Musicians Born on January 22

  • 1649 Pascal Collasse, French Baroque theatre composer, born in Rheims, France (d. 1709)
  • 1707 Carl Höckh, German composer and violinist, born in Ebersdorf, Duchy of Bremen (d. 1773)
  • 1709 Joseph Riepel, Austrian-born German composer, born in Rainbach im Mühlkreis, Duchy of Bavaria (d. 1782)
  • 1729 Giuseppe Luigi Tibaldi, Italian tenor and composer, born in Bologna, Papal States (d. c. 1790)
  • 1748 Lewis Edson, early American composer, born in Bridgewater, Colony of Massachusetts (d. 1820)
  • 1756 Vincenzo Righini, Italian composer and singer, born in Bologna, Papal States (d. 1812)
  • 1779 Stefano Pavesi, Italian opera composer (Ser Marcantonio), born in Casaletto Vaprio, Duchy of Milan (d. 1850)
  • 1781 François-Antoine Habeneck, French composer and musician, born in Mézières, France (d. 1849)
  • 1815 Ferdinand Christian Wilhelm Praeger, Dutch-British pianist, composer, composer, and writer (Wagner As I Knew Him), born in Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony (d. 1891)
  • 1824 Josef Leopold Zvonař, Czech organist and composer, born in Kublov, Bohemia (d. 1865)
  • 1842 Henri Maréchal, French composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1924)
  • 1855 Ernst Kullak, German pianist, and composer of parlor music, born in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia (d. 1914)
  • 1861 Karel Stecker, Czech organist, pedagogue, and composer of organ and sacred music, born on Kosmanos, Bohemia, Austrian Empire (d. 1918)
  • 1870 Charles Arnold Tournemire, French organist and composer, born in Bordeaux, France (d. 1939)
  • 1871 Léon Jessel, German light classical and operetta composer (The Parade of the Tin Soldiers; Schwarzwaldmädel (The Black Forest Girl)), born in Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin, Poland) (d. 1942)
  • 1882 Theodore Kosloff, Russian-born actor, ballet dancer and choreographer, born in Moscow, Russian Empire (d. 1956)
  • 1886 John Joseph Becker, American composer and conductor, born in Henderson, Kentucky (d. 1961)
  • 1890 Vinko Zganec, Croatian ethnomusicologist, born in Vratišinec, Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia (d. 1976)
  • 1897 "Blind" Willie Johnson, American gospel blues singer and guitarist ("Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground"), born in Pendleton, Texas (d. 1945)
  • 1897 Josef Stanislav, Czech pianist and composer, born in Hamburg, German Empire (d. 1971)
  • 1897 Rosa Ponselle [Ponzillo], American soprano opera diva ("Casta Diva"; La Forza del Destino - "Leonora"; Metropolitan Opera, 1918-37), born in Meriden, Connecticut (d. 1986)
  • 1898 Alexander Abramsky, Russian-Soviet composer, born in Lutsk, Ukraine, Russian Empire (d. 1985)
  • 1898 Gustaf Paulson, Swedish organist and composer (The Resurrection Symphony), born in Hälsingborg, Sweden (d. 1966)
  • 1900 Franz Salmhofer, Austrian conductor (Vienna State Opera, 1945-54), and composer (mostly of ballet and opera), born in Vienna (d. 1975)
  • 1900 Juan Tizol, Puerto Rican jazz trombonist (Duke Ellington), and composer ("Caravan"; "Perdido"), born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico (d. 1984)
  • 1901 Hans-Erich Apostel, Austrian composer (Sonata Ritmica), born in Karlsruhe, Germany (d. 1972)
  • 1903 Robin Milford, English composer, born in Oxford, England (d. 1959)

George Balanchine (1904-1983)

Russian-American ballet composer and choreographer who founded the New York City Ballet, born in St. Petersburgh, Russian Empire

  • 1908 Hammie Nixon [Nickerson], American blues harmonica player (Sleepy John Estes), born in Brownsville, Tennessee (d. 1984)
  • 1908 Melle Weersma, Dutch jazz arranger and composer ("Penny Serenade"), born in Harlingen, Netherlands (d. 1988)
  • 1909 Irving "Mouse" Randolph, American swing jazz trumpeter (Cab Calloway Orchestra), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1997)
  • 1911 Roberto Garcia Morillo, Argentine composer and music critic, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (d. 2003)
  • 1911 Suzanne Danco, Belgian operatic soprano singer, born in Brussels (d. 2000)
  • 1912 Harry Parry, Welsh jazz clarinetist and bandleader (BBC's Radio Rhythm Club), born in Bangor, Wales (d. 1956)
  • 1913 Verdina Shlonsky, Israeli pianist and avant-garde composer, born in Kremenchug, Ukraine, Russian Empire (d. 1990)
  • 1914 Dimitris Dragatakis, Greek composer, born in Platanoussa, Greece (d. 2001)
  • 1916 Henri Dutilleux, French composer (Tout un monde lointain, L'arbre des songes), born in Angers, France (d. 2013)
  • 1917 Albert "Pud" Brown, American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 1996)
  • 1920 William Warfield, American concert bass-baritone singer and actor (Show Boat), born in West Helena, Arkansas (d. 2002)
  • 1921 André Hodeir, French classical and jazz violinist, and composer, born in Paris (d. 2011)
  • 1923 Friedrich Zehm, German pianist and composer, born in Neusalz, Lower Silesia, Germany (d. 2007)
  • 1923 Leslie Bassett, American classical composer (Variations for Orchestra - Pulitzer Prize 1966), and educator (University of Michigan, 1952-92), born in Hanford, California (d. 2016)
  • 1924 J. J. Johnson, American composer and jazz trombonist, born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 2001)
  • 1926 Aurèle Nicolet, Swiss flautist (Berlin Philharmonic), and educator, born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland (d. 2016)
  • 1929 (Elijah) Doug Quattlebaum, American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter (Softee Man Blues), born in Florence, South Carolina (d. 1996)
  • 1929 Ron Richards, British record producer (Gerry and The Pacemakers; The Hollies), born in London (d. 2009)

