October 26, 1987 ~ Power metal, symphonic metal, neoclassical metal guitarist, singer Tommy Johansson born in Sweden ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, guitarist for Reinxeed with whom he recorded through the mid-2010s before renaming the band Majestica. Overall, the band has recorded over half a dozen albums starting with The Light released in 2008. In 2016 Johannson joined Sabaton, replacing Thobbe Englund
October 26, 1986 ~ Dotan Harpenau, mononymously known as pop, rock singer, songwriter Dotan, born in Jerusalem ~ Released his Dream Parade debut album in 2010, spawning the hit This Town. Subsequent hits would include Home, Hungry, Shadows Wind and Numb. Would draw harsh criticism in 2018 after media revealed Dotan had boosted his online image through the use of fake social media accounts, praising him and trashing other musicians
October 26, 1986 ~ Roy Michael Reymound, commonly known as rapper, actor Fresku, born in Eindhoven, the Netherlands ~ Influenced by Opgezwolle. Member of de Zwarte Schapen, alongside Karimineel and Teemong. Released his full-length eponymous Fresku solo debut album in 2010 to critical acclaim
October 26, 1986 ~ Quincy Matthew Hanley, rapper, commonly known as Schoolboy Q, born in Wiesbaden, West Germany ~ Influenced by East Coast rappers such as Nas, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Notorious BIG, as well as West Coast rappers Kurupt and Tupac Shakur. Member of hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy, along Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Kendrick Lamar. Released his indie debut album, Setbacks, in 2011 to critical acclaim. Has been recording steadily since. Known for platinum sellers such as Collard Greens, Man Of The Year, Studio and That Part
October 26, 1981 ~ Jazz pianist Erlend Slettevol born in Volda, Norway ~ Worked with Ola Kvernberg, Petter Wettre, Heidi Skjervee, Kjetil Moster, Steinar Raknes, Espen Aalberg, Core, Kenneth Kapstad, the African Pepperbirds, the Bergen Big Band, Jonas Kullhammar, Beate S Lech, John Surman, and others
October 26, 1980 ~ Metal, industrial, hardcore punk drummer, DJ Joe Letz born in New York, New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as drummer for industrial metal outfit Combichrist from 2006 through 2019. Has also worked with Amen, Mortiis, Wednesday 13, Genitorturers, Hanzel und Gretyl, Imperative Reaction, Emigrate, Black Light Burns, Pigface, and Aesthetic Perfection. In his downtime Letz serves as organiser and DJ for Rammstein's touring afterparties since 2012
October 26, 1978 ~ Avant-garde, experimental rock electronic musician, songwriter Tyondai Braxton, full name Tyondai Adaien Braxton, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of pivotal jazz, classical saxophonist Anthony Braxton. Co-founded Battles in 2002, most noted for their 2007 Mirrored debut album. As a solo artist Braxton is best known for his 2009 Central Market debut album. Braxton is also an in-demand collaborator and sideman, working with numerous artists including Parts & Labor, Risii, Diamond Watch Wrists, the Asphalt Orchestra, and the Dirty Projectors
October 26, 1974 ~ Johannes Sigmond, commonly known as rock singer, songwriter Blaudzun, born in Arnhem, the Netherlands ~ A devoted cycling fan, Sigmond chose his stage name after the Danish cyclist Verner Blaudzun. Sang from an early age on as a member of his family's church choir. Member of Beam. Backed Christian singers such as Larry Norman. Released his eponymous Blaudzun in 2008. Broke through with the 2012 Heavy Flowers and its 2014 follow-up Promises Of No Man's Land
October 26, 1971 ~ Jazz, classical pianist Vijay Iyer born in Albany, New York, USA ~ Inventive elite jazz pianist with over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially noted for Historicity released in 2009. In-demand collaborator and sideman, appearing on numerous recordings since the mid-1990s including albums by Steve Coleman, Liberty Ellman (Orthodoxy), the Masaoka Orchestra, Burnt Sugar, Roscoe Mitchell, Mike Ladd, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Wadada Leo Smith, Dave Douglas, and AR Rahman
October 26, 1967 ~ Punk bassist, banjoist, guitarist, singer Jeff Pinkus, full name Jeffrey David Pinkus, born ~ Best known as member of the Butthole Surfers from 1985 through 1994, including on the acclaimed albums Locust Abortion Technician and its follow-up Hairway To Steven. Pinkus has also worked with the Flaming Lips, Helios Creed, Daddy Longhead, Honky, the Melvins, and Supersuckers
