March 26, 2023 ~ Country singer Ray Pillow, full name Herbert Raymond Pillow, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Charted over a dozen singles on the Billboard Country charts, his best known the Jean Shepard-duet I'll Take The Dog which reached top 10 in 1966. Other well known songs include Thank You Ma'am, Common Colds And Broken Hearts and Volkswagen. Pillow has also co-founded Sycamore Records and worked as A&R representative for Capitol Records ~ Pillow was born in 1937
March 26, 2022 ~ Jeffrey Lee Herndon, commonly known as country singer, bassist Jeff Carson, passed away in Franklin, Tennessee, USA ~ Sessioned and worked as a demo singer until his 1995 eponymous Jeff Carson debut album, which spawned three Billboard Country top 10 hits with Not On Your Love, The Car and Holdin' Onto Somethin'. Carson would be unable to repeat the succes but continued to record, reaching the country charts with songs such as Cheatin' On Her Heart, I Never Was The Same Again and Until We Fall Back In Love Again. Retired from music in 2009 to pursue a career in law enforcement ~ Herndon was born in 1963
March 26, 2019 ~ Rock, progressive rock, space rock, gothic rock, post-punk, punk rock drummer Andy Anderson passed away ~ Best known for his associations with Steve Hillage and the Cure, present on the latter's The Top and Concert albums as well as on the singles The Love Cats and Caterpillar. Briefly played with Hawkwind. Has also worked with the Techno Twins, Mother Gong, the Gun Club, Edwyn Collins, Peter Gabriel, Iggy Pop, Mike Oldfield, Pink Flamingos, and Midge Ure ~ Anderson was born in 1951
March 26, 2019 ~ Roger Charlery, commonly known as Ranking Roger, passed away in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known as member of pivotal ska, ska revival band the English Beat, known for about half a dozen UK hits through the mid-1980s including the top 10 hits The Tears Of A Clown, Hands Off She's Mine, Mirror In The Bathroom and Can't Get Used To Losing You. Formed General Public in 1984 with bandmate Dave Wakeling, scoring moderate hits with 1984's Tenderness and 1994's I'll Take You There. Released his solo debut album, Radical Departure, in 1988 ~ Charlery was born in 1963
March 26, 2017 ~ Instrumentalist, composer Alessandro Alessandroni passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Best known for his longtime association with Ennio Morricone. Alessandroni's twangy guitar riff is central to the main theme of The Good The Bad & The Ugly. Other than performing on Morricone's film scores Allesandroni is also a noted film composer in his own right scoring films since the late-1960s ~ Allesandroni was born in 1925
March 26, 2012 ~ Pop, dance-pop singer Justin Bieber releases Boyfriend, lead single off his Believe album ~ The instrumentation was kept in a lower sound to highlight Bieber's vocals. Critics dismissed the lyrics as immature and silly, yet it would be his biggest hit, his first No.1 in his native Canada, and debut at No.2 on the American Billboard Hot 100. Mike Posner, who co-wrote and co-produce the song, would later comment on working with Bieber: “Because I'm an artist myself, I can be pretty selective on who I produce for and who I make beats for and really what I'm looking for is an amazing vocalist, somebody that can sing better than I can. And the other thing is somebody that's willing to not try to make something that succeeds within the matrix of what pop music is now, but makes something that moves that matrix to where it is, and Justin was willing to take that leap with me.”
