March 23, 1993 ~ Singer, songwriter JP Saxe, full name Jonathan Percy Starker Saxe, born in Toronto, Canada ~ First gained serious attention with his 2019 Grammy Award-nominated single If The World Was Ending featuring Julia Michaels, reaching top 30 in numerous countries including his native Canada, America and across Europe
March 23, 1989 ~ Michael Len Williams II, commonly known as hip-hop, R&B, pop, trap producer, songwriter, DJ, rapper Mike Will Made It, born in Marietta, Georgia, USA ~ Best known as producer. Songs produced or co-produced by Williams include Black Beatles and Powerglide for Rae Sremmurd, Pour It Up for Rihanna, Love Me for Lil' Wayne, Formation for Beyoncé and Humble for Kendrick Lamar
March 23, 1981 ~ Singer, songwriter Brett Young, full name Brett Charles Young, born in Anaheim, California, USA ~ Released his major-label debut album, the eeponymous Brett Young, in 2017. Best known for songs such as Sleep Without You, Like I Loved You, Mercy and Here Tonight, all of which would reach Billboard Country top 10
March 23, 1977 ~ Indie pop singer, guitarist, banjoist Ben Salter born in Townsville, Australia ~ As a solo artist especially acclaimed for the albums The Cat released in 2012 and The Stars My Destination released in 2015. Has also collaborated with acts such as the Giants Of Science, the Gin Club, the Wilson Pickers, and the Young Liberals
March 23, 1976 ~ Alternative rock bassist James Stelfox, full name James Paul Stelfox, born in Warrington, UK ~ Influenced by Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Massive Attack. Member of Starsailor, known for a string of 2000s UK top 20 hits including Good Souls, Alcoholic and perhaps their best-known Silence Is Easy
March 23, 1973 ~ Vibraphonist, percussionist Stefon Harris born in Albany, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known as member of the Classical Jazz Quartet. Active since the early 1990s, recording as a leader since his 1998 A Cloud Of Red Dust debut album. Has worked with Charlie Hunter, Steve Turre, Jacky Terrasson, David Sánchez, Christian Scott, Joe Henderson, Jason Moran, Greg Osby, Kurt Elling, Janis Siegel, Diana Krall, Raul Midón, Ry Cooder (My Name Is Buddy), Courtney Pine, and others
March 23, 1972 ~ Singer, songwriter Guus Meeuwis, full name Gustaad Stephanus Modestus Meeuwis, born in Mariahout, the Netherlands ~ Rose to fame with his 1995 Het Is Een Nacht debut single. Has recorded to commercial succes since, both as a solo artist and with his backing unit Vagant. Other well known songs include Brabant, the André Hazes-cover Geef Mij Je Angst, Per Spoor (Kedeng Kedeng) and Tranen Gelachen
March 23, 1972 ~ Comedian, actor, beatboxer, singer Reggie Watts, full name Reginald Lucien Frank Roger Watts, born in Stuttgart, West Germany ~ Watts refers to himself as a “disinformationist”, aiming to disorient his audience in a comedic fashion. Perhaps best known for leading the house band on the CBS talkshow The Late Late Show With James Corden from 2015 through 2023. Has released about half a dozen albums as a singer, beatboxer, starting with Simplified in 2003. Co-founding member of neo-soul outfit Maktub, acclaimed for their 2000 Subtle Ways debut album
March 23, 1971 ~ Jazz pianist, producer, film composer Leszek Mozdzer born in Gdansk, Poland ~ As a film composer collaborated with Jan AP Kaczmarek and Zbigniew Preisner. As a jazz pianist closely associated with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco. Has also worked with Marcus Miller, David Gilmour, Lester Bowie, Archie Shepp, Arthur Blythe, Tomasz Stańko, Pat Metheny, Phil Manzanera, Zbigniew Namyslowski, Michal Urbaniak, Cæcilie Norby, and others
March 23, 1971 ~ Indie rock, alt-country singer, songwriter, author, painter Will Johnson born in Kennett, Missouri, USA ~ Regarded as one of the most prolific artists in American indie rock. Lead singer for Centro-Matic and subsequently South San Gabriel. Has released over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Murder Of Tides in 2002, and worked with artists such as Funland, Jason Molina, the Undertow Orchestra, the Monsters Of Folk, Jay Farrar, and Overseas. Debuted as a novelist with If Or When I Call, released in 2021
