April 14, 1974 ~ Shawntae Harris, copmmonly known as rapper, actress Da Brat born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Emerged in the early 1990s as one of hip-hop's toughest females. Debuted with the million-seller Funkdafied album in 1994, making her the first female solo act to receive Platinum certification. Known for songs such as Funkdafied, I Think They Like Me and Loverboy. Has collaborated with Tionne T-Boz Watkins, Tyrese, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott, Total, Mariah Carey, Lil' Kim, Dru Hill, Jagged Edge, Omarion, and others
April 14, 1974 ~ Quentin Dupieux, commonly known as DJ, songwriter, filmmaker Mr Oizo, born in Paris, France ~ Has directed and written over a dozen films starting in the early 2000s. As a musician best known for his 1999 single Flat Beat. The song would be a used in a series of Levi's commercials and become a hit across Europe. It would be included on his full-length Analog Worms Attack debut album released later the same year. Dupieux has recorded about half a dozen albums since
April 14, 1973 ~ Opera, classical crossover tenor singer David Miller born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Best known as member of crossover quartet Il Divo, active since 2004 with record sales exceeding 30 million the group is credited with pioneering the genre of “popera” or operatic pop. The group has collaborated with a wide array of artists including Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion, Engelbert Humperdinck, Leona Lewis, Nicole Scherzinger, Toni Braxton, and others
April 14, 1972 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Andrea Martin, full name Andrea Monica Martin, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best remembered for penning a number of quintessential R&B hits since the 1990s, often with longtime collaborator Ivan Matias, such as I Love Me Some Him (Toni Braxton), Before You Walk Out Of My Life (Monica), Wish I Didn't Miss You (Angie Stone), Don't Let Go (Love) (En Vogue), You're The One (SWV), and Better In Time (Leona Lewis). Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Martin include Paloma Faith, Nelly, RBD, and Jennifer Hudson. Has also recorded as a singer herself though to significantly lesser chart succes. Her 1999 Share The Love single would be a club hit, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Dance charts ~ Martin passed away in 2021
April 14, 1969 ~ Martijn Lenoble, commonly known as bassist Martyn Lenoble, born in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands ~ Founding member of Porno For Pyros alongside Peter Distefano, Stephen Perkins and Perry Farrell. Has also worked with Thelonious Monster, the Too Free Stooges, Jane's Addiction, the Cult, David Gahan, Scott Weiland, Mark Lanegan, the Soulsavers, Daniel Lanois, Maria McKee, Sarah McLachlan, Layne Staley, Tom Morello, Josh Klinghoffer, Banyan, Keith Caputo, Wildlights, and others. Married to actress Christina Applegate with whom he has one daughter
April 14, 1968 ~ Christian rock singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Mark Stuart, full name Mark Alan Stuart, born in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known as lead singer for Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline from 1986 through 2007, present on some of the band's best known including the acclaimed albums Bloom, Worldwide and Until My Heart Caves In. Stuart has also served as producer for the likes of Jennifer Knapp, Fireflight, and Kids In The Way, as songwriter for TobyMac, Kutless, and MercyMe, and starred as Petrov in the rock opera Hero
April 14, 1967 ~ Drummer, percussionist, singer Barrett Martin born in Olympia, Washington, USA ~ Member of Skin Yard, present on the albums Inside The Eye and Start At The Top. Member of Screaming Trees, present on the acclaimed Sweet Oblivion album. Also noted for his work with Mad Season, Tuatara, and Walking Papers. Other notable credits include Seaweed, Luna, REM (Up), the Stone Temple Pilots, Mark Olson, the Twilight Singers, the Queens Of The Stone Age, Nando Reis, and CeDell Davis
April 14, 1967 ~ Pop drummer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer Frode Unneland born in Bergen, Norway ~ Key figure on the Bergen music scene since the late 1980s. Noted for his associations with Pompel & the Pilts, Unge Frustrerte Menn, Chocolate Overdose, Savoy, and Evig Din For Altid. Has also guested on recordings by Ephemera, A-ha (Minor Earth Major Sky), Sondre Lerche, Popium, and others
April 14, 1967 ~ Jazz trombonist Steve Davis born in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ~ Worked with Jackie McLean, Art Blakey, Chick Corea, Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, John Webber, Joe Farnsworth, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, Cecil Payne, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Eddie Henderson, Roy Hargrove, Avishai Cohen, Wynton Marsalis, Michael Weiss, Jimmy Greene, Steve Turre, and others
