December 6, 2022 ~ Avant-garde composer, conductor Edino Krieger passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Composed over 150 pieces, including incidental music and film scores. Best known for his Canticum Naturale suite. Also well known for writing the song Fuga E Antifuga, recorded by Vinicius de Moraes ~ Krieger was born in 1928
December 6, 2022 ~ Brian John Duffy, commonly known as rock, new wave, punk rock drummer, percussionist Jet Black, passed away ~ Co-founding member of the Stranglers, known for UK top 10 hits such as Peaches, No More Heroes, Golden Brown, Strange Little Girl and the Kinks-cover All Day And All Of The Night. As of 2015 Black has retired from touring with the band ~ Duffy was born in 1958
December 6, 2018 ~ Singer, saxophonist Ace Cannon passed away in Calhoun City, Mississippi, USA ~ Most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. Worked and toured with Bill Black's Combo who also backed up Cannon on Tuff, his 1962 solo debut single ~ Cannon was born in 1934
December 6, 2018 ~ Peter Campbell McNeish, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Pete Shelley, passed away in Tallin, Estonia ~ Formed punk, punk rock outfit the Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto, best known for their 1978 Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn't've hit single. As a solo artist best known for Homosapien, title track of his 1981 Homosapien album ~ Shelley was born in 1955
December 6, 2016 ~ Violinist Michael White passed away ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with John Handy, the Fourth Way, Sun Ra, Prince Lasha, McCoy Tyner, Eric Dolphy, Wes Montgomery, Kenny Dorham, Joe Henderson, John Lee Hooker, Richard Davis, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Simmons, Dead Science, Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, and others ~ White was born in 1930
December 6, 2013 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Stan Tracey, full name Stanley William Tracey, passed away ~ Influenced by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. Best known for his 1965 album Under Milk Wood, an acclaimed landmark album in British jazz. House pianist at Ronnie Scott's famed Soho jazz club for most of the 1960s. Collaborated with Michael Horovitz and extensively with Bobby Wellins. Gravitated towards free jazz and avant-garde from the 1970s onwards, working with Mike Osborne, Keith Tippett and John Surman. Also worked with Evan Parker, his son percussionist and bandleader Clark Tracey, Art Themen, Sal Nistico, Charlie Rouse, Gerard Presencer, and others ~ Tracey was born in 1926
December 6, 2012 ~ Drummer Ed Cassidy passed away in San Jose, California, USA ~ Cassidy toured prolifically with show bands, dixieland, C&W bands in the late 1940s. Worked mainly jazz in the 1950s teaming up with greats such as Art Pepper, Cannonball Adderley, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lee Konitz, and with Gerry Mulligan. Formed Rising Sons in 1964 with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. Then went on to found the Red Rooster, featuring his stepson Randy California, Jay Ferguson and Mark Andes. With the addition of John Locke they became Spirit in 1967. Cassidy would be the sole constant member throughout all line-ups over the next 30 years untill the band eventually split up following California's death ~ Cassidy was born in 1923
December 6, 2012 ~ Richard Hugh Lloyd-Langton, commonly known as hard rock, progressive rock guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton, passed away ~ A fragmented career hindered by a frail health. Best known for his association with Hawkwind, enjoying several stints with the band. Present on about a dozen of the band's albums, including the 1970 eponymous Hawkwind album. Member of mid-1970s outfit Widowmaker, present on the albums Widowmaker and Too Late To Cry. Fronted his own Lloyd-Langton Group, recording close to a dozen albums starting in the mid-1980s. Has also worked with Budgie, Leo Sayer and Meads Of Asphodel ~ Lloyd-Langton was born in 1951
December 6, 2011 ~ Lawrence Darrow Brown, commonly known as singer Dobie Gray, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for hits such as The In-Crowd, Drift Away, If Love Must Go, and You Can Do It. Later turned more towards songwriting penning songs for Ray Charles, George Jones, Johnny Mathis, Charley Pride, Don Williams, and others ~ Gray was born in 1940
December 6, 2010 ~ Classical tenor Hugues Cuénod, full name Hugues-Adhémar Cuénod, passed away in Vevey, Switzerland ~ Helpful in reviving interest in Baroque music. Active since the 1920s, initially as a concert recitalist. Would go on to enjoy an international career in opera, operetta and musical theatre, praised for his diction and technique. Has sung with La Scala, the Royal Opera House, and holds the record for the oldest person to debut at the Metropolitan Opera, appearing as Emperor Altoum in Giacomo Puccini's Turandot in 1987 at the age of 84 ~ Cuénod was born in 1902
