October 28, 1988 ~ Sterling Leroy Pennix Jr, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Hoodrich Pablo Juan, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Has been releasing mixtapes since the mid-2010s. Perhaps best known for We Don't Luv 'Em taken of his full-length Designer Drugz 3 debut album released in 2017. Has collaborated with Gucci Mane, Migos, Gunna, and Lil' Baby
October 28, 1987 ~ R&B, pop, avant-garde singer, keyboardist, guitarist, producer Frank Ocean born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Draws from electro-funk, pop-soul, jazz-funk and psychedelia. Member of Odd Future. Released his critically acclaimed full-length solo debut album, Channel Orange, in 2012. Best known for songs such as Novocane and Thinkin' About You. Ocean has also collaborated with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Calvin Harris, and A$AP Mob
October 28, 1980 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Natina Reed, full name Natina Tiawana Reed, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Discovered by Lisa Left-Eye Lopes, who employed her as a writer for TLC. Under the guidance of Lopes, Reed formed the R&B trio Blaque with Brandi Williams and Shamari Fears. The group is known for a handful of late-1990s singles, 808 and Bring It All To Me both peaking in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Reed was the girlfriend of rapper Kurupt and mother to their son. Reed died after being hit by a car just shy of her 32nd birthday ~ Reed passed away in 2012
October 28, 1974 ~ Rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer Wesley Geer, full name Wesley Harmon Geer Jr, born in Fullerton, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Hed PE, with whom he recorded the albums Church Of Realities, Hed PE, Broke, and Blackout. Following his departure from the band in 2003 Geer has taught music to children, toured with Korn, and founded the Rock To Recovery non-profit, providing therapeutic songwriting sessions with the latter for recovering addicts, abuse victims and troubled teens
October 28, 1972 ~ Singer, guitarist Brad Paisley, full name Brad Douglas Paisley, born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, USA ~ Debuted in 1999 with the Who Needs Pictures album and has recorded steadily to critical acclaim and commercial succes since. Known for songs such as We Danced, I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song), Little Moments, the Alison Krauss-duet Whiskey Lullabye, Mud On The Tires, Ticks, I'm Still A Guy, American Saturday Night, the Carrie Underwood-duet Remind Me, and Perfect Storm. Has also collaborated with Chely Wright, Bill Anderson, Asleep At The Wheel, Pat Green, Darius Rucker, Robbie Williams, LL Cool J, and John Fogerty
October 28, 1970 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by John Coltrane, Pat Metheny, Allan Holdsworth, Tal Farlow, George van Eps, Bill Frisell, John Scofield, and Alex Lifeson. Worked with Human Feel, Paul Motian, Joe Henderson, Brian Blade, Mark Turner, Brad Mehldau, Joel Frahm, Q-Tip, Ben Street, Jeff Ballard, Aaron Goldberg, Joe Martin, Eric Harland, Eric Revis, the Metta Quintet, Scott Kinsey, Seamus Blake, Gary Burton, Once Blue, Perico Sambeat, Larry Goldings, Chris Cheek, Chris Potter, Marcy Playground, Jill Seigers, Tim Hagans, Noah Becker, Wax Poetic, Danilo Pérez, Toku, Barney McAll, the Jorg Kaalj Quintet, Eli Degibri, Jonathan Townes, Charlie Peacock, Joshua Redman, Tom Cogen, Phil Grenadier, Joel Miller, Roman Ott, Julian Shore, Donald Fagen, Kyra Garey, Jo Yu Chen, Kyle Crane, Tobias Meinhart, and others
October 28, 1969 ~ Singer, songwriter Ben Harper, full name Benjamin Chase Harper, born in Pomona, California, USA ~ Revered alternative musician drawing from blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock. Multiple Grammy Award-winner. Influenced by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Robert Johnson. Worked with Taj Mahal, Tom Freund (Pleasure & Pain), the Innocent Criminals, Charlie Musselwhite, and Natalie Maines. Debuted in 1994 with the acclaimed Welcome To The Cruel World and has recorded steadily since
October 28, 1968 ~ Violinist, singer Caitlin Cary born in Seville, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with Whiskeytown, the Tres Chicas, Thad Cockrell, Small Ponds, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mitch Easter, Don Dixon, Greg Humphreys, Audley Freed, Jane Scarpantoni, the North Carolina Music Love Army, Jon Lindsay, James Olin Olden, Chris Stamey, Kenny Roby, American Aquarium, Riverbreaks, Sally Spring, Yarn, Chatham County Lines, Monty Warren, Simon Alpin, Cracker, Terry Anderson, Greg Hawks, Hazeldine, and Tami Hart
