June 11, 1997 ~ Dieuson Octave, commonly known as rapper Kodak Black, born in Pompano Beach, Florida, USA ~ First gained attention with his 2014 No Flockin' single. Released his full-length Painting PIctures debut album in 2017, which included the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Tunnel Vision. Other well known songs include Wake Up In The Sky featuring Gucci Mane and Bruno Mars and Zeze featuring Travis Scott and Offset. Has also collaborated with French Montana, Yo Gotti, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Lil' Yachty, and others
June 11, 1988 ~ Roman René Ramirez, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Rome Ramirez, born in Fremont, California, USA ~ Influenced by Muse, Jimi Hendrix, Bad Brains, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, Primus. Best known for his association with Sublime's Eric Wilson, recording under the group moniker Sublime with Rome. Has also collaborated with the Dirty Heads, including co-writing their song Lay Me Down. Guested on the Blues Traveler's 2015 Blow Up The Moon album
June 11, 1988 ~ Natalie Laurie Mering, commonly known as psychedelic folk, noise, experimental rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Weyes Blood, born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Cites church music, figured prominently in her upbringing, as a major influence on her songwriting. Had her music labeled as chamber pop, psychedelic folk, and experimental rock. Has been recording to critical acclaim since the early 2000s using various variants of the moniker Weyes Blood. Especially acclaimed for the albums The Innocents and Titanic Rising, released respectively in 2014 and 2019
June 11, 1985 ~ Christopher Ryan Pask, commonly known as singer, actor Chris Trousdale, born in New Port Richey, Florida, USA ~ Made his Broadway debut at age 8, touring with a production of Les Miserables, starring alongside Ashley Tisdale. Member of the Broadway Kids, a concert group consisting of a rotating company of children, all of whom have performed in at least one Broadway, off-broadway, or major national touring production. Member of pop boy band Dream Street, with whom he recorded the albums Dream Street and The Biggest Fan. Has also ventured into acting for film and TV ~ Pask passed away in 2020
June 11, 1983 ~ Soul, rock, blues, funk keyboardist, singer Alex Veley born in Eugene, Oregon, USA ~ Co-founding member of neo-soul outfit Maktub, notably present on the band's 2000 Subtle Ways album, which he co-produced. Has toured with acts such as Tuatara and Minus 5, and recorded with CeDell Davis and Dave Matthews, appearing on the latter's 2003 Grammy award-winning solo album Some Devil. Relocated to Brazil in 2003, where he releasing his jazz-funk solo album Maconha Baiana the same year, and went on to back musicians such as Nando Reis, and Erasmo Carlos
June 11, 1983 ~ Benjamin Stanford, commonly known as dub, dubstep, hip hop, drum and bass, jungle, reggae, ska, dancehall singer, beatboxer, guitarist Dub FX, born ~ Member of local alternative rock, rapcore unit NON, known for their sole Exeunt Omnes album released in 2004. Starting with Live In The Street released in 2007, Stanford has completely independently released over half a dozen solo albums using only live performance, word of mouth, and internet social networking
June 11, 1977 ~ Bassist Ozan Musluoglo born in Istanbul, Turkey ~ Best known as former member of Turkish ska-punk outfit Athena. Has since collaborated with artists such as Kerem Gorsev, Vanessa Rubin, Danny Grissett, Dena Derose, Allan Harris, Tune Otenel, Donovan Mixon, Marcus Miller, Roy Hargrove, Mike Stern, Willy Jone, Eric Reed, Katy Roberts, Leslie Harrison, Erik Smith, Bebel Gilberto, Ilhan Ersahin, EJ Strickland, George Colligan, Bernard Maury, and others
June 11, 1974 ~ Bassist, songwriter Frode Jacobsen born in Stokmarknes, Norway ~ Co-founding and constant member of Madrugada, one of the most successful Norwegian acts of the late 1990s and 2000s known for their blues-inspired alternative rock. The band is especially acclaimed for the albums The Nightly Disease and The Deep End. The band would initially disband in 2008, following the death of band member, guitarist Robert Burås, but has reformed in the 2020s