December 6, 2006 ~ Alternative rock, punk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Darren Brown, full name Darren Mark Brown, passed away in Tooting, UK ~ Also known as Wiz. Lead singer, guitarist for indie punk outfit the Mega City Four, enjoying popularity during the late 1980s and 1990s due to their extensive touring and critically acclaimed for their 1994 Magic Bullets album. Following the band's disbandement in 1996 Brown has worked with Serpico, which also included old bandmate Gerry Bryant, and subsequently with Ipanema ~ Brown was born in 1962
December 6, 2005 ~ Singer Danny Williams passed away ~ Dubbed “Britain's Johnny Mathis” for his smooth vocal delivery. Known for songs such as his 1961 Moon River rendition and for White On White, the latter a Billboard top 10 hit in 1964 ~ Williams was born in 1942
December 6, 2000 ~ Actor, singer Werner Klemperer passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Best known as an actor for film and TV. Has also had some succes as an operatic baritone and singer in Broadway-musicals ~ Klemperer was born in 1920
December 6, 1997 ~ Jazz trombonist, singer George Chisholm passed away in London, UK ~ Worked with Bert Ambrose, Teddy Joyce, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, Benny Carter, Wally Stott, and others ~ Chisholm was born in 1915
December 6, 1995 ~ Julius Dubose, commonly known as rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Best known for the singles Look Back At It and Drowning featuring Kodak Black. His 2017 debut album Bigger Artist reached No.4 on the Hot 200. Dubose's sophomore album, 2018's Hoodie SZN, would top the American album chart
December 6, 1995 ~ Composer, flutist Claire Pollin passed away in Marion, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Her teachers included Vincent Persichetti, Lukas Foss, Roger Sessions, and Peter Mennin. Her works were performed by the Seoul National Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Bach Society, London Pro-Musica Antiqua, and others. ~ Polin was born in 1926
December 6, 1993 ~ Dominic Felix Amici, commonly known as actor, comedian, vaudevillian Don Ameche, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA ~ Major radio star during the early 1930s, followed by a career in Hollywood appearing in comedies, dramas and musicals, totalling some 40 films, as well as roles in Broadway productions and for TV. To younger audiences best known as the villain Mortimer Duke in 1983's Trading Places and for his role as Art Selwyn in 1985's Cocoon, the latter earning him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor ~ Amici was born in 1908
December 6, 1989 ~ Samuel E Feinberg, commonly known as singer, pianist, songwriter Sammy Fain, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best remembered for co-writing songs such as You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me (Ted Wallace, Maurice Chevalier, Benny Goodman), When I Take My Sugar To Tea (the Melotone Boys, the Casa Loma Orchestra, Milton Brown), That Old Feeling (Virginia Verrill, Shep Fields, Count Basie), Secret Love (Doris Day, Gogi Grant, Ray Anthony), April Love (Pat Boone, Connie Francis, Johnny Mathis), Tender Is The Night (Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Billy Eckstine), and I'll Be Seeing You (Tamara, Dick Todd, Billie Holiday) ~ Feinberg was born in 1902
December 6, 1988 ~ R&B, jazz guitarist Bill Harris passed away in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as a member of R&B group the Clovers from 1950 through 1958, present on most of the band's biggest hits including Don't Kknow Why I Love You, One Mint Julep, Ting-a-ling and Good Lovin' ~ Harris was born in 1925
December 6, 1988 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Roy Orbison, full name Roy Kelton Orbison, passed away in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA ~ Defined a number of rock & roll archettypes, most notably the hopeless romantic, and praised for his passionate, swooning vocal style, complex song structures and depths of his ballads. Dubbed by some “the Enrico Caruso of Rock” for his operatic style. Best known for a number of early to mid-1960s hits, mostly self-written or co-written, including Only The Lonely, Running Scared, Crying, In Dreams and his best-known Oh Pretty Woman. Resurged in the 1980s shortly before his death, both as a solo artist and as co-founding member of supergroup the Traveling Wilburys, which also included George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. The single I Got You, co-penned by U2's Bono, would be released one month after Orbison's death and be a global hit, including reaching top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 ~ Orbison was born in 1936
December 6, 1984 ~ Emanuel Kurtz, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Manny Curtis, passed away ~ Frequent collaborator of the likes of Vic Mizzy, Al Hoffman, Al Goodhart. Over an estimated 250 songs to his name, the best known being In A Sentimental Mood originally recorded by Duke Ellington and covered by over 700 artists. Also notably known for writing the English lyrics of Let It Be Me, based on the Gilbert Bécaud-composition Je T'Appartiens, the English version would become a standard recorded by numerous artists from pop, jazz, rock, R&B including Chet Atkins, the Everly Brothers, Betty Everett & Jerry Butler, the Righteous Brothers, Elvis Presley, and others ~ Kurtz was born in 1911