March 26, 2006 ~ Adrian Nicholas Godfrey, commonly known as rock singer, guitarist, songwriter, rock critic Nikki Sudden, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by T.Rex, the Rolling Stones, the Faces, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Thunders. Best known for co-founding post-punk unit Swell Maps, which also included his brother Epic Soundtracks. The band is considered one of the premier acts of the post-punk era, widely acclaimed for their 1977 Read About Seymour single. Godfrey has also recorded as a solo artist, collaborated extensively with Dave Kusworth under the group moniker the Jacobites, and has worked with the Waterboys' Mike Scott and Anthony Thistlethwaite, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, and the Rolling Stones' Mick Taylor ~ Godfrey was born in 1956
March 26, 2005 ~ Drummer Paul Hester, full name Paul Newell Hester, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Briefly a member of Split Enz. Co-founding member of Crowded House, remaining with the band through 1994 and present on the band's best known including Don't Dream It's Over, Better Be Home Soon, Chocolate Cake, Fall At Your Feet, and Weather With You. Has also worked with John Clifforth, Sophie Koh, and the Largest Living Things ~ Hester was born in 1959
March 26, 2004 ~ Trumpeter, film composer Fred Karlin, full name Frederick James Karlin, passed away in Culver City, California, USA ~ Wrote and arranged for the likes of Benny Goodman, Harry James, Chubby Jackson. Best known as a film composer with well over a hundred scores to his name starting with 1967's Up The Down Staircase. Perhaps best known for co-writing the song For All We Know for the 1970 film lovers And Other Strangers which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film version was sung by Larry Meredith, a cover by the Carpenters would reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts ~ Karlin was born in 1936
March 26, 2002 ~ Joseph Edward Schermetzler, commonly known as rock bassist Joe Schermie passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Original member of Three Dog Night, leaving the band in 1973 and present on most of the band's hits including One, Mama Told Me (Not To Come) and Joy To The World. Subsequently founded SS Fools which also included Chuck Negron and Bobby Kimball. Has also worked with Stephen Stills, and Yvonne Elliman ~ Schermetzler was born in 1946
March 26, 2002 ~ Randolpho Francisco Castillo, commonly known as heavy metal, hard rock, glam metal drummer Randy Castillo, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Inspired to take up the drums after seeing the Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Best known for backing Ozzy Osbourne from the mid-1980s through the early-1990s, including on the acclaimed No More Tears album released in 1991. Member of Mötley Crüe from 1999 until his death in 2002, present on the 2000 New Tattoo album. Castillo has also worked with Lita Ford, Red Square Black, the Bone Angels, and Bret Michaels ~ Castillo was born in 1950
March 26, 1999 ~ Singer, songwriter Ananda Shankar passed away in Kolkata, India ~ Bengali musician best known for fusing Western and Eastern musical styles, including on sitar-based renditions of rock songs such as the Rolling Stones-cover Jumpin' Jack Flash and the Doors-cover Light My Fire of his acclaimed 1970 eponymous Ananda Shankar debut album ~ Shankar was born in 1942
March 26, 1995 ~ Eric Lynn Wright, commonly known as rapper, producer Eazy E, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Redd Foxx, King T, Bootsy Collins, Run-DMC, the Egyptian Lover, Too $hort, Prince, Sugarhill Gang and George Clinton. Regarded as “the Godfather of gangsta rap”. Fronted iconic rap outfit NWA, co-founded with Ice Cube and Dr Dre. Other members, at times, included the Arabian Prince, DJ Yella and MC Ren ~ Wright was born in 1954
March 26, 1991 ~ Bandleader, producer, label executive Paul Gayten, full name Paul Leon Gayten, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Recorded several late-1940s New Orleans R&B hits such as True You Don't Love Me, Since I Fell For You, and I'll Never Be Free. Gayten also wrote For You My Love, a hit for Larry Darnell. Discovered Clarence Frogman Henry and produced his first hit Ain't Got No Home. Backed Chubby Newsom on Hip Shaking Mama. Played piano on Chuck Berry's Carol. Gayten also worked with Annie Laurie, Hank Mobley, and Jimmy Scott ~ Gayten was born in 1920
March 26, 1986 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Eric Bellinger, full name Eric Bellinger Jr, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Songs written or co-written by Bellinger include Usher's Lemme See, Chris Brown's New Flame, Tank's You Don't Know, Justin Bieber's Right Here, Trey Songz's Disrespectful, Fantasia's So Much To Prove, Brandy's Without You, and Kid Ink's Rollin'
