September 21, 2024 ~ Bebop, hard bop saxophonist Benny Golson passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most significant contributors to the development of hard bop, initially known more as a sideman and songwriter before leading or co-leading his own ensembles. Has written numerous standards including Stable Mates (Miles Davis), Whisper Not (Lee Morgan), Blues March (Gigi Gryce), and Along Came Betty (Art Blakey). As a leader best known for his 1957 New York Scene album. Co-founded and co-led the Jazztet with Art Farmer, acclaimed for early-1960s albums such as Meet The Jazztet, Blues On Down, and Another Git Together. In-demand sideman, present on quintessential albums by the likes of Dinah Washington (The Swingin' Miss D), Johnny Griffin, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, Paul Chambers, Abbey Lincoln (It's Magic), Curtis Fuller, Milt Jackson (Bags' Opus), Blue Mitchell (Out Of The Blue), Jimmy Cleveland, Buddy Rich (Richcraft), Quincy Jones, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Charles Mingus, Shirley Scott, Sam Jones (The Chant), Slide Hampton, Red Holloway, and Sarah Vaughan ~ Golson was born in 1929
September 21, 2022 ~ Drummer, producer Anton Fier passed away ~ In-demand collaborator in experimental rock, jazz and alternative rock. Member of the Lounge Lizards, the Feelies, the Lodge, and briefly Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Co-founded critically acclaimed eclectic outit the Golden Palominos known for their impressive revolving line-ups. Has also notably worked with Pere Ubu, Bill Laswell, Bob Mould, Jack Bruce, Kenji Suzuki, Ex-Blank-Ex, the Styrenes, and John Zorn ~ Fier was born in 1956
September 21, 2022 ~ Guitarist Ray Edenton, full name Ray Quarles Edenton, passed away in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, USA ~ First-call session musician. Member of the Nashville A-Team. Appears on over 12,000 recordings including Red Kirk's Lovesick Blues, Webb Pierce's There Stands The Glass, the Everly Brothers' Bye Bye Love and Wake Up Little Susie, Marty Robbins' Singing The Blues and Roger Miller's King Of The Road. Has also worked with Julie Andrews, the Beach Boys, Gary Burton, Sammy Davis Jr, Henry Mancini, Reba McEntire, Elvis Presley, Leon Russell, and Neil Young ~ Edenton was born in 1926
September 21, 2021 ~ Electronic, industrial, techno keyboardist, sampler, guitarist, saxophonist, songwriter Richard H Kirk passed away ~ Rose to fame in the 1970s as key member of seminal industrial group Cabaret Voltaire, remaining with the band until its disbandement in 1994. Has also enjoyed a parallel solo career, releasing his Disposable Half-Truths solo debut album in 1980. Has recorded extensively in the 1990s using a variety of monikers, prompting critics to describe him as “techno's busiest man” ~ Kirk was born in 1956
September 21, 2020 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, flutist, saxophonist, composer Ira Sullivan passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Started in the 1950s playing trumpet and sax with jazz greats such as Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Wardell Gray, Roy Eldridge, and with Art Blakey. Moved to Florida in the 1960s, out of the spotlight, playing with local younger players including Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny. This would lead to focusing more on teaching as well as incorporating other instruments and genres, such as rock. Sullivan also performed and recorded extensively with Red Rodney in the 1980s, focusing on the music of their youth ~ Sullivan was born in 1931
September 21, 2020 ~ Blue-eyed soul, rock & roll, rockabilly, pop singer, songwriter Roy Head, full name Roy Kent Head, passed away in Porter, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his single Treat Her Right, a 1965 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit recorded with his backing unit the Traits and later notably covered by Otis Redding, Jerry Lee Lewis, Barbara Mandrell (Treat Him Right), Jimmy Page, George Thorogood, and performed by Roy's son Sundance Head as a duet with coach Blake Shelton on The Voice talent contest in 2016 ~ Head was born in 1941
September 21, 2017 ~ Jean Paul Bourque, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, bassist Johnny Burke, passed away ~ Active since the early-1960s with various country acts, notably the houseband at Toronto's the Horsehoe Tavern and subsequently the Caribou Showband known for their appearances on the national TV show At The Caribou. The band would eventually evolve into Eastwind, with whom Burke would score hits such as I Can't Even Do Wrong Right, Wild Honey and Love Don't Grow On Trees ~ Bourque was born in 1940
September 21, 2016 ~ Singer, songwriter John D Loudermilk passed away in Christiana, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as a songwriter whose songs have been recorded by George Hamilton IV (A Rose And A Baby Ruth, Abilene), Eddie Cochran (Sitting In The Balcony), Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and the Willis Brothers (Big Daddy's Alabama Bound), Connie Francis (He's My Dreamboat), Jerry Lee Lewis, Anne Murray, Sammy Davis Jr, Glen Campbell, Linda Ronstadt, Roy Orbison, Gram Parsons and Vern Gosdin (Break My Mind), Johnny Tillotson and Ernest Ashworth (Talk Back Trembling Lips), Brenda Lee (Weep No More My Baby), Sue Thompson (Norman. Paper Tiger, Sad Movies Make Me Cry), Skeeter Davis, Sandy Posey and Tracey Ullman (Sun Glasses), Marvin Rainwater, Don Fardon and Paul Revere & the Raiders (The Lament Of The Cherokee Indian Reservation), the Everly Brothers (Ebony Eyes), the Nashville Teens, the Blues Magoos, the Jefferson Airplane and Rare Earth (Tobacco Road), the Casinos and Eddy Arnold (Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye), and Mose Allison (You Call It Jogging (I Call It Running Around)) ~ Loudermilk was born in 1934
