March 15, 1986 ~ Singer, stage actor Carlos Rivera born in Huiamantla, Mexico ~ Rose to fame as winner of the third season of the talent show La Academia in 2004. Would go on to star in several musicals, notably portraying the role of Simba in a production of The Lion King, release several solo recordings and collaborate with artists such as Mario Domm, Franco de Vita, Leonel Garcia, Thalia, José José, and Laura Pausini
March 15, 1984 ~ Country singer Meredith Edwards, full name Meredith Leigh Edwards, born in Clinton, Mississippi, USA ~ At age 5 a member of the traveling choir the Mississippi Show Stoppers alongside Lance Bass of future NSYNC fame. As a solo artist released her Richard Marx-produced Reach debut album in 2001, which spawned the singles A Rose Is A Rose and The Bird Song. Despite moderate succes Edwards has not recorded since
March 15, 1982 ~ Maria Luca Sanchez Benitez, commonly known as flamenco, copla, pop singer Malu, born ~ Actively recording since the late-1990s, her Aprendiz debut album reaching multiple Platinum certification. Especially popular successful during the 2010s, all of her albums reaching the No.1 spot in her native Spain. Well known songs include Como Una Flor, Toda, Diles, Si Estoy Lova and No Voy A Cambiar
March 15, 1978 ~ Hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge singer, guitarist, pianist Marshal Dutton born in Tulia, Texas, USA ~ Co-lead singer, guitarist for Faktion. Forms the country duo Drankmore with singer Jarrod Denton. Lead singer for rock band Hinder since 2015. Member of side projects Dangerous Hippies alongside Cody Hanson, and Gunfighter's Delimma
March 15, 1976 ~ Filip Willy Mariette Cauwelier, commonly known as singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Flip Kowlier, born in Belgium ~ As a solo artist known for singing in West-Vlaams dialect active since the early-2000s and best known for De Grotste Lul Van 't Stad and Donderdagnacht. Member of hip-hop group 't Hof Van Commerce. Also worked with My Velma and with Ertebrekers
March 15, 1975 ~ William James Adams Jr, commonly known as rapper, producer will.i.am born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Rose to fame as founding member, frontman of Black Eyed Peas, known for hits such as Where Is The Love, Don't Phunk With My Heart, My Humps, Boom Boom Pow, I Gotta Feeling, Imma Be and Just Can't Get Enough
March 15, 1972 ~ Pop punk, skate punk, pop rock, alternative rock singer, bassist, songwriter Mark Hoppus, full name Mark Allan Hoppus, born in Ridgecrest, California, USA ~ Bassist, co-lead singer for Blink-182, best known for All The Small Things of their 1999 Enema Of The State. The single would reach top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Member of supergroup 44. Formed the duo Simple Creatures with Alex Gaskarth. Has served as producer for artists such as Idiot Pilot, New Found Glory, the Matches, Motion City Soundtrack, and PAWS
March 15, 1969 ~ Power metal, symphonic metal, neoclassical metal singer Timo Kotipelto, full name Timo Antero Kotipelto, born in Lappajärvi, Finland ~ Fronts Kotipelto. Member of Stratovarius and of Cain's Offering. Also worked with Gamma Ray, Tarot, Tunnelvision, Warmen, Sonata Arctica, Klamydia, Ayreon, Ella & Aleksi, the Leningrad Cowboys, Amberian Dawn, Hevisaurus, Soulspell, and others
March 15, 1968 ~ Reggae, dancehall singer Nadine Sutherland born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Active since the late-1970s, first drawing attention from Bob Marley who would sign her to his Tuff Gong label where she recorded Starvation On The Land at age 11. Would record a handful of Christian reggae singles throughout the remainder of the decade. Struggled to get decent exposure as a solo artist. Best known for her 1993 hit Action produced by Donovan Germain. Also known for her 2007 Call My Name album
March 15, 1967 ~ Garage punk, punk blues, rock & roll singer, guitarist, songwriter Jack Yarber born in Corinth, Mississippi, USA ~ Co-founding member of a number of garage bands, perhaps most notably the Compulsive Gamblers and the Oblivians. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the Panther Burns, the Knaughty Knights, the Cool Jerks, the Natural Kicks, and others
March 15, 1962 ~ Synth-pop, dance-pop, new wave percussionist Steve Coy born in Liverpool, UK ~ Co-founding and key member of Dead Or Alive, known best for the mid-1980s hits You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) and Brand New Lover. Along with singer Pete Burns the only member to stay with the band throughout its entire existence
