October 14, 1983 ~ Jazz pianist, keyboardist Andreas Stensland Løwe born in Larvik, Norway ~ Worked with Splashgirl, Silent Velcro, Captain And Me, Hanne Kolstø, Frida Ånnevik, Susanna Wallumrød, and Rutger Zuydervelt
October 14, 1983 ~ Country singer, pop songwriter Tebey Ottoh, full name Tebey Solomon Ottoh, born in Peterborough, Canada ~ As a recording artist known for a number of Canadian country hits including Who's Gonna Love You, Somewhere In The Country and We Shook Hands (Man To Man), the latter also charting in the USA. As a songwriter best known for his work outside country music circles, producing and writing for artists including One Direction (They Don't Know About Us), Flo Rida, Fifth Harmony, Pixie Lott (All About Tonight), and others
October 14, 1979 ~ Contemporary classical composer Marcus Paus, full name Marcus Nicolay Paus, born in Oslo, Norway ~ Son of singers Ole Paus and Anne-Karine Strøm. Critically acclaimed contemporary classical composer. Wrote chamber music, choral works, orchestral works, operas, symphonies. Paus referred to himself as a “melodist” and “anarcho-traditionalist”
October 14, 1978 ~ Usher Raymond IV, mononymoulsy known as R&B, pop, hip-hop singer, songwriter Usher born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Rose to fame with his sophomore album, 1997's My Way which spawned the hits Nice & Slow, You Make Me Wanna and My Way. Also known for subsequent releases such as U Remind Me, U Got It Bad, U Don't Have To Call, Yeah, Burn, Love In This Club, DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love, and others
October 14, 1977 ~ Heavy metal, progressive metal, neo-classical metal, Christian metal guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer Carl Johan Grimmark born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Revered in Christian metal circles as a technically proficient guitarist, his style regularly compared to the neo-classicism of Yngwie Malmsteen. Best known as a member and key songwriter for Narnia, with whom he has recorded over half a dozen albums since the late 1990s. Grimmark has also regularly teamed up with his bandmate Narnia-singer Christian Liljegren's side projects Divinefire and Audiovision, frequently worked with Saviour Machine, Rob Rock, and Beautiful Sin, recorded as a solo artist, and has appeared on albums by Sanctifica, Locomotive Breath, Flagship, Planet Alliance, Fullforce, and Empire 21
October 14, 1974 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Natalie Maines, full name Natalie Louise Maines, born in Lubbock, Texas, USA ~ Member of all-female country outfit the Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, from 1995 onwards, replacing singer Laura Lynch. Co-wrote many of the band's best known including Without You and Not Ready To Make Nice. Released her solo debut album, the Ben Harper co-produced Mother album, in 2007. Sang backing vocals on Pat Green's Dancehall Days debut album. Maines has also collaborated with Charlie Robison, Yellowcard, Stevie Nicks, Patty Griffin, Neil Diamond, Eddie Vedder, Pete Yorn, and Robert Earl Keen
October 14, 1970 ~ Alastair Fletcher, commonly known as drummer Al Fletcher, born in UK ~ Worked with the Selecter, Gigantic, Ultraviolet, and Die So Fluid ~ Fletcher passed away in 2016
October 14, 1969 ~ R&B, neo-soul, nu jazz drummer, singer, songwriter, producer Vikter Duplaix born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ In-demand studio, session musician. Worked with Erykah Badu, Jazzanova, Jamiroquai, Meshell Ndegeocello, Esthero, Clara Hill, Jaguar Wright, Eric Benét, Dynamite MC, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kenny Gamble, and others. As a solo artist debuted with the International Affairs album in 2002
October 14, 1968 ~ Indie rock guitarist, bassist, singer Jay Ferguson born ~ Co-founded Sloan with Chris Murphy. Ferguson co-wrote and sang lead on songs such as I Hate My Generation, The Lines You Amend, Who Taught You To Live Like That, Witch's Wand, You've Got A Lot On Your Mind, and Right To Roam
