June 2, 1986 ~ Zsuzsanna Eva Ward, commonly known as singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter ZZ Ward, born in Abington, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Released her full-length Til The Casket Drops debut album in 2012, spawning the singles Put The Gun Down, 365 Days and Last Love Song. Has collaborated with Blended Babes, Asher Roth, Lindsey Stirling, Robben Ford, and others
June 2, 1980 ~ R&B, hip hop, pop singers twin sisters Irish Grinstead and Orish Grinstead born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Irish was a constant member of girl trio 702, recording three albums from the late 1990s through the early 2000s. They are best known for the singles Get It Together and Where My Girls At, both of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100. The group also guested on Subway's 1995 This Lil' Game We Play Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit, and alongside Magoo on Missy Elliott's 1998 single Beep Me 911, which did not chart in the USA yet reached top 20 in both New Zealand and the UK. Orish was an early member of the group but departed the band prior to making any recordings ~ Irish passed away in 2023
June 2, 1975 ~ Jazz guitarist Gisle Corvik born in Torvikbygd, Norway ~ Worked with Sigmund Groven, Petter Wettre, Frode Berg, Endre Christiansen, Torstein Lofthus, Hilde Norbakken, Eddie Gomez, Bendik Hofseth, Dean Johnson, Øystein Sevåg, Tony Moreno, Karl Seglem, the Eple Trio, Andreas Ulvo, Sigurd Hole, Jonas Howden Sjøvaag, and others
June 2, 1975 ~ Aimee Springer, commonly known as alternative rock, country keyboardist, bassist, percussionist, singer Zia McCabe, born ~ Best known as a member of the Dandy Warhols, joining the band shortly after its inception in 1994. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1994 Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia album, which spawned the UK top 10 hit Bohemian Like You. Married to the band's road manager Travis Hendricks from 2001 through 2011. Springer also performs as a solo DJ, and is a member of country outfit Brush Prairie
June 2, 1974 ~ Donnie Shaquan Lewis, commonly known as rapper Skillz, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Acclaimed for his 1996 From Where album. Also known as creator of the web series Hip-hop Confessions, where guests reveal something hip-hop related they have never told anyone. The show has featured guests such as Q-Tip and DJ Jazzy Jeff
June 2, 1970 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion bassist Matt Garrison, full name Matthew Justin Garrion, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Son of Jimmy Garrison. Worked with Gary Burton, Rashied Ali, Ravi Coltrane, Gil Evans, Steve Coleman, Vernon Reid, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Joni Mitchell, Joe Zawinul, the Zawinul Syndicate, John McLaughlin, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Wayne Krantz, Rashied Ali, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dennis Chambers, Chico Hamilton, Herbie Hancock, Rita Marcotulli, Andy Milne, Bob Moses, Meshell Ndegeocello, Revolution Void, the World Saxophone Quartet, and others
June 2, 1968 ~ Rock, pop, power pop guitarist, singer, songwriter Jason Falkner born in Agour Hills, California, USA ~ Cites XTC, Elvis Costello and the Beatles as influences. Present on the Three O'Clock's 1988 Vermillion album. Present on Jellyfish's 1990 Bellybutton debut album. Has recorded as a solo artist starting with Author Unknown released in 1996. Also worked with Fabulon, the Grays, Beck, Noel Gallagher, and others
June 2, 1968 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Merril Bainbridge born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Best known for Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Mouth, taken of her 1995 The Garden debut album. Other notable credits include the lead single Lonely of her 1998 sophomore and final album Between The Days. Bainbridges's sophomore album also contained I Got U Babe featuring a small contribution from Shaggy. The Sonny & Cher cover was also used in the 1997 Welcome To Woop Woop comedy film. Bainbridge retired from music by the early 2000s
