Events in 1950
- Pete Way, zakládající baskytarista hardrockové skupiny UFO, se narodil v Enfieldu v Anglii.
- Americký countryový zpěvák, skladatel, kytarista a producent Rodney Crowell se narodil v Jacinto City v Texasu.
- Pop and rock drummer Liberatori “Liberty” DeVitto was born in New York City. He became best known as Billy Joel's drummer.
- Erik Braunn, born Rick Davis, guitarist for Iron Butterfly, was born in Pekin, Illinois. The group was known for “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” and the 1968 album of the same name is listed by the source among the world's 40 best-selling albums, with more than 30 million copies sold. Erik Braunn died on July 25, 2003, aged 52.
- Singer, songwriter and bandleader August Darnell, known as Kid Creole, was born.
- American singer and songwriter Billy Griffin, who later became the lead singer of The Miracles, was born.
- American drummer Tommy Aldridge was born, known among other things for his work with Whitesnake, the Ozzy Osbourne Band and Thin Lizzy.
- The Weavers reached No. 1 on the chart with the song “Goodnight Irene”.
- Dennis Elliott, drummer of Foreigner, was born in Peckham, London, England.
- Roy Brown and His Mighty Mighty Men reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Best Sellers chart with “Hard Luck Blues”. Brown also wrote “Good Rockin’ Tonight”, a 1948 hit for Wynonie Harris that is regarded by many rock historians as a precursor to the rock ’n’ roll era and was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1954.
- American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist William Borsey, known as Willy DeVille, was born in Stamford, Connecticut. He became known as frontman of Mink DeVille, which was associated with New York's CBGB and had the UK hit “Spanish Stroll” in 1977. His song “Storybook Love”, on which he collaborated with Mark Knopfler, became the theme song of the 1987 film “The Princess Bride”.
- Bill Cowsill of The Cowsills was born. The group had the US hit “The Rain, The Park & Other Things” in 1967 and a hit with the title song from “Hair” in 1969.
- Dick Cowsill of The Cowsills was born. The group had the US hit “The Rain, The Park & Other Things” in 1967 and a hit with the title song from “Hair” in 1969.
- Scottish folk musician John Alexander was born.
- English guitarist and songwriter Michael “Micky” Moody was born in Middlesbrough. He was best known as a member of Whitesnake, Juicy Lucy and Snafu. Juicy Lucy had the UK No. 14 single “Who Do You Love” in 1970, while Whitesnake had the US No. 1 single “Here I Go Again” in 1987 and reached No. 9 in the UK.
- English guitarist, bassist, and songwriter Mike Rutherford, co-founder and member of Genesis, was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Genesis had, among other successes, the U.S. No. 1 hit “Invisible Touch” and six No. 1 albums in the United Kingdom. In 1985, Rutherford founded Mike and the Mechanics, who had the U.S. No. 1 hit “The Living Years” in 1989.
- American jazz saxophonist and flutist Ronald “Ronnie” Laws was born in Houston, Texas. He was a member of Earth, Wind & Fire, where he played tenor and soprano saxophone and flute. The group had the US No. 1 single “Shining Star” in 1975 and the UK No. 3 single “Let's Groove” in 1981.
- British guitarist Eddie “Fast” Clarke was born on October 5, 1950, in Twickenham, England. He became famous for his work with Motörhead and Fastway.
- David Taylor, bassist for Edison Lighthouse, was born in High Wycombe, England. He was a member of the band's original lineup, which had the UK No. 1 hit “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” in 1970.
- The Frank Sinatra Show premiered on CBS as a variety program and Frank Sinatra's first television show. Despite Sinatra having a five-year contract, the program lasted only two seasons.
- Robert “Kool” Bell, bassist for Kool & the Gang, was born in Youngstown, Ohio. His nickname became part of the name of the group, which he founded with his brother Ronald Bell in the mid-1960s.
- Andrew Paul Woolfolk, saxophonist and flautist for Earth, Wind & Fire, was born in Texas. The group reached No. 1 in the United States in 1975 with "Shining Star" and scored a British hit in 1981 with "Let's Groove," which reached No. 3. Earth, Wind & Fire received 20 Grammy nominations and became the first African American group to sell out a concert at Madison Square Garden. Woolfolk died after a long illness on April 24, 2022.
- Simon Nicol, guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and founding member of the British folk-rock band Fairport Convention, was born in London. The band was one of the leading pioneers of British folk rock.