February 17, 1991 ~ Pop, folk-pop singer, songwriter Ed Sheeran born in Halifax, UK ~ Influenced by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Elton John, the Beatles, Damien Rice. Emerged in the early 2010s on the strength of his Youtube videos to dominate the charts throughout the remainder of the decade both as a singer and as an in-demand collaborator and songwriter for other artists. Has sold over 150 million records, making him one of the world's best-selling artists. Known for songs such as Sing, Thinking Out Loud, Castle On The Hill, The Shape Of You, Perfect, Take Me Back To London featuring Stormzy, Afterglow, and others
February 17, 1988 ~ Alexander Vargas Blay, commonly known as aAlternative rock, soul singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, producer Alex Vargas, born in Horsholm, Denmark ~ Founding member of Vagabond, disbanding the band in 2010 to pursue a solo career. As a solo artist best known for songs such as More and Shackled Up. Has collaborated with Above & Beyond, co-writing a number of songs of their We Are All We Need album. Also co-wrote Kristian Kostov's Beautiful Mess, Bulgaria's entry for the 2017 Eurovision Songfestival which reached 2nd place
February 17, 1982 ~ Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, commonly known as rapper Lupe Fiasco, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Released his full-length Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor debut album in 2006. Known for songs such as Superstar featuring Matthew Santos and The Show Goes On. Has worked with Japanese Cartoon, Da Pak, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Joy Denalane, Dan the Automator, Guy Sebastian, and others
February 17, 1975 ~ Charles Scruggs Jr, commonly known as Wish Bone, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Founding member of hip-hop group Bone-Thugz-n-Harmony, which also included Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone and Flesh-n-Bone. The group would be discovered by NWA's Eazy E and release a debut EP in 1994 which spawned the hit Thuggish Ruggish Bone featuring Shatasha Williams. Subsequent hits included 1st Of Da Month, Tha Crossroads, Look Into My Eyes and I Tried featuring Akon
February 17, 1974 ~ Country singer, songwrier Bryan White, full name Bryan Shelton White, born in Lawton, Oklahoma, USA ~ Debuted in 1994 with the eponymous Bryan White album. Both his debut and the 1996 follow-up Between Now And Forever would reach Platinum status. Known for songs such as Someone Else's Star, Rebecca Lynn, So Much For Pretending and Sittin' On Go
February 17, 1972 ~ Singer, guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Lead singer, lead guitarist of punk rock outfit Green Day, co-founded with Mike Dirnt, known for songs such as American Idiot, Boulevard Of Broken Dreams and Wake Me Up When September Ends
February 17, 1972 ~ Death metal, groove metal singer Lars-Göran Petrov born in Sweden ~ Influenced by Iron Maiden, Bathory, Mercyful Fate, Voivod. First gained attention as drummer in extreme metal band Morbid, then fronted by singer the Dead. Would go on to work with Nihilist, from which he was fired for making a pass at the girlfriend of bandmate drummer Nicke Andersson. Rejoined the band in 1992, now renamed to Entombed. Also served as lead singer of metal supergroup Firespawn from 2012 until his death ~ Petrov passed away in 2021
February 17, 1972 ~ Alternative rock, punk rock, post-grunge drummer Taylor Hawkins, full name Oliver Taylor Hawkins born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Influenced by Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Stephen Perkins, Jim Gordon, Neil Peart. Best known as member of the Foo Fighters. Touring drummer for Alanis Morissette. Also worked with Birds Of Satan, Coheed & Cambria, Vasco Rossi, Chevy Metal, and others ~ Hawkins passed away in 2022
February 17, 1972 ~ Yuki Kuramochi, mononymously known as singer, songwriter Yuki, born in Hakodate, Japan ~ Lead singer of Judy And Mary, formed in the early 1990s. Active as a solo artist since the 2000s, scoring numerous top 10 hits in her native Japan including Nagia Yume, Dramatic, Hoshikuzu Sunset, Wonder Line, and Futari No Story. Kuramochi also was a member of all-female rock outfit Mean Machine, known for their sole Cream album released in 2001
February 17, 1971 ~ John McKeown, commonly known as indie rock singer, guitarist Jackie McKeown, born in Belshill, UK ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Yummy Fur, remaining with the band throughout its entire existence from 1992 through 1999. Has since worked with the short-lived electronic pop band Girls which also included Yummy-bandmate and Franz Ferdinand-frontman Alex Kapranos as well as with Mars Hotel, the 1990s and Trans
