March 20, 1989 ~ Country, country-pop singer, guitarist Lindsay Ell, full name Lindsay Elizabeth Ell, born in Calgary, Canada ~ Discovered by Randy Bachman. Draws from rock, blues, pop. Influenced by John Mayer, Keith Urban, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton. Released her Consider This debut album in 2008. Best known for songs such as All Alright, Waiting On You, Criminal, What Happens In A Small Town with Brantley Gilbert and Want Me Back
March 20, 1986 ~ Rachel Marie Williams, commonly known as singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, drummer, songwriter Rachel Fannan, born in Thousand Oaks, California, USA ~ Co-lead singer for psychedelic rock outfit Sleepy Sun. Lead singer for Only You. Recorded as a solo artist, starting with Deeper Lurking released in 2008 going by the moniker Birds Fled From Me. Has also worked with UNKLE, Anywhere, Black Mountain, and drummed for Russian feminist protest punk rock group Pussy Riot
March 20, 1984 ~ Evgeniya Dmitrievna Lubich, commonly known as pop, pop rock, lounge singer, songwriter Jenia Lubich, born in Leningrad, Russia ~ Primarily a solo artist active since the mid-2000s. To French audiences best known for her collaboration with Nouvelle Vague, notably present on the songs Marooned and Aussi Belle Qu'une Balle of the band's 2009 NV3 album. Has also worked with Nicolas Comment, Malik Alary, Stephane Pompougnac, Naiv, and others
March 20, 1982 ~ Christopher August Megert, commonly known as singer, songwriter Chris August, born in Garland, Texas, USA ~ Active as a secular artist before switching to Christian music at the turn of the 2010s. Perhaps best known for Starry Night of his 2010 No Far Away album. Other well known songs include Come Now Our King, 7 x 70 and Center Of It
March 20, 1981 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Declan Bennett, full name Declan William Bennett, born in Coventry, UK ~ Member of Point Break, enjoying brief success during the late 1990s. The boy band released five singles including the UK top 10 hit Stand Tough and a sole album, Apocadelic
March 20, 1972 ~ Alexander Paul Kaparanaos Huntley, commonly known as indie rock, dance-punk, art rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Alex Kapranos, born in Almondsbury, UK ~ Lead singer of Franz Ferdinand, known for a string of 2000s singles including the UK top 10 hits Take Me Out, The Dark Of The Matinee and Do You Want To. Also a member of supergroups FFS and BNQT. Has worked with Yummy Fur, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Girls and served as producer for the Cribs, Citizens and RM Hubbert
March 20, 1972 ~ Jason Charles Beck, commonly known as pianist, singer Chilly Gonzales, born in Montreal, Canada ~ Fronted 1990s alternative pop band Son, which also included Mocky and Dave Szigeti. As a solo artist known for a series of rap and hip-hop-influenced albums, starting with 1999's Gonzales Uber Alles, and a series of classical-tinted instrumental albums from the mid-2000s forward
March 20, 1970 ~ Rahem Brown, commonly known as rapper Tame One, born in New Jersey, USA ~ Member of 1990s rap group the Artifacts, which also included El da Sensei and DJ Kaos, known for songs such as Easter, C'mon Wit Da Git Down, The Ultimate (You Know The Time) and perhaps their best-known Wrong Side Of Da Tracks. Has also worked with Leak Bros, the Weathermen, the Boom Skwad, and others ~ Brown passed away in 2022
March 20, 1969 ~ Byron Otto Thomas, commonly known as hip-hop, Southern hip-hop producer, rapper Mannie Fresh born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Formed the hip-hop duo Big Tymers with rapper Birdman. Staff producer for Cash Money. Worked with artists such as Lil' Wayne, BG, TI, Mos Def, Juvenile, T-Pain, Noreaga, Notorious BIG, Mack 10, Toni Braxton, Chamillionaire, Chingy, Tyreese, Drake, and others
March 20, 1968 ~ Anthony Best, commonly known as hip-hop producer Buckwild, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Member of collective the Digging In The Crates Crew alongside Lord Finesse, Showbiz & AG, Diamond D, Fat Joe, Big L, and OC. Debuted as as a recording artist with the full-length album Nineteen Ninety Now in 2010, a collaboration with Celph Titled. Renowned hip-hop producer, produced or co-produced songs such as I Got A Story To Tell (Notorious BIG), Whoa (Black Rob), How You Been (Mic Geronimo), Mrs International (Method Man & Redman), and numerous others
