August 30, 2021 ~ Gospel singer, bass guitarist Lee Williams passed away ~ Lead singer of vocal quartet Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC's, originally started as the Spiritual QC's. After Willie Ligon's departure from the group Williams took over lead duties and the band was renamed to include his name. Broke through with the hit I've Learned To Lean of their 1990 Jesus Is Alive And Well debut album. The group would go on to become one of the most beloved contemporary gospel quartets, their albums regularly reaching the higher echelons of the Christian charts ~ Williams was born in 1946
August 30, 2021 ~ Andrea Cosima Carle, commonly known as pop singer Maggie Mae, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Debuted in 1974 with the single Ich Hab' Spass Am Leben. Also well-known for her cover of Millie Small's My Boy Lollypop released the following year. Dubbed “the Mad Hen” for her young age and funky appearance. Retired from music by the 1980s ~ Carle was born in 1960
August 30, 2016 ~ Singer Eleanor Barooshian, also known as Chelsea Lee, passed away ~ Member of 1960s group the Cake. Toured with Dr John. Member of Ginger Baker's Air Force. Collaborated with Tetsu Yamauchi. The Kevin Ayers-song Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her) of the 1970 LP Joy Of A Toy is about Barooshian ~ Barooshian was born in 1950
August 30, 2016 ~ Hubert Dwane Hester, commonly known as bluegrass, country fiddler Hoot Hester passed away ~ Member of the Bluegrass Alliance. Co-founding member of Western swing outfit the Time Jumpers. Longtime member of Grand Ole Opry staff band. In-demand backing musician for acts such as Alabama, Hank Williams Jr, Conway Twitty, Randy Travis, Vern Gosdin, Earl Scruggs, and others. Outside country circles has also worked with Ray Charles and with the Manhattan Transfer ~ Hester was born in 1951
August 30, 2015 ~ Jazz, hard bop bassist, composer Hugo Rasmussen passed away in Frederiksberg, Denmark ~ Best known for his 1978 album Sweets To The Sweet. Worked with Teddy Wilson, Ralph Sutton, Horace Parlan, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Oliver Nelson, Tom Waits, Al Grey, Wild Bill Davison, Harry Sweets Edison, Doug Raney, Ole Kock Hansen, Svend Asmussen, Jesper Thilo, Norbert Susemihl, Jakob Dinesen, Kasper Trandberg, Andrew Hyhne, Heine Hansen, Kresten Osgood, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and others ~ Rasmussen was born in 1941
August 30, 2009 ~ Åse Carola Helmersen, commonly known as pop, schlager singer Åse Wentzel, passed away ~ Married to violinist Odd Wentzel-Larsen. Their daughter is singer, guitarist Magni Wentzel. Wentzel enjoyed popularity during the 1950s and 1960s with songs such as Domino, Du Du Du, Vaya Con Dios with Thor Raymond and Midnattstango with Jan Høiland, the latter topping the charts in Norway in 1963 ~ Wentzel was born in 1924
August 30, 2009 ~ Marie Roach, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer Marie Knight born ~ Best known for her association with Sister Rosetta Tharpe touring with Tharpe throughout the 1940s. Notably present on the response and call duet Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In The Sky) recorded in 1947 ~ Roach was born ca.1920
August 30, 1991 ~ Constantina Allen, commonly known as singer Connie Allen, passed away ~ Best known for her 1951 recording Rocket '69, backed by Todd Rhodes and his Orchestra. Other well-known songs include Your Daddy's Doggin' Around, Sugar In My Bowl and You'll Never Change Me ~ Allen was born in 1926
August 30, 1991 ~ Erick Orrosquieta, commonly known as producer, DJ Deorro, born in West Covino, California, USA ~ Best known for his 2015 single Five More Hours, a top 20 hit in several countries including the UK. Has collaborated with Elvis Crespo, Steve Aoki, Diplo, Danny Avila, Hardwell, and others. Has remixed tracks by Laidback Luke, Gareth Emery, Armin Van Buuren
August 30, 1991 ~ Singer Farid Mammadov born in Baku, Azerbaijan ~ Represented Azerbaijan in 2013 edition of Eurovision Songfestival with the song Hold Me. The song, written by Dimitris Kontopoulos, Ralph Charlie and Ace Of Base producer John Ballard, would rank 2nd place, losing to Denmark's Only Teardrops performed by Emmelie de Forest
