November 2, 1977 ~ Drummer Deantoni Parks born in Newnan, Georgia, USA ~ Briefly a member of progressive rock outfit the Mars Volta, touring with the band for a couple of months in 2006 before being replaced by Thomas Pridgen. Member of Bosnian Rainbows. Co-founding member of KUDU. Well over half a dozen albums as a solo artist. Collaborated with the likes of John Cale, Meshell Ndegeocello, Juan Alderete, and extensively with Omar Rodríguez-López
November 2, 1975 ~ Indie rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Chris Walla, full name Christopher Ryan Walla, born in Bothell, Washington, USA ~ Member of Death Cab For Cutie. Wrote or co-wrote many of the band's best-known including Title And Registration and I Will Possess Your Heart. Also an in-demand producer and engineer, having worked on releases by the Velvet Teen, Nada Surf, Hot Hot Heat, David Cross, Rocky Votolato, the Postal Service, the Thermals, and others
November 2, 1974 ~ Alternative rock, synth-pop, electronic, post-rock guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Iain Cook, full name Iain Andrew Cook, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Member of Les Tenglies, going by the moniker Johnny Dymes. Co-founding member of post-rock outfit Aereogramme remaining with the band until its disbandement in 2007. Member of the Unwinding Hours. Perhaps best known as member of Chvrches, drawing from synth-pop, indietronica, indie pop and electronic dance scoring the modest UK hits The Mother We Share and Recover
November 2, 1974 ~ Cornell Ira Haynes Jr, commonly known as MC, rapper Nelly, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Debuted in 2000 with the album Country Grammar, spawning the hits Country Grammar and Ride Wit Me featuring City Spud. Would go on to score hits with Hot In Herre, Dilemma featuring Kelly Rowland, Shake Ya Tailfeather featuring P Diddy & Murphy Lee, Over And Over featuring Tim McGraw, Grillz featuring Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp, Just A Dream, and others. Has also worked with Jagged Edge, Brian McKnight, Fat Joe, Notorious BIG, Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Kane Brown, Justin Timberlake, Jaheim, Christina Aguilera, Akon, T-Pain, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, Jeremih, Florida Georgia Line, and others
November 2, 1967 ~ Jazz singer, songwriter Kurt Elling born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with David Amram, Randy Bachman, Bob Belden, Joanne Brackeen, Oscar Brown Jr, Billy Corgan, Robert Davis, George Freeman, Buddy Guy, Jon Hendricks, Charlie Hunter, Bob Mintzer, Brad Mehldau, Lee Ritenour, John Pizzarelli, Bob Sheppard, Branford Marsalis, Laurence Hobgood, the Manhattan Transfer, the Yellowjackets, Till Brönner, Harold Mabern, and others
November 2, 1965 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Andrew d'Angelo born in Greeley, Colorado, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Actively recording since the late 1980s. Closely associated with Chris Speed and Kurt Rosenwinkel, notably in the trio Human Feel. Member of the Either/Orchestra in the 1990s. Has also collaborated with Erik Friedlander, Hilmar Jensson, Agogic, Tim Berne, Wadada Leo Smith, Jamie Saft, Tom Rainey, Orange Then Blue, Bobby Previte, and Ken Schaphorst
November 2, 1963 ~ Robert Harry Kuykendall, commonly known as bassist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Bobby Dall, born in Florida, USA ~ Founding member of Poison, best known for their 1988 hit Every Rose Has Its Thorn
November 2, 1963 ~ Keyboardist, pianist Jens Johansson born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Influenced by Don Airey, Eddie Jobson, Jon Lord. Member of Yngwie Malmsteen's backing unit Rising Force. Also worked with Dio, Jonas Hellborg, Ginger Baker, the Johansson Brothers, Shawn Lane, Mike Stern, Allan Holdsworth, Stratovarius, Rainbow, and others
November 2, 1962 ~ Guitarist, composer Richard Durrant born ~ Worked with the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hanover Orchestra, the BBC Midlands Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbie Flowers, Nick Pynn, Howard Beach, and others
