On This Day in Music: May 18

On May 18 in music history, 44 artists were born, 32 died and 4 other milestones happened, among them The Beatles (1970), Billie Eilish (2026) and George Strait (1952).

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Highlights

May 18

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Standout moments for this date.

The Beatles

The Beatles' last released LP, "Let It Be" released in US

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish released the album 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live)'

George Strait

George Strait, Pearsall Tx, country singer (All My Exes Live in Texas) was born

Perry Como

Perry Como, [Pierino], Canonsburg Pa, singer/TV (Perry Como Show) was born

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Born on May 18

Albert Hammond

Albert Hammond, rocker was born

Ali Zafar

Ali Zafar, Pakistani singer and model was born

Bernard Zweers

Bernard Zweers, Dutch composer (To my Fatherland) was born

Bill Wallace

Bill Wallace, rocker/actor (Fear, Avenging Force, Desperate) was born

Charles Duquesnoy

Charles Duquesnoy, composer was born

Charles Trenet

Charles Trenet, French singer and songwriter (d. 2001) was born

Clifford Curzon

Clifford Curzon, London England, pianist (MacFarren Gold Medal) was born

Eduardo Fabini

Eduardo Fabini, composer was born

Eric West

Eric West, American singer and actor was born

Eric Zeisl

Eric Zeisl, composer was born

George Alexander

George Alexander, rocker was born

George Strait

George Strait, Pearsall Tx, country singer (All My Exes Live in Texas) was born

Georgi Atanasov

Georgi Atanasov, composer was born

Glen Hardin

Glen Hardin, Texas, rocker (Crickets) was born

Guido Alberto Fano

Guido Alberto Fano, composer was born

Harry Robert Wilson

Harry Robert Wilson, composer was born

Henri-Pierre Sauguet

Henri-Pierre Sauguet, Bordeaux France, composer (La Chotte) was born

Ingo Schwichtenberg

Ingo Schwichtenberg, German drummer (d. 1995) was born

Isidor Vorobchievici

Isidor Vorobchievici, composer was born

Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson, American musician was born

Joe Bonsall

Joe Bonsall, Phila, country singer (Oak Ridge Boys-Elvira) was born

Joe Turner

Joe Turner, KC, blues singer (Corrine Corrina, Shake Rattle & Roll) was born

Joseph Beer

Joseph Beer, Bohemia clarinetist/composer (5th clarinet flap) was born

Julius Hopp

Julius Hopp, composer was born

Kai Winding

Kai Winding, Denmark, American Jazz composer, (d. 1983) was born

Karl Goldmark

Karl Goldmark, Keszthely Hungary, composer (Sakuhtala) was born

Lucia Mannucci

Lucia Mannucci, Italian singer (Quartetto Cetra) was born

Martika

Martika, [Marta Marrero], Cuba, singer (Toy Soldiers) was born

Michael Cretu

Michael Cretu, rocker (Enigma) was born

Michael Tait

Michael Tait, American musician (dc Talk, Tait) was born

Nanne Grönvall

Nanne Grönvall, Swedish singer was born

Ole Windingstad

Ole Windingstad, composer was born

Perry Como

Perry Como, [Pierino], Canonsburg Pa, singer/TV (Perry Como Show) was born

Reinhold Heil

Reinhold Heil, German composer was born

Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman, rock keyboardist (Yes-Fish Out of Water) was born

Rob Base

Rob Base, American rapper was born

Rodney Dillard

Rodney Dillard, rocker (Glittergrass) was born

Roger Matton

Roger Matton, composer was born

Sandra Cretu

Sandra Cretu, German singer was born

Toyah Wilcox

Toyah Wilcox, Birmingham England, rocker (I Want to Be Free) was born

William Wallace

William Wallace, rocker (Guess Who) was born

Wreckless Eric

Wreckless Eric, rocker (Waxworks, Be Stiff) was born

[Feliciano] Butch Tavares

[Feliciano] Butch Tavares, rocker (Tavares) was born

[Robert] Meredith Willson

[Robert] Meredith Willson, Mason City Iowa, composer (Music Man) was born

Died on May 18

Alexander Gudonov

Alexander Gudonov, Russian dancer/actor (Witness), dies at 45

Alick Maclean

Alick Maclean, composer, dies at 63

Augustus Pablo

Augustus Pablo, Jamaican singer (b. 1954)

Bernardo Bittoni

Bernardo Bittoni, composer, dies at 72

Bob Neuwirth

Bob Neuwirth died

Bonafacio Asioli

Bonafacio Asioli, composer, dies at 62

Dolla

Dolla, American Rapper a.k.a. Roderick Anthony Burton II (b.1987)

Eero Aukusti Sipila

Eero Aukusti Sipila, composer, dies at 53

Elvin Jones

Elvin Jones, American jazz drummer (b. 1927)

Feliksas Romualdas Bajoras

Feliksas Romualdas Bajoras died

Flor van Duyse

Flor van Duyse, composer, dies at 66

Franco Battiato

Franco Battiato died

Frank Ifield

Frank Ifield died

Georg Bohm

Georg Bohm, German organist/composer, dies at 71

Gordon Reynolds

Gordon Reynolds, musician, dies at 74

Gunter Hampel

Gunter Hampel died

Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler, Austr composer (Children's Death Songs), dies at 50

Joao Marcellino Arroyo

Joao Marcellino Arroyo, composer, dies at 68

John Bubbles Sublett

John Bubbles Sublett, tap dancer (Black & Bubbles), dies at 84

John Koerner

John Koerner died

Joy Division

Ian Curtis, English rock vocalist (Joy Division), commit suicide at 23

Leroy Anderson

Leroy Anderson, composer, dies at 66

Otto Reubke

Otto Reubke, composer, dies at 70

Palle Danielsson

Palle Danielsson died

Paul Plimley

Paul Plimley died

Rossetter Gleason Cole

Rossetter Gleason Cole, composer, dies at 86

Stephen M. Wolownik

Stephen M. Wolownik, Russian musician and arranger (b. 1946)

Thaddaus Ferdinand Lipowsky

Thaddaus Ferdinand Lipowsky, composer, dies at 28

Toivo Kuula

Toivo Kuula, composer, dies at 34

William Kahaiali'i

William Kahaiali'i died

Yoshi Wada

Yoshi Wada died

Yoyoy Villame

Yoyoy Villame, Philippine novelty singer and movie actor (b. 1932)

Releases & milestones on May 18

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish released the album 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live)'

Emmanuel Chabrier

Emmanuel Chabriers opera "Le Roi Malgré Luis," premieres in Paris

Jules Massenet

Jules Massenets opera "Esclarmonde," premieres in Paris

The Beatles

The Beatles' last released LP, "Let It Be" released in US

More standout moments in May →