May 21, 1990 ~ Tyrone Walker, commonly known as rapper A$AP TyY, born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Member of hip hop collective A$AP Mob. As a solo artist active since the mid-2010s, releasing a number of mixtapes and notably the single Chamber Lock featuring A$AP Yams
May 21, 1985 ~ Singer Mutya Buena, full name Rosa Isabel Mutya Buena, born in London, UK ~ Original member of the Sugababes, remaining with the band through 2005 and succeeded by Amelie Berrabah. Present on some of the band's best known including Overload, Freak Like Me, Hole In The Head and Push The Button. In 2012 the original trio of Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy reunited for the one-off single Flatline released under the moniker Mutya Keisha Siobhan
May 21, 1983 ~ Singer, guitarist, DJ, songwriter Robert Harvey, full name Robert Michael Nelson Harvey, born ~ Formed the Music with Adam Nutter, Stuart Coleman and Phil Jordan. The band released their eponymous The Music in 2002, which included the Take The Long Road And Walk It UK top 20 single, and recorded two more successful albums through the remainder of the decade. Harvey notably guested on the Streets's 2011 Computers And Blues album. Harvey also co-produced or co-wrote songs for Clean Bandit (Real Love), Rudimental, Steve Angello, Felix Jaehn, Joel Corry, Digital Farm Animals, Ella Henderson, and David Guetta
May 21, 1981 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist Seja Vogel born in Kassel, West Germany ~ Influenced by the Cars, Devo, Kraftwerk. Member of Sekiden alongside guitarist, singer Simon Graydon and her brother drummer Mirko Vogel, known for the albums Junior Fiction and Sound Instincts. Touring member for Regurgitator, also appearing on the band's 2007 Love And Paranoia album. Vogel has also backed artists such as Sarah Blasko, Goldfrapp, Warpaint, and released her We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares solo debut album in 2010
May 21, 1975 ~ Pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Marit Bergman, full name Liv-Marit Bergman, born in Ratvik, Sweden ~ Member of 1990s band Candysuck. Rose to fame with her 2002 3:00 AM Serenades solo debut album and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial succes since. Drew comparisons to noted producer Phil Spector for her grand arrangements
May 21, 1974 ~ Drummer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist Adriano Cintra born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Guitarist, singer for power rock trio Thee Butcher's Orchestra. Member of I Love Miami. Engineered Tom Zé's 1998 Com Defeito De Fabricação. Best known perhaps as co-founding member, drummer, bassist, guitarist, singer for Cansei de Ser Sexy, remaining with the band from 2003 through 2011 and appearing on most of the band's best known including the hit single Music Is My Hot Hot Sex
May 21, 1974 ~ Kejuan Waliek Muchita, commonly known as MC, rapper, producer Havoc, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Half of hip-hop duo Mobb Deep, the other half being rapper, producer Prodigy, known as main progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip-hop and one of the most successful rap duos in history. Well known songs include Shook Ones (Part II), Survival Of The Fittest and Hell On Earth (Front Lines). Havoc released his full-length The Kush solo debut album in 2007
May 21, 1972 ~ Christopher George Latore Wallace, commonly known as rapper the Notorious BIG, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Considered one of the most important and influential rappers of all-time. Best known for songs such as Juicy and Big Poppa. Married to R&B singer Faith Evans ~ Wallace passed away in 1997
May 21, 1965 ~ Flamenco singer Antonio Carmona, full name Antonio Carmona Amaya, born in Granada, Spain ~ Member of revered flamenco-fusion outfit Ketama, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums until its disbandement in 2004. The band is criticized by purists while praised by others for bringing the genre to a wider audience by fusing traditional flamenco with salsa, reggae, funk, jazz, and other idioms. Best known for the 1987 album La Pipa De Kif, which brought the band their international breakthrough, and for 2002's Dame La Mano, which incorporated elements from hip-hop and house. The band is also especially acclaimed for Songhai and Songhai 2, two collaborative albums with Malinese kora player Toumani Diabaté released respectively in 1988 and 1994
May 21, 1964 ~ Singer, pianist, guitarist Rachelle Ferrell born in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Sang backup for Lou Rawls, Vanessa Williams, Patti Labelle, and for George Duke. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Something Else in 1990. Worked with Tyrone Brown, Eddie Green, Doug Nally, Terence Blanchard, Gil Goldstein, Michel Petrucciani, Kenny Davis, Stanley Clarke, Wayne Shorter, Pete Levin, and others
May 21, 1955 ~ Paul Reginald Nelson, commonly known as punk, new wave, rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer Paul Hyde, born in Yorkshire, UK ~ Formed late-1970s punk, ska and reggae-influenced outfit the Payolas with Bob Rock, known best for their 1982 No Stranger To Danger single. Co-wrote and performed on the 1985 the Northern Lights charity single Tears Are Not Enough. Hyde has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Turtle Island released in 1989
