August 5, 2024 ~ Doo-wop, R&B singer, songwriter Maurice Williams passed away ~ Fronted the Zodiacs, previously named the Royal Charms and the Gladiolas, known best for the 1960 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Stay. At 1:36 it would be the shortest charttopper in Billboard history. The song would notably be covered by the Hollies in 1963, earning the band their first UK top 10 single, by the Four Seasons the same year, and by Jackson Browne in 1978. The original Zodiacs version would be included on the soundtrack of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, leading to a renewed interest and chart success. Other well known songs include Little Darlin', which was a No.11 hit on the Billboard R&B charts for the band in 1957, then still called the Gladiolas, with a cover by Canadian quartet the Diamonds released the same year reaching No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the 1965 recording May I, which made little impact at the time of its release but would sell over a million copies over the years ~ Williams was born in 1938
August 5, 2023 ~ Free jazz, free improvisation cellist, composer Tristan Honsinger passed away ~ Leader and sideman. Especially acclaimed for the 1996 Map Of Moods album and its 1999 follow-up A Camel's Kiss. Frequently collaborated with pianist Cecil Taylor and guitarist Derek Bailey. Member of the Henneman String Quartet and the ICP Orchestra. As a sideman present on recordings by Borbetomagus, Butch Morris, Anthony Braxton (October Meeting 1991), Tobias Delius, Alexander von Schlippenbach, and Sean Bergin ~ Honsinger was born in 1949
August 5, 2022 ~ Judith Mavis Cock, commonly known as pop, folk pop singer, pianist Judith Durham passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Lead singer of the Seekers from 1962 through 1968, scoring folk-pop hits such as I'll Never Find Another You, A World Of Our Own, The Carnival Is Over and Georgy Girl. Following her departure from the band would record about a dozen albums as a solo artist and sporadically join the Seekers from the mid-1990s forward ~ Cock was born in 1943
August 5, 2022 ~ Jazz, classical, R&B, pop rock pianist Michael Lang, full name Michael Anthony Lang, passed away ~ Has worked on over an estimated 2,000 film scores, working with every major film composer including Lalo Schifrin, John Williams, Henry Mancini, and Hans Zimmer. In-demand studio musician, present on albums by Hal Blaine, Frank Zappa (Lumpy Gravy), Don Ellis, Sérgio Mendes, Harry Nilsson, Seals & Crofts (Summer Breeze), Dusty Springfield, Leonard Cohen, Milt Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Tom Waits (Heartattack And Vine), Neil Diamond, Lionel Richie, Natalie Cole, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Amy Grant, and Robbie Williams ~ Lang was born in 1941
August 5, 2016 ~ Country, country pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Lane releases his Girl Problems sophomore album ~ Lane's Joey Mol-produced sophomore effort would give the singer his first Billboard Country No.1 hit with the album's lead single Fix reaching the top of the charts. The album also included the Billboard Country top 10 single For Her, and Let Me Love You, the latter a cover of R&B singer Mario's 2004 hit. The album itself would reach top 10 on the Billboard Country album charts
August 5, 2013 ~ Pianist, singer, songwriter George Duke passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Known for his solo albums, starting with The George Duke Quartet in 1966, as well as for his many collaborations including with Jean-Luc Ponty, Cannonball Adderley, Frank Zappa, the Mothers Of Invention, and Ruth Underwood. Has also produced pop and R&B hits for A Taste Of Honey, Jeffrey Osborne, Deniece Williams, Anita Baker, Rachelle Ferrell, Everette Harp, Gladys Knight, Melissa Manchester, Barry Manilow, the Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson, Seawind, and Take 6 ~ Duke was born in 1946
August 5, 2008 ~ Robert Rimato, commonly known as songwriter Robert Hazard passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Started as a Dylan-era folkie, turned to country for a number of years, followed by a reggae stint. Fronted Robert Hazard & the Heroes, scoring modest hits in the early MTV days with Escalator Of Life and Change Reaction. Best known for writing Cyndi Lauper's 1983 hit Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Would continue to record from time to time, his last recordings a return to country music ~ Rimato was born in 1948
