On This Day in Music: April 23

On April 23 in music history, 49 artists were born, 31 died and 9 other milestones happened, among them Roy Orbison (1936), Sergei Prokofiev (1891) and Taylor Swift (2020).

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Highlights

April 23

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Standout moments for this date.

Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison, Vernon Tx, rocker (Pretty Woman) was born

Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev, Sontsovka, Ukraine, composer (Peter and the Wolf) was born

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift released the album 'Live from Clear Channel Stripped 2008'

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Opera "Il Ré Pastore" is produced (Salzburg)

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Born on April 23

Albert Coates

Albert Coates, St Petersburg Russia, conductor/composer (Eagle) was born

Alexander Reinagle

Alexander Reinagle, composer was born

Alexandre-Auguste Robineau

Alexandre-Auguste Robineau, composer was born

Andreas Kneller

Andreas Kneller, composer was born

Arthur Farwell

Arthur Farwell, composer was born

Arthur Frackenpohl

Arthur Frackenpohl, Irving NJ, composer (Natural Superiority of Music) was born

Ary Verhaar

Ary Verhaar, composer was born

Barry Fratelli

Barry Fratelli, Scottish bassist (The Fratellis) was born

Brent Muscat

Brent Muscat, rocker (Faster Pussycat-Wake Me When It's Over) was born

Bunky Green

Bunky Green, American musician was born

Carlos Dengler

Carlos Dengler, American musician (Interpol) was born

Chris Sharma

Chris Sharma, American rock climber/boulderer was born

Cow Cow Davenport

Cow Cow Davenport, American pianist (d. 1955) was born

Dennis Bayne Culp

Dennis Bayne Culp, American singer/songwriter was born

Donald Nichols Tweedy

Donald Nichols Tweedy, composer was born

Eugene-Prosper Prevost

Eugene-Prosper Prevost, composer was born

Frederick Hawkins

Frederick Hawkins, dancer was born

Gen

Gen, [Simon Matthews], English pop drummer (Jesus Jones-Zeroes & Ones) was born

Glenn Cornick

Glenn Cornick, rock bassist (Jethro Tull-Thick as a Brick) was born

Henry Barraud

Henry Barraud, composer was born

Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson

Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Icelandic music composer was born

Hugh Davies

Hugh Davies, composer was born

Ildephons Haas

Ildephons Haas, composer was born

Jacqueline Boyer

Jacqueline Boyer, French singer was born

Jan Adam Reincken

Jan Adam Reincken, composer was born

Jan Meyerowitz

Jan Meyerowitz, composer was born

Johann Friedrich Doles

Johann Friedrich Doles, composer was born

Jón Þór Birgisson

Jón Þór Birgisson, Icelandic musician and singer (Sigur Rós) was born

Kenji Kawai

Kenji Kawai, Japanese composer was born

Lauri Ylönen

Lauri Ylönen, Finnish singer (The Rasmus) was born

Leslie French

Leslie French, actor/singer (More than a Miracle) was born

Louis Barron

Louis Barron, composer was born

Louis-Antoine Julien

Louis-Antoine Julien, conductor was born

Narada

Narada, [Michael Walden], Mich, rocker (Don't Want Nobody Else) was born

Nathan "Dambuza" Mdledle

Nathan "Dambuza" Mdledle, singer was born

Otakar Sini

Otakar Sini, composer was born

Patricia Manterola

Patricia Manterola, Mexican singer was born

Pierre Dupont

Pierre Dupont, song writer was born

Ray Peterson

Ray Peterson, Denton Tx, singer (Tell Laura I Love Her) was born

Robert Fayrfax

Robert Fayrfax, composer was born

Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison, Vernon Tx, rocker (Pretty Woman) was born

Ruggero Leoncavallo

Ruggero Leoncavallo, Italian composer (I pagliacci/Zaza) was born

Russell Smith

Russell Smith, composer was born

Saskia

Saskia, [Trudy van den Berg], singer (S & Serge, Spinning Wheel) was born

Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev, Sontsovka, Ukraine, composer (Peter and the Wolf) was born

Steve Clark

Steve Clark, Hillsborough England, rock guitarist (Def Leppard) was born

Taio Cruz

Taio Cruz, London/English R&B, Pop, Hip Hop singer was born

Talivaldis Kenins

Talivaldis Kenins, composer was born

Violet Gordon-Woodhouse

Violet Gordon-Woodhouse, British musician (d. 1951) was born

Died on April 23

Andre Caplet

Andre Caplet, French composer (Le miroir de Jesus), dies at 45

Arno

Arno died

Cajetan Kolberer

Cajetan Kolberer, composer, dies at 63

Clement Harris

Clement Harris, composer, dies at 25

David Thomas

David Thomas died

Elisabeth Schumann

Elisabeth Schumann, singer, dies

Erik Gustaf Geijer

Erik Gustaf Geijer, composer, dies at 64

Franz Sebastian Haindl

Franz Sebastian Haindl, composer, dies at 85

Fredi

Fredi died

Harold Arlen

Harold Arlen, [Hyman Arluck], US composer, murdered at 81

Jean-Bernard Pommier

Jean-Bernard Pommier died

Jean-Henri D'Anglebert

Jean-Henri D'Anglebert, composer, dies

Jesus Castillo

Jesus Castillo, composer, dies at 68

Johann Samuel Endler

Johann Samuel Endler, composer, dies at 67

Johnny Thunders

Johnny Thunders, American musician (b. 1952)

Karel Komzak

Karel Komzak, composer, dies at 54

Krzystzof Komeda

Krzystzof Komeda, composer, dies at 37

Leonard Kuntstat

Leonard Kuntstat, blues discographer, dies at 70

Lonesome Sundown

Lonesome Sundown, blues singer/guitarist, dies at 66

Loreto Vittori

Loreto Vittori, composer, dies at 69

Lulu Roman

Lulu Roman died

Mihael Omerza

Mihael Omerza, composer, dies at 62

Milva

Milva died

Pete Ham

Pete Ham, rocker (Badfinger), commits suicide by hanging himself at 27

Robert Patrick

Robert Patrick died

Tom King

Tom King, American songwriter and musician (b. 1943)

Tomas de Torrejon y Velasco

Tomas de Torrejon y Velasco, composer, dies at 83

Victor Wood

Victor Wood died

Waltraut Haas

Waltraut Haas died

William Henry Holmes

William Henry Holmes, composer, dies at 73

William Orlamond

William Orlamond, actor (Flesh & Devil, Words & Music), dies at 89

Releases & milestones on April 23

Ave Mujica

Ave Mujica released the album 'Completeness'

Brooks & Dunn

32nd Academy of Country Music Awards: LeAnn Rines & Brooks & Dunn

Gilbert & Sullivan

Gilbert & Sullivan's opera "Patience" produced in London

Jerry Bock

Jerry Bock & S Harnick's musical "She Loves Me," premieres in NYC

Pete Townshend

Peter Townshend's musical "Tommy," premieres in NYC

Porter Robinson

Porter Robinson released the album 'Nurture'

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift released the album 'Live from Clear Channel Stripped 2008'

Tom Jones

Tom Jones released the album 'Surrounded by Time'

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Opera "Il Ré Pastore" is produced (Salzburg)

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