March 23, 1968 ~ Alternative rock, Britpop, art pop singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Damon Albarn born in London, UK ~ Lead singer of Blur, known for merging Madchester and shoegazing. The band rose to fame in the 1990s scoring UK top 10 hits such as Girls & Boys, Parklife, Country House, The Universal, Stereotypes, Charmless Man, Beetlebum, On Your Own, Tender and Out Of Time. Also known as primary force, along with Jamie Hewlett, behind the virtual band Gorillaz, known for the 2005 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Feel Good Inc featuring De La Soul. Member of supergroups the Good The Bad & The Queen and Rocket Juice & the Moon
March 23, 1967 ~ Guitarist, drummer, singer John Strohm born in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Co-founded the Blake Babies in 1986 with Juliana Hatfield and Freda Love. Fronted Velo-Deluxe, known for their sole Superelastic album released in 1994. Member of the Lemonheads from 1987 through 1997. Fronted indie rock band Antenna. Released a solo album, Everyday Life, in 2007. Practiced law from 2011 through 2017, focusing on the music industry. President of Rounder Records since 2017
March 23, 1961 ~ Guitarist Eivind Sarset born in Kolbotn, Norway ~ Worked with Ray Charles, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ute Lemper, Ketil Bjørnstad, Andy Sheppard, Mike Mainieri, Arild Andersen, Abraham Laboriel, Dhafer Youssef, Django Bates, Nils Petter Molvær, Bill Laswell, Jon Hassell, Jan Garbarek, David Sylvian, Marilyn Mazur, Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, Arve Henriksen, Ingar Zach, Audun Erlien, Wetle Holte, Erland Dahlen, Ketil Bjørnstad, Anneli Drecker, Food, Anne Marie Giørtz, Andy Sheppard, Hans Ulrik, and others
March 23, 1959 ~ Country, bluegrass, zydeco, jazz, rock banjoist, guitarist, fiddler, mandolinist Billy Constable, full name William Tarcisius Constable III, born in Avery County, North Carolina, USA ~ Known for his distinctive three-finger-picking banjo technique. Has backed bluegrass and country greats such as Josh Graves, Doug Dillard, Kenny Baker, and Vassar Clements, and worked with jam bands such as Leftover Salmon, and the String Cheese Incident ~ Constable passed away in 2015
March 23, 1959 ~ Kevin Paul Godfrey, commonly known as post-punk, indie rock, alternative rock singer, percussionist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Epic Soundtracks, born in Croydon, UK ~ Brother of Nikki Sudden, his bandmate in post-punk outfit Swell Maps. Member of Crime & the City Solution and These Immortal Souls. Would focus on his solo career from the early 1990s onwards, especially acclaimed for the 1992 Rise Above album ~ Godfrey passed away in 1997
March 23, 1953 ~ Yvette Marie Stevens, commonly known as singer Chaka Khan born in Great Lakes, Illinois, USA ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of funk outfit Rufus, known for hits such as Tell Me Something Good, Sweet Thing, Do You Love What You Feel and Ain't Nobody. Would go on to enjoy a hugely successful solo career, starting with the Chaka released in 1978. Known for songs such as I'm Every Woman, I Feel For You and Love You All My Lifetime. Has collaborated with Quincy Jones, Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Siedah Garrett, Guru, Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight, Prince, De La Soul, Herbie Hancock, and others
March 23, 1953 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Phil Judd born in Hastings, New Zealand ~ Co-founding member of Split Enz, remaining with the band through 1977 and present on the band's first two albums. Succeeded by frontman Tim Finn's younger brother Neil Finn. Founded Swingers. Has recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the Suburban Reptiles, the Enemy, the Unthinkables, Schnell Fenster, and others
March 23, 1951 ~ Rock drummer Billy Rankin, full name William Hector Rankin III, born ~ Best known as a constant member of Brinsley Schwarz. Following the band's disbandement in 1974 briefly joined Ducks Deluxe, present on the band's final album Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band recorded live in London. Has also worked with Dave Edmunds, appearing on the albums Subtle As A Flying Mallet and its follow-up Get It, Nick Lowe, Chilli Willi & the Red Hot Peppers, Ernie Graham, Frankie Miller, Terraplane, and Tiger
