August 30, 2023 ~ Rock guitarist Jack Sonni passed away ~ Fronted the Leisure Class, a Monday night fixture at Kenny's Castaways, New York. Best known as guitarist for the Dire Straits during the mid-1980s. Present on the Brothers In Arms album, noted especially for his guitar synthesizer play on The Man's Too Strong. Sonni also played with the band at the 1985 Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, London. Following the birth of his twin daughters in 1988 Sonni retired from music to pursue a career in marketing ~ Sonni was born in 1954
August 30, 2022 ~ Patrinell Wright, commonly known as choir leader, singer, pastor Pat Wright, passed away ~ Led the Total Experience Gospel Choir from its inception in 1973 until its disbandement in 2018. The choir has toured extensively throughout well over a dozen countries, and performed at the funeral of Jimi Hendrix, as well as for presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama ~ Wright was born ca.1944
August 30, 2021 ~ Gospel singer, bassist Lee Williams passed away ~ Lead singer of vocal quartet Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC's, originally started as the Spiritual QC's. After Willie Ligon's departure from the group Williams took over lead duties and the band was renamed to include his name. Broke through with the hit I've Learned To Lean of their 1990 Jesus Is Alive And Well debut album. The group would go on to become one of the most beloved contemporary gospel quartets, their albums regularly reaching the higher echelons of the Christian charts ~ Williams was born in 1946
August 30, 2021 ~ Andrea Cosima Carle, commonly known as pop singer Maggie Mae, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Debuted in 1974 with the single Ich Hab' Spass Am Leben. Also well known for her cover of Millie Small's My Boy Lollypop released the following year. Dubbed “the Mad Hen” for her young age and funky appearance. Retired from music by the 1980s ~ Carle was born in 1960
August 30, 2016 ~ Singer Eleanor Barooshian, also known as Chelsea Lee, passed away ~ Member of 1960s group the Cake. Toured with Dr John. Member of Ginger Baker's Air Force. Collaborated with Tetsu Yamauchi. The Kevin Ayers-song Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her) of the 1970 LP Joy Of A Toy is about Barooshian ~ Barooshian was born in 1950
August 30, 2016 ~ Hubert Dwane Hester, commonly known as bluegrass, country fiddler Hoot Hester passed away ~ Member of the Bluegrass Alliance. Co-founding member of Western swing outfit the Time Jumpers. Longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry staff band. In-demand backing musician for acts such as Alabama, Hank Williams Jr, Conway Twitty, Randy Travis, Vern Gosdin, Earl Scruggs, and others. Outside country circles has also worked with Ray Charles and with the Manhattan Transfer ~ Hester was born in 1951
August 30, 2015 ~ Jazz, hard bop bassist, composer Hugo Rasmussen passed away in Frederiksberg, Denmark ~ Best known for his 1978 album Sweets To The Sweet. Worked with Teddy Wilson, Ralph Sutton, Horace Parlan, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Oliver Nelson, Tom Waits, Al Grey, Wild Bill Davison, Harry Sweets Edison, Doug Raney, Ole Kock Hansen, Svend Asmussen, Jesper Thilo, Norbert Susemihl, Jakob Dinesen, Kasper Trandberg, Andrew Hyhne, Heine Hansen, Kresten Osgood, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and others ~ Rasmussen was born in 1941
August 30, 2009 ~ Åse Carola Helmersen, commonly known as pop, schlager singer Åse Wentzel, passed away ~ Married to violinist Odd Wentzel-Larsen. Their daughter is singer, guitarist Magni Wentzel. Wentzel enjoyed popularity during the 1950s and 1960s with songs such as Domino, Du Du Du, Vaya Con Dios with Thor Raymond and Midnattstango with Jan Høiland, the latter topping the charts in Norway in 1963 ~ Wentzel was born in 1924
August 30, 2009 ~ Marie Roach, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer Marie Knight born ~ Best known for her association with Sister Rosetta Tharpe touring with Tharpe throughout the 1940s. Notably present on the response and call duet Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In The Sky) recorded in 1947 ~ Roach was born ca.1920
August 30, 1995 ~ Guitarist, bassist Sterling Morrison, full name Holmes Sterling Morrison Jr, passed away in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Velvet Underground, present on the band's first four albums starting with the acclaimed Velvet Underground & Nico debut album released in 1967. Unlike his bandmates Lou Reed, John Cale, Moe Tucker, and Nico, Morrison has never recorded as a solo artist ~ Morrison was born in 1942