November 2, 1962 ~ Heavy metal bassist, singer Ron McGovney born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as original bassist of Metallica, staying with the band until late 1982. Has also worked with Leather Charm and Phantasm
November 2, 1961 ~ Kathryn Dawn Lang, commonly known as pop, country, alternative country singer, guitarist, songwriter kd Lang, born in Consort, Canada ~ Known for her activism in areas such as gay rights, human rights, animal rights. Revered by peers. Critics' darling. Dedicated fanbase. Known for songs such as Constant Craving, Miss Chatelaine and Lifted By Love. Has collaborated with Roy Orbison, Tony Bennett, Elton John, the Reclines, Neko Case, Laura Veirs, the Killers, Anne Murray, Ann Wilson, Jane Siberry, Madeleine Peyroux, and others
November 2, 1959 ~ Panagiotis Sfakianakis, commonly known as folk, pop-rock singer Notis Sfakianakis, born in Herakleion, Greece ~ One of the all-time commercially most successful Greek artists. Known for songs such as Opa Opa, Soma Mou, Na Hareis, and perhaps his best known O Aetos
November 2, 1958 ~ Anthony Alphanso Waldron, commonly known as reggae DJ the Lone Ranger, born ~ Initially worked as duo with Welton Irie. As a solo artist seen as a huge influence on British deejays of the 1980s. Best known for his hit Love Bump and his album Barnabas Collins
November 2, 1957 ~ Drummer Carter Beauford, full name Carter Anthony Beauford, born in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA ~ Member of jazz fusion outfit the Secrets. Subsequently rose to fame as co-founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, known especially for their first three albums Under The Table And Dreaming, Crash and Before These Crowded Streets. The band has established themselves as a popular live act, releasing over 80 live albums, with a devout following. Beauford has also guested on recordings by Vertical Horizon, Carlos Santana, Blues Traveler frontman John Popper, Béla Fleck, and others
November 2, 1957 ~ Clarinetist, saxophonist Gebhard Ullmann born in Bad Godesberg, Germany ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Out To Lunch, Niko Schäuble, Trilok Gurtu, Steve Argüelles, Phil Haynes, Ellery Eskelin, Drew Gress, Steve Swell, John Hebert, Paul Bley, Keith Tippett, Frank Gratkowski, Herb Robertson, Bobby Previte, Lauren Newton, Sylvie Courvoisier, Willem Breuker, Steve Swell, Rita Marcotulli, Tom Rainey, Ivo Papazov, Frank Mobus, and others
November 2, 1956 ~ Producer, songwriter Eric van Tijn born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Half of Fluitsma & Van Tijn, the other half being Jochem Fluitsma. Usually working behind the scenes, producing and writing for others the duo became a household name in 1996 when they recorded 15 Miljoen Mensen, initially for a Postbank advertisement. The song jumped to the top of the charts and has been a staple of Dutch popmusic since. As producer, songwriter duo the pair have worked with de Kast, the Dolly Dots, Mai Tai, Richenel, the Scene, Linda Roos & Jessica, Guus Meeuwis, Vagant, Lois Lane, Willeke Alberti, Mathilde Santing, Henk Westbroek, Caught In The Act, de Jazzpolitie, 4 Fun, Hind, Status Quo, and others. The pair wrote the Dutch entry for Eurovision Songfestival twice, Edsilia Rombley's Hemel & Aarde in 1998, ranking 6th overall, and Ruth Jacott's Vrede in 1993, which came in 4th place
November 2, 1956 ~ Pianist Frank Kimbrough born in Roxboro, North Carolina, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Thelonious Monk, Vince Guaraldi, Keith Jarrett, Cecil Taylor. Actively recording since the mid-1980s. Collaborated with Ben Wolfe, the Herbie Nichols Project, Joe Locke, Rufus Reid, the Jazz Composers Collective, Paul Motian, and others ~ Kimbrough passed away in 2020
November 2, 1954 ~ Composer, actor Gary Yershon, full name Gary Bernard Stewart Yershon, born in London, UK ~ Best known as a film composer. Credits include films such as Happy-go-lucky, Another Year, Peterloo and perhaps most notably 2014's Mr Turner, the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score
November 2, 1954 ~ Gospel, urban contemporary gospel singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Harvey Watkins Jr born in Canton, Mississippi, USA ~ Lead singer of the Canton Spirituals, founded by his father Harvey Watkins Sr. Debuted as a solo artist with the album He's There All The Time, in 1990
