drummer; Jethro Tull)
1946: Don Powell (UK drummer; founding member of Slade/Slade 2)
1945: Jose Feliciano/José Montserrate Feliciano García
(Puerto Rican singer, blind
guitarist)
1944: Sir Thomas Allen (English baritone)
1942: Danny Hutton (US vocals, Three Dog Night)
1939: Cynthia Lennon (first wife of John Lennon from 23.08.1962
~ 08.11.1968)
1925: Roy Brown (US jump blues singer, keyboardist)*25.May.1981.
1908: Raymond Scott/Harry Warnow (US composer, bandleader, electronic
music pioneer)*08.Feb.1994.
1898: Waldo Semon (US chemist who in 1926, discovered PVC, vinyl
for LP & 45 records)*26.May.1998
September
11th.
1978: Ben Lee (Australian singer, guitarist,
actor; Noise Addict/solo).
1977: Ludacris/Chris Brian Bridges
(US rapper artist, actor).
1977: Jon Buckland (UK lead guitar, Coldplay).
1976:
Elephant Man/Energy God/O'Neil Bryan (Jamaican DJ/singer).
1975:
Mark Klepaski (US bass player, songwriter; Lifer/Breaking
Benjamin).
1975: Brad Fischetti (vocals; LFO)
1971: Richard Ashcroft (UK guitarist, vocals; Verve/solo/guest)
1970: Theodore "Ted" Leo (US singer-songwriter, guitarist;
Citizens Arrest/Chisel/Sin-Eaters/the Pharmacists).
1970: Taraji P. Henson (US actress, singer).
1969: Gidget Gein/Bradley Stewart (US bassist; Marilyn Manson/Dali
Gaggers)*08.Oct.2008.
1968: Kay Hanley (US vocalist; Letters to Cleo/solo).
1967: Harry Connick Jr. (US singer, actor, composer, pianist).
1965: Moby/Richard Melville Hall (US techno musician, DJ, producer,
vocalist).
1964: Victor Wooten (US award winning bassist; sessions/guest/solo).
1962: Victoria Poleva (Ukrainian composer)
1959: Rory Lyons (UK drummer; King Kurt)
1958: Mick Talbot (UK keyboardist; Dexys Midnight Runners/Style
Council/Galliano/Gene).
1957: Jon Moss (US drums; Culture Club/ Damned).
1955: Hiram
Bullock (American
jazz funk and jazz fusion guitarist)*25.July.2008.
1953: Tommy Shaw (US guitarist; STYX/Damn Yankees/Shaw Blades).
1948: John Martyn/Iain David McGeachy OBE (UK singer-songwriter,
guitarist)*29.Jan.2009.
1947: Richard Jaeger{some
sources Nov 9th
1947}(US percussionist; sessionist/freelance)*27.Aug.2000.
1945: Leo Kottke (US acoustic guitarist).
1946: Dennis Tufano (singer, guitarist; The
Buckinghams)
1943: Mickey Hart (UK drummer; percussion;
Grateful Dead)
1942: Loletha "Lola" Falana (US singer, dancer, actress).
1940: Bernie Dwyer (UK drummer; Freddie & The Dreamers)*04.Dec.2002.
1938: David Higgins
(UK composer, conductor).
1937: Iosif Kobzon (Soviet
singer, Russian businessman)
1935: Arvo Pärt (Estonian
composer)
1934: Oliver Jones (Canadian jazz pianist).
1925: Harry Somers
(Canadian composer)*09.March.1999.
1911: Jerry Scoggins
(American singer, guitarist)*07.Dec.2004.
1911: Bola de Nieve/Ignacio Jacinto Villa
(Cuban singer-pianist, songwriter)*02.Oct.1971.
1907: Lev Oborin (Russian
pianist)*05.Jan.1974.
September
12th.
1988: Amanda Jenssen
(Swedish singer)
1986:
Emmanuelle Grey "Emmy" Rossum (US actress, singer-songwriter).
1984: September/Petra Eos Marklund (Swedish dance singer).
1983: Carly Smithson/Carly Hennessy (Irish singer-songwriter; solo/Carly
Hennessy).
1981: Jennifer Hudson (US actress, singer, model).
1981: Noria Shiraishi (Japanese singer; BeForU/solo).
1980: Gus G/Kostas Karamitroudis (Greek guitarist; Firewind/Dream
Evil/others).
1980: Joe Loeffler (US bassist; Chevelle).
1978: Ruben Studdard (US solo singer).
1977: The Yeti/Jeff Irwin (US bassist, multi-musician; freelance/guest
sessionist).
1977: James McCartney (UK drummer, guitarist, songwriter, sculptor;
son of Sir Paul McCartney).
1977: Idan Raichel (Israeli keyboardist, singer, composer).
1976: Bizzy Bone/Bryon Anthony McCane (US rapper; Bone Thugs-N-Harmony).
1974: Jennifer Nettles (US country singer; Sugarland/solo).
1971: Wes Wehmiller (US bassist;Duran Duran/I,Claudius/others)*30.Jan.2005.
1970: Nathan Larson (US guitarist, composer; Shudder To Think/Hot
One).
1969: Sergio Vega
(Mexican
banda singer)*26.June.2010.
1969: Kenny Thomas (soul & dance singer)
1968: Larry "Ler" LaLonde (US guitarist; Primus)
1967: Jon Stewart (UK guitarist; Sleeper).
1966: Ben Folds (US vocals, piano; Ben Folds Five).
1965: John Norwood Fisher (US bassist; Fishbone).
1962: Dino Merlin/Edin Dervišhalidovic (Bosnian singer-songwriter).
1961: Mylène Farmer (French singer, songwriter).
1961: Kathem Al Saher (Iraqi singer).
1960: Stefanos Korkolis (Greek songwriter, pianist)
1957: Hans Zimmer (German composer)
1956: Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing (Hong Kong singer, actor, director)*01.April.2003.
1956: Brian Robertson (Irish guitar, Thin Lizzy/guest).
1956: Barry Andrews (UK keyboards; XTC/Shriekback)
1954: Christie Allen (Australian pop singer)*12.Aug.2008.
1954: Scott Hamilton (US tenor saxophone, jazz musician; Benny
Goodman/leader)
1952: Gerry Beckley (US lead vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass,
harmonica; America)
1952: Neil Peart (Canadian drummer; Rush)
1951: Ali-Ollie Woodson/Ollie Creggett (US singer, keyboards; Temptations/others)*30.May.2010.
1948: Luis Lima (Argentinian tenor).
1946: Dickie Peterson
(US singer, bassist; Blue Cheer)*12.Oct.2009.
1944: Barry White (US soul singer & producer)*04.July.2003.
1944: Colin Young (lead singer; Foundations)
1943: Maria Muldaur (US Singer, songwriter)
1940: Tony Bellamy (US guitarist, piano and vocals; Redbone)
1938: Judy Clay (US
soul and gospel singer)*19.July.2001.
1931: George Jones (US country singer)
1898: Salvador Bacarisse Chinoria (Spanish
composer)*05.Aug.1963.
1888: Maurice Chevalier (French singer, actor)*01.Jan.1972.
September
13th.
1983: James Bourne (UK lead singer, guitar; Busted/Son of Dork)
1980: Michelle
DaRosa/Michelle Nolan (US
singer, guitar, piano; Straylight Run/Destry).
1980: Teppei Teranishi (US guitarist, keyboards;
Thrice/Black Unicorn).
1979: Geike Arnaert (Belgian singer; Hooverphonic)
1977: Daisuke Han/Daisuke Tsuda (Japanese singer; Maximum the Hormone).
1977: Fiona Apple/Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart (US singer, songwriter).
1977: Ivan De Battista (Maltese actor, singer)
1975: Don Rooney (US guitarist, bassist, mandolin; Rascal Flatts).
1974: MC Do Damage/Keith Murray (US rapper;Def Squad/solo).
1973: Kelly Chen/Vivian Chen Wai Man (Chinese singer, actress).
1971: Manabu Namiki (Japanese video game music composer).
1967: Tim "Ripper" Owens (US
singer Beyond Fear/Rising Force/Iced Earth/Judas Priest).
1967: Steve Perkins (US drummmer, percussion; Jane's Addiction/Porno
For Pyros)
1965: Zak Starkey (UK drummer, The Face/Guest/Session)
1965: Peter Lehel (German jazz saxophonist, composer).
1961: KK Null/Kazuyuki Kishino (Japanese multi-musicain; Ybo2/ANP/Zeni
Geva/freelance/guest).
1961: Dave Mustaine (US lead guitar; Megadeth/Metallica).
1958: Pawel Przytocki (Polish conductor)
1955: Joe Morris (US jazz guitarist; own bands/sessions).
1954: Dennis Hegarty (Irish singer, TV host; Darts)
1954: Steve Kilbey (UK bass guitarist; Australian band The Church)
1952: Don Was/Donald Fagenson (bass, keyboard; Was Not Was/freelance)
1952: Randy Jones (US singer; original "cowboy" in Village
People)
1949: Fred "Sonic" Smith (US guitar player; MC5/Sonic's
Rendezvous Band)*04.Nov.1994.
1948:
Nell Carter (US singer, actress)*23.Jan.2003.
1945: Les
Harvey (Scottish guitarist,
Cartoone/Stone The Crows/others)*03.May.1972.
1944: Peter Cetera (US singer, songwriter, bass player, Chicago
/solo)
1943: Ray Elliot (Northern Irish pianist, saxophonist; Them/Truth)
1941: David Clayton-Thomas (Canadian singer; Blood Sweat &
Tears)
1939: Gene
Page (Influential US conductor, arranger and record producer)*23.Aug.1998.
1939: Dave Quincy (UK saxophonist; If/Semuta/Dave Quincy Quintet/solo/freelance)
1929: Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bulgarian opera singer)*02.June.2004.
1925: Mel Torme (US jazz singer with a light, high-tenor voice)*05.June.1999.
1924: Maurice Jarre (French film score composer)*28.March.2009.
1924: Harold Blair AM
(Australian tenor, Aboriginal activist)*21.May.1976.
1922:
Charles
Brown
(American blues singer and pianist and R&B pioneer)*21.Jan.1999.
1922:
Yma Sumac/Zoila
Augusta Chávarri del Castillo
(Peruvian
soprano singer)*01.Nov.2008.
1918: Dick Haymes (Argentine vocalist)*28.March.1980.
1917: Robert Ward (American composer).
1911: Bill Monroe (American musician,
the Father of Bluegrass; Blue Grass Boys)*09.Sept.1996.
1893: Lawrence James "Larry" Shields
(jazz clarinetist;Original
Dixieland Jass Band)*21.Nov.1953.
September 14th.
1989:
Logan Henderson (US
actor, singer; Big Time Rush).
1986: Ai Takahashi (Japanese singer; Morning Musume).
1985:
Paolo Gregoletto (US bassist; Trivium).
1985: Aya Ueto (Japanese actress, singer).
1984: Melissa McGhee (US singer).
1984: Farhan Saeed Butt (Pakistani singer; Jal).
1983: Amy Winehouse (UK singer-songwriter)*23.July.1983.
1982: SoShy/Deborah Epstein (French singer, songwriter)
1981: Miyavi/Takamasa Ishihara (Japanese guitarist; S.K.I.N./Dué
le Quartz).
1981: Ashley Roberts (US singer, dancer,
actress; Pussycat Dolls).
1980: Ayo/Joy Olasunmibo Ogunmakin (German singer)
1978: Danielle Peck (US country music singer).
1973: Nas/Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones
(US rapper).
1971: Jeff Loomis (US lead guitarist; Sanctuary/Nevermore).
1971: Andre Matos (Brazilian keyboards, drums; Viper/Angra/Shaman/solo).
1970: Craig Montoya (US bassist; Everclear).
1970: Mark Webber (UK guitarist; Pulp)
1969: DJ Kay Gee/Keir Gist (US rapper; Naughty By Nature)
1967: John Power (UK bassist, vocals; The La's/CAst/solo)
1966: Mike Cooley (US guitarist; Drive-By Truckers).
1959: Morten Harket (Norwegian lead singer; A-Ha).
1958: Beth Nielsen Chapman (US singer-songwriter).
1955: Steve Berlin (US saxophonist, keyboardist, record producer;
Los Lobos/Blasters/freelance)
1954: Barry Cowsill (US bassist, vocals; The Cowsills)
1954: Mikey Smith (Jamaican
dub poet)*17.Aug.1983.
1953: Tom Cora (US cellist, composer; The Ex/Curlew/Third Person/Skeleton
Crew/sessions/solo)*09.April.1998.
1950: Paul Kossoff (UK guitarist, Free/Back Street Crawler/sessions)*19.March.1976.
1949: Steve Gaines (US guitarist; The Ravens/Lynyrd Skynyrd)*20.Oct.1977.
1949: Tommy Seebach Mortensen (Danish musician, singer, producer)*31.March.2003.
1949: Ed King (US guitarist, bassist; Strawberry Alarm Clock/Lynyrd
Skynyrd).
1949: Eikichi Yazawa (Japanese singer)
1949: Eikichi Yazawa (Japanese singer-songwriter).
1947: Bowzer J Bowzer/Jon Bauman (American singer, TV host; Sha
Na Na).
1946: Pete Agnew (Scottish bassist; Nazareth)
1944: Oliver Lake
(US alto saxophonist, flutist, composer and poet).
1944: Joey Heatherton (US actress, singer)
1941: Alberto Naranjo (Venezuelan singer, percussionist, arranger,
director)
1930: William R. Berry (US trumpeter; Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra/sessionist)
1925:
Mason Thomas (US
jazz multi-instrumentalist; many
Washington bands/ sessions)*24.Aug.2011.
1918: Israel "Cachao" López
(Cuban mambo bassist, composer; "inventor of the mambo")*22.March.2008
1914: Mae Boren Axton
(US songwriter/promoter aka 'Queen Mother of Nashville')*09.April.1997
1902: Giorgos Papasideris (Greek country
singer, composer, lyricist)*08.Oct.1977.
1887:
Pawel Kochanski
(Polish violinist, composer, arranger)*12.Jan.1934.
September 15th.
1989: Cheats/Kris Chetan
Ramlu (New Zealand percussionist, tabla).
1986: Heidi Montag (TV personality, singer)
1980: Jolin Tsai (Taiwanese pop singer,
dancer).
1977: Kiyomi "Angela" Aki (Japanese
singer-songwriter).
1976: Paul Thomson (Scottish drummer;
Franz Ferdinand).
1976: KG/?? (UK R&B vocalist; MN8).
1976: Ivette Sosa (US singer, dancer; Eden's Crush).
1975: Jamie Stevens (German pop singer).
1972: Kit Chan/Chén Jiéyí (Singaporean
popular singer).
1971: Ben Wallers (UK guitarist, vocalist, songwriter; Country
Teasers)
1969: Allen
Shellenberger (US drummer; Razzle/Stain/Lit)*13.Aug.2009.
1967: Sari Kaasinen (Finnish singer)
1964: Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein/Paul Caiafa (US guitarist;
The Misfits).
1960: Mitch Dorge (Canadian drummer, composer, producer; Crash
Test Dummies)
1958: Tim Whelan (UK guitar; Furniture)
1958: Dr. Know/Gary
Miller (US guitarist; Bad Brains/Black Jack Johnson/solo).
1956: George
Howard
(US jazz soprano saxophonist)*20.March.1998.
1956: Maggie Reilly (Scottish folk singer).
1956: Jaki Graham (UK singer; Ferrari/Medium Wave/UB40/solo)
1953: Paul Piché (Canadian singer, songwriter)
1946: Ola Brunkert (Swedish
session drummer; playered on every Abba album)*16.March.2008.
1945: Jessye Norman (US opera singer).
1942: Lee Dorman (US bass, vocals, keyboards; Iron Butterfly/Captain
Beyond)
1941: Verne
Langdon
(US musician, composer, record producer, make-up artist)*01.Jan.2011.
1941: Les Braid (UK bass, keyboards; founder member of Swinging
Blue Jeans)*31.July.2005.
1941: Signe Toly
Anderson
(US singer; Jefferson Airplane/Carl Smith and the Natural Gas Company).
1928: Cannonball Adderley/Julian Edwin Adderley (US
saxophonist, bandleader)*08.Aug.1975.
1924: Bobby Short (US
singer, pianist)*21.March.2005
1923: Anton Heiller (Austrian organist)*25.March.1979.
1915: Al Casey (US guitarist, Fats Waller/Harlem
Blues & Jazz Band/sessionist)*11.Sept.2005.
1903: Roy Acuff (US country singer, fiddle
player, songwriter)*23.Nov.1992.
1890:
Frank Martin (Swiss composer)*21.Nov.1974.
1876:
Bruno Walter/Bruno Schlesinger (German conductor)*17.Feb.1962.
1870:
Ottilie Sutro (US pianist; duo with her sister Ottilie Sutro)*11.Jan.1957.
September
16th.
1992: Nick Jonas (American singer; The Jonas Brothers).
1988: Teddy Geiger (American singer).
1984: Katie Melua (UK singer, guitar, piano, songwriter).
1984:
Sabrina Bryan (American actress and singer).
1979: Fanny Biascamano (French singer)
1978: Matthew Rogers (US singer)
1976: Tina Barrett (UK vocalist, S Club 7).
1975: Shannon Noll (Australian singer and songwriter).
1972: James Westman (Canadian Operatic Baritone)
1970: Mark Schultz (American singer, songwriter, piano, guitar).
1969: Justine Frischmann (UK guitar, vocals; Suede/ Elastica).
1968: Marc Anthony/Marco Antonio Muñiz (Puerto Rican-American
singer, songwriter).
1964: The Snake/Dave Sabo (US rock guitarist; Skid Row/Scotti Hill)
1963: Richard Marx (US singer, piano, guitar, songwriter; own band/solo/guest).
1962: Stephen Jones (UK singer, guitarist; Babybird).
1961: Bilinda Butcher (UK singer, guitarist; My Bloody Valentine).
1960: Donald "Ean" Wayne Evans (US bassist;
Lynyrd Skynyrd/others)*O6.May.2009.
1960: Yianna Katsoulos (French singer)
1957: Anca Parghel (Romanian singer, composer)*05.Dec.2008.
1956:
Dave Blood/David Schulthise
(US bass guitarist; Dead Milkmen)*10.March.2004.
1955: Yolandita Monge (Puerto Rican singer).
1954: Frank "Tchallah"
Reed (US singer; Chi-Lites).
1954: Earl Klugh (American jazz guitarist).
1954: Colin Newman (UK guitarist, vocals; Wire).
1953: Alan Barton (UK lead singer; Black Lace/Smokie)*23rd
March 1995.
1950: David Bellamy (US vocals, guitar; Bellamy Brothers).
1948: Ron Blair (US bassist; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers).
1948: Kenny Jones (UK drummer; Small Faces/Faces/The Who).
1946: Camilo Sesto (Spanish singer).
1945: Dag Frøland (Norwegian comedian, revue artist, singer)*26.Jan.2010.
1944: Winston Grennan (Jamaican drummer; international session
player)*27.Oct.2000.
1944: Betty Kelly (US singer; The Velvelettes/Martha And The Vandellas).
1942: Bernie Calvert (UK bass, keyboards; the Hollies).
1941: Joseph Campbell Butler (US vocalist, drummer; The Lovin'
Spoonful).
1940: Hamiet Bluiett
(American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer).
1936: Gordon
Beck
(UK jazz pianist,
composer; Gyroscope/Allan
Holdsworth/ others)*06.Nov.2011.
1934:
Dick Heckstall-Smith (UK
jazz-blues sax, keyboard;
Graham
Bond/John Mayall/others)*17.Dec.2007.
1934: Ronnie Drew (Irish
folk singer, gutarist; Dubliners/solo/guest)*16.Aug.2008.
1931: Jan Johansson (Swedish jazz pianist)*09.Nov.1968
1928: Ralph Mooney (US
steel guitarist; Waylon Jennings/many
others)*20.March.2011.
1926: Eric
Gross (Austrian-born Australian pianist, composer)*17.April.2011.
1925: B.B. King/Riley B. King (US blues guitarist, vocals).
1925: Charlie Byrd (US jazz and classical guitar virtuoso)*02.Dec.1999
1922: Marcel
Mouloudji (French actor and singer)*14.June.1994.
1921: Jon
Hendricks (US jazz singer).
1919: Andy Russell/Andrés Rabago Pérez (US popular
vocalist)*15.April.1992.
1916: Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (Indian singer)*11.Dec.2004
1897: Milt Franklyn (US musician)*24.April.1962.
September
17th.
1983: Jennifer Peña (American singer)
1979: Chuck Comeau (Canadian drummer; Simple Plan).
1978: Gifford Noel/DJ Trend/TNT (UK DJ, drum and bass specialist)*17.Sept.2010.
1976: Maile Misajon (US singer; Eden's Crush).
1975: Constantine Maroulis (US singer; Pray for the Soul of Betty).
1974: Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn (US singer-songwriter, guitarist, piano)
1970: Vin Rock/Vincent Brown (US rap artist; Naughty By Nature)
1969: Keith Flint (UK
vocals, dancer; Prodigy)
1969: Adam Devlin/Adam Tadek Gorecki (UK guitarist,
songwriter; The Bluetones)
1968: Anastacia/Lynn Newkirk (US singer)
1968: Lord Jamar/Lorenzo Dechalus (US hip-hop artist, MC, actor;
Brand Nubian)
1968: John Penney (vocals, Neds Atomic Dustbin)
1966: Doug E. Fresh (US rapper, record producer, beatboxer).
1965: Guy Picciotto (US guitarist, vocalist; Rites of Spring/Fugazi).
1963: Steven Dye (UK bassist, keyboards, singer-songwriter; Scarlet
Party/Alan Parsons Project).
1962: Baz Luhrmann (Australian filmmaker, executive Producer, director)
1962: BeBe Winans (gospel and R&B singer)
1961: Ty
Tabor (US
lead guitarist, songwriter, co-lead vocalist; King's X).
1954: Joël-François Durand (French composer).
1950: Fee Waybill/John Waldo Waybill (US vocalist; The Tubes/sessions).
1950: Mike Hossack (US drummer; Doobie Brothers)
1947: Jim Hodder (US drummer; Steely Dan/sessionist)*15.June.1990.
1941: Stavros Damianides (Greek bouzouki soloist)*27.Jan.2001.
1939: Shelby Flint (American singer).
1939: LaMonte McLemore (US singer; the 5th Dimension).
1930: Lalgudi Jayaraman (Indian violinist).
1929: Sil Austin (US tenor saxophone;)*01.Sept.2001.
1926: William Patton "Bill" Black Jr (US: double bass,
bass; Elvis Presley)*21.Oct.1965.
1923: Hank Williams (US country star, singer, guitar, songwriter)*01.Jan.1953.
1912: Himie Voxman (US woodwind-reed player, music pedagogue, administrator)*22.Nov.2011.
September 18th.
1974: Xzibit/X to the Z/Alvin Nathaniel Joiner
(US hip-hop, rapper artist)
1974: Andrew Hansen (Australian comedian, musical comedy).
1973: Ami "Puffy"
Onuki (Japanese singer).
1971: Michael Patrick Walker (US composer and lyricist).
1971: Anna Netrebko (Russian opera singer).
1968: Cappadonna/Darryl Hill (US rapper; solo/Wu-Tang Clan).
1967: Slick/Ricky
Bell (US singer; New Edition/Bell Biv Devoe/solo).
1966: Ian Spice (UK drummer; Breathe).
1966: Nigel Clarke (UK vocals, bass; Dodgy).
1965: Thomas Bramerie (French bass player; sessionist/Dick
de Graaf/Dee Dee Bridgewater).
1964: Marco Masini (Italian singer-songwriter).
1962: Joanne Catherall (UK vocalist, Human League).
1962: Richard Walmsley (UK member of the electronic band Beatmasters).
1961: Martin Beedle (UK drummer; Cutting Crew).
1959: Manfred Brundl (German bassist; session musician for Bob
Brookmeyer).
1958: Lita Ford (UK vocalist; The Runaways).
1957: Emily Remler (US Jazz Guitarist)*04.May.1990.
1951: Dee Dee Ramone/ Douglas Colvin (US bassist, vocals; Ramones)*05.June.2002.
1949: Kerry Livgren (US keyboards, piano, guitar; Kansas).
1946: Alan "Barn" King (UK guitarist; Ace).
1945: P.F.
Sloan/Philip Gary Schlein (Vocals, Various
Instruments, Producer; Grass Roots)
1944:
Rocío Jurado (Spanish
singer and actress)*01.June.2006.
1944: Michael
Franks (US singer song-writer).
1942: Gabriella Ferri (Italian singer)*03.April.2004.
1942: Martin "Marty" Mooney (Australian reed player).
1941: Priscilla Mitchell (US rockabilly vocalist; collaborated
with Connie Smith/Anita Carter).
1940: Lonnie Lee (Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist).
1939: Steve
Marcus (US
jazz saxophonist; Count's Rock Band/Buddy
Rich Band/others)*25.Sept.2005.
1939: Frankie Avalon (US singer/actor)
1936: Big Tom/Tom McBride (Irish country singer; Big Tom and The
Mainliners).
1934: Alex Dalgleish (Scottish arranger, composer, trumpeter).
1933: Jimmie Rodgers (American singer, composer).
1932:
Maureen Lehane Wishart (British
soprano)*27.Dec.2010.
1929: Louis Myers (US guitar, harmonica, vocals; Aces/freelance)*05.Sept.1994
1925: Pieternella "Pia" Beck (Dutch entrepreneur, pianist,
vocalist) *26.Nov.2009.
1922: Ray Steadman-Allen (UK composer)
1893: Arthur Benjamin (Australian composer; films opera, orchestral)*10.April.1960.
September
19th.
1984: Eamon/Eamon Doyle (US R&B and hip hop singer-songwriter).
1980: Sara Quin (Canadian singer/songwriter; Tegan and Sara).
1980: Tegan Quin (Canadian singer/songwriter; Tegan and Sara).
1979: Joel Houston (Australian bass guitarist, vocals, acoustic
guitar, songwriter).
1977: Ryan Dusick (US drums; Maroon 5)
1976: Jim Ward (American vocalist, guitarist; At the Drive-In/Sparta).
1971: Paul Winterhart (drummer; Kula Shaker)
1970: TMR/T.M.Revolution/Takanori Nishikawa (Japanese pop-rock
singer)
1969: Tapio Wilska (Finnish singer; Sethian/Finntroll/Lyijykomppania/Nattvindens
Gråt).
1969: Candy Dulfer (Dutch jazz lady, alto saxophonist; Funky Stuff/freelance)
1965: Sabine Paturel (French singer, actress)
1964: Trisha Yearwood (US country singer)
1963: Jarvis Branson Cocker (UK lead singer,songwriter, producer;
Pulp)
1958: Lita Ford (UK vocalist, guitar; The Runaways/solo)
1958: Lucky Ali/Maqsood Mehmood Ali (Indian singer, composer, actor)
1957: Rusty Egan (UK drummer; Rich Kids)
1957: Eric Marienthal (US jazz saxophonist; The Rippingtons/many
sessions).
1955: Richard Burmer (US composer, engineer, sound designer, musician)*09.Sept.2006.