October 28, 1967 ~ Bona Pinder Yayumayalo, commonly known as jazz fusion, world fusion, ethno jazz bassist, guitarist, singer Richard Bona, born in Minta, Cameroon ~ Inspired to take up the electric bass after listening to Jaco Pastorius. Over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, especially noted for his 1999 Scenes From My Life debut album. Well known for his work backing Joe Zawinul in the mid-1990s, and Pat Metheny in the early-2000s. An in-demand sideman, Bona has appeared on albums by Eric Le Lann, Larry Coryell (Spaces Revisited), Jon Lucien, Nestor Torres, Regina Carter, Bob James, Philippe Saisse (Halfway Till Dawn), Renee Rosnes (Art And Soul), Danilo Pérez, Frank McComb, Mike Stern (Voices), Randy Brecker, Jane Monheit, Anton Fig, Bobby McFerrin, George Benson, Lokua Kanza, Lee Ritenour (Smoke 'n' Mirrors), Sadao Watanabe, Hector Martignon (Refugee), Keiko Matsui, Victor Wooten, and Lionel Loueke
October 28, 1965 ~ Singer Shawn Smith born in Spokane, Washington, USA ~ Cites Prince, Kiss, Stevie Wonder, Ice Cube, and Chris Cornell as influences. Member of Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed, Malfunkshun, and the Twilight Singers. Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Let It All Begin released in 1999 ~ Smith passed away in 2019
October 28, 1963 ~ Singer, songwriter Eros Ramazzotti born in Rome, Italy ~ Broke through with the 1993 album Tutte Storie. Has collaborated with Cher, Tina Turner, Andrea Bocelli, Patsy Kensit, Anastacia, Joe Cocker, Julio Iglesias, Lynn Davis, Ricardo Arjona, Luciano Pavarotti, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Ricky Martin, Andrea Bocelli, Celso Valli, Trevor Horn, Rick Nowels, and others
October 28, 1963 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Mario Venuti born ~ Member of Denovo, known for their 1987 Persuasione sophomore album which is considered one of the premier 1980s Italian albums. Following the band's disbandement in 1990 Venuti has recorded as a solo artist, notably known for his 2003 Veramente hit
October 28, 1953 ~ John Charles Barrett, commonly known as songwriter, producer Desmond Child born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Member of 1970s pop band Desmond Child & Rouge, alongside Myriam Valle, Maria Vidal and Diana Grasselli. Best known as a songwriter, producer. Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by Kiss (I Was Made For Lovin' You), Cher, Aerosmith (Dude (Looks Like A Lady)), Bon Jovi (You Give Love A Bad Name), Bonnie Tyler, Dream Theatre, Per Gessle, Ricky Martin (Livin' La Vida Loca), Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson, Meat Loaf, Billy Squier, Jimmy Barnes, John Waite, Jennifer Rush, Ronnie Spector, Joan Jett, Michael Bolton (How Can We Be Lovers), Bonfire, Ace Frehley, Robin Beck, RATT, Steve Vai, LeAnn Rimes, Chynna Phillips, Roxette, Chicago, Hanson, Sisqó (Thong Song), Carrie Underwood (Inside Your Heaven), the Scorpions, Katy Perry (Waking Up In Vegas), Tokio Hotel, Zedd, and others
October 28, 1952 ~ Krautrock, proto-punk, art rock drummer, guitarist, singer Thomas Dinger born ~ Member of pivotal krautrock unit Neu, alongside his brother Klaus Dinger, and present on the 1975 Neu 75 album. Subsequently worked with La Düsseldorf, again with his brother Klaus, appearing on the band's first three albums La Düsseldorf, Viva and Individuellos ~ Dinger passed away in 2002
October 28, 1951 ~ Bassist John Regan born ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Ace Frehley, notably on the 1987 Frehley's Comet album, and for backing Peter Frampton from 1979 through 2011. Also present on albums by the likes of Chip Taylor, Billy Idol (Whiplash Smile), John Waite, David Bowie, Robin Trower, and Jamie Oldaker ~ Regan passed away in 2023
October 28, 1950 ~ Singer, songwriter Annette Humpe born in Hagen, West Germany ~ Annette is best known as a member of Ideal and as a songwriter for Udo Lindenberg, Die Prinzen, Lucilectric, Sin With Sebastian, and Nena. Humpe also worked with her sister Inga Humpe in the band the Neonbabies and under the moniker Humpe & Humpe
October 28, 1945 ~ Saxophonist Elton Dean was born in Nottingham, UK ~ Member of Bluesology, led by Long John Baldry. The band's pianist Reginald Kenneth Dwight would later combine their two first names for his stage name, Elton John. Dean would go on to work with Centipede, Robert Wyatt, Keith Tippett, Soft Machine, Ninesense, Soft Heap, In Cahoots, the Anglo-Italian Quartet, Equipe Out, and others. Dean has also recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader, starting with the eponymous Elton Dean released in 1971 ~ Dean passed away in 2006
October 28, 1945 ~ Jazz clarinetist Michel Pilz born in Bad Neustadt, Germany ~ Especially acclaimed for Carpathes, a collaborative album with bassist Peter Kowald and drummer Paul Lovens released in 1978. Closely associated with Manfred Schoof, playing intermittently with the trumpeter from the late-1960s through the 1980s. Other notable associations include Alexander von Schlippenbach, the Globe Unity Orchestra (Globe Unity 67 & 70), and Guru Guru ~ Pilz passed away in 2023
