June 14, 1991 ~ Jessica Louise Nelson, commonly known as pop, R&B, dance-pop singer Jesy Nelson, born in Romford, UK ~ Member of girl group Little Mix, known for UK hits such as Cannonball, Wings, Salute, Black Magic, Secret Love Song featuring Jason Derülo, Shout Out To My Ex, A Woman Like Me featuring Nicki Minaj, and others
June 14, 1984 ~ Singer Siobhán Donaghy, full name Siobhán Emma Donaghy, born in London, UK ~ Founding member of the Sugababes, leaving the group after their debut album. Released her Revolution In Me solo debut album in 2003, which included the UK top 20 single Overrated. In 2012 the original trio of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Donaghy and reunited for the one-off single Flatline released under the moniker Mutya Keisha Siobhan
June 14, 1982 ~ Fredrick Jami Tipton, commonly known as rapper Freddie Gibbs, born ~ First gained attention with a number of early-2010s mixtapes, especially 2012's Baby Face Killa. Released his full-length debut albun, ESGN, in 2013. Has collaborated with Madlib under the project moniker Madgibbs. Also worked with Jeezy, Juicy J, Freeway, Dom Kennedy, Pulled Over By The Cops, Krayzie Bone, Jadakiss, Kirko Bangs, Jay Rock, Curren$y, Raekwon, Chuck Inglish, Big KRIT, Problem, Bad Lucc, A$AP Ferg, Black Thought, Anderson Paak, David Dallas, Ski Beatz, Method Man, ZZ Ward, Domo Genesis, Raekwon, Danny Brown, Freeway, Trae the Truth, Jazzy Bazz, and others
June 14, 1982 ~ Classical, concert pianist Lang Lang born in Shenhe District, China ~ First pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic. Also worked with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Mike Oldfield, Herbie Hancock, the BBC Sympony Orchestra, Metallica, and others
June 14, 1982 ~ Producer, DJ Ørjan Nilsen born in Kirkenes, Norway ~ Actively recording since the mid-2000s. Released his full-length In My Opinion debut album in 2011. Has collaborated with Armin Van Buuren, Cosmic Gate, Fingerling, Rykka, and others
June 14, 1971 ~ Rock singer, songwriter Billie Myers born in Coventry, UK ~ Best known for Kiss The Rain, a top 20 hit on both sides of the Atlantic, taken of her self-penned debut album Growing Pains. It would be featured in the TV series Dawson's Creek. A follow-up single, Tell Me, did reasonably well and Myers continued to write and record but no recordings would match the success of Kiss The Rain
June 14, 1969 ~ Lorenzo Jerald Patterson, commonly known as rapper, producer, songwriter MC Ren, born in Compton, California, USA ~ Member of pivotal rap group NWA joining the band in 1987, acclaimed for their 1988 Straight Outta Compton debut album. The band would be among the earliest and most controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, known for their misogynyst views and glorification of drugs and crime as evidenced in songs such as Gangsta Gangsta and Fuck Tha Police
June 14, 1966 ~ Bassist Otti van der Werf born ~ Brother of saxophonist Bo van der Werf, with whom he worked in Octum. Has also worked with Laurent Blondiau, Kris Defoort, Pierre van Dormael, Pierre Vaiana, Dré Pallemaerts, Jeroen van Herzeele, Axelle Red, DAAN, and others
June 14, 1965 ~ Producer, engineer Trina Shoemaker, full name Kathryn Shoemaker, born in Joliet, Illinois, USA ~ Produced, engineered, mixed recordings for a wide array of artists including the Queens Of The Stone Age, Emmylou Harris, Something For Kate, Nanci Griffith, Kristin Hersh, the Indigo Girls, and others. Noted for being the first woman engineer awarded a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, namely for her work on Sheryl Crow's 1998 The Globe Sessions album
June 14, 1961 ~ George Alan O'Dowd, commonly known as pop singer Boy George, born in Eltham, UK ~ Lead singer of Culture Club, known for 1980s hits such as Karma Chameleon, Do You Really Want To Hurt Me and Time (Clock Of The Heart)
June 14, 1958 ~ Pianist Kenny Drew Jr born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of Kenny Drew. Cited Thelonious Monk as influence. Leader and sideman. Worked with Bob Berg, Charnett Moffett, Al Foster, Terence Blanchard, Cody Moffett, Buster Williams, Marvin Smitty Smith, Christian McBride, Winard Harper, Wallace Roney, Ralph Moore, George Mraz, David Sánchez, Lewis Nash, Joshua Redman, Eddie Gomez, Bill Stewart, Lynn Seaton, Michael Philip Mossman, Ravi Coltrane, Steve Nelson, Tony Reedus, Peter Washington, Larry Coryell, Jon Burr, Hal Melia, the Mingus Big Band, Carl Allen, Steve Slagle, Stanley Turrentine, Daniel Schnyder, Jack Walrath, Ron McClure, Bubba Brooks, Warren Vaché Jr, Paul F Kendall, Johnny Griffin, Butch Miles, Jeff Rupert, Paquito d'Rivera, Richard Drexler, Kevin Celebi, and others ~ Drew passed away in 2014
