November 6, 1985 ~ Christopher Daniels Miller, commonly known as rapper, songwriter YC, born in Decatur, Georgia, USA ~ Member of rap group the Block Boyz. As a solo artist best known for his 2011 Racks debut single featuring Future and its follow-up I Know featuring Ace Hood, both included on his I Got Racks debut album. Miller has also guested on recordings by POLO, Gorilla Zoe, the Rich Kids, Gucci Mane, and Waka Flocka Flame
November 6, 1981 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Graham Colton born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ First gained attention in the early-2000s playing the bars and coffee houses in the Dallas area, quickly becoming a local favorite, scoring national tours as support act for Better Than Ezra and the Counting Crows, and releasing the 2002 indie eponymous Graham Colton album. Would release his major-label Brendan O'Brien-produced Drive debut in 2004 and has recorded to a growing and devoted fanbase since
November 6, 1970 ~ Drummer Matt Johnson born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his association with singer Jeff Buckley, including on the album Grace. Co-wrote Buckley's Dream Brother. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with 2009 Cagefighter, and collaborated with the likes of Starflyer '59, Duncan Sheik, Elysian Fields, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Gabriel Kahane, Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips, Beth Orton, and others
November 6, 1966 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, percussionist, singer Brad Laner born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Founder and frontman of noise pop, shoegaze outfit Medicine, known best for their cameo appearance in the 1994 film The Crow performing Time Baby II. The soundtrack album would feature another version of the song, the Cocteau Twins-singer Elizabeth Fraser providing guest vocals. Previously Laner had worked with acts such as Debt of Nature, the Steaming Coils and perhaps most notably post-punk outfit Savage Republic. Laner has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with a host of acts including Earth Dies Burning, Electric Company, Lusk, North Valley Subconscious Orchestra, and Internal Tulips
November 6, 1966 ~ Rock, hard rock, blues rock, power pop guitarist, songwriter Paul Gilbert, full name Paul Brandon Gilbert, born in Carbondale, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Todd Rundgren, Cheap Trick, the Beatles. Co-founding member of Racer X. Co-founding member of Mr Big, best known for the Billboard Hot 100 charttopper To Be With You of their 1991 Lean Into It sophomore album. Well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with King Of Clubs released in 1998. Has also worked with Black Sheep, Darrell Mansfield, Jeff Berlin, Joey Tafolla, Carmine Appice, Pat Torpey, Neal Morse, and others
November 6, 1964 ~ Harry Sisk, commonly known as bluegrass singer, guitarist Junior Sisk, born in Arlington, Virginia, USA ~ Influenced by the Stanley Brothers. First gained attention in the early-1990s writing A Game I Can't Win, My Heart Belongs To You and Tears Are Blinding Me, all recorded by the Lonesome River Band. Best known for co-founding Rambler's Choice in the late-1990s. Has also worked with Wyatt Rice, Santa Cruz, Joe Mullins, Mac Wiseman, and others
November 6, 1961 ~ Rock, hard rock guitarist Craig Goldy born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Best known as member of Dio and of Giuffria, including on the band's biggest hit Call To The Heart. Co-write Lady Luck of David Lee Roth's 1991 A Little Ain't Enough album. Has recorded as a solo artist, starting with Insufficient Therapy released in 1993, and collaborated with acts such as Rough Cutt, Budgie, Mark Huff, Uli Jon Roth, Vinnie Moore, Ressurection Kings, Dream Child, and others
November 6, 1961 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Florent Pagny born in Chalon-sur-Saône, France ~ First gained attention as an actor for film and TV. Well over a dozen albums to his name as a singer, starting with Merci released in 1990. Known best for songs such as N'Importe Quoi, Savoir Aimer and Ma Liberté De Penser, all of which would top the charts in his native France