October 28, 1945 ~ Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, commonly known as pop, beat singer Wayne Fontana, born in Manchester, UK ~ Named himself “Fontana” after Elvis Presley's backing drummer DJ Fontana. Best known for his 1965 hit The Game Of Love backed by the Mindbenders, which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic ~ Ellis passed away in 2020
October 28, 1943 ~ Conductor Kenneth Montgomery born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Conductor and music director for renowned companies including the Sadler's Wells Opera, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, the Opera Northern Ireland, and the Ulster Opera. Outside of the UK best known for his association with the Netherlands Radio Symphony, serving as its principal conductor from 1985 through 1989, and as director of opera studies at the Royal Conservatory the Hague since 1991 ~ Montgomery passed away in 2023
October 28, 1941 ~ Bassist, arranger, conductor David Van De Pitte born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of Johnny Trudell's orchestra for most of the 1960s. In-house arranger for Motown from 1968 through the early-1970s. Especially known for conducting the orchestra on Marvin Gaye's 1971 masterpiece What's Going On album. Also arranged songs for the Four Tops, the Supremes, Gladys Knight (If I Were Your Woman), the Temptations (Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)), and Stevie Wonder. Following his departure from the label by 1972 has freelanced, working with the likes of Paul Anka, Millie Jackson, and George Clinton ~ Van de Pitte passed away in 2009
October 28, 1941 ~ Brian Robson Rankin, commonly known as guitarist, banjoist, pianist, singer, songwriter Hank Marvin born in Newcastle, UK ~ Arguably the first British guitar hero influential on a host of UK artists including George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Peter Frampton, and Tony Iommi. Rose to fame as lead guitarist for the Shadows, a band primarily known for instrumentals such as Apache, FBI, Wonderful Land, and Foot Tapper. The band would also serve as backing unit for Cliff Richard. Marvin has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Hank Marvin released in 1969 during the band's hiatus
October 28, 1939 ~ Jazz singer, pianist Andy Bey born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Openly gay. Baritone singer blessed with a four-octave vocal range. Worked with his sibling Salome Bey and Geraldine Bey. Also worked with Connie Francis, Louis Jordan, Stanley Clarke, Gary Bartz, Howard McGhee, Bob Malach, Duke Pearson, Max Roach, and Horace Silver
October 28, 1939 ~ Folk, country, pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Post, full name Jimmie David Post, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ About a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist. Best known for forming the short-lived duo Friend & Lover with his then-wife Cathy Conn, scoring the 1968 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Reach Out Of The Darkness. Has frequently collaborated with Mick Scott and Tom Dunde, and despite little chart success was considered a mainstay on the Chicago folk scene ~ Post passed away in 2022
October 28, 1938 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer, film composer Howard Blake born in London, UK ~ Enjoyed a career spanning five decades with over an estimated 650 works to his name. Known best as a film composer with well over a dozen scores to his name, perhaps most notably for the animated feature film The Snowman released in 1982. Provided additional orchestral pieces to the 1980 sci-fi opera superhero film Flash Gordon, its soundtrack mostly written and performed by Queen. Over time Blake would increasingly be recognised for his classical works including concertos, oratorios, ballets, and operas
October 28, 1937 ~ Saxophonist, keyboardist, singer Graham Bond, full name Graham John Clifton Bond, born in Romford, UK ~ Leading figure, pioneer in early British R&B. Fronted the Graham Bond Organisation, which also included Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Jon Hiseman, John McLaughlin and Dick Heckstall-Smith. The latter would go on to use the Bond-penned Walkin' In The Park for Colosseum's debut album. First to use a mellotron, influencing later keyboardist such as Deep Purple's Jon Lord, Has also worked with Alexis Korner, Harvey Mandel, Dr John, Ginger Baker's Air Force, Pete Brown, Don Rendell, and others ~ Bond passed away in 1974
October 28, 1936 ~ Conductor, composer Carl Davis born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as prolific composer for film and TV, notably the 1981 drama film The French Lieutenant's Woman and the 1995 BBC TV series Pride & Prejudice. To pop audiences perhaps best known for collaborating with Paul McCartney on the 1991 Liverpool Oratorio album, McCartney's first foray into classical music ~ Davis passed away in 2023