October 26, 1967 ~ Singer, guitarist Keith Urban, full name Keith Lionel Urban, born in Wangarei, New Zealand ~ Member of the Ranch. As a solo artist gained attention with his 1999 eponymous Keith Urban album, spawning the hit But For The Grace Of God. Has recorded to commercial succes since. Also known for songs such as Where The Blacktop Ends, Who Wouldn't Want To Be Me, You're My Better Half, Making Memories Of Us, Tonight I Wanna Cry, Everybody, Only You Can Love Me This Way, I'm In, Long Hot Sommer, We Were Us with Miranda Lambert, and The Fighter featuring Carrie Underwood, all of which reach the top 10 Billboard Country. Has also collaborated with Julia Michaels, P!nk, Dolly Parton, Nelly Furtado, Emily West, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Thomas Rhett, Reba McEntire, Nile Rodgers, Pitbull, the Dixie Chicks, Tim Wilson, Olivia Newton-John, Trisha Yearwood, Buddy Guy, John Fogerty, Colt Ford, Jason Derülo, and Kasey Chambers
October 26, 1963 ~ Singer Natalie Merchant, full name Natalie Anne Merchant, born in Jamestown, New York, USA ~ Lead singer, frontwoman of jangle pop outfit 10,000 Maniacs, known for songs such as What's The Matter Here, Trouble Me, Eat For Two, These Are Days, Candy Everybody Wants, Because The Night, and others. Debuted as a solo artist with her Tigerlily album in 1995
October 26, 1958 ~ Producer, singer, keyboardist Boyd Jarvis, full name Boyd Henry Jarvis, born in New York, New York, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1983 song The Music Got Me. Sued Robert Clivilles and David Cole of C+C Music Factory over copyright infringement, claiming Get Dumb incorporated parts of Music, and was awarded some $95,000 in damages. Session musician, remixer, producer, worked with Herbie Hancock, La Toya Jackson, Johnny Kemp, Jellybean, Timmy Regisford, Wally Jump Jr & the Criminal Elements, Colonel Abrams, Club Nouveau, Pretty Poison, François Kevorkian, Johnny Gill, Karyn White, Rick James, Evelyn King, Loose Ends, Chaka Khan, Levert, Ronny Jordan, Milk & Honey, and others ~ Jarvis passed away in 2018
October 26, 1956 ~ Jazz pianist Mike Ledonne born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Benny Golson, Panama Francis, Benny Goodman, Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, Clifford Jordan, Grady Tate, Charles McPherson, James Moody, Sonny Rollins, Ernestine Anderson, Annie Ross, Eric Alexander, Chris Flory, Wycliffe Gordon, Scott Hamilton, Alvin Queen, Duke Robillard, Jim Rotondi, Gary Smulyan, Jim Snidero, Cory Weeds, and others
October 26, 1952 ~ Pop rock, folk, jazz, classical, alternative rock keyboardist, film composer Andy Richards, full name Andrew John Richards, born in London, UK ~ Member of the Strawbs during the late 1970s, present on the album Heartbreak Hill. The album was recorded in 1978 but shelved until 1995 due to problems with the record company and management. Following the band's initial split in 1980 Richards has sessioned for a host of artists. Notably present on hit singles such as Relax and Two Tribes by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and Careless Whisper by George Michael. As a session musician Richards would go on to work with Gary Moore, Grace Jones, Billy Squier, Chris De Burgh, Corey Hart, and Annie Lennox. Richards would also establish himself as a producer for the Pet Shop Boys, Prefab Sprout, Holly Johnson, Nick Kamen, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, and T'Pau, and work on numerous soundtracks as an engineer, mixer, or composer including for Bridget Jones's Diary and Slumdog Millionaire
October 26, 1951 ~ William Earl Collins, commonly known as bassist Bootsy Collins born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Leading and hugely influential name in funk. Honed his skills first backing James Brown, then George Clinton as a member of Parliament and Funkadelic before going solo. Worked for Brown for a mere 11 months, appearing on some of the key recordings though such as Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine Part 1, Super Bad, Soul Power, Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Nothing and The Grunt. Backed Clinton from 1972 through the early 1980s, while launching a parallel solo career starting in the mid-1970s. As a so artist best known for the albums Ahh The Name Is Bootsy Baby and Bootsy Player Of The Year, released respectively in 1977 and 1978, both reaching the Billboard Hot 200 top 20 and topping the R&B album charts. Collins' best-known songs include Pinocchio, Can't Stay Away, and perhaps his best known Bootzilla