August 30, 1989 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Bebe Rexha born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Started as a songwriter, including for Shinee, Selena Gomez, Eminem (The Monster), Nick Jonas. Debuted as a solo artist with the EP I Don't Wanna Grow Up in 2015, spawning the modest hits I Can't Stop Drinking About You and I'm Gonna Show You. Best known for several successful collaborative singles such as 2015's Me Myself & I featuring G-Eazy, 2016's In The Name Of Love with Martin Garrix, and 2017's Meant To Be with Florida Georgia Line. Also worked with Nicki Minaj, Louis Tomlinson, the Black Cards, Cardi B, the Chainsmokers, David Guetta, and others
August 30, 1988 ~ Jazz drummer James Black, full name James Norbert Black, passed away ~ Active since late 1950s, started out in New Orleans R&B ensembles to eventualy gravitate towards jazz. Worked with artists such as Nat Perrilliat, Roy Montrell, Ellis Marsalis Jr (notably writing Monkey Puzzle and Dee Wee), Nat Adderley, Cannonball Adderley, Joe Jones, Horace Silver, Lionel Hampton, Yusef Lateef, Freddie Hubbard, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Charles Neville, Earl Tubinto, the Dukes Of Dixieland, Eddie Bo, Cassandra Wilson, Frank Tapani, Wynton Marsalis, Germaine Bazzle, Finger Eleven, and others ~ Black was born in 1940
August 30, 1988 ~ Percussionist, singer Papa Dee Allen passed away ~ Co-founding member of War, remaining with the band until his death in 1988, known for songs such as Spill The Wine, The World Is A Ghetto, The Cisco Kid, Low Rider and LA Sunshine ~ Allen was born in 1931
August 30, 1986 ~ Synthpop, electropop, new wave singer, songwriter Theo Hutchcraft, full name Theo David Hutchraft, born in Richmond, UK ~ Half of Hurts, the other hafl being Adam Anderson.
August 30, 1985 ~ Alternative rock, electronic, j-pop singer, guitarist, drummer, bassist, keyboardist Joe Inoue born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Debuted in 2007 with the In A Way EP, following up with the full-length Me Me Me album in 2009. Generally plays all instruments on his recordings. Best known for the singles Closer and Kaze No Gotoku
August 30, 1985 ~ Joseph Rudolph Jones, commonly known as jazz drummer Philly Joe Jones passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leadiing figure in hard bop, bebop, cool jazz, modal jazz. Leader and sideman. House drummer at Café Society. Worked with Tadd Dameron, Miles Davis, Elmo Hope, Bill Evans, Hank Mobley, Archie Shepp, Mal Waldron, Harold McNair, Chris Pyne, Kenny Wheeler, Chet Baker, Evans Bradshaw, Clifford Brown, Joe Castro, Serge Chaloff, Sonny Clark, John Coltrane, Kenny Drew, Red Garland, Bennie Green, Ernie Henry, Freddie Hubbard, Abbey Lincoln, JR Monterose, Phineas Newborn Jr, Art Pepper, Bud Powell, Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods, and others ~ Jones was born in 1923
August 30, 1984 ~ Christian hip-hop, contemporay R&B singer, songwriter Chris Cobbins, full name Christopher Lee Cobbins, born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Best known for his 2013 Hello World debut album, which reached top 40 on the Billboard Gospel album charts
August 30, 1984 ~ Rock, punk rock drummer David Hidalgo Jr born ~ Son of Los Lobos-singer David Hidalgo. Has worked with Social Distortion, Brody Dalle, Chuck Ragan, Dave Hause, Greg Graffin, the Drips, Suicidal Tendencies and with the Bullet Treatment
August 30, 1982 ~ Guitarist, banjoist, singer Dom Flemons born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops from their inception in 2005 to 2013. Released his solo debut, Dance Tunes Ballads & Blues, in 2007. Draws from old-time music, piedmont blues, neotraditionalist country and just about every roots genre available. Also worked with Mike Seeger, Joe Thompson, Martin Simpson, Boo Hanks, Taj Mahal, the Old Crow Medicine Show, Guy Davis, the Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, and others
August 30, 1982 ~ Anatle Dominique, commonly known as jazz trumpeter Natty Dominique, passed away ~ Best known for his work with Johnny Dodds ~ Dominique was born in 1896
August 30, 1974 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Rich Cronin born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member, lead singer, main songwriter for hip-hop group LFO (Lyte Funky Ones). Released a solo debut album, Billion Dollar Sound, in 2008 ~ Cronin passed away in 2010
August 30, 1973 ~ Jermaine N Coleman, commonly known as rapper Maino, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his 2009 single All The Above featuring T-Pain. Has also collaborated with Swizz Beatz, Roscoe Dash, Waka Flocka Flame, Meek Mill, Macy Gray, and others
