February 21, 2024 ~ Classical, neoclassical metal, progressive metal pianist, composer Vitalij Kuprij passed away ~ Regarded a keyboard virtuoso by both classical and heavy metal, progressive metal critics. Received numerous awards in the classical world, notably winning prestigious competitions such as the All-Union Chopin Competition, the Kiev Conservatory Competition and the Cleveland Piano Competition. To metal audiences known for founding progressive metal band Atlantis Rising, which evolved into Artension, as a member of Yngwie Malmsteen's neoclassical, power metal unit Ring Of Fire, as a regular collaborator of the highly influential Finnish metal outfit the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and as a solo artist. Kuprij has recorded about a dozen albums as a solo artist, both classical music and neoclassical metal ~ Kuprij was born in 1974
February 21, 2023 ~ Rock, jazz guitarist Jesse Gress passed away ~ Editor for Guitar Player magazine. Authored about half a dozen books. As a musician has recorded and toured extensively with Todd Rundgren. Has also worked with bassist Tony Levin, notably on the 2001 Pieces Of The Sun album, as well as with Levin's brother keyboardist Pete Levin, Jerry Marotta, and Utopia. Served as music director for the 2008 Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band tribute album It Was 40 Years Ago Today, a collaborative all-star effort which featured Rundgren, Lou Gramm, Christopher Cross, and Denny Laine ~ Gress was born in 1956
February 21, 2023 ~ Rock keyboardist Ron Altbach, full name Ronald Steven Altbach, passed away ~ Member of King Harvest, noted for his Wurlitzer electric piano intro on Dancing In The Moonlight. The single would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100. Altbach has also sessioned for the Beach Boys, for whom he co-wrote Belles Of Paris, She's Got Rhythm, and Alone On Christmas Day. Member of Celebration, led by Mike Love ~ Altbach was born in 1946
February 21, 2022 ~ Jazz, blues, pop singer Ernie Andrews passed away ~ Started as a member of the Harry James Orchestra in the late-1950s. His career declined in the 1960s and 70s but would rebound in the 1980s, recording with the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut Band, Gene Harris, Jay McShann, and the Harper Brothers. Andrews also played with Kenny Burrell, Gene Harris, Saskia Laroo, Plas Johnson, the Legacy Band, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra ~ Andrews was born in 1927
February 21, 2021 ~ Chanson singer, songwriter Hélène Martin passed away in Cordemais, France ~ Started singing in cabarets in the 1950s. Known for setting poems by various renowned poets, notably René Char and Louis Aragon, to music. Well known songs include Chanson A Tuer Le Temps, Le Feu, Le Plaisir Dieu, Chanson Noire and Oh La Guitare ~ Martin was born in 1928
February 21, 2021 ~ Classical pianist Mireya Arboleda, full name Maria Mireya Arboleda Cadavid, passed away in Bogota, Colombia ~ Protegé of conductor Nadia Boulanger and pianist Vlado Perlemuter. Acclaimed as a soloist, concert pianist selling out venues such as the Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum, New York City Hall, the Teresa CArreño Cultural Complex and the Centre For Fine Arts ~ Arboleda was born ca.1928
February 21, 2019 ~ Hildegard Zadek, commonly known as operatic soprano Hilde Zadek, passed away in Karlsruhe, Germany ~ As a Jew fled Germany in 1934 to Palestine. Returned to Europe in 1945. Soprano best known for her association with the Vienna State Opera, staying with the orchestra from her critically acclaimed 1947 debut starring in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida through 1971. Has also sang with the Munich State Opera, the Berlin State Opera, the Royal Opera House, the Paris Opera, La Scala, the Bolshoi Theatre, and others ~ Zadek was born in 1917
February 21, 2019 ~ Singer Jackie Shane passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Contributor to the Toronto sound. Best known for her 1962 recording Any Other Way. Faded out of spotlight in the early-1970s. Turned down an offer to join Sly & the Family Stone. Long labeled a drag queen and ambiguous about her own identity Shane came out as a transgender woman in a 2017 interview ~ Shane was born in 1940
