September 3, 2023 ~ Guitarist, percussionist, singer José Sébéloue passed away ~ Member of pop unit La Compagnie Créole, founded in 1975. The band originally sang in Creole but quickly adopted French as their main language. Known for their feel-good, happy-go-lucky vibe they have recorded about two dozen albums and would enjoy popularity in the Francophone world and beyond especially in the 1980s, reportedly selling over 60 million records over the course of their career. Well-known songs include Vive Le Douanier Rousseau, C'est Bon Pour Le Moral, Le Bal Masqué, Ça Fait Rire Les Oiseaux, and Ma Première Biguine-Partie ~ Sébéloue was born in 1948
September 3, 2021 ~ Jazz singer Ruth Olay passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Fixture in Hollywood's night club scene from the late-1940s through the early-1960s. Discovered by songwriter Irving Gordon. Mentored by Benny Carter. Got her big break filling in at the last minute for Billie Holiday, who fell ill that day. Released her OLAY! (The New Sound Of Ruth Olay) debut album in 1958 and would continue to record to acclaim well into the 1960s ~ Olay was born in 1924
September 3, 2020 ~ William Whitney Pursell, commonly known as pianist, songwriter Bill Pursell, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his instrumental 1963 Our Winter Love single, which would reach the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Would go on to become an in-demand session pianist and arranger, present on many of Johnny Cash's 1960s recordings. Also worked with artists such as Patsy Cline, Johnny Paycheck, Willis Hoover, Joan Baez, Scotty Moore, JJ Cale, Willie Nelson, and Dan Fogelberg ~ Pursell was born in 1926
September 3, 2017 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Walter Becker, full name Walter Carl Becker, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Best known as co-founder of jazz-rock band Steely Dan along with songwriting partner Donald Fagen. Also known as a producer for Fra Lippo Lippi, China Crisis, Michael Franks, John Beasley, Rickie Lee Jones, and others ~ Becker was born in 1950
September 3, 2010 ~ Jazz saxophonist Noah Howard passed away ~ Influenced by John Coltrane, Albert Ayler. Worked with Sun Ra, Frank Wright, Archie Shepp, Arthur Doyle, Misha Mengelberg, Han Bennink, Omar Al Fadir, Dave Burrell, Earl Freeman, Sunny Murray, Clifford Thornton, Lester Bowie, Frank Lowe, Rashied Ali, Steve Boston, Tim Ingles, Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor, Bobby Few, Eve Packer, Bobby Kapp, and others ~ Howard was born in 1943
September 3, 2007 ~ Rock keyboardist, guitarist, singer Carter Albrecht, full name Jeffrey Carter Albrecht, passed away ~ Latter day member of the New Bohemians fronted by Edie Brickell, appearing on the Stranger Things released the year before Albrecht's death. Has previously worked with Sorta and fronted his own Dallas-based outfit the Sparrows, known for the critically acclaimed albums Rock & Roll Days and Snowflakes. At the time of his death was working on his first solo album, Jesus Is Alive (And Living In London), posthumously released in 2009 with financial backing from Brickell ~ Albrecht was born in 1973
September 3, 2007 ~ Rockabily, rock & roll, country singer, guitarist Janis Martin, full name Janis Darlene Martin, passed away in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ One of the few women in male-dominated rock & roll, at times dubbed “the female Elvis Presley” for her dance moves similar to Presley's. Rose to fame while still in her mid-teens, her 1956 Will You Willyum single, b/w the self-penned Drugstore Rock & Roll, selling some 750,000 copies. Other well known songs include My Boy Elvis, Let's Elope Baby, the Roy Orbison cover Ooby Dooby, and Love Me To Pieces ~ Martin was born in 1940
