February 16, 1999 ~ Marie Ulven Ringheim, commonly known as indie pop, lo-fi, bedroom pop, dream pop singer, guitarist, keyboardist Girl In Red, born in Horten, Norway ~ First gained attention with her EPs Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 in respectively 2018 and 2019. Quickly became a queer icon on the strength of songs such as I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend and We Fell In Love In October. Released her full-length If I Could Make It Go Quiet album in 2021
February 16, 1991 ~ Rayshawn Lamar Bennett, commonly known as rapper, singer, songwriter YFN Lucci, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Released a number of mixtapes and EPs starting in the mid-2010s, leading up to his full-length Ray Ray From Summerhill debut album in 2018. Best known for the single Key To The Streets featuring Migos and Trouble released in 2016. Has also worked with Meek Mill, PnB Rock, Rick Ross, and others
February 16, 1990 ~ Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, commonly known as singer, producer, songwriter the Weeknd, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Released his full-length Kiss Land debut album in 2013 and has recorded to commercial success becoming one of the best-selling artists of the 2010s. Known best for songs such as Love Me Harder featuring Ariana Grande, Earned It, The Hills, Can't Feel My Face, Starboy featuring Daft Punk, Pray For Me, Heartless, Blinding Lights, Smile, and others
February 16, 1989 ~ Rock, pop rock, soft rock singer, guitarist, percussionist Danielle Haim, full name Danielle Sari Haim, born in San Fernando Valley, California, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit Haim alongside Alana Haim and Este Haim, drawing critical comparison to Fleetwood Mac and the Bangles. The band debuted in 2013 with the album Days Are Gone and has recorded consistently since. They are best known for songs such as Forever, The Wire, Want You Back, A Little Of Your Love, Now I'm In It, and Gasoline featuring Taylor Swift
February 16, 1982 ~ Post-hardcore, pop-punk guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, singer Brian Southall born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of fordirelifesake, Boys Night Out, the Receiving End Of Sirens, Isles & Glaciers, the Company We Keep. Tour manager for Motion City Soundtrack, and All-Time Low. Ventured into band management by the late 2010s, representing acts such as Billie Eilish and Pharrell Williams
February 16, 1975 ~ Samuel Salter, commonly known as R&B singer, songwriter Sam Salter, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Discovered by LA Reid. Had his 1997 It's On Tonight debut album produced by a team which included Tricky Stewart, Tony Rich and Robin Thicke, spawning the Billboard R&B top 20 hit After 12 Before 6. Would continue to record to mixed succes. Has written songs for 98°, Aaron Skyy, Xscape's Kandi Burruss, B2K, the Isley Brothers, Tyrese, and others ~ Salter passed away in 2021
February 16, 1971 ~ Alternative rock, alternative metal, hip-hop, punk rock keyboardist, songwriter Zac Baird, full name Zachary Baird, born in Orange County, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his association with nu metal outfit Korn, touring with the band on the See You On The Other Side and Family Values tours, and appearing on the albums MTV Unplugged, The Paradigm Shift, and The Serenity Of Suffering. Produced Billy Goat's 1995 Black & White sophomore album. Has also worked with Whitey, Hairy Apes BMX, Evanescence, Monster In The Machine, Wavves, Tom Freund, Jonathan Davis, and Florence + the Machine
February 16, 1970 ~ DJ, producer, remixer, songwriter Armand van Helden born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Considered one of the premier house DJs with a career spanning three decades and especially popular in Europe. Best known for releases such as You Don't Know Me, I Want Your Soul, My My My featuring Tara McDonald, and Bonkers featuring Dizzee Rascal
February 16, 1967 ~ Alternative rock, trip hop drummer Damon Reece born in London, UK ~ Following the death of Pete de Freitas in 1989 joined the re-formed Echo & the Bunnymen, appearing on the 1990 Reverberation album. Subsequently a member of Spiritualized departing the band after the release of the 1997 album Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space to form Lupine Howl. Has also worked with Massive Attack and Goldfrapp. Romantically involved with the Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser, with whom he has a daughter
February 16, 1967 ~ Gerald Rydel Simpson, commonly known as acid house, jungle, drum and bass, electronica DJ, producer A Guy Called Gerald, born in Manchester, UK ~ Early member of 808 State. As a solo artist best known for his work in the Manchester scene during the late 1980s, especially with the track Voodoo Ray released in 1988
February 16, 1963 ~ Blues-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Duarte born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Describes his style as a combination of rockin' blues and punk blues. Influenced by John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Well over a dozen albums to his name, starting in the mid-1980s. Especially acclaimed for the 1990s albums Texas Sugar (Strat Magik) and its follow-up Tailspin Headwhack
