September 4, 1990 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, country rock singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Danny Worsnop, full name Danny Robert Worsnop, born in Beverley, UK ~ Lead singer of Asking Alexandria and of We Are Harlot. Has guested on recordings by I See Stars, With One Last Breath, Breathe Carolina, the Memphis May Fire, the Word Alive, All That Remains, Testarossa, and others
September 4, 1990 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter James Bay, full name James Michael Bay, born in Hitchin, UK ~ Known for his 2014 single Let It Go, which reached top 20 on both sides of the Atlantic, and his debut album Chaos And The Calm, released the next year. Has opened for Kodaline, Hozier, Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones, and for Ed Sheeran
September 4, 1984 ~ Camila Bordonaba Roidan, commonly known as actress, singer, model, theater director Camila Bordonaba, born in El Palomar, Argentina ~ Actress for stage, film and TV series including Rebelde Way. The show would spawn the Latin pop group Erreway which also featured co-stars Felipe Colombo, Luisana Lopilato and Benjamín Rojas, and released the albums Señales, Tiempo and Memoria. In total the band would sell over 1 million records, songs such as Sweet Baby, Resistire, Sera Porque Te Quiero, Tiempo and Para Cosas Buenas all reaching the No.1 spot in the band's native Argentine
September 4, 1981 ~ Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, mononymously known as singer Beyoncé, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, known for hits such as No No No, Bills Bills Bills, Say My Name and Bootylicious. Released her debut solo album, Dangerously In Love, in 2003 and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial success since. Has regularly reached the higher echelons of the pop charts, songs such as Crazy In Love, Déjà Vu, If I Were A Boy, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) and Perfect Duet with Ed Sheeran all reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100
September 4, 1977 ~ Lucie Joanne Silverman, commonly known as singer, pianist, songwriter Lucie Silvas, born in Kingston-upon-Thames, UK ~ Debuted with the single It's Too Late in 2000, which charted poorly. A planned debut album was scrapped as the label dropped her. Would focus on sessioning and songwriting for other artists, including Sarah Whatmore, Will Young, Gareth Gates, Rachel Stevens, and Liberty X. Released a fulll-length solo debut album, Breathe In, in 2004, spawning the British top 10 hits What You're Made Of and the title track Breathe In
September 4, 1976 ~ Ralph di Stasio, commonly known as R&B singer, songwriter Avery Storm, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Appeared on Nelly's 2004 Suit album, on the Notorious BIG's posthumously released 2005 single Nasty Girl and on Rick Ross's 2008 single Here I Am. Has also worked with Murphy Lee, Mase, Daz Dillinger, Jadakiss, Pitbull, I-20, Wale, Styles P, and Waka Flocka Flame
September 4, 1976 ~ Percussionist, composer, arranger Samuel Torres born in Colombia ~ Performed professionally since age 12. Has worked with artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Chick Corea, Pete Escovedo, Michael Brecker, Don Byron, Paquito d'Rivera, Candido Camero, and others
September 4, 1975 ~ DJ, producer Mark Ronson, full name Mark Daniel Ronson, born in Notting Hill, UK ~ Stepson of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones. DJ, turntablist, multi-instrumentalist, producer. Co-produced Amy Winehouse's sophomore album Back To Black. As a solo artist debuted with the Here Comes The Fuzz album in 2003, critically acclaimed but failed to chart. Best known for his high-profile collaborations, including with artists such as Lady Gaga, Adele, Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars. Produced or co-produced albums by Flip Squad, Nikka Costa (Everybody Got Their Something), Sean Paul, Macy Gray (The Trouble With Being Myself), Ol' Dirty Bastard, Lily Allen, Robbie Wiliams, and Christina Aguilera
September 4, 1974 ~ Singer, dancer, model, actress Carmit Bachar, full name Carmit Maile Bachar, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of the Pussycat Dolls. Also released several recordings as a solo artist, and collaborated with Detroit Diamond, Storm Lee, and notably Macy Gray, providing backing vocals for a number of tracks on the latter's 2010 The Sellout album
September 4, 1974 ~ Singer, actress, model Nona Gaye, full name Nona Aisha Gaye, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Daughter of singer Marvin Gaye. Granddaughter of jazz musician Slim Gaillard. Debuted as a singer in 1992. Known for songs such as I'm Overjoyed, The Things We Do For Love and Love Sign, the latter a duet with Prince. As an actress best known for her role as Zee in two parts of The Matrix trilogy
