November 30, 1987 ~ Pop rock, pop punk bassist Dougie Poynter, full name Dougie Lee Poynter, born in Corringham, UK ~ Bassist for McFly, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums starting with Room On The 3rd Floor released in 2003. Poynter has written a vast amount of the band's material including Transylvania, which would top the charts in the band's native UK. Poynter also co-wrote I Would recorded by 5 Seconds Of Summer and Don't Forget Where You Belong recorded by One Direction. Besides his musical endeavours Poynter co-authored the children's books The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas, which sold over 70,000 copies making it the most popular debut children's novel of 2012, the follow-up The Dinosaur That Pooped A Planet, and Plastic Sucks (How YOU Can Reduce Single Use Plastic And Save Our Planet)
November 30, 1984 ~ Pop rock, indie rock, alternative rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist Tim Myers born in Orange, California, USA ~ Member of OneRepublic from 2002 through 2007, appearing on the band's Dreaming Out Loud debut album. Following his stint with the band Myers has recorded as a solo artist, noted for the tracks Under Control and Lover My Love, but primarily became known as an in-demand songwriter and producer, collaborating with Aloe Blacc, Capital Cities, American Authors, Rooney, Ke$ha, Echosmith, Welshley Arms, Joy Williams, James Arthur, Phillip Phillips, Hailee Steinfeld, Michelle Branch, and Five For Fighting
November 30, 1982 ~ Andrea Fuentealba Valbak, commonly known as pop, dance, electropop singer, songwriter, actress Medina, born in Aarhus, Denmark ~ Active since the mid-2000s singing mainly in Danish, reaching some international succes with recordings in English. Broke through in her native Denmark with the 2009 Velkommen Til Medina album which included the Danish charttoppers Kun For Mig, Kun For Dig and the title track Velkommen Til Medina. Internationally best known for her 2010 Welcome To Medina album, its You And I single reaching top 40 in Austria, Switzerland and the UK and top 10 in Germany
November 30, 1982 ~ Christian metal, alternative metal, melodic metalcore guitarist Nick Hipa, full name Samuel Nicholas Hipa, born ~ Best known as member of As I Lay Dying from 2003 through 2014, rejoining in 2018. Member of Wovenwar. Guested on recordings by the Austrian Death Machine, Living Sacrifice, In Hearts Wake, Heaven Shall Burn
November 30, 1981 ~ Metalcore, post-hardcore singer Beau Bokan, full name Beau Mark Bokan, born in Huntington Beach, California, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of Take The Crown and Blessthefall, joining the latter in 2008 as replacement for Craig Mabbitt. Has guested on recordings by Greeley Estates, Atreyu, Lights
November 30, 1978 ~ Clayton Holmes Grissom, commonly known as pop, soft rock, R&B singer, TV personality Clay Aiken, born in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA ~ Finished as runner-up, behind Ruben Studdard, in the second season of American Idol in 2003. Aiken's Measure Of A Man debut album released later the same year would reach multiple-Platinum status, and spawn the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles The Way and Solitaire. Aiken has recorded consistently since, and appeared on the musical stage including Broadway. Aiken is also known as an activist, involved in various causes. In 2014 Aiken ran as the Democratic candidate in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Congresswoman Renee Elmers
November 30, 1977 ~ DJ, producer, singer Steve Aoki, full name Steve Hiroyuki Aoki, born in New York, New York, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for dance hits such as Light That Never Comes featuring Linkin Park, Just Hold On featuring Louis Tomlinson, All Night featuring Lauren Jauregui, Waste It On me featuring BTS and Let It Be Me featuring the Backstreet Boys. Has also worked with artists such as will.i.am, Afrojack, LMFAO, Iggy Azalea, Lil' Jon, Blink-182, Laidback Luke, Monsta X, Vini Vici, and Fall Out Boy
November 30, 1975 ~ Malinda Gayle McCready, commonly known as country singer Mindy McCready, born in Fort Myers, Florida, USA ~ Sometimes referred to as “the Amy Winehouse of Country” for the turmoil and struggles she encountered in her personal life. Recorded five well-received albums, before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound a month after her former boyfriend, father of her younger son, had done the same on the exact same porch just one month earlier. Best known for the Billboard Country No.1 hit Guys Do It All The Time off her 1996 Ten Thousand Angels debut album. Other well known songs include Ten Thousand Angels, Maybe He'll Notice Her Now with Richie McDonald, A Girl's Gotta Do What A Girl's Gotta Do, and You'll Never Know ~ McCready passed away in 2013