November 6, 1961 ~ Richard James Reginald Steven Smith, commonly known as singer, songwriter Ricky Wilde, born ~ Brother of singer Kim Wilde, son of singer, actor Marty Wilde. Mentored by producer Jonathan King, who aimed to launch Wilde in the early-1970s as a teen idol and the UK's answer to Donny Osmond. Perhaps best known for his 1972 debut single I Am An Astronaut, notably covered by Snow Patrol in 2006
November 6, 1949 ~ Trumpeter, pianist, composer Arturo Sandoval born in Artemisa, Cuba ~ Influenced by Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, the latter at some point becoming a collaborator and mentor of Sandoval's. Has also worked with Paquito d'Rivera, Tito Puente, Chico O'Farrill, GRP All-Star Band, Zane Musa, Dave Siegel, Teymour Phel, Johnny Friday, Armando Ance, Pharrell Williams, Ariana Grande, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh Symphony, Gloria Estefan, Dave Grusin, Ed Calle, Dave Valentin, Regina Belle, Frank Sinatra, James Moody, Irakere, Candy Dulfer, Beenie Man, Tony Bennett, Dr John, and Kurt Elling
November 6, 1949 ~ Benjamin Joe Houston, commonly known as Chicago blues guitarist, singer Boston Blackie, born in Panola, Alabama, USA ~ Known for his raw, hard-edged style. Influenced by Magic Sam, Otis Rush, Elmore James, Little Milton, Bobby Blue Bland. Worked with Sweetman & the Sugar Boys, Johnny B Moore, Lee Shot Williams, Freddie King, Kansas City Red, Hubert Sumlin, Homesick James, Jimmy Dawkins, Little Walter, Eddie Shaw. Shot and killed by blues singer Tail Dragger Jones in a heated dispute over payment, Jones claimed self-defense but would be convicted for second-degree murder and served 17 months in prison ~ Houston passed away in 1993
November 6, 1948 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Glenn Frey, full name Glenn Lewis Frey, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Formed the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle with JD Souther, known for their sole eponymous 1969 Longbranch Pennywhistle album. Frey would rise to fame as co-lead singer of the Eagles alongside Don Henley. Frey co-wrote a vast amount of the band's best known, at times with old pal Souther, and sang lead on songs such as Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Tequila Sunrise, Already Gone, Lyin' Eyes, New Kid In Town, and Heartache Tonight. After the band disbanded in 1980, Frey ventured out on his own, starting with his No Fun Aloud solo debut album in 1982. As a solo artist, Frey is known for hits such as The One You Love, The Heat Is On, and You Belong To The City, the latter two both peaking at No.2 Billboard Hot 100. Frey has also occasionally acted in films and TV series ~ Frey passed away in 2016
November 6, 1947 ~ Rock guitarist, songwriter, producer George Young, full name George Redburn Young, born in Bridgeton, UK ~ Founding member of the Easybeats, known for the 1967 hit Friday On My Mind. Founding member of Flash & the Pan, known for the 1976 hit Hey St Peter. As a producer and songwriter regularly collaborated with Harry Vanda, working with acts such as the Malcolm Hook Roll Band, John Paul Young (Love Is In The Air), Rose Tattoo and notably producing a vast amount of AC/DC's early work, the band including Young's brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young ~ Young passed away in 2017
November 6, 1941 ~ Rock, country, blues, tejano singer, guitarist, mandolinist, dobroist, keyboardist, percussionist Doug Sahm, full name Douglas Wayne Sahm, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Leading figure in Tex-mex music. Fronted the critically acclaimed Sir Douglas Quintet, known for the 1965 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit She's About A Mover. The band would open for the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Sahm would record throughout the 1970s to mixed reviews and commercial disappointment yet remain popular in the Texas scene. Co-founded the Texas Tornados in the late-1980s with Augie Meyers, Freddy Fender and Flaco Jiménez ~ Sahm passed away in 1999