December 6, 1982 ~ Rondell Edwin Turner, commonly known as rapper, producer, songwriter Ron Browz, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for producing Nas's Ether and for his own 2008 single Pop Champagne
December 6, 1982 ~ Jazz, hard bop, swing drummer Ulysses Owens born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Best known for his associations with Kurt Elling and Christian McBride. Has also worked with child prodigy Joey Alexander, Gregory Porter, Matthew Whitaker, and others
December 6, 1979 ~ Progressive rock, alternative rock, hip hop drummer, guitarist, keyboardist, singer, rapper Josh Eppard, full name Josh Eric Eppard, born ~ Drummer for progressive rock band Coheed & Cambria through 2006, replaced by Chris Pennie. Drummer for supergroup the Terrible Things, alongside Fred Mascherino, Andy Jackson and Steve Lucarelli. Co-founding member of 3, which also included his brother Joey Eppard and Chris Bittner. As a solo rapper also known under the monniker Weerd Science, releasing his Friends And Nervous Breakdowns debut album in 2005. Has also worked with Newborn, Mazeman, Rick Whispers, MC Lars, Fire Deuce, and others
December 6, 1978 ~ Bluegrass fiddler, singer Casey Driessen, full name Casey Christopher Driessen, born in Owatonna, Minnesota, USA ~ Wirked with Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Steve Earle, Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott, Jim Lauderdale, Lee Ann Womack, Mark Schatz, John Doyle, Chris Thile, Darol Anger, John Mayer, Jerry Douglas, Jamey Haddad, Blue Merle, Duhks, the Sparrow Quartet, Crooked Still, and others
December 6, 1974 ~ Guitarist, drummer Stoffel Verlackt born ~ Worked with Flowers For Breakfast, El Tattoo Del Tigre, Sukilove, Metal Molly, Chitlin' Fooks, Bettie Serveert, and others. Has produced recordings by Assunto Mano, Hannelore Bedert and the New Radio Kings
December 6, 1973 ~ Pop rock guitarist Jolyon Dixon, full name Jolyon Keith Dixon, born in Salisbury, UK ~ Session and touring guitarist active since the early 1990s. Appears on albums such as Take The Leap (Toyah Willcox), Sex And Misery (Voice Of The Beehive), Naked and Chemistry (Scarlet), Under The Angels (Judie Tzuke), and Green Man (Mark Owen). Founding member and staff producer of the President Records label. Has also played with Rachel Fuller, Pete Townshend, and joined Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich for a series of concerts in 2019
December 6, 1972 ~ Bassist, keyboardist Alex Callier born in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium ~ Co-founded Hooverphonic with Frank Duchène. The band is best known for Amalfi, Badaboum featuring Emilie Satt & Litlo Tinz and The Wrong Place, all of which reached top 10 in the band's native Belgium
December 6, 1971 ~ Pop, electronic singer Anne Marie Almedal born in Kristiansand, Norway ~ Lead singer of Velvet Belly from 1989 through 2003. Has released a number of solo albums since, starting with 2007's The Siren And The Sage, and has collaborated with Lars Saabeye Christensen, Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, Green Carnation, and others
December 6, 1970 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Ulf Ekberg born ~ Member of Ace Of Base, alongside Jonas Berggren, Linn Bergren and Jenny Berggren. Has also worked with John Ballard, Jonas Saeed, Ari Lehtonen, D Massy, and others
December 6, 1969 ~ Singer, songwriter Irene Grandi born in Florence, Italy ~ First gained attention at the Sanremo Music Festival with Fuori, losing the contest to Andrea Bocelli. Would release her eponymous Irene Grandi later the same year, noted for the songs Sposati Subito co-written with Eros Ramazzotti and TVB co-written with Jovanotti. Would go on to record well over a dozen albums, 9 of which reached top 10 in her native Italy. Also known as an in-demand duet singer performing in several languages including German, French, Indian and African languages, notably duetting with Terence Trent d'Arby on Time Is On My Side, and with James Ried on Resist You
December 6, 1969 ~ Alternative rock, alternative pop singer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Kevin Ridel born in Vernon, Connecticut, USA ~ Lead singer, primary songwriter of 1990s powerpop unit Ridel High, known best for their 1997 Hi-Scores debut album produced by Lagwagon singer Joey Cape. Lead singer of alternative rock outfit AM Radio, gaining serious momentum in the early 2000s opening for the likes of Weezer, Third Eye Blind, Eve 6 and the Psychedelic Furs. Ridel's first band was 1980s hair metal band Avant Garde, which he co-founded with Rivers Cuomo of later Weezer fame
