a Phil Brodie Band Info Page
"Births & Deaths"
These birthdates and death dates are unique to this site,
I have been working on them for over 6 years now.
PLEASE give credit or link if copied
PAGES UPDATED DAILY
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JULY: Charts ~ JULY: On This Day ~ JULY: Quiz
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JULY
SADLY DEPARTED
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RESPECT - OBITUARIES
2009 .. 2008 .. 2007 .. 2006 .. 2005 .. 2004 .. REQUESTS
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MORE BIRTHDATES & PASSINGS
January . February . March . April . May . June . July
August . September . October . November . December
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JULY BIRTHDAYS

Born ~ July 1st
1971: Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (US singer, rapper, songwriter).
1968: Francis "Franny" Griffiths (UK keyboards, piano; Space).
1964: Pol Burton (UK drummer; Transvision Vamp).
1963: Roddy Bottum (US keyboards; Faith No More/Imperial Teen).
1961: Adrian York (piano; Roman Holiday).
1960: Evelyn 'Champagne' King (US soul singer).
1960: Ted Key (bass; Housemartins)?
1959: Edem Ephraim (UK singer; London Boys)*21.Jan.1996.
1956: Phil Solem (singer, songwriter, Great Buildings/ Rembrandts).
1954: Keith Whitley (American country music singer)*09.May.1989.
1952: Dan Aykroyd (actor, Elwood in the Blues Brothers).
1951: Fred Schneider (vocals, The B-52's).
1949: John Farnham (Australian singer).
1948: John Ford (bass, vocals; Strawbs)?
1946: June Montiero (singer, Toys).
1945: Debbie Harry (singer; Blondie/solo).
1943: Jeff Wayne (US pianist, songwriter, music composer for films and TV).
1942: Andrae Crouch (gospel musician, recording artist, songwriter, arranger, producer).
1939: Delaney Bramlett (US vocals, guitar; Shindogs/Delaney & Bonnie/others)*27.Dec.2008.
1935: Rashied Ali/Robert Patterson (US jazz drummer; John Coltrane/many others)*12.Aug.2009.
1934: Peter Levinson (US music industry biographer)*21.Oct.2008.
1933: Eddie Bond (singer, guitar, rockabilly music; Rockin' Daddy).
1918: Ralph Young (American singer and actor)*22.Aug.2008.
1915: Willie Dixon (blues singer, guitarist, 'the poet laureate of the blues')*29.Jan.1992
1920: Amália da Piedade Rodrigues (Portuguese singer, actress)*06.Oct.1999.

July 2nd
1983: Michelle Branch (US singer, songwriter, guitarist).
1970: Monie Love (UK female rapper).
1965: Dave Parsons (UK bass, Transvision Vamp/Bush)?
1964: Roy Boulter (drummer; The Farm).
1957: Mike Anger (UK singer, guitar, Blow Monkeys/Wicked Ways/solo).
1956: Jeffrey Cooper (US guitarist; Midnight Star/No Parking).
1956: Jerry Hall (US model, actress, Mike Jagger of Rolling Stones wife).
1954: Pete Briquette/Patrick Andrew Cusack (Irish bassist, vocals, Boomtown Rats).
1952: Johnny Colla (US sax, guitar, vocals; Huey Lewis & the News/Van Morrison/solo).
1950: Duncan Mackay (UK keyboardist; Cockney Rebel).
1949: Roy 'The Professor' Bittan (US piano, organ, accordian, synthesizer; E Street Band).
1949: Gene McFadden (US singer; McFadden & Whitehead)*27.Jan.2006.
1945: Peter Cruickshank (UK bassist; Groundhogs).
1942: Leapy Lee/Graham Pulliblank (UK singer).
1939: Paul Williams (US second tenor/baritone singer; Temptations)*17.Aug.1973.
1936: Allen Shelton (US banjo player; Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys)*21.Nov.2009.
1934: Tom Springfield/Dion O'Brien (UK singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer; Springfields).
1932: Waldemar Matuška (Czechoslovakian singer, songwriter, actor)*30.May.2009.
1927: Charlie Kennedy (US alto saxophonist; Gene Krupa's big band/others)*03.April.2009.
1926: Lee Allen (jazz saxophonist)*18.Oct.1994
1925: Marvin Rainwater/Marvin Karlton Percy (US country singer).
1923: Janette Carter (US singer, autoharpist, folklorist; The Carter Family)*22.Jan.2006.

July 3rd
1976: Shane Lynch (Irish vocalist; Boyzone).
1969: Kevin Hearn (rhythm, sometimes lead guitar, Barenaked Ladies).
1968: Martyn Walsh (bassist, Inspiral Carpets).
1960: Vince Clarke (keyboard, songwriter; Depeche Mode/Yazoo/Erasure).
1959: Stephen Pearcy (lead singer; Ratt).
1957: Laura Branigan (US singer).
1955: Neil Clark (guitarist, songwriters; Commotions).
1951: Mike Corby (keyboard, guitar, The Babys).
1949: Johnnie Wilder (US lead singer and co-founder of Heatwave)*13.May.2006.
1948: Paul Barrere (guitar; Little Feat).
1947: Grethe Kausland (Norwegian singer and performer)*16.Nov.2007.
1947: Betty Buckley (musical theatre actress, music critic, "Voice of Broadway").
1946: Victor Unitt (guitar, harmonica; Pretty Things/Edgar Broughton Band).
1946: John Klemmer (tenor sax, electrified sax, composer).
1943: Judith Durham (vocals, Seekers).
1940: Maureen Kennedy (Canadian jazz vocalist)?
1940: Fontella Bass (US female singer, pianist).
1940: Bernadette Greevy (Irish mezzo-soprano)*26.Sept.2008.
1936: Frederick Tupper Saussy III (US keyboardist, composer; Neon Philharmonic)*16.March.2007.
1930: Thomas J. Tedesco (American master session guitarist)*10.Nov.1997.
1929: David Lynch (US tenor vocalist; The Platters)*03.Jan.1981.
1924: Ángel Tavira Maldonado (Mexican composer, musician and violinist)*30.June.2008
1878: George M. Cohan (US musician, actor, writer, composer)*05.Nov.1942.

July 4th
1984: Gina Glocksen (singer; American Idol finalist).
1978: Stephen McNally (electric guitar, vocals; BBMak).
1971: Andrew Creeggan (keyboard, percussion; Barenaked Ladies).
1970: Andy McClure (drums; Sleeper).
1963: Matt Malley (bass, Counting Crows).
1958: Kirk Pengilly (guitar, vocals, INXS).
1952: John Waite (singer, bass, Babys/ Bad English/ solo).
1951: Ralph Johnson (drums, Earth, Wind & Fire).
1950: David 'Kid' Jensen (British radio DJ).
1948: Jeremy Spencer (guitar, Fleetwood Mac/Children of God).
1945: David McWilliams (Irish s inger, songwriter, guitarist)*08.Jan.2002.
1943: Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson (guitar, harmonica, vocals; Canned Heat)*03.Sept.1970.
1947: Jacques Morali (French music producer; Village People/others)*15.Nov.1991.
1938: Bill Withers (US singer, songwriter).
1933: Baker Knight (songwriter, guitarist).
1932: Cal Smith (US country singer).
1911: Mitch Miller (conductor, arranger).

July 5th
1980: Jason Wade (lead vocalist, guitarist; Lifehouse).
1979: Shane Filan (vocals, Westlife).
1977: Royce Da 5'9"/Ryan Montgomery (US rapper).
1976: Mike DeWolf (US guitarist; Taproot).
1976: Bizarre/Rufus Johnson (US rapper; D12).
1973: "Joe" Lewis Thomas (US R'n'B singer).
1973: Bengt Lagerberg (drums, The Cardigans).
1970: Mac Dre/Andre Hicks (American gangsta rap artist)*01.Nov.2004.
1970: Clause Noreen (Danish singer, music producer; Aqua).
1969: Aled Richards (drums; Catatonia)?
1969: RZA/Robert Diggs (US rapper, music producer of Wu-Tang Clan).
1959: Marc Cohn (US singer, songwriter).
1950: Huey Lewis/Hugh Anthony Cregg (vocals, harmonica; Huey Lewis & the News).
1950: Michael Monarch (guitarist, songwriter; Steppenwolf).
1949: Tommy Eyre (UK keyboardist; Wham/Gary Moore/sessionist)*23.May.2001.
1946: Andy Ellison (lead singer, John's Children/Jet/Radio Stars).
1945: Dick Scoppettone (vocals, guitar, bass; Harpers Bizarre).
1943: Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals; The Band).
1930: Mitch Jayne (vocals, bass, lyricist, radio host; Dillards).
1924: János Starker (Hungarian cello player).
1920: Smiley Lewis (US R&B singer, songwriter)*07.Oct.1966.
1918: George Rochberg (Composer)*29.May.2005.

July 6th
1975: 50 Cent/Curtis James Jackson 3rd(US rapper).
1970: Inspectah Deck/Jason Hunter (US rapper; Wu-Tang Clan).
1969: Michael Grant (keyboards, vocals; Musical Youth).
1965: Eddie Campbell (keyboards; Texas)?
1963: Tim Bricheno (guitar; All About Eve/Sisters Of Mercy/Tin Star).
1961: Robert Heaton (UK drummer; New Model Army)*04.Nov.2004
1960: Rick Price (Australian guitarist, singer, songwriter) ((not the UK bassist))
1959: John Keeble (drums; Spandau Ballet/Tony Hadley Band).
1953: Nanci Griffith (US singer, guitarist, songwriter).
1952: David Smith (singer; The Real Thing).
1952: Graham Oliver (UK guitarist;Son of a Bitch/Saxon/Tempest/T.Rex-Celebration of Marc/ Mickey).
1949: Phyllis Hyman (US soul singer, model, actress)*30.June.1995
1949: Mike Shrieve (drums ,percussionist, electronic music composer; Santana/freelance).
1945: Rik Elswit (guitar; Dr. Hook).
1940: Dave Rowberry (keyboards; Animals)*06.June.2003
1940: Jeannie Seely (US country music singer).
1939: Jet Harris (bass guitar, Shadows/The Diamonds/guest/solo).
1937: Gene Chandler/Eugene Dixon (US soul singer).
1927: Alan "Fluff" Freeman (disc jockey, TV & radio personality)*27.Nov.2006.
1925: Bill Haley (Singer, guitarist, Bill Haley and his Comets)*09.Feb.1981.
1924: Louie Bellson/Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni (US jazz drummer)*14.Feb.2009.
1911: LaVerne Andrews (American contralto singer with The Andrews Sisters)*08.May.1967.

July 7th
1981: Synyster Gates/Brian Elwin Haner Jr (US guitarist; Avenged Sevenfold/Pinkly Smooth).
1963: Vonda Shepard (US singer, songwriter).
1962: Mark White (bass; Spin Doctors).
1961: The Doctor/Clive Jackson (lead vocals, Doctor And The Medics).
1967: Dickon Hinchliffe (violin, vocals, guitar, piano, brass, string; Tindersticks).
1951: Michael Henderson (bass guitar, vocals; Motown/session/Mile Davis/Own).
1949: Larry "Rhino" Rheinhardt (rock guitarist, Iron Butterfly).
1947: David "Scar" Hodo (vocals; Village People, the construction worker).
1947: Rob Townsend (drummer; Family/Medicine Head/Manfreds/Paul Jones Blues Band).
1945: Jim Rodford (UK bassist; Argent/Mike Cotton Sound/Kinks/Zombie Reunion Band).
1944: Warren Entner (vocals, rhythm guitar; Grass Roots).
1940: Ringo Starr /Richard Starkey (drums, vocals, songwriter, Beatles/own band/guest).
1933: J.J. Barrie (US country singer)??
1932: Josef Zawinul (Austrian jazz keyboardist; Miles Davis Band/Weather Report)*11.Sept.2007.
1924: Mary Ford aka Iris Colleen Summers (US singer; wife of Les Paul)*30.Sept.1977
1916: Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes (American jazz and R&B guitarist)*04.March.1989.
1911: Charles Redland (sax,clarinet,trumpet,trombone,vibes,accordion,leader)*18.Aug.1994

July 8th
1971: Neil Mavers [drums, La's)?
1970: Beck/Beck Hansen/Bek David Campbell (multi-instrumentalist/songwriter).
1967: Jean Sagadeev (Russian rock singer, bassist, guitarist; EST/Electro-convulsive therapy)*05.June.2009.
1962: Joan Osborne (US singer, songwriter).
1961: Toby Keith (US country singer).
1961: Graham Jones (guitar; Haircut 100).
1960: Andy Fletcher (bass, synth; Depeche Mode).
1956: Russell Christian (keyboards, saxophone, vocals; The Christians).
1944: Jaimoe Johanson (drums, percussionist; Allman Brothers).
1935: Steve Lawrence (US singer; duo with his wife Eydie Gormé).
1914: Billy Eckstine (US jazz singer, band leader)*08.March.1993.
1911: Gertrude Niessen [US vocalist, actress)*27.March.1975.
1908: Louis Jordon (jazz sax player, songwriter; his Tympany Five)*04.Feb.1975.

July 9th
1986: Kiely Alexis Williams (US singer, actress; 3LW/The Cheetah Girls).
1983: Lucia Micarelli (classically trained, rock violinist; session/freelance).
1979: Ella Koon (Hong Kong singer and actress).
1975: Jack White (guitar, vocals, The White Stripes).
1974: Nikola Sarcevic (Swedish bassist, singer; Millencolin).
1971: Kelvin Grant (vocals, guitar; Musical Youth).
1967: Dickon Hinchcliffe (guitar, voice, piano, string/brass arrangments; Tindersticks).
1967: Owen Powell (guitar; Catatonia)?
1965: Frank Bello (bass guitar; Anthrax).
1965: Tom Hingley (lead vocalist, Inspiral Carpets).
1964: Courtney Love/ Harrison (guitar, vocals; Babes In Toyland/Hole/Faith No More).
1959: Jim Kerr (vocals; Simple Minds/Breakfast Club).
1957: Marc Almond (singer; Soft Cell/solo).
1954: Debbie Sledge (singer; Sister Sledge).
1953: Kate Garner (vocals, Haysi Fantayzee).
1952: John Tesh (US pianist, new age composer, TV host).
1950: Gwen Guthrie ((some sources July 14th)) (soul singer)*3.Feb.1999
1947: John "Mitch" Mitchell (drums; Blue Fames/Jimi Hendrix Experience/sessionist).
1947: Haruomi Hosono (Japanese bassist; Apryl Fool/Yellow Magic Orchestra).
1946: Joe Micelli (member of John Fred and His Playboy Band).
1946: Bon Scott (lead singer; AC/DC)*19.Feb.1980.
1945: Root Boy Slim/Foster MacKenzie (singer-songwriter;Sex Change Band)*08.June.1993
1941: Don McPherson (lead singer; Main Ingredient)?
1935: Mercedes Sosa (Argentinian folk singer)*04.Oct.2009.
1935: Frank Wright (US free jazz musician, electric bass, saxophone)*17.May.1990.
1930: Buddy Bregman (producer/director/writer/composer/conductor/arranger/M.D).
1929: Lee Hazlewood (US male country singer, songwriter, record producer)*04.Aug.2007.
1929: Jesse McReynolds (US bluegrass singer, mandolin player; Jim & Jesse/solo).
1927: Ed Ames/Edmund Dantes Urick (US singer with The Ames Brothers).
1925: Alan Dale [US singer, TV & radio personality)*20.April.2002.
1923: Molly O'Day/LaVerne Williamson (US C&W, gospel singer)*05.Dec.1987.
1921: Irv Kluger (drums, vibes, US sessionist).
1915: David Diamond (Composer)*13.June.2005.

July 10th
1980: Jessica Simpson (US singer).
1980: Masahiko Shimura (Japanese rock lyricist, vocalist, rhythm guitarist; Fujifabric)*24.Dec.2009.
1970: Jason Orange (UK vocals, stage actor; Take That).
1965: Peter DiStefano (guitar; Porno For Pyros).
1964: Graham Lambert (lead guitar; Inspiral Carpets).
1960: Martyn P Casey (bassist, keyboards; The Triffids/Bad Seeds/Grinderman)?
1954: Neil Tennant (vocals; Pet Shop Boys).
1953: Richard Gordon "Rik" Emmett (Canadian vocalist, guitarist, writer; Triumph).
1950: Greg Kihn [US singer).
1949: John Whitehead (singer; McFadden & Whitehead)*11.May.2004
1949: Dave Smalley [lead singer; DYS/Dag Nasty/Down By Law/Sharpshooters)?
1947: Arlo Guthrie (US singer, songwriter, son of folksinger Woody Guthrie).
1947: Bruce Lambourne Fowler (trombone, composer; Frank Zappa/sessions/own band).
1944: John 'Beaky' Dymond [guitar, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich).
1943: Jerry Miller (US guitar, Moby Grape).
1942: Ronnie James Dio/Ronald James Padavona (vocals;Elf/Rainbow/ Black Sabbath).
1941: Ian Whitcomb (UK singer).
1940: Brian Priestley (UK jazz writer, pianist, arranger).
1938: Lee Morgan (American trumpeter)*19.Feb.1972.
1937: Jumping Gene Simmons (Rockabilly singer/songwriter)*29.Aug.2006.
1936: Johnny Griffith (US keyboardist; Motown's Funk Brother house band)*10.Nov.2002.
1933: Jerry Herman (composer, lyricist, Hello Dolly, Mack the Knife..more).
1919: Ian Wallace OBE (British bass-baritone opera / concert singer)*12.Oct.2009.

July 11th
1983: Kelly Poon (Singaporean singer; Project SuperStar winner).
1983: Marie Serneholt (Swedish pop singer; A*Teens).
1982: Peter Cincotti (US jazz pianist).
1982: Lil' Zane/Zane Copeland (US actor and rapper).
1975: Lil' Kim/ Kimberly Denise Jones (rapper, songwriter).
1975: Rick McMurray (drummer; Ash)?
1973: Scotty Emerick (US country music singer-songwriter).
1969: David Tao (Taiwanese singer-songwriter).
1968: Daniel MacMaster (US rock vocalist; Bonham/Oh My:Blus Band)*16.March.2008
1966: Mel Appleby (UK singer; Mel and Kim)*18.Jan.1990.
1965: Scott Shriner (US bassist; Weezer).
1959: Richie Sambora (lead guitarist; Bon Jovi).
1959: Suzanne Nadine Vega (US singer, songwriter).
1958: Kirk Whalum (US saxophonist; freelance/sessionist).
1957: Pete Murphy (vocals, Bauhaus).
1957: Michael Rose (Jamaican vocalist; Black Uhuru).
1954: Benny DeFranco [Member of the Canadian musical DeFranco Family]
1951: Liona Boyd (guitarist)
1951: Bonnie Pointer (singer; Pointer Sisters).
1949: Liona Boyd (Canadian guitarist).
1947: Jeff Hana (guitar, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band).
1946: John Lawton (UK singer; Lucifer's Friend/Uriah Heep/Les Humphries Singers/freelance/solo).
1946: Patrice Caratini (French bassist, composer/bandleader).
1938: Terri Garthwaite (member of the band Joy of Cooking/solo).
1931: Tab Hunter (US singer, actor).
1932: Roquel Billy Davis (songwriter/producer/singer)*02.Sept.2004.
1925: Nicolai Gedda (Swedish tenor opera singer).