March 26, 1986 ~ Singer Madonna releases Live To Tell, lead single off her True Blue album ~ Originally composed by Patrick Leonard as an instrumental for the Paramount film Fire With Fire, but rejected by the studio. Leonard then presented the song to Madonna, who reworked the song for use in At Close Range, a film featuring her then-husband Sean Penn. The pop ballad would also be released as lead single of Madonna's True Blue album, and reach top 10 in well over half a dozen countries, including No.1 positions in Italy, Greece, and the USA
March 26, 1983 ~ R&B, pop, funk outfit the Time start recording Jungle Love ~ The band recorded the basic tracking for Jungle Love, written by frontman Morris Day, guitarist Jesse Johnson and Prince. The latter also served as its producer and played all instruments except guitar. Overdubs would be done nearly 10 months later, in January 1984. It would be released as a single later the same year and included on the band's third album, 1984's Ice Cream Castle. At the time, the single would become their highest charting single, scratching the Billboard Hot 100 top 20. Some six years later, they would reach Billboard Hot 100 top 10 with Jerk Out taken off their Pandemonium album
March 26, 1982 ~ Pop rock outfit Toto release their Toto IV album ~ Their biggest album, reaching top 10 in over half a dozen countries including the Netherlands, the UK, and America and earning them Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Record of the Year for its lead single Rosanna. The latter would also be the band's first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, peaking at No.2. It's follow-up single, Africa, was initially not intended to be released as a single but after the track gained traction in New York dance clubs, the label decided to release it as a single. It would become the band's sole Billboard Hot 100 charttopper and remains a radio staple to this day
March 26, 1981 ~ Indie folk, country folk singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, playwright Anaís Mitchell born ~ Critically compared to Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Gillian Welch. Over half a dozen albums to her name, starting with The Song They Sang (When Rome Fell) released in 2002. Acclaimed for her 2010 album Hadestown, featuring guest appearances by Ani DiFranco, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, Ben Knox Miller and the Haden Triplets. The album would be reworked into a stage musical which ran on Broadway in 2019, awarded with eight Tony Awards including for Best Musical. Member of Bonny Light Horseman, releasing their eponymous Bonny Light Horseman debut album in 2020
March 26, 1981 ~ Country outfit the Oak Ridge Boys release Fancy Free, their fifth country studio album ~ The album would spawn the band's biggest hit, Elvira which found an appeal with mainstream pop audiences and crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No.5, making it one of only two singles the band charted on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written and originally recorded by Dallas Frazier back in 1966, yet the definitive version would be the Oak Ridge Boys cover. Both Elvira and the album's only other single (I'm Settin') Fancy Free would top the Billboard Country charts, and became signature songs for the Oak Ridge Boys, popular to this day. The album itself became the band's first to top the Billboard Country album charts, and would be certified double platinum some three years after its release, making it one of the first country albums to achieve this feat
March 26, 1980 ~ Rock & roll, R&B, pop drummer John Poulos passed away ~ Co-founding member of the Buckinghams, known for a string of mid to late-1960s singles including Don't You Care, Mercy Mercy Mercy, Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song) and perhaps their best known Kind Of A Drag. The latter would top the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 ~ Poulos was born in 1947
March 26, 1977 ~ In its tenth week on the charts, Rich Girl by Hall & Oates hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Contrary to rumors the song was not about noted socialite Patty Hearst, but rather about a former boyfriend of Daryl Hall's girlfriend Sara Allen, with whom she remained friends. Hall would explain to American Songwriter: “He came to our apartment, and he was acting sort of strange. His father was quite rich. I think he was involved with some kind of a fast-food chain. I said, ‘This guy is out of his mind, but he doesn't have to worry about it because his father's gonna bail him out of any problems he gets in.’ So I sat down and wrote that chorus: ‘He can rely on the old man's money, he can rely on the old man's money, he's a rich guy.’ I thought that didn't sound right, so I changed it to Rich Girl. He knows the song was written about him”