September 3, 2006 ~ Jazz trumpeter Ian Hamer, full name Ian Wilfred Hamer, passed away in Brighton, UK ~ Closely associated with Tubby Hayes. Co-led the Six Sounds with pianist Harry South from 1963 onwards. The sextet would eventually evolve into his own band, the Ian Hamer Sextet, and at times include sidemen such as Dick Morrisey, Kenny Naper, Alan Skidmore, and Daryl Runswick, and Alan Branscombe. To pop rock audiences perhaps best known for guesting on the Beatles track Got To Get You Into My Life of the 1966 Revolver album. Hamer has also appeared on recordings by Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand ~ Hamer was born in 1932
September 3, 1992 ~ August Anthony Alsina Jr, commonly known as rapper, singer August Alsina, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for his single I Love This Shit featuring Trinidad James. Debuted in 2014 with the album Testimony
September 3, 1987 ~ Composer Morton Feldman passed away in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Pioneer of indeterminate music, a development which also included Christian Wolff, Earle Brown and close friend John Cage. Has composed over 180 works including orchestral music, chamber music, and solo pieces for various instruments ~ Feldman was born in 1926
September 3, 1985 ~ Drummer Jo Jones, full name Jonathan David Samuel Jones passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Hugely influential on Buddy Rich, Kenny Clarke, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Louie Bellson. Leader and sideman. Worked with Walter Page, Lloyd Hunter, Count Basie, Freddie Green, Gene Ammons, Art Blakey, Bob Brookmeyer, Ray Bryant, Milt Buckner, Blossom Dearie, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Cass Harrison, Woody Herman, Illinois Jacquet, Budd Johnson, Thad Jones, Charles Mingus, Oscar Peterson, Paul Quinichette, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Dicky Wells, Lester Young, and others ~ Jones was born in 1911
September 3, 1985 ~ Songwriter Johnny Marks, full name John David Marks, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for writing a number of holiday classics including Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer (Gene Autry), Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee), A Holly Jolly Christmas (the Quinto Sisters), I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day (Bing Crosby) and Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry) ~ Marks was born in 1909
September 3, 1984 ~ Composer, film producer Arthur Schwartz passed away in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Studied law but pursued a career in songwriting. Has written extensively for Broadway musicals, starting in 1927 with New Yorkers, and films, often in collaboration with Howard Dietz. Noted for producing the 1944 Cover Girl musical film and the 1946 Cole Porter Night & Day bio-pic ~ Schwartz was born in 1900
September 3, 1984 ~ Pop singer Cyndi Lauper releases All Through The Night, lifted off her She's So Unusual debut album ~ Penned and first recorded the previous year by Jules Shear for his Watch Dog album. Shear would express his surprisement at Lauper recording his “folk song as a drum machine and techno thing”. Lauper has stated she initially wanted it to be just like Shear's version, yet changed her mind and remade it in her own style. Peaking at No.5, All Through The Night would be Lauper's fourth Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit off her debut album
September 3, 1984 ~ Pop rock group U2 release Pride (In The Name Of Love), lead single off their The Unforgettable Fire album ~ The band's first song to hit top 40 in America, peaking at No.33 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Though at the time of its release, Pride (In The Name Of Love) received mixed reviews, over time it has been acknowledged as one of the band's greatest songs and included in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. Inspired by the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and specifically by Martin Luther King Jr. Guitarist The Edge would later recall: “Because of the situation in our country nonviolent struggle was such an inspiring concept. Even so when Bono told me he wanted to write about King. At first I said, ‘Whoa, that's not what we're about.’ Then he came in and sang the song and it felt right, it was great. When that happens there's no argument. It just was.”