September 21, 2016 ~ Carlos Rico Walker, commonly known as rapper Shawty Lo, passed away in Fulton County, Georgia, USA ~ Member of D4L, known for song such as Bet You Can't Do It Like Me and Laffy Taffy. As a solo artist best known for his 2007 debut album Units In The City and the hit singles Dey Know, Dunn Dunn, and Foolish. Collaborated with Ludacris, Jeezy, Plies, Lil' Wayne, DJ Khaled, Birdman, Rick Ross, Jim Jones, Trey Songz, Lil' Wayne, Gucci Mane, and The-Dream ~ Walker was born in 1976
September 21, 2015 ~ Trumpeter, singer, songwriter Ben Cauley passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Sole survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed singer Otis Redding and four members of the Bar-kays, guitarist Jimmy King, saxophonist Phalon Jones, drummer Carl Cunningham, and keyboardist Ronnie Caldwell. The Bar-Kays, co-founded by Cauley, served as the second houseband for Stax/Volt backing artists such as Redding, Carla Thomas, and Sam & Dave. Redding had taken such a shining to them he picked them as his backing unit for his 1967 tour. Cauley would reform the band with the only other remaining member, bassist James Alexander, who was on another flight. They would go on to back artists such as Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, and the Staple Singers ~ Cauley was born in 1947
September 21, 2015 ~ Jazz, blues saxophonist, flutist Ray Warleigh, full name Raymond Kenneth Warleigh, passed away in London, UK ~ Known for his cleanly articulated alto saxophone and flute lines, fitting for a wide array of styles, and for his ability to play anything at a moment's notice, the Australian-born Warleigh quickly became an in-demand session musician after he relocated to the UK at the start of the British blues boom. Played with artists such as Alexis Korner, Long John Baldry, and John Mayall, notably on Mayall's A Hard Road, as well as with jazz luminaries including Humphrey Lyttelton, Mike Westbrook, and Tubby Hayes. Warleigh has also appeared on albums by Bert Jansch, Nick Drake (Bryter Layter), Michael Gibbs, the Scaffold, Soft Machine (Bundles), Judie Tzuke, Maria Muldaur, Charlie Watts, Matt Bianco, the Dedication Orchestra, John Renbourn, and Kenny Wheeler. Warleigh recorded two albums as a leader, issued some forty years apart, his aptly titled 1968 Ray Warleigh's First Album produced by Scott Walker of the Walker Brothers ~ Warleigh was born in 1938
September 21, 2015 ~ Singer, songwriter Victor Démé passed away ~ Benefitting from a renewed artistic freedom in his native Burkina Faso would rise to national fame in the late-1980s. Promoted by French producers Cameille Louvel and David Commeillas Demé would also find a following in France in the late-2000s with his eponymous Victor Demé, which contained his best known Djôn'maya. Electro, deep house DJ duo Synapson would release a remake of the song in 2014, retitled Djon Maya Mai, which would be a club hit in Belgium and France ~ Démé was born ca.1962
September 21, 2010 ~ Pop, folk, folk rock, blues singer, guitarist, percussionist, songwriter Don Partridge, full name Donald Eric Partridge, passed away in Peaceheaven, 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 was born in 1941
September 21, 2009 ~ John Wilson, commonly known as R&B, doo-wop singer John Bootsie Wilson, passed away ~ Bass singer for doo-wop outfit the Silhouettes, known best for their 1957 hit Get A Job. Originally issued as the B-side to I Am Lonely, the A-side re-release would go on to sell a million copies and be the group's only hit ~ Wilson was born in 1940
September 21, 2009 ~ Samuel Lee McCollum, commonly known as blues drummer Sam Carr, passed away in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known as member of the Jelly Roll Kings. Also worked with T-Model Ford, Asie Payton, Robert Walker, Paul Wine Jones, Lonnie Shields, Sonny Boy Williamson II, David Honeyboy Edwards, Buddy Guy, the Delta Jukes, and Dave Riley ~ McCollum was born in 1926
September 21, 2008 ~ Minister, singer, songwriter Isaiah Jones Jr passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Reportedly authored over 100 hymns. Perhaps best known for songs such as God Has Smiled On me recorded by James Cleveland, and the Grammy Award-winner Abundant Life recorded by the Mighty Clouds Of Joy ~ Jones was born ca.1940
September 21, 2007 ~ James Tigner Jr, commonly known as R&B, soul singer, drummer Jimmy Tig, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Recorded as a leader with various units, best known for Small Town Girl and A Love That Never Grows Cold, from the 1950s through the early-1970s. Would enjoy popularity particular in the Southern states. As a backing musician Tig has worked with a wide array of artists including James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, the Drifters, and Gladys Knight ~ Tigner was born in 1938
September 21, 2006 ~ Raymond Burrell, commonly known as guitarist, bassist, singer Boz Burrell, passed away in Marbella, Spain ~ Member of King Crimson in the early-1970s, appearing on the albums Islands and Earthbound. Co-founding member of Bad Company, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Bad Company debut album and its follow-up Straight Shooter. Also worked with Tea Time 4, Kenny Lynch, Elkie Brooks, Feel For Soul, King Crimson, Roger Chapman, Alvin Lee, Ruby Turner, Duster Bennett, Peter Sinfield, Snape, Jon Lord, and Boxer ~ Burrell was born in 1946
September 21, 2002 ~ Free jazz, free improvisation bassist Peter Kowald passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader, co-leader, solo bassist, in-demand sideman. Closely associated with the likes of Alexander von Schlippenbach, Peter Brötzmann, the Globe Unity Orchestra, Barre Phillips, Maarten Altena, Barry Guy, Wadada Leo Smith, Evan Parker, and Julius Hemphill ~ Kowald was born in 1944
