Musicians Born in 1940

Birthdays 1 - 200 of 244

  • Jan 1 László Sáry, Hungarian classical pianist and composer (12 Haiku; Flowers of Heaven), born in Győrasszonyfa, Hungary
  • Jan 1 Richard Orton, British modern classical and electronic music composer, performer, and educator (University of York, 1967-96), born in England (d. 2013)
  • Jan 5 Athol Guy, Australian folk-pop bassist and singer (The Seekers - "Georgy Girl"), born in Colac, Australia
  • Jan 6 Laudir de Oliveira, Brazilian percussionist (Sérgio Mendes; Chicago, 1973-81), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (d. 2017)
  • Jan 6 Van McCoy, American musician and songwriter ("The Hustle"), born in Englewood, New Jersey (d. 1979)
  • Jan 8 Cristy Lane, American country music and gospel singer, born in Peoria, Illinois
  • Jan 9 Al Downing, American rockabilly piano player and singer (Big Al & The Chartbusters), born in Centralia, Oklahoma (d. 2005)
  • Jan 9 Barbara Buczek, Polish pianist, composer (Anekumena – Concerto for 89 Instruments; Two Impressions), and teacher, born in Kraków, Poland (d. 1993)
  • Jan 9 Jimmy Boyd, American singer ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"), and actor (Bachelor Father - "Howard"), born in Jayess, Mississippi (d. 2009)
  • Jan 11 Mark DeVoto, American composer (Hodayot; Pavane and Zortzico), and musicologist (Schubert), born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Jan 12 Ronald Shannon Jackson, American avant-garde jazz and funk drummer, and composer (Cecil Taylor; Last Exit; Decoding Society), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2013)
  • Jan 17 Richard Maloof, American bassist and tuba player (Lawrence Welk Orchestra, 1967-82), born in Sacramento, California
  • Jan 18 Pat Britt, American jazz saxophonist, flute player, and producer, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2022)
  • Jan 20 Jorge Peixinho, Portuguese pianist, composer, and conductor, born in Montijo, Portugal (d. 1995)
  • Jan 22 Addie "Micki" Harris, American pop singer (Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"; "Soldier Boy"), born in Passaic, New Jersey (d. 1982)
  • Jan 22 Eberhard Weber, German acoustic and electric double bassist, cellist and chamber jazz and ambient music composer, born in Stuttgart, Germany
  • Jan 22 Tilo Medek [Müller-Medek], German composer (Die Todesfuge), musicologist, and music publisher, born in Jena, Germany (d. 2006)
  • Jan 23 Jimmy Castor, American pop & funk musician ("Troglodyte (Cave Man)", Jimmy Castor Bunch), born in New York City (d. 2012)
  • Jan 23 Johnny Russell, American country singer, born in Moorhead, Mississippi (d. 2001)
  • Jan 24 Dave Getz, American drummer (Big Brother & The Holding Company), born in Brooklyn, New York
  • Jan 29 Justino DÍaz, Puerto Rican opera singer, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Jan 30 David C. Johnson, American composer, flautist, educator, and electronic music performer (Stockhausen), born in Batavia, New York (d. 2021)
  • Feb 2 Alan Caddy, English musician (The Tornados), born in Chelsea, London (d. 2000)
  • Feb 5 H. R. Giger, Swiss surrealist artist (album cover art for ELP - "Brain Salad Surgery"; Debbie Harry - "'KooKoo"), and Oscar-winning special effects designer (Alien), born in Chur, Switzerland (d. 2014)
  • Feb 8 Talib Rasul Hakim [Stephen Chambers], American composer (Visions of Ishwara; Az-Zaahir-Al Batin (The Outward-The Inward)), born in Asheville, North Carolina (d. 1988)
  • Feb 9 Brian Bennett, British rock drummer (Shadows), born in Palmers Green, North London, England
  • Feb 10 Hamish Imlach, Scottish folk-comic singer-songwriter ("Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice"), born in Calcutta, British India (d. 1996)
  • Feb 10 Jimmy Merchant, American rock vocalist (Frankie Lymon & Teenagers - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"), born in New York City
  • Feb 10 Kenny Rankin, American singer-songwriter ("Peaceful"), born in Washington Heights, New York City (d. 2009)
  • Feb 15 Trygve Madsen, Norwegian pianist and composer (The Dream of the Rhinoceros; Aurora), born in Fredrikstad, Norway
  • Feb 17 Gene Pitney, American vocalist and songwriter ("Town Without Pity"; "Hello Mary Lou"; "He's A Rebel"), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2006)
  • Feb 17 Vicente Fernández, Mexican Grammy Award-winning singer, known as "El Rey de la Música Ranchera" (The King of Ranchera Music), actor, and film producer, born in Huentitán El Alto, Jalisco, Mecico (d. 2021)
  • Feb 18 Fabrizio de André, Italian singer-songwriter (Storia di un impiegato), born in Genoa, Italy (d. 1999)
  • Feb 19 Bobby Rogers, American pop and soul tenor vocalist (The Miracles - "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"), and songwriter ("Going To A Go-Go"; "The Way You Do the Things You Do"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2013)

