September 1, 1996 ~ Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, singer, actress, commonly known simply as Zendaya, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Former child model, backup dancer, Disney Channel actress. Released self-recorded singles Zwag It Out and Watch Me in 2011, the latter a collaboration with Bella Thorne. Her major-label debut followed with 2013's Replay, which reached No.40 US singles, and the eponymous album Zendaya, peaked at No.51 US albums chart. Currently best known as an actress in feature films
September 1, 1987 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist, producer, engineer, songwriter Dann Hume born in Feilding, New Zealand ~ Member of Evermore alongside his brothers Peter Hume and Jon Hume. Has co-written songs such as Running, Light Surrounding You and It's Too Late. Has also served as producer and songwriter for artists such as Lisa Mitchell, Matt Corby (Telluric), Amy Shark (Weekends), Alpine, Troye Sivan, Sticky Fingers (Caress Your Soul), Tones And I and Kita Alexander
September 1, 1986 ~ Adegbenga Adejumo, commonly known as dubstep, UK garage producer Benga, born in London, UK ~ Released his full-length Newstep debut album in 2006. Best known for songs such as Pour Your Love featuring Marlene and Forefather featuring Kano. Member of Magnetic Man alongside Skream and Artwork
September 1, 1985 ~ Country singer, songwriter Charlie Worsham born in Grenada, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of the Old Crow Medicine Show, member of Kingbilly. Toured with Taylor Swift. Opened for Miranda Lambert and Wade Bowen. Debuted in 2013 with the Rubberband album, featuring guest appearances by Vince Gill and Marty Stuart
September 1, 1984 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist Joe Trohman, full name Joseph Mark Trohman, born in Hollywood, Florida, USA ~ Lead guitarist of Fall Out Boy, known for songs such as Sugar We're Going Down, Dance Dance and This Ain't A Scene (It's An Arms Race). Also worked with the Damned Things, With Knives, and others
September 1, 1981 ~ Singer, bassist, actress Shinga Shoniwa, full name Shingai Elizebeth Maria Shoniwa, born in London, UK ~ Bassist of indie rock band the Noisettes, known for their 2009 hit Don't Upset The Rhythm (Go Baby Go). Also worked with artists such as Guillemots, Annie Lennox, Dennis Ferrer, and others
September 1, 1978 ~ Coralie Biolay, commonly known as singer Coralie Clément, born in Villefanche-sur-Saône, France ~ Influenced by Françoise Hardy, Jane Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg. Debuted in 2001 with the album Salle De Pas Pardus. Known for songs such as Dorénavant
September 1, 1976 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Angaleena Presley, full name Angaleena Loletta McCoy Presley, born in Beauty, Kentucky, USA ~ Notably co-wrote Look It Up for Jasmine Rae and Knocked Up for Heidi Newfield before rising to fame after joining all-female country trio the Pistol Annies. The band, which also includes Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe, issued their Hell On Heels debut album in 2011 and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial success since, each of the members also enjoying a parallel solo career. Presley released her American Middle Class solo debut album in 2014
September 1, 1976 ~ Scott Hoffman, commonly known as glam rock, alternative pop bassist, keyboardist, saxophonist, guitarist, banjoist, singer Babydaddy, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Scissor Sisters. Co-wrote Kylie Minogue's I Believe In You with bandmate Jake Shears. Has also served as producer and remixer for artists such as the Pet Shop Boys, Blondie, and Tinashe
September 1, 1976 ~ Rock, alternative rock, progressive rock singer, guitarist, bassist Joey Eppard born in Kingston, New York, USA ~ Cites Led Zeppelin as one of his main influences, alongside artists such as King Crimson, Pink Floyd, and John McLaughlin. Praised for his finger-picked rhythms and his siren-like vocals. Best known as lead singer, guitarist of progressive rock outfit 3, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums since the late-1990s. Eppard has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Been To The Future released in 2002. Eppard's brother is drummer Josh Eppard, who drummed on 3's Paint By Numbers debut album but would reach greater fame as a member of Coheed & Cambria