August 30, 1963 ~ Arranger Axel Stordahl passed away in Encino, California, USA ~ Credited with helping bring pop into the modern age. Perhaps best known for his work with Frank Sinatra in the 1940s. Co-wrote Day By Day, recorded by Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Les Brown, and others. Has also worked with Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Eddie Fisher, Dinah Shore, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, and others ~ Stordahl was born in 1913
August 30, 1963 ~ Jazz, pop guitarist, songwriter Dewa Budjana born in Waikabubak, Indonesia ~ Co-founded pop, rock outfit Gigi with Armand Maulana. Regarded as one of Indonesia's top guitarists, fusing jazz, rock and traditional Balinese influences. Beside collaborations with a host of Indonesian artists Budjana has also played with international stars including Vinnie Colaiuta, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, Peter Erskine, Antonio Sánchez, Joe Locke, Gary Husband, Jack DeJohnette, Tony Levin, Bob Mintzer, Asia guitarist Guthrie Govan, and others
August 30, 1962 ~ Francis Healy, commonly known as hard rock, heavy metal bassist, guitarist Frank Healy, born in Handsworth, UK ~ Briefly a member of Napalm Death in the mid-1980s. Best known as bassist for Benediction from 1991 through 2017. Has also worked with Cerebral Fix, Sacrilege and Memoriam
August 30, 1961 ~ Pop singer, actress, model Denise Gyngell born in Porth, UK ~ Member of early 1980s pop outfit Tight Fit, present on the UK top 10 hits The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Fantasy Island. Gyngell would later marry producer Pete Waterman of Stock-Aitken-Waterman fame. The couple would remain married from 1991 through 1999 and have two children
August 30, 1957 ~ Jazz, R&B saxophonist Gerald Albright born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Worked with Anita Baker, Ray Parker Jr, Olivia Newton-John, the Temptations, Patrice Rushen, Alphonse Mouzon, Phil Collins, Johnny Hallyday, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, and others
August 30, 1957 ~ Salsa, merengue singer Raulín Rosendo born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ~ Played professionally at age 12 as member of merengue group El Chivo y Su Banda. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Salsa Solemente Salsa in 1991
August 30, 1956 ~ Worldbeat, Afro-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Ismaël Lô born in Dogondoutchi, Niger ~ Dubbed “the Bob Dylan of Africa”. Member of Super Diamono, venturing out on his own by the mid-1980s. Internationally best known for his eponymous 1990 Ismaël Lô album, which included the hit single Tajabone. Other well-known songs include the Marianne Faithfull-duet Without Blame and Jammu Africa, the latter being used as the opening song of the 2007 Shake Hands With The Devil film about the Rwandan genocide
August 30, 1956 ~ Jazz guitarist Rodney Jones born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Played with Ruth Brown, Kenny Burrell, Ann Hampton Callaway, Dizzy Gillespie, Lena Horne, Jimmy McGriff, Maceo Parker, Houston Person, Hilton Ruiz, Chico Hamilton, Victor Bailey, Vincent Herring, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Larry Coryell, Mark Sherman, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Gloria Lynne, Donald Harrison, Regina Carter, Eliane Elias, Ernestine Anderson, Irene Reid, Dr Lonnie Smith, Carl Allen, James Carter, Reuben Wilson, Noah Creshevsky, Jennifer Holliday, Christian McBride, and others
August 30, 1955 ~ Avant-garde jazz pianist Anthony Coleman born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his association with John Zorn, including on acclaimed albums such as Kristallnacht and Spillane. Has also worked with Elliott Sharp, Guy Klucevsek, David Krakauer, Marc Ribot, Roy Nathanson, and others
August 30, 1952 ~ Rock, country drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter, producer, artist manager Graham Bidstrup, full name Graham Leslie Bidstrup, born in Adelaide, Australia ~ As a musician first gained serious attention as member of the Angels from 1976 through 1981, present on the band's best-selling albums and co-wroting, co-producing the band's No Secrets hit with singer Doc Neeson. Has also worked, in one capacity or another, with the Australian Crawl, the Stetsons, the Party Boys, Gana Gajang, the Riptides, Richard Clapton, Broderick Smith, James Blundell, and others
