June 1, 1986 ~ Oliver Dene Jones, commonly known as dubstep producer, DJ Skream, born in Bromley, UK ~ Son of jungle DJ Dijak. Released his full-length eponymous Skream debut album in 2006. Also formed Magnetic Man with longtime collaborators Artwork and Benga
June 1, 1981 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Brandi Carlile born in Ravensdale, Washington, USA ~ Influenced by Elton John. Debuted in 2005 with the critically acclaimed eponymous Brandi Carlile album. Co-founded all-female country supergroup Highwomen, which also featured Amanda Shires, Maren Morris, later complemented by Natalie Hemby. Worked with the Hanseroth Brothers, T-Bone Burnett (who produced Carliles sophomore album The Story), the Indigo Girls, Newton Faulkner, Amy Ray, Chad Smith, Benmont Tench, Trina Shoemaker, the Avett Brothers, Dave Cobb, and Shooter Jennings
June 1, 1980 ~ Singer, guitarist Askil Holm born in Namsos, Norway ~ First gained attention in 2006 teaming up with Espen Lind, Alejandro Fuentes and Kurt Nilsen on the collaborative Hallelujah Live album, spawning the Norwegian No.1 hits Hallelujah. Its follow-up album, 2009's Hallelujah Live Volume 2 would also produce a No.1 hit single with With Or Without You. As a solo artist best known for his 2007 sophomore Harmony Hotel album, which reached the Norwegian top 10
June 1, 1978 ~ Matko Sasek, commonly known as hip-hop, electronic, urban producer, songwriter Koolade, born in Zagreb, Croatia ~ Helped establish hip-hop as a viable genre in the Balkans. Internationally perhaps best known for co-producing Masta Ace's Bewautiful of Ace's 2004 A Long Hot Summer album and for hi collaborations with Ghostface Killah, Sean Price, Xzibit, Tony Touch, Rah Digga, Too $hort, amd Bow Wow
June 1, 1974 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Alanis Morissette born in Ottawa, Canada ~ Released two moderately successful dance-pop albums before switching to rock with the 1995 Jagged Little Pill album. It would be critically acclaimed, catapult her to international fame, sell over 30 million copies and spawn the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits You Oughta Know, Ironic and You Learn
June 1, 1974 ~ Folk punk, experimental singer, accordionist, guitarist, pianist Jason Webley born in Everett, Washington, USA ~ Worked with Evelyn Evelyn, Toast, Jay Thompson, Andru Bemis, Reverend Peyton, Amanda Palmer, Sxip Shirey, Oliver Orion, and Caitlin Rippey
June 1, 1972 ~ Singer, songwriter Mindy Smith born in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Influenced by John Prine, Alison Krauss, Patty Griffin, Shania Twain, Kris Kristofferson, Buddy Miller, Bill Gaither, and Dolly Parton. First gained attention, and a record deal, with her version of Jolene, for the 2003 Parton tribute album Just Because I'm A Woman. Debuted the next year with the album One Moment More and has recorded regularly since. Well known songs include Come To Jesus, Out Loud, I Know The Reason, and Highs And Lowsrs
June 1, 1968 ~ Actor, singer Jason Donovan, full name Jason Sean Donovan, born in Malvern, Australia ~ Enjoyed popularity in the UK and Australia during the late-1980s, early-1990s as one of the artists produced by hit-making team Stock Aitken & Waterman. Scored the UK No.1 hits Too Many Broken Hearts, Sealed With A Kiss, Any Dream Will Do and Especially For You, the latter a duet with Neighbours co-star Kylie Minogue
June 1, 1967 ~ House, tribal house DJ, producer, remixer Roger Sanchez born ~ Well known for his hit Another Chance of his 2001 First Contact album. Won a Grammy Award for his 2003 remix of No Doubt's Hella Good. Has also remixed for artists such as Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk, the Police, Maroon 5, and others
June 1, 1960 ~ Guitarist Jesse Johnson born in Rock Island, Illinois, USA ~ Member of funk band the Time, known for their association with Prince. Co-wrote The Bird and Jungle Love. Also involved with Vanity 6, for whom he co-wrote Bite The Beat. Johnson would go on to release a number of solo albums, starting with 1985's Jesse Johnson's Revue. Well known songs include Be Your Man, Can You Help Me, I Want My Girl, Free World and the Sly Stone-duet Crazay. Also known as a producer working with artists such as Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Ta Mara & the Seen, After 7, Kool Skool, Debbie Allen, Cheryl Lynn and Les Rita Mitsouko