September 21, 1998 ~ Gospel singer Martha Bass passed away in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Mother of soul singer Fontella Bass. Briefly toured with the Clara Ward Singers in the early-1950s and present on Wasn't It A Pity How They Punished My Lord. As a solo singer best known for her 1967 album I'm So Grateful, establishing Bass as a premier gospel singer ~ Bass was born in 1921
September 21, 1995 ~ Ska punk, pop rock, alternative rock outfit No Doubt release Just A Girl, lead single off their Tragic Kingdom album ~ The band had recorded two albums, to little commercial success, prior to Tragic Kingdom, which would become their breakthrough album selling over 15 million copies worldwide and catapulting the band, especially lead singer Gwen Stefani, to international stardom. Just A Girl, the album's lead single, would be their first major hit reaching top 30 in America, top 10 in the UK. Subsequently, the single Don't Speak from the same parent album would reach the top position in over half a dozen countries, including the Netherlands and the UK. Don't Speak did not chart on the American Billboard Hot 100 as it was not officially released in the USA, but did receive significant airplay on American radio stations
September 21, 1992 ~ Kim Jong-dae, commonly known as K-pop, R&B singer, songwriter Chen, born in Daejeon, South Korea ~ Member of boy band EXO, known for a string of 2010 hits in their native South Korea including the No.1 hits December 2014 (The Winter's Tale), Love Me Right, Monster, and Ko Ko Bop. Following the band's disbandement Jong-dae has recorded as a solo artist starting with his April And A Flower solo debut EP which spawned the hit single Beautiful Goodbye
September 21, 1992 ~ Eva Celia Lesmana, commonly known as actress, singer, guitarist, songwriter Eva Celia, born in Jakarta, Indonesia ~ Daughter of jazz keyboardist Indra Lesmana and singer, actress Sophia Latuba. Best known as an actress for TV and film. As a singer known for Reason and Against Time, releasing her full-length And So It Begins album in 2016
September 21, 1989 ~ Jazz saxophonist Bill Barron, full name William Barron Jr, passed away in Middletown, Connecticut, USA ~ Praised as an adventurous saxophonist by peers and critics. First gained attention in the late-1950s working with Cecil Taylor, appearing on the Love For Sale album. Closely associated with Philly Joe Jones and Ted Curson. Barron would spent much of his career as an educator, with positions at the City College of New York, New York, and the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. His day job made it financially possible to not have to rely on gigs and record sales, and record non-commercial music. Barron has recorded about a dozen albums since the early-1960s, all of which featured his younger brother pianist Kenny Barron, and is noted especially for Hot Line released in 1962. Barron has also recorded with Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordon (Revelation), and Ted Heath ~ Barron was born in 1927
September 21, 1989 ~ Jared Evan Siegel, commonly known as singer, rapper, producer, songwriter Jared Evan, born in Great Neck, New York, USA ~ Cites artists as diverse Sublime-singer Bradley Nowell, the Beatles, Radiohead, Method Man, Mos Def, Stevie Wonder, and Cream as his main influences. Has released two collaborative albums with producer Statik Selektah, Boom Bap & Blues and Still Blue, prior to his full-length The Blanket Truth solo debut album in 2016
September 21, 1989 ~ Jason Joel Desrouleaux, commonly known as singer, songwriter Jason Derülo, born in Miramar, Florida, USA ~ After having guested on tracks by Pitbull, Birdman, and Pixie Lott, Derülo issued his Whatcha Say debut single in 2010, followed by his eponymous full-length Jason Derülo debut album later the same year. The single would reach top ten in over half a dozen countries, including No.1 Billboard Hot 100 in his native America. Derülo has recorded to consistent commercial success since, racking up over half a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits including Talk Dirty, Wiggle, and Savage Love (Laxed Siren Beat). An in-demand collaborator, Derülo has worked with Florida Georgia Line, Hardwell, Pentatonix, Flo Rida, David Guetta, Sofía Reyes, Gucci Mane, and Meghan Trainor
September 21, 1987 ~ John Francis Anthony Pastorius III, commonly known as jazz fusion bassist Jaco Pastorius, passed away in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Best known as member of the Weather Report from 1976 to 1981, including on the albums Black Market and Heavy Weather. As a solo artist acclaimed for the albums Jaco Pastorius, Invitation and Curtain Call. Also present on albums by Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell (Hejira), Al di Meola, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Herbie Hancock (Mr Hands), and Biréli Lagrène ~ Pastorius was born in 1951
September 21, 1986 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Blake Mills born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Simon Dawes, known for their 2005 What No One Hears debut EP and their sole Carnivore album released the following year. Touring guitarist for artists such as Jenny Lewis, Band Of Horses, Cass McCombs, Julian Casablancas, Lucinda Williams. Session musician for Kid Rock, Weezer, the Avett Brothers, Paolo Nutini, Carlene Carter, the Dixie Chicks, P!nk, and Lana Del Rey. As a solo artist, Mills is especially acclaimed for his Break Mirrors debut album released in 2010