February 21, 2019 ~ Peter Halsten Thorkelson, commonly known as guitarist Peter Tork passed away in Mansfield, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known as a member of mid- to late-1960s sit-com and band the Monkees. Post-Monkees Tork has worked as an actor, collaborated with George Harrison, released a notable 1994 album (Stranger Things Have Happened), and toured with his blues band Shoe Suede Blues ~ Thorkelson was born in 1942
February 21, 2015 ~ Swing, bebop trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer Clark Terry, full name Clark Virgil Terry Jr, passed away in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA ~ Pioneered flugelhorn in jazz. Appeared on over an estimated 900 recordings, over 50 as leader or co-leader. Especially acclaimed for the albums In Orbit, Color Changes and Tread Ye Lightly. Has backed artists such as Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Charlie Barnet, Quincy Jones (The Birth Of A Band), Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Charles Mingus, Buddy Tate, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Tubby Hayes, Art Farmer, Gene Roland, Willie Bobo, Herbie Mann, Cal Tjader (Soul Sauce), Wilson Pickett (In The Midnight Hour), the Modern Jazz Quartet, Thelonious Monk, Oliver Nelson, Jimmy Rushing, Sarah Vaughan, George Benson (Blue Benson), Bunky Green, and Freddie Hubbard ~ Terry was born in 1920
February 21, 2013 ~ Singer Cleotha Staples passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Oldest sibling considered the backbone of family outfit the Staple Singers, best known for 1970s hits drawing from R&B and gospel. The group scored two Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits with 1972's I'll Take You There and 1973's If You're Ready Come Go With Me ~ Staples was born in 1934
February 21, 2013 ~ Morris Holt, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Magic Slim, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Worked with Magic Sam, John Primer, Billy Branch, Popa Chubby, Joe Carter, Sunnyland Slim, James Cotton, Elvin Bishop, Lil' Ed Williams, Lonnie Brooks, Otis Clay and with his son Shawn Holt. Recorded a number of singles starting in 1966 with Scuffling, recorded his first full-length solo album, Born Under A Bad Sign, in 1977 ~ Holt was born in 1937
February 21, 2011 ~ Neville Beckford, commonly known as DJ, producer Jah Woosh, passed away ~ Half of Neville & George, the other half being Reggae George. As a solo artist known for a number of Ruple Edwards produced albums, starting with 1974's eponymous Jah Woosh. Beckford would turn to self-producing from 1976 forward as well as produce other artists including Bim Sherman, Horace Andy, and Larry Marshall ~ Beckford was born ca.1952
February 21, 2008 ~ Joel Arthur Gibbs, commonly known as reggae producer Joe Gibbs, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Worked with Bunny Lee, Roy Shirley (Hold Them), the Pioneers, Errol Dunkley, Ken Parker, Lynn Taitt, the Hippy Boys, Nicky Thomas (Love Of The Common People), the Ethiopians, Delroy Wilson, the Heptones, Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, Sylford Walker, the Mighty Diamonds, Gregory Isaacs, Prince Alla, Junior Byles, Marcia Aitken, Althea & Donna, John Holt, Barrington Levy, Cornell Campbell, Dean Fraser, Beres Hammond, Ranking Joe, Prince Jazzbo, Dillinger, Prince Far I, June Lodge (Someone Loves You Honey), Sydney Crooks, and others ~ Gibbs was born in 1942
February 21, 2007 ~ Jazz guitarist Al Viola passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his longtime association with Frank Sinatra. Also plays the mandolin on The Godfather soundtrack ~ Viola was born in 1919
February 21, 2004 ~ Glam rock, pop singer, pianist Les Gray, full name Thomas Leslie Gray, passed away in Lagos, Portugal ~ Co-founding member of Mud, known for 1970s hits such as Lonely This Christmas, Tiger Feet and Oh Boy, the latter a cover of the classic Buddy Holly-song. Gray would score a solo hit with A Groovy Kind Of Love in 1977, originally recorded by Diane & Annita ~ Gray was born in 1946