December 6, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist Mark Gardener born in Oxford, UK ~ Best known as co-founding member of shoegazing band Ride, acclaimed for their 1990 Nowhere denut album. The band scored a UK top 10 hit with their 1992 Leave Them All Behind single. Following the band's disbandement in 1995 Gardener formed the Animalhouse, blending psychedelica, Britrock and electronica. Has also recorded as a solo artist. Collaborated with the Morning After Girls and Molly's. Served as producer for acts such as Swervedriver, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Robin Guthrie and Dead Horse One
December 6, 1968 ~ Songwriter John Ewbank bir in Eastleigh, UK ~ Born to a Dutch mother and raised in the Netherlands. One of the most successful songwriters in the Netherlands scoring numerous charttoppers with songs recorded by Ferry Corsten, Trijntje Oosterhuis, VanVelzen, Esmée Denters, Gordon (Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn), Paul de Leeuw, Rob de Nijs, Nikki Kerkhof, Hero, and most notably Marco Borsato, the latter scoring over a dozen Dutch No.1 hits written or co-written by Ewbank
December 6, 1965 ~ Journalist, author, media critic Eric Boehlert born in Utica, New York, USA ~ Staff writer at both Salon and Billboard. To music and media audiences perhaps best known for a series of articles investigating corporate malfeasance in the music business following Pearl Jam's 1994 official complaint with the US Justice Department again Ticketmaster in 1994. In the Trump era became well known outside music circles as a firm and vocal critic of Donald J Trump ~ Boehlert passed away in 2022
December 6, 1964 ~ Country, pop, art rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Glenn Thompson born in Albury, Australia ~ Member of Custard, for whom he wrote the hit single Music Is Crap, Thompson appeared on the band We Have The Technology and Loverama albums. Subsequently worked with the short-lived the Titanics, known for their sole Love Is The Devil album released in 2000. Has also worked with the Go-Betweens, present on the band's Bright Yellow Bright Orange and its follow-up Oceans Apart. Has also fronted Beachfield and formed the duo Adele & Glenn with Adele Pickvance
December 6, 1964 ~ Jeff Bland, commonly known as guitarist Jeff Blando, born in Flint, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as guitarist of hard rock outfit Slaughter. Has worked with Vince Neil, Phil Varone, Dana Strum, Kody Lee, Left For Dead, Saigon Kick, the Crash, and others
December 6, 1964 ~ Singer, bassist Jorge González, full name Jorge Humberto González Rios, born in Santiago, Chile ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, frontman of Los Prisioneros, heavily influenced by the Clash and generally considered one of the most important rock bands in Chilean rock unwittingly becoming the voice of 1980s socio-economic protest against the Pinochet regime and banned for years by the government. Has subsequently recorded as a solo artist. Also formed the electronic project Gonzali Martinez with Dandy Jack known for the sole album, 1997's Gonzalo Martinez y Sus Congas, which established the technocumbia genre
December 6, 1964 ~ Joyce Melissa Morgan, commonly known as singer, songwriter Melisa Morgan, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Sang lead in Shades Of Love, known for Body To Body (Keep In Touch). Also a member of BBP and of High Fashion. Sang backup for Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, and Melba Moore. As a solo artist scored with the Prince cover Do Me Baby (1985), Do You Still Love Me (1986), Love Changes with Kashif (1987), and Still In Love With You (1992)
December 6, 1963 ~ Thrash metal, heavy metal guitarist Michael Wulf born ~ Member of Kreator. Member of Sodom, appearing on the band's 1986 Obsessed debut album. Killed in a motorcycle accident at age 29 ~ Wulf passed away in 1993
December 6, 1961 ~ Ronald Eugene Broomfield, commonly known as R&B, soul singer, songwriter Eugene Wilde, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for the singles Gotta Get You Home Tonight and Don't Say No Tonight, both of which topped the Billboard R&B charts respectively in 1984 and 1985. Wilde would regularly reach the R&B charts throughout the early 1990s. Duetted with Sheena Easton on the album track What If We Fall In Love of her 1987 No Sound But A Heart album. Also found succes as a songwriter, penning or co-penning songs such as I'll Never Break Your Heart for the Backstreet Boys, Dear Diary for Britney Spears and I Wish for the Spice Girls-singer Victoria Beckham's 2001 eponymous Victoria Beckham solo debut album
December 6, 1959 ~ Guitarist Tomohiko Kira was born in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan ~ Best known for fronting ZABADAK which also included Yoko Ueno and Katusha Matsuda. Also wrote the soundtrack for the 1988 cult horror film Evil Dead Trap film ~ Kira passed away in 2016
December 6, 1958 ~ Jazz drummer, bandleader Danny Alvin passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Sophie Tucker, Sidney Bechet, George Brunies, Buck Clayton, Wild Bill Davison, Wingy Manone, Joe Marsala, Art Hodes, Mezz Mezzrow, George Zack, and others ~ Alvin was born in 1902