1955: Rex Smith (US singer and actor).
1952: Tad
Jones (US music
historian, researcher, author)*01.Jan.2007.
1952: Nile Rodgers (US R&B guitarist; Chic/freelance/guest)
1951: Daniel Lanois (Canadian producer, singer, percussion, guitar;
freelance/guest)
1949: Twiggy/Leslie Hornby (UK model, actress, singer)
1948: Mihai Timofti (Moldova-Chisinaun multi-musician, director,
actor)
1947: Lol Creme/Lawrence Neil Creme (UK singer, guitar, keyboards;
10CC/Godley & Creme)
1946: John Coghlan (UK drummer; Status Quo)
1945: Freda Payne (US soul singer)
1945: David Bromberg (US guitarist, fiddle, mandolin player; freelance).
1942:
Harry Whitaker (US
jazz pianist)*17.Nov.2010.
1941: Mama Cass/Cass Elliot/Ellen Naomi Cohen (US singer; Mamas
and the Papas/solo)*29.July.1974.
1940: Paul Williams (US composer & songwriter; Carpenters,
many others).
1940: Bill Thomas Medley (US singer, songwriter; Righteous Brothers)
1936: "Brother" Gene Dinwiddie (US sax player; Butterfield
Blues Band/FullMoon/freelance)*????
1934: Brian Epstein (UK businessman, Beatles manager)*27.Aug.1967.
1931: Brook Benton/Benjamin Franklin Peay (US singer)*09.April.1988.
1927: Nick Massi/Nicholas Macioci (US bass singer, bass guitarist;
The Four Seasons)*24.Dec.2000
1924:
Suchitra Mitra (Indian singer, composer)*03.Jan.2011.
1920:
Karen
Khachaturian (Russian composer)*19.July.2011.
1918:
Blanche Thebom
(American mezzo-soprano)*23.March.2010.
1915: Tin-Tan/Germán
Valdés (Mexican
actor, singer and comedian)*29.June.1973.
1912:
Kurt Sanderling (German
conductor)*17.Sept.2011.
1887: Lovie Austin/Cora Calhoun (US jazz pianist)*10.July.1972.
1882:
Christopher Stone (Britain's
first disc jockey)*22.May.1965.
September
20th.
1990: Marilou Bourdon (Quebec pop singer).
1987:
Flawless Lawless/Jack Lawless/John Lawless (US drummer; the Jonas
Brothers).
1985:
David Allen (US composer, writer)
1983:
Yuna Ito (Japanese singer, actress)
1981: Keith Semple (UK singer in the ITV popstars band 'One True Voice')
1980: Mehrzad Marashi (German singer)
1979: Rick Woolstenhulme (US drummer; Lifehouse)
1978: Patrizio Buanne (Italian baritone singer).
1978: Sarit Hadad/Sara Hodedtov (Israeli singer).
1977: Namie Amuro (Japanese pop singer).
1976: Yo Hitoto (Japanese pop singer)
1971: Masashi Hamauzu (Japanese composer)
1971: Dominika Peczynski (Swedish singer; Army of Lovers)
1971: Andrew
Barker (US
percussionist, composer, improviser; Gold Sparkle Band)
1968: Ben Shepherd (US bassist; Soundgarden)
1968: Vikki Foxx/Victor Christopher Cerney (US drummer; Enuff Z'nuff/Vince
Neil Band/Veronicas/others)
1968: Tim Rogers (Australian singer, songwriter).
1967: Matthew Nelson (US lead singer, bassist; Nelson. Twin son
of Ricky Nelson)
1967: Gunnar Nelson (US lead singer, drums; Nelson. Twin son of
Ricky Nelson)
1966: Nuno Bettencourt (Portugese guitar virtuoso; Extreme/Mourning
Widows/Population 1)
1964: Randy Bradbury (US bass guitarist; Pennywise)
1960: David Hemmingway (UK drums; Housemartins/Beautiful South)
1960: Keith 'Cowboy' Wiggins (US MC, hip-hop, rapper; Grandmaster
Flash & Furious Five)*08.Sept.1989.
1958: Ines Paulke (German rock 'n' roll singer, songwriter)*18.Feb.2010.
1957: Alannah Currie (New Zealand singer, musician; Thompson Twins).
1956: Steve Coleman (US
saxophone player, spontaneous composer, composer, band leader).
1952: Harvey
James (Australian
guitarist; Party
Boys/Sherbet/Ariel/Mississippi)*15.Jan.2011.
1948: John Anthony Panozzo (US
drummer; Styx)*16.July.1996.
1948: Charles Salvatore "Chuck"
Panozzo
(US bassist; Styx)
1947: Billy Bang/William Walker
(US jazz violinist, composer;
String
Trio of New York)*11.April.2011.
1947: Mia Martini/Domenica Bertè (Italian
singer and song-writer)*12.May.1995.
1946: /Michael Oldroyd (lead guitar, lead singer; Manfred Mann's
Earth Band)
1945: Sweet Pea Atkinson (singer; The Boneshakers/Was Not Was/solo)
1944: Bruce Finley (Scottish drummer; The Sorrows)
1937: Monica Zetterlund/Monica Nilsson (Swedish actress, singer)*12.May.2005.
1930: Eddie Bo/Edwin Joseph Bocage
(American singer and pianist)*18.March.2009.
1927: Johnny Dankworth CBE (UK saxophonist, clarinetist, composer)*06.Feb.2010.
1927: Colette Bonheur (Canadian singer)*15.Oct.1966.
1925: Ulysses B. "Bobby" Nunn (US lead & bass singer;
The Coasters/his own Coasters)*05.Nov.1986
1924: Gogi Grant/Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg (US singer).
1922: William Kapell (US classical pianist)*29.Oct.1953.
1921: Bill DeArango (US jazz guitarist; Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie/freelance)*02.Jan.2006
1890:
Kathleen Parlow (Canadian violinist)*19.Aug.1963.
1885: Jelly Roll Morton/Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (US jazz pianist,
bandleader, composer)*10.July.1941.
September
21st.
1990: Christian Serratos (US actress, model, singer)
1989: Jason Derulo (US pop singer)
1986: Faris Badwan (UK singer)
1979: James Allan (Scottish singer; Glasvegas)
1976: Jonas Bjerre (Danish singer, guitarist; Mew)
1974: Taral Hicks (US singer, actress)
1972: David Randall Silveria (US drums, Korn)
1972: Liam Gallagher/William John Paul Gallagher (UK lead singer;
Oasis)
1971: James Michael 'Jimmy' Constable (UK singer; 911)
1969: Mic
Christopher (Irish singer, songwriter; The
Mary Janes)*29.Nov.2001.
1968: Trugoy the Dove/Plug 2/David Jude Jolicoeur ( rapper, lyricalist,
producer; De La Soul)
1968: Jon Brookes (UK drummmer; The Charlatans UK band)
1967: Timmy T/Timothy Torres (US Freestyle performer, singer, drum
machines, keyboards)
1967: Tyler Stewart (Canadian drummer; Barenaked Ladies)
1967: Faith Hill (US singer)
1967: Glen Benton (US vocalist, bassist; Deicide)
1964: Jorge Drexler (Uruguayan singer, composer)
1959: Corinne Drewery (UK singer, lyricalist; Swing Out Sister)
1954: Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor (UK drummer; Motorhead)
1952: Dave Gregory (UK guitarist, keyboard player; XTC)
1947: Don Felder (US guitar, vocals;The Eagles)
1944:
Jesse
Ed Davis (Native American top session guitarist)*22.June.1988.
1941:
Roberto Szidon (Brazilian classical pianist)*21.Dec.2011.
1939: Rory Storm/Alan Caldwell (UK singer; Rory Storm and The Hurricanes)*28.Sept.1972.
1936: Dickey Lee (US country singer-songwriter)
1934: Leonard Cohen (Canadian singer, songwriter, poet)
1931: Voki
Kostic (Serbian composer, cookery author)*29.Sept.2010.
1929: Shafi Hadi a.k.a. Curtis Porter (US jazz saxophonist; Griffin
Brothers/freelance)
1926: Noor Jehan/Allah Wasai (Pakistani singer, actress)*23.Dec.2000.
1921: Sir Jimmy Young (UK singer, BBC radio DJ, interviewer)
1921: Chico Hamilton (US jazz drummer; Count Basie/Lester Young/Lena
Horne etc)
1914: Slam Stewart/Leroy Elliot Stewart (US jazz bassist with all
the icons 40s- 80's)*10.Dec.1987.
1912: György
Sándor (Hungarian pianist)*09.Dec.2005.
1873: Papa
Jack/George Vital Laine (American drummer,
band leader)*10.June.1966.
September 22nd.
1989: Coeur de pirate/Béatrice Martin (Canadian singer - songwriter)
1989: Hyoyeon/Kim Hyo-yeon (South Korean singer; Girls' Generation)
1988: Adam Lazzara (US lead singer; Taking Back Sunday)
1988: Bethany Dillon/Bethany Adelsberger (US singer-songwriter,
guitarist).
1984: Theresa Fu (Hong Kong singer, actress)
1984: Ross Jarman (UK drummer; The Cribs)
1982: Billie Piper/Lianne Paul Piper (UK singer, actress)
1982: Mandy Chiang (Hong Kong singer, actress)
1981: Subaru Shibutani (Japanese singer; Kanjani8)
1979: Emilie Autumn (US singer-songwriter, violinist).
1976: David Berkeley (US singer-songwriter)
1975: Svilen Noev (Bulgarian singer-songwriter).
1974: Yoo Chae-yeong (South Korean singer, actress).
1971: Chesney Hawkes (UK singer)
1970: Mystikal/Michael Tyler (US rapper)
1969: Matt Sharp (US bassist; Weezer, The Rentals).
1966: Moustafa Amar (Egyptian singer).
1965: Andy Cairns (Irish guitarist, vocals, Therapy?)
1962: MIchael Algar (UK guitarist, singer songwriter; The Toy Dolls).
1961: Michael Torke (US composer)
1961: Marq Torien (US rock singer; BulletBoys)
1958: Joan Jett/Joan Marie Larkin (US singer, guitarist, The Runaways)
1958: Nelson (UK bassist: Kip Keino/New Model Army)
1958: Andrea Bocelli (Italian tenor)
1957: Nick Cave (Australian vocals, piano, organ; Birthday Party/The
Bad Seeds)
1957: Peter Jones (UK bassist; Cowboys International/Brian Brain/Public
Image Ltd)
1957: Johnette Napolitano (lead singer, bassist; Concrete Blonde)
1956:
Rhett Forrester (American singer; Riot/other bands/sessions/solo)*22.Jan.1994.
1956: Debby Boone (US singer, daughter of Pat Boone)
1956: Masayuki Suzuki (Japanese singer; Rats & Star)
1954: Shari Belafonte (US singer, actor, model)
1953: Richard Fairbrass (UK singer, Right Said Fred)
1952: Mark Panker (guitar, American Music Club)
1952: Gary Holton (UK actor, lead singer)*25.Oct.1985.
1951: David Coverdale (UK vocalist; Deep Purple/Whitesnake)
1950: Kirka
Babitzin (Finnish
rock singer;
The Creatures/The Islanders)*31.Jan.2007.
1948: Jim Byrnes (US actor, singer)
1946: King Sunny Ade/Sunday Adeniyi (Nigerian singer, guitarist)
1943:
Toni Basil (US singer, actress, dancer,
choreographer)
1941:
Mike Patto/Michael McCarthy (UK
singer,
keyboardist;Spooky
Tooth/Boxer)*04.March.1979.
1930: P. B. Sreenivas (Indian Play-back singer)
1929: Serge Garant (French Canadian conductor)*01.Nov.1986.
1927: Colette Deréal/Colette Denise de Glarélial (French
singer, actress)*12.April.1988.
1918: Henryk Szeryng (Polish-born violinist)*08.March.1988.
1891: Hans Albers (German actor, singer)*24.July.1960.
1870:
Arthur Pryor (US trombonist and bandleader)*18.June.1942.
September 23rd.
1990: Kota Yabu (Japanese pop singer).
1985: Maki Goto (Japanese pop singer).
1985: Diana
Oritz (US singer; Dream)
1981: Natalie Horler (Anglo-German singer; Cascada)
1980: Matt White (US singer, songwriter).
1979: Erik-Michael Estrada (US singer; O-Town).
1977: Rachael Yamagata (US singer, songwriter).
1977: Susan Tamim
(Lebanese singer and actress)*28.July.2008.
1975: Layzie Bone/Steven Howse (US rapper; Bone Thugs-N-Harmony).
1975:
Lil Rob/Roberto Flores (Mexican rapper,
music producer)
1973: Ingrid Fliter (Argentinian pianist).
1973: Jermaine Dupri Maulidin (US music producer, rapper, songwriter).
1972: Sarah Bettens (Belgian singer; K's Choice)
1970: Ani DiFranco (US singer, guitarist).
1969: Patrick Fiori (French singer).
1964: Koshi Inaba/Hiroshi Inaba (Japanese singer; B'z).
1959: Martin Page (UK singer, songwriter).
1958: Danielle
Dax/Danielle Gardner (UK musician; The
Lemon Kittens/solo)
1957: Kumar Sanu (Indian playback singer)
1955: Leon Taylor (US drums; The Ventures)
1950:
George Garzone (US
saxophonist, jazz educator;
Fringe).
1949: Bruce Springsteen (US singer, songwriter, guitarist)
1947: Jerry Corbetta (US singer; Sugarloaf)
1947:
Neal Smith (US drums; Alice Cooper Band/others).
1944: Eric Bogle (Scottish/Australian singer, songwriter).
1943: Duster
Bennett/Anthony Bennett (Welsh
singer, multi-musician; solo/sessionist)*26.March.1976.
1943: Steve Boone (US bassist; Lovin Spoonful)
1943: Wallace 'Scotty' Scott
(singer; The Whispers)
1943: Julio Iglesias (Spanish singer)
1939: Roy Buchanan (US guitarist, singer, songwriter)*14.Aug.1988.
1932:
Travis Edmonson (US folk
singer-songwriter, guitarist;
Bud and Travis/solo)*09.May.2009.
1930: Ray Charles (US pop and jazz pianist, singer, songwriter)*10.June.2004
1929: Wally Whyton (British musician, songwriter
and radio and TV personality)*22.Jan.1997.
1928: Frank Foster (US saxophonist, flautist,
arranger, composer; Count Basie/others)*26.July.2011.
1926: John William Coltrane (US jazz saxophonist
and composer)*17.July.1967.
1923: Samuel Carthorne Rivers (US jazz multi-musician,
composer).
1912:
György Sándor (Hungarian pianist)*09.Dec.2005.
1909:
Blanche Honegger Moyse (Swiss-American violinist, conductor)*10.Feb.2011.
September 24th.
1986: Leah Dizon (US model, singer)
1979: Kim Jong Min (Korean singer)
1976: Dave Weiner (US metal guitarist; Steve Vai Band/solo)
1971: Marty Cintron (US lead vocals; No Mercy)
1971: Peter Salisbury (UK drummer; Verve)
1969: Shawn "Clown" Crahan (US drummer; Slipknot/To My
Surprise/Dirty Little Rabbits)
1969: DeVante
Swing/Donald DeGrate Jr
(US music producer)
1967: William So (Hong Kong singer)
1965: Janet Weiss (US drummer; Sleater-Kinney, Quasi, Stephen Malkmus
and the Jicks)
1965: Sean McNabb (US bassist; Quiet Riot, Great White, Rough Cutt,
House of Lords)
1962: Cedric Dent (US gospel singer; Take 6)
1959:
Denis D'Amour aka Piggy (Canadian guitarist; Voivod)*26.Aug.2005.
1957: Tod Howarth (US vocalist, keyboardist, guitarist; Frehley's
Comet/Cheap Trick)
1952: Mark Sandman (US multi-musician; Morphine/Sandman/Treat
Her Right/Hi-n-Dry)*03.July.1999.
1948: Heinz Chur (German composer)
1946: Carson Van Osten (US bassist; The Nazz)
1946: Jerry Donahue (US guitarist; Fairport Convention)
1946: Kjell Asperud (Norwegian percussionist, vocals; Titanic)
1942: Ilkka Johannes "Danny" Lipsanen (Finnish singer,
guitarist).
1942: Gerry Marsden (UK singer, Gerry & The Pacemakers)
1941: Linda McCartney née Eastman (US keyboardist, vocals;
Wings)*17.April.1998.
1940: Barbara Allbut (US lead singer; The Angels)
1938: Steve Douglas
Kreisman (US saxophone, multi-musician;
Wrecking Crew/sessions)*19.April.1993.
1935:
James Sheppard (US
singer; Heartbeats/Shep & The Limelites)*24.Jan.1970.
1933: Mel Taylor (US drummer, The Ventures)*11.Aug.1996.
1931: Anthony Newley (UK singer, actor, composer)*14.April.1999.
1929: John Wallace Carter (US
jazz clarinetist; Clarinet Summit/freelance)*31.March.1991.
1924: Sheila MacRae (UK singer, actress)
1923: Fats Navarro/Theodore Navarro (US jazz trumpet player)*06.July.1950.
1922: Cornell
MacNeil (US
operatic baritone)*15.July.2011.
1915: Jessica
Sanso
(US
opera singer)*09.Nov.2010.
1913: Herb Jeffries (American jazz singer)
September
25th.
1985: Diana Ortiz (US singer; Dream)
1982: Kany García (Puerto Rican singer, songwriter)
1981: Shane Tutmarc (US singer, songwriter, multi-musician)
1980: T.I./T.I.P/Clifford Joseph Harris Jr (US rapper, founder
of Grand Hustle Records)
1978: Ryan Leslie (US music producer, singer)
1978: Joanne Cotton (Canadian pop singer)
1977: Kiyoshi Ijichi (Japanese drummer; Asian Kung-Fu Generation)
1976:
Juan Meier (Argentinian rock, blues,
jazz and tango guitarist)
1976: Chiara Siracusa (Maltese singer)
1976: Santigold/Santi White (US songwriter, producer, singer)
1975: Declan Donnelly (UK actor, singer, TV Pop Idol presenter;
Ant & Dec duo)
1974: Chris Impellitteri (US shred guitarist; Impellitteri)
1974: Daniel Kessler (UK born guitarist, backing vocalist; Interpol).
1974: Wamma/Richie
Edwards (UK bassist, vocalist; The Darkness/Stone
Gods).
1970: Dean Ween/Deaner/Michael Melchiondo Jr (US
guitarist; Ween)
1968: Will Smith (US actor, rapper; D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh
Prince duo)
1964: Chris Impellitteri (US lead guitarist; Impellitteri)
1964: Kikuko Inoue (Japanese singer, voice actress)
1964: Maria Doyle Kennedy (Irish actress, singer)
1958: Randy Kerber (US composer)
1955: Steve Severin (UK bassist; Siouxsie and the Banshees/The
Creatures)
1955: Zucchro/Adelmo Fornaciari (Italian blues and rock singer)
1954: Craig Chaquico (guitar; Jefferson Starship)
1953: Richard Harvey (UK multi-musician, composer; Gryphon/sessionist)
1947: John Fiddler (vocalist,
guitarist, piano, drummer; Medicine Head)
1947: Cecil Womack (US singer; Womack & Womack).
1946: Bryan MacLean
(US guitarist, vocals; Love/solo)*25.Dec.1998
1946: Jerry Penrod (US bass player; Iron Butterfly / Rhinoceros).
1945: Dee
Dee Warwick/Delia
Mae Warrick (US
soul singer)*18.Oct.2008.
1945: Onnie Mcintyre (vocals, rhythm guitar; Average White Band)
1943: Gary Alexander (guitar, vocals; The Association)
1943: John Locke (US keyboard player, songwriter; Spirit)*04.Aug.2006.
1939: Joe 'Jesse' Russell (lead singer; The Persuasions)
1936: Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes (Bluesman, harmonica,
owner of Barnes' Playboy Club)*08.April.1995
1933: Ian Tyson (Canadian singer-songwriter)
1933:
Erik Darling (US songwriter, folk musician;
Tarriers/Weavers/Rooftop
singers/solo)*03.Aug.2008.
1932: Glenn Gould (Canadian pianist and composer)*04.Oct.1982
1930: Sheldon
Silverstein (US songwriter, composer,
cartoonist, screenwriter, author)*10.May.1999.
1927: Sir Colin Davis (UK conductor)
1923: Sam Rivers (US jazzman, tenor & soprano sax, flute; own
band/freelance/sessions)*26.Dec.2011.
1913:
Mary Atanasiu/Maria Tanase (Romanian
folkloric
and pop singer)*22.June.1963.
1906:
Dmitri Shostakovich (Russian composer)*09.Aug.1975.
1896:
Robert Gerhard (Catalan Spanish composer, musical scholar, writer)*05.Jan.1970.
September
26th.
1988: Mark
Simpson (UK clarinetist and composer).
1987: Rosie Munter (Swedish singer; Play).
1985: Lenna Kuurmaa (Estonian singer; Vanilla Ninja).
1984: Keisha Buchanan/Kiesha Kerreece Fayeanne Brown (UK singer;
Sugababes).
1983: Samantha Hammel (US record producer, actress, theatre director,
choreographer).
1981: Christina Milian (US singer-songwriter, actress, record producer)
1975: Emma Härdelin (Swedish singer, violinist; Garmarna/Triakel).
1974: Boris Cepeda (German-Ecuadorian pianist and diplomat).
1973: Marty Casey (US singer, guitarist; Lovehammers/L.A. Guns)
1972: Paul Draper (US lyricist, vocals, rhythm guitars, keyboards;
Mansun).
1972: Shawn Stockman (US singer; Boyz II Men).
1972: Ras Kass/John Austin IV (US rapper; The HRSMN/solo).
1969: Anthony Kavanagh (French-Canadian comedian, actor, singer)
1967: Richard Shannon Hoon (US singer, Blind Melon)*21.Oct.1995.
1966: Christos Dantis/Christos Vlahakis (Greek composer, singer).
1964: Nicki French (UK singer).
1964: John Tempesta (US drummer; White Zombie, Helmet, Testament)
1962: Tracey Thorn (Mexican singer; Everything But The Girl)
1961: Cindy Herron (US singer; En Vogue)
1958: Darby Crash/Bobby
Pyn/Jan Paul Beahm (US punk-rock singer; The Germs)*07.Dec.1980.
1955: Carlene Carter (US country singer, guitarist).
1954: Cesar Rosas (Mexican singer, guitarist, songwriter; Los Lobos/Los
Super Seven).
1953: Dolores Keane (Irish folk singer; De Dannan/solo).
1951: Stuart Tosh (Scottish drummer, songwriter; Pilot/10cc/Camel/sessionist)
1948: Olivia Newton-John (Australian singer/actress).
1947: John Foxx/Dennis Leigh (English singer, artist, photographer,
teacher; Ultravox)
1947: Philippe Lavil (French singer)
1947: Lynn Anderson (US country singer)
1946:
Theodore
"Ted" Greene (US fingerstyle
jazz guitarist, teacher,
music columnist)*23.July.2005.
1945: Bryan Ferry (UK singer, keyboards, piano, harmonica; Roxy
Music/solo)
1945: Gal Costa/Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos (Brazilian
singer).
1941: Salvatore Accardo (Italian violinist, conductor).
1941: Joe Bauer (US drummer; Youngbloods)
1940: Creadel 'Red' Jones (US singer; The Hi-lites/ The Chi-Lites)*25.Aug.1994.
1934: Dick Heckstall-Smith
(UK saxophonist; John Mayall/Colosseum/freelance)*17.Dec.2004
1930: Fritz Wunderlich (German tenor)*17.Sept.1966.
1926: Julie London/Gayle Peck (US actress, singer)*18.Oct.2000.
1925: Marty Robbins/Martin
David Robinson
(US country singer, guitarist)*08.Dec.1982
1918:
Harold Gramatges (Cuban
composer and pianist)*16.Dec.2008.
1898: George Gershwin/Jacob Gershowitz (US composer, pianist)*11.July.1937.
1891: Charles Münch (French conductor, violinist)*06.Nov.1968.
1869: Komitas
Vardapet (Armenian
composer, music pedagogue, musicologist)*22.Oct.1935.
September 27th.
1984: Avril Lavigne (Canadian singer)
1983: Travis MacRae (Canadian folk-blues singer, songwriter, guitar,
harmonica)
1982: Lil Wayne/Dwayne Michael Carter Jr (US rapper; Hot Boys/solo)
1980: Ehron VonAllen (US singer)
1977: Patrick Bourque (Canadian bass guitarist; Emerson Drive)*26.Sept.2007.
1976: Dean Butterworth (UK drummer; Morrissey, Good Charlotte)
1975: Thanos Petrelis (Greek Laiko singer)
1973: Lee Brennan (lead vocalist; 911)
1972: Lhasa
de Sela (American singer-songwriter)*01.Jan.2010.
1970: Mark Calderon (singer; Color Me Bad).
1964: Stephan Jenkins (US singer, songwriter, guitarist; Third
Eye Blind)
1961: Andy Lau (Hong Kong actor, singer)
1958: Shaun Cassidy (US singer, actor, TV producer, David's half
brother)
1953: Greg Ham (Australian sax, flute, keyboards, harmonica, vocals;
Men At Work)
1953: Robbie Shakespeare (bassist; Riddim Twins/Sly & Robbie/freelance)
1951: Michel Rivard (Canadian singer, composer; Beau Dommage)
1949: Jahn Teigen (Norwegian singer, guitarist)
1947: Liz Torres (US actress and singer
1947: Barbara Dickson OBE (Scottish singer)
1947: Meat Loaf/Marvin Lee Aday (US singer)
1943: Randy Bachman (Canadian guitarist, singer; Guess Who/Bachman
Turner Overdrive)
1942: Shane Fenton/Alvin Stardust/Bernard William Jewry (uk singer;
The Fentones/solo)
1941: Gay Kayler Ashcroft (Australian country music singer)
1931: Freddy Quinn/Franz Eugen Helmut Manfred Niedl-Petz (Austrian
singer)
1924: Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell (US jazz pianist)*31.July.1966.
1909:
Jean Berger (German pianist, educator
and composer)*28.May.2002.
1898: Vincent Youmans (US composer and producer)*05.April.1946.
September 28th.
1988: Esmée Denters (Dutch
singer).
1987: Hilary Duff (US actress, singer)
1985: Shindong/Shin Dong-hee (Korean singer; Super Junior)
1984: Melody Thornton (US singer, dancer; Pussycat Dolls).
1982: Nolwenn
Leroy (French singer).
1981: Iracema Trevisan Carneiro (Brazilian bassist; CSS).
1978: Bushido/Sonny Black/Anis Mohamed Youssef Ferchichi (German
rapper).
1977: Young Jeezy/Jay Jenkins (US rapper; United Streets Dopeboyz
of America/Boyz n da Hood)
1973: Jori Hulkkonen
(Finnish DJ, producer of house music).
1972: Dita Von
Teese (American burlesque artist).
1971: Joseph Arthur (US singer-songwriter).
1969: Éric Lapointe (Canadian singer, guitar virtuoso).
1968:
Sean LeVert (American
R&B singer)*30.March.2008.
1968: Michelle
Meldrum (American rock guitarist; Phantom Blue, Meldrum)*21.May.2008.
