
1978 – Myleene Klass
British singer, pianist, and model, Myleene Klass from Hear’Say who had the 2001 UK No.1 single ‘Pure And Simple’. More recently, Klass is known as a television and radio presenter.
1978 – Robert Glasper
American singer, pianist and record producer Robert Glasper. His 2012 album Black Radio won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 55th Grammy Awards.
1965 – Frank Black
Frank Black, (born Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV) guitarist, singer, with American alternative rock band Pixies, who released the 1988 album Surfer Rosa. They influenced bands such as Nirvana, Radiohead, Bush, Blur and Weezer. Formed Frank Black and the Catholics in 1993, Pixies reformed in 2004. Black has released over 10 solo albums.
1953 – Christopher Franke
Christopher Franke, keyboards from German electronic music band Tangerine Dream who are considered a pioneering act in electronic music.
1951 – Ralph Cooper
Ralph Cooper, drummer for the Australian soft rock band Air Supply who scored the 1980 UK No.11 single ‘All Out Of Love’ and the 1981 US No.1 single ‘The One That You Love’.
1947 – Tony Conner
Tony Conner, Hot Chocolate who had the 1975 US No.3 single ‘You Sexy Thing’ the 1977 UK No.1 single ‘So You Win Again‘ and over 25 other Top 40 hits. Hot Chocolate started their recording career making a reggae version of John Lennon’s ‘Give Peace a Chance’, and was contacted by Apple Records, saying that Lennon liked this version, and the group was subsequently signed to Apple Records.
1944 – John Stax
John Stax, English musician, bass, harmonica, backing vocals with the Pretty Things. He played on all of their charting singles, which included ‘Rosalyn’, (covered by David Bowie on his Pinups album) ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’, ‘Road Runner’, and ‘Cry to Me’. They took their name from Willie Dixon’s 1955 song ‘Pretty Thing’.
1944 – Alan Lee Brackett
Alan Lee Brackett of the Peanut Butter Conspiracy is born in Los Angeles, California.
1941 – Louis Shelton
American session guitarist and producer Louis Shelton who was a member of The Wrecking Crew. He played on The Monkees “Last Train to Clarksville”, The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back”, as well as recordings by Marvin Gaye, Simon And Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Neil Diamond, John Lennon, Barbra Streisand, The Carpenters and many others. He played the guitar solo on Lionel Richie’s hit “Hello” and Boz Scaggs “Lowdown”.
1939 – Beverly Watkins
American blues guitarist Beverly Watkins. She worked with artists like James Brown, B.B. King, and Ray Charles. Watkins died after a heart attack on 1 October 2019 at the age of 80.
1937 – Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard, American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band the Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the twang of Fender Telecaster and the unique mix with the traditional country steel guitar sound. Haggard scored over 10 US Country No.1 albums during his career. He died on 6 April 2016 of complications from pneumonia at his home in Palo Cedro, California.
1929 – Andre Previn
Composer and pianist Andre Previn – known for Academy Award-winning scores to Gigi, Porgy & Bess, Irma la Douce, and My Fair Lady – is born Andreas Ludwig Priwin in Berlin, Germany. He died on February 28, 2019.