June 14, 1958 ~ Nicholas Eede, commonly known as pop, power pop singer, guitarist, keyboardist Nick Van Eede born in Cuckfield, UK ~ Lead singer of Cutting Crew, known for songs such as I've Been In Love Before, One For The Mockingbird, Everything But My Pride and their best-known I Just Died In Your Arms, the latter a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit in 1986
June 14, 1957 ~ Rock, country drummer, percussionist Chad Cromwell born in Paducah, Kentucky, USA ~ Founding member of the Fortunate Sons, known for their eponymous 2004 Fortunate Sons album. In-demand collaborator, has worked with Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, Joe Walsh, Joss Stone, Bonnie Raitt, Crosby Stills & Nash, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Boz Scaggs, Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Miranda Lambert, Peter Frampton, Rodney Crowell, Stevie Nicks, Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Allison Moorer, Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Chesney, Joe Bonamassa, and others
June 14, 1957 ~ Maxwell Alexander Fraser, commonly known as trip hop, electronica, trance rapper, singer, songwriter Maxi Jazz, born in Brixton, UK ~ Founding member, lead singer of Faithless, known for UK top 10 hits such as Salva Mea, Insomnia, God Is A DJ, We Come 1 and One Step Too Far featuring Dido. Has also recorded as a solo artist and guested on recordings by Jason Rebello, Tiësto, Benji Boko, Robbie Williams, and others ~ Fraser passed away in 2022
June 14, 1956 ~ Heavy metal singer, keyboardist, guitarist Kim Bendix Petersen born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Best known as frontman of Mercyful Fate and subsequently King Diamond. Known for his shock stage persona. Influenced Metallica, Slayer and Cradle Of Filth
June 14, 1955 ~ Julio Cesar Rojhas Lopez, commonly known as salsa singer, songwriter Tito Rojas, born in Humucao, Puerto Rico ~ One of Puerto Rico's most beloved salsa singers with a career spanning over four decades. Especially acclaimed for his Alegrias Y Penas album, released in 1999. Well known Rojas hits include Esperandote, Humildemente, Pal' Pueblo, Como Tú, and Ella Se Hizo Deseo, the latter notably re-recorded in 2015 as a duet with Ivy Queen ~ Lopez passed away in 2020
June 14, 1949 ~ Pop rock, progressive rock drummer Alan White born in Pelton, UK ~ Member of the Plastic Ono Band, backing John Lennon on songs such as Imagine and Instant Karma. Best known as longtime member of progressive rock outfit Yes, joining the band in 1972 as replacement for Bill Bruford. Has also worked with the likes of Balls, Circa, George Harrison, Terry Reid, Joe Cocker, Doris Troy, and Donovan ~ White passed away in 2022
June 14, 1949 ~ Rock bassist, keyboardist, violinist, guitarist, singer Jim Lea born in Wolverhampton, UK ~ Co-founding member of Slade, remaining with the band through 1992 and present on most of the band's best-known including Coz I Love You, Take Me Bak 'Ome, Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Cum On Feel The Noize, Merry Xmas Everybody and My Oh My
June 14, 1948 ~ Disco, R&B singer, actress Linda Clifford born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Known for a number of late 1970s, early 1980s disco hits including Runaway Love, If My Friends Could See Me Now, Gypsy Lady, Red Light and Shoot Your Best Shot. To soul aficionados best known for The Right Combination, a collaborative album with Curtis Mayfield released in 1980
June 14, 1947 ~ Guitarist, bassist, singer Paul Rudolph, full name Paul Fraser Rudolph, born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Worked with Twink, the Pink Fairies, Brian Eno (Here Come The Warm Jets), Robert Calvert, Hawkwind, Mick Farren, and others
June 14, 1946 ~ Pub rock, roots rock, folk singer, guitarist Ernie Graham born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ First gained attention in the mid-1960s playing with Tony & the Telstars. Member of Eire Apparent, known for their 1969 sole Sunrise album produced by Jimi Hendrix. Released his sole solo album, Ernie Graham, in 1971. Graham has also worked with the People, Help Yourself, and Clancy ~ Graham passed away in 2001
