Musicians Born on March 2

  • 1555 Ludovico Spontoni, Italian Renaissance composer, baptized in Bologna, Papal States (d. pre 1609)
  • 1755 Antoine-Frederic Gresnick, Belgian composer, born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1799)
  • 1759 Johann Christian Friedrich Haeffner, German-Swedish organist, composer, conductor, choirmaster, and educator (Studentsång), born in Oberschönau, Saxony (d. 1833)
  • 1813 George Alexander Macfarren, British composer and musicologist, born in London, England (d. 1887)
  • 1815 Antonio Buzzolla, Italian composer, born in Adria, Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy (d. 1871)
  • 1824 [Friedrich] Bedřich Smetana, Czech composer (The Bartered Bride; Má Vlast; Moldau), born in Litomyšl, Bohemia (d. 1884)
  • 1838 David Duffle Wood, American blind composer (organist and choir master St. Stephen's Episcopal Church), born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1910)
  • 1865 Théophile "Théo" Ysaÿe, Belgian composer and pianist, born in Verviers, Belgium (d. 1918)
  • 1884 Léon Jongen, Belgian organist, composer, and academic, born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1969)
  • 1893 Maxime Dumoulin, French composer, born in Lille, France (d. 1972)
  • 1894 Renaat Veremans, Flemish organist, composer, and conductor (Flemish Opera, Antwerp, 1921-44), born in Lierre, Belgium (d. 1969)
  • 1899 Harald Søltoft Agersnap, Danish cellist, pianist, conductor, and composer (Royal Danish Theatre, 1931-66), born in Vinding, Denmark (d. 1982)
  • 1900 Kurt Weill, German-American composer and collaborator of Bertolt Brecht (Die Dreigroschenoper - The Threepenny Opera), born in Dessau, Germany (d. 1950)
  • 1905 Marc Blitzstein, American opera and theater composer, librettist (The Cradle Will Rock), and translator (Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill works), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1964)
  • 1909 Hanoch Jacoby, Israeli violist (Israel Philharmonic, 1958-74), educator, and composer, born in Königsberg, German Empire (d. 1990)
  • 1912 (Theodore) "Red" Saunders, American jazz drummer and bandleader, based in Chicago, born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1981)
  • 1913 Celedonio Romero, Spanish-American guitarist (The Romero Guitar Quartet), composer (La Catedral de Colonia), and poet, born in Cienfuegos, Cuba (d. 1996)
  • 1916 Bernard George Stevens, British composer, born in London, England (d. 1983)

Desi Arnaz (1917-1986)

Cuban-American singer ("Babalú"), bandleader, actor (I Love Lucy - "Ricky Riccardo"), and television producer (The Untouchables), born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

