May 23, 1991 ~ Bluegrass, country folk, folk singer, guitarist, banjoist, songwriter Sarah Jarosz born in Texas, USA ~ Released her Song Up In Your Head album in 2009, earning a Grammy Award nomination for the song Mansinneedof. The album featured guests such as Chris Thile, Darrell Scott, Stuart Duncan and Jerry Douglas
May 23, 1986 ~ Saxophonist, keyboardist, guitarist, singer Andrew Beck born ~ Early member of Imagine Dragons. Lead singer of psychedelic rock band Day Sounds
May 23, 1974 ~ Jewel Kilcher, mononymously known as folk pop, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jewel, born in Payson, Utah, USA ~ Released her Pieces Of You debut album in 1995. It would spawn the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits You Were Meant For Me and Foolish Games and become one of the all-time best-selling debut albums. Jewel would continue to record to critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase, venture into acting, and write poetry, short stories, essays, two children's books and her memoir
May 23, 1973 ~ Gerald Maxwell Rivera, mononymously known as neo soul singer, songwriter Maxwell, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Along with d'Angelo and Erykah Badu one of the originators of neo soul. Released his Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite debut album in 1996, the first of four consecutive Platinum-selling albums. Known for songs such as Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder), Fortunate, Lifetime, Pretty Wings and Bad Habits
May 23, 1973 ~ Jazz pianist Nikki Yeoh born in London, UK ~ Member of trio Infinitum, the other two parts being Mark Mondesir and Michael Mondesir. Also worked with Courtney Pine, the Allstars Collective, Cleveland Watkiss, Steve Williamson, Chanté Moore, the Roots, Joanna MacGregor, Neneh Cherry, and others
May 23, 1972 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Lorenzo Smith born in Havana, Florida, USA ~ Known for a number a 1990s album, notably his 1992 Lorenzo sophomore album which included the moderate hits Make Love 2 Me, I Can't Stand The Pain and perhaps his best known Real Love
May 23, 1970 ~ Matthew Flynn, commonly known as drummer Matt Flynn, born in Woodstock, New York, USA ~ Replaced original Maroon 5 drummer Ryan Dusick in 2006, the latter sustaining serious shoulder and wrist injuries from constant touring. Flynn had previously worked with the B52's, Chicago, Gavin Degraw and Gandhi
May 23, 1968 ~ Keyboardist, percussionist Ben Stivers born in Indiana, USA ~ In-demand session and touring musician. Worked with Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Exposé, Jon Secada, Julio Iglesias, Emilio Estefan, Dan Warner, Matchbox Twenty, Lyle Lovett, Barry Gibb, Scott Sharrard, Tony Scherr, James Maddock, Dana Fuchs, Erik Blicker, Jason Darling, and Chris Botti
May 23, 1967 ~ Alternative rock drummer, singer, songwriter Philip Selway, full name Philip James Selway, born in Abingdon, UK ~ Member of Radiohead, known for quintessential alternative rock songs such as Creep, Street Spirit (Fade Out), Paranoid Android, Karma Police, No Surprises, The Pyramid Song, and There There. Selway has also recorded as a solo artist starting with 2010's Familial album. Has also worked with Neil Finn's 7 Worlds Collide, the Samaritans, the Weird Sisters, and others
May 23, 1967 ~ Singer, songwriter Tarsame Singh Saini, also known as Johnny Zee and Taz, was born in Coventry, UK ~ British-born of Indian descent, Saini is considered a pioneer of cross-cultural Asian fusion music. Has released a number of solo albums, starting with Hit The Deck in 1989, prior to forming and fronting Stereo Nation. The band is best known for their 2000 Slave II Fusion album, Saini's most successful album, containing well known tracks such as Pyar Ho Gaya, Nachenge Saari Raat, Gallan Gorian, and Let's Go Dancing (Ooh La La La), the latter a cover of the Kool & the Gang classic ~ Saini passed away in 2022
May 23, 1965 ~ Jazz, bossa nova singer Ithamara Koorax born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Classically trained. Influenced by Elizete Cardoso, Elis Regina, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Flora Purim. Some two dozen albums to her name starting with 1993's Luiza. Worked with the Brazil All-Stars, Art Farmer, Jack DeJohnette, Luiz Bonfá, Juarez Moreira, and others
May 23, 1958 ~ Comedian, actress, singer Lea DeLaria born in Belleville, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as comedian and actress, notably for her role in Netflix-series Orange Is The New Black as inmate Carrie Black. Credited with being the first openly gay comic to appear on American television with her 1993 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show. Has recorded a number of albums as a jazz singer starting with 2001's Play It Cool album