Sam Cooke (1931-1964)

American singer and entrepreneur described as "the inventor of soul music" ("You Send Me"; "A Change Is Gonna Come"), born in Clarksdale, Mississippi

  • 1933 Jean-Louis Viale, French jazz drummer, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France (d. 1984)
  • 1940 Addie "Micki" Harris, American pop singer (Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"; "Soldier Boy"), born in Passaic, New Jersey (d. 1982)
  • 1940 Eberhard Weber, German acoustic and electric double bassist, cellist and chamber jazz and ambient music composer, born in Stuttgart, Germany
  • 1940 Tilo Medek [Müller-Medek], German composer (Die Todesfuge), musicologist, and music publisher, born in Jena, Germany (d. 2006)

Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010)

British band manager (New York Dolls; Sex Pistols; Bow Wow Wow) and musician, born in London

  • 1948 Gilbert Levine, American orchestral conductor, born in Brooklyn, New York
  • 1949 James "J.P." Pennington, American country-pop singer and guitarist (Exile), born in Berea, Kentucky
  • 1949 Steve Perry, American rock vocalist (Journey, 1977-87; 95-97 - "Don't Stop Believin'"; "Open Arms"), born in Hanford, California
  • 1949 Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, American drummer (E Street Band, 1972-74), born in Neptune, New Jersey
  • 1951 Dick Sims, American Hammond B-3 organist (Bob Seger; Eric Clapton), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 2011)
  • 1952 Teddy Gentry, American country music bassist (Alabama - "Mountain Music"), born in Fort Payne, Alabama
  • 1952 Teresa Kaban, Polish classical pianist and co-director of the International Festival of Rediscovered and Forgotten Music, born in Gliwice, Poland
  • 1953 Myung-Whun Chung, South Korean pianist and conductor (Chung Trio), born in Seoul, South Korea
  • 1956 Steve Riley, American rock drummer (L.A. Guns; W.A.S.P.), born in Revere, Massachusetts

Michael Hutchence (1960-1997)

Australian rock vocalist (INXS - "Devil Inside": "New Sensation"), and actor (Dogs in Space), born in Sydney, Australia

  • 1961 Daniel Johnston, American musician and visual artist (Hi, How Are You), born in Sacramento, California (d. 2019)
  • 1965 "DJ Jazzy" Jeff [Townes], American Grammy Award-winning hip-hop DJ and music producer (DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - "Parents Just Don't Understand"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1965 Ray Mayhew, English new wave rock drummer (Sigue Sigue Sputnik, 1985-89 - "Love Missile F-111"), born in Southampton, United Kingdom
  • 1965 Steven Adler [Michael Coletti], American rock drummer and songwriter (Guns & Roses, 1985-90), born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • 1968 Heath [Hiroshi Morie], Japanese rock bassist, singer and songwriter (X Japan), born in Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan (d. 2023)
  • 1977 Simone Menezes, Brazilian-Italian orchestra conductor, born in Brasilia, Brazil
  • 1980 (Elizabeth) "Lizz" Wright, American jazz and gospel vocalist ("Dreaming Wide Awake"), born in Hahira, Georgia
  • 1980 Ben Moody, American guitarist (Evanescence, 1995-2003 -"Bring Me To Life"), born in Little Rock, Arkansas
  • 1981 Willa Ford [Amanda Lee Williford], American pop singer, and actress, born in Ruskin, Florida
  • 1983 Barbara Kaszuba, Polish violinist, composer (Cheeky Trio), and educator, born in Poznań, Poland
  • 1985 Justin Hurwitz, American Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe-winning film composer (La La Land; Babylon), born in Los Angeles County, California
  • 1985 Orianthi [Panagaris], Greek-Australian rock session and touring guitarist (Alice Cooper, Carrie Underwood, Dave Stewart), and singer-songwriter (Believe), born in Adelaide, Australia
  • 1993 Netta Barzilai, Israeli singer (Eurovision song contest winner 2018), born in Hod HaSharon, Israel
  • 1998 Silentó [Ricky Hawk] American rapper ("Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)", born in Atlanta, Georgia