March 7, 1989 ~ Christopher Jerrod Dooley Jr, commonly known as rapper Hurricane Chris, born in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ~ Debuted with the album 51/50 Ratchet in 2006, its lead single the Phunk Dawg-produced A Bay Bay reaching the Billboard top 10. Dooley would be arrested for second-degree murder in 2020
March 7, 1988 ~ Jazz guitarist David Aleksander Sjølie born in Kongsberg, Norway ~ Married to jazz singer Anja Eline Skybakmoen, with whom he has also worked on her albums We're The Houses and Echo. Has also worked with Bendik Bansaas, Ine Hoem, Mopti, and Lise Hvoslef
March 7, 1987 ~ Entela Fureraj, commonly known as singer Eleni Foureira, born in Fier, Albania ~ First gained attention as member of girl group Mystique, joining the band in 2007. Active as a solo singer since the band disbanded in 2009, releasing her eponymous Eleni Foureira debut album in 2010. Internationally perhaps best known for representing Cyprus at the 2018 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 2nd place with Fuego. The song would also be Fereira's first Greek No.1 hit. Subsequent singles such as Caramela, Tomame, Loquita featuring Claydee would also top the Greek charts
March 7, 1987 ~ Molly Decima Ure, commonly known as pop rock singer, guitarist Molly Lorenne, born ~ Lead singer, lead guitarist for all-female trio the Faders alongside bassist, rhythm guitarist Toy Valentine and drummer Cherisse Osei, known best for their 2005 UK top 20 hit No Sleep Tonight of their sole Plug In And Play album
March 7, 1984 ~ Producer, engineer, visual artist Alex Somers born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Formed the ambient duo Jónsi & Alex with Jónsi, with whom he recorded the album Riceboy Sleeps in 2009. Somers has co-produced several of Sigur Rós's albums including Valtari and Kveikur. Other collaborations include Parachutes, Pascal Pinon, Death Vessel, and Gordi
March 7, 1979 ~ Drummer Neal Morgan born ~ Best known for his association with Joanna Newsom and Bill Callahan. Has also released a number of solo recordings, starting with 2009's To The Breathing World, and has collaborated with Robin Pecknold, Morgan Henderson, and others
March 7, 1977 ~ Pop, dance-pop singer, actor Paul Cattermole, full name Paul Gerald Cattermole, born in St Albans, UK ~ Member of S Club 7 from 1998 through 2002, present on songs such as Bring It All Back, S Club Party, Never Had A Dream Come True and Don't Stop Movin' ~ Cattermole passed away in 2023
March 7, 1976 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer Mark Kelson born in Melbourne, Australia ~ First gained attention as member of doom metal band Cryptal Darkness, remaining with the band until its dissolution in 2002. Subsequently rose to notoriety as co-founding member of the Eternal. Has also worked with Duncan Patterson, present on the 2011 The Brink debut album of Patterson's band Alternative 4. Sessioned and toured with avant-garde metal outfit Virgin Black
March 7, 1967 ~ Randel Guss, commonly known as alternative rock, folk rock, rock drummer Randy Guss, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of Toad The Wet Sprocket, remaining with the band from its inception in 1986 through 2020. The band is best known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits All I Want and Walk The Ocean, both taken of the 1991 Fear album. Guss has also appeared on Lapdog's 2003 Mayfly album
March 7, 1962 ~ Leslie Wunderman, commonly known as pop, dance-pop singer Taylor Dayne, born in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Enjoyed a string of hit singles starting with her debut Tell It To My Heart in 1987. Other well known songs include Love Will Lead You Back, Prove Your Love and I'll Always Love You
March 7, 1961 ~ Warrel George Baker, commonly known as reavy metal, progressive metal, thrash metal, power metal singer Warrel Dane, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Classically trained. Infuenced by Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, George Strait and Bruce Dickinson. Best known as lead singer of Sanctuary and Nevermore. Has also worked with Serpent's Knight, Sanctuary, Behemoth, Shaded Enmity. Released his sole Praises To The War Machine solo album in 2008 and was working on a second album at the time of his death ~ Baker passed away in 2017
