February 20, 1988 ~ Robyn Rihanna Fenty, mononymously known as pop, R&B, hip-hop singer Rihanna, born in St Michael, Barbados ~ Discovered by producer Evan Rogers. Released her Music Of The Sun debut album in 2005. Known for songs such as Pon De Replay, SOS, Umbrella featuring Jay-Z, Take A Bow, Disturbia, Rude Boy, The Only Girl In The World, What's My Name featuring Drake, We Found Love featuring Calvin Harris, Diamonds, and others
February 20, 1981 ~ Guitarist, mandolinist, dobroist Chris Thile, full name Christopher Scott Thile, born in Oceanside, California, USA ~ Best known for forming the acoustic trio Nickel Creek with Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins. Member of progressive bluegrass band the Punch Brothers. Has released over half a dozen solo albums, starting with 1994's Leading Off, and collaborated with the likes of Mike Marshall, Edgar Meyer, Brad Mehldau, Yo-Yo Ma, Mutual Admiration Society, Modern Mandolin Quartet, and others
February 20, 1976 ~ Jazz saxophonist, bassoonist, pianist Ben Wendel born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Known for his harmonically sophisticated improvisation, drawing from post-bop, classical, and post-rock. Well over half a dozen albums to his name since the mid-2000s, especially acclaimed for Simple Song released in 2009. Co-founding member of Kneebody. In-demand collaborator, present on albums by Daedelus, Taylor Eigsti (Lucky To Be Me), Todd Sickafoose, Amy Kuney, Melissa Morgan (Until I Met You), Leela James, Austin Peralta, Busdriver (Perfect Hair), Tigran Hamasyan, Julia Holter, Gerald Clayton, and Pascal Le Boeuf
February 20, 1975 ~ Singer Brian Littrell, full name Brian Thomas Littrell, born in Lexington, Kentucky, USA ~ Father of country singer Baylee Littrell. Member of boy band the Backstreet Boys, known for a string of 1990s, 2000s hits. The band's 1995 We've Got It Going On debut single would only be moderately successful in their native America yet reach top 10 across Europe. The band's eponymous Backstreet Boys released the following year would reach triple Platinum status in Europe. Subsequent hits included Quit Playing Games With My Heart, Everybody (Backstreet's Back), All I Have To Give, I Want It That Way, Show Me The Way and The Shape Of My Heart would all reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. As a solo artist Littrell is known as a Christian singer, a genre he described as “pop positive”, releasing his Welcome Home debut album in 2006
February 20, 1972 ~ Kevin Brereton, commonly known as rapper, singer, songwriter, producer K-OS, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Alternative rapper mixing rap, funk, rock, and reggae, focusing on a positive message. The acronym k-os, stylized in lowercase is said to stand for “knowledge of self.” Growing up, k-os listened to artists as diverse as New Order, Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Boogie Down Productions, A Tribe Called Quest, and the Beatles
February 20, 1971 ~ Folk singer, violinist, oboe player, songwriter Paul Sartin born ~ Closely associated with Paul Hutchinson, with whom he formed Belshazzar's Feast. Formed Dr Faustus, known for the albums The First Cut and Wager. Also well known as a member of Bellowhead, joining the band in 2004. Has also composed for theatre and film, notably the 2011 Streetwise Opera film opera The Hartlepool Monkey, has worked as TV presenter and co-founded Whitchurch Folk Club ~ Sartin passed away in 2022
February 20, 1970 ~ Jazz pianist, organist, keyboardist Craig Taborn, full name Craig Marvin Taborn, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader starting with The Craig Taborn Trio released in 1994 teaming up with Jaribu Shahid and Tani Tabbal. Sideman on over 100 albums, including recordings by Lotte Anker, the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Tim Berne, David Binney, James Carter, Marty Ehrlich, Michael Formanek, Drew Gress, Innerzone Orchestra, Ingrid Laubrock, Mat Maneri, Roscoe Mitchell, Evan Parker, Chris Potter, Wadada Leo Smith, and others
February 20, 1970 ~ Jazz pianist Eric Legnini born near Liège, Belgium ~ Worked with Barney Wilen, Michel Graillier, Flavio Boltro, Stefano di Battiste, Aldo Romano, Stephane Belmondo, John Ruocco, Felix Simtaine, Michel Hatzigeorgiou, Dre Pallemearts, Emanuele Cisi, Toninho Horta, Philip Catherine, Serge Reggiani, Hein van de Geyn, Marcia Maria, Jacques Pelzer, André Ceccarelli, Eric Le Lann, Paco Sery, and others
