July 30, 1986 ~ Indie rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Adam Baldwin born in Dartmouth, Canada ~ Worked with alternative country outfit Gloryhound and with Matt Mays. Also released a number of solo recordings, starting with the eponymous Adam Baldwin EP, released in 2013
July 30, 1981 ~ Jennifer Lee Lindberg, commonly known as indie rock bassist, singer Jenny Lee Lindberg, born in Elko, Nevada, USA ~ Influenced by Tears For Fears, Jah Wobble, Siouxsie & the Banshees. Best known as bassist of inde rock band Warpaint. Released her Right On solo debut album in 2015. Collaborated with Brian Blade, Boom Bip, Viv Albertine, Jimmy Giannopoulos, and others
July 30, 1971 ~ Rock, alternative rock, post-grunge drummer Brad Hargreaves born in Marin County, California, USA ~ Best known as core and along with Stephan Jenkins sole constant member of Third Eye Blind, known for songs such as Semi-charmed Life, How's It Going To Be and Jumper. Has also worked with Hours & Minutes and with Year Long Disaster
July 30, 1967 ~ Metal, death metal guitarist James Murphy born in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA ~ Founding member of Disincarnate. Best known for his work with metal bands such as Konkhra, Obituary, Death and Testament. Has also guested on recordings by Artension, Malevolent Creation, Steve Morse, Abigail Williams, Solstice, and others
July 30, 1966 ~ Guitarist Craig Gannon born in Manchester, UK ~ Best known as guitarist for the Smiths. Initially recruited to replace bassist Andy Rourke and moved to rhythm guitar when Rourke returned within two weeks. Had previously been in Aztec Camera, Colourfield, and Bluebells. Post-Smiths Gannon would work with Brix Smith, Morrissey, Black Grape, Terry Hall, Roddy Frame, Alison Moyet, Denise van Outen, Edwyn Collins, Paul Quinn, Robert Lloyd, Red Venom, Vinny Peculiar, and others
July 30, 1966 ~ Indie rock, Britpop singer, guitarist songwriter Louise Wener, full name Louise Jane Wener, born ~ Member of Sleeper, known for a number of 1990s recordings including the UK top 20 hits Inbetweener, What Do I Do Now, Sale Of The Century, Nice Guy Eddie and Statuesque. After the band's initial disbandement in 1998 Wener began a writing career, releasing her Goodnight Steve McQueen debut novel in 2002
July 30, 1963 ~ Guitarist, singer Dwayne O'Brien born in Ada, Oklahoma, USA ~ Co-founding member of Little Texas, known for songs such as Some Guys Have All The Love, You And Forever And Me, What Might Have Been, God Blessed Texas, My Love, Kick A Little, Amy's Back In Austin and Life Goes On
July 30, 1960 ~ Bassist Dave Riley, full name David Michael Riley, born ~ Bassist of punk rock band Big Black from 1985 until the band's disbandement in 1987, present on both studio albums, 1986's Atomizer and 1987's Songs About Fucking ~ Riley passed away in 2019
July 30, 1958 ~ Catherine Bush, commonly known as pop singer Kate Bush, born in Bexleyheath, UK ~ Immediately broke through with her 1978 Wuthering Heights debut single, to this day one of her most popular songs. Known for her literary themes, experimental music style and soft, dreamy melodies. Influenced singers such as Regina Spektor, Ellie Goulding, Alison Goldfrappm, Solange Knowles, Dido, and others. Well known songs include Moving, The Man With The Child In His Eyes, Babooshka, Army Dreamers, Running Up That Hill, Cloudbusting, Hounds Of Love and Don't Give Up, the latter a duet with Peter Gabriel
July 30, 1958 ~ Jazz singer Kevin Mahogany born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Learned piano, clarinet, saxophone as a child. Cites Lambert Hendricks & Ross, Al Jarreau, and Eddie Jefferson as vocal influences. Mahogany's singing has been compared to Billy Eckstine, Joe Williams and Johnny Hartman ~ Mahogany passed away in 2017
July 30, 1958 ~ Country singer Neal McCoy, full name Hubert Neal McGaughey Jr, born in Jacksonville, Texas, USA ~ Released his At This Moment debut album in 1990. Broke through in 1993, scoring the Billboard Country charttoppers No Doubt About It and Wink. Other well known songs include The City Put The Country Back In Me, You Gotta Love That and Shake