June 14, 1945 ~ Producer, arranger, label executive John Carter, full name John S Carter Jr, born in East St Louis, Illinois, USA ~ First gained attention in the mid-1960s co-writing That Acapulco Gold for the Rainy Daze and subsequently Incense And Peppermints for Strawberry Alarm Clock, the latter reaching No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. Would go on to work for Atlantic Records and Capitol Records as an A&R executive. Helpful in advancing the careers of Bob Seger, specifically with the album Night Moves, and the Steve Miller Band. Signed artists such as Sammy Hagar, Bob Welch, and Motels. Best known for relaunching the career of Tina Turner signing and guiding Turner through the recording of Private Dancer. The album would go on to sell over 20 million copies and bring Turner back to superstar status ~ Carter passed away in 2011
June 14, 1943 ~ Dewey Lindham Oldham Jr, commonly known as R&B, soul, rock organist, songwriter Spooner Oldham, born in Alabama, USA ~ In-demand session musician, present on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Delaney Bramlett, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, the Everly Brothers, Dickey Betts, JJ Cale, Wilson Pickett, Maria Muldaur, and others. Renowned songwriter, mostly in partnerhip with Dan Penn. Artists who have recorded songs written by the duo include Jimmy Hughes, Sandy Posey, Percy Sledge (It Tears Me Up), James Carr, Irma Thomas, Bobby Moore, the Sweet Inspirations (Sweet Inspiration), the Box Tops (Cry Like A Baby), Merrilee Rush, Janis Joplin (A Woman Left Lonely), Freddy Weller, Bob Luman, Arthur Alexander, and others
June 14, 1940 ~ Songwriter, producer Bob Feldman, full name Robert C Feldman, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Formed a songwriter, producer team with Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer. The trio were responsible for 1960s hits such as Let's Stomp for Bobby Comstock, Betty Jean for Freddy Cannon, and My Boyfriend's Back for the Angels. The trio's Sorrow would be used as a B-side for the McCoys in 1965, but is better known as recorded by David Bowie who released it as the sole single of his 1973 Pin Ups album. Goldstein, Gottehrer and Feldman would also record several of their songs themselves under the moniker the Strangeloves, most notably I Want Candy, later covered by Brian Poole, the Surfaris, and Bow Wow Wow ~ Feldman passed away in 2023
June 14, 1939 ~ Jazz bassist Kent Carter born in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA ~ Son of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra founder Alan Carter. Leader and sideman. Has worked with Steve Lacy, the Jazz Composers Orchestra, Paul Bley, Gianni Lenoci, and others. Has recorded as a leader since the mid-1970s
June 14, 1938 ~ Folk singer, guitarist Julie Felix, full name Julie Ann Felix, born in Santa Barbara, California, USA ~ In 1965 became the first folk singer to fill Royal Albert Hall.
June 14, 1937 ~ Pianist Burton Greene born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Emerged from New York's 1960s avant-garde and free-jazz scene. Has worked with Alan Silva, Marion Brown, Cecil Taylor, Rashied Ali, Albert Ayler, Gato Barbieri, Byard Lancaster, Patty Waters, Maarten Altena, Willem Breuker, Roy Campbell Jr, Paul Smoker, Klezmokum, and others ~ Greene passed away in 2021
June 14, 1937 ~ Jazz double bassist Chuck Berghofer, full name Charles Curtis Berghofer, born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Influenced by Leroy Vinnegar, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown. Distinguished jazz bassist with a career spanning six decades. Reportedly worked on over 400 soundtracks. In-demand session musician in jazz, pop and rock. Present on albums by Herb Ellis, Shelly Manne, Nancy Wilson, Nancy Sinatra (Boots), the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Ella Fitzgerald, Love (Forever Changes), Elvis Presley, Frank Zappa, Ry Cooder, Barbra Streisand (The Broadway Album), Mel Tormé, Patti Austin (The Real Me), Bette Midler, Diane Schuur, and Aaron Neville
June 14, 1936 ~ Singer, songwriter Renaldo Benson born ~ Bass singer of the Four Tops, known for hits such as I Can't Help Myself (Sugarpie Honey Bunch), Reach Out I'll Be There, Keeper Of The Castle, Ain't No Woman Like The One I've Got, Bernadette, and When She Was My Girl. Co-wrote Marvin Gaye's signature song What's Going On ~ Benson passed away in 2005
