May 2, 1989 ~ Singer, songwriter Graham Alexander born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ As a solo artist recording since the early 2010s, best known for Biggest Fan taken of his eponymous Eric Person debut album. Also known for his roles in the Broadway shows Rain (A Tribute To The Beatles) and Let It Be
May 2, 1987 ~ Indie rock singer, guitarist, pianist Justin Young, full name Justin James Hayward-Young, born in Southampton, UK ~ Co-founding member, lead singer for the Vaccines, active since the early 2010s and known best for songs such as Post Break-Up Sex, If You Wanna, No Hope, and Teenage Icon. Young has previously worked with alt-country group the Eldora Parade and punk band the Fashion Police Brutality. Has also recorded as a solo artist, going by the monniker Jay Jay Pistolet, formed the side project the Halloweens, and served as producer for Alfie Templeman
May 2, 1986 ~ Classical pianist Yeol Eum Son born in Wonju, South Korea ~ First gained serious attention as a soloist at age 18, performing the Franz Liszt Piano Concerto No.1 with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Lorin Maazel on their Asia tour. Would go on to work with renowned orchestras such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the NDR Radiophilharmonie, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, the Hague Philharmonic, and others
May 2, 1977 ~ Singer, songwriter Katie Noonan, full name Katie Anne Noonan, born in Brisbane, Australia ~ Co-founded pop rock outfit George with her brother Tyrone Noonan, the sibling sharing lead vocals. The band is best known for the singles Special Ones, Run, and Breathe In Now, all taken of their 1998 Polyserena debut album. Noonan also founded the jazz trio Elixer, critically acclaimed for their 2011 First Seed Ripening sophomore album. Collaborated with her mother opera singer Maggie Noonan on the 2004 Two Of A Kind album, consisting of jazz and opera duets. Noonan has also recorded as a solo artist, and collaborated with a wide array of artists including Paul Grabowsky, Karin Schaupp, and the Brodsky Quartet
May 2, 1972 ~ Alexander Wilke Steinhof, commonly known as experimental electronic musician, DJ Alec Empire, born in Berlin, West Germany ~ Co-founding member of Atari Teenage Riot, merging left-wing, anarchist and anti-fascist views with punk lyrics and a techno sound. Also known as a solo artist and an in-demand remixer for artists including Rammstein, Chris Vrenna, Primal Scream, Björk, Thurston Moore, Mogwai, and Einstürzende Neubauten
May 2, 1967 ~ Alternative rock, electronica singer, guitarist, keyboardist George Vjestica born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK ~ Fronts Bandante. Appears on KT Tunstall's Eye To The Telescope debut album. Worked with Groove Armada, present on the albums Soundboy Rock and Black Light. Regularly backed Nick Cave, including on the albums Push The Sky Away and Skeleton Tree
May 2, 1965 ~ Cellist Matthew Barley born near Sheffield, UK ~ Worked with orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and conductors including Marin Alsop, Thomas Dausgaard, Tan Dun, Charles Hazlewood, Markus Stenz, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Ilan Volkov, and others. Non-classical collaborations include Avi Avital, Manu Delago, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Jon Lord, Talvin Singh, Sultan Khan, Nitin Sawhney, Django Bates, Julian Joseph, and Nikki Yeoh
May 2, 1963 ~ Indie rock, alternative rock, pop punk singer, guitarist Bill Priddle born ~ Co-founding member, guitarist, co-lead singer for Treble Charger, with whom he recorded five albums before departing the band in 2003. Recorded as a solo artist, releasing his The Priddle Concern album in 2008 under the group moniker the Priddle Concern. Has also worked with Broken Social Scene and with Don Vail
May 2, 1963 ~ Jazz saxophonist Eric Person born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums to his name as a leader. Closely associated with drummer Chico Hamilton during the 1980s and 1990s. Has also worked with Ronald Shannon Jackson, Chris Joris, John Esposito, the World Saxophone Quartet, Vernon Reid, Ofra Haza, Ben Harper, and Bootsy Collins
May 2, 1962 ~ Alain Johannes Mociulski, commonly known as guitarist, bassist, producer Alain Johannes, born in Santiago, Chile ~ Founding member of Eleven. Also worked with the Queens Of The Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, PJ Harvey, Chris Cornell, Arctic Monkeys, Mark Lanegan, Hillel Slovak, Todd Strassman, Jack Irons, Natasha Shneider, What Is This, Jason Falkner, Addie Brik, Thelonious Monster, Walk The Moon, Sun 60, Melissa Ferick, Gouds Thumb, Live, Janubia, the Eagles Of Death Metal, Spinnerette, Silverchair, Jimmy Eat World, and Gary Pitcairn