February 17, 1969 ~ Jon Randall Stewart, commonly known as country producer, songwriter, singer, guitarist Jon Randall, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ First gained attention as backing guitarist for Emmylou Harris, notably present on the 1992 Live At The Ryman album. Has recorded a number of solo albums, starting with What You Don't Know released in 1995. Co-wrote Whiskey Lullabye, recorded by Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss. Co-wrote Tin Man, recorded by Miranda Lambert. Has served as producer for the likes of Dierks Bentley, Darden Smith, Dwight Yoakam, Jack Ingram, Parker McCollum, Chase Bryant, and others
February 17, 1967 ~ Singer, actress, songwriter Chanté Moore, full name Chanté Torrane Moore, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Known for a number of hits on the R&B charts starting in the early 1990s, including Love's Taken Over, It's Alright, Old School Lovin', and Chante's Got A Man, the latter also reaching the top 10 of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 in 1999. Has sessioned or guested on recordings by El DeBarge, Damion Hall, Boyz II Men, Will Downing, the Isley Brothers (notably on the 2001 top 20 hit Contagious), Kenny G, Everette Harp, Bobby Brown, George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Toni Braxton, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, and others
February 17, 1962 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter David McComb, full name David Richard McComb, born in Perth, Australia ~ Fronted the Triffids from 1976 through 1989, known for songs such as Wide Open Road and Bury Me Deep In Love. Subsequently worked with the Blackeyed Susans in the late 1980s and early 1990s. McComb struggled with bouts of alcoholism and substance abuse throughout his career which greatly affected his health, eventually needing a heart transplant in 1996. McComb passed away just two weeks shy of his 37th birthday ~ McComb passed away in 1999
February 17, 1956 ~ Pop rock, power pop singer, guitarist, mandolinist, keyboardist Jeffrey Foskett born ~ Member of 1970s outfit the Pranks. Best known for his association with Brian Wilson, serving as touring and session musician for Wilson solo and the Beach Boys since the 1980s. Has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with the 1996 Thru My Window album regarded by some as “the best Beach Boys album they never recorded”, and has toured or recorded with Jeff Larson, John Blakeley, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Nancy Sinatra, and Harry Shearer ~ Foskett passed away in 2023
February 17, 1952 ~ Rocksteady, reggae singer, songwriter Bruce Ruffin born in St Catherine, Jamaica ~ Worked with Byron Lee, the Dragonaires, the Techniques (wrote Love Is Not A Gamble), Pat Kelly, Winston Riley, Junior Menns, Leslie Kong, Herman Chin Loy, Lloyd Charmers, and others. As a solo artist best known for his 1972 crossover hit Mad About You, a top 10 hit in the UK
February 17, 1952 ~ Jazz, rock bassist Vladimir Padrunek born in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Rose to fame in the early 1970s as member of Jazz Q, with whom he recorded the albums Pozorovateina and Symbiosis. Was forbidden to travel to non-communist countries due to his father's previous involvement in the political upheaval of 1968, and would be replaced on tours to the West. Co-founded Energit with Vladimir Misik, known for their eponymous 1976 Energit debut album. Has also worked with Exit, Ota Petrina, Abraxas, and Moby Dick ~ Padrunek passed away in 1991
February 17, 1949 ~ Singer, drummer, songwriter Doyle Bramhall born in Texas, USA ~ Father of singer, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II. Member of the Chessmen who once opened for Jimi Hendrix. Formed Texas Storm with Jimmie Vaughan. Formed the Nightcrawlers, teaming up with Jimmie's younger brother Stevie Ray Vaughan and Marc Benno. As a solo artist especially noted for his 1994 Bird Nest On The Ground debut album, his gravelly voice critically compared to Bob Seger ~ Bramhall passed away in 2011
February 17, 1949 ~ Guitarist Fred Frith in Heathfield, UK ~ Founding member of avant-rock group Henry Cow. Also known for his associations with Art Bears, Massacre, and the Skeleton Crew. Appears on over an estimated 400 recordings. As a leader, solo artist especially acclaimed for the 1987 Nous Autres album. Has worked with artists such as Robert Wyatt, Derek Bailey, the Residents, Lol Coxhill, John Zorn, Brian Eno, Bill Laswell, Jad Fair, the ARTE Quartett, and Bob Ostertag. Served as producer for the likes of Curlew, the Muffins, Etron Fou Leloublan, and the Orthotonics