June 1, 1960 ~ Punk, post-punk, alternative rock bassist Simon Gallup, full name Simon Jonathon Galup, born in Duxhurst, UK ~ Member of the Cure from 1979 through 1982, rejoining in 1985. Present on some of the band's best known albums including Pornography, Seventeen Seconds and Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
June 1, 1959 ~ Synth-pop, new wave keyboardist Alan Wilder, full name Alan Charles Wilder, born in Hammersmith, UK ~ Member of Depeche Mode, joining the band in 1982 replacing original member Vince Clarke and remaining through 1995. First appeared on the band's Broken Frame sophomore album and present on some of the band's key albums including 1987's Music For The Masses and 1990's Violator
June 1, 1958 ~ Producer, songwriter Jochem Fluitsma born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Half of Fluitsma & Van Tijn, the other half being Eric van Tijn. Usually working behind the scenes, producing and writing for others the duo became a household name in 1996 when they recorded 15 Miljoen Mensen, initially for a Postbank advertisement. The song jumped to the top of the charts and has been a staple of Dutch popmusic since. As producer, songwriter duo the pair have worked with de Kast, the Dolly Dots, Mai Tai, Richenel, the Scene, Linda Roos & Jessica, Guus Meeuwis, Vagant, Lois Lane, Willeke Alberti, Mathilde Santing, Henk Westbroek, Caught In The Act, de Jazzpolitie, 4 Fun, Hind, Status Quo, and others. The pair wrote the Dutch entry for Eurovision Songfestival twice, Edsilia Rombley's Hemel & Aarde in 1998, ranking 6th overall, and Ruth Jacott's Vrede in 1993, which came in 4th place
June 1, 1956 ~ Singer Amanda Miguel born in Gaiman, Argentina ~ Member of Mediterréneo, which also included Diego Verdaguer whom she would later marry. Well over a dozen albums to her name as a solo artist, many produced by her husband, starting with El Sonido Vol.1 released in 1981. Well-known songs include Asi No Te Amara Jamas, El Me Mintio, Mi Buen Corazón, and Rompecorazones
June 1, 1956 ~ Actress, singer Lisa Hartman born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Released her eponymous Lisa Hartman debut album in 1976. Scored a Billboard Country No.1 hit in 1999 with When I Said I Do, a duet with her husband Clint Black taken of the latter's D'Lectrified. Hartman and Black married in 1991
June 1, 1953 ~ Singer, songwriter Ronnie Dunn born in Coleman, Texas, USA ~ Formed the duo Brooks & Dunn duo with Kix Brooks, debuting in 1991 with the Brand New Man album. The duo would dominate the Billboard Country charts since, scoring numerous hits including Neon Moon, Boot Scootin' Boogie, She Used To Be Mine, That Ain't No Way To Go, Little Miss Honky Tonk, A Man This Lonely, Husbands And Wives, It's Getting Better All The Time, Play Something Country, Cowgirls Don't Cry featuring Reba McEntire
June 1, 1950 ~ Charlene Marilynn D'Angelo, mononymously known as easy listening, R&B singer, pianist, songwriter Charlene, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for her single I've Never Been To Me. Upon its initial 1977 release it barely dented the charts, but the 1982 re-release would reach top 10 across the globe including No.1 positions in Australia, Canada and the UK
June 1, 1950 ~ Guitarist, singer Graham Russell born in Nottingham, UK ~ Formed the soft rock duo Air Supply with singer Russell Hitchcock, known for a string of 1980s hits including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Lost In Love, All Out Of Love, Every Woman In The World, The One That You Love, Here I Am Just When I Thought I Was Over You, Sweet Dreams, Even The Nights Are Better and Making Love Out Of Nothing At All
June 1, 1950 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Tom Robinson born in Cambridge, UK ~ Active since the mid-1970s, scoring hits since the early-1980s. Known for songs such as 2-4-6-8 Motorway, Listen To The Radio (Radio Atmospherics), Don't Take No For An Answer, War Baby, and Glad To Be Gay. Also known as an activist for gay rights, for Amnesty International and against racism