May 23, 1958 ~ Country, country pop singer Shelly West born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Daughter of renowned singer Dottie West, with whom she also toured. Best known for a string of hits in 1980s, both as a solo artist with songs such as José Cuervo, Flight 309 To Tennessee and Another Motel Memory, as well as duetting with David Frizzell on You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma, Another Honky-Tonk Night On Broadway and I Just Came Here To Dance. Mostly retired from music following her mother's death in 1991
May 23, 1956 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Claytoven Richardson born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Worked in various roles with artists such as Lave Love, Summers Heat, Narada Michael Walden, George Benson (backing vocals on Kisses In The Moonlight), Kenny G, Tevin Campbell, Michael Bolton, Elton John, Peabo Bryson, New Kids On The Block, Ricky Martin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Céline Dion, the Dazz Band, the Whispers, Tiggi Clay, Fizzy Qwik, Regina Belle, Clarence Clemons, Barbra Streisand, Lou Rawls, Eddie Murphy, Lisa Fischer, Shanice, Stephanie Mills, Al Jarreau, Taylor Dayne, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, Al Green, Grover Washington Jr, Curtis Mayfield, Puff Johnson, Gary Barlow, Steve Winwood, Kenny Loggins, Michelle Gayle, Patti Austin, Marc Anthony, Lara Fabian, Lionel Richie, Angela Strehl, Charlie Wilson, Boz Scaggs, Sammy Hagar, and others
May 23, 1956 ~ Jazz bassist, songwriter Steve Kirby born in Maumee Valley, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Wes Anderson, Kenny Barron, Kathleen Battle, Joanne Brackeen, Regina Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Wycliffe Gordon, Benny Green, Terreon Gully, Slide Hampton, Winard Harper, Stefon Harris, Antonio Hart, Eddie Henderson, John Hicks, Elvin Jones, Geoffrey Keezer, Oliver Lake, Abbey Lincoln, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Mulgrew Miller, Claudio Roditi, Wallace Roney, Jacky Terrasson, Steve Turre, Warren Wolf, Miguel Zenón, and others
May 23, 1955 ~ Kevin Barry Moore, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Luka Bloom, born in Newbridge, Ireland ~ Brother of Planxty-frontman Christy Moore. Active since the late-1970s, initially going by his real name Barry Moore. Chose his stage name for the Suzanne Vega-song Luka and added Bloom from the main character in James Joyce's Ulysses novel.
May 23, 1953 ~ Guido August Constancia Versmissen, commonly known as singer, songwriter Guido Belcanto, born in Turnhout, Belgium ~ Best known for songs such as Op Het Zeildoek Van De Botsauto's, Plastic Rozen Verwelken Niet, Vlammetjes and Toverdrank, the latter a translation of Summer Wine originally recorded by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
May 23, 1952 ~ Singer Anne-Marie David born in Arles, France ~ Internationally best known for winning the 1973 Eurovision Songfestival representing Luxembourg with the song Tu Te Reconnaîtras and for competing in the 1979 edition representing France with the song Je Suis L'Enfant Soleil, reaching 9th place
May 23, 1951 ~ Judy Mae Robbins, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Judy Rodman, born in Riverside, California, USA ~ Enjoyed country chart succes in the 1980s, notably with Until I Met You. Once roommate of Janie Fricke. Co-wrote LeAnn Rimes' One-Way Ticket Because I Can with Keith Hinton
May 23, 1950 ~ Guitarist Daíthí Sproule born in Derry, Northern Ireland ~ Renowned solo guitarist drawing from traditional Irish music and influenced by Bob Dylan, Bert Jansch, the Beatles, British and Irish folk. Member of supergroup Altan. In-demand collaborator has worked with Laura Mackenzie, Tara Bingham, Randal Bays, Tommy Peoples, Manus McGuire, Paddy O'Brien, the Chieftains, Sean O'Driscoll, Peter Ostroushko, and others
May 23, 1950 ~ Richard L Shurman, commonly known as blues, R&B producer, engineer, music journalist Dick Shurman born in Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA ~ Has worked on recordings for Johnny Winter, Lurrie Bell, Albert Collins, Roy Buchanan, Big Bill Morganfield, Larry Garner, Robert Cray, Hip Linkchain, Magic Slim, Charlie Musselwhite, Otis Rush, Fenton Robinson, and others
May 23, 1947 ~ Composer, conductor, producer Dick Bakker born in Blaricum, the Netherlands ~ Conducted het Metropole Orkest from 1991 through 2005. Co-wrote Teach-In's Ding-a-dong, winner of the 1975 Eurovision Songfestival contest. Also worked as an engineer and arranger on Shocking Blue's Venus and on the George Baker Selection's Paloma Blanca