1967: Moon Unit Zappa (US singer, actress,
singer on her father Frank's record "Valley Girl").
1966: Maria Canals Barrera (US actress,
singer)
1966: Ginger
Fish/Kenny Wilson (US drummer;
freelance/Marilyn Manson).
1962: Peter Hooton (UK lead singer; Farm)
1962: Chuck Taylor (US music journalist)
1960: Jennifer Rush (US pop singer).
1957: C.J. Chenier/Clayton Joseph Thompson (US Zydeco musician,
singer, accordion, saxophone)
1954: George Lynch (US lead guitarist; Dokken/solo)
1952: Andy Ward (US drummer;Camel/Chrys&themums/Marillion)
1951: Norton
Buffalo
(US singer, harmonica player;
many bands/Steve
Miller Band/sessionsist)*30.Oct.2009.
1951: Jim Diamond (Scottish singer)
1950: Laurie Lewis (US bluegrass fiddle player, guitarist)
1950: Paul Burgess (drums; 10cc/The Invisible Girls/The Soul Company)
1947: Ludvigsen/Gustav
Lorentzen
(Norwegian singer, guitarist; Knutsen
& Ludvigsen/solo)*21.April.2010.
1947: Peter Hope Evans (harmonica, jew's harp, mouthbow player;
Medicine Head)
1946: Helen Shapiro (Uk singer)
1943: Nick St.Nicholas/Klaus Karl Kassbaum (German bassist; Steppenwolf/World
Classic Rockers)
1942: Tim Maia/Sebastião Rodrigues Maia (Brazilian
singer)*15.March.1998.
1942: Mike
Osborne
(UK
jazz alto saxophonist, pianist, clarinetist;sessions/freelance)*19.Sept.2007.
1940: Sirone/Norris
Jones (US
jazz bassist, composer)*21.Oct.2009.
1938: Ben E. King/Benjamin Earl Nelson (US soul singer;Drifters/solo)
1933: Johnny
"Country" Mathis
(US singer-songwriter; Jimmy & Johnny/solo
)*27.Sept.2011.
1932: Víctor
Jara (Chilean folk singer and activist)*15.Sept.1973.
1929: Lata Mangeshkar (Indian playback singer)
1925: Cromwell Everson (South African composer)*11.June.1991.
1924:
Rudolf Barshai (Russian
conductor, viola player)*02.Nov.2010.
1928: Koko Taylor/Cora
Walton (American
blues singer)*03.June.1928.
1901: Ed Sullivan (TV music show presenter)*13.Oct.1974.
September 29th.
1988: Justin Nozuka (Canadian/American
singer-songwriter).
1987: Josh Farro (US lead guitarist,
songwriter; Paramore).
1982: Rob Smith (Irish singer-songwriter, former street busker).
1980: Suzanne Shaw (US singer, Hear'Say)
1980: Dallas Green (Canadian singer, guitarist; Alexisonfire, City
and Colour)
1978: Kurt Nilsen (Norwegian singer).
1978: Gunner McGrath/Christopher
Leslie McGrath (US guitarist; Much the Same)
1977: Debelah Morgan (US R&B singer).
1973: Scout Niblett/Emma Louise Niblett (UK singer-songwriter).
1971: Sibel Tüzün (Turkish singer).
1970: AMG/Jason Lewis (US rap artist)
1969: Aleks Syntek (Mexican singer)
1969: DeVante Swing/Donald Earle DeGrate Jr (record producer, songwriter,
singer; Jodeci)
1968: Alex Skolnick
(US guitarist; Testament/Savatage/Alex Skolnick
Trio).
1968: Brad Smith (bassist; Blind Melon)
1968: Matt Goss (lead singer; Bros)
1968: Luke Goss (UK singer, actor; Bros/Band Of Thieves)
1967: Brett Anderson (lead singer; Suede/The Tears/solo)
1966: Tony Foster (electric guitar, bass, acoustic; Olive)
1965: Iain Baker (Keyboards, programming; Jesus Jones)
1963: Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool (lead singer, bassist;
Primus)
1962: Al Pitrelli
(US guitarist; Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage, Blue Öyster
Cult).
1960: Alan McGee (British
music industry mogul, DJ, club owner, writer)
1960: Jennifer Rush
(US singer)
1958: Mick Harvey (drums, piano, guitar, bass, organ; Birthday
Party/Nick Cave/freelance)
1957: Sokratis Malamas (Greek singer, composer)
1956: Suzzy Roche (US singer; Four Bitchin' Babes/The Roches)
1949: George Dalaras
(Greek singer)
1948: Mark Farner (US vocals, guitar; Grand Funk Railroad/solo/guest)
1948: Mike Pinera (guitar, vocals; Iron Butterfly/Blues Image)
1948: Theo Jörgensmann (German jazz clarinetist)
1945: Kyriakos
Sfetsas (Greek composer)
1944: Mike Post (US composer)
1942: Jean-Luc Ponty (French jazz violinist)
1941: Ralph
Mercado (American promoter of Latin American
music)*10.March.2009.
1940:
Tilahun Gessesse
(Ethiopian popular singer)*19.April.2009.
1940: Nicola Di Bari (Italian singer)
1937: Joe 'Guitar' Hughes (US blues guitarist, singer)*19.May.2003.
1939: Tommy Boyce (US songwriter noted for the The Monkees songs;
Boyce & Hart)*23.Nov.1994
1943: Manuel Fernandez (Spanish electric organist; Los Bravos)*20.May.1967.
1935: Jerry Lee Lewis (US country & rock n roll singer, songwriter,
pianist)
1907: Gene Autry (US singer, guitar, actor, singing cowboy)*02.Oct.1998.
1910: Virginia
Bruce/Helen Virginia Briggs (US actress, singer)*24.Feb.1982.
1899: Robert
Gilbert/Robert David Winterfeld
(German composer, lyricist, singer, actor)*20.March.1978.
September 30th.
1987: Denise Laurel (Filipino actress, singer).
1985: T-Pain/Faheem Rasheed Najm (US singer-songwriter, rapper, record
producer, actor; Nappy Headz)
1984: Keisha Buchanan (vocals, Sugababes).
1979: Clio-Danae Othoneou (Greek actress, musician and pianist).
1979: Vince Chong Ying-Cern (Malaysian singer-songwriter).
1975: Georges-Alain Jones (French singer).
1972: Shaan/Shantanu Mukherjee (Indian singer)
1972: John Campbell (US bassist; Lamb of God)
1964: Trey Anastasio/Ernest Joseph Anastasio III (US guitarist,
singer; Plish/solo)
1964: Robby Takac (US vocals, bass; Goo Goo Dolls)
1963: David Barbe (US singer, guitarist, bassist; Sugar/Mercyland/Buzz
Hungry)
1962: Brian Bonhomme (UK vocalist, guitar; Roman Holliday)
1962: Marley Marl/Marlon Williams (US rapper, record producer)
1961: Sally Yeh/Sin-Man Yip (Hong Kong singer, actress)
1958: Marty Stuart (US country music singer).
1959:
Hilde Heltberg
(Norwegian singer, guitarist, songwriter)*04.Sept.2011.
1959: Basia/Barbara Trzetrzelewska (Polish jazz-pop singer)
1954: Patrice Rushen (US R&B singer, songwriter, composer,
pianist)
1954: Lesley Beach (saxophonist; Amazulu)
1954: Basia/Barbara
Trzetrzelewska (Polish singer-songwriter,
record producer).
1953: Deborah
Allen/Deborah Lynn Thurmond (US country music singer-songwriter).
1952: John Lombardo
(US guitarist; 10,000 Maniacs)
1950: Renato Zero/Renato Zero (Italian singer-songwriter).
1947: Marc Bolan/Toby Tyler/Mark Feld (UK guitaist, singer-songwriter;
T. Rex)*16.Sept.1977.
1946: Sylvia Peterson (US singer; Chiffons)
1946: Héctor Lavoe (Puerto Ricann salsa and latin singer)*29.June.1993.
1944: Diane Dufresne (French Canadian singer).
1943: Marilyn McCoo (US singer; 5th Dimension).
1942: Dewey Martin/Walter Milton Dwayne Midkiff (Canadian drummer;
Buffalo Springfield)*31.Jan.2009.
1942: Frankie Lymon (US lead singer, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers)*28.Feb.1968.
1942: Gus Dudgeon (UK record producer, engineer; Elton John/others)*21.July.2002.
1937: Valentin
Silvestrov (Ukrainian composer).
1935: Johnny Mathis/John Royce Mathis (Legendary US Singer)
1935: Z. Z. Hill/Arziel Hill (US soul-blues singer)*27.April.1984.
1934: Udo
Jürgen Bockelmann (Austrian
composer, singer of popular music)
1933: Cissy Houston (US soul singer; Sweet Inspirations/mother
of Whitney)
1933: Tony Cennamo
(US
disc jockey; Boston
University's WBUR)*08.June.2010.
1925:
Tetsuro
Hoshino/Arichika
Tetsuro (Japanes lyricist)*15.Nov.2010.
1923:
Donald Swann
(Welsh composer, musician, entertainer)*23.March.1994.
1922:
Rafael Rincón González (Venezuelan
singer, composer, bandleader, teacher)*15.Jan.2012.
1922:
Albert Raisner (French TV presenter, harmonica player;
The
Trio Raisner)*01.Jan.2011.
1920: Aldo Parisot
(Brazilian-American musician and cellist)
1919:
Patricia Neway (American soprano)
1917: Buddy
Rich/Bernard Rich (US jazz drummer; noted as "the world's greatest
drummer")*02.April.1987
1912: Kenny Baker
(US singer and actor)*10.Aug.1985.
1908: David Oistrakh
(Ukrainian violinist)*24.Oct.1974.
1806: Mireille
Hartuch
(French
singer, actress)*29.Dec.1996.
1852: Charles Villiers Stanford (Irish composer,
resident in England)*29.March.1924.
Back
to Top
~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DEATHS
REMEMBER THIS MONTH
September
1st.
1957: Dennis Brain (36) British
virtuoso horn player born in London; he debuted in October 1938, playing
second horn under his father with the Busch Chamber Players at the Queen's
Hall, then at at aged 21, Brain was appointed to the first horn position
in the National Symphony Orchestra. He went on to be credited for popularizing
the horn as a solo classical instrument with the post-war British public.
Brain produced a radio program entitled The Early Horn in 1955. In it,
he emphasized the importance of the player over the instrument in the
production of the perfect tone. With the collaboration of Herbert von
Karajan and the Philharmonia Orchestra, he produced what many still consider
to be the definitive recordings of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's horn concerti
(Tragically killed in a car accident will driving
home to London after performing the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6, Pathetique
with the Philharmonia at the Edinburgh Festival.)
b.
May 17th
1921.
1977: Ethel
Waters (80) American blues
vocalist Chester, Pennsylvania; on
Halloween night in 1913, she attended a party in costume at a nightclub
on Juniper Street and was persuaded to sing two songs, and impressed the
audience so much that she was offered professional work at the Lincoln
Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland and toured on the black vaudeville circuit.
After which she frequently performed jazz, big band, and pop music, on
the Broadway stage and in concerts. Her best-known recording was her version
of the spiritual, "His Eye is on the Sparrow", and she was the
second African American ever nominated for an Academy Award. Three recordings
of Ethel's were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, "Am I Blue?",
"Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All The Time)" and "Dinah"
(heart disease) b.
October 31st 1896.
1996:
Vagn Holmboe (86) Danish
composer and teacher born in Horsens, Jutland, he recieved his formal
music training at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. He
went on to composed about two hundred works, including thirteen symphonies,
three chamber symphonies, four symphonies for strings, twenty string quartets,
numerous concertos, one opera, and the late series of preludes for chamber
orchestra, as well as much choral and other music, in addition to some
early works. His last work, the twenty-first string quartet, Quartetto
sereno, was completed by his pupil Per Nørgård. (?)
b. December 20th 1909.
2001: Sil Austin (71) American sax
player, born in Dunnellon, Florida, and taught himself to play at 12 year
old. He won the Ted Mack Amateur Hour in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1945,
playing "Danny Boy". His performance brought him a recording
contract with Mercury Records, and he moved to New York, where he studied
for a time at the Juilliard School of Music. His biggest successes in
an overtly commercial rather than jazz vein, a great showman on stage,
and had a big, ripe, blues-inflected tenor sound which was ideally adapted
to hard-driving rhythm and blues, but was also highly persuasive on ballads.
(prostate cancer) b.
September 17th 1927
2004: Raful
Neal (68) American
blues singer, guitar, harmonica, composer; born in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, he took up the blues harp at age 14. Neal's first band, the
Clouds, also included the guitarist, Buddy Guy. He debuted on vinyl in
1958 with a single
"Sunny Side of Love". His
debut album, was Louisiana Legend. He toured around the world and in 1997
he contributed harp to a couple of tracks on Tab Benoit's Live: Swampland
Jam record. Neal's next LP, Old Friends, appeared in 1998. Nine of his
eleven children are also blues musicians, and several performed with him
on his later releases
(Sadly died after a long battle with cancer)
b. June 6th 1936.
2005: R.L.Burnside/Robert Lee Burnside (78)
American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist and storyteller; he was first
inspired to play guitar in his early twenties, after hearing the John
Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen". He learned music largely from
Mississippi Fred McDowell, and also cited his cousin-in-law, Muddy Waters,
as an influence. Robert's music is pure country Delta juke joint blues,
heavily rhythm-oriented and played with a slide. Although one of the greatest
of the "delta" bluesmen, it wasn't until the 1990's that he
began hitting full stride, he had done short tours, and in the late '80s
he was invited to perform at several European blues festivals. In 1992,
he was featured alongside his friend Junior Kimbrough, in a documentary
film, Deep Blues. His debut recording, Bad Luck City, was released that
same year on Fat Possum Records. Burnside has a second record out on the
Oxford-based Fat Possum label, Too Bad Jim 1994. In the mid 1990s, he
attracted the attention of Jon Spencer, the leader of the Jon Spencer
Blues Explosion, touring and recording with this group and gaining a new
audience in the process. He toured into his last years, with Kenny Brown
on second guitar and his grandson, Cedric Burnside, on drums
(He suffered a heart attack in 2000 and underwent bypass
surgery. He never fully recovered & passed away in a Memphis, TN hospital)
b. November 23rd 1926.
2008: Jerry
Reed/Jerry Reed Hubbard (71)
American country music singer, country guitarist, session musician, songwriter,
and actor born in Atlanta, Georgia. As a singer, his hits included "Soldier's
Joy"; "East
Bound and Down";
"Guitar Man"; "She's Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)";
"The Bird"; "Lord, Mr. Ford (What Have You Done)";
"Amos Moses"; "When You're Hot, You're Hot," for which
he received the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in
1972; and "East Bound and Down," the theme song for the film
Smokey and the Bandit, in which he also co-starred.
He appeared in over a dozen films including 3 Smokey and The Bandit films,
The Survivors, Stand Alone, What Comes Around, Bat*21, and The
Waterboy. He teamed up with country stars Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis,
and Bobby Bare in the group Old Dogs. They recorded one album, in 1998,
entitled Old Dogs. (sadly
died of complications from emphysema) b.
March 20th 1937.
2009:
Jake Brockman (53) British keyboardist
with Echo & the Bunnymen; Jake had been a touring member of the band
for several years in the mid '80s, and a contributor to the 1987 self
titled album Echo & the Bunnymen, which reached No.4 in the UK charts.
He was promoted to a full member in the late 80s, and recorded Reverberation
in 1990. Jake had left the band before their next album in 1999 (died
in a motorcycle accident on the Isle of Man, the band's first drummer
Pete De Freitas died in a similar crash) b.
??.1956.??.
2009: Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson
(47) Jamaican Reggae musician, singer,
producer and composer; born in Kingston, Jamaica, he first surfaced with
Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion organization, playing keyboards on Minott's
classic Ghetto-ology in 1978. After a period with the Generation Gap,
he joined the Roots Radics, earning a reputation for hard work and innovation.
Also in the late 70s, Steely met Cleveland "Clevie" Browne during
sessions for Augustus Pablo at Lee Perry's Black Ark studio. The pair's
relationship was enhanced by contrasting characters, Clevie the studious,
mild musician, and Steely the louder, ragga character. When they took
up residence as house band at King Jammy's studio in 1986, Steely
And Clevie worked with many artists such as Cocoa Tea, Dennis Brown, Admiral
Bailey and Lieutenant, cutting 10 singles a week plus albums at its peak
in 1987. The duo also gigged for most of
the other influential producers in Jamaica; hence, they knew virtually
everyone when they began their own label "Steely And Clevie"
in 1988. They immediately hit with a debut release from Johnny P., making
the DJ a star. Their formula of brash, unusual beats and strong melodies
also worked for Foxy Brown; Tiger; Anthony Red Rose; Anthony Malvo and
Little Twitch; Gussie
Clarke and revived older acts such as Dillinger
and Johnny Osbourne. Steely And Clevie recorded a series of "one
rhythm" albums on their own label: Limousine, Bursting Out, Real
Rock Style and Can't Do The Work. Broader attention followed with work
for former Soul II Soul singer Caron Wheeler, Maxi Priest, Aswad and J.C.
Lodge (Heart
failure,
Steely was suffering from pneumonia after having had surgery for a blood
clot in the brain shortly before he died in hospital in East Patchogue,
New York)
b. August 18th 1965.
September
2nd.
1934: Russ Columbo/Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho
Colombo (26) American singer, violinist
and actor, born in Camden, New Jersey. He is most famous for his signature
tune, "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love," his compositions
"Prisoner of Love" and "Too Beautiful For Words",
and the legend surrounding his early death (shot
by his longtime friend, photographer Lansing Brown. Columbo was visiting
him at the studio, in lighting a cigarette, Brown lit the match by striking
it against the wooden stock of an antique French dueling pistol. The flame
set off a long-forgotten charge in the gun, and a lead pistol ball was
fired. The pistol ball ricocheted off a nearby table and hit Columbo in
the left eye, killing him almost instantly. Columbo's death was ruled
an accident, and Brown exonerated from blame) b.
January 14th 1908.
1934: Alcide Patrick Nunez (50) America
jazz clarinetist, also
known as Yellow Nunez and Al Nunez, he was born in St. Bernard Parish,
Louisiana
and moved to New Orleans in his childhood. He
initially played guitar, then switched to clarinet in about 1902. He soon
became one of the top hot clarinetists in the city. He was a regular in
Papa Jack Laine's band, as well as playing with trombonist Tom Brown and
leading bands of his own. In early 1916 he went to Chicago with Stein's
Dixie Jass Band, which was to become famous as the Original Dixieland
Jass Band, but Nunez left the band shortly before they made their first
recordings.(?)
March 17th 1884.
1957: Louis
Mitchell (71)
American bandleader and drummer who began performing
in vaudeville revues and minstrel shows from around the turn of the century,
playing drums and bandoline. After moving to New York City in 1912, he
founded his own group, the Southern Symphonists' Quartet. Louis sang and
drummed for James Reese Europe in 1918, and the following year founded
a new group, which he called Louis Mitchell's Jazz Kings. Toward the end
of the decade, Mitchell began touring Europe as well as the United States,
concentrating on the United Kingdom and France. He remained in France
into the 1940s, branching into casino, restaurant and nightclub management
in addition to music. He moved back to the United States after World War
II, but played little in his last decade (?)
b.
December 17th 1885.
1994: Roy Castle
(62)
English singer, jazz trumpet player and
TV presenter, born
in Scholes, Yorkshire. Between 1958 and 1969, he recorded numerous singles
and three LPs. Only one of these LPs has seen a CD release so far: Songs
For A Rainy Day was recorded in 1966 for Columbia. In 1972 he first presented
Record Breakers, a children's TV show, and he remained host for nearly
20 years. He recorded the theme song for the show himself. While presenting
the show he broke nine world records himself (lung
cancer) b. August 31st 1932.
1996: Otto Clarence Luening (96) German-American
composer and conductor, and an early pioneer of tape music and electronic
music. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to German parents, at 12, his family
moved to Munich, where he studied music at the State Academy of Music.
At age 17, he moved to Switzerland and attended the Municipal Conservatory
of Music in Zurich and University of Zurich, where he studied with Ferruccio
Busoni and Philipp Jarnach, and was also an actor and stage manager for
James Joyce's English Players Company. He returned to the United States
in 1924, and appeared mainly as a conductor of operas, in Chicago and
the Eastman School of Music. His
conducting premieres included Virgil Thomson's The Mother of Us All, Gian
Carlo Menotti's The Medium, and his own Evangeline. He also set songs
to words by Oscar Wilde, Emily Dickinson, Lord Byron, Walt Whitman, William
Blake, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Sharpe, Naidu, Hermann Hesse, and Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe
(?)
b.
June 15th 1900.
2001: Jay Migliori (70) American saxophonist,
later noted for being a founding member of Supersax, a tribute band to
Charlie Parker. He made his first recording in 1955, and soon joined up
with Woody Herman's band, after which he relocated to LA, where he became
a session musician playing on an estimated 4,000 commercial recordings.
Some artists he recorded with include The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Maynard
Ferguson, and
Frank Zappa.
Jay also played live with thousands of musicians including Charlie Parker
and Miles Davis. He
and Supersax debuted with 'Supersax Plays Bird' in 1972 (sadly
died from colon cancer) b. November
14th 1930.
2004: Roquel Billy
Davis (72)
American songwriter, record producer, and singer, best known as a songwriter
for a number of soul musicians, and as a writer/producer of commercial
jingles, including Coca-Cola's "I'd
Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)"/'I'd Like To
Buy The World A Coke'.
He also wrote and produced other jingles such as "It's the Real Thing"
and "Things Go Better With Coke", "Country Sunshine"
also for Coca-Cola, and "If You've Got the Time" for Miller
Beer. Early
in his career, he worked with an early version of The Four Tops called
"The Four Aims", which included his cousin Lawrence Payton.
In the late-1950s, he and collaborator Berry Gordy wrote a number of hit
songs for Jackie Wilson. The most notable of these was "Lonely Teardrops",
written by himself , Gordy, and Gordy's sister Gwen, who was Davis's girlfriend
at the time. He and Gwen later founded the Anna record label, which was
the distributor of the early singles from Berry Gordy's Tamla (later Motown)
label. After which, he moved to Chess Label, where he wrote and produced
for many artists, including Etta James, The Dells, Billy Stewart, Jackie
Ross, and Fontella Bass, whose 1965 "Rescue Me" was Davis' biggest
hit. Many
artists including Marvin
Gaye, Aretha
Franklin, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, The Supremes and Gladys Knight have
also all recorded his songs (sadly died after a
long illness) b. July 11th 1932.
2007: Fritz
Fryer/David Roderick Carney Fryer (62)
British lead guitarist born in Lancashire; in his early teens
he played in the Fables, a guitar duo with schoolmate Mike Wilsh, they
added singer Lionel Morton and drummer Alan Buck, the group renamed itself
the Four Pennies, inspired by Blackburn's Penny Street. After winning
a local talent competition, they were signed to Philips . Thier hits included
"Do You Want Me To," "I found Out the Hard Way", their
1964 No.1 "Juliet",
"Until It's Time for You to Go",
"Trouble Is My Middle Name" and Black Girl" which showcased
Fritz's guitar skills. After the band's break up, he formed "Fritz,
Mike and Mo", before his production career, producing records for
Motörhead, Clannad, the Bothy Band, Stackridge, and Horslips among
others. He eventually retired to Portugal (pancreatic
cancer) b. December 6th 1944.
2008: Dompan/Arne Domnérus (83)
Swedish jazz alto saxophonist and clarinetist;
best known for his recordings with visiting American players such as James
Moody, Art Farmer Clifford Brown and
playing with Charlie Parker when he made his tour of Sweden 1950.
He also worked with the Swedish Radio Big Band from 1956 to 1978, as well
as writing for television and films at this time. He also recorded extensively
with Bengt Hallberg. Together with fellow Swedes Bengt-Arne Wallin, and
two former
members of Duke Ellington's band, Rolf Ericson and Ake Persson,
he participated at the Jazz Workshops, organised for the Ruhrfest in Recklinghausen
by Hans Gertberg from the Hamburg radio station (?)
b. December 20th 1924.
2009: Guy Babylon (52) American
keyboardist and composer, noted for his work with Elton John. Born in
New Windsor, Maryland, he attended Francis Scott Key High School and then
moved on to the University of South Florida, earning a BFA in music composition.
He moved to LA, California and in 1988, he joined Elton John's studio
and touring band, appearing on the album Sleeping With the Past. In 1990,
he appeared with the group Warpipes, a side project of fellow Elton John
member Davey Johnstone. 2001 Guy won an Grammy Award for his contributions
on the Elton John-Tim Rice musical Aida. Guy also worked extensively on
the Elton John-Bernie Taupin musical "Lestat," Until his death,
he was a member of Elton John's six-member touring and recording band
(Guy died of a heart attack while swimming in his
pool) b. December 20th 1956.
2009: Jon Eydmann (41) British
band manager, probably best known for his work with Suede,
the alternative rock band of the 1990s and the early 2000s that helped
start the Britpop musical movement and he was instrumental in Suede’s
first deal with Saul Galpern’s indie Nude Records in 1992. He went
on to work with Luke Haines’ The Auteurs and the Mega City 4. He
also worked in an A&R capacity with Fire Records. Over his career
Jon has worked many other bands including Spitfire,
Perefect Disaster, TVP'S, Spacemen 3, Sparks
Lights and Flames, Kubrick,
Midget, Libido, Novociane, Headswim, and Hondo Maclean,
some in a management role and some in an A&R capacity. (Jon
suffered a heart attack after he dived from his boat in to Lake Como while
on holiday in Italy with his family. He died two days later in hospital
after being on a life support machine) b.
1968.
2011: Khale
kaka/Shrinivas Khale (85)
Indian
composer born in Parali in Kokan-Raigad zilla of Maharashtra; after his
lessons from legendary Guru Pt. Madhusudan Joshi, Khale kaka started as
a music director in All India Radio in 1945. After his first Gujarati
recording of Talat Mahmood in 1950, there was no looking back, he became
one of the most highly regarded artistes in the Marathi melodies commerce
for over 6 decades. He has worked with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosale,
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Vasantrao Deshpande, Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, Talat
Mehmood, Dr
Balamurli Krishnan, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Manna Dey, Bhupender Singh,
Mahendra
Kapoor, Suresh
Wadkar, and Arun Date among many others. He
has noted 141 ‘Bhavgeets’ and created melodies for 6 Marathi
movies. ‘Bheti lagi Jeeva’, ‘Ya chimnyano’, ‘Bhaglyanchi
maal phule’, Gori Gori pot phula sarkhi chaan’ are some of his
most well renowned compositions. Khale also wrote melodies to theatrical
performances like Paanigrahan, Vidushak and Devache paay. Also his interviews
were broadcast on Voice of America-1988 and Radio Sydney, Australia-2000.
In 2009 Datta Marulkar wrote a book "Antaryami Surr Gavasala"
portraying Kaka's journey and in 2010 he was honored with the Padma Bhushan
Award, the last of many awards
(?)
b. April 30th 1926
September 3rd.
1960: Joseph Francis Lamb (72) American
composer of ragtime music, born in Montclair, New Jersey.