October 14, 1968 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Johnny Goudie, full name John Charles Goudie, born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Rooted in classic rock. Fronted bands such as Mr Rocket Baby, Lovetree, Panjandrum, Liars & Saints, the Little Champions and Goudie. Has also worked with Endochine, the Lossy Coils and Skyrocket
October 14, 1966 ~ Brenda Kaplan, commonly known as singer, songwriter Brenda K Starr, born in New York, New York, USA ~ First gained attention when through a chance meeting with Harry Belafonte she landed a role in in his 1984 hip-hop film, Beat Street. This lead to a record deal. Starr released her debut album, I Want Your Love, the next year. Starr is best known for the power ballad I Still Believe, a Billboard top 20 hit in 1988, and covered by Mariah Carey in 1998. Starr has also scored hits on Billboard's Latin and Club/Dance charts with singles such as 1985's Pickin' Up The Pieces, 1987's Breakfast In Bed an 1988's What You See Is What You Get
October 14, 1965 ~ R&B, soul, new jack swing singer, songwriter Karyn White, full name Karyn Layvonne White, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Known for a string of late-1980s, early-1990s hits including Superwoman, Love Saw It, Secret Rendezvous, The Way You Love Me and perhaps her best known Romantic, the latter a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 in late 1991. Has worked with producers such as LA Reid, Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
October 14, 1962 ~ Durwood Christopher Thomas, commonly known as guitarist, singer, actor Chris Thomas King, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Son of blues singer Tabby Thomas. Acclaimed for his 1994 21st Century Blues From Da Hood album, merging rap and blues. As an actor known for portraying Lowell Fulson in the Academy Award-winning Ray and for portraying a blues guitarist, loosely based on the musicians Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson, in Oh Brother Where Art Thou
October 14, 1959 ~ Alexander Jude Pero, commonly known as drummer AJ Pero, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as a member of Twisted Sister and of the Adrenalin Mob. Also worked with the Cities, No More Tears, and Circle Of Thorns ~ Pero passed away in 2015
October 14, 1958 ~ Thomas Morgan Robertson, commonly known as new wave, synth-pop singer, keyboardist, songwriter Thomas Dolby, born in London, UK ~ Rose to prominence in the 1980s with songs such as She Blinded Me With Science and Hyperactive. Guested on recordings by Foreigner, Def Leppard, Malcolm McLaren, Joan Armatrading, Thompson Twins and Belinda Carlisle. Produced recordings by Prefab Sprout, Joni Mitchell, George Clinton and Whodini
October 14, 1957 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Kenny Neal born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Son of blues harpist, singer Raful Neal. Debuted in 1987 with the Bio From The Bayou, repackaged by Alligator Records the next year as Big News From The Bayou, and has recorded steadily to critical acclaim since. Worked with Lucky Peterson, Lazy Lester, the Downchild Blues Band, and others
October 14, 1953 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion guitarist Kazumi Watanabe born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Debuted in 1971 with the album Infinite. Has since released solo albums, formed the jazz-rock outfit Mobo and toured and recorded with a host of Japanese and international artists including the Yellow Magic Orchestra, Steps, the Brecker Brothers, Word Of Mouth, Jaco Pastorius, MItsuru Sawamura, Ichiko Hashimoto, Shuichi Murakami, Bill Bruford, Jeff Berlin, Tomohiro Yahino, and others
October 14, 1952 ~ Composer Kaija Saariaho, full name Kaija Anneli Saariaho, born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Voted greatest living composer in a poll conducted by the BBC Music Magazine in 2019. Known for her rich, polyphonic textures often created by combining live music with electronics. Has composed for orchestra, string quartets, operas, and for various solo instruments, her compositions performed by the Kronos Quartet, the New York Philharmonic, the Théàtre du Châtelet, and the Finnish National Opera. Perhaps best known for her 2000 L'Amour De Loin opera ~ Saariaho passed away in 2023
