June 28, 2021 ~ Pianist Burton Greene passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ 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 was born in 1937
June 28, 2021 ~ Paul Koulaksezian, commonly known as composer Paul Koulak, passed away in Paris, France ~ Best known for his work for various TV broadcasts and game shows, notably Fort Boyard. To pop audiences known for writing Souviens-toi De Moi for singer Marie-France Dufour and Sans Toi for Martine Clémenceau, the latter France's entry for the 1973 Eurovision Songfestival which reached 15th place ~ Koulaksezian was born in 1943
June 28, 2017 ~ Singer, drummer Gary DeCarlo, full name Gary Richard DeCarlo, passed away in Branford, Connecticut, USA ~ Lead singer of Steam, known for their 1969 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit single Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) written by DeCarlo, Paul Leka and Dale Frashuer ~ DeCarlo was born in 1942
June 28, 2017 ~ Jazz trumpeter, harpist, cornetist, hornist, saxophonist Phil Cohran, full name Kelan Phil Cohran, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ First gained attention backing Sun Ra during the late 1950s and early 1960s, present on the albums Interstellar Low Ways, Holiday For Soul Dance, In A Pleasant Mood and Angels And Demons At Play. Co-founded the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians in 1965. Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a leader, starting with On The Beach with his backing unit the Artistic Heritage Ensemble released in 1968 ~ Cohran was born in 1927
June 28, 2016 ~ Winfield Scott Moore III, commonly known as guitarist Scotty Moore passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for backing a young Elvis Presley ~ Moore was born in 1931
June 28, 2015 ~ Country keyboardist, clavinetist, songwriter Steve Hardin, full name Stephen Joseph Hardin, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Best known as a songwriter. Penned songs such as I Love My Truck for Glen Campbell and Breakin' Down for Waylon Jennings. Member of Point Blank, for whom he wrote the concert favorite Mean To Your Queenie ~ Hardin was born in 1946
June 28, 2010 ~ Singer Joya Sherrill passed away in Great Neck, New York, USA ~ Worked with Duke Ellington, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Sammy Davis Jr, and others ~ Sherrill was born in 1924
June 28, 2010 ~ Roger Sanders, commonly known as jazz percussionist, drummer Montego Joe, passed away ~ Worked with Babatunde Olatunji, Ted Curson, Max Roach, Monty Alexander, Phil Upchurch, Dizzy Gillespie, Willis Jackson, Herbie Mann, Harold Vick, Teddy Edwards, George Benson, Jack McDuff, Johnny Lytle, Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez, Milford Graves, Cornell Dupree, Ralph MacDonald, Curtis Mayfield, the 5th Dimension, Art Blakey, Bo Diddley, Rufus Harley, Solomon Ilori, Illinois Jacquet, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Chuck Rainey, Nina Simone, Grady Tate, Sonny Stitt, and others ~ Sanders was born ca.1929
June 28, 2008 ~ Jazz pianist Ronnie Mathews passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Freddie Hubbard, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Cobb, Dexter Gordon, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Washington, Ray Drummond, Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Jordan, Roland Alexander, Thomas Chapin, Larry Coryell, Kenny Dorham, Johnny Griffin, Bill Hardman, Louis Hayes, Roy Haynes, Joe Henderson, Sal Nistico, Woody Shaw, James Spaulding, Sonny Stitt, and others ~ Mathews was born in 1935
June 28, 1995 ~ Singer, guitarist Petri Walli, full name Petri Ilari Walli, passed away in Helsinki, Finland ~ Half-brother of guitarist Hasse Walli. Founder of and thriving force behind psychedelic rock band Kingston Wall, with whom he recorded the albums I, II, and III before disbanding the band shortly before his suicide at age 26 ~ Walli was born in 1969