August 5, 2005 ~ Miko Stephanovic, commonly known as jazz bandleader, clarinetist, saxophonist Spud Murphy, passed away in Hollywood, Florida, USA ~ Studied clarinet, saxophone and trumpet. Started as saxophonist and arranger in the 1920s and 1930s working for artists such as Jimmy Joy, Ross Gorman, Slim Lamar, Austin Wylie, Jan Garber, Mal Hallett, and Joe Haymes. Stephanovic is also known as an educator and author having written over two dozen books on various topics in music ~ Stephanovic was born in 1908
August 5, 1998 ~ Guitarist, arranger Eldon Shamblin, full name Estel Eldon Shamblin, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Considered one of the premier electric guitarists in Western Swing. Influenced by Eddie Lang. Worked with the Alabama Boys, Bob Wills' backing unit the Texas Playboys, Merle Haggard's backing unit the Strangers, the Four Giants Of Swing, Leon McAuliffe, Tiny Moore, Willie Nelson, Joe Venuti, Mac Wiseman, the Tractors, and Asleep At The Wheel ~ Shamblin was born in 1916
August 5, 1997 ~ Actress, singer Olivia Holt, full name Olivia Hastings Holt, born in Germantown, Tennessee, USA ~ Rose to fame as an actress in a variety of Disney series. As a singer active since the mid-2010s, releasing a number of EPs and notably the modest dance hit Generous. Would make her Broadway-debut in a 2023 production of the musical Chicago, portraying the role of Roxie Hart
August 5, 1997 ~ R&B singer Usher releases You Make Me Wanna, lead single off his My Way sophomore album ~ The song tells of the singer falling for a girl who until this point had been just a friend, even though he already has a girlfriend. The song is based on a true story, as Usher would later explain: “I was with one girl, but I had flown to Los Angeles and I fell in love with this other girl. And what was so odd about it is she started out as a friend, and was encouraging me to keep my relationship afloat. And then I'm like, Well shit, why don't I be with you?” The single would be warmly received by critics, while the romanticism went well with female listeners and gave males a safe way to express their feelings in such situations. Issued as the lead single of his breakout sophomore album, You Make Me Wanna would be Usher's first major hit, peaking at No.2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and earned the singer his first Grammy Award, winning in the category Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
August 5, 1993 ~ Tenor saxophonist, oboe player Bob Cooper passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First gained attention as a member of Stan Kenton's orchestra from the mid-1940s through the early-1950s. Cooper married June Christy, one of the groups most beloved regular singers, in 1947. Besides being a skillful saxophone player, one of many to emulate the velvety sounds of Lester Young, Cooper is also known as one of the first to play jazz solos on the oboe. Recorded as a leader since the mid-1950s, noted especially for the 1958 Coop (The Music Of Bob Cooper) album, and remained an in-demand sideman well through the 1980s regularly present on his wife's solo albums, as well as on recordings by Chet Baker Shorty Rogers (Shorty Rogers Courts The Count), Barney Kessel, Jimmy Giuffre, Bud Shank, Ella Fitzgerald (Sings The Cole Porter Songbook), Anita O'Day, Buddy Rich (This One's For Basie), Marty Paich, Buddy Bregman, Lena Horne (Stormy Weather), Pete Rugolo, Ray Brown, the Monkees (More Of The Monkees), Frank Capp, Linda Ronstadt, and Sammy Nestico ~ Cooper was born in 1925
August 5, 1993 ~ Bassist, singer Randy Jo Hobbs passed away in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with the McCoys from 1965 through 1969. Jammed with Jimi Hendrix in 1968, a session later unoficially released on the 1980 Woke Up This Morning And Found Myself Dead album. Spent the first half of the 1970s backing Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter. Appeared on the 1976 Montrose album Jump On It and on the Rick Derringer album Glass Derringer the same year ~ Hobbs was born in 1948
