October 13, 1988 ~ Christian Walcott Webster, commonly known as rapper Chris Webby, born in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA ~ Has been releasing mixtapes since the late 2000s, leading up to his full-length Chemically Imbalanced debut album in 2014. The latter would reach top 30 on the Billboard Hot 200 charts. Has collaborated with the likes of Talib Kweli, Trae the Truth, Justina Valentine, and Dizzy Wright
October 13, 1986 ~ John Derek Yancey, commonly known as hip-hop rapper, singer, producer, songwriter Illa J born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Brother of hip-hop producer, rapper J Dilla. Member of Slum Village. Formed the Yancey Boys with Frank Nitt, known for their 2008 eponymous The Yancey Boys debut album. Has also collaborated with Bishop Lamont, Roc C, Jonti, Common, and others
October 13, 1981 ~ Rowland Kelechukwu Okereke, commonly known as indie rock, post-Britpop, art punk singer, guitarist, keyboardist Kele Okereke, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Best known for fronting Bloc Party, a band rooted in rock drawing from electronica and house. Known for songs such as So Here We Are/Positive Tension, Two More Years, The Prayer and Flux, all of which reached the UK top 10. The band's first four albums, starting with the band's 2005 Silent Alarm album, all reached the UK albums top 10. Okereke embarked on a parallel solo career, releasing his solo debut album, The Boxer, in 2010. Has also collaborated with artists such as the Chemical Brothers, Tiësto, Martin Solveig, Sander van Doorn, Sub Focus, Claptone, and others
October 13, 1980 ~ Ashanti Shequiya Douglas, mononymously known as singer Ashanti born in Glen Cove, New York, USA ~ First gained attention in 2002 appearing on Fat Joe's What's Luv and Always On Time, both reaching the Billboard top 10. Released her eponymous Ashanti solo debut album later the same year, spawning the hits Foolish and Happy which both also reached the top 10. Has collaborated with Irv Gotti, Fabolous, R Kelly, Lloyd, Jagged Edge, Nelly, DaBaby, and Joyner Lucas
October 13, 1977 ~ Rock, punk, reggae, experimental rock drummer, percussionist, guitarist, bassist, trombonist, singer Benjamin Clapp born in Boise, Idaho, USA ~ Member of punk outfit Haggis. Founding member of the Adversives and the Mosquitones. Member of Blazed and subsequently Baptized By Fire, playing alongside Jesse Blaze Snider in both. Member of Skeleton Key. Member of Amfibian alongside Phish keyboardist Tom Marshall, present on the albums From The Ether and Skip The Goodbyes
October 13, 1969 ~ Country singer, songwriter Rhett Akins, full name Thomas Rhett AKins Sr, born ~ Father of country singer Thomas Rhett. As a singer best known for a number of 1990s albums, notably 1996's Somebody New and 1998's What's Livin' All About, the former including his only country No.1 Don't Get Me Started. Especially successful as a songwriter, often in partnership with Ben Hayslip and Dallas Davidson. Songs written or co-written by Akins were recorded by Brooks & Dunn, Jack Ingram, Joe Nichols, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Josh Turner, Tyler Farr, Rodney Atkins, Justin Moore, Locash, Lee Brice, Billy Currington, Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch, Aaron Lewis, Frankie Ballard, Brantley Gilbert, Chase Rice, and William Michael Morgan
October 13, 1968 ~ Classical crossover baritone Carlos Marin, full name Carlos Marin Menchero, born in Russelsheim, West Germany ~ Best known as member of classical crossover quartet Il Divo which also included Urs Bühler, David Miller and Sébastien Izambard. The group was created and promoted by Simon Cowell and would go on to sell over an estimated 30 million records. They have worked with numerous pop artists including Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion, Nicole Scherzinger and perhaps most notably R&B singer Toni Braxton on Time Of Our Lives, which served as the official anthem of the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany ~ Marin passed away in 2021