March 15, 1962 ~ Terence Trent Howard, commonly known as pop-rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, percussionist Terence Trent d'Arby born in New York, New York, USA ~ Rose to fame in 1987 with his debut album Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby, which spawned the hits Sign Your Name, Dance Little Sister and Wishing Well. Not hindered by modesty D'Arby himself described the album as “the best thing since Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”
March 15, 1962 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Ugonna Okegwo born in London, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Lou Blackburn, Joe Newman, Oliver Jackson, Major Holley, Jon Hendricks, Jacky Terrasson, Leon Parker, Tom Harrell, Kenny Barron, Michael Brecker, Benny Carter, Johnny Griffin, Wynton Marsalis, Clark Terry, Pharoah Sanders, Lionel Hampton, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and others
March 15, 1959 ~ Rock, jangle pop singer, guitarist Mike Connell, full name Michael Collier Connell, born in Georgia, USA ~ Lead singer, guitarist, primary songwriter of the Connells, which also includes his brother bassist David Connell. The band is best known for the albums Boylan Heights and One Simple Word
March 15, 1958 ~ Double bassist Gerald L Cannon, full name Gerald Leon Cannon, born in Racine, Washington, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Justin Robinson, Dexter Gordon, Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins, Jimmy Scott, Hamiet Bluiett, Ed Thigpen, Frank Foster, John Bunch, Eddie Harris, Stanley Turrentine, Bunky Green, extensively with Roy Hargrove, Chucho Valdes, Rubén González, Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Abbey Lincoln, Gary Bartz, Joe Lovano, Monty Alexander, Larry Willis, Eddie Henderson, Steve Turre, Eric Reed, Sherman Irby, Wayne Escoffery, Roberta Donnay, and Russell Malone
March 15, 1956 ~ John Rivas, commonly known as hip-hop, electro DJ Mr Magic, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Prominent radio DJ, credited by some for hosting the first radio rap show starting in 1979 on New York's WHBI and moving to WBLS by the early-1980s. As a recording artist known for the 1984 12" Magic's Message (There's A Better Way). Closely associated with the Juice Crew, fronted by Magic's on-air assistant Marley Marl ~ Rivas passed away in 2009
March 15, 1952 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Carlo Marrale born in Genoa, Italy ~ Co-founded Matia Bazar, which also included Piero Cassano, Antonella Ruggiero, Giancarlo Golzi and Aldo Stellita, known for songs such as Ma Perché, Solo Tu, Stasera Che Sera, Mister Mandarino, and perhaps their best known Tio Sento
March 15, 1952 ~ Howard Andrew Trafford, commonly known as singer, songwriter Howard Devoto, born in Scunthorpe, UK ~ Original frontman of punk rock outfit the Buzzcocks, present only on the 1977 The Spiral Scratch EP. Departed from the band in 1977 to form Magazine, known for minor UK hits Shot By Both Sides and Song From Under The Floorboards. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with Bernard Szajner, Luxuria, and ShelleyDevoto with Pete Shelley
March 15, 1948 ~ Drummer Steve Nisbett, also known as Steve Grizzly Nisbett, born in Nevis, St Kitts & Nevis ~ Longtime drummer for UK reggae outfit Steel Pulse, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums including the Grammy Award-winner Babylon The Bandit released in 1986. Nisbett remained with the band from its inception in 1977 until retiring from music altogether in 2001 for health reasons. Prior to his tenure with Steel Pulse, Nisbett has worked with soul outfits such as Penny Black, Rebel, and Roy Gee & the Stax Explosion ~ Nisbett passed away in 2018
March 15, 1947 ~ Sarah Jean Perkins, commonly known as jazz, pop, R&B singer Jean Carn, born in Columbus, Georgia, USA ~ Known for songs such as Free Love, My Love Don't Come Easy, Love Don't Love Nobody (Part 1) and perhaps her best known Closer Than Close, the latter topping the Bilboard R&B charts in 1986. Worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Norman Connors, the Temptations, Glenn Jones, Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and others
