BIRTHDAYS Kate Smith (1907) singer [“God Bless America”] (died 1986) age 79 – respiratory arrest Sonny James [born James Loden] (1928) country singer/guitarist/songwriter [“Young Love”] (died 2016) age 87 – natural causes Little Walter Jacobs [born Marion Jacobs] (1930) singer/songwriter/harmonica player (died 1968) age 37 – coronary thrombosis Judy Collins [aka “Judy Blue Eyes] (1939)… Continue reading May 1 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Johnny Horton (1925) country singer/songwriter [“The Battle of New Orleans”/”Sink the Bismarck”/”North to Alaska”] (died 1960) age 35 – automobile accident Bobby Vee [born Robert Velline] (1943) singer/songwriter [“Rubber Ball”/”Take Good Care of My Baby”/”The Night Has a Thousand Eyes”] (died 2016) age 73 – Alzheimer’s disease Wayne Kramer (1948) MC5 guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Kick Out… Continue reading April 30 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Edward “Duke” Ellington (1899) jazz pianist/composer/bandleader (1974) age 75 – lung cancer and pneumonia Carl Gardner (1928) The Coasters lead singer/founder [“Yakety Yak”/”Down in Mexico”/”Charlie Brown”] (died 2011) age 83 – congestive heart failure/vascular dementia Willie Nelson (1933) The Highwaymen singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter/guitarist [“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”/”On the Road Again”] Otis… Continue reading April 29 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Ann-Margret [born Ann-Margret Olsson] (1941) singer/actress/dance [“I Just Don’t Understand”] The Fantastic Johnny C [born Johnny Corley] (1943) singer [“Boogaloo Down Broadway”] John Wolters (1945) Dr. Hook drummer (died 1997) age 52 – liver cancer Chuck Leavell (1952) Allman Brothers Band keyboardist Kim Gordon (1953) Sonic Youth lead singer/guitarist/bassist/songwriter/co-founder [“Bull in the Heather”] Eddie… Continue reading April 28 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Kemal “Casey” Kasem (1932) disc jockey/voice actor [“American Top 40”] (died 2014) age 82 – ulcerated bedsore sepsis Cuba Gooding Sr. (1944) The Main Ingredient lead singer [“Everybody Plays the Fool”] (died 2017) age 72 – unknown causes Gordon Haskell (1947) King Crimson bassist/singer (died 2020) age 74 – cancer Pete Ham (1947) Badfinger… Continue reading April 27 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Duane Eddy (1938) guitarist/singer/songwriter [“Rebel Rouser”/”Because They’re Young”] (died 2024) age 86 – cancer Maurice Williams (1938) Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs singer/founder [“Stay”] Giorgio Moroder (1940) songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist/composer/singer [“The Father of Disco”] Bobby Rydell (1942) [born Robert Ridarelli] singer [“Wild One”/”Volare”] (died 2022) age 79 – pneumonia Gary Wright (1943) Spooky Tooth singer/keyboardist/co-founder and… Continue reading April 26 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Ella Fitzgerald (1917) jazz singer (died 1996) age 79 – diabetes-related heart failure Albert King (1923) blues guitarist/singer/songwriter [“Born Under a Bad Sign”] (died 1992) age 69 – heart attack Jerry Leiber (1933) songwriter [with Mike Stoller] [“Hound Dog”/”Kansas City”/”Down in Mexico”/”Stand By Me”/”On Broadway”/”Jailhouse Rock”] (died 2011) age 78 – cardio-pulmonary failure Mike… Continue reading April 25 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Freddie Scott (1933) soul and R&B singer/songwriter [“Hey Girl”] (died 2007) age 74 – natural causes Barbra Streisand (1942) singer/songwriter/actress/director [“The Way We Were”/”Evergreen (Love Theme From ‘A Star is Born’)”/”You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (with Neil Diamond)/”] Richard Sterban (1943) Oak Ridge Boys bass singer [current] Bernard “St. Clair” Lee (1944) Hues Corporation… Continue reading April 24 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Roy Orbison (1936) The Traveling Wilburys singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter (died 1988) age 52 – heart attack Ray Peterson (1938) singer [“Tell Laura I Love Her”/”Corrina, Corrina”] (died 2005) age 65 – cancer Dale Houston (1940) Dale & Grace singer/co-founder [“I’m Leaving It Up to You”/”Stop and Think It Over”] (died 2007) age 67… Continue reading April 23 Music History Report