June 1, 1948 ~ Singer Albert Mazibuko, full name Mdletshe Albert Mazibuko, born in Ladysmith, South Africa ~ Longtime member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, joining the band in 1973. The choral group is internationally best known for backing Paul Simon on the acclaimed Graceland album released in 1986
June 1, 1946 ~ Violinist Vera Beths born in Haarlem, the Netherlands ~ Member of Archibudelli alongside altviolist Jürgen Kussmaul and husband cellist Anner Bijlsma. Has also been married to hoboist, conductor Werner Herbers. Has works especially written for her by the likes of Peter Schat, Louis Andriessen, Misha Mengelberg, and Philip Glass. Also well known for her association with Willem Breuker. Guested on Boudewijn de Groot's De Reiziger of his seminal 1973 Hoe Sterk Is De Eenzame Fietser album
June 1, 1945 ~ Linda Joy Sampson, commonly known as pop singer, actresss Linda Scott born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Enjoyed chart succes in the early-1960s with songs such as Don't Bet Money Honey, I Don't Know Why and her best known the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit I've Told Ev'ry Little Star
June 1, 1943 ~ Singer, arranger, songwriter Tom Bahler, full name Thomas Lee Bahler, born in Inglewood, California, USA ~ Brother of singer, arranger, conductor John Bahler, with whom he formed 1960s pop band the Love Generation. The band recorded three commercially unsuccessful albums but is known for their 1967 song Let The Good Times In, which they rerecorded for the pilot of the Partridge Family. Bahler is probably best known as a songwriter, penning or co-penning songs such as Bobby Sherman's Julie Do Ya Love Me, Living In A House Divided best known as recorded by Cher, the Brothers Johnson's Ain't We Funkin' Now, and Michael Jackson's She's Out Of My Life. The latter, a 1980 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for Jackson, is said to have been originally intended for Frank Sinatra
June 1, 1942 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Alberto Radius born in Rome, Italy ~ Co-founded Formula 3 with Gabriele Lorenzi and Toni Cicco. The band is known for a string of early-1970s hits including Questo Folle Sentimento, Lo Ritorno Solo, and Eppur Mi Son Scordato Do Te. Radius has also recorded about a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Radius released in 1972, collaborated with Lucio Battisti, Milva, and Giuni Russo, and formed the late-1980s group Cantautores ~ Radius passed away in 2023
June 1, 1942 ~ Lenore Hyams, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Lenore Raphael born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sidewoman. Has worked with Lionel Hampton, Ken Peplowski, Illinois Jacquet, Clark Terry, Hilliard Greene, Rudy Lawless, Jon Hendricks, Warren Vaché Jr, Harry Allen, Gene Bertoncini, Joel Frahm, Marlene Verplanck, and others
June 1, 1941 ~ Conductor Edo de Waart born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ First gained serious attention as oboist with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in the early-1960s. Would go on to serve as assistant conductor to Leonard Bernstein as well as Bernard Haitink. Conductor of the Netherland Wind Ensemble and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra by the end of the decade. Would go on to work with renowned orchestras including the Santa Fe Opera, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Grand Opera, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and others
June 1, 1940 ~ Jazz singer Yolande Bavan born in Sri Lanka ~ Best known for replacing Annie Ross in Lambert Hendricks & Ross in 1962 after Ross retired from the band for health reasons. Bavan would record three live albums with the band, now renamed Lambert Hendricks & Bavan, before they disbanded in 1964. Bavan has subequently appeared in a number of musicals and films
June 1, 1934 ~ Pop singer, actor Pat Boone, full name Patrick Charles Eugene Boone, born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Popular pop singer during the 1950s and 1960s. Sold over 45 million records and appeared in a dozen Hollywood films. Best known for songs such as Ain't That A Shame, I Almost Lost My Mind, Don't Forbid Me, Love Letters In The Sand, April Love and Moody River