He taught himself to play the piano, inspired by early ragtime publications
of Scott Joplin. In 1907, when buying the latest Joplin and James Scott
sheet music in the New York City offices of John Stark & Son when
he met his idol Scott Joplin. He was impressed with Joseph's compositions,
and recommended him to classical ragtime publisher John Stark, who published
Joseph's music for the next decade, starting with "Sensation".
In 1912 Joseph also worked as an arranger for the J. Fred Helf Music Publishing
Company. When the decline of ragtime came he stopped publishing his music
playing and composing only as a hobby. With the revival in ragtime in
the 1950s, Joseph shared his memories of Joplin and other early ragtime
figures with music historians. He also composed some new rags, brought
out some of his old compositions that had never been published, and made
some recordings. Joseph,
was the only non-African American of the "Big Three" composers
of classical ragtime, the other two being Scott Joplin and James Scott
(sadly died of a heart attack )
b. December 6th 1887.
1970: Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson (27)
American guitarist, harmonica player and songwriter born in Boston,
Massachusetts. He majored in music at Boston University and often played
the Cambridge coffeehouse folk-blues circuit, before forming the blues-rock/boogie
band Canned Heat. Alan played guitar, harmonica and wrote most of the
songs for Canned Heat. After Eddie 'Son' House's 'rediscovery'
in 1964, the producer John Hammond Sr. asked Alan, who was just 22 years
old, to teach "Son House how to play like Son House," because
Alan had such a good knowledge of the blues styles. The album "The
Father of Delta Blues - The Complete 1965 Sessions" was the result.
Son House played with Alan live and can be heard on the album "John
- the Revelator: The 1970 London Sessions". With Canned Heat, Alan
performed at two legendary concerts, the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967
and Woodstock in 1969. Canned Heat appeared in the film Woodstock, and
the band's "Going Up the Country," which Alan sang, has been
referred to as the festival's unofficial theme song (found
dead of a drug overdose in fellow band-member Bob Hite's garden in Topanga
Canyon, LA) b. July
4th 1943.
1985:
Johnny Marks (75) American singer
and songwriter, born
in Mount Vernon, New York, a graduate of McBurney School, Colgate and
Columbia Universities, and later he studied in Paris. He earned a Bronze
Star and 4 Battle Stars as a Captain in the 26th Special Service Company
during World War II. Although he was Jewish, he specialized in Christmas
songs and wrote many standards, including "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed
Reindeer", a hit for Gene Autry and others , "Rockin'
Around the Christmas Tree",a hit for Brenda Lee, "I
Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" first recorded by Bing Crosby,
and "A Holly Jolly Christmas" recorded by the Quinto Sisters,
then Burl Ives. Johnny founded St. Nicholas Music in 1949, and he served
as director of ASCAP from 1957 to 1961 (He
died in New York City)
b.
November 10th 1909.
1987: Morton
Feldman (61)
American composer, born in New York City. A
major figure in 20th century music, he was a pioneer of indeterminate
music, a development associated with the experimental New York School
of composers. Morton's works are characterized by notational innovations
which he developed to create his characteristic sound: rhythms which seem
to be free and floating; pitch shadings which seem softly unfocussed;
a generally quiet and slowly evolving music; recurring asymmetric patterns.
(died after a three month battle with pancreatic cancer)
b. January 12th 1926.
1994:
Major Lance
(55) American
soul singer, founder of The Floats, solo artist,
and he later became a featured
dancer on local TV. Born in Winterville, Mississippi, but as a child,
he relocated with his family to Chicago, attending Wells High School,
took up boxing and also sang as a member of the Five Gospel Harmonaires.
After a number of solo US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monkey
Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", he became an iconic
figure in Britain in the 1970s among followers of Northern soul. Back
in the US after recording briefly for the Motown
Records subsidiary label Soul, he was convicted of cocaine possession
in 1978 and served a four year prison term. On his release, he found that
his recordings had become popular on the beach music circuit in the Carolinas,
where he continued to undertake live performances. His career was slowed
by a heart attack in 1987, and he made no recordings. In 1994, he gave
his final triumphant performance at the Chicago Blues Festival.
(heart attack) b. April
4th 1939.
2001:
Dave
Myers (74)
American guitarist and bass player with The Four Aces.
Born in Byhalia, Mississippi,
he moved to Chicago in 1941 and the Four Aces were formed by 1945, fronted
by Junior Wells on vocals and harp. They were the first electric Blues
band in the city. Little Walter joined the band in '52 and worked with
Dave for the next three years. Dave went on
to became one of Chicago's
top session bassists (complications
from diabetes) b.
October 30th 1926.
2007: Carter Albrecht (34) American
keyboardist for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians since 1999. Originally
from Kansas and a 1995 graduate of Southern Methodist University with
a degree in piano performance, he was a pianist with the Dallas Symphony
Orchestra and taught piano in the mid-1990s. He joined the Texas band
Sorta, playing keyboards, guitar, and providing vocals. He also fronted
his own popular Dallas band, Sparrows, prior to Sparrows, he played guitar
in another popular local band, The Limes (Carter was shot in the head
and killed by a Dallas neighbour, who was ostensibly firing a "warning
shot" at a man banging on his door) b. June
23rd
1973.
2007: Janis Martin (67) American rockabilly
singer; one of the few female rock & roll artists to be making records,
proving to the male-dominated rock & roll industry that women too
could sell a large amount of records and score rock & roll hits and
opened doors for other rock & roll singers to come, like Brenda Lee.
Born in Suther-lin, Oregon, she began playing guitar at the age of 4 and
was soon winning statewide talent contents. By the age of 11 she had become
a member of the WDVA Barndance in Danville, Virginia. She was nicknamed
The Female Elvis, for her impressive dance moves on stage. In 1956, Janis
released her debut record "Will You Willyum", backed by her
own composition, "Drugstore Rock'n Roll". The song became the
biggest hit of her career, selling 750,000 records and hitting the country
and pop charts. Soon she was performing on American Bandstand, The Today
Show and the Tonight Show. She also appeared on Jubilee USA, and the Grand
Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming one of the younger performers
to ever appear. Billboard named her Most Promising Female Vocalist that
year. In 1960 Janis retired from music to devote herself to being a wife
and mother. She
reemerged in the late 70s when she joined a “rockabilly revival”
tour of Europe, and her records were reissued. She continued touring with
her band as Janis Martin and the Variations until March 2007, when she
was found to have cancer. (cancer)
b. March 27th 1940.
2010: Noah Howard (67) American free
jazz alto saxophonist, born in New Orleans, he first learnt the trumpet
and later switched to alto sax. Influenced by John Coltrane and Albert
Ayler, he recorded two sessions as a leader in 1966 for ESP Records, before
moving to Europe. In 1969 he appeared on Frank Wright's album One For
John, and as leader recorded The Black Ark with Arthur Doyle among others.
In 1971 he recorded Patterns with Misha Mengelberg and Han Bennink. He
moved to Paris in 1972 and then in 1982 to Brussels, where he ran a jazz
club and his own record label, AltSax. He recorded steadily through the
1970s and 1980s, exploring funk in the latter decade and recording for
AltSax. In the 1990s he returned to free jazz. His last two albums were
influenced by Indian, Latin American and Middle Eastern music, Desert
Harmony, with Omar al Faqir in 2008 and Voyage in 2010, both reflected
his interest in World Music (?)
b. April 6th 1943.
2010: Mike Edwards (62) English cellist,
bass viol and an original member of the
Electric Light Orchestra aka ELO,
from their first live gig in 1972 until he left in January 1975, to become
a Buddhist. He changed his name to Deva Pramada because of his religious
convictions. His eccentric cello playing, fingering the cello strings
with an orange or grapefruit, and bizarre costumes were a major ingredient
of the early ELO touring band. His live "party piece" was The
Dying Swan, where he would perform a cello solo and ultimately his cello
would explode through the use of pyrotechnics. His cello playing contributed
to the albums ELO II, On the Third Day, The Night The Light Went On (In
Long Beach) and Eldorado. He was later replaced as cellist by Melvyn Gale.
In
later years, Mike's work involved stage plays and arrangements. (Mike
was tragically killed on the A381 between Harbertonford and Halwell in
Devon, when a circular hay bale weighing 600 kilograms rolled down a hillside
and collided with the van he was driving) b.
May 31st 1948.
September 4th
1907:
Edvard
Grieg (64)
Norwegian
composer and pianist;
in the late 1860s and early 1870s he worked with Franz Liszt on Violin
Sonata No.1, and later his h Piano Concerto. From 1874–76, he composed
incidental music for the premiere of Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt, at
the request of the author. Many of the pieces from this work became very
popular in the orchestral suites or piano and piano-duet arrangements.
He
had close ties with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, and later became
Music Director of the orchestra from 1880–1882. In the spring 1903,
he made nine 78-rpm gramophone recordings of his piano music in Paris;
all of these historic discs have been reissued on both LPs and CDs and,
despite limited fidelity, show his artistry as a pianist. Grieg also made
live-recording player piano music rolls for the Welte-Mignon reproducing
system, all of which survive today and can be heard (sadly
died after a long illness) b. June
15th 1843.
1972: Francisco Caruso (?) American Concessionaire (brutally
killed during a Wishbone Ash concert in Texas after refusing to give a
fan a free sandwich) b.????
1983: Louis "King" Garcia (78)
Puerto Rican jazz
trumpeter; early
in his life he played in the Municipal Band of San Juan, before moving
to the US early in the 20s, where he played with the Original Dixieland
Jazz Band and Emil Coleman. In the 1930s he did work in the studios, including
his important association, which was with Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. He also
played with Vic Berton, Richard Himber, Nat Brandwyne, Amanda Randolph,
and Louis Prim. In the 1940s he returned to play with Coleman again, and
led his own Latin ensemble that decade. By the 1960s he had moved to California
and essentially retired due to failing health (?)
b. August 25th 1905.
1990: Irene Dunne (97)
American actress and singer, as well as her acting career, Irene made
her Broadway debut in 1922 in Zelda Sears's The Clinging Vine. The following
year, she played a season of light opera in Atlanta, Georgia. By 1929
she had a successful Broadway career playing leading roles such as the
role as Magnolia Hawks in Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show
Boat. (She later re-created her role as Magnolia in what is considered
the classic first film version of Show Boat, directed by James Whale in
1936). But she eventually agreed to marry Dr. Francis Griffin and on his
wishes she left the theatre, after which she became a film herione, appearing
in dozens of movies, her first being Leathernecking in 1930, an early
musical. She sang "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in the 1935 Fred
Astaire-Ginger Rogers film version of the musical Roberta. Her career
spanned seven decades of musical theater, the silver screen, Broadway,
radio and television (cardiac
arrest at her Holmby Hills home in LA)
b. December 20th 1898.
1995: Chuck
Greenberg (45)
American musical artist, composer and producer,
born in Chicago, Illinois. Chuck
worked with local bands before he
formed and led the new age, electronic musical group, Shadowfax in 1972.
They relocated to LA, California
in 1978. Chuck's work
on the lyricon, the first electronic wind instrument, which he helped
develop with engineer Bill Bernardi, became the signature sound of Shadowfax.
This ground-breaking sound and work combining jazz, rock, folk, and world
music elements into a singular musical vision won Shadowfax a Grammy in
1988 for Best New Age Performance for thier 6th album "Folksongs
for a Nuclear Village". Live
performances included the Carnegie Hall, Red Rocks, Montreux, Ravinia,
The Greek Theater, Wolftrap, and the Universal Theatre, among many others.
Chuck's final work was a live Shadowfax recording and full-length concert
from Santa Cruz, California. (Chuck
sadly died from a heart attack) b. March
25th 1950.
1991:
Dottie West (58) American
country singer, one the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female
artists. Dottie's career started in the early 60s, with her Top 10 hit,
"Here Comes My Baby Back Again", which won her the first Grammy
Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1965. In the 1960s,
she was one of the few female country singers working in what was then
a male-dominated industry, influencing other female country singers like
Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, and Tammy
Wynette. She continued touring an recording throughout the 70s and 80s,
collecting 14 awards on her journey. She recorded her last song in July
1991 called "As For Me", a duet with Norwegian country singer
Arne Benoni. She had planned to record and release an album with friends
like Kenny Rogers and Roger Miller. Tanya Tucker and Tammy Wynette were
planning on recording a single with her (Dottie
died as a result of a car accident several days earlier on her way to
a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, in their car park.
She underwent three operations to stop her liver from bleeding; but sadly
died during her third operation) b.
October 11th 1932.
1991: Charles Daly Barnet (77)
American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader; he was at the height
of his popularity from the late 30s and through the 40s, a period that
began with his hit version of "Cherokee", followed
by "Skyliner"
"The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", and "Southland
Shuffle". In 1947, he started to switch from swing music to bebop.
His band had included musicians such as Buddy DeFranco, Roy Eldridge,
Neal Hefti, Lena Horne, Barney Kessel, Dodo Marmorosa, Oscar Pettiford,
Maynard Ferguson,
Doc Severinsen, Billy May, Clark Terry,and
Art House.
Charles
retired from music in 1949, and was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz
Hall of Fame in 1984 (?) b.
October 26th 1913
2000:
David Brown (53) American
musician, primary bass guitar player for the band Santana from 1966-71
and again from 1973 to 76. He played with Carlos Santana at Woodstock
in 1969, and is on most early Santana albums. David also played on Boz
Scaggs' 1971
debutalbum 'Moments', for which he
also penned two of its sadder songs, and on the two subsequent Scaggs
albums Boz Scaggs & Band in 1971 and My Time in 1972. (sadly
David died from liver and kidney failure)
b. February 15th 1947.
2003: Tibor Varga (82)
Hungarian violinist and conductor, born in
Gyor. He
studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest with Carl Flesch
and Jenö Hubay and made his first public appearance at the age of
six; performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at the age of 10; made
his first recordings at the age of 13 and began touring Europe when he
was 14. He moved to London in 1947, where he became a British citizen.
In 1955, Tibor Varga settled in Switzerland, though maintaining his position
in Detmold. In 1964, he founded the Tibor Varga Festival in Sion, the
capital of the Canton of Valais in Switzerland, and founded an International
Academy of Music in connection with it, specializing in interpretation
(or "master") classes for accomplished young players conducted
by leading soloists during the summer (?) b.
July 4th 1921.
2008: Waldick Soriano (75) Brazilian
singer born in Bahia; best known as a composer and singer of songs in
the brega style. Waldick moved to São Paulo in 1959, where he began
working at Rádio Nacional. His first album released in 1960, became
popular throughout Brazil. He went on to record dozens of albums and scored
many hits in his native country.
(prostate cancer) b. May 13th 1933
2010: Rudolf Pellar (87) Czech
actor,
singer, teacher and translator;
born in Púchov,
Slovakia,
he
studied acting at the Brno Conservatory, graduating in 1946. He was soon
working in Horácké Theatre in Jihlava and Silesian National
Theatre in Opava. After which he worked first in SKNeumanna Theatre, then
the Karlin Music Theatre , where he remained until 1960. Another 30-year
period from 1960 until 1991 he worked at the Prague Municipal Theatres.
He also studied singing after arriving in Prague appearing in operettas
and musicals in both Musical Theatre Karlin and the ABC Theatre. His best
known hits include Such a snow it crashes, Small bar, Paris Boulevards,
Atomic tale, Sorry I must, The bowler in hand, Bamboo and river, Bill
Buffalo. From 1970 until 2001 he also taught chanson singing at the conservatory
in Prague.Rudolf also featured in many films including The
Brothers Grimm Movie, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Children
of Dune, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The
Last Butterfly, and
The Death Of Tarzan. He was awarded the
National Award for lifetime work of translation ib 1997 and the
Crystal Rose for interpreting speech
in 2000
(?)
b. February 28th
1923.
2011: A Produce/Barry Craig (59) American
guitarist, keyboard player, producer and composer from Glendale, California.
He started out as a guitarist, performing and recording with the mid-80s
new wave group After Image. After which he moved away away from guitar,
to synthesizers and their possibility to create landscapes of sound. The
early results can be heard on his 1988 debut album, The Clearing. Since
The Clearing, he has released dozens of CDs on his own Tranceport label
as well as the Hypnos label and was featured heavily on Echoes Radio (sadly
Barry
has died of natural causes) b.
????
2011: Hilde Heltberg (51)
Norwegian singer, guitarist and songwriter, born in Oslo; she started
her career in the late 70s when she entered a talent competition judged
by Stein Ove Berg, who became her mentor. She later joined the Uncle John's
Band, and, in 1982, X-tra. She released her first, self-titled, solo album
in 1982, but found a more individual style in 1983 with På bare
bein/ On bare feet. Over her her
solo career Hilde released 12 albums and also participated in the Norwegian
qualification for the Eurovision Song Contest three times as an artist:
in 1980, 1984 and 1985, and as a songwriter in 2000. Her last single,
titled "Elske fritt" /Free love, was released in 2009 (Hilde
sadly died while fighting cancer)
b. September 30th 1959.
September
5th
1975:
Georg Ots (55) Estonian opera
singer, born in Petrograd, Russian SFSR, to the renowned tenor Karl Ots.
Georg was a welcomed performer in all the major opera houses of the former
Soviet Union, being especially popular at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
His repertoire included the roles of: Eugene Onegin, Yeletzky, Escamillo,
Renato, Don Giovanni, Papageno, Rigoletto, Iago, Porgy, Figaro, and the
title role in Kabalevsky's Colas Breugnon. Ots sang in Estonian, Russian,
Finnish, German, Italian and French, and was fluent in all six languages.
Ots's most famous role, with which he is often identified with, was the
leading character in Anton Rubinstein's opera The Demon. He also performed
successfully in various European countries. His solo opera debut was a
tiny part in Eugene Onegin in 1944. He soon became one of the most revered
singers with this opera company, with whom he sang from 1951 until his
death. In November 2005, a musical Georg based on Georg Ots' life was
premiered in Tallinn, and on October 5th 2007, Georg, a fiction film based
on his life was released. (Died
in Tallinn, Estonia. After his death, the Tallinn Music School was named
after him, now called Georg Otsa nimeline Tallinna Muusikakool)
b. March 21st 1920.
1977:
George Barnes (56)
American
jazz and blues guitarist, he claimed he played the first electric guitar
in 1931, preceding Charlie Christian by six years. Born in South Chicago
Heights, Illinois, he started his career accompanying blues vocalists
such as Big Bill Broonzy. In the mid 30s, George toured throughout the
Midwest. By 1938, he was working as a musician on the staff of NBC studios.
After a stint in the Army, George recorded with his octet and worked as
a studio musician for Decca. In 1940, he released his first recording
under his own name, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" backed with
"I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me". He recorded several
albums with Bucky Pizzarelli, their partnership lasted through the early
1970s. He also worked as a session musician for The Jodimars in the late
1950s (?) b. July
17th 1921.
1978: Joe Negroni (37) American baritone
vocalist born in Manhattan. In the early 1950s Joe and friends Herman
Santiago, Jimmy Merchant and Sherman Garnes got together and formed a
group calling themselves The Ermines with Joe as lead singer. They changed
their name to Coupe de Villes and later to The Premiers with Herman taking
over as lead. A 12 year old Frankie Lymon heard The Premiers at a talent
show and soon after he was jamming together. Impressed with the sound
of Frankie's high tenor/soprano voice, in 1955 they had invited him to
join the group, singing first tenor behind Herman's lead. They signed
with Gee Records who changed their name to The Teenagers. On their debute
single "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" Frankie took over lead as
Herman was ill. Mr. Goldner of Gee Records then changed the group's name
to "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers" and released the record.
The song became an instant hit in the United States and in the United
Kingdom it also became the first UK No.1 by an American vocal group. They
also had hits with "I Want You to Be My Girl", "Who Can
Explain?" and "The ABC's of Love". Alan Freed signed them
for two movies and while touring the UK they played at the London Palladium.
In 1993, Joe Negroni, Herman Santiago, Frankie Lymon, Jimmy Merchant and
Sherman Garnes, the original members of "the Teenagers", were
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2000 into the Vocal
Group Hall of Fame. In the 1998 film "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"
the role of Joe was played by actor Jon Huertas (brain
haemorrhage) b. September 9th 1940.
1990:
Charley Charles (?) English drummer;
after many sessions and years in the studios, in 1974, Radio Caroline
boss Ronan O'Rahilly set up a group called The Loving Awareness Band,
comprising of Charley
on the drums,
John Turnbull playing guitar, keyboardist
Mickey
Gallagher and funkie bassist Norman Watt-Roy. In 1976, The Loving Awareness
Band released their only album, Loving Awareness, after which the band
broke up in 1977. Charlie and Norman then joined up with Ian Dury to form
the Blockheads scoring several hit singles, including "What a Waste",
"Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick", which was a UK number one at
the beginning of 1979, selling just short of a million copies, "Reasons
to be Cheerful, Part 3", and the rock and roll anthem, "Sex
& Drugs & Rock & Roll" (sadly lost
his battle with cancer) b.????
1994:
Louis Myers (64) American
guitarist, harmonica player, vocalist and founder of The Aces, one of
the earliest and most influential of the electric Chicago blues band in
the 1950's; born in Byhalia, MS, he moved to Chicago in 1941 with his
family. Their new next door neighbour was blues
great Lonnie Johnson, who was a huge inspiration to Louis. Louis
started out doing house-party gigs before he and his
brother David on guitar and young harpist Junior Wells to form
the Three Deuces, the first line-up of the
Aces. In 1950, drummer Fred Below came on board.
In 1952 Jr Wells left to go with Muddy Waters and Muddy's harpist Little
Walter moved into the front man role with the Aces, renaming them the
Jukes to capitalize on his current hit single "Juke". Louis
and the Aces backed Little Walter on "Mean Old World," "Sad
Hours," "Off the Wall," and "Tell Me Mama" and
at New York's Apollo Theatre before Louis left in 1954. This resulted
in the Jukes' gradual break up, but freeing them reform again as The Aces
to back acts such as Otis Rush, Earl Hooker among others. During
the '60s, '70s and '80s the Aces reunited on many occasions for recordings,
tours, festivals and
visited Europe, as well as following their separate careers.
Sadly Louis was hampered by the effects of a stroke while recording his
last album 1991's Tell My Story Movin'. He courageously completed the
disc but was limited to playing harp only. His health soon took a turn
for the worse, ending his distinguished musical career
(heart attack) b.
September 18th 1929
1995:
Salil Chowdhury (72)
Indian
music composer, poet, writer, filmmaker and played
several musical instruments, including flute, piano, and esraj. He mainly
composed for Bengali, Bollywood and Malayalam films. His first Bengali
film "Paribortan"/Transformation was released in 1949. "Mahabharati"
released in 1994 was the last of his 41 Bengali films. Salil
debute in the Hindi Film Industry came in 1953 as the Music Director for
Do Bigha Zamin by Bimal Roy. The film was the cinematic version of Salil
Chowdhury's short story named "Ricksawala", and it became the
first film to win the Filmfare Best Movie Award and won the international
Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. After
about 20 years in Bengali and Hindi films, Salil entered Malayalam films
in 1964 with Chemmeen. Almost all of his Malayalam songs became popular
irrespective of the performance of the films they were made for. He went
on to compose for over 75 Hindi films, 41 Bengali films, around 26 Malayalam
films, and several Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Oriya and
Assamese films (?)
b. November 19th 1922.
2003: Gisèle MacKenzie (76) Canadian-American
singer, most famous for her performances on the popular television program
Your Hit Parade. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she studied violin and voice
at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Ontario. She had her own
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio program, Meet Gisèle, before
moving to LA, California, in 1951 and she
became
a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1955. In 1953 she reached No.6 in the UK
Singles Chart, with "Seven Lonely Days", her biggest selling
song was "Hard To Get" in 1955. Gisèle
sang frequently on early television shows such as The Jack Benny Program,
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom, The Ed Sullivan
Show and appeared often at Las Vegas venues and in numerous North America
concerts. In later years, she performed widely in musical theatre in such
shows as Mame, Gypsy, The Sound of Music, and Hello, Dolly! Gisèle
has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at 1601 Vine
(sadly died after a brave battle with colon cancer) b.
January 10th 1927.
2006:
Astrid Varnay (88)
Swedish-born
Hungarian-American dramatic soprano, who did most of her work in the US
and Germany. She was one of the five best-known Wagnerian heroic sopranos
of her generation (the other four were Kirsten Flagstad, Gertrude Grob-Prandl,
Birgit Nilsson, and Martha Mödl). Her voice on record is readily
recognisable by its seemingly-limitless upper register.
By the age of 22 she knew Hungarian, German, English, French and Italian
and her repertoire consisted of 15 leading dramatic soprano roles, eleven
of which were Wagnerian parts. She also had formidable mezzo-soprano capability,
which she displayed in performances as Ortrud in Lohengrin and Klytemnestra
in Elektra. She
made her sensational debut at the Metropolitan Opera on December 6th 1941
in a broadcast performance singing Sieglinde in Wagner's Die Walküre,
substituting for the indisposed Lotte Lehmann with almost no rehearsal.
This was her first appearance in a leading role, and it was a triumph.
Among her 1000s of appearances, the role of Herodias in Salome became
her most often performed role with 236 performances. After a marvellous
career Astrid made her last appearance on stage was in Munich in 1995,
fifty-five years after her Metropolitan debut. In 1998 she published her
autobiography Fifty-Five Years in Five Acts: My Life in Opera, written
with Donald Arthur
(?) b. April 25th 1918.
2007:
Saint Thomas/Thomas
Hansen (31) Norwegian alt-country
singer and guitarist; his biggest break came shortly after Norway's Quart
Festival in 1999, where he got signed to Racing Junior. His first album,
I'm Coming Home, was preceded by "The Cornerman EP," which was
a summer chart success in Norway in 2001. The album then received international
releases throughout 2002. He
has since released three other albums, and also toured Europe with Lambchop
and the United States in 2005 with Of Montreal. His next album, Children
Of The New Brigade, was released in August 2005 in Norway. In August 2006,
Saint Thomas released a new album, officially his sixth, There's Only
One of Me on his own label. (The
cause of death was determined to be an "unfortunate combination of
prescribed drugs") b. February 13th
1976.
2009: Mickie Jones (?)
American bassist from Washington, DC; along with guitarist friend
Punky Meadows he formed the band Bux, in early 1973, Capitol Records signed
the band, but balked on the deal and
dropped the band. After which Mickie and
Punky founded the flamboyant 70s glam rock-metal band Angel. They called
themselves 'Sweet Mama From Heaven' inspired by a Jimi Hendrix song before
changing their name to Angel. The band was discovered by Gene Simmons
the bassist from Kiss, while performing at a nightclub and was soon signed
to Kiss’s label Casablanca. They debuted with a self titled album
in '75, the first track "Tower" was used widely during the late
70's and early 80's by Album Rock stations for various advertising purposes.
Their second album Helluva Band followed in 1976. ‘On
Earth As It Is In Heaven’ the band’s
third album included the tracks ‘Can You Feel It’, ‘On
The Rocks’ and ‘White Lightnin’. This was Mickie's last
album before he left the band and went on to work in the Hollywood film
industry (died after a long bave battle with liver
cancer) b. ??
