July 21, 1998 ~ Pop, pop punk, alternative rock singer, songwriter Maggie Lindemann, full name Margaret Elizabeth Lindemann, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Best known for her 2016 Pretty Girl, which reached the higher echelons of the charts across Europe including top 10 in the UK
July 21, 1989 ~ Fingerstyle guitarist Mike Dawes born in Guildford, UK ~ Influenced by Michael Hedges, Pierre Bensusan, Eric Roche. First gained attention with his 2012 Gotye-cover of Somebody That I Used To Know. Would release his full-length What Just Happened debut album the following year. Has also worked with Nik Mystery, Justin Hayward, Flux Conduct, and others
July 21, 1986 ~ R&:B, soul, gospel, pop, jazz singer, songwriter Rebecca Ferguson, full name Rebecca Caroline Ferguson, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Runner-up in the 7th edition of The X-Factor in 2010
July 21, 1981 ~ Singer, beatboxer, songwriter Blake Lewis, full name Blake Colin Lewis, born in Redmond, Washington, USA ~ Reached 2nd place, behind singer Jordin Sparks, in the sixth season of American Idol in 2007
July 21, 1981 ~ Paloma Faith Blomfield, commonly known as singer Paloma Faith, born in London, UK ~ Released her Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful debut album in 2009. The album would reach double Platinum status in the UK. Best known for songs such as Stone Cold Sober, New York, Picking Up The Pieces, Only Love Can Hurt Like This, Lullaby with Sigala. Has also collaborated with Adam Deacon, Sigma, DJ Spoony,
July 21, 1978 ~ Reggae fusion, hip hop singer, rapper, songwriter Damian Marley, full name Damian Robert Nesta Marley, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Youngest son of reggae icon Bob Marley. Member of supergroup Superheavy alongside Mick Jagger, Joss Stone and AR Rahman. As a solo artist best known for his 2005 single Welcome To Jamrock. Featured vocalist on Jay-Z's 2017 Bam single
July 21, 1976 ~ Pop, axe, samba singer, actress, songwriter Emanuelle Araújo born in Salvador, Brazil ~ Rose to prominence as lead singer of Banda Eva from 1999 through 2002, present on hits such as Pra Lá E Pra Cá, Quem Ama and My Love. Founded samba-rock band Moinho with Lan Lan and Toni Costa in 2004. Released her O Problema E Va Velocidade solo album in 2016
July 21, 1972 ~ Rock, alternative rock, post-grunge singer, guitarist, songwriter Ian Thornley born in Toronto, Canada ~ Lead singer of Big Wreck, known for songs such as The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted), That Song and Under The Lighthouse. After the band disbanded in the early 2000s would session with artists such as Nickelback, Sarah Harmer and Stephen Fearing before forming his own Thornley band. Auditioned for supergroup Velvet Revolver yet did not feel comfortable being a lead singer without playing guitar, the position would eventually be given to Scott Weiland
July 21, 1972 ~ Singer, guitarist Nino Ramsby born ~ Rose to prominence in the 1990s as singer, guitarist of alternative rock band Salt. Has also worked with Baxter, Grand Tone Music, the Ludvig Berghe Trio and with Martin Hederos
July 21, 1972 ~ Country singer, songwriter Paul Brandt born in Calgary, Canada ~ Active since the mid-1990s, his first three albums all topping the Canadian country charts. All four singles of his 1996 Calm Before The Storm debut album would top the Canadian country charts, the singles My Heart Has A History and I Do would also reach top 10 on the American Billboard Country charts. Other well known songs include A Little In Love, Outside The Frame, That's The Truth, The Sycamore Tree, Didn't Even See The Dust, I'm An Open Road with Jess Moskaluke, and All About Her
July 21, 1971 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, full name Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg, born in London, UK ~ Daughter of actress Jane Birkin and singer Serge Gainsbourg. Best known as an actress. Released an album, 1986's Charlotte For Ever, at age 15 aided by her father. Debuted as a solo singer and songwriter in 2006 with the criticaly acclaimed 5:55 and has recorded from time to time since