June 2, 1962 ~ Jazz singer, pianist Ian Shaw born in St Asaph, UK ~ Actively recording since the early 1990s. In-demand duet partner of singer such as Claire Martin, Linda Lewis, Liane Carroll, Sarah Jane Morris. Has also collaborated with Cedar Walton, Lew Soloff, Eric Alexander, Billy Childs, Peter Washington, Mark Murphy, Carol Grimes, and others
June 2, 1960 ~ Singer Tony Hadley born in Islington, UK ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of 1980s band Spandau Ballet, initially a new wave, punk pop band but best known for their New Romantic pop ballads scoring UK top 10 hits such as True, Gold and Only When You Leave. After the band disbanded in 1990 Hadley released a number of solo albums, starting with 1992's The State Of Play, but would be unable to reach the same level of chart succes
June 2, 1958 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Hans de Booij born in the Netherlands ~ Member of cabaret group Circus Stupido. Best known as a solo artist, especially for Annabel, a top 20 hit in the Netherlands in 1983. Other notable recordings include Een Vrouw Zoals Jij and Thuis Ben
June 2, 1957 ~ Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz drummer, percusionist, composer, producer Bobby Sanabria born in South Bronx, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Had Latin jazz stars Tito Puente and Paquito d'Rivera guest on his 1993 New York City Ache debut album. Has also collaborated with Mongo Santamaria, Yomo Toro, Carola Grey, Spider Saloff, Jorge Sylvester, Ray Barretto, Sekou Sundiata, Donata Poveda, and others
June 2, 1957 ~ Electronic music composer Mark Shreeve born ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Embryo released in 1980. Has also composed for film and formed the 1990s group Redshift, which also included his brother Julian Shreeve. To pop audiences best known for co-writing Touch Me (I Want Your Body), a mid-1980s top 10 hit for Samantha Fox on both sides of the Atlantic ~ Shreeve passed away in 2022
June 2, 1949 ~ Ronnie Jones, commonly known as country singer Anthony Armstrong Jones, born in Ada, Oklahoma, USA ~ Released his Proud Mary debut album in 1969. Best known for a number of country covers of pop and rock songs, notably Creedence Clearwater Revival's Proud Mary, Gary US Bonds' New Orleans, Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, Jim Croce's Bad Bad Leroy Brown and RB Greaves' Take A Letter To Maria, the latter his highest charting single reaching Billboard Country top 10 in 1970 ~ Jones passed away in 1996
June 2, 1941 ~ Rock, jazz, blues drummer Charlie Watts, full name Charles Robert Watts, born in Bloomsbury, UK ~ Influenced by jazz artists such as Max Roach, Chico Hamilton, and Jelly Roll Morton. Best known as member of the Rolling Stones, joining the band in 1963 and appearing on all the band's albums until his death nearly sixty years later. In-demand collaborator and leader in a number of mostly jazz-focused side projects, notably Rocket 88 and the ABCD Of Boogie-Woogie. Back in 1964 while still in art school, the Stones not yet famous, Watts authored and illustrated a small book, Ode To A Highflying Bird, for a class project. A tribute to one of his biggest heroes, Charlie Parker also known as “Bird”, Watts portrayed the iconic saxophone player as an actual bird, complete with sunglasses and sax, in simple, child-like sketches along with light-hearted text: “Soon everybody was digging what Bird blew. His nest was made.” ~ Watts passed away in 2021
June 2, 1939 ~ Funk, rock saxophonist, flutist Charles Miller born in Olathe, Kansas, USA ~ Co-founding member of War remaining with the band through 1979, replaced by Pat Rizzo. Notably present on the 1975 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Low Rider. Miller was stabbed to death in a street robbery, the case remains unresolved to this day ~ Miller passed away in 1980
June 2, 1937 ~ Jazz percussionist Pierre Favre born in Le Locle, Switzerland ~ Leader and sideman. Noted for his 1984 Singing Drums, teaming up with Paul Motian and Nana Vasconcelos. Has also collaborated with John Surman, Michel Godard, Mal Waldron, Michel Portal, the ARTE Quartett, Barre Phillips, Irene Schweizer, Manfred Schoof, Dino Saluzzi, the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, and others