August 30, 1993 ~ Rock band Aerosmith release their Fever single, taken off the Get A Grip album ~ Released as the third single the band's highly successful Get A Grip album, and the only song from the album written solely by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry without the help of outside songwriters. The song tells of having a good time, and how the band members have abandoned drugs in favor of sex and other pleasures. Country singer Garth Brooks would do a remake of the song in 1995, retitled The Fever, for the Fresh Horses album, which featured altered lyrics replacing the references to drugs and promiscuity with those describing a rodeo star addicted to his profession instead
August 30, 1991 ~ Constantina Allen, commonly known as singer Connie Allen, passed away ~ Best known for her 1951 recording Rocket '69, backed by Todd Rhodes and his Orchestra. Other well known songs include Your Daddy's Doggin' Around, Sugar In My Bowl and You'll Never Change Me ~ Allen was born in 1926
August 30, 1991 ~ Erick Orrosquieta, commonly known as producer, DJ Deorro, born in West Covino, California, USA ~ Best known for his 2015 single Five More Hours, a top 20 hit in several countries including the UK. Has collaborated with Elvis Crespo, Steve Aoki, Diplo, Danny Avila, Hardwell, and others. Has remixed tracks by Laidback Luke, Gareth Emery, Armin Van Buuren
August 30, 1991 ~ Singer Farid Mammadov born in Baku, Azerbaijan ~ Represented Azerbaijan in 2013 edition of Eurovision Songfestival with the song Hold Me. The song, written by Dimitris Kontopoulos, Ralph Charlie and Ace Of Base producer John Ballard, would rank 2nd place, losing to Denmark's Only Teardrops performed by Emmelie de Forest
August 30, 1991 ~ Jazz, rock bassist Vladimir Padrunek passed away in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Rose to fame in the early 1970s as member of Jazz Q, with whom he recorded the albums Pozorovateina and Symbiosis. Was forbidden to travel to non-communist countries due to his father's previous involvement in the political upheaval of 1968, and would be replaced on tours to the West. Co-founded Energit with Vladimir Misik, known for their eponymous 1976 Energit debut album. Has also worked with Exit, Ota Petrina, Abraxas, and Moby Dick ~ Padrunek was born in 1952
August 30, 1989 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Bebe Rexha born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Started as a songwriter, including for Shinee, Selena Gomez, Eminem (The Monster), Nick Jonas. Debuted as a solo artist with the EP I Don't Wanna Grow Up in 2015, spawning the modest hits I Can't Stop Drinking About You and I'm Gonna Show You. Best known for several successful collaborative singles such as 2015's Me Myself & I featuring G-Eazy, 2016's In The Name Of Love with Martin Garrix, and 2017's Meant To Be with Florida Georgia Line. Also worked with Nicki Minaj, Louis Tomlinson, the Black Cards, Cardi B, the Chainsmokers, and David Guetta
August 30, 1989 ~ Anthony Tremaine Dixson, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Westside Boogie, born in Compton, California, USA ~ Active since the mid-2010s, releasing several mixtapes leading up to his Everything's For Sale debut album released in 2019. Perhaps best known for his 2015 single Oh My. Dixson has also guested on recordings by the Game, Royce da 5'9", Reason, Cassper Nyovest, and Lute
August 30, 1988 ~ Jazz drummer James Black, full name James Norbert Black, passed away ~ Active since late 1950s, started out in New Orleans R&B ensembles to eventualy gravitate towards jazz. Worked with artists such as Nat Perrilliat, Roy Montrell, Ellis Marsalis Jr (notably writing Monkey Puzzle and Dee Wee), Nat Adderley, Cannonball Adderley, Joe Jones, Horace Silver, Lionel Hampton, Yusef Lateef, Freddie Hubbard, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Charles Neville, Earl Tubinton, the Dukes Of Dixieland, Eddie Bo, Cassandra Wilson, Frank Tapani, Wynton Marsalis, Germaine Bazzle, Finger Eleven, and others ~ Black was born in 1940
August 30, 1985 ~ Alternative rock, electronic, j-pop singer, guitarist, drummer, bassist, keyboardist Joe Inoue born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Debuted in 2007 with the In A Way EP, following up with the full-length Me Me Me album in 2009. Generally plays all instruments on his recordings. Best known for the singles Closer and Kaze No Gotoku