March 15, 1947 ~ Singer, guitarist Ry Cooder, full name Ryland Peter Cooder born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Draws from roots rock, folk, blues, country, world music. Plays numerous instruments including bass, mandolin and bouzouki but best known as a slide guitarist. Actively recording since the early-1970s. Film composer, notably for Paris, Texas and Crossroads. In-demand sideman. Has worked with Captain Beefheart, Gordon Lightfoot, Ali Farka Touré, Eric Clapton, the Buena Vista Social Club, the Rolling Stones (Sticky Fingers), Van Morrison, Neil Young, Randy Newman, Linda Ronstadt, Little Village, David Lindley, the Chieftains, the Doobie Brothers, Carla Olson, Taj Mahal, Longbranch Pennywhistle, John Hiatt (Bring The Family), Aaron Neville, Bill Frisell, Warren Zevon, and others
March 15, 1947 ~ Percussionist, keyboardist, songwriter Stomu Yamashta born in Kyoto, Japan ~ Known for merging traditional Japanese beats with Western progresseive rock in the 1960s and 1970s. Fronted supergroup Go, which also included Steve Winwood, Al di Meola, Klaus Schulze and Michael Shrieve
March 15, 1946 ~ Guitarist, bassist, songwriter Doug Edwards born in Edmonton, Canada ~ Best known as a member of Skylark, co-penning their 1972 hit Wildflower. Later Edwards was a member of the Hometown Band and Chilliwack. He also guested on Glass Tiger's Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone and on the Poppy Family's Which Way You Going Billy ~ Edwards passed away in 2016
March 15, 1946 ~ Funk, rock guitarist, bassist, singer, songwriter Howard Scott born in San Pedro, California, USA ~ Influenced by TJ Summerville, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Wayne Bennett. Founding member, frontman of funk outfit War, known for songs such as The Cisco Kid, Slipping Into Darkness and Why Can't We Be Friends
March 15, 1946 ~ Guitarist Michelino Mavatiku Visi, also mononymously known as Michelino, born ~ Played with Afrisa International, led by Tabu Ley Rochereau. Subsequently joined TPOK Jazz, considered one of the premier bands to come out of Congo
March 15, 1944 ~ Jazz pianist Joachim Kühn, full name Joachim Kurt Kühn, born in Leipzig, Germany ~ Brother of clarinetist Rolf Kühn, with whom he also worked. Leader and sideman. Has worked with Don Cherry, Karl Berger, Slide Hampton, Phil Woods, Michel Portal, Barre Phillips, Ray Lema, Jean-Luc Ponty, Alphonse Mouzon, Billy Cobham, Michael Brecker, Jean-François Jenny-Clark, Daniel Humair, and others
March 15, 1944 ~ Keyboardist, percussionist, producer,songwriter Ralph MacDonald, full name Ralph Anthony MacDonald, born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Co-wrote Where Is The Love, a hit for Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway. Co-wrote Just The Two Of Us, a hit for Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers. Closely associated with Harry Belafonte, backing Belafonte for about a decade through 1967. Co-founded Arista Music with Bill Eaton and William Salter. Has worked in one capacity or another with a wide array of artists including Burt Bacharach, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Steely Dan, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, Ashford & Simpson, the Average White Band, the Brothers Johnson, Jimmy Buffett, Bob James, Ron Carter, Paul Desmond, Junior Mance, Max Roach, Shirley Scott, Gábor Szabó, and others ~ MacDonald passed away in 2011
March 15, 1943 ~ Sylvester Stewart, commonly known as funk singer, songwriter Sly Stone, born in Denton, Texas, USA ~ Frontman of Sly & the Family Stone, pioneering funk with an high-energy hybrid drawing from rock, R&B, soul, psychedelia and gospel with late-1960s, early-1970s hits such as Dance To The Music, Everyday People, Hot Fun In The Summertime, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), Family Affair
March 15, 1942 ~ Drummer Hughie Flint born in Manchester, UK ~ Best known for his tenure with John Mayall as a member of the Bluesbreakers, including on John Mayall Plays John Mayall and the pivotal The Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton album. Also worked with Alexis Korner, Savoy Brown, McGuinness-Flint, Chanter, the Blues Band, Georgie Fame, and Champion Jack Dupree
