On This Day in Music: May 15

On May 15 in music history, 48 artists were born, 35 died and 24 other milestones happened, among them Frank Zappa (2026), Brian Eno (1948) and Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (1567).

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May 15

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Standout moments for this date.

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa released the album 'Zappa '66 Vol. 1: Live at TTG Studios'

Brian Eno

Brian Eno, Woodbridge England, rock keyboardist/singer (On Land) was born

Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi

Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi, Cremona Italy, composer (L'Orfeo) was born

Prince Be

Prince Be, rapper (PM Dawn) was born

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Born on May 15

Adolf B Marx

Adolf B Marx, German music theorist was born

Ahmet Rodan Zappa

Ahmet Rodan Zappa, son of Frank/rocker (Z, 2 Hip 4 TV) was born

Andrew Eldritch

Andrew Eldritch, rocker (Sisters of Mercy-Walk Away, Black Planet) was born

Andrey Yakoulevich Eshpay

Andrey Yakoulevich Eshpay, composer was born

Anna Maria Alberghetti

Anna Maria Alberghetti, Italy, singer/actress (Cinderfella) was born

Arthur Victor Berger

Arthur Victor Berger, NYC, composer (Ideas of Order) was born

Asalah Nasri

Asalah Nasri, Syrian singer was born

Brian Eno

Brian Eno, Woodbridge England, rock keyboardist/singer (On Land) was born

Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi

Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi, Cremona Italy, composer (L'Orfeo) was born

Clermont Pepin

Clermont Pepin, composer was born

Dennis Frederiksen

Dennis Frederiksen, rocker (Toto-Roseanna, Africa) was born

Devin Bronson

Devin Bronson, American guitarist (Avril Lavigne) was born

Eddy Arnold

Eddy Arnold, Henderson TN, country singer (Cattle Call, Anytime) was born

Emmanuel Ghent

Emmanuel Ghent, composer was born

Eric J Beekes

Eric J Beekes, actor/singer (Hunk) was born

Francisco Pujol

Francisco Pujol, composer was born

Giovanni Bolzoni

Giovanni Bolzoni, composer was born

Gottfried Herrmann

Gottfried Herrmann, composer was born

Graham Goble

Graham Goble, Adelaide,Australia, rock guitarist (Little River Band) was born

Jean Balissat

Jean Balissat, composer was born

Jennylyn Mercado

Jennylyn Mercado, Filipina actress and singer was born

Jessica Sutta

Jessica Sutta, American dancer, singer and actress (The Pussycat Dolls) was born

Johann Nepomuk Kalcher

Johann Nepomuk Kalcher, composer was born

John Lanchbery

John Lanchbery, English composer (d. 2003) was born

Josef Alexander

Josef Alexander, composer was born

K T Oslin

K T Oslin, Crossett Ar, country singer (80's Ladies) was born

Ksenia Sitnik

Ksenia Sitnik, Belarusian singer was born

Lainie Kazan

Lainie Kazan, Brooklyn, singer/actress (Lust in the Dust, Beaches) was born

Lars-Eric Vilner Larsson

Lars-Eric Vilner Larsson, Akarp Sweden, composer (Linden) was born

Lasse Berghagen

Lasse Berghagen, Swedish singer was born

Luigi Ferdinando Casamorata

Luigi Ferdinando Casamorata, composer was born

Maria Theresia von Paradis

Maria Theresia von Paradis, composer was born

Martin Rossiter

Martin Rossiter, Welsh Musician was born

Melle Mel

Melle Mel, American musician was born

Michael William Balfe

Michael William Balfe, composer was born

Michel Gusikoff

Michel Gusikoff, composer was born

Mike Oldfield

Mike Oldfield, England, composer (Tubular Bells) was born

Nikolay N Tcherepnin

Nikolay N Tcherepnin, St Petersburg, composer of ballets, songs [NS] was born

Pierre Dutillieu

Pierre Dutillieu, composer was born

Pierre Froidebise

Pierre Froidebise, composer was born

Prince Be

Prince Be, rapper (PM Dawn) was born

Richard Edward Wilson

Richard Edward Wilson, composer was born

Rodolfo Cornejo

Rodolfo Cornejo, composer was born

Seth Putnam

Seth Putnam, American musician was born

Stanley Robert Marchant

Stanley Robert Marchant, composer was born

Stephen Heller

Stephen Heller, composer was born

Tich

Tich, rocker was born

Trini Lopez

Trini Lopez, Trinidad, singer/guitarist (If I Had a Hammer) was born

Died on May 15

Alexander Campbell

Alexander Campbell, composer, dies at 60

Alexander Courage

Alexander Courage, composer of original Star Trek theme (b. 1919)