August 30, 1985 ~ Jazz, blues, alternative rock singer Rachael Price born in Sydney, Australia ~ Married to Canadian singer, songwriter Taylor Ashton. Lead singer for Lake Street Dive, with whom she recorded over half a dozen albums starting with In This Episode released in 2006. As a solo artist noted for her 2003 Dedicated To You debut album and its 2008 follow-up The Good Hours
August 30, 1983 ~ Rock, glam rock singer, songwriter Jonne Aaron Liimatainen born in Tampere, Finland ~ Best known as lead singer of glam rock outfit Negative. The band's first four albums, starting with their War Of Love debut album would all reach top 5 in their native Finland. Liimatainen has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the 2013 Onnen Vuodet album
August 30, 1982 ~ Guitarist, banjoist, singer Dom Flemons born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops from their inception in 2005 to 2013. Released his solo debut, Dance Tunes Ballads & Blues, in 2007. Draws from old-time music, piedmont blues, neotraditionalist country and just about every roots genre available. Also worked with Mike Seeger, Joe Thompson, Martin Simpson, Boo Hanks, Taj Mahal, the Old Crow Medicine Show, Guy Davis, the Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, and others
August 30, 1972 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Leo Green born ~ As a saxophonist perhaps best known for his association with Van Morrison, appearing on several mid- to late 1990s albums including Days Like This and The Healing Game. Has also appeared on albums by Jeff Beck, Beverley Knight, Lisa Stansfield, Jools Holland, Daniel Bedingfield, Dannii Minogue, and Jack Savoretti. Green also led the Leo Green Orchestra, known for accompanying artists such as Tom Chaplin and Imelda May
August 30, 1971 ~ Katarzyna Nosowska, commonly known as rock singer Kasia Nosowska, born in Szczecin, Poland ~ Lead singer of rock outfit Hey, with whom she has recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1990s. The band had an exceptional streak of chart succes starting in the mid-2000s with four albums, starting with 2005's Echosystem, all reaching top 5 in their native Poland as well as Platinum or multi-Platinum certification. Nosowska enjoys a parallel solo career generally aimed more at electronica with about half a dozen albums to her name, four of which would top the album charts
August 30, 1963 ~ Arranger Axel Stordahl passed away in Encino, California, USA ~ Credited with helping bring pop into the modern age. Perhaps best known for his work with Frank Sinatra in the 1940s. Co-wrote Day By Day, recorded by Sinatra, Jo Stafford, and Les Brown. Has also worked with Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Eddie Fisher, Dinah Shore, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin ~ Stordahl was born in 1913
August 30, 1963 ~ Jazz, pop guitarist, songwriter Dewa Budjana born in Waikabubak, Indonesia ~ Co-founded pop, rock outfit Gigi with Armand Maulana. Regarded as one of Indonesia's top guitarists, fusing jazz, rock and traditional Balinese influences. Beside collaborations with a host of Indonesian artists Budjana has also played with international stars including Vinnie Colaiuta, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, Peter Erskine, Antonio Sánchez, Joe Locke, Gary Husband, Jack DeJohnette, Tony Levin, Bob Mintzer, Asia guitarist Guthrie Govan, and others
August 30, 1961 ~ Pop singer, actress, model Denise Gyngell born in Porth, UK ~ Member of early 1980s pop outfit Tight Fit, present on the UK top 10 hits The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Fantasy Island. Gyngell would later marry producer Pete Waterman of Stock-Aitken-Waterman fame. The couple would remain married from 1991 through 1999 and have two children
August 30, 1956 ~ Worldbeat, Afro-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Ismaël Lô born in Dogondoutchi, Niger ~ Dubbed “the Bob Dylan of Africa”. Member of Super Diamono, venturing out on his own by the mid-1980s. Internationally best known for his eponymous 1990 Ismaël Lô album, which included the hit single Tajabone. Other well known songs include the Marianne Faithfull-duet Without Blame and Jammu Africa, the latter being used as the opening song of the 2007 Shake Hands With The Devil film about the Rwandan genocide