February 21, 1996 ~ Pianist, composer, conductor Morton Gould passed away in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Child prodigy. Has composed Broadway musicals such as Billion Dollar Baby and The Arms And The Girl, for films such as Delightfully Dangerous and Windjammer, for TV series such as World War One, written ballet scores such as All River Legend and I'm Old Fashioned, conducted all of the major American orchestras and received a Pullitzer Award for Stringmusic, an orchestral composition for string commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra ~ Gould was born in 1913
February 21, 1990 ~ At the 32nd Grammy Awards, R&B, new jack swing, dance-pop duo Milli Vanilli are awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, only to have it revoked later the same year ~ All five singles of the duo's All Or Nothing debut album, repackaged and issued as Girl You Know It's True in the USA, had reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100, with Baby Don't Forget My Number, Blame It On The Rain, and Girl I'm Gonna Miss You all reaching the No.1 spot. However, eventually producer Frank Farian admitted the duo's Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus actually had not sung a single line on the album, and lip-synced all songs during performances. Their success turned to infamy, and the duo had their Grammy Award revoked, a first in the history of the Awards
February 21, 1986 ~ Charlotte Maria Reed, commonly known as singer Charlotte Church, born in Llandaff, UK ~ Classical, classical crossover singer in her childhood before venturing into pop music by the mid-2000s, going on to sell over 10 million records. Released her The Voice Of An Angel debut album in 1998. To pop audiences best known for Crazy Chick, Call My Name, Even God Can't Change The Past and Moodswings, all UK top 20 hits of her 2005 Tissues And Issues album. Church is also known as an actress, TV presenter and political activist, among others advocating against the music industry's sexist culture
February 21, 1980 ~ Singer Janet Vogel passed away ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Skyliners, known for songs such as This I Swear, Pennies From Heaven, It Happened Today, Close Your Eyes, Comes Love and their best known Since I Don't Have You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 1958 ~ Vogel was born in 1941
February 21, 1980 ~ Rock, experimental rock double bassist, bass guitarist Nat Baldwin born in Rochester, New Hampshire, USA ~ Debuted as a solo artist in 2003 with the album Solo Contrabass and has recorded regularly since. Has worked with the Dirty Projectors, the Department Of Eagles, Vampire Weekend, and with Grizzly Bear
February 21, 1980 ~ Pop, R&B, blue-eyed soul singer, songwriter, producer Tiziano Ferro born in Latina, Italy ~ Sings in Italian, English, French and Spanish. Debuted in 2001 with the album Rosso Relativo, which included the international hit Perdono. Writes and produces for other artists including Giusy Ferreri, Alessandra Amoroso, Baby K, and others
February 21, 1979 ~ Actress, singer, songwriter, producer, director Jennifer Love Hewitt born in Waco, Texas, USA ~ Started as a child actress. Would go on to feature in various films and TV. As a pop singer has released a number of albums, starting with 1992's Love Songs released at age 12. Would not chart in the US until her fourth album, 2002's Barenaked, spawned the modest hit How Do I Deal
February 21, 1978 ~ Synth-pop, new wave, dream pop singer, keyboardist, songwriter Helen Marnie born in Glasgow, UK ~ Classically trained pianist. Influenced by artists as diverse as Kate Bush, Maria Callas and Joni Mitchell. Lead singer of Ladytron, co-founded with Mira Aroyo. Released her solo debut album, Crystal World, in 2013
February 21, 1978 ~ Jazz, classical, experimental violinist Sara Caswell born in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Worked with 9 Horses, Esperanza Spalding, David Krakauer, Joseph Brent, Shawn Conley, Skitch Henderson, Cynthia Sayer, Roseanna Vitro, Monika Herzig, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ike Sturm, Oran Etkin, Krista Detor, Brad Mehldau, and others