July 21, 1970 ~ Indie pop singer, keyboardist Michael Fitzpatrick, full name Michael Sean Fitzpatrick, born in Montlucan, France ~ Best known as lead singer for Fitz & the Tantrums, critically acclaimed for their 2010 Pickin' Up The Pieces debut album. Was previously a member of Band Of Merrymakers. Fitzpatrick has also recorded as a solo artist and guested on recordings by LL Cool J, Flo Rida, and Weezer
July 21, 1968 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer Emerson Hart born in South Orange, New Jersey, USA ~ Lead singer, songwriter of alternative rock band Tonic, best known for Open Up Your Eyes, You Wanted More and perhaps their best-known If You Could Only See, the latter reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 in 1997. Hart released his Cigarettes & Gasoline solo debut album in 2007
July 21, 1961 ~ Alternative metal, funk metal, heavy metal guitarist Jim Martin, full name James Blanco Martin, born in Hayward, California, USA ~ Best known as guitarist of Faith No More from 1983 through 1993. Also worked with Fang, Die Krupps, Metallica (Reload), Voodoocult, Primus, Flybanger, and Echobrain
July 21, 1956 ~ Jazz drummer, bandleader, composer Franklin Kiermeyer born in Montreal, Canada ~ First gained attention in 1994 with his Solomon's Daughter album, featuring renowned saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. Has also worked with Tony Scherr, John Stubblefield, Drew Gress, John Esposito, Azar Lawrence, Michael Cuscuna, and others
July 21, 1955 ~ Howard Norman Epstein, commonly known as bassist, guitarist, mandolinist, songwriter Howie Epstein born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Best known as member of Tom Petty's backing unit the Heartbreakers. Has also worked with Eric Andersen, Bob Dylan, Carlene Carter, Johnny Cash, John Hiatt, Stevie Nicks, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, John Prine, Linda Ronstadt, Del Shannon, the Textones, the Village People, Warren Zevon, and others ~ Epstein passed away in 2003
July 21, 1955 ~ Taco Ockerse, commonly known as new wave, synth-pop singer, songwriter Taco, born in Jakarta, Indonesia ~ Best known for Puttin' On The Ritz, an international hit in 1982
July 21, 1953 ~ Jazz percussionist Daniel Ponce born in Havana, Cuba ~ Exiled from Cuba by the early 1980s would emerge from the New York Latin, Cuban jazz scene as a renowned sideman. Played the bata drums on Herbie Hancock's 1983 Rockit hit single. Has also collaborated with artists such as Paquito d'Rivera, José Fajardo, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Laurie Anderson, Mick Jagger, Yoko Ono, and others ~ Ponce passed away in 2013
July 21, 1951 ~ Improv, avant-garde jazz trumpeter Pino Minafra born in Ruvo di Piagla, Italy ~ Founding member of the Italian Instabile Orchestra. Has also worked with Gianluigi Trovesi, Mario Schiano, Han Bennink, Ernst Reijseger, Willem Breuker, Michel Godard, and others
July 21, 1948 ~ Pianist, conductor, arranger, composer Anders Berglund born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Member of Blue Swede, best known for their 1971 BJ Thomas-cover Hooked On A Feeling which reached No.1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. In Sweden also known as longtime conductor of Melodifestivalen, the selection finals for the Eurovision Songfestival. Film composer, notably for the 1997 Pippi Longstocking feature film
July 21, 1948 ~ Steve Demetre Georgiou, commonly known as folk-pop, pop singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Cat Stevens, born in London, UK ~ Penned The First Cut Is The Deepest, first recorded by PP Arnold in 1967 and notably covered by Rod Stewart, Dawn Penn and by Sheryl Crow. As a solo artist active since the late 1960s. Best known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Peace Train, Morning Has Broken, Oh Very Young and Another Saturday Night
