Events in Music
Music History
1964-03-28 Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London unveils figures of The Beatles; they later appear on the Sgt. Pepper album cover
- 1966-03-25 Beatles pose for photographer Robert Whitaker with mutilated dolls and butchered meat for album cover of "Yesterday & Today", it is later pulled from circulation and replaced with a different photo
Birthdays in Music
- 1920-11-10 William S. Harvey, American graphic designer and album cover artist (The Doors; The Stooges; Tim Buckley), born in New York City (d. 1993)
- 1923-09-05 Bob Cato, American photographer, graphic artist and Grammy Award-winning album cover designer (Columbia Records; United Artists), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1999)
- 1927-07-04 Reid Miles, American photographer, and album cover art designer (Blue Note Records, 1955-67), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1993)
- 1928-02-09 Frank Frazetta [Frazzetta], American fantasy illustrator of comic book, paperback, album cover art, born in Brooklyn, New York City (d. 2010)
- 1931-02-04 Barry Feinstein, American portrait photographer and album cover designer (Bob Dylan; Peter, Paul & Mary; Janis Joplin; George Harrison), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2011)
- 1932-01-12 John Berg, American art director (Columbia Records, 1961-85), winner of 4 Grammy Awards for album art, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2015)
- 1932-03-07 Ed Thrasher, American Grammy Award-winning art director (Warner Brothers Records, 1964-79), and photographer (album art for Frank Sinatra; Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead), born in Glendale, California (d. 2006)
- 1932-04-09 Abdul Mati [Matias Klarwein], French artist known for his works used on music album covers (Santana's Abraxus; Miles Davis' Bitches Brew; Osibisa's Heads; Jon Hassel's Dream Theory), born in Hamburg, Germany (d. 2002)
- 1932-06-25 Peter Blake, British visual artist who designed The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover, born in Dartford, Kent, England
- 1933-05-23 Gary Burden, American artist and pioneer of album cover art (Neil Young; Graham Nash; The Doors), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2018)
- 1934-04-06 Guy Peellaert, Belgian graphic artist, photographer (Rock Dreams), movie poster and album cover designer (David Bowie - "Diamond Dogs'; Rolling Stones - "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll"), born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 2008)
- 1934-07-14 Lee Friedlander, American portrait, and 'social landscape' photographer, and album cover artist (John Coltrane, Peggy Lee, Miles Davis, Mose Allison), born in Aberdeen, Washington
- 1936-12-05 Robert Freeman, English photo-journalist and graphic designer (early Beatles album art and film posters), born in London (d. 2019) [1]
- 1938-01-02 David Bailey, British fashion and portraiture photographer(Vogue; Alice Cooper "Billion Dollar Babies" album cover art), and director, born in Leytonstone, Essex, England
- 1938-04-29 Klaus Voormann, German rock bassist (Manfred Mann - "Mighty Quinn"; John Lennon; George Harrison; Harry Nilsson; Carly Simon), and album cover artist (Beatles - Revolver; Ringo Starr - Ringo), born in Berlin, Germany
- 1938-09-06 Henry Diltz, American music photographer (Woodstock; Monterey Pop Festival; album covers), born in Kansas City, Missouri
- 1939-03-05 Norman Seeff, South African-American photographer, filmmaker, and album cover artist (Joni Mitchell; Captain & Tenille; Fleetwood Mac), born in Johannesburg, South Africa
- 1939-07-30 Tom Wilkes, American photographer, Grammy Award-winning art director, poster and album cover designer (George Harrison; Rolling Stones; Carpenters, Sir Doug; Janis Joplin; Sandpipers), born in Long Beach, California (d. 2009)
- 1939-08-31 Jim McCrary, American photographer and album cover artist (Tapestry: Ticket to Ride), born in Los Angeles (d. 2012)
- 1939-09-14 Guy Webster, American celebrity portrait photographer, album cover artist (The Byrds; The Mamas & the Papas; Taj Mahal; Rolling Stones), and educator, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2019)
- 1939-10-07 Joel Brodsky, American photographer, created over 400 album covers (The Doors; Isaac Hayes; Ohio Players), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2007)
- 1940-02-05 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)
- 1940-06-17 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)
- 1940-10-10 Mouse [Stanley Miller] American artist, notable for psychedelic rock concert poster designs and album art (Grateful Dead; Journey), born in Fresno, California
- 1940-12-03 Kishin Shinoyama, Japanese photographer, including album cover art (Saori Minami; John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy), born in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
- 1940-12-28 Neon Park [Martin Muller], American illustrator of album covers (Little Feat; Frank Zappa), born in Berkeley, California (d. 1993)
- 1941-09-01 John Van Hamersveld, American graphic artist of album cover art (Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour; Leo Kottke; Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street; Gaslight Anthem), movie and concert posters, born in Baltimore, Maryland