December 6, 1956 ~ Guitarist, banjoist, mandolinist Peter Buck, full name Peter Lawrence Buck, born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Lead guitarist, co-founding member of REM, known for songs such as The One I Love, Stand, Losing My Religion, Shiny Happy People, Man On The Moon, Everybody Hurts, What's The Frequency Kenneth, and others. Has also been involved in a number of side projects, including Hindu Love Gods, the Baseball Project, Tired Pony, and others. Served as producer for the likes of Uncle Tupelo, the Vigilantes Of Love, the Fleshtones, the Feelies, the Jayhawks, and others
December 6, 1956 ~ Heavy metal guitarist Randy Rhoads was born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Classically trained. Influential heavy metal guitarist, helpful in establishing neoclassical metal as a genre. Member of Quiet Riot. Closely associated with Ozzy Osbourne, present on the Blizzard Of Ozz album and especially noted for the riffs on Crazy Train and Mr Crowley ~ Rhoads passed away in 1982
December 6, 1955 ~ Drummer Rick Buckler, full name Paul Richard Buckler, born in Woking, UK ~ Member of mod revival outfit the Jam alongside singer, guitarist, frontman Paul Weller and bassist Bruce Foxton from its formation until its disbandement. The band drew from a wide range of idioms including beat, soul, R&B, psychedelic rock, punk and new wave. The band would score four UK No.1 hits, namely Going Underground, Start, A Town Called Malice and Beat Surrender. Following the band's disbandement in 1982 Buckler formed the short-lived Time UK, was a member of Sharp, produced Bound For Glory for the Highliners and Tell 'Em We're Surfin' for the Family Cat. Retired from music in the 1990s to return to music in the 2000s working with the Gift, From The Jam, If, and work as a music management consultant. Buckler published his That's Entertainment (My Life In The Jam) autobiography in 2015
December 6, 1955 ~ Leticia Hinojosa, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Tish Hinojosa, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Sings in both English and Spanish. As a daughter of immigrants her music is rooted in both Mexican and American music, often telling of the plights and struggles of immigrants, merging folk, Tejano, conjunto and country music. Active since the 1980s with well over a dozen albums to her name. Acclaimed for the frailty and sincerity of her songs, especially notable on the 1991 Aqualla Noche album
December 6, 1954 ~ Pop rock, power pop, jangle pop guitarist, bassist, trumpeter, singer Chris Stamey, full name Christopher Charles Stamey, born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA ~ Briefly played with Alex Chilton and subsequently Sneakers before teaming up with Peter Holsapple to form the dB's. The band is known for their 1981 Stands For Decibels debut album, among critics praised as one of the greatest “lost” power pop albums of the 1980s. Stamey has also collaborated with Kirk Ross, Yo La Tengo, Syd Straw, the Golden Palominos, and Freedy Johnston. Has also served as a producer, notable credits include the albums Faithless Street and Strangers Almanac for Whiskeytown and Under The Influence for Alejandro Escovedo
December 6, 1954 ~ Free jazz trombonist Steve Swell born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, Ken McIntyre, Tim Berne's Caos Totale, Joey Baron, Herb Robertson, Jemeel Moondoc, Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, Gebhard Ullmann-Steve Swell Quartet, William Parker, Bill Dixon, Butch Morris, John Zorn, Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra, Dave Burrell, Elliott Sharp, Rob Mazurek, Phillip Johnston's Big Trouble, Perry Robinson, Ken Vandermark, Sabir Mateen, Matthew Heyner, Klaus Kugel, Hamid Drake, the Unified Theory Of Sound, the Transcendentalists, Inner Ear, and others
December 6, 1954 ~ Jazz pianist, organist Wayne Peet born ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with John Rapson, Alex Cline, Nels Cline, Vinny Golia, Steuart Liebig, and with Bobby Bradford. Worked extensively for film and TV. Has recorded as a leader since the early 1980s
December 6, 1951 ~ Classical cellist David Finckel born in New Jersey, USA ~ Son of jazz, big band arranger Edwin Finckel. Member of the Emerson String Quartet from 1979 through 2013
December 6, 1949 ~ Huddie William Ledbetter, commonly known as guitarist, singer Leadbelly, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most important and influential pre-war blues, folk singers, guitarists known for songs such as Goodnight Irene, The Midnight Special, Cotton Fields and Boll Weevil ~ Ledbetter was born in 1888
December 6, 1948 ~ Harvie Swartz, commonly known as jazz double bassist Harvie S, born ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Mose Allison, Chris Connor, Jackie Paris, Thad Jones, Gil Evans, Lee Konitz, Barry Miles, David Friedman, Double Image, David Matthews, Steve Kuhn, Paul Motian, Sheila Jordan, and others