February 17, 1949 ~ Harvey Jett, commonly known as guitarist, banjoist, pianist, singer Harvey Burley Jett, born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA ~ Original member of Black Oak Arkansas. Jett was present on most of the band's best known, including their most acclaimed album High On The Hog released in 1973, and was replaced by Jimmy Soybean Henderson in 1974 ~ Jett passed away in 2022
February 17, 1948 ~ Rock, blues, country rock singer, guitarist, banjoist Broderick Smith born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Appeared in a 1973 Australian production of rock opera Tommy, portraying the role of Mr Walker. Member of the Adderley Smith Blues Band, the Dingoes, Carson, and others. Perhaps best known for his 1981 hit Faded Roses with Broderick Smith's Big Combo ~ Smith passed away in 2023
February 17, 1948 ~ José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz, commonly known as singer, guitarist, bassist José José, born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Jazz, bossa nova, Latin pop, bolero, mariachi balladeer with stunning tenor vocal ability. Rose to international fame, including non-Spanish-speaking countries in the 1980s. Dubbed “the Prince of Song”. Worked with Armando Manzanero, Camilo Sesto, Juan Gabriel, Lani Hall, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Raúl Di Blasio, Alejandra Avalos, and others ~ Sosa passed away in 2019
February 17, 1947 ~ Geraldine Ann Pasquale, commonly known as pop, rock & roll singer Dodie Stevens, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for Pink Shoe Laces, recorded at age 12. The song would reach the Billboard top 10 in 1959. Dodie would follow up with several charting singles throughout the early 1960s, notably Yes I'm Lonesome Tonight and Merry Merry Christmas Baby, but would be unable to replicate the succes of Pink Shoe Laces
February 17, 1947 ~ Jazz drummer Jimmy Madison born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Has played drums in public since age 12. Has backed, recorded and toured with artists such as Don Goldie, Lionel Hampton, Marian McPartland, James Brown, Bobby Hackett, Joe Farrell, David Matthews, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Carmen McRae, Harold Danko, Chet Baker, Urbie Green, Michel Legrand, Don Sebesky, George Benson, Nina Simone, Lee Konitz, Hod O'Brien, Art Farmer, Mark Murphy. Has led ensembles which included sidemen such as Tom Harrell, Harold Danko, Phil Markowitz, Larry Schneider, Andy Laverne, Dan Wall, Mike Richmond, Bill Evans, Kenny Barron, Dennis Irwin, Gene Perla, Jon Burr, Ron McClure, Janet Lawson, Chip Jackson, Ricky Ford, Jack Walrath, David Schnitter, Paul Nash, Stanley Turrentine, Maceo Parker, Red Rodney, and Steve Gilmore
February 17, 1944 ~ Jazz, rock, classical, new age oboeist, saxophonist, keyboardist Karl Jenkins, full name Karl William Pamp Jenkins, born in Swansea, UK ~ Co-founding member of Nucleus. Member of new age act Adiemus, known for the new age albums Palladio, Armed Man and Requiem. Also a member of jazz-rock band Soft Machine from 1972 through 1984
February 17, 1944 ~ Producer, songwriter Larry Mizell born ~ Co-founding member of vocal jazz quartet the Vanlords, which also included his brother Fonce Mizell. Best known as a producer and songwriter, again in tandem with his brother, producing numerous albums for Blue Note Records setting the tone for 1970s jazz fusion sound and scoring pivotal R&B hits including Taste Of Honey's Boogie Oogie Oogie, LTD's Love Ballad and Mary Wells' Gigolo
February 17, 1941 ~ Charles Everett Paxton, commonly known as saxophonist, songwriter Charles Packy Axton, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Son of Stax/Volt co-founder Estelle Axton. Active since the late 1950s. Member of the Royal Spades, which also included Steve Cropper and Donald Duck Dunn. The band would eventually rename themselves the Mar-keys, known for the 1961 Last Night Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Member of the Packers, known for the 1965 single Hole In The Wall which reached top 10 Billboard R&B ~ Axton passed away in 1974
February 17, 1941 ~ Jazz double bassist Herbie Lewis, full name Herbert Prince Lewis, born in Pasadena, California, USA ~ Among the top bassists of the bop era, closely associated with McCoy Tyner, Les McCann, and Jackie McLean. Lewis has also appeared on albums by Harold Land, Shirley Scott (Hip Soul), Richard Groove Holmes, Stanley Turrentine (That's Where It's At), Gerald Wilson, Bobby Hutcherson, Sam Rivers, Freddie Hubbard, the Jazz Crusaders, Cedar Walton, Tete Montoliu (Lunch In LA), Sonny Stitt, Sonny Simmons, and Eddie Harris ~ Lewis passed away in 2007
