On This Day in Music: May 30

On May 30 in music history, 37 artists were born, 34 died and 5 other milestones happened, among them Benny Goodman (1909), Miley Cyrus (2025) and The Beatles (1968).

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Highlights

May 30

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Standout moments for this date.

Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman, Chicago, clarinetist/bandleader (King of Swing) was born

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus released the album 'Something Beautiful'

The Beatles

Beatles begin work on their only double album "Beatles"

Grateful Dead

36 hospitalized during Grateful Dead concert; drunk LSD apple juice

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Born on May 30

Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman, Chicago, clarinetist/bandleader (King of Swing) was born

Big L

Big L, American rapper (d. 1999) was born

Bobby Sherwood

Bobby Sherwood, Indianapolis Ind, orchestra leader (Milton Berle Show) was born

Cedric Thorpe Davie

Cedric Thorpe Davie, composer was born

Cee-Lo

Cee-Lo, American musician was born

Chris Van Jaarsveld

Chris Van Jaarsveld, guitarist (Sleeze Beez) was born

Claude Prey

Claude Prey, composer was born

Devendra Banhart

Devendra Banhart, American singer and songwriter was born

Edouard Van Remoortel

Edouard Van Remoortel, Brussels, conductor (1958-62 St Louis Symph) was born

Galina Shostakovitch

Galina Shostakovitch, daughter of Russian composer Dmitri was born

Gino Tagliapietra

Gino Tagliapietra, composer was born

Gustav Leonhardt

Gustav Leonhardt, Master Dutch Harpsichordist, organist and conductor was born

Idina Menzel

Idina Menzel, American actress and singer was born

Joaquim Casimiro Jr

Joaquim Casimiro Jr, composer was born

Johann Christian Lobe

Johann Christian Lobe, composer was born

John Heawood

John Heawood, actor/singer/choreographer (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) was born

Karl Fritjof Valentin

Karl Fritjof Valentin, composer was born

Kevin Covais

Kevin Covais, American singer was born

Larry Davidson

Larry Davidson, rocker (Dave Clark 5-Glad All Over) was born

Lenny Davidson

Lenny Davidson, London, rock guitarist (Dave Clark 5-Glad All Over) was born

Louis Varney

Louis Varney, composer was born

Marie Fredriksson

Marie Fredriksson, Ostra-Lj Swed, singer (Roxette-Must Have Been Love) was born

Nicky "Topper" Headon

Nicky "Topper" Headon, English drummer (Clash-Complete Control) was born

Pauline Oliveros

Pauline Oliveros, Houston Texas, composer (Sound Patterns) was born

Riccardo Zandonai

Riccardo Zandonai, composer was born

Seppo Antero Yrjonpoika Nummi

Seppo Antero Yrjonpoika Nummi, composer was born

Siegfried Alkan

Siegfried Alkan, German composer (d. 1941) was born

Stephen "Tea Tower" Duffy

Stephen "Tea Tower" Duffy, rocker (Lilac Time-Paradise Song) was born

Stephen Malkmus

Stephen Malkmus, American musician (Pavement) was born

Steve Smith

Steve Smith, San Francisco, California, American singer (Lawrence Welk Show) was born

Tim Burgess

Tim Burgess, English rock vocalist (Charlatans-Only One I Know) was born

Tom Morello

Tom Morello, American guitarist (Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine) was born

Trey Parker

Trey Parker, rapper/actor (Newsies, Hull High) was born

Valentin Dretzel

Valentin Dretzel, composer was born

Wynonna

Wynonna, [Christina Judd], Ashland Ky, singer (Judds-Why Not Me) was born

Zdravko Čolić

Zdravko Čolić, Yugoslav-Bosnian singer was born

Zoltan Kocsis

Zoltan Kocsis, composer was born

Died on May 30

Asei Kobayashi

Asei Kobayashi died

Bob Stroup

Bob Stroup, trombonist, dies at 57

Camille Chevillard

Camille Chevillard, composer, dies at 63

Carl Ludwig Junker

Carl Ludwig Junker, composer, dies at 48

Carl Radle

Carl Radle, bassist (Derek & Dominoes), dies of a kidney ailment

Don Weller

Don Weller died

Dooley Wilson

Dooley Wilson, American musician and actor (b. 1886)

Foster Sylvers

Foster Sylvers died

Gaston Brenta

Gaston Brenta, composer, dies at 66

Giovanni Antonio Pollarolo

Giovanni Antonio Pollarolo, composer, dies at 69

Gustave Vogt

Gustave Vogt, composer, dies at 89

Hal Hastings

Hal Hastings, orchestra leader (Chevrolet on Broadway), dies at 66

Hank Mobley

Hank Mobley, US jazz saxophonist, dies at 55

Herman S Blount

Herman S Blount, Sun Ra, US jazz pianist (Solar Arkestra), dies at 79

Ildephons Haas

Ildephons Haas, composer, dies at 56

John Cipollini

John Cipollini, guitarist, dies of ephysema at 45

John Kahn

John Kahn, bassist, dies at 47

Josef Slavik

Josef Slavik, composer, dies at 27

Leen 't Hart

Leen 't Hart, organist/composer, dies at 72

Lothar Windsperger

Lothar Windsperger, composer, dies at 49

Marcel Dupré

Marcel Dupré, French organist and composer (b. 1886)

Margaret Ruthven Lang

Margaret Ruthven Lang, composer, dies at 104

Masaru Imada

Masaru Imada died

Paul Desmond

Paul Desmond, US jazz saxophonist, dies at 52

Paul Vance

Paul Vance died

Peter Simonischek

Peter Simonischek died

Renée Victor

Renée Victor died

Sidney Hugo Nicholson

Sidney Hugo Nicholson, composer, dies at 72

Sun Ra

Sun Ra, blues pianist/orchestra leader, dies of strokes at 79

Tex Beneke

Tex Beneke, American bandleader and musician (b. 1914)

Thomas Carl Whitmer

Thomas Carl Whitmer, composer, dies at 85

Turk Murphy

Turk Murphy, jazz trombonist, dies at 71

William Yeates Hurlstone

William Yeates Hurlstone, composer, dies at 30

Zinka Milanov

Zinka Milanov, Met Opera Diva, dies of a stroke at 83

Releases & milestones on May 30

Bedřich Smetana

Opera "Die Verkaufte Braut" premieres (Prague)

Grateful Dead

36 hospitalized during Grateful Dead concert; drunk LSD apple juice

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus released the album 'Something Beautiful'

Swans

Swans released the album 'Birthing'

The Beatles

Beatles begin work on their only double album "Beatles"

More standout moments in May →