February 20, 1967 ~ Guitarist, singer Kurt Cobain, full name Kurt Donald Cobain, born in Aberdeen, Washington, USA ~ Guitarist, singer, frontman of pivotal Seattle grunge outfit Nirvana, known for songs such as Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, In Bloom, All Apologies and Heart-Shaped Box. Cobain would die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 27, yet be remembered as spokesperson of the Generation X and one of the all-time most influential rock musicians ~ Cobain passed away in 1994
February 20, 1966 ~ Hard bop saxophonist Mark Gross born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Worked with Lionel Hampton, Delfeayao Marsalis, Nat Adderley, Buster Williams, Dave Holland, Mulgrew Miller, Nicholas Payton, Wynton Marsalis, Nancy Wilson, Jack McDuff, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Don Braden, Vincent Gardner, Marlon Saunders, Freddie Hubbard, and others
February 20, 1964 ~ Saxophonist, composer Iain Ballamy born in Guildford, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Started learning saxophone in 1978. Was playing professionally by 1980. Founding member of Loose Tubes. Has worked with wide array of artists including Gil Evans, Hermeto Pascoal, the New York Composer Orchestra, Carla Bley, Dewey Redman, George Coleman, the London Sinfonietta, François Jeanneau, Daniel Humair, Mike Gibbs, Randy Weston, the Karnataka College Od Percussion, Sax Assault, the Jazz Train, Freebop, Nishat Khan, Clare Martin, Human Chain, Tom Robinson, Charlie Watts, Jeremy Stacey, Randy Weston, Joanna MacGregor, Delightful Precipice, Bill Bruford, Django Bates, Mark Wingfield, Jane Chapman, Bryan Ferry, Everything But The Girl, Food, the Oxcentrics, Ian Shaw, Slim Gaillard, Ultramarine, Ashley Slater, the Hungry Ants, Ronnie Scott, Gordon Beck, Gay Dad, the Britten Sinfonia, and others
February 20, 1963 ~ Alternative rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, percussionist, songwriter Ian Brown, full name Ian George Brown born in Ancoats, UK ~ Fronted the Stone Roses from their formation in 1984 until the band's disbandement in 1996, known for songs such as Fools Gold, Elephant Stone, One Love and Love Spreads. Released his full-length solo debut album, Unfinished Monkey Business, in 1998 and has regularly reached the British top 20 since. As a solo artist best known for songs such as My Start, Dolphins Were Monkeys, FEAR and Illegal Attacks featuring Sinéad O'Connor
February 20, 1959 ~ Lynda Tucker, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer Lynda Lawrence, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Daughter of gospel singer Ira Tucker. Sister of singers Sundray Tucker and Ira Tucker Jr. Member of the Supremes in 1972 and 1973, replacing Cindy Birdsong. Sang backup for Stevie Wonder, most notably on the Songs In The Key Of Life album. Has also guested on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Moacir Santos, Jean Terrell, Joe Cocker, Brian Setzer, Harry Nilsson, Brandy Norwood, Ringo Starr, Martha Reeves, and others
February 20, 1958 ~ Jazz trumpeter Leroy Jones born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Active since his teens. Worked with Danny Barker, the Hurricane Brass Band, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Della Reese, Harry Connick Jr, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dr John, and others
February 20, 1956 ~ Singer, guitarist, banjoist Jim Salestrom, full name James Kevin Salestrom, born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Co-founded, fronted country-folk rock outfit Timberline. Member of the Wild Jimbos. Also closely associated with Dolly Parton, backing Parton from 1979 through 1991. Wrote It's Too Soon To Let Our Love End, recorded by Mary MacGregor in 1977 ~ Salestrom passed away in 2023