May 21, 1955 ~ Drummer, guitarist, songwriter Stan Lynch, full name Stanley Joseph Lynch, born in Gainesville, Florida, USA ~ Best known as member of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, backing Petty from 1976 until leaving the band in 1994. In-demand session musician for artists including Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Belinda Carlisle, Bob Dylan, the Eagles, Eurythmics, Aretha Franklin, Don Henley, Freedy Johnston, Jim Lauderdale, the Mavericks, John Mellencamp, Roger McGuinn, Stevie Nicks, Rank & File, Toto, and Warren Zevon
May 21, 1954 ~ No wave, free jazz, rock, classical, avant garde guitarist Marc Ribot born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Actively recording as an eclectic and acclaimed solo artist since the early-1990s, with over two dozen albums to his name. Ribot is also especially known for his collaborations with Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and John Zorn. Other notable associations include Bar Kokhba, Electric Masada, the Jazz Passengers, the Lounge Lizards, the Young Philadelphians, Noël Akchoté, Trey Anastasio, Laurie Anderson, the Ambitious Lovers, Cyro Baptista, Alain Bashung, the Black Keys, T-Bone Burnett, Vinicio Capossela, Shemekia Copeland, Beth Orton, Norah Jones, Mory Kanté, David Linx, and Maria McKee
May 21, 1951 ~ Cellist, singer, composer Arthur Russell, full name Charles Arthur Russell Jr, born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, USA ~ Eclectic musician known best for his work in New York's avant-garde and disco scenes. Collaborated with Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Peter Gordon, Talking Heads-singer David Byrne, Walter Gibbons, Larry Levan and Nicky Siano ~ Russell passed away in 1992
May 21, 1951 ~ José Maria Nunes Corrêa, commonly known as pop singer Zezinho Corrêa, born in Carauari, Brazil ~ Lead singer of Carrapicho, known for Tic Tic Tac lifted off their 1996 Festa De Boi Bumba album. The single would be an international hit, reaching top 10 in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. A remix by Frank Farian the following year also did well in Austria, Canada, Iceland, and be a hit in American clubs. Prior to his rise to fame with the band, Corrêa honed his skills as an actor and singer in musicals ~ Corrêa passed away in 2021
May 21, 1949 ~ Arnold Charles Ernest Hintjens, commonly known as singer, songwriter Arno, born in Ostend, Belgium ~ Known for his raspy voice. Rose to fame in the 1980s as frontman of TC Matic, one of the most important Belgian rock bands known for songs such as Oh La La La, Qua Pasa and Putain Putain. Debuted as a solo artist with the eponymous Arno album in 1986. Especially acclaimed for his Idiots Savant album, released in 1993. Sang the Dutch version of Randy Newman's You've Got A Friend In Me, retitled Je Bent Een Vriend Van Mij, for a Dutch-language version of Pixar's 1995 Toy Story animated film ~ Hintjens passed away in 2022
May 21, 1948 ~ Gerald Hugh Sayer, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Leo Sayer, born in Shoreham-by-Sea, UK ~ Member of late-1960s outfit the Terraplane Blues Band. Formed Patches with frequent collaborator Dave Courtney. As a solo artist enjoyed a string of 1970s, 1980s hits, his first seven singles all reaching the UK top 10, his 1977 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing and When I Need You the following year both also topping the Billboard Hot 100. Co-wrote Roger Daltrey's Giving It All Away and One Man Band as well as Cliff Richard's Dreamin'
May 21, 1944 ~ Marcia Blank, commonly known as pop singer Marcie Blane, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for her 1962 surprise hit, Bobby's Girl. Initially only recorded as a favor to a friend it would become a million-seller reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, What Does A Girl Do, would be her only other charting single and stall in the low 80s
May 21, 1943 ~ Rock, blues rock, folk rock, skiffle guitarist Hilton Valentine, full name Hilton Stewart Paterson Valentine, born in North Shields, UK ~ Original guitarist of the Animals, noted for his electric guitar intro on the band's 1964 signature song The House Of The Rising Sun. After the band disbanded in 1966 Valentine has recorded solo albums, joined in several Animals reunions and collaborated with former bandmates ~ Valentine passed away in 2021
May 21, 1943 ~ Singer Mike Ramsden, full name Michael John Ramsden, born in Totnes, UK ~ Member of vocal folk group Silkie, known for their 1965 single You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, originally by the Beatles, which cracked the American top 10. John Lennon produced the single, Paul McCartney played guitar and George Harrison tambourine
May 21, 1943 ~ Vincent Rodney Cheesman, commonly known as organist, pianist Vincent Crane born in Reading, UK ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Arthur Brown, including co-writing the 1968 hit Fire which reached top 10 across the globe including No.1 positions in the UK and Canada. The song was co-produced by the Who guitarist, singer Pete Townshend. Crane also co-founded Atomic Rooster, known for the songs Tomorrow Night and Devil's Answer. Has also worked with the Vincent Crane Combo, Rory Gallagher, Peter Green, Klaus Schulze, Dexys Midnight Runners, Katmandu, and others ~ Cheesman passed away in 1989