August 30, 1952 ~ Composer Simon Bainbridge born in London, UK ~ As a composer known for intricate and sensuous textures, drawing from idioms as diverse as minimalism and be-bop. Well-known works include 1983's Concerto In Moto Perpetuo and the 1994 Miles Davis-tribute For Miles. Head of composition at the Royal Academy Of Music in London from 1999 through 2007, the UK's oldest and perhaps most renowned conservatory. Married to soprano, vocal coach Lynda Richardson ~ Bainbridge passed away in 2021
August 30, 1951 ~ Rosemary Brown, commonly known as Celtic, folk-pop singer Dana, born in Islington, UK ~ Won the 1970 Eurovision Songfestival with All Kinds Of Everythin'
August 30, 1949 ~ Country singer Hank Williams records I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry at Herzog Studio, Cincinnati, Ohio ~ Lyrics reportedly by Paul Gilley, set to music by Williams. Backed by members of the Pleasant Valley Boys. Would become one of Hank's best-known songs. Released early November as the B-side to My Bucket's Got A Hole In It
August 30, 1949 ~ Peter Alexander Maffay, commonly known as singer, songwriter Peter Maffay, born in Brasov, Romania ~ Rose to fame with his debut single, Du, in 1970. Also known for two million-selling albums, 1979's Steppenwolf and 1980's Revanche. Sold a total of over 40 million records in Germany, making him one of Germany's all-time best-selling artists
August 30, 1948 ~ Folk rock, rock & roll singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Yosui Inoue born in Tagawa, Japan ~ Active since the late 1960s. Drew comparisons to Paul McCartney and Roy Orbison. Best known for his 1973 Kori No Sekai album, the first Japanese album to sell over a million copies in Japan.
August 30, 1944 ~ Multi-instrumentalist John Surman born in Tavistock, UK ~ Key figure on UK jazz scene. Worked with Dowland Project and with SOS
August 30, 1941 ~ Singer Joe Verscharen born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Skyliners, known for songs such as This I Swear, Pennies From Heaven, It Happened Today, Close Your Eyes, Comes Love and their best known Since I Don't Have You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 1958 ~ Verscharen passed away in 2007
August 30, 1941 ~ Guitarist, singer John McNally born in Kirkdale, UK ~ Co-founding member of the Searchers, instrumental in creating the Mersey sound and known for hits such as Sweets For My Sweet, Sugar And Spice and Hippy Hippy Shake
August 30, 1939 ~ John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, commonly known as radio DJ, producer, journalist John Peel, born in Heswall, UK ~ Best known as iconic BBC radio DJ. Also worked as pop, rock journalist, producer and occasionally as musician, including with for instance the Third Ear Band ~ Ravenscroft passed away in 2004
August 30, 1938 ~ Ragtime, march, waltz pianist, organist, bandleader, composer, arranger James Scott, full name James Sylvester Scott, passed away in Kansas City, Kansas, USA ~ Along with Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb regarded as one of the most important composers of ragtime. Known for songs such as Frog Legs Rag, Grace & Beauty, Sunburst Rag, Ragtime Oriole and perhaps his best-known Climax Rag ~ Scott was born in 1885
August 30, 1935 ~ Singer, songwriter John Phillips, full name John Edmund Andrew Phillips, born in Parris Island, South Carolina, USA ~ Founding member of vocal group the Mamas & the Papas, known for songs such as California Dreamin', Monday Monday, Dedicated To The One I Love, Creeque Alley, and others ~ Phillips passed away in 2001
August 30, 1933 ~ Film composer Luis Bacalov, full name Luis Enriquez Bacalov born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Best known as film composer for Spaghetti westerns. Won a Academy Award for Best Original Score for Il Postino in 1996 ~ Bacalov passed away in 2017
August 30, 1931 ~ Hornist Ifor James born in Carlisle, UK ~ Closely associated with the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philip Jones Ensemble, appearing on over 30 of the latter's ensemble recordings ~ James passed away in 2004