February 21, 1977 ~ Folk, old-time, country, bluegrass, rock singer, fiddler, banjoist, violist, songwriter Rhiannon Giddens born in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA ~ Lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, drawing from country, blues and old-time music. Has recorded as a solo artist, starting with 2015's Tomorrow Is My Turn. Has notably collaborated with Francesco Turrisi on There Is No Other and Calling Me Home released in respectively 2019 and 2021. Has also worked with Gaelwynd, New Basement Tapes, Our Native Daughters, Cheryse McLeod Lewis, Renée Fleming, Alison Krauss, Ben Harper, and others
February 21, 1973 ~ Justin Cathal Geever, commonly known as punk rock, hardcore punk, skate punk, anarcho punk singer, guitarist Justin Sane, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Lead guitarist, singer, co-founding member of punk rock outfit Anti-Flag, a band active since the mid-1990s and known for its outspoken leftist views. Has also released a number of solo albums, starting with Life Love And The Pursuit Of Justice released in 2002
February 21, 1973 ~ Thaddeus Arwood Kinchla, commonly known as bassist Tad Kinchla born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as member of jam band Blues Traveler joining the band in 1999 replacing the late Bobby Sheehan. The band also included his brother Chan Kinchla. Tad also worked with Smit-Haus, Dowdy Smack, and with the John Popper Project
February 21, 1971 ~ Heavy metal singer, songwriter Randy Blythe, full name David Randall Blythe, born in Franklin, Virginia, USA ~ Best known as lead vocalist, lyricist of Lamb of God. Also fronts side-project Halo Of Locusts and guested on records by Cannabis Corpse, Overkill, Eyehategod, Ekuveitie, Bad Brains, and Soulfly
February 21, 1970 ~ Bassist Eric Wilson, full name Eric John Wilson, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Member of Sublime from 1988 through 1996. Member of Long Beach Dub All-Stars from 1997 through 2002. Has also worked with Del Noah & the Mt Ararat Finks, Long Beach Shortbus and with Sublime with Rome
February 21, 1969 ~ Staffan Olsson, commonly known as pop, dance-pop singer, songwriter Bosson, born in Sweden ~ Released his full-length The Right Time debut album in 1998. First gained serious international attention with its follow-up, 2002's One In A Million, the title track reaching top 10 across Europe and featured in the Miss Congeniality film. Has collaborated with Emma Anderson, Elizma Theron, Sunbeat, Baby Bash, and has written for Amy Grant
February 21, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist James Dean Bradfield born in Pontypool, UK ~ Best known as frontman, lead guitarist, singer for Welsh alternative rock band the Manic Street Preachers. Multi-instumentalist, plays guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, and various other instruments. Influenced by the Clash and the Electric Light Orchestra. Learnt to play guitar by learning to play Appetite For Destruction in his parents front room
February 21, 1968 ~ Jazz drummer Joe Farnsworth, full name Joseph Allen Farnsworth, born ~ Son of trumpeter, bandleader Roger Farnsworth. Leader and sideman. Worked with Junior Cook, Jon Hendricks, Jon Faddis, George Coleman, Cecil Payne, Annie Ross, Benny Green, One For All, David Hazeltine, Jim Rotondi, Benny Golson, Eric Alexander, Alex Graham, Michael Weiss, the Three Baritone Saxophone Band, Diana Krall, Pharoah Sanders, and others
February 21, 1967 ~ Guitarist Michael Ward born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founded School Of Fish with Josh Clayton-Felt, known for their minor hit 3 Strange Days. Perhaps best known for his work with the Wallflowers, appearing on the band's 1996 Bringing Down The Horse sophomore album, which included the Grammy Award-winning One Headlight, and its follow-up album Breach. Ward has also appeared on albums by John Hiatt (Perfectly Good Guitar), Ben Harper, Shawn Mullins, Avril Lavigne (Don't Tell Me), Shelby Lynne (Suit Yourself), Tracy Bonham, and Sara Bareilles ~ Ward passed away in 2024