March 7, 1960 ~ Douglas White, commonly known as hard rock, power metal, neoclassical metal singer Doogie White, born in Motherwell, UK ~ Active since the mid-1980s. Has notably worked with Ritchie Blackmore, serving in Rainbow from 1994 through 1997, with Yngwie Malmsteen from 2002 through 2007, and with Michael Schenker, serving in Temple Of Rock from 2011 through 2016. Has occasionally recorded as a solo artist, and collaborated with La Paz, Cornerstone, Praying Mantis, Rata Blanca, Tank, and Alcatrazz
March 7, 1953 ~ Drummer Kenny Aronoff born in Albany, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with both John Mellencamp and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Has also worked as a session and touring drummer for a host of other artists including the BoDeans, John Fogerty, Cinderella Chickenfoot, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Smashing Pumpkins, Richard Thompson, Bob Seger, Melissa Etheridge, Jon Bon Jovi (Blaze Of Glory), Avril Lavigne, Chickenfoot, and others
March 7, 1952 ~ Reggae producer Donovan Germain born in Jamaica ~ Worked with artists such as Cultural Roots, Sugar Minott (Good Thing Goin'), Audrey Hall, Freddie McGregor, Delroy Wilson, Marcia Griffiths, Tenor Saw, Buju Banton, Mad Cobra, Cutty Ranks, Morgan Heritage, Wayne Wonder, Beres Hammond, and others
March 7, 1952 ~ Guitarist, drummer, singer Ernie Isley born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Member of Isley-Jasper-Isley and of the Isley Brothers. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Fight The Power (Part 1 & 2), Harvest For The World, Voyage To Atlantis, At Your Best You Are Love, Footsteps In The Dark, That Lady, Between The Sheets and Take Me To The Next Phase
March 7, 1952 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Jules Shear born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Has recorded as a solo artist and fronted the Funky Kings, the critically acclaimed Jules & the Polar Bears, the Reckless Sleepers, and Raisins In The Sun. Best known for penning and first recording several songs that became bigger hits for others. Singer Cyndi Lauper would score a 1983 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit with All Through The Night, the Bangles would reach top 30 with If She Knew What She Wants in 1985, and Alison Moyet would take Whispering Your Name to the UK top 20 in 1994. Shear was also the subject of the Til Tuesday track J For Jules, the band's singer Aimee Mann reflecting on their relationship after breaking up
March 7, 1951 ~ Smooth jazz, jazz-funk, funk bassist Rocco Prestia, full name Francis Rocco Prestia Jr, born in Sonora, California, USA ~ Cited James Jamerson and Bootsy Collins as influences. Perhaps best known as member of funk outfit Tower Of Power from 1968 through 1977, rejoining in later years. Notably present on some of the band's best-known including the 1973 hit What Is Hip. As a solo artist released his sole Everybody On The Bus album in 1999 ~ Prestia passed away in 2020
March 7, 1948 ~ Singer, flutist, composer, arranger Danilo Caymmi, full name Danilo Candido Tostes Caymmi, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Regarded as one of the foremost Brazilian wind instrument musicians. Worked with Antônio Carlos Jobim, Edmundo Souto, Sarah Vaughan, Tom & Dito, David Liebman, and others
March 7, 1947 ~ Progressive rock singer Jane Relf born in Richmond, UK ~ Sister of the Yardbirds-singer Keith Relf, with whom she also worked in progressive rock band Renaissance. Has also worked with Illusion, Stairway, and others. As a solo artist known for her sole single, Without A Song From You, released in 1971
March 7, 1946 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Charlie Panigoniak born in Chesterfield Inlet, Canada ~ Inuk musician known for his relections on northern life. Discovered by producer Doug Ward in the early 1970s. Awarded the the Order Of Nunavut in 2012, naming him ambassador for the Inuk people for his cultural contributions to the territory and its people ~ Panagoniak passed away in 2019