December 6, 1948 ~ Songwriter Linda Creed, full name Linda Diane Creed, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Frequent songwriting partner of Thom Bell, penning some of the finest soul songs of the 1970s. Artists who have recorded their songs include George Benson (The Greatest Love Of All), Johnny Mathis, the Stylistics (You Make Me Feel Brand New), the Spinners (Ghetto Child), Teddy Pendergrass (Hold Me), Phyllis Hyman, Johnny Gill, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and others ~ Creed passed away in 1986
December 6, 1948 ~ Actor, singer Marius Müller-Westernhagen born in Düsseldorf, Germany ~ Best known for Johnny Walker and Freiheit, the latter becoming an anthem of the German reunification
December 6, 1947 ~ Jazz saxophonist Carlos Averhoff born in Matanzas, Cuba ~ Perhaps best known as member of the Orquesta De Musica Moderna, taking over for Paquito d'Rivera in 1973 who was declared “reactionary” by the authorities ~ Averhoff passed away in 2016
December 6, 1947 ~ Blues rock guitarist, singer Kim Simmonds born in Newbridge, UK ~ Frontman of Savoy Brown, which he co-founded with blues harpist John O'Leary. With heavy promotion and excessive touring the band would find success in America. Best known for their early albums, 1968's Getting To The Point, 1969's Blue Matter and 1970's Looking In considered landmark albums ~ Simmonds passed away in 2022
December 6, 1947 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, funk bassist, double bassist Miroslav Vitous, full name Miroslav Ladislav Vitous, born in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Leader and sideman. Led the Junior Trio early on in his career, the trio included keyboardist Jan Hammer and his brother Alan Vitous. Backed Miles Davis in the late 1960s. Well over a dozen albums as a leader, starting with Infinite Search released in 1969, backed by Joe Henderson, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, and Joe Chambers. Co-founding pivotal jazz fusion outfit the Weather Report in 1970, remaining with the band through 1973 replaced by Alphonso Johnson.
December 6, 1947 ~ Jazz trumpeter Uli Beckerhoff born in Munster, Germany ~ Leads the the Uli Beckerhoff Trio with pianist Jasper van 't Hof and drummer John Marshall as the other members
December 6, 1946 ~ Pop, rock, jazz guitarist Dean Parks, full name Weldon Dean Parks, born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Co-founded jazz fusion outfit Koinonia in 1980. In-demand session musician since the late 1960s. Notably present on Steely Dan's Haitian Divorce of their The Royal Scam album. Also appeared on albums by the likes of Bobby Blue Bland, T-Bone Burnett, Art Garfunkel (Angel Clare), Johnny Rivers, the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder (Innervisions), Tavares, Martha Reeves, Joan Baez (Diamonds And Rust), Neil Sedaka, Randy Crawford, the Crusaders, Kenny Loggins, Bread, Joe Sample (Carmel), Al Jarreau, Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Simon (Hearts And Bones), David Lee Roth, and Natalie Cole
December 6, 1946 ~ Howard Beverly, commonly known as R&B, soul, funk singer, guitarist, keyboardist. songwriter Frankie Beverly, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Formed the Butlers, known among soul afficionados for the 1967 recording If That's What You Wanted. The group would be rechristened to Raw Soul, open for Marvin Gaye and eventually be renamed to Maze. The group would score a string of R&B hits from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, with Workin' Together, Feel That You're Feelin', Southern Girl, Running Away, Love Is The Key, Back In Stride, Too Many Games, Can't Get Over You and Silky Soul all reaching top Billboard R&B
December 6, 1944 ~ Kenneth George King, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer, label executive, radio and TV personality Jonathan King born in London, UK ~ First gained attention as a singer with the 1965 self-penned Everyone's Gone To The Moon single, which reached top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and top 10 in his native UK. Would go on to become an independent producer and later found the UK Records label. Discovered and named Genesis, producing the band's 1969 From Genesis To Revelation debut album. Has also notably worked with acts such as 10cc and the Bay City Rollers
December 6, 1943 ~ Keith Alan Hopkins, commonly known as rock, psychedelic rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Keith West, born in Dagenham, UK ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1967 single Excerpt From A Teenage Opera, a hit across Europe including top 10 positions in the Netherlands, Ireland and his native UK. Has also worked with acts such as Tomorrow, Moonrider, and others
December 6, 1943 ~ Pop, beat singer, keyboardist, songwriter Mike Smith, full name Michael George Smith, born in Edmonton, UK ~ Lead singer, keyboardist of the Dave Clark Five, prior to the emergence of the Rolling Stones seen as the main rivals to the Beatles. The band is known for songs such as Glad All Over, Bits And Pieces, Can't You See That She's Mine, and Catch Us If You Can, all of which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic ~ Smith passed away in 2008