August 5, 1992 ~ Rock, pop rock, jazz fusion drummer Jeff Porcaro, full name Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro, passed away in West Hills, California, USA ~ Son of jazz drummer Joe Porcaro. Member of Toto, which also included his brothers bassist Mike Porcaro and keyboardist Steve Porcaro, and best known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Hold The Line, Rosanna, and Africa. Besides his key role in Toto, Porcaro was one of the most in-demand session musicians present on albums by Seals & Crofts, Three Dog Night, Joe Cocker, Jackson Browne (The Pretender), Leo Sayer, Steely Dan (Katy Lied), Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lee Ritenour, Diana Ross, Warren Zevon, the Pointer Sisters, Rickie Lee Jones, Pink Floyd (The Wall), the Brothers Johnson, Crosby Stills & Nash, Michael Jackson (Thriller), Donald Fagen, Paul Simon, Randy Newman (Trouble In Paradise), Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Patti Austin, Céline Dion, the Dire Straits, the B52's (Good Stuff), 10cc, and Bruce Springsteen ~ Porcaro was born in 1954
August 5, 1984 ~ Singer, actress, TV personality Helene Fischer born in Krasnoyarsk, Soviet Union ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Schlager” with over 15 million records sold. Especially known for her 2013 Farbenspiel album. Songs such as Atemlos Durch Die Nacht, Herzbeben, Achterbahn, and Vamos A Marte featuring Luis Fonsi would all reach top 10 in her adopted homeland Germany. Has duetted with the likes of Eros Ramazzotti, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bolton, and Robbie Williams
August 5, 1983 ~ Pop, synth-pop, new wave, blue-eyed soul group Spandau Ballet release Gold, lifted off their True album ~ Guitarist Gary Kemp had been inspired by movie themes and musicals and previously wrote She Loved Like Diamond in an attempt to emulate the American Jewish music that he knew from movies and musicals. She Loved Like Diamond, released as a single off their 1982 Diamond album, failed to reach the top 40 in their native UK. Kemp gave it another go, writing Gold as an hommage to the scores of film composer John Barry, especially the James Bond series, and this time it would be a hit. Gold reached top 10 across Europe, including a No.2 spot in the UK, and reached No.29 in America, making it one of only four Spandau Ballet songs to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
August 5, 1981 ~ Singer, rapper Travie McCoy born in Geneva, New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founded Gym Class Heroes with Matt McGinley. As a solo artist best known for the 2010 hit Billionaire featuring Bruno Mars. Has also worked with T-Pain, the Smeezingtons, the Stereotypes, Lucas Secon, Josh Abraham, Cobra Starship, Kelly Rowland, Tyga, Cassie Davis, Claude Leitte, Lil' Wayne, Jessica Jarrell, Taio Cruz, Iyaz, le Deuce, Stooshe, Olly Murs, Jake Miller, and others
August 5, 1980 ~ No wave, new wave, punk rock bassist George Scott III passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for role in late-1970s New York no wave movement influential on later acts such as Sonic Youth, working with artists such as the Contortions, the Human Switchboard, John Cale, and Lydia Lunch. Following his death at age 26 of a heroin overdose, 8 Eyed Spy would call it quits. Another band, the Raybeats, however which was also co-founded by Scott would continue with Danny Amis taking over Scott's bass duties ~ Scott was born in 1953
August 5, 1975 ~ Post-britpop, alternative rock, indie rock guitarist Dan Hipgrave, full name Daniel Hipgrave, born in Brighton, UK ~ Member of Toploader, known for hits such as Dancing In The Moonlight, Achilles Heel and Just Hold On all taken off the band's 1999 Orka's Big Moka debut album. Although their 2002 sophomore Magic Hotel album would reach top 5 in the band's native UK, the band would be dropped by their label. Shortly thereafter the band disbanded citing “personal differences” within the band before reforming in 2009
August 5, 1975 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Toby Martin born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Fronted indie rock outfit the Youth Group from 1996 to 2009. The band has been critically compared to Teenage Fanclub, Pavement, and Death Cab For Cutie, and is especially acclaimed for their 2006 Casino Twilight Dogs album. Martin has also recorded as a solo artist, releasing his Love's Shadow solo debut during the band's hiatus