March 20, 1968 ~ Singer, DJ, producer, songwriter Ultra Naté born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA ~ Known for a number of dance hits starting in the 1990s, well through the 2010s, including Joy, Show Me, How Long, Free, Found A Cure, Pressure, Desire, Get It Up (The Feeling), Love's The Only Drug, Automatic, Turn It Up, Unconditional, and others
March 20, 1964 ~ Singer Natacha Atlas born in Brussels, Belgium ~ First gained attention as singer of world fusion group Trans-Global Underground, fusing Arabic and Western music. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Diaspora in 1995. Best known for her 1999 single Mon Amie La Rose, a surprise hit in France and Belgium
March 20, 1956 ~ Actor, comedian, director, singer Naoto Takenaka born in Yokohama, Japan ~ Best known as an actor appearing in over 50 films, and as director with over half a dozen films to his credit. Has also recorded about half a dozen albums as a singer, starting with Kawarra Katachi No Ishi released in 1984. Married to singer, actress Midori Kinouchi since 1990
March 20, 1955 ~ Singer, songwriter Mariya Takeuchi born in Taishi, Japan ~ Active since the late 1970s. Influential in city pop genre, among the best-selling artists in Japan with over 16 million records sold. Married to singer, producer, songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita. Known for songs such as Fushigi Na Peach Pie, Plastic Love, Single Again, Kokuhaku, Junai Rhapsody, Camouflage, and Inochi No Uta
March 20, 1954 ~ Reubern David Egan, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter David Egan born ~ As a songwriter had his songs recorded by the likes of Irma Thomas (Theys Honey Do's), Etta James (Please No More), Johnny Adams (Even Now), Jimmy Witherspoon (Wake Up Call), Solomon Burke (Fading Footsteps), Percy Sledge (First You Cry), Tab Benoit (Good To You Baby), and others ~ Egan passed away in 2016
March 20, 1954 ~ Guitarist, singer Jim Seales born in Hamilton, Alabama, USA ~ Lead guitarist of Shenandoah from 1984 through 2014. Present on most of the band's best-known including the albums The Road Not Taken released in 1989 and its follow-up Extra Mile released the following year. Well known songs include The Church On Cumberland Road, Sunday In The South, Two Dozen Roses, Next To You Next To Me and If Bubba Can Dance I Can Too, all of which would top the Billboard Country charts. The band is also known for the 1994 single Somewhere In The Vicinity Of My Heart, a collaboration with Alison Krauss giving the latter her first Billboard Country top 40 hit
March 20, 1950 ~ Drummer, percusionnist Carl Palmer, full name Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer, born in Birmingham, UK ~ One of the most revered progressive rock drummers influenced by jazz artists such as Art Blakey, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. Best known as co-founding member of supergroup Emerson Lake & Palmer along with keyboardist Keith Emerson and guitarist, bassist Greg Lake, and as member of Asia. Previously a touring drummer for Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and co-founding member of Atomic Rooster. Other notable credits include producing Back Door's 1976 Activate and appearring on Mount Teidi of the 1982 Five Miles Out Mike Oldfield album
March 20, 1948 ~ Marva Maria Williams, commonly known as blues singer Marva Wright, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Sang backup for Allen Toussaint, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker, Bobby McFerrin, Aaron Neville, Fats Domino, Lou Rawls and Marcia Ball. As a solo artist recording steadily since her 1991 Heartbreaking Woman debut album ~ Williams passed away in 2010
March 20, 1943 ~ Jazz drummer Jon Christensen, full name Jon Ivar Christensen, born in Oslo, Norway ~ Father of singer Emilie Stoesen Christensen. Key figure in Norwegian jazz. Active since the late 1960s, starting with the likes of George Russell and Jan Garbarek. Key member of 1980s jazz unit Masqualero. Present on albums by Karin Krog, Lee Konitz, Steve Kuhn, Terje Rypdal, Keith Jarrett (Belonging), Ralph Towner (Solstice), Enrico Rava, Blow Out, Miroslav Vitous, John Abercrombie, and Tomasz Stańko ~ Christensen passed away in 2020