March 26, 1977 ~ Jazz guitarist Håvard Stubø born in Narvik, Norway ~ Worked with Tore Johansen, Roger Arntzen, Trond Sverre Hansen, Atle Nymo, Andreas Amundsen, Jørn Øien, Knut Riisnæs, Torbjörn Zetterberg, Håkon Mjåset Johansen, Jupiter, Magnus Forsberg, Steinar Nickelsen, Jonas Kullhammar, Roger Arntzen, Torstein Lofthus, Daniel Franck, Tord Ronning Krogtoft, Tomasz Stańko, Jimmy Owens, Arve Henriksen, Olavi Louhivuori, Marita Røstad, and Jazz & Fly Fishing
March 26, 1975 ~ Terius Gray, commonly known as rapper Juvenile, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of Hot Boys. Debuted as a solo artist with the full-length Being Myself album in 1995. First gained serious attention with his third album, 1998's 400 Degreez which spawned the Billboard top 20 hit Back That Azz Up featuring Lil' Wayne and Mannie Fresh. Also known for his 2004 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 Slow Motion featuring Soulja Slim. Has also worked with Birdman, Shawty Lo, Rick Ross, BG, Rich Gang, and G-Eazy
March 26, 1968 ~ Guitarist, singer James Iha, full name James Yoshinobu Iha, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, remaining with the band until its initial disbandement in 2000. Present on acclaimed albums such as 1993's Siamese Dream and its 1995 Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness follow-up. Iha rejoined the Pumpkins in 2018. Has also worked with A Perfect Circle and the supergroup Tinted Windows. In-demand producer, remixer, collaborator for the likes of Midnight Movies, Isobell Campbell, Whiskeytown and REM's Michael Stipe
March 26, 1968 ~ Country singer, songwriter Kenny Chesney, full name Kenneth Arnold Chesney, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA ~ One of the most successful crossover country artists. Sold over 30 million albums. Debuted in 1994 with the album In My Wildest Dreams. Known for songs such as How Forever Feels, You Had Me From Hello, She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy, Don't Happen Twice, The Good Stuff, No Shoes No Shirt No Problems, Who You'd Be Today, The Boys Of Fall, American Kids and Here And Now. Collaborated with Jimmy Buffett, Tim McGraw, Tracy Lawrence, Uncle Kracker, and Reba McEntire
March 26, 1966 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their European tour at the Brabanthallen, Den Bosch, the Netherlands ~ Over barely two weeks the band plays a dozen shows across the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Sweden, and Denmark. The setlist offers a mixture of covers and originals with Mercy Mercy, Play With Fire, 19th Nervous Breakdown, Get Off Of My Cloud, and I Can't Get No Satisfaction
March 26, 1965 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their tour of Denmark and Sweden at the Fyns Forum, Odense, Denmark ~ The band plays about a dozen shows through the beginning of April in Denmark and Sweden, their first visit to Scandinavia. Included on the set list are Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Around And Around, Time Is On My Side, and It's All Over Now
March 26, 1964 ~ R&B singer Brenda Holloway releases Every Little Bit Hurts ~ Penned by Ed Cobb, produced by Hal Davis and Marc Gordon. Though Holloway initially did not like the song, she reluctantly recorded it. It would become one of her best known, and peaked at No.13 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. The song would later be covered by the Spencer Davis Group, the Small Faces, and Graeme Strachan. British punk rock outfit also recorded a version, originally intended for their 1980 Sandinista album but the track didn't make it to the album, it would later be included on compilation sets
March 26, 1961 ~ Drummer Chris Mars, full name Christopher Edward Mars, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Best known as drummer of alternative rock band the Replacements from 1979 through 1990, acclaimed for the mid-1980s albums Let It Be Me and Tim. Early member of supergroup Golden Smog, present on the band's 1992 debut EP On Golden Smog. Active as a solo artist since his 1992 Horseshoes And Hand Grenades album
March 26, 1959 ~ R&B outfit the Coasters record Along Came Jones ~ Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Released as a single, b/w That Is Rock & Roll, later the same year it would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. The song would be notably covered by the Righteous Brothers on their 1967 Sayin' Something album, by novelty singer Ray Stevens in 1969, and as a duet by country singers George Jones and Johnny Paycheck on their 1980 Double Trouble collaborative album