June 28, 1994 ~ Actor, guitarist Ulrik Neumann passed away in Malmo, Sweden ~ Father of guitarist Mikael Neumann anad singer Ulla Neumann. Perhaps best known as an actor, appearing in some 20 films from 1940 through the mid-1960s. As a guitarist known as one third of the trio the Swe-Danes alongside singer Alice Babs and violinist Svend Asmussen, active during the late 1950s and early 1960s ~ Neumann was born in 1918
June 28, 1991 ~ Seo Ju-hyun, commonly known as K-pop, R&B singer, actress Seohyun, born in Seoul, South Korea ~ Rose to fame as member of girl group Girls' Generation, remaining with the band through 2017 and present on hits such as Oh, Run Devil Run, The Boys, Dancing Queen, I Got A Boy and Mr Mr. Ju-hyun has released solo recordings, acted in several TV series and appeared in stage productions of musicals such as Embracing The Sun, Gone With The Wind and Mamma Mia
June 28, 1990 ~ Rock, punk rock, post-punk, gothic rock guitarist, bassist Rob Graves passed away ~ Known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s Los Angeles punk and punk rock scene, including with acts such as Bags, the Gun Club, 45 Grave, Thelonious Monster, and the Loafin' Hyenas. Following his death from a heroin overdose Courtney Love would dedicate Hole's 1991 Pretty On The Inside to him ~ Graves was born ca.1958
June 28, 1984 ~ Jazz trumpeter George Orendorff passed away ~ Worked with Paul Howard, Les Hite, Louis Armstrong, Ceele Burke, Maxwell Davis, Ike Lloyd, and with T-Bone Walker ~ Orendorff was born in 1906
June 28, 1982 ~ Frankie Lee Peterson, commonly known as folk, folk rock Americana singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Frankie Lee, born ~ Influenced by Nirvana, the Dead Milkmen, Tom Petty, Lucinda Williams. Released his American Dreamer debut album in 2015. Perhaps best known for Speakeay, featured on the NBC TV series This Is Us in 2019
June 28, 1982 ~ Jazz trombonist George Matthews passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Tiny Bradshaw, Willie Bryant, Louis Armstrong, Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Erskine Hawkins, Lucille Dixon, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderley, Ray Charles (Genius+Soul), Lucky Millinder, Dickey Wells, and others ~ Matthews was born in 1912
June 28, 1982 ~ Singer Harry Mills passed away ~ Member of sibling jazz, swing vocal group the Mills Brothers, known for songs such as Tiger Rag, Dinah with Bing Crosby, You Rascal You, I Heard, St Louis Blues and Swing It Sister ~ Mills was born in 1913
June 28, 1981 ~ Jazz saxophonist Floyd Candy Johnson passed away in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Ben Webster. Worked with Ernie Fields, Tiny Bradshaw, Andy Kirk, Count Basie, Bill Doggett (notably on Honky Tonk), Duke Ellington, Clark Terry, Helen Humes, Roy Eldridge, and others ~ Johnson was born in 1922
June 28, 1979 ~ Pianist, bandleader Edgar Hayes, full name Edgar Junius Hayes, passed away in San Bernardino, California, USA ~ Led the Blue Grass Buddies, Eight Black Buddies, the Symphonic Harmonists from the mid-1920s forward. Closely associated with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, playing and arranging with the band from 1931 to 1936. Best known for his late 1930s recordings of Stardust and the original version of In The Mood, later popularized by Glenn Miller ~ Hayes was born in 1902
June 28, 1971 ~ Rapper, singer Ray Slijngaard, full name Raymond Lothar Slijngaard, born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Co-fronted 2 Unlimited alongside singer Anita Doth, known for 1990s Eurodance hits such as No Limit, Tribal Dance, The Real Thing, Workaholic, and Maximum Overdrive
June 28, 1970 ~ Metal guitarist, singer, songwriter Oliver Hartmann born in Russelsheim, West Germany ~ Best known as co-founding member of At Vance. Has also fronted his own band Hartmann and worked with Freedom Call, Edguy, Rhapsody Of Fire, Iron Mask, Aina, and others