June 1, 1929 ~ Alto saxophonist, arranger, composer Lennie Niehaus born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Best known for his association with Stan Kenton. Also known as a film composer and arranger, oft in collaboration with Jerry Fielding. Arranged for Kenton as well as for artists including the King Sisters, Mel Tormé, Dean Martin, and for Carol Burnett ~ Niehaus passed away in 2020
June 1, 1926 ~ Actor, comedian, gospel singer, writer, TV personality Andy Griffith, full name Andy Samuel Griffith, born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA ~ Rose to fame as an actor, notably featured in the mid- to late-1950s films A Face In The Crowd and No Time For Sergeants, and the TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Griffiths sang in some of his acting roles and has recorded a number of standalone albums including country, gospel, and hymns ~ Griffith passed away in 2012
June 1, 1925 ~ Bluegrass singer, bassist, guitarist Hazel Dickens, full name Hazel Jane Dickens, born in Mercer County, West Virginia, USA ~ Influenced by Uncle Dave Macon, the Monroe Brothers, and the Carter Family. Once described by the New York Times as “a clarion-voiced advocate for coal miners and working people and a pioneer among women in bluegrass music” Closely associated with Alice Gerrard, with whom she recorded the albums Who's That Knocking (And Other Bluegrass Country Music) and Won't You Come & Sing For Me. As a solo artist best known for her contributions to the soundtrack of Harlan County USA, notably the track They'll Never Keep Us Down, and for the 1980s albums By The Sweat Of My Brow and It's Hard To Tell The Singer From The Song. Songs written by Dickens have been recorded by Dry Branch Fire Squad, Hot Rize, Lynn Morris, Dolly Parton (A Few Old Memories), Bill Frisell, Bobby Osborne, and Kathy Mattea ~ Dickens passed away in 2011
June 1, 1924 ~ Alto saxophonist, clarinetist Hal McKusick born in Medford, Massachusetts, USA ~ During the big band era served in ensembles led by Les Brown, Woody Herman, Boyd Raeburn, and Alvino Rey. Over half a dozen albums to his name as a leader, noted especially for Cross-Section (Saxes) released in 1959 featuring a cast which included Art Farmer, Paul Chambers and Connie Kay. As a sideman McKusick has appeared on albums by Milt Hinton (Basses Loaded), Manny Albam, Charlie Parker, Dinah Washington (The Swingin' Miss D), Charles Mingus, Nat Pierce, Urbie Green, and Jackie Paris ~ McKusick passed away in 2012
June 1, 1924 ~ Drummer, actor Herbie Lovelle, full name Herbert Edward Lovelle, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Played with Hot Lips Page, Hal Cornbread Singer, Johnny Moore, Earl Hines, Lucky Thompson, and Jimmy Rushing, prior to becoming the house drummer at the Savoy Ballroom, New York, a job he held for much of the 1950s. Following tours with saxophonist Arnett Cobb, and pianist Teddy Wilson, Lovelle became an in-demand session musician in jazz, blues, R&B, and pop. Has appeared on albums by Art Farmer, Buddy Lucas, Bob Dylan (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan), Sonny Stitt, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Witherspoon, Illinois Jacquet, David Blue (David Blue), the Monkees (Headquarters), Richard Groove Holmes, Solomon Burke, Fats Domino, John Denver, Evie Sands (Any Way That You Want Me), Big Joe Turner, Van Morrison (TB Sheets), and Gordon Lightfoot. From the 1980s forward, Lovelle has also ventured into acting for film and TV ~ Lovelle passed away in 2009
June 1, 1919 ~ Blues, jazz pianist, organist, singer, composer Lafayette Leake born in Winona, Missouri, USA ~ Member of the Big Three Trio, replacing Leonard Castron in the early-1950s. Session musician for Chess Records, appearing on several Chuck Berry recordings including Rock & Roll Music and Johnny B Goode, songs regarded as pivotal to the development of rock and roll. Though a highly revered pianist who could play anything by ear, Leake's shyness kept him in the background for most of his career, serving as a leader of his own unit only sporadically. Leake has guested on albums by numerous artists, including Dale Hawkins, Bo Diddley (Bo Diddley), Howlin' Wolf (Howlin' Wolf (The Rockin' Chair Album)), Sonny Boy Williamson II, John Lee Hooker (The Real Folk Blues), Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Koko Taylor, Jimmy Dawkins, Willie Dixon, Junior Wells, Eddie C Campbell (King Of The Jungle), Eddy Clearwater, Otis Rush, and Big Walter Horton ~ Leake passed away in 1990