February 21, 1963 ~ Roger Charlery, commonly known as Ranking Roger, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known as member of pivotal ska, ska revival band the English Beat, known for about half a dozen UK hits through the mid-1980s including the top 10 hits The Tears Of A Clown, Hands Off She's Mine, Mirror In The Bathroom and Can't Get Used To Losing You. Formed General Public in 1984 with bandmate Dave Wakeling, scoring moderate hits with 1984's Tenderness and 1994's I'll Take You There. Released his solo debut album, Radical Departure, in 1988 ~ Charlery passed away in 2019
February 21, 1962 ~ Mark Thomas McLaughlin, commonly known as grunge, alternative rock, garage punk singer, guitarist, songwriter Mark Arm, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of grunge outfit Mudhoney. Previously a member of Green River, considered one of the early grunge pioneers alongside Malfunkshun, Soundgarden and Skin Yard. Arm has also worked with Bloodloss, Seattle supergroup Monkeywrench, Thrown Ups, Wylde Ratttz, and others. Toured with garage rock band MC5 in 2004, standing in for the late Rob Tyner on vocals
February 21, 1960 ~ Randall Desmond Archibald, commonly known as hardcore punk, heavy metal bassist, singer Randy Rampage, born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Along with Joe Keithley and Chuck Biscuits co-founded hardcore band DOA, considered pioneers of hardcore punk. Lead singer of thrash metal band Annihilator during the late-1980s, present on the band's Alice In Hell debut album, and again during the late-1990s ~ Archibald passed away in 2018
February 21, 1960 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Steve Wynn, full name Steve Lawrence Wynn, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for fronting neo-psychedelia outfit Dream Syndicate from 1981 through 1989, though never achieving mainstream success one of the most critically acclaimed acts to emerge from the Los Angeles underground scene especially hailed for their 1982 The Days Of Wine And Roses album. Wynn has also recorded as a solo artist and worked with Danny & Dusty, Gutterball, Smack Dab, Australian Blonde, and with supergroup the Baseball Project, the latter also including REM-guitarist Peter Buck
February 21, 1959 ~ Keyboardist, songwriter José Maria Cano, full name José Maria Cano Andréno, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Member of Mecano, one of the all time best selling Spanish bands with over 25 million records sold. The band is known for songs such as La Fuerza Del Destino, Hijo De La Luna, Cruz De Navajes, Une Femme Avec Une Femme and El 7 De Septiembre
February 21, 1958 ~ Country, country folk, soft rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA ~ Marketed as a country singer, though draws from a wide array of genres. Debuted in 1987 with the album Hometown Girl. Known for songs such as Never Had It So Good, Quittin' Time, Down At The Twist And Shout, I Feel Lucky, Passionate Kisses, He Thinks He'll Keep Her, Shut Up & Kiss Me and Tender When I Want To Be. Also wrote or co-wrote songs for other artists including Joan Baez, Tony Rice, Cyndi Lauper, Wynonna Judd (Girls With Guitars), Trisha Yearwood, and others
February 21, 1952 ~ Bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel born in London, UK ~ Classically trained as a guitarist. Rose to fame as bass guitarist with post-punk, new wave outfit the Stranglers, known for UK top 10 hits such as Peaches, Something Better Change, No More Heroes, Golden Brown, Strange Little Girl, European Female and the Kinks-cover All Day And All Of The Night. Has released a number of solo albums, starting with 1979's Euroman Cometh, collaborated with bandmate Dave Greenfield on 1983's Fire And Water (Ecoutez Vos Murs), guested on recordings by ARB, Polyphonic Size and Taxi Girl, and formed the R&B covers band Purple Helmets