February 16, 1961 ~ Guitarist Andy Taylor, full name Andrew Arthur Taylor, born in Dover-Hampton, UK ~ Member of pop outfit Duran Duran from 1980 through 1986, present on UK top 10 hits such as Girls On Film, Hungry Like The Wolf, Save A Prayer, Is There Something I Should Know, The Reflex, The Wild Boys, and A View To A Kill. Also worked with Power Station on the 1985 The Power Station album. Notably present on Rod Stewart's 1988 Out Of Order album. Other credits include Robert Palmer, the Almighty, Thunder, Love & Money, Mark Shaw, Then Jericho, CC Catch, and Belinda Carlisle
February 16, 1960 ~ Country singer, bassist Doug Phelps born in Leachville, Arkansas, USA ~ Formed the duo Brother Phelps with his brother guitarist, singer Ricky Lee Phelps. The duo would score a number a early 1990s country hits, their highest charting being Let Go reaching top 10 Billboard Country in 1993. Prior both brothers had played with the Kentucky Headhunters, leaving the band after the successful 1989 Pickin' On Nashville debut album
February 16, 1960 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Pete Willis born in Sheffield, UK ~ Founding member of metal, hard rock band Def Leppard. Present on the band's first three albums, On Through The Night, High 'n Dry and Pyromania, replaced in 1982 by Phil Collen. Also worked with Atomic Mass, Gogmagog, Nightrun and Roadhouse
February 16, 1958 ~ Tracy Lauren Marrow, commonly known as hip-hop, heavy metal rapper, actor Ice-T, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Helped shape gangsta rap and especially paved the way for rock-influenced rap. Would sollicit controversy early in his career. His 1987 solo debut album Rhyme Pays being the second hip-hop album to carry an explicit content sticker. With his heavy metal band Body Count drew criticism over the lyrics of the 1992 song Cop Killer. Ventured into acting for film and TV, most notably in the role of detective Odafin Tutuola in the crime series Law & Order SVU since 2000
February 16, 1957 ~ Guitarist, bassist, mandolonist, dobroist Jeff Pevar born ~ Forms the trio CPR with David Crosby and Crosby's son James Raymond. In-demand collaborator and sidemand, worked with Donald Fagen, James Taylor, Marc Cohn, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Rickie Lee Jones, Dr John, Carly Simon, Kenny Loggins, Jazz Is Dead, Phil Lesh, Phil Collins, Jonatha Brooke, Willy DeVille, and others
February 16, 1956 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Marcus Turner, full name Marcus William Turner, born in Roxburgh, New Zealand ~ Member of High Country. Co-founding member of the Chaps. Also known for two solo albums, 1983's The Best Is Yet To Come and 2005's Laid Down, showcasing both tongue-in-cheek comedy and sensitive introspective songs ~ Turner passed away in 2016
February 16, 1956 ~ Conductor, composer Thomas Sleeper born in Wagoner, Oklahoma, USA ~ In-demand guest conductor, has worked with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Central Philharmonic Of China, the San Juan Symphony Orchestra, the Ruse State Philharmonic, and others. Closely associated with the Frost Symphony Orchestra and the Florida Youth Orchestra, serving as the latter's director from 1993 through 2020 ~ Sleeper passed away in 2022
February 16, 1954 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Jeff Clayton born in Venice, California, USA ~ Brother of bassist John Clayton, with whom he also worked under the moniker Clayton Brothers. Founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with drummer Jeff Hamilton. In-demand sideman and session musician. Worked with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Ethan Smith, Lena Horne, Thad Jones, Gene Harris, Dianne Reeves, Joe Cocker, BB King, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Patti Labelle, Madonna, and others ~ Clayton passed away in 2020
February 16, 1952 ~ Singer James Ingram born in Akron, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits I Don't Have The Heart and Baby Come To Me, the latter a duet with Patti Austin. Also known for duetting with Linda Ronstadt on Somewhere Out There, with Melissa Manchester on Brightest Star, and with Dolly Parton on The Day I Fall In Love. In-demand collaborator and backing singer, present on albums by Donna Summer, Ray Charles, Anita Baker, Viktor Lazlo, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, and Quincy Jones ~ Ingram passed away in 2019
February 16, 1952 ~ Synth-pop, electronica, punk-pop singer, keyboardist Tracy Howe, full name Tracy Marlowe Howe, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Member of the Normals. Drummer, singer in Heaven Seventeen, one of the first punk bands to use synthesizers. Member of Men Without Hats. Best known as member of the Rational Youth, which he co-founded with Bill Vorn, considered to be one of the first Canadian synth-pop groups. Married to percussionist Gaenor Howe, bandmate in Youth
