April 13, 1985 ~ Jon Kevin Freeman Jr, commonly known as hip hop rapper, producer, songwriter Jon Connor, born ~ Has been releasing mixtapes since the mid-2000s. Best known for his 2013 full-length Unconscious State debut album. Has collaborated with the likes of Statik Selektah, Keke Palmer, Dr Dre, Chris Webby, and Locksmith
April 13, 1985 ~ Tyrone William Griffin Jr, commonly known as producer, rapper, singer, songwriter Ty Dolla $ign, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First gained attention as featured vocalist, producer and co-writer on YG's 2010 hit Toot It And Boot It. Released his full-length Free TC solo debut album in 2015. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Paranoid, Or Nah and Blasé. Has worked, in one capacity or another, with artists such as Young Jeezy, Wiz Khalifa, BoB, Trey Songz, E-40, Damian Marley, Lupe Fiasco, Fifth Harmony (Work From Home), Chris Brown, Omarion, Rihanna, and Jason Derülo
April 13, 1982 ~ Pop, rock singer Marcel Veenendaal born in Ede, the Netherlands ~ Best known as frontman, lead singer of Di-rect since 2009, replacing original member Tim Akkerman. Appears on hits such as The Times Are Changing, This Is Who We Are and The Chase, all of which reached top 30 in the Netherlands. Had previously gained attention as runner-up in the talent show Sterrenjacht aired by AVRO in 2004 and starred in Dutch theater productions of musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, The Wiz, Hair and Tommy
April 13, 1979 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Tony Lundon, full name Anthony William James Lundon, born in Galway, Ireland ~ Best known as member of Liberty X, a group formed through the 2001 talent contest Popstars. The group would score a string of UK hits, including the top 10 hits Thinking It Over, Just A Little, Got To Have Your Love, Holding On For You, Being Nobody featuring Richard X, Jumpin', Song 4 Lovers, A Night To Remember, before disbanding in 2006
April 13, 1972 ~ Nu metal, alternative metal, post-grunge, alternative rock, country rock, alternative country singer, guitarist Aaron Lewis born in Turland, Vermont, USA ~ Best known as lead singer, rhythm guitarist, co-founding member of nu metal band Staind, acclaimed for their 2011 eponymous Staind. Has also recorded as a solo artist, focusing on country music, starting with the 2011 Town Line EP featuring guests such as George Jones, Charlie Daniels, and Chris Young. Guested on Limp Bizkit's No Sex of their 1999 Significant Other album. Has also worked with Linkin Park, Sevendust, Cold, and Fred Durst
April 13, 1967 ~ Olga Teresa Tañón Ortiz, commonly known as singer Olga Tañón, born ~ Rose to fame as a member of merengue group Chantelle, present on their biggest hit Aunque Tu No Quieras. Has recorded about a dozen solo albums since, starting with Sola. Well known for songs such as Presencie Tu Amor, Entre La Noche Y El Dia, Basta Ya, Me Subas Me Bajas, Como Olcidar, and Asi Es La Vida. Also notably known for her 2006 collaborative recording Nuestro Himo with Pitbull, Carlos Ponce and Wyclef Jean, a Spanish translation of the United States national anthem The Star-Spangled Banner in support of Latin American immigrants
April 13, 1966 ~ Rock, roots rock, blues rock guitarist, slide guitarist Marc Ford born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Lead guitarist of the Black Crowes from 1992 through 1996, first appearing on the band's sophomore Southern Harmony & The Musical Companion album. Ford has also worked with Bunring Tree, Magpie Salute, Ben Harper, Izzy Stradlin, and Gov't Mule
April 13, 1966 ~ Jazz pianist, guitarist, saxophonist, bassist Miles Black born in Port Alberni, Canada ~ Has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, starting with Purple Phase released in 1991. Member of Skywalk and of Altered Laws. Also closely associated with singer Glenda Rae, with whom he reportedly has co-written over an estimated 300 songs. Other notable associations include Robin Shier, John Singer (Global Motion), Keith Copeland, Martha Lorin (Come Walk With Me), and Chris Gestrin
April 13, 1962 ~ Funk rock, punk rock, alternative rock guitarist, sitarist, singer Hillel Slovak born in Haifa, Israel ~ Co-founding member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, departing the band before the recording of their debut album, rejoining for the next two albums Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. Following Slovak's overdose death at age 26 the band have written several songs as tributes to Slovak, including Knock Me Down, My Lovely Man, and Feasting On The Flowers ~ Slovak passed away in 1988
