On This Day in Music: April 26

On April 26 in music history, 44 artists were born, 23 died and 9 other milestones happened, among them Ma Rainey (1886), Giorgio Moroder (1945) and Count Basie (1984).

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Highlights

April 26

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Standout moments for this date.

Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey, [Gertrude Pridgett], "Mother of the Blues" American singer (d. 1939) was born

Giorgio Moroder

Giorgio Moroder, producer/singer/songwriter (150 gold discs) was born

Count Basie

William "Count" Basie, jazz piano great, dies on 80th birthday

Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins

Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, American singer (TLC) was born

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Born on April 26

Ariane Moffatt

Ariane Moffatt, Quebec singer and songwriter was born

Arnoldus Christian Vlok van Wyk

Arnoldus Christian Vlok van Wyk, composer was born

Auguste-Matthieu Panseron

Auguste-Matthieu Panseron, composer was born

Avant

Avant, American singer was born

Bobby Rydell

Bobby Rydell, Phila Pa, rock singer (Wild One, Bye Bye Birdie) was born

Duane Eddy

Duane Eddy, Phoenix, Az, country singer (Peter Gunn, Cannonball) was born

Erland von Koch

Erland von Koch, composer was born

Ernst Tittel

Ernst Tittel, composer was born

Francesco Nigetti

Francesco Nigetti, composer was born

Francis Lai

Francis Lai, French film music composer was born

Gary Wright

Gary Wright, singer, dream weaver (Spooky Tooth-It's All About) was born

Giorgio Moroder

Giorgio Moroder, producer/singer/songwriter (150 gold discs) was born

Graham "Skin" Skinner

Graham "Skin" Skinner, rocker (Hipsway) was born

Horatio Richmond Palmer

Horatio Richmond Palmer, composer was born

Howard "Leon" Reeder

Howard "Leon" Reeder, rock guitarist (Champaign) was born

Jan Albert van Eyken

Jan Albert van Eyken, composer/organist was born

Janne Wirman

Janne Wirman, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) was born

Jay DeMarcus

Jay DeMarcus, American bassist (Rascal Flatts) was born

Jimmy Giuffre

Jimmy Giuffre, jazz musician was born

Jimmy Hall

Jimmy Hall, rocker (Wet Willie) was born

John Corabi

John Corabi, American Musician was born

John Mitchell

John Mitchell, American composer was born

Jon Lee

Jon Lee, British singer (S Club) was born

Juan Chambaya Lampe

Juan C Lampe, Aruba, pianist/composer was born

Jørgen Ingmann

Jørgen Ingmann, Danish musician was born

Leopold Spinner

Leopold Spinner, composer was born

Ludwig Friedrich Hetsch

Ludwig Friedrich Hetsch, composer was born

Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey, [Gertrude Pridgett], "Mother of the Blues" American singer (d. 1939) was born

Maurice Williams

Maurice Williams, rocker was born

Michael Damian

Michael Damian, actor/singer (Joseph & Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) was born

Mija Martina

Mija Martina, Bosnian singer was born

Mikhail Fokine

Mikhail Fokine, Russia, choreographer/founder of modern dance was born

Ms. Dynamite

Ms. Dynamite, English musician was born

Nam Gyu-Ri

Nam Gyu-Ri, Korean singer, member of See Ya was born

Nathan "Joey" Jordison

Nathan "Joey" Jordison, American musician (Slipknot) was born

Nerina Pallot

Nerina Pallot, British singer was born

Nicolas Forme

Nicolas Forme, composer was born

Oldrich Frantisek Korte

Oldrich Frantisek Korte, composer was born

Paul-Andre Gaillard

Paul-Andre Gaillard, composer was born

Peter Schaufuss

Peter Schaufuss, director of ballet (Deutsche Opera Berlin) was born

Roger Taylor

Roger Taylor, rock drummer (Duran Duran-Hungry Like the Wolf) was born

Russell Nype

Russell Nype, Zion Ill, singer/actor (Burton Farley-Dorothy) was born

Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins

Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, American singer (TLC) was born

Wilfred Howard Mellers

Wilfred Howard Mellers, composer was born

Died on April 26

Aaron Avshalomov

Aaron Avshalomov, composer, dies at 70

Adrian Borland

Adrian Borland, English musician (The Sound) (b. 1957)

Al Schmitt

Al Schmitt died

Alzira Rufino

Alzira Rufino died

Andy Bey

Andy Bey died

Bernardo Ottani

Bernardo Ottani, composer, dies at 90

Bronislaw Kaper

Bronislaw Kaper, composer, dies at 81

Carmine Coppola

Carmine Coppola, composer/father of Francis Ford Coppola, dies

Charles J Sax

Charles J Sax, Belgium musician and father of Adolphe Sax inventor of the saxophone, dies at 74

Christoph Thomas Walliser

Christoph Thomas Walliser, composer, dies at 79

Count Basie

William "Count" Basie, jazz piano great, dies on 80th birthday

Georg Christoph Leuttner

Georg Christoph Leuttner, composer, dies at 58

Hans Sommer

Hans Sommer, composer, dies at 84

John Alden Carpenter

John Alden Carpenter, US composer (Sea Drift), dies at 75

Josef Labor

Josef Labor, composer, dies at 82

Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff

Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff, composer, dies at 40

Klaus Schulze

Klaus Schulze died

Leo Arnaud

Leo Arnaud, French-American composer (b. 1904)

Margaret A R Bonds

Margaret A R Bonds, US pianist/composer/arranger, dies at 59

Nedra Talley

Nedra Talley died

Peter Gülke

Peter Gülke died

Pietro Plantania

Pietro Plantania, composer, dies at 79

Shankar

Shankar, Of Noted Bollywood Music Director Duo Shankar-Jaikishan (b. 1922)

Releases & milestones on April 26

Accept

Accept released the album 'Humanoid'

Anitta

Anitta released the album 'Funk Generation'

Frederic Chopin

Frederic Chopin's "Grand Polonaise Brillante" premieres in Paris

Galt MacDermot

"2 Gentlemen of Verona" musical opens in London

Gioachino Rossini

Composer Gioacchino Rossini leaves Italy

Justice

Justice released the album 'Hyperdrama'

Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys released the album 'Nonetheless'

St. Vincent

St. Vincent released the album 'All Born Screaming'

Vivian Ellis

"Bless the Bride" musical opens in London

More standout moments in April →