September 21, 1985 ~ In its eleventh week on the charts, Dare Me by the Pointer Sisters peaks at No.11 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Issued as the lead single off their Contact album, Dare Me has lead singer June Pointer tell a love interest to come closer, touch her, and dare her to make a move. It would be the siblings' last major hit, falling just short of the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Written from an attempted female perspective by Nashville songwriters Sam Lorber and Dave Innis, who would later comment: “There are certain things that are more gender specific and gender appropriate, certain things that a woman can say that guy's not going to be able to get away with saying”
September 21, 1983 ~ Singer, songwriter Asa Taccone born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Former Saturday Night Live writer collaborating with musical comedy trio the Lonely Island which includes his brother Jorma Taccone. Has released solo albums and is the lead singer of Electric Guest
September 21, 1982 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, songwriter Amber Rubarth, full name Amber Kristine Rubarth, born ~ Has opened for Emmylou Harris, Kenny Loggins, Marc Cohn. Best known for her 2011 Common Case Of Disappearing album which featured duets with Jason Reeves and Jason Mraz, and for her 2017 concept album Wildflowers In The Graveyard. Member of harmony trio Applewood Road. Formed indie folk, indie rock outfit Paper Raincoat with Alex Wong
September 21, 1977 ~ Ben Harvey Bailey Smith, commonly known as actor, comedian, rapper, songwriter Doc Brown, born in Kilburn, UK ~ Has recorded about half a dozen albums, starting with Citizen Smith Volume One released in 2004. Best known as an actor for film and TV with roles in TV shows such as Miranda, Rev, The Inbetweeners, and Law & Order UK, and films such as Huge and Other Side Of The Game. Smith wrote the music for the 2011 sci-fi comedy horror film Attack The Block. Smith, known for his love of films, has also frequently co-presented Kermode And Mayo's Film Review on BBC Radio 5
September 21, 1976 ~ Jonas Bjerre Terkelsbøl, commonly known as rock singer, guitarist Jonas Bjerre, born in Frederiksberg, Denmark ~ Best known as frontman of indie rock outfit Mew, with whom he has recorded since the late-1990s. The band is best known for their breakout album Frengers, which earned wide critical acclaim in the band's native Denmark, and its follow-up And The Glass Handed Kites, which spawned the Danish No.1 hit The Zookeeper's Boy. The band has enjoyed moderate success in the UK, where several singles charted just outside the top 40. Parallel to his career with Mew, Terkelsbøl has performed and recorded with Apparatjik, which also includes Coldplay-bassist Guy Berryman, A-ha-guitarist, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, and drummer, producer Martin Terefe. Apparatjik first came together in 2009 for a charity album for the human rights organisation Survival International, for which they recorded the track Ferreting, and would issue their full-length We Are Here debut album the following year. The track Ferreting would also be used as the theme song to the BBC documentary series Amazon
September 21, 1974 ~ Singer Carl Douglas releases Kung Fu Fighting, lead single off his Kung Fu Fighting And Other Great Love Songs album ~ At the time, a string of films by Bruce Lee had popularized kung fu fighting. When session singer Carl Douglas passed a couple of kids outside a pinball arcade playfully doing mock kung fu moves to the music, it hit Douglas: “everybody was kung fu fighting.” Douglas would later comment: “At that moment, I heard it all in my head, melody line as well, so I had to rush home and write it down.” The song was initially intended as a novelty B-side, but producer Biddu thought it should be the A-side. Though perhaps a bit of a slow starter, the single would eventually reach top 10 in over a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and America. Kung Fu Fighting sold over an estimated 10 million copies worldwide, an exceptionally high volume and even more so for a one-hit-wonder hit, and has regularly been used in films. In 2008, Cee Lo Green and Jack Black revived the song for the animated feature film Kung Fu Panda
September 21, 1974 ~ Marvin E Ashbaugh, commonly known as jazz, dixieland pianist Marvin Ash, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Earl Hines, Fats Waller, James P Johnson, Arthur Schutt. Known for songs such as Maple Leaf Rag, Cannon Ball, Fidgety Feet. Has worked with Count Basie, Herman Waldman, and Wingy Manone ~ Ashbaugh was born in 1914
September 21, 1974 ~ Singer, actor Walter Brennan, full name Walter Andrew Brennan, passed away in Oxnard, California, USA ~ As a singer best known for a number of early-1960s singles, notably Dutchman's Gold, Old Rivers, Mama Sang A Song. Best known as an actor, won an Academy Award thrice for his roles in Come & Get It, Kentucky and The Westerner ~ Brennan was born in 1894
September 21, 1972 ~ William John Paul Gallagher, commonly known as singer, guitarist Liam Gallagher, born in Burnage, UK ~ Member of Oasis, which also included his brother singer, guitarist Noel Gallagher. The band was seen as a defining force in 1990s Britpop and has recorded about half a dozen albums, all of which have topped the charts in their native UK. The band has scored about two dozen UK top 10 hits from the mid-1990s through the 2000s, including the No.1 hits Some Might Say, Don't Look Back In Anger, D'You Know What I Mean, All Around The World, Go Let It Out, The Hindu Times, Lyla, and The Importance Of Being Idle. Gallagher has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the critically acclaimed As You Were album released in 2017, has notably fronted Beady Eye, with whom he recorded two albums in the early-2010s, and collaborated with John Squire