November 6, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter Guy Clark born in Monahans, Texas, USA ~ Singer, songwriter with over 20 albums to his name. Helped define Americana. Highly admired by peers. Known for songs such as LA Freeway, Waiting For A Train, and Homegrown Tomatoes. Had his songs recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Lyle Lovett, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Bobby Bare, Ricky Skaggs (Heartbroke), John Conlee, Asleep At The Wheel, Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and by Willie Nelson. ~ Clark passed away in 2016
November 6, 1932 ~ Country singer, guitarist Stonewall Jackson born in Tabor City, North Carolina, USA ~ Popular 1950s honky-tonk, country singer. Broke through in 1958 with Life To Go, penned by George Jones. Also known for songs such as Waterloo, Why I'm Walkin', A Wound Time Can't Erase, Leona, BJ The DJ, Don't Be Angry and Stamp Out Loneliness, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Country ~ Jackson passed away in 2021
November 6, 1925 ~ Operatic tenor singer Gerald English, full name Gerald Alfred English, born ~ Premiered works by Igor Stravinsky, Hans Werner Henze, Benjamin Britten, Michael Tippett, and Andrew Ford. Worked with Ernest Ansermet, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Barbirolli, Thomas Beecham, the Royal Opera, La Scala, the Deller Consort, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra ~ English passed away in 2019
November 6, 1916 ~ Bandleader, composer, arranger Ray Conniff, full name Joseph Raymond Conniff, born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA ~ Formed and led the Ray Conniff Singers best known for their 1966 hit Somewhere My Love. Also worked with Rosemary Clooney, Marty Robbins (hanging tree), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis (Chances Are), Guy Mitchell, Johnnie Ray (Just Walking In The Rain), Tony Bennett, Eileen Rodgers, Don Cherry, and Billy Butterfield ~ Conniff passed away in 2002
November 6, 1912 ~ William Little, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, bandleader King Kolax born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Active from the 1930s onwards. Played with Billy Eckstine, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Parker, JT Brown, Joe Williams, Danny Overbra, Mabel Scott, Rudy Greene, Earl Pugh, Brooks & Brown, Clyde Williams, Harvey Ellington, Wilbur White, the Chanteurs, Jerry Butler, McKinley Mitchell, Otis Rush, the Vondells, and others ~ Little passed away in 1991
November 6, 1908 ~ Country bassist Ernie Newton, full name Ernest F Newton, born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Orphaned at age 5. Started working in minstrel shows and radio orchestras in his teens. Closely associated with Fred Waring, Les Paul and Red Foley early on in his career. Would go on to become an in-demand session musician appearing on numerous classic country tracks including I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry and Lost Highway (Hank Williams), Making Believe (Kitty Wells), There Stands The Glass (Webb Pierce), i Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know (the Davis Sisters), Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Bill Monroe), and Man Of Constant Sorrow (the Stanley Brothers) ~ Newton passed away in 1976
November 6, 1886 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Gus Kahn, full name Gustave Gerson Kahn, born in Koblenz, Germany ~ Songwriting partner of Richard Whiting, Walter Donaldson, Ira Gershwin, Ted Fio Rito, George Gershwin, and Nacio Herb Brown. Songs co-written by Kahn include Who Wants Love (Billie Holiday), Dream A Little Dream Of Me (Ozzie Nelson, Dinah Shore, Patti Page, the Mamas & the Papas), Love Me Or Leave Me (Ruth Etting, Perry Como, Peggy Lee, Nina Simone), I'll See You In My Dreams (Isham Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Pat Boone, the Platters), and It Had To Be You (the Ambassadors, Betty Hutton, Eddy Arnold, Ray Charles) ~ Kahn passed away in 1941
November 6, 1883 ~ Richard Cecil McPherson, commonly known as songwriter Cecil Mack born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Wrote, co-wrote songs such as Charleston (Elisabeth Welch, Louis Prima, Jean Goldkette), He's A Cousin Of Mine (Maria Cahill, Clarice Vance, Sam Cooke), Old Fashioned Love (Adelaide Hall, Bob Wills, Lena Horne), and You're In The Right Church But The Wrong Pew (Bert Williams) ~ McPherson passed away in 1944