August 30, 1956 ~ Jazz guitarist Rodney Jones born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Played with Ruth Brown, Kenny Burrell, Ann Hampton Callaway, Dizzy Gillespie, Lena Horne, Jimmy McGriff, Maceo Parker, Houston Person, Hilton Ruiz, Chico Hamilton, Victor Bailey, Vincent Herring, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Larry Coryell, Mark Sherman, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Gloria Lynne, Donald Harrison, Regina Carter, Eliane Elias, Ernestine Anderson, Irene Reid, Dr Lonnie Smith, Carl Allen, James Carter, Reuben Wilson, Noah Creshevsky, Jennifer Holliday, Christian McBride, and others
August 30, 1952 ~ Rock, country drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter, producer, artist manager Graham Bidstrup, full name Graham Leslie Bidstrup, born in Adelaide, Australia ~ As a musician first gained serious attention as member of the Angels from 1976 through 1981, present on the band's best-selling albums and co-wroting, co-producing the band's No Secrets hit with singer Doc Neeson. Has also worked, in one capacity or another, with the Australian Crawl, the Stetsons, the Party Boys, Gana Gajang, the Riptides, Richard Clapton, Broderick Smith, James Blundell, and others
August 30, 1952 ~ Composer Simon Bainbridge born in London, UK ~ As a composer known for intricate and sensuous textures, drawing from idioms as diverse as minimalism and be-bop. Well known works include 1983's Concerto In Moto Perpetuo and the 1994 Miles Davis-tribute For Miles. Head of composition at the Royal Academy Of Music in London from 1999 through 2007, the UK's oldest and perhaps most renowned conservatory. Married to soprano, vocal coach Lynda Richardson ~ Bainbridge passed away in 2021
August 30, 1949 ~ Country singer Hank Williams records I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry at Herzog Studio, Cincinnati, Ohio ~ Lyrics reportedly by Paul Gilley, set to music by Williams. Backed by members of the Pleasant Valley Boys. Would become one of Hank's best-known songs. Released early November as the B-side to My Bucket's Got A Hole In It
August 30, 1949 ~ Peter Alexander Maffay, commonly known as singer, songwriter Peter Maffay, born in Brasov, Romania ~ Rose to fame with his debut single, Du, in 1970. Also known for two million-selling albums, 1979's Steppenwolf and 1980's Revanche. Sold a total of over 40 million records in Germany, making him one of Germany's all-time best-selling artists
August 30, 1948 ~ Folk rock, rock & roll singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Yosui Inoue born in Tagawa, Japan ~ Active since the late 1960s. Drew comparisons to Paul McCartney and Roy Orbison. Best known for his 1973 Kori No Sekai album, the first Japanese album to sell over a million copies in Japan
August 30, 1944 ~ William Daniel Smith, commonly known as rock, soul, jazz keyboardist William Smitty Smith, born ~ Member of Canadian soul outfit the Soul Searchers. Co-founding member of Motherlode, known for the 1969 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit When I Die. In-demand session musician, present on albums by the likes of the James Gang, Etta James, Domenic Troiano, Dave Loggins, Martha Reeves, Bill Wyman (Monkey Grip), Billy Joel (Streetlife Serenade), Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Rankin, Blood Sweat & Tears, Rory Block, Rare Earth, Yvonne Elliman, the Pointer Sisters, Ry Cooder (Borderline), Dionne Warwick, David Lindley, Rita Coolidge, Bob Dylan (Shot Of Love), Roberta Flack, Rod Stewart, Tracy Chapman, Linda Ronstadt, Lucinda Williams, and Solomon Burke ~ Smith passed away in 1997
August 30, 1940 ~ Singer Joe Verscharen born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Skyliners, known for songs such as This I Swear, Pennies From Heaven, It Happened Today, Close Your Eyes, Comes Love and their best known Since I Don't Have You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 1958 ~ Verscharen passed away in 2007
August 30, 1938 ~ Ragtime, march, waltz pianist, organist, bandleader, composer, arranger James Scott, full name James Sylvester Scott, passed away in Kansas City, Kansas, USA ~ Along with Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb regarded as one of the most important composers of ragtime. Known for songs such as Frog Legs Rag, Grace & Beauty, Sunburst Rag, Ragtime Oriole and perhaps his best-known Climax Rag ~ Scott was born in 1885