September 21, 1972 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, songwriter Spencer Gibb, full name Spencer David Gibb, born in London, UK ~ Son of the Bee Gees-singer Robin Gibb. Godson of Robert Stigwood. Cites the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and Prince as influences. Released his 4-Track Mind solo debut album in 1997. Founding member of 54 Seconds, known for the 2007 Postcards From California album. Ventured into acting by the mid-2000s
September 21, 1971 ~ Pop, dance-pop singer, dancer Jimmy Constable, full name James Michael Constable, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Member of boy band 911, known for a string of British hits in the mid to late-1990s, including Don't Make Me Wait, The Day We Find Love, Bodyshakin', All I Want Is You, More Than A Woman, and perhaps their best known A Little Bit More
September 21, 1968 ~ In its fifth week on the charts, Harper Valley PTA by Jeannie C Riley hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by noted storyteller Tom T Hall, based on a true story the song tells of a woman clashing with her local PTA group who objected to her dress, drinking and friendliness with the town's men. As Hall would later explain: “I chose the story to make a statement but I changed the names to protect the innocent.” Issued as Jeannie C Riley's debut single, Harper Valley PTA reached the top of both the Billboard Country and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts, though not at the same time, a first for any female singer. This feat would not be equaled until 13 years later when Dolly Parton's 9 To 5 would reach the top of both charts. Harper Valley PTA earned Riley a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance and was voted Single of the Year by the CMA
September 21, 1968 ~ David Jude Jolicoeur, commonly known as singer, rapper Trugoy the Dove, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of De La Soul alongside Pasemaster Mase and Posdnuos. The trio played a key role in the birth of jazz rap and alternative hip-hop, their 1989 3 Feet High & Rising debut album considered a landmark album and a hip-hop masterpiece ~ Jolicoeur passed away in 2023
September 21, 1967 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter David Grubbs born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Veteran of Chicago's indie scene. Co-founding member of Squirrel Bait, Bastro, and Gastr del Sol. Following the latter's disbandement in the late-1990s, Grubbs has recorded prolifically as a solo artist and collaborator. Noted especially for his 2002 Rickets & Scurvy album
September 21, 1967 ~ Audrey Faith McGraw, commonly known as country singer Faith Hill born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ One of the all-time most successful female country singers, sold over 40 million albums. Active since the early-1990s, shooting to national fame with albums such as her debut Take Me As I Am and its follow-up It Matters To Me, crossing over to mainstream and reaching international success by the end of the decade with the albums Faith and Breathe. Best known for songs such as This Kiss, Breathe, The Way You Love Me, Let's Make Love, Mississippi Girl, and Sunshine And Summertime. Several of Hill's hits feature Tim McGraw, to whom she has been married since 1996
September 21, 1967 ~ Drummer Tyler Stewart, full name Tyler Joseph Stewart, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Drummer for melodic alt-pop outfit Barenaked Ladies, critically described as one of Canada's most successful exports since the early-1990s. The band has recorded over a dozen albums, is especially acclaimed for 1990s albums such as Gordon, Rock Spectacle, and Stunt, of which the latter spawned their Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit One Week
September 21, 1964 ~ Armenter Chatmon, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Bo Carter passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Brother of fiddler Lonnie Chatmon and bassist Sam Chatmon, both of which bandmates in the Mississippi Sheiks alongside their friend guitarist, singer Walter Vinson. Carter was known for his bawdy songs, as evidenced in songtitles such as Let Me Roll Your Lemon, Please Warm My Wiener and My Pencil Won't Write Anymore, and for being one of the first to record Corrine Corrina in 1928. The latter would become a standard recorded by blues, jazz, western swing, folk, country and rock artists including Tampa Red, Big Joe Turner, Red Nichols, Cab Calloway, Art Tatum, Clayton McMichen, Milton Brown, Bob Wills, Rising Sons, Eric Clapton (as Alberta Alberta), Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Asleep At The Wheel, and Brooks & Dunn ~ Chatmon was born in 1893
September 21, 1964 ~ Country, bluegrass, gospel singer, bassist, songwriter Daryl Mosley born in Waverly, Tennessee, USA ~ Wrote Ask The Blind Man (He Saw It All), a signature song for southern gospel trio the Booth Brothers. Co-founding member of bluegrass quartet New Tradition, for whom he wrote some of their best known including Seed Of Love, With His Hand In Wood and On His Knees. Member of the Osborne Brothers from 2001 through 2003 replacing Terry Smith. Co-founding member of the Farm Hands, known best for their 2018 Colors album. Mosley released his solo debut album, The Secret Of Life, in 2020
September 21, 1956 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, pianist, percussionist Celeste Carballo born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Acclaimed for her wide vocal range. Draws from blues, hard rock, punk and tango. One of the first Argentinian musicians to come out as lesbian. Best known for songs such as Sere Judia, Mi Ultimo Blues, Mujer Contra Mujer and Una Cancion Diferente