June 11, 1973 ~ Pianist Vanessa Wagner born in Rennes, France ~ Actively recording since the mid-1990s, well known and praised for her interpretations of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Claude Debussy. Awarded the Victoire de la Musique, the French equivalent of the Grammy Award, in 1999 for Most Promising Instrumental Soloist. To non-classical audiences, Wagner is best known for her collaborations with electronic musicians Murcof, notably appearing on his 2016 Statea album, and Aphex Twin
June 11, 1969 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Assif Tsahar born ~ Recorded about a dozen albums as a leader starting in the mid-1990s, especially acclaimed for The Hollow World released in 1999. As a sideman present on albums by the Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra, In Order To Survive, Rashied Ali, Susie Ibarra (Flower After Flower, Hamid Drake, the New York Underground Orchestra, Andy McWain, Derek Bailey, and Digital Primitives
June 11, 1969 ~ Alternative rock guitarist, keyboardist, drummer Steven Drozd, full name Steven Gregory Drozd, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Best known as member of the Flaming Lips, initially on drums and switching to guitar in 2002 when newly joined member Kliph Scurlock took over drumming duties. Has also worked with Elliott Smith, Jay Farrar, Steve Burns, You In Me, the Electric Wurms, and others
June 11, 1967 ~ Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin born in Yaroslavi, Russia ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Gil Evans, George Gruntz, Dave Holland, the Mingus Big Band, Michael Brecker, Mulgrew Miller, Opus 5, Conrad Herwig, Monday Michiru, Toshiko Akiyoshi, David Binney, Bill Bruford, Larry Coryell, Deborah Cox, Michael Franks, Andy Laverne, Luis Perdomo, Lonnie Plaxico, Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Sanborn, and Jim Snidero
June 11, 1966 ~ Country, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Bruce Robison, full name Bruce Ben Robison, born in Bandera, Texas, USA ~ Brother of singers Robyn Ludwyck and Charlie Robison. Married to singer Kelly Willis since 1996. Released his eponymous Bruce Robison in 1996 and has recorded to local fame and a devoted fanbase since. Wrote or co-wrote several songs that became hits for others, including Angry All The Time recorded by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Travelin' Soldier recorded by the Dixie Chicks and Wrapped recorded by George Strait
June 11, 1964 ~ Clarinetist Antti Sarpilla, full name Antti Juhani Sarpila, born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for fronting his Benny Goodman-inspired the AS Swing Band active since 1982. Has worked with the Swedish Swing Society, Lars Estrand, Mark Shane, Björn Sjödin, and Gerhard Aspheim
June 11, 1964 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Penny Ford born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Lead singer of Eurodance act Snap, featured on songs such as The Power, Ooops Up, Cult Of Snap, and Mary Had A Little Boy. Also worked with Klymaxx and Soul II Soul. As a solo artist known for recordings such as Daydreaming and I Lose Control
June 11, 1963 ~ Singer, bassist, songwriter, actress, voice actress Britta Phillips born in Boyne City, Michigan, USA ~ First gained attention as the singing voice of the lead character in the animated Jem TV series, which ran from 1985 through 1988. Starred in the teen rock movie Satisfaction performing several tracks. Married to Galaxie 500's Dean Wareham since 2006, with whom she also worked in the indie pop, dream pop band Luna and the duo Dean & Britta. Previously married to Fountains Of Wayne lead guitarist Jody Porter
June 11, 1963 ~ Dance-pop, house, Hi-NRG singer Gioia Bruno, full name Carmen Gioia Bruno, born in Italy ~ Member of girl group Exposé, known for a string of late 1980s, early 1990s hits mostly taken of the band's first two albums. Well-known songs include Come Go With Me, Point Of No Return, Let Me Be The One, and the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Seasons Change. Bruno has also recorded as a solo artist and recorded with Will To Power