June 28, 1969 ~ Folk rock, jam, country rock, jazz, bluegrass singer, violinist, guitarist, mandolinist, percussionist John Kadlecik born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA ~ Founding member, lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead-tribute band the Dark Star Orchestra. Has also worked with original Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh in Furthur
June 28, 1968 ~ Elmer Figueroa Arce, commonly known as Latin pop singer, actor Chayanne, born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico ~ One of the best-selling Latin artists with record sales exceeding 50 million. Auditioned for boy band Menudo in the late 1970s but was deemed too young. Would go on to join Los Chicos, known for the hits Puerto Rico Son Los Chicos and Ave Maria. After the band disbanded ventured out on his own, releasing his Chayanne Es Mi Nombre debut album in 1984. Broke through with his 1987 eponymous Chayanne album, finding his succes formula in blending ballads and dance tracks, and has recorded to commercial succes since. Well-known songs include Peligro De Amor, Este Ritmo Se Baila Asi, El Centre De Mo Corazon, Extasis, Dejaria Todo, Y Tu Te Vas, Si No Quedara Poco Tiempo, Humanos A Marte, and others
June 28, 1965 ~ Ernest Loring Nichols, commonly known as jazz cornetist, bandleader, composer Red Nichols, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Child prodigy. Influenced by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and Bix Beiderbecke. Closely associated with trombonist Miff Mole. Also worked with Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Jack Teagarden, Pee Wee Russell, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Gene Krupa. Known for songs such Wasshboard Blues recorded with the Five Pennies, Sugar recorded with the Red Nichols Stompers, and for penning Nervous Charlie Stomp, the latter a hit for Fletcher Henderson ~ Nichols was born in 1905
June 28, 1965 ~ Guitarist, electric violinist Saul Davies born in Liverpool, UK ~ Best known as member of James from 1989 through 2001, rejoining in 2007. Present on the band's best-known including Sit Down, Sound, Born Of Frustration, Sometimes and Sit Down
June 28, 1964 ~ Saxophonist, composer Steve Williamson born in London, UK ~ Leader and sideman. One of the most distinctive saxophonists in contemporary British jazz. Worked with Courtney Pine, Louis Moholo, Chris McGregor, Iain Ballamy, Maceo Parker, Bheki Mseleku, US3, Graham Haynes, Abbey Lincoln, Cassandra Wilson, the Jazz Warriors, Orphy Robinson, Pat Thomas, and others
June 28, 1960 ~ Howard Kusten, commonly known as punk rock, heavy metal bassist Howie Pyro, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Founding member of the Blessed, D-Generation, and PCP Highway. Member of Danzig from 2000 through 2003, first appearing on the 2002 I Luciferi album ~ Kusten passed away in 2022
June 28, 1960 ~ Comedienne, actress, singer Karin Bloemen born in Alkmaar, the Netherlands ~ Comedienne, interlacing her comedy shows with music. As a recording artist best known for Wereldwijd Orkest and for participating in the Artiesten Voor Azie charity single Als Je Iets Kan Doen, the latter a No.1 hit in the Netherlands in 2005
June 28, 1959 ~ Producer, DJ, keyboardist, singer Clint Boon, full name Clinton David Boon born in Oldham, UK ~ Rose to fame as keyboardist and ocassional singer of indie rock outfit the Inspiral Carpets, known best for This Is How It Feels, Dragging Me Down and I Want You
June 28, 1955 ~ Operatic baritone singer Thomas Hampson, full name Thomas Walter Hampson, born ~ Worked with the Deutsche Oper Am Rhein, the Opera Theater Of Saint Louis, the Opernhaus Zurich, the Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, and others
June 28, 1954 ~ Walter Morrison, commonly known as R&B, funk keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, trumpeter, percussionist, singer, songwriter Walter Junie Morrison, born in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Keyboardist of the Ohio Players from 1970 through 1974, present on the 1972 Pleasure album which spawned the hit single Funky Worm. Closely associated with George Clinton as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic, including on the quintessential 1978 One Nation Under A Groove album ~ Morrison passed away in 2017