September 1, 1975 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Natalie Bassingthwaighte born in Wollongong, Australia ~ Started in the musical theatre, to venture into acting for TV. Rose to prominence in the early 2000s, noted for her role as Izzy in the popular soap opera Neighbours. Became the lead singer of electro-pop outfit the Rogue Traders in 2004, with whom she recorded the albums Here Come The Drums and Better In The Dark, before venturing out on her own. As a solo singer, Bassingthwaighte is known for songs such as Don't Give Up with Shannon Noll, Alive, and Someday Soon, all of which reached top 10 in her native Australia. Bassingthwaighte married former bandmate drummer Cameron McGlinchey in 2011, with whom she has two children, and rejoined the band in 2015
September 1, 1974 ~ Singer, actor Filip Nikolic born in St Ouen, France ~ Actor, singer. Best known as lead singer of boy band 2BE3. Also a member of Ima Robot. Was in the process of making a solo debut album when he died at 35 of a heart attack induced by a fatal mix of sleeping pills ~ Nikolic passed away in 2009
September 1, 1970 ~ Alt-country singer, guitarist Brent Best born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Frontman of Slobberbone, acclaimed for their 2000 Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today album. The album included Gimme Back My Dog, referenced by fan Stephen King in his Black House novel
September 1, 1968 ~ Regina Aparecida Saraiva, commonly known as singer, dancer, actress Regina Queen Alcasid, born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Enjoyed chart and club succes across Europe from the late-1990s through the early-2000s with a number of Eurodance hits including Killing Me Softly and perhaps her best known Day By Day
September 1, 1964 ~ Jazz saxophonist Dave O'Higgins born in Birmingham, UK ~ Influenced by older jazzmen such as Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, and John Coltrane, as well as later generations such as Michael Brecker. First gained attention as a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for several years, before establishing himself as an in-demand sideman, collaborator, and leader by the early 1990s. Closely associated with Jim Mullen and Martin Taylor, to pop-jazz audiences known for working with Matt Bianco. Over a dozen albums as a leader, starting with All Good Things released in 1993. Has played classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, and accompanied artists as diverse as Nancy Wilson, Randy Crawford, Jimmy Witherspoon, and the Four Tops. O'Higgins has also appeared on albums by Mezzoforte, Trudy Kerr, US3, Róisín Murphy, and Jazzanova. O'Higgins has also held several teaching positions including at the Guildhall School Of Music & Drama and the Royal Academy of Music, both located in London
September 1, 1964 ~ Folk rock, folk pop, pop singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Michael Brunnock born in Kells, Ireland ~ While holding down a day job as math teacher, Brunnock played in a number of bands in the Dublin area, most notably Little Palace co-founded by Brunnock in 1996 and known for their Beekeeper debut EP. By the early 2000s, Brunnock relocated to New York, where he landed a regular Tuesday night gig at The Red Lion. It was here he would be discovered by David Byrne, formerly of Talking Heads. Byrne would employ Brunnock to perform for the soundtrack to the 2011 comedy-drama This Must Be The Place, the song If It Falls earning Brunnock as well as writers Byrne and Will Oldham a David di Donatello Award, the Italian equivalent of the Academy Awards. As a solo artist Brunnock has recorded to a devoted following and critical acclaim, starting with So Do I released in 2007, his music once described by the weekly The Irish Emigrant as “beautiful clear crispness and clipped tones, (…) expertly arranged melodies, driven home with truthful heart-filled soul”. Brunnock returned to his native Ireland in the mid-2010s, where he primarily works as a soundtrack composer
September 1, 1963 ~ Singer Carola Smit born in Volendam, the Netherlands ~ Best known as female lead of BZN from 1984, succeeding Anny Schilder, until the band's disbandement in 2007. Present on songs such as The Summertime, Amore, The Banjo Man and Wedding Bells. Released her eponymous Carola Smit debut album in 2008, spawning a modest local hit with With You (I'm In Heaven)
September 1, 1963 ~ Bryan G Phillips, commonly known as rock, alternative rock, folk singer, guitarist, bassist, banjoist, mandolinist, keyboardist, percussionist Grant-Lee Phillips, born in Stockton, California, USA ~ Praised for his singing capabilities, blessed with a voice that is both smoky and honeyed smooth, his thoughtful lyrics, and sense of melody. Best known for fronting Grant Lee Buffalo, critically acclaimed for their 1993 Fuzzy debut album. The band would record three more acclaimed albums, before Phillips embarked on a solo career recording about a dozen albums, starting with Ladies' Love Oracle released in 2000. Phillips has also guested on recordings by Eels, Robyn Hitchcock, and Aimee Mann