December 6, 1942 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Robb Royer, full name Robert Wilson Royer, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Founding member of Bread, remaining with the band from 1968 through 1971 and replaced by Larry Knechtel. Present on the 1970 Billboard Hot 100 no.1 hit Make It With You. Previously a member of Pleasure Fair known for their sole album, 1967's eponymous Pleasure Fair. Also known for co-writing For All We Know with Jimmy Griffin and Fred Karlin sung by Larry Meredith for the 1970 film lovers And Other Strangers and awarded an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Royer include the Remingtons, Mary Chapin Carpenter (Quittin' Time), John Michael Montgomery (Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)), Randy Travis, Billy Burnette, the Finnigan Brothers, and others
December 6, 1941 ~ Helen Lorene Johnson, commonly known as country singer, songwriter, actress Helen Cornelius, born ~ Has recorded as a solo artist but is best known for a string of 1970s duets with Jim Ed Brown, including the Billboard Country top 10 hits I Don't Want To Have To Marry You, Say Hello Saying I Love You Saying Goodbye, If The World Ran Out Of Love Tonight, Lying In Love With You, Fools and Morning Comes Too Early
December 6, 1940 ~ Jazz banjoist Charlie Dixon, full name Charles Edward Dixon, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Johnny Dunn, Sam Wooding, Fletcher Henderson, the Dixie Stompers, Kaiser Marshall, Louis Armstrong, Ralph Escudero, Coleman Hawkins, Don Redman, Elmer Chambers, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Trixie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Chick Webb, and others ~ Dixon was born in 1898
December 6, 1940 ~ Jazz, pop bassist, double bassist, singer, songwriter Jay Leonhart, full name Jay Chancellor Leonhart, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Over a dozen albums as a leader starting in the early 1980s, especially acclaimed for 1999's Sensitive To The Touch (The Music Of Harold Arlen) and 2004's Cool albums. Noted for his clever songwriting, often laced with dry humor. Closely associated with the New York Trio, Barbara Carroll, Eddie Higgins. In-demand sideman, including outside jazz having worked with artists as diverse as Garland Jeffreys, James Taylor, Ozzy Osbourne, and Queen Latifah. Other notable collaborations include Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Terence Blanchard, Urbie Green, Dick Hyman, Bette Midler, Houston Person, Leon Redbone, Don Sebesky, Louie Bellson, and others
December 6, 1940 ~ Singer Justo Betancourt born in Matanzas, Cuba ~ About hald a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, perhaps best known for his 1972 rendition of Pa Bravo Yo. Fronted Borincuba. Has also notably worked with the Fania All-Stars, Sonora Matancera, Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaria, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, and others
December 6, 1937 ~ Jazz drummer Eddie Gladden born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Worked with James Moody, Eddie Jefferson, Richie Cole, Cecil Payne, Horace Silver, David Fathead Newman, Larry Young, Freddie Roach, Jimmy McGriff, Richard Groove Holmes, Kirk Lightsey, Clifford Jordan, Albert Dailey, Jimmy Ponder, Shirley Scott, Mickey Tucker, Dexter Gordon, and others ~ Gladden passed away in 2003
December 6, 1935 ~ R&B singer George Williams, full name George Reginald Williams Jr, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Lead singer of the Tymes, known for songs such as So Much In Love, Wonderful Wonderful, Somewhere, and Ms Grace ~ Williams passed away in 2004
December 6, 1934 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Norio Maeda born in Japan ~ Leader and sideman. Founded the Wind Breakers. Founded We 3. Member of the West-liners. Worked with artists such as Shungo Sawada, Konosuke Saijo, Yasuo Arakawa, Takeshi Inomata, Sadanori Nakamure, and others. Has composed for Blue Coats, Tatsuya Takahashi, Nobuo Hara, and for Toshiyuki Miyama ~ Maeda passed away in 2018
December 6, 1929 ~ Conductor, cellist Nikolaus Harnoncourt, full name Johann Nikolaus Harnoncourt, born in Berlin, Germany ~ Founded the Concentus Musicus Wien. Also worked with the Vienna Symphony, La Scala, Gustav Leonhardt, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and others. Married to violinist Alice Harnoncourt ~ Harnoncourt passed away in 2016
December 6, 1928 ~ Jazz drummer Frankie Dunlop born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Appears on over 100 albums. Worked with Big Jay McNeely, Moe Koffman, Sonny Stitt, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Maynard Ferguson, Lena Horne, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Lionel Hampton, Earl Hines, Ray Crawford, Joe Zawinul, Mose Allison, Bill Barron, Richard Davis, Herman Foster, Dodo Greene, Melba Liston, Billy Mackel, Martin Mull, Wilbur Ware, Randy Weston, Leo Wright, and others ~ Dunlop passed away in 2014
December 6, 1928 ~ Composer, conductor, TV personality Roberto Pregadio born in Catania, Italy ~ Perhaps best known for composing the score to the 1969 spaghetti western The Forgotten Pistolero, noted for its whistling. Composed numerous other soundtracks, starting in the mid 1960s. Previously a pianist with the the RAI Light Music Orchestra, appearing on many RAI radio and TV shows ~ Pregadio passed away in 2010