2011: Salvatore Licitra
(43) Italian operatic tenor, born in Bern, Switzerland,
to Sicilian parents, Licitra grew up in Milan. He trained for 8 years
at the Music Academy of Parma and the Corsi Verdiani before enrolling
at Carlo Bergonzi's voice academy in Busseto. He debuted in Un ballo in
maschera in Parma in 1998, in a performance for Bergonzi's students. His
success led to a contract as cover in Ballo, Rigoletto and Aida in Verona,
and he ended up singing them all. He then auditioned for Riccardo Muti
at La Scala, who hired him for Alvaro in a new production of La forza
del destino. After which he sang in Tosca and Madama Butterfly at the
Arena di Verona in June and July, then Tosca at La Scala in March 2000,
again with Muti. Salvatore went on to sing in many of the world's top
opera houses. He had an unexpected debut at The Metropolitan Opera, New
York City, on May 12th 2002 when he appeared in Tosca, substituting for
Luciano Pavarotti, who had cancelled the performance two hours before
curtain time. Salvatore, was not scheduled to debut there until 2004 (tragically
Salvatore died from severe injuries of a motor scooter accident which
had left him in a coma for nine days) b.
August 10th 1968.
September
6th
1962:
Hanns Eisler (64) German-Austrian composer born in Leipzig,
in 1925 Hanns moved to Berlin, then a hothouse of experimentation in music,
theatre, film, art and politics. There he became a member of the Communist
Party of Germany and became involved with the November Group and in 1928,
he taught at the Marxist Worker's School. He wrote music for several Brecht
plays, including The Decision - 1930, The Mother - 1932 and Schweik in
the Second World War - 1957. They also collaborated on protest songs that
intervened in the political turmoil of Weimar Germany in the early 1930s.
Their Solidarity Song became a popular militant anthem sung in street
protests and public meetings throughout Europe, and their Ballad of Paragraph
218 was the world's first song protesting laws against abortion. A
promising career in the U.S. was interrupted by the Cold War. He was one
of the first artists placed on the Hollywood blacklist by the movie studio
bosses. In two interrogations by the House Committee on Un-American Activities,
the composer was accused of being "the Karl Marx of music" and
the chief Soviet agent in Hollywood. Among his accusers was his sister
Ruth Fischer, who also testified before the House Committee that her other
brother, Gerhart, was a major Communist agent. The Communist press denounced
her as a "German Trotskyite." Among the works that Eisler composed
for the Communist Party was the "Comintern March", "The
Comintern calls you / Raise high Soviet banner / In steeled ranks to battle
/ Raise sickle and hammer".
His supporters, including his friend Charlie Chaplin and the composers
Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, organized benefit
concerts to raise money for his defense fund, but he was deported early
in 1948. Folksinger
Woody Guthrie protested the composer's deportation in his lyrics for "Eisler
on the Go"
(Hanns
sadly died from a second heart attack) b.
July 6th 1898.
1978: Tom Wilson (47) American
record producer, best known for his work in the 1960s with Bob Dylan,
Frank Zappa, Simon and Garfunkel and The Velvet Underground. He worked
for Columbia Records, then went to Verve Records (heart
attack) b. March 25th 1931.
1984: Ernest Dale Tubb (70) American
singer and songwriter, nicknamed
the "Texas Troubadour", one of the pioneers of country music.
His biggest career hit song "Walking the Floor Over You" in
1941 marked the rise of the honky-tonk style of music (sadly
emphysema stole his breath away) b. February
9th 1914.
1985: Johnny
Desmond/Giovanni Alfredo De Simone (65) American
singer; As a boy, he sang on a local radio station, before attending the
Detroit Conservatory of Music briefly and playing the nightclub circuit,
playing piano and singing. In
1939 he formed his own singing group, the Downbeats, but after being hired
to work with Bob Crosby's big band in 1940, it was renamed the Bob-O-Links.
The group appeared on fifteen commercial recordings by the Crosby Orch,
including two charted hits, "You Forgot About Me" and "Do
You Care?".
After the war he took a job on The Breakfast Club,
a radio variety program out of Chicagoand had a string of hits: "C'est
si bon", "Don't You Remember Me?",
"Guilty", "Don't Cry, Joe", "Just Say I Love
Her" , "The Picnic Song", "Because of You", and
"Woman". In 1953 he joined with Don Cornell and Alan Dale to
record "The Gang that Sang 'Heart of My Heart'".
On Broadway, Johnny appeared in Say, Darling in 1958 and as Nicky Arnstein
in Funny Girl, after Sydney Chaplin left the cast
(cancer)
b. November 14th
1919.
1985: Little
Brother Montgomery/Eurreal Wilford Montgomery
(79) American jazz-blues pianist and singer born in Kentwood,
Louisiana. Mainly self taught, he started playing piano at 4, and by age
11 he was playing at various barrelhouses in Louisiana. His musical influences
were Jelly Roll Morton who used visit the Montgomery household. Early
on he played at African American lumber and turpentine camps in Louisiana
and Mississippi, then with the bands of Clarence Desdunes and Buddy Petit.
He first went to Chicago from 1928-31, where he made his first recordings.
From 1931 through 1938 he led a band in Jackson. In 1942 he moved back
to Chicago, which would be his base for the rest of his life, with various
tours to other United States cities and Europe. His repertoire alternated
between blues and traditional jazz. He played Carnegie Hall with Kid Ory's
Dixieland band in 1949 and by the late 1950s he had been "discovered"
by wider white audiences. He toured with Otis Rush in 1956. Eurreal
formed his own record label, FM Records in 1969. He appeared at many
blues and folk festivals and was considered a living legend, a link to
the early days of blues and New Orleans. Among his original compositions
are "Farrish Street Jive", "Shreveport Farewell",
and "Vicksburg Blues".
(?)
b. April 18th 1906.
1990: Tom Fogerty (49) American guitarist,
backing vocals and founder member of the rock band Creedence Clearwater
Revival. The band has sold 26 million albums in the United States alone
and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Tom player
on all but one fof their albums Creedence Clearwater Revival-1968, Bayou
Country-1969, Green River-1969, Willy
and the Poor Boys-1969, Cosmo's Factory-1970,
and Pendulum -1970, producing such
hits as "Proud Mary", "Bad Moon Rising", "Down
on the Corner", "Green River", "Fortunate Son",
"Travelin' Band" and "Who'll Stop the Rain". Tom left
the CCR in 1971, the year before the band split. He began a solo career
and worked with the likes of Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders, and old band
mates Stu Cook and Doug Clifford. Tom's 1974 solo album Zephyr National
was the last to feature the four original band members of CCR. A few of
the songs sound much in the Creedence style, particularly the aptly-titled
"Joyful Resurrection". All four members did play on the song,
but John recorded his part to the mix separately. (complications
from AIDS acquired during a blood transfusion) b.
November 9th 1941.
1994: Nicky Hopkins (50) English
pianist and organist born in NE London; Nicky
recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings
of the 60s and 70s as a session musician. At the start of the 60s started
out as the pianist with Screaming Lord Sutch's Savages, after which he
joined The Cyril Davies R&B All Stars. Due to suffering from Crohn's
disease he mainly focused on studio work in London. He worked extensively
for leading UK independent producers Shel Talmy and Mickie Most and performed
on albums and singles by The Kinks, The Move, Alun Davies, Jon Mark, The
Who, The
Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo
Starr, Paul McCartney, Jeff Beck, Art Garfunkel, the New Riders of the
Purple Sage, Carly Simon, McGuinness Flint, Bill Wyman and Peter Frampton.and
many others. In 1967 he joined The Jeff Beck Group, formed by former Yardbirds
guitarist Jeff Beck, with vocalist Rod Stewart, bassist Ronnie Wood and
drummer Micky Waller, playing on their influential LPs Truth and Beck-Ola.
He also helped define the "San Francisco sound", playing on
albums by Jefferson Airplane, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Steve
Miller Band. He briefly joined Quicksilver Messenger Service and performed
with Jefferson Airplane at the Woodstock Festival. In 1968 he played piano
with the Swedish psychedelic group Tages on the single "Halcyon Days",
produced in Abbey Road Studio. Nicky joined the Rolling Stones live line-up
on the 1971 Good-Bye Britain tour, as well as their 1972 North American
Tour and the early '73 Winter Tour of Australia and New Zealand. He recorded
a few solo albums but remained one of the most important rock 'n' roll
session musicians of his time (Nicky
sadly died in Nashville, Tennessee, of complications from intestinal surgery)
b. February 24th 1944.
1996: Esther Soré (81) Chilean
singer and the main singer of Chilean melodies and folk of the 20th century.
She recorded the successful Pretty Chile, of Clara Solovera. Ester was
popular in the radio, as a recording artist, on tour and in the movies.
(?) May 27th 1915.
2001:
Carl Crack/Carl Böhm (30) German
musician born in Swaziland; he later became a member of a the Berlin based
digital hardcore band Atari. He also appeared on Cobra Killer's 2002 album,
The Third Armpit and
also was part of Firewire and Whatever (found dead
in his apartment due to a drug overdose)
b. May 5th 1971.
2005: Eric
Roche (37)
Irish fingerstyle guitarist, born in New York City, but his family
soon moved to Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. He studied classical guitar
in 1992 at the London Musician's Institute. Eric went on to play many
genres on solo guitar such as classical, Celtic, folk, jazz, blues, rock
and pop, also gifted guitarist-composer, and well known for his solo guitar
arrangements of other artists' tunes. Some of these solo arrangements
include:'Jump'
by Van Halen, 'Higher Ground' by Stevie Wonder, 'Killer' by Seal, 'Blue
in Green' by Miles Davis, 'She Drives Me Crazy' by the Fine Young Cannibals,
'Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)' and 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'
by the Beatles,'Take Five' by Dave Brubeck, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
by Nirvana and many more (throat
cancer)
b. December 4th 1967.
2007: Luciano Pavarotti (71) Italian
Opera singer; He
was probably the most successful post-war classical performer bridging
the worlds of opera and pop culture, through his association with fellow
singers Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras as the Three Tenors, as well
as charity work with such pop icons as U2. "Nessun dorma", from
Puccini's opera Tosca, is now forever associated with soccer's World Cup,
thanks to Pavarotti's grand appearance at the 1990 Games >>>
READ
MORE
<<<
(pancreatic cancer)
b. October 12th 1935.
2011: Wardell Quezergue (81)
American
singer, guitarist, bandleader, music arrange and
producer, known among New Orleans musicians as the “Creole Beethoven”.
Born into a musical family in New Orleans he took up music at a very early
age. After playing with Dave Bartholomew’s band from the late 1940s
and serving as an army musician in Korea, he emerged as a bandleader in
his own right in the mid-1950s with his Royal Dukes of Rhythm who became
a welcome fixture on the New Orleans music scene. With the drummer Smokey
Johnson, he wrote the 1964 instrumental “It Ain’t My Fault,”
a New Orleans song later sampled by Mariah Carey, the rapper Silkk the
Shocker and others. As
well as his band and songwriting career, Wardell worked mainly as a producer
and arranger with the cream of New Orleans musicians, such as Professor
Longhair and Fats Domino, which included the songs “Big Chief”
by Professor Longhair, “Iko Iko” by the Dixie Cups, “Groove
Me” by King Floyd, “Barefootin’
” by Robert Parker,
“Mr.
Big Stuff” by Jean Knight and “Misty Blue” by Dorothy Moore.
He later worked as an arranger on the albums “Fiyo on the Bayou”
for the Neville Brothers; “Orchid in the Storm” for Aaron Neville;
“Goin’ Back to New Orleans” for Dr. John; “Deacon
John’s Jump Blues” for Deacon John Moore; and two albums for
the blues singer Clarence (Gatemouth) Brown, “Gate Swings” and
“American Music, Texas Style” among so many others. In 2009
he released his own album, “Music for Children Ages 3 to 103: The
St. Agnes Sessions” (sadly
Wardell died form heart failure) b. March
12th 1930.
September
7th
1957: Raul Sanchez Reinoso (48)
Argentinian
guitarist, banjo, bandleader (?) b.
Dec 18th 1908
1978: Keith Moon (32) Legendary UK drummer;
he gained notoriety for exuberant drumming and his destructive lifestyle.
He joined The Who in 1964, playing on all albums from their debut, 1965's
My Generation, to 1978's Who Are You, which was released two weeks before
his death. He is known for innovative, dramatic drumming, often eschewing
basic back beats for a fluid, busy technique focused on fast, cascading
rolls across the toms and cymbal crashes. He was one of the first to play
drums as a lead instrument in an era when drums were supposed only to
keep the back beat. (overdose of heminevrin prescribed
to combat alcoholism. A post-mortem confirmed there were 32 tablets in
his system, 26 of which were undissolved)
b. August 23rd 1946.
1993: Lefty
Dizz/Walter Williams (56)
American powerful blues guitarist born in Arkansas, the nickname was given
him by Hound Dog Taylor & the HouseRockers. Dizz started playing guitar
at age 19 entirely self-taught, he played a standard right-handed model
flipped upside down, without reversing the strings. His sound was raw
and distorted and his style owed more to the older bluesmen than to the
hipper West Side players like Otis Rush and Buddy Guy working in the B.B.
King mode. Dizz
graduated from Southern Illinois University and served in the U.S. Air
Force during the Korean War. After which he moved to Chicago, where
in 1964
he became a member of Junior Wells's band, recording and touring Africa,
Europe, and Southeast Asia with him until the late '60s. At various times
during the '60s and early '70s, he'd also moonlight as a guitarist with
Chicago stalwarts J.B. Lenoir and Hound Dog Taylor, while sitting in everywhere
and playing with seemingly everyone, Dizz was always welcome on anyone's
bandstand. He also fronted his band own band Shock Treatment, playing
and singing with an unbridled enthusiasm, and flamboyant of blues men
(Sadly we lost him to cancer)
b. April
29th 1937
2002: Erma Franklin (64) American soul,
RnB and pop singer born in Shelby, Mississippi and was reared in Detroit;
her best known record is the original version of "Piece of My Heart"
since been covered by many top artists. When sister Aretha became a recording
artist, Erma provided backing vocals and toured with Aretha. Among her
most notable back up performances for her sister was on Aretha's signature
tune, "'Respect". (throat cancer)
b. March 13th 1938
2003: Warren William Zevon (56) American
Grammy Award-winning rock singer-songwriter and multi-musician, born in
Chicago, is noted for his offbeat, sardonic view of life which was reflected
in his dark, often humorous songs, which sometimes incorporated political
or historical themes. Worked with a huge list of mega artists. His best-known
compositions include "Werewolves of London", "Lawyers,
Guns and Money", "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"
and "Johnny Strikes Up The Band", all of which are featured
on his 1978 sophomore release, Excitable Boy. Other well-known songs written
by Warren have been recorded by other artists, including "Carmelita",
"Accidentally Like a Martyr", "Mohammed's Radio",
and "Hasten Down the Wind".
He was a frequent guest on Late Night with David Letterman and the Late
Show with David Letterman. Letterman later performed guest vocals on "Hit
Somebody! (The Hockey Song)" with Paul Shaffer and members of the
CBS Orchestra. (sadly lost his battle with lung
cancer) b. January 24th 1947.
2005: Sergio Endrigo (72) Italian
singer-songwriter, born in Pola, Istria, Italy, now Pula, Croatia; he
won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1968 with the song "Canzone per
te," sung with Roberto Carlos. The same year he represented Italy
at the Eurovision Song Contest 1968 with the song "Marianne."
(?) b. June 15th 1933.
2008: Witchhunter/Chris Dudek (42)
German drummer; an early member
of the thrash metal band Sodom, formed in Gelsenkirchen, in 1981, Chris
took over on drums from Bloody Monster as the band was forming, before
any recordings. He can be heard on their first 5 albums "Obsessed
by Cruelty", "Persecution Mania", "Agent Orange",
"Better Off Dead", and 1992's "Tapping the Vein".
Unfortunately by this time Chris was suffering badly from the effects
of drug and alcohol abuse. But he was the special guest drummer on Sodom's
2007 album, "The Final Sign of Evil".
(sadly died unexpectedly from the functional deterioration of his organic
system) b.1966
2009: Fred Mills (70) Canadian
musician and music professor born in Guelph, Canada;
while studying at the Juilliard School of Music he was invited
to join the Houston Symphony Orchestra as Principal Trumpet and in 1961
he was a founding member of the American Symphony Orchestra in New York
City. While living in NYC, Fred played with the Symphony of the Air, Musica
Aeterna Orchestra, NYC Ballet Orchestra, Marlboro Festival Orchestra and
Casals Festival Orchestra and recorded with Morton Gould, Robert Shaw,
Igor Stravinsky, Steinberg and Stokowski. For six years Fred was principal
trumpet with the New York City Opera. In 1968 Fred returned to Canada
to play with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. In 1972 he joined the
Canadian Brass and for 24 years Fred played over 3500 concerts in Asia,
Europe, and North America with the CB. As a member of the renowned Canadians,
Fred made over 40 CDs for RCA, Sony, Philips and BMG. During this time
Fred contributed more than 50 transcriptions and arrangements to the Brass
repertoire. While with the CB, Fred made numerous TV apperances on PBS,
CBC, NHK, BBC and American Networks and was a Grammy award nominee in
1992. In 1996 he joined University of Georgia music professor, which he
continued the reast of his life. Besides teaching trumpet, he coached
a graduate brass quintet, The Bulldog (He
died in a car crash in Walton County between Atlanta and Athens as he
returned home from a trip overseas to perform) b.
????
2011: Eddie Marshall (73)
American jazz drummer born in
Springfield, Massachusetts, he played in his father's swing group and
in R&B bands while in high school and moved to New York City in 1956.
Two years later he played in the quartet of Charlie Mariano and with Toshiko
Akiyoshi; after two years' service in the Army, he returned to play with
Akiyoshi again in 1965. He worked with Mike Nock for a year in the house
band of the New York nightclub The Dom, and also worked with Stan Getz
and Sam Rivers, and accompanied Dionne Warwick on tours. In
'67 Eddie joined fusion group The Fourth Way, then worked with Jon Hendricks
and The Pointer Sisters in the early 70s, before joining the group Almanac,
releasing one album in 1977. He also recorded with Art Pepper that same
year. In the 1980s he worked in the project Bebop & Beyond, who recorded
tribute albums to Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. In the 2000s he
worked on the San Francisco Arts Commission
(sadly
Eddie died from a heart attack) b. April
13th 1938.
September
8th
1989: Keith 'Cowboy' Wiggins (29)
American rapper, hip hop artist and original member and Emcee of the
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, an influential American hip-hop
group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. In 2007, they
became the first rap group ever to be inducted into the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame. It wasn’t called Emceeing back then , but Cowboy was
the first to get on mic and do the crowd response. Keith Cowboy laid the
foundation for the call & response tactics that we have seen almost
every Emcee use since the 70s. Everytime you hear “throw your hands
in the air” , “Say hoooo” etc. etc. you are listening to
the creations of Cowboy. Also Cowboy has been credited with coining the
term hip hop in 1978 while teasing a friend who had just joined the US
Army, he joked with them saying “Hip-Hop-Hip-Hop" and “Hip
Hip Hop bop bop ya don’t stop” in a way that mimicked the rhythmic
cadence of marching soldiers, phrases which he brought into his crowd
excitement act (so sadly died from a heart attack
as result of his crack addiction just days before his 30th birthday)
b. September 20th 1960.
1989: Barry Sadler (48) American author
and singer; born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, Barry served as a Green Beret
medic and Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Most
of his works have military themes, and he billed himself under his military
rank as SSgt Barry Sadler. He recorded his famous No. 1 Billboard Hot
100 hit, "The Ballad Of The Green Berets," a patriotic song
in ballad style which sold a million copies in the first five weeks of
its release. In 1966 he also released the hit "The A-Team".
Soon after he took up writing books and moved to Guatemala City in the
mid 1980s (It was in Guatemala City that he was
shot in the head while in a taxi cab. He was airlifted to the States by
friends from the Soldier of Fortune Magazine, where he was hospitalized
and remained in a coma for several months. He died little more than a
year later in his mother's home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee) b.
November 1st 1940.
1991: Alex North/Isadore
Soifer (80) American composer
born in Chester, Pennsylvania, who wrote the first jazz-based film score
"A Streetcar Named Desire" and one of the first modernist scores
written in Hollywood "Viva Zapata!". Nominated for 14 Oscars
but unsuccessful each time, Alex and Ennio Morricone are the only film
composers to receive the Lifetime Achievement Academy Award. He was also
nominated for a Grammy Award for his score for the 1976 television miniseries
Rich Man, Poor Man. He won the 1968 Golden Globe award for his music to
The Shoes of the Fisherman. He composed the much covered "Unchained
Melody" for the theme to the prison film Unchained in 1955. Other
well known film scores include The Rainmaker-1956, Spartacus-1960, The
Misfits-1961,The Children's Hour-1961, Cleopatra-1963, Who's Afraid of
Virginia Woolf?-1966, The Devil's Brigade-1968, and Dragonslayer-1981,
just a few of many. His classical works include a Rhapsody for Piano,
Trumpet obbligato and Orchestra (?)
b. December 4th 1910.
1997: Derek Taylor (67) UK journalist,
author; publicist for The Beatles; he first met the band after reviewing
their stage performance. Instead of the anticipated negative review of
a rock-n-roll group, Derek gave their act the highest praises. Invited
to become acquainted with the Beatles camp, he soon became a confidant,
and gained his share of exclusives on them. As the Beatles gained national
attention in Britain, Derek's editors conceived of a running column by
a Beatle to boost circulation, under their byline but to be ghostwritten
by Taylor. George Harrison was the member chosen. Initially given only
the right to approve or disapprove of the content, Harrison's dissection
of the first draft turned the column into an ongoing collaboration between
him and Derek, with Harrison providing the stories and Derek giving them
polish. Brian Epstein hired Derek away from his newspaper job, putting
him in charge of Beatles press releases and playing media liaison to himself
and the band. He also became Epstein's personal assistant. In 1964 Derek
co-wrote A Cellarful of Noise, Epstein's autobiography, then departed,
moving to California. In 1965 he started his own public relations company,
managing the PR for bands like Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Byrds
and The Beach Boys. He was a co-creator and producer of the historic Monterey
Pop Festival in 1967. In 1968, he returned to England to work for the
Beatles again, as the press officer for the newly created Apple Corps.
As a VIP at Apple, he had a major role in the company's ups and downs,
making or enforcing many crucial business and personal decisions, for
the Beatles and Apple's staff, and witnessing many key moments in the
latter days of both. In 1980, he collaborated again with George Harrison,
helping to complete I Me Mine, Harrison's autobiography as he did with
many other books about The Beatles. He worked at Apple until his death
(cancer) b.
May 7th 1935.
1999: Moondog/Louis Thomas
Hardin (83) American composer, musician, cosmologist, poet,
and inventor of several musical instruments. Born in Marysville and bought
up in Wyoming, where he would sit on Chief Yellow Calf's lap and played
the buffalo skin tomtom as a child. He played drums in Hurley High School
in 1929 and there he lost his sight in his early teens when a dynamite
cap exploded. He studied music and finished high school at the Iowa School
for the Blind, where he studied counterpoint and harmony and learnt how
to play the piano, pipe organ, violin and viola. After he graduated he
studied privately with Burnet Tuthill at the Memphis Conservatory of Music.
In 1933 he studied braille at the Missouri School for the Blind in St.
Louis. Then,
in 1943, he took a bus to New York City, which he made his beloved home
for the next three decades. In 1947, after he wrote his earliest pieces
and he announced that he was now "Moondog," and soon became
a fixture in the city's cultural life. He got his musical inspiration
from the sounds of New Your, the tube, the river, the boats, the traffic,
the hussle and bussle. Moondog removed himself from society by making
his home on the streets of New York for approximately twenty of the thirty
years he spent in the city. Only in the final decades of Moondog's life
did the public begin to appreciate the extent of this man's talents, mainly
because of his stubborn refusal to wear anything other than his own home-made
clothes, all based on his own interpretation of the Norse god Thor. He
was known for much of his life as 'The Viking of 6th Avenue'. In a search
for new sounds, he invented several musical instruments, including a small
triangular-shaped harp known as the "Oo", another which he named
the "Ooo-ya-tsu", and the "Trimba", a triangular percussion
instrument. Moondog had an idealised view of Germany "The Holy Land
with the Holy River", the Rhine, where he settled in 1974. A German
student, Ilona Goebel helped him set up a primary holding company for
his artistic endeavors and hosted him, first in Oer-Erkenschwick, and
later on in Münster in Westphalia, Germany, where he spent the remainder
of his life. Moondog visited America briefly in 1989, for a tribute in
which Phillip Glass asked him to conduct the Brooklyn Philharmonic Chamber
Orchestra, at the New Music America Festival in Brooklyn, stimulating
a renewed interest in his music. He recorded many albums, and toured in
the U.S. France, Germany and Sweden. His work has influenced many musicians
over the decades from Jimmy McGriff to Elvis Costello and among the covers,
the UK pop group Prefab Sprout included the song "Moondog" on
their album "Jordan: The Comeback" released in 1990 and Janis
Joplin covered his song "All Is Loneliness" on the '67 album
Big Brother and the Holding Company (?)
b.
May 26th 1916.
2008: Bheki
Mseleku (53)
South African-born British jazz musician; he was a saxophonist, pianist,
composer, and arranger. His 1991 album, Celebration, which featured Courtney
Pine among a number of British players as guests, was nominated for a
Mercury Music Prize. After this he was taken up by the major Verve label
for several albums. The first of these featured a number of American players
including Joe Henderson, Abbey Lincoln and Elvin Jones. (diabetes)
b. 1955
2010: Jenny Alpha (100)
Martinique-born French actress and singer, born in Fort de France,
Martinique, and moved to Paris in 1929 to pursue a career in teaching
but followed her passion for the theatre. As well as appearing in theatre,
Jenny soon found herself performing as a successful singer, appearing
alongside the likes of Duke Ellington and Joséphine Baker. During
the war she played an active role in the French Resistance before meeting
her husband Noël Villard, a prominent French poet. Late in life,
in 2005, she appeared in the film Monsieur Étienne, and in 2008
aged 98, she recorded a final album, La sérénade du muguet.
On January 1, 2009 she was granted the title of chevalier de la légion
d'honneur by the French government (?)
b. April 22nd 1910.
2010: Hadley Caliman (78)
American jazz tenor saxophonist After studying at the Jefferson
High School in L.A. with trumpeter Art Farmer and fellow saxophonist Dexter
Gordon, he went on to perform, record and tour with musicians such as
Freddie Hubbard, Gerald Wilson, Carlos Santana, Dexter Gordon, Elvin Jones,
Don Ellis, Flora Purim, Mongo Santamaria, Joe Pass, The Grateful Dead,
Joe Henderson, Phoebe Snow, Bobby Hutcherson and many others. Hadley
remained active on the jazz scene until late-August this year (2010),
performing regularly in the Northwest in the busy music scene around his
home in Seattle, in support of his recent releases 'Reunion' and 'Straight
Ahead' (sadly lost his 2 year battle with liver
cancer) b. January
12th 1932.