Antonio Frantisek Becvarovsky

Antonio Frantisek Becvarovsky, composer, dies at 69

Bengt Berger

Bengt Berger died

Bernt Rosengren

Bernt Rosengren died

Bud Freeman

Bud Freeman, jazz tenor saxophonist, dies of cancer at 84

Carl Friedrich Zelter

Carl Friedrich Zelter, composer, dies at 73

Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse died

Christian Ludwig Dieter

Christian Ludwig Dieter, composer, dies at 64

Deborah Fraser

Deborah Fraser died

Denny DeMarchi

Denny DeMarchi died

Ezio Bosso

Ezio Bosso died

Frederik baron van Pallandt

Frederik baron van Pallandt, Danish singer (Nina & F), murdered at 61

George M Tindley

George M Tindley, songwriter/vocalist, dies at 57

Giovanni Antonio Ricieri

Giovanni Antonio Ricieri, composer, dies at 67

Giovanni Croce

Giovanni Croce, Italian composer (b. 1557)

Hajj Ahmed Piro

Hajj Ahmed Piro died

Italo Montemezzi

Italo Montemezzi, composer, dies at 76

Jaromir Fiala

Jaromir Fiala, composer, dies at 74

John Hawken

John Hawken died

John Waldo Green

John Waldo Green, composer, dies at 80

John Wall Calcott

John Wall Calcott, composer, dies at 54

Johnny Green

Johnny Green, American songwriter (b. 1908)

Johnny Van Derrick

Johnny Van Derrick, jazz violinist, dies at 68

June Carter Cash

June Carter Cash, American musician and singer (b. 1929)

Karel Blazej Kopriva

Karel Blazej Kopriva, composer, dies at 29

Luigi Alva

Luigi Alva died

Maggie Peterson

Maggie Peterson died

Perry Lederman

Perry Lederman, folk singer, dies at 52

Phil May

Phil May died

Ricky Gardiner

Ricky Gardiner died

Ronnie Potsdammer

Ronnie Potsdammer, singer/song/text writer/programmer, dies at 71

Sergio Denis

Sergio Denis died

Thomas Hastings

Thomas Hastings, composer, dies at 87

Đorđe Marjanović

Đorđe Marjanović died

Releases & milestones on May 15

49 Winchester

49 Winchester released the album 'Change of Plans'

Alex Wyse

Alex Wyse released the album 'Dicono che le cose belle poi finiscono'

Alma

Alma released the album 'Have U Seen Her?'

Angellore

Angellore released the album 'Nocturnes'

Asking Alexandria

Asking Alexandria released the album 'Like a House on Fire'

Brooke Fraser

Brooke Fraser released the album 'Eat'

Charli XCX

Charli XCX released the album 'How I'm Feeling Now'

Drake

Drake released the album 'Iceman'

Dua Saleh

Dua Saleh released the album 'Of Earth & Wires'

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa released the album 'Zappa '66 Vol. 1: Live at TTG Studios'

Future

Future released the album 'High Off Life'

Henri Rabaud

Henri Rabauds opera "Marouf, Savetier de Caire," premieres in Paris

Jul

Jul released the album 'Q139847717'

Jules Massenet

Jules Massenet opera "Griselde," premieres in Paris

Kris Bowers

Kris Bowers released the album 'The Punisher: One Last Kill'

Moby

Moby released the album 'All Visible Objects'

Noah Cyrus

Noah Cyrus released the album 'The End of Everything EP'

Periphery

Periphery released the album 'A Pale White Dot'

Polo G

Polo G released the album 'The Goat'

Robert Goulet

5th Grammy Awards: I Left My Heart In San Francisco, Robert Goulet wins

Sparks

Sparks released the album 'A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip'

The All-American Rejects

The All-American Rejects released the album 'Sandbox'

The Hoosiers

The Hoosiers released the album 'Compassion'

Yung Lean

Yung Lean released the album 'Starz'

More standout moments in May →