February 20, 1951 ~ Pianist, composer Anthony Davis born in Paterson, New Jersey, USA ~ Drawing from a wide variety of genres including R&B, jazz, gospel, world music, experimental music, classical. Considered “the Dean of African-American opera composers” and known for works such as X (The Life And Times Of Malcolm X), Amistad and Wakonda's Dream. Awarded a Pullitzer Prize in 2020 for his opera The Central Park Five, based on the story of the wrongly convicted Central Park Five and premiered at the Long Beach Opera. In-demand jazz, free jazz pianist, leader, sideman. Has worked with Wadada Leo Smith, Anthony Braxton, Barry Altschul, Chico Freeman, David Murray, and Bobby Previte
February 20, 1951 ~ Randolph Craig Wolfe, commonly known as guitarist Randy California, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Considered a guitar prodigy. Briefly played with Jimi Hendrix, who gave Wolfe his nickname “California”, in the mid-1960s outfit Jimmy James & the Blue Flames. Best known as founder and frontman of Spirit, with whom he recorded four albums through the early 1970s merging rock, jazz, and folk. The band is especially acclaimed for their first two albums, the eponymous Spirit and its follow-up The Family That Plays Together, both released in 1968. Allegedly, Led Zeppelin lifted California's guitar riff from Taurus, an instrumental from Spirit's debut album, for their rock classic Stairway To Heaven. The case was litigated exhaustively, but eventually the courts dismissed the claim ~ Wolfe passed away in 1997
February 20, 1950 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Walter Becker, full name Walter Carl Becker, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as co-founder of jazz-rock band Steely Dan along with songwriting partner Donald Fagen. Also known as a producer for Fra Lippo Lippi, China Crisis, Michael Franks, John Beasley, Rickie Lee Jones, and others ~ Becker passed away in 2017
February 20, 1949 ~ Recording engineer Jon Fausty born ~ Has produced and engineered recordings in the USA, Canada, Cuba, and Europe, best known for his work on some of the most sucessful Latin albums of all time over a career spanning six decades. Has worked on albums by Sabu Martinez, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Ricardo Ray (Jala Jala Y Boogaloo), Willie Colón, Machito, Bobby Valentín, the Fania All-Stars, Ray Barretto (The Message), Ismael Miranda, Mongo Santamaria, the Lebrón Brothers, Rubén Blades, Willie Rosario, Jerry González (The River Is Deep), and Gato Barbieri ~ Fausty passed away in 2023
February 20, 1947 ~ Adrianus Marinus Kloot, commonly known as comedian, actor, singer André van Duin, born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands ~ Best known as a comedian and actor with a career spanning five decades. Has consistenty recorded as a singer, often with a comic twist. Known best for songs such as De Tamme Boerenzoon, Willempie, Bim Bam, Als De Zon Schijnt and De Balletjes Van De Koningin
February 20, 1946 ~ John Warren Geils Jr, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter J Geils, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Lead guitarist of the J Geils Band. Released a number of albums since the mid-1990s under the moniker Jay Geils, collaborating with former bandmate Magic Dick, with Duke Robillard and Gerry Beaudoin as New Guitar Summit, and as a solo artist ~ Geils passed away in 2017
February 20, 1946 ~ Pop singer, pianist, songwriter Riccardo Cocciante born in Saigon, Vietnam ~ Records in Italian, French, English and Spanish. Actively recording since the early 1970s. To English audiences best known for his cover of the Beatles-song Michelle recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and for his 1976 Richard Cocciante album, an English-language remake of his Anima released two years earlier spawning the modest US hit When Love Has Gone Away. Has also co-written a number of musicals, starting with Notre Dame De Paris in 1997
February 20, 1944 ~ Trumpeter, hornist Lew Soloff, full name Lewis Michael Soloff, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ To pop, rock audiences perhaps best known as a member of Blood Sweat & Tears from 1968 through 1973 first appearing on the band's eponymous 1969 Blood Sweat & Tears sophomore album. Member of 1980s jazz outfit Members Only. Present on albums by George Benson, Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, Bloomfield Kooper & Stills, Herbie Mann, Sonny Stitt, Aretha Franklin, Marlena Shaw, Chaka Khan, Charlie Musselwhite, Michael Franks, Sinéad O'Connor (Am I Not Your Girl), Grant Green, Carla Bley, Paul Simon (Graceland), Hank Crawford, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, Jimmy Heath, Bobby Previte, and Joss Stone (Colour Me Free) ~ Soloff passed away in 2015
