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Musicians Born on January 17

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  • 1517 Antonio Scandello, Italian composer (Passion of John), born in Bergamo, Republic of Venice (d. 1580)
  • 1545 Antonio Pace, Italian madrigal composer and music publisher, born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples (d. 1581)
  • 1659 Antonio Veracini, Italian violinist and Baroque composer, born in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (d. 1733)
  • 1712 John Stanley, English blind composer and organist, born in London, England (d. 1786)
  • 1720 Jean-Joseph Vadé, French songwriter, poet, and playwright, born in Ham, France (d. 1757)
  • 1728 Johann Gottfried Müthel, German keyboard virtuoso and composer, born in Mölln, Duchy of Lauenburg (d. 1788)
  • 1733 Thomas Linley the elder, English composer and tenor, born in Badminton, Gloucestershire< England (d. 1795)
  • 1734 François-Joseph Gossec, Belgian-French composer (Les Pêcheurs; Mirza), born in Vergnies, Austrian Netherlands (d. 1829)
  • 1745 Nicolas Roze, French composer, born in Mercurey, France (d. 1819)
  • 1769 Ole Andreas Lindeman, Norwegian organist (Trondheim Vor Frelsers Kirke, 1799-57), composer, and educator, born in Øye, Surnadal, Norway (d. 1857)
  • 1828 Eduard Reményi, Hungarian violinist and composer, born in Miskolc, Austria-Hungary (d. 1898) [some sources cite birth year as 1830]
  • 1835 Johan Filip von Schantz, Finnish violinist, conductor, and composer (Kullervo), born in Ulvila, Finland (d. 1865)
  • 1836 Jose White Lafitte, Cuban-French violinist and composer, born in Matanzas, Cuba (d. 1918)
  • 1850 Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev, Russian composer, born in St Petersburg, Russia (d. 1918)
  • 1857 Wilhelm Kienzl, Austrian composer (Der Evangelimann - The Evangelist; Der Kuhreigen), born in Waizenkirchen, Austria (d. 1941)
  • 1863 Henry Charles Tonking, British organist and composer, born in Camborne, Cornwall, England (d. 1926)
  • 1873 Francois Rasse, Belgian composer, born in Helchin, Belgium (d. 1955)
  • 1877 Hans Jelmoli, Swiss pianist and composer, born in Zurich, Switzerland (d. 1936)
  • 1896 Harry Reser, American banjo player and bandleader (Sammy Kaye Show), born in Piqua, Ohio (d. 1965)
  • 1901 Vasily Petrovich Shirinsky, Russian violinist and composer, born in Ekaterinodar, Russia (d. 1965)
  • 1907 Henk Badings, Dutch opera composer (Orestes), born in Bandung, Java, Dutch East Indies (d. 1987)
  • 1909 Karen Jønsson (née Pedersen), Danish jazz singer, pianist, songwriter, composer, and actress, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1942)
  • 1910 Sidney “Big Sid” Catlett, American jazz drummer (Louis Armstrong), born in Evansville, Indiana (d. 1951)
  • 1911 Hermann Pfrogner, Austrian musicologist (Zerrissene Orpheus), and educator (Munich Music College, 1958-74), born in Graz, Austria-Hungary (d. 1988)
  • 1912 Orest Evlahkov, Russian Soviet composer and educator (Leningrad Conservatory), born in Warsaw, Russian Poland (d. 1973)
  • 1916 Joel Herron, American orchestra leader (Jaye P Morgan Show), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2012)
  • 1917 Oskar Morawetz, Czech-Canadian composer (From the Diary of Anne Frank), born in Světlá nad Sázavou, Bohemia (now Czech Republic); (d. 2007)
  • 1920 George Handy [Hendleman], American bebop jazz arranger, pianist and composer (Handyland, U.S.A.), born in New York City (d. 1997)
  • 1920 Nora Kaye, American prima ballerina, born in New York City (d. 1987)
  • 1925 Annie Delorie, Dutch opera singer (Nederlandse Opera, 1950-70), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 2009)
  • 1926 Moira Shearer, Scottish actress and ballerina (Red Shoes), born in Dunfermline Scotland (d. 2006)
  • 1927 Donald Erb, American composer known for large orchestral works, born in Youngstown, Ohio (d. 2008)
  • 1927 Eartha Kitt, American singer (Santa Baby), dancer, activist, and actress (Batman - "Catwoman"), born in North, South Carolina (d. 2008)
  • 1928 Jean Barraqué, French composer, born in Hauts-de-Seine, France (d. 1973)
  • 1928 Philip Jones, British classical trumpeter (Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, 1951-86), and educator, born in Bath, England (d. 2000)