February 21, 1951 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist Herb Robertson born ~ Leader and sideman. Recording as a leader since the mid-1980s. Worked with Tim Berne, Anthony Davis, Bill Frisell, George Gruntz, Paul Motian, Bobby Previte, David Sanborn, Marc Ducret, Mark Helias, Andy Laster, Stefan Winter, Lindsey Horner, Lesli Dalaba, Klaus König, Paul Lytton, Joe Lovano, Gerry Hemingway, Steve Swell, Pierre Dørge, and others
February 21, 1951 ~ Keyboardist, singer Vince Welnick, full name Vincent Leo Welnick, born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Tubes, perhaps best known for Talk To Ya Later of their 1981 The Completion Backward Principle album. Left the band in the late-1980s to team up with Todd Rundgren and subsequently join the Grateful Dead. Has also worked with Zero, Dick Dale, Merl Saunders, and Missing Man Formation ~ Welnick passed away in 2006
February 21, 1951 ~ Jazz trumpeter Warren Vaché Jr born in Rahway, New Jersey, USA ~ Son of double bassist Warren Vaché Sr, brother of clarinetist Allan Vaché. Leader and sideman. Closely associated with Scott Hamilton. Has also worked with Jimmy Cobb, Brian Lemon, Tony Coe, Alan Barnes, Joe Puma, Howard Alden, Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Houston Person, Bucky Pizzarelli, André Previn, George Shearing, George Wein, and others
February 21, 1949 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Jerry Harrison born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Member of Jonathan Richman's cult-band the Modern Lovers. Joined Talking Heads in 1977 in time for the band's debut album Talking Heads '77. Has released a handful of solo albums, starting with The Red And The Black released in 1981. After the Heads breakup in 1991 has become an in-demand producer, working with artists such as Violent Femmes, the Von Bondies, the Crash Test Dummies, Live (Throwing Copper), Black 47, the Neurotic Outsiders, Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Trouble Is), the String Cheese Incident, No Doubt (The Return Of Saturn) the Gracious Few, and others
February 21, 1948 ~ Progressive rock drummer, pianist, singer Christian Vander born in Nogent-sur-Marne, France ~ Founding member of Magma, known for his extended compositions influenced by the likes of John Coltrane and Carl Orff, and for his improvisational scat singing. Adopted son of jazz pianist Maurice Vander. Draws from jazz rock, classical and opera. Married to bandmate singer Stella Vander until 1980, with whom he has one daughter
February 21, 1948 ~ Classical pianist, composer Frederic Lamond, full name Frederic Archibald Lamond, passed away in Sterling, UK ~ Early champion of Johannes Brahms. Considered an authority of Ludwig van Beethoven. Highly respected teacher, mentoring pupils such as Victor Borge, Jan Chiapusso, Gunnar Johansen, Ervin Nyiregyházi, Carrie Burpee Shaw, and others ~ Lamond was born in 1868
February 21, 1946 ~ Guitarist Terry Bradds born ~ Worked with artists such as Cal Collins, Martha Raye, Robert Popwell, Boots Randolph, Sally Field, Joey Heatherton, Toni Tennille, Melissa Manchester, Jon Crosse, Dolly Parton, Shot Jackson, the Anita Kerr Singers, Vincent Price, John Davidson, Peter Allen, Liza Minnelli, Dr Lonnie Smith, and others
February 21, 1945 ~ Free jazz saxophonist Akira Sakata born in Hiroshima, Japan ~ Worked with Yosuke Yamashita, Bill Laswell, Pete Cosey, DJ Krush, and Chikamorachi. Laswell also produced several of Sakata's albums such as Mooko, Silent Plankton and Fishermans Com
February 21, 1938 ~ Robert Charles Guidry, commonly known as singer, songwriter Bobby Charles, born in Abbeville, Louisiana, USA ~ Helped pioneer swamp pop. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Bill Haley's See You Later Alligator, Fats Domino's Walking To New Orleans and It Keeps Raining, and Clarence Frogman Henry's (I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do ~ Guidry passed away in 2010
