On This Day in Music: May 21

On May 21 in music history, 51 artists were born, 20 died and 9 other milestones happened, among them David Bowie (1983), Elton John (1979) and The Notorious B.I.G. [Christopher Wallace] (1972).

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Highlights

May 21

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Standout moments for this date.

David Bowie

David Bowie's "Let's "Dance," single goes #1

Elton John

Elton John becomes 1st western rocker to perform live in USSR

The Notorious B.I.G. [Christopher Wallace]

The Notorious B.I.G. [Christopher Wallace], New York City, New York, rapper (Life After Death), (d. 1997) was born

Pink

Pink released the album 'All I Know So Far: Setlist'

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Born on May 21

Adam Gontier

Adam Gontier, Canadian singer Three Days Grace was born

Adriano Cintra

Adriano Cintra, Brazilian musician (CSS) was born

Albert van Raalte

Albert van Raalte, conductor (AVRO-orchestra) was born

Antonio Corbisiero

Antonio Corbisiero, composer was born

Arno Hintjens

Arno Hintjens, Belgian singer (T C Matic) was born

Azzolino Bernardino Della Ciaia

Azzolino Bernardino Della Ciaia, composer was born

Bill Champlin

Bill Champlin, Oakland Ca, rocker was born

Charles Wadsworth

Charles Wadsworth, Barnesville Georgia, pianist (Lincoln Center) was born

Deron Miller

Deron Miller, American rock musician was born

Doris Mae Akers

Doris Mae Akers, gospel singer/songwriter was born

Edward Lockspeiser

Edward Lockspeiser, composer was born

Fats Waller

Fats Waller, [Thomas Wright], jazz singer/composer (Ain't Misbehavin') was born

Frederich Karl Erbach

Frederich Karl Erbach, composer was born

Gaspard Augé

Gaspard Augé, French musician was born

Gina Bachauer

Gina Bachauer, Greek pianist (d. 1976) was born

Havoc

Havoc, American rapper (Mobb Deep) was born

Heinz Holliger

Heinz Holliger, composer was born

Hilton Valentine

Hilton Valentine, rock guitarist (Animals-House of the Rising Sun) was born

Horace Heidt

Horace Heidt, Alameda California, orchestra leader (Swift Show Wagon) was born

John Glavin

John Glavin, rock keyboardist (Molly Hatchet was born

Joseph Horovitz

Joseph Horovitz, composer was born

Joseph Parry

Joseph Parry, composer was born

Joseph de La Barre

Joseph de La Barre, composer was born

Julie Vega

Julie Vega, Filipino child actress and singer (d. 1985) was born

Kano

Kano, British rapper was born

Kardinal Offishall

Kardinal Offishall, Canadian rapper was born

Karel Haba

Karel Haba, composer was born

Kevin Shields

Kevin Shields, Musician (My Bloody Valentine) was born

Lee Gaze

Lee Gaze, Welsh guitarist was born

Leo Sayer

Leo Sayer, [Gerard], England, singer (When I Need Love) was born

Marc Ribot

Marc Ribot, American musician was born

Marcie Blane

Marcie Blane, rocker was born

Marco Carta

Marco Carta, Italian singer was born

Marie Joseph Leon Desire Paque

Marie Joseph Leon Desire Paque, composer was born

Martin Carthy

Martin Carthy, English musician was born

Maurice André

Maurice André, French trumpeter, (d. 2012) was born

Max

Max, German singer was born

May Aufderheide

May Aufderheide, composer was born

Mutya Buena

Mutya Buena, English singer (ex-Sugababes) was born

Myra

Myra, Mexican-American singer was born

Olivia Olson

Olivia Olson, American singer and actress was born

Pablo Luna y Carne

Pablo Luna y Carne, composer was born

Robert Parris

Robert Parris, Philadelphia, composer (Book of Imaginery Beings) was born

Robert Sherlaw Johnson

Robert Sherlaw Johnson, composer was born

Ronald Isley

Ronald Isley, Cincinnati Ohio, singer (Isley Brothers-Twist & Shout) was born

Rosalind Plowright

Rosalind Plowright, British soprano (Aida, Senta) was born

Stan Lynch

Stan Lynch, Gainesville Fl, rock drummer (Tommy Petty & Heartbreakers) was born

Terry Lightfoot

Terry Lightfoot, clarinetist/bandleader (New Orleans Jazzmen) was born

The Notorious B.I.G. [Christopher Wallace]

The Notorious B.I.G. [Christopher Wallace], New York City, New York, rapper (Life After Death), (d. 1997) was born

Tony Sheridan

Tony Sheridan, Norwich, Norfolk,singer-songwriter and guitarist, (d. 2013) was born

Wilhelm Gottfried Enderle

Wilhelm Gottfried Enderle, composer was born

Died on May 21

Aleksandr Vertinsky

Aleksandr Vertinsky, Russian singer (b. 1889)

Billy Walker

Billy Walker, American singer (b. 1929)

Ed Ames

Ed Ames died

Finn Einar Mortensen

Finn Einar Mortensen, composer, dies at 61

Franz von Suppe

Franz von Suppe, Austrian composer (Poet und Bauer), dies at 76

Gavril Yakimovich Lomakin

Gavril Yakimovich Lomakin, composer, dies at 73

Georgy L'vovich Catoire

Georgy L'vovich Catoire, composer, dies at 65

Guiseppi Baini

Guiseppi Baini, composer, dies at 68

Jan A. P. Kaczmarek

Jan A. P. Kaczmarek died

Janos Hammerschlag

Janos Hammerschlag, composer, dies at 68

Johann Friedrich Christmann

Johann Friedrich Christmann, composer, dies at 64

Johannes Frederick Frohlich

Johannes Frederick Frohlich, composer, dies at 53

Joseph Wolfl

Joseph Wolfl, composer, dies at 38

Karnail "Bugz" Pitts

Karnail "Bugz" Pitts, American rapper (D12) (b. 1979)

Karol Mikuli

Karol Mikuli, composer, dies at 77

Katherine Dunham

Katherine Dunham, American dancer (b. 1909)

Peter Fletcher

Peter Fletcher, music teacher, dies at 60

Roman Hoffstetter

Roman Hoffstetter, composer, dies at 73

Sulo Nikolai Salonen

Sulo Nikolai Salonen, composer, dies at 77

Vaughn Monroe

Vaughn Monroe, singer/orchestra leader (Vaughn Monroe Show), dies at 61

Releases & milestones on May 21

Carly Rae Jepsen

Carly Rae Jepsen released the album 'Dedicated Side B'

David Bowie

David Bowie's "Let's "Dance," single goes #1

Elton John

Elton John becomes 1st western rocker to perform live in USSR

Johan Heesters

Singer Johan Heesters visits Dachau concentration camp

Morgenshtern

Morgenshtern released the album 'Million Dollar: Happiness'

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo released the album 'Sour'

Pink

Pink released the album 'All I Know So Far: Setlist'

Ruggero Leoncavallo

Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera "Pagliacci" premieres in Milan

Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots released the album 'Scaled and Icy'

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