September 1, 1963 ~ Indie pop singer, guitarist Malcolm Eden born in Ilford, UK ~ Lead singer, frontman of McCarthy. The band is known for lead guitarist Tim Gane's intricate guitar play and Eden's outspoken political lyrics, reflecting the band's far-left views. They were joined by future Stereolab-singer Laetitia Sadier on their third and final album Banking Violence And The Inner Life Today released in 1990. The band was cited as a major influence by the Manic Street Preachers, who also covered We Are All Bourgeois Now, Charles Windsor, and Red Sleeping Beauty. In the 1990s, Eden formed the short-lived Herzfeld, known for their sole The Sack album
September 1, 1961 ~ James Oppenheim, commonly known as saxophonist, songwriter Boney James, born in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Acclaimed as one of the premier contemporary jazz artists. Heavily influenced by R&B, especially Motown and Grover Washington Jr. Well over a dozen albums to his name starting with 1992's Trust. Has had artists such as Raheem DeVaughn, Faith Evans, George Benson, George Duke, Dwele, Al Jarreau, Earth Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey, Anthony Hamilton, Eric Benét, Stokley Williams, Avery Sunshine, Kenny Lattimore and Angie Stone guest on his albums
September 1, 1957 ~ Gloria Maria Milagrosa Fajardo Garcia, commonly known as Latin pop, dance-pop singer Gloria Estefan, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Fronted the Miami Sound Machine. Known for hits such as Conga, Anything For You, The Rhythm's Gonna Get You, 1-2-3, Get On Your Feet and Turn The Beat Around
September 1, 1956 ~ Bassist Essiet Essiet born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Worked with Famoudou Don Moye, Abdullah Ibrahim, Art Blakey, Marty Cook, Ralph Peterson Jr, George Adams, Ron Affiff, Kenny Barron, the Blue Note All-Stas, Paul Bollenback, Donald Brown, Bruce Cox, Kurt Elling, Kenny Garrett, Benny Golson, Jim Hartog, David Hazeltine, Freddie Hubbard, Victor Jones, Joe Locke, Kevin Mahogany, Cedar Walton, Bobby Watson, George Cables, Vincent Herring, Frank Morgan, and others
September 1, 1956 ~ Jazz singer Hilde Hefte born in Kristiansand, Norway ~ Debuted in 1999 with the critically acclaimed Round Chet's Midnight album. Has since recorded steadily, including collaborations with Jon Larsen, the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Ola Kvernberg, Paul Weeden, and others
September 1, 1955 ~ Rock, punk rock, new wave, mod revival bassist Bruce Foxton, full name Bruce Douglas Foxton, born in Woking, UK ~ Rose to prominence as key member of the Jam alongside drummer Rick Buckler and singer Paul Weller, known for songs such as All Around The World, Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, The Eton Rifles, Going Underground, Town Called Malice and Beat Surrender. After the band disbanded has recorded as a solo artist, starting with 1984's Touch Sensitive, and has worked with the Casbah Club, Sharp and perhaps most notably Stiff Little Fingers
September 1, 1955 ~ Jazz, experimental rock keyboardist Wayne Horvitz born in New York, New York, USA ~ Rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s New York Downtown scene. Married to singer, pianist Robin Holcomb, with whom he also collaborated. Founded the New York Composers Orchestra. Closely associated with John Zorn, including in the ensembles Naked City and Pigpen. As a leader especially acclaimed for the early-2000s albums American Bandstand and Forever. In-demand sideman and collaborator, present on albums by Elliott Sharp, Peter Kuhn, Bobby Previte, Bill Frisell, Marty Ehrlich, and Warne Marsh
September 1, 1953 ~ Donald Blackman, commonly known as jazz, funk, R&B, soul pianist, singer, songwriter Don Blackman, born in Jamaica, New York, USA ~ As a solo artist known for his eponymous Don Blackman debut album released in 1982. Best known as an in-demand session musician, present on albums by Lenny White, Bernard Wright, Roy Ayers, Kurtis Blow, Najee, the World Saxophone Quartet, Sting (Brand New Day), and Wayman Tisdale ~ Blackman passed away in 2013
September 1, 1952 ~ Jazz, classical trombonist Ed Neumeister born in Topeka, Kansas, USA ~ As a leader especially acclaimed for the albums New Standards and Reflection. Considered an inventive performer, Neumeister has drawn from avant-garde, free jazz, post-bop, and modern classical. While still in high school, Neumeister backed rock and roll artists such as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, and Chuck Berry. In the classical world known for his tenures with the San Francisco Ballet & Opera and the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra. An in-demand big band player on the New York scene during the 1980s and 1990s, working with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, and Mel Lewis. Neumeister has also appeared on albums by Jerry Garcia (Run For The Roses), Teresa Brewer, Bruce Williamson, Christopher Hollyday, Tom Boras, Michel Camilo, Tom Pierson, Bill Mays, Yvonne Roome, John Pizzarelli, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dean Friedman, Jim McNeely, and Nnenna Freelon, and held several teaching positions both in the USA and abroad