February 20, 1943 ~ Producer, songwriter Paul Leka born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA ~ In-demand producer, songwriter known for his work with the Chateaus, the Lemon Pipers (The Green Tambourine), Peppermint Rainbow (Will You Be Staying After Sunday), Steam, the Left Banke, Peter Nero, Jimmie Spheeris, Harry Chapin, REO Speedwagon, Lori Lieberman, Gloria Gaynor, and others ~ Leka passed away in 2011
February 20, 1940 ~ Singer, songwriter Barbara Ellis born in Olympia, Washington, USA ~ Formed the Fleetwoods with Gretchen Christopher and Gary Troxel. The band was discovered by Dolton Records-producer Bob Reisdorff and would score a number of late 1950s, early 1960s hits. Their debut single Come Softly To Me, Mr Blue and their remake of Thomas Wayne's Tragedy all reached top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100
February 20, 1937 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter David Ackles, full name David Thomas Ackles, born in Rock Island, Illinois, USA ~ Former child actor with four albums to his name starting with his eponymous David Ackles debut released in 1968. Though never achieving mainstream succes held in the highest regard by musicians such as Elton John, Phil Collins and Elvis Costello, the latter once stating: “It's a mystery to me why his wonderful songs are not better known” ~ Ackles passed away in 1999
February 20, 1937 ~ Singer Nancy Wilson born in Chillicothe, Ohio, USA ~ Recorded over 70 albums. Best known for her recordings of You Don't Know How Glad I Am and Guess Who I Saw Today. Worked with Hank Jones, the Great Jazz Trio, the Griffith Park Band, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Ramsey Lewis, Barry Manilow (co-produced Wilson's With My Lover Beside Me album), and others ~ Wilson passed away in 2018
February 20, 1927 ~ Son, guracha, bolero singer Ibrahim Ferrer born in San Luis, Cuba ~ Closely associated with Los Bocucos for nearly four decades. Has also worked with Conjunto Sorpresa, the Orquesta Oriental and Mario Patterson. Would gain international attention in the 1990s as member of the Afro-Cuban All Stars and especially the Buena Vista Social Club, touring internationally both with the revival bands and as a solo artist until his death ~ Ferrer passed away in 2005
February 20, 1926 ~ Cool jazz, hard bop saxophonist, flutist, composer Bobby Jaspar born in Liège, Belgium ~ Married to singer Blossom Dearie from 1954 to 1957. Leader and sideman. Worked with the Bop Shots, JJ Johnson, Kenny Burrell, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Donald Byrd, René Thomas, Chet Baker, Herbie Mann, George Wallington, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Johnny Rae, and others ~ Jaspar passed away in 1963
February 20, 1925 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Warren Suttles born ~ Co-founded the Ravens with lead singer Jimmy Ricks. The doo-wop group would become one of the the most influential vocal quartets of the 1940s and early 1950s, known for songs such as Honey, Ole Man River, Write Me A Letter and Rock Me All Night Long ~ Suttles passed away in 2009
February 20, 1917 ~ Harpist, composer Juan Vicente Torrealba born in Caracas, Venezuela ~ Formed Los Torrealberos with his brother Arturo Torrealba and son Santana Torrealba. Also recorded as a solo artist, with over 100 albums to his name. Best known for songs such as Sinfonia En El Palmar, Mujer Guayanesa, Barquisimeto, La Fillo Zaina and Solito Con The Stars ~ Torrealba passed away in 2019
February 20, 1874 ~ Operatic soprano Mary Garden born in Aberdeen, UK ~ Described as “the Sarah Bernhardt of Opera“ Garden rose to fame in the early 20th century working mostly in England and continental Europe. Leading soprano with Parisien the Opera-Comique in the early 1900s. Brought to America by Oscar Hammerstein I in 1907. Worked with the Manhattan Opera House, the Boston Opera Company, the Philadelphia Opera Company, the Chicago Grand Opera Company, and others. Retired from the stage in the mid-1930s ~ Garden passed away in 1967