September 21, 1953 ~ Jazz, pop singer Patti Page records Changing Partners ~ Written by Larry Coleman with lyrics by Joe Darion. Released as a single, paired with Where Did My Snowman Go on the flip side, it would reach No.3 on the Billboard pop charts in 1954. The same year also recorded by Bing Crosby peaking at No.17, by Kay Starr who took it to No.13, and by Dinah Shore who only barely beat Starr reaching No.12. Pop singer Elvis Costello would include the song as the closing track on his Secret Profane & Sugarcane album, released in 2009
September 21, 1952 ~ Rock guitarist Dave Gregory, full name David Charles Gregory, born in Swindon, UK ~ Member of XTC from 1979, first appearing on the Drums And Wires album, through 1998. Present on all three of the band's UK top 20 hits, Making Plans For Nigel, Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me), and Senses Working Overtime. Member of progressive rock outfit Big Big Train from 2012 through 2020, previously having guested on some of the band's recordings. Gregory has also sessioned on albums by Peter Gabriel (Peter Gabriel 3), Porcupine Tree (In Absentia), and Steven Wilson (Hand Cannot Erase)
September 21, 1951 ~ Pop singer Ivano Fossati, full name Ivano Alberto Fossati, born in Genoa, Italy ~ Member of progressive rock group Delirium. Has been releasing solo albums since the early-1970s. Also worked with Fabrizio de André, Riccardo Tesi, Anna Oxa, Mia Martini, Ornella Vanoni, Shirley Bassey, Francesco de Gregori, Laura Pausini, and Dalida
September 21, 1949 ~ Bassist Colin Gibson born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK ~ First gained attention as a member of the Primitive Sect during the mid-1960s. Subsequently joined the Chosen Few with bandmate John Turnbull, soon renamed to Skip Bifferty. Member of short-lived Griffin, known for their 1969 I Am The Noise In Your Head single. Member of Ginger Baker's Air Force, replacing Ric Grech, present on the band's acclaimed 1970 Ginger Baker's Air Force 2 album. Would go on to work, both as a band member and a session musician, with the likes of Stefan Grossman, Alan Hull, Mark Almond, Snafu, Steve Howe, Graham Bonnet, Kevin Coyne, and Trevor Watts Moiré Music
September 21, 1948 ~ Eddie James Lusk Jr, commonly known as Chicago blues keyboardist, pianist Professor Eddie Lusk, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Raised in the Pentecostal faith, his parents running the Lusk Bible Way Center in Chicago, Illinois, and Lusk himself an ordained minister, Lusk could not resist the lure of the blues. Got his start in music backing Luther Allison for a number of years, before going on to work as a session musician throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Notably appeared on albums by Buddy Guy, Jimmy Johnson, Koko Taylor (Queen Of The Blues), Jimmy Dawkins, Sunnyland Slim, Michael Coleman, and Nate Taylor. Lusk has also toured with the likes of Fenton Robinson, Syl Johnson, and Otis Rush. Lusk recorded one solo album, Professor Strut released in 1989, before committing suicide at age 43 after being diagnosed with cancer ~ Lusk passed away in 1992
September 21, 1947 ~ Jazz guitarist Bern Nix born in Toledo, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for his association with Ornette Coleman for over a decade, starting in the mid-1970s. Other than with Coleman's Prime Time group Nix also worked with Jayne Cortez, John Zorn, Elliott Sharp, Jemeel Moondoc, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Kip Hanrahan, Lenore von Steiin, and recorded a number of albums as a leader, notably Tangerine released in 2015 ~ Nix passed away in 2017
September 21, 1947 ~ Guitarist Don Felder, full name Donald William Felder, born in Gainesville, Florida, USA ~ Best known as member of the Eagles since 1974, joining the band shortly after having guested on the tracks Good Day In Hell and Already Gone. Felder is present on most of the band's best known, and co-wrote songs such as Visions, which was the only song on which he sang lead, Too Many Hands, Victim Of Love, Hotel California, The Disco Strangler, and Those Shoes. Between the band's initial disbandement in the early-1980s and their reunion by the mid-1990s, Felder has composed and performed several soundtracks, notably Fast Times At Ridgemont High, recorded as a solo artist, and guested on albums by Joe Walsh (There Goes The Neighbourhood), the Bee Gees, Stevie Nicks (Bella Donna), Mickey Thomas, Bob Seger, Barbra Streisand, and Robin Zander. Felder was fired from the Eagles in 2001, after which he filed various lawsuits against the band for wrongful termination. Felder published an autobiography detailing his tenure with the band, Heaven And Hell (My Life In The Eagles 1974-2001), in 2008
September 21, 1947 ~ Rock drummer Jan Manschot, also known as Brekken Jan Schampschot, born in Lichtenvoorde, the Netherlands ~ Co-founded Normaal with Bennie Jolink, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums. The band, a mainstay in Dutch rock and one of the first to consistently gain national attention with songs performed in a regional dialect, is known especially for songs such as Oerend Hard, Net As Gisteren, Mamma Woar Is Mien Pils and Deurdonderen. Manschot has also worked with Boi Foi Toch, Bakkerij Manschot, Old Ni-js, and the Hanska Duo ~ Manschot passed away in 2014
September 21, 1947 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songwriter, producer Rupert Hine, full name Rupert Neville Hine, born in Wimbledon, UK ~ As a singer and keyboardist, Hine is best known as a member of Quantam Jump, with whom he scored the 1979 UK top 10 hit The Lone Ranger. Hine has recorded over half a dozen albums under either the moniker Thinkman or his own name, notably the 1981 Immunity album. However, Hine is best known as a producer, successful particularly in the 1980s, producing or co-producing albums by Yvonne Elliman, Camel (I Can See Your House From Here), Murray Head, Saga, Chris De Burgh (The Getaway), the Waterboys (The Waterboys), the Fixx (Reach The Beach), Tina Turner (Private Dancer), Howard Jones (Human's Lib), Power Station, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Robert Palmer, and Rush. Former Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips, for whom Hine produced several late-1970s albums, once said of Hine: “I've yet to work with a more affable, patient, funny and bloody good producer” ~ Hine passed away in 2020