June 28, 1952 ~ Bassist, producer, engineer John Lee, full name John Gregory Lee, born ~ Leader and sideman recording since the early 1970s. Has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Larry Coryell, Paquito d'Rivera, Gregory Hines, Claudio Roditi, Arturo Sandoval, Joachim Kühn, Philip Catherine, and others
June 28, 1950 ~ Clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, arranger Guttorm Guttormsen born in Mo-i-Rana, Norway ~ Worked with Bjørn Kjellemyr, Lars Klevstrand, Jon Balke, Carl Morten Iversen, Espen Rud, Jon Eberson, Per Husby, and others
June 28, 1946 ~ Jazz, hard bop saxophonist Bill Saxton, full name William Edward Saxton, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Pharoah Sanders, Jackie McLean, Bennie Maupin, Dannie Richmond, Charlie Persip, Errol Parker, Frank Foster, Clark Terry, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Roy Ayers, Bobby Watson, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Ponder, Big John Patton, and others
June 28, 1945 ~ Bassist David Knights, full name David John Knights, born in Islington, UK ~ Original member of Procol Harum, present on the band's best-known single A Whiter Shade Of Pale, which served as the band's debut single and reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Knights recorded three albums with the band before departing in 1969 to be succeeded by Chris Copping
June 28, 1945 ~ Jazz singer, guitarist Magni Wentzel born in Oslo, Norway ~ Daughter of violinist, trumpeter Odd Wentzel-Larsen and singer Åse Wentzel. Released her That Old Feeling debut album in 1959, while still only in her mid-teens. Would go on to record both as a solo artist and as an in-demand collaborator working with artists such as the Geir Wentzel Band, Einar Iversen, Egil Kapstad, Halvard Kausland, Carl Morten Iversen, Terje Venaas, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Mads Vinding, Jørn Øien, and others
June 28, 1943 ~ Guitarist Bobby Harrison, full name Robert Leslie Harrison, born in East Ham, UK ~ Early member of Procol Harum who, along with guitarist Ray Royer, left the band shortly after recording the 1967 hit single A Whiter Shade Of Pale to form the band Freedom ~ Harrison passed away in 2022
June 28, 1942 ~ Roy Samuel Reid, commonly known as reggae, dancehall DJ I-Roy, born in St Thomas, Jamaica ~ Influenced by U-Roy and Dennis Alcapon. Worked with Dennis Walks, Harry Muddle, Lloyd Campbell, Bunny Lee, Derrick Harriott, Lee Scratch Perry, Glen Brown, Ruple Edwards, Byron Lee, Keith Hudson, Rudy Redwood (Sidewalk Killer), Prince Jazzbo, and others ~ Reid passed away in 1999
June 28, 1936 ~ Angeline Helen Catherine Cordovano, commonly known as pop, traditional pop singer Cathy Carr, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Known for a number of 1950s singles, notably I'm Gonna Change Him, Shy and perhaps her best-known Ivory Tower ~ Cordovano passed away in 1988
June 28, 1930 ~ Film composer, sound editor Kenneth Wannberg, full name Kenneth Gail Wannberg, born ~ Frequent collaborator of John Williams. Has worked on soundtracks for films such as The Tender Warrior, Star Wars, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Schlinder's List and Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azbakan ~ Wannberg passed away in 2022
June 28, 1929 ~ Gospel singer, music director, songwriter Milton Brunson, also known as Rev Milton Brunson, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Mentored by Reverend Thomas A Dorsey and Mahalia Jackson. Founded the Thompson Community Singers, well known for their regular appearances on Jubilee Showcase TV concert series. Especially acclaimed for his 1988 Available To You album, its title track becoming a gospel standard ~ Brunson passed away in 1997