August 5, 1974 ~ Singer, keyboardist Billy Preston releases Nothing From Nothing, lifted off his The Kids And Me album ~ Preston had backed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson while still in his teens, played with the Beatles, including on the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Get Back, and had scored his first solo No.1 hit, Will It Go Round In Circles, in 1973. Preston wrote Nothing From Nothing with regular collaborator Bruce Fisher in the dressing room of an Atlanta nightclub where he was performing that night. It would become his second and final Billboard Hot 100 charttopper. The single's B-side was You Are So Beautiful, another Preston-Fisher original, which would later be covered by over an estimated 200 artists, including notably Joe Cocker. The common phrase “nothing from nothing leaves nothing” traces back to a line in the William Shakespeare-play King Lear: “Nothing will come of nothing”
August 5, 1974 ~ Gothic metal, symphonic black metal guitarist, songwriter Knut Magne Valle born in Gjerstad, Norway ~ Member of avant-garde metal outfit Arcturus since 1995, present on the band's most acclaimed The Sham Mirrors album released in 2002. Has also briefly worked with experimental electronica unit Ulver, appearing on and co-producing the band's 1998 Themes From William Blake's The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell album. Has also worked with artists such as Fleurety, Ancestral Legacy, Aura Noir, Ragnarok, and Mayhem
August 5, 1974 ~ Simon James Dawbarn, commonly known as pop, dance-pop singer, dancer Spike Dawbarn, born in Warrington, UK ~ Member of boy band 911, known for a string of British hits in the mid to late-1990s, including Don't Make Me Wait, The Day We Find Love, Bodyshakin', All I Want Is You, More Than A Woman, and perhaps their best known A Little Bit More
August 5, 1971 ~ Jared Hennegan, commonly known as alternative rock, punk rock, rap rock bassist Jared Hasselhoff, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Member of the Bloodhound Gang from 1995 through 2015, first appearing on the band's 1996 One Fierce Beer Coaster sophomore album. The band is perhaps best known for The Bad Touch, a 1999 top 10 hit across Europe
August 5, 1969 ~ Singer, actor Diego Schoening born ~ Member of teen pop group Timbiriche from 1981 until its disbandement in 1994, recording well over a dozen albums with the band including the Platinum albums Timbiriche VII and its follow-up Timbiriche VIII & IX. Schoening has recorded two albums as a solo artist, Voy A Mi and Lo Que Soy released respectively in 1999 and 2009, has appeared in over half a dozen musical stage productions, and acted in telenovelas and films
August 5, 1967 ~ Aston George Taylor Jr, commonly known as DJ, rapper, producer, actor Funkmaster Flex, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of Flip Squad. As a solo artist released his full-length The Mix Tapes solo debut album in 1995. Has collaborated with the Gehtto Celebs, the Wu-Tang Clan, the Ruff Ryders, LL Cool J, Mary J Blige, DMX, Faith Evans, Fat Joe, and others
August 5, 1966 ~ Alternative metal, punk rock, grunge bassist Jennifer Finch born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as a member of all-female punk rock outfit L7, considered an outlier in grunge and riot grrrl music. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1992 Bricks Are Heavy album. Finch has also worked with the Pandoras, OtherStarPeople, the Shocker, and has occasionally ventured into acting. Early on in her career Finch played bass in Sugar Babydoll, which also included then-unknown Courtney Love and future Babes In Toyland-founder Kat Bjelland. Finch has also been romantically involved with Dave Grohl and Billy Corgan
August 5, 1966 ~ Jazz, crossover jazz guitarist, conductor, composer Roberta Tola born in Sassan, Italy ~ Child prodigy. Began studying music at just six years old, Conservatory four years later. Worked with conductors including Colin Towns, Carla Bley, Giorgio Gaslini, Bruno Tommaso, Roberto Pregadio, with singers such as Jill Saward, Norma Winstone, David Linx, Gegè Telesforo, trumpeters such as Flavio Boltro, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava and Tom Harrell, bassist Steve Swallow, saxophonists including Bob Mintzer of the Yellowjackets fame, Andy Sheppard and Maurizio Gianmarco, pianists such as Riccardo Zegna and Antonello Salis, and others