September 4, 1973 ~ Jazz, electronica drummer, keyboardist Wetle Holte born in Sklen, Norway ~ Co-founded the jazz trio Triangle with Hålkon Kornstad and Per Zanussi, later renamed to Wibutee, with whom he has recorded a number of albums starting with Newborn Thing released in 1998. Holte has also collaborated with the likes of Beady Belle, Petter Carlsen, Anathema (Distant Satellites), Gunnar Halle, Anneli Drecker, and frequently with Eivind Sarset
September 4, 1970 ~ Dohnyale Sharon Hines, commonly known as singer Deni Hines, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Played Maria Magdalena in a 1992 Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Worked with Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Barnes, Wa Wa Nee, Peter Blakeley, the Rockmelons (including lead vocals on the Bill Withers cover Ain't No Sunshine), INXS (vocals on Not Enough Time), James Morrison, Christine Anu, Marcia Hines, Supafly, and others
September 4, 1970 ~ Heavy metal, groove metal, alternative metal drummer Igor Cavalera, full name Igor Graziano Cavalera, born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil ~ Best known as member of Sepultura, which he co-founded with his brother singer, guitarist Max Cavalera. Has also worked with Cavalera Conspiracy, Nailbomb, Strife, Biohazard, Massacration, Mixhell, Soulwax, and others
September 4, 1966 ~ Gypsy jazz, swing, jazz fusion guitarist Biréli Lagrène born in Soufflenheim, France ~ Influenced by Django Reinhardt. Worked with Al di Meola, Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin, Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Stéphane Grappelli, Larry Coryell, Vic Juris, Philip Catherine, Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Christian Escoudé, Charlie Haden, and Stanley Jordan
September 4, 1965 ~ Kurtis El-Khaleel, commonly known as producer, rapper Kurtis Mantronik, born in Jamaica ~ Pivotal to the develoment of hip-hop, specifically sub-genres such as trap music. Frontman and eponym of electro-funk, hip-hop outfit Mantronix. Also an in-demand producer and remixer, known for his work with La India, Kylie Minogue, Fatboy Slim, the Chemical Brothers, Victoria Beckham, and others
September 4, 1964 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Charlie Robison, full name Charles Fitzgerald Robinson, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Brother of singers Bruce Robison and Robyn Ludwyck. Married to Emily Erwin of the Dixie Chicks. Turned to music after a knee injury ended a potential football career. Worked with Chaparral, the Millionaire Playboys, and Two Hoots & A Holler. Recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Bandera released in 1996. Known for songs such as Barlight, I Want You Bad, Walter, My Hometown, and El Cerrito Place ~ Robison passed away in 2023
September 4, 1963 ~ Power metal, heavy metal singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, drummer Tim Aymar, full name Timothy Lee Aymar, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ First gained attention as member of Triple X, present on the band's 1991 Bang album. Member of progressive metal band Control Denied from 1997 through 2001, present on the band's 1999 The Fragile Art Of Existence debut album. Lead singer for Pharaoh, with whom he recorded five albums including the acclaimed Be Gone released in 2008. Aymar has also worked with Psycho Scream, Vicious Cycle, Advent Of Bedlam, and 313 ~ Aymar passed away in 2023
September 4, 1955 ~ Pop rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter David Broza born in Haifa, Israel ~ Merges pop with Israeli, Spanish and English influences. Perhaps best known for his Steve Earle-produced East Jerusalem West Jerusalem album released in 2014, bringing together Israeli and Palestinian musicians and promoting a message of collaboration and coexistence. Also known for Together, used in over 148 countries as the theme song for UNICEF's 50th birthday celebrations. Has also collaborated with Wyclef Jean, Townes Van Zandt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, and others
September 4, 1949 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Darryl Cotton, full name Darryl Grant Cotton, born in Adelaide, Australia ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Zoot, known for songs such as 1 x 2 x 3 x 4, Monty And Me, Evil Child and perhaps their best known Eleanor Rigby. The latter, a hard rock cover of the Beatles song, would reach top 10 in the band's native Australia. After the band disbanded in the early-1970s Cotton would form the duo Darryl & Beeb with bandmate Beeb Birtles, soon renamed to Frieze. Has also recorded as a solo artist, notably scoring the 1980 hit Same Old Girl. Teamed up with Ronnie Burns and Russell Morris, forming the trio Burns Cotton & Morris in the 1990s ~ Cotton passed away in 2012
September 4, 1947 ~ Drummer, actor Peter Behrens passed away in Sanderbusch, Germany ~ Formed the band Trio, known best for the hit Da Da Da of their eponymous 1982 Trio debut album. The single would reach top 10 across Europe and sell over 13 million copies. Following the band's disbandement in 1986 Behrens would work as a social worker, record as a solo artist to moderate succes, and by the late-1980s venture into acting ~ Behrens passed away in 2016