November 30, 1973 ~ Heavy metal bassist John Moyer born in El Paso, Texas, USA ~ Best known as bassist for the Disturbed, joining the band in 2004 as replacement for Steve Kmak and first appearing on the Ten Thousand Fists album released in 2005. Has also worked with supergroup the Adrenalin Mob from 2012 through 2014, with Stereo Satellite, Art of Anarchy and with Operation Mindcrime since 2015
November 30, 1970 ~ Singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter Luther Russell born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the Bootheels, teaming up with Jakob Dylan and Aaron Brooks. Released his solo debut, Lowdown World, in 1997. Worked as producer for artists including Richmond Fontaine, Fernando, Relationship, Noah & the Whale, the Folks, and the Horse Stories. Teamed up with former Big Star drummer Jody Stephens to form Those Pretty Wrongs in 2015
November 30, 1968 ~ Desiree Annette Weekes, commonly known as singer Des'ree, born in Croydon, UK ~ Known for 1990s hits such as You Gotta Be, Life, Kissing You and Feel So High
November 30, 1968 ~ Pianist, composer Sylvie Courvoisier born in Lausanne, Switzerland ~ Leader with over 25 records to her name. Also a sidewoman. Has worked with artists such as Mark Feldman, Kenny Wollesen, Drew Gress, Mephista, Ikue Mori, Susie Ibarra, Herb Robertson, Tim Berne, Tom Rainey, Mark Dresser, Vincent Courtois, Ellery Eskelin, John Zorn, Michel Godard, Erik Friedlander, Mark Nauseef, Jacques Demierre, Evan Parker, Herb Robertson, and others
November 30, 1965 ~ Singer, bassist, songwriter Tod Ashley born ~ Co-founding member of Cop Shoot Cop and Firewater. Previously while in art school played in Shithaus alongside Jon Spencer of later the Blues Explosion-fame. Has also worked with Lubricated Goat, Foetus, the Red Expendables, Skeleton Key, Baba Zula, and others
November 30, 1964 ~ Kevin Anthony Johnson, commonly known as reggae singer, songwriter, producer Sanchez, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Popular late-1980s singer. Known for songs such as Lady In Red, Loneliness Leave Me Alone, and the Tracy Chapman-cover Can I Hold You. Has worked with producers such as Red Dragon, Winston Riley and Philip Fatis Burrell
November 30, 1961 ~ Singer, songwriter Elisabeth Kontomanou born in Lyon, France ~ Worked with Conversation, Michel Legrand, Alain Jean-Marie, Jean Michel Pelc, Daryl Hall, Franck Amsallem, Toots Thielemans, Richard Bona, Stephane Belmondo, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Leon Parker, Geri Allen, and others
November 30, 1959 ~ Singer, drummer, guitarist, actor, TV personality Bart Peeters, full name Bart August Maria Peeters, born in Mortsel, Belgium ~ First gained attention as frontman of the Radios, known for songs such as I'm Into Folk and She Goes Nana
November 30, 1959 ~ Post-punk, rock guitarist, bassist Dan Catsis, full name Daniel Catsis, born ~ Co-founding member, guitarist for punk outfit the Glaxo Babies, known best for their 1980 Put Me On The Guest List sophomore album. Also worked with the Pop Group, appearing on the band's For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder album
November 30, 1959 ~ Post-punk, experimental rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Giannis Aggelakas born in Thessaloniki, Greece ~ Frontman of rock band Trypes, known for albums such as Enia Pliromena Tragoudia and Kefali Gemati Chrysati considered landmark albums in Greek rock. Has pursued a parallel solo career since 2000, experimenting with Greek folk msic and collaborating with the likes of Thanassis Papakonstantinou and Psarantonis
November 30, 1959 ~ Blues, electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Mike Morgan, full name Michael Robert Morgan, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Raw & Ready released in 1990. Has worked with Darrell Nulisch, Lee McBee, Jim Suhler, Gary Primich, Randy McAllister, Keith Ferguson, and others
November 30, 1959 ~ Heavy metal keyboardist Randy Gane, full name Randall Rutherford Gane, born in Mt Clemens, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as member of Operation Mindcrime. Also worked with progressive metal band Myth, Queensrÿche, and others
November 30, 1958 ~ Stacey Lynn Swain, commonly known as dance-pop, Hi-NRG singer, songwriter Stacey Q, born in Fullerton, California, USA ~ Best known for Two Of Hearts, a 1986 top 10 hit in several countries including USA and Canada. Other well known songs include Insecurity, Music Out Of Bonds, Don't Make A Fool Of Yourself and Give You All My Love
November 30, 1957 ~ Rock drummer Dave Betts, full name David Michael Albert Betts, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Drummer for Honeymoon Suite, best known for songs such as New Girl Now and Feel It Again, both used in the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. Songs such as What Does It Take, Love Changes Everything, and Lookin' Out For Number One would also chart well in the band's native Canada
