Musical Birthdays

This Italian Baroque composer spent most of his life in the royal courts of Portugal and Spain. You can hear the traces of the Spanish guitar in his keyboard sonatas.

“Rock star” pianist and composer Liszt wooed the women and wowed his audiences. He also revived interest in under-appreciated music of Bach, Beethoven, & other greats.

Jazz legend Thelonious Monk’s legacy continues, thanks to his family bringing jazz education to young students, and even to the White House.

Thanks to Mickey Mouse, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice became one of the most famous works of all times. (Too bad Dukas never lived to see Fantasia.)

German composers and organists Georg Bohm and J. S. Bach had much in common, and Bach praised his music. Both had to “sing for their supper” as musicians dependent on the church and their patrons.

This innovative American composer of electronic and eclectroacoustic music is also a trailblazer in music education software for students.

One of Latin America’s most original and important composers, creating over 50 works. After he completed his study in Buenos Aires, he spent time in the United States where he studied with Aaron Copland.

The son of a runaway slave, Robeson grew to become an All-American athlete, lawyer, scholar and writer who spoke several languages, stage and film actor, and one of the most renowned baritones of the century.

Breaking the race barrier as one of the first African Americans to sing with an all-white band, jazz legend Billie Holiday earned international fame before her life was cut tragically short at age 44.

This Russian composer and pianist, exiled from his homeland, died a few days after gaining U.S. citizenship. He was one of the earliest recording stars with Victor Talking Machine…