March 26, 1956 ~ Country singer Charly McClain, full name Charlotte Denise McClain, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Debuted in 1976 with the Here's Charly McClain album of which several singles would be released, most of which failed to make a serious impression. First hit the country top 10 with That's What You Do To Me of her 1978 sophomore Let Me Be Your Baby album. Would go on to regularly hit the higher echelons of the country charts throughout the mid-1980s with songs such Men, Who's Cheatin' Who, Sleepin' With The Radio On, Dancing Your Memory Away, the McClain/ Mickey Gilley duet Paradise Tonight, and perhaps her best known Radio Heart. Married country singer, former soap actor Wayne Massey in 1984, with whom she also scored several duet hit singles, notably With Just One Look In Your Eyes and You Are My Music (You Are My Song)
March 26, 1956 ~ Music journalist, author, songwriter, producer Paul Morley, full name Paul Robert Morley, born in Farnham, UK ~ Perhaps best known as a music journalist, writing for NME from 1977 through 1983 and a wide range of publications since as well as authoring about a dozen books. Member of synth-pop unit Art Of Noise, present on the band's 1984 Who's Afraid Of The Art Of Noise debut album. Co-founded ZTT Records label with producer Trevor Horn, for whom he helped advance the career of the label's then-biggest act Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Morley has also served as band manager and is a regular appearance on TV and radio shows. Formed the band Infantjoy, known for their 2005 Where The Night Goes album. Morley was married to singer Propaganda-singer Claudia Brücken for some time, with whom he has two children
March 26, 1955 ~ Arild Staffan Moller, commonly known as guitarist, keyboardist, composer Ale Möller, born in Scania, Sweden ~ Draws from jazz, traditional Scandinavian music and world music. Active as a solo artist since the earlyu 1980s. Prolific on several instruments including trumpet, bouzouki, mandola, flute, dulcimer, harp, harmonica. Has worked with Frifot, Filarfolket, Aly Bain, Bruce Molsky, Lena Willemark, Jonas Knutsson, Thomas Ringdahl, and Mikis Theodorakis
March 26, 1955 ~ Dean Rutherford, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Dean Dillon born in Lake City, Tennessee, USA ~ Revered by peers. Released about half a dozen albums since the early-1980s including two collaborative albums with Gary Stewart. Especially acclaimed as a songwriter. Songs written or co-written by Dillon have been recorded by Barbara Mandrell (Bedroom Reunion), George Strait (The Chair, Ocean Front Property, Drinkin' Man), David Allan Coe (Tennessee Whiskey, Alabama, Hank Williams Jr, Mark Chesnutt (She Never Got Me Over You), Conard Hunley, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Whitley (Miami My Amy), Vern Gosdin (Set 'Em Up Joe), the Marshall Tucker Band, Toby Keith (Get My Drink On), and Kenny Chesney
March 26, 1953 ~ Singer, flutist, keyboardist, songwriter Billy Lyall born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Early member of the Bay City Rollers from 1969 through 1971. Co-founding member of Pilot known for the early-1970s hits January, Magic, Just A Smile and Call Me Round. Keyboardist of Dollar from 1978 to 1982. Guested with the Alan Parsons Project and Runner. Lyall recorded one solo album, Solo Casting, released in 1979 ~ Lyall passed away in 1989
March 26, 1952 ~ Singer, guitarist, pianist John Batdorf born ~ As a child aspired to become a professional baseball player but osteomyelitis, an infection of the bones, crushed his dreams. While in a full-body cast for a year picked up a guitar out of boredom and decided to become a musician. Formed the duo Batdorf & Rodney with Mark Rodney, known for their moderate 1975 hit Somewhere In The Night. Co-founded Silver, known for their 1976 Billboard top 20 hit Wham Bam
March 26, 1952 ~ Bryan Lamont Yoho, commonly known as country, southern rock drummer, songwriter Monte Yoho, born in Lakeland, Florida, USA ~ Member of the Outlaws, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including their best known, 1975's eponymous Outlaws which included their greatest hit There Goes Another Love Song co-written by Yoho. Yoho also backed bandmate Henry Paul on his solo albums and as a member of Blackhawk
March 26, 1950 ~ Jazz double bassist Nobuyochi Ino born in Japan ~ Active since the early-1970s. Has worked with Motohiko Hino, Terumasa Hino, Kosuke Mine, Akira Miyazawa, Masahiko Satoh, Hidefumi Toki, Kazumi Watanabe, Masayuki Takayanagi, Aki Takase, Lester Bowie, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Sunny Murray, Elvin Jones, the Four Sounds, and Masahiko Togashi