August 5, 1965 ~ Saxophonist, composer Jeff Coffin born in Massachusetts, USA ~ Has been releasing solo albums since the late-1990s. Member of Béla Fleck's backing unit the Flecktones. Member of the Dave Matthews Band, eventually replacing the late founding member LeRoi Moore. Has also collaborated with Jeff Babko, Vinnie Colaiuta, the Everyone Orchestra, Jonathan Scales, JD Souther, Boyd Tinsley, Jon Foreman, Justin Townes Earle, Cage The Elephant, Ingrid Jensen, Snarky Puppy, David Crosby, and others
August 5, 1964 ~ Rapper Adam Yauch, also known as MCA, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Founding member of pivotal hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, known best for their 1987 Billboard top 10 single (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party). The band was responsible for making hip-hop a valid genre for white artists and drew from originally white genres including rock and punk ~ Yauch passed away in 2012
August 5, 1962 ~ Jazz drummer Alan Jones born in Longview, Washington, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums as a leader, starting with Unsafe released in 1998. Frequently collaborated with Andy Middleton, David Friesen, Randy Porter, and Wayne Darling
August 5, 1961 ~ Violinist, songwriter Mark O'Connor born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Merges from bluegrass, country, jazz, classical. Over 40 albums to his name over a four decade career. Toured with renowned jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli in his teens. Has collaborated with Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Yo-Yo Ma, and others
August 5, 1960 ~ Pop, R&B songwriter, producer Tony Haynes born ~ Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by artists such as Evelyn Champagne King, Karyn White, Earth Wind & Fire, the Spinners (Send A Little Love), Philip Bailey, Jennifer Holliday, A Taste Of Honey, the Temptations (Runnin'), Patrice Rushen, the Pointer Sisters (Flirtatious), Johnny Kemp, the SOS Band (One Of Many Nights), Kool & the Gang, the Isley Brothers, Al Jarreau, Regina Belle, Chanté Moore, Jade, Brenda Holloway, Beau Williams (Danger Zone), George Duke, and others
August 5, 1959 ~ Dance-pop, synth-pop, new wave singer Pete Burns, full name Peter Jozzeppi Burns, born in Port Sunlight, UK ~ Founded Nightmares In Wax by the late-1970s. The band would reach mainstream succes after renaming themselves Dead Or Alive, best known for their UK No.1 hit You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) of their 1984 Youthquake sophomore album. The single would also reach top 10 across Europe, and remains a radio staple to this day as one of the era's most vibrant songs. The band would continue to chart throughout the end of the decade, notably with singles such as Lover Come Back To Me, In Too Deep, and Something In My House ~ Burns passed away in 2016
August 5, 1955 ~ Maria Do Carma Miranda Da Cunha, commonly known as samba singer, dancer, actress Carmen Miranda, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Nicknamed “the Brazilian Bombshell”. Rose to stardom with her 1930 recording of Tai (Pra Voce Gostar De Mim). Performed on Broadway and in over a dozen Hollywood films from 1940 through the mid-1950s ~ Miranda was born in 1909
August 5, 1953 ~ Classical violinist, conductor András Ligeti born in Pécs, Hungary ~ Closely associated with the Hungarian State Opera House, serving as concert master and conductor from 1977 through 1985, and with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra from 1985 through 1993. Has also worked with the Dresden Philharmonic, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Bergen Symphony, and the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande ~ Ligeti passed away in 2021
August 5, 1953 ~ Jazz, traditional pop singer Doris Day records Secret Love at Warner Bros Studios, Burbank, California ~ Written by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster for the 1953 musical film Calamity Jane starring Day. Released as a single, b/w The Deadwood Stage, the following October Day's single would reach No.1 on the pop charts. Over the years would be covered by country artists such as Slim Whitman and Freddy Fender, R&B singer Billy Stewart and British pop singer Kathy Kirby, becoming a signature tune for the latter