October 14, 1952 ~ Pop singer Margriet Eshuijs born in Zaandam, the Netherlands ~ Lead singer for Lucifer, known best for their 1974 hit House For Sale which remains a radio staple to this day. Other well known songs include Scarlet Lady, I Can See The Sun In Late December, and Selfpity. After the band disbanded in 1979 Eshuijs has recorded as a solo artist, noted for her 1982 Black Pearl Dutch top 20 hit ~ Eshuijs passed away in 2022
October 14, 1952 ~ Hard rock bassist Paul Matters born in Toronto, Australia ~ Briefly a member of AC/DC, joining right after the recording of the band's 1975 High Voltage debut album and fired within weeks to be replaced by Mark Evans ~ Matters passed away in 2020
October 14, 1947 ~ Heavy metal guitarist, singer Al Atkins, full name Allan John Atkins, born in West Bromwich, UK ~ Best known as a member of Judas Priest. Also worked with the Atkins May Projct alongside guitarist Paul May, with Lion, Simon Lees and with Holy Rage
October 14, 1947 ~ Guitarist, producer, arranger Norman Harris, full name Norman Ray Harris, born in Danville, Virginia, USA ~ Co-founded MFSB. Session guitarist and arranger for Philadelphia International Records. Member of the Salsoul Orchestra. Arranger, producer, songwriter for the likes of Blue Magic, the Trammps (Hold Back The Night), First Choice (Armed And Extremely Dangerous), the Dells, the Four Tops, the Temptations, the Whispers, Eddie Kendricks, Barbara Mason, Curtis Mayfield, Bunny Sigler, Joe Simon, Major Harris, Loleatta Holloway (Catch Me On The Rebound), and Eddie Holman. ~ Harris passed away in 1987
October 14, 1946 ~ Hard rock, blues rock, rock singer Dan McCafferty, full name William Daniel McCafferty, born in Dunfermline, UK ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of hard rock band Nazareth, known for 1970s hits such as Broken Down Angel, Bad Bad Boy and Love Hurts. Following his departure from the band in 2013 for health reasons McCafferty has occasionally performed and recorded as a solo artist ~ McCafferty passed away in 2022
October 14, 1946 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Justin Hayward born in Shilton, UK ~ Best known as longtime member of the Moody Blues, writing and often singing lead on many of the band's best known including Leave This Man Alone, Nights In White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, The Story In Your Eyes, The Voice, I Know You're Out There, English Sunset and Never Blame The Rainbows For The Rain. Also noted for the 1975 collaborative album The Blue Jays with bandmate John Lodge
October 14, 1945 ~ Rock, jazz, blues bassist Colin Hodgkinson born in Cambridgshire, UK ~ Has worked with Tramline, the New Church, Alexis Korner, Back Door, Jamie Stone, Hammer, K2, Ronnie Jack, Cozy Powell, Schon & Hammer, Whitesnake, Mick Jagger (She's The Boss), Pete York, Phil Carmer, the Electroc Blues Duo, Konstantin Wecker, the Spencer Davis Group, Peter Maffay, Jon Lord, the British Blues Quintet, and others
October 14, 1943 ~ Avant-garde jazz drummer Abbey Rader born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA ~ Four-decade career as leader and sideman with over two dozen albums to his name. Worked with Dave Liebman, John Handy, Billy Bang, Jeanne Lee, Marion Brown, John McMinn, Noah Brandmark, Kidd Jordan, Laurindo Almeida, Marty Cook, Frank Lowe, Peck Morrison, Mal Waldron, and Bob Lenox
October 14, 1942 ~ Guitarist Billy Harrison born in Belfast, Ireland ~ Original member of Them, best known for also including Van Morrison, scoring the hits Baby Please Don't Go and Here Comes The Night and for despite a brief recording career being immensely influential on a wide array of acts including the Doors