November 2, 1953 ~ Free jazz, post-bop saxophonist, percussionist Ernest Dawkins, full name Ernest Khabeer Dawkins, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Edward Wilkerson Jr, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Douglas Ewart, the New Horizons Ensemble, and others
November 2, 1952 ~ R&B, soul singer Maxine Nightingale born in Wembley, UK ~ Known for mid to late 1970s songs such as Right Back Where We Started From, Love Hit Me and Lead Me On
November 2, 1949 ~ Singer Frankie Miller, full name Francis John Miller, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Best known for his 1977 album Full House. Revered songwriter who had his songs recorded by the Bellamy Brothers, Betty Wright (Shoorah Shoorah), Hanne Boel, Johnny Cash, Lulu, Three Dog Night (Play Something Sweet), Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, Kim Carnes, Waylon Jennings, Bob Seger, Bonnie Tyler, Roy Orbison, Etta James, Joe Cocker, Joe Walsh, Clint Black, and others
November 2, 1948 ~ Pianist, singer Screamin' Scott Simon born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known as keyboardist of Sha Na Na since 1970. Also worked on the film version of John Travolta's Sandy as used in the Grease film
November 2, 1947 ~ Bassist Dave Pegg born in Birmingham, UK ~ Longest-serving member of folk rock band Fairport Convention, joining the band in 1969 as replacement for Ashley Hutchings. First appeared on the 1970 Full House album. Has also worked with Jethro Tull, initially temporarily replacing the then-ailing John Glascock on their Stormwatch tour and officially joining the band after Glascock's death
November 2, 1946 ~ Bassist, singer Len Chip Hawkes born in London, UK ~ Bassist, co-lead singer of the Tremeloes from 1966 replacing Alan Howard through 1973, rejoining in 1979. Co-wrote the 1970 hit Silence Is Golden, which reached top 10 in the band's native UK
November 2, 1945 ~ John David Souther, commonly known as rock, country, country-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter JD Souther, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known for co-writing several hits for the Eagles, including The Best Of My Love, New Kid In Town, Victim Of Love and Heartache Tonight. Others who have recorded his songs include Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt (Faithless Love), Nicolette Larson, Kenny Rogers, and Don Henley. Souther was also a member of Longbranch Pennywhistle, Souther Hillman Furay Band, and recorded as a solo artist, notably You're Only Lonely and Her Town Too, the latter a duet with longtime friend James Taylor
November 2, 1944 ~ Keyboardist Keith Emerson, full name Keith Noel Emerson, born in Todmorden, UK ~ Considered one of the most important British rock keyboardists and a key figure in progressive rock. First gained attention in the late 1960s as co-founding member of the Nice, blending rock, jazz and classical music. Departed the band in 1970 to form Emerson Lake & Palmer, one of the first progressive rock supergroups. The band is best known for the pivotal Emerson Lake & Palmer 1970 debut album and Brain Salad Surgery released in 1973. Following the band's initial disbandement by the end of the decade Emerson has recorded as a solo artist and composed over half a dozen soundtracks, notably Nighthawks released in 1981 ~ Emerson passed away in 2016
November 2, 1942 ~ Virginia Mazarro, commonly known as pop, country pop singer, songwriter Ginny Arnell, born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Was paired with a then-unknown Gene Pitney in the late 1950s while both were still in their teens, the duo performing and recording under the moniker Jamie & Jane. The duo's sole two singles, Snuggle Up Baby and Faithful Our Love, both co-written by Pitney and Mazarro would fail to chart. Both artists would venture out onto solo careers, Mazarro reaching only modest success despite some of her songs, notably I Wish I Knew What Dress To Wear, critically described as classic melodrama of the teen girl genre. Arnell retired from music by the mid-1960s to marry and raise a family