- 1941-12-28 Bob Seidemann, American photographer and album cover artist (Blind Faith; Jerry Garcia), born in New York City (d. 2017)
- 1942-01-21 Martin Sharp, Australian cartoonist, album cover artist songwriter (Cream), and filmmaker, born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2013)
- 1943-04-30 David King, British graphic designer (album cover art for Jimi Hendrix and The Who), photographer (I Am King), and historian (The Commissar Vanishes), born in Isleworth, England (d. 2016)
Robert Crumb (80 years old)
1943-08-30 American cartoonist (Father Time; Fritz the Cat) and album cover artist (Janis Joplin; Grateful Dead), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1944-02-28 Storm Thorgerson, British graphic designer for album art, and music video director (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, The Cranberries), born in Potters Bar, Middlesex (d. 2013)
- 1944-05-02 Tony Lane, American art director (Rolling Stone magazine), and Grammy Award-winning album cover art designer (Carly Simon - Boys in the Trees; Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water; Michael Jackson - Bad), born in New York City (d. 2016)
- 1944-05-25 Herbert Worthington lll, American photographer and album cover artist (Stevie Nix; Fleetwood Mac), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2013)
- 1944-05-30 John Casado, American graphic artist (MacIntosh; New Line Cinema), album cover designer (Doobie Brothers, Aaron Neville, Barry White, and photographer, born in East Los Angeles, California
- 1944-08-31 Roger Dean, British artist and album cover designer (Yes; Osibia; Asia), born in Ashford, Kent, England
- 1945-03-30 Richard Evans, British graphic designer, album cover designer (The Who; The Doors; Pink Floyd; Louis Armstrong), born in Wilmslow, Cheshire
- 1945-04-24 John Pasche, British graphic artist, album cover and concert poster designer (Rolling Stones' logo; Chrysalis Records, 1981-91), born in England
- 1946-09-23 Aubrey "Po" Powell, British co-founder of album cover design company "Hipgnosis" (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Yes), born in Sussex, England
- 1947-01-11 Bill Narum, American counter-culture figure, illustrator and rock poster and album art designer (ZZ Top), born in Austin, Texas (d. 2009) [1]
- 1947-01-27 Calvin "Cal" Schenkel, American illustrator, graphic designer, and album cover designer (Frank Zappa; Captain Beefheart; Tom Waits), born in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
- 1947-02-05 George Underwood, British illustrator, and graphic designer for books and album cover art (Bowie; T. Rex; The Fixx), born in Bromley, England
- 1947-07-10 Trevor Key, British photographer and graphic designer, known for his work for album cover art (Mike Oldfield; Phil Collins; New Order; Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), born in Hull, England (d. 1995) [1]
- 1947-07-31 Ian Beck, British children's illustrator and author, who illustrated Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album cover, born in Brighton, East Sussex
- 1948-02-11 Lynn Goldsmith, American photographer, filmmaker, recording artist, and album cover designer (Grand Funk Railroad; Patti Smith; Frank Zappa; Paul Simon), born in Detroit Michigan
- 1948-04-13 Brian Griffen, British photographer (album cover art for Depeche Mode, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson), music video, commercial and documentary film maker, born in Birmingham, England
- 1948-10-06 Paula Scher, American graphic designer, album cover designer (Boston; Bob James), painter and art educator, born in Washington, D.C.
- 1949-10-23 Tony Wright, British graphic artist and album cover designer (Traffic - "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"; Steve Winwood - "Arc Of A Diver"; The B-52's), born in London, England
- 1949-11-24 Jim Warren, American artist whose work includes album cover art for Bob Seger and Prince, born in Long Beach, California
- 1950-04-18 Ed Caraeff, American photographer, illustrator, and album cover art director (Steely Dan, Bee Gees, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Diamond, Tom Waits, Hall & Oates), born in Santa Monica, California
- 1952-03-19 Gerard Huerta, American graphic designer and album cover artist (CBS Records - AC/DC, Boston, Blue Oyster Cult, Rupert Holmes), born in Los Angeles, California
- 1954-05-22 Aaron Rapoport, American photographer, and music album cover designer (Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling; Supertramp - Breakfast In America), born in San Mateo County, California
- 1956-10-19 George Holzka, American fashion, portrait, commercial, and Grammy Award-winning album cover photographer, born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- 1958-09-23 Danielle Dax, British avant-garde rock musician, producer and album art designer, born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England
- 1963-01-20 Mark Ryden, American Pop Surrealist painter, album cover art creator (Michael Jackson; Aerosmith; 4 Non-Blondes), born in Medford, Oregon
- 1963-10-13 Michael Lavine, American portrait photographer and contributor to several grunge rock album art packages (Nirvana; Soundgarden), born in San Francisco, California
- 1965-02-22 Dean Karr, American photographer, album cover designer, and music video and television advertisement director, born in Seattle, Washington
