June 12, 1985 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Young, full name Christopher lan Young, born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA ~ First gained attention as winner of the talent show Nashville Star in 2006. Subsequently released his eponymous Chris Young later the same year, spawning the modest hits Drinkin' Me Lonely and You're Gonna Love Me. His 2009 The Man I Want To Be sophomore album would give him the Billboard Country No.1 hits Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song), The Man I Want To Be and Voices. Young has since consistently regularly reached the higher echelons of the country charts
June 12, 1977 ~ Kenny Wayne Brobst, commonly known as blues rock, root rock, rock guitarist, singer, songwriter Kenny Wayne Shepherd born in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ~ Completely self-taught, starting on toy guitars at age 3. Does not read music. Debuted in 1995 with his Ledbetter Heights album, and would continue with a series of acclaimed blues-rock albums. Best known for songs such as Deja Voodoo, Slow Ride, Somehow Somewhere Someway, Blue On Black, Everything Is Broken, Was and Alive. Member of supergroup the Rides, formed in 2013 with Barry Goldberg and Stephen Stills, the latter referring to the band as “the blues band of my dreams”
June 12, 1975 ~ Thomas Brückner, commonly known as techno, progressive house, progressive trance DJ, producer Tomcraft, born in Munich, West Germany ~ Active as a club DJ since the mid-1990s, notably as resident DJ at Munich's techno club KW Das Heizkraftwerk from the late-1990s through the early-2000s. Closely associated with Eniac, the pair working together on numerous releases. Perhaps best known for his 2002 progressive house single Loneliness, a club hit in the UK, which greatly boosted his career. Subsequent well known releases would include Prozac and Overdose. Bruckner would DJ at the 2003 Love Parade in Berlin, and has established himself as an in-demand DJ at festivals the world over ~ Brückner passed away in 2024
June 12, 1972 ~ Rodney Basil Price, commonly known as dancehall, reggae singer, songwriter Bounty Killer, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Street-tough rude boy, one of the lyrically most agressive dancehall stars and considered by many to be one of dancehall's all-time best lyricists. To American audiences best known for his 1998 single Deadly Zone featuring Mobb Deep and Big Noyd of the Blade soundtrack and for collaborating with No Doubt on their 2001 Hey Baby single of the band's Rock Steady album
June 12, 1971 ~ Jazz pianist Peter Beets born in The Hague, the Netherlands ~ Leader and sideman. Brother of double bassist Marius Beets and tenor saxophonist Alexander Beets. Worked with the Beets Brothers, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Clayton, Rodney Whitaker, Willie Jones III, Larry Grenadier, Reginald Veal, Herlin Riley, Joe Cohn, Reuben Rogers, Louis van Dijk, the Rosenberg Trio, Fay Claassen, Joe Cohn, Rita Reys, Ronnie Cuber, Florin Niculescu, Piet Noordijk, and others
June 12, 1970 ~ Doom metal bassist Adrian Jackson born ~ Bet known as member of My Dying Bride from 1991 until relocating to America in 2007
June 12, 1969 ~ Guitarist, bassist Bardi Martin born in Olympia, Washington, USA ~ Co-founding member of Candlebox, best known for their 1994 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Far Behind of their eponymous Candlebox debut album. Martin left the band in 2007 to continue his education to become a lawyer and would be replaced by Adam Kury
June 12, 1968 ~ Bassist Bobby Sheehan, full name Robert Vaughan Sheehan, born in Summit, New Jersey, USA ~ Co-founding member of jam band Blues Traveler. The band is best known for their breakout album Four released in 1994, which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Run Around. Sheehan would remain with the band until his death by accidental overdose in 1999 ~ Sheehan passed away in 1999
June 12, 1968 ~ Jewell Caples, mononymously known as R&B singer Jewell, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ In-demand 1990's session singer referrering to herself as “the First Lady of Death Row Records” appearing on several pivotal golden age records, perhaps most notably Dr Dre's The Chronic and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle album. Has also worked with Marky Mark, Bone Thugs 'n Harmony, Kool G Rap, Tupac Shakur, and others. As a solo artist best known for her Shirley Brown-cover Woman To Woman for the 1994 Murder Was The Case soundtrack ~ Caples passed away in 2022
June 12, 1967 ~ Film composer Klaus Badelt born in Frankfurt, West Germany ~ Frequent collaborator of Hans Zimmer, including on movie scores for Thin Red Line, Gladiator, and Pirates Of The Caribbean (The Curse Of The Black Pearl). Independently Badelt worked on blockbuster Hollywood films such as Equilibrium, Basic, and TMNT. Badelt has received critical acclaim and numerous awards.
