On This Day in Music: August 20

On August 20 in music history, 42 artists were born, 35 died and 8 other milestones happened, among them David Bowie (2020), The Beatles (1966) and The Rolling Stones (1965).

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Highlights

August 20

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Standout moments for this date.

David Bowie

David Bowie released the album 'ChangesNowBowie'

The Beatles

Beatles pelted with rotten fruit during Memphis concert

The Rolling Stones

Rolling Stones release "Satisfaction" (their 1st #1 US hit)

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes, Covington TN, composer (Shaft) was born

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Born on August 20

Adolfe Louis Eugene Fetis

Adolfe Louis Eugene Fetis, composer was born

Alphonse d' Eve

Alphonse d' Eve, composer was born

Anatole Fistoulari

Anatole Fistoulari, conductor was born

Andy Strachan

Andy Strachan, Australian musician (The Living End) was born

Bernard de Bury

Bernard de Bury, composer was born

Bernardo Bittoni

Bernardo Bittoni, composer was born

Big Moe

Big Moe, American rapper (d. 2007) was born

Brad Avery

Brad Avery, American musician (former guitarist for Third Day) was born

Charles Shere

Charles Shere, composer was born

Conrad Hermann Hubertius Maria Apollinaris Josten

Conrad Hermann Hubertius Maria Apollinaris Josten, jazz guitarist was born

Dave Brock

Dave Brock, British musician and founder of Hawkwind was born

Dimebag Darrell

Dimebag Darrell, heavy metal guitarist (Pantera) was born

Doug Fleger

Doug Fleger, rocker was born

El Fary

El Fary, Spanish singer and actor (d. 2007) was born

Fred Durst

Fred Durst, American singer (Limp Bizkit) was born

George Sklavos

George Sklavos, composer was born

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes, Covington TN, composer (Shaft) was born

J J Malone

J J Malone, US soul singer (It's a shame) was born

Jack [Weldon J] Teagarden

Jack [Weldon J] Teagarden, US trombonist/actor (Meet Band Leaders) was born

Jacopo Peri

Jacopo Peri, composer was born

James Pankow

James Pankow, Chicago IL, rocker (Chicago) was born

Jim Reeves

Jim Reeves, US country singer/actor (Gun Fury, Kimberley Jim) was born

John Hiatt

John Hiatt, US singer/songwriter (Have a Little Faith in Me) was born

John Lantree

John Lantree, rocker was born

John Povey

John Povey, rocker was born

Jose Bernardo Alcedo

Jose Bernardo Alcedo, composer was born

Justin Tubb

Justin Tubb, San Antonio Tx, country singer (Grand Ole Opry) was born

KRS-One

KRS-One, American rapper was born

Mario Bernardi

Mario Bernardi, Canadian conductor was born

Maxim Vengerov

Maxim Vengerov, Russian violinist was born

Nikolas Asimos

Nikolas Asimos, Greek composer and singer (d. 1988) was born

Nikolay Yakovlevich Myaskovsky

Nikolay Yakovlevich Myaskovsky, composer was born

Phil Lynott

Phil Lynott, Dublin Ireland, rock bassist (Thin Lizzy) was born

Ralf Hütter

Ralf Hütter, German musician (Kraftwerk) was born

Rick Olsen

Rick Olsen, rock guitarist (Berlin-Take My Breath Away) was born

Rick Rael

Rick Rael, heavy metal rocker was born

Rob Wiedijk

Rob Wiedijk, Dutch rock vocalist (Bob Color) was born

Robert Plant

Robert Plant, West Bromwich England, rock vocalist (Led Zeppelin-Whole Lotta Love) was born

Rudy Gatlin

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

William Henry Bell

William Henry Bell, composer was born

Witold Friemann

Witold Friemann, composer was born

Yuri Shiratori

Yuri Shiratori, Japanese voice actress and singer was born

Died on August 20

Arthur Coquard

Arthur Coquard, composer, dies at 64

Betty Bowden

Betty Bowden, British dancer/actress (Vote for Nigel), dies at 86

Brent Hinds

Brent Hinds died

Claude Blanchard

Claude Blanchard, French-Canadian singer, comedian and actor (b. 1932)

Costin Miereanu

Costin Miereanu died

David John de Lloyd

David John de Lloyd, composer, dies at 65

Emille-Louis-Victor Mathieu

Emille-Louis-Victor Mathieu, composer, dies at 87

Frankie Banali

Frankie Banali died

Franz Hummel

Franz Hummel died

Ian Carey

Ian Carey died

Ivan Jirko

Ivan Jirko, composer, dies at 51

Jan Krtitel Vanhal

Jan Krtitel Vanhal, composer, dies at 74

Joe Dassin

Joe Dassin, American singer (b. 1938)

Johann Christian Gottlob Eidenbenz

Johann Christian Gottlob Eidenbenz, composer, dies at 37

John E Gilmore

John E Gilmore, tenor Saxophonist, dies at 63

Krzysztof Raczkowski

Krzysztof Raczkowski, Polish drummer (b. 1970)

Larry Harlow

Larry Harlow died

Larry Knechtel

Larry Knechtel, American keyboard player and bassist (b. 1940)

Louis Varney

Louis Varney, composer, dies at 64

Nayyara Noor

Nayyara Noor died

Nicolas Gigault

Nicolas Gigault, French organist and composer (b. 1627)

Otakar Ostrcil

Otakar Ostrcil, composer, dies at 56

Paul Foster

Paul Foster, singer, dies at 75

Petros John Petridis

Petros John Petridis, composer, dies at 86

Philipp Jakob Riotte

Philipp Jakob Riotte, composer, dies at 80

Piotr Szczepanik

Piotr Szczepanik died

Raquel Rastenni

Raquel Rastenni, Danish singer (b. 1915)

Richard Wainwright

Richard Wainwright, composer, dies at 68

Rio Reiser

Rio Reiser, rock singer, dies at 46

Rudolf Moser

Rudolf Moser, composer, dies at 68

Tadeusz Joteyko

Tadeusz Joteyko, composer, dies at 60

Thad Jones

Thad Jones, jazz trumpeter, dies of cancer at 63

Tom T. Hall

Tom T. Hall died

Utpalendu Chakrabarty

Utpalendu Chakrabarty died

Waldemar von Baussnern

Waldemar von Baussnern, composer, dies at 64

Releases & milestones on August 20

David Bowie

David Bowie released the album 'ChangesNowBowie'

Gioachino Rossini

Gioacchino Rossini's opera "Le Comte Ory," premieres in Paris

Lorde

Lorde released the album 'Solar Power'

Mylène Farmer

Mylène Farmer released the album 'Plus grandir'

The Beatles

Beatles pelted with rotten fruit during Memphis concert

The Rolling Stones

Rolling Stones release "Satisfaction" (their 1st #1 US hit)

Trippie Redd

Trippie Redd released the album 'Trip at Knight'

Vikki Carr

Singer Vikki Carr & Michael Nilsson wed

More standout moments in August →