March 7, 1946 ~ Bluegrass, country mandolinist, singer Jimmy Gaudreau born in New Shannock Switch, Rhode Island, USA ~ Influential in progressive and traditional bluegrass. Especially acclaimed for the albums The Gaudreau Mandolin Album and Lonesome Wind, released respectively in 1979 and 2001. Also known for his work with the Country Gentlemen, Tony Rice, and JD Crowe. Other notable collaborations include Spectrum, Chesapeake, Carolina Star, Moondi Klein, Bill Emerson, Béla Fleck (Natural Bridge), and Bill Clifton
March 7, 1946 ~ Keyboardist, organist Matthew Fisher born in London, UK ~ Member of Procol Harum, notably playiong the Hammond organ on the band's A Whiter Shade Of Pale. Would go on to produce records for Robin Trower, James Dewar, Tir Na Nog and enjoy a reasonably successful solo career with albums such as Journey's End, I'll Be There, and the 1980 eponymous Matthew Fisher album, the latter spawning the hit Why'd I Have To Fall In Love With You
March 7, 1946 ~ Peter Blankfield, commonly known as singer, songwriter Peter Wolf born in New York, New York, USA ~ Lead singer of the J Geils Band from 1967 through 1981, known for songs such as Looking For A Love, Give It To Me, Must Of Got Lost, Centerfold and Freeze Frame. Wolf left the band after their 10th album, Freeze Frame. Released his solo debut album, Lights Out, in 1984. As a solo artist best known for the Billboard top 20 hits Lights Out and Come As You Are, the latter the title track of his 1987 sophomore album
March 7, 1945 ~ Singer, songwriter Arthur Porter Taylor, commonly known as Arthur Lee, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Rose to fame as frontman of Love, known for a number of mid- to late-1960s albums, most of which initially sold only moderately but did garner a cult following. Especially noted is the band's third album, Forever Changes, which Rolling Stone ranked as 40th greatest album of all-time in 2012 ~ Lee passed away in 2006
March 7, 1945 ~ Bruce Gordon Poulsen, commonly known as singer, mandolinist, autoharpist, songwriter Hans Poulsen born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Best known for songs such as Boom Sha-la-la-lo and Light Across The Valley. Also wrote and co-wrote for others including Rose Coloured Glasses for John Farnham and Monty And Me for Zoot ~ Poulsen passed away in 2023
March 7, 1944 ~ Singer, songwriter Townes Van Zandt, full name John Townes Van Zandt, born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Penned and recorded songs widely considered to be classics such as Pancho & Lefty, For The Sake Of The Song, Tecumsah Valley, and To Live Is To Fly. Influenced a wide array of artists including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris, the Counting Crows, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Nanci Griffith, Guy Clark, Wade Bowen, Gillian Welch, Pat Green, Colter Wall, Jason Isbell, Calvin Russell, Natalie Maines, and others ~ Van Zandt passed away in 1997
March 7, 1943 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Chris White, full name Christopher Taylor White, born in Barnet, UK ~ Early and longtime member of the Zombies replacing Paul Arnold. Became one of the band's main songwriters. Following the band's disbandement in 1968 would continue to work with his former bandmates including songwriting and producing solo recordings by Colin Blunstone and notably co-writing Argent's hit Hold Your Head Up with Rod Argent, a top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic
March 7, 1942 ~ R&B, disco, funk bandleader, singer, drummer, songwriter, producer Hamilton Bohannon, mononymously known as Bohannon, born in Newnan, Georgia, USA ~ Recorded over a dozen albums from the early 1970s through the 1980s. Best known for Let's Start The Dance of the 1978 album Summertime Groove, the single would reach top 10 Billboard R&B ~ Bohannon passed away in 2020
March 7, 1941 ~ Singer, guitarist Al Candelaria born ~ Member of the Innocents, with whom he scored the 1960 Billboard Hot 100 top 30 hits Honest I Do and Gee Whiz. The trio is best known for teaming up with Kathy Young, with whom they scored the 1960 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit A Thousand Stars billed as Kathy Young & the Innocents