September 1, 1951 ~ Jazz, classical, world music pianist, rebab player, sarod player Larry Porter, full name Lawrence Stephen Porter, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Spent a significant part of his career in Europe, where he worked with artists such as Volker Kriegel, Kai Winding, Mel Lewis, Günter Lenz, and co-led the ensembles Head Heart & Hands and Music Community. Has traveled to India and Afghanistan, picking up Eastern influences. Notable associations include Airto Moreira, Albert Mangelsdorff, Sal Nistico, and Allan Praskin. Porter has also toured with Chet Baker, was a member of Art Farmer's band in the late-1980s and early-1990s, backed Archie Shepp, Marty Cook, and Monty Waters, and composed for the Berlin Philharmonic. To world music aficionados, Porter is perhaps best known for his 1999 album of traditional Afghan music, The Magical Rebab Of Larry Porter, on which he played the traditional short-necked lute the rebab. The album earned wide acclaim, critics praising Porter as “without a doubt, (…) one of the best rebab players of his generation”
September 1, 1951 ~ Singer, songwriter Steven Grossman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Joni Mitchell and Cat Stevens. Known for his sole Caravan Tonight album released in 1974. The album was hailed by Rolling Stone as “one of the most auspicious singer-songwriter debuts of the 1970s” and is distinguished for being one of the first albums to openly deal with gay themes and subject matter. Grossman recorded a second album, Something In The Moonlight, shortly before his death at age 39 of an AIDS-related illness. Grossman's sophomore effort would be released posthumously in 2011 ~ Grossman passed away in 1991
September 1, 1948 ~ Pop, schlager singer Birthe Kjær born in Aarhus, Denmark ~ Internationally best known for representing her native Denmark at the 1989 Eurovision Songfestival with Vi male Byen Rød, which reached third place. Kjær had been recording since the late-1960s, and is known at home for hits such as Arriverderci Franz, Sommer Og Sol, Tennessee Waltz, and Av Min Arm
September 1, 1948 ~ Drummer Greg Errico born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Rose to fame as co-founding member of Sly & the Family Stone, with whom he recorded five albums before departing the band in 1971. Present on most of the band's best known including all of the band's three Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits, Everyday People, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), and Family Affair. After departing the band, Errico has worked with Mickey Hart, Betty Davis, Bill Wyman (Monkey Grip), David Soul, Hubert Laws, the Rhythm Devils, Harvey Mandel, Enuff Z'nuff, and Jerry Garcia
September 1, 1946 ~ Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, commonly known as singer, songwriter Barry Gibb, born in Douglas, Isle Of Man ~ Co-founding member of sibling outfit the Bee Gees, known for songs such as New York Mining Disaster 1941, Massachusetts, I Started A Joke, Lonely Days, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Jive Talkin', You Should Be Dancing, How Deep Is Your Love, Stayin' Alive, Night Fever, Tragedy, and You Win Again
September 1, 1946 ~ Rock, hard rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Shalom Hanoch born in Kibbutz Mishmarot, Israel ~ Known as “the King of Israeli Rock”, having delivered some of the first Israeli rock albums especially in partnership with Arik Einstein. Has also worked with the High Windows, the Churchills, Shmulik Kraus, Josie Katz, Tamouz, and others
September 1, 1945 ~ George Austin Robertson Jr, commonly known as singer, songwriter Austin Roberts, born in Newport News, Virginia, USA ~ Best known for his 1975 single Rocky, a hit on both sides of the Atlantic
September 1, 1944 ~ Singer Archie Bell, full name Archie Lee Bell, born in Henderson, Texas, USA ~ While still in junior high school formed the Drells, known especially for the hit Tighten Up which topped both the Billboard R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1968. The song was originally issued as the B-side to Dog Eat Dog, but a radio DJ flipped it over and it became a surprise hit for the then-unknown Bell. Bell had recorded the song shortly before being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. While recuperating from a gunshot wound, he had a hard time convincing superior officers the song on the radio was his and he needed to get home to promote it. All he could get were some 15-day passes he used to return home and record more songs with the group. Despite subsequent releases being well-received by critics, Bell failed to repeat his earlier success. Nevertheless, Bell continued to perform and record venturing out into blues and country music until suffering a stroke in the 2020s