June 11, 1958 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter, film composer Barry Adamson born in Manchester, UK ~ First gained attention as member of late-1970s, 1980s group Magazine, best known for their single Shot By Both Sides. Briefly a member of the Buzzcocks. Member of Visage, present on the albums Visage and The Anvil. Worked with Nick Cave, appearing on the albums From Her To Eternity, The Firstborn Is Dead, Kicking Against The Pricks, and Your Funeral My Trial. Has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Moss Side Story released in 1989
June 11, 1954 ~ Jazz drummer John Bernard Riley born in Aberdeen, Maryland, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Milt Jackson, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Scofield, Bob Mintzer, Gary Peacock, Mike Stern, Joe Lovano, Franck Amsallem, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, John Patitucci, Bob Berg, George Gruntz, Bobby Paunetto, Mike Metheny, Lalo Schifrin, Randy Sandke, Todd Coolman, Steve Hobbs, Red Rodney, Haze Greenfield, Ludwig Nuss, Vince Mendoza, and others
June 11, 1952 ~ Southern rock, country singer, guitarist Donnie Van Zant, full name Donald Newton Van Zant, born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Younger brother of the late Lynyrd Skynyrd-lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, older brother of Johnny Van Zant. Formed 38 Special with Johnny, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed early 1980s albums Wild-Eyed Southern Boys and Special Forces. Donnie and Johnny also formed the duo Van Zant, known best for their 2005 Get Right With The Man. Van Zant retired from music in 2013 due to health reasons related to inner-ear nerve damage
June 11, 1948 ~ Lynsey Monckton Rubin, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lynsey de Paul, born in London, UK ~ Songwriter, wrote or co-wrote songs for Jack Wild (Taking It Easy, Bring Yourself Back To Me), Del Davis (Sugarloaf Hill), and the Fortunes (Storm In A Teacup). As a solo artist best known for a string of 1970s hits including Sugar Me, Getting A Drag and Won't Somebody Dance With Me. Represented UK in the 1977 Eurovision Songfestival with the song Rock Bottom, co-written with Michael Moran. The song would reach 2nd place, losing out to France's Marie Myriam's L'Oiseau Et L'Enfant ~ Rubin passed away in 2014
June 11, 1948 ~ Patricia Mary Higgins, commonly known as pop singer, music journalist Pat Wilson, born ~ Married to singer Ross Wilson, who wrote Bop Girl for her. The single would reach top 10 in her native Australia. A follow-up single, Strong Love, reached top 30. Wilson released her sole full-length album, Strong Love, in 1984. Wilson had previously worked as a music journalist, going by the pen name Mummy Cool, for the pop music newspaper Go-Set
June 11, 1947 ~ Reggae singer, songwriter Eric Donaldson born in St Catherine, Jamaica ~ Founded reggae trio the West Indians with Leslie Burke and Hector Brooks known for their 1968 JJ Johnson-produced Right On Time. Went solo in the early 1970s, known for songs such as Sweet Jamaica, Land Of My Birth and perhaps his best-known Cherry Oh Baby, the latter notably covered by the Rolling Stones
June 11, 1944 ~ Maurus Turso, commonly known as saxophonist Turk Mauro, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since his mid-teens. A controversial saxophonist enjoying highs but specifically in his personal life just as many lows. Released his The Underdog solo debut album in 1977. Best known for backing Buddy Rich, including on the 1976 Speak No Evil album. Mauro has also guested on recordings by Red Rodney, Eric Allison, Billy Ross, and Billy Marcus
June 11, 1939 ~ Bernard Lee Purdie, commonly known as jazz, rock, R&B, funk, soul drummer Bernard Pretty Purdie in Elkton, Maryland, USA ~ In-demand collaborator known for his impeccable sense of time and trademark groove. Well over a dozen albums as a leader, noted especially for 1968's Soul Drums and 1972's Soul Is Pretty Purdie. Present on albums by Gábor Szabó, Nina Simone (Silk And Soul), Benny Golson, Shirley Scott, Insect Trust, Gene Ammons, Jimmy Smith, Carla Thomas (Memphis Queen), Albert Ayler, James Brown, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones (Walking In Space), David Fathead Newman, King Curtis, Aretha Franklin (Young Gifted & Black), Duane Allman, Archie Shepp (Kwanza), Hank Crawford, Todd Rundgren, Jimmy Witherspoon, the Manhattan Transfer, Steely Dan (Aja), Roy Ayers, Houston Person, Biréli Lagrène, Gil Scott-Heron, and Jon Faddis