October 28, 1936 ~ Singer, songwriter Charlie Daniels, full name Charles Edward Daniels, born in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA ~ Fronts Charlie Daniels Band, known for their international hit The Devil Went To Georgia. Turned conservative, right-wing America's darling somewhere in the 1970s. Actually hung with the Nashville hippy crowd the previous decade. Session guitarist, bassist, backing singer on recordings by Bob Dylan and by Leonard Cohen. Co-wrote It Hurts Me, recorded by Elvis Presley. Also worked with the Marshall Tucker Band, Hank Williams Jr, Mark O'Connor, Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash, Montgomery Gentry, and Aaron Lewis ~ Daniels passed away in 2020
October 28, 1936 ~ Soul blues singer, songwriter Ted Hawkins born in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA ~ Drifted in and out of obscurity, dividing his time between stints in prison, performing as a street performer in America, and touring Europe where his music was well-received. Repeatedly “discovered” by various producers. Best known for his 1982 album, the Bruce Bromberg-produced Watch Your Step which failed commercially but was hailed by critics ~ Hawkins passed away in 1995
October 28, 1931 ~ Saxophonist, pianist, composer, arranger, producer Harold Battiste, full name Harold Raymond Battiste Jr, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Widely revered for his arrangements on recordings by Sam Cooke, Joe Jones, Lee Dorsey, Sonny & Cher, Dr John, and others. Also, in a variety of roles, worked with artists such as Ed Blackwell, Barbara George, Tom Waits, and numerous others ~ Battiste passed away in 2015
October 28, 1930 ~ Francesco Migliacci, commonly known as lyricist, songwriter, actor Franco Migliacci, born in Mantua, Italy ~ As an actor, Migliacci has appeared in well over a dozen films from the early-1950s through the late-1960s. To music audiences, he is probably best known for co-writing Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu, also known as Volare, with Domenico Modugno. Originally recorded by Modugno in 1958 the song would become a standard covered by over 300 artists. Other songs co-written by Migliacci have been recorded by Gianni Meccia (Patatina), Neil Sedaka, Rita Pavone, Ennio Morricone, Donatella Moretti, Patty Pravo (La Bambola), and José Feliciano (Che Sarà) ~ Migliacci passed away in 2023
October 28, 1929 ~ Gospel, country singer Calvin Newton born ~ Briefly sang with Southern gospel quartet the Blackwood Brothers during the late-1940s. Lead singer for the Oak Ridge Boys from 1953 through 1956. Formed early-1960s gospel trio the Sons Of Song with Don Butler and Bob Robinson, known best for their 1961 Wasted Years debut album. The group is generally regarded as one of the pioneering acts in what would later become known as CCM. In later years Newton would revert to a life of crime, serving time for theft, counterfeiting and drug offences. In his seventies Newton would end his estrangement from the gospel community, aided by longtime friend Jake Hess and record and perform with dozens of former colleagues ~ Newton passed away in 2023
October 28, 1927 ~ Clementine Dinah Bullock, commonly known as jazz, pop singer, actress Cleo Laine, born in Uxbridge, UK ~ Married to bandleader Johnny Dankworth from 1958 until Dankworth's death in 2010. Known for her scat singing and impressive three-octave vocal range. The only female performer to have received Grammy Award nominations in the jazz, popular and classical music categories. Has collaborated with James Galway, Nigel Kennedy, Julian Lloyd Webber, Ray Charles and Arnold Schoenberg
October 28, 1910 ~ Songwriter, violinist Arthur Altman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Probably best remembered for co-writing All Or Nothing At All with Jack Lawrence, first recorded in 1939 by Jimmy Dorsey featuring Bob Eberly. The song has been recorded by over 250 artists including Count Basie, Donna Hightower, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, and Ella Fitzgerald ~ Altman passed away in 1994
October 28, 1896 ~ Conductor Howard Hanson, full name Howard Harold Hanson, born in Wahoo, Nebraska, USA ~ Composed for opera, orchestral and choral works and chamber music. Best known as a director of Eastman School Of Music for four decades. As a composer known for California Forest Play, Before The Dawn and the Pullitzer Prize-winning Symphony No.4 ~ Hanson passed away in 1981
October 28, 1892 ~ Ollie Johnson, commonly known as Dixieland jazz pianist, clarinetist, drummer Dink Johnson, born in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA ~ Younger brother of double bassist William Manuel Johnson. Influenced by Jelly Roll Morton. Member of the Original Creole Band. Wrote The Krooked Blues, recorded by King Oliver ~ Johnson passed away in 1954