Musicians Born in 1923

Jan 22 Leslie Bassett, American classical composer (Variations for Orchestra - Pulitzer Prize 1966), and educator (University of Michigan, 1952-92), born in Hanford, California (d. 2016)
Jan 24 Simeon ten Holt, Dutch minimalist composer (Canto Ostinato), born in Bergen, Netherlands (d. 2012)
Jan 25 (Farrell) "Rusty" Draper, American country and pop singer ("The Shifting, Whispering Sands"; "Are You Satisfied?"), born in Kirksville, Missouri (d. 2003)
Jan 26 Anne Jeffreys [Carmichael], American singer and actress (Dick Tracy; Topper; General Hospital), born in Goldsboro, North Carolina (d. 2017)
Jan 26 Talib Dawud [Alfonso Rainey], Antiguan-American jazz trumpeter (Dizzy Gillespie Big Band), born in Antigua (d. 1999)
Feb 1 Ursula Mamlok (nee Meyer), German-American avant-garde composer, and teacher, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 2016)
Feb 3 Alys Robi [Alice Robitaille], French Canadian cabaret and radio singer of French translations of Latin songs, born in Quebec City, Quebec (d. 2011)
Feb 5 Claude King, American country music singer (Wolverton Mountain), born in Keithville, Louisiana (d. 2013)
Feb 6 Maurice Le Roux, French composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1992)
Feb 7 George Lascelles, English Earl of Harewood, Director of the Royal Opera House, born in London, England (d. 2011)
Feb 10 Cesare Siepi, Italian operatic basso (NY Metropolitan Opera, 1950-74), born in Milan, Italy (d. 2010)
Feb 12 Mel Powell, American composer (Pulitzer Prize Music 1990), born in New York City (d. 1998)
Feb 13 Yfrah Neaman, Israeli-British concert violinist, and pedagogue, born in Sidon, Lebanon (d. 2003)
Feb 17 (Boniface) "Buddy" DeFranco, Italian-American jazz clarinetist and bandleader (Glenn Miller Orchestra), born in Camden, New Jersey (d. 2014)
Feb 19 Donald Lybbert, American composer (Zap; Lines for the Fallen), and educator (Hunter College, 1954-80), born in Cresco, Iowa (d. 1981)

Feb 21 Zvi Zeitlin, Russian-American classical violinist and music professor (Eastman School, 1967-2012), born in Dubroŭna, Russia (now Belarus) (d. 2012)
Feb 22 Gigliola Frazzoni, Italian operatic soprano, born in Bologna, Kingdom of Italy (d. 2016)
Feb 22 Norman "Hurricane" Smith, British sound engineer (The Beatles, 1962-65), producer (Pink Floyd; The Pretty Things), and musician ("Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?"; "Don't Let It Die"), born in Edmonton, London (d. 2008)
Feb 24 David Soyer, American classical cellist (Guarneri Quartet, 1964-2002), and educator (Curtis Institute), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
Feb 27 Chuck Wayne [Jagelka], America session and bebop jazz guitarist (Woody Herman's First Herd; George Shearing Quintet; Gil Evans; Tony Bennett), born in New York City (d. 1997)
Feb 27 Dexter Gordon, American jazz tenor saxophonist (Go!; The Other Side of 'Round Midnight), and actor ('Round Midnight), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1990)
Feb 27 Viktor Kalabis, Czech composer (Two Worlds), born in Červený Kostelec, Czechoslovakia (d. 2006)
Mar 2 Orrin Keepnews, American jazz producer and founder of Riverside Records and Milestone Records labels, born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2015)
Mar 3 (Arthel) "Doc" Watson, American Grammy Award-winning bluegrass, folk, and blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer, born in Deep Gap, North Carolina (d. 2012)
Mar 4 Willie Johnson, American electric blues guitarist (Howlin' Wolf's "How Many More Years"), born in Senatobia, Mississippi (d. 1995)
Mar 6 (John) "Wes" Montgomery, American influential and Grammy Award-winner jazz guitarist, born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1968)
Mar 6 Erhard Karkoschka, German composer, conductor (Contac-Ensemble), educator, and music scholar, born in Moravská Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (d. 2009)
Mar 7 Mahlon Clark, American big band jazz and session clarinetist, born in Portsmouth, Virginia (d. 2007)
Mar 10 (John) Don Abney, American session and touring jazz pianist, and musical director, born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 2000)
Mar 12 Norbert Brainin, Austrian-British violinist (Amadeus Quartet, 1947-87), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2005)