  • 1929 Grady Martin, country music guitarist (The Nashville A-Team), born in Chapel Hill, Tennessee (d. 2001)
  • 1930 Robert Ceely, American classical and electro-acoustic composer (The Automobile Graveyard), and educator (New England Conservatory, 1966-2003), born in Torrington, Connecticut (d. 2015)
  • 1931 Frederick A. Fox, American classical composer (Nightscenes; Shaking The Pumpkin), and educator (Indiana University, 1974-94), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2011)
  • 1933 Dalida [Yolande Christina Gigliotti], French-Italian actress (The Sixth Day), singer ("Bambino"), and Miss Egypt 1954, born in Cairo, Egypt (d. 1987)
  • 1934 Cedar Walton, American hard bop jazz pianist (Jazztet; Art Blakey), and composer ("Mosaic"), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2013)
  • 1934 Sydney Hodkinson, Canadian-American classical composer and educator (Eastman School, 1973-99), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2021)
  • 1940 Richard Maloof, American bassist and tuba player (Lawrence Welk Orchestra, 1967-82), born in Sacramento, California
  • 1941 Dame Gillian Weir, New Zealand organist, born in Martinborough, New Zealand
  • 1942 Ulf Hoelscher, German violinist, born in Kitzingen, Germany
  • 1943 (Ezekiel Christopher) "Chris" Montez, American rock guitarist and singer ("Let's Dance"; "Call Me"), born in Los Angeles, California
  • 1944 Françoise Hardy, French pop singer-songwriter, and actress, born in Paris, France
  • 1945 Ivan Karabits, Ukrainian composer, conductor, and educator, born in Yalta, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine (d. 2002)
  • 1945 Javed Akhtar, Indian lyricist, poet and scriptwriter, born in Gwalior, India
  • 1945 William Hart, American soul singer and songwriter (4 Gents; Delfonics - "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"; "La-La Means I Love You"), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 2022)
  • 1946 Frank Bey [Bass], American blues singer-songwriter (All My Dues Are Paid), born in Millen, Georgia (d. 2020)
  • 1947 Ulysses Dove, American dancer and choreographer, born in Columbia, South Carolina (d. 1996)
  • 1948 Anne Queffélec, French concert pianist, born in Paris, France
  • 1948 Mick Taylor, British rock guitarist (John Mayhall's Bluesbreakers, 1967-69; Rolling Stones, 1969-74 - "Brown Sugar", "Honky Tonk Woman"), born in Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
  • 1948 Robin Lumley, English jazz-fusion keyboardist (Brand X), and record producer, born in the Devonport, England (d. 2023)
  • 1949 Billy T. James [William James Te Wehi Taitoko], New Zealand Maori comedian and singer (The Billy T. James Show), born in Cambridge, New Zealand (d. 1991)
  • 1952 Ryuichi Sakamoto, Japanese musician (Yellow Magic Orchestra) and Academy Award-winning film composer (The Last Emperor), born in Tokyo, Japan (d. 2023) [1]
  • 1954 Cheryl Bentyne [Benthien], American jazz singer and vocal arranger (The Manhattan Transfer, 1979-2023), born in Mount Vernon, Washington
  • 1955 Kazumasa Akiyama, Japanese jazz-fusion guitarist (Dig My Style), born in Tokyo, Japan
  • 1955 Steve Earle, American roots-rock singer-songwriter (Guitar Town), born in San Antonio, Texas
  • 1956 Cristina [Monet Zilkha], American dance-pop singer songwriter ("Sleep It Off"), born in New York City (d. 2020)
  • 1956 Paul Young, British rock and blue-eyed soul vocalist ("Every Time You Go Away"; Band-Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas?"), born in Luton, England
  • 1958 Jez Strode, British rock drummer (Kajagoogoo), born in London. England
  • 1959 Momoe Yamaguchi, Japanese singer and actress, born in Ebisu, Tokyo, Japan
  • 1959 Susanna Hoffs, American pop musician (The Bangles - "Walk Like an Egyptian"), and actress, born in Los Angeles, California
  • 1963 Cyrus Chestnut, American jazz pianist and composer, born in Baltimore, Maryland
  • 1963 Kai Hansen, German heavy metal guitarist and vocalist (Helloween, Gamma Ray), born in Hamburg, West Germany
  • 1964 Andy Rourke British rock bassist (The Smiths - "This Charming Man"; "Ask"), born in Manchester, England (d. 2023)
  • 1966 Shabba Ranks [Rexton Gordon], Jamaican dancehall musician and reggae deejay (X-tra Naked), born in St. Ann, Jamaica

