Music History

Kevin Ayers, singer, songwriter and founding member of Soft Machine, was born in Herne Bay, Kent, England.

American musician and drummer John Seiter was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He became known as a member of Spanky and Our Gang and The Turtles.

Jon Povey, keyboard player with The Pretty Things, was born in London, England.

Michael B. Tretow, a Swedish music producer, sound engineer and musician best known for his work with the Swedish group ABBA, was born. He worked as a studio manager at Polar Studios. He died on May 20, 2025, aged 80.

Blues drummer “Uncle John” Turner, who performed with Johnny Winter's backing band, was born in Beaumont, Texas.

Jim Brady, folk-rock singer of The Sandpipers, was born in Los Angeles, California.

English guitarist Alan Parker was born. From the late 1960s onward, he worked as a session guitarist and played with David Bowie, Blue Mink, The Walker Brothers, CCS and Serge Gainsbourg, among others.

American multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Maureen “Moe” Tucker was born in New York City, USA. She became known as the drummer of The Velvet Underground, and her music is associated with the genres experimental rock, proto-punk, rock and roll, art rock, avant-garde and folk rock.

American musician John Voorhis “Tim” Bogert III was born in New York City, New York. He became known as the bassist and singer of Vanilla Fudge and Cactus and as a member of the trio Beck, Bogert & Appice. He died on January 13, 2021, from cancer.

Charles Colbert of American Breed was born. In 1967, the group had the US No. 5 single “Bend Me, Shape Me”, which became a hit for Amen Corner in the UK chart. American Breed also recorded radio advertising jingles for Coca-Cola, the United States Navy and Bell Telephone, and their television commercial for American Airlines, “Fly the American Way”, was highly successful and reached the Top 20.

English artist Roger Dean was born. He designed album covers for groups and artists including Yes, Atomic Rooster, Uriah Heep, Gentle Giant, Greenslade, Steve Howe and Asia.

He was born in Henderson, Texas. He was the founder and frontman of the rhythm and blues group Archie Bell & the Drells.

American musician, drummer and singer Gary Leeds, known from The Standells and The Walker Brothers, was born.

Gene Parsons, American drummer, banjo player, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, was born in Morongo Valley, California. He became known as a member of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers and was with The Byrds from 1968 to 1972. He is credited, along with Clarence White, with inventing the B-Bender (StringBender).

Barbara Parritt, singer and founding member of the girl group The Toys, was born on October 1, 1944, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The group had a hit with “A Lover's Concerto” in 1965.

American singer and songwriter Judee Sill, born Judith Lynne Sill, was born in Studio City, Los Angeles. In 1971, she became the first artist signed by David Geffen to his Asylum Records label.

American country singer Susan Raye was born in Eugene, Oregon. She had several Top 10 hits, the best known being “L.A. International Airport” from 1971.

Founding member and bassist of The Who, John Entwistle, also known as The Ox and Thunderfingers, was born in Chiswick, England. The Who scored the 1965 UK No. 2 single "My Generation" and more than 20 other UK Top 40 hits. Entwistle died on June 27, 2002, aged 57.

American singer, songwriter, producer and musician Nona Hendryx was born in Trenton, New Jersey. She became known as a member of Labelle, who had the 1975 US No. 1 and UK No. 17 single "Lady Marmalade." In 1985 she wrote and recorded the Grammy-nominated song "Rock This House" with Keith Richards.

I'll Walk Alone reached No. 1 on the US Billboard pop chart.

Frank Sinatra returns to New York’s Paramount Theatre, where he is greeted by a huge crowd of fans. The predominantly female audience refuses to leave, and police intervention is required. The incident becomes known as the “Columbus Day Riot.”

Robert Lamm, keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and founding member of the rock band Chicago, was born in Brooklyn, New York. He wrote many of the band’s best-known songs, including “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?,” “25 or 6 to 4,” and “Harry Truman.”

Baskytarista, skladatel a kanadský hudebník Kerry Chater, člen skupiny Gary Puckett & The Union Gap a skladatel nominovaný na Grammy, se narodil ve Vancouveru v Britské Kolumbii v Kanadě.

Keyboardist, songwriter and co-founder of Sparks Ron Mael was born.

The comedian and actor was born in Waco, Texas. He is best known as a comedian and actor, but is also an acclaimed banjo player and frequently performs with the Steep Canyon Rangers.