July 12th
1992: Eoghan Quigg (UK singer; X-Factor finalist).
1988: Melissa O'Neil (Canadian singer).
1985: Luiz Ejlli (Albanian singer).
1984: Gareth Gates (UK singer, TV's Pop Idol runner up).
1976: Tracie Spencer (US r&b singer, winner of CBS television talent show Star Search).
1974: Sharon den Adel (Dutch singer: Within Temptation)
1973: Magoo/Melvin Barcliff (American rapper)
1972: Brett A. Reed (US drummer; Rancid).
1969: Jesse Pintado (US guitarist; Napalm Death/Terrorizer/Lock Up)*27.Aug.2006.
1967: John Peter Petrucci (US guitarist, songwriter; Dream Theater/solo/guest).
1964: Tim Gane (UK guitarist, keyboards; Stereolab).
1963: Alan Duval (UK vocalist, musician; UB40).
1962: Dan Murphy (US guitar; Soul Asylum).
1956: Sandi Patti (US Contemporary Christian music singer).
1953: Billy Alessi (US singer; Alessi Brothers, Musicals).
1953: Bobby Alessi (US singer; Alessi Brothers, Musicals).
1952: Philip Taylor Kramer (US bass player; Iron Butterfly)*12.Feb.1995.
1952: Liz Mitchell (US singer, Boney M).
1951: Sylvia Sass (Hungarian soprano).
1951: Ruddy Thomas (Jamaican singer, songwriter, producer, studio engineer)*10.June.2006
1950: Eric "The Fox" Carr/Paul Charles Caravello (US drummer; Kiss)*24.Nov.1991.
1949: John Wetton (bass, vocals, King Crimson/Uriah Heep, Roxy Music/Asia).
1948: Walter Egan (American rock n roll singer).
1947: Wilko Johnson (UK guitarist, singer; Dr Feelgood/solo).
1947: Mari Trini/Maria Trinidad Perez Miravete (Spanish pop singer)*07.April.2009.
1946: Jeff Christie (singer, guitar; Christie).
1943: Christine McVie/Christine Perfect (UK keyboardist, vocalist, Chicken Shack/ Fleetwood Mac).
1939: Kenny Dino/Kenneth J. Diono (US pop singer)*10.Dec.2009.
1935: Hal Carter (Songwriter, manager, agent, producer)*13.July.2004
1934: Van Cliburn (US classical pianist; Grammy award winner).
1927: Secondo "Conte" Candoli (US trumpet, Dorsey, Brown, Herman etc)*14.Dec.2001
1920: Paul Gonsalves (US jazz sax player; Duke Ellington)*15.May.1974.
1895: Kirsten Flagstad (67) (Norwegian opera singer of international fame)*07.Dec.1962
1895: Oscar Hammerstein II (American lyricist)*23.Aug.1960

July 13th
1989: Sayumi Michishige (Japanese singer; Morning Musume).
1982: Joost van den Broek (Dutch keyboard player; After Forever).
1974: Deborah Cox (Canadian R&B singer).
1973: Monoxide Child/Paul Methric (US horrorcore artist; Twiztid).
1969: Mark Greenway (UK vocalist; Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror, Benediction).
1966: Gerald LeVert (US R&B soul singer; The LeVerts/LSG/solo)*10.11.2006.
1963: Fatboy Slim/Norman Cook/Quentin Leo Cook (turntables, Producer, DJ).
1962: Rhonda Vincent (US singer,mandolin, guitar, fiddle; Sally Mountain Show/solo).
1961: Lawrence Donegan (bass; Commotions).
1954: Louise Mandrell (country singer & musician).
1954: Sezen Aksu (Turkish singer).
1953: Alicia Bridges (US singer, songwriter).
1942: Stephen Jo Bladd (drums, The J. Geils Band).
1942: Jay Uzzell (vocals; Corsairs).
1942: Roger McGuinn (guitar, vocals, songwriter;The Byrds).
1936: Albert Ayler (US jazz saxophonist, singer, composer)*05.Nov.1970
1935: Pete Escovedo (Latin jazz, salsa, rock, Latin percussionist; Santana).
1928: Leroy Vinnegar (US jazz bassist)*3.Aug.1999.
1915: Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams (R&B sax, vocals, bandleader)*14.Sept.2002.
1913: Gorni Kramer (Italian bandleader, accordian, double bass, songwriter)*26.Oct.1995.
1900: George Lewis (US New Orlean's jazz clarinetist)*31.Dec.1968.

July 14th
1975: Tameka "Tiny" Cottle (vocals; Xscape).
1975: Taboo Nawasha/Jaime Luis Gómez (Hip-Hop artist; Black Eyed Peas).
1973: Adam Quinn (US bagpipe player & composer).
1971: Nick McCabe (guitar; Verve).
1966: Tanya Donelly (guitar, vocals; Belly/The Breeders/solo).
1966: Ellen Reid (vocals, piano, keyboards, accordion, Crash Test Dummies).
1965: Igor Khoroshev (Russian keyboardist; Yes).
1964: John Maurer (bassist; Social Distortion, Foxy & Fuel, Social Distortion).
1961: Charlies Everett Lilly Jr (bass guitar player; Billy Walker Band)*21.05.2006.
1960: Ray Herndon (US guitarist; J. David Sloan & the Rogues, McBride & the Ride).
1960: KG/Kage/Kyle Richard Gass (US guitarist, singer, actor; Tenacious D/Trainwreck).
1952: George Lewis (jazz trombone player and composer)?
1952: Chris Cross/Christopher Allen (bass, synth; Ultravox).
1950: Gwen Guthrie ((some sources July 9th)) (soul singer)*03.Feb.1999
1949: Tommy Mattola (music executive and co-owner of Casablanca Records)?
1942: Swamp Dogg/Jerry Williams Jr (US soul music artist).
1938: Bob Scholl (vocals; Mellow Kings)*27.Aug.1975
1932: Del Reeves (US country singer)*01.Jan.2007
1930: Polly Bergen (US actress, singer, and entrepreneur).
1929: Alan Dawson [jazz drummer, Dave Brubeck Quartet/session/tutor)*23.Feb.1996
1926: Lowman Pauling (singer, guitarist,songwriter; Five Royales/solo)?*26.Dec.1973
1920: Marijohn Wilkin (Country music songwriter)*28.Oct.2006
1916: Bob Eberly (US big band singer)*17.Nov.1981.
1914: Billy Kyle (pianist, John Kirby Sextet/Louis Armstrong's All-Stars)*23.Feb.1966
1912: Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (US singer, guitarist)*03.Oct.1967

July 15th
1982: Haley Scarnato (US singer, former American Idol finalist).
1977: Faraz Anwar (Pakistani guitar virtuoso; sessionist/solo/Mizraab).
1956: Joe Satriani (rock guitar virtuoso; teacher/session/solo).
1956: Marky Ramone (drummer, Ramones).
1956: Ian Curtis (UK singer, songwriter; Joy Division)*18.May.1980.
1952: Johnny Thunders/John Anthony Genzale(guitar,vocals;New York Dolls)*23.Apr.1991
1952: Jeff Carlisli (steel & slide guitar; 38 Special).
1950: Ian Campbell-Lewis/Ian McCreadie (guitar, flautist; Middle Of The Road).
1949: Trevor Horn (bass guitar, guitar, percussion, vocals; Buggles/The Art of Noise).
1948: Thomas Delmer 'Artimus' Pyle (drums; Lynyrd Skynyrd).
1947: Peter Banks/Peter Brockbanks (guitarist, Yes).
1946: Linda Ronstadt (US singer, songwriter).
1945: Peter Lewis (vocals, guitar; Moby Grape/The Cornells)?
1944: Millie Jackson (US soul singer).
1928: Joe Harriott/Joe Arthurlin (Anglo-Jamacian jazz alto saxophonist)*02.Jan.1973 cancer
1923: Joseph Rudolph 'Philly Joe' Jones (jazz drummer)*30.Aug.1985.
1919: Sadik Hakim/Argonne Thornton (Jazz pianist, composer; sessionist)*20.June.1983.
1913: Cowboy Copas/Lloyd Estel Copas (US country music singer)*05.March.1983.

July 16th
1978: TJ aka Tito Joe Jackson (vocals; 3T) ((son of Jackson 5's Tito)).
1971: Ed Kowalczyk (lead singer; Live).
1964: Polly Hancock (guitar, vocals, Popinjays)?
1957: Bobby Previte (drums, composer, own band/sessions/guest)?
1955: Howlin' Dave/Dante David (Filipino radio disc jockey)*26.May.2008
1955: Zohar Argov (Israeli oriental Mizrahi style singer)*06.Nov.1987.
1952: Stewart Copeland/pseudonym Klark Kent (drums, producer; The Police/freelance).
1947: Thomas Boggs (drums, Box Tops)??
1941: Desmond Dekker (Jamaican singer; The Aces)*24.May.2006.
1938: Tony Jackson (bass, vocals, Searchers)*18.Aug.2003.
1937: Tommy Bruce (British singer)*10.July.2006.
1932: John James Chilton (UK jazz trumpeter, writer;Swinging Blue Jeans/Alex Welsh).
1925: Nat Pierce (US jazz pianist; Woody Herman/many more)*June.10.1992.
1925: Cal Tjader (vibraphonist and percussionist Dave Brubeck Trio/own mambo bands)
1909: John "Teddy" Buckner (Dixieland trumpet player, bandleader)*22.Sept.1994.
1905: Ivie Anderson (vocal, Duke Ellington Band)*28.Sept.1949.
1898: Rafael Escudero (Jazz bass player; McKinney's Cotton Pickers)*10.April.1970.
1896: Evelyn Preer (Afro-American actress and blues singer)*27.Nov.1932.

July 17th
1985: Tom Fletcher (joint lead singer, guitarist; McFly)
1982: Natasha Hamilton (vocals, Atomic Kitten).
1971: Jarrett Cordes/DJ Minute Mix (DJ with PM Dawn).
1970: Mandy Smith (singer, model, actress, Bill Wyman's Xwife).
1966: Louis Knox Barlow (multi musician, music pioneer; Dinosaur Jr/solo/freelance).
1963: Natasha Pivovarova (Russian singer; Kolibri/solo)*23.Sept.2007.
1963: Regina Belle (US singer).
1952: Nicolette Larson (US singer songwriter; backing vocals/solo)*16.Dec.1997.
1952: Chet McCracKen (US drummer, The Doobie Brothers).
1952: Phoebe Snow/Phoebe Ann Laub (US singer, songwriter).
1950: Damon Harris (vocals; Temptations).
1950: John Hartman (US drummer; Doobie Brothers).
1949: Mick Tucker (drums, Sweet)*14.Feb.2002
1949: Mike Vale (bass; Shondells)?
1949: Chico Freeman/Earl Lavon (sax, clarinet, flute, bandleader; Brainstorm, Leaders).
1949: Terry "Geezer" Butler (bassist; Black Sabbath).
1948: Ron Asheton (US guitar; Iggy Pop And The Stooges)*early January 2009.
1948: Brian Glascock (US drummer; The Motels/Gods/BeeGees/Sessionist/freelance).
1947: Phil Cordell/Springwater (multi-musician, singer, songwriter)*31.March.2007.
1947: Abraham Laboriel (Mexican session bassist, over 3,000 recordings & soundtracks).
1947: Wolfgang Flur (electronic drums; Kraftwerk).
1939: Spencer Davis ((some sources 1942)) (UK multi-musician, vocals; Spencer Davis Group/Solo).
1938: Stan Brostein (sax, clarinet, vocals; Elephants Memory)?
1936: Nick Brignola (US sax player; Woody Herman's orchestra/guest/bandleader)*08.Feb.2002
1935: Diahann Carroll/Carol Diahann Johnson (US singer, actress).
1933: Ben Riley (jazz drummer; Thelonious Monk's Quartet/many others).
1928: Vince Guaraldi (jazz pianist, composer, songwriter, bandleader)*6.Feb.1976
1928: Joe Morello (drums; Marian McPartland trio/Dave Brubeck Quartet).
1925: Carla Boni/Carla Gaiano (Italian singer)*17.Oct.2009.
1925: Jimmy Scott (jazz singer, conga player, Lionel Hampton Band/guest/sessions).
1921: George Barnes (jazz/blues guitarist, Ruby Braff Quartet/solo/sessions)*05.Sept.1977
1921: Mary Osborne (jazz guitarist, violin, bass, vocals)*4.March.1992.

July 18th
1982: Ryan Frank Cabrera (Colombian American musician,TV presenter).
1978: Tony Fagenson (Welsh drummer; Eve 6).
1975: Daron Malakian (guitar; System of a Down).
1970: Gruff Rhys (Welsh vocalist; Super Furry Animals/solo).
1962: Jack Irons (drums; Pearl Jam/sessionist/freelance).
1958: Nigel Twist (drums; The Alarm).
1957: Lynn Seaton (jazz bassist; Steve Schmidt Trio/Count Basie).
1957: Keith Levene (guitar, Public Image Ltd/The Clash).
1955: Terry Chambers (drums; XTC/Dragon).
1954: Ricky Skaggs (country and bluegrass singer).
1950: Cornelis 'Cesar' Zuiderwijk (drums; Golden Earring/Hu &The Hilltops/Livin' Blues).
1950: Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Records and the Virgin Empire).
1950: Glenn Hughes (US singer;the original "Biker" in the Village People)*4.March.2001
1949: Wally Bryson (guitar, singer, songwriter; The Raspberries).
1948: Phil Harris (guitar; Ace).
1946: Tim Lynch (vocals, guitar, harmonica; Flamin Groovies)?
1945: Danny McCullock (UK guitar; Animals).
1943: Robin McDonald (UK guitar, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas).
1941: Frank Farian/Franz Reuther (German music producer, singer, songwriter).
1941: Martha Reeves (soul singer; Vandellas).
1939: Brian Auger (keyboards, Trinity/Mahavishnu Orchestra/sessions).
1939: Roger Sellers (Aussie drummer; Nucleus).
1939: Dion Dimucci (US singer; Dion & The Belmonts).
1938: Ian Stewart (Scottish pianist, keyboard, road manager, cofounder; Rolling Stones)*Dec.12.1985.
1938: Dudu Pukwana (Sth African sax player, pianist, composer; Blue Notes)*30.June.1990
1935: Johnny Funches (US lead tenor; Dells)*23.Jan.1998
1931: Papa Dee Allen/Thomas Sylvester Allen (percussion, sax; War)*30.Aug.1988
1929: Screamin' Jay Hawkins/Jalacy Hawkins (R&B singer, actor)*12.Feb.2000.
1928: Carl Fontana (US trombonist and bandleader)*9.Oct.2003.

July 19th
1980: Michelle Heaton (singer; Liberty X).
1971: Urs Buhler [Swiss singer; Il Divo).
1968: Robert "Robb" Flynn/Lawrence Matthew Cardine (US guitarist, vocalist; Machine Head).
1968: Ged Lynch (drums; Black Grape).
1960: Kevin Haskins (drums; Love & Rockets/Bauhaus/Tones on Tail/Messy).
1956: Nikki Sudden/Adrian Godfrey(singer,guitar;Swell Maps/Jacobites)*26.March.06
1952: Allen Collins (US guitarist; founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd)*23.Jan.1990.
1947: Brian May (lead guitar, singer, songwriter; Queen/Solo/Guest).
1947: Bernie Leadon (banjo, guitar; founding member of The Eagles/freelance).
1947: Keith Godchaux (American keyboardist; The Grateful Dead)*23.July.1980.
1946: Allan Gorrie (bass, vocals; Average White Band).
1944: George Frayne/Commander Cody (keyboard, piano, vocals; Lost Planet Airmen).
1941: Phil Upchurch (US jazz and R&B guitarist;The Dells/Spaniels/own band/guest).
1937: George Hamilton IV (US country singer).
1934: Bobby Bradford (US jazz trumpeter, cornet, bandleader, composer).
1924: Al Haig (Freelance US jazz pianist)*16.July.1982.
1902: William "Buster" Bailey (US clarinet, saxophone; Fletcher Henderson/sessionist)*12.April1967
1902: Cliff Jackson (US jazz pianist; Lionel Howard's Musical Aces/freelance)*24.May.1970.

July 20th
1972: Colleen Fitzpatrick/Vitamin C (US singer).
1971: DJ Screw/Robert Earl Davis Jr (US, Houston DJ, rapper; Screwed Up Click)*16.Nov.2000.
1968: Steven Ganz (US jazz guitarist and tenor saxophonist).
1966: Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar, producer, vocals; Mother Love Bone/Pearl Jam).
1966: Andrew Levy (bass; Brand New Heavies).
1964: Chris Cornell/Chris Boyle(multi-musician;Temple of the Dog/Soundgarden/Audioslave).
1959: James Irvin (vocals; Furniture).
1958: Dig Wayne/Buzz Wayne/Timothy Wayne Ball (lead singer; JoBoxers/The Fliers).
1958: Mick McNeil (keyboards; Simple Minds).
1956: Paul Cook (drums; Sex Pistols/Professionals/Cheifs of Releif/Man-Raze).
1955: Jeremy 'Jem' Finer (banjo, mandola, saxophone, hurdy-gurdy; Pogues).
1952: Jay Jay French/John French Segall (guitar; Twisted Sister).
1948: Adrian Tilbrook (UK drummer; Back Door).
1947: Tony Thorpe (vocals, guitar; Rubettes).
1947: Carlos Santana (latin/rock guitar virtuoso; Santana/guest/solo).
1946: Johnny Almond (UK sax, multi-musician; Alan Price/John Mayall/Mark-Almond/sessionist)*18.Nov.2009.
1945: Kim Carnes (US female singer; New Christy Minstrels/solo).
1945: John Lodge ((some sources 1943 & 1944)) (bass, vocals; Moody Blues).
1941: Charles Tyler (Jazzman, clarinet, saxophone; Albert Ayler/freelance)*27.June.1992.
1943: Wendy Richard/Wendy Emerton (Actress; sung 'Come Outside' with Mike Sarne).
1933: Buddy Knox (US singer, guitarist)*14.Feb.1999.
1929: Peter Ind (UK bassist; freelance/solo).
1922: Ernie Wilkins Jr [bop tenor sax player, alto sax; freelance/own band)*05.June.1999.
1922: Joachim-Ernst Berendt (German journalist, music critic, producer)*04.Feb. 2000.
1922: Karel Krautgartner (Czech saxophonist, clarinetist, composer)*20.Sept.1982
1920: Paul Gonsalves (tenor sax; Lewis, Dorsey, Basie, Duke Ellington)*15.May.1974.
1918: Cindy Walker (American singer, songwriter, dancer)*23.March.2006.
1914: Teddy Kleindin (German jazz clarinetist).

July 21st
1982: Claudette Ortiz (American soul singer).
1982: David Parker (British jazz bebop musician)?
1981: Blake Lewis (US singer; American Idol finalist).
1978: Damian Marley (Jamaican reggae artist, singer, songwriter).
1976: Andrew Stockdale (Australian guitarist, singer; Wolfmother).
1974: Terry Caldwell (vocals, East 17).
1969: Emerson Hart (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, producer; Tonic).
1961: Jim Martin (guitar, Faith No More).
1956: Franklin Kiermyer (Canadian jazz drummer; freelance).
1955: Henry Christian Priestman (vocals, keyboards, The Christians).
1955: Howie Epstein (US rock bassist; Tom Petty and many more)*23.Feb.2003.
1953: Paul Lewis Quarrington (Canadian novelist, playwright, screenwriter, musician)*21.Jan.2010.
1948: Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam/Steven Demetre Georgiou (singer/songwriter).
1946: Barry Whitwam (drums, Herman's Hermits).
1945: Mike Wilsh (bass, keyboards; Four Pennies).
1939: Kim Fowley (US singer, keyboards, producer; freelance).
1935: Pierre Cullaz (French guitarist; Sarah Vaughan).
1931: Sonny Clark/Conrad Yeatis (hard jazz & bop pianist; leader/sideman/guest)*13.Jan.1963.
1931: Plas Johnson (US jazzman, tenor sax; freelance).
1930: Helen Merrill/Jelena Ana Milcetic (US vocalist, jazz, R&B; solo/guest).
1898: Sara Carter (American Country singer; The Carter Family Show)*08.Jan.1979.

July 22nd
1973: Rufus Wainwright (Canadian/American, singer-songwriter).
1973: Daniel Jones (one half of the Australian pop duo Savage Garden).
1971: Chris Helme (vocals; Seahorses/The Yards/solo).
1969: Jason Becker (US guitarist, composer; Cacophony/David Lee Roth/solo).
1967: Pat Badger (bass; Extreme).
1964: William Calhoun (drums, photographer; Living Colour/sessionist/guest).
1963: Emily Sailers (vocals, guitar, banjo, piano, mandolin, ukelele; Indigo Girls).
1956: Mick Pointer (drummer; Marillion/Arena).
1955: Joshua Breakstone (US jazz guitar; freelance).
1954: Al Di Meola (Guitar; Return to Forever/freelance).
1947: Don Henley (drums, vocals; The Eagles/guest).
1944: Estelle Bennett (singer, The Ronettes).
1944: Rick Davies (vocals, keyboards; Supertramp).
1943: Bobby Sherman (US singer, actor; television series Shindig!/solo).
1941: Keith Sweat (US R&B, soul singer, record producer; LSG).
1940: Thomas Wayne Perkins (American hillbillie singer)*15.Aug.1971.
1940: George Clinton (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer; Parliament/ Funkadelic).
1939: Mario Rivera (Dominican Latin jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist)*10.Aug.2007
1937: Chuck Jackson (R&B & soul singer; The Independents/Del Vikings).
1937: Bob Downes (UK vocals, saxophone, flute).
1936: Don Patterson (US jazz organ; Sonny Stitt's Band/freelance)*10.Feb.1988.
1934: Junior Cook/Herman Cook (tenor Sax; Horace Silver Quintet/freelance)*03.Feb.1992
1925: Hal Schaefer (jazz pianist)?
1924: Bill Perkins (Jazzman, multi-sax player, flute; freelance)*09.Aug.2003
1924: Al Haig (US Jazz Pianist; freelance)*16.Nov.1982
1913: Gorni Kramer (Italian bandleader, multi-musician, songwriter)*26.Oct.1995.