March 26, 1950 ~ Singer Teddy Pendergrass, full name Theodore DeReese Pendergrass, born in Kingstree, South Carolina, USA ~ Made his name in 1972, at age 21, as singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, particularly with two songs originally intended for other artists. Vocal group the Dells passed on I Miss You, so Kenny Gamble build the song to suit Pendergrass. It's follow-up, If You Don't Know Me By Now was intended for Patti LaBelle's R&B unit Marmalade, but they had to pass due to scheduling conflicts. Stayed with the band through 1975. Pendergrass would release his solo debut album, Teddy Pendergrass, in 1977. It would go platinum on the strength of the disco hit I Don't Love You Anymore. Would continue to regularly reach the top 10 of Billboard's R&B charts throughout the early-1990s with songs such as Close The Door, Love TKO, Hold Me (a 1984 ballad duet with Whitney Houston), Joy, and It Should've Been You ~ Pendergrass passed away in 2010
March 26, 1949 ~ Jonathan James English, commonly known as singer, songwriter Jon English, born in London, UK ~ Worked with Zenith, Sebastian Hardie, Marcia Hines, and Mario Millo, and starred in several musicals including the Australian version of Jesus Christ Superstar. As a solo artist best known for Australian top 20 hits such as Turn The Page, The Hollywood Seven, Words Are Not Enough, Six Ribbons and Hot Town. Outside Australia best known for the album The Calm Before The Storm released in 1980 ~ English passed away in 2016
March 26, 1948 ~ James Jeffrey Plewman, commonly known as progressive rock, electronic violinist, mandolinist Nash the Slash, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Played keyboards, glockenspiel, violin, mandolin. Draws from progressive rock, new wave, new age and punk rock. Founded and briefly fronted FM, leaving after the band's Black Noise 1976 debut album to resume a solo career, rejoining in later years. Known as a media-shy personality, appearing on-stage with his head wrapped in surgical bandages from 1979 onwards as to preserve his “anonimity” ~ Plewman passed away in 2014
March 26, 1948 ~ Patrick Anson Doheny, commonly known as pop, rock singer, guitarist Ned Doheny, born in Malibu, California, USA ~ The first artist signed to David Geffen's Asylum label. Released his eponymous Ned Doherty debut album in 1973. Known for songs such as I've Got Your Number, Get It Up For Love, and To Prove My Love. Guested on recordings by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, JD Souther, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne. Songs written by Doheny would be recorded by the Average White Band, Chaka Khan (What Cha' Gonna Do For My Love), and Elkie Brooks
March 26, 1948 ~ Keyboardist, pianist Richard Tandy born in Birmingham, UK ~ Key member of the Electric Light Orchestra present on nearly all of the band's recordings, helping define the band's unique sound through his palette of keyboards and serving as frontman Jeff Lynne's right hand and main arranger. The band is known for hits such as Can't Get It Out Of My Head, Evil Woman, Strange Magic, Telephone Line, Shine A Little Love, Don't Bring Me Down, Xanadu, and Hold On Tight ~ Tandy passed away in 2024
March 26, 1948 ~ Steven Victor Tallarico, commonly known as rock, hard rock singer Steven Tyler born in New York, New York, USA ~ Lead singer of Aerosmith, known for landmark albums such as Toys In The Attic, Rocks, Permanent Vacation, Get A Grip and Nine Lives. Tyler released a solo album, We're All Somebody From Somewhere, in 2016. Also an in-demand collaborator, appearing on recordings by Alice Cooper, P!nk, Eminem, Santana, Keith Anderson, Julian Lennon, Buddy Guy, Smokey Robinson, and Hayden Panettiere
March 26, 1947 ~ Pop singer John Rowles, full name JohN Edward Rowles, born in Whakatane, New Zealand ~ Internationally best known for his 1968 UK top 10 hit If I Only Had Time, a cover of Michel Fugain's Je N'Aurai Pas Le Temps written by Fugain and Pierre Delanoë. In his native New Zealand also known for the 1970 hit Cheryl Moana Marie
March 26, 1946 ~ Actor, singer Johnny Crawford, full name John Ernest Crawford, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as an actor, rising to prominence playing in the western TV series Rifleman which earned him an Emmy Award at age 13. Had a brief recording career during the early-1960s, scoring hits with songs such as Cindy's Birthday, Your Nose Is Gonna Grow, and Rumors ~ Crawford passed away in 2021
