Events in 1949
- Morris “B.B.” Dickerson, bassist for War, was born in Torrance, California.
- Carlo Novi, a member of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, was born.
- Airrion Love, singer with The Stylistics, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Keith Carradine, known for his leading role in the 1975 film Nashville, where he sang his song “I'm Easy”, was born in San Mateo, California. In 1984, he portrayed a director in Madonna's “Material Girl” music video.
- Louis Jordan recorded “Saturday Night Fish Fry” in New York, which became a No. 1 hit on the R&B chart for 12 weeks.
- Andy Cresswell-Davis, guitarist, singer, keyboard player and drummer of the British group The Korgis, was born.
- American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Eric Carmen was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the singer of The Raspberries, with whom he had the hit “Go All The Way,” and as a solo artist became known for “All By Myself,” “She Did It,” “Hungry Eyes” and “Make Me Lose Control.” He died on March 11, 2024, aged 74.
- Mark Knopfler, guitarist, singer and frontman of Dire Straits, was born; he later became known for film music and collaborations with numerous prominent musicians.
- Cliff Fish was born in Ripley, Derbyshire, England. He later became the bassist for Paper Lace.
- Scott Asheton, founding member and drummer of the American rock band The Stooges, was born in Washington, D.C.
- Drummer Thomas “Sib” Hashian was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He became known as a member of the rock band Boston.
- American musician, composer and producer Greg Leisz was born. His playing appeared on recordings by artists including Alison Krauss, Beck, Black Crowes, Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Haim, Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell.
- Nigel Griggs, bassist with New Zealand group Split Enz, was born.
- Ralph Flanagan and his orchestra recorded the song “You're Breaking My Heart.”
- Irish singer, songwriter, bassist and producer Phil Lynott, founding member and frontman of the hard rock band Thin Lizzy, was born in West Bromwich, England. With the group, he had the No. 6 UK hit “Whiskey in the Jar” in 1973, and under his leadership Thin Lizzy became one of Ireland's most important rock bands. Lynott contributed to major songs including “Whiskey in the Jar”, “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Jailbreak”. He died on January 4, 1986, from heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose. In 2005, a life-size bronze statue of him was unveiled in Dublin.
- Rick Springfield, born Richard Lewis Springthorpe, was born in Guildford, New South Wales, Australia. He became known as an Australian-American musician, producer and actor. In 1981 he had the US number-one hit “Jessie's Girl”, for which he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Before becoming a pop star, he played Dr. Noah Drake on the TV series “General Hospital”.
- Israeli-American musician Chaim Witz, known by his stage name Gene Simmons, was born in Haifa, Israel. He became famous as co-founder, bassist and singer of the rock band KISS.
- Singer Bob Cowsill of The Cowsills was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, although the family group was later formed in Newport, Rhode Island.
- Singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor Dickran Gobalian, known as Leon Redbone, was born in Nicosia, Cyprus. He became known on the folk scene of the 1970s and performed music in the style of vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley.
- Swedish actor and musician Peter Stormare was born. He also performed with the band Blonde From Fargo.
- English musician, singer, and songwriter Hugh Cornwell, co-founder, singer, and guitarist of the punk rock and new wave group The Stranglers, was born in North London. He served as the group’s lead singer and guitarist from 1974 to 1990. The Stranglers had the No. 2 UK single “Golden Brown” in 1982 and more than 20 other Top 40 hits.
- English drummer Martin Lamble, a member of the folk-rock group Fairport Convention, was born in St John's Wood, London. He played on the group’s first three albums. In 1969, he died at the age of 19 in a van accident on the M1 motorway.
- Hank Williams came to Herzog Studio in Cincinnati to record “I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry”. He originally wrote it with the intention that the words would be recited rather than sung. The song about loneliness was largely inspired by his troubled relationship with his wife Audrey Sheppard.
- Russ Field, whose real name was James Lewis Russell Field, was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England. He became known as the guitarist of Showaddywaddy.
- English rock guitarist Dave Clempson was born in Tamworth. He became known for his work with Humble Pie and Colosseum.
- American singer, songwriter, and bassist Richard Hell, a member of The Voidoids, was born. He was involved in several influential early punk rock groups, including Neon Boys, Television, and The Heartbreakers, before forming Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Their 1977 album “Blank Generation” influenced the punk scene.
- American musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Lindsey Buckingham was born on October 3, 1949, in Palo Alto, California. He joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 with his then-partner Stevie Nicks and helped steer the group toward a more pop-oriented sound that led to some of its most successful albums and songs. Among the Fleetwood Mac hits he wrote and sang are “Go Your Own Way,” “Never Going Back Again,” “Tusk” and “Big Love.” The album Rumours became one of the group's most successful albums, and Buckingham later released seven solo studio albums and three live albums.
- American country-pop singer and guitarist Louis Charles “B.W.” Stevenson was born in Dallas, Texas.
- Thomas McClary, American musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, co-founder and lead guitarist of The Commodores, was born in Eustis, Florida.
- Bassist and founding member of the rock band Kansas David Hope was born in Topeka, Kansas.
- Scottish singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Hamish Stuart was born in Glasgow. He became known as a founding member of the funk and R&B group The Average White Band. He later also worked with Paul McCartney's backing band and performed as a bassist with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band.
- Harry Bowens of Was Not Was was born. The group had its most successful period in the 1980s and early 1990s, and its highest-charting hit, “Walk the Dinosaur,” was released in 1987.
- English songwriter, record producer and musician Rod Temperton was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. He was the keyboardist and main songwriter for Heatwave, writing "Always and Forever," "Boogie Nights" and "The Groove Line." He was later recruited by Quincy Jones to write songs for Michael Jackson, including "Thriller," "Off the Wall" and "Rock with You."
- Frankie Laine’s recording of “That Lucky Old Sun” reaches No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Pop chart.