July 30, 1955 ~ Christopher John Millar, commonly known as drummer Rat Scabies, born in Kingston upon Thames, UK ~ Co-founding member of the Damned, known for the singles New Rose and Love Song. Has also worked with the Mutants, the Phantom Chords, the Vicious White Kids, One Thousand Motels, and others
July 30, 1953 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Anne Linnet born in Aarhus, Denmark ~ First gained atttention in the early 1970s with the rock band Tears. Subsequently co-founded the all-female outfit Shit & Chanel, known best for Smuk Oj Dejlig. Has also recorded as a solo artist, composed for film and TV and fronted tthe band Marquis De Sade
July 30, 1950 ~ Singer Frank Stallone born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his top 10 hit Far From Over from the film Staying Alive. Stallone did two other tracks for the soundtrack, Moody GIrl and I'm Never Gonna Give You Yp, the latter a duet with Cynthia Rhodes, neither of which charted
July 30, 1950 ~ Jazz guitarist, composer John Stowell born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with David Friesen, Paul Horn, Jim McNeely, Mike Richmond, Billy Hart, Uwe Kropinski, Dave Liebman, Hiram Mutschler, Gerard Pansanel, Gustavo Assis Brasil, David Becker, Nicoloa Vallensi, and others
July 30, 1949 ~ Richard Royall Baker IV, commonly known as fingerstyle guitarist Duck Baker, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Plays jazz, blues, ragtime, Celtic, swing, and dixieland. Debuted in 1976 with the There's Something For Everyone In America and has been recording steadily since. Has collaborated with Thom Keats, Eugene Chadbourne, John Zorn, Henry Kaiser, Woody Man, Jim Nichols, John James Wales, Stefan Grossman, Roswell Rudd, and others
July 30, 1948 ~ Rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock guitarist, singer April Lawton born ~ Best known for fronting early 1970s outfit Ramatam, which briefly included Jimi Hendrix-drummer Mitch Mitchell and Blues Image-guitarist Mike Pinera. Lawton left the band after two albums, Ramatam and In April Came The Dawning Of The Red Suns, both commercially disappointing ~ Lawton passed away in 2006
July 30, 1948 ~ Blues, jazz singer, guitarist, banjoist, mandolinist, songwriter Otis Taylor born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of several blues, rock bands through the 1970s, most notably Zephyr. Retired from music by 1977 to re-emerge in the 1990s as a solo artist. Acclaimed for his 2003 Truth Is Not A Fiction album
July 30, 1945 ~ Saxophonist David Sanborn born in Tampa, Florida, USA ~ Played with Albert King and Little Milton at age 14. Joined Paul Butterfield's blues combo in 1967 and recorded four albums with them, starting with The Resurrection Of Pigboy Cranshaw. Debuted as a solo artist in 1975 with the LP Taking Off, since considered a jazz-funk classic. Renowned session musician appearing on recordings by the Brecker Brothers, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, the Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, the Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, the Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, Toto, and others
July 30, 1944 ~ Multi-instrumentalist Chris Darrow born in South Falls, South Dakota, USA ~ Considered a pioneering multi-instrumentalist of country rock in the late 1960s. Member of bluegrass outfit Dry City Scat Band, rockers the Floggs, psychedelic band Kaleidoscope, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the Corvettes. Has also worked with Arnie Moore, Loren Newkirk, John Ware, Larry Hossford, Jennifer Warnes, Hoyt Axton, Sammy Walker, Helen Reddy, and others
July 30, 1944 ~ Birrell Josef Mendelson, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter, painter Mendelson Joe, born in Maple, Canada ~ Also known as a painter and political activist, his art used to express political themes. As a musician active since the mid-1960s. Formed early 1970s group the McKenna Mendelson Mainline with guitarist Mike McKenna. Mendelson would depart the blues group in 1972, to be replaced by up-and-coming talent Rick James. Mendelson has also collaborated with the likes of Ben Mink, Gwen Swick, and Colin Linden ~ Mendelson passed away in 2023