May 2, 1958 ~ Brenda Shannon Greene, mononymously known as freestyle, dance-pop, post-disco singer Shannon, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known for her 1983 Let The Music Play single, an international hit reaching top 20 across the globe including the UK and the Netherlands, top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequent singles including Give Me Tonight, My Heart's Divided and Do You Wanna Get Away would chart well on the American dance charts
May 2, 1956 ~ Rock bassist, singer, songwriter Doug Howard, full name Douglas Joseph Howard, born in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Got his start in music backing girl group the Crystals. Member of Touch, known for the singles Call Me When The Spirit Moves You and Don't You Know What Love Is of their eponymous 1979 Touch. Briefly a member of Todd Rundgren's Utopia. Has also worked with the Edgar Winter Group, replacing the band's original bassist Dan Hartman
May 2, 1955 ~ Punk rock, new wave, post-punk, synth-pop keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter Jo Callis born in Glasgow, UK ~ Member of the Rezillos, for whom he wrote Top Of The Pops. Member of Shake. Member of short-lived Boots For Dancing. Joined Human League in 1981, first appearing on the Dare album released later the same year
May 2, 1955 ~ Rock bassist Ken Sinnaeve, full name Kenneth Sinnaeve, born in Regina, Canada ~ Co-founding member of Streetheart, known best for their 1979 disco-hybrid the Rolling Stones-cover Under My Thumb. Lesser known songs include the Them-cover Here Comes The Night and What Kind Of Love Is This. Following the band's disbandement in the mid-1980s Sinnaeve appeared on Strange Advance's 2WO sophomore album. Member of Loverboy since 2001, replacing the late Scott Smith
May 2, 1954 ~ R&B, soul, dance-pop singer, songwriter Angela Bofill, full name Angela Tomasa Bofill, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Actively recording since the late 1970s. Best known for R&B hits such as This Time I'll Be Sweeter, What I Wouldn't Do (For The Love Of You), Too Tough, Tonight I Give In and I Just Wanna Stop
May 2, 1953 ~ Jazz guitarist James Chirillo, full name James Louis Chirillo, born in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Marilyn Maye, Vic Damone, Joey Heatherton, Lorna Luft, Roger Williams, the Jazz Knights, Tiny Grimes, Benny Goodman, Buck Clayton, Claude Williams, Bob Wilber, Benny Carter, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Gunther Schuller, the One O'Clock Lab Band, Kenny Davern, Keith Ingham, Houston Person, Doug Lawrence, Barbara Lea, Joe Lovano, Marcus Roberts, Joe Ascione, Dick Sudhalter, Scott Robinson, Bob Mintzer, Joe Wilder, John Cocuzzi, Pablo Villegas, and others
May 2, 1951 ~ Rock, blues rock, progressive rock, progressive folk bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer John Glascock born in Islington, UK ~ Member of Carmen from 1972 through 1975, including on the acclaimed Fandangos In Space album. Member of Jethro Tull from 1976 until his death in 1979. Praised as “the best bass player in rock” by Ritchie Blackmore. Has also worked with the Gods, Head Machine, Toe Fat, Chicken Shack, Maddy Prior, Richard Digance, and others ~ Glascock passed away in 1979
May 2, 1950 ~ Louis Andrew Grammatico, commonly known as rock singer, songwriter Lou Gramm born in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of Foreigner from 1977 through 1990, including on hits such as Feels Like The First Time, Cold As Ice and I Want To Know What Love Is. As a solo artist scored Billboard top 10 hits with 1987's Midnight Blue and Just Between You And Me two years later. Has also worked with Black Sheep, Shadow King, and with Liberty & Justice
May 2, 1949 ~ Gerald Thomas Moores, commonly known as singer, guitarist, keyboardist GT Moore, born in Reading, UK ~ Active since the early 1970s as a solo artist, frontman and as a collaborator. Co-founded Heron with Roy Apps and Tony Pook. Has had his compositions covered by Joan Baez and by Airto Moreira. Has collaborated with Jimmy Cliff, Lee Scratch Perry, Malcolm Mortimore, Thin Lizzy, Johnny Nash, and others
May 2, 1948 ~ Drummer Bill Ward, full name William Thomas Ward, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Influenced by Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, as well as R&B, pop and rock drummers such as Bernard Pretty Purdie, Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, Ringo Starr, and Jim Capaldi. Best known as co-founding member of Black Sabbath. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Ward One (Along The Way) released in 1990
May 2, 1946 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Joel Forrester born ~ Leader and sideman. Perhaps best known for writing and performing Fresh Air Theme with the Microscopic Septet, used as the theme song to the NPR radio show of the same name. In addition to leading the Septet, at times a sextet, Forrester has guested on albums by Michael Callen, Michael Hearst, and Phillip Johnston