  • 1917 John Gardner, English classical composer, born in Manchester, England (d. 2011)
  • 1919 Tamara Toumanova, Georgian-American prima ballerina (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo), born in Tyumen, Russian (d. 1996)
  • 1920 Enrique Franco, Spanish pianist, composer (Cuerda de presos), music promoter, and broadcaster (National Spanish Radio; Radio Clásica), born in Madrid Spain (d. 2009)
  • 1921 Robert Simpson, British classical composer, and broadcaster (BBC), born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England (d. 1997)
  • 1922 Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, American jazz saxophonist (Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band), born in Culver City, California (d. 1986)
  • 1922 Eric Feldbush [Désiré Feldbusch], Belgian cellist, conductor, and composer (Pastels), born in Grivegnée, Belgium (d. 2007)
  • 1922 Mario Zafred, Italian composer, music critic, and opera director, born in Trieste, Italy (d. 1987)
  • 1923 Orrin Keepnews, American jazz producer and founder of Riverside Records and Milestone Records labels, born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2015)
  • 1924 Alexander "Papa" Lightfoot, American blues singer and harmonica player, born in Natchez, Mississippi (d. 1971)
  • 1925 Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis [Charles Thompson], American blues musician (Cold Hands), born in Tippo, Mississippi (d. 1995)
  • 1927 Siegfried Köhler, German composer (Tausend Sterne sind ein Dom), born in Meissen, Germany (d. 1984)
  • 1927 Witold Szalonek, Polish composer (Satire), educator, and musicologist, born in Czechowice-Dziedzice, Poland (d. 2001) [1]
  • 1928 John Manduell, British-based South African composer and educator (Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, 1973-96), born in Johannesburg, Union of South Africa (d. 2017)
  • 1930 John Cullum, American Tony Award-winning stage and screen singer and actor (Hamlet; 1776; Hawaii; Northern Exposure - "Holling"; The Middle -"Big Mike"), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
  • 1934 Bernard Rands, British-American composer (Wildtrack), born in Sheffield, England
  • 1934 Dottie Rambo [Joyce Luttrell], American gospel singer and songwriter, born in Madisonville, Kentucky (d. 2008)
  • 1936 Buell Neidlinger, American pop, jazz, and classical session cellist and double bassist (Cecil Taylor; Frank Zappa; Duane Eddy), born in New York City (d. 2018)
  • 1938 Simon Estes, American bass-baritone (Wonton, Don Carlos), born in Centerville, Iowa
  • 1939 Gerard van Tongeren, Dutch pop guitarist and singer (The Buffoons - "Tomorrow Is Another Day; "It's The End"), born in Enschede, Netherlands
  • 1940 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)
  • 1942 Lou Reed, American rock vocalist, songwriter and guitarist (Velvet Underground - "Sweet Jane"; solo - "Walk On The Wild Side"), born in New York City (d. 2013)
  • 1942 Luc Plamondon, French Canadian musical lyricist, born in Saint-Raymond, Quebec
  • 1943 (Daniel) Tony Meehan, British rock drummer (Vipers; Drifters: Shadows), born in Hampstead, North West London, England (d. 2005)
  • 1943 Stephen Dickman, American composer and librettist (Tibetan Dreams; Rabbi Nathan's Prayer), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1944 Leif Segerstam, Finnish violinist, conductor, and composer of 342 symphonies (...and counting!), born in Vaasa, Finland
  • 1945 Derek Watkins, British trumpet player and composer ("The Spy Who Loved Me"; "Skyfall"), born in Reading, England (d. 2013)
  • 1946 Bobby Eli [Eli Tatarsky], American session and touring guitarist (Philadelphia International Records; Sigma Sound; Salsoul Orchestra), songwriter, and producer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2023) [1]
  • 1948 Larry Carlton, American jazz and rock session and touring guitarist (Crusaders; Joni Mitchell; Steely Dan), born in Torrance, California
  • 1948 Rory Gallagher, Irish rock and blues guitarist and songwriter ("Born on the Wrong Side of Time"), born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland (d. 1995)
  • 1949 Alain Chamfort [Le Govic], French rock singer-songwriter, and piano player, born in Paris, France
  • 1950 Karen Carpenter, American pop vocalist and drummer ("We've Only Just Begun"; "Rainy Days And Mondays"; "Top Of The World"), born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 1983)
  • 1953 William Simmons, American R&B saxophonist and keyboardist (Midnight Star - "No Parking On The Dance Floor"; "Operator"), born in the USA
  • 1954 Hunt Sales, American rock drummer (Todd Rundgren; Iggy Pop; Tin Machine), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • 1955 Jawanza Kobie, American jazz pianist and composer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1955 Jay Osmond, American singer and drummer (Osmond Brothers - "One Way Ticket to Anywhere"), born in Ogden, Utah
  • 1956 John Cowsill, American rock drummer (The Cowsills - "We Can Fly"; Beach Boys, 2000-present), born in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 1956 Mark Evans, Australian rock bassist (AC/DC), born in Melbourne, Victoria
  • 1959 Larry Stewart, American country singer (Restless Heart - "Alright Already"), born in Paducah, Kentucky
  • 1961 Simone Young, Australian conductor (Hamburg State Opera and Hamburg Philharmonic, 2005-15), born in Sydney, Australia

Jon Bon Jovi (62 years old)

1962 American rock singer-songwriter (Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name"; "Who Says You Can't Go Home"), born in Sayreville, New Jersey

  • 1965 Wolfgang Muthspiel, Austrian jazz guitarist, born in Judenburg, Austria
  • 1966 Stevie Rachelle, American hard rock vocalist (Tuff - "What Comes Around Goes Around"), born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
  • 1967 Dennis Seaton, British reggae-rock singer (Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1970 Alexander Armstrong, British comedian, TV presenter and baritone singer (Armstrong and Miller, Pointless), born in Rothbury, Northumberland

Chris Martin (47 years old)

1977 British rock singer-songwriter, and piano player (Coldplay - "Viva la Vida"), born in Exeter, Devon, England

  • 1985 Luke Pritchard, British rock singer and guitarist (The Kooks - Inside In/Inside Out), born in Worthing, West Sussex, England
  • 1988 James Arthur, British pop singer ("Say You Won't Let Go"), born in Middlesbrough, England
  • 1988 Keith Jack, British pop and theater singer and actor, born in Midlothian, Scotland
  • 1990 Luke Combs, American country music singer-songwriter ("This One's for You"), born in Huntersville, North Carolina
  • 1997 Becky G [Rebbeca Gomez], American singer and actress (Mayores), born in Inglewood, California