March 15, 1942 ~ Country songwriter Wayland Holyfield born in Mallettown, Arkansas, USA ~ Got his first break when Johnny Russell scored a 1973 Billboard Country top 10 hit with Rednecks White Socks And Blue Ribbon Beer, co-written by Holyfield with Bob McDill and Chuck Neese. Holyfield is perhaps best known for co-writing several songs recorded by Don Williams including You're My Best Friend and Some Broken Hearts Never Mend, both of which have become standards, both a No.1 Billboard Country hit, both covered by over fifty artists. Other songs written or co-written by Holyfield have been recorded by Jeanne Pruett, Waylon Jennings, Crystal Gayle (I'll Do It All Over Again), Charley Pride (I'll Be Leaving Alone), Steve Wariner, Ronnie Milsap (Nobody Likes Sad Songs), Tammy Wynette, Charly McClain, Michael Martin Murphey (Don't Count The Rainy Days), Anne Murray (Could I Have This Dance), Julio Iglesias, George Jones, and George Strait ~ Holyfield passed away in 2024
March 15, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter, lyricist Mike Love born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Beach Boys, alongside his cousins Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine. Co-wrote songs such as Fun Fun Fun, I Get Around, Help Me Rhonda, California Girls, and Good Vibrations. Love also fronted the short-lived Celebration, and has recorded a number of solo albums, starting with Looking Back With Love released in 1981
March 15, 1940 ~ Conductor, composer, arranger, TV personality Augusto Martelli born in Genoa, Italy ~ Best known as a composer for film and TV and as a host of various TV shows, especially on Canale 5 ~ Martelli passed away in 2014
March 15, 1940 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Jacques Hustin born in Liège, Belgium ~ Active since the mid-1960s enjoying popularity with songs such as Camelias. Internationally perhaps best known for representing his native Belgium at the 1974 Eurovision Songfestival with his self-penned Fleur De Liberté, reaching 9th place. Hustin would continue to record and perform throughout the 1980s, eventually retiring from music to focus on his painting career ~ Hustin passed away in 2009
March 15, 1940 ~ Singer, guitarist Jorgen Olsen born ~ Best known for, alongside Niels Olsen, forming the sibling outfits the Kids and the Olsen Brothers, winning the 2000 Eurovision Songfestival for their native Denmark with the song Fly On The Wings Of Love
March 15, 1940 ~ Rock, psychedelic rock, jam band bassist, trumpeter, singer Phil Lesh, full name Philip Chapman Lesh, born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Grateful Dead, a band especially acclaimed for a string of late-1960s, early-1970s albums including Anthem Of The Sun, Live/Dead, Workingman's Dead, and American Beauty. Bandmate drummer Mickey Hart has referred to Lesh as “the group's intellectual, who brought a classical composer's mindset and skills to a five-chord rock & roll band”. Following the Grateful Dead's disbandement in the mid-1990s, Lesh has worked with several spin-off groups and former bandmates including the Other Ones, the Dead, and Furthur ~ Lesh passed away in 2024
March 15, 1940 ~ Swamp pop singer, keyboardist, bassist, fiddler, percussionist, songwriter Tommy McClain born in Jonesville, Louisiana, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his rendition of Sweet Dreams, a Billboard top 20 hit in 1966. Member of the Vel-tones. Wrote If You Don't Love Me Alone (Leave Me Alone), a hit for Freddy Fender
March 15, 1938 ~ Jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with George Coleman, Harold Mabern, Frank Strozier, Johnny Ace, Bobby Blue Bland, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, Ornette Coleman, Billy Higgins, Scott LaFaro, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, Eric Dolphy, Bobby Hutcherson, Gerald Wilson, Celebration, Charles Mingus, Cannonball Adderley, Jack DeJohnette, Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee, the Beach Boys, Brad Mehldau, John Abercrombie, and Maria Farantouri
March 15, 1935 ~ Trumpeter Fred Mills, full name William Frederick Mills, born in Guelph, Canada ~ Best known for his association with the Canadian Brass quintet, playing with the ensemble from 1972 through 1996. Also worked with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the New York City Opera Orchestra, and others ~ Mills passed away in 2009
March 15, 1927 ~ Honky-tonk singer Carl Smith born in Maynardville, Tennessee, USA ~ First husband of June Carter. Father of Carlene Carter. Known for songs such as Let's Live A Little, If The Teardrops Were Pennies, Loose Talk, Are You Teasing Me, Hey Joe, You Are The One, and Air Mail To Heaven. Smith has also notably collaborated with Molly O'Day and Skeets Williamson ~ Smith passed away in 2010