April 14, 1964 ~ Fiddler Stuart Duncan born in Quantico, Virginia, USA ~ PLays fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo. Member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band since 1985. In-demand session musician. Has worked with George Strait, Dolly Parton, Guy Clark, Reba McEntire, Barbra Streisand, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Diana Krall, Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, and others
April 14, 1962 ~ Guitarist, singer John Bell, full name John Farmer Bell, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Lead singer, rhythm guitarist for rock, blues rock, jam band Widespread Panic for well over three decades since its inception in the late 1980s. Influenced by Southern rock, blues rock, progressive rock, funk and hard rock the band has been critically compared to the Grateful Dead and Phish and are especially known for their energetic live act. Acclaimed albums include Space Wrangler, Light Fuse Get Away, and Live In The Classic City
April 14, 1960 ~ Hard rock, melodic rock singer Danny Bowes, full name Daniel John Bowes, born in West Ham, UK ~ Member of Nuthin' Fancy. Member of Terraplane. Best known as lead singer of rock band Thunder, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums starting with Backstreet Symphony in 1990. They are best known for songs such as Love Walked In, Low Life In High Places, and the UK top 20 hit A Better Man
April 14, 1954 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Pierce Pettis born in Fort Payne, Alabama, USA ~ Staff writer at Polygram Publishing. First gained attention in 1979 when Joan Baez recorded his Song At The End Of The Movie. Pettis would go on to release several albums as a singer, starting with 1984's Moments. Artists who have recorded his songs include Dar Williams, Garth Brooks (You Move Me), Sara Groves, Randy Stonehill, Pat Alger, and others
April 14, 1952 ~ Bassist, guitarist Kenny Aaronson born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Motown bassist James Jamerson. Honed his skills through the 1970s working with Dust, Stories, and extensively with Rick Derringer. Would go on to work with Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (Through The Fire), Brian Setzer, the Blue Öyster Cult, Billy Idol (Vital Idol), Joan Jett, Billy Squier, Graham Parker, Foghat, Tom Guerra, the Yardbirds, and others
April 14, 1951 ~ Cellist, conductor Julian Lloyd Webber born ~ Son of composer William Lloyd Webber, brother of musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Has worked with a wide variety of orchestras, conductors, instrumentalists, and pop and rock artists including Yehudi Menuhin, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Clifford Curzon, Murray Perahia, Stéphane Grappelli, Elton John, and Cleo Laine. Premiered the recordings of over four dozens works, including works for cello by composers such as Joaquín Rodrigo, James MacMillan, and Philip Glass
April 14, 1951 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Pyotr Mamonov, full name Pyotr Nikolayevich Mamonov, born in Moscow, Soviet Union' ~ Influenced by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Weather Report. One of Russia's most revered and eccentric figures, eventually achieving cult status. Frontman, founder of Zvuki Mu, active mostly from 1982 through 1990 and in various incarnations in later years. One of the few Russian musicians to achieve international recognition, mostly through his late-1980s association with Brian Eno. Has also ventured into acting in films as well as writing and producing a series of his own one-man theatrical performances ~ Mamonov passed away in 2021
April 14, 1949 ~ Drummer Dennis Bryon born in Neath, UK ~ Member of 1960s act Amen Corner. Best known for his association with the Bee Gees, backing the Gibb brothers from 1974 through 1979 including on the albums Main Course, Children Of The World and the soundtrack Saturday Night Fever. Co-produced Robin Gibb's How Old Are You album released in 1983
April 14, 1949 ~ Sonia Christina Shaw, commonly known as progressive rock, folk, acid folk singer Sonja Kristina, born in Brentwood, UK ~ Performed in the original London production of the rock musical Hair. Lead singer of 1970s progressive rock unit Curved Air, known for merging progressive rock, folk and fusion with classical influences and best known for the albums Air Conditioning, Second Album and Phantasmagoria. The single Back Street Luv would reach top 10 in the band's native UK
April 14, 1948 ~ Joseph Emmanuel Charlemagne, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Manno Charlemagne, born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti ~ Known for his politically themed folk chansons sung in French and Creole. Lived in exile twice, first during the 1980s and again from 1991 through 1994 during the country military junta rule. Charlemagne would serve as mayor of Port-au-Prince from the mid- to late 1990s ~ Charlemagne passed away in 2017
