On This Day in Music: May 9

On May 9 in music history, 42 artists were born, 35 died and 10 other milestones happened, among them Bob Dylan (1965), The Beatles (1962) and Billy Joel (1949).

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Highlights

May 9

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Standout moments for this date.

Bob Dylan

Beatles attend a Bob Dylan concert

The Beatles

Beatles sign their 1st contract with EMI Parlophone

Billy Joel

Billy Joel, Bronx, rock vocalist (Pianoman, Capt Jack, Bridge) was born

Little Richard

Little Richard died

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Born on May 9

Adolph von Henselt

Adolph von Henselt, composer was born

Amber

Amber, Dutch musician was born

Andrew W.K.

Andrew W.K., American musician was born

Anne-Sofie von Otter

Anne-Sofie von Otter, Swedish mezzo-soprano was born

August de Boeck

August de Boeck, composer was born

Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot

Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, rocker (Curiosity Killed Cat-Keep Distance) was born

Bernard William George Rose

Bernard William George Rose, composer/organist was born

Billy Joel

Billy Joel, Bronx, rock vocalist (Pianoman, Capt Jack, Bridge) was born

Boleslaw Dembinski

Boleslaw Dembinski, composer was born

Bruce Mather

Bruce Mather, composer was born

Bruce Milner

Bruce Milner, rocker (Every Mother's Son) was born

Carlo Maria Giulini

Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor was born

Ciro Pinsuti

Ciro Pinsuti, pianist/composer was born

Connie Russell

Connie Russell, NYC, singer (Club Embassy, Garroway at Large) was born

Dave Gahan

Dave Gahan, Essex, rock vocalist (Depeche Mode-Dreaming of Me) was born

Dave Prater

Dave Prater, Ocilla Ga, rock vocalist (Sam & Dave) was born

Dick Morrissey

Dick Morrissey, saxophonist was born

Don Dannemann

Don Dannemann, rocker (Cyrkle) was born

Don Messer

Don Messer, Canadian country musician (d. 1973) was born

Douglas Guest

Douglas Guest, organist was born

Eric Westberg

Eric Westberg, composer was born

Frank Chacksfield

Frank Chacksfield, arranger/orchestra leader was born

Giovanni Paisiello

Giovanni Paisiello, Italian composer (Barber of Seville) was born

Hank Snow

Hank Snow, Nova Scotia Canada, country singer (I Went to Your Wedding) was born

John Corbett

John Corbett, actor/singer (Chris-Northern Exposure) was born

Julius Rontgen

Julius Rontgen, composer was born

Kevin Saunderson

Kevin Saunderson, American music producer and disc jockey was born

Mike Millward

Mike Millward, rocker was born

Nikolay Feopemptovich Solov'yov

Nikolay Feopemptovich Solov'yov, composer was born

Nokie Edwards

Nokie Edwards, Lahoma, Oklahoma, American guitarist (The Ventures) was born

Pall Pampichier Palsson

Pall Pampichier Palsson, composer was born

Paul Heaton

Paul Heaton, rocker (Housemartins-Happy Hour, Over There) was born

Paul McGuigan

Paul McGuigan, English bassist (Oasis) was born

Pete Birrell

Pete Birrell, rock bassist (Freddie & The Dreamers) was born

Pierre Bouvier

Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician (Simple Plan) was born

Richard Furay

Richard Furay, Ohio, rock vocalist (Buffalo Springfield, Poco) was born

Sanja Doležal

Sanja Doležal, Croatian singer (Novi fosili) was born

Sonny Curtis

Sonny Curtis, Texas, guitarist (Crickets) was born

Steve Katz

Steve Katz, NYC, rock guitarist/vocalist (Blood, Sweat & Tears) was born

Tamia

Tamia, Canadian singer was born

Tom Petersson

Tom Petersson, Rockford Il, rock bassist (Cheap Trick) was born

Tommy Roe

Tommy Roe, Atlanta, rocker (Hooray for Hazel) was born

Died on May 9

Alfred Mendelsohn

Alfred Mendelsohn, composer, dies at 56

Carlos José Ramos dos Santos

Carlos José Ramos dos Santos died

Charles Duquesnoy

Charles Duquesnoy, composer, dies at 62

Claude-Benigne Balbastre

Claude-Benigne Balbastre, composer, dies at 72

Constantin Dimitrescu

Constantin Dimitrescu, composer, dies at 81

Dietrich Buxtehude

Dietrich Buxtehude, German organist/composer, dies at about 69

Ernst Pauer

Ernst Pauer, composer, dies at 78

Ethel Mary Smyth

Ethel Mary Smyth, composer, dies at 86

Eva Bal

Eva Bal died

Ezio F Pinza

Ezio F Pinza, Italian bass (Scale of Milan, NY Met Opera), dies

Francis Hopkinson

Francis Hopkinson, US writer/music/lawyer, dies at 53

Franz Xaver Schnitzer

Franz Xaver Schnitzer, composer, dies at 44

James E. Myers

James E. Myers, American songwriter (Rock Around the Clock) and producer (b. 1919)

Johann Hermann Berens

Johann Hermann Berens, composer, dies at 54

Johann Philipp Samuel Schmidt

Johann Philipp Samuel Schmidt, composer, dies at 73

Johnny Rodriguez

Johnny Rodriguez died

Keith Whitley

Keith Whitley, country singer (Don't Close Your Eyes), dies at 33

Lan Adomian

Lan Adomian, composer, dies at 73

Lena Horne

Lena Horne, American singer and actress (b. 1917)

Little Richard

Little Richard died

Luigi Nono

Luigi Nono, Ital composer (Intolleranza), dies at 66

Lyubomir Pipkov

Lyubomir Pipkov, composer, dies at 69

Marshall Royal

Marshall Royal, jazz Sax/Clarinet, dies at 82

Nadja Abd el Farrag

Nadja Abd el Farrag died

Nasrat Parsa

Nasrat Parsa, Afghani singer (b. 1969)

Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf

Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, Austrian born German religious and social reformer, dies at 59

Percy Brier

Percy Brier, composer, dies at 84

Philip Tagg

Philip Tagg died

Philippa Duke Schuyler

Philippa Duke Schuyler, composer, dies at 35

Raymond Chevreuille

Raymond Chevreuille, Belgian composer, dies at 74

Reginald Dixon

Reginald Dixon, British theatre organist, dies at 80

Rudolf Serkin

Rudolf Serkin, Bohemian/US pianist, dies

Tomaso Antonio Vitali

Tomaso Antonio Vitali, composer, dies at 82

Valentino Bucchi

Valentino Bucchi, composer, dies at 59

Walter Kraft

Walter Kraft, composer, dies at 71

Releases & milestones on May 9

Bob Dylan

Beatles attend a Bob Dylan concert

Fats Waller

Musical "Ain't Misbehavin'," premieres in NYC

Jimmie Davis

Country singer Jimmie Davis becomes governor of Louisiana

Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis released the album 'Sincerely'

Liberato

Liberato released the album 'Radio Liberato'

Maury Yeston

Arthur Kopit's musical "Nine," premieres in NYC

PinkPantheress

PinkPantheress released the album 'Fancy That'

Sleep Token

Sleep Token released the album 'Even in Arcadia'

The Beatles

Beatles sign their 1st contract with EMI Parlophone

Willie Nelson

18th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama & Willie Nelson

More standout moments in May →