Smokey Robinson (84 years old)

Feb 19 American soul singer-songwriter (The Miracles - "You Really Got A Hold On Me"; "Tears Of A Clown"; "My Girl"), born in Detroit, Michigan

  • Feb 20 Barbara Ellis, American pop vocalist (Fleetwoods - "Mr. Blue"; "Come Softly To Me"), born in Olympia, Washington
  • Feb 20 Christoph Eschenbach, German pianist and conductor (Houston Symphony, 1988-99; Philadelphia Orchestra, 2003-08: National Symphony 2010-17), born in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland)
  • Feb 28 Joe South [Souter], American Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist ("Games People Play"; "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"; "Rose Garden"), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 2012)
  • Feb 29 Gretchen Christopher, American singer (The Fleetwoods), born in Olympia, Washington
  • Mar 1 Ralph Towner, American jazz-rock fusion and world music guitarist (Oregon; Paul Winter Consort), born in Chehalis, Washington
  • Mar 2 Tony Croatto [Hermes Martinis], Italian-Puerto Rican folk song singer and composer (Los TNT; Haciendo Punto en Otro Son), and television presenter, born in Udine, Italy (d. 2005)

Johnny Ventura (1940-2021)

Mar 8 merengue and salsa bandleader (“Patacon Pisao”), and politician (Mayor of Santiago, 1998-2002), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic [1]

  • Mar 10 Dean Torrence, American surf music singer (Jan & Dean - "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena"), born in Los Angeles, California
  • Mar 10 Francis Schwartz, American experimental classical music composer (Fluxus), and educator (University of Puerto Rico, 1969-99), born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
  • Mar 11 Alberto Cortez, Argentinian singer-songwriter ("Cuando un amigo se va"), born in Rancul, Argentina (d. 2019) [1]
  • Mar 11 Jon Gibson, American flute and saxophone player (Philip Glass Ensemble, 1968-2019), and composer (The Voyage of The Beagle), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2020)
  • Mar 12 Al Jarreau, American jazz singer ("Breaking Away"; "We're In This Love Together"; "Moonlighting"), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2017)
  • Mar 12 M.A. Numminen, Finnish avant-garde singer-songwriter and author, born in Somero, Finland
  • Mar 13 (Canzetta) "Candi" Staton, American gospel singer ("Young Hearts Run Free"), born in Hanceville, Alabama
  • Mar 15 Phil Lesh [Chapman], American rock bassist (Grateful Dead - "Box of Rain"), born in Berkeley, California
  • Mar 16 Keith Rowe, English improvisational tabletop guitarist (AMM; M.I.M.E.O.) and painter, born in Plymouth, England
  • Mar 20 Glenn Schwartz, American rock guitarist (Pacific Gas & Electric -"Are You Ready?"), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2018)
  • Mar 20 Vito Picone, American doo wop vocalist (Elegants - "Little Star") and character actor, born in Staten Island, New York
  • Mar 21 Chip Taylor [James Voight], American songwriter ("Angel of the Morning"; "Wild Thing"), singer, and producer, born in Yonkers, New York
  • Mar 21 Solomon Burke [McDonald], American soul singer ("Cry To Me"; "Diamond In Your Mind"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
  • Mar 23 Luis Gasca, American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player, born in Houston, Texas
  • Mar 25 Anita Bryant, American singer (George Gobel Show) and anti-homosexuality campaigner, born in Barnsdall, Oklahoma
  • Mar 26 Rod Lauren, American rocker (If I Had a Girl), born in Fresno, California (d. 2007)
  • Mar 27 Janis Martin, American rockabilly and country singer ("Will You Willyum"; "Drugstore Rock 'n Roll"), born in Sutherlin, Virginia (d. 2007)
  • Mar 29 Astrud Gilberto (née Weinert), Brazilian samba singer ("The Girl From Ipanema"), born in Salvador, Brazil (d. 2023)
  • Mar 29 Eden Kane [Richard Graham Sarstedt], British pop singer ("Well I Ask You"), born in New Delhi, British India
  • Mar 29 Raymond Davis, American rock vocalist (Funkadelic - "Knee Deep"), born in Sumter, South Carolina (d. 2005)
  • Apr 4 Sharon Sheeley, American songwriter (Somethin' Else), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2002)
  • Apr 5 Aliza Kashi, Israeli actress and singer (Merv Griffin regular), born in Israel
  • Apr 6 Donald Myrick, American saxophonist ("If Leaving Me Is Easy"; "One More Night"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1993)
  • Apr 7 Jan Wilhelm Morthenson, Swedish composer, born in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden

Herbie Hancock (83 years old)

Apr 12 American jazz and funk pianist, and composer ("I Thought it Was You"; "Rockit"; "Watermelon Man"), born in Chicago, Illinois

  • Apr 13 Lester Chambers, American rock and soul singer (The Chambers Brothers - "Time Has Come Today"), born in Mississippi
  • Apr 13 Vladimir Cosma, Romanian-French violinist, conductor, and classical and film score composer, born in Bucharest, Romania
  • Apr 15 Clarence Satchell, American funk saxophonist (Ohio Players - "Fire"; "Love Rollercoaster"), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1995)
  • Apr 17 Anja Silja, German soprano, born in Berlin, Germany
  • Apr 17 Billy Fury [Ronald Wycherley], British rock singer ("When Will You Say I Love You"; "Halfway To Paradise") and actor (That'll Be The Day), born in Liverpool, England (d. 1983)
  • Apr 18 Mike Vickers, British rock guitarist (Manfred Mann, 1962-65 - "Doo Wah Diddy"), born in Southampton, Hampshire
  • Apr 19 Genya Ravan, American vocalist (Goldie & the Gingerbreads, Ten Wheel Drive), born in Łódź, Poland
  • Apr 20 Ronald Mundy, American doo-wop tenor vocalist (The Marcels - "Blue Moon"), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2017)
  • Apr 20 Tim Drummond, American session and touring bass player and songwriter (Ry Cooder; Neil Young; Graham Nash: J.J. Cale; Bob Dylan), born in Canton, Illinois (d. 2015)
  • Apr 25 O. B. McClinton, American country singer ("Keep Your Arms Around Me"), born in Senatobia, Mississippi (d. 1987)
  • Apr 26 Giorgio Moroder, Italian record producer, and film score composer (Cat People; Top Gun), born in Ortisei, Italy
  • Apr 29 George Adams, American jazz and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist (Charles Mingus; Gil Evans; McCoy Tyner; Adams/Pullen Quartet), born in Covington, Georgia (d. 1992)
  • May 3 Conny Plank, German record producer and musician, born in Hütschenhausen, Germany (d. 1987)
  • May 5 Lucy Simon, American folk singer-songwriter (Simon Sisters), Grammy Award-winning record producer (In Harmony) and theater composer (The Secret Garden; Doctor Zhivago), born in New York City (d. 2022) [1]
  • May 6 Murry Sidlin, American conductor (National Symphony, 1973-77; Long Beach Symphony, 1980-88), arranger (Defiant Requiem), and educator, born in Baltimore, Maryland
  • May 7 Armando Krieger, Argentine composer, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • May 8 (Cathryn) "Toni" Tennille, American singer-songwriter, keyboardist (Captain & Tennille - "Love Will Keep Us Together") and female Beach Boy, born in Montgomery, Alabama

Ricky Nelson (1940-1985)

May 8 American pop-rock star ("Hello Mary Lou"; "It's Late"; "Garden Party") and actor (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), born in Teaneck, New Jersey