May 2, 1946 ~ Lesley Sue Goldstein, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lesley Gore, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Discovered by Quincy Jones. Broke through with It's My Party at age 16. Also known for songs such as Judy's Turn To Cry, She's A Fool, You Don't Own Me, Maybe I Know, and California Night ~ Goldstein passed away in 2015
May 2, 1945 ~ John Raymond Goadsby, commonly known as keyboardist Goldy McJohn, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Classically trained pianist. Pioneered the use of the electronic organ in rock. Best known as original member of Steppenwolf remaining with the group from its inception in 1967 through 1975 and present on the band's best-known including Born To Be Wild. Previously a member of the Mynah Birds which at the time also included Rick James and Bruce Palmer ~ Goadsby passed away in 2017
May 2, 1945 ~ Alexander Minto Hughes, commonly known as reggae, ska singer Judge Dread, born ~ Influenced Ian Dury and Buster Bloodvessel. Known for his sexual innuendo and double entendres, reportedly has more songs banned by the BBC than any other artist. Second only to Bob Marley in terms of reggae sales during the 1970s. Known for songs such as Big Six, Big Seven and Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus ~ Hughes passed away in 1998
May 2, 1945 ~ R&B singer Randy Cain, full name Herbert Randal Cain III, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Delfonics, including on the 1970 Grammy-winning Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Cain left the group in 1971 to be succeeded by Major Harris ~ Cain passed away in 2009
May 2, 1944 ~ Rock drummer Bob Henrit, full name Robert John Henrit, born in Broxbourne, UK ~ Co-founding and constant member of Argent, known best for the early 1970s UK top 20 hits Hold Your Head Up and God Gave Rock & Roll To You, the former also reaching top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In-demand session musician, notably present on Dave Davies's 1980s Glamour and Chosen People albums. Has also worked with Unit 4+2, the Roulettes, Charlie, Ian Matthews, and with latter day incarnations of the Kinks replacing Mick Avory in 1984
May 2, 1944 ~ Drummer, percussionist John Ware born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ In-demand session drummer known for his associations with the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, the Corvettes, Linda Ronstadt, the Stone Poneys, the First National Band, Emmylou Harris, Jesse Ed Davis, Hoyt Axton, Kaleidoscope, Karla Bonoff, Jackie DeShannon, Michael Nesmith, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, George Jones, Larry Groce, Ricky Skaggs, Janie Fricke, and others
May 2, 1941 ~ Jazz pianist Connie Crothers born in Palo Alto, California, USA ~ Leader and sidewoman. Studied under Lennie Tristano and founded the Lennie Jazz Foundation in his honour. Has worked with artists such as Max Roach, Richard Cabris, Cameron Brown, Roger Mancuso, Lenny Popkin, Bob Casanova, Jessica Jones, Pauline Oliveros, and others ~ Crothers passed away in 2016
May 2, 1941 ~ Organist, singer Eddy Louiss was born in Paris, France ~ Worked with Double Six, René Thomas, Bernard Lubat, Michel Petrucciani, Richard Galliano, Daniel Humair, Jean-Luc Ponty, John Surman, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Steve Ferrone, Bob Garcia, Jo Maka, Luigi Trussardi, Jean Louis Viale, Stan Getz, and others ~ Louiss passed away in 2015
May 2, 1936 ~ Arnold George Dorey, commonly known as traditional pop, schlager, easy listening singer Engelbert Humperdinck, born in Madras, British India ~ Regarded as one of the finest middle-of-the-road balladeers, selling over 140 million records over the course of his career. Draws from schlagers, traditional pop and easy listening enjoying his biggest successes in the 1960s and 1970s. Best known for songs such as Release Me, The Last Waltz, After The Lovin' and This Moment In Time
May 2, 1934 ~ Singer, songwriter, author Olle Adolphson born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Alongside Birger Sjöberg, Evert Taube, and Cornelis Vreeswijk considered one of the greatest Swedish songwriter of the 20th century. Known for songs such as Gustaf Lindströms Visa, Okända Djur, Mitt Eget Land, Det Gåtfulla Folker, and Trubbel ~ Adolphson passed away in 2004
May 2, 1933 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Ernest Warren born ~ Member of the Spaniels, known for 1950s hits such as Baby It's You and Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight, the latter later remaining popular to this day featured in several films including American Graffiti ~ Warren passed away in 2012
May 2, 1933 ~ Pianist, conductor, arranger Valentín Trujillo, full name Valentin Trujillo Sanchez, born in Santiago, Chile ~ Child prodidy. Brother of singer Fernando Trujillo. Well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Un Piano Con Alma released in 1958. Well known as conductor for the TV show Sabado Gigante for over a decade, starting in 1962.