February 21, 1933 ~ Eunice Kathleen Waymon, commonly known as R&B, jazz, blues, gospel singer, pianist, civil rights activist Nina Simone, born in Tryon, North Carolina, USA ~ Fused gospel and jazz with classical. Over 40 albums to her name. Dubbed “the High Priestess of Soul”. Praised for her ability to play three-part counterpoint, both her hands and her voice each following a different yet complementary melody line. Known for songs such as I Loves You Porgy, I Put A Spell On You, Feelin' Good, Wild Is The Wind, Sinnerman, Ain't Got No (I Got Life) and My Baby Just Cares For Me ~ Simone passed away in 2003
February 21, 1932 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Eddie Higgins, full name Edward Haydn Higgins, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Coleman Hawkins, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Lewis, Harry Sweets Edison, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Jack Teagarden, Al Grey, Meredith D'Ambrosio, Warren Vaché Jr, Chuck Hedges, Cy Touff, Jack Teagarden, Betty Dickson, and Wes Montgomery ~ Higgins passed away in 2009
February 21, 1926 ~ Jazz drummer Ronnie Verrell, full name Ronald Thomas Verrell, born in Rochester, UK ~ Influenced by Benny Goodman. Member of two of the UK's most celebrated big bands, serving in the orchestras led by Ted Heath and Syd Lawrence. Played the drum parts for The Muppet Show's Animal. Has also worked with Tommy Whittle, Johnny Claes, Cyril Stapleton, Winifred Atwell, Alan Clare Trio, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, and the Strawbs ~ Verrell passed away in 2002
February 21, 1925 ~ Jazz pianist, bandleader Henri Chaix born in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Worked with Loys Choquart, Claude Albert, Sidney Bechet, Bill Coleman, Albert Nicholas, Roger Zufferey, Michel Pilet, Milt Buckner, Buck Clayton, Guy Lafitte, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Ben Webster, Alan du Bois, Romano Cavicchiolo, the Tremble Kids, Hot Malletts, Oscar Klein, Buddy Tate, Clark Terry, the European Jazz Giants, Bob Barnard, Doc Cheatham, Jesper Thilo, and Roy Williams ~ Chaix passed away in 1999
February 21, 1924 ~ Blues producer, promoter Jacques Morgantini born in Montbéliard, France ~ Married to Marcelle Morgantini. The duo served as producers and promoters of previously underrated and little- or unrecorded American blues artists including Andrew Odom, Willie Kent, Luther Guitar Junior Johnson, Eddy Clearwater, Magic Slim, and John Littlejohn ~ Morgantini passed away in 2019
February 21, 1917 ~ Pianist, arranger, composer Tadd Dameron born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ The most influential arranger of the bebop era, also worked for swing and hard bop players. Arranged for artists such as Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Jimmie Lunceford, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan. Co-wrote If You Could See Me Now, one of Vaughan's first signature songs. ~ Dameron passed away in 1965
February 21, 1910 ~ Jazz tenor saxophonist Al Sears, full name Albert Omega Sears, born in Macomb, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Chick Webb, Elmer Snowden, Andy Kirk, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Mildred Anderson, Al Hibbler, Budd Johnson, and Jimmy Witherspoon ~ Sears passed away in 1990
February 21, 1903 ~ Francis Hillman Blackwell, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer Scrapper Blackwell, born in Syracuse, South Carolina, USA ~ Worked with Leroy Carr in the 1920s and 1930s, noted for recordings such as 1928's How Long How Long Blues. As a solo artist made pivotal recordings such as Kokomo Blues, which would later be reworked into Old Kokomo Blues by Kokomo Arnold and into Sweet Home Chicago by Robert Johnson ~ Hillman passed away in 1962
February 21, 1893 ~ Guitarist, composer Andrés Segovia born in Linares, Spain ~ Leading classical guitarist known for his expressiver wide palette of tone. Premiered works by contemporary composers such as Federico Moreno Torroba, Joaquín Rodrigo, Federico Mompou, Manuel Ponce, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Heitor Villa-Lobos, often specifically written for Segovia himself, as well as adaptations of works written originally for instruments other than guitar by classical composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Isaac Albéniz and Enrique Granados ~ Segovia passed away in 1987