May 23, 1947 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Richard Beirach born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Frequent collaborator of Dave Liebman since the late-1960s. Has also worked with artists such as Frank Tua, Terumasa Hino, Masahiko Togashi, George Mraz, Jack DeJohnette, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, George Coleman, Andy Laverne, Billy Hart, George Adams, John Abercrombie, Chet Baker, Jeremy Steig, and others
May 23, 1945 ~ Country keyboardist, singer Misty Morgan born ~ Formed a husband-wife country duo with her husband Jack Blanchard, actively recording since the late-1960s. The duo is best known for their 1970 Billboard Country No.1 hit Tennessee Bird Walk. Other well known songs include Humphrey The Camel, Somewhere In Virginia In The Rain and Just One More Song ~ Morgan passed away in 2021
May 23, 1944 ~ Ramon Fulwood, commonly known as funk drummer Tiki Fulwood, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Closely associated with George Clinton, starting as a member of doo-wop outfit the Parliaments and remaining with Clinton through the early-1970s as a member of Funkadelic. Present on the albums Funkadelic, Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow, and Maggot Brain, before departing the band in 1971 following a dispute over payment. Fulwood has also played with Tyrone Davis, the Chairmen Of The Board, and briefly with Miles Davis before dying of stomach cancer at age 35 ~ Fulwood passed away in 1979
May 23, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer General Johnson, full name General Norman Johnson, born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Member of the Showmen, known for a number of 1960s hits such as It Will Stand, 39-21-46 and Our Love Will Grow. Fronted the Chairmen Of The Board, scoring hits with You've Got Me Dangling On A String, Everything's Tuesday and perhaps their best known Give Me Just A Little More Time. Johnson also wrote a number of well known 1970s songs including Patches recorded by Clarence Carter and by Jerry Reed, Bring The Boys Home recorded by Freda Payne and Want-Ads, Stick-up and One Monkey Don't Stop No Show recorded by Honey Cone ~ Johnson passed away in 2010
May 23, 1940 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Bjørn Johansen, full name Bjørn John Johansen, born in Fredrikstad, Norway ~ Considered one of the all-time most influential Norwegian saxophonists. Worked with Kjell Karlsen, Lars Sandsgaard, Karin Krog, Bernt Rosengren, George Gruntz, Frode Thingnæs, Egil Kapstad, Laila Dalseth, Bjørn Alterhaug, Carl Morten Iversen, and Cedar Walton ~ Johansen passed away in 2002
May 23, 1938 ~ Jazz drummer, painter Daniel Humair born in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Jean-Luc Ponty, Chet Baker, Michel Portal, Martial Solal, Dexter Gordon, Gerry Mulligan, Eric Dolphy, Ear Mix, René Urtreger, Kenny Barron, Franco Ambrosetti, Stéphane Grappelli, George Gruntz, the Swingle Singers, Barney Wilen, Flavio Ambrosetti, Jane Birkin, Art Farmer, Jim Hall, Roland Hanna, Bobby Jaspar, Eartha Kitt, Karin Krog, Joachim Kühn, Bud Powell, Henri Renaud, Joe Venuti, and others
May 23, 1934 ~ Engineer, inventor, electronic music pioneer Robert Moog, full name Robert Arthur Moog, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for co-inventing the Moog synthesizer with Herbert Deutsch in 1964. Moog pursued his work as a hobby, and is regarded as a poor businessman. Commentators have speculated that he would have become extremely wealthy had he patented his designs, his only patent being the synthesizers filter design, yet their availability in the public domain helped the synthesizer industry flourish. Moog did receive a number of honors though, notably receiving a Technical Grammy Award in 2002 and inclusion in the National Inventors Hall Of Fame in 2013 ~ Moog passed away in 2005
May 23, 1932 ~ Jazz guitarist, flutist Les Spann born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA ~ Started playing professionally in late-1950s assisting Phineas Newborn Jr, Ronnell Bright, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones. As a sideman Spann would appear on records by Nat Adderley, Benny Bailey, Bill Coleman, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Curtis Fuller, Red Garland, Benny Goodman, Sam Jones, Abbey Lincoln, Charles Mingus, Duke Pearson, Jerome Richardson, Charlie Shavers, Sonny Stitt, Randy Weston, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Bill Coleman, and Billy Taylor. Spann recorded one album, 1960's Gemini, as a leader ~ Spann passed away in 1989
May 23, 1928 ~ Singer, actress Rosemary Clooney born in Maysville, Kentucky, USA ~ Popular 1940s and 1950s traditional pop and jazz vocalist known for songs such as Come On-a My House, Half As Much, Botch-a-me, The Night Before Christmas Song, Hey There, This Ole House and Mangos ~ Clooney passed away in 2002