March 26, 1944 ~ R&B, soul, pop, disco singer Diana Ross born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of the Supremes, Motown's most successful act and one of all-time best-selling girl groups scoring a dozen Billboard No.1 hits including Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, Stop In The Name Of Love, I Hear A Symphony and You Can't Hurry Love. Ross left the band in 1970 to go on as a hugely successful solo artist noted for hits such as Touch Me In The Morning, Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To), Love Hangover and Upside Down. Starred in the film version of The Wiz alongside protegé and friend Michael Jackson. Duetted with Marvin Gaye on You're A Special Part Of Me and My Mistake Was To Love You, duetted with Lionel Richie on Endless Love
March 26, 1942 ~ Producer, pianist, songwriter Larry Butler born in Pensacola, Florida, USA ~ Best known for his association with Kenny Rogers, producing albums such as Kenny Rogers, The Gambler, and Gideon. As a producer or songwriter Butler is also responsible for a wide array of hits including for BJ Thomas (Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song), Jean Shepard (Seven Lonely Days), Charlie Rich (You're Gonna Love Yourself In The Morning), John Denver (Some Days Are Diamonds), Debby Boone { Are You On The Road To Loving Me Again), Billie Jo Spears (Blanket On The Ground), and Don McLean (Crying). Earlier Butler hit the charts as a member of Ronny & the Daytonas (GTO) and the Gentrys (Keep On Dancing, Every Day I Have To Cry Some). Has also worked as a session pianist for artists such as Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty (Hello Darlin'), George Jones, Bobby Goldsboro (Honey), Roger Miller, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Lynn Anderson ~ Butler passed away in 2012
March 26, 1940 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter John Starling born in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ Released two solo albums, 1980's Long Time Gone and 1982's Waiting On A Southern Train. Member of the Seldom Scene. Member of the Ready Section. Worked with Mike Auldridge, Ben Eldridge, Carl Jackson, Carolina Star, Emmylou Harris, Lowell George, Buddy Emmons, Claire Lynch, the Nash Ramblers, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt ~ Starling passed away in 2019
March 26, 1940 ~ Jazz flutist, saxophonist Lew Tabackin born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Married to pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi with whom he co-led ensembles since the 1970s. Influenced by sax players Al Cohn and Coleman Hawkins and flutists such as William Kincaid, Julius Baker, and Jean-Pierre Rampal. Tabackin has played with artists such as Tal Farlow, Chuck Israels, Elvin Jones, Donald Byrd, Roland Hanna, Doc Severinsen, Shelly Manne, Billy Higgins, Clark Terry, Don Friedman, Benny Carter, Duke Pearson, Maynard Ferguson, Jimmy Knepper, Tom Waits (on the 1976 LP Small Change), Freddie Hubbard, and Howard Alden
March 26, 1934 ~ Actor, director, screenwriter Alan Arkin, full name Alan Wolf Arkin, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for his career in the film industry, working in a variety of roles over a career spanning seven decades and awarded an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Little Miss Sunshine. Also enjoyed some succes as a singer and guitarist as a member of 1950s folk group the Tarriers and children's folk group the Baby Sitters
March 26, 1934 ~ Jazz drummer Donald Bailey, full name Donald Orlando Bailey Sr, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for backing organist Jimmy Smith from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s, including on the seminal A New Sound A New Star album released in 1958. Has also worked with the likes of Hampton Hawes (The Seance), the Three Sounds, Roy Ayers, Harold Land (The Peace-Maker), Jimmy Rowles, Mundell Lowe, Blue Mitchell, Carmen McRae, Charles McPherson, and Bebop & Beyond ~ Bailey passed away in 2013
March 26, 1933 ~ Salvatore Massaro, commonly known as guitarist Eddie Lang passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Proficient on violin and banjo but best known as “the Father of Jazz guitar” and especially renowned for his work with Frankie Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke under the group moniker Tram Bix & Lang. Has worked with Red McKenzie in the Mound City Blowers, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Jean Goldkette, Adrian Rollini, Hoagy Carmichael, Jack Pettis, Bessie Smith, Clarence Williams, Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby, and Rube Bloom ~ Lang was born in 1902