  • May 9 Dick Morrissey, British jazz saxophonist, born in Horley, Surrey, England (d. 2000)
  • May 10 Arthur Alexander, American singer-songwriter ("Lonely Just Like Me"), whose songs were covered by The Beatles ("Anna"), The Rolling Stones ("You Better Move On"), and Bob Dylan ("Sally Sue Brown"), born in Sheffield, Alabama (d. 1993) [1] [2]
  • May 11 Ron Pellegrino, American electronic music composer, born in Kenosha, Wisconsin
  • May 12 Norman Whitfield, American songwriter and producer for Motown ("I Heard It Through the Grapevine"; "Just My Imagination"; "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"), born in New York City (d. 2008)
  • May 13 Richard Brooks, American soul singer (Impressions, 1958-62 - "Gypsy Woman"), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee
  • May 18 Mike Elliott, American jazz and session guitarist, and audio engineer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2005)
  • May 19 (Milton) "Mickey" Newbury, American outlaw-country singer-songwriter, born in Houston, Texas (d. 2002)
  • May 20 (Frederick) "Shorty" Long, American soul singer, and pianist ("Devil with the Blue Dress On"; "Here Comes The Judge"), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 1969)

Tony Sheridan (1940-2013)

May 21 British singer-songwriter and guitarist who collaborated with the pre-fame Beatles ("My Bonnie"), born in Norwich, England

  • May 26 Levon Helm, American drummer and singer (The Band - "Up On Cripple Creek"; "The Weight"), and actor (Coal Miner's Daughter; The Right Stuff), born in Elaine, Arkansas (d. 2012)
  • May 27 René Koering, French composer, film producer. theater director, and music promoter (Festival de Radio France et Montpellier), born in Andlau, France
  • May 28 Hans Dulfer, Dutch funk and jazz-fusion tenor saxophonist, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • May 31 (August) "Augie" Meyers, American rock and Tex-Mex keyboardist, accordion player, singer-songwriter, producer (Sir Douglas Quintet; Texas Tornados), and record label owner, born in San Antonio, Texas
  • Jun 4 Dorothy Rudd Moore, African-American composer (Songs from the Dark Tower; Dirge and Deliverance), born in New Castle, Delaware
  • Jun 5 Moira Anderson, Scottish singer ("Loch Lomond"), born in Kirkintilloch, Scotland
  • Jun 6 Phillip Rhodes, American composer, born in Forest City, North Carolina

Tom Jones (83 years old)

Jun 7 Welsh pop singer ("What's New, Pussycat?"; "Delilah"), and TV personality (The Voice UK), born in Pontypridd, Wales

  • Jun 8 Nancy Sinatra, American singer ("These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"; "Something Stupid"), and daughter of Frank Sinatra, born in Jersey City, New Jersey
  • Jun 8 Sherman Garnes, American rock vocalist (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers), born in New York City (d. 1977)