September 3, 1982 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, pop punk singer, pianist, producer Andrew McMahon born in Concord, Massachusetts, USA ~ Active since the early 1990s. Founded Left Here, which also included future Something Corporate-bandmates Kevin Page and Brian Ireland. Has also recorded as a solo artist, notably under the monniker Jack's Mannequin
September 3, 1981 ~ Classical cellist, pianist Gautier Capuçon born in Chambéry, France ~ Brother of violinist Renaud Capuçon. Has worked with conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Pierre Boulez, and Claudio Abbado. Noted for his recordings of Johannes Brahms trios with his brother violinist Renaud Capuçon and pianist Nicholas Angelich. Capuçon is also an accomplished pianist, occasionaly playing jazz recreationally
September 3, 1981 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Jesse Quin, full name Jesse Joseph Quin, born in Bedford, UK ~ Best known as a member of Keane, starting as a session musician on the band's 2008 album Perfect Symmetry and becoming a full-time member by 2011. Quin also worked with Mt Desolation, the Wedding Band, Laura Marling, and with King Charles
September 3, 1980 ~ Christopher Dorsey, commonly known as rapper BG, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of rap group Hot Boys, alongside Juvenile and Turk. Worked with the BG'z. Known for his platinum 1999 solo album Chopper City In The Ghetto. Collaborated with Lil' Wayne, Mannie Fresh, TI, Trey Songz, Big Tymers, Missy Elliott, Mack 10, David Banner, C-Murder, and Young Buck
September 3, 1980 ~ Jazz, heavy metal singer, guitarist, songwriter Jørgen Munkeby born in Oslo, Norway ~ Worked with Morten Qvenild, Torstein Lofthus, Alis, Jagga Jazzist, the Shining, Damp, Chrome Hill, Motorpsycho, the Enslaved, Ihsahn, In Lingua Mortua, Bertine Zetlitz, the Big Band, Superfamily, Grand Island, Jim Stark, the Casualties Of Cool, Emperor, Marty Friedman, Amorphis, and others
September 3, 1979 ~ Tomislav Milicivic, commonly known as guitarist Tomo Milicevic, born in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina ~ Best known as lead guitarist of rock outfit Thirty Seconds To Mars from 2003 replacing Solon Bixler through 2018, first appearing on the band's 2005 A Beautiful Lie sophomore album. Classically trained. From an early age influenced by classical music and jazz musicians such as Stéphane Grappelli, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, turning to rock, blues and alternative rock later citing Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana and Depeche Mode as influences
September 3, 1978 ~ Jazz, R&B, pop producer, music publisher, promoter Joe Davis, full name Joseph M Davis, passed away in Richmond, Virginia, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Fats Waller, convincing the shy, relucting pianist to pursue a performing career. As a manager helped dozens of blues and pop singers to get signed to a variety of major and minor labels from the 1920s onward. Founded and ran Triangle Music Publischin Co. Founded several labels, including Beacon Records and Jay-Dee Records ~ Davis was born in 1896
September 3, 1973 ~ Clarinetist Albert Nicholas passed away in Basel, Switzerland ~ Versatile on several reeds, mostly played clarinet. Active since the late-1910s. Nicholas has played with Buddy Petit, King Oliver, Manuel Perez, Luis Russell, Red Allen, Charlie Holmes, JC Higginbotham, Chick Webb, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton. The late-1940s Dixieland revival rejuvenated his career and he went on to team up with greats such as Art Hodes, Bunk Johnson, Kid Ory, and in particular Ralph Sutton ~ Nicholas was born in 1900
September 3, 1971 ~ Pierre Steffen Baigorry, commonly known as reggae, dancehall singer, guitarist, pianist Peter Fox, born in Berlin, West Germany ~ Member of Seeed, known for merging German hip-hop, reggae and dancehall. As a solo artist known for his 2008 Stadtaffe, which spawned the singles Alles Neu, Haus Am See and Schwarz Zu Blue, all of which reached top 10 in his native Germany
September 3, 1970 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Alan Wilson passed away in Topango Canyon, California, USA ~ Best known as co-founder, frontman, lead singer, primary songwriter of Canned Heat, known for songs such as On The Road Again, and Going Up The Country ~ Wilson was born in 1943
September 3, 1967 ~ Rock guitarist, producer, film composer Alexandre Azaria born ~ Member of rock band Le Cri De La Mouchè. Briefly member of Indochine. Left after producing the band's 1997 Wax album