November 2, 1942 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Jimmy Bilsbury, full name James Robert Bilsbury, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing the Boney M hit Belfast with Drafi Deutscher and Joe Menke. Member of the Magic Lanterns. Co-founding member of the Les Humphries Singers, present on the band's 1976 Eurovision Songfestival entry Sing Sang Song, generally considered one of the all-time worst Eurovision songs ~ Bilsbury passed awy in 2003
November 2, 1942 ~ Operatic soprano Ruth Falcon born ~ Debuted with the New Orleans Opera in 1968 playing the role of Frasquita in Carmen. Would go on to work with the New Orleans Opera, the New York City Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opera, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Teatro Colón, the Opera De Monte Carlo, and others ~ Falcon passed away in 2020
November 2, 1941 ~ Bruce Cripps, commonly known as guitarist Bruce Welch born in Bognor Regis, UK ~ School friend of Hank Marvin, with whom he would regularly collaborate. Best known as co-founding member of the Shadows, backing band for Cliff Richard. Wrote or co-wrote several of Richard's biggest hits, perhaps most notably Summer Holiday. In-demand producer and songwriter, including for his once-fiancée Olivia Newton-John who would reach top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic with Please Mr Please, previously recorded by Welch himself
November 2, 1940 ~ Singer, guitarist Hugo Raspoet born in Ganshoren, Belgium ~ Best known for his signature song Helena (1970) and for Evviva Il Papa (1969), the latter banned from radio for criticizing the Pope. A radio DJ, Johan Anthierens, protesting the ban would be fired for reading the lyrics on-air ~ Raspoet passed away in 2018
November 2, 1938 ~ David Blatt, commonly known as rock & roll, pop singer Jay Black born in New York, New York, USA ~ Lead singer of Jay & the Americans, with whom he scored about a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits during the latter half of the 1960s. She Cried, Come A Little Bit Closer, Cara Mia, and This Magic Moment would all reach top 10 ~ Blatt passed away in 2021
November 2, 1937 ~ Doo-wop, R&B singer Earl Speedo Carroll born ~ Fronted the Cadillacs, best known for the 1955 doo-wop classic Speedoo which gave Carroll his nickname. Joined the Coasters in 1961, leaving the group in the 1980s to reform the Cadillacs ~ Carroll was born in 2012
November 2, 1936 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songwriter Max Crook, full name Maxfield Doyle Crook, born in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA ~ Best known for his association with Del Shannon, co-writing several of Shannon's hits and notably present on the 1961 Runaway single ~ Crook passed away in 2020
November 2, 1935 ~ Guitarist, guitar teacher Barry Olivier born ~ Part of the Berkeley folk scene from the 1950s onward. Best known as founder and director of the Berkeley Folk Music Festival, an annual event that ran from 1958 through 1970. Over the years artists performing at the event would include Alan Lomax, Doc Watson, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Mance Lipscomb. Olivier has also worked as a guitar teacher and is reported to have given John Fogerty, who would later rise to fame as frontman of rock outfit Creedence Clearwater Revival, his first guitar lessons ~ Olivier passed away in 2023
November 2, 1931 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer Phil Woods, full name Philip Wells Woods, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Benny Goodman, Billy Joel (alto sax solo on Just The Way You Are), Steely Dan, Paul Simon, Franco Ambrosetti, Manny Albam, Benny Bailey, Louie Bellson, Gene Krupa, Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Burrell, Gary Burton, Benny Carter, Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Gil Evans, Stéphane Grappelli, Milt Jackson, Michel Legrand, Herbie Mann, Thelonious Monk, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Oliver Nelson, Pony Poindexter, Sahib Shihab, Jimmy Smith, George Wallington, and others ~ Woods passed away in 2015