September 1, 1944 ~ Conductor, composer Leonard Slatkin, full name Leonard Edward Slatkin, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Fixture on the American symphonic scene, regarded as one of the most versatile and accomplished conductors. Slatkin had worked with the New York Youth Symphony, the New Orleans Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony, prior to starting his tenure as music director of the St Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1979, notably increasing the profile of the orchestra through frequent touring and a series of acclaimed recordings including the first digital stereo version of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker in 1985. Other notable associations include the Cleveland Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Sympony Orchestra, becoming only the second non-British person to conduct the latter for The Night Of The Proms in 2001, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Slatkin is also a composer known for The Raven and Kinah, the latter an elegy dedicated to the memory of his parents, and as an author, notably publishing his Conducting Business (Unveiling The Mystery Behind The Maestro) in 2012
September 1, 1940 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bobby Kimmel born ~ Worked with Linda Ronstadt, the Stone Poneys, Kenny Edwards, Shep Cooke, Kit Alderson, the Floating House Band, Doc Watson, Merle Watson, Jo Wilkinson, I Hear Voices, the 4 Corners, and BK Special
September 1, 1938 ~ Singer, songwriter Alton Ellis, full name Alton Nehemiah Ellis, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Pivotal to development of rocksteady. Half of Alton & Eddy, the other half being Eddy Parkins, known for recordings such as Muriel, Lullabye Angel and I'm Never Gonna Cry. As a solo artist best known for the quintessential rocksteady songs Girl I've Got A Date, featuring Gladstone Anderson, Paul Douglas, Hux Brown, Lynn Tait and Al Jackson Jr, and for Rocksteady, the song that actually named the genre. Ellis also worked with Coxsone Dodd, Vincent Chin, John Holt, Duke Reid, Winston Jarrett, Tommy McCook, Lloyd Charmers, Phyllis Dillon, the Heptones, Bunny Lee, Keith Hudson, and Aspo ~ Ellis passed away in 2008
September 1, 1935 ~ Conductor Seiji Ozawa born in Mukden, Japan ~ Closely associated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, serving as its music director for nearly three decades. Has also worked with the San Francisco Symphony, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and others
September 1, 1934 ~ Shirley Enid Avery, commonly known as jazz singer Teri Thornton, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Recorded a number of albums in the early-1960s only to fade from view by the end of the decade. Rediscovered in the late-1990s, which prompted the 1999 I'll Be Easy To Find album ~ Avery passed away in 2000
September 1, 1933 ~ Harold Lloyd Jenkins, commonly known as country, rock & roll, pop singer, songwriter Conway Twitty, born in Friar's Point, Mississippi, USA ~ Emerging from the 1950s rockabilly scene, Twitty would eventually establish himself as the premier romantic country singer, dubbed “the High Priest of Country Music”, with an impressive string of over four dozen nearly-consecutive Billboard Country top 10 hits from the late-1960s until his death in the early-1990s. Well known songs include Hello Darlin', She Needs Someone To Hold Her When She Cries, Linda On My Mind, This Time I've Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me, I've Already Loved You In My Mind, I'd Love To Lay You Down, Tight Fittin' Jeans, Slow Hand, and Desperado Love. Twitty also regularly duetted with Loretta Lynn, the pair recording over half a dozen albums together, four of which reached the No.1 spot on the Billboard Country album charts ~ Twitty passed away in 1993