July 23rd
1981: Stevo 32/Steve Jocz (drummer; Sum 41).
1980: Michelle Williams (vocals; Destiny's Child).
1973: Shannon Leigh Brown (US country singer).
1973: Fran Healy (vocals, guitar; Travis).
1971: Dalvin DeGrate (rap artist, vocals; Jodeci).
1971: Chad Gracey (drummer; Live).
1971: Alison Krauss (bluegrass-country singer, fiddle player).
1970: Sam Watters (songwriter, record producer; Color Me Badd).
1968: Nick Menza (German drums; Megadeth).
1967: Blair Thornton (guitarist; Bachman-Turner Overdrive).
1965: Rob Dickinson (UK vocalist, guitar; Catherine Wheel).
1965: Slash /Saul Hudson (lead guitarist; Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver).
1964: Tim Kellett (keyboards & trumpet; Durutti Column/Simply Red).
1963: Yuval Gabay (guitarist, vocalist; Soul Coughing).
1961: Martin Gore (keyboards; Depeche Mode).
1959: Alan Barnes (UK Reeds player; freelance).
1959: Pedro Aznar (Argentine vocalist, percussionist; The Pat Metheny Group).
1958: Loren Schoenberg (jazz historian, writer of liner notes, tenor saxophonist).
1957: Dennis Greaves (guitar, vocals; Nine Below Zero).
1955: Marisa DeFranco (singer; member of the DeFranco Family).
1952: Janis Siegel (singer; Manhattan Transfer)?
1950: Blair Thornton (guitar; Bachman Turner Overdrive).
1948: John Hall (singer, guitar; John Hall Band/Orleans).
1947: David Essex/David Albert Cook (UK singer, actor).
1947: Lakshminarayana Subramaniam (Indian jazz fusion violinist; freelance).
1946: Andy Mackay (sax, multi-musician; Roxy Music/sessionist/guest).
1946: Khan Jamal (US vibraphonist).
1944: Dino Danelli (drums; Young Rascals/freelance).
1943: Tony Joe White (US singer, songwriter, guitar).
1942: Madeline Bell (US soul singer; Bradford Singers/sessionist/solo).
1935: Cleveland Duncan (lead vocals; Penguins).
1934: Steve Lacy (jazzman, sopranino & soprano sax player; Freelance)*04.June.2004.
1930: Richie Kamuca (jazzman, tenor sax player; Freelance)*22.July.1977
1929: Danny Barcelona (Hawaiian drummer; Hawaiian Dixieland All-Stars)?
1923: Claude Luter (French clarinet player, soprano saxophone)*06.Oct.2006
1919: Jim Chapin (jazz drummer, tutor).
1915: Emmett Berry (jazzman, trumpet player; freelance)*22.June.1993
1898: Clarence Holiday (US jazz guitarist and father to Billie Holiday)*01.March.1937

July 24th
1973: Ladybug Mecca/Mary Ann Vieira (alternative hip hop group Digable Planets).
1969: Jennifer Lopez [singer, actress).
1961: Paul Geary (drummer; Extreme).
1958: Mick Karn (bass, sax, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter; Japan).
1957: Larry Gott (guitar, keyboard, flute; James).
1957: Pam Tillis (US singer, actress).
1953: Jon Faddis (US jazzman, trumpet player, artistic director; freelance)
1951: Verdine White (bassist; Earth, Wind & Fire).
1951: Lynval Golding (guitar; Specials).
1947: Albert Bouchard (drums, songwriter, vocals; Blue Oyster Cult).
1945: Alan Whitehead (founder drummer; Marmalade)??
1945: Dino Danelli (drummer; The Rascals/Fotomaker/solo/freelance).
1944: Jim 'Herbie' Armstrong (vocals, rhythm guitar; Them/Van Morrison Band/freelance).
1942: Heinz/Heinz Henry Georg Schwartze (vocals, bass; Tornados/solo)*07.April.2000
1941: Barbara Love (UK singer; Friends Of Distinction/solo)?
1939: Charles McPherson (Jazzman, alto Sax; bandleader/freelance).
1938: Mike Mainieri (Vibraphone, Xylophone, Marimba; Two Kings & a Queen/freelance)?
1936: Max Duane Barnes (singer, songwriter; the Golden Rockets)*11.Jan.2004.
1934: Ahmad Alaadeen (US jazz saxophonist, educator).
1921: Billy Taylor (jazz pianist, composer; Ben Webster's Quartet/own band).

July 25th
1992: Alex Bilbo (US vocalist, Girl Authority).
1970: Brian Blade (US drummer; SFJAZZ Collective/Yaya3).
1964: Aki Sirkesalo (Finnish musician, TV personality;Giddyups/Veeti & the Velvets)*26.Dec.2004
1962: Robert Lucas (US harmonica player, slide guitar).
1958: Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals; Sonic Youth/Ciccone Youth).
1951: Verdine White (bassist, vocals;Earth, Wind & Fire).
1950: Mark Clarke (bass player; Colosseum/Uriah Heep).
1948: Steve Goodman (folk singer, songwriter)*20.Sept.1984
1946: Jose 'Chepito' Areas (percussion; Santana).
1944: Tom Dawes (vocals, guitar; The Cyrkle).
1943: Jim McCarty (drummer; The Yardbirds).
1942: Bruce Woodley (vocals, guitar; The Seekers/solo).
1941: Manuel "Manny" Charlton (guitarist, singer, songwriter; Nazareth/solo).
1939: Jan "Tollarparn" Eriksson (Swedish jazz pianist)*06.April.2009.
1934: Don Ellis (jazz musician, trumpeter, composer)*17.Dec.1978.
1925: William 'Benny' Benjamin (drummer; Funk Brothers/Motown/session)*20.April.1969
1930: Annie Ross (jazz singer; Lambert, Hendricks & Ross/solo).
1908: Dr. Srinivasa Iyer (Indian Carnatic vocalist)*31.10.2003
1907: Johnny Hodges (US soprano & alto sax, clarinet; Duke Ellington/Freelance)*11.May.1970.

July 26th
1980: Dave Baksh (lead guitar; Sum 41).
1974: Iron & Wine/Samuel Beam (US singer, songwriter, guitarist).
1967: DJ Headliner/Timothy Barnwell (hip-hop artist; Arrested Development).
1962: Miranda Joyce (vocals, saxophone; Belle Stars)?
1961: Andy Connell (keyboards, piano, composer, arranger; Swing Out Sister).
1961: Gary Cherone (Vocals; Extreme/Van Halen/ Tribe of Judah/Hurtsmile).
1949: Roger Taylor (drums, multi-musisian, vocals, songwriter, composer; Queen/guest).
1943: Mick Jagger (UK vocalist, songwriter, actor; Rolling Stones).
1941: Neil Landon (vocals; Flowerpot Men).
1940: Dobie Gray (US singer).
1938: Bobby Hebb (spoons, multi-instruments, vocals, guitar).
1938: Darlene Love (US singer; Crystals/solo).
1938: Joanne Brackeen (jazz pianist; Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers/Freelance/guest).
1931: Fred Luther Foster (US songwriter, record producer, founder of Monument Records).
1929: Charlie Persip (US jazz drummer; Dizzy Gillespie's big band/freelance/guest).
1927: Danny La Rue OBE/Daniel Carroll (Irish-born British female impersonator and singer)*31.May.2009.
1924: Louie Bellson (US jazz drummer, songwriter; Ellington/Dorsey/freelance/guest).
1914: Erskine Hawkins (jazz trumpet player, big bandleader, composer)*11.Nov.1993

July 27th
1967: Juliana Hatfield [US singer, guitar, songwriter; Blake Babies).
1965: PJ Court/Paul Jonathan Court (vocals, guitar; The Primatives)?
1964: Rex Brown (bassist; Pantera).
1963: Karl Mueller (US bass player; Soul Asylum)*17.June.2005.
1960: Jean Toussaint (Jazz Saxophonist; Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers/own band).
1960: Conway Savage (bass, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds).
1956: Deirdre Cartwright (guitarist, composer; Own group).
1953: Suzi Carr (uk singer).
1950: Michael Vaughn (guitar; Paper Lace).
1949: Maureen McGovern (US singer, Broadway actress).
1949: Rory MacDonald [vocals, bass, songwriter; Runrig]
1947: Andy McMaster (bassist, keyboardist, vocalist; Motors).
1944: Bobbie Gentry/Roberta Streeter (US singer, songwriter).
1944: Tony Capstick (UK comedian, actor, singer and broadcaster)*23.Oct.2003
1944: Barbara Thompson (UK saxophone, clarinet, flute; Apollo Saxophone Quartet/guest).
1943: Al Ramsey [guitar; Gary Lewis and the Playboys).
1937: Charlie Shoemake (Vibes; George Shearing/freelance).
1933: Nick Reynolds (bongos, founder member; Kingston Trio).
1929: Harvey Fuqua (Moonglows, Motown executive).
1923: Charlie Queener (Dixieland, swing, jazz pianist; Freelance/guest).

July 28th
1982: Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir (Icelandic singer, actress).
1980: Noel Sullivan (Vocals; Hear'Say).
1979: Lee Min-Woo (Korean singer; Shinhwa).
1977: Tiago Andres Vaz (Brazilian composer, singer; Null Pointer Band).
1976: Coby Dick/Jacoby Dakota Shaddix (lead singer; Papa Roach/Fight the Sky).
1975: Leonor Ceballos Watling (Spanish singer, actress).
1972: Dan Warton (drums; Neds Atomic Dustbin).
1971: Stephen Lynch (US actor, comic and singer).
1969: Michael Amott (Swedish guitarist; Carcass/Arch Enemy/Spiritual Beggars).
1967: Taka Hirose (Japanese bassist; Feeder).
1965: Delfeayo Marsalis (jazz trombone, record producer).
1965: Texas Axile/Anthony Doughty (keyboards, drums; Transvision Vamp).
1965: Nick Banks (drums; Pulp/Pollinates).
1962: Rachel Sweet (US singer, actress).
1955: Gerald Veasley (American jazz bass guitarist; sessionist/solo/guest).
1955: Gregg Giuffria (US keyboardist; Angel/House of Lords/Giuffria).
1954: Steve Morse (Guitar, Banjo; Deep Purple/guest/session).
1954: Nnenna Freelon (US jazz vocalist).
1949: Steve Peregrin Took (drums, bass, piano, vocaals; Tyrranosaurus Rex)*27.Oct.1980
1949: Simon Kirke (drums, Free/Bad Company).
1949: Peter Doyle (singer, New Seekers)*13.Oct.2001.
1946: Jonathan Edwards (Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar, folk/bluegrass).
1943: Rick Wright (UK piainist, keyboard; Pink Floyd/solo/guest)*15.Sept.2008.
1943: Mike Bloomfield (guitarist, composer, Electric Flag/session/guest)*15.Feb.1981
1941: Riccardo Muti (Italian conductor, MD of La Scala opera house/Philadelphia Orch).
1938: George Cummings (steel guitar,songwriter, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show).
1936: Jim Galloway (Tenor & Soprano Sax, Clarinet; Wee Big Band).
1936: Jim Hughart (US classical and jazz bassist; freelance).
1935: Simon Dee/Cyril Nicholas Henty-Dodd (UK radio disc jockey, TV presenter)*30.Aug.2009.
1930: David "Junior" Kimbrough (US bluesman from Mississippi)*17.Jan.1998.
1915: Frankie Yankovic (singer, accordian; The King of Polka)*14.Oct.1998
1904: Ikey Robinson (jazz & blues banjoist, singer)*25.Oct.1990
1901: Rudy Vallee (US singer, actor, multi-musician, bandleader, entertainer)*03.July.1986

July 29th
1973: Wanya Morris (vocals; Boyz II Men).
1972: Simon Jones (bass; Verve).
1967: Chris Gorman (drummer, Belly/Gorman Brothers).
1966: Miles Hunt (vocals; Wonder Stuff).
1966: Martina McBride/Martina Mariea Schiff (US singer, guitar, cello; solo).
1959: John Sykes (guitar, Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake/Tygers Of Pan Tang, Blue Murder/ solo).
1954: Michel Benita (Algeria-born Jazz bassist; ELB Trio/sessionist/freelance).
1953: Patty Scialfa (singer; Bruce Springsteen Bands, now Mrs Springsteen).
1953: Geddy Lee (bassist, vocals; Rush).
1947: Carlo Santanna (Italian guitarist; Paper Lace).
1946: Neal Doughty (keyboards; REO Speedwagon).
1937: Ellyn Rucker (US jazz vocalist).
1933: Randy Sparks (folk singer/songwriter; New Christy Minstrels).
1927: Peter Howard/Howard Weiss (US musical theatre arranger, conductor, pianist)*18.April.2008.
1919: Vic Lewis (British jazz guitarist, bandleader)*09.Feb.2009.
1916: Charlie Christian (US jazz guitarist, blues singer)*02.March.1942.
1907: Albert Wynn (jazz trombone, Creole Jazz Band)*1973
1900: Don Redman (US jazz man, vocals, all the reeds, arranger, band leader)*30.Nov.1964.
1887: Sigmund Romberg (Hungarian operetta composer)*09.Nov.1951.

July 30th
1975: Tiffini Talia Hale [US singer, actress; New Mickey Mouse Club/The Party).
1971: Brad Hargraves (drums; Third Eye Blind).
1971: Calogero Maurici (French singer, bassist, flute. piano; Les Charts/solo).
1968: Sean Moore (drums; Manic Street Preachers).
1966: Louise Wener (vocals, Sleeper).
1966: Jyoti Mishra (Indian electronic musician; White Town).
1966: Craig Gannon (guitar, rhythm guitar; The Bluebells/Aztec Camera/The Smiths).
1963: Dwayne O'Brien (country musician, rhythm guitar, vocals; Little Texas).
1959: Vaughan Toulouse/Vaughan Cotillard (frontman; Department S)*Aug.1991
1958: Neal McCoy (US country singer).
1958: Kate Bush (UK singer, songwriter, producer).
1958: Kevin Mahogany (jazz vocalist, saxophone, clarinet).
1957: Rat Scabies/Christopher Miller (drums; The Damned/freelance).
1956: Phil Fearon (vocals, keyboards, producer; Galaxy/Kandidate).
1953: Hal Smith (jazz drums)?
1949: Joyce Jones (US singer; First Choice).
1949: Hugh Nicholson (guitar, vocals; The Poets/Marmalade).
1946: Jeffrey 'Hammond' Hammond (bass; Jethro Tull).
1945: David Sanborn (saxophonist, flautist; session player).
1941: Paul Anka (Italian/Canadian singer, songwriter; writer of "My Way").
1937: James Spaulding (jazz sax; World Saxophone Quartet).
1936: Buddy Guy (rock guitarist, blues guitarist, singer, solo/guest/session).
1927: Tony Hiller (British songwriter; many chart hits)
1912: Benny Featherstone (Tasmanian drummer, trumpet player)*06.April.1977.
1903: Hilton Jefferson (jazz alto sax)*14.Nov.1968.
1899: Gerald Moore CBE (uk pianist)*13.March.1987.

July 31st
1981: M. Shadows/Matthew Charles Sanders (US lead singer; Avenged Sevenfold).
1978: Will Champion (drummer; Coldplay).
1973: Jerry Rivera (Puerto Rican salsa singer).
1971: John 5/John Lowery (guitar; Marilyn Manson/solo/guest/sessionist).
1967: Minako Honda (Japanese singer and musical actress)*06.Nov.2005.
1964: Robert "Fuzz" Townsend (drums. Pop Will Eat Itself/Bentley Rhythm Ace).
1964: James Steven Ignatius 'Jim' Corr (guitar, keyboards, vocals, The Corrs).
1963: Norman Cook/Fatboy Slim (bassist, DJ, producer; housemartins)?
1960: Malcolm Ross (guitarist, Josef K/Orange Juice/Aztec Camera).
1959: Stanley Jordan (US jazz, jazz fusion guitarist).
1958: Bill Berry (drums; R.E.M./Hindu Love Gods).
1957: Daniel Ash (guitar, sax, singer, songwriter; Bauhaus/Tones on Tail/Love & Rockets).
1953: Hugh MacDowell (cello, Electric Light Orchestra).
1951: Howard Levy (jazzman harmonica, keyboards; sessionist/guest/freelance/solo).
1951: Carlo Karges (German guitarist, keyboards, songwriter; Novalis/guitarist for Nena)*30.Jan.2002
1947: Karl Green (bassist, harmonica, Herman Hermits).
1945: Gary Lewis (drums, vocals; Gary Lewis & the Playboys, son of Jerry Lewis)?
1931: Kenny Burrell (jazz guitarist; Dizzy Gillespie/many more).
1931: Ivan Rebroff (German singer, folk to opera)*27.Feb.2008
1923: Ahmet Ertegün (Turkish-American co-founder of Atlantic Records)*14.Dec.2006.
1918: Henry "Hank" Jones (US jazz pianist).

Back to Top

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PASSINGS

July 1st
1995: Wolfman Jack/ Robert Weston Smith (56) US internationally famous gravelly-voiced, howling wolfman disc jockey; influenced by Dr. Jive, Jockey Jack, Professor Bob and Sugar Daddy and Alan Freed, the ultimate deejay of New York radio. He got his big break when he became a "gofer" at Paramount. His first radio job was at WYOU-AM in Newport News, Virginia. he developed his first radio name, Daddy Jules, a tribute to the influence Black DJs had on him in his formative years. His energy and style produced a barrage of listeners. But after opening a dance club, the Ku Klux Klan burn a cross on his lawn, he decided to move to Shreveport, working at Shreveport's KCIJ-AM, before relocating to Mexico. He found national fame at XERF-AM in Mexico. People were wondering who he actually was, and artists such as Leon Russell, Todd Rundgren, Freddie King and the Guess Who produced chart hits about the radio personality "Wolfman Jack". The person behind Wolfman Jack was revealed in George Lucas' 1973 Academy Award-winning film, American Graffiti. Although the mystery was solved, he continued to be a success, hosting NBC-TV's The Midnight Special. He made more than 80 television appearances (heart attack) b. January 21st 1938.
1999: Guy Mitchell/Albert George Cernik (72) Croatian-American pop singer; born in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of eleven, he was signed by Warner Brothers Pictures, to be groomed as a child star, and he also performed on the radio on Station KFWB in LA, California. He went on to successful in the UK and Australia as well as in his homeland. His first hit was 1951's "My Heart Cries for You". As an international recording star of the 1950s he achieved record sales in excess of 44 million and this included six million-selling singles. His songs included "Belle, Belle, My Liberty Belle", "Feet Up (Pat Him On The Po-po)", "Heartaches By The Number", "Knee Deep In The Blues", "Look At That Girl", "My Heart Cries for You", "Ninety Nine Years (Dead or Alive)", "Pretty Little Black Eyed Susie", "Rock-a-Billy", "Same Old Me", "She Wears Red Feathers" and "Singing the Blues". In 1957 he had his own television show. As well as his sing career, in the 1950s and 1960s he acted in films along side of Teresa Brewer, Rosemary Clooney and Pat Crowley (died at Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas from complications following surgery) b. February 27th 1927.
1999: Dennis Emmanuel Brown (42) Jamaican reggae singer, was one of the pioneer in the lovers rock style of reggae, and with 78 albums to his name was one of the most prolific names in the business. His first commercially successful song internationally was "Money In My Pocket" on the Joe Gibbs label, and by the late 1970s, Brown had recorded and performed chart-toppers such as "Sitting & Watching", "Wolves and Leopards", "Here I Come" and "Revolution"; many featuring Sly and Robbie as the rhythm section and he frequently recorded with King Jammy and Gussie Clarke. Bob Marley cited him as his favourite singer and dubbed him "The Crown Prince of Reggae" (he was rushed to a Kingston hospital with a collapsed lung. This is not usually a fatal condition, but he was so weakened from cocaine use) b. February 1st 1957
1981: Rushton Moreve (33) the original bass player in Steppenwolf (car crash in Los Angeles)
1987: Snakefinger/Philip Lithman (38) UK singer, songwriter and multi-musician; born in South London, he grew up and worked in and among the British Blues scene, but moved to San Francisco in 1971, where he joined up with the avant-garde group The Residents, who it is said gave him his nickname 'Snakefinger' either because of his proficient guitar work or his shred work on the violin.. or maybe both. He returned to England in 1972 and formed the rock band Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers with Martin Stone, as a duo, they released the album "Kings of Robot Rhythm". In 1974, as a full band they released "Bongos Over Balham". The band broke up in '75 and by 1976 Lithman was back in the United States, this time in Los Angeles, California, but by '78 he was back in San Francisco touring and recording again with The Residents, his is featured on 12 of their albums between 1971 and 1986. In 1978 Phil started to record is own material under the name of Snakefinger, debuting with the single "The Spot", followed in 1979 with the album "Chewing Hides the Sound". Ten albums in all have been released inder his Snakefinger name. Phil suffered a heart attack while touring in Australia, but by 1982 he was on the road again with his nearly formed backing band The Vestal Virgins. Phil performed with The Residents on their 13th Anniversary Tour in 1986 and 1987 saw Snakefinger and his band, The Vestal Virgins, touring Europe, tragically, his final tour. (During a performance at the Posthof Club Lithman, Austria, he suffered a fatal heart attack. On that same day his single, "There's No Justice in Life", was released) b. June 17th 1949.
2000: Cub Koda (51) musician, journalist, DJ, leader of Brownsville Station (diabetes / kidney failure)
2003: Herbie Mann (73) American jazz flutist, early in his career, he also played saxophones and clarinets, but he was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute and was perhaps jazz music's preeminent flautist during the 1960s. He was an early pioneer in the fusing of jazz and world music. (prostate cancer).
2005: Renaldo "Obie" Benson (69) American soul and R&B singer and songwriter. He was best known as the bass and lead of Motown group The Four Tops, which he joined in 1953 and continued to perform with for over five decades, until April 8, 2005. He also co-wrote "What's Going On" which became a No. 2 hit for Marvin Gaye in 1971, and which Rolling Stone rated as #4 on their List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time released in 2004. Renaldo was admitted as a member of the Four Tops to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. The group was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997, followed by the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999 (lung cancer) b. June 14th 1937 .. read more
2005: Luther Vandross (54) American R&B and soul singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums[1] and won eight Grammy Awards[2] including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy Awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance With My Father Again", co-written with Richard Marx. (died in JFK Medical Centre in New Jersey, two years after suffering a major stroke) b. April 20th 1951 .. read more
2006: Robbie "Rocket" Watts (47) Australian guitarist for the Cosmic Psychos.(died suddenly just after a show in Bendigo)
2006: Jaye Michael Davis (62) Veteran U.S. radio deejay (motorcycle accident).
2008: Mel Galley (60) UK guitarist with Trapeze, Whitesnake, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. While with Whitesnake, he badly injured his arm at a fairground in Germany and had to leave the band, as he was unable to play guitar because of a nerve damage as result of incompetent surgery. Later he became known for playing with "The Claw", a specially developed spring and wire device fitted to his hand which enabled him to play guitar again (cancer) b. March 8th 1948.

