On This Day in Music: April 4

On April 4 in music history, 56 artists were born, 31 died and 7 other milestones happened, among them The Beatles (1964), Elton John (2025) and Muddy Waters (1913).

Pick a date, get a soundtrack

The soundtrack for April 4

Choose a date

Open in Spotify

Tomorrow's day in music →

Highlights

April 4

View all

Standout moments for this date.

The Beatles

The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 5 weeks

Elton John

Elton John released the album 'Who Believes in Angels?'

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters, [McKinley Morganfield], American blues guitarist (Hoochie Coochie Man) was born

Jill Scott

Jill Scott, American soul singer was born

Loading events...

Born on April 4

Adam Dutkiewicz

Adam Dutkiewicz, American guitarist and producer(Killswitch Engage) was born

Ali El Haggar

Ali El Haggar, Egyptian singer and actor was born

Andy McKee

Andy McKee, American musician was born

Antony Tudor

Antony Tudor, England, choreographer (Metropolitan Opera 1957) was born

Arthur Murray

Arthur Murray, NYC, dancer (Arthur Murray Dance Party) was born

Aska Yang

Aska Yang, Taiwanese singer was born

Berry Oakley

Berry Oakley, Chicago Ill, rocker (Allman Brothers-Ramblin' Man) was born

Black Francis

Black Francis, [Charles Thompson], US singer/songwriter (Pixies) was born

Cazuza

Cazuza, Brazilian poet, singer and composer (d. 1990) was born

Dave Hill

Dave Hill, England, rock guitarist (Slade-Coz I Love You) was born

David Gavurin

David Gavurin, English pop guitarist/composer (Sundays, Blind) was born

Elmer Bernstein

Elmer Bernstein, NYC, movie music composer (Robot Monster) was born

Erna Spoorenberg

Erna Spoorenberg, Dutch singer was born

Eugene Bozza

Eugene Bozza, composer was born

Frances Langford

Frances Langford, Lakeland Fla, singer (Armed Forces Hour, Star Time) was born

Francisco Morera

Francisco Morera, composer was born

Francois-Bernard Mache

Francois-Bernard Mache, composer was born

Gabriel Groulez

Gabriel Groulez, composer was born

Gail Davies

Gail Davies, Broken Bow Ok, country singer (Blue Heartache) was born

Gary Moore

Gary Moore, Irish rock guitarist (Skid Row-Oh Pretty Woman) was born

Graeme Kelling

Graeme Kelling, British pop guitarist (Deacon Blue-Real Gone Kid) was born

Hans Richter

Hans Richter, composer was born

Hugh Masekela

Hugh Masekela, Wilbank South Africa, trumpeter (I Am Not Afraid) was born

Jane Eaglin

Jane Eaglin, English soprano was born

Jerome Hopkins

Jerome Hopkins, composer was born

Jill Scott

Jill Scott, American soul singer was born

John Evangelist Schreiber

John Evangelist Schreiber, composer was born

Johnny Borrell

Johnny Borrell, English singer (Razorlight) was born

Joseph Fischhof

Joseph Fischhof, composer was born

Jozef Szulc

Jozef Szulc, composer was born

Kris Jensen

Kris Jensen, rocker was born

Larry Lingle

Larry Lingle, rocker was born

Lemar

Lemar, English R'n'B singer was born

Magnus Sveningsson

Magnus Sveningsson, Swedish musician (The Cardigans) was born

Major Lance

Major Lance, American singer (d. 1994) was born

Margo J Sylvia

Margo J Sylvia, rocker (Tune Weavers) was born

Mary Howe

Mary Howe, composer was born

Mick Mars

Mick Mars, rocker was born

Mike Starr [Michael]

Mike Starr [Michael], Honolulu Hawaii, musician (Alice in Chains bassist), (d. 2011) was born

Monty Norman

Monty Norman, composer/writer was born

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters, [McKinley Morganfield], American blues guitarist (Hoochie Coochie Man) was born