Mar 19 Janine Dacosta, French classical pianist, born in Bordeaux, France (d. 2021)
Mar 21 Mort Lindsey [Lippman], American pianist, arranger, musical director (Judy Garland, 1961-64; Merv Griffin Show, 1962-86; Barbra Streisand, 1968), and composer, born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 2012)
Mar 25 Bonnie Guitar [Buckingham], American guitarist, singer and record executive (Dark Moon), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2019)
Mar 26 Clifton Williams, American composer (The Ramparts; Sinfonians), born in Traskwood, Arkansas (d. 1976)
Mar 27 Victor Hochhauser, British impresario (Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra), born in Košice, Czechoslovakia (d. 2019)
Mar 28 Thad Jones, American jazz saxophonist, flugelhorn player, arranger, bandleader, and composer (Count Basie; Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra), born in Pontiac, Michigan (d. 1986)
Apr 8 Franco Corelli, Italian tenor (Carmen), born in Ancona, Italy (d. 2003)
Apr 9 Bruno Kiefer, German-born Brazilian composer, born in Baden-Baden, Germany (d. 1987)
Apr 12 Ann Miller [Johnnie Lucille Collier], American actress, dancer, and singer (On the Town), born in Chireno, Texas (d. 2004)
Apr 16 Bennie Green, American swing jazz and soul trombonist (Earl Hines), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1977)
Apr 20 Tito Puente, American mambo and Latin jazz bandleader ("Oye Como Va"), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2000)
Apr 23 Nathan "Dambuza" Mdledle, South African singer (Manhattan Brothers) and actor, born in Pimville, Union of South Africa (d. 1995)
Apr 25 Albert King [Nelson], American blues guitarist and singer ("Born Under A Bad Sign"; "That's What The Blues Is About"), born in Indianola, Mississippi (d. 1992)
Apr 25 Melissa Hayden, Canadian ballerina (1961 Silver Bowl), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2006)
Apr 28 Adele Mara [Adelaida Delgado], American actress, singer and dancer (Cool Million, Wheels), born in Highland Park, Michigan (d. 2010)
May 2 Christina Spierenburg, Dutch singer, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1979)
May 3 George Hadjinikos, Greek pianist and conductor, born in Volos, Greece (d. 2015)
May 4 Assi Rahbani, Lebanese musical theater composer, with his lyricist brother, Mansour (Biya el-Khawatim - The Ring Seller), born in Antelias, Lebanon (d. 1986)
May 4 Edward "Ed" Cassidy, American musician (Spirit), born in Harvey, Illinois (d. 2012)