May 23, 1924 ~ Composer Gladys Nordenstrom, full nme Gladys Mercedes Nordenstrom, born in Mora, Minnesota, USA ~ Studied under composer Ernst Krenek, whom she would later marry. After Krenek's death in 1991 would become major promoter of her late husband's legacy, eventually founding the Ernst Krenek Institute ~ Nordenstrom passed away in 2016
May 23, 1922 ~ Producer, label executive Seymour Solomon born ~ Co-founded Vanguard Records with his brother Maynard Solomon, a label focusing initially on classical music yet soon also expanding their catalogue with folk, jazz and blues. Non-classical artists signed by the label include the Weavers, Joan Baez, the Rooftop Singers, Larry Coryell, Mississippi John Hurt, Charlie Musselwhite, Buddy Guy and Country Joe & the Fish ~ Solomon passed away in 2002
May 23, 1921 ~ Trumpeter, clarinetist Humphrey Lyttelton, full name Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton, born in Eton, UK ~ Pivotal figure in British jazz, first gaining attention in the mid-1950s with the crossover pop hit Bad Penny Blues. Would go on to become one of Britain's best known bandleaders, leading a variety of ensembles and helping launch the careers of numerous sidemen, notably Tony Coe and Alan Barnes. Lyttelton also recorded with visiting American jazz musicians including Al Casey, Buddy Tate, and Kenny Davern, and toured with Jimmy Rushing, Vic Dickenson, and Big Joe Turner. Lyttelton is also well known as a radio host, presenting the BBC Radio show The Best Of Jazz for some four decades, and as a cartoonist co-writing the Flook series in The Daily Mail ~ Lyttelton passed away in 2008
May 23, 1918 ~ Robert Alexander Blackwell, commonly known as producer, songwriter Robert Bumps Blackwell, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Pivotal to early rock & roll, R&B. Closely associated with Little Richard, working on songs such as Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, Good Golly Miss Molly, Ready Teddy and Rip It Up. Also worked with Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Ernestine Anderson, Lloyd Price, Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert, Larry Williams, Guitar Slim, and others ~ Blackwell passed away in 1985
May 23, 1910 ~ Swing, big band bandleader, saxophonist, clarinetist Artie Shaw, full name Arthur Jacob Arshawsky, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Widely seen as one of jazz's finest clarinetists. Widely popular from the late-1930s onwards. Led both big bands and smaller ensembles. Hired Billie Holiday as lead vocalist in 1938 and toured the segregated South. Has also worked with Lena Horne, Helen Forrest, Mel Tormé, Buddy Rich, Dave Tough, Barney Kessel, Jimmy Raney, Tal Farlow, Dodo Marmarosa, and Ray Conniff ~ Shaw passed away in 2004
May 23, 1908 ~ Composer, conductor Raymond Legrand born in Paris, France ~ Worked with Ray Ventura, Henri Bourtayre, Guy Dejardin, Irène de Trebert, Maurice Chevalier, Georges Guétary, Tino Rossi, Colette Renard, Francis Lemarque, Marcel Mouloudji, Edith Piaf, Henri Salvador, and others ~ Legrand passed away in 1974
May 23, 1904 ~ Elizabeth Lloyd Holzman, commonly known as actress, singer, civil rights activist Libby Holman, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Became known as “the premier torch singer of Broadway” for her performances starting in the mid-1920s. Best known for her signature song Moanin' Low from the 1929 revue The Little Show ~ Holzman passed away in 1971
May 23, 1902 ~ Pianist, bandleader Edgar Hayes, full name Edgar Junius Hayes, born in Lexington, Kentucky, USA ~ Led the Blue Grass Buddies, Eight Black Buddies, the Symphonic Harmonists from the mid-1920s forward. Closely associated with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, playing and arranging with the band from 1931 to 1936. Best known for his late-1930s recordings of Stardust and the original version of In The Mood, later popularized by Glenn Miller ~ Hayes passed away in 1979
May 23, 1902 ~ Cellist, conductor, teacher Hideo Saito born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Not to be confused with his namesake composer Hideo Saito born in 1958. First gained attention in the mid-1920s as principal cellist and soloist with the New Symphony Orchestra. Well known for co-founding the Music School for Children, Tokyo, in 1948 which evolved into the the Toho Gakuen School of Music, Tokyo, a four-year college for further musical education. Saito would serve as professor of the college and chairman its string and conducting departments. Saito has toured USA, Soviet Union, and Europe with the school's the Toho Children's Orchestra, and had been preparing the orchestra for another major tour shortly before his death ~ Saito passed away in 1974