Niccolo Antonio Zingarelli

Niccolo Antonio Zingarelli, composer (Andromeda) was born

Nikolai Amani

Nikolai Amani, composer was born

Nobuyoshi Kuwano

Nobuyoshi Kuwano, Japanese musician (Rats & Star) was born

Pauline de Haan-Manifarges

Pauline de Haan-Manifarges, Dutch singer was born

Pick Withers

Pick Withers, rocker (Dire Straits) was born

Pierre Monteux

Pierre Monteux, Paris France, conductor (Boston Symph Orch 1919-24) was born

Risako Sugaya

Risako Sugaya, Japanese singer was born

Salvatore Sciarrino

Salvatore Sciarrino, composer was born

Seoirse Bodley

Seoirse Bodley, composer was born

Sharon Sheeley

Sharon Sheeley, American songwriter was born

Stephen Storace

Stephen Storace, composer was born

Steve Gatlin

Steve Gatlin, Olney Tx, country singer (Gatlin Bros-Broken Lady) was born

Vincenc Masek

Vincenc Masek, composer was born

Wolfgang Nicolaus Haueisen

Wolfgang Nicolaus Haueisen, composer was born

Zwart Francis

Zwart Francis, [Charles Thompson], US singer/songwriter (Pixies) was born

Died on April 4

Al Lewis

Al Lewis, American songwriter (b. 1901)

Alex Harvey

Alex Harvey died

Arthur Russell

Arthur Russell, American cellist (b. 1951)

Barry Allen

Barry Allen died

Bep [Alberta B] Ogterop

Bep [Alberta B] Ogterop, [Rita la Roche], singer, dies

Bernard Ringeissen

Bernard Ringeissen died

Braulio Dueno Colon

Braulio Dueno Colon, composer, dies at 80

Davis Mell

Davis Mell, composer, dies at 57

Friedrich Gottlob Fleischer

Friedrich Gottlob Fleischer, composer, dies at 84

George Whitefield Chadwick

George Whitefield Chadwick, composer, dies at 76

Gino Contilli

Gino Contilli, composer, dies at 70

Jack Vreeswijk

Jack Vreeswijk died

Jeno Zador

Jeno Zador, composer, dies at 82

Joe Messina

Joe Messina died

Josef Sucher

Josef Sucher, composer, dies at 64

Joy Newton

Joy Newton, dancer, dies at 82

Karel Weis

Karel Weis, composer, dies at 82

Larry Laprise

Larry Laprise, songwriter, dies at 83

Luis Eduardo Aute

Luis Eduardo Aute died

Mischa Elman

Mischa Elman, Ukraine/US violinist, dies at 76

Peter Brinson

Peter Brinson, dance educationalist, dies at 67

Raoul Laparra

Raoul Laparra, composer, dies at 66

Red Sovine

Red Sovine, American country music singer (b. 1917)

Sajida Obaidl

Sajida Obaidl died

Scott Columbus

Scott Columbus, American drummer (Manowar) (b. 1956)

Stefan Wolpe

Stefan Wolpe, German composer (Zeus & Elidco), dies at 69

Susanna Ramel

Susanna Ramel died

Sy Kramer

Sy Kramer, singer/comedy writer dies of cancer at 59

Timothy Brown

Timothy Brown died

Tsvetan Tsvetanov

Tsvetan Tsvetanov, composer, dies at 50

Virginia "Ginny" Simms

Virginia "Ginny" Simms, actress/singer (Kay Kyser Band), dies at 77

Releases & milestones on April 4

Black Country, New Road

Black Country, New Road released the album 'Forever Howlong'

Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile released the album 'Who Believes in Angels?'

Charles Gross

"Lucifer's Child" opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 28 performances

Elton John

Elton John released the album 'Who Believes in Angels?'

Giacomo Meyerbeer

Opera "Dinorah" by Giacomo Myerbeer is produced (Paris)

Sigmund Romberg

"New Moon" musical opens in London

The Beatles

The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 5 weeks

More standout moments in April →