September 3, 1967 ~ Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein born in New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Jim Hall, Jesse Davis, Lou Donaldson, Larry Goldings, Michael Hashim, Geoffrey Keezer, Melvin Rhyne, Brad Mehldau, Jimmy Cobb, Tom Harrell, Diana Krall, Lee Konitz, Eric Alexander, Joshua Redman, Dr Lonnie Smith, Walt Weiskopf, and others
September 3, 1965 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their Irish tour at the Adelphi Theatre, Dublin, Ireland ~ The band play four shows over two consecutive days in Dublin and Belfast. The set list included Around And Around, Time Is On My Side, and I Can't Get No Satisfaction. The two-day-tour was documented in the documentary film Charlie Is My Darling, intended as a test to see whether the band's stage charisma would hold up on the screen
September 3, 1965 ~ Hard rock, alternative rock, grunge singer, guitarist Vaden Todd Lewis, full name Vaden Danger Todd Lewis, born ~ Influenced by bluegrass, old school country and ZZ Top. Co-founding member of post-grunge outfit the Toadies, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums since the mid-1990s including their best known Play Rock Music released in 2012. Also fronted hard rock band the Burden Brothers, best known for their 2003 Buried In Your Black Heart debut album
September 3, 1963 ~ Violinist, guitarist, mandolinist, keyboardist, singer Jonathan Segel born in Marseilles, France ~ Member of indie rock outfit Camper Van Beethoven from 1984 through 1989, departing the band after conflicts with frontman David Lowery just a year before the band's initial disbandement. Joined a reunited Camper in 1999. Has also worked with Dieselhed, Granfaloon Bus, Jack & Jill, Sideways, Eugene Chadbourne, Sparklehorse, Chaos Butterfly, Michael Zapruder, Sista Maj, Epidemic, and others
September 3, 1960 ~ Ragtime pianist, composer Joseph Lamb, full name Joseph Francis Lamb, passed away in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Alongside Scott Joplin and James Scott considered one of “the Big Three” of classical ragtime. Of the three the one most influenced by classical music as clear from his use of long phrases and complexer structures. Known for songs such as Excelsior Rag, American Beauty Rag, Nightingale Rag, Top Liner Rag, Champagne Rag, Reindeer Ragtime Two Step and Bohemia ~ Lamb was born in 1887
September 3, 1955 ~ Drummer, percussionist Rob Hirst, full name Robert George Hirst, born in Camden, Australia ~ Founding member of Midnight Oil, known for hits such as Power And The Passion, The Dead Heart, Blue Sky Mine, Truganini and perhaps their best known Beds Are Burning, the latter also reaching the American top 20 in 1987
September 3, 1955 ~ Guitarist Steve Jones, full name Stephen Philip Jones, born in London, UK ~ Best known as member of short-lived but pivotal UK punk band the Sex Pistols, noted for their sole 1977 Never Mind The Bollocks (Here's The Sex Pistols) album. Following the band's disbandement Jones has recorded as a solo artist, formed the Professionals and supergroup the Neurotic Outsiders, and collaborated with Johnny Thunders, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, Thin Lizzy, and others
September 3, 1950 ~ Drummer, percussionist Aaron Smith born ~ Session musician, appeared on several 1970s Motown recordings including by the Temptations, Eddie Kendricks and the Undisputed Truth. Member of new wave outfit Romeo Void. Member of Christian alternative rock outfit the 77's
September 3, 1950 ~ Pekka Juhani Maijanen, commonly known as singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer Pave Maijanen, born in Lappeenranta, Finland ~ Best known as member of the Hurriganes in the 1970s, and of Dingo in the 1980s. Has also worked with the Royals, the Rock 'n Roll Band, Pepe & Paradise, Albert Järvinen, Pave's Mistakes, and others. Represented his native Finland at the 1992 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching last place with the song Yamma Yamma ~ Maijanen passed away in 2021
September 3, 1949 ~ Pianist, composer, bandleader Onaje Allan Gumbs born in New York, New York, USA ~ Sideman and leader. Worked with Kenny Burrell, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Nat Adderley, TK Blue, Betty Carter, Norman Connors, Carlos Garnett, Toninho Horta, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Bennie Maupin, Cecil McBee, Mark Mosly, Avery Sharpe, Woody Shaw, John Stubblefield, Charles Sullivan, Lenny White, and others