May 2, 1931 ~ Richard Arnold Holmes, commonly known as hard bop, soul jazz organist Richard Groove Holmes born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1965 recording Misty. Leader and in-demand sideman. Has worked with Earl Bostic, Willis Jackson, Eric Kloss, Les McCann, Lou Rawls, Dakota Staton, Gerald Wilson, and others ~ Holmes passed away in 1991
May 2, 1929 ~ Fred Lincoln Wray Jr, commonly known as guitarist, songwriter Link Wray, born in Dunn, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known for the 1958 instrumental hit Rumble, one of the earliest songs using distorted feedback later commonly used in punk and hard rock ~ Wray passed away in 2005
May 2, 1927 ~ Cellist Anna Shuttleworth born in Bournemouth, UK ~ Acclaimed soloist and chamber cellist. Co-founding member of the Vivien Hind String Quartet. Affectionately referred to as “the Swellest Cellist” by composer Ralph Vaughan Williams ~ Shuttleworth passed away in 2021
May 2, 1924 ~ Actor, folk singer, guitarist Theodore Bikel, full name Theodore Meir Bikel, born in Vienna, Austria ~ Co-founded the Newport Folk Festival. Has recorded over 30 albums as a folk singer, guitarist starting in the mid 1950s. As an actor known for roles in Moulin Rouge, My Fair Lady, The Defiant Ones, earning an Academy Award-nomination for his role in the latter. As a musical actor best known for his role as Captain Von Trapp in the original Broadway production of The Sound Of Music ~ Bikel passed away in 2015
May 2, 1922 ~ Singer, actor Serge Reggiani born in Reggio Emilia, Italy ~ Best known as an actor performing in some 80 films and various stage plays since the mid-1940s. Member of the French Resistance during World War II. Ventured out into music by the mid-1960s aided by singer, actor Yves Montand to become one of the most acclaimed chanson singers known for songs such as Les Loups Sont Entres Dans Paris and Sarah ~ Reggiani passed away in 2004
May 2, 1915 ~ Songwriter, singer Doris Fisher born in New York, New York, USA ~ Daughter of Fred Fisher, sister of Dan Fisher and Marvin Fisher, all respected songwriters. Doris wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by the Ink Spots (Whispering Grass, Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall), Louis Prima (Angelina (The Waitress At The Pizzeria)), Billie Holiday (That Ole Devil Called Love), Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Pearl Bailey, the Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, and Moon Mullican (You Always Hurt The One You Love), Slim Gaillard (Tutti Frutti), Stan Kenton, Ella Mae Morse, and Pearl Bailey ~ Fisher passed away in 2003
May 2, 1915 ~ Alexander Van Vliet Feldman, commonly known as bandleader, arranger, composer Van Alexander, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as arranger, composer for film and TV, notably for several Mickey Rooney films. Has worked with Dean Martin, Gordon Macrae, Doris Day, Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee, Dinah Shore, Kay Starr, Dakota Staton, Paul Whiteman, and others ~ Feldman passed away in 2015
May 2, 1914 ~ Double bassist Frank Fields, full name Frank Nomer Fields, born in Plaquemine, Louisiana, USA ~ Closely associated with Dave Bartholomew and Cosimo Matassa, becoming a first-call session musician for many New Orleans based acts including Fats Domino (The Fat Man), Professor Longhair, Little Richard (Tutti Frutti), Smiley Lewis, Shirley & Lee, Lloyd Price, Huey Piano Smith, Ray Charles, and others ~ Fields passed away in 2005
May 2, 1897 ~ Songwriter J Fred Coots, full name John Frederick Coots, born ~ Wrote over 700 songs, over a dozen Broadway shows. Best known for co-penning Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town with Haven Gillespie. The song, first recorded by banjoist Harry Reser, would become a Holiday classic recorded by over 200 artists including Bing Crosby, the Crystals, Mariah Carey, Chris Isaak, the Temptations, and Bruce Springsteen ~ Coots passed away in 1985
May 2, 1895 ~ Lyricist Lorenz Hart, full name Lorenz Milton Hart, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Frequent songwriting collaborator of Richard Rodgers, with whom Hart wrote over two dozen Broadway musicals including Babes In Arms, The Boys From Syracuse, Pal Joey and On Your Toes. Songs co-written by Hart include Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered (Vivienne Segal, the Platters, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra) Glad To Be Unhappy (Doris Carson, Lena Horne, Buddy Rich), It Never Entered My Mind (Shirley Ross, Lee Wiley, Julie London), My Funny Valentine (Mitzi Green, Sarah Vaughan, Marvin Gaye), You Are Too Beautiful (Al Jolson, Bobby Troup, Arthur Prysock), Ten Cents A Dance (Ruth Etting, Doris Day, Shirley Horn), Mimi (Maurice Chevalier, the Lane Brothers) ~ Hart passed away in 1943