On This Day in Music: March 2

On March 2 in music history, 48 artists were born, 33 died and 8 other milestones happened, among them Madonna (1989), The Beatles (1964) and Frank Sinatra (1967).

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Highlights

March 2

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Standout moments for this date.

Madonna

Madonna's "Like a Prayer" premieres on worldwide Pepsi commercial

The Beatles

The Beatles begin filming "Hard Days Night," Harrison meets Patti Boyd

Frank Sinatra

9th Grammy Awards: Strangers in the Night, Michele wins

Lou Reed

Lou Reed, New York City, American rock vocalist and guitarist (Velvet Underground), (d. 2013) was born

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Born on March 2

Alain Chamfort

Alain Chamfort, French singer was born

Andrew Farriss

Andrew Farriss, Australia, rock keyboardist (Inxs-Kiss the Dirt) was born

Antoine-Frederic Gresnick

Antoine-Frederic Gresnick, composer was born

Antonio Buzzolla

Antonio Buzzolla, composer was born

Bedrich Friedrich Smetana

Bedrich Friedrich Smetana, Bohemian composer (Bartered Bride, Moldau) was born

Bernard George Stevens

Bernard George Stevens, composer was born

Bernard Rands

Bernard Rands, Sheffield England, composer (Wildtrack) was born

Celedonio Romero

Celedonio Romero, Spanish guitarist (d. 1996) was born

Chris Martin

Chris Martin, English musician (Coldplay) was born

Dale Bozzio

Dale Bozzio, Boston, vocalist (Missing Persons-Destination Unknown) was born

David Duffle Wood

David Duffle Wood, composer was born

Enrique Franco

Enrique Franco, composer was born

Eric Feldbush

Eric Feldbush, composer was born

George Alexander Macfarren

George Alexander Macfarren, composer was born

Gerard van Tongeren

Gerard van Tongeren, Dutch singer (Buffoons) was born

Hanoch Jacoby

Hanoch Jacoby, composer was born

Jay Osmond

Jay Osmond, Ogden Utah, singer (Osmond Brothers, Donnie & Marie) was born

Johann Christian Friedrich Haeffner

Johann Christian Friedrich Haeffner, composer was born

John Cowsill

John Cowsill, Newport RI, rock drummer (Cowsills-We Can Fly) was born

John Gardner

John Gardner, composer was born

Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi, Sayreville NJ, rocker (Bon Jovi-Give Love a Bad Name) was born

Karen Carpenter

Karen Carpenter, New Haven Ct, vocalist/drummer (We Only Just Begun) was born

Keith Jack

Keith Jack, British singer and actor was born

Kurt Weill

Kurt J Weill, Dessau Germany, composer/Brecht collaborator (Mahogany) was born

Larry Carlton

Larry Carlton, rock composer (Against All Odds, Who's the Boss) was born

Larry Stewart

Larry Stewart, Paducah KY, country singer (Restless Heart-Wheels) was born

Leif Segerstam

Leif Segerstam, composer was born

Leon Jongen

Leon Jongen, composer was born

Lou Reed

Lou Reed, New York City, American rock vocalist and guitarist (Velvet Underground), (d. 2013) was born

Luc Plamondon

Luc Plamondon, French Canadian lyricist was born

Ludovico Spontoni

Ludovico Spontoni, composer was born

Luke Pritchard

Luke Pritchard, British singer (The Kooks) was born

Marc Blitzstein

Marc Blitzstein, Phila Pa, composer (Cradle Will Rock) was born

Mario Zafred

Mario Zafred, composer was born

Mark Evans

Mark Evans, Melbourne Australia, rock bassist (AC/DC) was born

Maxime Dumoulin

Maxime Dumoulin, composer was born

Renaat Veremans

Renaat Veremans, Flemish composer/conductor was born

Robert Wilfred Levick Simpson

Robert Wilfred Levick Simpson, composer was born

Rory Gallagher

Rory Gallagher, Donegal, Irish rock guitarist and songwriter (See Here) was born

Siegfried Kohler

Siegfried Kohler, composer was born

Simone Young

Simone Young, Australian conductor was born

Stephen Dickman

Stephen Dickman, composer was born

Stevie Rachelle

Stevie Rachelle, rock vocalist (Tuff-What Comes Around Goes Around) was born

Tamara Toumanova

Tamara Toumanova, dancer was born

Tony Croatto

Tony Croatto, Italian-born composer (d. 2005) was born

Tony Meehan [Daniel Meehan]

Tony Meehan [Daniel Meehan], London, English rocker (Drifters, Vipers) was born

William Simmons

William Simmons, sax/keyboardist (Midnight Star-No Parking) was born

Witold Szalonec

Witold Szalonec, composer was born

Died on March 2

Barbara Ruick

Barbara Ruick, actress/singer (Jerry Colonna Show), dies at 41

Ben Harney

Ben Harney, American composer and pianist (b. 1871)

Bunny Wailer

Bunny Wailer died

Carl Eberwein

Carl Eberwein, composer, dies at 81

Chris Barber

Chris Barber died

Christian Friedrich Hermann Uber

Christian Friedrich Hermann Uber, composer, dies at 40

Christian Friedrich Schale

Christian Friedrich Schale, composer, dies at 86

David Ackles

David Ackles, American singer and songwriter (b. 1937)

Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield, English singer (b. 1939)

Edip Akbayram

Edip Akbayram died

Geraint Jarman

Geraint Jarman died

Gustav Wohlgemuth

Gustav Wohlgemuth, composer, dies at 73

Hank Ballard

Hank Ballard, American musician (b. 1927)

Herbert Léonard

Herbert Léonard died

Hugo Cole

Hugo Cole, musician/critic, dies at 77

James Lipton

James Lipton died

Jean Kurt Forest

Jean Kurt Forest, composer, dies at 65

Jean-Marie Londeix

Jean-Marie Londeix died

Jeff Healey

Jeff Healey, Canadian musician (b. 1966)

Jim Beard

Jim Beard died

Louis Kufferath

Louis Kufferath, composer, dies at 70

Malcolm Williamson

Malcolm Williamson, Australian composer (b. 1931)

Martin Denny

Martin Denny, American musician (b. 1911)

Mike Vernon

Mike Vernon died

Milton Katims

Milton Katims, American violist and conductor (b. 1909)

Ryūhō Ōkawa

Ryūhō Ōkawa died

Serge Gainsbourg

Serge Gainsbourg, composer/actor (Fury of Hercules), dies at 62

Steve Mackey

Steve Mackey died

Susan Weinert

Susan Weinert died

W. C. Clark

W. C. Clark died

Wayne Shorter

Wayne Shorter died

Wilhelm Troszel

Wilhelm Troszel, composer, dies at 63

Àlex Casademunt

Àlex Casademunt died

Releases & milestones on March 2

Bette Midler

16th Grammy Awards: Killing Me Softly, Bette Midler wins

Danny Holgate

Holgate, Kemp & Lopez' musical "Bubbling Brown Sugar" premieres in NYC

Frank Sinatra

9th Grammy Awards: Strangers in the Night, Michele wins

Jody Watley

30th Grammy Awards: Graceland, Joshua Tree, Jody Watley

Madonna

Madonna's "Like a Prayer" premieres on worldwide Pepsi commercial

Max Steiner

"King Kong," premieres at Radio City Music Hall & RKO Roxy NYC

Richard Rodgers

"Sound Of Music" opens

The Beatles

The Beatles begin filming "Hard Days Night," Harrison meets Patti Boyd

More standout moments in March →