October 14, 1942 ~ Joel Arthur Gibbs, commonly known as reggae producer Joe Gibbs, born in St James, Jamaica ~ Worked with Bunny Lee, Roy Shirley (Hold Them), the Pioneers, Errol Dunkley, Ken Parker, Lynn Taitt, the Hippy Boys, Nicky Thomas (Love Of The Common People), the Ethiopians, Delroy Wilson, the Heptones, Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, Sylford Walker, the Mighty Diamonds, Gregory Isaacs, Prince Alla, Junior Byles, Marcia Aitken, Althea & Donna, John Holt, Barrington Levy, Cornell Campbell, Dean Fraser, Beres Hammond, Ranking Joe, Prince Jazzbo, Dillinger, Prince Far I, June Lodge (Someone Loves You Honey), Sydney Crooks, and others ~ Gibbs passed away in 2008
October 14, 1940 ~ Harry Rodger Webb, commonly known as singer, guitarist Cliff Richard born in Lucknow, British India ~ Sold over 250 million records. Originally marketed as a rebellious rock & roll singer but would soften down to a more mainstream image from the 1960s onwards. Backed by the Shadows dominated the British popular music scene untill the Beatles came along. Best known for songs such as 1958's Move It, arguably the first British rock & roll song, 1960s songs such The Young Ones, Lucky Lips, and Summer Holiday. Would continue to regularly reach the charts in the UK and continental Europe well through the 2000s, notably with 1976's Devil Woman, 1979's We Don't Talk Anymore and a 1986 remake of Living Doll with the Young Ones, albeit it to lesser success than in his heyday. Has worked with Cilla Black, Olivia Newton-John, Phil Everly, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sheila Walsh, Janet Jackson, Sarah Brightman, Elton John, Van Morrison, Helen Shapiro, Dionne Warwick, Daniel O'Donnell, and others
October 14, 1939 ~ Christostomos Karanikis, commonly known as jazz drummer, percussionist Chris Karan, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ In-demand session musician. Worked with the Yardbirds, Michel Legrand, Lalo Schifrin, Charles Aznavour, Stanley Myers, Basil Kirchin, Tony Hatch, Jackie Trent, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Jerry Goldsmith, Jerry Fielding, Pat Williams, André Previn, Richard Rodney Bennett, Barry Tuckwell, Carl Davis, Henry Mancini, the Beatles, the Seekers, Roy Budd, Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Laine, the Bee Gees, Caterina Valente, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, the Swingle Singers, the Harry Stoneham Group, Katie Melua, Oliver Nelson, and others
October 14, 1937 ~ Producer, label executive, author Ken Mansfield born in Pennsylvania, USA ~ Manager for Apple Records in the USA during the 1960s, and as such helpful in the careers of a number of British acts including the Beatles, Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, and Jackie Lomax. Helped popularize the Outlaw country movement in the 1970s, notably producing the Waylon Jennings Are You Ready For The Country album as well as Jessi Colter's I'm Not Lisa crossover hit single. Successful in gospel music in the 1990s, producing acts such as the Imperials and the Gaither Vocal Band. Authored a number of books in the 2000s, starting with The Beatles The Bible And Bodega Bay published in 2000 ~ Mansfield passed away in 2022
October 14, 1935 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Alex Glasgow born in Gateshead, UK ~ Traditional working class singer, songwriter drawing from traditional British folk, especially Geordie songs, though Glasgow himself resented the “folk” characterization. Would often include socialist and trades union-focused themes. Well-remembered for the song cycle The Tyne Slides By written in the 1970s for the BBC series The Camera & The Song. Composed for the musical plays Close The Coal House Door and On Your Way Riley. Perhaps best known for Dance Ti Thi Daddy, written and performed by Golasgow and used as the theme song to the TV series When The Boat Comes In ~ Glasgow passed away in 2001