June 1, 1915 ~ Cyrus Whitfield Bond, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Johnny Bond, born in Enville, Oklahoma, USA ~ Known for songs such as Ten Little Bottles, So Round So Firm So Fully Packed, Oklahoma Waltz, Love Song In 32 Bars, Sick Sober & Sorry and perhaps his best known Divorce Me COD, the latter a Billboard Country top 10 hit in 1947. Acted in over 40 films, starting with 1939's Saga Of Death Valley. Closely associated with Tex Ritter, his partner in the music publishing firm Vidor Publications. Bond would retire from performing in the 1970s to focus on music publishing ~ Bond passed away in 1978
June 1, 1909 ~ Singer, actor, TV personality Ray Heatherton born in Orange, New Jersey, USA ~ Discovered by bandleader Paul Whiteman who hired the young Heatherton by the late-1920s as featured vocalist on The Old Gold Hour radio show. Would go on to star in musicals, notably Babes In Arms, and become one of TV's earliest stars ~ Heatherton passed away in 1997
June 1, 1905 ~ Delta blues singer, guitarist Boyd Gilmore born in Inverness, Mississippi, USA ~ Though Gilmore's recording career was brief, he is remembered by blues aficionados for two early-1950s recordings, 1952's Ramblin' On My Mind and Believe I'll Settle Down recorded the following year. The former, a cover of the classic Robert Johnson song, features a young Ike Turner on piano, whereas the latter featured pianist Pinetop Perkins, guitarist Earl Hooker, and drummer Willie Nix. Though Gilmore never achieved much fame during his lifetime, he did enjoy some regional popularity touring Delta juke joints, before settling down in California ~ Gilmore passed away in 1976
June 1, 1898 ~ Jazz trombonist Harry White, full name Harry Alexander White, born ~ Played drums as a teenager before switching to trombone by the late-1910s. As a songwriter known for co-penning Oh Sister Ain't That Hot, first recorded by Gene Rodemich and covered by the Original Memphis Five, Jimmie Noone, and Fats Waller, and Evenin', first recorded by Cab Calloway and covered by T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Rushing, and Jimmy Witherspoon. Led the family outfit the White Brothers Orchestra, with whom he enjoyed popularity in the late-1920s. Member of the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, and notably of Calloway's ensemble, serving as trombonist, arranger, and composer. White has also worked with Duke Ellington, Elmer Snowden, Claude Hopkins, Luis Russell, Manzie Johnson, Hot Lips Page, Edgar Hayes, and Bud Freeman ~ White passed away in 1962
June 1, 1894 ~ Pianist, bandleader, composer Percival Mackey, full name Thomas Percival Montague Mackey, was born in London, UK ~ Popular 1920s dance band bandleader. Also known for scoring soundtracks in the 1930s. Worked with Jack Hylton, the Broadway Five, Al Bowlly, Art Christmas, Jack Jackson, Ivor Mairants, and others ~ Mackey passed away in 1950
June 1, 1879 ~ Writer, composer, lyricist Raymond Hubbell, full name John Raymond Hubbell, born in Urbana, Ohio, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing Poor Butterfly with John Golden. The song was inspired by the Giacomo Puccini-opera Madame Butterfly and written for the Broadway show The Big Show, in which it was introduced by Sophie Bernard. Over time it would be recorded by well over 300 artists, including early versions in the mid-1910s by Elizabeth Spencer and Edna Brown, as well as later versions by Paul Whiteman, Sarah Vaughan, Sonny Rollins, Tony Bennett, and Johnny Mathis ~ Hubbell passed away in 1954
June 1, 1873 ~ Singer Ada Jones, full name Ada Jane Jones, born in Lancashire, UK ~ Lacking the ability to read music or play an instrument Jones learned songs by ear. Among the first female singers to be recorded. Sang ballads, ragtime, vaudeville and comedy. Known for songs such as Sweet Marie, The Volunteer Organist, The Yama Yama Man and especially for a number of hit duets with Billy Murray including Blue Feather, Shine On Harvest Moon, Some Sunday Morning and Cuddle Up A Little Closer ~ Jones passed away in 1922