July 21, 1948 ~ Keyboardist, accordionist Lars Hollmer, full name Lars Gustav Gabriel Hollmer, born in Linköping, Sweden ~ Active in numerous genres, ranging from traditional folk to progressive rock and jazz. Noted for his irregular time signatures, complex polyrhytms and vocal improvisation including the use of non-sensical lyrics. Best known for his 1999 Andetag album. Has worked with Samla Mammas Manna, Ramlösa Kvällar, Fem Söker & Skatt, the Looping Home Orchestra, the Accordion Tribe, SOLA, Fanfare Pourpour, Lindsay Cooper, Fred Frith, Gianni Gebbia, and others ~ Hollmer passed away in 2008
July 21, 1948 ~ Felix Francisco Nebbia, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Litto Nebbia, born in Rosario, Argentina ~ Formed Los Gatos with keyboardist Ciro Fogliatta in 1966. Debuted as a solo artist with the eponymous Litto Nebia in 1969 and has recorded steadily since
July 21, 1948 ~ Producer, songwriter, guitarist Teruzane Utada born in Tokuji, Japan ~ Married enka singer Keiko Fuji. The couple married and divorced seven times and have one daughter, singer Hikaru Utada
July 21, 1946 ~ Drummer Barry Whitwham born in Manchester, UK ~ Co-founding and sole constant member of Herman's Hermits, known for 1960s hits such as Can't You Hear My Heartbeat, Silhouettes, Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter, I'm Henry VIII I Am, Listen People, and perhaps their best-known No Milk Today
July 21, 1945 ~ Singer Rosie Hamlin, full name Rosalie Mendez Halin, was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA ~ Fronted Rosie & the Originals, best known for their 1961 hit Angel Baby. The song would later be covered by several artists including perhaps most notably by Linda Ronstadt and by John Lennon. Hamlin would be the first Latina to be honored by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame on their Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Of One Hit Wonders, as well as the first Latina to appear on American Bandstand in 1961 ~ Hamlin passed away in 2017
July 21, 1943 ~ Guitarist Henry McCullough born in Portstewart, Northern Ireland ~ Co-founding member of Eire Apparent, with whom he opened for Jimi Hendrix. Co-founding member of Sweeney's Men. Member of Spooky Tooth. Backed Joe Cocker on his 1969 With A Little Help From My Friends debut album and on tour, including at the famed the Woodstock Music and Art Fair festival. Also closely associated with Paul McCartney, present on albums such as Ram and Band On The Run. Has also appeared on albums by Donovan, Andy Fairweather Low, Frankie Miller, Roy Harper (Bullinamingvase), Ronnie Lane, and Eric Burdon. McCullough has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Mind Your Own Business released in 1975 ~ McCullough passed away in 2016
July 21, 1932 ~ Jazz clarinetist Chuck Hedges born ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Wild Bill Davison, Alan Vache, Johnny Varo, Ray Leatherwood, Gene Estes, Eddie Higgins, Bob Haggart, Duane Thamm, John Bany, Charles Braugham, Jack Wyatt, John Sheridan, Frank Dawson, and others ~ Hedges passed away in 2010
July 21, 1931 ~ Saxophonist Plas Johnson, full nname Plas John Johnson Jr, born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his sax solo on Henry Mancini's The Pink Panther Theme. In-demand session musician, present on albums by Charles Brown, BB King, Johnny Otis, Maxwell Davis, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Glen Gray, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Vee, Larry Williams, Bobby Day, Richard Berry, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Chet Baker, Marvin Gaye (Let's Get It On), Dr John (Gris Gris), Maria Muldaur, Ry Cooder (Paradise & Lunch), Rita Coolidge, Teena Marie, Boz Scaggs, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Les Baxter, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits (Heartattack And Vine), Benny Carter, Bette Midler, Rod Stewart, Etta James, and Minnie Riperton
July 21, 1931 ~ Conrad Yeatis Clark, commonly known as hard bop pianist Sonny Clark passed away born in Herminie, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Buddy DeFranco, Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Grant Green, Philly Joe Jones, Clifford Jordan, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Art Taylor, Wilbur Ware, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Billie Holiday, Stanley Turrentine, Lee Morgan, and others ~ Clark passed away in 1963