April 13, 1961 ~ Voice actress, singer Liz Callaway born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for providing the singing voices for female characters in a number of animated feature films including Anastasia, Swan Princess, Beauty & The Beast, Pocahontas and perhaps most notably providing the singing voice of Jasmine in the Aladdin sequels The Return Of Jaffar and Aladdin And The King Of Thieves
April 13, 1958 ~ Jazz pianist David Ornette Cherry born ~ Son of revered jazz trumpeter, cornetist Don Cherry. Named after iconic saxophonist Ornette Coleman. Starting in the late-1990s, Cherry has recorded about a dozen albums drawing from world music and jazz, starting in the late-1990s. Especially acclaimed for the albums Organic Groove and Cherry Extract, released respectively in 2000 and 2007 ~ Cherry passed away in 2022
April 13, 1956 ~ Rock, progressive rock guitarist, singer, author Davor Slamnig born in Zagreb, Croatia ~ Best known as a member of cult band Buldozer, present on the band's 1980 Izlog Jeftinih Slatkisa album. Co-wrote songs such as Karlo, Slovinjak Punk, and Zene I Muskarci. Released his Mira Furlan I Orkestar Davora Slamniga solo debut album in 1982. Also well known as an author, noted for his Topli Zrak novel published in 2002
April 13, 1955 ~ Bassist, songwriter Louis Johnson born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of the Brothers Johnson, known for 1970s hits such as I'll Be Good To You, Strawberry Letter 23 and Stomp. In-demand session musician, notably present on songs such as Michael Jackson's Don't Stop Till You Get Enough and Billie Jean, Michael McDonald's I Keep Forgetting Every Time You're Near, and George Benson's Give Me The Night. Also appeared on albums by Billy Preston, Bobby Womack, Grover Washington Jr (Feels So Good), Bill Withers, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, the Pointer Sisters, the Crusaders, Patti Austin (Every Home Should Have One), the Passage, Lee Ritenour, Donna Summer, James Ingram, Peabo Bryson, the Jacksons (Victory), Aretha Franklin (Who's Zoomin' Who), the Isley Brothers, George Duke, and Brian McKnight ~ Johnson passed away in 2015
April 13, 1955 ~ Christian singer, guitarist, pianist Steve Camp born in Wheaton, USA ~ Revered Christian singer with about two dozen albums to his name, starting with Sayin' It With Love released in 1978. Duetted with Michele Pillar on Love's Not A Feeling, and with BeBe Winans on Do You Feel Their Pain. Also frequently collaborated with Rob Frazier, Scott Wesley Brown, and with keyboardist Michael Omartian
April 13, 1953 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion guitarist, composer Grant Geismann born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Played guitar on the theme of comedy drama TV series Monk. Has worked with Gerald Wilson, Louie Bellson, Chuck Mangione, Pete Christlieb, Sheila E, Miki Howard, Quincy Jones, Diane Schuur, Van Dyke Parks, David Benoit, Ringo Starr, Robbie Williams, Liza Minnelli, and others
April 13, 1953 ~ Drummer Tom Olstad born in Gjøvik, Norway ~ Worked with Harald Gunhus, Guttorm Guttormsen, Atle Hammer, Carl Magnus Neumann, Odd Riisnæs, Christian Reim, Karin Krog, Brinck Johnson, Merethe Mikkelsen, Sverre Kjelsberg, Magni Wentzel, Kjell Karlsen, Paul Weeden, Art van Damme, Benny Bailey, Art Farmer, Kenny Drew, James Moody, Eddie Harris, and others
April 13, 1952 ~ Latin jazz, jazz singer, guitarist Rosa Passos born in Salvador, Brazil ~ Debuted in 1979 with the Recriação album and has recorded to critical acclaim and international succes since with some two dozen albums to her name. The 2004 re-release of her sophomore Amorosa album would earn her attention in America. Has worked with Lula Galvao, Ron Carter, Paquito d'Rivera, and others
April 13, 1951 ~ R&B, soul singer Peabo Bryson born in Greenville, South Carolina, USA ~ Especially known for a number of romantic duets with female singers, notably Tonight I Celebrate My Love with Roberta Flack. Other duet partners included Natalie Cole, Minnie Riperton, Melissa Manchester, Chaka Khan, and Regina Belle. As a solo artist, Bryson is known for songs such as Feel The Fire, I'm So Into You and perhaps his best known If Ever You're In My Arms Again, the latter a 1984 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit
April 13, 1947 ~ Athanasios Mikroutsikos, commonly known as entekhno pianist Thanos Mikroutsikos, born in Patra, Greece ~ Considered one of the most important contemporary Greek composers. Known for his left-leaning politics and activism, persecuted by the Greek military junta, serving as politician including as Deputy Minister of Culture after the restoration of democracy. As a recording artist released his Politika Tragoudia debut album in 1975. Would continue to record to critical acclaim and become an in-demand composer, his songs recorded by the likes of Maria Dimitriadi, Haris Alexiou, Manolis Mitsias, Dimitris Mitropanos, George Dalaras, and Vasilis Papakonstantinou ~ Mikroutsikos passed away in 2019
