On This Day in Music: September 26

On September 26 in music history, 39 artists were born, 23 died and 10 other milestones happened, among them George Gershwin (1898), The Beatles (1969) and Mariah Carey (2025).

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Highlights

September 26

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Standout moments for this date.

George Gershwin

George Gershwin, [Jacob Gershvin], Bkln, composer (Rhapsody in Blue) was born

The Beatles

Beatles release "Abbey Road" album

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey released the album 'Here for It All'

Run-D.M.C.

RUN-DMC is 1st rap group to hit top 10 (Raisin' Hell)

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Born on September 26

Alfred Cortot

Alfred Cortot, French pianist was born

Amilcare Zanella

Amilcare Zanella, composer was born

Anthony Kavanagh

Anthony Kavanagh, French-Canadian comedian, actor and singer was born

Boris Cepeda

Boris Cepeda, erman-Ecuadorian pianist and diplomat was born

Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry, England, rocker (Roxy Music-Let's Stick Together) was born

Carlene Carter

Carlene Carter, Nashville Tn, country singer (I Fell in Love) was born

Christina Milian

Christina Milian, American actress and singer was born

Christos Dantis

Christos Dantis, Greek composer and singer was born

Craig Chaquico

Craig Chaquico, rock guitarist (Jefferson Starship) was born

Dick Heckstall-Smith

Dick Heckstall-Smith, rocker (Alexis Korner Band) was born

Dolores Keane

Dolores Keane, Irish folk singer was born

Emma Härdelin

Emma Härdelin, Swedish singer (Garmarna and Triakel) was born

Gal Costa

Gal Costa, Brazilian singer was born

George Chambers

George Chambers, MS, rock bassist/vocalist (Chambers Brothers) was born

George Gershwin

George Gershwin, [Jacob Gershvin], Bkln, composer (Rhapsody in Blue) was born

Giuacomo Manzoni

Giuacomo Manzoni, composer was born

Giuseppi Chiari

Giuseppi Chiari, composer was born

Henry Franklin Belknap Gilbert

Henry Franklin Belknap Gilbert, composer was born

Imre Vincze

Imre Vincze, composer was born

Joe Bauer

Joe Bauer, Memphis Tn, rock drummer (Youngbloods) was born

Keisha Buchanan

Keisha Buchanan, English singer (Sugababes) was born

Komitas

Komitas, Armenian composer (d. 1935) was born

Lenna Kuurmaa

Lenna Kuurmaa, Estonian singer (Vanilla Ninja) was born

Lynn Anderson

Lynn Anderson, ND, country singer (I Never Promised you a Rose Garden) was born

Mark Simpson

Mark Simpson, English clarinetist and composer was born

Martin Delray

Martin Delray, Texarkana Ar, country singer (Get Rhythm)) was born

Marty Casey

Marty Casey, American singer (Lovehammers) was born

Marty Robbins

Marty Robbins, Glendale Az, singer (Devil Woman, I Walk Alone) was born

Nicki French

Nicki French, English singer was born

Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John, Cambridge England, singer (Lets Get Physical) was born

Pavel Ivanovich Blaramberg

Pavel Ivanovich Blaramberg, composer was born

Pyotr Petrovich Sokal'sky

Pyotr Petrovich Sokal'sky, composer was born

Rosie Munter

Rosie Munter, Swedish singer (Play) was born

Salvatore Accardo

Salvatore Accardo, Italian violinist and conductor was born

Shannon Hoon

Shannon Hoon, American singer (Blind Melon) (d. 1995) was born

Shawn Stockman

Shawn Stockman, [Slim], Phila Pa, rapper (Boyz II Men) was born

Stuart Tosh

Stuart Tosh, Scottish musician was born

Tracey Thorn

Tracey Thorn, rock vocalist (Everything But The Girl) was born

Wenzel Muller

Wenzel Muller, composer was born

Died on September 26

Adele Stolte

Adele Stolte died

Alan Lancaster

Alan Lancaster died

Baden Powell

Baden Powell, Brazilian guitarist (b. 1937)

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith, singer, dies of injuries sustained in car crash at 43

Betty Carter

Betty Carter, American singer (b. 1930)

Billy Vaughn

Billy Vaughn, American bandleader (b. 1919)

Béla V J Bartok

Béla V J Bartok, Hungarian pianist/composer dies at 64

Christian

Christian died

Dorothy Schwartz

Dorothy Schwartz, American violinist (b. 1913)

Ernst Isler

Ernst Isler, composer, dies at 64

Felice Anerio

Felice Anerio, Italian composer (pontifical royal chapel), dies

Francois Bainville

Francois Bainville, composer, dies at 63

Güllü

Güllü died

Ida Moore

Ida Moore, actress (Mr Music, Johnny Belinda), dies at 82

Jim McNeely

Jim McNeely died

Jimmy Winston

Jimmy Winston died

Marc Moulin

Marc Moulin, Belgian musician and journalist (b. 1942)

Pavel Vranicky

Pavel Vranicky, composer, dies at 51

Philip Cipriani Hambly Potter

Philip Cipriani Hambly Potter, composer, dies at 78

Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer, English singer (b. 1949)

Seymour Shifrin

Seymour Shifrin, composer, dies at 53

Shawn Lane

Shawn Lane, American guitarist (b. 1963)

Tino Rossi

Tino Rossi, French singer, dies

Releases & milestones on September 26

Gaetano Donizetti

Gaetano Donizetti's opera "Lucia di Lammermoor," premieres in Naples

Geese

Geese released the album 'Getting Killed'

Leonard Bernstein

Musical "West Side Story," opens on Broadway

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey released the album 'Here for It All'

Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean released the album 'The Art of Loving'

Run-D.M.C.

RUN-DMC is 1st rap group to hit top 10 (Raisin' Hell)

The Beatles

Beatles release "Abbey Road" album

Victor Herbert

Victor Herbert/Harry Smith' musical premieres in NYC

William Furst

Charles Kleins "Music Master," premieres in NYC

Zara Larsson

Zara Larsson released the album 'Midnight Sun'

More standout moments in September →