July 30, 1943 ~ Warwick Lancelot Armstrong Turner III, commonly known as luthier Rick Turner, born ~ As a guitarist worked with Ian & Sylvia including on the duo's 1966 Play One More album. Founded psychedelic band Autosalvage. Following the band's disbandement in 1968 turned to guitar design and building, starting with the company Alembic Inc co-founded by Turner. Has run his own guitar shops and worked for the renowned Gibson company. Designed and build guitars for players such as Lindsey Buckingham, Ry Cooder, David Lindley, and others ~ Turner passed away in 2022
July 30, 1941 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Paul Anka, full name Paul Albert Anka, born in Ottawa, Canada ~ Active since the mid-1950s. Known for songs such as Diana, You Are My Destiny, Lonely Boy, Put Your Head On My Shoulder, Puppy Love, You're Having My Baby with Odia Coates. Wrote the English lyrics to My Way, best known in Frank Sinatra's version and recorded by numerous artists. Wrote Tom Jones' She's A Lady
July 30, 1937 ~ Saxophonist James Spaulding, full name James Ralph Spaulding Jr, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Perhaps best known as a member of the World Saxophone Quartet. Has also worked with Sun Ra, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Louis Armstrong, Kenny Barron, Art Blakey, Grant Green, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Mobley, Max Roach, Pharoah Sanders, Charles Tolliver, Tyrone Washington, and others
July 30, 1937 ~ Rock & roll, rockabilly guitarist, singer, songwriter Sonny West, full name Joseph Sonny West, born near Lubbock, Texas, USA ~ Active since the mid-1950s, recording a number of rockabilly singles which at the time made little impact but over time proved to be influential. Sharing a manager with Buddy Holly, West would become best-known as co-author and original artist of All My Love and Rave On. Both songs would be covered by Holly, the former renamed to Oh Boy, and would become quintessential rockabilly songs ~ West passed away in 2022
July 30, 1936 ~ Singer, gutarist Buddy Guy born in Lettsworth, Louisiana, USA ~ Highly revered Chicago blues guitarist influential on Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Gary Clark Jr, John Mayer, and others. Session musician for Chess Records backing artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson I, and Koko Taylor. Has been recording as a solo artist since the late-1960s
July 30, 1933 ~ Pop, classical, easy listening producer, songwriter Paul De Senneville born in Paris, France ~ Frequent songwriting collaborator of Olivier De Toussaint. Songs written by the pair have been recorded by artists such as Mireille Mathieu, Michèle Torr, Christophe, Hervé Vilard, Dalida, Petula Clark, Claude François and others, selling over an estimated 100 million records. De Senneville can't read or write music notes, and writes songs by singing into a small taperecorder and having songwriting partners work out the arrangements and orchestration ~ De Senneville passed away in 2023
July 30, 1932 ~ Edward Byrne Breitenberger, commonly known as actor, singer Edd Byrnes, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as an actor, notably in the late 1950s, early 1960s TV series 77 Sunset Strip and as Vince Fontaine in the 1978 Grease musical film. As a singer best known for his 1959 hit Kookie Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) which also featured singer Connie Stevens ~ Breitenberger passed away in 2020
July 30, 1930 ~ Pierre Dewey Lafontaine Jr, commonly known as clarinetist Pete Fountain born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Recorded over 100 albums under his ow name. Founder of the Fast Walking Club, one of the best known marching bands in New Orleans Mardi Grass parade. Co-founded the Basin Street Six with trumpeter George Girard. Also played with Lawrence Welk, Monk Hazel, the Dukes Of Dixieland, Al Hirt, and others ~ LaFontaine passed away in 2016
July 30, 1930 ~ Guitarist Tommy Tedesco, full name Thomas Joseph Tedesco, born in Niagara Falls, New York, USA ~ Member of the loose collective the Wrecking Crew consisting of first call session musicians. Has worked on numerous soundtracks and pop rock recordings in the 1960s and 1970s, his credits running in the thousands. Notable credits include the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, the Everly Brothers, Barbra Streisand, Jan & Dean, the 5th Dimension, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Cher, Nancy Sinatra, Wayne Newton, and others. As a solo artist has recorded close to a dozen albums, mostly consisting of instrumental jazz guitar. Retired from music in 1992, following a stroke that left him partially paralyzed ~ Tedesco passed away in 1997