June 14, 1936 ~ Bossa nova, samba drummer, percussionist, singer Wilson Das Neves born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Key figure in Brazilian music with a career spanning five decades. Over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, especially noted for Samba-Tropi (Até Ai Morreu Neves) released in 1970. In-demand sideman, present on albums by both MPB and international artists including Deodato, Conjunto Castelinho, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Nara Leão, Sarah Vaughan, Chico Buarque, Paul Simon, Toots Thielemans, João Donato, Ney Matogrosso, Dóris Monteiro, and the Orquestra Imperial ~ Das Neves passed away in 2017
June 14, 1934 ~ Mieke Berendina Johanna Telgenkamp, commonly known as singer Mieke Telkamp born in Oldenzaal, the Netherlands ~ Best known for her covers of American jazz and pop songs including Here In My Heart, Never On Sunday and Changing Of The Tides, her Dutch million-seller and longtime funeral favorite Waarheen Waarvoor, and for her German schlagers ~ Telkamp passed away in 2016
June 14, 1932 ~ Classical cornetist, trumpeter Marcel Lagorce, full name Antoine Marcel Lagorce, born in Ussel, France ~ Trumpet soloist with the Symphony Radio Orchestra from 1957 through 1967, and with the Orchestre De Paris from 1967 through 1993. Member of brass quintet Ars Nova, which also included hornist Georges Barboteu, trumpeter Bernard Jeannoutot, trombonist Camille Verdier, and tubist Elie Raynaud. Taught at Conservatoire de Paris, Paris from 1976 through 1988 ~ Lagorce passed away in 2023
June 14, 1920 ~ Composer Jacques Datin born in France ~ Often collaborated with Maurice Vidalin. Artists who have recorded his songs include Juliette Gréco, Colette Renard, Michèle Arnaud, Marcel Amont, Jean-Jacques Debout, Barbara, France Gall, Jean-Claude Pascal (1961 Eurovision Songfestival winner Nous Les Amoureux), Françoise Hardy, Serge Lama, Claude Nougaro, Serge Reggiani, Edith Piaf, and others ~ Datin passed away in 1973
June 14, 1909 ~ Balladeer, banjoist, actor Burl Ives, full name Burl Cole Ivanhoe Ives, born in Hunt City, Illinois, USA ~ Known for his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, popularizing folk songs. Would cross over into country music, releasing a string of singles, often covers, such as A little Bitty Tear and A Funny Way Of Laughin'. Also known as an actor, notably earning an Academy Award for his supporting rol as Rufus Hannassey in the 1958 The Big Country film ~ Ives passed away in 1995
June 14, 1908 ~ Arranger, composer, orchestra leader John Scott Trotter born in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA ~ Closely associated with Bing Crosby, backing the singer with the Trotter Orchestra from 1937 through 1954. Also worked with Vince Guaraldi scoring, arranging, conducting the soundtracks to one film and a series of Peanuts TV specials starting with 1966's It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown up to You're A Good Sport Charlie Brown, the latter first aired one day before Trotter's death ~ Trotter passed away in 1975
June 14, 1907 ~ Isador Simon Phillips, commonly known as jazz clarinetist, bandleader, arranger Sid Phillips, born in London, UK ~ Worked with Bert Ambrose, George Shearing, Colin Bailey, Tommy Whittle, Kenny Ball, and others ~ Phillips passed away in 1973
June 14, 1895 ~ Clifton Avon Edwards, commonly known as singer, ukulele player, actor Ukulele Ike, born in Hannibal, Missouri, USA ~ Singer, popular in the 1920s and 1930s with jazzy renditions of pop standards. Scored a No.1 hit in 1929 with Singing In The Rain. Also known as a voice actor in several Walt Disney films including Pinocchio, Dumbo and Fun And Fancy Free ~ Edwards passed away in 1971
June 14, 1835 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Nikolai Rubinstein, commonly known as Nikolai Grigoryevich Rubinstein, born in Moscow, Russian Empire ~ Generally regarded as one of the greatest pianists of his day, though his reputation over time would become overshadowed by that of his brother Anton Rubinstein. Founded the Moscow Conservatory in 1866, serving as its director until his death. Also known for encouraging and advancing the appeal of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, including premiering the latter's Eugene Onegin opera in 1879. Tchaikovsky would later write Piano Trio In A Minor in Rubinstein's memory ~ Rubinstein passed away in 1881