June 2, 1936 ~ Doo-wop, R&B singer Otis Williams born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Not to be confused with namesake Otis Williams, co-founding member of the Temptations. Member of the Charms, known best for their 1954 single Hearts Of Stone. Subsequent hits included Ling Ting Tong, Two Hearts, Ivory Tower and United, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B. Member of the Distants. Co-produced and arranged Hank Ballard's original version of The Twist
June 2, 1934 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Johnny Carter born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Flamingos, for whom he wrote Golden Teardrops. Following a stint in the Army joined the Dells in 1960 replacing Johnny Funches, with whom he remained until his death. Both groups have been inducted in the the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, making Carter one of the few multiple inductees ~ Carter passed away in 2009
June 2, 1929 ~ Jazz pianist, organist Gildo Mahones, full name Hermengildo Mahones, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Recorded sporadically as a leader, especially known for his 1965 The Great Gildo album. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Frank Foster, Les Jazz Modes (Jazzville), Julius Watkins, Bennie Green (Walkin' & Talkin'), Jimmy Witherspoon, Jon Hendricks, Lambert Hendricks & Ross, Charlie Rouse (Unsung Hero), Pony Poindexter (Pony's Express), Ted Curson, Frank Wess, Booker Ervin (The Blues Book), Lou Rawls, and Big Joe Turner ~ Mahones passed away in 2018
June 2, 1927 ~ Country singer, songwriter Carl Butler, full name Carl Robert Butler, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA ~ Recorded and performed as husband-wife duo Carl Butler & Pearl with Pearl Butler, known for country hits such as Too Late To Try Again, My Tears Don't Show and their biggest hit Don't Let Me Cross Over. Butler also wrote If Tear Drops Were Pennies, a hit for Carl Smith in 1951 and again for Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner in 1971. Also co-wrote Flatt & Scruggs' 1960 song Crying My Heart Out Over You with Flatt, Scruggs and Earl Sherry, also a country hit for Ricky Skaggs in 1982 ~ Butler passed away in 1992
June 2, 1887 ~ Lyricist, songwriter Howard Johnson born in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA ~ Remembered for co-penning songs such as Lindbergh The Eagle Of The USA (Vernon Dalhart, Ernest Hare, Harry Crane), What Do We Do On A Dew-Dewey Day (Charles Kaley, Nathaniel Shilkret, Ruth Etting), When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain (the Radiolites, Leo Reisman, Sam Lanin), Ice Cream I Scream You Scream We All Scream For Ice Cream (Harry Reser, Waring's Pennsylvanians, Chris Barber), and What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For (Sam Ash, Bob Howard, Betty Hutton) ~ Johnson passed away in 1941
June 2, 1863 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Felix Weingartner, full name Paul Felix Weingartner, born in Zara, Austria ~ One of the last pupils of Franz Liszt. Succeeded Gustav Mahler as director of the Vienna Hofoper, a post Weingartner held from 1907 to 1910. First conductor to make commercial recording of all nine Ludwig van Beethoven symphonies, and after Leopold Stokowski the second to record all four Johannes Brahms symphonies. Premiered Georges Bizet's long-lost Symphony In C in 1935 ~ Weingartner passed away in 1942
June 2, 1852 ~ Vaudevillian, songwriter Charles B Lawlor, also known as Chas B Lawlor, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Emigrated to America in the late 1860s. Perhaps best remembered for penning The Sidewalks Of New York with James W Blake. The song would become an unofficial anthem of New York, first recorded by Dan Quinn in 1895 and covered by numerous artists including Vernon Dalhart, Kai Winding, Nat King Cole, and Mel Tormé. The song would also be notably used as theme song in the campaign of presidential candidate Alfred E Smith in 1928 ~ Lawlor passed away in 1925