June 12, 1965 ~ Luis Ferdinand Vega Jr, commonly known as DJ, producer, remixer Little Louie Vega, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Son of jazz saxophonist Luis Ferdinand Vega Sr. Formed the production duo Masters At Work with Kenny Dope Gonzalez. Club DJ at New York's Studio 54 and Palladium. Actively recording since the late-1990s. Has worked with Marc Anthony, Blaze, Arnold Jarvis, Raul Midón, Ursula Rucker, Caron Wheeler, Barbara Tucker, Gloria Estefan, and others
June 12, 1961 ~ Bassist, singer Kira Roessler born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Member of Black Flag, taking over from Chuck Dukowski who departed the band after the first album. Roessler was majoring in applied engineering at UCLA, and the band's tours were scheduled around her classes, a condition of her joining the band. Roessler appeared on five albums until the band's dissolution in the mid-1980s. Following her tenure with the band, Roessler formed Dos with Mike Watt, to whom she would be married from 1987 through 1994
June 12, 1957 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Ciro Pessoa, full name Ciro Pessoa Mendes Corréa, born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Co-founding member of influential rock unit Titas, remaining only with the band through its eponymous Titas debut album released in 1984. Following his departure from the band has fronted numerous short-lived bands, recorded as a solo artist, and founded and fronten the pioneering post-punk, gothic rock band Cabine C ~ Mendes passed away in 2020
June 12, 1954 ~ Jazz bassist, bandleader, composer, producer Jesper Lundgaard born in Hillerod, Denmark ~ Leader and sideman. Actively recording since the mid-1970s. Considered one of Denmark's most prominent jazz bassists, appearing on over 400 albums. Has collaborated with Paul Bley, Thomas Fryland, Anders Lindskog, Alex Riel, Horace Parlan, Jesper Thilo, Mette Juul, Lotte Anker, Chet Baker, Benny Carter, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Tommy Flanagan, Frank Foster, Thad Jones, Kirk Lightsey, Warne Marsh, Phineas Newborn Jr, Doug Raney, and others
June 12, 1953 ~ Jonathan Burnette, commonly known as rock & roll, rockabilly singer, guitarist Rocky Burnette, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Son of rock & roll singer Johnny Burnette. Best known for Tired Of Toein' The Line, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit of his 1979 The Son Of Rock & Roll debut album. Both Ricky Nelson and Shakin' Stevens would later cover Tired
June 12, 1952 ~ Blues, jazz fusion guitarist Bent Patey born in Oslo, Norway ~ Known as a solo artist, notably for 1982's Ocean Front Walk album, and for fronting Patey's Pipe. In-demand collaborator, has worked with the likes of Bazar, Susanne Fuhr, the Bryggerigangen Bluesband, and Bang 85
June 12, 1952 ~ Composer, conductor Oliver Knussen born in Glasgow, UK ~ Son of double bassist Stuart Knussen. Wrote and conducted his first symphony at age 15. Would go on to work with major orchestras such as the London Sinfonietta, the New London Chamber Choir, the Cleveland Orchestra, the BBC Sympony Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and others ~ Knussen passed away in 2018
June 12, 1951 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Brad Delp, full name Bradley Edward Delp, born in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA ~ Lead singer of Boston. Delp wrote or co-wrote a substantial amount of the band's material such as Smokin' and Let Me Take You Home Tonight of the band's eponymous 1975 Boston debut album, as well as Party, Used To Bad News, Cool The Engines and Can'tcha Say You Believe In Me/Still In Love of later albums. In 1991 Delp co-founded RTZ with bandmate guitarist Barry Goudreau and be involved in several other side projects including Orion The Hunter ~ Delp passed away in 2007
June 12, 1951 ~ Brad Carlson, commonly known as drummer Bun E Carlos born in Rockford, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founding, longtime member of Cheap Trick actively performing with the band from its inception in 1973 through 2010, known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits I Want You To Want Me (Live), The Flame and Don't Be Cruel
June 12, 1949 ~ Rock, progressive rock, hard rock, pop rock singer, bassist, guitarist, songwriter John Wetton, full name John Kenneth Wetton, born in Derby, UK ~ Best known for his work with King Crimson, UK, and especially Asia, serving as one of the latter's main songwriters often in partnership with Geoff Downes. In-demand sideman and collaborator. Has worked with the Family, Roxy Music (Viva), Uriah Heep, Brian Eno (Here Come The Warm Jets), Wishbone Ash, Phil Manzanera, Bryan Ferry, Mogul Thrash, Gordon Haskell, Peter Sinfield, Steve Hackett, Phenomena, Icon, Ayreon, Renaissance, and others ~ Wetton passed away in 2017
June 12, 1948 ~ Guitarist Barry Bailey born ~ Founding member of Southern rock outfit the Atlanta Rhythm Section, remaining with the band from 1972 until leaving in 2006 to care for his ailing wife. The band is known for songs such as So Into You, I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight, Imaginary Lover, Do It Or Die and Spooky, all of which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 ~ Bailey passed away in 2022