Tiësto (55 years old)

1969 Dutch DJ and record producer considered the "Godfather of EDM", born in Breda, Netherlands

Tiësto

Kid Rock (53 years old)

1971 American rapper, songwriter, and hip-hop and country-rock musician ("All Summer Long"; "Picture"). and actor (Devil Without a Cause), born in Romeo, Michigan

Kid Rock
  • 1971 Leonardo Ciampa, Italian-American musician, born in Boston, Massachusetts
  • 1972 Ken Hirai, Japanese singer and songwriter, born in Higashi-osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
  • 1972 Stéphane Escoms, French jazz keyboard and accordion player, born in France
  • 1974 Jaakko Kuusisto, Finnish violinist, composer, and conductor, born in Helsinki, Finland (d. 2022)
  • 1974 Vesko Kountchev, Bulgarian musician, born in Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 1975 Coco Lee, Chinese-American pop singer ("A Love Before Time"; "Tragic"), born in Hong Kong (d. 2023)
  • 1975 Rami Yacoub, Swedish songwriter and producer, born in Stockholm, Sweden
  • 1975 Tom Jenkinson, English bassist, composer, and electronic music producer (Squarepusher), born in Chelmsford, United Kingdom
  • 1976 Aga Zaryan [Agnieszka Skrzypek], Polish jazz singer (A Book of Luminous Things), born in Warsaw, Poland
  • 1978 Charles Richard "Ricky" Wilson, British singer-songwriter (Kaiser Chiefs - "Ruby"), born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England
  • 1980 Gareth McLearnon, Northern Irish flautist, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Zooey Deschanel (44 years old)

1980 American actress (Almost Famous; Elf; New Girl), and singer (She & Him), born in Los Angeles, California

Zooey Deschanel
  • 1981 Ray J. [William Ray Norwood Jr.], American singer and actor (Everything You Want), born in McComb, Mississippi
  • 1982 Alex Varkatzas, American heavy metal singer (Atreyu), born in Orange County, California
  • 1982 Amanda Wilkinson, Canadian country music singer, born in Belleville, Ontario
  • 1983 Yelle [Julie Budet], French electro-pop singer and rapper (Yelle), born in Saint-Brieuc, France

Calvin Harris (40 years old)

1984 Scottish DJ, singer-songwriter and producer ("I'm Not Alone; "We Found Love"), born in Dumfries, Scotland

Calvin Harris
  • 1985 Kangin [Kim Young-woon], South Korean singer, dancer, actor and DJ (Super Junior), born in Seoul, South Korea
  • 1985 Riyu Kosaka, Japanese singer (BeForU), born in Yokohama, Japan
  • 1985 Simone Simons, Dutch singer (Epica), born in Hoensbroek, Netherlands
  • 1996 Klaus Mäkelä, Finnish cellist and conductor (Oslo Philharmonic, 2020-present; Orchestre de Paris, 2021-present), born in Helsinki, Finland


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