September 21, 1944 ~ Rock, blues-rock, electric blues guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer Bobby Tench born in UK ~ Though never a household name, Tench was held in the highest regards by peers and critics, having played with some of the biggest names in British rock. Co-founding member of Gass and of Hummingbird. Best known for his associations with blues guitarist Freddie King and with singer Van Morrison. Worked with Jeff Beck both in the Jeff Beck Group and as a touring singer with Beck Bogert & Appice. Other notable associations include Humble Pie, the Streetwalkers, Hummingbird, Ginger Baker, Linda Lewis, Boxer, Widowmaker, Eric Burdon, Axis Point, Brian Robertson, Topper Headon, Roger Chapman, Ruby Turner, and Alan Price ~ Tench passed away in 2024
September 21, 1944 ~ Ginger Kay Hammond, commonly known as bluegrass singer Ginger Boatwright born in Columbus, Mississippi, USA ~ Sang with her father Hap Hammond's bluegrass unit the Magic City Ramblers. Upon meeting guitarist Grant Boatwright in the early-1970s, whom she would later marry, the two formed a duo and later still with the addition of Dale Whitcomb, the bluegrass group Red White & Blue (Grass). Boatwright recorded both as a solo artist, notably the 1974 single The Lovin's Over, and with the group until the couple's divorce by the end of the decade. From the 1980s onward, Boatwright worked with the short-lived all-female outfit the Bushwhackers, as well as with Doug Dillard, and recorded several well-received solo albums including notably Fertile Ground released in 1991
September 21, 1943 ~ Bassist, trombonist David Hood born in Sheffield, Alabama, USA ~ Session musician praised for his craftsmanship and versatility, with a career spanning four decades. Co-founded the renowned Muscle Shoals Studios, Sheffield, Alabama. Either with or without the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Hood has appeared on albums by Aretha Franklin (I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You), John Hammond Jr, Clarence Carter, Etta James (Tell Mama), Percy Sledge, the Sweet Inspirations, Mavis Staples, Wilson Pickett, Cher, Tony Joe White (Tony Joe), Odetta, Herbie Mann, King Curtis, Albert King (Lovejoy), Linda Ronstadt, Bobby Womack, Jim Capaldi, Boz Scaggs, Paul Simon (There Goes Rhymin' Simon), Traffic, Eddie Floyd, Willie Nelson, Millie Jackson, Rod Stewart (Atlantic Crossing), the Dramatics, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Delbert McClinton (Second Wind), Levon Helm, Eddie Rabbitt, Patti Austin, Jerry Jeff Walker, Glenn Frey, JJ Cale, and Luther Ingram. On occassion, Hood has produced or co-produced for artists such as Bob Seger (Beautiful Loser), Blackfoot, Jackson Highway, and Denise Lasalle
September 21, 1943 ~ Blues, R&B singer Trixie Smith passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Billed as “the Southern Nightingale” Smith started in vaudeville, minstrel shows, and Broadway starting around the mid-1910s. Best remembered for a number of 1920s recordings, at times backed by artists such as James P Johnson, Freddie Keppard, and Louis Armstrong. Well known songs include My Man Rocks Me (With One Steady Roll), regarded as one of the first songs to refer to “rocking” and “rolling” in a secular context, the self-penned Trixie's Blues, Railroad Blues, and The World Is Jazz Crazy (And So Am I). As her career as a blues singer waned by the late 1930, Smith would return to cabaret and musical revues ~ Smith was born ca.1895
September 21, 1942 ~ Ewart Beckford, commonly known as reggae, dancehall, dub singer, toaster U-Roy, born in Jones Town, Jamaica ~ Pioneer toaster. Influenced by Louis Prima, James Brown, Ruth Brown, Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, and especially Louis Jordan. Known for songs such as Wake The Town, Wear You To The Ball, and Runaway Girl. Worked with producers such as Lee Scratch Perry, Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt, Sonia Pottinger, Rupie Edwards, Alvin Ranglin, and Lloyd Daley ~ Beckford passed away in 2021
September 21, 1940 ~ Drummer, bandleader John Pochée, commonly known as John Kenneth Pochee, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Founded the Last Straw. Played with the Judy Bailey Quartet from 1974 to 197. Also worked with the Engine Room, the Ten Part Invention, Bernie McGann, Dewey Redman, Shirley Bassey, the Four Kinsmen, and Peter Boothman
September 21, 1936 ~ Royden Dickey Lee, commonly known as singer, songwriter Dickey Lee, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for his 1960s recording Patches, I Saw Linda Yesterday, and Laurie Strange Things Happen. Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by George Jones (She Thinks I Still Care), Elvis Presley, Connie Francis, Leon Russell, Anne Murray, George Strait, Charley Pride, Reba McEntire, Emmylou Harris (Someone Like You), Tracy Byrd (Keeper Of The Stars), Jo-El Sonnier (I've Been Around Enough To Know), and John Schneider
September 21, 1936 ~ James Marcellus Arthur Murray, commonly known as jazz drummer Sunny Murray, born in Idabel, Oklahoma, USA ~ Pioneering free jazz drummer. Rose to prominence backing Cecil Taylor on albums such as Air, Nefertiti The Beautiful One Has Come and Live At the Café Montmartre. Also closely associated with Albert Ayler, including on the seminal Spiritual Unity album released in 1964. Over a dozen albums as a leader, especially acclaimed for the albums Sunny Murray and Hard Cores. Also present on albums by Dave Burrell, Archie Shepp, Clifford Thornton (Ketchaoua), Jimmy Lyons, and Khan Jamal ~ Murray passed away in 2017