June 12, 1946 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Andy Roberts, full name Andrew Jonathan Roberts, born in Harrow, UK ~ Accompanied Liverpool comedy trio the Scaffold. Member of the Liverpool Scene. Best known for his association with Iain Matthews, serving well over three decades in the folk rock unit Plainsong. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1972 In Search Of Amelia Earhart album. Roberts has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Home Grown released in 1970, and worked with Chris Spedding, Kevin Ayers, Vivian Stanshall, and Grimms
June 12, 1942 ~ Leonard Warren Borioff, commonly known as singer, songwriter Len Barry, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Lead singer of the Dovells, known for the early-1960s Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits The Bristol Stomp and You Can't Sit Down. As a solo artist best known for the 1965 hit 1-2-3, which would eventually sell 4 million copies. Would go on to enjoy great popularity in the UK. Co-wrote Zoom for Fat Larry's Band and Love Town for Booker Newberry III ~ Borisoff passed away in 2020
June 12, 1941 ~ Armando Anthony Corea, commonly known as jazz, jazz fusion pianist, percussionist, bandleader, composer Chick Corea, born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA ~ Regarded as one of the premier jazz pianists of the post-John Coltrane era. Helped birth and define jazz fusion. As a composer best known for Spain, 500 Miles High, and Windows, all considered jazz standards. Especially acclaimed for the early-1970s albums Return To Forever and Light As A Feather, both with his ensemble Return To Forever. Has appeared on albums by Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Willis Jackson (Soul Night Live), Blue Mitchell (Boss Horn), Miles Davis (Filles de Kilimanjaro), Wayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, Joe Farrell (Outback), Stanley Clarke (Children Of Forever), Sadao Watanabe, Ernie Watts, Chaka Khan, David Friesen, Rufus Reid (Seven Minds), and John Patitucci ~ Corea passed away in 2021
June 12, 1941 ~ Reginald Maurice Ball, commonly known as singer, bassist Reg Presley, born in Hampshire, UK ~ Best known as the Troggs' lead singer, known for hits such as With A Girl Like You, Wild Thing, I Can't Control Myself and Love Is All Around, later covered by Wet Wet Wet. Ball used the royalties of the latter to fund research into UFO's, lost civilizations and alchemy. ~ Presley passed away in 2014
June 12, 1941 ~ Folk, folk baroque, folk rock, progressive folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Roy Harper born in Rusholme, UK ~ Once described as “one of Britain's most complex and eloquent lyricists and genuinely original songwriters” Harper would never become a household name yet recorded well over 20 studio albums. Admired by peers. Cited as influence by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, the Who's Pete Townshend, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, singer Kate Bush, and by harpist Joanna Newsom
June 12, 1941 ~ Richard Turley, commonly known as singer, guitarist Turley Richards born in Charleston, West Virginia, USA ~ Perhaps best known for first recording You Might Need Somebody, only a modest hit in 1980 but notably covered by Randy Crawford taking it to the UK top 20 the following year. The Nan O'Byrne & Tom Snow-penned tune would later be covered by Joe Walsh in 1991 on his Ordinary Average Guy and by Englih singer Shola Ama on her 1997 Much Love debut album
June 12, 1937 ~ Lincoln Wayne Moman, commonly known as producer, guitarist, songwriter Chips Moman, born in La Grange, Georgia, USA ~ Recording engineer, producer, songwriter. Guided the career of the Box Tops. Produced Carla Thomas's Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes), the very first hit for Stax/Volt. Worked with Bobby Womack, Merrilee Rush, Mark Lindsay, Sandy Posey, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett, Herbie Mann, Roy Hamilton, Petula Clark, and others. Co-wrote classics such as Do Right Woman Do Right Man, The Dark End Of The Street, Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, and Luckenbach Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love). Produced albums such as 1969's From Elvis In Memphis, arguably Elvis Presley's best. Produced 1985's The Highwaymen, the debut album by country supergroup the Highwaymen consisting of Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson ~ Moman passed away in 2016
June 12, 1936 ~ Jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, full name Marcus Batista Belgrave, born in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Tutored by Clifford Brown. Toured with Ray Charles. Went on to work with Martha & the Vandellas, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Gunther Schuller, Carl Craig, Max Roach, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Tony Bennett, Palabra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dizzy Gillespie, Odessa Harris, John Sinclair, Roland Alexander, Curtis Amy, Hank Crawford, George Gruntz, Joe Henderson, BB King, Kirk Lightsey, David Murray, Cecil Payne, David Fathead Newman, Houston Person, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, his wife Joan Belgrave, and others ~ Belgrave passed away in 2015