  • Jun 10 John Stevens, English jazz drummer (Spontaneous Music Ensemble), born in Brentwood, England (d. 1994)
  • Jun 11 Joey Dee [DiNicola] American singer (The Starliters - "Peppermint Twist"), born in Passaic, New Jersey
  • Jun 13 Bobby Freeman, American rock, soul and R&B singer ("Do You Want to Dance"), born in Northern California (d. 2017)
  • Jun 14 Bob Feldman, American pop songwriter and record producer ("My Boyfriend's Back", "I Want Candy"), born in Brooklyn NYC (d. 2023)
  • Jun 14 Dary John Mizelle, American avant garde classical and jazz composer (I Was Standing Quite Close to Process), born in Stillwater, Oklahoma
  • Jun 15 Willem Frederik Bon, Dutch composer and pedagogue (Les Prédictions), born in Amersfoort, Utrecht, the Netherlands (d. 1983)
  • Jun 17 Alton Kelley, American graphic artist, known for concert posters and album cover art (Grateful Dead -"Workingman's Dead"; Steve Miller Band - "Book of Dreams"), born in Houlton, Maine (d. 2008)
  • Jun 17 Chuck Rainey, American jazz and session bassist (Steely Dan; Quincy Jones; Aretha Franklin; Mose Allison), born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • Jun 23 Adam Faith [Terence Wright], English pop and rock singer ("What Do You Want?"; "Poor Me"), actor (Budgie; Love Hurts), and financial journalist, born in Acton, Middlesex< England (d. 2003)
  • Jun 23 Diana Trask, Australian-American country music and pop, singer ("It's a Man's World (If You Have a Man Like Mine)"; "When I Get My Hands on You"), and television personality ( Sing Along With Mitch), born in Camberwell, Australia
  • Jun 23 Stuart Sutcliffe, Scottish visual artist and rock bassist (The Beatles, 1960-61), born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1962)
  • Jun 25 Clint Warwick [Albert Eccles], English bassist (Moody Blues, 1964-66 - "Go Now"), born in Birmingham, England (d. 2004)
  • Jun 25 Mary Beth Peil, American actress and singer (Mirrors, Dawson's Creek, The Stepford Wives), born in Davenport, Iowa
  • Jun 29 Vyacheslav Artyomov, Russian composer, born in Moscow
  • Jun 30 Mark Spoelstra, American folk singer and songwriter, born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 2007)
  • Jul 3 Fontella Bass, American R&B and soul singer and songwriter ("Rescue Me"), born in St Louis, Missouri (d. 2012)
  • Jul 3 Jerry "The Geator" Blavat, American disc jockey and music promoter, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2023) [1]
  • Jul 4 Dave Rowberry, English rock organist, and piano player (The Animals - "House of the Rising Sun"), born in Nottingham, England (d. 2003)
  • Jul 5 Arthur Blythe, American jazz saxophonist, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2017)
  • Jul 6 Jeannie Seely, American country music singer ("Don't Touch Me"), born in Titusville, Pennsylvania