June 11, 1938 ~ Jazz drummer Stu Martin, full name Stuart Victor Martin, born in Liberty, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Playing professionaly since age 16. Has worked with Count Basie, Jimmy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Quincy Jones, Billy May, Gary Burton, Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller, Herbie Hancock, Oliver Nelson, Sonny Rollins, Steve Swallow, Lambert Hendricks & Ross, Lee Konitz, Albert Mangelsdorff, Attila Zoller, Joachim Kühn, Carla Bley, Slide Hampton, John McLaughlin, New York Gong, Barre Phillips, Sonny Rollins, Tomasz Stańko, Karin Krog, and others ~ Martin passed away in 1980
June 11, 1931 ~ Jessie Lee Frealls, commonly known as blues singer Bonnie Lee, born in Bunkie, Louisiana, USA ~ Big-voiced blues singer dubbed “the Sweetheart of the Blues” and best known for her associations with pianist Sunnyland Slim and bassist Willie Kent. As a solo artist known for songs such as Sad & Evil Woman, I'm Good and Need Your Love So Vad ~ Frealls passed away in 2006
June 11, 1929 ~ Dulce Pinto Bressano, commonly known as singer, songwriter Dulce Nunes, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Known for a handful of 1960s, starting with 1964's Pober Menina Rica, a collaboration with Carlos Lyra. Married to pianist Bene Nunes through 1965. Married to guitarist, pianist Egberto Gismonti from 1968 to 1976 ~ Bressane passed away in 2020
June 11, 1929 ~ Maurice Vanderschueren, commonly known as jazz keyboardist Maurice Vander, born in Paris, France ~ Worked with Don Byas, Django Reinhardt, Bobby Jaspar, Jimmy Raney, Stéphane Grappelli, Chet Baker, Kenny Clarke, Roger Guerin, Pierre Gossez, Boulou Ferre, Claude Nougaro, Ivan Jullien, Richie Cole, Art Farmer, Benny Powell, and others
June 11, 1926 ~ Composer Carlisle Floyd, full name Carlisle Sessions Floyd, born in Latta, South Carolina, USA ~ Wrote about a dozen operas typically set in in the American South, themed around post-civil war South, the Great Depression and rural life. Best known for Susannah, a Biblical story transcribed to rural Tennessee and written for a Southern dialect. Its 1956 performance at the New York City Opera met with mixed reviews, some degrading it to “folk opera” while others considered it a masterpiece. It would quickly become one the most performed American operas ~ Floyd passed away in 2021
June 11, 1920 ~ Jazz, classical pianist, singer, actress Hazel Scott, full name Hazel Dorothy Scott, born in Port Of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago ~ Child prodigy. Outspoken critic of racial discrimation. Popular jazz, blues, boogie-woogie nightclub performer during the 1930s and 1940s. One of the first Afro-Caribbean women to land respectable roles in major Hollywood films including I Dood It alongside Lena Horne, The Heat's On and Rhapsody In Blue ~ Scott passed away in 1981
June 11, 1913 ~ Risë Gus Steenberg, commonly known as operatic mezzo-soprano singer Risë Stevens, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with the Metropolitan Opera, starring in numerous operas for over two decades starting in 1938. Would go on to serve as director of the Metropolitan Opera National Company from 1963 through 1968 ~ Steenberg passed away in 2013
June 11, 1904 ~ Clarence Smith, commonly known as blues, boogie-woogie pianist Pinetop Smith, born in Troy, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for his 1928 recording Pinetop's Boogie Woogie, foreshadowing rock & roll and considered the song to have named the boogie-woogie genre. The song would become hugely popular after Smith's death, in particular due to a 1938 cover by Tommy Dorsey, becoming Dorsey's best-selling record. It would also be covered by Bing Crosby, Count Basie, and numerous others as well as serve as the basis for Mess Around, a 1957 Ray Charles hit ~ Smith passed away in 1929
June 11, 1902 ~ Joseph Marshall, commonly known as jazz drummer Kaiser Marshall, born in Savannah, Georgia, USA ~ Considered one of the premier jazz drummers of the 1920s. Worked with Charlie Dixon, Shrimp Jones, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Art Hodes, Wild Bill Davison, Sidney Bechet, Bunk Johnson, Mezz Mezzrow, Louis Armstrong (notably on the 1929 recording Knockin' A Jug), and was a member of McKinney's Cotton Pickers in the late 1920s which at the time also included Benny Carter, Fats Waller and Coleman Hawkins ~ Marshall passed away in 1948