April 13, 1946 ~ R&B, soul singer Al Green born in Forrest City, Kansas, USA ~ Influenced by Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Mahalia Jackson and Elvis Presley. Mentored and guided by Willie Mitchell. Became one of the leading figures of early-1970s soul and arguably the biggest star on Mitchell's Hi-Records label scoring hits such as Tired Of Being Alone, Call Me (Come Back Home) and Let's Stay Together. Like many before him, rooted in the Church, Green struggled between the sacred and the sinful. By the end of the decade sales dropped, he would pursue a career as minister, leave Hi-Records and turn exclusively to gospel music for about a decade. He returned to secular music, and the charts, in the late-1980s, notably a duet with Annie Lennox, Put A Little Love In Your Heart. Green would continue to collaborate with a wide variety of stars including Lyle Lovett, Queen Latifah, Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend
April 13, 1946 ~ Rock, garage rock, proto-punk singer, guitarist Roy Loney born ~ Influential on punk and power-pop. Original lead singer of the Flamin' Groovies, remaining with the band from 1965 through 1971. Present on the band's first three critically acclaimed albums, namely Supersnazz, Flamingo and Teenage Head ~ Loney passed away in 2019
April 13, 1945 ~ Singer, guitarist, sitarist, flutist, saxophonist, songwriter Lowell George, full name Lowell Thomas George, born in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Active since the mid-1960s. Member of the Factory, known for their Smile Let Your Life Begin single. Backed Frank Zappa as member of the Mothers Of Invention. Best known for co-founding and fronting Little Feat, acclaimed for a string of 1970s albums including Little Feat, Sailin' Shoes, and Dixie Chicken ~ George passed away in 1979
April 13, 1944 ~ Bassist, guitarist, keyboardist Brian Pendleton born in Wolverhampton, UK ~ Co-founding member of the Pretty Things, remaining with the band through 1966. Present on the band's first two album's, The Pretty Things and its follow-up Get The Picture. Noted for his slide guitar playing and Rosalyn, the band's 1964 debut single ~ Pendleton passed away in 2001
April 13, 1944 ~ John William Casady, commonly known as bassist Jack Casady, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Member of the Jefferson Airplane from shortly after its inception in 1965 through 1972. Present on the band's best known including the era-defining Somebody To Love and White Rabbit of the seminal 1967 Surrealistic Pillow album. Co-founded Hot Tuna with Airplane bandmate Jorma Kaukonen in 1969, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums since including the acclaimed Burgers released in 1972. Regarded as one of the finest bassists to emerge from the 1960s psychedelic movemement, Casady has also appeared on albums by Country Joe & the Fish, Papa John Creach, SVT, the KBC Band, Warren Zevon (Transverse City), and Roky Erickson. Casady released his Dream Factor solo debut album in 2003
April 13, 1943 ~ Producer, band manager Guy Stevens born in East Dulwich, UK ~ Perhaps best remembered for producing London Calling, the third studio album by the Clash. The album, released in 1979, would reach top 10 in the band's native UK, and was the band's first to crack the top 30 on the American Billboard Hot 200 album chart. Associated with several labels over the course of his career, notably Sue Records and Island Records, other acts produced by Stevens include Alex Harvey, Larry Williams, Lee Dorsey, and Hapshash & the Coloured Coat, with Stevens also serving as the latter's manager. Stevens is also remembered for coming up with the band names for Procol Harum and Mott The Hoople ~ Stevens passed away in 1981
April 13, 1942 ~ Producer, bassist, guitarist Alvin Ranglin born in May Pen, Jamaica ~ Member of the Maytones, including on the 1969 hit Loving Reggae. Founder of the GG Records label and member of house band the GG All-Stars, known for the hit Man From Carolina. Has also worked with artists such as Eric Donaldson, Max Romeo, the Ethiopians, U-Roy, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, and Barrington Levy
April 13, 1942 ~ Composer, conductor Bill Conti, full name William Conti, born in Providence, Rhode Island, USA ~ Best known for his film and TV scores including Rocky and some of its sequels, Karate Kid and all of its sequals, the Bond film For Your Eyes Only, the soap opera Dynasty, and the 1983 feature film The Right Stuff, the latter earning him an Academy Award for Best Original Score
