October 27, 1997 ~ James Taylor-Watts, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, songwriter James TW, born in Barford, UK ~ Self-released a debut EP, Just A Number, in 2014. Best known for his 2016 single When You Love Someone. Attention garnered through online platforms would secure Taylor-Watts a record deal, leading to a full-length debut album, Chapters, released in 2019
October 27, 1983 ~ Keyboardist Vince van Reeken born in The Hague, the Netherlands ~ Best known as member of Di-rect from 2009 through 2016. Appears on singles such as Hold On, The Chase and The Young Ones, all of which reached the Dutch top 30. Previously a member of Juice, a minimal techno producer known under the moniker Vince John and founder of the Jam de la Creme festival an annual music festival in Scheveningen
October 27, 1981 ~ Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr, commonly known as rapper Berner, born ~ As a solo artist over a dozen albums to his name since the mid-2000s, best known for his 2015 Hempire release. In-demand collaborator, has worked with the Jacka, Messy Marv, Ampichino, San Quinn, B Real, Cam'ron, Styles P, Curren$y, and Larry June
October 27, 1978 ~ Singer, songwriter Sabrina Washington, full name Sabrina Fredrica Washington, born in Harlesden, UK ~ Alongside Alesha Dixon and Su-Elise Nash a member of Mis-Teeq from its inception in 1999 to its disbandement in 2005. The band would score a string of UK top 10 hits including Why, All I Want, B With Me and Scandalous, the latter also reaching the American top 40. Released a solo debut single, OMG (Oh My Gosh), in 2010 which didn't chart in the singer's native England but did chart modestly across Europe
October 27, 1978 ~ Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson, monoymously known as violinist Vanessa-Mae, born in Singapore ~ Musically trained since a young age. At age 13 became the youngest soloist to record both Ludwig van Beethoven and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's violin concertos. Has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with Violin released in 1990. Though mostly a classical artist has dabbled in crossover and pop, such as her The Violin Player album and guesting on Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope album
October 27, 1969 ~ Jazz drummer Stephane Galland born ~ Worked with Pierre van Dormael, the Nasa Na Band, Fabrizio Cassol, Doudou Ndiaye Rose, the Liege Philharmonic Orchestra, Zap Mama, Axelle Red, Joe Zawinul, Bzzz Puk, Greeting From Mercury, Ibrahim Maalouf, Jeroen van Herzeele, KD's Basement Party, Octun, Tomas & Co, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Malcolm Braff, Laurent David, and others
October 27, 1963 ~ Jan Vetter, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Farin Urlaub, born in West Berlin, West Germany ~ Influenced by the Beatles and Frank Zappa. Co-founding member of Die Ärzte. The band would record four albums until their initial disbandement in the late 1980s, three of which would reach top 10 in their native Germany, yet the band would score their greatest hits after reforming in the early 1990s, reaching top 10 with the singles Schrei Nach Liebe and Ein Song Namens Schunder. Urlaub has also recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist and as frontman and eponym of the Farin Urlaub Racing Team
October 27, 1961 ~ Trumpeter, conductor, teacher Håkan Hardenberger, full name Ulf Håkan Hardenberger, born in Malmo, Sweden ~ Considered a trumpet virtuoso known for premiering contemporary trumpet compositions. Has collaborated with composers such as Harrison Birtwistle, Brett Dean, Hans Werner Henze, and György Ligeti. Performed with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Wiener Philharmoniker, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Also served as artistic director for the Malmo Chamber Music Festival, and has conducted the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Malmo Symphony Orchestra, and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra
October 27, 1953 ~ Pianist, composer, arranger Robert Irving III born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his association with Miles Davis from the late 1970s through the late 1980s, present on the 1981 album The Man With The Horn. Has also worked with Al Foster, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Gary Thomas, Bob Berg, Kenny Garrett, Hiram Bullock, Robben Ford, Darryl Jones, Wallace Roney, Lenny White, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kahil El-Zabar, Ramsey Lewis, and others
October 27, 1952 ~ Jazz, orchestral bassist Ken Filiano born in Patchoque, New York, USA ~ Known for his post-bop, modern creative, and free jazz credits. Acclaimed for his 2002 Subvenire album. In-demand sideman and collaborator, present on albums by Mark Harvey, Vinny Golia, Richard Grossman (Trio In Real Time), Steve Adams, Tina Marsh, Steve Swell, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Roswell Rudd (Broad Strokes), Paul Smoker, Fred Hess, Dom Minasi (Time Will Tell), and Larry Ochs