- 1965-12-04 Rob Smits, Dutch experimental rock drummer (Kong) and album cover artist (Broken Hope), born in The Netherlands
- 1968-10-29 Stanley Donwood [Dan Rickwood], British writer and album art designer (Radiohead; Thom Yorke), born in Essex, England
- 1974-05-31 Adrian Tomine, American contemporary cartoonist (Optic Nerve; The New Yorker), and album art creator (The Eels; Yo La Tango), born in Sacramento, California
- 1977-11-15 Logan Whitehurst, American musician, singer-songwriter (Tin Drum; The Velvet Teen), graphic artist, and album cover artist, born in Los Banos, California (d. 2006)
- 1991-02-07 Spencer Elden, baby and model on grunge rock band Nirvana's "Nevermind" album cover (1991), born in Los Angeles, California
Deaths in Music
- 1992-07-22 David Wojuarowicz, American artist (U2 single "One" sleeve), dies of AIDS at 37
- 1993-02-03 Reid Miles, American photographer, and album cover art designer (Blue Note Records, 1955-67), dies at 65
- 1993-07-15 William S. Harvey, American graphic designer and album cover artist (The Doors; The Stooges; Tim Buckley), dies at 72
- 1993-09-01 Neon Park [Martin Muller], American illustrator of album covers (Little Feat; Frank Zappa), dies of ALS at 52
- 1996-12-06 Trevor Key, British photographer and graphic designer, known for his album cover art (Mike Oldfield; Phil Collins; New Order; OMD), dies of a brain tumor at 48 [1]
- 1999-03-19 Bob Cato, American photographer, graphic artist and Grammy Award-winning album cover designer (Columbia Records; United Artists), of complications of Alzheimer's disease at 75
- 2002-03-07 Abdul Mati [Matias Klarwein], French artist known for his works used on music album covers (Santana's Abraxus; Miles Davis' Bitches Brew; Osibisa's Heads; Jon Hassel's Dream Theory), dies at 69
- 2006-08-05 Ed Thrasher, American Grammy Award-winning art director (Warner Brothers Records, 1964-79), and photographer (album art for Frank Sinatra; Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead), dies of cancer at 74
- 2006-12-03 Logan Whitehurst, American musician, singer-songwriter (Tin Drum; The Velvet Teen), graphic artist, and album cover designer, dies of brain cancer at 29
- 2007-03-01 Joel Brodsky, American photographer, credited with photographing over 400 album covers, dies of a heart attack at 67 [1]
- 2008-06-01 Alton Kelley, American graphic artist, known for concert posters and album cover art (Grateful Dead -"Workingman's Dead"; Steve Miller Band - "Book of Dreams"), dies at 67
- 2008-11-17 Guy Peellaert, Belgian graphic artist, photographer (Rock Dreams), movie poster and album cover designer (David Bowie -"Diamond Dogs'; Rolling Stones - "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll"), dies of cancer at 74
- 2009-06-28 Tom Wilkes, American photographer, art director, poster and album cover designer (George Harrison; Rolling Stones; Carpenters, Sir Doug; Janis Joplin; Sandpipers), dies at 69
- 2009-11-18 Bill Narum, American counter-culture figure, illustrator and rock poster and album art designer (ZZ Top), dies at 62
- 2010-05-10 Frank Frazetta [Frazzetta], American fantasy illustrator of comic book, paperback, album cover art, dies of a stroke at 82
- 2011-10-20 Barry Feinstein, American portrait photographer and album cover designer (Bob Dylan; Peter, Paul & Mary; Janis Joplin; George Harrison), dies at 80
- 2012-04-29 Jim McCrary, American photographer (album covers such as Tapestry, Ticket to Ride), dies of a chronic nervous system disorder at 72
- 2013-11-10 Herbert Worthington lll, American photographer and album cover artist (Stevie Nix; Fleetwood Mac), dies of heart disease at 69 (exact date uncertain, last seen on the 6th, body discovered on 10th)
- 2013-12-01 Martin Sharp, Australian cartoonist, album cover artist songwriter (Cream), and filmmaker, dies of emphysema at 71
- 2014-05-12 H. R. Giger, Swiss surrealist artist (album cover art for ELP - "Brain Salad Surgery"; Debbie Harry - "'KooKoo"), and Oscar-winning special effects designer (Alien), dies from injuries from a fall at 74
- 2015-10-11 John Berg, American art director, 4-time Grammy Award-winner for album art (Columbia Records, 1961-85), dies of pneumonia at 83
- 2016-01-01 Tony Lane, American art director (Rolling Stone magazine), and Grammy Award-winning album cover art designer (Carly Simon - Boys in the Trees; Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water; Michael Jackson - Bad), dies of brain cancer at 71
- 2016-05-11 David King, British graphic designer (album cover art for Jimi Hendrix and The Who), photographer (I Am King), and historian (The Commissar Vanishes), dies at 73
- 2017-11-27 Bob Seidemann, American photographer and album cover artist (Blind Faith; Jerry Garcia), dies at 75
- 2018-03-07 Gary Burden, American artist and one of the pioneers for the concept of album cover art (designed covers for Neil Young, Nash, The Doors), dies at 84
- 2019-02-05 Guy Webster, American celebrity portrait photographer, album cover artist (The Byrds; The Mamas & the Papas; Taj Mahal; Rolling Stones), and educator, dies of liver cancer and diabetes complications at 79
- 2019-11-06 Robert Freeman, English photo-journalist and graphic designer (early Beatles album art and film posters), dies of pneumonia at 82 [1]