September 4, 1946 ~ Jazz, avant-garde, bebop, post-bop, modal jazz saxophonist, flutist Dave Liebman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Closely associated with Richie Beirach. Also worked with Quest, Chick Corea, John Scofield, Kenny Kirkland, Terumasa Hino, George Mraz, Al Foster, Ron McClure, Elvin Jones, Joachim Kühn, Daniel Humair, Paolo Fresu, Bobo Stenson, Abbey Rader, and others
September 4, 1945 ~ Guitarist Danny Gatton, full name Daniel Wood Gatton Jr, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Guitar virtuoso. Member of the Offbeats. Member of Liz Meyer & Friends. Founded the Redneck Explosion. Fuses jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, rock & roll, rockabilly and more into a hybrid style referred to by Gatton as “redneck jazz.” Hugely admired by musicians such as Buckethead, Joe Bonamassa, Lenny Breau, James Burton, Chris Cheney, Vince Gill, Johnny Hiland, Evan Johns, Albert Lee, Les Paul, Arlen Roth, Richie Sambora, Ricky Skaggs, Slash and Steve Vai ~ Gatton passed away in 1994
September 4, 1940 ~ Charles Hemphill, commonly known as singer Sonny Charles, born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA ~ Lead singer of 1960s, 1970s R&B, pop, soul outfit Checkmates Ltd, known for their 1969 Phil Spector-produced Black Pearl Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit single. Charles, also released a number of solo recordings during the 1980s, and played with the Steve Miller Band from 2008 to 2012
September 4, 1939 ~ Rock & roll, R&B singer George Lanius born ~ Lead singer for one-hit wonder quintet the Crescendos, known for their 1957 Oh Julie hit. The single would reach top 10 on both the Billboard R&B and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts and sell over one million copies, earning the group a gold record. The group would record several other singles which failed to chart and disband by the end of the decade ~ Lanius passed away in 1996
September 4, 1935 ~ Jazz pianist Michel Sardaby born in Fort-de-France, Martinique ~ After relocating to France in the mid-1960s, became a fixture on the Paris jazz scene, working alongside artists such as Errol Parker, Stuart de Silva, and Aaron Bridgers. Over a dozen albums to his name, especially noted for his 1970 Night Cap sophomore album featuring backing from Percy Heath and Connie Kay. Other notable collaborators include Billy Cobham, Ray Barretto, Rufus Reid, Ralph Moore, and Tony Reedus. To blues audiences perhaps best known for guesting on T-Bone Walker's acclaimed 1969 Good Feelin' album ~ Sardaby passed away in 2023
September 4, 1930 ~ Jordan Ragovoy, commonly known as songwriter, producer Jerry Ragovoy, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Perhaps best known for penning Time Is On My Side, first recorded by Kai Winding and notably covered by Irma Thomas and subsequently the Rolling Stones. Other well known songs written or co-written by Ragovoy include Stay With me recorded by well over 50 artists including Lorraine Ellison, the Walker Brothers, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Bette Midler, and Piece Of My Heart originally recorded by Erma Franklin and made famous by Janis Joplin. Others who have recorded his songs include Garnet Mimms, Justine Washington, the Drifters, Elvis Presley, Miriam Makeba, Dionne Warwick, Barry White, and the Pointer Sisters ~ Ragovoy passed away in 2011
September 4, 1930 ~ Piedmont blues guitarist John Cephas born in Washington DC, USA ~ First teamed up with the younger blues harpist Phil Wiggins in the mid-1970s, both playing in singer, pianist Big Chief Ellis' backing unit. Following Ellis' death in 1977, the pair decided to continue as a duo despite their 24-year age difference. Showing strong influences from Blind Boy Fuller, Gary Davis, and Sonny Terry, the duo would become a popular festival act, earning acclaim among blues aficionados for keeping the Piedmont blues alive. Cephas & Wiggins recorded well into the 2000s, and are noted most for the late-1980s albums Dog Days Of August and Walking Blues ~ Cephas passed away in 2009
September 4, 1923 ~ Gloria Adele Shain, commonly known as songwriter Gloria Shayne Baker, born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Do You Hear What I Hear with her then-husband Noël Regney, first recorded by Harry Simeone Chorale. Written as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis the song would sell a quarter million copies during the Holiday season in 1962. Do You Hear What I Hear would be covered by over an estimated 500 artists of artists, notably a 1963 hit for Bing Crosby, and later covered by artists such as Pat Boone, Perry Como, and Mahalia Jackson. Other songs written or co-written by Baker have been recorded by James Darren, Bobby Vinton (Rain Rain Go Away), Wynona Carr, Lesley Gore, Ginny Arnell, and Wilma Burgess ~ Baker passed away in 2008