November 30, 1957 ~ Guitarist John Ashton, full name John Geza Ashton, born in London, UK ~ Best known as guitarist of the Psychedelic Furs. After the Furs hiatus starting in 1992 Ashton turned to producing working with artists such as Marianne Faithfull, Sisters Of Mercy, Red Betty, Seven Color Sky, and the Secret Post
November 30, 1957 ~ Keyboardist Richard Barbieri born in London, UK ~ Member of new wave band Japan until its disbandement, known for the UK top 10 hit Ghosts of their 1981 Tin Drum album. Member of progressive rock outfit Porcupine Tree since 1993. Has also worked with No-Man, the Dolphin Brothers, Indigo Falls, Steve Hogarth, and others
November 30, 1956 ~ Texas blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Smokin' Joe Kubek born in Grove City, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Backed Freddie King while still in his teens. Closely associated with Bnois King. Released his solo debut single, the Freddie King/Sonny Thompson-penned Driving Sideways b/w the Doyle Bramhall-penned The Other Side Of Love, in 1985. Released his full-length debut album, Steppin' Out Texas Style, in 1991 and has released over a dozen albums since ~ Kubek passed away in 2015
November 30, 1955 ~ William Michael Albert Broad, commonly known as punk rock, glam rock, dance-punk, post-punk singer, guitarist, songwriter Billy Idol, born in Stanmore, UK ~ Briefly a member of Chelsea before co-founding Generation X with bandmate Tony James, best known for the 1979 single and UK top 20 hit King Rocker. As a solo artist Idol would reach succes in the USA, starting with the Billboard Hot 100 top 30 hit Hot In The City taken of his eponymous 1982 Billy Idol album. Subsequent hits would include White Wedding, Eyes Without A Face, Flesh For Fantasy, To Be A Lover, Sweet Sixteen and Mony Mony
November 30, 1954 ~ Bassist George McCardle born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Member of the Little River Band from 1976 through 1979, present on some of the band's best known including the 1977 album Diamantina Cocktail which gave the band its first and only Australian No.1 hit with Help Is On Its Way, and its 1978 Sleeper Catcher follow-up album
November 30, 1954 ~ Singer Jeannie Kendall born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Formed the country duo the Kendalls with her father Royce Kendall, known for a string of late-1970s to mid-1980s recordings including the Billboard Country No.1 hits Heaven's Just A Sin Away, Sweet Desire and Thank God For The Radio ~ Kuykendall passed away in 1998
November 30, 1953 ~ Singer June Pointer, full name June Antoinetta Pointer, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Founding member of sibling outfit the Pointer Sisters, known for songs such as Yes We Can Can, Fire, Happiness, He's So Shy, Slow Hand and I'm So Excited. Released a solo album, Baby Sister, in 1983 spawning the modest hit Ready For Some Action ~ Pointer passed away in 2006
November 30, 1952 ~ Jazz percussionist, pianist, composer Chris Joris born in Mechelen, Belgium ~ Son of opera singer Jan Joris. Member of avant-garde rock group Aksak Maboul, present on the band's 1977 Onze Danses Pour Combattre La Migraine debut album. Also worked with Bula Sangoma, David Linx, Frank Vaganee, Ernst Vranckx, Yannick Peeters, Art Farmer, Toots Thielemans, Steve Lacy, and others
November 30, 1951 ~ Kabasele Yampanya, commonly known as rumba, soukous singer, bandleader, songwriter Pépé Kallé, born in Leopoldville, Belgian Congo ~ Prominent figure in African music. Dubbed “the Elephant of African Music” for his stature, standing tall at 210 cm (6'11). Has worked with the Orchestre Bamboula, L'African Jazz, Bella Bella and Lipua Lipua. Left the latter in 1972 to form the Empire Bakuba with Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex, the band would become one of the most popular bands in Zaire known for hist such as Dadou and Sango Ya Mawa ~ Kallé passed away in 1998
November 30, 1950 ~ Singer, songwriter Adele Tyler born ~ Married to songwriter Dan Tyler, with whom she regularly collaborated. Perhaps best known for co-writing the Oak Ridge Boys hit Bobbie Sue with her husband, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and Wood Newton. The 1982 single would reach top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and top the Billboard Country charts. The couple's son William Tyler is also a musician, known for his association with Lambchop and Silver Jews
November 30, 1948 ~ Pianist, singer, songwriter Richard Smallwood born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Member of Vision. Had his songs recorded by Destiny's Child, Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark Sheard. Has collaborated with Leontyne Price, Kim Burrell, Kelly Price, Chaka Khan, Tramaine Hawkins, Aretha Franklin, and others
