Events in 1943
- Kathy Lennon, a member of The Lennon Sisters, was born on August 2, 1943, in Los Angeles.
- David Carr, keyboardist with the British group The Fortunes, was born in Leyton, London.
- Country singer and songwriter Sammi Smith, born Jewel Faye Smith, was born in Orange County, California.
- Popová zpěvačka Lana Cantrell se narodila v Sydney v Austrálii.
- American singer Wanda LaFaye Young, also known as Wanda Rogers, was born in Inkster, Michigan. She was a member of The Marvelettes and became their lead singer in 1965.
- Ronnie Spector, singer, co-founder and frontwoman of the girl group The Ronettes, was born Veronica Bennett in New York City.
- American singer, guitarist and songwriter James Griffin, a member of Bread, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Jim Kale, born Michael James Kale, bassist for The Guess Who, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Guess Who had the US No. 1 hit “American Woman” in 1970. Jim Kale also frequently performed with The Who.
- An American jazz and rock keyboardist, producer, record label owner and music journalist was born. Early in his career, he was a member of Steve Miller Band.
- American singer and songwriter Kin Vassy was born. In addition to his solo work, he also recorded with Kenny Rogers, Frank Zappa and Elvis Presley.
- Carl Wayne, singer with The Move, whose real name was Colin David Tooley, was born in Winson Green, Birmingham, England.
- English pop singer William Howard Ashton, known as Billy J. Kramer, was born in Bootle, Lancashire, England. He became famous as the singer of Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, who were managed by Brian Epstein in the 1960s. In 1963, he had the UK number one hit “Bad to Me”, one of several Lennon–McCartney songs that The Beatles themselves did not record. In 1964, “Little Children” reached number one on the UK singles chart and number 7 in the US.
- Gospel singer, songwriter, pianist, producer, arranger and choir leader Edwin Hawkins was born in Oakland, California. With his choir, he recorded “Oh Happy Day”, the first traditional gospel song to break into the pop charts.
- „In the Blue of Evening“ by Frank Sinatra reached No. 1 on the U.S. chart.
- John Cipollina, founder and lead guitarist of the psychedelic rock group Quicksilver Messenger Service, was born.
- Walter Lee Williams, founding member of R&B group The O'Jays, was born in Canton, Ohio. The group had, among others, the US hit “Back Stabbers” and the 1973 US number-one single “Love Train”. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1983, he became a spokesperson for the condition.
- Ann “Honey” Lantree, drummer and singer of the English beat and pop group The Honeycombs, was born in Hayes, Middlesex, England. In 1964, the group had the UK No. 1 single “Have I the Right”, produced by Joe Meek.
- American-British actor and singer David Richard Solberg, known as David Soul, was born in Chicago, Illinois. He became famous for playing Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in the television series Starsky & Hutch from 1975 to 1979, and as a singer he had the UK No. 1 single “Silver Lady” in 1976 and “Don't Give Up On Us”, which reached No. 1 in both the UK and US in 1977.
- American musician, composer, and arranger Richard "Dick" Halligan, a founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, was born in Troy, New York. Halligan was a keyboardist, flutist, and singer. In 1969, the group had the US single "Spinning Wheel" at No. 2 and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" at No. 12, while its 1968 album "Blood, Sweat & Tears" reached No. 1 in the US. In the 1970s and 1980s, Halligan composed and arranged music for a number of films. He died on January 18, 2022, in Rome at the age of 78.
- American soul and R&B singer Rosalind Ashford was born in Detroit, Michigan. She became known as a founding member of Martha and the Vandellas.
- French music producer, songwriter and singer Mark Wirtz was born. He became best known for the unfinished concept album A Teenage Opera; the project’s first single, “Excerpt from A Teenage Opera” by Keith West, reached No. 2 on the UK chart in 1967.
- British bassist Tony Jarrett of Vanity Fare was born. The group was formed in 1966 and released the million-selling hit “Hitchin' a Ride,” which became a worldwide hit in 1970.
- Roger Waters, singer, songwriter, bassist and co-founder of Pink Floyd, was born George Roger Waters in Great Bookham, Surrey, England. After Syd Barrett's departure in 1968, he gradually became the band's main lyricist and gained increasing creative control around the 1979 album "The Wall", which led to growing estrangement from his bandmates. He left Pink Floyd in 1985 and subsequently released several successful solo albums as well as the opera "Ça Ira".
- American singer Gloria Gaynor, born Gloria Fowles, was born on September 7, 1943, in Newark, New Jersey. She is best known for disco hits including “I Will Survive”, “I Am What I Am” and “Let Me Know (I Have a Right)”.
- American saxophonist Gerald “Jerry” Martini was born in Denver. He became known as a member of Sly and the Family Stone.
- Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five recorded the song “Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?” on October 4, 1943. The recording was later released in 1944 as the B-side of the single “G.I. Jive” and became one of Jordan's best-known songs.
- American singer, guitarist and songwriter Steve Miller was born on October 5, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1966, he founded the Steve Miller Band.
- Denis D'Ell, lead singer and harmonica player of the British beat group The Honeycombs, was born on October 10, 1943. The group had a UK number-one hit in 1964 with “Have I the Right.” D'Ell died of cancer on July 6, 2005.
- American country singer Gary Gene Watson was born in Palestine, Texas. He became known for songs including "Fourteen Carat Mind," "Farewell Party" and "Love in the Hot Afternoon."