July 30, 1928 ~ Jazz, bebop drummer Vernel Fournier born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for his association with pianist Ahmad Jamal, recording close to a dozen albums with Jamal and bassist Israel Crosby from the mid-1950s through the early 1960s including the highly acclaimed At The Pershing (But Not For Me). The album would become one of the all-time best-selling jazz albums and remains a favorite among aficionados to this day. Fournier has also recorded with the likes of Norma Simmons, Lorez Alexandria, Jimmy Reed (I'm Jimmy Reed), Frank Strozier, Sam Jones (Down Home), and Gene Shaw. Fournier remained active until the mid-1990s when a stroke confined him to a wheelchair, but he continued his teaching activities ~ Fournier passed away in 2000
July 30, 1927 ~ Producer, songwriter Tony Hiller born in London, UK ~ Best known for producing and writing hits for the Brotherhood Of Men including United We Stand (1970) and Save Your Kisses For Me (1976), and Figaro and Beautiful Lover (1978). Over 500 artists have recorded Hiller's songs including Elton John, Olivia Newton-John, Andy Williams, Ray Stevens, the Miracles, the Hollies, Sonny & Cher, the Osmonds, Gil Grand, Tony Christie (Put A Light In Your Window), Glen Campbell, Lulu (He Don't Want Your Love Anymore), Crystal Gayle, Anne Murray (Over You), Ed Bruce, the Fortunes, and Dorsey Burnette (Daddy Loves You Honey) ~ Hiller passed away in 2018
July 30, 1926 ~ Singer Christine McGuire, full name Ruby Christine McGuire, born in Middletown, Ohio, USA ~ Formed the close-harmony sibling trio the McGuire Sisters with Dorothy McGuire and Phyllis McGuire. The sisters first gained attention in 1952 through the talent contest Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, after which Arthur Godfrey hired them for several of his other TV shows. The trio remained active through the late 1960s, and are well known for songs such as Goodnight Sweatheart Goodnight, Muskrat Ramble, It May Sound Silly, Something's Gotta Give, and He. The sisters would top the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice, first with Sincerely in 1955, and again with Sugartime two years later. They have performed for five American presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George HW Bush ~ McGuire passed away in 2018
July 30, 1923 ~ Kalman Felberbaum, commonly known as operatic bass singer Carlos Feller born in Zloczow, Poland ~ Closely associated with the Cologne Opera. Best known for comedic supporting roles, notably his signature role as Don Alfonso in the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart-penned Cosi Fan Tutte. Has also worked with the Teatro Colón, the Frankfurt Opera, the Opernhaus Klei, the Bavarian State Opera, and others ~ Felberbaum passed away in 2018
July 30, 1923 ~ Jazz drummer Roy Porter born in Walsenburg, Colorado, USA ~ Worked with Milt Larkin, Teddy Bunn, Howard McGhee, Charlie Parker (including on seminal recordings A Night In Tunesia, Yardbird Suite, and Ornithology), Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, Teddy Edwards, Hampton Hawes, Sonny Criss, Art Farmer, Jimmy Knepper, and Eric Dolphy ~ Porter passed away in 1998
July 30, 1918 ~ Jazz tenor saxophonist Joe Daley born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Hal Russell, Russell Thorne, Richard Corpolongo, Bobby Lewis, Bobby Roberts, Hal Russell, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Paul Wertico, Rusty Jones, and others ~ Daley passed away in 1994
July 30, 1903 ~ Jazz saxophonist Hilton Jefferson born in Danbury, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for leading Cab Calloway's saxophone section from 1940 through 1949. Had previously worked with Claude Hopkins, Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, and McKinney's Cotton Pickers. After Calloway worked with Duke Ellington before retiring from music ~ Jefferson passed away in 1968