February 17, 1940 ~ Singer, songwriter Gene Pitney, full name Gene Francis Alan Pitney, born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Known for songs such as Town Without Pity, The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance, Only Love Can Break A Heart, 24 Hours From Tulsa, I'm Gonna Be Strong, Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart, and others. Scored a UK top 10 hit with That Girl Belongs To Yesterday, the first Mick Jagger/Keith Richards-penned song to reach the UK top ten. Wrote or co-wrote several classic pop, rock & roll songs for artists including Bobby Vee (Rubber Ball), Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson (Hello Mary Lou), and the Crystals (He's A Rebel) ~ Pitney passed away in 2006
February 17, 1940 ~ Ranchera singer, songwriter, actor Vicente Fernández, full name Vicente Fernández Gómez, born in Guadalajara, Mexico ~ Cultural icon with over 30 films to his name, over 50 albums with a total sales of an estimated 50 million copies. Best known for Volver Volver, notably covered by both Nana Moskouri and Ry Cooder. Other well known songs include El Rey, Dos Corazones, Aunque Mal Paguen Ellas, Que Sepan Todos, Yo Quiero, Aca Entre Nos, Miseria, and No Te Vayas. His son, Alejandro Fernández, would also become a popular singer ~ Fernández passed away in 2021
February 17, 1938 ~ Charles Wilburn Trent, commonly known as bluegrass, country banjoist, dobroist, mandolinist, bassist, guitarist, songwriter Buck Trent, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA ~ Most revered for his work as a banjo player. Invented the electric banjo. Plays lead guitar on both Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You and Jolene. Other notable collaborations include Bill Monroe during the early 1960s, backing Porter Wagoner for about a decade, and as a regular on Roy Clark's musical variety TV shows The Roy Clark Show and Hee Haw. Trent also toured the Soviet Union with Clark in 1976, the first Soviet tour of any American country music act. As a solo artist Trent is perhaps most acclaimed for the album The Sound Of Bluegrass Banjo released in 1962 ~ Trent passed away in 2023
February 17, 1938 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger John Coates Jr born in Trenton, New Jersey, USA ~ Worked with Wendell Marshall, Kenny Clarke, Rudy van Gelder, Charlie Ventura, Barry Miles, Eddie Gomez, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Harry Leahey, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Kai Winding, Urbie Green, Pepper Adams, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry, Doc Severinsen, Phil Woods, Marvin Stamm, Bill Watrous, and others ~ Coates passed away in 2017
February 17, 1936 ~ Actor, singer John Leyton, full name John Dudley Leyton, born in Frinton-on-Sea, UK ~ As a singer best known for the 1961 Joe Meek-produced Johnny Remember Me which would reach the top of the UK charts despite being banned by BBC for its death references. His follow up single, Wild Wind, reached No.2. As an actor known for roles in The Great Escape, East Of Java and Telstar, the latter a biopic on Meek in which Leyton himself was portrayed by Callum Dixon
February 17, 1935 ~ John Bush Shinn III, commonly known as country, honky-tonk, western swing singer, guitarist, drummer, fiddler, songwriter Johnny Bush, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Nicknamed “the Country Caruso”, after singer Enrico Caruso. Wrote and first recorded Whiskey River, later successfuly covered by Willie Nelson. First gained attention when he joined Ray Price's backing unit the Cherokee Cowboys in 1963. Debuted as a solo artist with the album The Sound Of A Heartache in 1967 and has been recording to critical acclaim and commercial succes since ~ Shinn passed away in 2020
February 17, 1934 ~ Gunnar Olof Björksten, commonly known as jazz bandleader, saxophonist Hacke Björksten, born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Served under Kenneth Fagerland in his teens. Would go on to lead a popular 1950s ensemble featuring sidemen such as Ake Persson, Rune Ofwerman and Kurt Weil. Has also worked with Mel Lewis and Ulf Johansson ~ Björksten passed away in 2020
February 17, 1933 ~ Brian John Heatley, commonly known as jazz double bassist Spike Heatley, born in Muswell Hill, UK ~ Leader and sideman with a career spanning four decades. To rock, blues-rock audiences best known for his association with Alexis Korner, having played with both Blues Incorporated and with CCS. Has also worked with Vic Ash, Tubby Hayes, Eddie Thompson, Johnny Dankworth, Tony Coe, Kenny Baker, Bill Le Sage, Ronnie Ross, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Barney Kessel, Malcolm Mortimore, and others ~ Heatley passed away in 2021
