On This Day in Music: October 4

On October 4 in music history, 39 artists were born, 21 died and 7 other milestones happened, among them Janis Joplin (1970), Lady Gaga (2024) and Coldplay (2024).

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Highlights

October 4

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Standout moments for this date.

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin, rock singer (Down on Me), dies of a drug overdose at 27

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga released the album 'Joker: Folie à Deux – Music from the Motion Picture'

Coldplay

Coldplay released the album 'Moon Music'

Mercedes Sosa

Mercedes Sosa, Argentinian singer (b. 1935)

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Born on October 4

Albert de Klerk

Albert de Klerk, Dutch composer/conductor was born

Aldo Sprenger

Aldo Sprenger, Dutch pop guitarist (Kong-Phlegm) was born

Alfonso Letelier-Llonas

Alfonso Letelier-Llonas, composer was born

Barbara MacDonald

Barbara MacDonald, rocker (Timbuk 3) was born

Charles Ferdinand Lenepveu

Charles Ferdinand Lenepveu, composer was born

Clifton Davis

Clifton Davis, Chicago Ill, actor/singer (That's My Mama, Amen) was born

Domenico Corri

Domenico Corri, composer was born

Dottie West

Dottie West, country singer was born

Ekin Cheng Yee-Kin

Ekin Cheng Yee-Kin, Hong Kong actor and Cantopop singer was born

Francois-Louis Perne

Francois-Louis Perne, composer was born

Franz Weichlein

Franz Weichlein, composer was born

Friderika Bayer

Friderika Bayer, Hungarian singer was born

Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard

Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard, Apopka Fla, country singer (Betty's Bein' Bad) was born

Harris Rhoad

Harris Rhoad, rocker was born

Henry Schoenfeld

Henry Schoenfeld, composer was born

Henryk Pachulski

Henryk Pachulski, composer was born

James Fielder

James Fielder, Denton TX, rocker (Blood Sweat & Tears) was born

Jean-Louis Duport

Jean-Louis Duport, composer was born

Joao Marcellino Arroyo

Joao Marcellino Arroyo, composer was born

Jody Stephens

Jody Stephens, rock drummer (Big Star) was born

John Secada

John Secada, singer was born

Jozsef Soproni

Jozsef Soproni, composer was born

Juka

Juka, Japanese singer was born

Julien Clerc

Julien Clerc, French singer was born

Lena Katina

Lena Katina, Russian singer (t.A.T.u.) was born

Leon Orthel

Leon Orthel, composer was born

Leroy Van Dyke

Leroy Van Dyke, Spring Fork Mo, country singer (Walk on By) was born

Lil Mama

Lil Mama, American rapper was born

Mikolajus Konstantinas Ciurlionis

Mikolajus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, composer was born

Nina Carter

Nina Carter, London England, vocalist (Blonde on Blonde) was born

Noel Chiboust

Noel Chiboust, trumpeter/Sax was born

Nona Hendryx

Nona Hendryx, Trenton NJ, singer (LaBelle-Lady Marmalade) was born

Rene Defossez

Rene Defossez, composer was born

Rocío Dúrcal

Rocío Dúrcal, Spanish singer and actress (d. 2006) was born

Skip Heller

Skip Heller, American musician was born

Stephen Albert Emery

Stephen Albert Emery, composer was born

Tommaso Sogner

Tommaso Sogner, composer was born

Torben Ulrich

Torben Ulrich, Danish musician, writer, filmmaker and tennis player was born

Yuridia

Yuridia, Mexican singer was born

Died on October 4

Alexander Gray

Alexander Gray, singer (This is Music), dies at 74

Alfredo Kiel

Alfredo Kiel, composer, dies at 57

Art Farmer

Art Farmer, American jazz trumpet player (b. 1928)

Bill Challis

Bill Challis, arranger/Pianist, dies at 90

Christina Spierenburg

Christina Spierenburg, Dutch singer, dies at 56

Daniel Wood Gatton

Daniel Wood Gatton, guitarist, dies at 49

Edmund Eysler

Edmund Eysler, Austrian composer, dies at 75

Eleanore Sophia Maria Westenholz

Eleanore Sophia Maria Westenholz, composer, dies at 79

Erik Brødreskift (aka Grim)

Erik Brødreskift (aka Grim), Norwegian black metal musician (b. 1969)

George Frederick McKay

George Frederick McKay, composer, dies at 71

Glenn H Gould

Glenn H Gould, Canadian pianist, dies at 50

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin, rock singer (Down on Me), dies of a drug overdose at 27

Laurie Anders

Laurie Anders, singer, dies of cancer

Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn died

Louis Massonneau

Louis Massonneau, composer, dies at 82

Marie Gutheil-Schoder

Marie Gutheil-Schoder, German soprano (b. 1874)

Mercedes Sosa

Mercedes Sosa, Argentinian singer (b. 1935)

Mimis Plessas

Mimis Plessas died

Natalino Otto

Natalino Otto, Italian singer (b. 1912)

Sir Norman Wisdom

Sir Norman Wisdom, English comedian, singer-songwriter and actor (b. 1915)

Valentin Molitor

Valentin Molitor, composer, dies at 76

Releases & milestones on October 4

Alison Krauss

29th Country Music Association Award: Krauss Jackson win

Coldplay

Coldplay released the album 'Moon Music'

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Godspeed You! Black Emperor released the album '"No Title As of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead"'

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix released the album 'Joker: Folie à Deux – Music from the Motion Picture'

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga released the album 'Joker: Folie à Deux – Music from the Motion Picture'

Mae West

Musical "Sometime" with Mae West premieres in NYC

Tim McGraw

34th Country Music Association Award: Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill & Tim McGraw wins

More standout moments in October →