August 30, 1933 ~ Folk singer, actress Dora María, full name Dora María Pérez Vidal, born ~ Dubbed “the Golden Shorty” for her stature. First Mexican singer to perform in Las Vegas. Known for songs such El Pochitoque Jahuactero, Mis Blancas Mariposas, and Amanecer De Mi Tierra. Pérez has also ventured into acting ~ Pérez passed away in 2023
August 30, 1924 ~ Charles Nelson Miller, commonly known as Chuck Miller, born in Wellington, Kansas, USA ~ Best known for his 1955 hit rendition of The House Of Blue Lights, originally recorded by Ella Mae Morse. Other songs such as Baby Doll, Auctioneer, and Down The Road A Piece would fail to reach the succes of Blue Lights ~ Miller passed away in 2000
August 30, 1924 ~ McKinley Howard Dorham, commonly known as bop, hard bop trumpeter Kenny Dorham, born in Fairfield, Texas, USA ~ Known for his understated, subtle approach, specifically on ballads. Wrote the jazz standard Blue Bossa, first recorded by Joe Henderson in 1964 and since covered by well over a hundred artists. Dorham has recorded well over a dozen albums as leader or co-leader, specifically acclaimed for Afro-Cuban, Quiet Kenny, and Whistle Stop. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Art Blakey, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie (In Paris), Thelonious Monk (Genius Of Modern Music Vol.1), Sonny Rollins, Joe Gordon (Introducing Joe Gordon), Hank Mobley, Max Roach (Max Roach Plus Four), Gil Melle, Louis Prima (The Wildest), Oscar Pettiford (Deep Passion), John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard (Goin' Up), Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill (Point Of Departure), Dexter Gordon, and Toshiko Akiyoshi ~ Dorham passed away in 1972
August 30, 1918 ~ Singer Muriel Elle Deason, commonly known as Kitty Wells, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for her 1952 hit It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Also known for songs such as Release Me, the Don Everly-penned Thou Shalt Not Steal, The Lonely Side Of Town, Heartbreak USA, as well as duets with Red Foley (One By One, As Long As I Live), and duets with Webb Pierce (Oh So Many Years, Finally). Also worked with Owen Bradley, Johnnie Wright, the Jordanaires, Roy Drusky, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and with Tammy Wynette ~ Deason passed away in 2012
August 30, 1916 ~ Robert William Lane, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Tex Morton, born in Nelson, New Zealand ~ Considered a pioneer of country music in New Zealand and Australia, his adopted homeland since the mid-1930s. Also recorded under the moniker the Yodelling Boundary Rider. Strongly influenced by Jimmie Rodgers's yodeling style. Well-known songs include All Set And Saddled, Freight Train Yodel, Mandrake, and My Sweetheart's In Love With A Swiss Mountaineer ~ Lane passed away in 1983
August 30, 1915 ~ Mercy Davis Walton, commonly known as jump blues singer, pianist, songwriter Mercy Dee Walton, born in Waco, Texas, USA ~ Known for a string of singles through the mid-1950s, notably Lonesome Cabin Blues, One Room Country Shack and Come Back Maybellene. The latter in reply to Chuck Berry's then-current hit and future classic Maybellene. A year prior to his death Walton released his Mercy Dee album, featuring backing from harmonica player Sidney Maiden, guitarist KC Douglas, and drummer Otis Cherry ~ Walton passed away in 1962
August 30, 1909 ~ Jazz bandleader, singer Willie Bryant, full name William Stevens Bryant, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Started in 1920s vaudeville as a dancer and trumpeter. Formed his first big band in the mid-1930s working with sidemen such as Teddy Wilson, Cozy Cole, Johnny Russell, Benny Carter, Ben Webster, Eddie Durham, Ram Ramirez, Taft Jordan, and others ~ Bryant passed away in 1964
August 30, 1901 ~ Arranger, orchestrator, composer Conrad Salinger born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA ~ Orchestrated Broadway productions in the 1930s. Worked on scores of over 75 motion pictures starting in the early 1930s such as most of MGM's musicals including Show Boat, Singing In The Rain, Kiss Me Kate, An American In Paris and Gigi. Mentor to and influence on film composer John Williams who spent a great deal of time around Salinger early in his career. Revered by composers and performers including Nelson Riddle, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Barbra Streisand ~ Salinger passed away in 1962