May 7 Anne Baxter, American actress, (The Razor's Edge; All About Eve), and singer, born in Michigan City, Indiana (d. 1985)
May 13 (William) "Red" Garland, American jazz pianist (Miles Davis Quintet), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 1984)
May 15 Ellis Larkins, American classically trained (1st Black student at Peabody Institute) jazz pianist (Ruby Braff), and accompanist (Ella Fitzgerald; Eartha Kitt, Mildred Bailey), born in Baltimore Maryland (d. 2002)
May 15 John Lanchbery, British-Australian composer and conductor (Royal Ballet, 1959-72; Australian Ballet, 1972-77; American Ballet Theatre, 1978-80), born in London, England (d. 2003)
May 17 Peter Mennin [Mennini], American composer (Moby Dick; The Cycle), and educator (Juilliard, 1962-83), born in Erie, Pennsylvania (d. 1983)
May 18 Liam Sullivan, American singer and actor (Star Trek, The Magic Sword, Monroes), born in Jacksonville, Illinois (d. 1998)
May 21 Doris Mae Akers, American gospel singer-songwriter (Sky Pilot Choir - Sweet, Sweet Spirit), born in Brookfield, Missouri (d. 1995)
May 23 Alicia de Larrocha, Spanish pianist (Orquesta Sinfonica), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2009)
May 28 Gyorgy Ligeti, Hungarian classical composer (Le Grand Macabre), born in Transylvania, Romania (d. 2006)
May 29 Eugene Wright, American jazz bassist (The Dave Brubeck Quartet), sometimes known as "The Senator", born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2020) [1]
Jun 2 Del Simmons [James Joseph Simonian], American saxophonist (Captain Beefheart; Guy Lombardo), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 2008)
Jun 3 Al Harewood, American jazz drummer (Grant Green, Stanley Turrentine), and teacher, born in Brooklyn, NYC (d. 2014)
Jun 5 Daniel Pinkham, American organist, composer (Signs of the Zodiac) and educator (New England Conservatory), born in Lynn, Massachusetts (d. 2006)
Jun 6 Allan Wicks, British cathedral organist and choral conductor (Canterbury, 1961-88), born in Harden, England (d. 2010)
Jun 8 Karel Goeyvaerts, Flemish contemporary classical and minimalist composer (Zomerspelen/Summer Games; Aquarius), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1993)
Jun 14 Theodore Bloomfield, American conductor, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1998)

Erroll Garner (1923-1977)