May 21, 1941 ~ Singer Ronald Isley born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Lead singer, founding member of R&B, soul, funk sibling outfit the Isley Brothers, known for songs such as Twist & Shout, This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You), It's Your Thing, and That Lady (Part 1). Ronald has also released a number of solo albums, starting with 2003's Here I Am with Burt Bacharach, and guested on recordings by R Kelly, Keith Sweat, Warren G, and Patti Labelle
May 21, 1940 ~ Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity, commonly known as singer Tony Sheridan, was born in Norwich, UK ~ Known for his early-1960s singles My Bonnie and Ain't She Sweet, both of which featured the Beatles, then relatively unknown, as Sheridan's backing band ~ McGinnity passed away in 2013
May 21, 1933 ~ Classical trumpeter, composer Maurice André born in Ales, France ~ Appeared on over 300 recordings. Rose to international prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with a series of baroque works on piccolo trumpet, also performin transciptions of works for oboe, flute, voice and string instruments. One of André's students, Guy Touvron, wrote the biography Maurice André (A Trumpet For Fame), published in 2003 ~ André passed away in 2012
May 21, 1930 ~ Jazz double bassist Tommy Bryant born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Brother of pianist Ray Bryant and singer, drummer Len Bryant. Worked with Billy Krechmer, Elmer Snowden, Jo Jones, Charlie Shavers, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Wilen, Benny Golson, Big Joe Turner, Coleman Hawkins, Mahalia Jackson, and others ~ Bryant passed away in 1982
May 21, 1926 ~ Jazz singer Janet Thurlow, full name Janet Lorraine Thurlow, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ First gained attention as a “song stylist” in the late-1940s with renowned New Orleans producer, songwriter Robert Bumps Blackwell's band, a group that also included the then-unknown Quincy Jones and Ray Charles. Invited by Lionel Hampton in 1950 to join his orchestra as a singer, making her recording debut on the 1951 I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me which reportedly made her the first white singer to front an all-Black big band. By 1953 Thurlow started her solo career, performing through the mid-1960s. Thurlow was also featured on the 1953 Charles Mingus recording Eclipse, a song about interracial romance. Thurlow herself married African-American trombonist Jimmy Cleveland earlier the same year ~ Thurlow passed away in 2022
May 21, 1921 ~ Label executive Henry Glover, full name Henry Bernard Glover, born in Hot Springs, Kansas, USA ~ Gained eminence in the late-1940s to become one of the music industry's most successful black executives. Producer, arranger, songwriter, engineer, trumpeter, talen scout, A&R executive. Closely associated with the King label, playing a pivotal role in its development. Also worked for Roulette and RCO Productions labels. Worked with a host of artists from country, R&B, pop, rock and jazz, including the Delmore Brothers (co-wrote Blues Stay Away From Me), Ronnie Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, Moon Mullican, Grandpa Jones, the York Brothers, Bull Moose Jackson, Tiny Bradshaw, Bill Doggett, Wynonie Harris, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, Little Willie John, James Brown, Swallows, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Sonny Stitt, Ronnie Hawkins, Joey Dee & the Starliters (including co-writing their No.1 hit The Peppermint Twist (Part I)), Larry Dale, Titus Turner, Paul Butterfield, Garth Hudson, and others ~ Glover passed away in 1991
May 21, 1920 ~ Swing, jazz tubist Bill Barber, full name John William Barber, born in Hornell, New York, USA ~ Worked with the Kansas City Philharmonic and various ballet and theatre orchestras prior to a stint in the US Army, playing in Patton's 7th army band during World War II. Would spent the 1950s throughout the mid-1960s playing jazz. Best known for his association with Miles Davis, appearing on albums such as Birth Of The Cool, Porgy & Bess, and Sketches Of Spain. Other notable credits include Urbie Green, Bob Brookmeyer, Slide Hampton, John Coltrane (Africa/Brass), and Gil Evans. Barber would semi-retire from music to work as an elementary school teacher, yet continued to record from time to time ~ Barber passed away in 2007
May 21, 1916 ~ Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty, commonly known as singer, comedian, radio and TV personality Dennis Day, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his radio sitcom A Day In The Life Of Dennis Day, running on NBC from 1946 through 1951. The show revolved around a fictional character, Dennis Day, open and close with a song by Day and feature one in the middle ~ McNulty passed away in 1988
May 21, 1904 ~ Thomas Wright Waller, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter Fats Waller, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Innovative stride pianist quintessential to development of modern jazz. Reportedly once kidnapped to play at gangster Al Capone's birthday party. Fronted Fats Waller's Rhythm. Wrote over 400 songs, many with lyricist Andy Razaff, including Ain't Misbehaving and Honeysuckle Rose ~ Waller passed away in 1943
May 21, 1901 ~ Bandleader, pianist Horace Heidt born in Alameda, California, USA ~ Popular bandleader during the 1930s and 1940s touring the vaudeville circuit and a regular appearance on radio and TV. Known for hits such as Gone With The Wind, Sweet Someone, The Man With The Mandolin, I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire and Deep In The Heart Of Texas ~ Heidt passed away in 1986