October 13, 1960 ~ Jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer Orphy Robinson, full name Orphy Everton Robinon, born in London, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Jazz Warriors, Courtney Pine, Mica Paris, Andy Sheppard, Hugh Hopper, Robert Wyatt, Alexander Hawkins, Burn Out Mama, Louis Moholo, Leee John, Beggard & Compnay, Nigel Kennedy, Nick Mason, Pat Thomas, Steve Williamson, Evan Parker, Malik Al Nasir, Lester Bowie, Don Cherry, Junior Giscombe, Kate Havnevik, Neneh Cherry, Imagination, Lionel Loueke, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masekela, Jean Paul Maunick, Joe McPhee, Thurston Moore, Butch Morris, David Murray, Robert Plant, Wadada Leo Smith, Spring Heel Jack, Joss Stone, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Sunny Murray, Kenny Thomas, Nana Vasconcelos, Tony Bevan, Lol Coxhill, Shawn Lee, Monday Michiru, Total Contrast, Cleveland Watkiss, and others
October 13, 1959 ~ Singer, actress Marie Osmond, full name Olive Marie Osmond, born in Ogden, Utah, USA ~ Member of the Osmond family though never of the family singing group. Did record as a solo artist though, notably the 1973 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Paper Roses, and with her brother Donny Osmond scoring hits such as I'm Leaving it Up To You, Morning Side Of The Mountain and Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
October 13, 1958 ~ Derald Daugherty, commonly known as alternative rock singer, guitarist Derri Daugherty, born ~ Best known as lead singer of the Choir. Also co-founded supergroup the Lost Dogs with Terry Scott Taylor, Michael Roe and Gene Eugene. In-demand engineer having worked on recordings by Randy Stonehill, the Swoon, Lifesavers Underground, Michael Knott, the Prayer Chain, Riki Michele, the Waiting, Sarah Masen, Pierce Pettis, the Common Children, Jeff Johnson, Caedmon's Call, Buddy Miller, the Throes, and others
October 13, 1955 ~ Alternative rock, progressive rock keyboardist, guitarist John Ferenzik born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his associations with Todd Rundgren, Jefferson Starship and the Beru Revue. Has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for his Devil's Playground album released in 1995
October 13, 1952 ~ Model, actress, singer Beverly Johnson, full name Beverly Ann Johnson, born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Best known as an actress and model, the first African-American model to appear on the Vogue cover and the first to appear on the cover of the French Elle magazine, respectively in 1974 and 1975. As a singer known for her 1979 Don't Lose The Feeling album and its singles Don't Lose The Feeling and Don't Run For Cover
October 13, 1951 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, world music percussionist Frank Colón born in Washington DC, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for playing the Batá drums. Has collaborated with Tania Maria, Ray Anderson, Michael Galasso, Mickey Hart, the Manhattan Transfer (Brasil), Wayne Shorter, Gato Barbieri (Bahia), Milton Nascimento, Barbara Dennerline, Janis Siegel, Airto Moreira (Samba De Flora), Towa Tei, Ernie Watts, Ivo Perelman, Michel Petrucciani, Charles Erland, Wagner Tiso, George Clinton (By Way Of The Drum), Diem Jones, Ana France, Jennifer Richman, and others
October 13, 1950 ~ Guitarist, singer Simon Nicol, full name Simon John Breckenridge Nicol, born in Muswell Hill, UK ~ Co-founding and last remaining original member of Fairport Convention, critically acclaimed for albums such as Fairport Convention and Liege And Lief. Has also worked with Ashley Hutchings, Matthews Southern Comfort, the Albion Band, Cat Stevens (Numbers), Richard Thompson, Julie Covington, Al Stewart, Art Garfunkel, and others
October 13, 1949 ~ Singer, songwriter, actor Raimundo Fagner, full name Raimundo Fagner Candido Lopes, born in Oris, Brazil ~ Actively recording since the mid-1970s, most notably the 1977 Orós album collaborating with Hermeto Pascoal. As a songwriter perhaps best known for penning Mucuripe, recorded by Elis Regina. Has collaborated with Caetano Veloso, Roberta Miranda, Chico Buarque, and others
October 13, 1948 ~ John Edward Colley, commonly known as pop-rock, soft rock, folk, country singer, guitarist, pianist, actor John Ford Coley, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Classically trained. Best known for forming the 1970's duo England Dan & John Ford Coley with Dan Seals, known for songs such as Simone, I'd Really Love To See You Tonight, Nights Are Forever Without You and Love Is The Answer
