- 1486 Martin Agricola [Sohr], German Renaissance composer, cantor, and music theorist, born in Świebodzin, Bohemian Silesia (now Poland) (d. 1556)
- 1673 James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, English aristocrat, eponym of Handel's Chandos Anthems, born in Herefordshire, England (d. 1744)
- 1683 François de Lacroix, French priest, composer, maitre de musique (Paris Sainte-Chapelle, 1726-45), born in Senlis, France (d. 1759)
- 1692 Rynoldus Popma van Oevering, Dutch composer, born in Wergea, Netherlands (d. 1781)
- 1695 Giuseppe Sammartini, Italian oboe virtuoso and late Baroque/early classical composer who served the court of the Prince of Wales, born in Milan, Duchy of Milan (d. 1750)
- 1702 Jose Melchior de Nebra Blascu, Spanish composer, born in Calatayud, Spain (d. 1768)
- 1728 Charles Joseph Sohier, French violinist and composer, born in Lille, France (d. 1759)
- 1791 José Melchor Gomis, Spanish Romantic composer, born in Ontinyent, Spain (d. 1836)
- 1794 Kaspar Masek, Czech-Slovenian composer, born in Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia (d. 1873)
- 1798 Ferdinand Simon Gassner, Austrian composer and music writer, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1851)
- 1803 Henri Herz, Austrian pianist and composer, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1888)
- 1807 Ludwig Erk, German composer and folk song collector, born in Wetzlar (d. 1883)
- 1838 Max Bruch, German composer (Kol Nidre), born in Cologne, Kingdom of Prussia (d. 1920)
- 1850 (Franz) Xaver Scharwenka, German pianist, educator, and composer (Mataswintha), born in Samter, Grand Duchy of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia (now Szamotuły, Poland) (d. 1924)
- 1856 Giuseppe Martucci, Italian composer, born in Capua, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (d. 1909)
- 1867 Georges Martin Witkowski, French conductor and composer, born in Mostaganem, Algeria (d. 1943)
- 1868 Vittorio Monti, Italian composer, born in Naples, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1922)
- 1872 Alexander Scriabin, Russian composer (Prometheus) and pianist, born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1915)
- 1873 Karl Straube, German organist and conductor, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1950)
- 1878 Dame Adeline Genée, Danish-British ballerina, born in Aarhus, Denmark (d. 1970)
- 1880 Yuliya Veysberg, Russian music critic and composer, born in Orenburg, Russia (d. 1942)
- 1899 Sophie-Carmen "Sonia" Eckhardt-Gramatté, Russian-Canadian pianist and composer, born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1974) [1]
- 1900 Pierre-Octave Ferroud, French composer (Sarabande, Jeunesse), born in Chasselay, Rhône, France (d. 1936)
- 1902 Mark Brunswick, American composer, born in New York City (d. 1971)
- 1903 Boris Blacher, German composer (Orchester-Ornament), born in Yingkou, China (d. 1975)
- 1903 Maurice Abravanel, American classical music conductor, born in Thessaloniki, Greece (d. 1993)
- 1903 Stanley Smith, American actor and singer (King of Jazz; Soup to Nuts; Good News), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1974)
- 1908 Menachem Avidom, Israeli composer, born in Stanislaviv, Austria-Hungary (d. 1995)
- 1911 Yannis Papaioannou, Greek composer and teacher, born in Kavala, Greece (d. 1989)
- 1916 Philip Bezanson, American composer, born in Athol, Massachusetts (d. 1975)
- 1918 Buddy Weed, American pianist (Penthouse Party), born in Ossining, New York (d. 1997)
- 1920 Earl Kim, Korean-American composer, born in Dinuba, California (d. 1998)
- 1922 Finn Einar Mortensen, Norwegian composer, born in Oslo, Norway (d. 1983)
- 1924 Earl Scruggs, American bluegrass banjo player (Flatt & Scruggs - "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"; "Ballad of Jed Clampett"), born in Flint Hill, North Carolina (d. 2012)
- 1934 Bobby Lord, American country singer (Ozark Jubilee), born in Sanford, Florida (d. 2008)
- 1935 Nino Tempo [Antonino LoTempio], American session saxophonist and pop vocalist ("Deep Purple"; "Sister James"), born in Niagara Falls, New York
- 1935 Paul Wilson, American doo-wop baritone singer (Flamingos, 1953-64 - "I Only Have Eyes For You"; "Lovers Never Say Goodbye"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1988)
- 1936 Ebo Taylor, Ghanaian highlife and Afrobeat musician and composer, born in Cape Coast, Gold Coast
- 1937 Doris Troy [Higginsen], American R&B singer and songwriter ("Just One Look"), born in the Bronx, New York (d. 2004)
- 1937 Paolo Conte, Italian singer, born in Asti, Italy
- 1938 Adriano Celentano, Italian singer and actor, born in Greco
- 1940 Laudir de Oliveira, Brazilian percussionist (Sérgio Mendes; Chicago, 1973-81), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (d. 2017)
- 1940 Van McCoy, American musician and songwriter ("The Hustle"), born in Englewood, New Jersey (d. 1979)
- 1943 Barry Altschul, American hard bop and free jazz drummer (Paul Bley, Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton), born in New York City
Syd Barrett (1946-2006)
British guitarist and singer-songwriter (Pink Floyd, 1964-68 - "See Emily Play"; solo -"The Madcap Laughs"), born in Cambridge, England
- 1947 Jacques Bolognesi, French jazz trombonist and accordion player (Hermetotico), born in Gap, France
- 1947 Sandy Denny, English singer-songwriter (Fairport Convention - "If You Gotta Go"), born in London (d. 1978)
- 1949 Chris Laurence, British classical, jazz and session double bassist, born in London
- 1951 Kim Wilson, American musician (Fabulous Thunderbirds), born in Detroit, Michigan
- 1953 Malcolm Young, Scottish guitarist (AC/DC - "Highway to Hell"), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 2017)
- 1959 Kathy Sledge, American vocalist (Sister Sledge - "We are Family"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Michael Houser (1962-2002)
American guitarist (Widespread Panic), born in Boone, North Carolina
- 1964 Mark O'Toole, English musician (Frankie Goes to Hollywood - "Relax"), born in Liverpool, England
- 1964 Yuri, Mexican actress and singer, born in Veracruz, Mexico
- 1966 A. R. Rahman, Indian composer, born in Madras, India
- 1967 Peter Loran, American rock vocalist (Trixter - "Give It To Me Good"), born in Teaneck, New Jersey
- 1971 Gary Wiseman, American punk-rock drummer, born in Tyler, Texas
- 1972 Nek [Filippo Neviani], Italian singer-songwriter, born in Sassuolo, Modena
- 1975 Yukana, Japanese voicer actress and singer, born in Futtsu, Japan
- 1978 Nikki Einfeld, Canadian coloratura soprano, born in Manitoba
- 1981 Mike Jones, American rapper, born in Houston, Texas
- 1986 Alex Turner, English musician (Arctic Monkeys), born in High Green, Sheffield