February 17, 1932 ~ Composer Doru Popovici, full name Ionel Doru Popovici, born in Resita, Romania ~ Revered contemporary classical composer known for three distinct phases in his career; pot-impressionism, dodecaphonic and post-byzantine. Known for works such as Wires Quartet, Prometheus, Homage To Tuculescu, The Byzantine Hymns and The Wedding ~ Popovici passed away in 2019
February 17, 1928 ~ Lyricist, librettist Tom Jones born in Littlefield, Texas, USA ~ Best known for co-writing The Fantasticks with regular collaborator composer Harvey Schmidt, a musical that ran off-Broadway for about four decades starting in the early 1960s. Well-known songs from the musical include Try To Remember, Soon It's Gonna Rain, Much More, and I Can See It. Other musicals written by the duo include 110 In The Shade, I Do I Do, and Philemon. Jones also authored the book Making Musicals (An Informal Introduction To The World Of Music Theatre), published in 1998
February 17, 1926 ~ Conductor, composer Friedrich Cerha born in Vienna, Austria ~ Renowned interpreter of the works of Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern, and Alban Berg, especially credited for completing the latter's unfinished Lulu three-act opera. During World War II Cerha was conscripted yet deserted the nazi armed forces twice, and actually participated in a number of acts of resistance against the fascist regime ~ Cerha passed away in 2023
February 17, 1926 ~ Noble Watts, commonly known as blues, jump blues, R&B saxophonist Noble Thin Man Watts, born in Deland, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Griffin Brothers, Nat Adderley, Lionel Hampton, Paul Williams, Dinah Washington, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, the Everly Brothers, Johnny Mathis, Rufus Thomas, Lucky Peterson, Raful Neal, Floyd Miles, and others ~ Watts passed away in 2004
February 17, 1923 ~ Boniface Ferdinand Leonard DeFranco, commonly known as clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ One of the few bebop clarinetists DeFranco was a revered bandleader in his own right who also led the the Glenn Miller Orchestra for almost a decade in the 1960s and 1970s. DeFranco worked with Count Basie, Tommy Gumina, Gene Krupa, Art Blakey, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Lennie Tristano, Dodo Marmarosa, Terry Gibbs, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Eddie Daniels, Putte Wickman, Billie Holiday, and others ~ DeFranco passed away in 2014
February 17, 1920 ~ Guitarist Billy Byrd born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Key guitarist in early country, studio musician. Helped popularize the electric lead guitar in country. Influenced by jazz players such as Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt. Tutored artists such as Hank Garland and Shot Jackson. Member of Ernest Tubb's backing unit the Texas Troubadours. Also worked with artists such as the Oak Ridge Quartet, Tex Ritter, George Hamilton IV, and Jimmy Dickens ~ Byrd passed away in 2001
February 17, 1913 ~ Composer, conductor René Leibowitz born in Warsaw, Poland ~ Known as an avid promoter of the Second Viennese School style after World War II. Renowned conductor acclaimed for his performances of works by composers as diverse as Ludwig van Beethoven, Jacques Offenbach, Maurice Ravel, George Gershwin, Giacomo Puccini, and Arthur Sullivan ~ Leibowitz passed away in 1972
February 17, 1906 ~ Jazz drummer Wallace Bishop born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Art Sims, Jelly Roll Morton, Bernie Young, Hughie Swift, Richard M Jones, Tommy Dorsey, Erskine Tate, Earl Hines, Jimmie Noone, Coleman Hawkins, Don Redman, Phil Moore, Walter Foots Thomas, John Kirby, Sy Oliver, Sammy Price, Billy Kyle, Buck Clayton, Bill Coleman, Don Byas, Ben Webster, Kid Ory, Milt Buckner, Buddy Tate, T-Bone Walker, and others ~ Bishop passed away in 1986
February 17, 1905 ~ Orville Jones, commonly known as singer, cellist Hoppy Jones, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of the Ink Spots until his death at age 39. Present on hits such as If I Didn't Care, Address Unknown, My Prayer, When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano, Maybe, We Three (My Echo My Shadow & Me), and Don't Get Around Much Anymore. Jones would be succeeded by Herb Kenny, brother of the band's frontman Bill Kenny ~ Jones passed away in 1944
February 17, 1899 ~ Jazz pianist Harvey Brooks born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Wrote the score for the Mae West film I'm No Angel released in 1933, making him the first African-American to have written a complete score for a major motion picture. Has toured and recorded with Mamie Smith in the 1920s. Musical director for Les Hite during the early 1930s. Has also worked with Kid Ory, Teddy Buckner, Joe Darensbourg, and others ~ Brooks passed away in 1968