2010: Rich Cronin (35) American
singer and songwriter, raised in Kingston, Massachusetts, he attended
Sacred Heart High School, class of 1993. He formed a pop group Kwadwo,
before founding Lyte Funky Ones aka LFO the pop/rap group with Brian Gillis
(replaced by Devin Lima), and Brad Fischetti in 1995. Their debut hit
"Summer Girls", written by Rich in 1999, reached No.3 on Billboard's
Hot 100 and No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales chart for six weeks.
The single also went platinum in the US with sales of over 1,000,000 units.
The members of LFO broke up in 2002 to pursue other projects. In 2007,
Rich was a cast member for the VH1 Reality Show Mission: Man Band. The
show also starred Chris Kirkpatrick of 'N Sync, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees
and Bryan Abrams of Color Me Badd. The four came together in Orlando,
Florida recording with producer Brian Michael Cox, VH1 chronicled their
month long endeavor in 8 episodes. In 2006 Rich formed a rap duo with
Doug Ray called Loose Cannons, releasing one album "Life Goes On".
They performed shows together until 2008. Also in 2008, Rich released
his first solo album 'Billion Dollar Sound', and made an appearance on
the Howard Stern Show in January 2009 (sadly
died from a stroke, related to acute myelogenous leukemia)
b. August 30th 1975.
September
9th
1960: Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling
(49) Swedish tenor born in Borlänge,
Dalarna. One of the leading operatic singers of the 20th Century, appearing
frequently at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as well as most other
leading opera houses around the world. Jussi
was won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance in 1960 (On
March 15, 1960, Björling suffered a heart attack before a performance
at London's Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. However, he still performed
that night. He died of heart-related causes six months later in Siarö,
Sweden)
b.
September 9th 1960.
1981: Helen Humes (68)
American
jazz and blues singer born in Louisville, Kentucky;
she was spotted by the guitarist Sylvester Weaver and made her first recordings
in 1927, her young voice consorting oddly with bizarre material like "Garlic
Blues". She moved to New York City in 1937 and became a recording
vocalist with Harry James' big band. Her swing recordings with James included
"Jubilee", "I Can Dream Can't I", "It's The Dreamer
In Me", and "Song of the Wanderer". Helen joined the Count
Basie Orchestra in 1938, replacing Billie Holliday as lead female vocalist.
Her vocals with Basie's band included "Between the Devil and the
Deep Blue Sea" and "Moonlight Serenade". During the 1940s
and 1950s, she became a solo performer and worked with different bands
and other vocalists including Nat King Cole. In 1950 she recorded Benny
Carter's "Rock Me to Sleep". She managed to bridge the gap between
big band jazz swing and rhythm and blues and appeared at the Monterey
Jazz Festival in 1960. She moved to Hawaii and then to Australia in 1964,
returning to the US in 1967 to take care of her ailing mother. She was
out of the music industry for several years but made a full comeback in
1973 at the Newport Jazz Festival, and stayed busy up until her death,
performing all over Europe, including at the prestigious Nice Jazz Festival
in the mid-70s. Helen received the Music Industry of France Award in 1973,
and the key to the city of Louisville in 1975 (Sadly
Helen died fighting cancer) b. June 23rd
1913.
1993: Helen O'Connell (73) American
singer, actress, and dancer, born
in Lima, Ohio; she joined the Jimmy Dorsey band in 1939 and achieved her
best selling records in the early 1940s with "Green Eyes", "Amapola,"
"Tangerine" and "Yours". She was selected by Down
Beat readers as best female singer in 1940 and 1941 and won the 1940 Metronome
magazine poll for best female vocalist. Helen retired from show business
in 1943 until 1951, achieving some chart success and appearances on television.
She was one of the first "girls" on NBC's The Today Show, and
at one point had her own NBC program, Here's Hollywood. Helen sang duets
with Bing Crosby, Johnny Mercer, and Dean Martin. Her 1942 recording of
Brazil with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra was a 2009 addition to the Grammy
Hall of Fame (sadly
died following a brave battle with cancer)
b. May 23rd 1920.
1996: William Smith "Bill" Monroe (84) American
musician, The Father
of Bluegrass, who helped develop the style
of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue
Grass Boys". Born in Rosine, Kentucky, his performing career spanned
60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader. Bill tended
to recruit promising young musicians who served an apprenticeship with
him before becoming accomplished artists in their own right, including
singer/guitarists Clyde Moody, Lester Flatt, Jack Cook, Mac Wiseman, Jimmy
Martin, Carter Stanley, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Roland White, Roland
Dunn and Doug Green; banjo players Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, Sonny Osborne,
and Bill Keith; and fiddlers Tommy Magness, Chubby Wise, Vassar Clements,
Byron Berline, Kenny Baker, Bobby Hicks, Gordon Terry, and Glen Duncan.
Bill was made an honorary Kentucky colonel in 1966. He was inducted into
the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970, the Nashville Songwriters Hall
of Fame in 1971, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an "early
influence") in 1997. As the "father of bluegrass," he was
also an inaugural inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall
of Honor in 1991. In 1993, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award, and he was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1995. He kept
up with a hectic working
schedule well into the 90s. (Bill
suffered a stroke in April 1996, ending his touring and playing career,
he died 5 months later) b. September 13th 1911.
1998: Lucio
Battisti (55) Italian singer-songwriter; he is considered to
be one of the most influential musicians and authors in Italian pop/rock
music history. He wrote many, many, songs for other artists such as "Il
Paradiso", become a No.1 hit in the UK for Amen Corner as "If
Paradise Is Half as Nice", and The Hollies recorded a Lucio's song
"Non prego per me" in Italian.
From
1969 to 1994 he released 18 albums. His first great hit was "Acqua
azzurra, acqua chiara", in 1969, which won the Festivalbar. That
same year, he released his self-titled debut album. A significant part
of his work was translated into Spanish and one album Images in 1977 was
translated into English. He found he was becoming extremley stage shy
and in 1976 announced he would only be heard through his studio albums,
completely disappearing from the public scene. He recorded his last album
"Hegel" in 1994 (lost his life to cancer)
b. March 5th 1943
2004:
Ernie Ball (74) American
entrepreneur, musician, and innovator, widely acclaimed as a revolutionary
in the development of guitar-related products. He began playing professionally
in South Central Los Angeles beer bars. By age 19 he joined the Tommy
Duncan Band playing pedal steel guitar. He went on to become a local television
musician and small business entrepreneur, eventually building an international
business in guitars and accessories that would gross US$40 million a year.
He also developed the guitar strings called ‘Slinkys’ specifically
designed for rock and roll electric guitar. (died
after a long illness) b.
1930
2006: Richard S. Burmer (59) American
composer, engineer, sound designer and musician. His work with electronic
music combined with musical styles and instruments from around the world
he had formed his own unique and distinct sound. Born in Owosso, Michigan,
as a youth, he was introduced to the music of India, the Middle East,
contemporary orchestral composers, and electronic music. Influences also
came from The Moody Blues, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd. After
spending time in college studying music theory and composition, Richard
moved to Los Angeles where he became a sound designer for E-mu Systems
in Santa Cruz and engineer/synth programmer for EFX systems in Burbank.
He worked with the likes of Eleanor Academia, Kevin Braheny, Paul Delph,
Bob Gaudio, Dan Hill, Michael Hoppe, Diana Hubbard, Hank Medress, Steve
Roach, Jimmie Spheeris, Don Swanson and Tim Wheater among others and many
of his compositions are featured on his solo albums "Mosaic",
"Bhakti Point", "On the Third Extreme", "Invention"
and "Treasures in the Blood of Saints". One of his contributions
to American Gramaphone's/Chip Davis' "Day Parts" series became
one of his most sought after tracks, "Across the View." A 2007
Hearts of Space radio show episode entitled "Across the View"
was dedicated to his memory (Richard
sadly died from heart disease)
b. September 19th 1955.
2007: Hughie
Thomasson (55) American guitarist and singer best known for
his work with Southern rock band The Outlaws, which he founded in '67.
He wrote most of the songs for the Outlaws, including "Hurry Sundown",
"There Goes Another Love Song," and "Green Grass and High
Tides". After They disbanded he joined Lynyrd Skynyrd as a third
guitarist from 1996 until 2005, when he left to reform The Outlaws. Hughie
contributed to writing of many of Lynyrd Skynyrd's songs on their 2009
album God & Guns, including the single "Still Unbroken."
(sadly died of a heart attack) b.
August 13th 1952
2008:
Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (69)
American
pianist, producer, band director, songwriter. Worked on Motown's early
'60 hits as sessionist and as Popcorn & the Mohawks with James Jamerson.
Had his own record labels Pameline and Soulhawk. He wrote and produced
dozens of hits in his long career >>>
READ
MORE
<<< (Popcorn sadly died after
suffering 5 years
from congestive heart problems)
b. June 6th 1939
September 10th
1986: Pepper Adams (55) American
jazz baritone saxophone player born in Highland Park, Michigan. His family
moved to Rochester, New York when he was young, but when he was sixteen
he moved back to Detroit, Michigan, where he met several musicians who
would later be important to his career, including trumpeter Donald Byrd.
He also spent time in a United States Army band, and briefly had a tour
of duty in Korea. He
later moved to New York City, where he played on the album Dakar by John
Coltrane, played with Lee Morgan on The Cooker, and briefly worked with
Benny Goodman's band in 1958. During this time, he also began working
with Charles Mingus, performing on one of Mingus's finest albums from
this period, Blues & Roots. Thereafter he recorded with Mingus sporadically
until the latter's death in 1979. He later became a significant member
of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band from 1965 to 1978, and continued
to record Jones's compositions on many of his own albums. Pepper also
co-led a quintet with trumpeter Donald Byrd, with whom he recorded a live
date, 10 to 4 at the 5 Spot, featuring Elvin Jones. He
has prominently influenced nearly every jazz baritone sax player of note
(lung cancer) b.
October
8th 1930.
1996: Ray Coleman (59) British music
journalist, editor of the UK music weekly Melody Maker. He also wrote
for other music magazines including Disc, Black Music, and Musicians Only,
and was a contributor to magazines such as Billboard. He was the first
journalist to be awarded a Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy
of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for services to British music. He
wrote many biographies including Lennon, The Definitive Biography; McCartney,
Yesterday and Today; Frank
Sinatra, A Celebration; The
Carpenters: The Untold Story; Clapton, The Authorised Biography of Eric
Clapton; Stone Alone , The Definitive Story of the Rolling Stones (co-written
with Bill Wyman); Brian Epstein, The Man Who Made The Beatles; Rod Stewart,
The Biography; Gary Numan, The Authorised Biography; I'll Never Walk Alone
(co-written with Gerry Marsden); and Phil Collins, The Definitive Biography
(sadly lost his battle with cancer) b.
June 15th
1937.
1999:
Alfredo Kraus Trujillo (71) Spanish
tenor of partly Austrian descent, born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in
the Canary Islands of Spain. He made his professional operatic debut in
Cairo during 1956 as the Duke in Rigoletto, which became one of his signature
roles and went on to perform at most of the major opera houses. He Alfredo
was particularly known for the artistry he brought to opera's bel canto
roles. He was also considered an outstanding interpreter of the title
role in Massenet's opera Werther, and especially of its famous aria, "Pourquoi
me réveiller?" (died in Madrd after
a long illness) b. November
24th
1927.
2001: "DJ Uncle Al/Albert
Moss (31)
American DJ, born in Miami, Florida;
known for his trend setting and innovative abilities in music producing
and broadcasting as well as his philosophy of "peace in the hood"
and non-violence in the community. The "DJ Uncle Al "Peace in
the Hood" Festival" is an annual festival that is held in the
Liberty City area of Miami, in honor of Al and
promote his philosophy of "Peace In The Hood." (tragically
he was murdered) b.
August 14th 1969.
2005: Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown (81)
American blues artist and multi musician born Vinton, Louisiana;
he played an impressive array of instruments such as guitar, fiddle, mandolin,
viola as well as harmonica and drums. His professional musical career
began in 1945, playing drums in San Antonio, Texas. He was nicknamed the
"Gatemouth" handle by a high school instructor who accused him
of having a "voice like a gate". During his long career, he
recorded over 30 records, winning a Grammy Award for Traditional Blues
Album in 1982 for his album, Alright Again! >>>READ
MORE<<<(he
sadly died from lung cancer at his brother's home in Orange, Texas, just
after his home in Slidell, Louisiana was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina)
b. April 18th
1924.
2008: Vernon
"Tod" Handley (77)
UK conductor; he attended Balliol College, Oxford, where he read English
philology and the Guildhall School of Music, where his performing instrument
was the double bass. He was inspired and learned some of his conducting
technique by watching Sir Adrian Boult. In 1962 he was appointed the musical
director of the newly formed Guildford Philharmonic Orch, he also directed
the Tonbridge Philharmonic orchestra. In 1983 he was appointed associate
conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He was Principal Conductor
of the Ulster Orch from 1985 to 1989, and had the title of Conductor Laureate
from 2003 until his death. From 1986 to 1988, he was chief conductor of
the Malmö Symphony Orchestra. He was Conductor Emeritus of the Royal
Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted a number of others in
concert, for broadcast and for recording and was appointed Principal Conductor
of the English Symphony Orch in January 2007. Vernon was honoured with
many awards, such as The Gramophone magazine's Special Achievement Award
in 2003; and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Classical BRIT Awards
on 3 May 2007 at the Royal Albert Hall. He was appointed a Commander of
the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours
and held an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Surrey and was a
Fellow of the Royal College of Music (Vernon
died at his home in Monmouthshire)
b. November
11th 1930
2011:
Graham Collier (74) English jazz bassist,
bandleader, composer, arranger and producer, born in in Tynemouth, Northumberland.
In
1963 he was the first British graduate of Berklee College of Music, Boston
where he studied after winning a Down Beat magazine scholarship at a time
when in the UK there was no formal major conservatoire study of jazz.
After which he was commissioned by festivals, groups and broadcasters
across Europe, North America, Australia and the Far East. He produced
19 albums
including Deep Dark Blue Centre, Darius and Songs For My Father, and
CDs of his music and also worked in a wide range of other media: on stage
plays and musicals, on documentary and fiction film, and on a variety
of radio drama productions. In 1986 Graham established the jazz degree
course at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and was also involved
in workshops that led to the formation of the influential Loose Tubes
big band by a young collective of musicians whose members included Django
Bates and Iain Ballamy. He
stayed at the Academy until his retirement in 1999 when he moved to Spain
and later Greece. Graham
was awarded an OBE in 1987 (?)
b. February 21st 1937.
September 11th
1971:
Curtis Jones (65)
American blues
pianist, born in Naples, Texas; the origins
of the blues standard "Tin Pan Alley" can be traced directly
back to pianist Curtis Jones. Curtis played guitar as a boy, but switched
to piano after a move to Dallas. In 1936 he relocated to Chicago, where
he recorded between 1937 and 1941 on Vocalion Records, Bluebird Records,
and Okeh Records. Among his best-known tunes from these recordings were
the hit "Lonesome Bedoom Blues" and the song "Tin Pan Alley".
World War II interrupted his recording career, until 1953, when Al Benson
released a single of his, "Wrong Blues"/"Cool Playing Blues",
on Parrot Records, featuring L. C. McKinley on guitar. Curtis's
first full-length appeared in 1960, by which time he had become a noted
performer on the Chicago folk music scene. A solo album appeared in 1962,
but by that time he had moved to Europe, where he spent the rest of his
life, apart from a couple of years living in Morocco. He made further
albums in the UK, the last in 1968 (?)
b. August 18th 1906.
1987: Peter Tosh/Stepping
Razor/Winston Hubert McIntosh (42)
Jamaican
guitarist and singer in the original
Wailing Wailers and Bob Marley & the Wailers; born
in Petersfield, he was a pioneer reggae musician, as the original
guitarist for The Wailers, he is considered as one of the originators
of the choppy, syncopated reggae guitar style, and as trailblazer for
the Rastafari movement and fight to legalise cannabis, he was a target
for the police and underwent many beatings.
In the early 60s Winston met Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer through his vocal
teacher, Joe Higgs. While perfecting their sound, the trio would often
play together on street corners in a slum called Trenchtown. In '62, he
was the driving force behind the formation of The Wailing Wailers with
Junior Braithwaite and backup singers Beverley Kelso and Cherry Smith.
They recorded several successful singles,
including a huge ska hit single, "Simmer Down". In 1967
Winston, Bob Marley and Bunny became heavily involved in the Rastafari
movement and formed The Wailers, but left The Wailers in '74 not long
after a horrific car accident and started a solo career under the name
of Peter Tosh. He released his solo debut, Legalize It, in 1976 which
became an anthem for supporters of cannabis legalization. Tosh put together
a backing band, Word, Sound and Power, who accompanied him on tour over
the next few years. He also performed in the international opposition
to South African apartheid by appearing at Anti-Apartheid concerts and
by reflecting his stance in various songs like "Apartheid" in
1977, re-recorded 1987, "Equal Rights" in 1977, "Fight
On" in 1979, and
1983's "Not Gonna Give It Up".
In 1991 Stepping Razor - Red X was released, a film - documentary based
upon a series of spoken-word recordings of Tosh himself, which chronicled
the story of the artist's life, music and untimely death. (He
had been awarded a Grammy for Best Reggae Performance in 1987 for No Nuclear
War. On his return
to Jamaica, Winston was brutally
shot dead in his home at Kingston, by armed robbers who had demanded money
from him) b.
October 19th 1944.
1987: Lorne Greene/Lyon
Himan Green (72)
Canadian actor and singer born in Ottawa, Ontario; as well as his vast
career in films and television, in the 1960s, Lorne capitalized on his
Bonanza, Ben Cartwright image, by recording several albums of country-western/folk
songs, which he performed in a mixture of spoken word and singing. In
1964, he had a No.1 hit with his ballad, "Ringo"
(prostate cancer) b. February
12th 1915
1985: William Alwyn [Smith]
CBE (79)
English composer, conductor, and music
teacher born in Northampton and as a child began to learn to play the
piccolo. He went on to be a virtuoso flautist and for a time was a flautist
with the London Symphony Orchestra. William served as professor of composition
at the Royal Academy of Music from 1926 to 1955 and wrote over 70 film
scores from 1941 to 1962. His classic film scores included Odd Man Out,
Desert Victory, Fires Were Started, The History of Mr Polly, The Fallen
Idol, The Black Tent and Crimson Pirate. (died in
Southwold, Suffolk) b. November
7th 1905.
1993:
Erich Leinsdorf (81)
Austrian-American
conductor in Vienna, and was studying music at a local school by the age
of 5. He studied conducting at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and later at
the University of Vienna and the Vienna Academy of Music. From 1934 to
1937 he worked as an assistant to the noted conductors Bruno Walter and
Arturo Toscanini at the Salzburg Festival. In November 1937, he travelled
to America to take up a position as assistant conductor at the Metropolitan
Opera in New York City. He went on to work with the Cleveland Orchestra,
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra from 1947 to 1955, New York City Opera,
Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and also served from
1978 to 1980 as principal conductor of the (West) Berlin Radio Symphony
Orchestra (sadly lost his battle
with cancer) b. February
4th 1912.
2004: Fred Ebb (71) American
musical theatre lyricist born in Manhattan, he had dozens of very successful
collaborations with composer John Kander. The Kander and Ebb team frequently
wrote for such performers as Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera and musicals
such as Cabaret, which won eight of the 11 Tony Awards for which it was
nominated. The team also had two works produced outside New York. Over
& Over, an adaptation of the Thornton Wilder play The Skin of Our
Teeth, was performed at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia in
1999 and has been revamped for a 2007 staging by the Westport Country
Playhouse under the title All of Us. The Visit, starring Chita Rivera
and John McMartin , was presented by the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. The
team’s last original work to reach Broadway during Fred's life opened
in 1997. Steel Pier. Fred himself wrote the book for Shirley MacLaine’s
Broadway solo revue in 1976. (heart attack)
b. April 8th
1928.
2005:
Albert "Al" Casey (89)
African
American swing guitarist
born in Louisville, Kentucky, but grew up in New York City. He joined
Thomas Fats Waller's band in the early 1930s, and worked with Waller until
he died in 1943 and can be heard on hundreds of recordings. Al also composed
the well known tune Buck Jumpin recorded by Waller. In 1944, he briefly
recorded with Louis Armstrong. He also worked with Clarence Profit's band
that same year. In 1959 he contributed to an album called 'Paul Curry
Presents The Friends Of Fats' on the Golden Crest label. Between stints
with Waller, Al worked with Teddy Wilson from 1939 to 1940. He recorded
with Billie Holiday, Frankie Newton, and Chuck Berry, and even led his
own a trio for a short time. Al freelanced over decades working with King
Curtis from 1957 to 1961, where he played Rhythm and Blues. He continued
playing into his late 80's with The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band which
he joined in 1981 (sadly
died 5 days before his 90th birthday of colon cancer) b.
September 15th 1915.
2007: Willie Tee/Wilson Turbinton (63)
American
singer, songwriter and producer with the band The Wild Magnolias . He
secured his place as a New Orleans music legend by arranging, co-writing
and leading the band on the Wild Magnolias' self-titled 1974 debut album.
He made his first recordings for the local AFO Records in 1962 while still
a teenager. Three years later, he cut "Teasin' You", a soulful,
mid-tempo composition for Atlantic Records. His "Walking Up a One-Way
Street" and "Thank You John" were also popular hits. In
the late 1960s, Willie Tee & the Souls performed everywhere from the
Apollo Theater in Harlem to the Ivanhoe on Bourbon Street. After hearing
the band at the Ivanhoe in 1968, jazz musician Cannonball Adderley encouraged
Tee to record an instrumental album. The album was never released, but
the master tapes were recently rediscovered in the vaults of Capitol Records.
In April 2007, The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame honored Willie Tee for
his contributions to Louisiana music with an induction. (colon
cancer) b. February 6th 1944.
2007: Joe Zawinul (75) Austrian
jazz keyboardist, composer and founder of Weather Report; born in Vienna,
First coming to prominence with saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, Zawinul
went on to play with trumpeter Miles Davis, and to become one of the creators
of jazz fusion, an innovative musical genre that combined jazz with elements
of rock and world music ...READ
MORE... (cancer) b.
July 7th 1932.
2010: Kei Tani/Yasuo Watanabe (78) Japanese
jazz trombonist and comedian,
born in Tokyo; Kei made his name in the entertainment industry in the
1950s as a trombonist in the comic-jazz band Crazy Cats. The band found
fame with appearances in popular TV shows through the early 1970s. (tragically
died after injuring his head in an accident at his home)
b. ????
2010:
Gunnar Hoffsten (86)
Swedish composer, bandleader and jazz musician playing both trumpet and
piano. Gunner is the father of the singer Louise
Hoffsten, the artist Lars Hoffsten and also brother of the actress Rut
Hoffsten (?) b. December
7th 1923.
2010: King Coleman/Carlton Coleman (78) American
rhythm and blues singer, born in Tamper, Florida, known for providing
the vocals for the 1959 hit single, "(Do The) Mashed Potatoes",
recorded with James Brown's band. Over the course of his singing career,
he released numerous singles including "Mashed Potato Man" and
"The Boo Boo Song" that have been re-released on compilation
albums, as well as the 2003's "It's Dance Time". He performed
with many other rhythm and blues legends, such as B.B. King and Jackie
Wilson, performing at venues all over the country, including the legendary
Apollo Theater in New York. He performed on stage as recently as 2005
at the age of 73 on a tour of the U.S. East Coast.
King
also worked as a radio disc jockey, first at Tampa's WTMP, then Miami's
WFEC and eventually WMBM, where he was one of the city's most popular
DJs in the late 1950s. In more recent years, he hosted a six-hour nightly
radio show entitled "Nothing But Love", also on WMBM, now a
gospel station (sadly
died of heart failure at a Miami hospice) b.
January 20th 1932.
September 12th
1970:
Ottilie
Sutro (98) American
pianist born
in Baltimore, she was one half of a piano duo with her sister Rose
Sutro.
They both studied in Berlin at the Royal Hochschule für Musik under
Karl Heinrich Barth, and made their debut in London in July 1894. Their
American debut was with the Seidl Society in Boston on 13 November of
the same year, in a Bach concerto. They toured in the United States and
Europe (?) b. January
4th 1872.
1971: Jaikishan
Dayabhai Panchal (41)
Indian music composer duo with Shankar
Singh Raghuvanshi in the Hindi
film industry, working together from 1949–71. S-J wrote among may
others "everlasting" and "immortal melodies" in 50's
and 60's. Their best work was noted for being "raga-based and having
both lilt and sonority".
During their career, S-J won Filmfare Best Music Director Awards for a
record nine times. The last three awards were won in three successive
years, thereby making S-J the first composers to score a hat trick of
these awards. S-J also came out tops in Binaca Geetmala, the legendary
countdown radio program on Hindi film music, where their compositions
were declared the most popular on six occasions. a record later equaled
by Laxmikant Pyarelal. These songs were Mera joota hai japani in '55,
Teri pyari pyari surat ko in '61, Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par in '62, Bol
radha bol in '64, Baharon phool barsaao in '66, and Zindagi ek safar hai
suhana in '71. In 1968 S-J was honoured with the Padmashri by the Government
of India (cirrhosis of liver) b.
November 4th 1929.
1982: Federico Moreno Torroba (91) Spanish
composer, born in Madrid; he is often associated with the zarzuela, a
traditional Spanish musical form. Directing several opera companies, he
helped introduce the zarzuela to international audiences. He also composed
several operas, of which La Virgen de Mayo and El Poeta are his best known.
However, he is probably best known for his compositions for the classical
guitar, many of which were dedicated to either Maria Angélica Funes
or Andrés Segovia. He achieved his greatest success in the 1930s
with the zarzuelas Luisa Fernanda-1932 and La Chulapona-1934
(?)
b. March 3rd 1891.
1997: Stig 'Stikkan' Erik Leopold Anderson (66)
Swedish manager-producer
of Abba, and founder of Polar Music record label.
Born in Hova, Sweden, before ABBA Stig had a huge number of hits on the
Swedish lists with the biggest Swedish artists at that time. So much so
that he had the nickname "The Business" since he most often
had several artists in the Top 10 with whom he had both written, published
and recorded the songs. During the 1960s he was also one of Sweden's most
prolific songwriters, producing more than 3,000 published titles. Stig
also founded Sweden Music in 1960, as well as several other companies
before
Polar Music record label. In
the early stages of ABBA, Stig co-wrote a large part of the songs' lyrics,
among them some of the band's biggest hits, such as "Ring Ring"-1973,
"Waterloo"-1974, "Honey, Honey"-1974, "I Do,
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"-1975, "Mamma Mia"-1975, "S.O.S"-1975,
"Fernando"-1976, "Dancing Queen"-1976, "Knowing
Me, Knowing You"-1977 and "The Name of the Game"-1977 (heart
attack) b.
January 25th 1931.