March 23, 1949 ~ Richard Theodore Otcasek, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Ric Ocasek born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter for the Cars. As a solo artist known for the mid-1980s hit Emotion In Motion. In-demand producer, has worked with Suicide, Bad Brains, Weezer, Nada Surf, Guided By Voices, No Doubt, Weezer, Romeo Void, Hole, Bebe Buell, Black 47, Bad Religion, Johnny Bravo, D-Generation, the Wannadies, Possum Dixon, Martin Rev, Jonathan Richman, the Pink Spiders, the Cribs, Alan Vega, Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, Shwayze, and others ~ Otcasek passed away in 2019
March 23, 1948 ~ R&B, soul singer Sundray Tucker born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Daughter of the Dixie Hummingbirds lead singer Ira Tucker. Sister of singer Ira Tucker Jr and the Supremes singer Lynda Lawrence. Sang, mostly backing vocals, with Patti Labelle, the Three Degrees, Melissa Manchester, Stevie Wonder (Songs In The Key Of Life), and Bunny Sigler
March 23, 1947 ~ Beat organist Don Gould, full name Donald Peter Gould, born in Solihull, UK ~ Member of the Applejacks, known for a number of mid-1960s singles including Like Dreamers Do penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Three Little Words and the UK top 10 hit Tell Me When. The band was also the first to record I Go To Sleep, written by the Kinks singer Ray Davies. Others who have recorded the song include Cher on her 1965 All I Really Want To Do solo debut album, Peggy Lee, the Pretenders, Graham Bonnet, Soulwax, and others
March 23, 1945 ~ Mandolinist David Grisman born in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA ~ Active since the early 1960s. Member of the Even Dozen Jug Band alongside Maria Muldaur and John Sebastian. Member of bluegrass outfit the Kentuckians. Member of psychedelic rock band Earth Opera. Appeared on the tracks Friend Of The Devil and Ripple of the Grateful Dead's 1970 American Beauty album. Member of Jerry Garcia's Old & In The Way. Has recorded extensively as a solo artist and leader starting in the early 1970s. Has also worked with the Garrett Mountain Boys, Muleskinner and the Bluegrass Reunion
March 23, 1945 ~ Francesco Battiato, commonly known as singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, film maker Franco Battiato, born in Iona, Italy ~ One of Italy's most beloved singer-songwriters drawing from a wide array of idioms including beat, new wave, progressive pop, new age, experimental, free jazz, psychedelica. Internationally perhaps best known for teaming up with singer Alice, representing Italy in the 1984 Eurovision Songfestival with the song I Treni Di Tozeur reaching 5th place despite being tapped as winner by the bookmakers ~ Battiato passed away in 2021
March 23, 1942 ~ James Miller, commonly known as producer Jimmy Miller, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with several of Steve Winwood's bands, namely the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith, and for frequently producing the Rolling Stones from the late 1960s through the early 1970s including some of their most critically acclaimed albums including Beggars' Banquet, Let It Bleed and Exile On Main St. Has also worked with artists such as Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Kracker, the Plasmatics, Motörhead, Primal Scream, Johnny Thunders, Jo Jo Laine, and others ~ Miller passed away in 1994
March 23, 1940 ~ Songwriter Alan Blaikley, full name Alan Tudor Blaikley, born in London, UK ~ Known for a number of 1960s, 1970s UK hits, often written in partnership with Ken Howard. Notable hits include Have I The Right for the Honeycombs and The Legend Of Xanadu for Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich. Others who have recorded songs written or co-written by Blaikley include Petula Clark, Phil Collins, Sacha Distel, Engelbert Humperdinck, Eartha Kitt, Lulu, and Matthews Southern Comfort. Blaikley and Howard have also written the West End musicals Mardi Grass and The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole and composed for TV series ~ Blaikley passed away in 2022