August 30, 1927 ~ Pieter William Kee, commonly known as organist, composer Piet Kee, born in Zaandam, the Netherlands ~ Best known as teacher at Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for over thirty years, as long-time organist at St Bavo Church, Haarlem and as a composer for pieces such as Haarlem Concerto ~ Kee passed away in 2018
August 30, 1924 ~ Charles Nelson Miller, commonly known as Chuck Miller, born in Wellington, Kansas, USA ~ Best known for his 1955 hit rendition of The House Of Blue Lights, originally recorded by Ella Mae Morse. Other songs such as Baby Doll, Auctioneer, and Down The Road A Piece would fail to reach the succes of Blue Lights ~ Miller passed away in 2000
August 30, 1924 ~ Trumpeter, singer, composer Kenny Dorham born in Fairfield, Texas, USA ~ Critically acclaimed, admired by peers, underrated by the general public. Wrote the jazz standard Blue Bossa. As a leader or sideman Dorham played with Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Mercer Ellington, Charlie Parker, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach (taking over for Clifford Brown after Brown's death in 1956), the Jazz Prophets, Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Cedar Walton, Andrew Hill, Milt Jackson, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers, Art Taylor, Tadd Dameron, Benny Golson, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Cecil Taylor, Barney Wilen, and others ~ Dorham passed away in 1972
August 30, 1923 ~ Composer, conductor Gerhard Wimberger born ~ Worked with the Vienna Volksoper, the Salzburg Theatre. Composed cantatas, chamber music, and orchestral music ~ Wimberger passed away i 2016
August 30, 1918 ~ Singer Muriel Elle Deason, commonly known as Kitty Wells, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for her 1952 hit It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Also known for songs such as Release Me, the Don Everly-penned Thou Shalt Not Steal, The Lonely Side Of Town, Heartbreak USA, as well as duets with Red Foley (One By One, As Long As I Live), and duets with Webb Pierce (Oh So Many Years, Finally). Also worked with Owen Bradley, Johnnie Wright, the Jordanaires, Roy Drusky, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and with Tammy Wynette ~ Deason passed away in 2012
August 30, 1915 ~ Mercy Davis Walton, commonly known as jump blues singer, pianist, songwriter Mercy Dee Walton, born in Waco, Texas, USA ~ Known for a string of singles through the mid-1950s, notably Lonesome Cabin Blues, One Room Country Shack and Come Back Maybellene, the latter in reply to Chuck Berry's then-current hit Maybellene. A year prior to his death released the Mercy Dee featuring backing from harmonica player Sidney Maiden, guitarist KC Douglas and drummer Otis Cherry ~ Walton passed away in 1962
August 30, 1909 ~ Jazz bandleader, singer Willie Bryant, full name William Stevens Bryant, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Started in 1920s vaudeville as a dancer and trumpeter. Formed his first big band in the mid-1930s working with sidemen such as Teddy Wilson, Cozy Cole, Johnny Russell, Benny Carter, Ben Webster, Eddie Durham, Ram Ramirez, Taft Jordan, and others ~ Bryant passed away in 1964
August 30, 1908 ~ Actor, singer Fred MacMurray, full name Frederick Martin MacMurray, born in Kankakee, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as an actor, appearing in over a hundred films including 1944's Double Indeminty. As a singer perhaps best known for his 1930 recording of All I Want Is Just One Girl with Gus Arnheim's orchestra ~ MacMurray passed away in 1991
August 30, 1901 ~ Arranger, orchestrator, composer Conrad Salinger born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA ~ Orchestrated Broadway productions in the 1930s. Worked on scores of over 75 motion pictures starting in the early 1930s such as most of MGM's musicals including Show Boat, Singing In The Rain, Kiss Me Kate, An American In Paris and Gigi. Mentor to and influence on film composer John Williams who spent a great deal of time around Salinger early in his career. Revered by composers and performers including Nelson Riddle, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Barbra Streisand ~ Salinger passed away in 1962
August 30, 1898 ~ Henry Rena, commonly known as jazz trumpeter Kid Rena, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Brother of drummer Joe Rene. Worked with a then relatively young and unknown Louis Armstrong, with Kid Ory, the Eureka Brass Band, Heywood Hale Brown, and others ~ Rena passed away in 1949