July 2nd
1988: Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (70) US alto saxophonist, jazz and blues shouter; he acquired his nickname after a hair-straightening mishap left him bald ()
1992: Camarón de la Isla/José Monje Cruz (41) Spanish flamenco singer born in Cádiz, Spain; at sixteen he won first prize at the Festival del Cante Jondo in Mairena de Alcor. El Camarón then went to Madrid with Miguel de los Reyes and in 1968 became a resident artist at the Tablao Torres Bermejas where he remained for twelve years. It was here José met Paco de Lucía, the pair
toured extensively over 8 years and recorded nine albums. Many consider José to be the single most popular and influential flamenco "cantador" of the modern period. Although his work was criticized by some traditionalists, he was one of the first to feature an electric bass in his songs. This was a turning point in the history of Flamenco music that helped distinguish Nuevo Flamenco. (He sadly died of lung cancer, it was estimated that more than 100,000 people attended his funeral.) b. December 5th 1950.
2002: Ray Brown (75) US jazz double bassist; played in many TV show orchestras, and with some leading artists, including Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, and Nancy Wilson. He lead his own band the Modern Jazz Quartet, managed a young Quincy Jones, also wrote jazz double bass instruction books, and developed a jazz cello. (died while taking a nap before a show in Indianapolis)
2007: Ray Goins (71) American bluegrass banjoist and bluegrass music pioneer born in Bramwell, West Virginia. During his 50 year career, Ray was a member of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers; Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, before forming the Goins Brothers with his younger brother, Melvin. They were inducted into Bill Monroe's Bean Blossom Hall of Fame in the fall of 2001. Ray also received Morehead State University's Appalachian Treasure Award (?) b. January 3rd 1936.
2007: Git Gay () Swedish actress and singer () b. July 2nd 1936.
2007: Beverly Sills () American soprano (b. 1929)
2007: Hy Zaret/Hyman Harry Zaritsky (99) American lyricist and composer best known as the co-author of the 1955 hit "Unchained Melody", one of the most recorded songs of the 20th (died a few weeks before his 100th birthday)
2008: Ishmeet Singh Sodhi () Indian singer; born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, he was the winner of Amul STAR Voice of India 2007. Ishmeet had been working with Salim-Suleiman to produce a song called 'Shukriya' and had promoted this single with live performances. He toured Hong Kong and Malaysia and sung in concerts with members of the Voice of India competition. He put time aside to sing kirtan, or hymns, in gurdwaras. His last performance in a gurdwara was alongside the well-known singer amongst the sikhs, Veer Manpreet Singh (died under mysterious circumstances in a swimming pool at the Chaaya Island Dhonveli beach resort in Maldives where he had gone to perform in an event) b. September 2nd 1989.

July 3rd
1969: Brian Jones (27) English lead and rhythm guitar, backing singer and founder/leader of The Rolling Stones; he played guitar, slide guitar, piano, sitar, tamboura, organ, dulcimer, mellotron, xylophone, marimba, recorder, clarinet and several other instruments. In total he is known to have played at least 15 instruments with the Stones. Also known for his fashionable mod image, drug and sexual excesses (Said to have drowned while under the influence of drugs & alcohol after taking a midnight swim in his pool)
1971: Jim Morrison (27) American front man, singer of the band Doors; his alcohol and drug abuse and open disdain for authority made him a rock hero; his mysterious death in Paris, France at the age of 27 made him a pop culture icon.(found dead in a bathtub, the cause of death was given as a heart attack)
1972: "Mississippi" Fred McDowell (68) Blues singer, guitarist (cancer)
1973: Laurens Hammond (78) American engineer and inventor in Evanston, Illinois, his inventions include, most famously, the Hammond organ and the Hammond clock. He studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University and graduated with an honors degree in 1916. At this time most thoughts were concentrated on the ongoing World War I, and Laurens made his contribution to the war effort serving his time with the American Expeditionary Force in France. Following this, he moved to Detroit, where he was fortunate to occupy the post of chief engineer of the Gray Motor Company, a manufacturer of marine engines. In 1919, he invented a silent spring-driven clock. This invention brought him enough money to leave Gray Motor Company and rent his own space in New York. At the time of his retirement in 1960, he held 90 patents, he was granted another 20 before his death (?) January 11th 1895.
1986: Rudy Vallee/Hubert Prior Vallée (84) singer, actor, multi-musician, bandleader, entertainer (?)
1986: Greg Carroll () crew member, U2 (motorcycle accident in Dublin)
2001: Johnny Russell (61) American country singer, songwriter and comedian born in Mississippi, but he moved with his family at age 11 to Fresno, California. Johnny is famed for his song 'Act Naturally', which was made famous by Buck Owens, who recorded it in 1963, and The Beatles in 1965. He is also known for being the first one to record 'He Stopped Loving Her Today', in some surveys named as the greatest country song of all time and the biggest hit for George Jones in 1980. George Strait topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with Johnny's song 'Let's Fall To Pieces Together'. His songs have been recorded by Burl Ives, Jim Reeves, Jerry Garcia, Tamra Rosanes, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt among others (died from diabetes-related complications) b. January 23rd 1940.
2006: Joe Weaver (71) leader of the Blue Note Orchestra and musician on early Tamla sessions (stroke).
2006: Jack "Smilin" Smith (92) American crooner, actor and former host of 'You Asked for It'; He began his musical career at the age of 15, singing with "The Three Ambassadors". He became a solo baritone crooner in 1939. Jack established a radio show in 1945, he went on to host such guests as Dinah Shore, Margaret Whiting, John Serry, Sr. and Ginny Simms. With the television's arrival, radio saw a decline in audiences, but he soon became the host of You Asked For It in 1958, staying with it in various roles until 1991. Following a guest appearance in the musical film Make Believe Ballroom in 1949, Jack was offered the second lead in Warner Bros.' On Moonlight Bay in 1951 opposite Doris Day (leukemia) b. November 16th 1913.
2007: Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III (80) US saxophonist; to some best known for his 1963 hit "Yakety Sax," which was used on the British TV program "The Benny Hill Show" (he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on June 25 and fell into a in coma from which he never regained consciousness)
2008: Colin Cooper (69) British vocalist and saxophonist and founder member of the Climax Blues Band, also played reeds, harp, flute and guitars. Released 18 albums, performed at major concerts and festivals around the world, including Glastonbury and a 25-date German tour with the Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall. (cancer) b. Oct 7th 1939.
2008: Noel Sayre (37) American violinist and co-founder of Pretty Mighty Mighty and the Black Swans (he nearly drowned at a community pool after suffering an apparent heart attack, and had been on life support for several days before he passed away) b.??.??.1971
2008: Oliver Schroer (53) Canadian fiddle player. Started as a busker in the Toronto system subway with his guitar. He became a prolific composer, recording ten CDs in 14 years. He performed in Europe and North America in clubs, cathedrals, and New York's Lincoln Centre. Altogether, he produced or performed on over 100 albums of new traditional, acoustic, and popular music, and wrote more than 1,000 pieces of music.(leukemia) b. June 18th 1956.

July 4th
1971: Donald McPherson (30) Singer, Main Ingredient (leukaemia)
1984: Jimmie Spheeris (34) US singer-songwriter, guitarist , pianoist, keyboards; born in Phenix City, Alabama, after his father was murdered his mother moved the family to Venice, California. Jimmie again relocated to New York in the late 1960s to pursue his songwriting career. His 1971 debut album, Isle of View, created a following and FM radio airplay, most notably for the song 'I am the Mercury'. His 1973 album, The Original Tap Dancing Kid, was followed by a period of extensive concert touring. He returned to the recording studio in 1975 with The Dragon is Dancing and released Ports of the Heart in 1976. Just hours before his death, Jimmie finished the self-titled album, Spheeris. This final album was not publicly released for 16 years, it was released in 2000 on Rain Records (at 2am, Jimmie died in Santa Monica, California, when his motorcycle collided with a van; the van driver had been drinking) b. November 5th 1949.
1992: Joe Newman (69) American jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator; born in New Orleans, Louisiana to a musical family, he attended Alabama State College, where he joined the college band, the Bama State Collegians, became its leader, and took it on tour. In 1941 he joined Lionel Hampton for two years, before signing with Count Basie. He was also first with saxophonist Illinois Jacquet and then drummer J. C. Heard, between 1947 and 1952. During his second period with Basie, which lasted for about nine years, he made a number of small-group recordings as leader. He also played on Benny Goodman's 1962 tour of the Soviet Union. In 1961 Joe left the Basie and helped to found Jazz Interactions, of which he became president in 1967. Jazz Interactions was a charitable organisation which provided an information service, took jazz master classes into schools and colleges, and later maintained its own Jazz Interaction Orchestra, for which Joe wrote. In the 1970s and 80s Joe toured internationally, and recorded for various major record labels. He suffered a stroke in 1991, which seriously disabled him (heart problems) b. Sept 7th 1922.
2003: André Claveau (91) French singer born in Paris, very popular singer in France from the 1940s to 1960s. He won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958 singing "Dors, mon amour" (Sleep my love) with music composed by Pierre Delanoë and lyrics by Hubert Giraud. He has also appeared in over a dozen films (?) b. December 17th 1915.
2003: Barry White (58) US soul singer and producer (Kidney failure)
2005: Al Downing (65) American entertainer, singer, songwriter, and pianist. In 1978, Al's "Mr. Jones" reached the Top 20, followed by "Touch Me (I'll Be Your Fool Once More)" "Midnight Lace," and "I Ain't No Fool,". He received the Billboard's New Artist of the Year and the Single of the Year Award in 1979. In 1980, the "Story Behind The Story" reached the Top 40 and "Bring It On Home" reached the Top Twenty . He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and was a frequent performer at the Grand Ole Opry. Al was nominated as Best New Artist by the Academy of Country Music and appeared on Hee Haw, Nashville Now, and Dick Clark's American Bandstand television programs. He continued to perform on more than 75 occasions per year in the remaining years of his life, and appeared at Ontario's prestigious Havelock Country Jamboree with Kenny Rogers and Roy Clark. But sadly in 2005, Al had to postpone his plans for a European tour due to his ill health (lymphoblastic leukemia) b. January 9th 1940.
2007: Johnny Frigo (90) American jazz violinist and bassist; performed as a jazz violinist at festivals worldwide, including the Umbria Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival. Frigo also was a published poet and artist.(cancer)
2007: Bill Pinkney (81) American singer; born in Dalzell, South Carolina, he grew up singing gospel in his church choir. He was also a pitcher for the Negro league baseball's New York Blue Sox team, before serving in the US Army in World War II. He earned a Presidential Citation with four Bronze Stars (for battles including Normandy and Bastogne under General Patton). Returning from the war, Bill began to sing again in various gospel choirs. It was there that he would meet the members of the original Drifters. On their first record in 1953, "Money Honey", Bill actually sang first tenor, changing to bass after Ferbie left. In 1958 the manager fired all of the individual Drifters and hired all new singers, The Crowns (formally known as the Five Crowns), signing them under the Drifters' name. Bill was forced to leave. He quickly created a group called the Original Drifters, made up of key members of the first (1953-58) association. "Pinkney's" Original Drifters was consistently popular throughout the southeastern United States. For decades their music was a staple of the "beach music" scene. Bill has been recognized for his contributions by leaders such as President Bill Clinton and President Nelson Mandela of South Africa. He has recieved many musical awards, including the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award, as well as induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, United Group Harmony Association, and the Beach Music Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame and holds the key to the state of South Carolina (he died the evening of July 4th in Florida from a heart attack, while staying at the Daytona Beach Hilton. He was to perform with The Drifters at the annual Daytona Beach 4th of July celebration, Red, White & Boom) b. August 15th 1925.
2007: Baris Akarsu (28) Turkish rock singer, actor; winner of the television series Akademi Türkiye (Academy Turkey) in 2004. He was also the star of the comedy television series Yalanci Yarim (My Liar Lover) which was aired on Star TV (car accident).
2009: Drake Levin/Drake Maxwell Levinshefski (62) American musician, best known as the guitarist for Paul Revere & the Raiders. He started with Paul Revere & the Raiders in 1963, even while he was in the National Guard he would come to record with them in the studio. They had hits such as "Louie Louie", "Steppin' Out", "Just Like Me", "Kicks" which ranked No. 400 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 1966, "Hungry" "The Great Airplane Strike", "Good Thing" and "Him or Me - What's It Gonna Be?". Drake, Phil Volk and Mike “Smitty” Smith left the Raiders in 1967 to form the trio, The Brotherhood. Over the years Drake has worked with Ananda Shankar, Emitt Rhodesand Lee Michaels among other artists as well as participating in reunions with ex-members of the Raiders (cancer) b. August 17th 1946.
2009: Robert Mitchell (96) American organist and one of the last original silent film accompanists; born in Sierra Madre, California, he started his career at the age of 12 when he worked at The Strand Theatre in Pasadena, CA playing Christmas carols between showings. Once the silent film started, his career as an accompanist began, which he continued until the arrival of talkies which made accompanists irrelevant. In 1932 he won a scholarship to the Eastman School of music where he studied piano. He stayed in New York performing gigs of many genre that varied from church accompaniment to speakeasies to radio. During the 1930s, he organized the Robert Mitchell Boys Choir, who were cast in many films from the 1930s through to the 1960s. From 1962s he played the organ for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 70s and 80s saw him as musical director for several churches: St. Ann, St. Brendan, St. Kevin and St. Peter in Los Angeles, and The Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. From 1992 until his death Robert accompanied several silent films in revival houses particularly in California, performing weekly at both The Orpheum and The Silent Movie Theatre, playing some of the original scores he had from the 1920s. This gallant trooper performed until May 2009, when he suffered from pneumonia and his health began to decline. In his 84 year career Robert received many awards including the Silver Medal awarded at the Royal Palace in Monte Carlo by Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco. A Silver Beaver Medal, the highest honor awarded scoutmasters by the Boy Scouts of America. An acclamation as a Knight of Malta with a medal from the American Melkite Archimandrate. An Honorary Plaque in the Amphitheater of Temple Ahavat Shalom, Northridge, California. And the "Pro Papa et Ecclesia" Certificate from Pope John-Paul the Second. (pneumonia) b. October 12th 1912.
2009: Allen Klein (77) American businessman, agent, record label executive admired and feared for his reputation as a fierce negotiator. Born in New Jersey, he spent much of his childhood in an orphanage and graduated from college with a degree in accounting, after which, while working with friend, Don Kirshner, he soon gained a reputation as an effective sleuth who could root through record companies' books on behalf of artists and find thousands of dollars in unpaid royalties. In 1961 he founded his company Abkco and he quickly worked his magic for Bobby Darin and Sam Cooke as well as becoming Sam's manager. With the "British Invasion" of the US, he was soon representing many UK artists including The Animals, Herman's Hermits and The Rolling Stones. (Later when The Verve's hit "Bittersweet Symphony" sampled an orchestration from The Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," the rights to which are owned by Allen's ABKCO Industries was nominated for a Grammy Award, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones were named as the nominees, rather then The Verve.) In 1969, Klein began to work with the Beatles, and in 1971 he was a producer of the concerts for Bangladesh, with Harrison, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and others. In the 80's he bought the rights to music produced by Phil Spector, such as the Philles Records and Phil Spector International catalogs. His company ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. owns and/or administers the rights to music by Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Herman's Hermits, Marianne Faithfull, The Kinks, as well as the Cameo Parkway label, which includes recordings by such artists as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, The Orlons, The Dovells, Question Mark & The Mysterians, The Tymes and Dee Dee Sharp. ABKCO also administers Philles Records and its master recordings, including hits by The Righteous Brothers, The Ronettes, The Crystals and others. Allen also worked as a producer on the films The Holy Mountain in 1973 and The Greek Tycoon in 1978, as well as on several Italian spaghetti westerns (Alzheimer's disease) b. December 18th 1931.

July 5th
1982: Bill Justis (56) Sun records musical director
1982: Abe Tilmon (37) American vocalist with Detroit Emeralds; "The Emeralds" formed as a vocal harmony group in Little Rock, Arkansas, and originally composed of four brothers, Abrim/Abe, Ivory, Cleophus and Raymond Tilmon. After Cleophus and Raymond left, Abe and Ivory joined by childhood friend James Mitchell moved to Detroit, Michigan and expanded their name to the Detroit Emeralds. The trio had their first R&B chart success on Ric-Tic Records, with "Show Time" in 1968. Other hits included "If I Lose Your Love", "Do Me Right", "You Want It, You Got It" and "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)" and "Feel The Need In Me" (Heart attack) b. January 12th 1945.
1986: Tracey Pew (28) bass player, Birthday Party (epileptic fit)
1993: Maria Teresa de Noronha (74) Portuguese fado singer; her artistic career spanned over 30 years and hers is considered one of the most unique and beautiful fado voices (died of prolonged disease at her house of São Pedro de Sintra)
2001: Ernie K Doe Jr (65) R&B singer; scored one of the biggest hits (possibly the biggest) in the history of New Orleans R&B with "Mother-in-Law," a humorous lament that struck a chord with listeners of all stripes on its way to the top of both the pop and R&B charts in 1961 (kidney and liver failure)
2006: Don Lusher (82) British jazz trombonist and band leader born in Peterborough, England; when World War II broke out he served as a gunner signaller in the Royal Artillery, after being demobbed he became a professional musician playing with the bands of Joe Daniels, Lou Preager, Maurice Winnick, The Squadronaires, Jack Parnell and lastly Ted Heath. Don spent nine years as lead trombone with the Ted Heath Jazz Band and toured the USA several times, taking over as leader in 1969 after Heath's death. He also led the trombone section on many of Frank Sinatra's European tours. He later formed his own band and also performed with the Manhattan Sound Big Band, with Alexis Korner and various session musicians in the big band-rock fusion group CCS .In 1993 he was awarded the status of Freeman of the City of London, in 2001 Don recorded an album featuring Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk, John Chilton and the Feetwarmers, John Dankworth, Humphrey Lyttelton and George Melly it was entitled British Jazz Legends Together.and in 2002 he received an OBE for services to the music industry (?) b. November 6th 1923.
2007: Régine Crespin (80) French operatic soprano, later a mezzo-soprano, who excelled in both the French and German repertoire. (liver cancer)
2007: Alan George Heywood Melly (80) English jazz and blues singer, writer, music critic; he was a film and television critic for The Observer (lung cancer).