Ringo Starr (83 years old)

Jul 7 British drummer, vocalist (The Beatles - "Yellow Submarine"), songwriter ("Early 1970"; "Photograph"), actor (Caveman), "peace & love" activist, and knight, born in Dingle, Liverpool, England [1]

  • Jul 8 Joe B. Mauldin, American rock double-bass player (The Crickets), songwriter, and recording engineer (Gold Start Studios), born In Lubbock, Texas (d. 2015)
  • Jul 9 Manfred Jung, German operatic tenor (Wagner's heldentenor roles), born in Oberhausen, Germany (d. 2017)
  • Jul 10 Helen Donath, American soprano, born in Corpus Christi, Texas
  • Jul 11 Ronnie Mack, American singer-songwriter ("He's So Fine"), born in Harlem, New York (d. 1963)
  • Jul 19 Vikki Carr [Florencia Vicenta de Casillas Martinez Cardona], American Grammy Award-winning pop and Latin singer ("It Must Be Him"; "Cosas del Amor"), born in El Paso, Texas
  • Jul 20 Tony Allen, Nigerian drummer who pioneered Afrobeat sound, born in Lagos, Nigeria (d. 2020)
  • Jul 22 Thomas Wayne, American rockabilly singer ("Tragedy"), born in Batesville, Mississippi (d. 1971)
  • Jul 23 Gary Stites, American pop vocalist ("Lonely For You"), born in Denver, Colorado
  • Jul 26 Dobie Gray [Lawrence Brown], American musician and singer ("Drift Away"), born in Simonton, Texas (d. 2011)
  • Jul 26 Tolis Voskopoulos, Greek singer (Oi Erastes tou Oneirou), born in Kokkinia, Piraeus, Greece
  • Jul 27 Pina Bausch, German dancer and choreographer, born in Solingen, Germany (d. 2009)
  • Aug 3 Joseph Dorfman, Israeli composer, born in Odessa, Ukraine (d. 2006)
  • Aug 4 (Rosemary Timothy) "Timi" Yuro, American R&B and soul singer-songwriter ("Hurt"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2004)
  • Aug 4 Larry Knechtel, American session piano and bass player (Simon and Garfunkel; Johnny Rivers), born in Bell, California (d. 2009) [1]
  • Aug 10 Bobby Hatfield, American rocker (Righteous Brothers - "Unchained Melody"), born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (d. 2003)
  • Aug 10 Michael “Tunes” Antunes, American rock and blues saxophonist (John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band), and actor (Eddie And The Cruisers), born in New Bedford, Massachusetts
  • Aug 12 Alexander Yossifov, Bulgarian conductor and composer (Back To The Beginning), born in Sofia, Bulgaria (d. 2016)
  • Aug 12 Rod Bernard, American "swamp pop" singer ("Allons Danser Colinda"), born in Opelousas, Louisiana. (d. 2020)
  • Aug 13 John Stokes, Irish pop bassist, harmonica player, and singer (The Bachelors - "Diane"), born in Dublin, Ireland
  • Aug 14 (Darrell) "Dash" Crofts, American singer (Seals & Crofts - "Summer Breeze"; "Diamond Girl"), born in Cisco, Texas
  • Aug 15 Rita Shane, American soprano, born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2014)
  • Aug 16 (Thomas) "Sean" Bonniwell, American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter (The Music Machine - "Talk, Talk"), born in San Jose, California (d. 2011)
  • Aug 16 Alix Dobkin, American folk and feminist singer-songwriter (Lavender Jane Loves Women), born in New York City (d. 2021)
  • Aug 19 Johnny Nash, American pop-reggae-soul singer-songwriter and record producer ("I Can See Clearly Now"), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2020)
  • Aug 19 Roger Cook, British songwriter (with Roger Greenaway: "You've Got Your Troubles"; "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", "Melting Pot"), singer (Blue Mink), and record producer, born in Fishponds, Bristol, England
  • Aug 20 John Lantree, English rocker (The Honeycombs), born in Newbury, Berkshire
  • Aug 23 Vicki Brown, British pop, rock session vocalist, and contemporary classical singer, born in Liverpool, England (d. 1991)
  • Aug 24 Tony Secunda, English rock band manager (The Moody Blues), born in Epsom, Surrey, England (d. 1995)
  • Aug 25 José Van Dam, Belgian operatic bass-baritone (Francois d'Assisif), born in Brussels, Belgium
  • Aug 26 Nik Turner, British jazz-rock fusion saxophonist, flute player, singer, and composer (Hawkwind), born in Oxford, England (d. 2022)
  • Aug 27 (Warren Harding) "Sonny" Sharrock, American jazz guitarist (Last Exit), born in Ossining, New York (d. 1994)
  • Aug 28 (Bhekizizwe) Joseph Shabalala, South African singer, songwriter, founder and musical director of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, born in Ladysmith, South Africa (d. 2020) [1] [2]
  • Aug 29 Bennie Maupin, American jazz saxophonist, flute player, and bass clarinetist (Herbie Hancock; Miles Davis; Lee Morgan), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • Aug 31 Wilton Felder, American jazz-fusion saxophonist and bassist (The Crusaders), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2015)
  • Sep 2 Jimmy Clanton, American rock vocalist ("Just A Dream"), born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Sep 2 Mick Pyne, British touring and session jazz pianist (Tubby Hayes; Georgie Fame: Charlie Watts), born in Thornton Dale, North Yorkshire, England (d. 1995)
  • Sep 5 Lewis Spratlan, American classical composer and Pulitzer Prize winner (Life Is A Dream), born in Miami, Florida (d. 2023)

Raquel Welch (1940-2023)

Sep 5 American stage and screen (Myra Breckenridge; One Million Years B.C.; 100 Rifles), and nightclub singer, born in Chicago, Illinois [1]