June 28, 1924 ~ Country singer George Morgan, full name George Thomas Morgan, born ~ One of a few to be referred to as a “country crooner”, alongside contemporaries such as Eddy Arnold and Jim Reeves. Father of country singer Lorrie Morgan. Best known for songs such as Candy Kisses, Room Full Of Roses, Almost, I'm In Love Again and You're The Only Good Thing That Happened To Me ~ Morgan passed away in 1975
June 28, 1915 ~ Singer, guitarist David Honeyboy Edwards born in Shaw, Mississippi, USA ~ Worked with Big Joe Williams, Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, Johnny Shines, Robert Lockwood Junior, Henry Townsend, Pinetop Perkins, and others ~ Edwards passed away in 2011
June 28, 1912 ~ Conductor, composer Eleazar de Carvalho born in in Iguata, Brazil ~ Closely associated with the Orquestra Sinfonica Brasileira, the Orquestra, the St Louis Symphony Orchestra, and others ~ De Carvalho passed away in 1996
June 28, 1907 ~ James Mundy, commonly known as tenor saxophonist, arranger, songwriter Jimmy Mundy, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as arranger for Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Earl Hines. Has also recorded as a leader, starting in the mid-1930s, and worked with artists such as Chet Baker, Al Hibbler, Illinois Jacquet, Harry James, Sonny Stitt, and others ~ Mundy passed away in 1983
June 28, 1903 ~ Saxophonist, pianist, vibraphonist Adrian Rollini, full name Adrian Francis Rollini, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for 1930s recordings such as Savage Serenade, Got The Jitters, Tap Room Swing, Riverboat Shuffle, and Small Fry. Worked with artists such as Annette Hanshaw, Ukulele Ike, Joe Venuti, Miff Mole, Red Nichols, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Frankie Trumbauer, Red Nichols, Bert Lown, Lee Morse, the Dorsey Brothers, Ben Selvin, Jack Teagarden, Bunny Berigan, Vaughn Monroe, and others ~ Rollini passed away in 1956
June 28, 1902 ~ Joseph Emory Smith, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, cornetist Joe Fox Smith, born in Ripley, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with the Black Swan Jazz Masters, Fletcher Henderson, the Jazz Hounds, the Broadway Syncopators, mcKinney's Cotton Pickers, Bessie Smith, Billy Paige, Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, and others ~ Smith passed away in 1937
June 28, 1902 ~ Composer Richard Rodgers, full name Richard Charles Rodgers, born in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most important composers of the 20th century with over 40 musicals to his name and some 900 songs, often in collaboration with lyricist Lorenz Hart. Well-known songs co-written by Rodgers include Some Enchanted Evening (Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Al Goodman), Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered (Vivienne Segal, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald), My Funny Valentine (Mitzi Green, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock), Falling In Love With Love (Muriel Angelus, Rita Reys, Patti Page), Dancing On The Ceiling (Jessie Matthews, Buddy Greco, Peggy Lee), Lover (Jeanette Macdonald, Jimmy Dorsey, Margaret Whiting), Hello Young Lovers (Gertrude Lawrence, Mabel Mercer, Tommy Sands), The Sound Of Music (Mary Martin, Eddie Fisher, Vic Damone), This Nearly Was Mine (Ezio Pinza, Giorgio Tozzi, Fred Waring), It Might As Well Be Spring (Dick Haymes, Sammy Kaye, Rosemary Clooney), It Never Entered My Mind (Shirley Ross, Buddy Morrow, Julie London), and Little Girl Blue (Gloria Grafton, Lena Horne, Pinky Winters) ~ Rodgers passed away in 1979
June 28, 1898 ~ Louis Stone, commonly known as bandleader, arranger Lew Stone, born in London, UK ~ Worked with Bert Ambrose, Jack Hylton, Jack Payne, Roy Fox, Al Bowlly, Sam Browne, Les Allen, Tommy McQuater, and others ~ Stone passed away in 1969
June 28, 1831 ~ Violinist, conductor, composer Joseph Joachim born in Kopsceny, Kingdom Of Hungary ~ Widely regarded as one of the foremost violinists of the 19th century. Frequent collaborator of Johannes Brahms ~ Joachim passed away in 1907