Gary Loizzo, frontman and member of The American Breed, was born in Chicago, Illinois.

R&B singer Barbara Harris of The Toys was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Nona Hendryx, a member of Labelle, was born.

Sarah Dash was born in Trenton, New Jersey. She became known as a member of the R&B vocal group Labelle and later pursued a solo career with the 1978 disco hit “Sinner Man.” She also became a sought-after session singer, particularly for The Rolling Stones and Keith Richards.

English singer and songwriter Ian Gillan was born in Chiswick, London, England. He is best known as the lead singer of Deep Purple and also briefly performed with Black Sabbath. He was also a member of Episode Six, Ian Gillan Band, Gillan, Gillan & Glover and WhoCares. Deep Purple had the UK number 2 single “Black Night” in 1970 and the US number 4 single “Smoke on the Water” in 1973.

Singer, songwriter, and producer Carmine John Granito, professionally known as Ron Dante, was born in New York. He became known as the lead singer of The Archies, and his voice was also featured in the studio group The Cuff Links. The Archies had the 1969 U.S. and UK No. 1 hit “Sugar Sugar”, while The Cuff Links reached No. 4 on the British chart that same year with “Tracy”. Dante was rarely seen as a member of these studio projects.

Noël Coward's musical revue “Sigh No More” premiered at the Piccadilly Theatre in London.

English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Ken Hensley, best known as a member of Uriah Heep, was born.

Malcolm „Molly“ Duncan, a founding member and tenor saxophonist of Average White Band, was born in Montrose, Scotland.

Malcolm “Duke” Allured, drummer of Showaddywaddy, was born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. The band had a UK No. 1 single in 1976 with their version of “Under The Moon Of Love” and a total of ten Top 10 singles.

English multi-instrumentalist and singer Chris Copping was born in Middleton, Lancashire. He became known as a member of Procol Harum. In 1967, the group had the UK No. 1 single "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", which reached No. 5 in the US, and also had the hits "Homburg" and "Conquistador".

American musician Robert "Bob" Welch was born in California. From 1971 to 1974 he was a member of Fleetwood Mac and later became a successful solo artist with songs including "Hot Love", "Cold World", "Ebony Eyes", "Precious Love", "Sentimental Lady" and "Hypnotized".

Violinist Itzhak Perlman was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, then part of the British Mandate of Palestine.

Van Morrison, born George Ivan Morrison, was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With Them, he had the British No. 2 single "Here Comes The Night" in 1965, and as a solo artist he released the album "Moondance" in 1970. His classic albums also include "Astral Weeks" and "Tupelo Honey".

She was born in Gastonia, North Carolina. She became known for her 1963 hit “Please Don't Talk to the Lifeguard.”

Multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger Marty Grebb was born in Chicago, Illinois. He became known as a member of the pop group The Buckinghams.

American musician and Steppenwolf bassist George Biondo was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was a member of Steppenwolf from 1970 to 1976.

Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Al Stewart was born. He became best known for his hit “Year of the Cat.”

English drummer Mick Underwood, who played with The Outlaws, The Herd, Episode Six and Gillan, among others, was born.

American soul singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Donny Hathaway was born in Chicago. He became known for songs including “The Ghetto”, “Where Is the Love”, and “This Christmas”.

American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Don McLean was born in New Rochelle, New York. He became best known for the single “American Pie,” which reached No. 1 in the United States in 1971 and in the United Kingdom in 1972. The song was inspired by the death of Buddy Holly; his other hits include “Vincent” and a cover of Roy Orbison's “Crying.”

Antonio Martinez, born Antonio “Tony” Martínez, was born on October 3, 1945, in Madrid, Spain. He was the guitarist of the group Los Bravos, which scored the international hit “Black Is Black” in 1966; the song reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 4 in the US. With the song, Los Bravos became the first Spanish rock group to have a hit single simultaneously in the UK and the US.

Ten-year-old Elvis Presley made his first public performance at a talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo. His teacher, Mrs. Oleta Grimes, entered him in the contest after hearing him sing at school that morning. Elvis sang Red Foley's “Old Shep” without accompaniment and had to stand on a chair to reach the microphone. The talent contest was broadcast by radio station WELO. Elvis placed fifth and received a prize of $5 worth of tickets for the fair's rides. After the contest, he used the tickets on, among other things, more dangerous rides, despite his mother Gladys advising him against it, and she subsequently punished him.