July 21, 1930 ~ Jelena Ana Milcetic, commonly known as jazz singer Helen Merrill born ~ First generation bebop jazz singers. Was an immediate success with her 1955 eponymous Helen Merrill debut album, produced by Quincy Jones and backed by Clifford Brown and Oscar Pettiford
July 21, 1921 ~ Music journalist, musician Franciszek Walicki born in Lödz, Poland ~ Seen as founder of Polist beat and rock, calling them big-beat as rock & roll was unacceptable for communist authorities. Organized jazz festivals. Founded a number of quintessential polish bands including Rhythm & Blues, considered the first Polish rock & roll band, as well as Czerwono Czarni and Breakout ~ Walicki passed away in 2015
July 21, 1918 ~ Lyricist Arnold B Horwitt born in Richmond, Indiana, USA ~ Wrote scripts and lyrics for plays, songs and Broadway shows including Make Mine Manhattan, The Girls Against The Boys, and Plain & Fancy. The latter would include Young & Foolish introduced in the show by David Daniels and Gloria Marlowe. The song, co-written with Albert Hague, would become a standard covered by over 150 artists including the McGuire Sisters, Gogi Grant, the Lettermen, Tony Bennett, and Lesley Gore ~ Horwitt passed away in 1977
July 21, 1917 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Floyd Jones born in Marianna, Arkansas, USA ~ Known for a number of classic Chicago blues recordings including Stockyard Blues, Hard Times, Schooldays, and On The Road Again. The latter would later be covered by Canned Heat. Jones worked with Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Snooky Pryor, Moody Jones, Johnny Man Young, David Honeyboy Edwards, Sunnyland Slim, Big Walter Horton, Kansas City Red, and others ~ Jones passed away in 1989
July 21, 1915 ~ Arthur Reid, commonly known as producer, label executive Duke Reid, born in Portland, Jamaica ~ Active as a producer since the 1950s, dominated the Jamaican music scene of the 1960s specialising in ska and rocksteady. Influenced by American jazz, blues and soul and in particular by Fats Domino. Founded the Treasure Isle record label. Has worked with artists such as Stranger Cole, the Techniques, Justin Hinds, Alton Ellis, the Paragons, the Jamaicans, the Melodians, U-Roy, Dennis Alcapon, and others ~ Reid passed away in 1975
July 21, 1910 ~ Carl Ravazza, commonly known as violinist, singer, bandleader Carl Ravell, born in Alameda, California, USA ~ Best known for his 1937 version of So Rare, presumed to be the first recorded version of the song later recorded by Jimmy Dorsey, Ella Fitzgerald, and others ~ Ravazza passed away in 1968
July 21, 1902 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Omer Simeon, full name Omer Victor Simeon, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Worked with Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Elgar, King Oliver, Luis Russell, Erskine Tate, extensively with Earl Hines, Coleman Hawkins, Jimmie Lunceford, Kid Ory, Walter Fuller, Wilber De Paris, Louis Armstrong, and others ~ Simeon passed away in 1959
July 21, 1898 ~ Sara Elizabeth Dougherty, commonly known as country guitarist, singer Sara Carter, born in Copper Creek, Virginia, USA ~ Married to AP Carter until 1936. Member of the Carter Family, singing lead on most of the band's 1920s and 1930s recordings, the family act considered one of the earliest and most influential acts in the history of country music. Carter wrote or co-wrote several of the band's songs, including My Foothills Home, The Dying Soldier, Lonesome Pine Special, Farther On, and Railroading The Great Divide ~ Dougherty passed away in 1979
July 21, 1858 ~ John Chancellor Olcott, commonly known as singer, actor, songwriter Chauncey Olcott, born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Sang in minstrel shows and Broadway shows. As a lyricist and composer especially known for Irish musicals such as Sweet Iniscare, Garrett O'Magh and The Old Limerick Town. Retired from music in 1925 due to health reasons ~ Olcott passed away in 1932