July 6th
1943: Dennis D'Ell/Denis James Dalziel (61)lead singer, harmonica; Honeycombs (cancer)
1971: Louis Armstrong/Satchmo (69) Bandleader, singer and trumpet player; a very charismatic innovative performer whose musical skills and bright personality transformed jazz from a rough regional dance music into a popular art form. One of the most famous jazz musicians of the 20th century ()
1979: Van Allen Clinton McCoy (39) American musician, music producer, arranger, songwriter, and orchestra conductor. Born in Washington, D.C., he learned to play piano at a young age and sang with the Metropolitan Baptist Church choir as a youngster. By age 12, he had begun writing his own songs in addition to performing in local amateur shows alongside his older brother, Norman Jr. The two brothers formed a doo-wop combo named the Starlighters with two friends while in high school. He is best known for his 1975 international hit "The Hustle", which is still played in dance halls and on the radio today. He has approximately 700 song copyrights to his credit and is also noted for producing songs for such recording artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Stylistics, Aretha Franklin, Brenda & The Tabulations, David Ruffin, Peaches & Herb, and Stacy Lattishaw (heart attack) b. January 6th 1940.
1998: Roy Rogers/Leonard Franklin Slye (86) actor and country singer; he and his third wife Dale Evans, his "golden palomino" Trigger and his German shepherd, Bullet, were featured in over one hundred movies and The Roy Rogers Show which ran on radio for nine years before moving to television from 1951 through 1964.(congestive heart failure)
1999: Michael Wallace (43) Keyboard player, Chalice/Third World (gunned down while drivng his car in Kingston, Jamaica)
1999: Joaquin Rodrigo (97) Spanish composer of classical music and virtuoso pianist; despite being nearly blind from an early age, he achieved great success. His music counts among some of the most popular of the 20th century, particularly his Concierto de Aranjuez, considered one of the pinnacles of the Spanish music and guitar concerto repertoire. In 1943 he received Spain's National Prize for Orchestra for Cinco piezas infantiles/Five Children's Pieces, based on his earlier composition of the same piece for two pianos, premiered by Ricardo Viñes. From 1947 Rodrigo was a professor of music history, holding the Manuel de Falla Chair of Music in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, at Complutense University of Madrid. In 1991, he was raised to the nobility by King Juan Carlos; he was given the title Marqués de los Jardines de Aranjuez, in 1996 he received the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award—Spain's highest civilian honor, and he was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 1998 (?) b. November 22nd 1901.
2000: Wladyslaw Szpilman (88) Polish pianist, Wladyslaw studied piano in Warsaw and Berlin in the early 1930s. After Adolf Hitler seized power in Germany in 1933, he returned to Warsaw, where he quickly became a celebrated pianist and composer of both classical and popular music. He composed many pieces and soundtracks while touring Poland with his violinist, Bronislav Gimpel. His family was deported to Treblinka, an extermination camp in the east, but Wladyslaw managed to flee from the transport loading site with the help of a friend. Tragically none of his family members survived the war apart from himself. From 1945 to 1963 he was director of the Music Department at Polish Radio. Over his career he composed several symphonic works and about 500 songs, still popular in Poland today, as well as music for children, radio plays and films. In 1961 he initiated and organized the Sopot International Song Festival in Poland and founded the Polish Union of Authors of Popular Music. Shortly after the war ended he wrote a memoir about his survival in Warsaw. He published the book, Smierc Miasta (Death of a City), it was soon suppressed by the Stalinist Polish authorities. Following the de-Stalinisation period of the 1950s, the book was published and printed to a greater extent. In 1998, Wladyslaw’s son Andrzej republished his father’s work, first in German as Das wunderbare Überleben (The miraculous survival) and then in English as The Pianist. In 2002, Roman Polanski directed a screen version, also called The Pianist, but sadly Wladyslaw died before the film was completed. The movie won three Academy Awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Film Award, and the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. (died in Warsaw) b. December 5th 1911.
2003: Clyde "Skip" Battin (69) American bassist and songwriter born in Gallipolis, Ohio; in 1956 he collaborated with Gary Paxton and formed the Pledges, the two later successfully recorded under the name of Skip & Flip, enjoying hits with "It Was I", and "Cherry Pie". From 1970 to 1973
Skip was bass player and songwriter with the Byrds. From 1974 to 1976 he played with the New Riders of the Purple Sage, with whom he recorded three albums. He continued to play live and recorded collaborations with notable country rock musicians, numerous solo projects and stints with the Flying Burrito Brothers. From 1989 to 1991 he toured occasionally with Michael Clarke's Byrds. (Alzheimer's disease) b. February 18th 1934.
2004: Syreeta Wright (57) US singer (breast cancer)
2008: Bobby Durham (71) American jazz drummer; started with The Orioles at age 16, went on to play with King James, Stan Hunter, Lloyd Price, Wild Bill Davis, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Slide Hampton, Grant Green, Sweets Edison, Tommy Flanagan, Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Rowles, Oscar Peterson, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, in which he played for five years, and accompanied Ella Fitzgerald for more than a decade (?) b. Feb 3rd 1937
2009: Jim Reid (75) Scottish folk singer, guitarist and mouth organist; born in Dundee, Jim started out in the with "The Taysiders", after which he became the driving force of the Arbroath band "The Foundry Bar Band". He recorded 3 albums with them, 'The Foundry Bar Band' in 1981, 'On The Road with The Foundry Bar Band' in 1983 and in 1988 'Rolling Home'. Jim has featured on many other artists recordings including the 9th to 12th volumes of the twelve volume series of "The Complete Songs of Robert Burns", John Huband's "Freewheeling Now" and the Hamish Henderson tribute album "A The Bairns O Adam" and "Life In The Kingdom", the latter was with the children of Fife primary schools. In 2005 he won the "Scots Singer of the Year" award and he regularly played at festivals until recently when he was diagnosed with dementia (died after short illness) b.????
2009: Martin Streek (43) Canadian influencial radio DJ known for his work on CFNY-FM (Edge 102) in Toronto, Ontario. Born in the Meadowvale part of Mississauga, he was one of three remaining personalities from the "Spirit of Radio" era of the Edge. He was known for his deep, gravelly voice, his phrase "Come out early and stay late" and weekend late night live-to-air broadcasts from the Toronto clubs, mainly the Phoenix Concert Theatre and the Velvet Underground in Toronto, and The Kingdom in Burlington, Ont. when it was in existence. For a time, Martin also hosted a Friday Night Live show from the Docks. He was also known for his weekly show, the Thursday 30, where he counted down the top 30 songs of the past week, as well as championing five emerging acts in a segment called Groundbreakers. Martin was voted DJ of the year a number of times in Now Magazine's year-end public ballot. Despite his knowledge and his great importance to the music scene over the decades, in late May 2009 sadly he seemed to have been axed by CFNY-FM and from the station's website, along with a few others as part of restructuring at the station. Martin's last status update on Facebook was, "So...I guess that's it...thanks everyone...I'm sorry to those I should be sorry to, I love you to those that I love, and I will see you all again soon (not too soon though)... Let the stories begin." (suspected suicide) b. June 16th 1964.

July 7th
1994: Mia Zapata (27) Lead singer for the Seattle punk rock band The Gits. Highly influential in the Seattle, Washington music scene, she was considered a dynamic live performer and a uniquely gifted lyricist and painter.(Brutally raped and murdered; A streetwalker found her beaten and mutilated body posed in a Christ-like fashion around 3:30am under a streetlight in a park. Florida fisherman Jesus Mezquia was sentenced to 36 years the crimes)
1997: Mrs Miller/Elva Ruby Connes (89) US singer, Her whistling, [which was equally as wobbly as her voice] was apparently preceded by Mrs. Miller filling her mouth with ice to better control the pitch, also featured on a number of her records.()
2001: Fred Neil (65) US singer, guitar, songwriter; moody, bluesy & melodic, one of the most compelling folk-rockers to emerge from Greenwich Village in the mid '60s (cancer)
2006: Roger 'Syd' Barrett (60) British psychedelic pioneer, founder member, frontman / lead guitarist of legendary rock band Pink Floyd, the band's creative force and influential songwriter, penning most of their early hits. He named the band after bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, who he admired. (complications arising from diabetes) b. January 6th 1946 .. read more
2008: Hugh Mendl (88) British record producer; produced Lonnie Donegan's first recordings, which were pivotal in defining the new skiffle sound of the 1950s, acted as executive producer for the Moody Blues' 1967 album Days of Future Passed. Through his efforts, David Bowie, John Mayall, Caravan, and Genesis signed with Decca; he also produced the original cast recordings of musicals such as Hello Dolly, Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, and Cinderella.(?) b. August 6th 1919

July 8th
1905: Walter Kittredge (70) singer, songwriter, violin, seraphine, melodeon; Hutchinson Family. In his career he wrote over 500 songs, many of them dealing with themes of the American Civil War. His most famous song, "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground", was sung by both sides of the war and is known throughout the world ()
2006: Sabine Dünser (29) singer for gothic metal band Elis.(Cerebral hemorrhage).
2008: Susan Tamim (30) Lebanese singer and actress; she rose to fame in the Arab world after having won the top prize in the popular Studio El Fan television show in 1996. She was hailed for her beauty and also for a voice that was equally suited to pop tunes and classical Arabic melodies. Her last album 'Saken Alby' was produced in 2002 and her last song, Lovers, recorded in 2006, was dedicated to the memory of slain Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (found murdered in an apartment in Dubai Marina, Egyptian businessman and lawmaker Hisham Talaat Moustafa was arrested in Cairo and charged with paying a hitman to have Tamim killed. On May 21, 2009, he and Muhsen el-Sukkari were found guilty of her murder and have been sentenced to death by hanging in Cairo) b. September 23rd 1977

July 9th
1980: Vinicius de Moraes (66) Brazilian poet and songwriter; a seminal figure in contemporary Brazilian music, hundreds of international performers have recorded more than 400 of his songs.()
2006: Milan Williams (58) keyboardist, founding member of R&B/funk band the Commodores, he also penned many of their tracks (cancer).
2006: John Coletta (74) British with Italian roots, former manager of Deep Purple and Whitesnake (Heart attack after watching Italy in the World Cup final).

July 10th
1941: Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton (50) US virtuoso pianist, bandleader, and composer who some call the first true composer of jazz music (evenaully died from the effects of a badly treated knife wound, afflicted 11 days previous to his death) b. October 20th 1890.
1979: Arthur Fiedler (85) American conductor who as director of the Boston Pops Orchestra from 1930 to 1979, blended works of classical and popular music in his concerts (He had been in failing health for some time, and had actually suffered a heart attack after a performance on Saturday evening, May 5, 1979. He was in his 50th year as conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra when he died) b. Dec 17th 1894.
1987: John Hammond (76) Producer, talent scout, record company executive; responsible for at least partly discovering a remarkable list of musicians through the years including Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Charlie Christian, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.()
2000: Dick Lory/Richard "Dick" Glasser (66) American singer, songwriter and record producer; born in Canton, Ohios he started recording in the mid 50's as a rockabilly and pop singer while writing songs for other artists. In 1955 one of his first recorded songs, "Angels In The Sky", became a million seller for The Crew Cuts. Later he recorded the song himself on Colombia Records. His many other songs included I Will, a hit on both sides of the Atlantic; Baby Bye Bye; Crazy Little Daisy; Midnight To Daylight; Ballroom Baby; Gone Is My Love; Make Believe Wedding Bells; Crazy Alligator; Wild Blooded Woman to mentiion just a few. Among artists who recorded his songs were Bobby Vee, PJ Proby, Chet Atkins, Walter Brennan, Glen Campbell, Billy Fury, Dean Martin, Buddy Greco, The Kingston Trio and Ruby Winters. Dick worked at Liberty before becoming a general manager of Dolton Records, an A&R director for Warner Bros. Records, and started Richbare Music. He produced artists including Vic Dana, The Everly Brothers, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, and The Ventures, among many many others (lung cancer) b. December 8th 1934.
2006: Tommy Bruce (68) British singer; best known for his biggest UK hit "Ain't Misbehavin'," and his deep, gritty and individual voice ()

July 11th
1937: George Gershwin/Jacob Gershowitz (38) American multi-award winning composer and pianist; born in Brooklyn, he quit school and found his first job as a performer as a "song plugger" for Jerome H. Remick and Company, a publishing firm on New York City's Tin Pan Alley, where he earned $15 a week. His first published song was "When You Want 'Em You Can't Get 'Em, When You've Got 'Em, You Don't Want 'Em", it was published in 1916 when George was only 17 years old and earned him a sum total of $5. His 1917 novelty rag "Rialto Ripples" was a commercial success, and in 1919 he scored his first big national hit with his song "Swanee". His musicals included George White's Scandals; Lady, Be Good; Primrose; Tip-Toes; Tell Me More!; Oh, Kay!; Rosalie; Strike up the Band; Funny Face; Show Girl; Let 'Em Eat Cake; Pardon My English; Girl Crazy; Of Thee I Sing; and Porgy and Bess. He also wrote musical scores for many films and 7 orchestral compositions including Catfish Row and Rhapsody in Blue. In 1983 the musical 'My One and Only' was an original musical using previously written Gershwin songs (sadly his career was cut short when he died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital following surgery for a brain tumor) b. September 26th 1898.
1949: Danny Polo (48) American clarinetist, very busy world touring sessionist (While working with Claude Thornhill's Orchestra, he unexpectedly became ill and died).
1985: George Duvivier (84) double-bass player; with the exception of fellow bassists Milt Hinton and probably Ron Carter, allegedly George has played on more recordings than any one else in the history of jazz, recording for almost every major jazz star, he also dabbled in playing classical music. (AIDS)
1991: Roger Christian (57) songwriter, actor, TV (kidney and liver failure)
1996: Jonathan Melvoin (34) Smashing Pumpkins (drug overdose)
1999: Helen Forrest/Bonnie Blue/Helen Fogel (82) American singer; one of the most popular female jazz vocalists during America's Big Band era. She first sang with her brother's band at the age of 10, and later began her career singing on CBS radio under the name Bonnie Blue and achieved further fame with the Artie Shaw band in 1938 when she recorded 38 singles with his band, including the hits "They Say" and "All the Things You Are". In the late 1940s, Helen sang on Dick Haymes' radio show and went on to record with Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole, Lionel Hampton, the Harry James Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey's orchestra, Sam Donahue among others as well as pursuing a solo career. Over the course of her career, she recorded more than 500 songs. Helen also acted in several musical films, including Bathing Beauty and Two Girls and a Sailor (congestive heart failure) b. April 12th 1917.
2001: Herman Brood (54) Dutch pianist, keyboards, singer, painter and media personality; he founded beat band The Moans in 1964, which would later become Long Tall Ernie and the Shakers. He was also asked to play with Cuby and the Blizzards, but was removed by management when the record company discovered he used drugs. For a number of years, Herman was in jail for dealing LSD, or abroad, and had a number of short-term engagements with The Studs, the Flash & Dance Band, Vitesse. In 1976, he started his own group, Herman Brood & his Wild Romance, best known for their second album, Shpritsz. His outspoken statements in the press about sex and drug use brought him into the Dutch public arena even more than his music. In the summer of 1979, he tried to enter the American market, where he toured as a support-act for The Kinks, The Cars, and Foreigner. A re-recorded version of Saturday Night peaked at number 35 in the Billboard Hot 100. In 1990, he won the BV Popprijs, one of the highest Dutch awards for popular music, and recorded Freeze with Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band and Tejano accordion player Flaco Jiménez. (Herman found he had only a few months left to live, so took matters into his own hands, also depressed by the failure of his drug rehabilitation programme, he committed suicide by jumping off the Amsterdam Hilton) b. November 5th 1946.
2006: Bill Miller (91) American pianist and sometimes orchestra conductor and musical director with Frank Sinatra for 46 years. Bill was also pianist for Frank Jr for the last 8 years. (He fell and broke his hip while performing in Montreal, Canada on July 1. Shortly after the accident, he suffered a heart attack and underwent heart bypass surgery from which he didn't recover from)

July 12th
1962: Roger Wolfe Kahn (54) American jazz and popular musician, composer and bandleader; it is said that he learnt to play 18 musical instruments before starting to lead his own orchestra in 1923, aged only 16. In 1925, Roger appeared in a short film made in Lee De Forest's Phonofilm sound-on-film process. He hired famous jazz musicians of the day to play in his band, especially during recording sessions, for example Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Artie Shaw, Jack Teagarden, Red Nichols, and Gene Krupa. Recordings were made for Victor until 1929, Columbia in 1929 and 1930, and for the Brunswick label in 1932. Roger had fun leading and conducting his orchestra. Reportedly, when the band was playing especially well he used to throw himself onto the floor and wave his legs in the air. However, in the mid-1930s, he lost interest in his orchestra and disbanded it, to go into aviation and eventually, in 1941, became a test pilot for the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, a well-known aircraft manufacturer (heart attack) b. October 19th 1907.
1970: Louis Wolfe Gilbert (84) Russian-born American songwriter; he moved to the United States as a young man and soon established himself as one of the most prolific songwriters of Tin Pan Alley. He began his career touring with John L. Sullivan and singing in a quartet at small Coney Island cafe called "College Inn", where he was discovered by English producer Albert Decourville, who brought him to London as part of The Ragtime Octet. Louis's first songwriting success came in 1912 when F. A. Mills Music Publishers published his song "Waiting For the Robert E. Lee". He relocated to Hollywood in 1915, and began writing for film, television, and radio including the Eddie Cantor show and the theme lyrics for the popular children's TV Western, 'Hopalong Cassidy'. Louis was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 (?) b. August 31st 1886.
1979: Minnie Riperton (31) American R&B singer-songwriter best known for her five-and-a-half octave vocal range and her 1975 single "Lovin' You". As a child she studied music, drama, and dance at Chicago's Lincoln Center. In her teen years, she sang lead vocals for the Chicago-based girl group, The Gems. While with Chess Records Minnie sang backup for various artists including Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters. She also sang lead for the rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971. Her 1975 No.1 hit single, "Lovin' You", was the last release from her 1974 gold album "Perfect Angel". In 1976 Minnie was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a modified radical mastectomy. Though she was given just six months to live, she continued recording and touring, and in 1977 she became spokesperson for the American Cancer Society (cancer) b. November 8th 1947.
1983: Chris Wood (39) UK musician and founding member of the UK band Traffic; he primarily played flute and saxophone, occasionally contributing keyboards and vocals. Chris was a co-writer for many of Traffic's songs and he played on 18 of their albums. Though his career, Chris has also played and toured with the likes of Dr John, the Wynder K Frog project playing as "Wooden Frog" and Ginger Baker's Air Force and has recorded and appeared on albums with many great artists and bands including Jimi Hendrix, Small Faces, Free, Fat Mattress, Martha Velez, Chicken Shack, Gordon Jackson, Sky, Locomotive, Shawn Phillips,Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Reebop Kwaku Baah, John Martyn, Hanson, Crawler, Third World and Ginger Baker. Chris died while working on a solo album that was to be titled Vulcan, which was eventually released in 2008 (pneumonia after a lengthy illness and a battle with alcohol and drugs) b. June 24th 1944.
1984: Phillipe Wynne (43) American lead singer with The Spinners, he joined George Clinton's Funkadelic around 1979. (heart attack)
1996: Jonathan Melvoin (34) American keyboard player and drummer; he performed with many punk bands in the '80s such as The Dickies, and also made musical contributions to many of Susannah and Wendy Melvoin projects, as well as Prince and the Revolution's album "Around the World in a Day". At the time of his death he was the touring keyboardist for The Smashing Pumpkins during their worldwide tour for the album "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness". (He died in New York City after overdosing on heroin he had taken with Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin)*December 6th 1961.
1998: Jimmy Driftwood/James Corbitt Morris (91) American folk songwriter and musician most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Tennessee Stud". He learned to play guitar at a young age on his grandfather's homemade instrument and used this unique guitar throughout his career. He became popular through his appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and programs including Ozark Jubilee and Louisiana Hayride. Jimmy became interested in promoting Arkansas folk music and the local folk performers he knew in the area, so invited members of the Mountain View community to perform at a festival of his own devising. This festival grew exponentially over the years and transformed into the annual Arkansas Folk Festival which would attract over 100,000 people. Jimmy was invited to sing for Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev as an example of traditional American music during the leader's visit to the United States. Over his career he wrote 6,000 plus folksongs, of which over 300 were recorded by various musicians (heart attack) b. June 20th 1907.
1999: Luis "Papo" Deschamps (23) Member of the Dominican rap group Sandy y Papo. The group debuted in 1996 with music that combined merengue rhythms with house and hip-hop (killed in a car accident) b. ????
2003: Benny Carter (95) American jazz alto saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader; a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, recieving many awards, The National Endowment for the Arts honored Benny with its highest honor in jazz, the NEA Jazz Masters Award for 1986. He was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987, winner of the Grammy Award in 1994 for his solo "Prelude to a Kiss", and also the same year, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2000 awarded the National Endowment for the Arts, National Medal of Arts, presented by President Bill Clinton. From 1924 to 1928, Carter gained valuable professional experience as a sideman in some of New York's top bands, playing with such jazz greats as cornetist Rex Stewart, clarinetist-soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet, pianists Earl Hines, Willie "The Lion" Smith, pianist Fats Waller, pianist James P. Johnson, pianist Duke Ellington. He first recorded in 1928 with Charlie Johnson's Orchestra, also arranging the titles recorded, and formed his first big band the following year. He played with Fletcher Henderson in 1930 and 1931. His arrangements were much in demand and were featured on recordings by Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, and Tommy Dorsey. Though he only had one major hit in the big band era with “Cow-Cow Boogie,” sung by Ella Mae Morse, during the 1930s he composed and/or arranged many of the pieces that became swing era classics, such as “When Lights Are Low,” “Blues in My Heart,” and “Lonesome Nights.” Benny moved to Europe in 1935 to play with Willie Lewis's orchestra, and also became staff arranger for the BBC dance orchestra and made several records. Over the next three years, he traveled throughout Europe, playing and recording with the top British, French, and Scandinavian jazzmen, as well as with visiting American stars such as his friend Coleman Hawkins. He relocated to LA in 1943, moving more into studio work. Beginning with "Stormy Weather" in 1943, he arranged for dozens of feature films and television productions. In Hollywood, he wrote arrangements for such artists as Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Billy Eckstine, Pearl Bailey, Ray Charles, Peggy Lee, Lou Rawls, Louis Armstrong, Freddie Slack, Mel Torme and many others. In 1990, he was named "Jazz Artist of the Year" in both the Down Beat and Jazz Times International Critics' polls. He was also a member of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame and in 1980 received the Golden Score award of the American Society of Music Arrangers. He was also a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1996, and received honorary doctorates from Princeton - 1974, Rutgers 1991, Harvard in 1994 and the New England Conservatory in 1998 (complications of bronchitis) b. August 8th 1907
2004: Ersel Hickey (70) US rockabilly singer best known for his hit song "Bluebirds over the Mountain"; also wrote songs for other artists, including "The Millionaire" for Jackie Wilson and "A Little Bird Told Me So" for LaVern Baker and "Don't Let the Rain Come Down", which was a US top ten hit for the Serendipity Singers. Ersel's contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (died after surgery to remove his bladder) b. June 27th 1934.
2004: Hal Carter (69) US songwriter, manager, agent, producer (cancer) b. July 13th 1935.
2007: Robert Burås (31) Norwegian guitarist and songwriter in the Norwegian rock band Madrugada and also a founding member of the band My Midnight Creeps. Born in Narvik he took up guitar at the age of 12 after listening to Led Zeppelin's Rock and Roll. He played in local bands before co-founding Abbey's Adoption later changing it's name to Madrugada and releasing their debut album Industrial Silence in 1999, the first of 6 albums. Robert founded My Midnight Creeps in 2005, as well as fronting the band and plsying guitar he wrote the majority of the material. They released two albums: the My Midnight Creeps in 2005 and Histamin in 2007 (found dead in his apartment by a friend, with his guitar in his hand) b. Aug 12th 1975
2008: Earl Nelson (79) American R&B singer with Nelson and Relf aka Bob & Earl; best known for co-writing and recording the original version of "Harlem Shuffle"in 1963, its main success came in 1969, when it was re-released in the UK and became a Top Ten hit there. Reportedly, George Harrison called it his favourite record of all time. Earl was also an early member of the Hollywood Flames and sang lead on the doo-wop group's biggest hit, "Buzz Buzz Buzz". Earl had achieved further success as a solo artist under the alias of Jackie Lee, with "The Duck", a hit dance record released in 1965, which reached No.14 in the U.S.(Alzheimer's disease) b. September 8th 1928.