October 27, 1951 ~ Producer, songwriter, label executive Scott Billington born in Melrose, Massachusetts, USA ~ Longtime label executive for Rounder Records. Produced artists in blues, country, cajun, jazz and zydeco idioms including Johnny Shines, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Charlie Rich, Solomon Burke, Johnny Adams, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Irma Thomas, James Booker, Tangle Eye, the Soul Rebels, the Girl Authority, George Thorogood, Amanda Shaw, Corey Harris, Boozoo Chavis, Candye Kane, Chris Ardoin, the Holmes Brothers, and others
October 27, 1949 ~ Club owner, label executive, producer Clifford Antone born in Port Arthur, Texas, USA ~ Fixture on the Austin, Texas, music scene. Mentor to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson, and Gary Clark Jr. Founder, owner of renowned blues club Antone's, which opened in the mid-1970s, and founder, label executive of the independent Antone's Records & Tapes record label. The club, one of the city first music venues, helped lead to Austin's reputation as a music city. Upon hearing of his death, then-mayor Will Wynn would comment: “One of the primary reasons Austin is known as ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ is because of Antone.” ~ Antone passed away in 2006
October 27, 1948 ~ Singer, actor Gianni Nazzaro born in Naples, Italy ~ Recorded some 50-odd singles, mostly covers, from 1965 through 1968 going by the moniker Buddy before reverting to his given name. Best known for Solo Noi released in 1968 and Me Chiammi Ammore released in 1970. Would continue to chart regularly throughout the decade before slowing down in the 1980s ~ Nazzaro passed away in 2021
October 27, 1948 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Sherman Robertson born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA ~ Draws from zydeco, swamp blues, electric blues, R&B. First gained serious attention backing Clifton Chenier during the 1980s, notably present on the albums Live At The and San Francisco Blues Festival. Guested on Paul Simon's Graceland album. Following Chenier's death in 1987 Robertson would work with Rockin' Dopsie and Terrance Simien before venturing out on his own. As a solo artist best known for the album I'm The Man released in 1994 ~ Robertson passed away in 2021
October 27, 1946 ~ Country keyboardist, clavinetist, songwriter Steve Hardin, full name Stephen Joseph Hardin, born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Best known as a songwriter. Penned songs such as I Love My Truck for Glen Campbell and Breakin' Down for Waylon Jennings. Member of Point Blank, for whom he wrote the concert favorite Mean To Your Queenie ~ Hardin passed away in 2015
October 27, 1945 ~ Jazz bassist Arild Andersen born in Strømmen, Norway ~ One of Norway's best known bassists. Known especially for his stint with Jan Garbarek, notably present on the aclaimed Afric Pepperbird album. Well over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, including collaborations with Sheila Jordan, John Abercrombie, and Bill Frisell. Also present on albums by the likes of George Russell, Don Cherry (Eternal Rhythm), Robin Kenyatta, Roswell Rudd, Charlie Mariano, Frode Alnæs, Ketil Bjørnstad, and Karin Krog
October 27, 1943 ~ Pianist, bandleader, composer, playwright, poet Weldon Irvine, full name Weldon Jonathan Irvine Jr, born in Hampton, Virginia, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs including To Be Young Gifted & Black with Nina Simone, first recorded by the latter on her 1970 Black Gold album and notably covered by Aretha Franklin 2 years later. Mentor to many New York hip-hop artists including Q-Tip and Mos Def ~ Irvine passed away in 2002
October 27, 1942 ~ Composer, musicologist David Johnson, full name David Charles Johnson, born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Internationally recognised scholar whose work did much to rediscover and reinvent 18th century Scottish music, setting it in historical context. His doctoral thesis would lead to the 1972 Music And Society In Lowland Scotland In The 18th Century, considered a seminal work in its field. Despite a varied body of compositions, including operas, string quartets, and cello suites, his work as a composer would not be as well known as his scholastic work and only earn him local recognition ~ Johnson passed away in 2009
October 27, 1942 ~ Country singer, songwriter Lee Greenwood, full name Melvin Lee Greenwood, born in South Gate, California, USA ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name since the early 1980s. Best known for his patriotic country hit single God Bless The USA. Other successes included Somebody's Gonna Love You, Going Going Gone, Dixie Road, I Don't Mind The Thorns If You're The Rose, Don't Underestimate My Love For You, Hearts Aren't Made To Break (They're Made To Love) and Mornin' Ride, all of which did well on Billboard Country charts