September 21, 1934 ~ Singer, songwriter, poet, novelist Leonard Cohen, full name Leonard Norman Cohen, born in Westmount, Canada ~ Pursued a career as poet and novelist during the 1950s and most of the 1960s. Eventually turned to music, debuting with the critically acclaimed Songs Of Leonard Cohen in 1967. Known for songs such as Suzanne, Bird On A Wire, Famous Blue Raincoat, and Hallelujah ~ Cohen passed away in 2016
September 21, 1932 ~ Jazz, rock keyboardist Don Preston, full name Donald Ward Preston, born in Flint, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Mothers Of Invention, backing Frank Zappa from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s. Has also worked with Herbie Mann, Tommy Flanagan, Elvin Jones, Yusef Lateef, Nat King Cole, Shorty Rogers, Charlie Haden, Paul Bley, Emil Richards, Paul Beaver, Meredith Monk, Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau, Vaughn Monroe, Carla Bley, Leo Sayer, Flo & Eddie, John Lennon, Bunk Gardner, Captain Beefheart, and the Jefferson Airplane
September 21, 1918 ~ Double bassist Tommy Potter, full name Charlie Thomas Potter, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Member of Charlie Parker's classic quintet, alongside Miles Davis, Duke Jordan, and Max Roach, from 1947 to 1950. Potter rarely recorded as a leader, though Tommy Potter's Hard Funk album released in 1956 was well-received, and has worked as a sideman through the mid-1960s before semi-retiring from music. Other than Parker, notable collaborations include Gene Ammons, Al Cohn (Cohn's Tones), Bennie Green, Bud Powell (The Amazing Bud Powell Vol.1), Wardell Gray, Sonny Criss, JJ Johnson, Sonny Stitt (Kaleidoscope), Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz, Al Haig, Tommy Flanagan, Willis Jackson, Jimmy Forrest (Out Of The Forrest), and Zoot Sims ~ Potter passed away in 1988
September 21, 1914 ~ Leroy Elliott Stewart, commonly known as double bassist Slam Stewart, born in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Played the violin before switching to bass at age 20. Mostly known as a session musician particularly active during the 1940s for artists such as Lester Young, Fats Waller, Coleman Hawkins, Erroll Garner, Art Tatum, Johnny Guarnieri, Red Norvo, Don Byas, Benny Goodman, and Beryl Booker ~ Stewart passed away in 1987
September 21, 1912 ~ Pianist György Sándor born in Budapest, Hungary ~ Best known as interpreter, as well as close friend, of Béla Bartók. One of only ten people who attended Bartok's funeral. Toured as a concert pianist throughout the 1930s, briefly served in the US Army during World War II, and returned to the stage after the war. Has recorded works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and notably the complete solo piano works of Zoltán Kodály and Sergei Prokofiev, and the complete piano works of Bartók ~ Sándor passed away in 2005
September 21, 1912 ~ Thereon Eugene Daffan, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Ted Daffan, born ~ Wrote the seminal Truck Driver's Blues originally recorded by Cliff Bruner in 1939 with Moon Mullican singing lead. Daffan also wrote, and was the first to record, both I'm A Fool To Care and Born To Lose. Both would become standards, the former covered by Gene Autry, Jim Reeves, Connie Francis, and Fats Domino, while the latter has been recorded by Porter Wagoner, Ferlin Husky, Don Gibson, and Ray Charles ~ Daffan passed away in 1996
September 21, 1905 ~ Sonero singer, bandleader Abelardo Barroso, full name Abelardo Barroso Dargeles, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Arguably the first sonero lead singer to achieve wide acclaim. Lead singer of the Félix Chappottín led the Sexteto Habanero during the mid-1920s. Would go on to work with the Sexteto Boloña, the Septeto Nacional, Salmerón, Prestes Lopez, Andrés Laferté, and the Maravillas del Siglo ~ Barroso passed away in 1972
September 21, 1873 ~ George Vital Laine, commonly known as drummer, bandleader Papa Jack Laine, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Pioneering bandleader often credited for nurturing and mentoring young talent, including future jazz greats such as Chink Martin, Achille Baquet, Abbie Brunies, Merritt Brunies, Emile Christian, Frank Christian, Eddie Edwards, Nick LaRocca, Gussie Mueller, Alcide Yellow Nunez, Alphonse Picou, Larry Shields, Henry Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, and Ragbaby Stephens ~ Laine passed away in 1966
September 21, 1836 ~ Composer, church organist, musicologist John Stafford Smith passed away in London, UK ~ One of the first serious collectors of manuscripts of works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Membger of the select Anacreontic Society, a popular London gentleman's club, for whom he wrote the music to their constitutional song To Anacreon In Heaven, also known as The Anacreontic Song. The song would serve as the basis for the American patriotic song The Star-Spangled Banner, adopted as the American national anthem in 1931 ~ Smith was born ca.1750
September 21, 1809 ~ Composer, organist Alexander Reinagle, full name Alexander Robert Reinagle, passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Not to be confused with his nephew Alexander Reinagle, also an organist, composer. Influenced by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Muzio Clementi. Best known for his set of keyboard sonatas, often dubbed The Philadephia Sonatas for being the first sonatas composed in America ~ Reinagle was born in 1756