July 13th
1957: Wessel Ilcken (33) Dutch jazz drummer; he played in the 1940s in the Piet van Dijks orchestra, and married the singer of the band, Rita Reys, with whom he started his own jazz band. They were international famous with tours through Sweden and performances with American bebop musicians that visited Europe. He has also worked with many Dutch jazzmen including Pim Jacobs, Rob Pronk, Ack and Jerry van Rooyen, Ruud Bosch, Piet Noordijk, Toon van Vliet, Ruud Brink, Herman Schoonderwalt, Rob Madna, Dick van der Capellen as well as playing, touring and recording with his own Wessel Ilcken Sextet (brain haemorrhage) b. December 1st 1923.
1994: Eddie Boyd (79) American blues and gospel, pianist and guitarist; born near Clarksdale, on Stovall's Plantation, Mississippi, he moved to Memphis where he formed his Dixie Rhythm Boys, after which he relocated to Chicago in 1941. In the '50s he wrote and recorded the hit songs "Five Long Years", "24 Hours", and "Third Degree". In 1965 Eddie toured Europe with Buddy Guy's band as part of the American Folk Blues Festival. Later he toured and recorded with Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Tired of racial discrimination he experienced in the United States, he first moved to Belgium, where he recorded with the Dutch band, Cuby and the Blizzards, then in 1970 he settled in Finland. He continued to record 10 more blues albums, and played at his last blues concert in 1984. After which he performed only gospel music. (died in Helsinki, Finland, just a few months before Eric Clapton released a chart-topping blues album that included Eddie's "Five Long Years" and "Third Degree") b. November 25th 1914
2003: Compay Segundo (97) Cuban Cuban trova guitarist and composer; his first engagement was in the Municipal Band of Santiago de Cuba, after which he moved to Havana in 1934, where he also played in the Municipal Band, on the clarinet. He also learnt to play the guitar and the tres: these became his main instruments. In the late 1920s Compay invented the armónico, a guitar customized with a double third string to fuse the tonal qualities of the traditional Cuban tres guitar and its Spanish counterpart. In the 1950s he became well-known as the second voice and tres player in Los Compadres, a duo he formed with Lorenzo Hierrezuelo in 1947, one of the most successful Cuban duos. In 1997, Los Compadres released their hugely successful Buena Vista Social Club album, which won several Grammy awards. Compay appeared in the film of the same title (kidney failure) b. November 18th 1907.
2004: Arthur "Killer" Kane (55) American bass player; born in the Bronx, New York he graduated from Martin Van Buren High School in Queens, New York. He first played bass in the band Actress along with three other original New York Dolls: Johnny Thunders, Rick Rivets and Billy Murcia. The New York Dolls formed in 1971, the original lineup's first performance was on Christmas Eve 1971 at a homeless shelter, the Endicott Hotel. They debuted with the album "New York Dolls" in 1973, which was followed by "Too Much Too Soon" in 1974. Arthur remained part of the Dolls from their founding, until he was forced out of the group shortly after the departure of Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan in 1975. He relocated to LA and in 1989, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and did volunteer work as a librarian in the Family History Center (genealogy library) at the Los Angeles Temple. He reunited with the Dolls for a reunion show in 2004, and planned to tour again with them, but sadly he was struck with illness which prooved fatal. New York Doll the film is based on the life of Arthur, the film was nominated for both a Satellite Award and a Grand Jury Prize and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005 (leukemia) b. February 3rd 1949.
2008: Gerald Wiggins (86) US jazz pianist and organist; worked with Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter. In the 1940s he moved to Los Angeles where he played music for television and film. He has also worked with singers like Lena Horne, Kay Starr, Nat King Cole, Lou Rawls, Jimmy Witherspoon and Eartha Kitt (?) b. May 12th 1922

July 14th
1973: Clarence White/Clarence LeBlanc (29) vocals, guitar; The Byrds/Kentucky Colonels. (killed by a drunk driver, while loading equipment after a spur-of-the moment reunion gig with the Colonels in Palmdale, California)
1980: Malcolm Owen (26) Singer, Ruts (heroin overdose)
1984: Phillipe Wynne (43) lead singer with The Spinners/Solo/Funkadelics; In the Academy Award-winning film, 'When We Were Kings', he was in total control of his Congolese audience. (died on-stage of a massive heart attack while performing in Oakland, California)
1999: Gar Samuelson (41) American drummer for the thrash metal band Megadeth, and was co-founder of the band Fatal Opera. (kidney failure)
2005: Joe Harnell (80) American musician, composer and arranger; born in the Bronx, he started playing piano at age six and was performing in his father's ensembles by age 14. He attended the University of Miami on a music scholarship in the early 1940s, and in 1943 joined the Air Force, playing with Glenn Miller's Air Force Band. In the '50s he played in Lester Lanin's band and worked as an accompanist for singers such as Judy Garland, Maurice Chevalier and Marlene Dietrich. From 1958 to 1961, he was Peggy Lee's full-time accompanist and arranger for the albums "Anything Goes:Cole Porter" and "Peggy Lee & the George Shearing Quartet". In 1962, Kapp Records asked him to work on writing potential hits in the then-hot genre of bossa nova. Harnell's biggest success was with his arrangement of Fly Me to the Moon, which was a hit in the US in 1963 and which won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. After working for Gray Advertising as a jingle writer, from 1967 to 1973 he worked as musical director of The Mike Douglas Show. In 1973 Harnell moved to Hollywood and worked in film score and television composition, composing for The Bionic Woman, The Incredible Hulk, Alien Nation, and V, for which he was awarded an Emmy in 1986. Following this he became a faculty member at USC's Flora Thornton School of Music as an instructor in film score composition (heart failure) b. August 2nd 1924
2008: Kathryn Ann "Katie" Reider (30) American singer-songwriter and gay rights activis; released 4 albums and by 2006 had won five local music awards that gained her a huge fanbase nationwide (brain hemorrhage) b. May 23rd 1978.

July 15th
1947: Walter Donaldson (54) American songwriter born in Brooklyn, New York; he published some 600 of his original songs. His biggest hits included "How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?", "My Mammy" (a huge hit for Al Jolson), "My Buddy", "Carolina in the Morning", "Yes Sir, That's My Baby","At Sundown", "My Blue Heaven", "Love Me or Leave Me", "Kansas City Kitty", "Makin' Whoopee", "Georgia". His film credits include work on such pictures as Glorifying the American Girl, Suzi, The Great Ziegfeld, Panama Hattie, Follow the Boys, and Nevada (Walter retired in 1943 and died in Santa Monica, California) b. February 15th 1893
1960: Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (63) American opera singer, movie actor, radio personality and recording artist. He sang with the New York Metropolitan Opera from 1923 to 1950. He performed roles ranging from Iago in Otello to Captain Hook in Peter Pan. As a baritone, he is acknowledged as one of the greatest opera singers produced by the USA, and one of the finest male voices of the past 100 years. (died as the result of a fall in his apartment) b. November 16th 1896.
1990: Trouble T-Roy/Troy Dixon (22) member of the hip-hop band Heavy D and The Boyz (an accidental fall)
1997: Ary Groenhuijzen (50) keyboard player for The Teddy Bears (Motor Neuron Disease known as ALS)
2000: Louis Quilico (75) Canadian baritone opera singer; 25 seasons with the Metropolitan Opera, also appeared with the New York City Opera. In 1974, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada ().
2000: Paul Young (53) singer and percussionist for Mike and the Mechanics and Sad Café (heart attack)
2007: Kelly Johnson (49) UK guitarist, singer and songwriter; one of the original members of the heavy metal rock band Girlschool, when it was formed from the group Painted Lady in 1978 (died after a 6 year battle with cancer of the spine).

July 16th
1981: Harry Chapin (38) American singer and songwriter, born in New York, known for his folk rock songs such as "Taxi," "W*O*L*D," and "Cat's in the Cradle". He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1960, and was among the five inductees in the school's Alumni Hall Of Fame for the year 2000. Following an unsuccessful early album made with his brothers, Tom and Steve, his debut solo album Heads & Tales, produced the hit single "Taxi". His 4th album, 1974's Verities & Balderdash was his most successful producing his chart topping "Cat's in the Cradle". It was used in an episode of The Simpsons, an episode of King of the Hill, an episode of Family Guy and was featured in Shrek The Third. The song has also been heard many other times on television and film and ranked number 186 of 365 on the RIAA list of Songs of the Century. Harry was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006. As well as his musical career he was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger, with his work being widely recognized as a key player in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. In 1987, Harry was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work (killed when a tractor-trailer crashed into the car he was driving) b. December 7th 1942.
1988: Steve Cayter (?) Road crew technician with Def Leppard, Steve had been instrumental in getting Rick Allen back playing the drums after he had lost his arm in a road accident (died of a brain haemorrhage on stage before a show at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy Wisconsin) b. ????
1996: John Panozzo (47) US drummer and bass guitarist, founder member of Styx; born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He and his twin brother, Chuck, started music lessons at aged 7, John took up the drums and percussion. At the age of 12 while at Catholic school they were part of a 3-piece band in which John played drums and Chuck played guitar, they played weddings. In 1961, John, Chuck, and their neighbour, accordionist and singer Dennis DeYoung, formed a band called The Tradewinds, playing local rock n roll gigs. In 1968, Chuck switched to bass and they added guitarists / vocalists James "J.Y." Young and John Curulewski, changing their name to TW4. The band signed to Wooden Nickel Records and changed their name to Styx. In the mid-1990s, as Styx was about to embark on its first tour with the classic line-up since 1983, John fell seriously ill and began battling cirrhosis of the liver. The band dedicated their 1996 Return to Paradise tour to him, and Tommy Shaw, who had earlier replaced Curulewski, wrote the song "Dear John" as the band's final tribute to their drummer and friend (he tried for years to battle cirrhosis of the liver, but eventually died of gastrointestinal haemmorhaging) b. September 20th 1948.
2003: Celia Cruz (77) Cuban singer; one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century. Born in La Habana, Cuba, internationally known as the "Queen of Salsa" as well as "La Guarachera de Cuba and has twenty-three gold albums to her name. She started out singing "Nostalgias" on Havana's radio station Radio Garcia-Serra's popular "Hora del Té" daily broadcast, and made her first recordings in 1948 in Venezuela. She made her first major breakthrough in 1950, when she took over as lead singer of the Sonora Matancera orchestra, who she stayed with for the next 15 years recording and touring all over Latin America. In 1960 Celia and her husaband became citizens of the United States and in 1966 she started working with Tito Puente which led to eight albums for Tico Records. Over her remarkable six-decade career, she recorded more than 70 albums, won two Grammy awards and three Latin Grammys, among numerous other accolades to her credit. She also starred with Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas in the film The Mambo Kings and in 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded Celia the National Medal of Arts (she died of a cancerous brain tumor at her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey.) b. October 21st 1925.
2005: Camillo Felgen (84) Luxembourgian singer, lyricist, DJ, and television presenter; he studied theatre and opera in Brussels and Liège. In 1946, he joined Radio Luxembourg as a chorus singer and a French language reporter and in 1949, he completed his theatre and opera studies. In 1951, he had his first international hit record, "Bonjour les amies" ("Hello Friends"). The song went on to become the theme song for his national broadcaster. In 1953, he recorded his first German language record, "Onkel Toms altes Boot" ("Uncle Tom's Old Boat"), in Berlin. He represented his home country in the Eurovision Song Contest 1960 with "So laang we's du do bast", becoming the first male contestant to represent Luxembourg and the first entrant to sing in Luxembourgish. One of the greatest hits of Felgen was "Ich hab Ehrfurcht vor schneeweißen Haaren" (“I Respect Your Grey Hair”), a cover of singer-guitarist and entrepreneur Bobbejaan Schoepen, another hit was "Sag warum", in 1959. He also translated the two songs that The Beatles performed in German, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You", in 1964. Camillo, then worked as a programme director at the RTL (?) b. November 17th 1920.
2006: Malachi Thompson (56) American jazz trumpeter; born in Princeton, Kentucky but moved to Chicago as a child, he first worked in the R&B scene on Chicago’s South Side as a teenager. In 1968, he joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, spending some time in the AACM big band, before playing and touring with the Operation Breadbasket Big Band. Moving to New York he worked with saxophonists Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Frank Foster and Archie Shepp among other musicians and formed his Freebop band in 1978. He nexted moved to Washington where he worked with Lester Bowie's Hot Trumpets Repertory Company. He was diagnosed with T-cell lymphomain 1989 and given only one year to live. Happily back in Chicago he went on to form his New Orleans inspired band, Africa Brass and wanting to preserve the Sutherland Theatre on Chicago's South Side, in 1991 Malachi founded the Sutherland Community Arts Initiative, a non-profit corporation and also wrote incidental music for a play about the theatre. In 1995 he was selected as an Arts Midwest Jazz Master, selected as a “Chicagoan of the Year" in 1996 by the “Chicago Tribune" for his efforts to bring jazz back to the South Side of Chicago. In 1997 he was honored by the Chicago Endowment for the Arts for his arts activism and his trumpet playing has been recognized in “DownBeat" magazine's annual International Critic's Poll. He is featured on 29 recordings of which thirteen he is the featured artist and has performed in over 15 countries around the world (a relapse of his cancer) b. August 21st 1949.
2008: Jo Stafford (90) American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards whose career spanned the 1930s through the early 1960s, considered one of the most versatile vocalists of the era; she entertained the GI's in World War 2 and recorded hits with Frankie Laine, Gordon MacRae, Johnny Mercer and released 47 solo singles. Her song "You Belong to Me" topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and made her the first female singer to have a No 1 hit in the UK singles chart. (heart failure) b. Nov 12th 1917.

July 17th
1951: Harry Choates (28) fiddle, accordion, guitar steel and acoustic; one of the most influential and tragic musicians in the history of Cajun music (Failing to make support payments of $20 a week for his son and daughter, he was jailed by a judge who found him in contempt of court. After three days of being forced to curtail his drinking habit, he began beating his head against the cell bars and fell into a coma. He died a few days later).
1959: Billie Holiday/Lady Day/Eleanora Fagan Goughy (44) Influential and legendary female jazz singer; Benny Goodman /Solo/ Guest (cirrhosis of the liver )
1967: John Coltrane (40) saxophonist John Coltrane was among the most important, and most controversial, figures in jazz. (He died suddenly of liver cancer)
1983: Roosevelt "Honeydripper" Sykes (77) Jazz Pianist; born in in Elmar, Arkansas, and grew up near Helena but at age 15, went on the road playing piano with a barrelhouse style of blues. Like many bluesmen of his time, he travelled around playing to all-male audiences in sawmill, turpentine and levee camps along the Mississippi River. In 1929, he was spotted by a talent scout while in New York. His first release was "'44' Blues" which became a blues standard and his trademark. He started recording on various labels, using various names including including 'Easy Papa Johnson', 'Dobby Bragg' and 'Willie Kelly'. His next stop was Chicago where he recorded with the Honeydrippers. He lived out his final years in New Orleans (heart attack) b. January 31st 1906.
1996: Chas Chandler (57) UK bassist with The Animals, made a greater impact, as co-manager and producer of the Jimi Hendrix Experience from 1966 to 1968, and as the producer/manager of Slade in the 1970's (died while undergoing tests related to an aortic aneurysm)
1999: Kevin Wilkinson (41) Drummer, Howard Jones /Waterboys (hung himself)
1914: Rosalyn Tureck (88) American pianist, harpsichordist; particularly associated with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach ().
2005: Laurel Aitken (78) singer, known as "the Godfather of Ska," Laurel Aitken was Jamaica's first real recording star (heart attack)
2006: Sam Myers (69) US vocals, drums, harmonica, songwriter; appeared as an accompanist on dozens of recordings for blues artists over the past five decades,as well as fronting the Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets (cancer)
2007: Teresa Stich-Randall (79) European-based US soprano opera singer, discovered in the late 1940s by Arturo Toscanini, who engaged her for a series of performances with his NBC Symphony Orchestra in New York, Toscanini described her at the time as "the find of the century" (natural causes).
2009: Gordon Waller (64) Scottish singer, songwriter, guitarist, best known for being one half of the 1960's duo Peter and Gordon; born in Braemar, Scotland, Gordon met fellow student, Peter Asher while attending Westminster School, and they began playing together as the duo Peter & Gordon. Peter's sister Jane was dating Paul McCartney, through this connection they were give an unrecorded Beatles song "World Without Love", which became a huge hit on bothe sides of the Atlantic and catapulted them to fame. Other hits followed, including "Woman", "Nobody I Know", "I Don't Want To See You Again", "I Go to Pieces", "True Love Ways", "To Know You Is To Love You.", "Lady Godiva", "Knight In Rusty Armour" and "Sunday for Tea". The two split in 1968, but stayed life long friends. Gordon pursued a solo career and also appeared in the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Pharaoh. In August 2005, Peter and Gordon reunited onstage for the first time in over 30 years, as part of two tribute concerts for Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five in New York City. This was followed by more complete concerts at The Festival for Beatles Fans conventions beginning the following year and also did a world tour. In 2007 Gordon released a solo album "Plays the Beatles", featuring a new recording of his 60s hit "Woman" and on August 21st 2008, Peter and Gordon performed a free concert on the pier in Santa Monica, California, briefly accompanied by Joan Baez (cardiac arrest) b. June 4th 1945.

July 18th
1966: Bobby Fuller (23) singer, guitarist and leader of The Bobby Fuller Four (gasoline asphyxiation, while parked outside his apartment. Police labelled it a suicide, but the possibility of foul play is far more probable)
1982: Lionel Daunais OC (80) French Canadian baritone singer, composer; in 1922 he performed in a student concert at the Académie Querbes in Outremont. A year later he won first prize at the Montreal Musical Festival. In January 1926 he made his operatic debut as Ourrias in Mireille at the Orpheum Theatre, and in March he gave his first recital at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The same year he won a Prix d'Europe which enabled him to continue his studies in Paris with Émile Marcellin of the Opéra-Comique. In 1929 he was engaged as principal baritone at the Opera of Algiers and sang in Carmen, Faust, Manon, La Traviata, and The Barber of Seville. In his years of composing, singing, arranging, producing, touring and recording he received many awards including in 1965 the 'Bene Merenti de Patria' silver medal from the St-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal. In 1972 Daunais was awarded the Canadian Music Council Medal and was appointed to the board of directors of the Opéra du Québec. He was awarded the 1977 Prix de musique Calixa-Lavallée, and in 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was awarded the Prix Denise-Pelletier posthumously in 1982, and is an inductee of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. (?) b. December 31st 1901.
1988: Nico (49) Spooky vocalist who was with the Velvet Underground (brain haemorrhage having falling off her bicycle while on holiday in Ibiza)
2007: Jerry Hadley (55) US operatic tenor; protegé of famous soprano Dame Joan Sutherland and her husband, conductor Richard Bonynge. He received three Grammy awards for his vocal peformances in the recordings of Jenufa, 2004 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording Susannah; 1995 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording and Candide; 1992 Grammy Award for Best Classical Album (suffered severe brain damage after apparently shooting himself in the head with an air rifle at his home, he died 8 days later)

July 19th
2001: Judy Clay (62) Singer with Wilson Pickett and Ray Charles (died following complications from an auto accident)
2002: Alan Lomax (86) US singer, guitarist, folklorist, musicologist; one of the great field collectors of folk music of the 20th century, recording thousands of songs in the United States, Great Britain, the West Indies, Italy, and Spain. He began his lifework on field trips sponsored by the Library of Congress in the middle-‘30s. Artists such as Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, and Muddy Waters made their first recordings for Alan. He recorded Burl Ives, Memphis Slim, Pete Seeger, and Sonny Boy Williamson, and recorded over eight hours with Jelly Roll Morton before he died, documenting the birth of jazz by one of its greatest early masters. He received the National Book Award in 1993 for The Land Where The Blues Began, which is an account of his work in the American South from the ‘30s through the ‘80s (?) b. January 31st 1915.
2006: Sam Neely (58) Country and western artist; singer-songwriter (collapsed while mowing his lawn)
2007: Ivor Emmanuel (79) Welsh singer and actor, he led the rendition of 'Men of Harlech' in the 1964 film Zulu and starred in many West End and Broadway musicals (stroke).