March 20, 1941 ~ Pianist, guitarist, singer Mike Settle, fulll name Michael Ward Settle, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Member of the New Christy Minstrels. As a solo artist best known for his 1961 debut album Folk Sing Hallelujah and especially the track Sing Hallelujah notably covered by Judy Collins. Also worked with Kenny Rogers' backing unit the First Edition from 1967 to 1970, also writing a number of the band's best-known such as But You Know I Love You and The Last Few Threads Of Love
March 20, 1940 ~ Trombonist, conductor, composer Frode Thingnæs born in Nore-og-Uvdal, Norway ~ Classical, jazz, pop conductor, composer. Composed the music for Norway's 1974 and 1976 Eurovision Songfestival entries, respectively Hvor Er Du and Mata Hari. Worked with Egil Kapstad, Terje Rypdal, Laila Dalseth, Espen Rud, Bjørn Alterhaug, Per Husby, Popol Ace, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Anne-Karine Strøm, Kampen Janitsjarorkester, Wenche Myhre, Lill Lindfors, Svante Thuresson, Einar Schanke, Alfred Naess, Yngvar Numme, the Bodega Band, and others ~ Thingnaes passed away in 2012
March 20, 1939 ~ Lawrence Ira Kahn, commonly known as salsa keyboardist, bandleader, producer, composer Larry Harlow born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Son of opera singer Rose Sherman and bandleader Buddy Kahn. Larry Harlow led Orchestra Harlow, the second orchestra to be signed to Fania. Harlow has recorded numerous albums with his own ensembles and produced over a 100 albums for various artist, mostly. Founded the Fania All-Stars, regarded as the seminal and most-important salsa group to date ~ Harlow passed away in 2021
March 20, 1937 ~ Saxophonist Eddie Shaw born in Stringtown, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known for his association with Howlin' Wolf, leading Wolf's backing unit the Wolf Gang from 1972 onwards. Wrote or co-wrote half the songs on Wolf's 1973 album Back Door Wolf. In his teens worked with Little Milton, Willie Love and an ocassional jam session with Ike Turner at age 14. Joined Muddy Waters backing unit at age 20. Also worked with Hound Dog Taylor, Freddie King, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, and others. Released nine albums as a solo artist, starting with 1982's Moving & Grooving through 2012's Still Riding High ~ Shaw passed away in 2018
March 20, 1937 ~ Jerry Reed Hubbard, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Jerry Reed, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Known for songs such as Guitar Man, US Male, A Thing Called Love, Alabama Wild Man, Amos Moses, When You're Hot You're Hot, Lord Mr Ford, East Bound And Down, and others. Member of country supergroup Old Dogs, which also included Mel Tillis, Bobby Bare and Waylon Jennings ~ Reed passed away in 2008
March 20, 1937 ~ R&B singer Joe Rivers born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA ~ Formed the duo Johnnie & Joe with Johnnie Louise Richardson, known for late 1950s songs such as Over The Mountain (Across The Sea), I'll Be Spinning and My Baby's Gone On On, all of which reached top 20 Billboard R&B ~ Rivers passed away in 2016
March 20, 1937 ~ Country singer, guitarist Tommy Hunter, full name Thomas James Hunter, born ~ Best known for his work in radio and TV from the 1950s through the early 1990s, notably hosting The Tommy Hunter Show TV show on the Canadian network CBC during the 1980s. Artists who made appearances on the show early on in their careers include Gordon Lightfoot, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and Yvonne Murray. After Hunter's show was cancelled in the early 1990s he would tour with his band the Travelling Men, retiring from performing in 2012
March 20, 1936 ~ Hard bop, post-bop, soul jazz pianist, composer Harold Mabern born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Described as one of the great post-bop pianists, Mabern has recorded over 20 albums as a leader, starting with A Few Miles From Memphis released in 1968. Initially started on drums. Self-taught on piano by emulating Charles Thomas and Phineas Newborn Jr. In the mid 1950s Mabern played in Chicago with artists such as Walter Baby Sweet Perkins and others. Moved to New York in 1959 and replaced Tommy Flanagan in trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison's backing band. Backed Jimmy Forrest for a recording that resulted in the albums All The Gin Is Gone and Black Forrest. Mabern continued to perform, tour and record as a sideman with artists such as Lionel Hampton, the Jazztet, Betty Carter, Johnny Hartman, Arthur Prysock, Donald Byrd, Roy Haynes, Miles Davis, JJ Johnson, Sonny Rollins, Lee Morgan, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Blue Mitchell, Sarah Vaughan, and Joe Williams ~ Mabern passed away in 2019