October 14, 1935 ~ Avant-garde, minimalist, microtonal, jazz composer La Monte Young, full name La Monte Thornton Young, born in Bern, Idaho, USA ~ One of the first American minimalist composers. Leading figure in avant-garde music. Best known for his 1958 composition Trio For Strings. Has collaborated with Tony Conrad, John Cale, and extensively with his wife Marian Zazeela
October 14, 1931 ~ Jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger Dusko Gojkovic born in Jajce, Yugoslavia ~ As a leader perhaps best known for his 1994 Soul Connection album, featuring guests such as Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Heath, and Mickey Roker. In-demand sideman, appearing on albums by the likes of Woody Herman, Francy Boland, Tete Montoliu, Klaus Doldinger, and Maynard Ferguson ~ Gojkovic passed away in 2023
October 14, 1927 ~ Ione Emily Bryant, commonly known as traditional pop, vocal jazz, gospel singer, dancer, civil rights activist Joyce Bryant, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Known for her signature silver hair and tight mermaid dresses, Bryant became one of the first African-American sex symbols earning her the nickname “the Black Marilyn Monroe”. Songs such as Love For Sale and Drunk With Love would be banned from radio for their provocative lyrics, yet would nevertheless find a wide audience. Civil rights advocate, strongly opposing the practice of racial billing at night clubs, at times even defying the Ku Klux Klan. Bryant retired from music by the mid-1950s at the peak of her popularity, only to return about a decade later as a classically trained singer working with the New York City Opera and other renowned orchestras ~ Bryant passed away in 2022
October 14, 1926 ~ William Everett Justis Junior, commonly known as rock & roll composer, arranger, singer, trumpeter, saxophonist Bill Justis, born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ As a solo artist known for his 1957 recording Raunchy, arguably the first rock & roll instrumental hit and successfuly covered by both Ernie Freeman and Billy Vaughn. Worked as staff musician at Sun Records, arranging for Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Charlie Rich. Played saxophone on Elvis Presley's Kissin' Cousins soundtrack. Managed Ronny & the Daytonas. Composed the scores for several films, notably Smokey & the Bandit in 1977 and The Villain in 1979 ~ Justis passed away in 1982
October 14, 1926 ~ Carel Verbrugge, commonly known as singer Willy Alberti, born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Renowned torch, pop singer, balladeer, popular from the late-1940s through the 1970s. Sang in Dutch and Italian. Father of singer Willeke Alberti. Known for songs such as Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu, Ik Zing Dit Lied Voor Jou Alleen, Marina, and De Glimlach Van Een Kind ~ Verbrugge passed away in 1985
October 14, 1899 ~ William McKenzie, commonly known as singer, songwriter, trombonist Red McKenzie, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Co-founded the Mound City Blowers in 1923 with Jack Bland and Dick Slevin, later joined by guitarist Eddie Lang. The quartet is known for songs such as One Hour and Hello Lola and worked with artists such as Glenn Miller, Pee Wee Russell, Coleman Hawkins, Bunny Berigan, Jimmy Dorsey, and Muggsy Spanier ~ McKenzie passed away in 1948
October 14, 1889 ~ Jazz singer, pianist, composer Spencer Williams born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best remembered as a songwriter. Closely associated with Josephine Baker and with Fats Waller. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Shim-me-sha-wabble (the Emerson Dance Orchestra, Willie The Lion Smith, Zutty Singleton) Basin Street Blues (Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke), I Ain't Got Nobody (Marion Harris, Bessie Smith, Louis Prima), Royal Garden Blues (Mamie Smith, Wingy Manone), I've Found A New Baby (the Dixie Stompers, McKinney's Cotton Pickers), When Lights Are Low (Benny Carter, Chet Baker, Vic Damone), Everybody Loves My Baby (Aileen Stanley, the Boswell Sisters, Lionel Hampton), and Tishomingo Blues (Eddie Nelson, Duke Ellington) ~ Williams passed away in 1965