October 26, 1951 ~ Folk, country singer, songwriter Willie P Bennett, full name William Patrick Bennett, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Best known for his associations with the Dixie Flyers and longtime friend and collaborator Fred Eaglesmith. Also worked with Sneezy Waters, Pat Temple, and sessioned for and toured with nunerous pop and country artists. Recorded as a solo artist since the mid-1970s. Co-wrote Goodby So Long Hello, a 1990 hit for Prayrie Oyster on the Canadian country charts. Bennett came into the spotlight in the late 1990s when Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson formed Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, named for Bennett's 1978 album. Bennett suffered an on-stage heartattack in 2007, the year before he died. Highly admired by peers, he posthumously had several tribute songs written for him, including Willie P by David Essig who produced several of his albums, It's Hard To Keep A White Shirt Clean by Corb Lund and Hurricane Heart by Ian Tamblyn ~ Bennett passed away in 2008
October 26, 1947 ~ Lloyd James, commonly known as dub mixer, producer King Jammy, born in Montego Bay, Jamaica ~ Best known as producer for Black Uhuru. Also worked with Wayne Smith, Admiral Bailey, Chaka Demus, Lieutenant Stitchie, the Pinchers, Dennis Brown, King Tubby, Bunny Lee, Anthony Johnson, Horace Andy, Junior Reid, Purpleman, Sugar Minott, Barry Brown, Hortense Ellis, Tonto Irie, Little John, Leroy Smart, Michael Palmer, Noel Phillips, the Travellers, U-Brown, Niccadems, Errol Holt, Frankie Paul, Johnny Osbourne, Hugh Mundell, and others
October 26, 1944 ~ Bassist Alan Henderson born ~ Original member of Them, present on songs such as Baby Please Don't Go and Here Comes The Night. The band is best known for launching the career of Van Morrison, and despite a brief recording career they are considered influential on a wide array of acts including the Doors ~ Henderson passed away in 2017
October 26, 1944 ~ Folk guitarist, singer Jim McCann born ~ Active since the mid-1960s. Member of the Ludlow Trio, known for their 1966 hit The Sea Around Us. After the band disbanded the following year McCann would mostly work as a solo performer, yet is best known to the general public for his stint with the Dubliners remaining with the band from 1974 through 1979 ~ McCann passed away in 2015
October 26, 1942 ~ Jazz saxophonist Col Loughnan, full name Colin John Loughnan, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Active as a singer with the Crescents, best known for their Mr Blue single, and with the Delltones prior to taking up the saxophone. Co-founding member of the Daly-Wilson Big Band. Perhaps best known for his stint in the 1970s with progressive rock, jazz fusion unit Ayers Rock, for whom he wrote a considerable amount of the material including Crazy Boys and Big Red Rock
October 26, 1942 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Milton Nascimento born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Worked with Beto Guedes, Toninho Horta, Wagner Tiso, Flavio Venturini, Paul Simon, Sarah Vaughan, Mercedes Sosa, Carlos Santana, Pablo Milanés, Cat Stevens, George Duke, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind & Fire, Pat Metheny, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, Nana Vasconcelos, Jon Anderson, James Taylor, Peter Gabriel, Duran Duran, Wayne Shorter, Gilberto Gil, Herbie Hancock, and others
October 26, 1941 ~ Country, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Charlie Landsborough, full name Charles Alexander Landsborough, born in Wrexham, UK ~ Active since the 1970s. Best known for his 1994 recording What Color Is The Wind. Had his songs recorded by the likes of Foster & Allen (I Will Love You All My Life), Roly Daniels (Part Of Me), and George Hamilton IV (Heaven Knows
October 26, 1940 ~ Trumpeter Eddie Henderson, full name Edward Jackson Henderson, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Booker Little, Clifford Brown, Woody Shaw, Miles Davis. Best known for his association with Herbie Hancock. Has also worked with the Cookers, Pharoah Sanders, Mike Nock, Norman Connors, Art Blakey, Azteca, Charles Earland, Kenny Barron, Gary Bartz, Norman Connors, Stanley Cowell, Benny Golson, Billy Harper, Mina Aoe, Dale Barlow, TK Blue, Joe Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Laurent de Wilde, Ray Drummond, JJ Johnson, Azar Lawrence, Archie Shepp, Jarek Smietana, Leon Thomas, and others