March 23, 1938 ~ Vibraphonist David Pike, full name David Samuel Pike, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Recording as a leader since the early-1960s. Worked with Nick Brignola, Paul Bley, Bill Evans, Herbie Mann, the Jazz Couriers, Kenny Clarke, Lee Konitz, Chuck Israels, Don Friedman, Volker Kriegel, JA Rettenbacher, Peter Baumeister, and others ~ Pike passed away in 2015
March 23, 1933 ~ Jazz pianist, singer, composer, lyricist Dave Frishberg born in St Paul, Minnesota, USA ~ Cited Frank Loesser as a major influence, naming Loesser's Baby It's Cold Outside and Willie Nelson's Crazy as two of the songs he wished he had written. Has performed as a solo pianist from the late 1950s forward. Known for humorous, quirky, sardonic songs such as I'm Hip, Blizzard Of Lies, Peel Me A Grape, Slapping The Cakes On Me and probably his best known My Attorney Bernie. Frequent songwriting collaborator of the likes of Johnny Mandel, Bob Brookmeyer, Julius Wechter, Gerry Mulligan. Songs written or co-written by Frishberg have been performed by Blossom Dearie, Rosemary Clooney, Shirley Horn, Anita O'Day, Michael Feinstein, Irene Kral, Diana Krall, Stacey Kent, John Pizzarelli, and others ~ Frishberg passed away in 2021
March 23, 1925 ~ R&B, jazz guitarist Ernest McLean born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for his association with producer Dave Bartholomew playing in the house band for Cosimo Matassa's studio. Worked with artists such as Fats Domino (The Fat Man), Little Richard, Smiley Lewis, Lloyd Price (Lawdy Miss Clawdy), Shirley & Lee, Earl Bostic, Herbert Hardesty, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Earl Palmer, and others ~ McLean passed away in 2012
March 23, 1918 ~ Granville Henry McGhee, commonly known as jump blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Sticks McGhee, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for first recording Drinkin' Wine Spo-dee-o-dee, which he co-wrote with J Mayo Williams, one of the songs pre-dating and pivotal to development of rock & roll. It would be covered by Wynonie Harris, Johnny Burnette, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others ~ McGhee passed away in 1961
March 23, 1915 ~ Homer Lee Sherrill, commonly known as old time, bluegrass fiddler Pappy Sherrill, born in Sherrils Ford, North Carolina, USA ~ Received his first fiddle, a tin model from Sears & Roebuck, at the age of seven. Would go on to play for various radio shows starting in the late 1920s. Formed the WIS Hillbillies in 1939, renamed to the Hired Hands after the death of member Byron Parker. The band would become a fixture on the South Carolina music scene, and is noted for appearing on the very first day of broadcasting of the WIS-TV station in 1954 ~ Sherrill passed away in 2001
March 23, 1905 ~ Elisabeth Bunnenberg, commonly known as chanson singer Lale Andersen, born in Bremerhaven, Germany ~ Best known for her 1939 recording of Lili Marleen, a huge hit with German soldiers through the end of the war and eventually selling over a million copies. Nazi officials prohibited Andersen to perform altogether for some nine months because of the song and her association with Jewish friends. In desperation Andersen reportedly attempted suicide but failed. Forced to sing in several Nazi propaganda films before semi-retiring. After the war she returned scoring hits with Die Blaue Nacht Am Hafen and Ein Schiff Wird Kommen and represented Germany at the 1961 Eurovision Songfestival with Einmal Sehen Wir Uns Wieder reaching thirteenth place ~ Buttenberg passed away in 1972
March 23, 1898 ~ Tango pianist, composer Francisco de Caro born ~ Considered the most important representative of tango romanza. Brother of conductor, violinist, composer Julio de Caro. Influenced by Juan Carlos Cobián, Roberto Firpo, Eduardo Arolas. The latter would offer Julio a position in his orchestra after an impromptu performance in 1917. Francisco would later join him, as well as collaborate in other ensembles ~ De Caro passed away in 1976