September 3, 1948 ~ Drummer, singer, songwriter Don Brewer, full name Donald Geroge Brewer, born in Flint, Michigan, USA ~ Co-founding and longest serving member of Grand Funk Railroad. Penned several of the band's best known, notably Walk Like A Man, Shinin' On and We're An American Band. Following the band's initial disbandement, Brewer founded the short-lived Flint known for their sole eponymous Flint album. Brewer played bongos on Frank Zappa's Let Me Take You To The Beach of the 1978 Studio Tan album, and worked with Silver Bullet Band backing Bob Seger on tour and on record
September 3, 1947 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Eric Bell born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Best known as co-founding member of Thin Lizzy, appearing on the band's first three albums, Thin Lizzy, Shades Of A Blue Orphanage and Vagabonds Of The Western World. Also appeared on the band's biggest hit Whiskey In The Jar, and co-wrote a number of songs including The Rocker. Also worked with his own the Eric Bell Band, Noel Redding, Mainsqueeze, Whistler, the Barrelhouse Brothers, and others
September 3, 1947 ~ Country, country-pop singer Jim Reeves marries Mary Elizabeth White ~ The couple would not have any children, Reeves believed to be sterile due to complications from a mumps infection. Mary would remarry in 1969, some five years after Jim's death
September 3, 1945 ~ Acid rock, hard rock bassist, singer George Biondo born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of Steppenwolf from 1970, replacing Nick St Nicholas, through 1976. Wrote or co-wrote several of the band's songs including Sparkle Eyes, In Hopes Of A Garden, Two For The Love Of One, Sleep and Lip Service
September 3, 1944 ~ Harris Lloyd Seaton, commonly known as ska, rocksteady, reggae singer, songwriter Bibby Seaton or BB Seaton, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Formed the duo Winston & Bibby with Delano Stewart, the pair later expanding into the Gaylads. The vocal group would become one of the premier rocksteady groups in Jamaica, reigning for about a decade starting in the early-1960s. The group had several hits of their own, including My Jamaican Girl, Don't Say No, and There's A Fire, and served as backing unit for the likes of Ken Parker, Ken Boothe, and Delroy Wilson. Seaton has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for songs such Accept My Apology and Thin Line Between Love And Hate, worked with groups such as the Astronauts, Conscious Minds, and the Messengers, and has written songs recorded by Boothe, Wilson, and the Melodians ~ Seaton passed away in 2024
September 3, 1944 ~ Engineer, producer Bill Price born ~ Chief engineer on the Who-singer Pete Townshend's solo albums. Mixer, engineer on some of the 1970s pivotal albums including the Sex Pistols' Never Mind The Bollocks (Here's The Sex Pistols). Has also worked with acts such as the Clash, Guns 'n Roses, Sparks, the Jesus & Mary Chain, the Waterboys, and Mott The Hoople ~ Price passed away in 2016
September 3, 1943 ~ Jazz bandleader, director, arranger Kjell Öhman, full name Kjell Ingemar Öhman, born in Sweden ~ Appeared on over 3000 albums. Worked with Marcus Österdahl, Alice Babs, Georgie Fame, Charlie Norman, Svend Asmussen, Arne Domnérus, Ulf Wakenius, Rune Gustafsson, Hans Backenroth, Ulf Lundell, and others ~ Öhman passed away in 2015
September 3, 1943 ~ Journalist, author, singer Mick Farren, full name Michael Anthony Farren, born in Cheltenham, UK ~ Counterculture, UK underground figure. Known for a number of 1950s recordings with proto-punk band the Deviants, such as You've Got To Hold On, and a number of 1970s recordings. most of them solo, including Play With Fire, Half Price Drinks and Broken Statue. Has collaborated with MC5's Wayne Kramer, co-wrote Hawkwind's Lost Johnny and Motörhead's Keep Us On The Road and Damage Case with Lemmy Kilmister. Wrote two dozen novels and a number of non-fiction works including four Elvis Presley biographies. As a journalist and music critic worked for the International Times, New Musical Express and the Los Angeles CityBeat ~ Farren passed away in 2013
September 3, 1942 ~ Guitarist Al Jardine born in Lima, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as rhythm guitarist for the the Beach Boys. occasionally sang lead vocals such as on Help Me Rhonda and Then I Kissed Her. Jardine befriended fellow football player Brian Wilson in high school and is a founding member of the band. Upon formation of the band Jardine tried to steer the group towards folk but was overruled, the band settling on rock & roll instead.
