Events in 1945
- 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.
- Stan Kenton and his orchestra recorded the song “Painted Rhythm.”
- Scottish singer and songwriter Brian Connolly was born on October 5, 1945. He became famous as frontman of the glam rock group The Sweet.
- British singer Robin Shaw, whose real name was Robin George Scrimshaw and who was known as a member of The Flower Pot Men, was born in Hayes, Middlesex, England.
- English singer, songwriter, drummer, and music video director Kevin Godley was born in Prestwich, Lancashire. He became famous as a member of 10cc, with whom he had the hit “I'm Not in Love,” and later performed as part of the duo Godley & Creme.
- Butch Rillera, an American musician who later replaced Redbone's original drummer Peter DePoe, was born.
- Ray Royer, guitarist for Procol Harum, was born in the United Kingdom.
- Alan Cartwright, bassist for Procol Harum, was born on October 10, 1945, in London. He was a member of the group from 1971 to 1976 and played on four albums, including Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra from 1972. He died on March 4, 2021, at the age of 75.
- Jerry LaCroix, singer and saxophonist with Blood, Sweat & Tears and Edgar Winter's White Trash, was born in Alexandria, Louisiana. Blood, Sweat & Tears had hits including “Spinning Wheel” and “You've Made Me So Very Happy” and reached number one on the U.S. album chart in 1968. LaCroix died in 2014.