September 1, 1933 ~ Eugene Haire, commonly known as jazz, blues, soul-jazz pianist, keyboardist, organist Gene Harris, born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Oscar Peterson and Junior Mance. Rose to fame as leader of the Three Sounds. The trio would initially be dismissed by critics as lounge-jazz, yet became one of the most popular acts on the Blue Note label in the late-1950s and 1960s, and in retrospect earned critical acclaim for their blues-infused jazz with Harris acknowledged as a unique stylist. Harris recorded prolifically with the trio through the late 1960s, including collaborative albums with Lou Donaldson (LD+3), Stanley Turrentine (Blue Hour), and Anita O'Day (Anita O'Day & the Three Sounds). After the trio disbanded, Harris continued to record under his own name until retiring in 1977, only to return to the stage after being persuaded by bassist Ray Brown in the early-1980s and record to critical acclaim until his death at age 66 ~ Haire passed away in 2000
September 1, 1931 ~ Jazz hornist, bassist Willie Ruff, full name Willie Henry Ruff Jr, born in Sheffield, Alabama, USA ~ Half of longtime duo the Mitchell-Ruff Duo, the other half being pianist Dwike Mitchell. The duo has recorded well over a dozen albums and made history in 1959 when they became the first jazz act to play in the Soviet Union since World War II. Half of Pisano & Ruff, the other half being John Pisano. An in-demand sideman and collaborator, Ruff has appeared on albums by Clifford Coultier, Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Benny Golson, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Lalo Schifrin, Leonard Cohen (Songs Of Leonard Cohen), Jimmy Smith, and Sonny Stitt. Ruff was also particularly known as a music scholar and teacher, graduating in 1954 from the Yale School of Music, New Haven, Connecticut, and serving as a professor at his alma mater from 1971 through 2017 ~ Ruff passed away in 2023
September 1, 1931 ~ R&B, gospel singer Zilla Mays, full name Zilla Florine Mays, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ As a singer known for a number of early-1950s R&B, gospel recordings, notably I'll Keep Singing My Song, If You Were On The Other Side, Seems Like You Just Don't Care, and Don't Take My Good Love Away. Best known as a radio host and community leader in Atlanta from the mid-1950s until her death four decades later, hosting a number of shows on WAOK ~ Mays passed away in 1995
September 1, 1929 ~ Jazz drummer Grassella Oliphant born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Recorded two soul-jazz albums as a leader, The Grass Roots released in 1965 and its acclaimed follow-up The Grass Is Greener three years later with an all-star cast featuring Harold Ousley, John Patton, Grant Green, Clark Terry, and Major Holley. Songs from the latter would later be regularly sampled by hip hop artists. Oliphant has been active since the early-1950s, first gaining serious attention backing Ahmad Jamal. Oliphant would go on to appear on albums by Tony Scott, Gloria Lynne (I'm Glad There Is You), Herman Foster, Joe Kennedy Jr, and Shirley Scott (Soul Shoutin') ~ Oliphant passed away in 2017
September 1, 1925 ~ Arthur Edward Pepper Jr, commonly known as saxophonist Art Pepper, born in Gardena, California, USA ~ First gained attention backing Stan Kenton. Though early on his career was regularly interrupted serving several stints in prison on drug charges, Pepper overcame his addiction and would go on to become a leading figure in bop and cool jazz. Pepper has recorded prolifically as a leader or co-leader since the mid-1950s, and is especially acclaimed for albums such as Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, Plus Eleven, and Intensity. An in-demand sideman, Pepper has appeared on albums by Shorty Rogers, Shelly Manne, Annie Ross, Stan Getz (West Coast Jazz), Joe Morello (The Joe Morello Sextet), Marty Paich, Chet Baker, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Herb Ellis, Gerry Mulligan, Art Blakey, Barney Kessel (Some Like It Hot), Helen Humes, Buddy Rich, and Dizzy Gillespie ~ Pepper passed away in 1982
September 1, 1898 ~ Mary Ellen Reynolds, commonly known as dancer, actress, singer Marilyn Miller, born in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and 1930s. Rose to fame with her appearances in the 1918 Ziegfeld Follies and headlining the next year's edition playing the role of producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr's wife. Rumored to be Ziegfeld's mistress, though this was never proven. Also known for roles in stage productions of Peter Pan, Sunny and Rosalie, becoming the highest-paid Broadway star by the late-1920s ~ Reynolds passed away in 1936
September 1, 1878 ~ Conductor, musical director Tullio Serafin born ~ Leading opera conductor known for reviving many 19th century bel canto operas by Vincenzo Bellini, Gioachino Rossini, and Gaetano Donizetti. Closely associated with La Scala, the Teatro Colón, and the Metropolitan Opera. Incremental to the careers of Rosa Ponselle, Magda Olivero, Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, and most notably Maria Callas ~ Serafin passed away in 1968