December 6, 1927 ~ Jazz saxophonist Akira Miyazawa born in Matsumoto, Japan, Japan ~ Worked extensively with Toshiko Akiyoshi in the 1950s and 1960s. Has also collaborated with artists such as Yasuo Arakawa, Hampton Hawes, Hidehiko Matsumoto, Helen Merrill, Shotaro Moriyasu, Masahiko Satoh, Mal Waldron, Sadao Watanabe, and Masahiko Togashi ~ Miyazawa passed away in 2000
December 6, 1927 ~ Jazz trombonist, conductor, composer, arranger Tom McIntosh born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Worked with Lee Morgan, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, James Moody, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Howard McGhee, Art Blakey, Illinois Jacquet, Bobby Timmons, Eddie Harris, John Lewis, Shirley Scott, and others ~ McIntosh passed away in 2017
December 6, 1925 ~ Tenor saxophonist, oboe player Bob Cooper born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his work in Stan Kenton's band. Married the band's singer, June Christy. As a sideman Cooper has also worked with Chet Baker, Elmer Bernstein, Buddy Bregman, Maynard Ferguson, Jimmy Giuffre, Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Jack Nitzsche, Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, Pete Rugolo, Bud Shank, and others ~ Cooper passed away in 1993
December 6, 1925 ~ Soul, gospel singer Theola Kilgore born in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ~ Featured vocalist on the Mount Zion Spiritual Choir's Look To The Hills. As a solo artist best known for The Sound Of My Man (Working On The Chain Gang), an answer song to Sam Cooke's Chain Gang, and for her 1963 single The Love Of My Man which barely missed the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 ~ Kilgore passed away in 2005
December 6, 1923 ~ Bluegrass, country guitarist, singer Jim Eanes born in Mountain Valley, Virginia, USA ~ Worked with Roy Hall, Uncle Joe & the Nobody Boys, Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe's backing unit the Bluegrass Boys, Pappy Sherrill, Snuffy Jenkins, the Shenandoah Boys, Roy Russell, Allen Shelton, Arnold Terry, and others ~ Eanes passed away in 1995
December 6, 1923 ~ Television and film composer Maury Laws born in Burlington, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known as music director for Videocraft International for about two decades starting in 1964. Conducted and scored music for animated feature films such as The Hobbit, The Flight Of The Dragons and The Wacky World Of Mother Goose ~ Laws passed away in 2019
December 6, 1920 ~ Pianist, composer Dave Brubeck, full name David Warren Brubeck, born in Concord, California, USA ~ Leading in cool jazz genre. Known for experimenting with time signatures, arguably most famously on Take Five penned by long-time collaborator Paul Desmond. Led the Dave Brubeck Quartet which at times included Desmond, Ron Crotty, Bob Bates, Norman Bates, Lloyd Davis, Joe Dodge, Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Gerry Mulligan, and others ~ Brubeck passed away in 2012
December 6, 1918 ~ Martin Robert Schopp, commonly known as radio DJ, guitarist, fiddler, actor, songwriter Marty Roberts, born in Chenoa, Illinois, USA ~ Member of the Tennessee Ramblers. Co-wrote You Can't Have My Love, a 1954 hit for Wanda Jackson. Best known as a radio DJ and TV personality ~ Schopp passed away in 2009
December 6, 1916 ~ Producer, songwriter Hugo Peretti born in New York, New York, USA ~ Half of producer, songwriter team Hugo & Luigi, the other half being his cousin Luigi Creatore. Worked with artists such as Sarah Vaughan, Jimmie Rodgers, Valerie Carr, Perry Como, Sam Cooke, Ray Peterson, the Tokens, Elvis Presley (Can't Help Falling In Love), the Stylistics, the Softones, and others ~ Peretti passed away in 1986
December 6, 1910 ~ Jazz, dixieland pianist Armand Hug born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Played professionaly from age 13 onwards, mostly as a solo pianist in local clubs. Did not record until the early 1950s, debuting with the eponymous Armand Hug album in 1951. Has also worked with Harry Shields, the New Orleans Owls, Sharkey Bonano ~ Hug passed away in 1977
December 6, 1887 ~ Ragtime pianist, composer Joseph Lamb, full name Joseph Francis Lamb, born in Montclair, New Jersey, USA ~ Alongside Scott Joplin and James Scott considered one of “the Big Three” of classical ragtime. Of the three the one most influenced by classical music as clear from his use of long phrases and complexer structures. Known for songs such as Excelsior Rag, American Beauty Rag, Nightingale Rag, Top Liner Rag, Champagne Rag, Reindeer Ragtime Two Step and Bohemia ~ Lamb passed away in 1960
December 6, 1885 ~ Poet, novelist, songwriter Birger Sjöberg born in Vänersborg, Sweden ~ Originally a journalist, Sjöberg wrote songs in his spare time. Well known for his 1922 songbook Fridas Bok and the novel Kvartetten Som Sprangdes published two years later ~ Sjöberg passed away in 1929