November 2, 1928 ~ Jazz saxophonist Herb Geller, full name Herbert Arnold Geller, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Veteran of the 1950s Los Angeles jazz scene, with over two dozen albums to his name as a leader recording well into the 2000s. Especially acclaimed for 1955's Outpost Incident and 1993's The Herb Geller Quartet. In-demand sideman, present on quintessential albums by Shorty Rogers, Clifford Brown, Dinah Washington (Dinah Jams), Bill Holman, Maynard Ferguson, the Lighthouse All-Stars, Larance Marable (Tenorman), Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, Anita O'Day, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Marty Paich, Lena Horne (Stormy Weather), Chet Baker, Ray Brown (Bass Hit), Jeri Southern, Bill Holman, Benny Goodman, Art Pepper (Plus Eleven), and Buddy DeFranco ~ Geller passed away in 2013
November 2, 1924 ~ Recording engineer Rudy van Gelder, full name Rudolph van Gelder born in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA ~ Revered recording engineer. Worked with just about anyone in jazz including on key albums such as A Love Supreme (John Coltrane), Walkin' (Miles Davis), Saxophone Colossus (Sonny Rollins), and Song For My Father (Horace Silver). Also recorded sessions with Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Grant Green, and numerous others ~ Van Gelder passed away in 2016
November 2, 1921 ~ Singer Pearl Carr, full name Pearl Lavinia Carr, born in Exmouth, UK ~ Formed a duo with her husband Teddy Johnson. Prior to their marriage in 1955 both had been successful solo performers, but teamed up they would enjoy their greatest success as regular performers on stage and in a variety of British TV shows throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Internationally the couple are best known for representing their native UK at the 1959 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching second place with Sing Little Birdie. Later Johnson commented that upon winning the national finals, they had never heard of the international contest and had no idea they were going to have to represent their country: “We had no idea whatsoever. They gave us the dates for Cannes and I just hoped we had them available. As it happened, we did.” ~ Carr passed away in 2020
November 2, 1915 ~ Armenuhi Manoogian, commonly known as singer Kay Armen, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity mostly during the 1940s and 1950s. Appeared in the 1955 musical film Hit The Deck. As a singer known best for songs such as Be Good To Yourself, My Love And I and It's A Sin To Cry Over You ~ Manoogian passed away in 2011
November 2, 1913 ~ Big band singer, saxophonist, drummer Harry Babbitt born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Joined the orchestra of Kay Kyser in 1936. Sang lead on hits such as Three Little Fishies, Slow Boat To China, Jingle Jangle Jingle and The White Cliffs Of Dover. Featured in a number of Kyser films. Also sang on the 1948 Spike Jones novelty hit All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth ~ Babbitt passed away in 2004
November 2, 1911 ~ Juan Manuel Cascales, commonly known as arranger, bandleader Johnny Richards, born in Tolua, Mexico ~ Brother of saxophonist, bandleader Chuck Cabot. Pivotal arranger especially known for his association with Stan Kenton (in particular Cuban Fire, and Kenton's West Side Story). Richards also worked with Charlie Barnet, Hugo Loewenstern and Harry James and released several albums as a bandleader ~ Cascales passed away in 1968
November 2, 1909 ~ Professional whistler Fred Lowery born ~ Blind professional whistler best known for his 1939 version of Indian Love Call, which sold 2 million copies, and the 1954 hit High & Mighty with conductor Leroy Holmes, which peaked at No.9 Billboard. Lowery performed with Horace Heidt and Vincent Lopez in the 1930s and 1940s. Over the course of his career Lowery whistled at Carnegie Hall and at the White House. ~ Lowery passed away in 1984
November 2, 1899 ~ Film, television, stage actor, singer Walter Woolf King born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Started singing professionally at a young age, performing initially mostly in churches. Would become a popular baritone in stage musicals and operettas from the late 1910 onwards, eventually moving to a career in film. Probably best remembered for appearing in supporting roles, notably playing the villain in the Marx Brothers movies A Night At The Opera and Go West ~ King passed away in 1984