November 30, 1947 ~ Folk, pop, world music singer, songwriter Ann Mortifee born in Durban, South Africa ~ Blends folk, musical theatre, sacred and world music. Released her solo debut, Baptism, in 1975. Worked with Michel Legrand, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and her husband Paul Horn
November 30, 1945 ~ Bassist, pianist, singer Johnny Dyani, full name Johnny Mbizo Dyani, born in East London, South Africa ~ Member of the Blue Notes, South Africa's first racially integrated jazz band. Founded and fronted Earthquake Power. Founded Xaba with Mongezi Feza and Okay Temiz. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with a wide array of artists including Steve Lacy, Don Cherry, Louis Moholo (Spirits Rejoice), David Murray, Joe Bonner, Abdullah Ibrahim, Khan Jamal (Three), Chris Joris, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Per Henrik Wallin, and Chris McGregor ~ Dyani passed away in 1986
November 30, 1945 ~ Bassist, singer Roger Glover, full name Roger David Glover, born in Brecon, UK ~ Member of Episode 6. Rose to fame as member of Deep Purple from 1969 through 1973, rejoining in 1984. Present on some of the band's best known including the pivotal 1970 Deep Purple In Rock album. Reportedly came up with the title for their iconic Smoke On The Water hit, thus inspiring the song's lyrics written by Ian Gillan. Glover left the band in 1973, along with Gillan, after the band's second Japanese tour. Would release his The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast solo debut album the following year, spawning the feelgood single Love Is All featuring Ronnie James Dio as lead vocalist. Would spend the remainder of the 1970s producing acts such as Judas Priest, Nazareth, Elf, Status Quo, David Coverdale. Joined Rainbow in 1979, remaining with the band through 1984
November 30, 1943 ~ James Jay Barnes, commonly known as soul, pop, R&B singer JJ Barnes, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of the Holidays, which also included Steve Mancha and Edwin Starr of later War fame, known best for their 1966 Billboard R&B top 10 hit I'll Love You Forever. The following year Barnes would also score a Billboard R&B top 10 hit as a solo artist with Baby Please Come Back Home. Subsequent singles would fail to repeat the succes. His earlier solo recordings, such as the early-1960s Just One More Time and Please Let Me In, made little impact at the time but would later become Northern soul favorites in the UK ~ Barnes passed away in 2022
November 30, 1943 ~ Singer Oscar Harris born in Albina, Suriname ~ By far the most popular Surinam-born singer in the Netherlands during the 1970s. Best known for the Dutch top 10 Try A Little Love and Soldiers Prayer as a member of the Twinkle Stars and Song For The Children as a solo artist
November 30, 1943 ~ Folk rock, rock & roll singer, bassist, songwriter Rob Grill, full name Robert Frank Gill, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of rock & rolll group the Grass Roots known for late-1960s hits such as Let's Live For Today, Midnight Confessions and I'd Wait A Million Years ~ Grill passed away in 2011
November 30, 1939 ~ Conductor, violinist Walter Weller born in Austria ~ Formed and fronted string quartet the Weller Quartet. Worked with orchestras including the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera, the Sinfonieorchester Basel, the Spanish National Orchestra, the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, the Valencia Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Scottish National Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and others ~ Weller passed away in 2016
November 30, 1937 ~ Electronic composer Eduard Artemeyev, full name Eduard Nikolayevich Artemeyev, born in Novosibirsk, Russia ~ One of the first composers to utilize a synthesizer, and as such regarded as a pioneer of electronic music. Outside of Russia best known for his film scores, with well over two dozen soundtracks to his name including Solaris, At Home Among Strangers, Stalker, Siberiade, and Burnt By The Sun ~ Artemeyev passed away in 2022
November 30, 1937 ~ Country, country pop singer, guitarist Frank Ifield, full name Francis Edward Ifield, born in Coventry, UK ~ Scored a string of early-1960s hits including I Remember You, Lovesick Blues, Wayward Wind, I'm Confessin' That I Love You, and Please, all of which reached top 30 in his native UK. Ifield, known for frequently incorporating yodeling, has recorded some two dozen albums over his career, enjoying popularity throughout the mid-1980s in both the UK and Australia. In 1986, Ifield contracted pneumonia, which resulted in removal of part of a lung and damage to his vocal cords, seriously pausing his career as he recovered ~ Ifield passed away in 2024
November 30, 1937 ~ Singer, producer, label executive Jimmy Bowen, full name James Albert Bowen, born in Santa Rita, New Mexico, USA ~ As a rockabilly singer known for 1950s recordings such as I'm Stickin' With You and Warm Up To Me Baby. Turned to production in the 1960s, working with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bert Kaempfert, Sammy Davis Jr, and Dino Desi & Billy
