On This Day in Music: February 23

On February 23 in music history, 41 artists were born, 36 died and 7 other milestones happened, among them George Frideric Handel (1685), Christina Aguilera (2000) and Kanye West (2022).

Pick a date, get a soundtrack

The soundtrack for February 23

Choose a date

Open in Spotify

Tomorrow's day in music →

Highlights

February 23

View all

Standout moments for this date.

George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel, Halle Germany, baroque composer and (Messiah, Water Music) was born

Christina Aguilera

42nd Grammy Awards: Smooth, Christina Aguilera wins

Kanye West

Kanye West released the album 'Donda 2'

Fleetwood Mac

20th Grammy Awards: Hotel California, Fleetwood Mac, Debbie Boone wins

Loading events...

Born on February 23

Albert Edward Sammons

Albert Edward Sammons, composer was born

Brad Whitford

Brad Whitford, Mass, rock guitarist (Aerosmith-Jamie Got a Gun) was born

Chris Vrenna

Chris Vrenna, American musician, producer and sound engineer Nine Inch Nails, Tweaker was born

Christian Joseph Lidarti

Christian Joseph Lidarti, composer was born

D-Roc

D-Roc, American rapper (Ying Yang Twins) was born

Dmitri Arakishvili

Dmitri Arakishvili, composer was born

Edgar Istel

Edgar Istel, composer was born

Elinor Remick Warren

Elinor Remick Warren, composer was born

Evan Bates

Evan Bates, American ice dancer was born

George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel, Halle Germany, baroque composer and (Messiah, Water Music) was born

George Washington Hewitt

George Washington Hewitt, composer was born

Hall Overton

Hall Overton, Bangor Michigan, composer (Enchanted Pear Tree) was born

Holly Brook

Holly Brook, American musician was born

Howard Jones

Howard Jones, rock pianist/vocalist (Things Can Only Get Better) was born

Ivan Hrusovsky

Ivan Hrusovsky, composer was born

Jaime Villarreal

Jaime Villarreal, Mexican musician was born

John Blow

John Blow, composer of 1st English opera (Venus & Adonis) (baptized) was born

John Norum

John Norum, rocker was born

Johnny Winter

Johnny Winter, [John Dawson], Leland Miss, guitarist (Silver Train) was born

Kazuya Kamenashi

Kazuya Kamenashi, Japanese pop star (KAT-TUN) was born

Ladislav Vycpalek

Ladislav Vycpalek, composer was born

Larry Demps

Larry Demps, US R&B vocalist (Dramatics-Me & Mrs Jones) was born

Lars-Olof Johansson

Lars-Olof Johansson, Swedish musician (The Cardigans) was born

Lejaren Hiller

Lejaren Hiller, composer was born

Leonidas Zoras

Leonidas Zoras, composer was born

Martindale Sidwell

Martindale Sidwell, organist/conductor was born

Michael Wilton

Michael Wilton, rock guitarist (Queensrijche-Warning) was born

Mike Maxfield

Mike Maxfield, rocker (Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas) was born

Oskar Frederik Lindberg

Oskar Frederik Lindberg, composer was born

Regine Crespin

Regine Crespin, French vocalist (Sheherazade, Les Nuits D'ete) was born

René Pérez

René Pérez, Puerto Rican musician (Calle 13) was born

Ria Brieffies

Ria Brieffies, Dutch vocalist (Dolly Dots) was born

Richard Moryl

Richard Moryl, composer was born

Robert Lopez

Robert Lopez, American composer was born

Rusty Young

Rusty Young, California, rock steel guitarist (Poco-Heat of the Night) was born

Samuel Pepys

Samuel Pepys, London England, navy expert/composer (Diary, Memoirs) was born

Steve Holy

Steve Holy, American country singer was born

Steve Priest

Steve Priest, London, rock bassist (Sweet Hayes) was born

Terry "Tex" Comer

Terry "Tex" Comer, bassist/guitarist was born

Thomas Paine Westendorf

Thomas Paine Westendorf, composer was born

Wadi' Sabra

Wadi' Sabra, composer was born

Died on February 23

Adrian Boult

Adrian Boult, conductor, dies

Albert Cahen

Albert Cahen, composer, dies at 57

Alexander Alexandrovich Il'yinsky

Alexander Alexandrovich Il'yinsky, composer, dies at 61

Carl Anderson

Carl Anderson, American singer (b. 1945)

Chris Jasper

Chris Jasper died

David Melvin English Franklin

David Melvin English Franklin, singer, dies at 52

Don Cornell

Don Cornell, American singer (b. 1919)

Donnie Brooks

Donnie Brooks, American singer (b. 1936)

Edward William Elgar

Edward William Elgar, English composer (Coronation Ode), dies at 76

Francois Guichard

Francois Guichard, composer, dies at 61

Friedrich Grutzmacher

Friedrich Grutzmacher, composer, dies at 70

Georg Muffat

Georg Muffat, French/German organist/composer, dies at 50

George Alan Dawson

George Alan Dawson, jazz drummer/teacher, dies at 66

George Clement Martin

George Clement Martin, composer, dies at 71

George Thomas Smart

George Thomas Smart, composer, dies at 90

Harry Ruby

Harry Ruby, American composer and writer (b. 1895)

Horst Wessel

Horst Wessel, German nazi lyricist (Fahne Hoch), dies at 22

Howie Epstein

Howie Epstein, American bass guitarist (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) (b. 1955)

Jaakko Kuusisto

Jaakko Kuusisto died

John Alcock

John Alcock, composer, dies at 90

Joseph Messner

Joseph Messner, composer, dies at 75

Margrit Zimmermann

Margrit Zimmermann died

Marika Ninou

Marika Ninou, Greek singer (b. 1918)

Michael Taube

Michael Taube, composer, dies at 81

Nellie Melba

Nellie Melba, [Helen Mitchell], Australian soprano, dies

Ofra Haza

Ofra Haza, Israeli singer (b. 1957)

Pierre Certon

Pierre Certon, French composer

Robert Carradine

Robert Carradine died

Sergiu Natra

Sergiu Natra died

Shinsadong Tiger

Shinsadong Tiger died

Slim Borgudd

Slim Borgudd died

Sondra Lee

Sondra Lee died

Sveinbjorn Sveinbjornsson

Sveinbjorn Sveinbjornsson, composer, dies at 79

Tony Williams

Tony Williams, jazz musician, dies at 51

Woldemar Bargiel

Woldemar Bargiel, composer, dies at 68

Éliane Radigue

Éliane Radigue died

Releases & milestones on February 23

Christina Aguilera

42nd Grammy Awards: Smooth, Christina Aguilera wins

Fleetwood Mac

20th Grammy Awards: Hotel California, Fleetwood Mac, Debbie Boone wins

Hans Zimmer

Hans Zimmer released the album 'Dune: Part Two (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'

Kanye West

Kanye West released the album 'Donda 2'

Men at Work

25th Grammy Awards: Roxanna, Toto IV, Men at Work wins

Norah Jones

45th Grammy Awards: Don't Know Why, Norah Jones wins

Parannoul

Parannoul released the album 'To See the Next Part of the Dream'

More standout moments in February →