April 13, 1942 ~ Skiffle, rock & roll pianist John Lowe, full name John Charles Duff Lowe, born in West Derby, UK ~ By invite of Paul McCartney, Lowe played with the Quarrymen from 1958 through 1960, a band that would evolve into the Beatles. Lowe, known to friends as “Duff”, was present on the recordings of That'll Be The Day and In Spite Of All The Danger, for which he retained ownership. Lowe sold the songs to McCartney in 1981, the two tracks would be included on the Beatles Anthology Vol.1 compilation album released in 1995 ~ Lowe passed away in 2024
April 13, 1942 ~ Singer, lutenist, guitarist Martin Best born ~ Known for his renditions of Renaissance music, minstrel songs and French troubadour songs, often in relation to the works of writer William Shakespeare. Closely associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company, serving with the company as actor, singer, composer for three decades starting in the mid-1960s
April 13, 1942 ~ Isham Russell Jones II, commonly known as jazz drummer Rusty Jones, born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA ~ Backed Judy Roberts during the late-1960s. Subsequently a member of George Shearing's trio for most of the 1970s, including on the albums As Requested, The Way We Are, and Continental Experience. Through his association with Shearing, Jones has also regularly worked with Stéphane Grappelli. Other notable credits include albums by Harvey Mandel, Frank Portolese, Ron Surace (The New Cool), Marc Pompe, Scott Hollman, Frank Catalano (Cut It Out), Eddie Picard, and Patrick Noland ~ Jones passed away in 2015
April 13, 1941 ~ Soprano Margaret Price, full name Margaret Berenice Price, born in Blackwood, UK ~ First gained attention in the early-1960s as a member of the Ambrosian Singers, remaining only briefly with the ensemble. Would go on to work with the Royal Opera House, initially as an understudy yet rising to fame overnight filling in for Teresa Berganza in the role of Cherubino in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro. Price has also notably worked with the English Opera Group, the Cologne Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera ~ Price passed away in 2011
April 13, 1940 ~ Harmonica player Lester Chambers born ~ Member of psychedelic soul band the Chamber Brothers, known for incorporating elements of traditional gospel and blues, psychedelica and rock into soul. The band, which also includes his siblings bassist George Chambers and guitarist Joe Chambers, has recorded half a dozen albums and is best known for their 1968 eleven-minute single Time Has Come Today, which reached No.11 Billboard Hot 100
April 13, 1940 ~ Jazz keyboardist Neal Creque, full name Earl Neal Creque, born in St Thomas, Virgin Islands ~ Wrote and played on Grant Green's Windjammer, included on Green's 1970 Green Is Beautiful album. Co-wrote Sofrito, recorded by Mongo Santamaria in 1976. Creque recorded three albums as a leader, starting with Creque in 1972. An in-demand session pianist and organist, Creque has appeared on albums by Pucho & his Latin Soul Brothers, Ramsey Lewis, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Bernard Pretty Purdie, Harold Ousley, Leon Thomas (Blues And The Soulful Truth), Johnny Lytle, Charles Earland, and Ronnie Earl. Creque's daughter is singer Nina Creque of the R&B group 1 Of The Girls ~ Creque passed away in 2000
April 13, 1938 ~ Edwin Marshall, commonly known as jazz drummer Eddie Marshall, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Influenced by Max Roach and Art Blakey. During the 1960s, Marshall backed artist such as Charlie Mariano, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Stan Getz, and Sam Rivers. Toured with Dionne Warwick. Member of 1960s fusion outfit the Fourth Way, 1970s unit Almanac, and of 1980s group Bebop & Beyond, the latter known for a string of tribute albums to the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. Marshall has also appeared on albums by Smiley Winters, John Klemmer, the Pointer Sisters (Pointer Sisters), Red Garland, Jon Hendricks, Art Pepper, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Harris (Tale Of Two Cities), Archie Shepp, and Freddie Hubbard, and taught at the San Francisco School of the Arts, San Francisco. Marshall recorded two albums as a leader, Dance Of The Sun released in 1977, and Holy Mischief released in 1999 ~ Marshall passed away in 2011
