Musicians Born on August 12

  • 1626 Giovanni Legrenzi, Venetian Baroque organist and composer, born in Clusone, Republic of Venice (now Italy), (d. 1690)
  • 1644 Georg Christoph Leuttner, German ecclesiastical composer, born in Tölz, Bavaria (d. undoubtedly)
  • 1644 Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Bohemian-Austrian violinist and composer, baptized in Wartenberg (d. 1704)
  • 1696 Maurice Greene, English composer, born in London (d. 1755)
  • 1751 Johann Baptist Lasser, German composer, born in Steinkirchen, Electorate of Bavaria (now Germany) (d. 1805)
  • 1825 Frederick Ouseley, British organist, composer (The Martyrdom of St Polycarp), musicologist, and Anglican priest, born in London, England (d. 1889)
  • 1838 Joseph Barnby, British conductor, composer, and music educator, born in York, England (d. 1896)
  • 1853 Jean Louis Nicodé, Prussian pianist and composer (Das Meer; Gloria!), born in Jeżyce (now Poznań), Poland (d. 1919)
  • 1875 (Héctor) Ettore Panizza, Argentinian composer (Aurora; Bizancio). and opera conductor, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (d. 1967)
  • 1875 Mezio Agostini, Italian composer, born in Fano, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1944)
  • 1881 Václav Vačkář, Czech composer, known for his marches, conductor, and musicologist, born in Dobřejovice, Bohemia (now Czech Republic) (d. 1954)
  • 1885 Alexander Albrecht, Slovak composer, born in Arad, Hungarian Kingdom (now Romainia) (d. 1958)
  • 1890 Al Goodman, Russian-American orchestra leader (NBC Comedy Hour), born in Nikopol, Russia (d. 1972)
  • 1897 Manuel Blancafort, Spanish-Catalan pianist and composer, born in La Garriga, Spain (d. 1987)
  • 1897 Ramón González Barrón, Spanish composer, born in Villanueva del Campo, Spain (d. 1987)
  • 1900 Ignacio Prieto [Arrizubieta], Spanish composer, born in Gijón, Spain (d. 1980)
  • 1907 Gladys Bentley, American blues singer, performer and drag king pioneer during the Harlem Renaissance, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1960) [1]
  • 1910 Heinrich Sutermeister, Swiss opera composer (Romeo und Julia; Raskolnikov; Das Flaschenteufel), born in Feuerthalen, Switzerland (d. 1995)
  • 1914 Ruth Lowe, Canadian pianist and composer ("I'll Never Smile Again"), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 1981)
  • 1915 Michael Kidd, American choreographer and dancer, born in New York City (d. 2007)
  • 1917 Marjorie Reynolds [Goodspeed], American actress and dancer (Holiday Inn, Life of Riley), born in Buhl, Idaho (d. 1997)
  • 1918 Sid Bernstein, music producer and concert promoter (Beatles; Rolling Stones), born in New York City (d. 2013)
  • 1925 Earl Coleman, American jazz singer, born in Port Huron, Michigan (d. 1995)
  • 1925 Sybil Michelow, South-African contralto and composer, born in Johannesburg (d. 2013)
  • 1926 Joe Jones, American R&B singer (d. 2005)
  • 1927 Porter Wagoner, American country singer, discovered Dolly Parton ("Y'All Come"; "A Satisfied Mind"), born in West Plains, Missouri (d. 2007)
  • 1929 (Alvis) "Buck" Owens, American "Bakersfield Sound" country singer-songwriter ("Under Your Spell Again"), bandleader (The Buckaroos - "Act Naturally"), and TV personality (Hee Haw), born in Sherman, Texas (d. 2006)
  • 1929 Joji Yuasa, Japanese composer, born in Kōriyama, Fukushima, Japan
  • 1932 Sergei Slonimsky, Russian composer and pianist (d. 2020)
  • 1936 Gerard Masson, French composer, born in Paris, France
  • 1937 Roy Gaines, American electric and Texas blues and session guitarist, singer, and songwriter ("A Hell of a Night"), born in Waskom, Texas (d. 2021)
  • 1940 Alexander Yossifov, Bulgarian conductor and composer (Back To The Beginning), born in Sofia, Bulgaria (d. 2016)
  • 1940 Rod Bernard, American "swamp pop" singer ("Allons Danser Colinda"), born in Opelousas, Louisiana. (d. 2020)
  • 1941 Craig Douglas [Terence Perkins], British pop singer ("Only Sixteen"), born in Newport, England
  • 1943 Lesley Duncan (Cox), British session singer (Pink Floyd; Jesus Christ Superstar), and singer-songwriter ("Love Song"; "Sing Children Sing"), born in Stockton-On-Tees, England (d. 2010)
  • 1944 Peter Hofmann, German tenor
  • 1945 Ron Mael, American songwriter, composer and record producer (Sparks), born in Culver City, California
  • 1949 Mark Knopfler, British singer-songwriter, guitarist (Dire Straits - "Walk Of Life"; "Sultans Of Swing"; The Notting Hillbillies), and film score composer (Local Hero; Princess Bride), born in Glasgow, Scotland
  • 1950 Kid Creole [August Darnell], American musician and actor (Obsession A Taste of Fear), born in The Bronx, New York
  • 1953 Peter Ostroushko, American fiddler, mandolin player, and composer (A Prairie Home Companion), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota (d. 2021)
  • 1954 Pat Metheny, American jazz and fusion guitarist ("As Wichita Falls, So Falls Wichita"), born in Lee's Summit, Missouri
  • 1955 Heintje [Hendrik Simons], Dutch schlager singer ("Mama"), born in Heerlen, Netherlands
  • 1960 Morty Skaget [Morty Black, Norwegian heavy metal musician (TNT, JORN), born in Trondheim, Norway
  • 1961 Lawrence Hayward, English musician (Felt, Denim, Go Kart Mozart)
  • 1961 Roy Hay, British guitarist (Culture Club - "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me")
  • 1963 Sir Mix A Lot [Anthony Ray], American rapper (Baby Got Back), born in Auburn, Washington
  • 1967 Andy Hui, Hong Kong actor and singer
  • 1967 Tom Holkenborg, Dutch composer (A Little Less Conversation remix), born in Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands
  • 1969 Tanita Tikaram, British pop-folk singer-songwriter ("Twist in My Sobriety"), born in Münster, West Germany
  • 1972 Del The Funky Homosapien [Teren Delvon Jones], American rapper (Mistadobalina), born in Oakland, California
  • 1973 Grey DeLisle, American country singer-songwriter, autoharp player, voice actress (The Fairly OddParents; The Loud House), and comedienne, born in Fort Ord, California
  • 1976 Mikko Viljami "Linde" Lindström, Finnish guitarist
  • 1976 Wednesday 13 [Joseph Poole], American punk rock musician (Wednesday 13, Murderdolls), born in Lexington, North Carolina
  • 1977 Park Yong-ha, South Korean actor and singer
  • 1980 Jade Villalon, American singer-songwriter
  • 1980 Matt Thiessen, Canadian-American musician (Relient K)
  • 2001 Dixie D'Amelio, American singer ("Be Happy") and TikTok star, born in Norwalk, Connecticut