September 3, 1941 ~ George Francis Morton, commonly known as producer, songwriter George Shadow Morton, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best remembered for producing and writing several hits for the the Shangri-Las including Remember (Walking In The Sand) and The Leader Of The Pack. Also worked with Janis Ian, Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly, Haystacks Balboa, Isis, the New York Dolls, and others ~ Morton passed away in 2013
September 3, 1940 ~ Pianist, bandleader, musicologist James Dapogny born in Berwyn, Illinois, USA ~ As a musicologist Dapogny is best known for writing extensively about Jelly Roll Morton. As a musician best known for founding and leading the Chicago Jazz Band which backed Sippie Wallace and the Chenille Sisters and included members such as Jon Erik Kellso, Mike Karoub, Russ Whitman, Kim Cusack, and others ~ Dapogny passed away in 2019
September 3, 1940 ~ Singer, songwriter Kenny Pickett, full name Kenneth Georger Pickett, born in Ware, UK ~ Lead singer of the Creation, remaining with the band from 1966 through 1968 and rejoining in later reincarnations. Present on early recordings such as Making Time, Painter Man and Cool JerkZ ~ Pickett passed away in 1997
September 3, 1939 ~ Singer Arthur Venosa born ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Elegants, alongside Vito Picone, Frank Tardogno, Carmen Romano and James Moschello, known for Little Star, a million-seller in 1958
September 3, 1937 ~ Jazz bassist Larry Ridley born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Sideman and leader. Played with Chet Baker, Kenny Burrell, Al Cohn, Dameronia, Teddy Edwards, Red Garland, Dexter Gordon, Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Slide Hampton, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Philly Joe Jones, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, James Moody, Lee Morgan, Horace Silver, Lucky Thompson, and with Gerald Wilson
September 3, 1936 ~ Piedmont blues singer, guitarist Casey Bill Weldon records We Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town ~ Recorded as a solo piece with vocal and acoustic guitar. Covered by numerous artists, sometimes titled I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town or The Outskirts Of Town, including Louis Jordan, Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Jack Montrose, Ray Charles, the Everly Brothers, Lou Rawls, a young Rod Stewart on the B-side of his 1964 single Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Albert King, the Allman Brothers Band, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, BB King, and Willie Nelson
September 3, 1935 ~ Singer Dorothy Masuka born in Bulawayo ~ Zimbabwe-born South African jazz singer popular in the 1950s. When her songs became more serious, such as Dr Malan mentioning controversial laws it was banned. Eventually Matsuka would be exiled for over 30 years starting in 1961 ~ Matsuka passed away in 2019
September 3, 1934 ~ Fred Christian, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Freddie King, born in Gilmer, Texas, USA ~ Rooted in Texas blues and Chicago blues. Hugely influential, especially on guitarists. Known for songs such as You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling, I'm Tore Down and perhaps most notably the instrumental Hide-away. King has also worked with Jimmy Rogers, Robert Lockwood Junior, Eddie Taylor, Hound Dog Taylor, Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim, Little Walter, Magic Sam, and Sonny Thompson ~ Christian passed away in 1976
September 3, 1933 ~ Composer Roland Kayn born in Reutlingen, Germany ~ Co-founded the Gruppo Di Improvvisazione Di Nuova Consonanza, a pivotal free improvisation group active in the mid-1960s. As a solo artist known for his lenghty works of cybernetic music, most notably his 14-hour composition A Little Electronic Milky Way Of Sound posthumously released on 16 CDs in 2017 ~ Kayn passed away in 2011
September 3, 1932 ~ Granville William Roker, commonly known as hard bop, bebop drummer Mickey Roker, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ While living in Philadelphia, where he was raised, Roker played with visiting jazz musicians before relocating to New York by the late-1950s to become a sought-after session drummer, including for a while as member of the house band at Blue Note Records. Perhaps best known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie during the 1970s, including on the acclaimed Dizzy's Big 4 album which also featured Ray Brown and Joe Pass. Other notable credits include Gigi Gryce, Ray Bryant, Sonny Rollins, Junior Mance (Junior's Blues), Ben Webster, McCoy Tyner, Irene Kral (Better Than Anything), Stanley Turrentine (The Spoiler), Blue Mitchell (Boss Horn), Lee Morgan (The Procrastinator), Milt Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver (Serenade To A Soul Sister), Duke Pearson (Now Hear This), Charles Kynard, Cedar Walton, Randy Brecker (Score), Bobby Hutcherson, Donald Byrd, Jon Faddis, Hank Jones (Groovin' High), JJ Johnson, and Shirley Scott ~ Roker passed away in 2017