February 16, 1949 ~ Singer Lyn Paul born in Manchester, UK ~ Rose to fame in the early 1970s as member of the New Seekers, including as lead vocalist on Beg Steal Or Borrow which reached 2nd place in the 1972 Eurovision Songfestival. Also present on songs such as You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me, I Get A Little Sentimental Over You, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony), and others. Paul left the group in 1974 to pursue a solo career. Has recorded and performed as a solo artist and has collaborated with Andy Williams, Dionne Warwick, Liza Minnelli, and others
February 16, 1945 ~ Funk, R&B singer Lenny Williams, full name Leonard Charles Williams, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA ~ Lead singer of Tower Of Power from 1972 through 1975, present on some of the band's best-known songs, notably What Is Hip, and recording three albums with the funk outfit. As a solo artist known for songs such as 1977's Choosing You and 1978's Cause I Love You. Has worked with artists such as Sly Stone, Andráe Crouch, Billy Preston
February 16, 1945 ~ Bebop, West Coast jazz, hard bop saxophonist Pete Christlieb born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Played the sax solos on Steely Dan's Deacon Blues and FM (No Static At All). Has also worked with Louie Bellson, Chet Baker, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Tom Waits, Warne Marsh, Doc Severinsen, Bob Florence, Frank Mantooth, Gary Urwin, Phil Kelly, Bill Holman, the Tall & Small Band, Don Lanphere, Ernie Watts, Dick Hyde, Hadley Caliman, Wayne Bergeron, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, the Manhattan Transfer, Diane Schuur, Bobby Blue Bland, Freddie Hubbard, Carmen McRae, Joey DeFrancesco, and others
February 16, 1941 ~ Jazz bassist Jim Richardson, full name James Anthony Richardson, born in Tottenham, UK ~ Member of pioneering progressive rock, jazz-rock band If from 1969 through 1973, present on the band's first four albums. Would go on to work with Elton Dean, Keith Tippett, Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Helen Shapiro, Tommy Whittle, the Weightwatchers, and others
February 16, 1939 ~ Czeslaw Juliusz Wydrzycki, commonly known as rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, avant-garde jazz singer, songwriter Czeslaw Niemen, born in Nowogrodek Voivodeship, Poland ~ Considered one of the most important Polish singers of the 20th century singing mainly in Polish. Has worked with bands such as Akwarele, Enigmatic, Grupa Niemen, Aerolit, the Silesian Blues Band, and has released solo records starting in the late 1960s ~ Wydrzycki passed away in 2004
February 16, 1938 ~ Contemporary classical composer, film composer John Corigliano, full name John Paul Corigliano, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of concertmaster John Paul Corigliano Sr and pianist Rose Butzen. Composer-in-residence for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Known best for his 1963 Sonata For Violin And Piano, the 1977 Clarinet Concerto, and for scoring the music for films such as 1985's Revolution and 1998's The Red Violin
February 16, 1936 ~ William Henry Deppenschmidt, commonly known as jazz drummer Buddy Deppenschmidt, born ~ Worked with territory and local bands, prior to joining Charlie Byrd's trio by the late 1950s, a role he would become best known for. Played with Byrd through 1963, including on the acclaimed Jazz Samba album which started a bossa nova craze fueled by the album's hit single Desafinado. Following his tenure with Byrd, Deppenschmidt has worked with Herb Ellis, John Coates Jr, Bernard Peiffer, Jim Kweskin (Jump For Joy), Mose Allison, Chet Baker, Lionel Hampton, Milt Hinton, Maxine Sullivan, and Joe Venuti, and led his own band Jazz Renaissance with a rotating cast of sidemen ~ Deppenschmidt passed away in 2021
February 16, 1935 ~ Salvatore Phillip Bono, commonly known as producer, singer, songwriter Sonny Bono, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Half of Sonny & Cher, the other half being his wife Cher, known for songs such as I Got You Babe, The Beat Goes On, Little Man, Baby Don't Go, All I Ever Need Is You, and A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done. As a solo artist known for his sole US hit Laugh At Me, a Billboard Top 10 hit. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Little Things You Do (Sam Cooke) and Needles And Pins (Jackie DeShannon). Served as Republican mayor of Palm Springs, California, from 1988 through 1992 and as Congressman from 1995 up to his death in 1998 ~ Bono passed away in 1998
February 16, 1934 ~ Twin brothers singers Harold Kalin and Herbie Kalin born in Port Jervis, New York, USA ~ The siblings formed the duo the Kalin Twins, known for their 1958 hit When, which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. The follow-up single Forget Me Not, released shortly thereafter, also reached top 20 Billboard Hot 100. The siblings would continue to record regularly through the early 1960s, but were unable to repeat their earlier success ~ Harold passed away in 2005, Herbie in 2006