October 13, 1948 ~ Pervez Fateh Ali Khan, commonly known as singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, born in Lyallpur, Pakistan ~ Dubbed “the King of Kings of Qawwali”, widely credited with bringing qawwali music, a form of Sufi devotional music, to international adiences. Signed by the British label Oriental Star Agencies, his powerful vocal presentations brought forth a craze for his music all over Europe. Recorded well over two dozen albums since the mid-1970s, especially noted for 1990's Mustt Mustt and Devotional Songs released a year before his death at age 48. Artists such as Jeff Buckley, Peter Gabriel, Eddie Vedder, and Joan Osborne have cited Khan as an influence ~ Khan passed away in 1997
October 13, 1947 ~ Singer Sammy Hagar, full name Sam Roy Hagar, born in Monterey, California, USA ~ Member of Montrose, present on the 1973 eponymous Montrose debut album and its 1974 follow-up Paper Money. Best known as co-lead singer for Van Halen from 1985, replacing David Lee Roth, through 1996 and again from 2003 through 2005. Member of supergroup Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve. Member of Chickenfoot. As a solo artist Hagar has recorded over a dozen albums and is best known for the hit I Can't Drive 55 of his 1984 VOA album. Singer Rick Springfield would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100 with I've Done Everything For You, penned and first recorded by Hagar
October 13, 1946 ~ Blues, soul, gospel singer Dorothy Moore born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known for her 1976 hit song Misty Blue. Other well known songs include Funny How Time Slips Away and I Believe You. Previously a member of the Poppies with Petsy Mcune and Rose Taylor, scoring a modest hit with Lullabye Of Love in 1966
October 13, 1946 ~ Jill Lynne Byrem, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Lacy J Dalton, born in Bloomsberg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Sometimes referred to as “Country music's Bonnie Raitt”. Best known for a number of 1980s hits including Crazy Blue Eyes, Hard Times, Hillbilly Girl With The Blues, Takin' It Easy, Everybody Makes Mistakes, 16th Avenue and If That Ain't Love. Cites Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Janis Joplin, Robert Johnson, Karen Dalton, Fred Koller, Big Mama Thornton, Billie Holiday, Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette, and JJ Cale as influences
October 13, 1946 ~ Musicologist, pianist, composer Robert Levin born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Artistic director of Sarasota Music Festival. As a composer known for several sonatas and piece for piano, bassoon and for woodwind, best known for reconstructing or completing several unfinished compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach
October 13, 1944 ~ Classical, contemporary classical composer Lyell Creswell, full name Lyell Richard Creswell, born in Wellington, New Zealand ~ Composed for orchestra, chamber ensembles, choir, voice, and solo instruments. Well known pieces include Salm, Dragspil, Shadows Without Sun, and the song cycle The Clock Stops inspired by the Christchurch 2010 and 2011 earthquakes ~ Creswell passed away in 2022
October 13, 1944 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songerwriter Robert Lamm, full name Robert William Lamm, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of Chicago. Wrote or co-wrote a vast amount of the band's best known including Questions 67 & 68, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, Beginnings, 25 Or 6 To 4, Saturday In The Park, Dialogue Part I & II and Harry Truman
October 13, 1942 ~ Singer Jimmy Powell born in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known as lead singer of the Five Dimensions, which briefly included a then-unknown Rod Stewart. The band's initial line-up also featured guitarists Gary Leport and Peter Mariosa, drummer Brian Kattenhorn and bassist Louis Cennamo. Also worked with Millie Small, PJ Proby, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Clem Cattini, the Rockin' Berries, BJ Wilson, Puzzle, and others ~ Powell passed away in 2016
October 13, 1941 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Paul Simon born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Rose to fame as half of folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, one of the best-selling groups of all time, known for songs such The Sound Of Silence, Homeward Bound, I Am A Rock, Mrs Robinson, The Boxer, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Cecilia, and others. As a solo artist known for songs such as Kodachrome, 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, You Can Call Me Al and Graceland