Jun 15 American jazz pianist ("Misty"), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Jun 15 Melvin Moore, American jazz trumpeter, and singer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1989)
Jun 16 Åke Hermanson, Swedish composer, born in Mollösund, Sweden (d. 1996)
Jun 16 Henryk Czyz, Polish composer and musician, born in Grudziądz (d. 2003)
Jun 18 Herman Krebbers, Dutch violinist, concert master, and music teacher, born in Hengelo, Netherlands (d. 2018)
Jun 23 George Russell, American jazz pianist, composer, arranger (The Jazz Workshop; Jazz in the Space Age), and music theorist (Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2009)
Jun 27 Elmo Hope, American bebop jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, born in New York City (d. 1967)
Jun 28 (Walter) "Pete" Candoli, American jazz, big band, and session trumpeter (Woody Herman; Stan Kenton; Henry Mancini; The Brothers Candoli), born in Mishawaka, Indiana (d. 2008)
Jun 29 Chou Wen-chung, Chinese-American composer (Mode of Shang), born in Yantai, Shandong, China (d. 2019)
Jul 3 Johnny Hartman, American jazz ballad singer (John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - "My One And Only Love"), born in Houma, Louisiana (d. 1983)
Jul 6 Marie McDonald, American singer and actress known as "The Body Beautiful" (Promises, Promises), born in Burgin, Kentucky (d. 1965)
Jul 7 Roberto Caamaño, Argentine composer, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (d. 1993)
Jul 10 Amalia Mendoza, Mexican singer ("Échame a mi la culpa"), born in Huetamo de Núñez, Michoacán, Mexico (d. 2001)
Jul 10 Rudolf Kehrer, Soviet classical pianist of German heritage, born in Tiflis, Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (now Georgia) (d. 2013)
Jul 15 "Philly" Joe Jones, American jazz drummer (Miles Davis Quintet), born in Philadelphia (d. 1985)
Jul 18 Héctor Tosar, Uruguayan pianist and composer, born in Montevideo, Uruguay (d. 2002)
Jul 19 David Allyn [Albert DiLello], American jazz singer (Boyd Raeburn Band), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2012) [1]
Jul 22 Mukesh [Mathur], Indian "playback singer" for Bollywood films, born in Delhi, British India (d. 1976)
Jul 29 Jim Marshall, British businessman and electric guitar amplifier pioneer known as "The Father of Loud", born in Acton, West London, England (d. 2012)
Jul 30 Siegfried Köhler, German conductor, music director, and composer, born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany (d. 2017)
Jul 31 Ahmet Ertegun, Turkish-American, songwriter, businessman (co-founder of Atlantic Records), and philanthropist, born in Istanbul, Turkey (d. 2006)
Aug 1 Yoshinao Nakada, Japanese composer, born in Shibuya, Tokyo (d. 2000)
Aug 4 Arthur Butterworth, British classical trumpet player and composer, born in New Moston, England (d. 2014)
Aug 6 Jack Parnell, British jazz drummer, and orchestra leader (The Benny Hill Show; The Englebert Humperdick Show; Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments), born in London, England (d. 2010)
Aug 10 Rhonda Fleming [Marilyn Louis], American actress and singer nicknamed the "Queen of Technicolor" (Spellbound), born in Hollywood, California (d. 2020)
Aug 14 Alice Ghostley, American singer and actress (Bewitched, Designing Women), born in Eve, Vernon County, Missouri (d. 2007)
Aug 14 William Flanagan, American composer, and music critic, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1969)
Aug 15 Rose Marie [Mazzetta], American actress, comedienne and singer (The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Sally"; The Doris Day Show), born in New York City (d. 2017)
Aug 17 Anton Kersjes, Dutch violinist and conductor (Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra) (d. 2004)
Aug 19 (Dillwyn) "Dill" Jones, Welsh jazz stride pianist, born in Newcastle Emlyn, Wales (d. 1984)
Aug 20 Jim Reeves, American country singer ("He'll Have To Go"; "Distant Drums"), and actor (Kimberley Jim), born in Panola County, Texas (d. 1964)
Aug 21 Cliff Adams, British singer (The Stragazers; The Cliff Adams Singers), born in Southwark, London, England (d. 2001)
Aug 26 Wolfgang Sawallisch, German conductor (Vienna Symphony, 1960-70; Philadelphia Orchestra, 1993-2003), and pianist, born in Munich, Germany (d. 2013)
Aug 29 Lester Trimble, American composer, music critic and educator, born in Bangor, Wisconsin (d. 1986)
Aug 30 Gerhard Wimberger, Austria composer (Glove), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2016)
Sep 5 Bob Cato, American photographer, graphic artist and Grammy Award-winning album cover designer (Columbia Records; United Artists), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1999)
Sep 6 William Kraft, American timpanist, percussionist (Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble), conductor, and composer (The Demise of Suriyodhaya; Avalanche), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2022)
Sep 7 Madeleine Dring, British composer and pianist, born in Harringay, England (d. 1977)
Sep 8 Artie Anton, American jazz drummer, conguero, and timbalero (Stan Kenton, Jimmy Guiffre), born in New York City (d. 2003)
Sep 8 Wilbur Ware, American jazz double bassist (Riverside Records; Thelonious Monk; Sonny Rollins), included in photographer Art Kane's photo "A Great Day In Harlem", born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1979)
Sep 12 Julie Mandell, American pop and theatre songwriter, and classical composer (The Pious Cat), born in New York City
Sep 15 Anton Heiller, Austrian organist and composer, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1979)
Sep 15 Arvell Shaw, American jazz double-bassist (Louis Armstrong; Teddy Wilson), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2002)
Sep 15 David Kraehenbuehl, American composer (March of the Trolls), pianist, teacher (Yale), and music theorist (Journal of Music Theory), born in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois (d. 1997)

Hank Williams (1923-1953)

Sep 17 American country singer-songwriter ("Cold Cold Heart"; "Hey, Good Lookin'"; "Your Cheatin' Heart"), born in Mount Olive, Alabama