November 30, 1937 ~ R&B, soul singer Luther Ingram, full name Luther Thomas Ingram, born in Jackson, Tennessee, USA ~ Co-penned Respect Yourself, an early-1970s Billboard Hot 100 top 20, Billboard R&B top 10 hit, and signature song for the Staple Singers. As a singer, Ingram recorded about half a dozen albums through the mid-1980s. Well known songs include My Honey And Me, Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One), You Were Made For Me, I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm), Always, and Do You Love Somebody, all of which reached top 20 Billboard R&B. Ingram's biggest hit, If Loving You Is Wrong I Don't Want To Be Right released in 1972, would also cross over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it reached top 10 ~ Ingram passed away in 2007
November 30, 1936 ~ Luz Elena Ruiz Bejarano, commonly known as singer, actress Lucha Villa, born in Camargo, Mexico ~ Popular mostly during the 1950s and 1960s. Known for songs such as Media Vuelta, La Cruz Del Cielo and Viva Quien Sabe Querer
November 30, 1932 ~ Bassist, double bassist Bob Moore, full name Bob Loyce Moore born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ First call session bassist, reportedly appearing on over an estimated 17,000 recordings, including most of Patsy Cline's Decca Records recordings such as I Fall To Pieces, Crazy and She's Got You. Moore has frequently arranged for Roy Orbison, plays the bass intro on Roger Miller's King Of The Road, and has worked with Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brenda Lee, Patti Page, Moby Grape, and Quincy Jones. Occasionally Moore recorded as a solo artist, most notably scoring a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit in 1961 with the instrumental Mexico, which sold over two million copies worldwide ~ Moore passed away in 2021
November 30, 1931 ~ Country singer Teddy Wilburn, full name Thurman Theodore Wilburn, born in Hardy, Arkansas, USA ~ Child performer since the mid-1930s, alongside his older brother Doyle Wilburn under the moniker the Wilburn Children. Discovered by Roy Acuff, who brought them to the Grand Ole Opry in 1940. Following each brother's stints in the Army, the brothers would reconvene as the Wilburn Brothers. They were offered the chance to record Heartbreak Hotel before Elvis Presley, but declined as they felt the song was “strange and almost morbid”. The duo would record well into the 1970s, backing Webb Pierce on the 1954 Billboard Country top 10 hit Sparkling Brown Eyes, and reaching the top 10 on their own with songs such as Which One Is To Blame, Trouble's Back In Town, Roll Muddy River, and Hurt Her Once For Me ~ Wilburn passed away in 2003
November 30, 1927 ~ Robert Peter Williams, commonly known as actor, singer Robert Guillaume, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Best known for his role as Benson in the TV series Soap and its spin-off Benson. Also known for numerous roles in stage plays and musicals, including on Broadway, starting in the late 1950. Notable credits include Free And Easy, Golden Boy, Guys And Dolls and Porgy & Bess ~ Williams passed away in 2017
November 30, 1924 ~ Singer, comedian Allan Sherman born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Mostly known as a comedy writer and television producer, but also as a song parodist known for two early-1960s albums and a number of singles including Hello Mudduh Hello Fadduh (A Letter From Camp) which reached No.2 Billboard in 1963 ~ Sherman passed away in 1973
November 30, 1915 ~ Walter Brown McGhee, commonly known as blues guitarist Brownie McGhee, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA ~ Influenced by Blind Boy Fuller. Best known for his association with blues harpist Sonny Terry, the duo performing and recording to critical acclaim for some four decades starting in the 1940s. The duo are especially known for the albums Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry Sing released in 1958, and Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry At The 2nd Fret released in 1963. At some point the two would become so annoyed with each other they did not speak to one another at all, yet they maintained a professional relationship working together on stage and in the studio ~ McGhee passed away in 1996
November 30, 1897 ~ Lena Corinne Taylor, commonly known as singer, guitarist, actress, songwriter Lee Morse, born in Cove, Oregon, USA ~ Enjoyed her peak as torch singer in the 1920s and early-1930s. Recorded over 200 songs over the course of her career. Best known for songs such as Telling Eyes, Those Daisy Days, An Old-Fashioned Love, Blue Waltz, Shadows On The Wall, Deep Wide Ocean Blues, A Little Love, and Daddy's Girl ~ Taylor passed away in 1954