June 12, 1932 ~ Singer Charlie Feathers, full name Charles Arthur Feathers, born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA ~ Known for a number of pioneering 1950 rockabilly, rock & roll recordings including Peeping Eyes, Defrost Your Heart, Tongue-tied Jill, and Bottle To The Baby. At the time underappreciated, and most certainly underpromoted, but in retrospect Feather's energetic, theatrical vocal style which included intentional hiccups, screeching and screaming, would prove to be influential on numerous later musicians, perhaps most notably the Cramps-singer Lux Interior. As a songwriter, Feathers is perhaps best known for co-penning I Forgot To Remember To Forget, first recorded by then-labelmate Elvis Presley and over the years covered by dozens of artists. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Feathers include Tommy Tucker, Cub Koda, the Stray Cats (One Hand Loose), and Nick Lowe. Though disputed, Feathers has claimed to have arranged That's All Right and Blue Moon Of Kentucky for Presley ~ Feathers passed away in 1998
June 12, 1930 ~ Actor, singer, comedian Jim Nabors, full name James Thurston Nabors, born in Sylacauga, Alabama, USA ~ Discovered by Andy Griffith. Best known for portraying the role of Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show. Popular guest on variety shows in the 1960s and 1970s, praised for his rich baritone voice. Has recorded over two dozen albums starting in the mid-1960s ~ Nabors passed away in 2017
June 12, 1928 ~ Richard Morton Sherman, commonly known as songwriter, film composer Richard M Sherman, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed one of the most productive stage and film composer duos in history with his brother Robert B Sherman. The siblings, sons of Tin Pan Alley songwriter Al Sherman, are closely associated with Walt Disney Studios, serving as the studio's staff songwriters from the late-1950s onwards. Notable credits include films such as Jungle Book, The Aristocats, Charlotte's Web and The Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh. The brothers were awarded two Academy Awards for their work on the 1964 Mary Poppins musical fantasy film, one for the entire soundtrack and one for Best Original Song for Chim Chim Cher-ee sung by Dick Van Dyke & Julie Andrews. Following Walt Disney's death in 1966, the siblings have worked as freelance composers writing numerous film scores and musicals, including notably Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ~ Sherman passed away in 2024
June 12, 1928 ~ Vito Rocco Farinola, commonly known as balladeer Vic Damone, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Damone reportedly has recorded some 2,000 songs. Best known for hits such as I Have But One Heart, You're Breaking My Heart, On The Street Where You Love, My Truly Truly Fair, Tzena Tzena Tzena, and My Heart Cries For You ~ Farinola passed away in 2018
June 12, 1927 ~ Jazz trumpeter Al Fairweather, full name Alastair Fairweather, born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Worked with Sandy Brown, Stan Greig, Cy Laurie, and Acker Bilk ~ Fairweather passed away in 1993
June 12, 1925 ~ Jazz singer Jimmy Scott, full name James Victor Scott, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with Lionel Hampton (sang lead on Everybody's Somebody's Fool), Charlie Parker, Lou Reed (sang backup on The Power And Glory), Tommy Lipuma, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, David Fathead Newman, Wynton Marsalis, Renee Rosnes, Bob Kindred, Eric Alexander, Lew Soloff, George Mraz, Lewis Nash, the Jazz Expressions, and others. Sang at the inaugurations of Presidents Eisenhower (1953) and Clinton (1993) ~ Scott passed away in 2014
June 12, 1912 ~ Singer Eddie Williams, full name Edward Earl Williams, born in St Augustine, Texas, USA ~ First to record Saturday Night Fish Fry in 1949 with spoken vocals by its author Ellis Walsh. Before the single was out the song would be adapted by Louis Jordan who changed the rhythm, arrangements and some of the lyrics and scored a massive hit, some marking Jordan's single as one of the first rock & roll records ~ Williams passed away in 1995
June 12, 1904 ~ Violinist, bandleader Al Donahue born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA ~ Worked with Paula Kelly, Dee Keating, Lynne Stevens, Phil Brito, Snooky Lanson. Best known for his rendition of Jeepers Creepers, a Billboard No.1 hit in 1938 ~ Donahue passed away in 1983
June 12, 1900 ~ Violinist, conductor, composer Amadeo Roldán, full name Amadeo Roldán y Gardes, born in Paris, France ~ Founded the Havana String Quartet. Director, conductor, concertmaster for the Orquesta Sinfonica De La Habana and the Orquesta Filarmonica Of Havana. As a composer best known for his 1928 ballet La Rebambaramba, a pivotal work of the Afrocubanismo movement. Other well known works include Overture On Cuban Themes, El Milagro De Anaquille, and Ritmicas ~ Roldán passed away in 1939
June 12, 1897 ~ Pianist, composer Alexandre Tansman born in Lödz, Poland ~ Virtuoso pianist. As a composer one of the earliest representative of neoclassicism and acclaimed for his original approach to harmony and form ~ Tansman passed away in 1986