October 13, 1940 ~ Justine Washington, commonly known as R&B singer Baby Washington, born in Bamberg, South Carolina, USA ~ Known for a string of 1960's R&B hits including The Bells On Our Wedding Day, Nobody Cares About Me, Handful Of Memories, That's How Heartaches Are Made and Only Those In Love
October 13, 1940 ~ John Henry Deighton, commonly known as Chris Farlowe, born in Islington, UK ~ As a solo artist first gained attention with a string of mid-1960s covers, most notably Out Of Time which would top the UK charts in 1966, originally recorded by the Rolling Stones. Joined jazz-rock unit Colosseum in 1970, appearing on the albums Daughter Of Time and Colosseum Live. Member of Atomic Rooster, appearing on the albums Made In England and Nice 'n Greasy. Recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Chris Farlowe & the Thunderbirds in 1966, and has collaborated with Jimmy Page, Maggie Bell, Bobby Tench, and others
October 13, 1940 ~ Farrell Sanders, commonly known as free jazz, avant-garde jazz, world fusion saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Closely associated with John Coltrane, first appearing on the 1965 Ascension album. Considered by some the heir of Coltrane. Known for his spiritual-themed style. Well over two dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially acclaimed for the albums Karma, Journey To The One and Rejoice. Has collaborated with the likes of Leon Thomas, Alice Coltrane, Tisziji Muñoz, Michael Mantler, Carla Bley, Don Cherry, Benny Golson, Norman Connors, McCoy Tyner, Randy Weston, Sun Ra, Gary Bartz, Larry Young, Sonny Sharrock, and others ~ Sanders passed away in 2022
October 13, 1938 ~ Gospel singer, songwriter Shirley Caesar, full name Shirley Ann Caesar, born in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ Dubbed “the First Lady of Gospel” with a career spanning seven decades, over forty albums and a dozen Grammy Awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Played in the Gospel musicals Mama I Want To sing, Mama 2 and Born To Sing. As a recording artist best known for the Gospel hits Hold my Mule featuring Albertina Walker & Milton Brunson, I Know The Truth (Lies), God Will Make A Way and It's Alright It's OK featuring Anthony Hamilton
October 13, 1937 ~ Regla Teresa Garcia Rodriguez, commonly known as singer, bandleader Teté Caturla, born in Remedios, Cuba ~ Daughter of renowned composer Alejandro García Caturla. Member of all-female orchestra the Orquesta Anacaona. Best known as member of all-female quartet the Cuarteto D'Aida, joining the group in 1963 and taking over as leader after the death of founding member Aida Diestro in 1973 ~ Garcia passed away in 2023
October 13, 1934 ~ Ionna Mouskouri, commonly known as singer Nana Mouskouri born in Chania, Greece ~ Recorded over 200 albums in 12 languages. Best known for the White Rose Of Athens, 1963 Luvembourg Eurovision Songfestival entry A Force De Prier reaching 8th place, Je Chante Avec Toi Liberté and Only Love. Member of European Parliament from 1994 to 1999 for the Greek liberal-conservative New Democracy party
October 13, 1929 ~ Songwriter Bernie Baum born ~ Best known for co-writing several songs for Elvis Presley, usually with Bill Giant and Florence Kaye. Well known songs include Roustabout, Paradise Hawaiian Style, Edge Of Reality and notably You're The Devil In Disguise. Others who recorded his songs include Mickey Denton, the Everly Brothers (That's Old Fashioned (That's The Way Love Should Be)), and Gene Chandler ~ Baum passed away in 1993
October 13, 1927 ~ Anita Jean Grilli, commonly known as singer, pianist, arranger Anita Kerr, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Founded and fronted vocal harmony group the Anita Kerr Singers, known for recording some 50 albums in their own right. The group was also an in-demand backing choir, providing vocals for the likes of Rod McKuen, Red Foley, Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Chet Atkins, and Webb Pierce ~ Grilli passed away in 2022