March 20, 1927 ~ Classical composer John Joubert, full name John Pierre Herman Joubert, born in Cape Town, South Africa ~ Music academic associated with the universities of Hull and Birmingham. Composed over 160 works including symphonies, concertos, and operas. Best known for the carols Torches and There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue and the anthem O Lorde The Maker Of All Thing ~ Joubert passed away in 2019
March 20, 1927 ~ Trombonist, trumpeter, saxophonist John RT Davies, full name John Ross Twiston Davies, born in Wivelsfield, UK ~ As a musician has played with Ken Colyer in the Crane River Jazz Band during the 1950s and with the jazz revival band the Temperance Seven during the 1960s, including on the latter's You're Driving Me Crazy 1961 hit single. Best known though as a sound enigeer, specialized in restoring classic jazz records. Founded his own Ristic label, reissuing early jazz recordings ~ Davies passed away in 2004
March 20, 1921 ~ Jazz saxophonist Jimmy Coe born in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, USA ~ Active since the late 1930s. Has worked with Erroll Groundhog Grandy, Buddy Bryat, Jay McShann, Charlie Parker, Al Hibbler, Tiny Bradshaw, Aretha Franklin, Roy Hamilton, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Slide Hampton, David Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Carl Perkins, Larry Ridley, Leroy Vinnegar, and others ~ Coe passed away in 2004
March 20, 1918 ~ Margaret Marian Tuner, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Marian McPartland, born in Slough, UK ~ Met her husband cornetist Jimmy McPartland when both served in the USO, playing for the Allied troops during World War II. After the war Marian played with Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Terry Gibbs, Joe Morello, Vinnie Burke, Bill Crow, and others ~ Turner passed away in 2013
March 20, 1917 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Vera Lynn, full name Vera Margaret Lynn, born in East Ham, UK ~ Widely known for her concerts for the troops during World War II. Best known for songs such as We'll Meet Again, The White Cliffs Of Dover, A Nightingale Sang In Berkely Square, There'll Always Be An England, Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart, and My Son My Son. Became the oldest person, at age 97, to top the English album charts, with the compilation album We'll Meet Again (The Very Best Of Vera Lynn) in 2014 ~ Lynn passed away in 2020
March 20, 1915 ~ Blues singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, USA ~ Gospel, blues singer popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Influenced early rock & roll musicians such as Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Also a major influence on later British stars, such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Keith Richards. Pioneered use of deliberate distortion on the electric guitar. Pushed pop-gospel, gospel-influenced pop into the mainstream. Known for songs such as Rock Me, Down By The Riverside, and Strange Things Happening Every Day ~ Tharpe passed away in 1973
March 20, 1915 ~ Pianist Sviatoslav Richter, full name Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter, born in Zhytomyr, Volhynian Governate ~ Praised for the depth of his interpretations and virtuoso technique and generally regarded as one of the all-time greatest pianists. Frequent accompaniest of soprano singer Nina Dorliak. As a conductor premiered Sergei Prokofiev's Symphony Concerto For Cello And Orchestra in 1952. Critically acclaimed for his 1960 performance of Johannes Brahms' 2nd Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ~ Richter passed away in 1997
March 20, 1908 ~ Jazz, pop bandleader, saxophonist Bob Chester born ~ Known for songs such as Wait Till The Sun Shines Nelie, Madellaine, Not A Care In The World and With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair. Employed sidemen such as Alec Fila, Nick Travis, Lou Mucci, Conrad Gozzo, Herbie Steward, Peanuts Hucko, Irv Kluger, Dolores O'Neill, Kathleen Lane, Betty Bradley, Gene Howard, Bill Darnell, Stu Brayton, Bob Haymes, and others ~ Chester passed away in 1977