August 5, 1951 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Elmore James records Dust My Broom at Ivan Scott's Radio Service, Jackson, Mississippi ~ Produced by Lillian McMurry. Though James is listed as sole songwriter, the song actually traces back to I Believe I'll Dust My Broom, recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936. Influential on several generations of musicians. Notably covered by Ike & Tina Turner as a 1966 single, and by ZZ Top for their 1979 Degüello album
August 5, 1949 ~ Rock, jazz saxophonist Robbie Jansen, full name Robert Edward Jansen, born in Cape Town, South Africa ~ Member of the Pacific Express. Would go on to work with Dollar Brand and saxophonist Basil Coetzee. Would become a leading figure by the 1970s in Cape Jazz. Has also worked with Johnny Clegg, Sipho Mchunu, and Juluka (Universal Men). Especially acclaimed for his 2006 solo album Nomad Jez. His international career suffered a blowback in 2007 when on doctor's orders he could no longer travel due to a respitory condition, and forced to cancel a European tour ~ Jansen passed away in 2010
August 5, 1948 ~ Bassist, guitarist, trumpeter, keyboardist, drummer David Hungate, full name William David Hungate, born in Troy, Missouri, USA ~ Best known as member of Toto from 1976 through 1982, present on the band's first four albums which spawned Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as Hold The Line, Rosanna, and Africa. Hungate has also appeared on albums by Mecca, Joe Cocker, Boz Scaggs (Silk Degrees), JD Souther, Deniece Williams, Michael Martin Murphey, Alice Cooper (From The Inside), Neil Sedaka, Kim Carnes, Rickie Lee Jones, Barbra Streisand, Olivia Newton-John, Joe Nichols, Juice Newton, Jackie DeShannon, Mark Chesnutt, Bette Midler, Leo Sayer, Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, and the Pointer Sisters
August 5, 1947 ~ Gary Stephen Anderson, commonly known as singer, guitarist Angry Anderson, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Best known as frontman, lead singer of blues-infested hard rock outfit Rose Tattoo, present on some of the band's best known including Bad Boy For Love, We Can't Be Beaten, I Wish and Calling. Has also worked with Buster Brown and the Party Boys. As a solo artist best known for the singles Suddenly and Bound For GLORY
August 5, 1947 ~ Rock guitarist Greg Leskiw, full name Gregory Leskiw, born in Brandon, Canada ~ Best known as a member of the Guess Who from 1970 through 1972, present on the albums Share The Land, So Long Bannatyne, and Rockin'. Following his departure from the band Leskiw would play with Crowcuss and Kilowatt. Leskiw also operated Vox Pop Studios from 1986 through 1997, a popular recording studio for Winnipeg-based groups such as the Crash Test Dummies and New Meanies
August 5, 1947 ~ Richard Dean Zehringer, commonly known as rock, blues, pop rock guitarist, singer, songwriter Rick Derringer born in Fort Recovery, Ohio, USA ~ Rose to fame as co-founding member, lead singer of the McCoys, known for their 1965 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Hang On Sloopy. The band is also known for serving as backing unit for Johnny Winter. Derringer would also go on to work with Winter's brother Edgar Winter, including producing the hit singles Frankenstein and Free Ride. Derringer recorded over a dozen albums as a solo artists, starting with All American Boy in 1973, formed the short-lived supergroup Derringer Bogert & Appice, and guested on albums by Alice Cooper (Killer), Todd Rundgren (Something/Anything), Steely Dan, Dan Hartman, Bette Midler, Kiss, Donald Fagen (The Nightfly), Bonnie Tyler, Barbra Streisand, Cyndi Lauper (True Colors), Grayson Hugh, and Joe Bonamassa
