On This Day in Music: September 5

On September 5 in music history, 45 artists were born, 30 died and 6 other milestones happened, among them Freddie Mercury (1946), Justin Bieber (2025) and Whitney Houston (1986).

Pick a date, get a soundtrack

The soundtrack for September 5

Choose a date

Open in Spotify

Tomorrow's day in music →

Highlights

September 5

View all

Standout moments for this date.

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury, [Bulsara], British vocalist (Queen-We are Champions) was born

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber released the album 'Swag II'

Whitney Houston

3rd MTV Awards: Whitney Houston wins

R.E.M.

8th MTV Awards: REM wins

Loading events...

Born on September 5

Al Stewart

Al Stewart, Glasgow Scotland, rocker (Year of the Cat) was born

Alexey Harkov

Alexey Harkov, Russian bassist (Kipelov, Sergey Mavrin) was born

Alexis-Charles-Maximilien Thibault

Alexis-Charles-Maximilien Thibault, composer was born

Amy Marcy Cheney Beach

Amy Marcy Cheney Beach, American composer and pianist (d. 1944) was born

Brad Wilk

Brad Wilk, American musician (Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine) was born

Buddy Miles

Buddy Miles, rocker was born

Carl Wilhelm

Carl Wilhelm, composer was born

Carol Lawrence

Carol Lawrence, Illinois, dancer/actress (West Side Story) was born

Cornelius Boyson

Cornelius Boyson, bassist was born

David "Clem" Clempson

David "Clem" Clempson, rocker (Humble Pie) was born

Dweezil Zappa

Dweezil Zappa, Hollywood CA, rock guitarist/son of Frank/VJ (MTV) was born

Ebbe Hamerik

Ebbe Hamerik, composer was born

Eduardo Mata

Eduardo Mata, Mexico City Mexico, conductor (Improvisaciones) was born

Frantisek Antonin Mica

Frantisek Antonin Mica, composer was born

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury, [Bulsara], British vocalist (Queen-We are Champions) was born

Gail Kubik

Gail Kubik, South Coffeyville, Oklahoma, composer (Gerald McBoing Boing) was born

Giacomo Meyerbeer

Giacomo Meyerbeer, Vogelsdorf Germany, composer (Golt Und Die Natur) was born

Gottfried Arnold

Gottfried Arnold, German theologist/historian/songwriter was born

Helen Gifford

Helen Gifford, composer was born

Jamie Spaniolo

Jamie Spaniolo, American horrorcore rapper was born

Jean-Benjamin de La Borde

Jean-Benjamin de La Borde, composer was born

Joaquin Maria Nin-Culmell

Joaquin Maria Nin-Culmell, Berlin Germany, Cuban/Spanish composer was born

Joe "Speedo" Frazier

Joe "Speedo" Frazier, rocker (Impalas) was born

Johann Christian Bach

Johann Christian Bach, composer, son of JS Bach (English Bach) was born

Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Beckmann

Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Beckmann, composer was born

John Cage

John Cage, Los Angeles California, composer (Imaginary Landscape No 1/O'O) was born

John Stewart

John Stewart, San Diego Ca, rocker (Kingston Trio-Fire in the Wind) was born

Joseph Szigeti

Joseph Szigeti, Budapest Hungary, violinist (Violinist Notebook 1933) was born

Krystyna Moszumanska-Nazar

Krystyna Moszumanska-Nazar, composer was born

Lewis Spratlan

Lewis Spratlan, composer was born

Liam Lynch

Liam Lynch, American musician (Sifl and Olly) was born

Loreto Vittori

Loreto Vittori, composer was born

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright III, vocalist (April Fool's Day Morn) was born

Manuel Giro

Manuel Giro, composer was born

Marc-André Hamelin

Marc-André Hamelin, Canadian pianist was born

Mieczyslaw Kolinski

Mieczyslaw Kolinski, composer was born

Otto E Deutsch

Otto E Deutsch, Austrian musicologist (Schubert-Brevier) was born

Paulie Carmen

Paulie Carmen, Champaign Ill, rock vocalist was born

Peter Mieg

Peter Mieg, composer was born

Peter Racine Fricker

Peter Racine Fricker, British composer was born

Roine Stolt

Roine Stolt, Swedish guitarist (The Flower Kings) was born

Sondre Lerche

Sondre Lerche, Norwegian musician was born

Sunnyland Albert Luandrew Slim

Sunnyland Albert Luandrew Slim, blues pianist was born

Trey Hill

Trey Hill, Grammy-nominated musician was born

Vincent McDermott

Vincent McDermott, composer was born

Died on September 5

Anatol Ugorski

Anatol Ugorski died

Antonio Mairena

Antonio Mairena, flamenco singer (b. 1909)

Billy Usselton

Billy Usselton, saxophonist, dies at 68

Bruce Guthro

Bruce Guthro died

Deshraj Patairiya

Deshraj Patairiya died

Domenico Allegri

Domenico Allegri, Italian composer (b. c. 1585)

Francois Devienne

Francois Devienne, composer, dies at 44

Franz Xaver Haberl

Franz Xaver Haberl, German priest/musicologist, dies at 70

Georg Ots

Georg Ots, Estonian singer (b. 1920)

Georg Solti

Georg Solti, conductor, dead, dies at 84

Gisele MacKenzie

Gisele MacKenzie, Canadian-born singer (b. 1927)

Henk Bijvanck

Henk Bijvanck, composer, dies at 59

Herbie Flowers

Herbie Flowers died

James "Pigmeat" Jarrett

James "Pigmeat" Jarrett, pianist, dies at 95

Joe South

Joe South, American singer-songwriter and guitarist, dies from heart failure at 72

Juan Jose Castro

Juan Jose Castro, composer, dies at 73

Julian Edwards

Julian Edwards, composer, dies at 54

Lars Vogt

Lars Vogt died

Ludwig Deppe

Ludwig Deppe, composer, dies at 61

Mark Volman

Mark Volman died

Mitchell Ayres

Mitchell Ayres, orchestra leader (Hollywood Palace), dies at 58

Ras Sheehama

Ras Sheehama died

René Klijn

René Klijn, [Dorian], singer (Mr Blue), dies of AIDS at 30)

Rich Homie Quan

Rich Homie Quan died

Sarah Harding

Sarah Harding died

Sérgio Mendes

Sérgio Mendes died

Tam Ping-Man

Tam Ping-Man died

Thomas Hansen

Thomas Hansen (musician) (b. 1976)

William Usselton

William Usselton, US tenor saxophonist, dies at 68

Władysław Słowiński

Władysław Słowiński died

Releases & milestones on September 5

Aespa

Aespa released the album 'Rich Man'

Dire Straits

MTV Music Awards - Dire Straits "Money For Nothing" wins

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber released the album 'Swag II'

R.E.M.

8th MTV Awards: REM wins

Suede

Suede released the album 'Antidepressants'

Whitney Houston

3rd MTV Awards: Whitney Houston wins

More standout moments in September →