September 3, 1930 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer, songwriter Aaron Collins born ~ Member of the Jacks, known for 1955's Why Don't You Write Me. Member of the Cadets, known for the 1956 hit Stranded In The Jungle. Member of the Flares, known for Foot Stomping released in 1961. As a solo artist released a sole solo album, 1957's Calypso USA, which included the singles Pretty Evey and Rum Jamaica Rum ~ Collins passed away in 1997
September 3, 1929 ~ Manager, impresario Larry Parnes, full name Laurence Maurice Parnes, born in London, UK ~ First major British rock manager, especially successful during the 1950s and early-1960s. Aided the careers of artists such as Billy Fury, Vince Eager, Lance Fortune, Johnny Gentle, Nelson Keene, and others. His reputation would later be tarnished, many artists claiming they were exploited ~ Parnes passed away in 1989
September 3, 1926 ~ Jazz saxophonist Ernie Henry born ~ Active since the late-1940s. Recorded three albums as a leader shortly before his death of a heroin overdose at age 31. Has worked with Tadd Dameron, Fats Navarro, Charlie Ventura, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie (At Newport), Illinois Jacquet, Thelonious Monk (Brilliant Corners), Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Wynton Kelly, Wilbur Ware, Art Taylor, and Philly Joe Jones ~ Henry passed away in 1957
September 3, 1925 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Charley Booker born in Moorhead, Mississippi, USA ~ Recorded a handful of singles in the early-1950s, most notably No Ridin' Blues in 1952. Worked with Willie Love, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Milton, Ike Turner, and Houston Boines ~ Booker passed away in 1989
September 3, 1925 ~ Henry William Thompson, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Hank Thompson born in Waco, Texas, USA ~ Smooth baritone vocals backed by the Brazos Valley Boys, a hybrid of fiddles, electric guitars, steel guitars. Had his first hit in 1952 with The Wild Side Of Life. It contained the memorable line “I didn't know God made honky tonk angels”, solliciting the JD Miller-penned It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Also known for songs such as Whoa Sailor, Waiting In The Lobby Of Your Heart, Rub-a-dub-dub, Wake Up Irene, and others ~ Thompson passed away in 2007
September 3, 1921 ~ Nii Lante Augustus Kwamiah Quaye, commonly known as jazz singer, pianist Cab Kaye, born in London, UK ~ Mixed blues, stride piano and scat singing with his Ghanaian heritage. Son of music hall singer Doris Balderson and bandleader Ernest Mope Desmond. First gained attention in a song contest winning a touring spot with Billy Cotton. Kaye would go on to record close to a dozen albums as a leader, and become a trailblazer for black British musicians and racial equality in the music business. Notable associations include Humphrey Lyttelton, Kenny Ball, Ronnie Scott, and Shirley Bassey ~ Quaye passed away in 2000
September 3, 1918 ~ Country singer, pianist, accordionist Jimmy Riddle, full name James Lawrence Riddle, born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, USA ~ Among a loose collective dubbed the Nashville A-Team, consisting of Nashville's finest session musicians. Member of Roy Acuff's the Smoky Mountain Boys from 1943 onwards. Also known for regularly appearing on the country and comedy TV show Hee Haw, first aired in 1969, where he became known for the art of eefing, a vocal technique similar to beatboxing ~ Riddle passed away in 1982
September 3, 1916 ~ Herman Alpert, commonly known as jazz bassist Trigger Alpert, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Worked with Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Bud Freeman, Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Jerry Jerome, Bernie Leighton, Ray McKinley, Frank Sinatra, Muggsy Spanier, Don Elliott, Coleman Hawkins, Gene Krupa, Mundell Lowe, Buddy Rich, Artie Shaw, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, Al Cohn, Urbie Green, Tony Scott, Ed Shaughnessy, Zoot Sims, Joe Wilder, Hank Jones, Sonny Igoe, Chuck Wayne, and others ~ Alpert passed away in 2013
September 3, 1915 ~ Singer, songwriter, pianist John Chatman, commonly known as Memphis Slim, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for his late-1940s recording Every Day I Have The Blues, which has since become a blues standard recorded by numerous artists including Count Basie, BB King, and others ~ Chatman passed away in 1988
September 3, 1891 ~ Music director, conductor Doc Cook born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known for leading Doc Cook's Dreamland Orchestra, which at times included musicians such as Freddie Keppard, Jimmie Noone, Johnny St Cyr, Zutty Singleton, Joe Poston, Andrew Hilaire, Luis Russell, and others. Also frequently collaborated with Eubie Blake, including arranging the 1952 revival of Shuffle Along musical ~ Cook passed away in 1958
September 3, 1887 ~ Trumpeter Frank Christian, full name Frank Joseph Christian, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Worked with Papa Jack Laine, Johnny Fischer, Alcide Nunez, Eddie Edwards, Johnny Stein, the Original New Orleans Jazz Band, Gilda Gray, and others ~ Christian passed away in 1973