August 5, 1947 ~ Pop, rock, blues, R&B, jazz, country bassist Willie Weeks born in Salemburg, North Carolina, USA ~ One of the most in-demand session and touring bassists. Cites Ron Carter, Motown stalwart James Jamerson, and Ray Brown as his main influences. Noted for his three minute plus bass solo on Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything) off of Donny Hathaway's 1972 Live album. Has guested on half a dozen of George Harrison's solo albums, starting with Dark Horse released in 1974, Harrison held Weeks in such high regard that, when asked about a reunion of the Beatles, he stated he would “rather have Weeks on bass than Paul McCartney”. Over the course of his career, Weeks has appeared on albums by Herbie Mann, Gloria Jones, Stevie Wonder (Innervisions), Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones (It's Only Rock And Roll), Bobby Womack, Randy Newman (Good Old Boys), David Bowie, James Taylor, Leon Russell, Maria Muldaur (Sweet Harmony), Al Jarreau, Steve Winwood, Lenny Williams, Joe Walsh (But Seriously Folks), Rickie Lee Jones, Delbert McClinton (Keeper Of The Flame), Chaka Khan, the Doobie Brothers, Rosanne Cash, Jimmy Buffett, Etta James, John Mellencamp, Vince Gill (Pocket Full Of Gold), Eric Gale, Wynonna Judd, John Michael Montgomery, and Tammy Wynette
August 5, 1946 ~ Rock, classical keyboardist, songwriter Rick van der Linden born in Badhoevedorp, the Netherlands ~ Fused rock and classical music. Worked with Ekseption, Trace, Mistral, Session, Brand X, Phil Collins, Deep Purple, Joachim Kühn, Jack Lancaster, Conny Vandenbos, Vangelis, Rein van den Broek, Chris Hinze, Pim Jacobs, Louis van Dijk, Astrid Nijgh, Jan Akkerman, Kaz Lux, and others ~ Van der Linden passed away in 2006
August 5, 1944 ~ Classical, film composer Christopher Gunning born in Cheltenham, UK ~ To pop and rock audiences perhaps best known for the distinctive string arrangement on Colin Blunstone's 1972 hit Say You Don't Mind, and for the arrangements on several of singer Lynsey de Paul's singles including Won't Somebody Dance With Me and My Man And Me. However, Gunning is primarily a composer for orchestra, Gunning also serving as conductor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for several of his symphonies, and a prolific TV and film composer including for nearly all of the Agatha Christie's Poirot TV films, the mystery series Rosemary & Thyme, and well over a dozen feature films including notably Under Suspicion, Firelight, and the Edith Piaf biopic La Vie En Rose, the latter of which earned Gunning a BAFTA Award ~ Gunning passed away in 2023
August 5, 1943 ~ Jewel Faye Smith, commonly known as singer Sammi Smith, born in Orange, California, USA ~ One of the few women in 1970s outlaw country. Best known for her 1971 country-pop hit Help Me Make It Through The Night, written by Kris Kristofferson. The single would top the Billboard Country charts, peak at No.8 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and earn Smith a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Throughout the early-1980s, Smith would continue to regularly reach the higher echelons of the country charts with songs such as Then You Walk In, I've Got To Have You, The Rainbow In Daddy's Eyes, and Today I Started Loving You Again. Smith has three children with her first husband steel guitarist Bob White, and one son with her second husband guitarist Jody Payne ~ Smith passed away in 2005
August 5, 1943 ~ Singer, songwriter Terry Dolan born ~ Founder, frontman of Terry & the Pirates. Influenced by Leadbelly, Hank Williams, Wanda Jackson, Carl Perkins. Opened for artists such as Taj Mahal, Blue Cheer, BB King, and Elvin Bishop ~ Dolan passed away in 2012
August 5, 1941 ~ Drummer, percussionist Airto Moreira, full name Airto Guimorvan Moreira, born in Itaiópolis, Brazil ~ Married to jazz singer Flora Purim, with whom he also collaborated. Over two dozen albums as a leader, especially acclaimed for Free, The Other Side Of This, and Samba De Flora. Member of samba jazz pioneers the Sambalanço Trio and of the Quarteto Novo before relocating to the USA. Frequently backed Miles Davis, starting on the seminal Bitches Brew jazz fusion album released in 1970. Other notable credits include Milton Nascimento (Courage), Wayne Shorter, Duke Pearson, John McLaughlin (My Goal's Beyond), Freddie Hubbard (Red Clay), Stanley Turrentine, Joe Henderson, the Weather Report, Grover Washington Jr, Randy Weston, Chick Corea (Return To Forever), Cannonball Adderley, George Benson, George Duke, Santana, Gato Barbieri (El Gato), Chaka Khan, Terumasa Hino, Paul Simon (Hearts And Bones), and Babatunde Olatunji