July 20th
1969: Roy Hamilton (40) US singer; during the mid to late '50s, his dramatic, searing voice and treatments of such songs as "You'll Never Walk Alone," "If I Loved You," "Ebb Tide," and "Unchained Melody" were enormously popular.(stroke)
1977: Gary Kellgren () studio engineer at the Los Angeles Record Plant studio (drowned in a Hollywood swimming pool)
2008: Artie Traum (65) American folk singer, award-winning guitarist, producer and songwriter. His work appeared on more than 35 albums. He produced and recorded with The Band, Warren Bernhardt, Pat Alger, Tony Levin, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, Maria Muldaur, Eric Anderson, Paul Butterfield, Paul Siebel, Rory Block, James Taylor, Pete Seeger, David Grisman, Livingston Taylor, Michael Franks and Happy Traum, among others. He toured in Japan, Europe and across the USA (cancer) b. April 13th 1943.

July 21st
2002: Gus Dudgeon (59) British record producer, engineer, long time collaboration with Elton John , and the inventor of audio sampling as a musical device. (died car accident together with his wife, when he fell asleep at the wheel of his car on a motorway, crashing down an embankment at speed and drowning in a ditch)
2004: Jerry Goldsmith (75) pianist, musical creator/director, films & TV; one of the most prolific film and television composers, with almost 200 scores to his credit, as well as being a consistent award winner in both mediums. (cancer)
2005: Long John Baldry (64) British blues singer, born in London, Long John begun his career playing folk and jazz in the late 50s, he toured with Ramblin' Jack Elliott before moving into R&B. His strong, deep voice won him a place in the influential Blues Incorporated, following which he joined Cyril Davies' R & B All Stars. After Davies' death, Long John fronted the Hoochie Coochie Men, which also included future superstar Rod Stewart, who later joined Baldry in Steam Packet. After a brief period with Bluesology (which boasted a young Elton John on piano & keyboards), Long John decided to go solo and record straightforward pop. Already well known on the music scene, he nevertheless appeared an unusual pop star in 1967 with his sharp suits and imposing 6foot 7inch height (severe chest infection) b. January 12th 1941 ... READ MORE
2006: Herbert Kalin (72) singer; Kalin Twins (heart attack)
2008: Khia Edgerton aka K-Swift (29) US disc jockey; pioneering Baltimore female Hip Hop DJ, has been on the scene since her early teen years and is known as the Club Queen for her intense club mixes. (died in hospital as a result of head and neck injures that occured in her swimming pool) b. Oct 19th 1980.
2009: John Collins Dawson IV/Marmaduke (64) American guitarist, singer and songwriter; born in Detroit, brought up in New York, but went to San Francisco Bay Area in the mid 60s to pursue his musical dreams on the folk and psychedelic rock scene. He soon became part of the of Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, a jug band that included Jerry Garcia and several other future members of the Grateful Dead. It is here where he also met fellow guitarist David Nelson. In 1967, John decided that it was his life's mission to combine the psychedelia of the San Francisco rock with his beloved electric country music and by 1969, he had written a number of country rock songs, so with Jerry Garcia the two began playing coffeehouse concerts together while the Grateful Dead was off the road. By the summer of '69 John and Jerry decided to form a full band, David Nelson was recruited from Big Brother to play electric lead guitar, Robert Hunter on electric bass and Grateful Dead Mickey Hart on drums. This was the original line-up of the band which became known as the New Riders of the Purple Sage. In 1970 and 1971, the New Riders and the Grateful Dead performed many concerts together. John also appeared as a guest musician on three Grateful Dead albums — Aoxomoxoa, Workingman's Dead, and American Beauty and he co-wrote the Dead's "Friend of the Devil". Buddy Cage replaced Jerry Garcia as the New Riders' pedal steel player, John and David Nelson led a gradually evolving lineup of musicians in the New Riders of the Purple Sage, playing their psychedelic influenced brand of country rock and releasing a number of studio and live albums. In 1982, David Nelson and Buddy Cage left the band. John Dawson and the New Riders carried on without them, taking on more of a bluegrass influence with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Rusty Gauthier to the group. John continued to tour with the band and released the occasional album, until their eventual retirement in 1997. John relocated to Mexico to become an English teacher and made several guest appearances at the revival of the New Riders concerts in the mid 2000s onwards (died in Mexicao with stomach cancer) b. June 16th 1945
2009: Marcel Jacob (45) Swedish musician; best known as the bassist in the hard rock bands Talisman and Last Autumn's Dream. In 1978, he formed the band Rising Force together with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. Three years later he joined the band Force, which later changed its name to Europe, replacing John Levén, who took his place in Rising Force. During his time in Force, Marcel wrote the song "Black Journey for My Soul" together with vocalist Joey Tempest. The song was eventually included on Europe's second album Wings of Tomorrow, retitled "Scream of Anger". After spending three months in Force, he traded places with John Levén again, who apparently had issues with Malmsteen. In 1987 Marcel played on the album Total Control, the debute solo album released by Europe guitarist John Norum; Marcel also co-wrote several of the songs included on that album. Two years later he formed the band Talisman with Jeff Scott Soto, releasing 13 albums over the next . In 2005 Marcel joined the Swedish/German hard rock band Last Autumn's Dream for its second studio album . He played on 8 of their albums, the last being Dreamcatcher in 2009. Over the years Marcel has played with many artists and bands including Human Clay, Humanimal, Meldrum, Tommy Denander, The Poodles and Tommy Denander (suicide) b. January 30th 1964.

July 22nd
1971: Ted Fiorito/Teodorico Salvatore Fiorito (70) American bandleader, pianist, keyboardist; still in his teens in 1919 he worked as a pianist at Columbia's New York City recording studio, working with the Yerkes Novelty Five, Yerkes' Jazarimba Orchestra and the Happy Six. He moved to Chicago in 1921 to join Dan Russo's band, and the following year he was the co-leader of Russo and Fio Rito's Oriole Orchestra. They did their first radio remote broadcast on March 29, 1924. In August 1925, theyopened Chicago's new Uptown Theatre. Over the years vocalists such as Jimmy Baxter, Candy Candido, the Debutantes, Betty Grable, June Haver, the Mahoney Sisters, Muzzy Marcellino, Joy Lane (1947-1951), Billy Murray, Maureen O’Connor, Patti Palmer. He composed more than 100 songs, collaborating with such lyricists as Ernie Erdman, Gus Kahn, Sam Lewis, Cecil Mack, Albert Von Tilzer and Joe Young. Ted played in Las Vegas during the 1960s. In his last years, he led a small combo at venues throughout California and Nevada until his death in Scottsdale, Arizona Swingle (heart attack) b. December 20th 1900.
1977: Richie Kamuca (46) jazzman, tenor sax player; Freelance (cancer)
1982: Edward "Sonny" Stitt (58) American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom, recording over 100 records in his lifetime. He featured in Tiny Bradshaw's big band in the early 40s, but his first recordings were made in 1945 with Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie. He played alto saxophone in Billy Eckstine's big band 1945 until 1949, when he started to play tenor saxophone more frequently. Later on, he played with other bop musicians Bud Powell and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and experimented with Afro-Cuban jazz in the late 1950s, the results can be heard on his recordings for Roost and Verve, on which he teamed up with Thad Jones and Chick Corea for Latin versions of such standards as "Autumn Leaves". Though the 60's till his death he regularly toured Europe, playing and recording with the greats and was a frequently seen playing at Ronnie Scott's in London. He also was one of the first jazz musicians to experiment with an electric saxophone, an instrument called a Varitone, as heard on the album Just The Way It Was - Live At The Left Bank, recorded in 1971 and released in 2000 (heart attack) b. February 2nd 1924.
1996: Rob Collins (33) founder member and keyboardist for Charlatans (died in a car crash in Wales, UK)
2004: Sacha Distel/Sacha Alexandre (71) French singer and guitarist best known for a string of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, started out in music as a professional jazz guitarist at the age of 16. He went on to become a household name across the world during a career which peaked with his cover version of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. He scored his first hit with Scoubidou in 1958 and went on to record more than 200 songs. He worked alongside some of the music greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones. Considered a heart-throb around the world, he also appeared in a number of French films and television programmes and had his own TV show in the US, where he was also hugely popular. Sacha made his British theatre debut as smooth talking lawyer Billy Flynn in the London West End production of the Bob Fosse musical Chicago for three months from December 2000 (long battle with deteriorating health) b. January 29th 1933.
2004: Arthur Crier (69) Singer, songwriter and producer (heart failure)
2004: Jean-Baptiste Illinois Jacquet (82) Jazzman, tenor sax (heart attack)
2005: Eugene Record (64) American lead singer with The Chi-lites, The Chi-Lites began with the merging of two 1950s doo wop groups, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, Eugene Record and Clarence Johnson from "The Chanteurs", with Creadel "Red" Jones and Marshall Thompson from "the Desideros". Originally known as the "Hi-Lites", they became the Chi-Lites in 1964. Squirrel and the Chi-Lites went on to have hits such as "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)", "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People", "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl". Between 1972 and 1976 the band had a number of UK Top 10 pop hit records, including "Have You Seen Her", "Homely Girl", "Too Good To Be Forgotten", "It's Time For Love", and "You Don't Have To Go". They gradually became a regular on the oldies and soul circuit and were inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 2000 and inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005 (cancer) b. December 23rd 1940.
2006: Jessie Mae Hemphill (82) award winning blues musician; a pioneering electric guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist specializing in the primal, northern Mississippi country blues (complications of an infection).
2006: Dika Newlin (82) US composer, singer and punk rocker; Dika could read the dictionary by age 3, play the piano by age 6 and began composing music at age 7. When she was 11 she wrote a symphonic piece, Cradle Song, that was performed three years later by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Her compositions include three operas, a piano concerto, a chamber symphony, and numerous chamber, vocal and mixed-media works. She also translated many of Schoenberg's works from German to English. Dika herself sang in a costumed performance of Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire, which she had translated to English in 1999. The 70's saw her as a leather-clad punk rocker with bright orange hair. As a punk rocker, she appeared in horror movies by Richmond producer Michael D. Moore. Around this time she also performed as an Elvis Presley impersonator. In 1985 she formed a new band ApoCowLypso, with fellow singer/songwriters Brooke Saunders and Manko Eponymous and Hunter Duke on drums; she performed lead and backing vocals as well as percussion..washboard, tambourine and temple bells. In the 1995 film Creep, she played a person wearing a leather motorcycle jacket who puts poison in baby food at a supermarket and she posed for a pinup calendar when she was in her 70s. (This amazing lady sadly died from complications of a broken arm she suffered in an accident on June 30th 2006) b. November 22nd 1923.
2007: Don Arden/Harry Levy (81) British rock manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath. He achieved notoriety in England for his aggressive, sometimes illegal business tactics which led to him being called "Mr Big", "The English Godfather" and "The Al Capone of Pop", also the father of Sharon Osbourne (Alzheimer's disease).
2009: Abe Futoshi (42) Japanese guitarist and founder member the influential Japanese punk band Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, a band he co-formed while he was student at Tokyo's Meiji Gakuin University.They recorded 11 albums between 1993, debuting with Maximum! Maximum!! Maximum!!! and 2003 with the two albums Sabrina No Heaven and the live album, Last Heaven's Bootleg (epidural hematoma) b.????

July 23rd
1757: Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti (71) Italian composer; he spent much of his life in the service of the Portuguese and Spanish royal families. He is classified as a Baroque composer chronologically, although his music was influential in the development of the Classical style. His influential 555 sonatas were almost all written for the harpsichord with a few exceptions for chamber ensemble or organ (died in Madrid, Spain) b. October 26th 1685.
1979: Keith Godchaux (32) American keyboard player, was born in Seattle, Washington, but grew up in Concord, California and was married to singer Donna Jean Thatcher. He started playing with The Grateful Dead in 1971 after he had been working with Dave Mason, formerly of Traffic. Keith stayed with the Dead until 1979. Keith and Donna Godchaux also issued the mostly self-written Keith and Donna album in 1975 with Jerry Garcia as a member of their band. The album was recorded at their home in Stinson Beach, where they lived in the 1970s. Keith and Donna also appeared in Jerry's band New Riders of the Purple Sage. He also appeared with the Subsequently, co-writing songs with Lowell George and Robert Hunter.After his time with Jerry, he and his wife formed The Heart of Gold Band, sadly this was short lived (died in a car accident in Marin County, California) b. July 19th 1948
1996: Rob Collins (29) English keyboardist; he was invited to join the Charlatans in the late 1980s as their first keyboardist. The bands debut single was an indie hit, and led the way for their debut top ten single "The Only One I Know" in 1990. Collins swirling and layered psychedelic organ playing added an important and noted edge to the bands sound and placed the band apart from many of their contemporaries. Rob recorded four successful albums with the band, Some Friendly-1990, Between 10th and 11th in 1992, Up to Our Hips - 1994 and The Charlatans in 1995. (he had started to record his keyboard parts for the Charlatans' 5th album Tellin' Stories when he was killed in a car crash on a country road in Wales) b. June 12th 1965.
2002: Idrees Sulieman (79) American flugelhorn player, trumpeter; born in St. Petersburg, Florida, he studied at Boston Conservatory, after which from 1943 to 1946 he played with the Carolina Cotton Pickers, the Earl Hines Orchestra and Mary Lou Williams. In 1947 he recorded with Thelonious Monk which made him the very first trumpeter that played be-bop with the now legendary pianist. Over the next 14 years he played with many greats including Cab Calloway, John Coltrane, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins and Randy Weston. He went on tour in Europe in 1961 with Oscar Dennard, and settled in Stockholm, then moved to Copenhagen in 1964. Idrees became a major soloist with The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band from the mid '60s through 1973 and frequently worked with radio orchestras (bladder cancer) b. August 7th 1923.
2004: Piero Piccioni (82) Italian pianist, organist, conductor, composer, born in Turin, Piedmont. Many directors sought Piero to score the soundtracks for their films: Francesco Rosi, Mario Monicelli, Alberto Lattuada, Luigi Comencini, Luchino Visconti, Antonio Pietrangeli, Bernardo Bertolucci, Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, Tinto Brass, Dino Risi, and others. He is credited with works for more than 300 soundtracks and compositions for films, radio, television, ballets and orchestra. Among his favorite vocalists were female soul singer Shawn Robinson and Lydia MacDonald. Piero's many prestigious prizes won include a David di Donatello Award for the movie Swept Away in 1975, Nastro d’argento Award for the movie Salvatore Giuliano by Francesco Rosi 1963, Prix International Lumière 1991, Anna Magnani Award 1975 and Vittorio De Sica Award 1979 (Died in Rome) b. December 6th 1921.
2005: Myron Floren (85) US accordianist; he best known as the accordionist on The Lawrence Welk Show between 1950 and 1982. In the mid-1970s, he formed an orchestra of his own, while still employed by the Welk organization. Based in Fargo, North Dakota, the "Myron Floren Orchestra" played during the television show's off-season, and during holiday breaks, becoming a regional favorite. After the Welk show went off the air in the early 1980s, Myron continued to perform on the road, with as many as 200 dates a year, either as a solo artist, with his orchestra, or with other members of the Welk Show cast. Among the annual events where he headlined were Wurstfest in New Braunfels, Texas; German Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Norsk Høstfest in Minot, North Dakota; the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida and PolkaFest at the Welk Resort in Branson, Missouri. He was a member of the International Polka Music Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1990. (Died after several battles with cancer) November 5th 1919.
2009: Danny McBride/Daniel Hatton (63) American singer-songwriter, guitarist; raised in Reading, Massachusetts, where he graduated at Reading Memorial High School, then graduated from Boston University in 1970. He is best known as the lead guitarist and lead singer for Sha Na Na during their heyday on their TV series of the same name. He also appeared in the film Grease in 1978 with Sha Na Na. He also, enjoyed success as a solo artist. (?) b. November 20th 1945.

July 24th
1972: Bobby Ramirez (23) US drummer with White Trash (killed after becoming involved in a brawl in a Chicago bar. The fight started after comments were made about the length of his hair).
1980: Peter Sellers/Richard Henry Sellers (54) English comic actor, musician, singer and a Goon; as well as his huge comedy, film and radio career, he was a versatile artist, excelling at dancing and drumming well enough to tour with jazz bands and played ukulele and banjo. In a Parkinson Show, Peter claimed his father had taught George Formby to play ukulele. Peter himself played ukulele on the "New York Girls" track for Steeleye Span's 1975 album 'Commoner's Crown'. He also had some hit records in the UK charts. His singles included "Any Old Iron" in 1957, "Goodness Gracious Me" in 1960 with Sophia Loren, "Bangers and Mash", a follow-up also featuring Sophia Loren UK, then in 1965 "A Hard Day's Night". This consisted of him speaking the Beatles lyrics using the stereotypical voice of an actor playing Shakespeare's Richard III. He also performed the song in costume on television. In the late 1950s, Peter released two comedy records produced by George Martin: "The Best of Sellers", with the tracks "Balham, Gateway to the South" and "Suddenly It's Folksong" where a group of people end up smashing up a pub after a row over someone playing a bum note and "Songs for Swinging Sellers" released in 1959, contained material written by Frank Muir and Dennis Norden and featured Sellers performing "Puttin on the Style", a parody of the skiffle movement's performer Lonnie Donegan. He also appeared with guest Irene Handl on the track "Shadows on the Grass" where he plays the part of an Indian man befriending a lady in the park. In 1979 he released a third gatefold album entitled Sellers' Market which included comic singing and a feature called the "All England George Formby Finals" where he parodies the late George Formby and his ukelele playing. Also featured was the Complete Guide to Accents of the British Isles. The tracks on all three albums showcased Peter's ability to use his flexible voice to enormous comedic effect (heart attack) b. September 8th 1925.
1984: Rev. C.L. Franklin () Aretha Franklin's father (been in a coma since 1979 after being shot by burglars)
2003: Bobby Thompson () Long standing tour manager for Ozzy Osbourne (throat cancer)
2005: Patrick Sherry (29) Singer, Bad Beat (died after a stage dive went wrong during a gig at the Warehouse in Leeds)
2008: Zezé Gonzaga (81) Brazilian singer; considered one of the most beautiful voices of Rádio Nacional in its heyday, she was known especially for her two hits "Canção de Dalila" and "Óculos Escuros" and participated regularly on the radio's prime time, accompanied by the orchestras conducted by Radamés Gnattali, Leo Peracchi, Lírio Panicali, and others. In the late '80s, she formed, with other old-timers, the group Eternas Cantoras do Rádio, recording two CDs and doing several performances. In 1999, she recorded, together with Jane Duboc, the album Clássicas, doing shows in Rio, São Paulo, and other cities. In the late '90s, she also participated in the show Lupicínio Rodrigues with Áurea Martins in Rio and São Paulo. As a composer, she wrote (with Luís Carlos Saroldi) the opening theme of the Minerva project, broadcast nationwide by the Rádio MEC. In 2000, Zeze participated in the MPB: A História de Um Século project, together with Paulo Sérgio Santos and Maria Tereza Madeira, an ambitious initiative that intended to review the history of Brazilian popular music in the 20th century (multiple organ failure) b. Sept 3rd 1926.
2008: Norman Dello Joio/Nicodemo DeGioio (95) American composer; won the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his Meditations on Ecclesiastes. Another of his famous works is Scenes from the Louvre, for concert band. His Variations, Chaconne and Finale won the New York Critics Circle Award in 1948 (died in his sleep at his home in East Hampton, New York) b. January 24th 1913

July 25th
1971: Leroy Robertson (74) American composer and music educator, born in Fountain Green, Utah, he studied violin, composition, and public school music at the New England Conservatory and in Europe. He received an MA degree from the University of Utah and a Ph.D from the University of Southern California. He was chairman of the music department at Brigham Young University from 1925 to 1948 and at the University of Utah from 1948 to 1962. Leroy was instrumental in the promotion of the Utah Symphony and of classical music in Salt Lake City. He is best known for his Oratorio from the Book of Mormon. The setting of the Lord's Prayer from that oratorio was recorded by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and released as a 45 single on the flip side of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which hit the top 50 charts. Amongst his works in the 1948 LDS hymnal was the music for "Up! Arose Thee, O Beautiful Zion". In the 1985 edition of the LDS hymnal there is one hymn with words by Leroy and 8 hymns for which he wrote the music (?) b. December 21st 1896.
1984: Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (57)US blues singer; She wrote and sang blues songs, played the harmonica and taught herself to play the drums and the original singer "Hound Dog" (heart failure).
1987: Alex Sadkin (35) record producer, got his start in music as saxophonist for the Las Olas Brass (car crash in Nassau, Bahamas).
1995: Charlie Rich/The Silver Fox (62) Country singer & pianist playing in the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel genres; one of the most critically acclaimed and most erratic country singers of post-World War II era (blood clot in his lung).
2005: Albert Mangelsdorff (76) German bandleader and trombonist; one of the most accredited and innovative trombonists of modern jazz who became famous for his distinctive technique of playing multiphonics. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, he performed as unaccompanied trombonist in a convincing concert set. In the 1970s he made his first solo recordings and collaborated with Elvin Jones, Jaco Pastorius and Alphonse Mouzon, John Surman, Barre Phillips and Stu Martin and others. In 1975 he was co-founder of the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble that existed for more than 30 years, and recorded duo albums with Wolfgang Dauner (?) b. September 5th 1928.
2008: Hiram Bullock (52) American jazz funk and fusion guitarist; notable for his time on the David Letterman Show and work with David Sanborn. He also did work for Marcus Miller, Carla Bley, Miles Davis, Ruben Rada and Gil Evans. He recorded as a member of the 24th Street Band, releasing 3 albums. In 1982 he released his debut-album, called First Class Vagabond, which was exclusively distributed for the Japanese music-market by the JVC-Victor Company, and later re-issued on CD (throat cancer) b. September 11th 1955
2008: Johnny Griffin (80) US bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist; once known as the "fastest tenor in the west", for the ease with which he could execute fast note runs with excellent intonation. He joined Art Blakey in 1957, his recordings from that time include a memorable album joining together the Messengers and Thelonious Monk, after which Johnny succeeded John Coltrane as a member of Monk's Five Spot quartet and was recording for Blue Note and the Riverside label. From 1960 to 1962 he and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis led their own quintet,He moved to France and regularly appeared under his own name at jazz clubs such as London's Ronnie Scott's, he became the "first choice" sax player for visiting US musicians touring the continent. He went on to record albums with Wes Montgomery, The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, Peter Herbolzheimer And His Big Band, Nat Adderley, Derek Watkins, Art Farmer, Slide Hampton, Jiggs Whigham, Herb Geller, Wilton Gaynair, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Rita Reys, Jean "Toots" Thielemans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Grady Tate, Quincy Jones and others. Johnny played his last concert with his supurb French band on July 21st 2008 in Hyères, France a week before he died (died of a heart attack in Availles-Limouzine, France, where he had lived for the past 24 years) b. April 24th 1928.
2008: Claire Frances Stroface (61) US singer, songwriter and producer; a native New Yorker, Claire’s lifelong musical career began in high school on Long Island when she produced and fronted an all-girl doo-wop group. After moving to Massachusetts, she sang with a number of female rock bands throughout the 70s and 80s, such as Lilith, Liberty Standing, The Ina Ray Band, and Trans-Sister. Claire also handled their stage production, musical arrangements, business management, and studio production, as well as contributing original songs. Her bands headlined at the Paradise in Boston, the Peppermint Lounge in New York, and many New England clubs and events. In addition, she was a studio producer for Lizzie Borden and the Axesand did live concert production for acts including Holly Near and Cris Williamson. In recent years Claire worked tirelessly for Oxfam America, but still remained active in the entertainment field as a popular mobile DJ.
(died after a long illness) b. August 21st 1946.