October 27, 1942 ~ Guitarist Philip Catherine born in London, UK ~ Released his debut album, Stream, in 1972. Has worked with Larry Coryell, Charles Mingus, Benny Goodman, Didier Lockwood, Christian Escoudé, Chet Baker, Tom Harrell, Lou Bennett, Kenny Drew, Dexter Gordon, Stéphane Grappelli, Karin Krog, Paul Kuhn, Sylvain Luc, Michael Mantler, Charlie Mariano, Palle Mikkelborg, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Enrico Rava, Toots Thielemans, Miroslav Vitous, Focus, Jean-Luc Ponty, Laura Fygi, Laila Dalseth, Vladimir Cosma, Karin Krog, Charlie Mariano, Airto Moreira, Alphonse Mouzon, Zbigniew Seifert, Jasper van 't Hof, Johan Verminnen, Barney Wilen, Enrico Pieranunzi, Robert Wyatt, and others
October 27, 1941 ~ Pop, folk, folk rock, blues singer, guitarist, percussionist, songwriter Don Partridge, full name Donald Eric Partridge, born in Bournemouth, UK ~ Busker and one-man-band who briefly found unexpected commercial success at the tail end of the sixties, his 1968 singles Rosie and its follow-up Blue Eyes both reaching top 10 in his native UK, and Breakfast On Pluto released the following year charting in the top 30. Partridge is also known for co-founding Accolade, with whom he recorded two albums during the early 1970s ~ Partridge passed away in 2010
October 27, 1939 ~ Singer, songwriter Dallas Frazier born in Spiro, Oklahoma, USA ~ Moderately successful as a late 1950s singer best known for writing and first recording Alley Oop, later a hit for the Hollywood Argyles. Would find his greatest fame as a songwriter, his songs recorded by Ferlin Husky (Timber I'm Falling), OC Smith, George Jones, Jack Greene (There Goes My Everything), Diana Ross, Johnny Duncan (Johnny One Time), Engelbert Humperdinck, Jerry Lee Lewis (Touching Home), Connie Smith (In My Baby's Arms Again), Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Charlie Rich (Mohair Sam), Gene Watson (Fourteen Carat Mind), Elvis Presley (True Love Travels On A Gravel Road), Moe Bandy (Don't Anyone Make Love At Home Anymore), Roy Head, Charlie Louvin, Rodney Crowell, Dan McCafferty, Poco, Ronnie Hawkins, Henson Cargill (This Just Ain't No Good Day For Leavin'), Anne Murray, Stoney Edwards (Hank And Lefty Raised My Country Soul), Glen Campbell, George Strait, Randy Travis, and Patty Loveless. In 1988 Frazier left the music industry to become a Christian minister ~ Frazier passed away in 2022
October 27, 1939 ~ Country singer Ruby Wright born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Eldest child of Johnnie Wright and Kitty Wells. Also recorded under the moniker Ruby Wells, to avoid confusion with big band singer Ruby Wright. Best known for her 1964 Billboard Country top 20 hit Dern Ya, an answer song to Roger Miller's Dang Me. Her sole full-length album of the same name, Dern Ya, followed in 1966 ~ Wright passed away in 2009
October 27, 1934 ~ Jazz bassist, double bassist Barre Phillips born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Considered a prime bass improviser. Over two dozen albums to his name as leader or co-leader. Specifically noted for the 1971 Music From Two Basses, a collaborative album with Dave Holland. Member of influential 1970s outfit the Trio alongside saxophonist John Surman and drummer Stu Martin. Regularly recorded with the London Jazz Composers Orchestra during the 1980s and 1990s, including on the acclaimed Theoria album. Other notable associations include Eric Dolphy, Lee Konitz (Zo-Ko-Ma), Mal Waldron, Gong, Terje Rypdal, Charlie Mariano, Gunter Hampel (Jubilation), Peter Brötzmann, Michel Montanaro, Paul Bley (Chaos), Masashi Harada, Jeanette Lambert, and Joe Morris
October 27, 1934 ~ Jazz trumpeter, conductor, arranger Ivan Jullien born ~ To pop audiences perhaps best known for his association with Elton John, appearing on the early 1970s albums Honky Château and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player. Jullien has also played with Claude Bolling and Jacques Denjean early on in his career, led the mid-1960s ensemble the Paris Jazz All-Stars, and guested on albums by Jef Gilson, Eddy Mitchell, Didier Lockwood, Charles Aznavour, Claude Nougaro, and Raymond Fol ~ Jullien passed away in 2015
October 27, 1933 ~ Pianist Floyd Cramer born in Samti, Louisiana, USA ~ Considered one of the pioneers of the Nashville sound. Frequent collaborator of guitarist Don Gibson and saxophonist Boots Randolph. Renowned for his slip note technique. Has recorded prolifically as a solo artist, his instrumental renditions of classics, including Last Date, On The Rebound, and San Antonio Rose, regularly becoming hits. In-demand session pianist, present on hit singles by Elvis Presley (Heartbreak Hotel), Brenda Lee, Hank Locklin (Please Help Me I'm Falling), Patsy Cline, the Browns, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson, and the Everly Brothers ~ Cramer passed away in 1997