March 15, 1926 ~ Contemporary composer Ben Johnston, full name Benjamin Burwell Johnston Jr, born in Macon, Georgia, USA ~ Regarded as one of the premier microtonal composers. Known for works such as Quintet For Groups, Sonnets Of Desolation, Sonata For Microtonal Piano and Suite For Microtonal Piano ~ Johnston passed away in 2019
March 15, 1921 ~ Vincenzo Bucci, commonly known as jazz bassist Vinnie Burke, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Lost the use of a finger and switched from violin and guitar to double bass. Played with Joe Mooney, Tony Scott, Cy Coleman, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, Tal Farlow, Marian McPartland, Don Elliott, Vic Dickensen, Gil Melle, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Mehegan, Chris Connor, Eddie Costa, Bobby Hackett, Urbie Green, Joe Puma, Gerry Mulligan, and others ~ Bucci passed away in 2001
March 15, 1919 ~ Producer, artist manager, label executive George Avakian born in Armavir, Kuban Peoples Republic ~ A major force in de development of the US recording industry worked with artists such as Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Dave Brubeck, Eddie Condon, Keith Jarrett, Erroll Garner, Buck Clayton, Sonny Rollins, Paul Desmond, Edith Piaf, Johnny Mathis, John Cage, Alan Hovhaness, Ravi Shankar, and others ~ Avakian passed away in 2017
March 15, 1916 ~ Bandleader, trumpeter Harry James, full name Harry Haag James, born in Albany, Georgia, USA ~ Enjoyed his biggest popularity in the late-1930s and the 1940s. Served under Ben Pollack and Benny Goodman before starting his own big band in 1939. Best known for his 1941 hit You Made Me Love You ~ James passed away in 1983
March 15, 1912 ~ Samuel John Hopkins, commonly known as electric blues, country blues, folk blues guitarist Lightnin' Hopkins, born in Centerville, Texas, USA ~ Praised for his fingerstyle technique paired with free and loose phrasing. Regarded as one of the most importan country blues guitarists and a major influence on rock guitarists. Toured and recorded extensively. Known for songs such as T-Model Blues, Tim Moore's Farm and Back To New Orleans (Baby Please Don't Go) ~ Hopkins passed away in 1982
March 15, 1907 ~ James Dugald McPartland, commonly known as jazz, dixieland cornetist Jimmy McPartland, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Married to pianist Marian McPartland. Replaced Bix Beiderbecke in the Wolverines. Worked with Ben Pollack, Russ Columbo, Harry Reser, George Wein, Eddie Condon, Art Hodes, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, and Tommy Dorsey ~ McPartland passed away in 1991
March 15, 1905 ~ Blues, vaudeville singer, dancer Bertha Hill born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA ~ Best known for her association with Louis Armstrong on a number of mid-1920 recordings including Pratt City Blues, Low Land Blues, Kid Man Blues, Georgia Man and Trouble In Mind. Also worked with Ethel Waters, Lonnie Johnson, Scrapper Blackwell, Leroy Carr, Lovie Austin, and Art Hodes ~ Hill passed away in 1950
March 15, 1883 ~ Ragtime, vaudeville pianist, songwriter, musical director Ford Dabney, full name Ford Thompson Dabney, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Important figure in pre-jazz era. Best remembered for co-writing Shine, a 1932 hit for Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers. The song would become a standard, recorded by numerous others ~ Dabney passed away in 1958
March 15, 1873 ~ Organist, pianist, composer David Vaughan-Thomas, also known as Pencerdd Vaughan, born in Glamorgan, UK ~ Though his music is now seldom performed has been described as leading native Welsh musician of his time, bridging the Victorian era to more modern times. Drawing from Welsh literature and folklore, known best for works such as Llyn Y Fan, A Song For St Cecilia's Day, The Bard, and Ysbryd Y Mynydd ~ Thomas passed away in 1934
March 15, 1869 ~ Tenor singer John Bieling born in New York, New York, USA ~ Dubbed “the Canary” for the purity of his tone. Enjoyed popularity through the mid-1910s both as a member of several renowned vocal groups including the American Quartet, and the Haydn Quartet, appearing on songs such as In The Good Old Summer Time, You're The Flower Of My Heart, and By The Light Of The Silv'ry Moon, and as a solo singer, scoring hits with In The Sweet Bye And Bye and Over The Hills And Far Away ~ Bieling passed away in 1948