  • Sep 6 Jackie Trent, English singer-songwriter ("Neighbours" theme) and actress, born in Newcastle-under-Lyme (d. 2015)
  • Sep 9 Joe Negroni, American pop vocalist (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"), born in New York City (d. 1978)
  • Sep 10 Dave Burrell, American jazz pianist (Archie Shepp; Marion Brown; Pharoah Sanders), born in Middleton, Ohio
  • Sep 10 Roy Ayers, American disco jazz artist ("Fever"; "You Send Me"), born in Los Angeles, California
  • Sep 11 Bernie Dwyer, British rock drummer (Freddie and The Dreamers - "I'm Telling You Now"), born in Manchester, England (d. 2002)
  • Sep 13 (Lionel) "Linc" Chamberland, American R&B and jazz-fusion guitarist, born in Norwalk, Connecticut (d. 1987)
  • Sep 13 Joyce Schouten, Dutch pop singer (Fouryo's - "Dance With Me One More Time"), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Sep 16 Lisle Atkinson, American jazz double-bassist (Nina Simone; Betty Carter; Neo-Bass Ensemble), born in New York City (d. 2019)
  • Sep 18 Allen Johnson, American doo-wop baritone vocalist (The Marcels - "Blue Moon"), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1995)
  • Sep 18 Frankie Avalon [Francis Avallone], American actor (Beach Party; Grease), and pop singer ("Venus"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Sep 19 Bill Medley, American baritone pop singer and songwriter (The Righteous Brothers - "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'; duet - "The Time Of My Life"), born in Santa Ana, California
  • Sep 19 Paul Williams, American singer, composer ("Rainy Days and Mondays"; "Evergreen"; songs from Ishtar; "Rainbow Connection"), and actor ("Battle for the Planet of the Apes"; "Smokey and the Bandit"), born in Omaha, Nebraska
  • Sep 19 Sylvia Tyson, Canadian singer-songwriter, born in Chatham, Ontario
  • Sep 22 Edward Boguslawski, Polish composer, born in Chorzów, Poland (d. 2003)
  • Sep 23 Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Iranian classical singer, born in Mashhad, Iran (d. 2020)
  • Sep 23 Tim Rose, American singer-songwriter, born in Washington D. C. (d. 2002)
  • Sep 24 Barbara "Bibs" Allbut, American rock vocalist (Angels - "My Boyfriend's Back"), born in Orange, New Jersey (d. 2021)
  • Sep 26 Gary Bartz, American jazz, jazz-fusion, and funk saxophonist, born in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Sep 27 Josephine Barstow, British opera soprano singer, born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
  • Sep 29 Nicola Di Bari, Italian singer-songwriter (I giorni dell'arcobaleno), born in Zapponeta, Italy
  • Sep 30 Lori Burton [Dolores Squeglia], American singer, songwriter and record producer, born in New Haven, Connecticut
  • Oct 2 Lord Davies, British engineer and chairman (Welsh National Opera)
  • Oct 2 Patrick Sky [Lynch], American musician, folk singer, songwriter, record producer, and uilleann bagpiper (Songs That Made America Famous), born in College Park, Georgia (d. 2021)
  • Oct 3 Alan O'Day, American singer and songwriter ("Undercover Angel"; over 100 songs for the Muppet Babies), born in Hollywood, California (d. 2013)
  • Oct 7 Dino Valenti [Chester "Chet" Powers], American rock guitarist/vocalist (Quicksilver Messenger Service), born in Danbury, Connecticut (d. 1994)
  • Oct 8 Fred Cash, American soul singer (Impressions - "People Get Ready"; "It's All Right"), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee
  • Oct 9 Hans Ulrich Humpert, German composer, born in Paderborn, Germany (d. 2010)

John Lennon (1940-1980)

Oct 9 British rock singer-songwriter (The Beatles - "Strawberry Fields Forever"; "Help!"; solo - "Imagine"; "Grow Old With Me"), born in Liverpool, England

  • Oct 10 Mouse [Stanley Miller] American artist, notable for psychedelic rock concert poster designs and album art (Grateful Dead; Journey), born in Fresno, California
  • Oct 13 (Farrell) "Pharoah" Sanders, American jazz saxophonist (John Coltrane groups; "Karma"), born in Little Rock, Arkansas (d. 2022) [1]
  • Oct 13 Chris Farlowe [John Henry Deighton], British rock singer ("Out of Time"), born in London, England

Cliff Richard (83 years old)

Oct 14 English rock vocalist ("Move It"; "Living Doll"; "We Don't Talk Anymore"), born in Lucknow, British India

  • Oct 18 Cynthia Weil, American songwriter ("We Got Get Out Of This Place"; "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"; "On Broadway"; "He's So Shy"), born in New York City (d. 2023) [1]
  • Oct 19 Larry Chance [Figueiredo], American doo-wop vocalist (The Earls - "Remember Then"; "I Believe"), born in the Bronx, NYC (d. 2023)
  • Oct 20 Kathy Kirby, English singer ("Secret Love"), born in Ilford, England (d. 2011)
  • Oct 21 Manfred Mann [Michael Lubowitz], British rock keyboardist ("Mighty Quinn"; "Blinded By The Light"), born in Johannesburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa
  • Oct 23 Ellie Greenwich, American singer-songwriter ("Da Doo Ron Ron"; "Leader of the Pack"), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2009)

About 1940

Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit (Feb 19, 1939 - Feb 7, 1940),
Dragon (Feb 8, 1940 - Jan 26, 1941)