October 26, 1938 ~ John Henry Starks, commonly known as drummer John Jabo Starks, was born in Jackson, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for his association with James Brown, backing the singer on stage and in the studio from 1965 through 1976. Also worked with Bobby Blue Bland (including on the quintessential 1961 album Two Steps From The Blues), BB King, John Lee Hooker, Smiley Lewis, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Big Mama Thornton, Bobby Byrd, Howlin' Wolf, Lyn Collins, Fred Wesley, JJ Blair, and others ~ Starks passed away in 2018
October 26, 1936 ~ Rockabilly, country, rock guitarist Al Casey, full name Alvin Wayne Casey, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ First gained attention playing guitar on the mid-1950s Sanford Clark hit The Fool, which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Has worked with Duane Eddy from the mid-1950s through the end of the decade, for whom he also wrote Ramrod. Closely associated with Johnny Cash, appearing on well over a dozen of Cash's albums including the acclaimed I Walk The Line released in 1964. Also guested on albums by Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), the Monkees, and Elvis Presley (Elvis '68 Comeback Special) ~ Casey passed away in 2006
October 26, 1934 ~ Keyboardist, songwriter Hans-Joachim Roedelius born in Berlin, Germany ~ Influential experimental, Krautrock pioneer. Co-founded Kluster with Conrad Schnitzler and Dieter Moebius, renamed to Cluster after Schnitzler's departure in 1971, and acclaimed especially for 1971's Cluster '71. Roedelius and Moebler would also team up with guitarist Michael Rother, recording the albums Musik Von Harmonia and Deluxe under the group moniker Harmonia. Roedelius has recorded over 30 albums as a solo artist, notably Durch Die Wüste and Wenn Der Südwind Weht, and has frequently collaborated with Brian Eno
October 26, 1931 ~ Edward Emery Williams Jr, commonly known as Chicago blues singer, pianist, songwriter Detroit Junior, born in Haynes, Arkansas, USA ~ Known for recordings such as So Unhappy, Call My Job, If I Hadn't Been High, Ella, and Money Tree. Had his songs covered by Koko Taylor, Albert King, and others. Backed Howlin' Wolf for over a decade, starting in 1956. Has also worked with Eddie Boyd, John Lee Hooker, Amos Milburn, and others ~ Williams passed away in 2005
October 26, 1929 ~ Singer Neal Matthews born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of the Jordanaires from 1949 until his death in 2000, a vocal group known best for backing artists such as Patsy Cline, Red Foley, Johnny Horton, Ferlin Husky, Jim Reeves, and George Jones. The group is especially known for their association with Elvis Presley, backing Presley on some of his best known including It's Now Or Never, Return To Sender, Can't Help Falling In Love, Are You Lonesome Tonight, and Now And Then There's A Fool Such As I ~ Matthews passed away in 2000
October 26, 1927 ~ Tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Protégé of pianist Lennie Tristano. Member of Supersax. Leader, co-leader, sideman. Has worked with Tristano, Elek Bacsik, Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Clare Fischer, Lee Konitz, Art Pepper, Joe Albany, Lew Tabackin, Pete Christlieb, and others ~ Marsh passed away in 1987
October 26, 1914 ~ Gospel singer Claude Jeter born in Montgomery, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Dixie Hummingbirds. best known as co-founding member of the Swan Silvertones, one of the most popular and influential gospel groups especially popular during the 1950s. Noted for his falsetto voice as evidenced in songs such as Careless Soul and Saviour Pass Me Not. Influential on later singers including Al Green and the Temptations' Eddie Kendricks ~ Jeter passed away in 2009
October 26, 1913 ~ Bandleader, saxophonist, composer Charlie Barnet, full name Charles Daly Barnet, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for songs such as Skyliner, Cherokee, The Wrong Idea, Scotch & Soda, In A Mizz and Southland Shuffles. Employed sidemen such as Buddy DeFranco, Roy Eldridge, Neal Hefti, Lena Horne, Barney Kessel, Dodo Marmarosa, Oscar Pettiford, Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, Jimmy Knepper, Clark Terry, and others ~ Barnet passed away in 1991
October 26, 1685 ~ Baroque, classical composer Domenico Scarlatti, full name Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti, born in Naples, Italy ~ Son of composer Alessandro Scarlatti. Influenced Béla Bartók, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claude Debussy, Vladimir Horowitz, Dmitri Shostakovich, and others. Best known for his keyboard sonatas, having written over 500 of them ~ Scarlatti passed away in 1757