2000: Stanley William Turrentine (66)
American jazz tenor saxophonist
also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was born
in Pittsburgh's Hill District. He began
his prolific career with blues and rhythm and blues bands, and was at
first greatly influenced by Illinois Jacquet. In the 1950s he went
on to play with the groups of Lowell Fulson, Earl Bostic, and at the turn
of the decade, Max Roach. He
married the organist Shirley Scott in 1960 and played frequently with
her. In the 1960s he started working with organist Jimmy Smith, and made
many soul jazz recordings both with Smith and as a leader. In the 1970s,
after his professional split and divorce from Shirley, he turned to jazz
fusion. He worked with Milt Jackson, Bob James, Richard Tee, Idris Muhammad,
Ron Carter, and Eric Gale, to name a few. He returned to soul jazz in
the 1980s and into the 1990s. (sadly
died of a stroke in New York City) b. April
5th 1934.
2003: Johnny
Cash/J. R. Cash (71) American singer songwriter; one of the
most imposing and influential figures in post-World War II country music.
With his deep, baritone and spare, percussive guitar, he had a basic,
distinctive sound. Born in Kingsland, Arkansas, he was given the name
"J.R." because his parents could not agree on a name, only on
initials. When he enlisted in the US Air Force, the military would not
accept initials as his name, so he adopted John R. Cash as his legal name.
In a career that spanned almost 5 decades John received multiple Country
Music Association Awards, Grammys, and other awards, in categories ranging
from vocal and spoken performances to album notes and videos. His diversity
is evidenced by his presence in three major music halls of fame: the Nashville
Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980,
and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, only Hank Williams Sr., Jimmie
Rodgers, and Bill Monroe share the honor being in all three. His signature
songs include "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues",
"Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm" and "Man in Black".
He also recorded humorous numbers, such as "One Piece at a Time"
and "A Boy Named Sue", a duet with future wife June Carter called
"Jackson", as well as railroad songs including "Hey Porter"
and "Rock Island Line" (complications
from diabetes and respiratory failure) b.
February 26th 1932
2004: Kenny Buttrey (59)
American
influential session drummer born in Nashville, Tennessee. He became a
professional musician at the age of 11 working with Charlie McCoy and
went on his first world tour at the age of 14 with Chet Atkins. He went
on to play with two of his own groups, Barefoot Jerry and Area Code 615,
best known for its song "Stone Fox Chase," which was the theme
song for the BBC music programme The Old Grey Whistle Test in the 1970s.
His is noted for his work with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Jimmy Buffett
and was quoted as saying he is most proud of his drumming on Bob Dylan's
"Lay Lady Lay". He
appears on Dylan's Blonde on Blonde, Nashville Skyline, and John Wesley
Harding albums; Niel Young's albums Tonight's the Night, Harvest, and
Harvest Moon; and Jimmy Buffett's Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,
including the iconic "Margaritaville". He also worked with Bob
Seger, Gordon Lightfoot, Elvis Presley, Donovan, George Harrison, Joan
Baez, Dan Fogelberg and Kris Kristofferson. In 1979, Kenny provided the
drumming for Chuck Berry's final studio album Rock It. In addition to
studio work, he was a member of Neil Young's touring band, the Stray Gators
and played in the group Rig. Also in 1979, Kenny played drums on contemporary
Christian singer Don Francisco's "Got to Tell Somebody" album.
(Sadly
died in Nashville
after a battle with cancer) b. April 1st
1945.
2007: Bobby Byrd (73) US
soul/funk singer and songwrier, best known as James Brown's long time
sideman and co-vocalist. Born in Toccoa, Georgia, Bobby was the original
leader and founder of both The Avons and The Famous Flames, the vocal
group with which James Brown first found fame. Bobby Byrd is actually
the man who discovered James Brown. James Brown and the Famous Flames,
with Byrd as a member, recorded many hit singles, including "Please,
Please, Please","Try Me", "Think", "Bewildered",
"Oh Baby, Don't You Weep", "I Don't Mind","Shout
and Shimmy" , " I'll Go Crazy", and many more. He also
recorded many solo funk tracks, most famously "I Know You Got Soul"
in 1971 (sadly lost his battle with cancer)
b. August 15th
1934.
2007: Ross Kettle (64)
Australian country singer, songwriter, guitarist
with the highly acclaimed Singing Kettles. He was born and raised in the
small town of Lilydale, Tasmania and started his singing career at church
socials and school functions with his brothers Bill and Max, eventually
calling themselves The Singing Kettles. Their first recording
"Judy" was released in 1961, it was not only the first
recording but it was also the first release for the brand new Hadley record
label. Max tragically died from a massive asthma attack in 1971. Bill
and Ross continued as duo that toured Australia for the next 17 years
and inducted into "Hands of Fame" in Tamworth in 1978. After
the duo split in 1988, Ross continued a solo career
(cancer)
b. April 24th 1943.
2008: Charlie Walker (81) American
country music singer; his 1958 classic "Pick
Me Up On Your Way Down" reached No.2 in the charts. His other hits
include "Only You, Only You", "Who Will Buy the Wine",
"Wild as a Wildcat", "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon", and
"I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dog Fight Even If I Thought That She Could
Win". A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1967, he was inducted
into the Country Radio DJ Hall of Fame in 1981 and portrayed country singer
Hawkshaw Hawkins in the 1985 Patsy Cline biographical film 'Sweet Dreams
(colon cancer) b. Nov 2nd 1926.
2010: Big John Russell (67)
Dutch soul singer (?)
b. 1933.
2010: Swarnalatha (37) Indian
playback singer, born in Chittur, Palakkad; she had been singing since
1989 with many music directors and has rendered songs in Tamil, Kannada,
Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Badaga.
She
won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her rendition
of the famous song "Porale Ponnuthayi" from the film Karuththamma.
The song was composed by A. R. Rahman, with whom she had given lot of
memorable songs
(lung
infection) b.
1973.
2011: Wade Mainer (104)
American bluegrass singer and banjoist, originally from North Carolina,
and his main influences came from the mountain music of his family. In
a career that began in 1934 and spanned almost six decades, with his band,
the Sons of the Mountaineers, he is credited with bridging the gap between
old-time mountain music and Bluegrass and is sometimes called the "Grandfather
of Bluegrass".
In addition, he innovated a two-finger banjo fingerpicking style, which
was a precursor to modern three-finger bluegrass styles. In 1942, he and
his band were invited to the White House by Eleanor Roosevelt, they played
tunes, including "Down in the Willow Garden", a song personally
requested by President Franklin Roosevelt. In 1987, president Ronald Reagan
bestowed upon him a National Heritage Fellowship for his contributions
to American music. In 1996 he received the Michigan Heritage Award and
the Michigan Country Music Association and Services' Lifetime Achievement
Award. In 1998 both he and his wife were inducted into the Michigan Country
Music Hall of Fame, while Wade received North Carolina’s Surry Arts
Council Lifetime Achievement (sadly
died of heart failure) b. April 21st 1907.
2011: Don Wayne (78) American
songwriter from Nashville, Tennesse, he got his songwriting break when
George Morgan cut ‘Lonesome Waltz’ in 1953. His songwriting
career was punctuated by a stint in the Army, when he was drafted in 1954
and posted to Germany, where he was stationed for 17 months. In 1963 he
signed with Tree Publishing where his tune ‘Saginaw, Michigan’
recorded by Lefty Frizzell topped the country charts. His biggest hit,
‘Country Bumpkin, became
the CMA and ACM ‘Song of the Year’ when it was released back
in 1973. Wayne, was inducted in the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of
Fame in 1978 (?) b.
May 30th 1933.
September
13th
1977: Leopold Stokowski/Antoni Stanislaw Boleslawowicz
(95) British-born
American orchestral conductor, known for his free-hand performing style
that spurned the traditional baton and he obtained a characteristically
sumptuous sound from many of the great orchestras he conducted. In
America, he performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia
Orchestra, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Symphony
Orchestra and the Symphony of the Air. He was also the founder of the
All-American Youth Orchestra, the New York City Symphony, the Hollywood
Bowl Symphony Orchestra and The American Symphony Orchestra. He conducted
the music for and appeared in Disney's Fantasia along with being portrayed
by Bugs Bunny in the 1949 Looney Tunes episode Long-Haired Hare (heart
attack) b.
April 18th 1882.
1994: John William Stevens (54) English
drummer in Brentford, Middlesex; he was one of the most significant figures
in early free improvisation, and a founding member of the Spontaneous
Music Ensemble (SME). John played alongside a large number of prominent
free improvisors in the SME, including Derek Bailey, Peter Kowald and
Julie Tippetts, but from the 1970s, the make-up of the SME began to settle
down to a regular group of himself, Nigel Coombes playing violin, and
Roger Smith playing guitar.From 1983, John was involved with Community
Music (CM), an organisation through which he took his form of music making
to youth clubs, mental health institutions and other unusual places. Notes
taken during these sessions were later turned into a book for the Open
University called Search and Reflect (1985). In the late 70s and early
80s John was a regular performer at the Bracknell Jazz Festival
(?)
b. June 10th 1940
1996: 2Pac/Makaveli /Tupac Amaru Shakur
(25) American hip hop artist, poet and actor, born in East
Harlem, Manhattan, New York . He is is one of the best-selling music artists
in the world with 37.5 million albums sold in the United States and over
75 milion albums worldwide. In addition to his status as a top-selling
rap artist, 2Pac was a promising actor and a social activist. Most of
2Pac's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghetto's,
racism, problems in the society and conflicts with other rappers. 2Pac's
work is known by many for often advocating egalitarianism. 2Pac was initially
a roadie and backup dancer for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground.
(died six days after being shot while driving through
Las Vegas in part of East and West Coast Gang wars. 13 bullets were fired
into his BMW) b. June 16th 1971.
2010: Jaroslaw Kukulski (66) Polish
composer (lost his long battle with cancer)
b. May 26th 1944.
2010: Gus Williams (73)
Australian country music singer and Aboriginal leader,
from Hermannsburg in Central Australia. He was an Arrernte man, who was
born in Alice Springs, famed for songs such as Storm In My Heart, I'm
Not Trying To Forget, My Kind Of Heaven, Southern Cross, Straight From
The Heart, and Through The Years.
In 1983 he was given a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to
country music and Aboriginal people. In 2000 he was an inductee into the
Country Music Hands Of Fame in Tamworth. He was given a Deadly in 2001
for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music. Gus Williams was in
2004 presented with a Country Music Centenary Medal from CMAA for service
to Australian society through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music.
In 2005 Williams was inducted into the hall of fame at Music NT's Indigenous
Music Awards
()
b. June 20th 1937.
2011: Wilma Lee Cooper nee Leary (90) American
bluegrass based country music singer and guitarist; born in Valley Head,
West Virginia,
she sang from a young
age with her family's gospel music group, The Leary Family. In 1939, she
married fiddler-vocalist Stoney Cooper, and they formed their bluegrass
group, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper and the Clinch Mountain Clan. For
ten years they were regulars on Wheeling, West Virginia's WWVA-AM's beginning
in 1947 before joining the Opry in 1957. They scored seven hit records
between 1956 and 1961, with four top ten hits on Billboard charts, notably
"Big Midnight Special" and "There's a Big Wheel" as
well as recording popular gospel songs like "The Tramp on the Street"
and "Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill".
She had been a member of the Opry since 1957, her last solo performance
on the Opry was at the Ryman Auditorium on Feb. 24th 2001 and she joined
the Opry cast at the grand re-opening of the Opry House on Sept 28th 2010
for a group sing-along (Wilma
died from natural causes) b. February 7th 1921.
2011: DJ Mehdi/Mehdi Favéris-Essadi (34)
French hip hop and electro musician and
producer, born in Hauts-de-Seine, Paris. He was a former disc jockey of
the groups Different Teep, ex-group of Manu Key & Lil Jahson, Ideal
J and former member of the collective the Mafia K'1 Fry. After having
been recognized for his efforts and budding into one of the French underground
hip hop music scene’s premier producers, DJ Mehdi henceforth pushed
boundaries by mixing hip hop and electronic music. He collaborated with
such notable artists as Daft Punk, Cassius, MC Solaar, Futura 2000, Asian
Dub Foundation and Chromeo among others. He released his first full-length
LP in 2002 The Story of Espion, followed by his second album, Lucky Boy,
in August 2006. His single "I Am Somebody" was used in a 2007
American commercial for XM radio (Mehdi was
on the roof of his home in Paris with a group of friends celebrating the
birthday of his friend Riton. Mehdi was tragically killed after the roof
collapsed. Three others were hospitalized) b. January 20th 1977.
September
14th
1951:
Fritz Busch (61) German
conductor
born in Siegen; he held posts conducting opera at Aachen, Stuttgart and
Dresden. In '33 he was dismissed from his post at Dresden because of his
opposition to the Nazi government of Germany. He went on to work in Sth
America and Scandinavia before becoming the music director of the Glyndebourne
summer festival in England. He remained at Glyndebourne until the outbreak
of WW II. After this he focused on work in Sth America and at the Metropolitan
Opera in New York. From 1934-1951 Fritz was principal guest conductor
of Danish National Symphony Orchestra in Copenhagen (died
in London, UK)
b. March 13th 1890
1981: Walter 'Furry' Lewis (88)
American blues
guitarist, a recognized giant in the world of blues, first to play with
a bottleneck. He was also one of the first of the old-time blues musicians
of the 1920s to be brought out of retirement and given a whole new lease
of recording life by the folk blues revival of the 60s and 70s, as well
as opening twice for the Rolling Stones, appearing on Johnny Carson's
The Tonight Show, having a part in a Burt Reynolds movie, W.W. and the
Dixie Dancekings in 1975, and had a profile in Playboy magazine. Walter
was born in Greenwood,
Mississippi, but moved to Memphis aged 7. By 1908, he was playing solo
for parties, in taverns, and on the street. He also was invited to play
several dates with W. C. Handy's Orchestra. His
travels exposed him to a wide variety of performers including Bessie Smith,
Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Alger "Texas" Alexander. In 1927,
Lewis cut his first records in Chicago for the Vocalion label. A year
later he recorded for the Victor label at the Memphis Auditorium in a
session with by the Memphis Jug Band, Jim Jackson, Frank Stokes, and others.
He again recorded for Vocalion in Memphis in 1929. The tracks were mostly
blues but included two-part versions of "Casey Jones" and "John
Henry". He sometimes fingerpicked, sometimes played with a slide.
He recorded many successful records in the late 1920s including "Kassie
Jones", "Billy Lyons & Stack-O-Lee" and "Judge
Harsh Blues" later called "Good Morning Judge"). Like his
contemporary Frank Stokes, he tired of the road and Walter took a permanent
job, as a street sweeper for the City of Memphis, which allowed him to
remain active in the Memphis music scene,
until his huge global success later in life (Walter
sadly contracted pneumonia in 1981, which led to his death from heart
failure) b.
March 6th 1893.
1982: Christian
Ferras (48)
French
violinist born at Le Touquet.
He entered the Conservatoire de Nice as a student of Charles Bistesi in
1941, and in 1943 obtained the First Prize. In 1944 he went to the Conservatoire
de Paris. In 1946 he won the First Prize in both disciplines (violin and
chamber music), and started his performing career with the Pasdeloup Orchestra
under Albert Wolff, and later Paul Paray. He worked with Romanian violinist
and composer George Enescu, who also acted as an instructor. Ferras premiered
the Violin Concerto by Federico Elizalde, under the direction of Gaston
Poulet. In 1948 Ferras won First Prize at the international Scheveningen
Festival; Yehudi Menuhin was among the judges. He premiered Arthur Honegger's
Sonata for Solo Violin in the Salle Gaveau on November 16, 1948. In 1949,
Ferras won the second prize (the first prize was not awarded) in the international
Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition. He went on touring, performing
and recording worldwide and gave his last concert in Vichy on August 25th
1982 (Christian struggled with severe lifelong depression,
sadly he committed suicide) b. June 17th
1933.
1989: Perez Prado (72) Cuban-Mexican
bandleader, singer, organist, pianist, and composer, commonly referred
to as the "King of the Mambo" and the single most important
musician involved in the hugely popular Latin dance craze. Born in Matanzas,
Cuba, he studied classical piano in his early childhood, and later played
organ and piano in local clubs. Later he worked with casino orchestras
in Havana for most of the 1940s, and gained a reputation for being an
imaginative
and loud player, his solo playing style
predated bebop by at least five years. In 1948, he moved to Mexico to
form his own band specializing in mambos, an upbeat adaptation of the
Cuban danzón. Pérez mambos stood out among the competition,
with their fiery brass riffs and strong sax counterpoints, and most of
all, his trademark grunts, actually saying "¡Dilo!", or
"Say it!",mostly. In 1950, Sonny Burke heard "Que rico
mambo" while on vacation in Mexico and recorded it back in the US
as "Mambo Jambo". The single was a hit and led to a tour the
U.S, his appearances in 1951 were sell-outs. He went on to have many global
hits with tracks such as "Mambo
No. 5","Mambo No. 8", the cha-cha version of "Cherry
Pink and Apple Blossom White" and exciting the world with albums
including "The Voodoo Suite", "Havana 3 A.M" and "Prez".
In
the world of Mambo, Perez's orchestra was always on the top, the most
popular; his son, Perez Prado, Jr., continues to direct the Pérez
Prado Orchestra in Mexico City (sadly
died from a stroke in Mexico City)
b. December 11th 1916.
1998: Johnny Adams
(66)
American blues singer from New Orleans,
known for the amazing range of his singing voice and his gospel influenced
style. He began his career singing gospel, changing over to secular music
in 1959, and scored the hit single "I Won't Cry", followed by
a string of regional hits in the 1960s which included "Release Me"
and "Reconsider Me". As a veteran R&B vocalist he tackled
an exceptionally wide variety of material in his later years and in the
1980s and 1990s, Johnny recorded several award-winning albums for Rounder
Records. (died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana after a
long battle with stomach cancer)
b. January 5th 1932.
2001: Stylianos "Stelios" Kazantzidis
(70) Greek singer, a leading singer of
Greek popular music, or Laïkó, he collaborated with many of
Greece's foremost composers. Born in Athens he made his first public appearance
at a Kifissia night club in the early 1950s and soon after, in July 1952,
made his first studio recording with a song entitled "I'm going for
a swim". He went on to t collaborate with some of the biggest names
in Greek music, among them Manolis Chiotis, Manos Hadjidakis, Mikis Theodorakis,
and Stavros Xarhakos. He and Marinella became a legendary duo. In 1965,
in the peak of his career, decided to stop public appearances. He didn't
sing in public again for the rest of his life. For the next ten years,
he only released studio albums. The following year he divorced Marinella,
and they recorded their last duets "Mh Mou Lete Gia Authn",
"Apopse Se Eho Stin Agalia Mou," "I Kardia Tis Manas"
(died of a brain tumor) b.
August 29th 1931.
2003: John Serry Sr/Giovanni Serrapica (88) American
accordionist virtuoso, arranger, composer, organist and educator born
in Brooklyn, New York. He
started his musical career in the 30s
and over the next 70 years he performed in thearte, films, on the CBS
Radio and CBS Television networks appearing on the likes of The Jackie
Gleason Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Frank Sinatra Show; he appeared
in musicals including Cabaret (musical);La Grosse Valise; The Happy Time
at The Broadway Theatre and Fiddler On The Roof. As a concert artist and
soloist he elevated the use of the accordion within a full range of professional
orchestral ensembles. His concerts featured classical and contemporary
works by such composers as: Johann Sebastian Bach, Beethoven, Leonard
Bernstein, John Denver, Charles Gounod, Handel, Felix Mendelssohn, Jean-Joseph
Mouret, Mozart, Johann Pachelbel, Henry Purcell, Rachmaninoff, Franz Schubert,
Tchaikovsky, Eric Satie, Antonio Vivaldi, Richard Wagner, Charles Widor,
and Andrew Lloyd Webber (died after a brief illness)
b.
January 29th 1915.
2002: Paul "Hucklebuck"
Williams (87) American blues and rhythm and blues saxophone
player and band leader famous for "The Hucklebuck"; after performing
with Clarence Dorsey and King Porter he formed his own band in 1947, having
his 1949 hit "The Hucklebuck", a twelve-bar blues that also
spawned a dance craze. The single went to No.1 on the R&B chart, after
which he used Paul Williams and his Hucklebuckers as his billing name.
In his Honkers and Shouters, Arnold Shaw credits Paul as one of the first
to employ the honking tenor sax solo that became the hallmark of rhythm
and blues and rock and roll in the 1950s and early 1960s. Along with Tiny
Grimes, he co-headlined the first "Moondog Coronation Ball",
promoted by Alan Freed in Cleveland on March 21st 1952, often claimed
as the first rock and roll concert, where
he saw crazed fans crash through the
ticket gates. The show was halted, but not
before Paul had a chance to perform. Later he worked in the Atlantic Records
house band and was musical director for Lloyd Price and James Brown (?)
b. July
13th 1915.
2006: Norman Brooks/Norman
Joseph Arie (78)
Canadian singer, born in Montreal, best known for his ability to sound
like Al Jolson.
He played Jolson in the 1956 film, The Best Things in Life Are Free. He
also performed in nightclubs and on television in the US and Canada during
the 1950s and 1960s. He played himself in the 1960 film Ocean's Eleven.
His records "Hello Sunshine" and "You Shouldn't Have Kissed
Me The First Time" for the Zodiac label were national hits in 1953
(?) b. August 19th
1928.
2009: Bobby Graham/Robert Francis Neate (69)
British session drummer; born
in Edmonton, North London, as a boy he took lessons with Ronnie Verrell,
a veteran drummer with Ted Heath's band. As a teenager
in the mid '50s to late '60s he played in
various amateur and semi-professional bands
and played a summer season at Butlins with
Billy Gray and the Stormers. Through the
60s he
was one of the busiest session drummers in England, he was chosen by the
top producers of the day to record hit after hit for the big name groups
such as The Kinks, The Animals
and
Dave Clark.
He was Brian Epstein's
choice to replace Pete Best in The Beatles, but Bobby declined the offer.
He has played on over 15,000 titles and is said to be the most recorded
drummer in the UK. By the '70s Bobby was on a downward spiral, he was
suffering the effects of the rock 'n' roll life style.
He battled through it and went on to teaching and lecturing
schoolchildren about the skiffle boom, rock and roll and the swinging
sixties (stomach cancer)
b. March 11th
1940.
September
15th
1842:
Pierre Baillot (70) French violinist, composer, teacher;
born in Passy and studied the violin under Giovanni Battista Viotti. He
taught violin at the Paris Conservatoire and together with Pierre Rode
and Rodolphe Kreutzer wrote the conservatoire's official violin method,
published in the early 1800s. He was sole author of the instructional
L'art du violon. Pierre's
teachings had a profound influence on technical and musical development
in an age in which virtuosity was openly encouraged. He was leader of
the Paris Opéra, gave solo recitals and was a notable performer
of chamber music. (He died in Paris) b.
October
1st 1771.
1965: Steve Brown (75)
American
jazz string bassist born in New
Orleans, Louisiana; he first went north to Chicago in 1915 with his brother
Tom in the first wave of jazz musicians to go to the city. He was a member
of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings in the early 1920s, where his early slap-style
string bass playing attracted attention. Steve was one of the important
pioneers of the slap-style. In
1924 he joined Jean Goldkette's Orchestra, with whom he remained until
1927 after which he joined one of the top-paying band of the era in the
America, Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. Around 1930 he settled in Detroit,
Michigan, which would be his home for the rest of his life. He led his
own band there for a while, and continued playing with traditional jazz
and Dixieland bands well in to the late 1950s (?)
b.
January 13th 1890.
1973:
Víctor Jara (40)
Chilean teacher, theatre director, poet,
singer-songwriter, political activist and member of the Communist Party
of Chile. He devoted himself to the development of Chilean theatre, directing
a broad array of works from locally produced Chilean plays, to the classics
of the world stage, to the experimental work of Ann Jellicoe. Simultaneously
he developed in the field of music and played a pivotal role among neo-folkloric
artists who established the Nueva Canción Chilena/New Chilean Song,
movement which led to a revolution in the popular music of his country
under the Salvador Allende government. (Shortly
after the Chilean coup of 11 September 1973, he was arrested, horrifically
tortured and ultimately shot to death by machine gun fire. His body was
later thrown out into the street of a shanty town in Santiago. The contrast
between the themes of his songs, on love, peace and social justice and
the brutal way in which he was murdered transformed Victor into a symbol
of struggle for human rights and justice across Latin America)
b.
September 28th 1932.
1980:
Bill Evans (51) American bandleader, one of the most famous
of the 20th century post-bop pianists, influencing pianists such as Herbie
Hancock, John Taylor, Steve Kuhn, Denny Zeitlin, Bobo Stenson and Keith
Jarrett, and guitarists Lenny Breau and Pat Metheny. Born in Plainfield,
New Jersey, his
started learning classical piano at age six, he also became proficient
at the flute and violin. At 12, Bill filled in for his older brother Harry
in Buddy Valentino's band. In the late 1940s, he played boogie woogie
in various New York City clubs. He went on to receive a music scholarship
to Southeastern Louisiana University, where he co-founded the Delta Omega
Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. After his time in the U.S. Army, he
returned to New York and worked at nightclubs with jazz clarinetist Tony
Scott. In
the 1950s he went on to appear on albums by Charles Mingus, Oliver Nelson,
Tony Scott, and Art Farmer. In 1956, he made his debut album, New Jazz
Conceptions, featuring the original version of "Waltz for Debby".
In 1958, Bill was hired by Miles Davis, for eight months becoming the
only white member of his famed sextet. After which, in December of 1958
he came back as leader of his band with the album 'Everybody Digs Bill
Evans', which included the famous haunting "Peace Piece". Through
his working trios would pass such players as bassists LaFaro, Israels,
Gary Peacock, Teddy Kotick, Eddie Gomez, and Marc Johnson; and drummers
Motian, Larry Bunker, Arnie Wise, Joe Hunt, Philly Joe Jones,
Joe La Barbera,
Jack DeJohnette, John Dentz, Eliot Zigmund, and Marty
Morell.
Bill
won 6 grammy awards and was nominated 31 times (His
body finally gave up after years of drug addiction, with a perforated
liver and a lifelong battle with hepatitis, he died of a bleeding ulcer,
cirrhosis of the liver and bronchial pneumonia)
b. August 16th 1929.
1981:
Rafael Méndez (75)
Mexican virtuoso solo trumpeter, born in Michoacan, as
a youngster he was the cornetist for Pancho Villa. His most famous recording,
"Moto Perpetuo," by Paganini for violin and features Rafael
double tonguing continuously for over 4 minutes while circular breathing
to give the illusion that he is not taking a natural breath while playing.
From 1950 to 1975, he was a full time soloist, performing as many as 125
concerts per year. He was also very active as a recording artist. Many
of his recordings are now available on compact disc. His repertoire was
a mixture of classical, popular, Mexican folk music and jazz. Méndez
contributed many arrangements and original compositions to the trumpet
repertoire. His Scherzo in D Minor is often heard in recitals, and has
been recorded by David Hickman. (?)
b. March 26th 1906
1983: Prince Far I/Michael James Williams (39)
Jamaican reggae toaster, record producer and a Rastafarian, born
in Spanish Town, his first job in the music industry was as a deejay on
the Sir Mike the Musical Dragon sound system, but after recording "The
Great Booga Wooga" for Bunny Lee in 1969, under the name King Cry
Cry, he got the chance in 1970 to record for Coxsone Dodd when King Stitt
failed to turn up for a session. He became a popular reggae musician,
styling himself "The Voice of Thunder". His first album, Psalms
For I, featuring the Lord's Prayer and various psalms, was dedicated to
the illiterate who could not read the Bible for themselves. He then worked
with Joe Gibbs on the second album, Under Heavy Manners, before being
signed by Virgin Records for their Frontline label. Twelve albums followed
between 1978 and 1981. He spent a lot of lis last years in the UK. (Michael
was recording the album Umkhonto We Sizwe/Spear of the Nation, but before
the album was finished he was shot at his home during a robbery, and sadly
died later in hospital.) b. 1944.