October 13, 1927 ~ Bebop, cool jazz, avant-garde jazz alto saxophonist Lee Konitz born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced Paul Desmond and Art Pepper. Worked with Teddy Powell, Lennie Tristano, Claude Thornhill, Gil Evans, Miles Davis (Birth Of The Cool), Stan Kenton, Elvin Jones, Sonny Dallas, Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Attila Zoller, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, and others ~ Konitz passed away in 2020
October 13, 1926 ~ Jazz double bassist Ray Brown, full name Raymond Matthews Brown, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Influenced by Jimmy Blanton. Best known for his association with pianist Oscar Peterson, backing the pianist from the early 1950s through the mid-1960s. Also well-known for his work with Ella Fitzgerald, with whom he was married from 1947 to 1953. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Billie Holiday (Solitude), Joe Venuti, Buddy DeFranco, Charlie Parker (Giants Of Modern Jazz), Ben Webster, Hank Jones (Urbanity), Anita O'Day (Anita Sings The Most), Sonny Stitt, Coleman Hawkins, Herb Ellis (Nothing But The Blues), Jimmy Witherspoon, the Modern Jazz Quartet, André Previn, and Benny Carter ~ Brown passed away in 2002
October 13, 1922 ~ Composer Gilberto Mendes born in Santos, Brazil ~ Pioneer of aleatoric and concrete music, using new musical notations and theatrical elements. Composed cantates, motets, orchestral music, chamber music and avant-garde works. Founded the Santos New Music Festival in the mid-1960s ~ Mendes passed away in 2016
October 13, 1920 ~ Albert Marcuse, commonly known as songwriter, actor Albert Hague, born in Berlin, Germany ~ Known for co-writing Broadway musicals such as Plain & Fancy, Redhead, Cafe Crown, and The Fig Leaves Are Falling. Hague also composed the music for the TV musical cartoon How The Grinch Stole Christmas. As an actor Hague is perhaps best known for portraying the role of Benjamin Shorofsky, the music teacher, in the TV series Fame and the film of the same name ~ Marcuse passed away in 2001
October 13, 1916 ~ Baritone singer David Hollestelle born in Den Helder, the Netherlands ~ Father of bassist Jan Hollestelle and guitarists Hans Hollestelle and David Hollestelle. Best known as a fine interpreter of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel and Felix Mendelssohn ~ Hollestelle passed away in 2001
October 13, 1916 ~ Pianist, songwriter Howard Biggs, full name Howard Maceo Biggs, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Influential in doo-wop and the first days of rock & roll. Perhaps best known for writing or co-writing Bye Bye Baby Blues and Write Me A Letter for the Ravens, and Got You On My Mind for Big John Greer. The latter would later be recorded by Big Joe Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, and others. Other songs written or co-written by Biggs include I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Roy Hamilton, Elvis Presley), Melancholy Me (Eddy Howard), and If I Could Have Your Love Again (Brook Benton) ~ Biggs passed away in 1999
October 13, 1915 ~ Jazz bassist Jack Fallon, full name Jack Patrick Fallon, born in London, Canada ~ Studied violin with the London Symphony Orchestra before switching to bass as his primary instrument. Worked with Ted Heath, Ronnie Scott, Tommy Whittle, Jack Jackson, George Shearing, Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Count Basie, Malcolm Mitchell, Tony Crombie, Hoagy Carmichael, Maxine Sullivan, Stéphane Grappelli, Mary Lou Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Humphrey Lyttelton, Kenny Baker, Ralph Sharon, Big Bill Broonzy, Josh White, Johnny Duncan, and played the fiddle violin on Don't Pass Me By by the Beatles ~ Fallon passed away in 2006
October 13, 1909 ~ Virtuoso pianist Art Tatum born in Toledo, Ohio, USA ~ Revered jazz pianist. Influenced by stride pianists such Fats Waller and James P Johnson. In turn Tatum would influence future pianists including Adam Makowicz, Simon Nabatov, Oscar Peterson, Martial Solal. First recorded in 1932 backing Adelaide Hall on I'll Never Be The Same and Strange As It Seems. Would go on to record on numerous quintessential jazz recordings, mostly as a leader in small settings such as trio or quartet. Especially acclaimed for The Genius Of Art Tatum album series released in 1953 and 1954, a few years before his death. Has worked with Tiny Grimes, Slam Stewart, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Ben Webster, and Buddy DeFranco ~ Tatum passed away in 1956