March 26, 1931 ~ Producer, pianist, vibraphonist, songwriter, arranger Charles Stepney born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founded Rotary Connection with Marshall Chess and produced most of the band's output. Would go on to produce a host of artists including Rotary-lead singer Minnie Riperton, the Dells, Earth Wind & Fire, Terry Callier, Ramsey Lewis, Maurice White, Marlena Shaw, Deniece Williams, the Soulful Strings, Howlin' Wolf, and the Emotions ~ Stepney passed away in 1976
March 26, 1929 ~ Jazz saxophonist Maurice Simon, full name Maurice James Simon, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Worked with Russell Jacquet, Teddy Edwards, Charles Mingus, Wild Bill Davis, Chico Hamilton, Sonny Stitt, Leo Parker, Charles Thompson, Al Lucas, Shadow Wilson, Gerald Wilson, Snooky Young, Red Kelly, Melba Liston, Dexter Gordon, Ernie Freeman, Red Callender, JC Heard, Fats Domino, Papa John Creach, Big Maybelle, Faye Adams, Bumble Bee Slim, Percy Mayfield, and BB King ~ Simon passed away in 2019
March 26, 1925 ~ Jazz saxophonist, flutist James Moody born in Savannah, Georgia, USA ~ Well over three dozen albums to his name as a leader since the late-1940s, best known for his unexpected 1956 hit Moody's Mood For Love off the album of the same name. As a sideman, Moody has guested on albums by Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie (In Paris), Al Haig, Eddie Lockjaw Davis (Bacalao), Hank Crawford, Eddie Jefferson (Letter From Home), Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Dexter Gordon (The Tower Of Power), Cedar Walton, Charles Mingus (Let My Children Hear Music), Aretha Franklin, Coleman Hawkins, Elvin Jones, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, George Benson (Give Me The Night), and Karin Krog ~ Moody passed away in 2010
March 26, 1924 ~ Milton Aubrey Moore, commonly known as tenor saxophonist, bandleader Brew Moore, born in Indianola, Indiana, USA ~ Moore recorded as a leader starting in 1948, Brew Moore & his Playboys, and played as a sideman with Machito, Claude Thornhill, Kai Winding, Stan Getz, and George Wallington. Moore left New York in 1953, relocated to the West Coast and dropped out of the scene by the end of the 1950s. He would later resurface in Denmark where he would continue to perform for the rest of his life teaming up with artists such as Kenny Drew, Sahib Shihab, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and Alex Riel ~ Moore passed away in 1973
March 26, 1916 ~ Conductor, composer Harry Rabinowitz born in Johannesburg, South Africa ~ Closely associated with the BBC, conducting the BBC Revue Orchestra for most of the 1950s and serving as music director for BBC Television Light Entertainment for most of the 1960s. Also worked with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted numerous film scores including Chariots Of Fire, The English Patient and The Talented Mr Ripley ~ Rabinowitz passed away in 2016
March 26, 1916 ~ Big band, swing, jazz, traditional pop bandleader, arranger, composer Vic Schoen, full name Victor Schoen, born ~ Worked with Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Les Brown, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, George Shearing, Jimmie Lunceford, Ray McKinley, Benny Carter, Louis Prima, Russ Morgan, Guy Lombardo, Carmen Cavallaro, Carmen Miranda, Gordon Jenkins, Joe Venuti, Victor Young, Arthur Fiedler, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Dick Haymes, Ella Fitzgerald, Maurice Chevalier, Mildred Bailey, Peggy Lee, Patti Page, the McGuire Sisters, and Kay Starr ~ Schoen passed away in 2000
March 26, 1915 ~ Joseph Edward Filippelli, commonly known as jazz, swing, jump blues saxophonist, clarinetist Flip Phillips, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for his work with Norman Granz's Jazz At The Philharmonic concerts from the mid-1940 to the late-1950s. As a leader recorded extensively in the 1940s and 1950s, working with sidemen such as Buddy Morrow, Tommy Turk, Kai Winding, Sonny Criss, Ray Brown, and Shelly Manne. Backed singer Billie Holiday on her Billie Holiday Sings album released in 1952 ~ Phillips passed away in 2001
March 26, 1909 ~ Jazz double bassist Abe Bolar born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Worked with the Oklahoma City Blue Devils, Hot Lips Page, Lucky Millinder, Count Basie, and Pete Johnson ~ Bolar passed away in 2000
March 26, 1907 ~ Film composer, songwriter Leigh Harline, full name Leigh Adrian Harline, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ~ First gained attention as film composer working with Disney, including on the original versions of Disney's first animated feature-length film 1937's Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs and 1940's Pinocchio. Would go on to work with other studios, scoring soundtracks for movies such as Mr Bug Goes To Town, Monkey Business, True Story, and The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm ~ Harline passed away in 1969