April 14, 1945 ~ Jazz drummer Eliot Zigmund born in New York, New York, USA ~ Revered session musician. Worked with Ron McClure, Steve Swallow, Art Lande, Mike Nock, Mel Martin, Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Bennie Wallace, Richard Beirach, Jim Hall, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Fred Hersch, Red Mitchell, Don Friedman, Michel Petrucciani, Gary Peacock, Carl Barry, Keith Greko, Eijo Nakayama, Stefan Karlsson, Neil Sedaka, Dionne Warwick, the Pointer Sisters, and others
April 14, 1945 ~ Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore born in Weston Super Mare, UK ~ Hugely influential on later guitarists including Janick Gers, Randy Rhoads, Lita Ford, Brian May, Yngwie Malmsteen. Co-founding member of Deep Purple. Credited with coming up with the band name inspired by the song Deep Purple by Peter Derose, a favorite of his grandmother's. Noted especially for his guitar play Highway Star, Lazy and specifically Child In Time, all considered among rock's greatest guitar solos. Co-founded Rainbow, initially merging baroque influences with classic hard-rock and eventually moving towards a more pop-rock oriented sound
April 14, 1943 ~ Pianist Nikolai Petrov, full name Nikolai Arnoldovich petrov, born in Moscow, Russia ~ Son of cellist Arnold Ferkelman. Classically trained from an early age. Internationally renowned pianist. Has worked with conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Kirill Kondrashin, Gennnady Rozhdestvensky, Yevgeny Svetlanov, and Yuri Temirkanov ~ Petrov passed away in 2011
April 14, 1942 ~ Pop singer Tony Burrows, full name Anthony Burrows, born in Exeter, UK ~ Was a member of or featured guest vocalist on several late 1960s, early 1970s one-hit wonder outfits including the Flower Pot Men (Let's Go To San Francisco), Edison Lighthouse (Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes), the White Plains (My Baby Loves Lovin'), the Pipkins (Gimme Dat Ding), First Class (Beach Baby), and the Brotherhood Of Men (United We Stand). Also recorded close to a dozen solo singles, his best-known being 1970's Melanie Makes Me Smile, as well as with the Kestrels, Elton John, Cliff Richard, James Last, and others
April 14, 1938 ~ Jazz saxophonist, flutist, singer Monty Waters born in Modesto, California, USA ~ Worked with BB King, Lightnin' Hopkins, Little Richard, James Brown, King Pleasure, Pharoah Sanders, Dewey Redman, Donald Garrett, Jon Hendricks, Chet Baker, Johnny Griffin, Embryo, Gotz Tangerding, Hannes Beckman, Titus Waldenfels, Billy Higgins, Joe Lee Wilson, Sam Rivers, Ronnie Boykins, and others ~ Waters passed away in 2008
April 14, 1933 ~ Electronic composer Morton Subotnick born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Robert Erickson. Has worked extensively with interactive electronics and multi-media. Perhaps best known for his 1967 composition Silver Apples Of The Moon. Co-founded the now famous California Institute of the Arts in 1969, serving as associate dean for the first four years and as head of the composition program thereafter
April 14, 1932 ~ Loretta Webb, commonly known as country, honky tonk singer, guitarist, songwriter Loretta Lynn, born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, USA ~ Known as “the Coal Miner's Daughter” has shaped 1960s and 1970s country and along with Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette served as a rolemodel for future generations of female country singers. Known for songs such as You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man, Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' With Lovin' On Your Mind, One's On The Way, Fist City and Coal Miner's Daughter ~ Webb passed away in 2022
April 14, 1929 ~ Inez McConico, commonly known as gospel singer, songwriter Inez Andrews, born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Caravans, lead vocals on songs such as Mary Don't You Weep, I'm Not Tired Yet, Make It In, He Won't Deny Me, and I'm Willing. As a solo artist best known for her 1972 crossover hit Lord Don't Move The Mountain ~ McConico passed away in 2012
April 14, 1925 ~ Eugene Ammons, commonly known as jazz saxophonist Gene Ammons, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons. Leader and sideman. Heavily influenced by R&B. Has worked with Billy Eckstine, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Sonny Stitt, Woody Herman, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, John Coltrane, Kenny Burrell, Mal Waldron, Art Farmer, Duke Jordan, Charles Mingus, Richard Groove Holmes, Jack McDuff, and others ~ Ammons passed away in 1974
April 14, 1920 ~ Jazz arranger Gil Fuller born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Active mostly in the 1930s and 1940s, Fuller wrote and arranged for bandleaders such as Les Hite, Floyd Ray, Jimmie Lunceford, Billy Eckstine, Tiny Bradshaw, Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Machito, Tito Puente, Tadd Dameron, Gil Evans, George Russell, Dizzy Gillespie, and others ~ Fuller passed away in 1994