March 7, 1937 ~ Jazz trombonist Roy Williams born in Salford, UK ~ Worked with Mike Peters, Terry Lightfoot, Alex Welsh, Ruby Braff, Wild Bill Davison, Bud Freeman, John Barnes, Humphrey Lyttelton, the Pizza Express All-Stars, Benny Waters, Doc Cheatham, Jim Galloway, Buddy Tate, the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, the World's Greatest Jazz Band, Peanuts Hucko, Bent Persson, Bobby Rosengarden, Stan Barker, Bob Wilber, Digby Fairweather, Pete Strange, Keith Smith, and others
March 7, 1931 ~ Coloratura soprano Maddy Mesplé, full name Madeleine Mesplé, was born in Toulouse, France ~ Considered the leading colaratura soprano of her day in France, enjoying popularity for over three decades starting in the early 1950s. Known for roles in productions of works such as Lakmé, The Tales Of Hoffmann, Mignon, Roméo Et Juliette, and Hamlet ~ Mesplé passed away in 2020
March 7, 1926 ~ Bernard Vasseur, commonly known as jazz trombonist Benny Vasseur, born in Neuville St Remy, France ~ Worked with Claude Bolling, Rex Stewart, Sidney Bechet, Benny Carter, Buck Clayton, Bill Coleman, Roy Eldridge, Big Chief Russell Moore, Albert Nicholas, Hot Lips Page, Django Reinhardt, Aimé Barelli, Michel Attenoux, Claude Luter, Andre Paquinet, Annie Cordy, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Francois Guin, and François Biensan ~ Vasseur passed away in 2016
March 7, 1921 ~ Gospel singer Martha Bass born ~ Mother of soul singer Fontella Bass. Briefly toured with the Clara Ward Singers in the early 1950s and present on Wasn't It A Pity How They Punished My Lord. As a solo singer best known for her 1967 album I'm So Grateful, establishing Bass as a premier gospel singer ~ Bass passed away in 1998
March 7, 1918 ~ Vincent John Cernuto, commonly know as big band singer Bob Vincent, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as featured vocalist on Al Trace's You Call Everybody Darlin', a No.1 hit in 1948. Later turned to management, working as a theatrical agent working with artists such as Wayne Newton ~ Cernuto passed away in 2005
March 7, 1917 ~ Composer Robert Erickson born in Marquette, Michigan, USA ~ One of the first American composers to create tape music, using the tape recorder as its central musical source. Influential on artists such as Morton Subotnick, Pauline Oliveros, Louise Spizizen, and Paul Dresher. Authored several books on music, perhaps most notably Sound Structure In Music published in 1975 ~ Erickson passed away in 1997
March 7, 1914 ~ Leonidas Raymond Young, commonly known as drummer Lee Young, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Baby brother of saxophonist Lester Young. Worked with Les Paul, JJ Johnson, Jean Baptiste, Mutt Carey, Fats Waller, Les Hite, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Nat King Cole, Oscar Moore, André Previn, Dinah Washington, and others ~ Young passed away in 2008
March 7, 1911 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Louis Cottrell Jr, full name Louis Albert Cottrell Jr, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Son of influential jazz drummer Louis Cottrell Sr. Best known for founding the Heritage Hall Jazz Band in 1971, leading the ensemble until his death in 1978. As a sideman Cottrell has recorded with artists such as Peter Bocage, Harold Dejan, Sweet Emma Barrett, Kid Howard, Waldren Joseph, and others ~ Cottrell passed away in 1978
March 7, 1908 ~ Trumpeter, mellophonist, singer, bandleader Nat Gonella, full name Nathaniel Charles Gonella, born in London, UK ~ Best known as founder of dance band the Georgians. Also worked with Archie Pitt, Rob Brydon, Archie Alexander, Billy Cotton, Roy Fox, Lew Stone, Al Bowlly, and others ~ Gonella passed away in 1998
March 7, 1875 ~ Composer, pianist, conductor Maurice Ravel, full name Joseph Maurice Ravel, born in Ciboure, France ~ Alongside Claude Debussy one of the leading figures of impresionism. Incorporated elements of modernism, baroque, neoclassicism and jazz. Best known for his Boléro, published in 1928 ~ Ravel passed away in 1937