July 26th
1990: Brent Mydland (38) keyboards, songwriter; Grateful Dead (drug overdose)
1992: Mary Wells (49) Motown artist;Time and legions of other soul superstars have obscured the fact that for a brief moment, Mary Wells was Motown's biggest star. She came to the attention of Berry Gordy as a 17-year-old, hawking a song she'd written for Jackie Wilson; that song, "Bye Bye Baby," became her first Motown hit in 1961, and "My Guy" hit the number one spot in mid-1964, at the very height of Beatlemania. First Motown hit in UK (throat cancer)
1995: Laurindo Almeida (77) Brazilian classical guitarist; born in Sao Paulo, Laurindo made a name for himself in Rio de Janeiro, then in 1947 he was asked to the US by Stan Kenton to join his band, after which he was employed as a studio musician. In 1953 he recorded, with Bud Shank, two albums called Brazilliance for the World Pacific label. He also recorded with Baden Powell, Stan Getz and Herbie Mann, among others, and recorded for film and television. From 1974 through 1982 he was a member of the chamber Jazz group The L.A. Four. In 1961, he won Grammy Awards for Best Engineered Album, Classical and Best Chamber Music Performance. The following year he won Grammy Awards for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Duo and Best Contemporary Classical Composition and in 1965 he won Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance - Large Group or Soloist with Large Group (?) b. September 2nd 1917.
2001: Helmut Brandt (69) German baritone saxophonist; played tenor/baritone saxophone and clarinet as the leader of an amateur dixieland group, entertaining American troops after WW II. He won enormous popularity in the American jazz clubs, made many recordings, appeared as an honoured guest at jazz festivals and played with many international stars () b. January 1st 1931.
2006: Floyd Dixon (77) American R&B pianist (kidney failure).
2007: Johnnie Mac "Uncle John" Turner (62) American blues drummer; was one of the founders of the blues-rock style of drumming and a Texas legend. He played with countless artists including B. B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Lightnin' Hopkins, Johnny Copeland, Albert Collins, Willie Dixon, Lazy Lester and Johnny Winter at Woodstock (complications of hepatitis C).

July 27th
1757: Domenico Scarlatti (71) Italian composer, harpsicord, organ, piano, keyboard. Spent most of his life in Portugal and Spain (died in Madrid, were his residence on Calle Leganitos is designated with a historical plaque, and his descendants still live in Madrid today)
2001: Leon Wilkeson (49) Bass player, Lynyrd Skynyrd (chronic liver and lung disease)
2001: Harold Land (73) American hard bop and post-bop tenor saxophonist, played with all the greats; one of the major contributors in the history of the jazz saxophone, joined the UCLA Jazz Studies Program as a lecturer in 1996 to teach instrumental jazz combo (stroke).
2003: Arthur "Artie" Anton (77) Jazz musician, conga drums, drums, timbales, a music major at New York University. From the late '40s onward, Anton began working with leaders such as Herbie Fields, Sonny Dunham, Bobby Byrne, Tommy Reynolds and Art Wall. In 1952 he got into the combo of the open-minded saxophonist Bud Freeman, moving to pianist Ralph Flanagan's band the following year. After gigs in 1954 with Jerry Gray and Charlie Barnet, Artie relocated to the west coast and began freelancing. He performed and recorded with important bandleaders, from the big band of Stan Kenton to multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Guiffre's smaller units and played drums on tour with Frank Zappa when studio ace drummer Jim Gordon got arrested in South Carolina for illegal drugs during the 1972 Grand Wazoo tour () b. September 8th 1925.
2009: George Russell (86) American jazz pianist and composer; considered one of the first jazz musicians to contribute to general music theory with a theory of harmony based on Jazz rather than European music, in his 1953 book, The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization. Although learning piano from an early age, he started playing drums with the Boy Scouts He received a scholarship to Wilberforce University, where he joined the Collegians. George began playing drums in Benny Carter's band, but decided to give up drumming as a vocation after hearing Max Roach. Inspired by hearing Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight", he moved to New York in the early 1940s. His first famous composition was for the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, the two-part "Cubano Be, Cubano Bop" in 1947. George on piano, began leading a series of groups which have included Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Art Farmer, Hal McKusick, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, Paul Motian and many others. In 1964, he toured Europe with his sextet and lived in Scandinavia for five years. In the 1970s he was commissioned to write and record 3 major works: Listen to the Silence, a mass for orchestra and chorus for the Norwegian Cultural Fund; Living Time, commissioned by Bill Evans for Columbia Records; and Vertical Form VI for the Swedish Radio. (complications from Alzheimer's disease) b. June 23rd 1923

July 28th
1741: Antonio Vivaldi (63) Italian composer and violinist. (He died shamed in Vienna and was buried as a pauper)
1962: Eddie Costa (31)American jazz pianist, vibraphonist (died in a car accident on New York's Westside Highway)
1982: Keith Gordon Green (28) Gospel singer, songwriter, pianist; Last Days Ministries (died when a small airplane leased by Last Days Ministries crashed on takeoff)
1996: Marguerite "Marge" Ganser (48) singer; Shangri-Las (breast cancer)
2000: Jerome Smith (47) Rhythm guitarist, original member of the group KC and the Sunshine Band (crushed by a bulldozer he was operating)
2003: Samuel Aaron Bell (81) tuba, bass; one of the best bassists ever in the Duke Ellington band; his powerful lines and graceful, yet sturdy support provided a rich presence in the rhythm section. Over the years he had recorded with Billie Holiday, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Rushing and Lester Young, amongst many others.()
2004: George "The Fox" Williams (69) Lead singer of the Philadelphia R&B vocal group Tymes (cancer)
2007: Sal Mosca (80) American jazz pianist and educator; worked with Lee Konitz in 1949 and also worked with Warne Marsh. He spent much of his career teaching and was relatively inactive since 1992, but a new CD was released in 2004 (effects of emphysema).
2009: Kaori Kawamura (38) Japanese rock and pop singer. She released her first single, "ZOO", at the age of 17. In 2004, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and became a spokeswoman for cancer activism (cancer) b. January 23rd 1971.

July 29th
1974: Cass Elliot (33) UK singer Mamas and the Papas/Solo (She did not choke to death on a sandwich as rumour has it, an autopsy concluded that she died of a heart attack. The drummer of The Who, Keith Moon, died the same room, four years later. The tragic London apartment was owned by singer-songwriter, the late Harry Nilsson)
1978: Glen Lamont Goins (24) American singer, guitarist, born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey a master vocalist with a powerful and haunting gospel voice, he first recorded with the group "The Bags", releasing a single in 1972 "It's Heavy" / "Don't Mess With My Baby". But Glen is better known as singer and guitarist for Parliament Funkadelic in the mid-1970s. He was particularly prominent on the Parliament albums Mothership Connection in 1975, The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein in 1976, and 1977's Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome. Glen is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. In 1978 he formed his own funk band Quazar featuring his younger brother Kevin Goins and drummer Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey. They recorded a self-titled album which Glen also produced and arranged, but sadly Glen died before the album's release (Hodgkin's lymphoma) b. January 2nd 1954
1986: Gordon Mills (51) Producer and manager (stomach cancer)
1988: Pete Drake (56) Pedal steel guitarist (lung disease)
1992: William Mathias (57) Welsh composer; his anthem "Let the people praise Thee, O God" written for the 1981 royal wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales, had a television audience of an estimated 1 billion people worldwide ()
1996: Jason Thirsk (28) American bass player, he started playing in school bands at Mira Costa High before in 1988 founding the punk rock band Pennywise along with Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge and drummer Byron McMackin. They released two EPs A Word from the Wise and Wildcard, both 1989. Signing to Epitaph Records in 1990 they released their first album Pennywise in 1991, which quickly spread throughout the punk community, earning the band nation-wide recognition. They went on to record 2 more albums, but in 1996, when Pennywise began recording their fourth album, Jason left the band in an attempt to conquer alcoholism, sadly he didn't finish the album (died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest) b. December 25th 1967.
2004: Huby Heard (53) Keyboardist, The God Squad/sessionist/singer/writer/composer (died of a heart ailment)
2005: Al McKibbon (86) American jazz bass player with Giants of Jazz: known for his work in bop, hard bop, and Latin jazz, working with Lucky Millinder, Tab Smith, J. C. Heard, and Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie's band ()
2005: Hildegarde Loretta Sell (99) American cabaret singer born in Adell, Wisconsin, known for the song "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup". Hildegarde trained at Marquette University's College of Music in the 1920s and worked in vaudeville and traveling shows throughout her career, appearing across the United States and Europe. Known for 70 years as "The Incomparable Hildegarde" a title bestowed on her by columnist Walter Winchell, in the 1930s and '40s, she was booked in cabarets and supper clubs at least 45 weeks a year. She appeared on the cover of Life magazine in 1939, and her recordings sold in the hundreds of thousands. Revlon even introduced a Hildegarde shade of lipstick and nail polish and her admirers ranged from soldiers during World War II to King Gustaf of Sweden and the Duke of Windsor. From the 1950s through the 1970s, in addition to her cabaret performances and record albums, she appeared in a number of television specials and toured with the national company of the Stephen Sondheim musical Follies. Her autobiography, Over 50 .... So What!, was published by Doubleday in 1961. (natural causes) b. February 1st 1906.
2007: Art Davis (73) American jazz double-bassist, known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Max Roach. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania he began on the piano at five, switching to tuba, then finally to bass while at high school. He studied at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music but graduated from Hunter College. He went on to be a top New York session musician, he recorded with many pop artists and has also worked in classical symphony orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic; he also launched a legal case which led to the current system of blind auditions for orchestras. Art Davis was also a professor at Orange Coast College. While performing with bassist Reggie Workman in Coltrane's group, Art pioneered the use of two basses in a jazz combo setting. Art earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University in 1982. He moved to southern California in 1986 where he balanced his teaching and practicing of psychology with jazz performances. (heart attack) b. December 5th 1934.
2008: Ishmeet Singh Sodhi (18) Indian singer; born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, he was the winner of Amul STAR Voice of India 2007. He entered the Star Voice of India contest at the age of 17, making him one of the youngest competitors on the show. After winning the contest he debuted with a religious Gurbani album called Satgur Tumre Kaaj Savaare. Ishmeet had been working with Salim-Suleiman to produce the song 'Shukriya' and had promoted this single with live performances. He toured Hong Kong and Malaysia and sung in concerts with members of the Voice of India competition. He put time aside to sing kirtan, or hymns, in gurdwaras. His last performance in a gurdwara was alongside the well-known singer amongst the sikhs, Veer Manpreet Singh (died under mysterious circumstances in a swimming pool at the Chaaya Island Dhonveli beach resort in Maldives where he had gone to perform in an event) b. September 2nd 1989.
2009: Renato Pagliari (66 or 68) Italian-British singer; born in Rome, grew up in Birmingham UK, and rose to fame as the winner of the TV talent show 'New Faces'. He became one half of the vocal duo Renée and Renato, having a UK Number one hit in 1982 with "Save Your Love", which was followed by the single "Just One More Kiss" and "Jesus Loves Us All". After which he began a solo career, releasing a few albums, singing aboard cruise ships and occasionally singing at his son's restaurant in Tamworth. His credits included a guest spot on the TV comedy show "Little and Large" as well as being the singer for the Wall's ice cream jingle "Just one Cornetto" (?) b. ????

July 30th
1978: Glen Goine (24) Singer, guitarist Parliament
!983: Howard Dietz (86) American pop and Broadway lyricist; born in N.Y.C. in 1896, he attended Columbia University before working as a newspaper columnist and ad writer, and serving in WW1. He next worked as publicist/director of advertising for Samuel Goldwyn Productions and later MGM and is credited with creating its lion mascot, Leo the Lion, and choosing their slogan Ars Gratia Artis. He began a long association with composer Arthur Schwartz when they teamed up for the Broadway revue "The Little Show" in 1929 and continued to work together over the next 30 plus years. Others Broadway musicals include 'Three's a Crowd' in 1930, 'The Band Wagon' in 1931, 'Flying Colors' in 1932, 'Revenge With Music' in 1934, 'At Home Abroad' in 1935 'Between the Devil' in 1938, and 'Inside U.S.A' in 1948 among others. Hits by Schwartz and Dietz to mention a few include "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan" and "Moanin' Low", "Something to Remember You By", "Dancin' in the Dark", "Louisiana Hayride" and "A Shine on Your Shoes", "You and the Night and the Music", "By Myself" and "I See Your Face Before Me", and "That's Entertainment". Howard also wrote English lyrics for the operas La Boheme and Der Fledermaus, and collaborated on pop songs with such composers as Jerome Kern, Vernon Duke, Jimmy McHugh, and Ralph Rainger. Dietz reunited with Schwartz in the 1960s for the musicals 'The Gay Life' in 1961 and Jennie in 1963. Howard is a member of the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (Parkinson's disease) b. September 8th 1896.
1981: Daisy Kennedy (88) Australian-born concert violinist born in Burra-Burra near Adelaide. She was for three years Elder scholar at Adelaide Conservatory and a private pupil of Otakar Ševcík in Vienna for a year, and then studied for two years in the Meister-Schule there. She appeared in London in 1911 and toured widely in Europe and in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. (?) b. January 16th 1893.
1993: The Bass Thing/Rob Jones (29) English bassist born in Kingswinford, near Dudley; Bob together with friends Miles Hunt, Malcolm Treece, and Martin Gilks formed the band Wonder Stuff in March 1986. "A Wonderful Day" and "Red Berry Joy Town" respectively, became the first single and the first track on the debut "The Eight Legged Groove Machine" album. Rob left the band after their follow-up album Hup and headed for America. In New York Rob formed another band, The Bridge & Tunnel Crew, singing vocals and playing rhythm guitar. (Sadly found dead in his apartment from a heart attack, it was widely believed he was using heroin in those days) b. 1964
2003: Sam Phillips/Samuel Cornelius Phillips (80) American record producer, label owner, and talent scout throughout the 40s and 50s, who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s. He was a native of Florence, Alabama and a graduate of Coffee High School. He was exposed to blues and became interested in music by African-American workers on his father's cotton farm. He is most notably attributed with the discoveries of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, and is associated with several other noteworthy rhythm and blues and rock and roll stars of the period. Sam was also founder of Sun Records and was vital to launching the careers of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Rufus Thomas and numerous other significant artists. As well as owning the Sun Studio Café in Memphis, and he and his family founded Big River Broadcasting Corporation which owns and operates several radio stations in the Florence, Alabama, area, including WQLT-FM, WSBM, and WXFL. In 1986 Sam was part of the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his pioneering contribution has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, being the first ever non-performer inducted. In 1987, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He received a Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime achievements in 1991. In 1998, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in October 2001 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (died of respiratory failure at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, only one day before the original Sun Studio was designated a National Historic Landmark) b. January 5th 1923.
2006: Anthony Galla-Rini (102) US concert accordionist ()

July 31st
1886: Franz Liszt (74) Hungarian pianist and composer; as a composer, he was one of the most prominent representatives of the "Neudeutsche Schule" / "New German School". He left behind a huge and diverse body of work, in which he influenced his forward-looking contemporaries and anticipated some 20th-century ideas and trends. Some of his most notable contributions were the invention of the symphonic poem, developing the concept of thematic transformation as part of his experiments in musical form and making radical departures in harmony. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age and perhaps the greatest pianist of all time (officially he died as a result of pneumonia, but he was suffering from a chronic heart disease) b. October 22nd 1811
1964: Jim Reeves (41) US legendary mellow baritone voiced country singer (plane crash in single engine aircraft flying from Arkansas to Nashville)
1978: Enoch Light(72) classical violinist, bandleader, recording engineer ()
1980: Bobby Van/Robert Jack Stein (51) US singer, dancer, trumpet, actor; Van began his career as a musician, playing trumpet. When his band played a venue in the Catskills, Van was asked to fill in as a song and dance man for another act. His act drew rave reviews, and it gave Van a thrill out of performing live as a solo act. He is best known for his musical and acting career in films, TV and on Broadway in the 1960s and 1970s (cancer)

1986: Theodore "Teddy" Wilson (73) American jazz pianist, band leader and arranger, born in Austin, Texas. He studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. After working in the Lawrence "Speed" Webb band, with Louis Armstrong and also "understudying" Earl Hines in Hines's Grand Terrace Cafe Orchestra, Teddy joined Benny Carter's Chocolate Dandies in 1933. In 1935 he joined the Benny Goodman Trio, which consisted of Goodman, himself and drummer Gene Krupa, later expanded to the Benny Goodman Quartet with the addition of Lionel Hampton. By joining the trio, he became the first black musician to perform in public with a previously all-white jazz group. He recorded fifty hit records with various singers such as Lena Horne, Helen Ward, and many of Billie Holiday's greatest successes. During these years he also took part in many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing musicians, such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton and Ben Webster. Theodore is considered one of the most influential jazz pianists of all time. (?) b. November 24th 1912.
2001: John Walters (63) BBC producer
2003: Erik Braunn (52) lead guitarist songwriter and producerwith Iron Butterfly featured on the band's greatest hit, the legendary 17-minute masterpiece In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, recorded when he was 17 (heart attack).
2005: Les Braid (63) bassist, keyboards; Swinging Blue Jeans
2005: Dennis D'Ell /Denis James Dalziel (61) Lead singer, harmonica; Honeycombs (cancer)
2006: Rufus Harley (70) American jazz bagpipe player (prostate cancer)
2007: Nookie Boy/Oliver Morgan (74) American rhythm & blues vocalist, best known for his hit "Who Shot the La La" which sings about the mysterious situation surrounding the death of singer Lawrence "Prince La La" Nelson in 1963. (heart attack).
2009: Baatin/Titus Glover (35) American rapper; born in Detroit, Michigan, he started his MC-ing career in 1986, in these early days he called himself Scandalous-T. In the early 90's he worked with rapper Proof accompanying him to hip-hop nights at 1515 Broadway and Stanley’s Café. In 1991, Baatin’s hip-hop group, Ssenepod, which was dopeness spelled backward, changed its name to Slum Village. Their first album Fan-Tas-Tic Vol.1, comprises of songs from their demo album, which was recorded in 1996 and 1997, but not officially released until 8 years later. It was nonetheless leaked onto the underground circuit and caused quite a stir in 1997. In 2000 they recorded Fantastic Vol. 2, followed by Trinity (Past, Present and Future), Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit) after which Baatin left the line-up suffering from schizophrenia that briefly incapacitated him. He later launched his solo career (?) b. 1974.

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