On This Day in Music: August 31

On August 31 in music history, 43 artists were born, 24 died and 2 other milestones happened, among them Van Morrison (1945), Itzhak Perlman (1945) and Alan Jay Lerner (1918).

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Highlights

August 31

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Standout moments for this date.

Van Morrison

Van Morrison, Northern Irish musician was born

Itzhak Perlman

Itzhak Perlman, Tel Aviv Israel, violinist/polio victim (14 Grammys) was born

Alan Jay Lerner

Alan Jay Lerner, lyricist composer (Lerner & Loewe-My Fair Lady) was born

Deborah (Debbie) Gibson

Deborah (Debbie) Gibson, Brooklyn NY, singer (Only in My Dreams) was born

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Born on August 31

40 Cal

40 Cal, American rapper was born

Alan Jay Lerner

Alan Jay Lerner, lyricist composer (Lerner & Loewe-My Fair Lady) was born

Albert Riemenschneider

Albert Riemenschneider, composer was born

Amilcare Ponchielli

Amilcare Ponchielli, Paderno Italy, composer (I Lituani) was born

Bob Welch

Bob Welch, rock vocalist/guitarist (Fleetwood Mac-Oh Well), (d. 2012) was born

Bruce Soboroff

Bruce Soboroff, Chic Il, rocker (Buckinghams) was born

Buddy [Leonard] Hackett

Buddy [Leonard] Hackett, Bkln, comedian (God's Little Acre, Music Man) was born

Chris Whitley

Chris Whitley, American musician (d. 2005) was born

Craig Nicholls

Craig Nicholls, Australian musician (The Vines) was born

Daniel Harding

Daniel Harding, British conductor was born

David Chastain

David Chastain, heavy metal rocker (Chastain-Rule of Wasteland) was born

Deborah (Debbie) Gibson

Deborah (Debbie) Gibson, Brooklyn NY, singer (Only in My Dreams) was born

Emanuel Nunes

Emanuel Nunes, composer was born

Francois de Paule Jacques Raymond de Fossa

Francois de Paule Jacques Raymond de Fossa, composer was born

Gina Schock

Gina Schock, rocker (Gogos-Our Lips Are Sealed) was born

Glenn Tilbrook

Glenn Tilbrook, London, rock vocalist/guitarist (Squeeze-Tempted) was born

Itzhak Perlman

Itzhak Perlman, Tel Aviv Israel, violinist/polio victim (14 Grammys) was born

Jean-Etienne Despreaux

Jean-Etienne Despreaux, composer was born

Jerry Allison

Jerry Allison, Hillsboro Tx, rock drummer (Buddy Holly & Crickets) was born

Joe Budden

Joe Budden, American rapper was born

Johann Ignaz Walter

Johann Ignaz Walter, composer was born

Johann Paul Aegidius Martini

Johann Paul Aegidius Martini, composer was born

Johann Paul Kunzen

Johann Paul Kunzen, composer was born

Joseph Moiseyevich Schillinger

Joseph Moiseyevich Schillinger, composer was born

Klaus Hashagen

Klaus Hashagen, composer was born

Lucrecia Roces Kasilag

Lucrecia Roces Kasilag, composer was born

Max Wilhelm Zach

Max Wilhelm Zach, composer was born

Nikoghayos Fadeyi Tigranyan

Nikoghayos Fadeyi Tigranyan, composer was born

Patrick Nuo

Patrick Nuo, Swiss singer was born

Peter Conrad Baden

Peter Conrad Baden, composer was born

Reb Beach

Reb Beach, heavy metal rocker (Winger-17) was born

Rick Roberts

Rick Roberts, rocker (Firefall) was born

Rudolf Schenker

Rudolf Schenker, German rock guitarist (Scorpions-Virgin Killer) was born

Simon Neil

Simon Neil, Scottish musician (Biffy Clyro) was born

Stefan Surzynski

Stefan Surzynski, composer was born

Tiny Little Jr

Tiny Little Jr, Worthington Minn, pianist (Lawrence Welk Show) was born

Tony DeFranco

Tony DeFranco, rocker (DeFranco Family) was born

Vaclav Hugo Zavrtal

Vaclav Hugo Zavrtal, composer was born

Van Morrison

Van Morrison, Northern Irish musician was born

Viktor Alexandrovich Uspensky

Viktor Alexandrovich Uspensky, composer was born

Vincent Delerm

Vincent Delerm, French singer-songwriter, pianist and composer was born

Walter Muller von Kulm

Walter Muller von Kulm, composer was born

[George I] Van Morrison

[George I] Van Morrison, Belfast, singer (Here Comes the Night) was born

Died on August 31

Artur Balsam

Artur Balsam, Polish/US pianist, dies at 88

Carl Wayne

Carl Wayne, English singer (b. 1943)

Carole Coleman

Carole Coleman, singer (Make Mine Music), dies at 42

Curtis Fowlkes

Curtis Fowlkes died

Emils Darzins

Emils Darzins, composer, dies at 34

Fatman Scoop

Fatman Scoop died

Francois-Andre Danican Philidor

Francois-Andre Danican Philidor, composer, dies at 68

Gemignano Capilupi

Gemignano Capilupi, composer, dies at 43

Giovanale Ancina

Giovanale Ancina, composer, dies at 58

Gottfried Finger

Gottfried Finger, Czech composer (b. 1660?)

Ignaz Assmayer

Ignaz Assmayer, composer, dies at 72

Jean Nicolas Auguste Kreutzer

Jean Nicolas Auguste Kreutzer, composer, dies at 53

Jerry Reed

Jerry Reed, American country music singer and actor (b. 1937)

Johann Rist

Johann Rist, composer, dies at 60

Johanna "Annie" Bakker

Johanna "Annie" Bakker, revue-artists/singer/actress, dies at 58

John Ward

John Ward, composer, dies at 67

Joseph Marie Clement dall' Abaco

Joseph Marie Clement dall' Abaco, composer, dies at 95

Ljuba Welitsch

Ljuba Welitsch, opera singer, dies at 83

Milton "Tippy" Larkin

Milton "Tippy" Larkin, band leader, dies at 85

Nicolaus Erich

Nicolaus Erich, composer, dies at 43

Norman "Doc" Jones

Norman "Doc" Jones, bassist, dies at 68

Ottmar Gerster

Ottmar Gerster, composer, dies at 72

Paul August von Klenau

Paul August von Klenau, Danish opera composer/conductor, dies at 63

Paul Hoffer

Paul Hoffer, composer, dies at 53

Releases & milestones on August 31

Gioachino Rossini

Rossini's Opera "Guillaume Tell" is produced (Paris)

James Blunt

23rd MTV Awards: Panic! At the Disco, Kelly Clarkson & James Blunt wins

More standout moments in August →