August 5, 1940 ~ Country songwriter, producer Bobby Braddock, full name Robert Valentine Braddock, born in Auburndale, Florida, USA ~ Got his start in music in the mid-1960s, serving as pianist in Marty Robbins' backing band. After Robbins recorded the Braddock-penned While You're Dancing, Braddock would establish himself as an in-demand songwriter with a career spanning well into the 21st century. Well known songs written or co-written by Braddock include Tammy Wynette's D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Johnny Duncan's Thinking Of A Rendezvous, and George Jones's He Stopped Loving Her Today. Others who recorded his songs include Nat Stuckey, Charlie Louvin & Melba Montgomery, Stoney Edwards, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Paycheck (Georgia In A Jug), Norma Jean (God May Forgive You (But I Won't)), Sonny Throckmorton, Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn (I'd Rather Have What We Had), John Anderson, John Conlee, Doug Stone, and Toby Keith
August 5, 1940 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Pat Upton born in Geraldine, Alabama, USA ~ Lead singer, guitarist, main songwriter for Spiral Starecase, known for songs such as Baby What I Mean, No One For Me To Turn To, and More Today Than Yesterday, the latter later also recorded by Sonny & Cher, Diana Ross, Goldfinger, Andy Williams, Lena Horne, and Patti Austin ~ Upton passed away in 2016
August 5, 1934 ~ Vernon Gosdin, commonly known as country, gospel, bluegrass, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Vern Gosdin, born in Woodland, Alabama, USA ~ Influenced by the Louvin Brothers and the Blue Sky Boys. Co-founding member of the Hillmen. Formed the sibling duo the Gosdin Brothers with Rex Gosdin, noted for the acclaimed collaborative 1967 album Gene Clark With The Gosdin Brothers with Gene Clark. Best known as a solo artist, about a dozen albums to his name starting in the late-1970s. Well known songs include Hangin' On which featured Emmylou Harris on harmony vocals, Till The End, If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong Do It Right, I Can Tell By The Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight), Set 'Em Up Joe, Chiseled In Stone, Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time, and I'm Still Crazy. Gosdin's Is It Raining At Your House has been covered by Brad Paisley, That Just About Does It by Willie Nelson ~ Gosdin passed away in 2009
August 5, 1930 ~ Singer, actress, comedian Damita Jo DeBlanc, commonly known simply as Damita Jo, born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for the early-1960s answer songs, namely I'll Save The Last Dance For You as a reply to the Drifters' Save The Last Dance For Me and I'll Be There as a reply to Ben E King's Stand By Me. Had sung with the Five Red Caps during the 1950s. Has also worked with Ray Charles, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine and Bobby Tucker ~ DeBlanc passed away in 1998
August 5, 1915 ~ Guitarist Alfredo Gil, full name Alfredo Bojalil Gil, born in Tezutlian, Mexico ~ Founding member of Los Panchos, remaining with the band for about four decades starting in the 1940s. The band rose to fame in Latin America with their renditions of classic bolero, romantic ballads and folk songs and are considered one of the top musical trios and one the most influential Latin American artists of all time. The band joined forces with singer Eydie Gormé in the mid-1960s, resulting in a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums ~ Gil passed away in 1999
August 5, 1887 ~ Pianist, singer, composer, actor Nat Ayer, full name Nathaniel Davis Ayer, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity especially in the UK throughout the late-1910s, performing and composing Edwardian musical comedy and revue. Best known for writing the West End hit musicals The Bing Boys Are Here, which spawned the hit If You Were The Only Girl In The World, and Yes Uncle ~ Ayer passed away in 1952
August 5, 1811 ~ Composer Ambroise Thomas, full name Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas, born in Metz, France ~ Best remembered for his 1866 Mignon and his 1868 Hamlet operas. His work would be neglected during most of the 20th century but in more recent decades have gained new attention and appreciation ~ Thomas passed away in 1896