April 13, 1938 ~ Composer, pianist Frederic Rzewski, full name Frederic Anthony Rzewski, born in Westfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Considered one of the most admired composers of his day, best known for the minimalist Coming Together and The People United Will Never Be Defeated, the latter regarded as a modern classic ~ Rzewski passed away in 2021
April 13, 1936 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Stan Robinson born ~ Praised for his full-toned delivery, agile technique and harmonic detail. Influenced by Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson. First gained attention in the early-1960s playing at the famed Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London, often in a quartet which included a then-unknown Ginger Baker of later Cream fame. Closely associated with Tubby Hayes, who has been cited as saying Robinson was “among the most promising British tenor saxophonists of the day”, the pair going on to work in a variety of settings. Robinson would also work with the Jazzmakers, Phil Seamen, Long John Baldry, Humphrey Lyttelton, Eric Burdon, Don Rendell, Maynard Ferguson, and Charlie Watts, as well as tour with visiting American jazz and R&B acts including King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, and Tony Bennett ~ Robinson passed away in 2017
April 13, 1932 ~ Yosef Banai, commonly known as singer, actor, dramatist Yossi Banai, born in Tel Aviv, Israel ~ Best known as an actor, working with most of the active theater companies in Israel and particalurly associated with playwright Nisim Aloni, starring in numerous of the latter's plays. As a singer known for his smoky voice, and as a fine interpreter of usually translated works of Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens. Banai's son is Yuval Banai, lead singer of influential pop rock band Mashina ~ Banai passed away in 2006
April 13, 1921 ~ Jazz, contradance, danzón bandleader, pianist Frank Emilio Flynn, full name Francisco Emilio Flynn Rodriguez, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Considered a pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz, active since the 1940s in a number of forms of Cuban music including danzas, danzones, filin, and descarga. Founder and director of a number of seminal ensembles including Loquibamba, Los Modernistas, and the Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna, the latter later evolving into Los Amigos ~ Flynn passed away in 2001
April 13, 1920 ~ Jazz clarinetist, composer John LaPorta, full name John Daniel Laporta, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Classically trained, LaPorta is known for fusing jazz with classical music. One-time classmate of Buddy DeFranco. Played with Charlie Ventura and Bill Harris while still in his teens. LaPorta has recorded close to a dozen albums since the mid-1950s, and is respected in both the classical world for his collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Leopold Stokowski, and Igor Stravinsky, and in jazz circles for his collaborations with Woody Herman, Kenny Clarke, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, and Lester Young ~ LaPorta passed away in 2004
April 13, 1920 ~ Singer Ken Nordine born in Cherokee, Iowa, USA ~ Best known as narrator and voice-over artist featured in commercials and movie trailers. To music audiences known for his association with the beat and jazz-and-poetry movements. Notably present as the voice-over on Billy Vaughn's Shifting Whispering Sands, a surprise Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit in 1962 ~ Nordine passed away in 2019
April 13, 1913 ~ Western swing, country fiddler, singer Wade Ray, full name Lyman Wade Ray, born in Griffin, Illinois, USA ~ Early Western swing fiddler, singer, bandleader noted for including sidemen such as Kenneth Carllile and Curly Chalker early on in their careers. First to record Let Me Go Devil, penned by Jenny Lou Carson inspired by Hank Williams' battle with alcoholism and premature death. It would be instantly covered, using the original title, by Georgie Shaw, Johnny Bond and by Tex Ritter. It would become a jazz, pop standard after being rewritten to Let Me Go Lover at the insistence of producer Mitch Mitchell who felt the original “devil” would be too depressing for pop audiences ~ Ray passed away in 1998
April 13, 1883 ~ Wilhelm Levkowitz, commonly known as vaudeville singer Willie Howard, born in Neustadt, Germany ~ Formed the sibling duo the Howard Brothers with his younger brother Eugene Howard. The duo were among the earliest openly Jewish performers and known for their burlesque and vaudeville performances and appeared in several Broadway revues, most notably The Passing Show series starting in the early-1910s and the George Gershwin-penned Girl Crazy musical in 1930 ~ Levkowitz passed away in 1949