Sep 24 Theodore "Fats" Navarro, American jazz trumpet player, born in Key West, Florida (d. 1950)
Sep 25 Sam Rivers, American jazz and avant garde saxophonist, flutist, composer, and bandleader, born in El Reno, Oklahoma (d. 2011)
Sep 27 Mary McCarty, American singer, dancer, stage and screen actress (Babes in Toyland; All That Jazz;, Trapper John, M.D.), born in Winfield, Kansas (d. 1980)
Oct 3 Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Polish-American conductor (Minnesota Orchestra, 1960-79) and composer (Passacaglia Immaginaria), born in Lwów, Second Polish Republic (now Lviv, Ukraine) (d. 2017)
Oct 5 Glynis Johns, British stage and screen Tony Award-winning actress and singer (Mary Poppins; A Little Night Music - "Send In The Clowns"; The Sundowners), born in Pretoria, South Africa (d. 2024) [1]
Oct 9 Helen Jones Woods, American jazz and swing trombone player (International Sweethearts of Rhythm), born in Meridian, Mississippi (d. 2020) [some sources give birthday as 14 November]
Oct 9 Ronald Tremain, New Zealand composer, born in Feilding, New Zealand (d. 1998)
Oct 10 Louis Gottlieb, American musician (The Limeliters), born in La Crescenta, California (d. 1996)
Oct 16 Bert Kaempfert, German orchestra leader, songwriter ("Strangers in the Night"; "Danke Schoen"), and record producer (The Beatles first recordings), born in Hamburg (d. 1980)
Oct 17 Barney Kessel, American jazz and session guitarist (The Wrecking Crew), born in Muskogee, Oklahoma (d. 2004)
Oct 20 Robert Craft, American conductor, writer and friend of Stravinsky, born in Kingston, New York (d. 2015)
Oct 23 Ned Rorem, American Pulitzer Prize-winning composer (Air Music: Ten Etudes for Orchestra; Evidence of Things Not Seen), and author (The Paris Diary), born in Richmond, Indiana (d. 2022) [1]
Oct 25 Don Banks, Australian orchestral, jazz, and film score composer, born in South Melbourne, Australia (d. 1980)
Oct 29 Dietrich Manicke, German composer, born in Wurzen, Saxony, Germany (d. 2013)
Nov 1 Victoria de los Ángeles, Catalan operatic lyric soprano, born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2005)
Nov 6 Renato Capecchi, Italian violinist and baritone, born in Cairo, Egypt (d. 1998)
Nov 12 Alirio Díaz, Venezuelan guitarist, composer, and musicologist, born in Caserio La Candelaria, Venezuela (d. 2016)
Nov 14 Margaret Courtenay, Welsh stage and screen actress, singer and entertainer (Royal Flash; Duet for One), born in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales (d. 1996)
Nov 22 Dika Newlin, American composer, Schoenberg expert and punk rocker, born in Portland, Oregon (d. 2006)

Maria Callas (1923-1977)

Dec 2 American soprano (Carmen), born in New York City

Dec 5 Johnny Pate, American jazz bassist (Stuff Smith, James Moody), pop, soul and R&B arranger and producer (The Impressions, Peabo Bryson), born in Chicago Heights, Illinois
Dec 10 Abelardo Quinteros, Chilean composer (Horizon carré; Cantos al espejo), born in Valparaiso, Chile
Dec 10 Linda Hayes [Bertha Williams], American R&B singer (Yes I Know), born in Linden, New Jersey (d. 1998)
Dec 12 Bob Dorough, American jazz vocalist, pianist, composer, songwriter, arranger, and producer (Schoolhouse Rock!; Too Much Coffee Man), born in Cherry Hill, Arkansas (d. 2018)
Dec 12 David Leon Kaplan, American-Canadian music professor (University of Saskatchewan, 1960-82), conductor (Saskatoon Symphony, 1962-72), and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2015)
Dec 12 Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam [Yewubdar Guèbrou], Ethiopian nun, pianist, and composer ("The Homeless Wanderer"), born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (d. 2023)
Dec 16 Menahem Pressler, Israeli-American classical pianist (Beaux Arts Trio, 1955-2008), and educator (Indian University, 1955-2023), born in Magdeburg, Germany (d. 2023)
Dec 16 Werner Haentjes, German conductor and composer of operas and film scores, born in Bocholt, Germany (d. 2001)
Dec 23 Günther Schifter, Austrian music journalist and radio host, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2008)
Dec 23 Milt Okun, American music producer, conductor, and arranger (John Denver; Peter, Paul and Mary), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2016)
Dec 25 Louis Lane, American conductor (Akron, 1959-83; Lake Erie Opera, 1964-72), and educator (Cleveland Institute, 1982-2004), born in Eagle Pass, Texas (d. 2016)
Dec 30 Frank Motley, American R&B and jazz double-trumpeter and bandleader (The Motley Crew), born in Cheraw, South Carolina (d. 1998)