September 4, 1920 ~ Harold Bradley Jackson, commonly known as country steel guitarist, dobroist Shot Jackson was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA ~ Brother of producer Owen Bradley. One of the premier postwar generation steel guitarist and dobroists. Has recorded sporadically as a solo artist, notably Bluegrass Dobro released in 1965, but best known as a first call session musician present on albums by Webb Pierce, Merle Travis, Eddy Arnold, Red Foley, Elvis Presley, Buddy Emmons, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner (The Cold Hard Facts Of Life), Willie Nelson, Doc Watson, Bashful Brother Oswald, and the Osborne Brothers ~ Jackson passed away in 1991
September 4, 1919 ~ Edward Victor Johnson, commonly known as singer Teddy Johnson, born in Surbiton, UK ~ Formed a duo with his wife Pearl Carr. Prior to their marriage in 1955 both had been successful solo performers, but teamed up they would enjoy their greatest success as regular performers on stage and in a variety of British TV shows throughout the 1950s and early-1960s. Internationally the couple are best known for representing their native UK at the 1959 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching second place with Sing Little Birdie. Later Johnson commented that upon winning the national finals, they had never heard of the international contest and had no idea they were going to have to represent their country: “We had no idea whatsoever. They gave us the dates for Cannes and I just hoped we had them available. As it happened, we did.” ~ Johnson passed away in 2018
September 4, 1918 ~ Trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger Gerald Wilson born in Shelby, Mississippi, USA ~ Arranged songs for Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson. Worked with Jimmie Lunceford, Clark Terry, Willie Smith, Jimmy Nottingham, Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie. As a bandleader employed sidemen including Snooky Young, Carmell Jones, Bud Shank, Joe Maini, Harold Land, Teddy Edwards, Don Raffell, Joe Pass, Richard Groove Holmes, Roy Ayers, Bobby Hutcherson, Luis Bonilla, Rick Baptist, Randall Willis, Shuggie Otis, Anthony Wilson, Eric Otis, Jimmy Owens, Oscar Brashear, Ron Barrows, and Jon Faddis ~ Wilson passed away in 2014
September 4, 1905 ~ Anderson Meade Lewis, commonly known as boogie-woogie pianist Meade Lux Lewis, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Trained on the violin as a child, switching to piano at age 16. Along with artists such as Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, and Jimmy Yancey highly revered for a high-energy hybrid boogie-woogie that would eventually lead to rock & roll. Probably best known for penning Honky Tonk Train, his recording debut in 1927. Over the years the song would be covered by over an estimated hundred artists including Bob Crosby, Frankie Trumbauer, Keith Emerson, and Axel Zwingenberger. Lewis would later be mentioned in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle, Ross Macdonald's novel The Moving Target, and in Keith Richards's autobiography Life ~ Lewis passed away in 1964
September 4, 1892 ~ Composer, conductor, teacher Darius Milhaud born in Marseille, France ~ Influenced by jazz and Brazilian music. Member of Les Six, a group of Montparnasse-based composers which also included Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger, Francis Poulenc and Germaine Tailleferre. Their music is considered a neoclassical reaction against both the style of Richard Wagner and the impressionist music of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Milhaud is regarded as one of the key modernist composers and has tought jazz and classical composers such as Burt Bacharach, Dave Brubeck, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Iannis Xenakis ~ Milhaud passed away in 1974
September 4, 1891 ~ Jazz bandleader, clarinetist, violinist, percussionist Sam Lanin, full name Samuel Charles Lanin, born ~ First gained attention as a member of Victor Herbert's orchestra, backing Herbert from 1912 through the end of World War I. Following his departure from the orchestra, Lanin relocated to New York, where he established himself as one of the most prolific bandleaders of the 1920s, one of the first to be heard over the airwaves, and directing over an estimated 400 sessions for nearly every label through the end of the decade. Lanin only occasionally played himself, but is best remembered for recognizing young talent. Sidemen who have played in Lanin's numerous ensembles include Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy McPartland, Bix Beiderbecke, Nick Lucas, Frankie Trumbauer, and a young Bing Crosby. The 1929 stock market crash would hit Lanin heard, and he would lose a sponsorship deal and his radio show, after which his fame gradually waned. Lanin retired from music altogether from the music industry by the late-1930s ~ Lanin passed away in 1977
September 4, 1824 ~ Composer, organist Anton Bruckner, full name Josef Anton Bruckner, born in Ansfelden, Austria ~ Late-era Romantic composer admired by peers, most notably Gustav Mahler ~ Bruckner passed away in 1896