Events in 1944
- Jazz bassist Albert Stinson was born on August 2, 1944, in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Jim Capaldi, the English drummer, singer, and songwriter, co-founder and member of Traffic and later a solo artist, was born on August 2, 1944, in Evesham, Worcestershire. His birth name was Nicola James Capaldi.
- Mark Naftalin, the American blues keyboardist, songwriter, and producer and a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Quicksilver Messenger Service, was born on August 2, 1944.
- English guitarist and songwriter John Renbourn was born. He became known for his work with Bert Jansch and as a member of the folk-rock group Pentangle.
- American singer, songwriter and guitarist Michael Johnson was born in Alamosa, Colorado. He became famous for hits including “Bluer Than Blue”, “The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder” and “Give Me Wings”.
- Vivian “Viv” Prince, drummer with The Pretty Things, was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. He later played with The Jeff Beck Group and The Denny Laine String Band and occasionally filled in on drums for concerts by The Honeycombs and The Who.
- 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.”