February 16, 1934 ~ Theodore Taylor, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer Ted Taylor, born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA ~ Influenced by Little Willie John, Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson. Started his career singing with the Mighty Clouds Of Joy gospel group. Would go on to sing secular R&B with the Cadets and the Jacks, which were basically the same group. Sang lead on the former's Do You Wanna Rock (Hey Little Girl) and I Cry, and on the latter's Away and My Darling. Taylor ventured out on his own by 1957 and is known for being the first to record Be Ever Wonderful in 1959, notably covered by Dee Dee Sharp in 1963 and by Joe Hinton in 1968. As a solo artist Taylor would also reach national succes with Stay Away From My Baby, a Billboard R&B top 20 hit in 1965 ~ Taylor passed away in 1987
February 16, 1932 ~ Johnny Davenport, commonly known as singer, songwriter Otis Blackwell, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote several songs pivotal to the development of rock & roll, including Great Balls Of Fire for pianist Jerry Lee Lewis, and Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up, and Return To Sender for Elvis Presley. Others who recorded his songs include Little Willie John (Fever), Ben E King, Thurston Harris, Solomon Burke (Home In Your Heart), the Drifters, Ray Charles, Kenny Lee Martin, Jimmy Jones (Handy Man), and the Four Lovers ~ Blackwell passed away in 2002
February 16, 1925 ~ Virtuoso fado, classical guitarist, composer Carlos Paredes born in Coimbra, Portugal ~ Son of guitarist Artur Paredes. Dubbed “the man with the thousand fingers” and regarded as one of the all-time premier Portuguese guitarists. Imprisoned during the late 1950s for his membership of the Communist Party. Has collaborated with artists such as Fernando Gusmão, Amália Rodrigues, Cecilia de Melo, Manuel Alegre, António Victorino de Almeida, and Charlie Haden ~ Paredes passed away in 2004
February 16, 1916 ~ Jazz, R&B organist, pianist Bill Doggett, full name William Bill Doggett, born in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Started in swing, to transition into R&B. Considered helpful to the development of rock & roll. Led his own trio from the early 1950s onward, known for the instrumental Honky Tonk, as well as for Slow Walk, Ram-Bunk-Shun, and Hold It, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B. As a sideman Doggett has worked with the likes of Buddy Tate, Lucky Thompson, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan, Lucky Millinder, Willis Jackson, Coleman Hawkins, and Paul Quinichette ~ Doggett passed away in 1996
February 16, 1914 ~ Actor, singer, songwriter Jimmy Wakely, full names James Clarence Wakely, born in Howard County, Arkansas, USA ~ One of the last singing cowboys. Appeared in over two dozen westerns, usually as a side act. Had his own comic book series. Known for songs such Lonesome Guitar, My Kind Of Country, Twilight On The Trail, I'm Sending You Red Roses, I Love You So Much It Hurts. Also known for a number of duets such ar Slippin' Around and Broken Down Merry-go-round with Margaret Whiting, and Beautiful Brown Eyes with Les Baxter ~ Wakely passed away in 1982
February 16, 1908 ~ Francisco Raul Gutierrez Grillo, commonly known as bandleader, singer, maracas player Machito, born ~ Sideman and leader. In the late-1930s he played with several orchestras, including with Xavier Cugat. Formed the Afro-Cubans in the 1940s with Mario Bauzá, Machito's brother-in-law, as its musical director. Among the first to fuse Afro-Cuban rhythms with swing, jazz and big band. George Shearing, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Stan Kenton all names Machito an influence. Has recorded extensively from the 1940s to the 1980s.
February 16, 1907 ~ Composer, songwriter Alec Wilder, full name Alexander Lafayette Chew Wilder, born in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Known for writing or co-writing songs such as Give Me Time (Mildred Bailey), Who Can I Turn To (Gene Krupa), Moon And Sand (Xavier Cugat), I'll Be Around (Cab Calloway), While We're Young (Fred Waring), Trouble Is A Man (Peggy Lee), and The Lady Sings The Blues (Cleo Laine) ~ Wilder passed away in 1980
February 16, 1904 ~ Actor, singer James Baskett, full name James Franklin Baskett, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Voiced the character Uncle Remus in the Disney animated film Song Of The South, including singing Zip-a-dee-doo-dah which would win an Academy Award for Best Song. Other notable credits include appearing in the 1929 Broadway revue Hot Chocolates alongside Louis Armstrong and voicing Fats Crow in the original 1941 Dumbo animated film ~ Baskett passed away in 1948
February 16, 1866 ~ Violinist, composer John Dunn born in Kingston-upon-Hull, UK ~ Gave his first public performance at age 9. Considered the premier British violinist of his day, especially acclaimed for his interpretation of works by Niccolò Paganini. Also known for premiering Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in the UK in 1902. ~ Dunn passed away in 1940