1985: Cootie Williams/Charles Melvin Williams
(74) American jazz, R 'n' B trumpeter, born in Mobile, Alabama.
He began his career at 14 years of age, with the Young Family band, which
included saxophonist Lester Young. In 1928, he made his first recordings
with pianist James P. Johnson in New York, where he also worked in the
bands of Fletcher Henderson and Chick Webb. Cootie rose to prominence
as a member of Duke Ellington's orchestra, with which he performed from
1929 to 40. He also recorded his own sessions during this time, both with
other Ellington sidemen and freelance. In 1940 he joined Benny Goodman's
orchestra, then in 1941 formed his own orchestra, in which over the years
he employed Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis,
Eddie Vinson, and other important young players. He
began to play more R&B in the late 40s. In the 50s he toured with
small groups and fell into obscurity. In 1962 he rejoined Ellington and
stayed with the orchestra until 1974. In 1975, he performed during the
Super Bowl IX halftime show (?)
b. July 10th 1911.
1998: Barrett Deems (80)
American drummer born Springfield, Illinois. Among others he was
with the Joe Venuti big band in 1937 until 1944, Red Norvo in 1948, Charlie
Barnet in 1951, and Muggsy Spanier from 1951-1954, during that era he
was billed almost accurately as "the world's fastest drummer".
He also worked with Louis Armstrong during 1954-1958, performing as part
of Satchmo's band in the 1956 musical High Society and with Jack Teagarden
from 1960-64. Up until just before his death Barrett still performed with
his own excellent Barrett Deems 18-piece Big Band including trumpeters
Brad Goode and Mike McLaughlin, trombonist Audrey Morrison, and reedmen
Barry Winograd and Richie Corpolongo (pneumonia)
b. March 1st 1914.
2003: Jack Brymer (88) British clarinetist,
born in South Shields; in 1947, Sir Thomas Beecham invited him to audition
as principal clarinetist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to succeed
Reginald Kell, he held the post until 1963. Then together with Gwydion
Brooke, Gerald Jackson and Terence MacDonagh , became part of the celebrated
"Royal Family" of principal woodwind players with the RPO. When
he left the RPO, he become a co-principal in the BBC Symphony Orchestra
'63-'71 and principal in the London Symphony Orchestra '71-'86.
He was an important session musician, which included playing bass clarinet
on the sound-tracks of the Hammer horror movies featuring actors Peter
Cushing and Christopher Lee. Jack
took over leadership of the London Saxophone Quartet after the death of
its founder Michael Krein and went on to teach music worldwide, become
professor at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and
Drama, and the Royal Military School of Music, he also became president
of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain and was appointed
an Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire in 1960 (?)
b. January 27th
1915.
2004: Johnny Ramone/Cummings (55) American
guitarist; a rebel in a rebel's world, Johnny was raised Queens, N.Y.,
where as
a teenager, he played in a band called the Tangerine Puppets with future
Ramones drummer Tamás Erdélyi aka Tommy Ramone.
Influenced
by the likes of the Stooges and MC5, in 1974 he co-founded "The Ramones",
often regarded as the first punk rock group, with Tommy Ramone, Joey Ramone
and Dee Dee Ramone. They went on to performed 2,263 concerts, touring
virtually nonstop for 22 years. The Ramones were a major influence on
the punk rock movement in the US and the UK, though they achieved only
minor commercial success. Their only record with enough U.S. sales to
be certified gold was the compilation album Ramones Mania. Recognition
of the band's importance has built over the years, and they are now cited
in many assessments of all-time great rock music, such as the Rolling
Stone lists of the 50 Greatest Artists of All Time and 25 Greatest Live
Albums of All Time, VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, and Mojo's
100 Greatest Albums and in 2002, the Ramones were ranked the second greatest
band of all time by Spin magazine. Alongside his music career, Johnny
appeared in nearly a dozen movies including Rock 'n' Roll High School
and documentaries. He also made television appearances on such shows as
The Simpsons - 1F01 "Rosebud" in 1993 and Space Ghost Coast
to Coast, Episode 5 "Bobcat". In 2003 he was named the 16th
greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine and in 2009,
Time Magazine named named Johnny on its list of the 10 best electric guitarists
of all-time (died after a long battle with prostate
cancer) b. October 8th 1948
2007: Gordon
'Specs' Powell (85)
American
pioneering jazz drummer; born in New York City, he worked with a number
of jazz greats, including Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker Billie Holiday,
Erroll Garner, Teddy Wilson's trio and Red Norvo. In
1943, he was hired by CBS, becoming one of the first black musicians to
play for a national network. He stayed with CBS until 1972, playing for
"The Jackie Gleason Show," "Candid Camera" and other
programs as well as being lead drummer for the Ed Sullivan show in the
early 1960s . He was versatile percussionist who carried a kit filled
with castanets, clickers and other noisemakers he referred to as his "bag
of tricks". Gordon
was honored by the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 2004. (kidney
disease) b.
June 5th 1922.
2007: Aldemaro Romero (79) Venezuelan
composer, pianist and conductor born in Valencia, Carabobo State. He was
a prolific composer, creating a wide range of music, such as Caribbean,
Jazz, Venezuelan waltzes, including works for orchestra, orchestra and
soloist, orchestra and choir, chamber music, up to symphonic works of
great dimensions. Aldemaro collaborated with popular orchestras and singers,
such as Dean Martin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stan Kenton, Machito and Tito Puente.
He also toured extensively, performing in numerous countries: Mexico,
Puerto Rico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France, Greece,
Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Russia, Egypt and Japan. Over his long career
he was honored with many awards, in 1969 he recieved the Peace Prize of
the Soviet Intellectuals, in the Moscow Cinema Festival for his soundtrack
music for the Simón Bolivar epic film. He also obtained the first
prize as composer and conductor at Majorca Palms Festival, the Olympic
Games Musical Festival in Greece; and in the Latin Song Festival of Mexico.
For his extensive work, he received numerous recognitions in his country,
being awarded with the Andrés Bello, Diego de Losada, Francisco
de Miranda and the Work Merit orders, all in their first class, granted
by the Venezuelan Government to political, artistic and social outstanding
individuals. Then, in 2000 obtained the National Music Prize, and in 2006
the Honoris Causa degrees from the University of Carabobo and Lisandro
Alvarado University of Barquisimeto. (complications
of intestinal blockage) b.
March 12th 1928.
2008: Richard Wright (65) British
pianist and keyboardist, he grew up in Hatch End, North London and is
best known for his long career with Pink Floyd. Although he wasn't really
credited as a singer, he
frequently
sang background and occasionally lead vocals onstage and in
the studio with Pink Floyd most notably on "Time", "Echoes",
"Matilda Mother", and
"Astronomy Domine", as
well as notable harmonies on"Chapter
24"
and "The
Scarecrow". Examples of his early compositions include "Remember
a Day", "See-Saw", "Paint Box" and "It Would
Be So Nice". He
also wrote significant parts of the music for classic albums such as Meddle,
The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, as well as for Pink
Floyd's final studio album The Division Bell. His instrumental
compositions include "Cirrus Minor", "Interstellar Overdrive",
"A Saucerful of Secrets", "Careful with That Axe, Eugene",
"One of These Days" and to musical themes for film scores. During
1984, he formed a new duo with Dave Harris >>>
READ
MORE <<< (sadly Richard died
fighting cancer) b. July 28th 1943.
2010: Arrow/Alphonsus Cassell
(60)
Montserrat, West Indies
soul calypso aka soca singer-songwriter and music pioneer; he began singing
calypso in 1967 and took the Junior Monarch title that year.
He began singing calypso in 1967 and took the Junior Monarch title that
same year. Influenced by the Trinidadian musician the Mighty Sparrow,
long the international king of calypso, Arrow took up singing professionally
in 1969, and in that year he was runner up in the Montserrat Calypso King
competition, going on to win the title the following year and would go
on to take the title a total of four times. Arrow released his first single,
"Dance with Me, Woman" in 1972, and set up his own Arrow record
label in 1973. Then 1974 saw the release of his debut album "The
Mighty Arrow on Target", followed in 1975 with "Arrow Strikes
Again". He won the Road March competition at the 1975 St. Kitts festival
with "Rummy Song". Arrow began to fuse calypso with other genres
such as reggae, soul, R&B, Zouk and salsa, hip-hop, African music
and American rock and country, then in 1982, he recorded his 5th album,
Hot Hot Hot, from which the title track, "Hot Hot Hot", became
his first pan-Caribbean hit and the biggest selling soca hit of all time,
it became an international party favourite and was used as the theme song
for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico ..READ
MORE.. (After
battling cancer for nearly two years, sadly Arrow died of pneumonia caused
by complication from cerebral cancer)
b. November 16th 1949.
2011: Regina Smendzianka
(86) Polish pianist
born in Torun, and began her public performances at the age of only eight.
In 1949 she was awarded the just resumed Fryderyk Chopin International
Piano Competition's 11th prize soon after graduating from the Kraków
State Music Academy with the highest marks. She was a disciple of Zbigniew
Drzewiecki from 1950–55, and went on to have an international career.
She also held a professorship at the Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy until
1996, briefly serving as the institution's rector. She was a juror at
the 1970, 1980, 1995 and 2000 editions of the Chopin Competition (?)
b. October 9th 1924.
September
16th
1973: Al Sherman (76)
Russian-American
Tin Pan Alley songwriter; his composing
career began in 1918 when he became a staff pianist for the Remick Music
Company. There, he worked alongside George Gershwin and Vincent Youmans.
Artists who recorded Al Sherman songs include Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald,
Billie Holliday, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Al Jolson, Bing Crosby,
Eddie Cantor, Rudy Vallée, Ozzie Nelson, Lawrence Welk, Peggy Lee,
Patti Page, Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra among many others.
(?) b. Sept 7th 1897.
1977: Marc Bolan/Toby
Tyler/Mark Feld (29) British
singer and guitarist born in London; at aged 9, he was given his first
guitar and began a skiffle band shortly after. Then influenced by the
rock and roll of Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Arthur Crudup and Chuck
Berry, while still at school, he played guitar in 'Susie and the Hoops',
a trio whose vocalist was a 12-year old Helen Shapiro. Next he became
a Mod, and appeared as an extra in an episode of the TV show Orlando,
as a Mod. In the early to mid 60's Mark had changed his name to Toby Tyler
and recorded some demo tapes,
this Toby Tyler recording session vanished from thought and mind for over
25 years before resurfacing in 1991 and selling for nearly 8,000 dollars.
Their eventual release on CD in 1993 made available the earliest of Mark's
known recordings. Changing his name again to Marc Bolan, via Mark Bowland,
while with Decca Records he released his first single "The Wizard."
In early 1967, manager Simon Napier Bell added him to the Pop-Art/mod
band John's Children, which achieved some success as a live band but sold
few records.
In August of 1967 Marc formed the mystical folk-rock band Tyrannosaurus
Rex, their debut album "My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their
Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows" in
1968 reached No.15 in the UK. Then in the 1970s, they achieved massive
success as a glam rock band, with Marc's display and glam rock gaining
popularity in the UK and Europe during 1971–72. T. Rex's move to
electric guitars coincided with his more overtly sexual lyrical style
and image, although the group's new image and unique sound outraged some
of their older hippie fans. They had huge hits including "Get It
On", "Ride a White Swan", "20th Century Boy",
"Children of the Revolution", "Hot Love", "Telegram
Sam" and "Metal Guru". Marc Bolan and T-Rex have influenced
many bands over the years and still do (Marc was
tragically killed when the car driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones,
left the road and hit a tree in Barnes, South West London)
b. September 30th 1947.
1977: Maria
Callas (53) American-born Greek soprano, born in New York,
received her musical education in Greece and established her career in
Italy. She was one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century.
She combined an impressive bel canto technique with great dramatic gifts.
An very versatile singer, her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria
to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini, and Rossini; further, to
the works of Verdi and Puccini; and earlier the music dramas of Wagner.
Her remarkable musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as
La Divina. (heart attack)
b. December 2nd
1923.
2003: Shelby F. "Sheb"
Wooley (82) American
character actor and singer, best known for his 1958 novelty hit "Purple
People Eater". Born in Erick, Oklahoma, and was raised on a farm,
he learned to ride horses at an early age, and before WW2 he was a working
cowboy and rodeo rider. After which he played in a country-western band.
Sheb appeared in dozens of western films from the '50s through 70s, most
notably High Noon. He also had a string of country hits, his "That's
My Pa" reaching No.1 of Billboard magazine's Hot C&W Sides chart
in March 1962. Other hits included 'Almost Persuaded', "I Remember
Loving You" and "Fifteen Beers Ago". A recording of his
scream has been used by sound effects teams in over 130 films. (sadly
died of leukemia)
b.
April 10th 1921.
2004: Izora Armstead (62)
American singer, born in Houston, Texas, she linked
up with Sylvester and Patrick Cowley in San Francisco in the late 1970s
as a backup singer, along with Martha Wash. At that time they were called
Two Tons O' Fun or simply Two Tons.
Later,
in 1979, she and Martha formed The Weather Girls. Their hit single "It's
Raining Men" was one of the most successful songs of the Hi-NRG music
genre, hitting No.1 on the club chart. After she and Wash parted company
in the late 1980s, Izora moved to Germany and formed and managed the German
version of the Weather Girls with her daughter, Dynell. In 2002 the group
entered the German Final to Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song
"Get Up", finishing 13th
(sadly
died of heart failure at a hospital in San Leandro) b.
July 6th 1942.
2008: Norman Whitfield (65) American
songwriter and producer, best known for his work with the Motown label.
He is credited as being one of the creators of the Motown Sound, as well
as one of the major instrumental figures in the late-60s sub-genre of
psychedelic soul. The first Temptations single to feature his new "psychedelic
soul" style was "Cloud Nine" in late 1968, it earned Motown
its first Grammy award for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo
or Group. He established Whitfield Records...
read
more (long
battle with diabetes) b. May
12th 1940
2009: Johnny Mullins (86)
American singer-songwriter and guitarist; born and raised in a little
town near Cassville and Exeter, Missouri. in his late teens he moved to
Oregon where he worked at a lumber yard and
at the local radio station where they called him “The Yodelin’
Cowboy from the Ozarks” before moving to Springfield. This is where
he met country singer Porter Wagoner who became his life long friend.
Johnny wrote Porter’s first song “Company’s Comin".
Among the many other songs he wrote was Emmy Lou Harris’ hit song
“Blue Kentucky Girl,” which was nominated for a Grammy in 1980.
In the early '80's he met Mike Smith of KSMU FM Radio where for many years
he played on the Saturday Night Live show (Alzheimer's
disease) b. ????
2009: Filip Nikolitch (35) French
singer and actor, born in Saint Ouen, France, although his parents are
of Yugoslavian origin. He grew up in Longjumeau, a suburban town outside
of Paris, France. Filip's talents range from gymnastics, he was a champion
in France; acting, he starred with Dennis Rodman in Simon Sez in 1999,
but most notably, his singing... Filip was part of '2Be3', a popular boys
band. Inspired
by English bands like Take That and Worlds Apart,
the band was formed in 1996, by three childhood friends, Filip, Adel Kachermi
and Frank Delay. Their debut album 'Partir un jour' reached No.2 in 1998
and they achieved 6 singles in the French charts. During year 2000, they
toured in France, Germany, England, Switzerland, Belgium, and Yugoslavia.
The group recorded 2 more charting studio albums and various compilations
before they disbanded in 2001. Filip continued with his acting career
and reportedly, he was preparing a solo album at the time of his untimely
death (alleged drug overdose) b.
September 1st 1974
2009: Mary Travers (72) American
folk singer; born in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 2, her family
moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, where she attended the Little
Red School House there, but left in the eleventh grade to pursue her singing
career. While still in high school, she joined The Song Swappers, a group
who sang backup for Pete Seeger when he recorded the album Talking Union,
in 1955. The Song Swappers recorded four albums in 1955, all with with
Peter Seeger. Mary was also cast in the Broadway-theatre show, The Next
President. Unlike
most folk musicians who were a part of that early 1960s Greenwich Village
music scene, Mary actually grew up there. The
group Peter, Paul and Mary which included Mary, Peter Yarrow and Noel
Paul Stookey was
formed in 1961 by their manager, Albert Grossman. Their 1962 debut album,
Peter, Paul and Mary, included "500 Miles", "Lemon Tree",
and the Pete Seeger hit tunes "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where
Have All the Flowers Gone?". The album was listed
>>>
READ
MORE <<<
(sadly died
from leukemia) b. November 9th 1936
2011: Willie "Big
Eyes" Smith (75) American
Grammy
Award-winning electric blues vocalist, harmonica player, and multi-award
winning drummer. Born in Helena, Arkansas he was inspired by Muddy Water's
blues playing and by Henry Strong's harp playing. He took up the harp
and in 1956, he formed a trio, which he led the on harp, Bobby Lee Burns
played guitar, and Clifton James on drums. As "Little Willie"
Smith he played and recorded with the Rocket Four, led by blues guitarist
Arthur "Big Boy" Spires. In 1955 he played harmonica on Bo Diddley's
recording of "Diddy Wah Diddy". Drummers were in more demand
than harp players, so Willie switched to drums and starting playing with
Muddy Waters, recording on Muddy Waters 1960 album Sings Big Bill Broonzy.
By 1968 Willie was a permanent member and he stayed drumming with Muddy
for the next 12 years. All of Muddy's Grammy Award winning albums:- Hard
Again, I'm Ready, They Call Me Muddy Waters, Muddy "Mississippi"
Waters Live, The London Muddy Waters Session, and The Muddy Waters Woodstock
Album were released between 1971 and 1979, during Willie's time with the
band and is estimated he participated in twelve sessions yielding eighty-four
tracks. He left Muddy in
1980, and along with other members of Muddy Waters' band formed The Legendary
Blues Band, later that year, Willie and the Legendary Blues Band appeared
backing John Lee Hooker in the movie The Blues Brothers. Willie recorded
a series of albums with the LBB, and the group toured with the Stones,
Clapton and Dylan. In 1999, Smith recorded with Muddy Waters son Big Bill
Morganfield on his album Rising Son. Beginning in the mid '90s, he recorded
as a leader, showing off his prowess as a singer and he went back to his
original instrument, the harmonica. He won a string of Blues Foundation
Awards and on February 13, 2011, he won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional
Blues Album for Joined at the Hip, an album he recorded with Pinetop Perkins.
His son Kenny aka Willie Beedy Eyes Smith plays drums and is carrying
on the family tradition (sadly Willie died from a stroke) b.
January 19th 1936
September
17th
1951:
Jimmy Yancey (53) American
pianist born in Chicago; he started performing as a singer in traveling
shows during his childhood. He was a noted pianist by 1915, and influenced
younger musicians, such as Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons.
He popularized a left hand figure which became known as the 'Yancey bass',
and was later used in Pee Wee Crayton's "Blues After Hours",
Guitar Slim's "The Things That I Used to Know" and many other
songs. Part of Jimmy's distinctive style was that he played in a variety
of keys but always ended every song in E flat. He was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
(Jimmy sadly died from the effects of a stroke)
b. February 20th 1898.
1966: Friedrich "Fritz" Karl Otto Wunderlich (35) German
tenor, born in Kusel, he obtained a scholarship in order to pursue his
studies at the Freiburg College of Music where he studied French horn
and voidce. He
was soon noted as a brilliant young tenor, especially in Mozartian roles,
but he later expanded his reach to the full range of the lyric tenor repertoire.
Most of his recordings of the standard operatic repertoire are sung in
German, including Verdi's Rigoletto and Don Carlo. He achieved the highest
distinction within the German repertory, special importance is a recording
of Mozart's Magic Flute in which Fritz stars as Prince Tamino opposite
baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in the role of Papageno. At
the time of his death, he had been recording Haydn's The Creation, with
the Berlin Philharmonic. In the BBC Music Magazine of April 2008, Wunderlich
was voted the fourth greatest tenor of all time
(his career was cut short when he fell from a stairway
in a friend's country house in Oberderdingen, he died in the University
Clinic of Heidelberg) b. September 26th 1930.
1973: Hugo Winterhalter (64) American violinist, reed instruments
and an easy listening arranger and composer; born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
he graduated from Mount St. Mary's, Maryland in 1931, where he played
saxophone for the orchestra and sang in tow of the choirs. He later studied
violin and reed instruments at the New England Conservatory of Music.
After graduating, he taught school for several years before turning professional
in the mid 1930s, serving as a sideman and arranger for
Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Raymond Scott, Claude Thornhill and others.
Hugo
also arranged and conducted sessions for singers including Dinah Shore
and Billy Eckstine, and in 1948 he was named musical director at MGM Records.
After which he moved to Columbia Records, where he scored a hit with his
orchestral reading of "Blue Christmas." He then in 1950 moved
to RCA Victor, where he arranged sessions for artists including Perry
Como, Eddie Fisher and the Ames Brothers; he also recorded several instrumental
albums, among them 1952's Great Music Themes of Television, one of the
first collections of TV theme songs ever recorded. Winterhalter also notched
a series of chart hits, including "Blue Tango," "Vanessa,"
"The Little Shoemaker" and "Song of The Barefoot Contessa";
with pianist Eddie Heywood, he reached the number two spot with 1956's
"Canadian Sunset." He remained with RCA until 1963, at which
time he moved to Kapp; that same year, he penned the main title theme
for the film, Diamond Head. At Kapp he recorded a handful of albums including
The Best of '64 and its follow-up, The Big Hits of 1965, before leaving
the label to work on Broadway. He later worked in television and continued
recording the occasional LP for various budget labels (cancer)
b. August
15th 1909.
1982: Manos Loïzos (44) Greek
composer born in Cyprus, he moved to Athens at the age of 17 intending
to study pharmacology but soon gave up his studies in order to concentrate
on his musical career. He was a self taught musician, with no formal musical
arts training. His first recordings were made in 1963 but he started gaining
a larger audience after 1967. By 1975 Loizos had become one of the most
popular artists in Greek music and he is considered to be one of the most
important Greek music composers of the 20th century.
Some of his famous songs include "S' Akoloutho', 'Che' Lyrics, he
wrote the lyrics to both, 'Ola se thymizoun' lyrics by Manolis Rassoulis,
'To Akordeon' lyrics by Yannis Negrepontis, and 'Jamaica', 'De tha xanagapiso',
'Paporaki tou Burnova', 'Ah Helidoni mu' and 'O Koutalianos' all lyrics
by Lefteris Papadopoulos. (he sadly died
in a hospital in Moscow, Soviet Union after suffering several strokes)
b. October 22nd 1937.
1991: Rob Tyner/Robert
Derminer (46) American
lead singer for the punk rock band MC5. It was Rob who issued the infamous
rallying cry of "kick out the jams, motherfuckers" at the MC5's
live concerts. He had originally auditioned as the bass player, but the
band felt his talents would be best used as a lead vocalist. After which
he launched "the New MC5" which later operated as the Rob Tyner
Band and laid the seeds for "Rob Tyner & the National Rock Group"
(died from the affects of a heart attack)
b. December
12th 1944.
1992: Roger Wagner (78)
American choral musician, administrator and educator,
born in Le Puy, France, but at aged 7 he and his family emigrated to America
in 1921. For over five decades he championed
and refined the art of choral music and propelled it around the world.
In 1937, Roger joined the MGM chorus in Hollywood and was later appointed
Music Director of St. Joseph's Church in Los Angeles where he established
an outstanding choir of men and boys, including young Paul Salamunovich.
In 1945, Roger Wagner became the supervisor of young choruses for the
City of Los Angeles, most notably the "Los Angeles Concert Youth
Chorus." It was from a madrigal group of twelve of these singers
that the Roger Wagner Chorale was born in 1946. The Roger Wagner Chorale
became recognized the world over through its numerous radio, concert,
and television appearances, motion picture soundtracks, and more than
eighty recordings, they were also famous for singing the theme song and
"score" for I Married Joan. The Virtuoso recording won a Grammy
Award and the popular carol recording Joy to the World was a Gold Record
Album. The Chorale toured all over the world and included such outstanding
singers as Marilyn Horne, Marni Nixon, Claudine Carlson, Harve Presnell,
Salli Terri, on several recordings as well as researching for several
of the LP liner notes) Earl Wrightson and Carol Neblett
(?)
b. January 16th 1914.
1999: Frankie
Vaughan CBE, DL /Frank Abelson (71)
English singer, actor, pioneer in the pop culture born in Oxford, UK;
a singer of traditional pop music, he issued more than 80 recordings over
nearly five decades. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one
of his early hits. Frankie's
career began in the late 1940s in the theatre doing variety song and dance
acts. He was known as a fancy dresser, wearing top hat, bow tie, tails,
and cane. In the 1950s he worked for a few years with the Nat Temple band,
after which he pursued a solo xareer. In 1955, he recorded what was to
become his trademark song, "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl".
In early 1957 his cover of "The Green Door" reached No.1 in
the UK Singles Chart. The same year he was voted 'Showbusiness Personality
of the Year'. He went to the US in 1960 to make a movie with Marilyn Monroe,
Let's Make Love, and was an actor in several other movies, and in 1961
Frankie was on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance at the Prince
of Wales Theatre. He
was created an OBE in 1965, a CBE in 1996. Frank was a longtime member
of the Grand Order of Water Rats, he became King Rat in 1968, a feat he
followed up in 1998. He sang the traditional hymn, "Abide With Me",
at the 1973 FA Cup Final, won by Sunderland. Later
in life, he worked in some memorable stage musicals, most notably 42nd
Street. Also during the 1960s, Frankie became involved with youth social
problems in Easterhouse, a large housing estate in the outskirts of Glasgow
and was influential in attracting new resources and inward investment
to the area. (heart failure)
b. February 3rd 1928.
2000: Paula Yates (41) Welsh
television host, singer, music journalist and music presenter Colwyn Bay,
North Wales,; after an unsettled childhood, she became a fan of the Boomtown
Rats and their lead singer, Bob Geldof, with whom she became involved
and who fathered her first three daughters. She posed naked for Penthouse
in 1978, just before she became a music journalist, writing a column called
"Natural Blonde" in the Record Mirror. She first came to prominence
in the 1980s, as co-presenter with Jools Holland of the Channel 4 pop
music programme The Tube. She also appeared alongside friend Jennifer
Saunders in 1987 for a spoof 'mockumentary' on Bananarama and in
1982, she released a version of the Nancy Sinatra hit song "These
Boots Are Made for Walkin'". (found
dead at her home from an accidental heroin overdose; the coroner ruled
that it was not a suicide, but a result of "foolish and incautious"
behaviour) b.
April 24th 1959.
2006:
Alvin W. Casey (69)
American
guitarist; mainly noted for his work as a session musician, but also released
records and s