October 27, 1931 ~ Francis Dominic Joseph Dallas, commonly known as jazz bassist, singer Sonny Dallas, born in Rankin, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Most closely associated with Lennie Tristano. Also worked with Charlie Spivak, Ray Eberle, Claude Thornhill, Sal Salvador, Tony Scott, Chet Baker, Buck Clayton, Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh, Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Elvin Jones, Mary Lou Williams, George Wallington, Jackie Paris, and others ~ Dallas passed away in 2007
October 27, 1927 ~ Composer Bernard Parmegiani born in Paris, France ~ Known for his electronic or acousmatic music. Studied mime from 1957 to 1961, a period he later regarded as important to his work as a composer. Worked with Iannis Xenakis, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, the Third Ear Band, and François Bayle. Cited as a major influence by later acts such as Aphex Twin, Autechre and Sonic Youth ~ Parmegiani passed away in 2013
October 27, 1927 ~ Operatic and choral composer Dominick Argento born ~ Wrote fourteen operas, including Miss Havisham's Fire Opera, Masque Of The Angels, and Aspern Papers Opera, orchestral works, major song cycles, of which From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf won him the 1975 Pullitzer Prize for Music, and choral works. Married to soprano singer Carolyn Bailey, whom he often referred to as his muse ~ Argento passed away in 2019
October 27, 1927 ~ Opera singer Robert White born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and others. Premiered works, some written specifically for him, by composers such as Mark Adamo, William Bolcom, John Corigliano, Lukas Foss, Stephen Hough, Libby Larsen, Lowell Liebermann, Gian Carlo Menotti, Tobias Picker, Ned Rorem, David Del Tredici, and others
October 27, 1924 ~ Mary Joan Kath, commonly known as country, rock & roll, rockabilly singer Bonnie Lou, born in Towanda, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Patsy Montana. Along with the likes of Wanda Jackson generally considered as one of the first women in what would later become known as rockabilly, enjoying popularity from the early 1950s onwards. Started performing on WJBC AM radio station at age 16, moving on to the nationally syndicated KMBC radio show the Brush Creek Follies show the following year. At the time the show would be considered one of the biggest music programs in country. Well-known for songs such as the early 1950s Billboard Country top 10 hits Seven Lonely Days and Tennessee Wig-Walk ~ Kath passed away in 2015
October 27, 1924 ~ Giacinto Figlia, coommonly known as jazz pianist, composer George Wallington born in Palermo, Italy ~ Starting in 1943 Wallington spend a decade playing with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Marsala, Charlie Parker, Serge Chaloff, Allen Eager, Kai Winding, Terry Gibbs, Brew Moore, Al Cohn, Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, and with Red Rodney, and recording as a leader for Savoy Records and Blue Note Records. Toured Europe in 1953 as a member of Lionel Hampton's big band. From 1954 onwards Wallington led groups that included young talents including Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean and Phil Woods. In 1960 Wallington retired from the music business, citing the stress of endless touring, but has made a number of albums in the 1980s ~ Figlia passed away in 1993
October 27, 1919 ~ Lee Brown, commonly known as jazz singer, songwriter Babs Gonzales, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Noted for penning Pop Pop-a-da. Worked with Charlie Barnet and with Lionel Hampton before forming his first own ensemble in 1946. His sidemen over the years would include Tadd Dameron, Tony Scott, Roy Haynes, James Moody, JJ Johnson, Julius Watkins, Sonny Rollins, Art Pepper, Wynton Kelly, and Don Redman. Later in his career he would collaborate with artists such as Jimmy Smith, Bennie Green, Lenny Hambro, and Johnny Griffin ~ Brown passed away in 1980
October 27, 1913 ~ Bandleader, bass saxophonist Boyd Raeburn, full name Boyd Albert Raeburn, born in Faith, South Dakota, USA ~ Has led a number of swing and big band ensembles since the 1930s, which at times included sidemen such as Serge Chaloff, Trummy Young, Lucky Thompson, Buddy DeFranco, and pianist George Handy. Raeburn would make considerable contributions to the development of jazz for a brief period during the mid-1940s, the ensemble noted for its daring and at the time considered avant-garde arrangements by pianist Handy. Reportedly, they were also the first to record the Dizzy Gillespie-classic Night In Tunisia. Raeburn would mostly retire from music by the mid-1950s ~ Raeburn passed away in 1966