On This Day in Music: January 23

On January 23 in music history, 36 artists were born, 42 died and 4 other milestones happened, among them Django Reinhardt (1910), Paul Robeson (1976) and Anita Pointer (1948).

Pick a date, get a soundtrack

The soundtrack for January 23

Choose a date

Open in Spotify

Tomorrow's day in music →

Highlights

January 23

View all

Standout moments for this date.

Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt, Belgium, Gypsy jazz guitarist was born

Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson, athlete/lawyer/singer, dies in Philadelphia at 77

Anita Pointer

Anita Pointer, Oakland, rock vocalist (Pointer Sisters-She's So Shy) was born

Luis Alberto Spinetta

Luis Alberto Spinetta, Buenos Aires, Argentina, rock musician (Almendra, Pescado Rabioso, Invisible), (d....

Loading events...

Born on January 23

Alexander Nikoleyevich Serov

Alexander Nikoleyevich Serov, composer was born

Angelica Lee

Angelica Lee, Taiwanese actress and singer was born

Anita Pointer

Anita Pointer, Oakland, rock vocalist (Pointer Sisters-She's So Shy) was born

Benny Waters

Benny Waters, saxophonist was born

Bill Cunningham

Bill Cunningham, Memphis, Tennessee, American original bass guitarist/keyboardist (Box Tops) was born

Boleslaw Wallek-Walewski

Boleslaw Wallek-Walewski, composer was born

Carlo Felice Boghen

Carlo Felice Boghen, composer was born

Dan Smith

Dan Smith, harmonica/gospel singer was born

Danny Federici

Danny Federici, rocker (E Street Band) was born

Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt, Belgium, Gypsy jazz guitarist was born

Earl Falconer

Earl Falconer, British reggae bassist (UB40-Red Red Wine) was born

Edward Ka-spel

Edward Ka-spel, English singer/songwriter (Legendary Pink Dots) was born

Felicia Brandström

Felicia Brandström, Swedish singer was born

Franco De Vita

Franco De Vita, Caracas Venezuala, spanish singer (Extranjero) was born

Franz Commer

Franz Commer, composer was born

Gary Burton

Gary Burton, American jazz vibraphonist was born

Hans Heinrich XIV Hochberg

Hans Heinrich XIV Hochberg, composer was born

Herbert Bedford

Herbert Bedford, composer was born

Jerry Lawson

Jerry Lawson, US singer (Persuasions-Under the Boardwalk) was born

Joel Spiegelman

Joel Spiegelman, composer was born

John Greaves

John Greaves, English musician (Henry Cow, National Health) was born

Johnny Russell

Johnny Russell, country singer was born

Juventino Rosas

Juventino Rosas, composer was born

Ken Errair

Ken Errair, rocker (Four Freshmen) was born

Lamont Robin Zander

Lamont Robin Zander, rocker (Cheap Trick) was born

Luis Alberto Spinetta

Luis Alberto Spinetta, Buenos Aires, Argentina, rock musician (Almendra, Pescado Rabioso, Invisible), (d. 2012) was born

Marc Nelson

Marc Nelson, American R&B singer and lyricist was born

Marty Paich

Marty Paich, Oakland California, orchestra leader (Sonny & Cher, Glenn Campbell) was born

Muzio Clementi

Muzio Clementi, Italian composer was born

Norman Fulton

Norman Fulton, composer was born

Rick Finch

Rick Finch, rocker (KC & Sunshine Band-Give It) was born

Robin Zander

Robin Zander, rocker vocalist/guitarist (Cheap Trick-Dream Police) was born

Rutland Boughton

Rutland Boughton, composer was born

Sampsa Astala

Sampsa Astala, Finnish musician (Lordi) was born

Theodor Schaefer

Theodor Schaefer, composer was born

William Ifor Jones

William Ifor Jones, Welsh conductor and organist (d. 1988) was born

Died on January 23

Adolf Jensen

Adolf Jensen, composer, dies at 42

Albert Collins

Albert Collins, guitarist (Lynyrd Skynyrd), dies of pneumonia at 57

Anders Sandberg

Anders Sandberg died

Arthur Nikisch

Arthur Nikisch, Hungarian conductor (b. 1855)

Beegie Adair

Beegie Adair died

Bernardo Pisano

Bernardo Pisano, composer, dies at 57

Bobby Sherwood

Bobby Sherwood, orchestra leader (Milton Berle Show), dies at 66

Carol Sloane

Carol Sloane died

Charles Craig

Charles Craig, opera singer, dies at 77

Dame Clara Butt

Dame Clara Butt, alto singer (Country of Hope & Glory), dies at 62

Dobri Khristov

Dobri Khristov, composer, dies at 65

Edward Alexander MacDowell

Edward Alexander MacDowell, US composer (Indian Suite), dies at 47

Feliks Nowowiejski

Feliks Nowowiejski, composer, dies at 68

Francesco Ruggi

Francesco Ruggi, composer, dies at 77

Frank Farian

Frank Farian died

Franz Mazura

Franz Mazura died

Georg Friedrich Theodor Wolf

Georg Friedrich Theodor Wolf, composer, dies at 52

Jaroslav Kricka

Jaroslav Kricka, composer, dies at 86

John Field

John Field, composer, dies at 54

Jonas Gwangwa

Jonas Gwangwa died

Joseph Carl Breil

Joseph Carl Breil, composer, dies at 55

Kid Ory

Kid Ory, American jazz trombonist (b. 1886)

Louis Horst

Louis Horst, composer, dies at 80

Margo Smith

Margo Smith died

Melanie

Melanie died

Michele Puccini

Michele Puccini, composer, dies at 50

Nell Carter

Nell Carter, American singer and actress (b. 1948)

Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson, athlete/lawyer/singer, dies in Philadelphia at 77

Prince Lincoln Thompson

Prince Lincoln Thompson, Jamaican musician (b. 1949)

Richard Berry

Richard Berry, lyricist (Louie Louie), dies at 61

Samuel Barber

Samuel Barber, US composer (School for Scandal), dies at 70

Samuel Gardner

Samuel Gardner, composer, dies at 92

Sumiko Sakamoto

Sumiko Sakamoto died

Terry Kath

Terry Kath, rock guitarist (Chicago), accidently shot in head at 32

Thomas A Dorsey

Thomas A Dorsey, jazz pianist (Take My Hand, Precious Lord), dies

Thomas Bullis

Thomas Bullis, composer, dies at 80

Top Topham

Top Topham died

Trisha Noble

Trisha Noble died

Vaclav Pichl

Vaclav Pichl, composer, dies at 63

Vic Ames

Vic Ames, American singer (Ames Brothers) (b. 1925)

W A Remy

W A Remy, composer, dies at 66

Wlasyslaw Zelenski

Wlasyslaw Zelenski, composer, dies at 83

Releases & milestones on January 23

Acid Black Cherry

"King Family Show" (musical variety) premieres on ABC TV

Ignace Jan Paderewski

Pianist Ignaz Paderewski becomes premier of Polish government in exile

Megadeth

Megadeth released the album 'Megadeth'

Poppy

Poppy released the album 'Empty Hands'

More standout moments in January →